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2 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2020
Our Town Volume 11 | Number 2 FEBRUARY 2020 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 Over 61,000 people visited the St. Louis Aquarium in its first seven days as the new Union Station attraction launches with few hiccups 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 Charlotte Beard
For advertising information, please contact us at:
Righting a wrong The city of Creve Coeur will change the name of the Beirne Park to H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park in honor of the man forced to give up his property by the power of eminent domain. By Charlotte Beard
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore copes with her chocolate addiction while Avalanche concludes a treacherous climb up an icy mountain.
Lifestyle The 2020 Volvo S60 is full of options as it blends style with safety in Automobile Alley. Oscar contender ‘1917’ is stark, violent and engaging in Entertainment. Resolve to make nutritious eating a priority in For the Love of Food.
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In Depth $7.5 million construction upgrades to the Central West End MetroLink Station is currently underway as MetroLink looks to enhance security and accessibility.
Events Calendar
Staff Writer – Charlotte Beard Cover Photo – Submitted
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AroundTown
Starting off swimmingly
SUBMITTTED PHOTOS
Over 61,000 people visited the St. Louis Aquarium in its first seven days as the new Union Station attraction launches with few hiccups
St. Louis Aquarium staff assemble for a group picture of the aquarium’s opening day.
BY CHARLOTTE BEARD Developers and staff for the new attractions at St. Louis Union Station not only delivered on their word at the July 2019 media event to have the observation wheel open before the end of 2019, but they also held firm to their word by opening the St. Louis Aquarium on Christmas Day. Many people took to social media sharing their experiences and first impressions of the 120,000 square feet, two-story attraction. One Christmas Day attendee gave high praises to the staff for opening day, “We bought a season pass for four and one extra ticket for our oldest daughter since she was coming in for Christmas with our two-year-old granddaughter with plans of going on Christmas Day. We had a wonderful surprise. My son-in-law, a sergeant in the United States Army, returned home 4 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2020
unexpectedly from deployment to celebrate Christmas with us. We went anyway hoping to be able to get one extra ticket. Of course, they were sold out. Someone in a suit came up to us and asked if we had any questions. We explained that we had tickets but (my son-in-law) did not because he just returned from deployment; we understood they were sold out and it was no problem. We knew there was a chance we wouldn’t get a ticket today. (The man in the suit) asked us to hold on for just a minute. After a few minutes he returned and said, “Follow me.” He walked straight up to the front of the line and told the ticket takers/scanners to let us in. We were amazed and so very grateful. Awesome customer service.” Tami Brown, Executive Director of the St. Louis Aquarium shared in an interview, “We love to do that when we can. It’s all dependent on our guest count at
that moment. But we are happy to have been able to help them out.” Another opening day attendee shared, “I was absolutely blown away yesterday by just how well organized things were! Everything ran so smoothly!” Brown stated that following the opening day they were sold out primarily everyday up until Jan. 6 (the official day for many students returning to school from winter break). The aquarium had 61,000 visitors in the first seven days according to Brown. On a sold-out day the St. Louis Aquarium is staffed by an average of 60 members, which includes those who dive and care for the animals, presenters, ticketers and retail workers. When asked about the aquarium’s revenue to-date, Brown stated in reference to the animal-life, “We are focused on feeding 13,000 mouths three times a day and we measure our success with happy
AroundTown
guests. That is a more important measurement for us.” While the attraction’s Facebook social media site reflected almost countless “happy guests,” there were visitors who noted their disappointments in the aquarium’s size, the number of exhibits, or the admission cost based on the size and/or exhibit offerings. In response to some of the visitors’ concerns, Michaela Elizabeth Shelby, Guest Experience Associate replied, “It’s a smaller aquarium and I think that helps us give the animals the best care possible. I love talking to the guests about the animals and maybe teaching them a thing or two.” When asked about the admission cost, Brown shared, “We spent a lot of time benchmarking the size of the aquarium, the number of exhibits, and what you would be seeing (here) versus other aquariums across the nation. There are huge aquariums like the Georgia Aquarium, the Shedd (in Chicago), or National Aquarium in Baltimore that are just gigantic. And then there are the rest of us like Newport, Kentucky or Tennessee – we’re in that same size. Our ticket pricing is at the same level. We do have an annual pass. If you are a resident here and think you’ll visit two times at least during the year, an annual pass is a great value. By purchasing that pass you can visit for 365 days as many times as you want.” Brown advises people to get the one-day admission tickets online in advance of their visit. The individual annual pass is $55 versus the one-day $25 admission. For other tier pricing, visit https://www.stlouisaquarium.com/tickets. Brown also addressed some visitor concerns of being “rushed” through the exhibits and some misunderstandings about the 15-minute ticketing time slots. The 15 minute time slots are for entry time only and are in reference to the limited tickets sold for every 15 minute time slot. Brown explained that this arrangement is for the flow of visitor traffic. “You can spend (time) as long as you like once you get into the aquarium,” stated Brown. “I’m sorry if anybody felt rushed. It certainly would not be our intent to rush anyone through.” The aquarium has six galleries: Confluence which focuses on animal life found in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, Global Rivers representing life in the riverways of South America, Africa and southeast Asia, Changing Rivers highlighting other animals that live in and around freshwater rivers, Ocean Shore exploring
life that lives in the shallow waters, Shark Canyon which is the largest exhibit, and The Deep which explores life in the depths of the ocean. Visitors are advised to look for the touch screens for information on the animal life when they tour the aquarium as opposed to traditional display signs on the tanks. “We’ve got giant screens next to the exhibits that are touch screen,” states Brown, “for the fish that you would like to know more about. (The screens) bring up all kinds of information about them. We have heard guests saying that they didn’t see them. We want to work to make those screens more visible or easier to access because they have a ton of information about the fish you will see in each exhibit.” The St. Louis Aquarium reports housing 257 species for 44 exhibits. “There are lots of hands-on exhibits that (allow) you to get your hands wet – touch stingrays or have doctor fish come and nibble on your fingers – so many ways to interact with the team and with the animals. Over time our animals will grow, and we’ll be bringing new species in. So, there’s just so much that will keep changing and growing at the aquarium. We look forward to welcoming people.” For more information about the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, hours and ticketing visit https://www.stlouisaquarium. com.
FEBRUARY 2020 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
Fighting food insecurity Bayer Fund and St. Louis Area Food Bank partner to launch pilot food initiative
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6 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2020
Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer, has awarded a $90,000 grant to the St. Louis Area Foodbank to support its new School Food Markets program, a pilot initiative aimed at helping students and families in the Jennings and Cahokia, Illinois school districts combat hunger and food insecurity. The School Food Markets program will be operated by the foodbank and located within Fairview Elementary School and the Jennings Educational Training School in Jennings. Through its various relationships within the food industry, the foodbank will furnish each market with a selection of fresh foods and staple grocery items for students and their families at no cost. “We are thrilled to partner with the Bayer Fund, along with the Jennings and Cahokia School Districts on this exciting initiative,” said Meredith Knopp, St. Louis Area Foodbank President and CEO. “We believe that by giving students access to these School Food Markets, we can increase class attendance, decrease the number of trips to the school nurse’s office and help contribute to healthier futures for every child in our community.” A recent study issued by the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that 11 percent of all U.S. households were food insecure in 2018; of that number, seven percent included families with children. Households identified as food insecure either lacked resources or found it difficult to provide
enough nutritious and adequate food for all family members. “Hunger is a faceless reality and stigma for many students and their families,” said Al Mitchell, Vice President of Corporate Engagement for Bayer. “Our support of the School Food Markets ensures families within the St. Louis region have access to a variety of healthy food items within a familiar environment.” For now, more than 1,900 students in the Cahokia and Jennings school districts will be served by the School Food Markets. Students receive snacks during the day and parents will be given a full bag of groceries to take home. Once the program expands to other schools in both districts, it’s estimated that nearly 5,000 students and their families will be participants. Within the Cahokia School District, the School Food Markets are an extension of the Beyond the Bell program that was introduced earlier this year in January, which serves breakfast items to students when their school day begins. “We are thrilled to open our school market. Our goal is to eliminate hunger as an obstacle to education success,” said Tanya Mitchell, Superintendent of Cahokia Unit School District 187. “Establishing this district hub will allow out staff to immediately assist our students and larger school community” “When nonprofits, school districts and business leaders join together to do good, anything is possible,” said Art McCoy, Superintendent of Jennings, Mo. School District. “It’s truly a pleasure to partner with outstanding organizations to support our students with sustenance and empower our families to have their basic needs met. When we move at the speed of need, children thrive, and we all succeed.” According to Feeding America, many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federally funded nutrition programs, resulting in more reliance on local organizations and food banks for support. The School Food Markets will provide needed resources to hungry students and their families.
AroundTown
Funds for film Cinema St. Louis to receive $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts has approved 1,187 grants totaling $27.3 million in the first round of fiscal year 2020 funding to support arts projects in every state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $15,000 to Cinema St. Louis for the 29th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). The Art Works funding category supports projects that focus on public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation; the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence; learning in the arts at all stages of life; and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. “The arts are at the heart of our communities, connecting people through shared experiences and artistic expression,” said Arts Endowment chairman Mary Anne Carter. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support projects like the St. Louis International Film Festival.” The 29th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival will be held Nov. 5-15. The fest will screen more than 300 animated, narrative, and documentary
feature and short films, and will host master classes, special events, and an ambitious Cinema for Students program. Panels and Q&As with filmmakers and documentary subjects will accompany a third of the screenings. Programming streams will include the Women in Film Spotlight, Race in America: The Black Experience, and the Human Rights Spotlight. The nonprofit Cinema St. Louis (CSL) produces SLIFF, one of the largest and highest-profile international film festivals in the Midwest. The fest has been lauded in USA Today’s 10Best list. CSL also annually produces the locally focused St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, the LGBTQ-centric QFest St. Louis, the Classic French Film Festival, and Golden Anniversaries (festival of films celebrating their 50th anniversary).
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FEBRUARY 2020 | OUR TOWN | 7
AroundTown
Bringing the wild to North County Saint Louis Zoo North County will take 425 acres in Spanish Lake and turn it into a world-class animal conservation facility
BY CHARLOTTE BEARD Since the Saint Louis Zoo Association’s purchase of the 425-acre property previously owned by the Plumbers’ and Pipefitters’ Welfare Educational Fund in 2018, the association has been developing community partnerships for Saint Louis Zoo North County. The association is in the planning phase for turning the campus at 12385 Larimore Road in Spanish Lake into a Conservation and Animal Science Center and a public component (safari side) with attractions that connect people with nature and animals. To assist with the planning phase, they began 2020 by hosting a media only day for interviews and ground tours, and they scheduled two community input sessions. Dr. Jeffrey Bonner, Dana Brown President & CEO for Saint Louis Zoo expressed that Proposition Z was overwhelmingly received by St. Louis County residents in 2018, which will make the main attraction free to its residents. “To a certain extent, there is a powerful obligation that goes along with that,” stated Bonner. “One of the things that we’ve been hearing when we talk to people is that this place has got to be as good as the Saint Louis Zoo. We know it will be entirely different, but (they want) that level of quality. We’ve heard that loud and clear from folks especially in North County—they 8 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2020
want a great facility.” The next challenge is to implement the community’s feedback into bringing the new facility to life “We’ve been looking at creating (these) two new facilities, plus a pretty substantial renovation to (the) existing one and it’s taking a long time. One of the things we’ve done during (this) period was bringing architecture and design in-house. That’s different from anything we’ve done in the past, but I think pretty exciting. It opens up a lot of new doors for us in terms of constantly interacting with the people who are actually drawing things up,” Bonner said. The architecture and design talent are individuals recruited by the Saint Louis Zoo who are now staff members supporting both campuses. Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, leader for the new site and North Campus Director for the Saint Louis Zoo shared that over the last year engagement with the education community began and that the administration has spent time gaining an understanding of the property to assist in the planning process. “We’ve started engaging in getting to know the community of North County as a new neighbor and understanding what North County would like to see from us in terms of education programs,” stated Dr. Mogerman who is also former Vice President of Learning and Community for Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. “We went through
a long process with UMSL to engage North County in terms of understanding what education programs they would like to see and what sort of audiences they would like to target. During that process they told us a lot about expectations of (us) being their neighbor beyond the education programs. We’ll probably start piloting some things from the community this summer.” The association scheduled a community input session for Jan. 18 at the Spanish Lake campus and the next session will take place at the Zoo’s Forest Park campus on Thursday, Jan. 23. Time slots are one hour between 4 and 8 p.m. RSVP is required at https://www.stlzoo.org/about/inputsession. “Those (sessions) become one point of data for us,” stated Mogerman, “to make decisions (for) the kinds of experiences and animals we should provide.” When asked about the conservatory component for the North County campus, Bonner shared, “Originally we wanted to deal with three different groups of animals. We wanted to deal with birds, amphibians and hoof stock – really drive the program from a spatial point of view because we need so much space for each animal. I think the difficulty with all of this is that a lot of the animals we want to work with are in such serious trouble in the wild. Linking up the conservation and animal science part of it in such a way that we can really affect the future and fate of wild things becomes
AroundTown
an interesting challenge, not because it’s hard to do but there are so many different animals that we could be working with.” It is important to note that Mogerman also served Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo for 14 years and has been Commissioner for the Illinois Nature Preserves. Regarding the source of the animals and public access, she shared, “The planning process will help us determine the species mix and the relationship between the species for the conservation breeding side and the safari side. Which species will have public access will be determined by the species. We’ll look at what’s best for the animal and what’s needed for them will determine (their location). There may be some overlap. On the (conservation) side we hope to design that in a way that maybe not every member of the public can go through but can see some of it to get a glimpse into the science behind the care that we provide and the science that’s necessary to ensure that these animals can persist in the wild. We do want to give the public glimpses into that but the degree to which that happens we’re not sure just yet.” “I guess I would be surprised if you didn’t see a giraffe,” stated Bonner in reference to the safari experience for the public. “I’ve gotten to do this. Most people won’t.” Bonner further expressed the value and potential of the property. “When you look out here,” he stated, “in terms of nature we can’t do this in Forest Park. But we have this here – getting people into the woods. Jo-Elle often talks about the fact that we’re a good
gateway because it is a much safer environment to do things in.” He went on to explain that most people will not hike for the first time in a state park. “Once you do it here and you find out that it’s fun, then maybe you’ll make that next step. In both (zoos) we’re connecting people with living things. It’s just different here.” With the creation of the Saint Louis Zoo North County, Bonner wants to thwart the mindset of Forest Park Zoo being the “main” site. Bonner shared that construction for the North County campus will begin with the removal of some pre-existing buildings and structures on the grounds. Currently, there is no predetermined timeline for construction and completion. The property is approximately four times the size of the Forest Park campus. Bonner hopes for completion in five to six years. “It’s (the community’s) zoo, we just get to take care of it for you. I think that’s one of the reasons the community input sessions are so important (as well as) what Jo-Elle has been spearheading for the last year in talking primarily with the education community but also the faith-based and business community. That’s been helpful to us, but again it’s your zoo and I think this is going to be a very special place. And I can’t say it often enough – there are really high expectations. That’s something we (must) deliver on. The bar has been set pretty high.” To keep up with the progress of St. Louis Zoo North County visit https://www.stlzoo.org.
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BY CHARLOTTE BEARD
Righting a wrong The city of Creve Coeur will change the name of Beirne Park to Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park in honor of the man forced to give up his property by the power of eminent domain
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It is no secret that our society has a history of racial discrimination. In more recent years there have been members of society that have voiced that discrimination was of the past and that later generations should move past it looking to the present and the future. However, one might ask, “how do I ignore the past when it is part of my present?” The city of Creve Coeur decided to be part of the change in society by passing a resolution on Dec. 9, 2019 to change the name of the city’s first park located at 10630 Country View Drive from Beirne Park to H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park. According to Creve Coeur City Administrator Mark Perkins, on Jan. 27, the city council adopted a resolution to amend the park’s name to include ‘Dr.’ making the park Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park. The land on which the park sits was owned by Dr. Howard Philip Venable and his wife Katie W. Venable before they were forced to give up their property to Creve Coeur in the late 1950s by the power of eminent domain. Creve Coeur’s sources state that in the
mid-1950s, 12 African Americans bought land to build homes on Country View, formerly called Spoede Meadows subdivision. The whites in the community asked to buy them out, but Dr. Howard Phillip Venable refused to sell his land. The city has records that indicate the buy-out to create a park was motivated by bigotry and racial hatred and sought to prevent the Venables from building their home and living in the city due to their race. The Creve Coeur mayor at that time, John Beirne, led the initiative and used eminent domain to take the land. Proceedings lasted from 1956 to 1960. The Venables opposed Creve Coeur’s use of eminent domain to acquire their land in both state and federal court; however, they lost their fight and sold their land for a negotiated price to the city. In 1961 the land was dedicated as the Beirne Park. According to the city’s administration, the history of the park’s origins had been forgotten for many years, but the facts were brought to the city council’s attention in 2019 by members of the public. In November 2019 Mayor Barry L. Glantz held a ‘Coffee with the Mayor’ at the Danforth Science Center which included the city council and was open to the public to discuss the history of the park. “It was very well attended, probably in excess of 200 participants,” stated Perkins. “We received a lot of feedback. There was a broad consensus early on by the city council to change the name in honor of Dr. Venable. There was a specific recommendation by a group called the Venable (Park) Coalition and the Venable family that requested the name change. The city council unanimously acted upon that request by voting to approve it.” Perkins further shared that three members of the Venable family participated via conference call for the Coffee with the Mayor. Those family members of the late Dr. Venable consisted of Allen Venable, great nephew; and nieces Victoria Venable Fletcher and Roslyn Venable. The resolution passed in December 2019 includes the following apology, “On behalf of the entire Creve Coeur community, the city’s current elected officials express sincere regret and apologize for this abhorrent action of their predecessors. In recognition of the RESOLUTION NO. 1467 Venables’ noble effort to op-
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pose the misuse of government authority and to preserve their individual rights as citizens, and in an effort to assure that city officials and the community will remember this history while the public continues to enjoy the park, the city in accordance with the family request hereby renames the park...”
at Washington University in St. Louis and he became an Assistant Professor Emeritus of Clinical Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Dr. Venable was also a philanthropist. He established the Katie and Howard Phillip Venable Student Research Fund in Ophthalmology, which provided stipends for a summer research program for minority students. In addition, he and his wife supplied students with microscopes and funding for housing while in the program. Dr. Venable died Aug. 8, 1998 in St. Louis at the age of 85. The resolution for the city’s first park also includes a rededication and other implementations in and around the park. Perkins stated that on Jan. 27 the city council established a task force that will be charged with making recommendations to the council for the park’s signage, memorial, educational, and esthetic features. “The task force will begin working on these recommendations once it is established,” stated Perkins. “The council is planning to make those appointments to the task force at its Feb. 24 meeting.” The rededication ceremony will be open to the public and is tentatively set for May 17. For developments on the Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park look for updates under Parks and Recreation at www.crevecoeurmo.gov.
“There was a broad consensus early on by the city council to change the name in honor of Dr. Venable. There was a specific recommendation by a group called the Venable (Park) Coalition and the Venable family that requested the name change. The city council unanimously acted upon that request by voting to approve it.” ~Mark Perkins, City Administrator According to historical sources, Dr. Howard Phillip Venable, who was an ophthalmologist, was born in Windsor, Ontario on January 27, 1913 and spent much of his early years in Detroit, Michigan. He received his ophthalmology residency training at New York University and St. Louis’ now-closed Homer G. Phillips Hospital where he later became the director of three ophthalmology departments. Sources state that he also briefly ran the hospital and had a private practice in St. Louis County. In addition, Dr. Venable is stated to have been the first African-American member of the faculty
FEBRUARY 2020 | OUR TOWN | 11
Chocoholics
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MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
I read an article about the surprising benefits of chocolate. No surprise here. We ladies have always known the value. It’s a little chunk of sweetness that brings on immediate happiness even in a bad situation. For instance, like when my husband forgot to take the trash out after being reminded and reminded while he sat in his man cave for hours watching the latest football game. He yelled back up that he would do it after his game was over. Then I discovered that the garbage had not been taken to the curb. It would pile up and reek for another full week all while his game continued on for the next two months. Now, I could be justified and do what any normal woman would do in that situation. But, instead of taking a sharp, pointy weapon and flinging it towards his big screen, I took a breath then sheltered myself behind the doors of my soundproof pantry. I let out a piercing scream of frustration then reached for the top shelf and rooted around behind the waffle maker and dug deeper until I found the crockpot. I reached into my stash of sanity meds---bars of rich chocolate. I pulled out the first one. White chocolate? Ew – a stick of butter mixed in with a bottle of White Out. How’d that get in there and how did it even manage to get the word chocolate in its name? It’s like eating a clump of Spam while trying to convince yourself it’s a juicy ribeye. I grabbed another bar and looked at the cocoa percentage…35 percent. Nah! Not the wimpy lite stuff. I tossed it back. This man and his madness call for the hard stuff today. I fumbled around deep into my stash and pulled out a bittersweet bar. Yes—60 proof with sea salt sprinkles! That would do it. I curled down into a ball and clipped off a hunk. It slowly melted into my taste buds and happiness spread throughout calming my nervous system. Instant nirvana. The battle of the bull-headed was a thing of the past. So he’s off the hook this time. But, if he forgets again next week, I’ll have to resort once more to chocolate – a five pound brick of 75 percent dark right through the middle of his big screen.
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.
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OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
The The Climb: Climb: Part Part2I
Committed to ascending the full length of the ice gully, the climbing becomes an exercise in moving meditation. Each tool placement and every step with the crampons needs to be precise and solid; the ice is bare; little to no snow covers it. No rope, no belayer, just me on the mountain, with two ice tools and a pair of crampons to provide a tenuous grip on the frozen medium. The ice is a bit less solid than I remember from a previous trip here, now flakier and more easily broken. The grade increases to about 60 degrees, slightly less steep than a properly deployed extension ladder. But most extension ladders aren’t made of ice, with a 1,500 foot elevation gain. A mistake here would be final. Intrusive thoughts about the grade, fatigue, and any possible errors get firmly pushed aside. As mountaineers know, once you start thinking about “down,” that’s where you’re going to go, willingly or otherwise. I push on, upward, keeping a rhythm between steps and tool placement. Each placement occupies my full attention. Ice climbing unexpectedly gives way to wallowing in snow, with rock underneath the snow. The top of the gully is only about 20 feet away. I carefully tread my way through the deep powder; there used to be ice here. Suddenly, I’m at the top of the notch, between a tower to my right, and the way to the main summit on the left. Very intense emotions arise, feelings that I don’t have time to process. The wind is slapping me around, the sun is rising, and I still need to get down before the wind peels me off the ice, or melting ice begins to send rocks
and debris down the gully. Now the hardest part begins. An anchor consisting of a single hex (an asymmetrical six-sided hollow tube) wedged under a rock, with a hardware store chain link is the lone existing rappel point. I add my own hex and locking carabiner, clip the rope through it and into my belay device, and test it with body weight. It’s all good. I snap a few quick photos, and send a satellite check-in message, but the increasing wind buffeting puts an end to my reverie; it’s time to move. After rappelling one rope length down, I begin to set up an anchor in the ice, attempting to build a V-thread anchor, a mildly complicated procedure consisting of boring two holes in the ice and looping a sling through the holes. Tired, scared, fumbling with gear, and beginning to get pelted with wind-driven small rocks, I decide to run in a screw and rappel from it, skipping the V-thread construction, leaving the $50 piece of hardware in place. After a second rope-length rappel down, I put the rope back in my pack and begin down-climbing. I again rest on the small rock outcropping where I stopped on the way up. The toughest part of the route behind me, with the adrenaline beginning to ebb, I eat a couple spoonful’s of coffee grounds, and wash them down with some water. Gritty, but chemical assistance is welcome at this point. Down climbing is less physically demanding than ascending, but mental fatigue is the biggest threat now. Continuing down, the intensive moving meditation practice continues. Knowing that safety –
and rest - is approaching, it would be easy to start to hurry and cut corners. This is still a “no mistake zone”; step-plant, step-plant, each movement mindful and deliberate. Once out of the steep gully and back into the main couloir, the deeper snow provides a margin of safety and comfort. It’s still several hundred vertical feet down, and each movement continues to be deliberate; step-plant, step-plant. Eventually, I’m back where I first geared up, and I drop my pack and sit down. I made it. After shedding gear and clothing, I make my way back down the basin to camp. A few surviving wildflowers colorfully cling to life despite the early-winter conditions. The rising wind and high clouds promise more winter weather, soon. I stumble in to camp, completely spent. The muscle aches and fatigue are no longer masked by adrenaline and the sense of accomplishment. It hurts to walk from camp to get water. It hurts to lie on the sleeping bag. I try to eat, but can’t. This sensation is noticeably worse than the fatigue that follows running a marathon; and it is absolutely worth it.
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.
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VOLVO S60
The 2020 Volvo S60 Sedans are designed to seat five passengers quite comfortably. Base pricing starts out around the mid $30s; however, if you tend to gravitate towards all of the factory options, you’ll quickly reach the mid $60,000 plateau. It’s also offered in their fuel sipping plug-in hybrid model. Competing in the category with other luxury four-door models, S60 is frequently cross-shopped with the: Audi A4, BMW-3 Series and the Genesis G70 sedan, as S60 certainly helps to round out Volvo’s brand identity in order to reach a broad customer base. Being that the product mix is somewhat lengthy regarding the S60s, let me to try and help define this complexing assortment a bit further. This sedan is offered with the following factory monikers: their Premium S60 Momentum version has a base starting price of $36,050. The Sporty R-Design retails for $43,545 as does their Luxury Inscription model for the same price point. From there, they offer their Performance Polestar Engineered model with an MSRP of $65,445. Their highly refined Plug-in Hybrid has a sticker price of $$56,045 and is sold in two versions. S60 models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheeldrive, while all-wheel-drive is optional. Depending on the precise engine and/or hybrid arrangement with the S60 line-up, horsepower ranges from 250 to a commanding 415 output rating. When it comes to fuel mileage, of course it too depends on the engine and other variables. The 14 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2020
broad spectrum ranges from 21-mpg/city on the low end, to 34-mpg/highway, when equipped with the gasoline turbo engines. Keep in mind that these turbo models are recommended to operate on premium grade fuel from the factory. The plug-in electric hybrid has a driving range of some 22-miles on just battery power plus all S60s share Volvo’s unique global product based architecture. As expected, safety technology was high on the list of engineering and development within this platform. The vehicle’s infotainment system is cutting edge however, getting accustomed to the large center dash tabletstyle screen requires a learning curve for the driver. Its intuitive touch screen interface control combines car functions, navigation, connected services and in-car entertainment apps, as any tech savvy motorist would welcome this artful gizmo. This premium mid-size car design also sets the stage for their wagon version as well. City Safety technology with the Autobrake feature assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions. It’s the only system on the market today that recognizes pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals that you might encounter on the road. City Safety is seamless to the driver and again, engages auto braking to help mitigate oncoming collisions. The car’s optional Pilot Assist system tends to function as an automatic co-pilot of sorts. Its blueprint is to support the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked road surfaces. Pilot Assist is intended to operate for speeds up to 80-mph with the touch of
is full of options as it blends style with safety a single button. S60 also includes Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other steering assistance safety systems. The optional Cross Traffic Alert system further raised the bar when it comes to automotive safety. Overall handling, road dynamics and breaking is certainly more than adequate. S60’s outer design character has a conservative appearance with suggestive supple modern layout cues. Sound deadening peripherals constitute a totally silent interior with comfortable seating and high end interior materials, all of which are flanked with plenty of telltale luxury appointments throughout. Sales of Volvos in general have been gaining traction globally - that in itself of course is in the plus column! All listed pricing excludes the factories $995 shipping and destination charges. In the near future, fully electric/battery powered Volvo’s are planned in the product mix.
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
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.
OurLifestyle
Oscar contender ‘1917’ is stark, violent and engaging With films like “American Beauty,” “Road to Perdition” and “Skyfall,” Sam Mendes proved himself to be an able storyteller. As director, co-writer and producer of “1917,” Mendes worked overtime on a tale of two soldiers tasked with a seemingly impossible mission during World War I. It’s a harsh and gritty story about the horrors of war as well as the shining bits of humanity that emerge under the worst of circumstances. British Lance Corporals Tom Blake (Dean Charles-Chapman from “Game of Thrones”) and Will Schofield (George MacKay from “Captain Fantastic”) are stationed in France when they receive orders to hand deliver a message to the Devonshire Regiment. Although it appears that the German army has retreated, reconnaissance planes discover that the Germans moved to a more strategic position in order to attack the regiment. Blake and Schofield must deliver this information on foot and hopefully save hundreds of lives. On the surface, “1917” is a very simple story about two young men doing their duty. At first, Corporal Blake isn’t aware that their task means crossing dangerous
ground. He picks Schofield to come with him because he thinks they are simply going to get supplies for the troops. Their path takes them across battlefields littered with the dead and through an abandoned German bunker. Blake is especially motivated to keep moving because his brother is part of the Devonshire Regiment. Director Mendes filmed this epic to make it look like one continuous shot. In that way, the audience is walking along with Tom and Will as they navigate some decidedly hostile territory. Mendes starts the action in the British trenches, showing warweary soldiers claiming little bits of space to escape from the war for a few precious moments. When the two soldiers get into what’s called “No Man’s Land,” they must crawl over the bodies of men and horses in order to move forward. Mendes’ continuous shooting style puts the focus on Charles-Chapman and MacKay. Surprisingly, even with their fine, tireless acting, neither man was nominated for an Oscar. Mackay is exceptional as a soldier who has a lot to lose by taking on an apparent suicide mission. CharlesChapman’s Tom Blake is highly motivated
to succeed because his brother might perish if they fail. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences overlooked two fine very performances here. “1917” is, however, up for a Best Picture Oscar, facing films like “Ford v Ferrari, “Joker” and “Little Women” that earned acting nods. Even without those nominations, Dean Charles-Chapman and George MacKay shine in this film and help make it an Oscar contender. “1917,” rated R for violence, disturbing images and language, currently is playing in theaters.
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. FEBRUARY 2020
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OurLifestyle
Better balance for every day D
iscovering a better version of yourself is all about striking balance. That’s especially true when it comes to making smarter food choices that you can maintain over time. A sustainable, long-term healthy eating approach, such as the Atkins low-carb lifestyle, emphasizes variety and balance. Start planning a low-carb menu filled with high-fiber carbohydrates, optimal protein and healthy fats with these tips from Colette Heimowitz, vice president of nutrition and education for Atkins. Fill up with fiber-rich foods. Foods like vegetables, nuts, seeds, low-glycemic fruit (like berries) and whole unrefined grains are considered carbohydrates, but they don’t raise your blood sugar the way processed carbs do. Fiber slows the entry of glucose into your bloodstream so you don’t experience insulin spikes that encourage your body to produce and store body fat. Try to eat between 25-35 grams of fiber a day. Reduce inflammation. A low-carb approach eliminates refined and processed foods and sugars that can cause inflammation. Focus on foods that decrease inflammation, such as colorful low-glycemic vegetables, low-sugar fruits, protein and healthy fats such as olive oil. The ground turmeric in this Golden Milk recipe offers an easy way to fight inflammation without sacrificing flavor. Find more recipes like these for Salmon and Asparagus Sheet Pan or Spicy Crispy Chickpeas and ideas for a balanced, low-carb approach to eating well at Atkins.com.
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Resolve to make nutritious eating a priority
Salmon and Asparagus Sheet Pan Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 2 | Net carbs: 4.41 Ingredients: 1 bunch thin spear asparagus 1 tablespoon, plus 1/4 teaspoon, extra-virgin olive oil 1/8 teaspoon salt, divided 2 salmon fillets (4 ounces each), no more than 3/4-inch thick 1 pinch black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil-based mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon minced or pressed garlic 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Directions: Heat oven to 425 F.
In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard and garlic.
Wash asparagus and remove woody ends. Place on rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and pinch of salt. Arrange in single layer, leaving space for salmon. Place salmon skin-side down on sheet. Brush with remaining olive oil and season with remaining salt and pepper. Place in oven and bake 12 minutes.
Remove sheet pan from oven, sprinkle asparagus spears with cheese and cook 3 minutes, or until fish reaches 145 F and asparagus spears are tender and beginning to brown on tips. Plate one fillet and half the asparagus, drizzle each plate with about 2 tablespoons mayonnaise sauce and serve
OurLifestyle Chocolate Banana Protein Overnight Oats Prep time: 5 minutes | Chill time: 3 hours | Servings: 2 | Net carbs: 6.84 Ingredients: 1 Atkins Chocolate Banana Shake 2 tablespoons rolled oats 2 tablespoons chia seeds 2 tablespoons hemp hearts 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut shreds 2 tablespoons sliced almonds fruit, such as sliced bananas or berries (optional)
Directions: In jar with tight-fitting lid, combine shake, rolled oats, chia seeds, hemp hearts, coconut and almonds. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
Top with fruit, if desired.
Spicy Crispy Chickpeas Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 8 | Net carbs: 8.3 Ingredients: Directions: Heat air fryer to 390 F 3 minutes. 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) Using fine mesh sieve, drain and rinse chickpeas. Use towel chickpeas to gently pat chickpeas dry, removing skins. In small bowl, 1 tablespoon ghee (or toss chickpeas with ghee and salt. clarified butter), melted 3/4 teaspoon salt Cook in single layer in air fryer 6 minutes. Pause and shake 1/2 teaspoon garlic bowl; cook 6 minutes. Pause and shake bowl; cook 3 min powder utes. 1/4 teaspoon chili powder In separate small bowl, sprinkle chickpeas with spices and 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili toss to evenly coat. Chickpeas can be stored in open con powder tainer at room temperature up to 3 days.
Golden Milk Prep time: 8 minutes | Cook time: 7 minutes Servings: 3 | Net carbs: Ingredients: 1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk 1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk 1 cup water 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 10 drops liquid stevia extract
FEBRUARY 2020
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Improving station to station
$7.5 million construction upgrades to the Central West End MetroLink Station is currently underway as MetroLink looks to enhance security and accessibility
SUBMITTED PHOTO
InDepth
Construction is underway for upgrades to the Central West End MetroLink Station which is being funded by Washington University School of Medicine and BJC HealthCare, in partnership with Metro Transit for $7.5 million.
BY CHARLOTTE BEARD
As of the week of Dec. 23, 2019, construction began for upgrades to the Central West End MetroLink Station which is being funded by Washington University School of Medicine and BJC HealthCare, in partnership with Metro Transit for $7.5 million. In approximately one year, riders are expected to experience less congestion at the station and an improvement to safety and visibility. “For MetroLink riders traveling to and from the Medical Campus, the updates to the Central West End station will enhance safety, security and accessibility, while also helping people who get on and off the train at our stop feel welcome,” stated Melissa Rockwell-Hopkins, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Assistant Dean for Operations and Facilities Management at Washington University School of Medicine. “We’re excited to be working again with BJC HealthCare and Metro Transit to improve the experience of riders 18 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2020
in the region, including that of our students, employees, patients and visitors.” Leadership was not accessible for a response, but when asked what identifiable issues the medical campus or BJC patrons have experienced with transit in the past, Kim Cella, Executive Director for Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and the Missouri Public Transit Association provided input. “The Central West End station is the busiest station on the alignment with more than 4,300 riders boarding trains there every weekday,” stated Cella. “Those passengers and future riders (will) benefit from the improvements. You (will) see a whole new redesign of the Central West End station. That would not be possible without the funding and partnership being provided by Washington University and BJC HealthCare. CMT as the region’s transit advocacy organization, is very interested in seeing work to develop, support, and enhance programming and initiatives that ensure safe, convenient, and secure transit for everyone. We salute
InDepth
(Washington University and BJC) for being leaders on this because they really understand the need. The station’s platform was overcrowded. By having this true public-private partnership between Washington University, BJC HealthCare, and Bi-State Development (the improvements are) going to be a reality. Without their support these enhancements would not be possible and that is important from the rider’s perspective.” CMT members have played key roles in the passage of funding measures for the expansion of MetroLink and other transportation improvements in the region. Cella shared that BJC HealthCare and Washington University Medical Center were key partners in CMT’s feasibility study conducted in 2014 for a possible new station. She explained that the study laid the groundwork for the Cortex station which opened in 2018 near Boyle and Duncan Avenues in the Central West End. Cella also shared that Metro Transit is using the Cortex as an example of one of the most developed stations on the alignment. “The feasibility study, the actual implementation and construction of that station would not have been possible without their help,” stated Cella of the past partnership with BJC HealthCare and Washington University Medical Center. According to Cella, Missouri’s transit system receives $1.75 million annually from the state for 34 transit providers across Missouri which equates to approximately less than $5,000 for some of the system providers. Metro Transit has a $300 million annual budget and receives less than .2 percent of their budget from the state.
Redesign for the Central West End’s station will address safety and security by implementing new monitored entrance and exit at the street level from Euclid Avenue on the west end of the station. According to Cella, CMT has been pushing for more security for several years and did a pilot access study for the station in 2018. The upgrades to Central West End’s station will allow staff to monitor who accesses and exits the platform. “Metro is working on a whole new security plan,” stated Cella. “They’ll have contract security, transit security specialists, and you’ll also see law enforcement. Access Control is a tool for Bi-State security forces to better manage these stations. It will allow for fare checking and (enable security personnel) to know what’s going on at the station.” The west end will also feature a welcome center at the top of the stairs that lead down to the MetroLink platform. In addition, to better accommodate passengers, patrons will have access to a wider staircase with a center handrail connecting the new Euclid Avenue entrance/exit to the platform. Safety measures include implementation of a speed bump, stop sign, and new lighting at the entry to the MetroBus area of the garage which connects to the east entrance/exit of the platform. The project also includes upgraded platform lighting and an expanded canopy to cover 70 percent of the MetroLink platform replacing the one that covers only 30 percent of the platform. The project will address the concerns for congestion by relocating the elevator on the station platform. Metro Transit’s sources state the MetroLink platform will
remain open during construction, but the elevator at the west end of the station will be closed for demolition and reconstruction. They advise patrons who are unable to use the stairs on the west end of the Central West End Station, to access or exit the platform from an accessible walkway, located at the east end of the platform, which connects to the MetroBus Transit Center. A shuttle van will operate between a stop located at Children’s Place and Taylor, and a stop just north of the station’s west entrance. Throughout the project, temporary modifications and closures will be made to the station entrances/exits to enable safe access to the platform. “Public transit has a significant economic impact on the St. Louis region,” stated Cella. “We just completed an economic impact study last fall. The St. Louis system alone has a $2.65 billion impact on the St. Louis region, and it supports 21,000 jobs. So, any improvements to the most used station is only going to help build more ridership on this system and help with the economic impact in the region. Washington University and BJC HealthCare are some of the largest employers in the region, yet they are understanding that it is essential that we have good well-serviced transit for not only their employees, but their students, patients and their customers as well. By them stepping up to the plate this is impacting economic opportunities across the region by having a system that is well used and accessible.” For the latest updates on the Central West End Station visit https://www.metrostlouis.org.
FEBRUARY 2020
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BIGSTOCK
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February National Freedom Day
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Groundhog Day
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Rosa Parks Day
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Line dance party Pam Pratt will DJ this event and teach at least one new dance during the night from 7 – 10 p.m. at th Maryland Heights Community Center at 2300 McKelvey Road in Maryland Heights. It’s a party and outside food and drink are welcome. No glass bottles, please. Parties are $6 cash and payment is accepted at the door.
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Lincoln’s Birthday
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Valentine’s Day
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President’s Day World Fest - A Cultural Arts Celebration World Fest - A Cultural Arts Celebration takes place from 12 – 5 p.m. at the Maryland Heights Community Center at 2300 McKelvey Road in Maryland Heights. This free event, co-sponsored by the Maryland Heights Cultural Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation Department, allows participants to discover all the different cultures that make Maryland Heights such a diverse community. Enjoy music, food, art and more. They are accepting applications for food vendors, art and craft vendors and performers. If you are interested in participating please contact Ashley at agiebe@ marylandheights.com.
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Fat Tuesday
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Ash Wednesday