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2 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2019

Our Town Volume 10 | Number 2 FEBRUARY 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

N THIS SSUE

Around Town MDC celebrates 50th anniversary of Urban Fishing Program in St. Louis and more.

Our Thoughts 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:

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

Moore on Life author Cindy Moore examines our love affair with cats while Avalanche muses on bits and pieces of life in the mountains.

Feature The world comes to Maryland Heights Annual WorldFest: A Cultural Arts Celebration displays international arts at the Maryland Heights Community Center. By Charlotte Beard

Lifestyle 2019 Jeep Compass takes SUV drivers to the great outdoors in style in Automobile Alley. “Glass” marks the completion of one of the strangest trilogies in movie history in Entertainment. Family-favorite comfort foods in For the Love of Food.

In Depth Hazelwood-based KidSmart brings school supplies into over 3,000 underserved classrooms in need.

Events Calendar

Staff Writer – Charlotte Beard Cover Photo – Submitted

10 12 14 18 20

AroundTown

Casting a line

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Urban Fishing Program (UFP). MDC plans to spend the year celebrating and invites metro area anglers to join in. The UFP was originally initiated in 1969 by the federal government during a time when civil unrest was causing tensions in many cities across the country. Their goal was to bring close-to-home fishing to people and infuse a positive influence into urban communities. The program launched in six cities, including St. Louis with the cooperation of MDC and the St. Louis Parks and Recreation Department. It was a resounding success in the Gateway City. MDC took over the UFP in 1972 and eventually expanded it into St. Louis County and Kansas City. What started out mainly as a warm weather fishing program got a cold weather boost in the early 1990’s when winter trout stocking and fishing were added. The UFP also eventually lead to funds for lake and habitat improvements being made available in the form of cost share arrangements with city and county partners. These Community Assistance Program agreements created both better accessibility for anglers and habitat for fish, in many cases developing self-sustaining populations of sportfish such as bass, bluegill and crappie. The program currently includes 17 lakes within St. Louis City and County. It remains the oldest and one of the largest urban fishing programs in the nation. To celebrate this 50th anniversary, MDC will stock approximately twice the number of lunker rainbow trout during the winter trout seasons with some fish weighing up to 10 pounds A new urban fishing website with tools to help metro area anglers catch more fish has been created at https://bit.ly/2Fru9p6.

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

MDC celebrates 50th anniversary of Urban Fishing Program in St.

Since it began in 1969, MDC’s Urban Fishing Program has brought five decades of close-tohome fishing opportunities to the St. Louis metro area. MDC will celebrate the program’s 50th Anniversary throughout 2019.

Competition among metro area high school angling teams will continue in the Fish St. Louis Cup (#FISHSTLCup), as the series of fishing challenges culminates in tournament finals this spring. Urban anglers are invited to share photos of their catches throughout the year on the “brag board” by posting to their favorite social media account and tagging with #MoUrbanFishing. For a complete list and details on St. Louis’ urban fishing lakes, go to https://bit.ly/2FzGlnc.

A leg up to college The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis provides funding and workshops for students heading to college The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is now accepting applications for its interest-free, fee-free student loan program. Postsecondary students of any age can apply for a renewable, interest-free loan of up to $11,000 annually if they meet the following requirements: • Be pursuing a first certificate or degree at an accredited, nonprofit college, university, or technical/trade school. • Demonstrate financial need. • Have achieved a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. • Be a permanent resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area, for at least two years prior to application. To apply for funding, students must complete the online general application and the foundation’s interest-free loan application on the St. Louis Graduates’ Scholarship Central website (myscholarshipcentral.org) by April 15. The Scholarship Foundation also provides free workshops to aid 4 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2019

students and families in successfully navigating the financial aid process and understanding college affordability. Currently scheduled workshops are listed below. Decision-Making: Using Award Letters to Assess Affordability will help students understand college award letters, compare financial aid packages, and determine next steps as they prepare to attend college. • Feb. 16 at 11:30 a.m. at Glen Carbon Centennial Library at 198 S. Main St. in Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Febr. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at The Scholarship Foundation at 6825 Clayton Ave. Suite 100 in St. Louis. • March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Library-Windsor Branch at 7479 Metropolitan Blvd. in Barnhart, Missouri. • March 27 at 6:30 p.m. at The Scholarship Foundation at 6825 Clayton Ave. Suite 100 in St. Louis. All workshops are free and open to the public. For more information please call 314-725-7990 or email info@sfstl.org.

AroundTown

Closer to a cure

Pedal the Cause funds seven new cancer research projects in St. Louis Research on colon cancer, breast cancer and acute myeloid leukemia are among the seven projects that will benefit from $2.1 million in new grants announced by Siteman Cancer Center through its Siteman Investment Program. Pedal the Cause is the major contributor of funds for these grants, which seed some of the most promising and innovative ideas in cancer research. In 2018, 3,598 riders, 1,200 volunteers, and over 40,000 donors made this possible with a total donation of $4,524,521 to Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Since 2010, Pedal the Cause has donated over $24.3 million to these two beneficiaries, funding 116 cancer research projects – 87 adult and 29 pediatric. One project, led by John Welsh, MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Section of Stem Cell Biology at the Washington University School of Medicine, aims to determine if two existing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) drugs are more effective when administered in combination. This project focuses on completing the required pre-clinical studies needed to form the justification for future clinical trials in AML.

Another project, led by Rebecca Aft, MD, PhD; Mark Watson, MD, PhD; and Leonel Hernandez-Aya, MD, will work to better understand how to develop new therapies to eliminate disseminated tumor cells in triple negative breast cancer patients in order to prevent the breast cancer from metastasizing. “These new projects are going deeper than ever before into the discoveries and advances that will compound to one day provide cures for cancer,” says Jay Indovino, Executive Director of Pedal the Cause. “As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Pedal the Cause in 2019, we are so proud of our community for all they have done and continue to do to fund this vital research that is changing the course of cancer.” “The funds we receive from Pedal the Cause are vitally important to our world-class cancer research and translational cancer care,” says Nick Fisher, Executive Director of Research & Business Administration at Siteman Cancer Center. “Our Washington University scientists and physicians work hard to transform this incredible donation into a new wave of discoveries aimed at treating, preventing and curing patients for years to come.”

Advertorial

Sleep for your heart’s sake blood pressure and an increased risk for coronary artery disease. In fact, recent large-scale studies have proven a direct correlation between sleep and your longterm risk of developing coronary artery disease and hypertension. How much sleep is enough? The answer isn’t the same for every person. However, we do know that somewhere between seven to nine hours per night is optimal. On the other hand, studies have shown that sleeping more than 11 hours per day also can be detrimental to your health. One of the most important things you can do on a daily basis is exercise. Not only does exercise improve your heart’s overall health, it will also improve your sleep. However, intense aerobic activity right before bed can make it harder

for your body to calm itself to sleep. Other tips to improve your sleep include limiting screen time a few hours before bed; reducing your caffeine Elie Azrak, MD, cardiology intake, especially in the afternoon and evening hours; and not eating late in the evening past 7 pm. Finally, try reading, meditating or doing yoga to help your body relax and wind down. At the end of the day, remember that it’s more than just a break from the busyness of life – deep, restorative sleep is healthy. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Sleep is important for overall heart health. It’s important that we allow our bodies the chance to rest and relax. Deep sleep allows your heart rate and blood pressure to decrease, which provides the tone your heart needs in order to properly function and regulate itself, according to Elie Azrak, MD, an SSM Health cardiologist at DePaul Hospital. It also improves your mood and the overall well-being of your body. The effects of poor sleep are almost immediate. Just one night of inadequate sleep can leave you feeling tired and fatigued and your heart rate and blood pressure tend to be higher. If poor sleep becomes habitual, you’ll see the daily effects become long-term, leading to a higher risk of cardiac rhythm disorders, higher heart rates, higher

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FEBRUARY 2019 | OUR TOWN | 5

AroundTown

New leadership

Advertorial

It’s show time!

Jewish Family & Children’s Service welcomes new CEO

SUBMITTED PHOTO

BY RUSS PATTON , OWNER BYERLY RV The 2019 RV Season officially began with the annual St. Louis Vacation and Travel Show at the St. Louis Convention Center, Jan. 31 through Feb. 3. The 42nd annual show was sponsored by the Midwest Gateway RV Dealers Association, the group of locally, family owned RV Dealers. Parts and Accessories. One of the show’s most popular features is the large RV parts store set up and operated by Byerly RV. Hundreds of RV Parts are on display and for sale. The model store is larger and more complete than found in most dealerships. But it is a fraction of the size of Byerly’s Parts and Accessory store in Eureka, Missouri. Largest RV Selection. Byerly displayed 40 models representing 28 different brands and models of RVs ranging from the versatile Sylvan Sport toy-hauler tent trailer in the $10,000 price range to the luxurious Phaeton Diesel Motorhome in the $400,000 range. Why 28 different brands? RV manufactures are creative dream makers. Byerly is your portal to the great diversity of designs and leading brands such as Coachmen, Winnebago, Tiffin Allegro, Thor and Forest River. Byerly is again the state’s leading seller of motorhomes, but also offers selection among competitive models of travel trailers, fifth wheels and sport utility vehicles. Unlike many dealers who target entry level, first-time buyer trailers , Byerly offers these, but our success is based upon retaining customers through their entire RV experience…”for the rest of your life, you gotta be there…in a Byerly RV.” Open Lot. Byerly’s sales representatives are experienced and dedicated to helping you make the right purchasing decision. You are free to walk around and explore. You shouldn’t feel the high pressure when entering the slow lane of RV fun. Enjoy your visit to Byerly RV, “The Center of the RV World” in Eureka, Missouri. And check us out on Facebook and at byerlyrv.com. e

th th Wor ive Dr

The Board of Directors of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of St. Louis (JF&CS) has appointed Miriam Seidenfeld as Chief Executive Officer effective Feb. 4. After a rigorous national search, Seidenfeld has been chosen to succeed L. Louis Albert in the role, which he has occupied for over 29 years. Albert will be stepping down as CEO but will continue to serve as a consultant for the agency over the coming months. “This is an ideal time to welcome Miriam as our next CEO,” remarked Board President Stephen Green. “Over the past 29 years the agency has grown and evolved immensely. In addition to our core counseling services, the agency added the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, which now feeds over 6,500 community members each month and the Child Abuse Prevention Program which reaches over 30,000 students each year. The needs of our community are increasing and changing and our financial and operational resources are evolving. We look forward to Miriam’s visionary leadership, experience and energy as she works with our qualified staff and other local agencies to identify the challenges and further increase the positive impact JF&CS has on the lives of those in need in our community.” Seidenfeld has more than 25 years of experience working with children and families in non-profit settings, and 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience. While Executive Director of Temple Israel in Minneapolis, the eighth largest Reform congregation in the U.S., she oversaw a $30M capital and endowment campaign, supervised a $20M building project, and led the development and implementation of an ambitious new strategic plan. Before her time with Temple Israel, she directed an innovative career development program for middle and high school youth living in the most underserved neighborhoods in New York City. Her skills in fundraising, strategic planning, management, and operations will guide JF&CS as it expands to meet the changing and growing needs of the community. Seidenfeld has spent the majority of her career in Minneapolis and New York City, receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Relations from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. She is looking forward to making St. Louis her home. “I am thrilled to be part of the next chapter of Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s uplifting story. I am honored to have been selected to lead this prominent organization that has impacted the lives of so many people over its 150year history. I am eager to meet and learn from all who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences of the St. Louis community – and to work together to continue providing compassionate support and innovative solutions to those facing life’s challenges.”

AroundTown

A meal for a meal TangoTab app, which donates to local food pantries every time a user dines out, looks to expand into St. Louis region

Many people are familiar with the annual dining-out fundraisers, such as Dining Out for Life that supports AIDS service organizations, or dining out events that may support other causes. However, most people may not be aware of the mobile app associated with various dining out restaurants around St. Louis that can provide some support to local food pantries all year long. TangoTab, founded by Andrea Angel, was launched as an app in Dallas, Texas in late 2013 and became available in St. Louis in 2018. “TangoTab started in Dallas and we are expanding around the country,” stated Nick Marino, Director of Social Change. “Currently we do not have a footprint in St. Louis but there are restaurants there (that can be accessed via the app); we just don’t have a lot of users. We haven’t been able to (donate) in the St. Louis area, but we do want people to know that it is available to use. Once that starts picking up that’s when we hope to make those donations to local areas.” St. Louis residents can dine with a cause at local restaurants such as Jack in the Box, Denny’s, Sonic Drive-In, and Longhorn Steakhouse (just to name a few) when they check in with the app upon arrival to the participating restaurant. Marino states, “We do meal for a meal. The cost of a meal for a food organization, that’s what we donate to them. So, whenever you dine out that’s how much we would donate through a monetary donation, or that we would put towards the food garden. For example, at The Bridge in Dallas, we haven’t been donating monetary funds directly to them. We’re building them a garden. So, from the funds (they would have received) we’ve compiled it (to) build an entire community a garden at The Bridge shelter, which will then provide a ton of food for a long time compared to (what would be received for) one meal. We’ll be building community gardens in areas

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

around the country. We’ll be building one in Tulsa later this year, one in Houston, and other places.” For dining out purposes, after a patron logs onto the TangoTab app from their mobile device they will find an option to access a list of local restaurants from which

“We haven’t been able to (donate) in the St. Louis area, but we do want people to know that it is available to use. Once that starts picking up that’s when we hope to make those donations to local areas.” ~Nick Marino, Director of Social Change

to choose. At the bottom of the selection the patron selects the “Count Me In” button. After arrival at the restaurant, the last step is to press ‘TANGOTAB IT’ at the bottom of the screen. “(Restaurants) pay a monthly flat fee and that is how we earn our money. We never ask for donations. So, the app is free to use for consumers and we make our money from the restaurants paying us to be on the

app. That’s how we’re able to donate as well.” There are three different pricing plans available to restaurants that desire to be listed on the app for patrons. TangoTab has a very specific way of choosing its local food pantry partnerships. Marino stated, “There’s a great organization here called Communities Foundation of Texas; they have a great framework on how to select organizations.” The framework shows them how to look at the organization’s potential to align with TangoTab’s vision. TangoTab looks at many factors as well as the sustainability of the potential food pantry for partnership. Their focus is to partner with farms, community gardens and organizations that are providing nourishing food to people in need. TangoTab states that to date a little more than three million people have been fed around the country due to the usage of the app and their other initiatives such as their Feed the City program, which can be hosted in any city. For more information about TangoTab and its various ways to get involved for local impact, visit www.tangotab.com.

FEBRUARY 2019 | OUR TOWN | 7

AroundTown

Giving out smiles Free dental care available at Give Kids A Smile clinic being held as part of national initiative

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8 | OUR TOWN |FEBRUARY 2019

Gum disease, cavities and tooth decay is avoidable. Much comes down to brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist. The problem is many kids do to not have access to the dental health basics and are living in pain, having trouble concentrating in school and dealing with self-esteem issues. To raise awareness about the epidemic of untreated dental disease and increase access to oral health care, Give Kids A Smile is hosting a free dental clinic for those in need on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education. The local clinic is one of more than a thousand events taking place nationwide in February as part of the American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile program. Care is provided by appointment only. Patient registration can be completed through Feb. 1, by calling Give Kids A Smile at 636-397-6453. The two-day free dental clinic is designed to meet the dental health needs of newborns through school-aged children up to 14 years old (eighth grade), who are Medicaid-eligible, qualify for the free school lunch program or need dental assistance due to other special circumstances. Registered children will receive X-rays, professional cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, as well as fillings, root canals and oral surgery, if needed. All care is provided in a non-intimidating, fun-filled environment that includes an entertainment area featuring music, interactive games, face painters and balloon artists. Each child goes home with a free healthy lunch and smile bag that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and more. “Thanks to the selfless dedication of hundreds of volunteer dental professionals and sponsors like Delta Dental of Missouri, Cardinals Care and The Orthwein Foundation, we have the capacity and resources to provide comprehensive dental services, completely free of charge, for up to 600 local kids,” said Erica Steen, executive director of Give Kids A Smile. “We want to make sure as many kids can gain access to this care as possible, so we recommend parents and other caregivers register now.”

To raise awareness about the epidemic of untreated dental disease and increase access to oral health care, Give Kids A Smile is hosting a free dental clinic for those in need on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education.

The patient registration process includes the completion of health history and consent forms. Those who may need assistance coordinating transportation to or from the clinic are encouraged to reach out early. To learn more about Give Kids A Smile call 636-397-6453 or visit www.gkas.org. Give Kids A Smile was founded by a group of St. Louis dentists in 2002. Twoday clinics have been held every February and October since then, providing a total of more than 16,500 local kids with $9.6 million worth of free dental care. The American Dental Association Foundation adopted the program in 2003 and has served as the catalyst for a nationwide effort by the same name that has provided care to 5.5 million kids. This February, there will be more than 1,400 free dental clinics, ranging in size and scoop, held across the nation with the help the help of 6,200 dentists and 57,500 other volunteers. To learn more about the national effort, visit www.ada.org.

AroundTown

Groundhog Day BY NORMA SUSIE MEYER

Christmas 2018 has come and gone. New Year 2019 right after rolled along. January winter with its record snow, record cold very Blistery this year. We are shivering and wearing layers and layers of our winter gear. The month of February is approaching fast. Groundhog Day comes to see how long winter will last. Feb. 2 is supposed to be a predictor of the weather ‘tis true. Who would have thought that a groundhog could be a meteorologist too? Some believe and wish for a sunny day. To find out when Spring will be on its way.

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Each year the guessing is the same. The groundhog is in control of this game. If a shadow is not seen six more weeks of bad weather. If a shadow does appear. Winter will soon disappear. Or is it the other way around. The groundhog makes us look like a clown. No matter, if it is sunshine or a cloudy day. What people believe really doesn’t matter either way. Mother Nature and Jack Frost will decide when winter ends. But, isn’t it fun to predict the outcome amongst friends.

Norma Susie Meyer is 85 years old and has been writing poetry since the age of seven. She is a resident of Maryland Heights and a member of the St. Louis Writers Guild. In 2012, two of her poems were entered into the Library of Congress under Poets For Change.

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FEBRUARY 2019 | OUR TOWN | 9

OurThoughts

MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE

Feline the LOVE

Apparently people everywhere are now hopelessly in love with cats. It’s a craze taking over the planet. What’s more, a study has revealed that watching cat videos could actually be good for your health. It’s estimated that over two million cat videos are posted on the internet and watching any of these clips boosts one’s energy levels and positive emotions. The viewers are likely to experience less anger and sadness. Also people who watch them at work feel no guilt. However, use caution. The office snitch will be highly suspicious about why you are always getting such good belly laughs off researching the company’s financial report. This can be resolved by merely forwarding all cat videos to the snitch’s email account and labeling them “Office Personnel Making More Money Than You.” Of course, he will open it and become hooked immediately. Problem solved. We crazy cat ladies have long known about the captivating cat, but now everyone has “suddenly” discovered the fascination with felines and is honing in on our gig. One estimation has cat videos being watched 26 billion times on YouTube. This is more than any other “cat”-egory on site. (See what I did there? No applause…well okay, but don’t overdo it. Embarrassing.) As a card carrying CCL (Crazy Cat Lady), I’m not so sure I approve of all this new found cat attention. I’ve always known that cats are king. To be a cat person you have to understand and appreciate the animal. I’ve long enjoyed the mutual respect my fur babies and I show to one another. At home I can come across 10 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2019

one and share a healthy dialogue. I’ll begin, “Oh, there you are momma’s little fuzzy wuzzy wumpkins. Who’s my precious kitty? Who’s my best sweet fluffy boy?” Then he will respond to me in similar fashion. “Oh yeah, you’re the furless freak with opposable thumbs who opens my meat cans. Lose those things and I’m outta here! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a couch to claw up.” So now, with all this renewed interest what if there aren’t enough cats to go around? What if there is a cat rationing? A limit to only six per person! Sweet mother; I’ve got to get a grip. My blood pressure is rising. I’m angry and sad! I called the doctor and described my ailments. He said, “Take two cat videos and call me in the morning.” Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two selfindulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

BIGSTOCK

OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

Bits &

pieces The Newfy puppies are now over one year old, and have reached a combined tonnage of about 225 lbs., with Clouseau weighing in at a lumbering 135 lbs., and Cato at a more modest 90 lbs. Their termite-like chewing has subsided a bit, with a pair of slippers and a piece of deck railing being the only valuable casualties during the last month or so. They still beat the snot out of each other on a daily basis, with enough intensity and endurance to impress the most accomplished mixed-martial arts fighter. Their contests are quite the display of muscle power and pain tolerance; Cato will grab Clouseau by the loose skin on his neck and drag him around the front yard, despite his near 50 percent weight advantage. He’s a bit lazier, and will let her wear herself out, then he’ll get up on top in a position of dominance over her as the brawl continues. Most Newfys tend to lie around on the porch. Not these two; we’ve dubbed them the Insane Puppy Posse. The dogs’ sub-arctic heritage is on full display now in the dead of winter, with their thick fur keeping them comfortable in the harshest of conditions. It’s five degrees below zero this morning, and they’ve been outside in the yard playing in the snow for the last couple hours. Smiles are always in abundance with the two of them around.

*** Our drought has been somewhat relieved with a fair, though still a bit below-average, amount of snow. The ski areas are fully open, with more than double the amount of snow compared to last year. That fact makes for a great marketing slogan, but it fails to take into account that last year’s moisture total was the lowest on record. It’s like walking into a graveyard at midnight and claiming you’re the liveliest guy there. It sounds good, but the baseline for comparison is pretty low. In any case, there’s a reasonable layer of the white stuff covering the ground, with more arriving every few days. The smell of smoke and the fear of rapidly moving flames have passed into the realm of not-too-distant unpleasant memories. Despite the low water flow, a combination of alternating very cold, then warm, temperatures has actually raised the levels of certain sections of rivers and creeks, due to ice dams forming. One section of a nearby creek has a water level about three feet above normal, with a large slab of ice below the dammed up pool. There have been local alerts put out warning of isolated flooding – ironic with the low water flow levels. Once the ice dams break up, the force of the suddenly released water can be quite powerful; something best witnessed from higher ground.

BIGSTOCK

*** A couple years ago I related a tale from my police days of a large fight that occurred with little warning one warm summer evening, and compared it to the mood around the nation. Things still seem to be heating up, with little sign of settling down. Voices are raised, and at least a few punches have been thrown. Living here in Backwoods Hideaway, we are far away from much of the psychopathy emanating from the political centers around the country. With luck, the only brawls we’ll see this year will involve our puppies playing hard and blowing off steam. Fingers crossed…for all of us across the country.

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.

FEBRUARY 2019

| OUR TOWN | 11

comes to Maryland Heights BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

Annual WorldFest: A Cultural Arts Celebration displays international arts at the Maryland Heights Community Center

The city of Maryland Heights will host its annual WorldFest: A Cultural Arts Celebration and everyone in and outside its community is invited to the event. The celebration of diverse cultures will take place Feb. 24, 12 â€“ 5 p.m. at the Maryland Heights Community Center located at 2300 McKelvey Road. Gabrielle Macaluso (Assistant to the City Administrator), Jennifer Van Dyke (Recreation Manager) and Melissa Musgrove (Recreation Specialist) shared a little on the history of the celebration and what attendees can expect this year. The Cultural Arts Commission of Maryland Heights was a catalyst for the birthing of the first cel-

12 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2019

Worldfest features performers and crafts from many different international cultures.

ebration in 2003. The commission was created because there were citizens who wanted to see more arts in the city. The commission desired a festival, which was once named the ‘Celebrate the World’ International Festival. After Maryland Heights moved to its current facility it was renamed WorldFest. Representatives shared, “They wanted to have a festival incorporating all of our cultures. We are a diverse community with a lot of nationalities represented. So, this is a way of celebrating that.” Maryland Heights welcomes everyone to join them in their celebration. Funds appropriated by the city of Maryland Heights are covering the costs for hosting the celebration which is cosponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and Cultural Arts Commission. With exception to food and goods purchased from vendors, every-

PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF MARYLAND HEIGHTS

thing will be free for attendees. “Everything will be under $10 with (most) food costs being under $5. Parking is free,” stated representatives. “The children’s area (will) be sponsored by RankenJordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. They will have some fun activities for the kids.” Though some vendors may participate with the capability of accepting credit/debit cards, as a precaution it is recommended that attendees bring cash for all purchases. There is no ATM machine at the facility. Attendees can expect to see performances by a German band, a Latin band, an Irish dance group, an Indian dance group and Japanese drummers. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience food from Brazil, Mexico and Jamaica. The full list of craft vendors is still pending, but attendees can expect Partners for Just Trade to join

the celebration with their craft. Applications for the vendor lineup are still being accepted. The schedule for the celebration consists of the following: an opening ceremony featuring a performance by Pattonville Schools 12 – 12:30 p.m. followed by the Meghan Torno School of Irish Dance 12:30 – 1 p.m. A fivepiece German band, Die Spitzbuam, will perform 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. and Japanese Taiko drumming from St. Louis Osuwa Taiko will take place 2 – 2:45 p.m. Final performances will be rendered by Dances of India 3 – 3:30 p.m. and the Acoustik Element, a Latin band, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. If you would like to volunteer to work this year’s festival, contact Melissa Musgrove at mmusgrove@marylandheights.com. For other information, including becoming a vendor at the event please visit www.marylandheights.com.

FEBRUARY 2019 | OUR TOWN | 13

OurLifestyle

2019 l

Jeep Compass

TAKES SUV DRIVERS TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN STYLE With more than 75-years of having a brawny background of unmistakable, classleading SUV’s, the Jeep Brand continues to offer up some of the most adaptable vehicles to consumers worldwide. For 2019, the line-up consists of their Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler; however, the spotlight today is focused on their Compass. Manufactured in four models, the overall lineup is reflected by their Sport and Latitude trim levels. From there, they made available their Limited and the Compass Trailhawk configuration with available 4X2 and 4X4 chassis setups. For the ‘19 model year, Compass is showcased in 17 global combinations and a number of powertrain options; however, versions manufactured for North America exclusively are powered by their fuel-efficient and reliable 2.4-liter gasoline engine. It results in roughly 32 miles per gallon with highway driving. Best-in-class 4x4 fuel economy of 31 mpg/highway is reached when it’s mated to their six-speed manual transmission. Acceleration is fairly adequate with its four-cylinder engine. Let’s focus for a moment on the aptitude and off-road competence of Compass. For instance, Jeep offers their Selec-Terrain drive mode system. It’s engineered to provide up to five different drive operating postures for the best four-wheel-drive performance both “on road” as well as “off road” under most 14 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2019

climate conditions. With driver input from a rotary selector switch, Selec-Terrain allows you to choose from: Automatic status, Snow, Sand and Mud modes. This system is standard on all 4x4 models. The Trailhawk models also get their “rock crawl mode” with a leading edge 20:1 crawl ratio for unmatched “slow but steady” forward advancements during any backwoods adventure. With ride height a huge factor with Jeep owners, engineering addressed this as well as optional heavyduty underside skid plates and front and rear tow hooks with the overall formulation when developing Compass. Other factors considered were the vehicle’s approach angle, break-over angle and the rear departure angle, plus the unique hill descent control feature that brings a high level of control and safety into the overall picture when descending down steep inclines. The 17-inch off-road-style tires further raise the bar, thus allowing you to negotiate and bridge the gap between land masses with up to 19 inches of underside water lapping against the chassis. Tow capabilities are also high on the list of Jeep owners. With that, Compass achieves up to 2,000-lb. of safe towing, based on a number of engineering standards. The vehicle’s distinguished, authentic Jeep exterior styling also offers an open-air, dual-pane sunroof for helping you get more aligned

with the great outdoors. Interior highlights include sculptured trim pieces and a modern layout of controls and gauges, a number of high-quality materials and state-of-the-art “on-board” rolling technology. Seating is roomy and comfortable. The list of safety enhancements is lengthy of which includes seven airbags. Cargo capabilities are somewhat sparse if you tend to haul a lot of gear. Eleven exterior colors are offered, coupled with four interior color combinations as well, on this 2019 model year vehicle. This compact SUV has a basic warranty of three-months/36,000 miles and the powertrain coverage is for 60-months/60,000 miles. Pricing starts out at $21,595.

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 M. Night Shyamalan just stuck the landing on one of the most unconventional trilogies in cinematic history. It started with “Unbreakable,” his slowburn take on comic-book mythos that came out in the year 2000 in the middle of the writer/director’s meteoric rise to superstardom with movies like “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs.” In “Unbreakable,” we meet David Dunn (Bruce Willis in probably his most restrained performance), an unassuming security guard who comes to the realization he may have superhuman strength and invulnerability after surviving a cataclysmic train wreck. David is encouraged to explore this potential by his wide-eyed son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) and comic-book-obsessed art dealer Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson). The movie was beautifully directed, but, thanks in part to an abrupt ending, felt incomplete and a tad unsatisfying. Years passed and Shyamalan became a victim of his own success as his movies went from underwhelming (“The Village”) to laughable (“The Happening”) to flat-out bad (“After Earth”). Just when his career was on life support, Shyamalan got a jolt from the success of his no-frills, kiddie horror flick “The Visit,” which he parlayed into “Split” in 2017. “Split” was another surprise hit, a seemingly standalone thriller about a man with multiple-personality disorder named Kevin (James McAvoy in a command performance), who is on the verge of unleashing a new personality called The Beast with superhuman abilities and a chilling agenda. He kidnaps three teenage girls for his dark purpose, but finds one of the girls, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), to be more formidable than he thought. It isn’t until the very end of the film where it is revealed Kevin exists in the same universe as the cast of “Unbreakable.” This all brings us to “Glass,” which takes place almost immediately following “Split,” where David is on a mission to hunt down Kevin (who is known now as The Horde) and bring him to justice. Both men are captured by the authorities and placed in a mental institution along with Elijah (who now goes by Mr. Glass), who has been there for almost 20 years for orchestrating the train crash that brought David’s powers to light. The three men are under the supervision of Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), who be-

BIGSTOCK

Ambitious ‘Glass’

caps one of the most unconventional trilogies in cinematic history lieves all three are simply suffering from delusions of grandeur and plans to treat them before they are turned over to the state. Of course, putting them all in the same place is maybe not the best idea. “Glass” is a dense movie, beguiling the almost bare-bones simplicity of the first two films. All of the comic book pathos is back in play, along with the constantly shifting ground of pegging exactly who the good guys and the bad guys are. (Spoiler! Pretty much everybody is both). There are some great performances here. Paulson does a solid job of holding down the fort and Jackson, when he is finally unleashed, is dependably terrific. But, once again, it’s McAvoy who steals the show, playing a man literally divided against himself as some of his personalities are strongly opposed to The Beast and all he stands for. There is a spectacular scene where a flashing light triggers a personality change and McAvoy switches from personality to personality like someone changing television channels. “Glass” is an ambitious movie, taking

a story about comic book heroes that began well before Marvel had bludgeoned us into submission and then making it pay off nearly 20 years later. The result may only be satisfying for true believers, but in a pop culture awash in tights and capes, maybe it’s OK for a little navel-gazing into our collective obsession with superheroes. And if that’s not your thing, I totally get it. And don’t worry, another Marvel movie will be along shortly to make everything better. “Glass” is rated PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements and language.

BY MATHEW DEKINDER

Mathew DeKinder is a film critic and member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association, and also serves as the publisher of the Community News.

FEBRUARY 2019

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OurLifestyle

Family-favorite

COMFORT FOODS Pasta and Chicken in Garlic Cream Sauce Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 8

arm meals that come together quickly are a necessity for busy families, especially on weeknights filled with homework, practices, meetings and more. Serving up comfort foods that require less time in the kitchen make for more moments spent together at the table. Hearty and satisfying, this Chicken and Wild Rice Soup can bring everyone together for a warm, soothing meal, while Cheesy Turkey Chili Mac makes for familiar fare enjoyed by adults and kids alike. For a rich, creamy, onedish dinner solution, Pasta and Chicken in Garlic Cream Sauce requires less than 45 minutes of kitchen duty, making it an ideal weeknight family-favorite. These dairy-fueled recipes from Milk Means More of Michigan can be part of a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy and a variety of protein foods. Find more weeknight meal solutions at milkmeansmore. org.

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Ingredients: 4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide pieces 3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 10

ounces (about 4 cups) farfalle (bow tie) pasta

2 1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1

cup heavy cream

cup grated Parmesan cheese

cups baby spinach leaves

cup halved cherry tomatoes, for garnish

Directions: Place removable pan inside programmable pressure cooker. Using saute function, cook bacon, uncovered, until crisp. Use slotted spoon to remove bacon from pan. Drain bacon on paper towels. Leave 1 tablespoon drippings in pan; discard remaining. Add chicken to bacon drippings in pan in two batches. Using saute function, stir-fry chicken 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through. Use slotted spoon to remove chicken from pan. Repeat until all chicken is cooked. Press cancel. Stir pasta, broth, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper into drippings in pan. Secure lid and set pressure release to sealing function. Select high pressure setting and cook 5 minutes. Press cancel. Allow pressure to release naturally 5 minutes. Move pressure release to venting function to release any remaining steam. Remove lid. Stir cream into pasta mixture. Using saute function, cook and stir, uncovered, until boiling. Boil, uncovered, about 4 minutes, or until sauce generously coats pasta, stirring frequently. Press cancel. Stir in chicken and Parmesan cheese. Place spinach and bacon in large bowl. Pour pasta mixture over top. Toss until combined. Ladle into serving bowls. Top each serving with tomatoes.

OurLifestyle

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour

Recipe courtesy of Milk Means More

Cheesy Turkey Chili Mac Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 8

Recipe courtesy of Milk Means More I ngredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 pound lean ground turkey 1 cup chopped onion 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (15 ounces) no-saltadded tomato sauce 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chili peppers 1 2/3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

I ngredients: 1 cup shredded carrots 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 cup sliced celery 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons butter or clarified butter 4 cups chicken broth 4 ounces (about 2/3 cup) wild rice, rinsed and drained 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 cup whipping cream Directions: In Dutch oven, cook carrots, onion, celery and garlic in hot butter about 2 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.

1 tablespoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 8 ounces (about 1 3/4 cups) elbow macaroni 1/2 cup 2 percent or whole milk 2 tablespoons all- purpose flour 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican blend cheese 3/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt or sour cream

Directions: Place oil in removable pan of programmable pressure cooker. Place pan in pressure cooker. Using saute function, heat oil until hot. Add turkey and onion. Cook, uncovered, about 5 minutes, or until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up. Press cancel. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, chili powder, garlic salt and pepper. Stir in macaroni. Secure lid and set pressure release to sealing function. Select high pressure setting and cook 5 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally 2 minutes. Move pressure release to venting function to release any remaining steam. Remove lid. Stir macaroni mixture. Whisk together milk and flour. Stir into macaroni mixture. Using saute function, cook and stir, uncovered, 1-2 minutes, or until boiling. Press cancel. Stir cheese into macaroni mixture until melted. Ladle into serving bowls. Spoon dollops of yogurt or sour cream on top.

Stir broth, wild rice, thyme, salt and pepper into vegetable mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 40 minutes. Stir in chicken pieces. Return to simmer, covered, 10-15 minutes, or until rice is tender and chicken is done. In small bowl, whisk together yogurt and flour. Gradually whisk in cream. Stir into chicken mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until boiling. Boil 1 minute. Ladle into bowls.

FEBRUARY 2019

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InDepth PHOTO COURTESY VALERIE SONNEVELDT

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Since 2002, KidSmart has been able to provide over $57 million dollars-worth of free school supplies in the St. Louis area.

Suppling the tools to learn Hazelwood-based KidSmart brings school supplies into over 3,000 underserved classrooms in need BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

KidSmart, currently based out of Hazelwood, is the only free educational supply store in Missouri and it was started back in 2002 by Jennifer Miller. Jill Laux, Director of Charitable Giving for the organization states that it is operated by five employees with the help of a host of volunteers and sponsors. “Jennifer was a teacher in the Rockwood School District, stated Laux of the founder, “and was so blown away by the fact that she had many students coming to class without school supplies – they didn’t even have the tools that are essential for learning. She was experiencing this in her own classroom and felt this passion and need to be able to provide her students with school supplies that they needed. That (passion) transformed into

18 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2019

InDepth figuring out that right now there are over 90,000 children in St. Louis that do not have school supplies. That’s enough to fill Busch Stadium twice.” Laux shared that since 2002, Miller has been able to provide over $57 million dollars-worth of free school supplies in the St. Louis area. “We rely heavily on our volunteer staff, which is amazing, and donors in the St. Louis area. We’ve got corporate volunteers and individual volunteers that (in) what they bring to the table is mind blowing – it’s awesome.” Volunteers come to KidSmart’s warehouse to help in various ways not limited to unloading, packing and stocking school supplies. Laux stated, “We also have corporate volunteers who show up at the schools with us to deliver supplies to the kids. In 2018 we pushed into almost 3,000 classrooms; we were able to bring free school supplies directly into these classrooms.” This school delivery program that KidSmart began last year, On the Go!, is one of their eight programs and partnerships. It is a partnership with Kids Vision for Life and Americorps VISTA. The program’s truck takes its services on the road to classrooms. A day is coordinated with each school KidSmart sponsors for the weekly program. “In 2018, we also launched pop-up shops because we’ve seen that teachers love that experience,” Laux shared of the initiative that uses approximately 100 volunteers. “We would just show up at one of our corporate sponsors’ parking lots and in three hours we were able to distribute about $300,000 worth of school supplies.” Crafts with Conviction, another of KidSmart’s programs, utilizes over 1,000 offenders in Missouri correctional facilities every year who donate over 500,000 hours of their time to create educational and learning materials. “Crafts with Conviction is something we do with the Missouri Department of Corrections,” stated Laux. “We have inmates working on projects for us. Some of them have told us that they enjoy working on these projects for kids because they think [their] child may be getting to use some of (the) things that (they’re) making. It’s been a really important project for us.” Laux shared that any school that is 70 percent free with a reduced lunch, is state certified, and has a self-contained

classroom teacher, is eligible for KidSmart. The organization currently provides school supplies to 161 schools in the St. Louis area. The goal is to expand regionally. “We have found that the need is great in a lot of rural areas and across the state in general,” stated Laux. Though KidSmart’s current exact location is undisclosed to the general public, the organization is working on buying a building that will have a giant warehouse at which teachers can “shop” free for their students. A big capital campaign is underway to raise money for the building initiative. “School supplies are consumable,” stated Laux. “(Kids) may go through a couple pencils in one month. A lot of times people will focus on that back-to-school time, but we find that teachers really need us in January, and February because the glue sticks have been gone through and the crayons are gone. So, it’s a constant need. The mobile way of delivering the supplies to the school can be costly. We’re always looking for underwriting sponsors.” One of the biggest ways that KidSmart is financially In 2018 we push supported, eninto alm e abling them to ost 3,00 d provide school 0 classroo ms; we supplies for kids, were able to is through Joe bring fr e Buck’s annual e supplies s directly chool back-to-school cein these cla lebrity event. Plans ssrooms to . are currently underJill Laux way for the annual Director event. of Chari Laux stated, “We table Gi ving run on donations and volunteer efforts. We truly believe that education is the way to break the cycle of poverty. So, if there are individuals, organizations or corporate groups that want to donate or be a part of volunteering for KidSmart, we would love to have them.” KidSmart may be contacted at info@kidsmartstl.org or by phone at 314-291-6211. Donations or volunteer sign-up is also available on their website: https://kidsmartstl.org/volunteer.

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FEBRUARY 2019

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February

National Freedom Day

Groundhog Day

Rosa Parks Day

Chinese New Year

Sweetheart Dance Sweetheart Dance takes place from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Maryland Heights Community Center at 2300 McKelvey Road in Maryland Heights. Take the little sweetheart in your life out for a special evening. Participants will enjoy dinner, dancing with a live DJ and crafts. For ages 4-12 years old. Fees (per person) are: members $20, residents $25 and non-residents $30.

20 | OUR TOWN | JANUARY 2019

Lincoln’s Birthday

Valentine’s Day

Presidents’ Day

WorldFest WorldFest: A Cultural Arts Celebration takes place from 12 – 5 p.m. at Maryland Heights Community Center at 2300 McKelvey Road in Maryland Heights. Formally the “International Festival,” 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! If you would like to volunteer to work this year’s festival, contact Melissa at mmusgrove@marylandheights. com.