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2 | OUR TOWN | MARCH 2018
Our Town Volume 09 | Number 03 MARCH 2018
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
Public invited to police building groundbreaking ceremony in Creve Coeur and more
Our Thoughts PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Lisa Moran Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Brian Guerrero, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Charlotte Beard
Moore on Life author Cindy Moore takes a trip to the dentist while Avalanche gets a double dose of puppy love
Feature Curling: St. Louis style The St. Louis Curling Club based out of the Creve Coeur Ice Arena is catching a wave of Olympic attention and bringing new competitors to the ice By Charlotte Beard
Caring Partners Treating varicose veins
Lifestyle For advertising information, please contact us at:
info@mycnews.com or
A trip to the St. Louis Golf Expo in Photo Op. 2018 Hyundai Accent brings plenty of perks to car buyers on a budget in Automobile Alley. Better, healthier baking in For the Love of Food.
Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632 www.mycnews.com
In Depth Former host of ‘Gator Tales” looks back at a career of combining education, entertainment and storytelling in St. Louis.
Copyright 2018 Huneke Publications, Inc.
Events Calendar
No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Staff Writer – Charlotte Beard Cover Photo – Flannery Allison
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AroundTown Advertorial
Low price, high cost: millennial fever BY RUSS PATTON
www.travelsunrise.com
Here we go again! The RV show in February was the first indicator that 2018 will be another strong year for RV Sales. The rebirth of RV popularity is like, well, the rebirth of America. The label makers have a name for you guys. Baby boomers meet the millennials. As the last boomers roar out the exit in their new half-million-dollar diesel pusher, a young family enters in their tow-ready sport utility vehicle. Byerly RV celebrates 70 years in business in 2018. We have seen several generations begin and finish their RV adventures at Byerly. As for me, I’m almost out of here myself. My son, Warren, and his exceptional “family” of 65 employees will carry on the tradition, just about the time I learn how to spell millennial. I see a similarity in the cycle and try to explain to Warren the familiar low price/high cost trap that awaits many first-time buyers. Most people won’t buy the cheapest car, TV, clothes or other gadgets, but may still shop price for an RV because they don’t know what else to compare. The popular-
e th th Wor ive Dr
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ity of RVs has attracted sharks into bass country. Price is the bait, but after you are hooked and add up the total, sometimes hidden costs, the lesson is learned the hard way. The only remedy is to slow down and shop carefully. Use the internet; Google ratings, YouTube or Facebook postings. Best advice – visit a few dealers. Most of the local, family-owned RV dealers prosper because they want your repeat business. Signs you are entering a shark tank: they want your driver’s license and ask you to fill out a credit app so they can determine which vehicles you “qualify” to look at. Access to vehicles is restricted and you feel hand-cuffed to a sales rep whose primary goal is to turn you over to the closer. When you leave, you may not get a complete disclo-
sure of all you will be expected to pay at closing. They don’t want you to shop and it is almost impossible to pay cash. The price seems good, but you may find a lot of addons which, if needed or wanted, could usually be bought for less at another dealer. The difference between the perceived great price and the bottom-line cost can be huge. The real eye-opener is when you want to trade in the entry level model and find out what the bank says it’s really worth. St. Louis is fortunate to have many local, reputable, family-owned dealers. Shop locally at members of the MidWest Gateway RVDA and, of course Byerly RV, the state’s largest independent RV Dealer. For more information visit www. byerlyrv.com, Facebook or call 636-938-2000.
Byerly RV 295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com
AroundTown
A boost for the symphony St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to receive $45,000 grant from The National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra a $45,000 Art Works grant. The grant supports performances of new music during the SLSO’s 2017/2018 season, which celebrates the orchestra’s 50th anniversary at Powell Hall. Recognized world-wide for its artistic excellence, the SLSO has a great tradition of showcasing new music throughout its 138-year history. The SLSO’s current season features six works new to the Orchestra’s repertoire, including Thomas Adès “Powder Her Face “Suite (St. Louis Premiere with additional movements co-commissioned by the SLSO), Peter Ruzicka’s “Elegie: Remembrance for Orchestra” (U.S. Premiere), Guillaume Connesson’s “Flammenschrift“ (St. Louis Premiere), and Jörg Widmann’s Violin Concerto (St. Louis Premiere). The other new work is Erkki-Sven Tüür’s “Soslastalgia” for piccolo and orchestra (U.S. Premeire), a co-commission by the SLSO with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchstra. “Solastalgia” had its world premiere in Amsterdam on Dec. 6, 2017 with the SLSO’s next Music Director Stéphane Denève on the podium. Additionally, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will bring “Swing Symphony” to Powell Hall for the season finale. The NEA has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of its first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. The Art Works category is the NEA’s largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement, diversity and inclusion, and lifelong learning in the arts. “The National Endowment for the Arts’ support is a wonderful testament to the SLSO’s continuing commitment to the music of our time, and is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the orchestra’s beloved home, Powell Hall,” said SLSO President & CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard.
Breaking ground Public invited to police building groundbreaking ceremony on March 12
The new Creve Coeur Police Station, designed by Arch Images, will be located at 350 N. New Ballas Road, just north of the existing Creve Coeur Government Center. A ceremonial groundbreaking will be held on March 12.
Although work has begun, a ceremonial groundbreaking will be held on March 12, on the property of the new Creve Coeur Police Department Building. The ceremony is open to the public. The 30-minute ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., outside on the north side of the Government Center parking lot at 300 N. New Ballas Rd. Mayor Barry Glantz and Chief Glenn Eidman are scheduled to speak before elected officials and dignitaries turn some ceremonial soil. In January, United Construction was awarded the construction contract and the site has already been cleared in preparation. The 25,000 square-foot, two-story building will be the new home of the Police Department which is currently housed in the Government Center. The $10.69 million bond project should be completed by March 2019. During construction, public parking at the Government Center will be limited. For more information about the project, contact Director of Public Works Jim Heines at jheines@crevecoeurmo.gov or (314) 872-2538.
Herschylle Durham Ivy Grant-Durham Keith Durham With over 25 years of experience in the St. Louis market, St. Louis Metro Realtors turn DREAMS into reality!
314-972-0300 | www.stlouismetrorealtors.com www.stlouismetrorealtors.com MARCH 2018 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
Calling all green thumbs MDC and partners present native landscaping workshop in Maryland Heights Homeowners can contribaute significantly to making their neighborhoods and communities greener by planting native plants. To help them get started, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and partners are once again presenting Partners for Native Landscaping Workshop. The workshop will take place March 31, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Maryland Heights Community Center at 2300 McKelvey Road. The workshop will provide information and resources that will enable homeowners to landscape their property with native plants to help create greener communities. The event features a series of breakout sessions that will explore topics in greater depth. Check-in and networking for the workshop begins at 8 a.m. and the general workshop session starts at 9 a.m. Following the general presentations, the breakout
sessions will cover: • Gardening for wildlife • Designing native gardens • Maintaining native gardens • Developing rainscaping features Participants will also learn about native plant organizations, discover related upcoming events, meet other native gardeners and purchase Missouri native plants and wildflowers for their landscaping needs. Space is limited for the workshop and advanced registration is required. A $20 fee covers the entire workshop, which includes a buffet lunch. Registration is available online at https://goo.gl/VftKMz. For questions about the event, call 314-599-7390. The workshop is sponsored jointly by MDC, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Shaw Nature Reserve, St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home Program, St. Louis Community College, the
St. Louis Chapter of Wild Ones, and Grow Native!. Native plants have evolved in Missouri’s landscape. They are better acclimated to our climate conditions than exotic plants and resistant to local pests and diseases. This translates into less time, effort and costs consumed by watering, fertilizing and insecticide use. Likewise, native Missouri wildlife has evolved to coexist and use native plants for cover, food and habitat. So increasing native plants also tends to increase desirable wildlife, like birds, butterflies and pollinators. The Partners for Native Landscaping Workshop is part of MDC’s commitment to work with homeowners to sustain healthy and greener communities for both people and wildlife.
Helping students Enrollment is open for annual BJC HealthCare scholarship fund Applications are now being accepted for the BJC Scholars Fund, a scholarship opportunity for college-bound high school seniors who plan to pursue a two- or four-year degree. In its second year, the BJC Scholars Fund is funded by BJC and administered by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. Scholarships are awarded annually to up to 14 students in communities served by BJC hospitals: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Boone County, St. Francois County and Crawford County in Missouri; and St. Clair County and Madison County in Illinois. Scholarships will be renewable through graduation or a maximum of 10 semesters.
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Each scholarship will be a need-based award of $10,000 per academic year at a public Missouri or Illinois state college or university in the state where the student resides, or at a public university in another state offering in-state tuition reciprocity. The annually renewable scholarship will be applicable toward tuition, fees, room and board, transportation and incidental costs. The Scholarship Foundation will support students and parents in taking full advantage of other state, federal and institutional funds to which students are entitled, to ensure that the BJC scholarship award enables the complete funding required for full year attendance. Interested students can access more information about the scholarship criteria and the application on the Scholarship Foundation website: https://sfstl.org/financial-aid/student-loans-grants. “BJC is at heart a health care organization. We are also the St. Louis area’s largest employer and are actively engaged with our community,” says Rich Liekweg, BJC president and CEO. “We know statistics and studies show there is a very strong connection between higher education levels and better health outcomes. By creating this scholarship fund, BJC hopes to make an impact in helping young people attain their educational goals and create new opportunities for a brighter and healthier future.” The BJC Scholars Fund submission deadline is April 16. Recipients will be announced in July 2018 for the 2018-2019 academic year.
AroundTown
Come join the team The Disabled Athlete Sports Association recruits racers raises to help raise funds and awareness for its programs and athletes BY BRETT AUTEN It’s a fun challenge that comes with many benefits for not only yourself but for others who could really use it. The Disabled Athlete Sports Association (also known as DASA) is a charity partner of the 2018 GO! St. Louis for the Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend slated for April 6-8. Through this partnership, DASA recruits participants to run or walk in several of the weekend’s races and while doing so, raises funds and raise awareness for its programs and athletes. “With our athletes, there is already so much cost involved, and without these type of fundraisers we can’t help them achieve their goals,” Lauren Krebs, DASA Program, and Development Manager said. “GO! St. Louis is a unique dynamic in that our athletes can participate right next to able-bodied participants.” DASA’s home base is in St. Peters, and it is a nonprofit organization specializing in therapeutic sport and fitness opportunities. The athletes of DASA are encouraged to seek their highest level of independence and become involved to the fullest extent with their non-disabled peers and their community as a whole. GO! St. Louis is a founding member of USA Today Sports Active Alliance. The alliance is a network of the country’s top 16 independent marathons, each meeting the gold standard of endurance events. Each race individually possesses its unique history and challenges. As the largest competitive fitness event in Missouri, this popular two-day event attracts more than 25,000 participants and includes races for all ages and fitness abilities. The race will once again be staged in front of the historic Arch Grounds on the riverfront. Start at the Gateway Arch and make your way into Illinois and back in St. Louis for a historic tour of Soulard with views of Anheuser-Busch Brewery along your way. Then, marathoners head to Tower Grove Park and Forest Park before heading back downtown to finish on the historic riverfront under the Arch. “Our main goal is to get more runners
SUBMITTED PHOTO
DASA athlete Donovan McBride competes in a recent GO! St. Louis event.
to run for Team DASA,” Krebs said. “We need more people on our team.” DASA team members receive a free entry in the race of their choice, a team DASA race shirt, and many other incentives for joining. With a fundraising minimum for individuals set at $150, there are several benefits of being a Team GO! DASA member. Not only is there no entry fee to sign up for the race of your choice (participants have a choice between 5K, 7K, half marathon, marathon, or marathon relay) but also a Personalized GO! for a Cause Fundraising link and a complimentary training program by Big River Running Company. Along with the benefits of having a team supporting you all the way to race day, you will receive VIP treatment on race day. There are several degrees of prize options available. For individual entry only, when you raise $250 you receive a $50 gift card to Academy Sports. If you raise $500 you earn a $100 gift card to Big River, and if you raise $1000, you earn a two-hour massage. If you simply refer a friend you receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks. If you are interested in having a team running for Team DASA, here are the fol-
lowing stipulations: 2-4 team members: fundraising minimum $500; 5-8 team members: fundraising minimum $800; 9-12 team members: fundraising minimum $1,200 13+ team members: fundraising minimum $2,000. Prizes for team entry only include every $1000 raised over the team’s fundraising minimum the team will receive an Amazon Gift Card of $150. The Amazon gift card will be issued to the team captain. For more information on how you can participate, contact Lauren at 618-9799917 or laurenk@dasasports.org.
Have good news to share? Get your event or good news published in:
email your information in calendar and article formats to editor@mycnews.com. MARCH 2018 | OUR TOWN | 7
OurThoughts
Dental hijinks
C
ome on, admit it. Going to the dentist is no fun. If you’re like me, you don’t like it one bit either. Oh sure, there are those few weirdos who take pleasure in pain, but they all work on Capitol Hill. So like the average nervous citizen, I do what we all do before a scary dental appointment…cancel it! I made up a very convincing excuse too. “Hi, this is Mrs. Moore. I am scheduled to come in tomorrow, but my cat is having a kidney transplant on that day and, great news, I am a perfect match to donate. So darn, unfortunately I will be cancelling my appointment.” “Nice try, Mrs. Moore. You used that excuse last time. Just how many kidneys do you plan on donating to the animal kingdom?” “Well, after this one, I will be done.” “Right. Because you will be kidney-less and lack a pulse. The choice is yours, here or the morgue.” “Is there much difference?” “Of course, here you’ll get a free toothbrush and a pack of minty floss. All you’ll get at the morgue is a complimentary toe tag.” So I entered the office nervously and the assistant ushered me into a reclining chair. I was told I needed x-rays. The dental hygienist then plopped a heavy gray apron across my chest that felt like it was stuffed with cinderblocks. She then made a mad dash to hide behind the safety of a lead-
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reinforced wall across the hallway. “Hey!” I said. “Why the heck are you leaving me alone while this is going on?” “Are you kidding?! I don’t want my inner organs melted and I’d like to see my children grow up!” she shouted. “What about my organs? I have a kidney on hold for my cat!” “I can’t hear you,” she yelled. Then an invisible radiation beam of some sort was shot into the side of my face. After a session of drilling and other types of torture, I exited to the receptionist’s desk. “I have you scheduled again for next Wednesday,” she said in a chirpy voice. “No can do. I have to donate a kidney to my cat,” I said. “Looks like you had x-rays today. Sweetie, those kidneys are toast. See you Wednesday at noon.”
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.
OurThoughts
Double dose of puppy love ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE “Before you even head down there, make sure you have a signed, notarized contract from Staci that says she’ll only get one puppy,” my friend David said. It caught me a little by surprise, as while Staci and I had been discussing getting a dog, it had always been referred to as a singular, not plural, concept. It seemed that my friend had a more accurate big-picture view of the situation than I did. A few days later Staci was on the phone with a friend of ours who spent much of her time volunteering at the local animal shelter. Shortly thereafter, our conversations about the matter seamlessly transitioned to getting “maybe more than one” dog. The concept didn’t seem so bad; our original plan was to adopt a rescue Newfoundland. A few months of looking for one hadn’t panned out. So, a puppy was going to be the next option. “Maybe more than one” started off as the idea of us getting a puppy and a rescue Newf. The best-laid plans… The drive down to the breeder’s place went through the mountains where we hadn’t been since the late 80s. Fearing the worst, we were pleasantly surprised that this long stretch of territory had not been “Californicated.” Once at the breeder’s place, the dogs sold themselves; a bunch of magnificentlooking adult specimens were on hand outside, with a couple of kiddie pools full of hopelessly cute puppies inside. We put a deposit on one of the few available
PHOTO COURTESY AVALANCHE
pups, and looked forward to returning a few weeks later. During the interim, the conversation progressed from “maybe” getting a second dog, to which one. We returned to the breeder’s at the agreed-upon time, and took possession of our pup, a solid blackcolored female followed by a discussion of any other available dogs. The potential second dog we had been interested in had already been taken, and it looked as if we might go home with just one. However, there were a couple of other black-andwhite (Landseer) pups available. After a little while, Staci was seated on the ground, with our black pup and a Landseer male sitting in her lap; all three were looking directly at me. At that moment, it was obvious it was a done deal, with no further discussion necessary. We all loaded in the car and began the drive home. The trip home was decidedly less relaxing and pleasant than our prior journeys. Neither pup was terribly happy about being uprooted from its home. This anxiety manifested itself by way of pronounced gastrointestinal distress. While we were prepared for such a possibility, it was double what we had envisioned. Numerous stops for clean-up added hours to the return trip.
Sleep was fragmented and elusive for the first couple of nights at home. Our last dogs had been pretty low-maintenance during their early days. Not these two. Sometime in the wee hours during those first few nights Staci mused aloud that maybe we were having a mid-life crisis. I replied that if we weren’t before, we certainly were now. We’re getting exactly what we wanted. Despite the ragged sleep and constant clean-up, we’ve laughed more in the last couple weeks than we have in the last several months. English poet Lord Byron wrote of the Newfoundland dog “…Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity and all the Virtues of Man without his Vices…” While I think Byron might have overlooked the Newfy’s propensity for Gluttony and Sloth, he gave an accurate assessment of the dog’s temperament. And they’re much better antidepressants than one could get at a pharmacy. 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.
MARCH 2018 | OUR TOWN | 9
i ng Curl :
St
. Lo
e l y uis St
The St. Louis Curling Club, based out of the Creve Coeur Ice Arena, is catching a wave of Olympic attention and bringing new competitors to the ice BY CHARLOTTE BEARD For the past two seasons people have been flocking to the Creve Coeur Ice Arena solely for one purpose, and it’s not for hockey or skating. The St. Louis Curling Club has been making quite a splash at the arena, located at 11400 Olde Cabin Road, with a sport that has been drawing Olympic followers. Jim Winslade, who has been a member of the club for seven years, expounded on the current initiatives of the club. “One of the primary things we’re trying to do now is [put] money away for the future with the idea that we would like to build a curling facility – dedicated ice for curling. Hockey ice is usually used for hockey and figure skating. Curling ice needs to be very level, it’s one of the requirements for good curling ice. In a hockey arena the ice is refinished with an ice refinisher like a Zamboni. That doesn’t always give us the best conditions [needed] for our sport because any ridges that are left cause the rock to do something different when it comes down the ice. So, our big push is to eventually have dedicated ice so that we can offer curling on a more regular basis and promote the sport of curling even more than what we’re 10 | OUR TOWN | MARCH 2018
trying to do now.” Though the club is a nonprofit with the mission to promote the skills and enjoyment of curling, Winslade stated that the sessions offered for learning to curl do charge a fee. The fee helps cover the club’s cost of renting the ice. He also shared that the club is on a yearly active cycle of September – May of the following year. “This is a pretty much acknowledged time for curling clubs to try generating interest because of what people are seeing on TV,” Winslade stated of the Olympics. “We’re holding more ‘learn to curl’ [sessions]. I would say the maximum of people coming to ‘learn to curls’ compared to in the past is probably 200.” Winslade went on to share that the club expects to have at least 900 visitors over the course of their ‘learn to curl’ sessions for this season. Subsequently, they have been adding more ‘learn to curl’ sessions to accommodate more people. “Some of the people come to experience the game, just to see what it [is] like,” said Winslade. “We try to make it where they can join a league before they commit to everything. We’re trying to get them really interested in
the game of curling and we’re doing pretty good there. There is more and more interest.” Members participate in the sport as well as volunteer in preparing the ice and other assistance for events. Members have membership dues that also go towards membership in the United States Curling Association (USCA). Some of the other benefits of membership in the St. Louis Curling Club are: membership in the United States Women’s Curling Association (USWCA for female members only), and membership in the Illinois Curling Association. Membership fees support the administration of the club, not limited to record-keeping, curling supplies and renting the ice the club uses. The club sees more than adults coming through its doors for the sport. “In the normal participation we’re seeing anywhere from people in their 20s and college [age] on up to people in their 70s,” stated Winslade. “I’m 69. We may have had a few above that age. We do have a high school league we’re trying to promote more. It was pretty successful last year; it’s getting ready to start this year. Then we also have what’s called the ‘Little Rockers.’ We have curling stones that are half the weight of the standard curling stone. The standard stone weighs around 42 lbs.; the ‘Little Rockers’ stone weighs around 21. It’s actually the same size but it’s made of a different material so it’s easy for kids to deliver.” Other sources state that this latter group is not a league but is for instructional purposes for ages five through 13. Becca Walters, President of the St. Louis Curling Club shared some of the history for how the club began here in St. Louis. “Back in 2010 a group of enthusiasts headed up by Nancy Rogers, who had just moved to St. Louis from Wisconsin, decided to form a curling club in the area. They reached out to several ice rinks and an ice rink in Fairview Heights, Illinois agreed to have the club curl there. The club was able to curl there for the fall/winter - 2010/2011 and fall/winter - 2011/2012. After that season it was discovered that the rink was built over a mine and started to cave in. So, the rink closed and the club went defunct. Then in April 2014 I moved to St. Louis from Seattle, Washington (relocated for my husband’s job). Before moving here, I discovered there wasn’t an active curling club, but I really wanted to curl here. So, around January or February of that
PHOTOS COURTESY FLANNERY ALLISON
St. Louis Curling Club members compete in the 2016 Arch City Bonspiel here in St. Louis.
Some Curling Basics The origins of curling date back to the 16th century in Scotland, where the game was played on frozen lochs and ponds. The modern game evolved during the 20th century, aided in large part by the move indoors through the use of refrigerated ice. Curling became a full medal Olympic sport in 1998 and today over a million curlers are on the ice during the season. Curling is a team sport played on ice with 42-pound granite stones. The size of the playing surface (a “sheet”) is 138 feet long by approximately 14 feet wide. Target areas, known as ‘houses’, are located beneath the ice at each end of the sheet, thereby allowing play in both directions. The Team A curling team consists of 4 players, called the ‘Lead’, the ‘Second’, the “Third” (or ViceSkip), and the “Skip.” The Skip is the captain and chief strategist for the team. All four members, beginning with the Lead and ending with the Skip, deliver two stones each during an ‘end’ (similar to an inning in baseball). The Game In curling, each player delivers his/her stones each end, alternating with their counterpart on the opposing team. After all stones are thrown, the team with stones closest to the center of the house scores points for that end. The point total is determined by the number of stones closer to the center of the house than the nearest stone of the opposing team. A game normally consists of 8 ends, which takes approximately two hours to complete. Sometimes competitive play requires 10-end games and an extra end if teams are tied at the end of regular play. Sweeping While the stone is traveling down the ice, the delivering team’s players are allowed to sweep in front of the stone. Sweeping is done with a broom specifically designed for curling. The sweeping action melts the surface of the ice slightly, which can alter the speed and the direction of the stone. INFORMATION COURTESY ST. LOUIS CURLING CLUB
MARCH 2018 | OUR TOWN | 11
”
”
I have been curling for 20 years. Curling for me is a sport that basically almost anybody can play. ~Jim Winslade
year I contacted every ice rink I could find in the St. Louis area. Creve Coeur Ice [Arena] agreed to work with the Curling Club and make that our new home. We’ve been at that rink ever since. At the time the club had only about 15 members and now we are up to over 65,” Walters said. Besides people coming for the enjoyment of the sport or learning to curl, Winslade shared some of the events the club hosts. “On Labor Day we have what’s called the Bonspiel, which is a competition. We have teams from other cities come in and curl. That’s a fundraiser.” Winslade also shared that this past January the club rented an Illinois facility, Waltham Curling Club, for the Winter Classic Bonspiel. Sources indicate that this was a 16-team event which had curlers from the following states: Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, Ohio and Missouri. Winslade re-emphasized that this event was a fundraiser for St. Louis. The club has a fundraising goal of $165,000 that will take them out of the Creve Coeur Ice Arena to their own home. At the time of this interview they’d reached just a little over 35 percent of that goal. The dedicated curling facility will host weekend curling, a youth program, high school leagues, wheelchair curl-
ing, adult leagues, open practice times and corporate rentals. It will also accommodate four-to-six sheets of ice, a warming room with kitchen and bar, two locker rooms, and lots of parking. “I have been curling for 20 years,” Winslade stated of his experience. “Curling for me is a sport that basically almost anybody can play. When you watch the Olympics, you’re seeing athletes that are very well trained, good physical condition… they [must] be able to do a lot of things. I’ve watched people curl into their 80s. At this point and time my knees don’t want to let me get down and do the sliding delivery like what you watch on television. I use a delivery stick – I walk forward with my stick on the stone and deliver the stone. It’s essentially the same thing but I’ve got like an arm extender, so I don’t have to bend down and stretch out. That doesn’t interfere with me enjoying the game and playing the game. Just because you’re older or you’re not a perfect physical specimen don’t get the idea that you cannot participate in this sport.” To learn more in-depth about the sport of curling and how to get involved at any age, please visit the website: www.stlouiscurlingclub.org. BIGSTOCK
12 | OUR TOWN | MARCH 2018
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Many people are self-conscious about showing their legs and think about having vein treatment when the weather begins to warm up and they begin thinking about wearing shorts and swimsuits, but the best time to seek treatment is during January and February. This is because it takes time to complete the treatment. Moreover, insurance companies usually require patients to complete a ninety-day compression stocking trial to prove to the company that the symptoms bother the patient enough to warrant the company to pay for the treatment. The companies consider the trial part of their criteria to determine which treatments are “medically necessary”. The best time to wear the compression stocking is in the cooler months. The medical insurance companies like Anthem, Aetna and United Healthcare hope patients will not comply with the stocking use so they won’t have to pay for their subscriber’s treatments.
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Symptoms of venous insufficiency include: · Heaviness, aching, and tiredness · Swelling in the feet and ankles · Itching, burning, throbbing · Muscle cramps – Restless legs · Changes in skin texture or appearance
O’Fallon Center 830 Waterbury Falls Dr, Ste 202 O’Fallon MO 63368
St. Louis Center 2355 Dougherty Ferry Rd, #410 St. Louis MO 63122
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OurLifestyle Photo Op
ST. LOUIS GOLF EXPO
Photographer Ray Rockwell ventured out to the St. Louis Golf Expo, held from Feb. 9-11 at the St. Charles Convention Center. This annual event features golf-related exhibitors and activities to get golf enthusiasts ready for spring. PHOTOS BY RAY ROCKWELL
GET OUT
FX PRODUCTIONS
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 2
COLUMBIA PICTURES
BULL PRODUCTIONS
THE SHAPE OF WATER
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OurThoughts
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HYUNDAI ACCENT plenty of perks for car buyers on a budget
When consumers consider a new car purchase, often the foundation within their buying strategy revolves around the criteria outlined with their intended budget. That said, Hyundai Motors is expressly reaching out to frugal car buyers with the introduction of their 2018 Accent, as the starting price point is $14,995. New, standard, no-extra-cost features on their entry level SE trim model include a color five-inch center dash mounted touchscreen/audio system with built-in rear-view camera, hands free phone interface plus steering wheel mounted audio functions with integrated cruise controls. This sedan even has an actual spare tire, added interior sound deadening hush materials (to help reduce passenger cabin noise) as well as 15-inch all weather tires mounted on attractive wheels. Some 50 percent of the car’s body structure is constructed with advanced high strength steel coupled with the usage of some 323 ft. of essential bonding adhesives formulated to enhance various metal components to solidify as one. This has many benefits including making the car safer to drive as well as increasing Accent’s torsional rigidity by some 32 percent. Improved ride comfort, steering feel, handling and stability are achieved through key developments in the suspension system with engineering tweaks that motorist will appreciate. The exterior design of the redone Accent tends to exhibit an elevated level of automotive sophistication. The car’s sculpted body lines helps to deliver a totally new interpretation of Hyundai’s signature design language within the heavily competitive compact car segment.
Accent has an attractive cascading front grille of which is flanked by wraparound headlights and available LED signature daytime running lights. The roof profile has sharp character lines that run the length of the car. This design theme then transcends to the available slim LED wraparound taillights. Available features such as 17-inch alloy wheels and side mirror LED turn signal indicators add to the upscale identity of the car. This body form is functional, achieving a balance between design and engineering. Aerodynamic improvements is yet another dividend with this model, as it now has a lowered coefficient of wind drag when compared to the previous generation. The newly redone Accent is slightly larger and has more interior room than past versions as well. The driver oriented passenger compartment has a modern and sophisticated look. The inviting layout has intuitive controls plus quality materials and premium technology features to raise the standard for subcompacts in general.
This sedan also has above-class total interior volume – close to 104 cubic feet overall. Under the heading of safety, several improvements have been added for collision protection. The front crumple zones have been reworked to help manage crash energy protection plus the front side airbags have been upgraded. The updated powertrain is tuned for better fuel efficiency and drivability. Their 1.6-liter four-cylinder Gasoline Direct Injected engine produces 130-horsepower and 119 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel efficiency numbers with the manual transmission show 28-MPG city/37-MPG highway. When outfitted with the automatic, it reflects 28-MPG city/38-MPG highway. Accent is sold in three trim levels for 2018, SE, SEL and Limited. Shipping charges are extra, it’s an additional $885. The vehicle is generally crossed shopped with the Toyota Corolla, Chevy Cruz, Honda Civic and the Kia Forte.
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.
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OurLifestyle Olive oil is a flavorful and versatile cooking oil that is often trusted in popular cooking methods such as sauteing, stir-frying, dressing, marinating and grilling. It can also earn your trust when it comes to baking. With seven olive oil varieties to fit almost any need, each Filippo Berio olive oil has its own distinct color, aroma and flavor characteristics. Among those seven, the Extra Light Olive Oil offers a delicate aroma and subtle flavor that can complement your favorite baked goods. Its high smoke point helps keep those goodies moist, and with strong flavors like chocolate, it also lets the sweetness come through.
Baking BETTER, HEALTHIER
Additionally, it provides high levels of mono-unsaturated fat (“good” fat) and low levels of saturated fat (“bad” fat), making it a more nutritional choice when compared to butter or margarine. Because you need less olive oil than butter in baking, you’ll save calories as well. One easy way to incorporate olive oil in your baked goods is during the prep work: where recipes call for buttering or flouring pans, instead brush the pan with olive oil and dust with flour for the same effect as butter. Explore more tips and recipes using olive oil at filippoberio.com.
Dark Chocolate Souffle Prep time: 10 minutes |Cook time: 18 minutes |Servings: 2
Avoid Olive Oil Enemies Maintain olive oil’s flavor and quality by avoiding exposure to heat, light and air. Be sure to store olive oil in a cool, dark place and not over or near the oven.
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I ngredients: 1/2 tablespoon extra light olive oil, plus additional for coating pan 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus additional for coating pan 4 ounces 70 percent cocoa dark chocolate 1 ounce 30 percent heavy cream 3 egg whites 2 egg yolks pinch of cream of tartar
with sugar.
Directions: Heat oven to 375 F. Grease two 6-ounce ramekins with olive oil and dust
Tips: This recipe can be easily doubled. Garnish with fresh berries, if desired.
In double boiler, melt chocolate, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and cream; let cool. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Whisk egg yolks into cooled chocolate mixture; fold in egg whites, 1/4 cup sugar and cream of tartar. Pour into prepared ramekins; bake 15 minutes.
OurLifestyle Double-Chocolate Biscotti Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Servings: 40
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup extra light olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon for coating pans 1 cup packed light brown sugar 2 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk 1/3 cup milk 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate morsels
Double-Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with Salted Chocolate Caramel Icing Recipe courtesy of Chef Sharon Sanders Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 35 minutes | Servings: 8-10 I ngredients: 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, extra light olive oil, divided, plus additional for coating pan 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon table salt 1/2 cup half-and-half 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/4 cup, plus 1/3 cup, mini dark chocolate chips, divided 1 cup canned dulce de leche flaky sea salt (optional) Directions: Position rack in center of oven and heat to 350 F. Lightly coat 9-inch round cake pan with olive oil and line bottom with parchment paper. Lightly coat parchment with olive oil.
In large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in half-and-half, 1/2 cup olive oil and vanilla. With electric mixer, beat in egg until well blended. Scrape batter into prepared cake pan and sprinkle top with 1/4 cup mini chips. Bake cake 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Place cake on cooling rack 10 minutes then turn cake out onto rack and let cool completely. In medium saucepan, heat dulce de leche over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add remaining olive oil and chocolate chips and stir until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Remove pan from heat. Transfer cake to serving plate. Pour icing over cooled cake, sprinkle with flaky salt, if desired, and serve.
Directions: On sheet of waxed paper, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; set aside. Using electric mixer, beat olive oil with sugar until smooth and light. Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until smooth. Add milk and vinegar; beat until smooth. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Stir in chocolate morsels with large spoon; cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Heat oven to 325 F. Grease two large baking sheets with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil each. On lightly floured surface, divide dough into quarters. Roll each piece of dough into log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place logs on baking sheets, leaving space in between. Bake about 30 minutes, or until golden and set. Transfer to rack; let cool 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 F. On cutting board using serrated knife, cut each log into 3/4-inch-wide slices diagonally. Place slices, cut-side down, on baking sheets. Bake 15-18 minutes, or until toasted. Transfer to racks; let cool. MARCH 2018 | OUR TOWN | 17
InDepth
PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE BEARD
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
An entertaining educator Former host of ‘Gator Tales” looks back at a career of combining education, entertainment and storytelling in St. Louis BY CHARLOTTE BEARD St. Louis is rich with talent, especially in the arts. Among this talent is St. Louis native and winner of three regional Emmy awards – Bobby Norfolk. Norfolk, who was once compared to “a skinny Bill Cosby or a clean Richard Pryor,” performs locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition to performing in many projects with the Black Repertory Theatre, the story performer hosted CBS’ “Gator Tales” from 1988 to 1994 out of St. Louis, for which he won the Emmys. The show focused on literacy, storytelling and character education. “This big group of people wanted to have a show on Channel 4 that would teach children about character traits without being preachy and didactic,” stated Norfolk. “So, they thought the storyteller could tell the story, and the kids would learn their lesson while they thought they were being entertained. It was not just teaching them education but also teaching them character traits, proper behavior, honesty, respect, teamwork and cooperation. We had 75 kids in the audience and we would pre-tape on Thursday morning. Then we would post-edit on Friday. It would air on Saturday morning. We were in a nice position with the Nielsen’s because we were before Pee-Wee Herman, and then Garfield the Cat was afterwards.” Bobby Norfolk currently performs in many projects with the Black Repertory Theatre and hosted CBS’ “Gator Tales” from 1988 to 1994 out of St. Louis, for which he won three Emmys. The show focused on literacy, storytelling and character education.
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InDepth “Children’s Theater at Bobby’s House,” another program he hosted for a year, also centered on the same values as “Gator Tales.” Norfolk shared, “That was surreal, because that one year, [the show] was nominated for an Emmy along with ‘Gator Tales.’ So, I was competing against myself. The people who ran ‘Children’s Theater at Bobby’s House’ were with City Cable, in the old Sears building at Kingshighway.” Norfolk spoke to the collaboration of the “big group” behind “Gator Tales” that contributed to the impact on children’s education. “PREP [Personal Responsibility Education Program] started with the educators and committee of CEOs that [began] the project,” he said. “[The project] became a national movement. Everywhere I travel now, I see these schools, [that show] ‘National School of Character,’ or a ‘Character Plus School’ on the big banners when you walk into the school. On the marquee of a lot of schools [I have seen] ‘Character Word of the Week,’ [such as] honesty, respect, teamwork, and cooperation. So, it just mushroomed from that beginning. A lot of people nationally do not give St. Louis or ‘Gator Tales’ the credit for the ‘Character Plus movement’ becoming national but we know the truth.” Norfolk, who spent his early childhood years living in north city, an area that most referred to as The Ville, didn’t appear likely to talk before crowds because he stuttered. However, in 1961 while performing in a fourth-grade poetry recital, his teachers witnessed the unlikely. “I had these master teachers in the St. Louis public school system. They saw things in me I didn’t see in myself. I think that’s a mark of a master teacher—to see inside the student with low self-esteem, who hasn’t found their God-gift birthed or talents yet. So, these teachers put me in drama class, Glee club, choral, talent shows, and poetry recitals. Whenever I performed, I wouldn’t stutter,” he said. After Norfolk graduated from Sumner High School he went on to study history on a Danforth Fellowship at UMSL, where he also minored in journalism. “By the time I hit the St. Louis American, I was their feature writer and investigative reporter,” said Norfolk. “But I didn’t want to do journalism my whole life, because I was already doing work with the St. Louis comedy club. When the comedy clubs weren’t hiring me, I would work for the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. And when the theaters went dark, I would then go back to the comedy clubs. But in between all that, my real job was working at the Arch in the Old Courthouse.” Norfolk’s history degree had gained him a position as a national park ranger, but his heart was in performing. Jan Dolan, his current booking agent, shared how the two of them met over 30 years ago when they were both rangers at the Arch. “Bobby was always the popular park ranger when the school groups would come in. Bobby would always be the number one pick and the rest of us [rangers] would be like ‘sure go ahead’,” Dolan stated with a laugh. “He was very animated; used special effects to do his educational programs. And we used to follow him around—casual groupies—when he did his standup comedy. I just thought that Bobby was a really interesting and unique person way back then.” Norfolk performed in the comedy clubs between 1975 and
1981. Norfolk decided to request Mondays and Tuesdays as his off days from the chief ranger where he worked to pursue his storytelling skills at the St. Louis schools. The chief ranger agreed to the request. “The superintendent gave me a little father-son chat. He said, ‘Bobby, I predict that in about two years, you’ll be making more in a day than I make in a week.’ He was right,” Norfolk said. Norfolk resigned from his park ranger role in 1987 to begin full time storytelling. Folktale Productions got its start with just a little bit more than Norfolk’s talent. “I ended up quitting the park service thinking I was going to start a new job,” said Dolan. “That fell through. So, I approached Bobby and I said, ‘Look here…you need someone to organize you because you’re starting to get a lot of calls from schools. So, until I get a real job going why don’t I work with you a little bit?’ Of course, that was 30 years ago. I guess I never found that real job.” Annually, Norfolk started performing approximately 350 times a year at schools and libraries combined. When he began to look at the state standards for schools he became an “edutainer.” Norfolk shared that edutainment became the keystone of his work— combining educational material and his entertainment skills. In addition to the national Circle of Excellence Oracle Award recipient’s accomplishments as a story performer, he has authored, co-authored and contributed on a combination of 30 books, CDs and DVDs. His project for children, “Anansi Time,” won the Parent’s Choice Gold Award and can be found on www.bobbynorfolk.com. His latest memoir, “Eye to the Sky”, can be found at the Parkhurst Brother’s website: www.parkhurstbrothers.com. Norfolk’s performances reach beyond the educational system to many other venues. On Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Missouri History Museum, he will be staring in “I, Dred Scott, A Musical” which tells the story of Dred and Harriet Scott and their two daughters’ fight for freedom. More details can be found at www.mohistory. org/events. In addition to national storytelling festivals, Norfolk continues to perform for the St. Louis Storytelling Festival annually as well as serves as part of the festival’s advisory council. This year the festival will take place May 2-5 at various venues. Please visit the site for details including registration: www.extension.missouri.edu/storytelling.
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March
31 Suits for soldiers
2 Read Across America Day
11 Daylight Savings Time starts 17
St. Patrick’s Day
20 First Day of Spring 21 Career fair Special School District of St. Louis County will hold a career fair for prospective school bus drivers from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at SSD’s Central Office at 12110 Clayton Road in Town & Country. A seminar beginning at 9 a.m. will provide the opportunity for attendees to learn about SSD, the operation of the district’s transportation department, employee benefits and what it is like to be a bus driver for SSD. SSD staff will be available to answer questions. Demonstrations will also be conducted on wheelchair hookups, safety equipment and overall bus safety. Qualified individuals who complete an online application prior to the career fair will be interviewed at the event. Interviews will begin at 10:30 a.m. Apply online at http://www.ssdmo. org/careers.html. For additional information, call 314-989-8152.
25 Historic Village open house The historic homes in the Village at Faust Park at 15185 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield will be open for free tours from 12 – 4 p.m. Guides in period dress will be available to answer questions about the structures, as well as the heritage gardens that are lovingly attended to by dedicated volunteers. Varying number of buildings may be open due to staffing. March is a special Women’s History Month Event. For more information, call 314-615-8328.
30 Good Friday
500 Suits For 500 Soldiers will take place at Greg Mans Farmers Agency at 9335 Gravois Road, Suite C in St. Louis. Since over one million military personnel will be making the transition to the civilian workforce in the next couple of years, Sons of American Legion Post 397 and H.E.R.O.E.S Care have 500 suits, shirts and ties to donate to St Louis veterans and active military to help their transition easier. All veterans and active military can pick up a complimentary suit between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. They will also have free haircuts onsite, donated by ClipperMobile Salon and Farmers Insurance. First come, first serve between 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Veterans Affairs representatives will be onsite to answer questions. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact 314-638-8890.