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Our Town Volume 10 | Number 11 NOVEMBER 2019 Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 7,000 monthly through over 105 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www.mycnews. com
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Around Town
Ameren Missouri bringing solar generation to neighborhoods across the state and more.
Non-Profit The stars come out to shine at the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival
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
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Feature Growing strong Missouri Baptist University in West St. Louis County has seen much growth and change since it was founded in 1964 By Charlotte Beard
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore rethinks holiday menus while Avalanche hikes into the backcountry.
Lifestyle 2020 Hyundai Palisade is an SUV that prioritizes safety and luxury in Automobile Alley. Disney ups the ante in the streaming wars in Entertainment. Nutritious ideas for flavor-filled family meals in For the Love of Food.
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In Depth Partnership between Epworth Children & Family Services and LETA Charitable Foundation helps provide vehicles to young people in need
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Local renewable energy Ameren Missouri bringing solar generation to neighborhoods across the state Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, is looking to spread solar generation across the state in a new way. As part of the Neighborhood Solar program made possible by a law passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2018, Ameren Missouri will install solar generation facilities in parking lots, on roofs and in available open spaces across the state. Ideal partners in this program are nonprofit organizations, schools, institutions or other non-residential locations that act as a gathering spot in the community. “Ameren Missouri’s Neighborhood Solar program is about more than generating renewable energy, it’s about impact. We’re measuring that impact in a number of ways, including increased job training, education and investments in renewable energy in the Missouri communities we serve and call home,” said Matt Forck, vice president of community, economic development and energy solutions, Ameren Missouri. Interested organizations can learn more
and fill out an application at AmerenMissouri.com/NeighborhoodSolar. The application and review process will move quickly. Ameren Missouri will score each application as it is received, looking at factors such as amount of solar generation possible, total installation cost, support of the energy grid, neighborhood benefits, electric vehicle charging opportunities and ties to workforce training and development. Ameren Missouri will construct and maintain the facilities. Residential customers are not eligible. All customers, however, will benefit from the addition of more renewable energy coming onto the grid. Initial sites for the program may be chosen as soon as December with construction targeted to begin in the early part of 2020. As many as seven sites are planned to be built as part of this first application process. The total number of facilities depends on several factors, including construction costs. Ameren Missouri plans to spend at least $14 million on the program.
“I expect Neighborhood Solar sites will touch all corners of our service territory across the state. It’s another way we’re transitioning to cleaner forms of generation in a responsible fashion,” Forck said. The Neighborhood Solar program is part of Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan, which includes thousands of electric projects designed to create a smarter, stronger, more reliable energy grid and introduce new sources of renewable energy, all while keeping rates stable and predictable. Ameren Missouri plans to install 100 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation by 2027. The Neighborhood Solar program, along with Community Solar and the recently announced Solar + Storage program, all fit into those plans. The additional solar generation, along with investments to own at least 700 MW of new wind generation will help Ameren Missouri achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 based on 2005 levels.
www.byerlyrv.com
4 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2019
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A new era
COLLIER’S F H
Creve Coeur holds ribbon cutting to celebrate newly constructed police station
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The city of Creve Coeur held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the newly constructed Creve Coeur Police Station on Oct. 7. Mayor Barry Glantz and Chief Glenn Eidman spoke briefly at the beginning of the ceremony, thanking the community for their support. “I would like to thank the citizens of Creve Coeur for putting their trust and confidence in their city government by approving a bond issue in 2016, and thereby making this state-of-the-art facil-
ity possible,” said Mayor Glantz. Helen Casteel, in-district liaison for Senator Jill Schupp, presented a Senate resolution to Mayor Glantz during the ceremony, recognizing this milestone in Creve Coeur history. Approved by voters in November 2016, this $10.7 million bond project first broke ground in February 2018. The Creve Coeur Police Department officially moved into the new building during late August when construction was substantially completed.
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The Community News was the recipient of five awards in the Missouri Press Association 2019 Better Newspaper Contest. The Community News won first and second place in the Magazine/Alternative Publication category for CrossRoads and Our Town magazines respectively. Community News columnist Cindy Moore received second place in the Best Columnist-Humorous category. Staff writer Brett Auten was the recipi-
ent of a third place award for Best Sports Feature Story and a third place award for Best Story About the Outdoors. “It is always an honor to be recognized by the Missouri Press Association,” said Community News Publisher/Editor-inChief Mathew DeKinder. “Our staff works very hard to provide the high quality of coverage our readers have come to expect. These awards are a reflection of that hard work and dedication.”
Get your event or good news published in:
email your information in calendar and article formats to editor@mycnews.com. NOVEMBER 2019 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
Changing the world
GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MISSOURI
Local Eastern Missouri Girl Scout earns national recognition
Local Girl Scout Lauren Vanlandingham, has been named by Girl Scouts of the USA as a 2019 National Gold Award Girl Scout.
Local Girl Scout Lauren Vanlandingham, has been named by Girl Scouts of the USA as a 2019 National Gold Award Girl Scout. She is one of 10 exceptionally inspiring Girl Scouts honored nationally with the organization’s highest distinction for taking action to improve today’s most pressing issues. Fueled by passion, persistence, and a resistance to accept the status quo, the National Gold Award Girl Scouts were selected from an impressive pool of this year’s Gold Award Girl Scouts for their extraordinary leadership and ability to develop lasting solutions—and achieve remarkable results—for critical issues in their communities and beyond. Girl Scouts who earn the Gold Award not only change the world for the better, they change it for good. Driven by a diagnosis that affected her family among millions of others around the world, Vanlandingham addressed the mental and emotional health of cancer patients and their caregivers. She initiated a letter-writing campaign ultimately delivering thousands of hopeful messages to patients, survivors and family members. To increase her reach, Vanlandingham developed an interactive website as a platform where people can write or request a letter. Determined to ensure the longevity of her message, she then authored and distributed a book, “Stories of Hope: Be the Light,” SCOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 6 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2019
AroundTown SCOUT FROM PAGE 6 which includes 10 individuals’ stories and advice to those looking to inspire a loved one with cancer. Vanlandingham’s book is available for purchase on Amazon— she uses the proceeds to print and donate copies to doctor’s offices and oncology centers across the nation. “What made my Girl Scout Gold Award so meaningful to me was that I was able to pursue my passions and make a lasting impact,” Vanlandingham said. “I’ve always loved being a volunteer in the cancer community but the Gold Award process encouraged me to look for a way to make a sustainable change in the emotional healing of those affected by cancer.” National Gold Award Girl Scout nominations underwent a rigorous multi-round review process. Finalist applications were reviewed by a panel of previous National Gold Award Girl Scouts, leaders from a diverse array of fields, GSUSA staff, National Volunteer partners, and representatives from the Kappa Delta Foundation and Arconic Foundation. This year’s National Gold Award Girl Scouts will receive a combined $100,000 in college scholarships from Susan Bulkeley Butler, founder of a women’s leadership development organization and a former member of the Girl Scouts of the USA Board of Directors. The Kappa Delta Foundation and Arconic Foundation also each generously contributed $50,000 in college scholarships for the 2019 cohort. “This year’s National Gold Award Girl Scouts have truly distinguished themselves as visionary leaders,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “In a time when an increasing number of young people are using their voices to come together and take action, these girls stand out. They have made an incredible impact in the worlds of STEM, education, agriculture, the environment, civil rights, and beyond. While they are making the world a better place, they are also investing in themselves; Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to earn college scholarships and achieve higher education and career outcomes, and they can enlist in the military at a higher pay grade. We’re proud to support Girl Scouts across the country as they drive meaningful and lasting change in their communities and beyond.”
The RVer who came in from the cold By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV Most RVers in December are heading south or storing their RV, but not Adrienne. She is heading for Harmonie State Park in Indiana. Piddle here, piddle there, but finally at 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 she’s off. Her first stop is at Quality Times RV Park in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. So far, so good except she couldn’t get hot water. She calls service in the morning. How many ways can you turn three bypass valves until you get hot water? She continues down Highway 64 from Mt. Vernon and turns south at Carmi following the banks of the Wabash River toward New Harmony. New Harmony is one of those places that was out of the way a hundred years ago and is still out of the way. But people find it and pay tribute to its charm and uniqueness. Harmonie State Park is still open. Hiking trails are the attraction for Adrienne. In the evening she listens to CDs until the batteries die in the second act of “Carmen!” She calls to report that the weather is OK, but a little cloudy and the house battery is dead. Sunday night the rain starts and continues for 14 hours. When she calls I comment “you are lucky it isn’t snow.” She replies: “I know. It’s cold here and the campground is almost flooded. I better get out of here before everything turns to ice.” But she did find the kill switch for the house battery.The weather gets worse. I can imagine the tenseness of driving through snow driven by 40 mph winds and a wind chill of zero degrees. She calls. “I’m 27 miles from St. Louis according to the last sign. I didn’t stop over in Mt. Vernon. The motorhome is warm inside, except when I switch from heat to defrost. Then my feet get cold. I am at a rest area. I should be home in about an hour.” I felt like the guy in the light house trying to coax a ship to shore during a storm, except I got no light! About 7:05 p.m. on the longest day, the Fourwinds creeps down our narrow Kirkwood street. Adrienne deftly backs into grandma’s level driveway and just sits in the driver’s seat letting the adrenaline bleed off. I approach the motorhome, “Have a nice trip?” She replies, “Yeah, let’s go in and see mom and I’ll tell you all about it.” “Mom” has traveled through 47 states since the 1950s in their 1954 Byerly trailer. The two veteran RVers talk about the adventure like it was just another trip. As for me, I was glad the ordeal was over, and I didn’t even go! RVs create memories, some more vivid than others. Create your own memories in an RV from Byerly in Eureka, Missouri. Follow us on Facebook and check us out at www.byerlyrv.com or call 636-938-2000.
Byerly RV | 295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com
Worth the Drive
NOVEMBER 2019 | OUR TOWN | 7
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Miles of smiles Delta Dental of Missouri awards $141,000 in oral health grants to aid Missouri residents
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8 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2019
To help meet the dental health needs of children and adults, Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s leading dental benefits provider – recently awarded $141,000 in grant funding to five organizations in St. Louis and Hannibal, Missouri. This support is part of more than $1.2 million in funding commitments through the company’s 2019 Mission Giving Program, which supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free care to children and adults in need. “Our mission is to improve oral health and help everyone at every age have a healthy smile,” said Rob Goren, president and chief executive officer at Delta Dental of Missouri. “We’re excited to support a number of Missouri organizations to help more people access vital dental care and educational services, so they can live better lives through improved dental health.” The $141,000 in grant funding was awarded to the following organizations: • $75,000 – Give Kids A Smile (St. Louis) – to help provide comprehensive dental care to children in need throughout the St. Louis region through free, biannual clinics • $10,000 – St. Louis County Library Foundation (St. Louis) – to further the Born to Read Program, which distributes educational materials with information about oral health during a child’s first year of life to new parents at seven St. Louis County hospitals • $25,000 – Clarity Healthcare (Hannibal, Missouri.) – to expand the comprehensive dental care provided to mothers with low incomes and children in Hannibal, Paris and other cities in Monroe County, as well as to those living in Pike County • $20,000 – Nine Network Public Media (St. Louis) – to expand the reach of Bright by Text, a statewide program that distributes oral health and child development information to a caregiver’s phone • $11,000 – Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (St. Louis) – to support its April Showers initiative, which collects and distributes personal care items for those in need, and will help connect families with dental care resources Delta Dental of Missouri’s more than $1.2 million in funding commitments include support for other key initiatives during the remainder of 2019. These include HealthWorks!® Kids’ Museum St. Louis, the Missouri Dental Sealant Program, the Healthy Kids Express Dental Program, as well as Missouri dental student loan repayment programs, which encourage dentists to serve in areas of need in exchange for assistance with repayment of educational loans. Delta Dental of Missouri’s 2019 Mission Giving Program will also help fund its long-running Land of Smiles® touring educational show, which visits hundreds of Missouri schools each year, teaching good dental health habits to tens of thousands of grade-schoolers. Remaining funds will be awarded in the coming months.
NonProfitProfile The stars come out to shine at the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival
Cinema St. Louis showcases the best in international, documentary and American independent cinema. Believing that we discover something about ourselves when we learn about others’ cultures and perspectives, Cinema St. Louis offers programs that provide glimpses of the human experience from around the world and thoughtfully address issues of race, ethnicity and sexual identity. The organization was founded in January 1992, when a consortium of nonprofits and universities was established to present the first St. Louis Film Festival in April 1992. The St. Louis Film Festival Inc. was subsequently established as a Missouri not-for-profit corporation in July 1992 and received its 501(c)3 status from the IRS in April 1993. In 2002, the organization was renamed Cinema St. Louis to reflect its commitment to year-round programming beyond the festival. Now in its 28th year, Cinema St. Louis (CSL) presents five annual events and co-presents additional film-related programming throughout the year. The organization’s premier event is the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). The 28th Annual SLIFF — held Nov. 7-17, 2019 — continues to provide the opportunity for St. Louis filmgoers to view the finest in world cinema — international films, documentaries, American indies, and shorts that can only be seen on the big screen at the festival. SLIFF will present our usual array of fest buzz films and Oscar contenders, including “The Apollo,” “Atlantics,” “The Chambermaid,” “Clemency,” “Cunningham,” “A Faithful Man,” “Frankie,” “A Hidden Life,” “Just Mercy,” “The Kill Team,” “Little Joe,” “Marriage Story,” “No-
mad,” “Olympic Dreams,” “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” “Premature,” “The Report,” “The Rest,” “Seahorse,” “The Song of Names,” “Sorry We Missed You,” “Synonyms,” “A Tramway in Jerusalem,” “The Traitor,” “The Truth,” “The Two Popes,” “Waves,” “The Whistlers,” “The Wild Goose Lake,” and “Zombi Child.” SLIFF also honors three significant film figures with our annual awards: Josh Aronson and Brad Schiff with Charles Guggenheim Cinema St. Louis Awards; and Lisa Cortés with a Women in Film Award. As part of SLIFF, CSL presents the annual Georgia Frontiere Cinema for Students Program, which offers free screenings (both at venues and in schools) to St. Louis-area elementary, middle, and high schools. Beyond SLIFF, CSL has also steadily increased its year-round presence with additional programming. Since 2002, CSL has annually presented the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, held in July, which highlights work made by filmmakers with St. Louis roots. CSL also holds individual screenings, film series, and educational programs throughout the year. In 2011, for example, CSL presented the highly successful Vincentennial, a 10-day celebration of native St. Louisan Vincent Price’s 100th birthday. CSL frequently works in conjunction with other St. Louis organizations, including collaborations with Citygarden, St. Louis Public Radio, St. Louis Science Center, Washington University’s Film & Media Archive, Webster University Film Series, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Public Library, Missouri History Museum, and Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
NOVEMBER 2019
| OUR TOWN |
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PHOTOS COURTESY MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Growing strong Missouri Baptist University in West St. Louis County has seen much growth and change since it was founded in 1964 BY CHARLOTTE BEARD Missouri Baptist University (MBU), main campus located in West St. Louis County, has seen much growth as an educational institution since it broke ground on 81 acres in 1964. When classes began for Missouri Baptist College in 1968, the school had under 200 students enrolled and Liberal Arts and Religion were the only programs offered. Today the university has over nine undergraduate academic divisions (including online and study abroad programs) and seven graduate academic divisions (including online programs). Most recently, MBU received approval from the Missouri Board of Nursing in 2018 to offer nursing degrees and the Master of Social Work Program will begin Fall 2020.
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MBU currently has a special focus on its public relations program under the Fine Arts Division. Dr. Amanda Staggenborg, Associate Division Chair for Communication and Assistant Professor of Public Relations states, “The public relations program is unique in the St. Louis area because our students are doing real-world client work. We work with small businesses and organizations around the St. Louis area. The students get experience working on real campaigns for clients. In every class that we teach in communications we focus less on theory and more on what’s practical when applied because public relations is something that you can really only learn by doing.”
“In every class that we teach in communications we focus less on theory and more on what’s practical when applied because public relations is something that you can really only learn by doing.” ~Dr. Amanda Staggenborg, Assistant Professor of Public Relations In addition, MBU states that it is the only university in Missouri that offers courses in public relations as it pertains to churches. The institution has found in recent years, more faith-based organizations have been hiring public relations professionals to help represent them in the public sector. MBU’s growth in academic offerings appears to be supported by its continual growth in enrollment since 1968 when it had under 200 students. The undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2018 was 4,413 students and graduate enrollment was 900 students. “The 2019-2020 full time freshman class increased by 13 percent from a year ago,” stated Staggenborg. “We’re really proud that it’s the record-breaking freshman class joining the largest number of returning students. Also, the number of students that
are living on campus has increased by (approximately) six percent since last year.” Staggenborg shared that the institution first made housing available during its 1979-1980 school year. Sources state that in 1995 the institution doubled its housing capacity when it opened North Hall. According to Staggenborg, MBU’s latest ethnic diversity stats for enrollment fall under the following classifications: 65.7 percent white or non-Hispanic, seven percent - black/African American, 0.8 percent - American Indian/Alaskan, 0.2 percent - Hispanic, +1 percent - Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.3 percent - two or more races, 20.9 percent - unknown. Along with enrollment growth, MBU does have a special interest in diversity. In addition to the public relations curriculum, Staggenborg also teaches cross-cultural education. The curriculum requires students to independently choose and research various St. Louis neighborhoods (which they visit), not limited to its architecture, its history, and how it is viewed by the media. Annually MBU hosts Media Talk, a free speaker series that brings media experts to the MBU campus. The next Media Talk will be November 19, 1 - 2 pm on the main campus at Performance Hall, 1 College Park Drive. Guest speaker will be William “Bill” Federer. For more information visit https://www.mobap.edu.
NOVEMBER 2019 | OUR TOWN | 11
OurThoughts
Thank s s e n d o Go
MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
S
ince this is the season when food is in fashion, I need to make a critical observation: I think we are seriously running out of menu ideas. Back in the prehistoric days - B.C. (before cellphones), there were limited choices on most things, even dinner. One had to make do with a leftover cream-of-something casserole for supper. Now the options are limitless, but everything is so high tech and fast-paced, who has time to cook? Society today demands more instant gratification, more fast food, more drive-through windows…err, wait! Forget the drive-through windows (so last century). Now fast food must be even faster. DoorDash and Grubhub must deliver it to our doorstep lickety-split and piping hot. And we no longer need to go inside the market to shop for our food. Using our phones, we can order groceries online and pick them up curbside. Or if it’s one of those, I-don’t-want-to-getdressed-and-interact-with-humans days, you can lounge around in your undies and phone in your groceries to be brought to your house, (but for the love of all that cannot be unseen, please put your pants on before answering the door). But alas, it seems the citizens are once again bored. They have tried every combination imaginable and have grown wearisome. Even Tacos ‘R’ Us can’t appease their customer’s short attention span and are running out of ideas. The fast foodie marketers had to invent new enticing names and concoctions to lure the public; things like the Triple Jalapeno Butt Buster Burrito slathered in gravy and topped with spicy diablo gummy bears. Then it came…the health craze. “No!” said the public, “We want healthy. It sounds fun!” The Butt Buster was garnished with kale and tofu sprinkles to satisfy the demand. And the hamburger patties were made from alfalfa. But alas, that too has run its course. There is no more room for originality. But still the public petitions for change. Okay public, you insisted, you got it. Here are just a few actual bizarre foods that have come about: Hot dog flavored ice cream, cucumber Sprite, cotton candy flavored cheese balls, coffee flavored potato chips, cereal flavored beer, pizza and spaghetti-flavored slushies, Thanksgiving flavored gumballs and of course, to ring in the season properly, pumpkin spice flavored SPAM. This is also the season to be thankful. Umm, bored public, thanks for nothin’. 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
AVALANCHE
The Hike Driving up to the trailhead in the mountains, there was more baggage on board than simply my overloaded backpack. Staci and I had spent much time in this mountain range, enough that we had once owned a small home here, our very own basecamp a few miles away from the mountains, out on the high desert. Life had different plans for us than what we had expected, and we had to sell the place about fifteen years ago; I hadn’t been back since. Despite the range’s desolate grandeur, I’d spent the next decade-and-a-half deliberately staying away, with only one planned return excursion that got canceled. There had been much disappointment and no opportunity to put it to rest – until now. Along the seven-hour drive, I could see that the traffic volume had at least doubled. Granted, doubling a small number still yields a relatively small number, but we used to be able to drive for miles and not see another car. Now, there were always vehicles ahead and behind, going both ways. Arriving at the small ranch town that I had frequented from the early 80’s until about 2005, I was only somewhat surprised that there were now two traffic lights on the main street. Granted, they were only pedestrian lights, manually activated, but the town (and county) used to boast of the lack of such annoyances with well-justified pride. Getting over my culture shock wasn’t too difficult, as I had reserved a room at a lake resort right at the base of the mountains. Sleep came easy listening to the windwhipped waves right outside my room.
A decent amount of snow had fallen in the mountains during my drive up, and arriving at the trailhead the following morning was like meeting an old friend. Most of the fair-weather hikers and campers had retreated to more comfortable accommodations. Just one other hiker and I were making our way into the mountains as the day began. Like me, he’d been coming to these mountains for many years, and while bemoaning the increasingly crowded conditions in and near town, he assured me that after about 10 miles in, things were just as wild as they used to be. My pack was weighed down with a little over 20 lbs. of ice climbing gear, a similar amount of food, and enough warm and fuzzy goodness that I could stay comfortable and dry during what would prove to be early winter conditions. As it turned out, I used – and needed – pretty much everything I brought, which would justify the painfully large lump on my back. I had worked hard over the summer lifting weights, hiking with a heavy pack, and doing a lot of pushups and pullups for hiking and climbing endurance. It certainly paid off, but there’s just no substitute for the robust health and strength of youth. A couple of extra decades, a career-ending injury, and a small handful of surgeries made my pack seem much heavier than a similar weight would have in years gone by. As the day went on, an assortment of hikers passed me going in. Most were day hikers, unburdened by a week’s worth of food and gear. Many of them seemed to have not left the city behind, as they were moving
fast, looking at and talking on phones, and generally behaving as if they were still on the highway. Despite not having been here in years, the trail was still familiar; several miles through fairly dense woods, some occasional eyepopping vistas, then seemingly interminable up and down segments of rocky pathway which crossed several fault lines. A lake eight miles from the trailhead had always been a popular location to stop and camp, and it was very, very popular when I arrived, with people camping and fishing just about everywhere one could see. I continued on for a couple more miles, leaving the main trail and going up a little-used side trail for some privacy. Even with this effort, I stumbled upon a camp and two campers where I had hoped to drop my now burdensome and disliked pack, so I kept walking for another half-mile, where I found a nicely secluded spot to camp for the night. Once my camp was set up and dinner was finished, I spent the rest of the daylight hours settling into and appreciating the mountains where I would spend the next week. (Next month: High camp)
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.
NOVEMBER 2019
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OurLifestyle
2019
HYUNDAI PALISADE is an
SUV that prioritizes safety and luxury
Imported from Korea, the all-new 2020 Hyundai Palisade mid-size SUV recently received a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This achievement is defined by a vehicle that attains notable ratings in the driver and front passenger-side area plus roof strength and head-restraint testing. It must also earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and be equipped with exceptionally rated headlights. Additionally, the standard front crash prevention system on Palisade earned a superior rating with its “auto-brake system” that successfully avoided collisions in both the 12 and 25-mph IIHS track tests. “Hyundai’s commitment to building safe vehicles is at the forefront of every product plan,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. Of course, many consumers strongly consider crash test results with their new vehicle shopping. That’s coupled with the likelihood of more attractive insurance rates on a vehicle that has notable test results as well. After having recently driven the Palisade, it’s one very impressive family oriented SUV. From end to end, it hints on being in the “near luxury category” with essentially countless creature comforts and factory amenities. The vehicle is quite contemporary with its head-turning body lines and well-thought-out styling. It combines prestige with respectability within an unmistakable theme that showcases a clear characterization worthy of a flagship product that’s
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engineered to reach a vast customer base. Palisade’s lighting signature creates a strong distinctive setting with available LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED turn-signal mirrors. The reverenced and extended hood profile creates an impressive demeanor, while bold side C-pillars and a large greenhouse glass area emphasizes its generous third-row spaciousness. Muscular detailing with the SUV’s side and rear design emphasizes a stable posture. Their optional, sizable 20-inch alloy wheels further help fill out the Palisade’s flagship presence. The “Loft” inspired interior combines a sense of relaxation and coziness creating a serene environment with eight-passenger seating. Palisade offers abundant technology including the latest navigation system plus wireless charging pad for compatible devices. Power is generated from an Atkinsoncycle 3.8-liter V-6, direct-injected engine. It offers up gutsy power as well as fuel efficiency and produces close to 300 horsepower. Engine output is thus telegraphed to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and offers both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations. Special engineering efforts were made to reduce unwanted road noise with uncommon sound-deadening materials throughout. With superior suspension and brake tuning, coupled with a very lengthy list of safety enhancements, I’m certain that once you compare this SUV against the likes of the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Nissan
Pathfinder and the Ford Explorer, you too will be very impressed. It’s offered in three trim levels (SE, SEL, Limited) with pricing ranging from $31,550 - $46,400. Shipping charges come out to be $1,095 and the EPA numbers show 19-mpg city/26-mpg highway with front-wheel-drive models. The Limited model I drove had an MSRP of $47.605 and included a five-year/60,000 mile base warranty. 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
Disney ups the ante in the streaming wars Twenty years ago, Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings founded Netflix, a startup company that redefined home entertainment. At the time, VHS (Video Home System) tapes were still being rented and sold, but DVD’s were becoming more and more popular thanks to their compact size and quality. Randolph and Hastings created a business model where rented movies were received and returned by mail, eliminating the need to rush to the video store to avoid a late fee. Netflix also became a pioneer in streaming movies online and creating content for their platform, in particular shows based on Marvel Comics characters. “Stranger Things,” an original Netflix offering, has a tremendous following and the series creators reportedly signed a deal to create more shows. The company has built up billions in debt to build a library of content, however, but their stock price currently hovers around $270 per share. Netflix has been the king of streaming, but the landscape has shifted. The Walt Disney Company will soon offer Disney+, a streaming service with competitive pricing and decades of family entertainment.
Over the last 15 years, Disney also became the guardian of the Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universes as well as assets from Fox. Subscribers will be able to watch classic content and stream new releases after they leave theaters. Disney recently upped the ante by offering Verizon customers 12 months of Disney+ free of charge. Those who have been happy with Netflix get to try out what the House of Mouse has to offer, and Disney hopes they continue after the free trial is over. It’s a brilliant move, especially with planned spin-off shows based on popular characters from the MCU. The Walt Disney Company is not the only one taking aim at Netflix. AT&T acquired Time Warner assets and announced its plans for its own streaming service. In what seems like a crowded market, some analysts still aren’t sure how the telecommunications giant will fare. Still, the overwhelming success of “Joker” in theaters shows that AT&T has power and leverage in the streaming wars. Other powerhouses are establishing footholds as well. Apple TV+, an enhanced streaming service, will offer content from
various sources as well as Apple’s original content. YouTube, which offers a seemingly unlimited amount of content, has popular shows like “Cobra Kai” to attract viewers. Over at Amazon, their Prime members get access to the company’s streaming services as part of their subscription. So, what does this mean for Netflix? It has some of the best content creators under contract and a library of movies to draw upon plus brand loyalty. Still, when names like Apple, Disney and Amazon flex their muscles, the king of streaming media just might get dethroned.
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. NOVEMBER 2019
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OurLifestyle
Peanut-powered protein Nutritious ideas for flavor-filled family meals
Sitting down for a homemade meal may feel harder to come by these days, but recipes that are both nutritious and flavorful can help bring your loved ones together at the family table. From morning to night, these breakfast, dinner, side and dessert recipes from the Georgia Peanut Commission provide power-packed solutions loaded with protein to help your family take on a full schedule while coming together for memorable meals and moments. Find more recipe ideas for meals throughout the day at gapeanuts.com.
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Recipe courtesy of Parker Wallace of Parker’s Plate on behalf of the Georgia Peanut Commission Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 4 Ingredients:
Peanut Sauce:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 teaspoons chili garlic sauce 1/2 lime, juice only 2-3 garlic cloves, pressed or grated 2 tablespoons fresh ginger 1 teaspoon fish sauce 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk 4 tablespoons warm water, plus additional, if necessary
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Lettuce Wraps: 2 1 1 4 3 1/2 1 1 1/4
heads Boston or butter lettuce pound cooked chicken red bell pepper, thinly sliced green onion, sliced carrots, shredded and grated cucumber, sliced into matchsticks bunch fresh basil bunch fresh mint cup crushed peanuts sliced limes, for garnish
Directions: To make Peanut Sauce: In small saucepan over low heat, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic sauce, lime juice, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, milk and water. Add more water for thinner sauce, if desired. To make Lettuce Wraps: Fill lettuce leaves with chicken and Peanut Sauce; top with bell pepper, onion, carrots, cucumber, basil and mint. Sprinkle crushed peanuts on top and garnish with lime slices.
OurLifestyle
Peanut Butter Breakfast Bread Pudding with Maple Peanut Sauce
Peanut Power Bowl
Recipe courtesy of the Georgia Peanut Commission
Recipe courtesy of Parker Wallace of Parker’s Plate on behalf of the Georgia Peanut Commission
Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 35-40 minutes | Servings: 4
Ingredients: Butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup creamy peanut 4 cups cubed brioche Ingredients: butter, divided or challah bread, cut 1 cup shredded carrots Peanut Dressing: 2 eggs into 3/4-inch cubes 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 avocado, sliced 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup pure maple syrup 3/4 cup full-fat coconut milk, 1 cup spiralized zucchini or 2/3 cup milk 1/3 cup crushed peanuts butternut squash plus additional, if desired 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla powdered sugar, for 1/2 cup pomegranate arils lime juice extract garnish 1 cup mandarin pieces Directions: 1/2 cup roasted peanuts Bowl: Heat oven to 350 F. Butter four 4-ounce ramekins. chopped cilantro, for 1 cup cooked farro or garnish quinoa In bowl, mix 1/3 cup peanut butter, eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and green onions, for 1/2 cup chopped cabbage salt. Toss bread cubes in mixture until thoroughly coated. Divide evenly among prepared dishes. Bake until custard is set in middle Directions: and tops are golden, about 35-40 minutes. If tops of bread brown To make Peanut Dressing: In bowl, whisk peanut butter, coconut too quickly, cover ramekins loosely with aluminum foil. milk and lime juice until smooth. Add coconut milk, if necessary, to In small saucepan over low heat, combine remaining peanut butachieve desired consistency. ter and maple syrup until thoroughly warmed. To make bowl: Layer farro or quinoa then top with cabbage, carrots, avocado, zucchini or squash, pomegranate arils, mandarin To serve, drizzle ramekins with maple-peanut sauce and garnish pieces, peanuts and Peanut Dressing. Garnish with cilantro and with chopped peanuts and powdered sugar. green onions. Substitution: Whole wheat rolls may be used in place of brioche or
Prep time: 15 minutes | Servings: 2
challah bread.
Peanut Butter Squares
Recipe courtesy of Southern Peanut Growers
Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Yield: 24 squares
Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray 1 package (17 1/2 ounces) peanut butter cookie mix 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon water 1 egg 3 cups miniature marshmallows
2/3 cup light corn syrup 2 tablespoons butter 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 bag (10 ounces) peanut butter chips 2 cups crispy rice cereal 2 cups salted roasted peanuts
Directions: Heat oven to 350 F. Spray 13-by-9-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, oil, water and egg until soft dough forms. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until set. Sprinkle marshmallows over crust. Bake 1-2 minutes until marshmallows begin to puff. Remove from oven.
In 4-quart saucepan over low heat, heat corn syrup, butter, vanilla and peanut butter chips, stirring constantly until chips are melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in cereal and peanuts; spoon mixture evenly over marshmallow layer. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until firm. Cut into bars and serve.
NOVEMBER 2019
| OUR TOWN | 17
InDepth
Steering towards a better future
Partnership between Epworth Children & Family Services and LETA Charitable Foundation helps provide vehicles to young people in need BY CHARLOTTE BEARD
The partnership between Epworth Children & Family Services (located at 7520 Natural Bridge Rd.) and Frank Leta’s LETA Charitable Foundation have made a great impact on the transportation needs of 30 older youth since 2017. The implementation of United Way’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program at Epworth has made it possible for these youth to acquire quality pre-owned automobiles from Frank Leta’s family of dealerships. Deanna Allsman, Epworth’s Assistant Director of Older Youth Service stated, “We have been in partnership with the United Way IDA program since about 2009. There are several different assets that the youth can purchase with their matched funds which the United Way provides; a vehicle is one of those (assets).” People who enroll in Epworth’s youth program before their 25th birthday can continue with Epworth’s services going forward. The IDA program helps the older youth learn financial management skills, as well as establish a savings account. Participants can save a maximum of $1,000 and receive a $2,000 match from the United Way. The partnership with the LETA Charitable Foundation matches the IDA amount for an additional $3,000 for cars purchased at a Frank Leta dealership. “Over the years we struggled with the vehicle part for the youth,” stated Allsman. “Most of our youth don’t have any credit and they lack co-signers. So, they were purchasing vehicles for $2,000 to $3,000 which means they’re not getting the most reliable vehicles out there. (We had) been talking about how we can
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assist these youth in connecting them with a car dealership that would provide them with a reasonable finance option so they could purchase more reliable vehicles.” The partnership recently marked the purchase of its 30th car since the program began. Juliona Wease bought a 2012 Kia Rio from Frank Leta Acura thanks to the foundation and the IDA program. Wease is a 22-year-old mother of two who participated in the partnership because she needed a reliable car to get back and forth to work and to pick her children up from daycare. She is currently attending school at Strayer University and studying business management. Allsman stated that in 2017 while Epworth’s former chief development officer was discussing the transportation issues of its youth with Steve Brown, General Manager of Frank Leta Acura, Epworth’s officer discovered that the LETA Charitable Foundation partnered with other agencies to assist them with acquiring vehicles for their clients. The conversation resulted in Allsman collaborating with the Foundation for Epworth’s youth. “They were very excited about the IDA program,” stated Allsman, “because the youth have an investment in the money. (The youth) are attending the financial education classes and they’re saving their own money – they’re already invested in this process.” “We had a relationship with (Epworth) prior to forming our foundation,” stated Brown. “When we formed the foundation, we decided that we wanted to focus on helping people who hadn’t already had a chance in life to be productive members of society and maybe they were dealt a bad hand. We wanted to give them a ‘hand-up.’ Some of these kids who go through the Epworth program have had a challenging beginning to their life. We felt a partial donation of a vehicle would allow them the mobility that they would need to transport themselves to work or school, or if they have children. Any of those situations are a lot more challenging in St. Louis when you don’t have personal transportation. So, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for the people who have already shown initiative and determination to make something of themselves – not (letting) their past predict their future.” Allsman explained further how the LETA Charitable Foundation’s partnership makes the $6,000 possible for acquiring one of the dealership’s automobiles. “Not only is (the foundation) contributing the $3,000,” stated Allsman, “they are taking (the purchase of) that vehicle down to ‘cost.’ They are not going to make any profit off these vehicles that they are selling to our youth. That $6,000 goes to the purchase of the vehicle. Our real goal is that we don’t want the youth to have to finance. This gives them a nice reliable vehicle for their first vehicle purchase. We did have one youth who decided she could afford to finance a little additional for her vehicle, so Frank Leta really worked on getting her a reasonable finance rate.” Brown shared that ancillary products (warranty, maintenance, etc.) are also sold at cost. According to Allsman, the allotment of two years to save money to qualify for the foundation’s match is a requirement
SUBMITTED PHOTO
InDepth
Juliona Wease bought a 2012 Kia Rio from Frank Leta Acura thanks to the LETA Charitable foundation and Epworth’s Individual Development Account program, which is funded by the United Way and implemented by Epworth.
of the United Way program. With approval from the United Way, that timeline may be extended in some cases. Additionally, Allsman shared that participants are not required to save the full $1,000; a two-to-one match is possible with a savings of $500. However, there will be less available funding for a vehicle purchase. Participants may opt to use their IDA savings and matched funds from the United Way towards other major needs such as a security deposit for a new apartment, furniture, secondary education, or a bicycle and helmet in lieu of a car, for example. All youth are required to be employed to participate in the IDA program, and must attend 16 hours of financial literacy hosted at Epworth. The United Way secures all presenters for the classes. In addition to these presenters who are United Way partners from financial institutions, the University of Missouri-St. Louis facilitates some classes at Epworth’s facility. “The staff members at Frank Leta that have helped our youth purchase the vehicles have been so extremely helpful for them,” shared Allsman. “They really take the time to explain what they need to be looking for when they’re purchasing a vehicle. We teach that to youth in a classroom setting – what to look for. But when they’re going to put that information into practice – the staff at Frank Leta take the time to care enough to explain the whole process to these youth.” NOVEMBER 2019
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NOVEMBER 3 8
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Labor Day Daylight Savings Time Ends Centene Community Ice Center Grand Opening Celebration Trivia night The Centene Community The Midas Hospitality Family Foundation will host its third Ice Center’s community Grand Opening Celebration is set from annual “A Night for the Children” trivia at Orlando’s Event10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.at 750 Casino Center Dr. in Maryland Heights. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin and Conference Centers at 2050 Dorsett Village in Maryland 11 trivia a.m. begins followed by an entire day and evening of activities. Heights. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.atand at 7 Outdoor activities for the whole family will wrap up at 3 p.m. p.m. Tickets for the trivia night are $25 per person or $200 Some highlights of the for a table of eight. For more information or to sign up,day include a showcase of local hockey, live music, giveaways and multiple free public skating sessions. Preemail familyfoundation@midashospitality.com or call 314registration will be required for public skating during the Grand 692-0100. Opening Celebration and is open now at www.eventbrite.com/e/ public-skating-tickets-65274862872. For more information about Marine Corps Birthday the facility, Learn to Skate programs or public skating, visit www. marylandheights.com/IceCenter.
Veterans Day
Olivette Turkey Trot
National Grandparents Day
Join your family and friends for the 6th annual Olivette Patriot Day8 – 10 Turkey Trot 5K run/walk on Thanksgiving Day from a.m. at Stacey Park at 9750 Old Bonhomme in Olivette. All proceeds benefit the Harvey Kornblum Jewishin Food Pantry. Movie the park Visit https://www.olivettemo.com/511/Olivette-TurkeyThe city of Olivette hosts Movies in Our Parks with a free screening Trot-2019 for more information. of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” at Stacy Park at 9750 Old Bonhomme in Olivette. The movie begins at dusk. All are welcome. Bring your Thanksgiving Day coolers and lawn chairs. For more information call 314-991-1249.
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Black Friday
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day National POW/MIA Recognition Day Family Overnight A gentle introduction to camping for the whole family. Bring your sleeping bag and tent, and the city of Olivette will supply the rest at Stacy Park at 9750 Old Bonhomme in Olivette. Fee of $12 per person or $39 for a family of four includes dinner, dessert, campfire activity, night hike, stargazing (skies permitting), and breakfast. Overnight begins at 5 p.m. on Friday night a n d ends Saturday morning at 9 a.m. For more information call 314-991-1249 or email opr@ olivettemo.com.
First Day of Fall BIGSTOCK