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2 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2018

Our Town Volume 9 | Number 09 SEPTEMBER 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

Maryland Heights establishes new economic development program and more.

Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore tries her hand at fishing while Avalanche wrestles with 180 lbs of puppies.

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

Feature Bringing history to life in Faust Park St. Louis Count Parks Department hosts educational programs to give students a look at life on the frontier. By Charlotte Beard

NonProfit Profile Radio Arts Foundation (RAF-STL) is ‘a voice for all the arts in St. Louis’.

Chamber Corner

Lifestyle For advertising information, please contact us at:

info@mycnews.com

2019 Hyundai Veloster is a unique, fun-to-drive sports car in Automobile Alley. Puppets break bad in Entertainment. Save time on busy school nights 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 Humans of St. Louis is a nonprofit that collects the stories of everyday people across the area and shares them with the world.

Events Calendar

Staff Writer – Charlotte Beard Cover Photo – Submitted

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AroundTown

Growing business The City of Maryland Heights has established a new economic development program to enhance the city’s vibrant business base and has named Jim Carver as Economic Development Program Manager to lead the initiative. Carver has served as Chairman of the Maryland Heights Economic Development Commission since its inception in 2011. The new Economic Development Program is a formalized and assertive approach to build upon the city’s efforts in business development, business attraction and business retention under its Economic Development Commission. The new program seeks to: • Develop and make recommendations to the city council and staff regarding economic development policies, regulations, marketing, strategies and activities. • Retain current businesses and attract new ones to the city. • Evaluate and recommend economic development opportunities as well as the use of appropriate incentives to encourage development and redevelopment within the city. • Articulate a vision of economic development with clearly defined goals and objectives for the city over a five-year rolling timeframe. Carver will be responsible for implementation of the new program with assistance from city staff and will report to City Administrator Jim Krischke. He has been a member of the Maryland Heights City Council since 2010 and served two terms as council president pro-tem. Carver will resign his seat on the city council immediately to assume his new position as a fulltime employee of the city. “Councilman Carver has been a leader in economic development for the city for

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CITY OF MARYLAND HEIGHTS

Maryland Heights establishes new economic development program and names new program manager

Jim Carver has been named Economic Development Program Manager for the city of Maryland Heights.

the past eight years and has worked closely with the economic development commission, city council, community development department, chamber of commerce and local developers on numerous development proposals and opportunities,” said Maryland Heights Mayor Mike Moeller. “His knowledge of local businesses and his distinct understanding of the city’s longterm vision and goals make Jim the ideal choice to lead this new program.” Funding for the new economic development program is included in the 2018 General Fund budget. More than 1,700 companies are currently located in the Maryland Heights business community, employing more than 75,000 people. The city has experienced substantial growth in recent years, particularly in hospitality, corporate office, medical, entertainment and recreation sectors.

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AroundTown

Raising awareness

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St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness announces activities planned for National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness is inviting St. Louisans to support events and activities planned to observe National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September 2018.

St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) is inviting St. Louisans to support events and activities planned to observe National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September 2018: Sept. 4 – Cookie Baking for Survivors SLOCA volunteers bake cookies at the Dierbergs Cooking School kitchen in Des Peres for distribution to ovarian cancer patients and oncology nurses at area gynecological chemotherapy infusion centers. Contact the SLOCA office for more information at 314-966-7562. Sept. 11 – Teal Toes for SLOCA The sixth annual Teal Toes for SLOCA event will be held at the Nail Pro location in Des Peres. A portion of proceeds from all services performed on this date will benefit SLOCA. Sept. 14 – St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness Night at the Ballpark Five hundred SLOCA supporters will fill the stands for a fun-filled evening as the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Dodgers at 7:15 p.m. For tickets visit sloca.org or call the SLOCA office at 314-966-7562. Sept. 23 – Ovarian Cancer: Survive and Shine Course This year the event will be hosted at The J Community Center in Creve Coeur. Registration will open at 8:30

a.m., with the event beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 1 p.m. The event is free for ovarian cancer survivors and caregivers, and includes breakfast and lunch. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required – call SLOCA at 314-966-7562 or register online at sloca.org/shine Oct. 14 – Families Run for Ovarian Cancer Annual ROC STAR 5K The 12th Annual Families Run for Ovarian Cancer (FamiliesROC) presented by TESARO - is a 5K and 1-mile run/walk which will take place in downtown St. Louis. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at Soldiers Memorial at 1315 Chestnut Street. Registration is NOW open to the public! Register for the race on the SLOCA website sloca.org/familiesroc. Commenting on the “National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month” events and activities, SLOCA Executive Director and ovarian cancer survivor, Susan Robben notes, “We need to spread the word about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. It is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, mainly because there is no diagnostic test for it.” She continues, “Approximately 22,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease each year, and about 14,000 women die from it annually. Most often, ovarian cancer is in its advanced stages when diagnosed, usually at Stage 3 or 4. We want women and their doctors to begin recognizing the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer earlier.” Robben adds, “It is crucial that we get the word out to save the lives of women throughout the St. Louis community. That is why the events and activities surrounding Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month are so important for the women in our area.” Additional information about the upcoming Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month events and activities, and the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness organization, is available online at www.sloca.org or by calling 314-966-7562.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 | OUR TOWN | 5

AroundTown

A leg up

Byerly RV introduces the Pre-RV BY RUSS PATTON Remember when RVing was called camping? RV’s were little more than heavy aluminum covered log cabins with basic amenities such as, kitchen, toilet, refrigerator, heater and beds. Owners traveled with their toolboxes, which have since then have been replaced by cellphones. Even the hardcore camper’s lifestyle has changed. Along with backpacks and binoculars we add bikes, kayaks or canoes, tents, coolers, lanterns, stoves and stores of food (and drink). We pile them on top, cram them in the back, attach them to the rear rack and …”where’s the kid?” How the pilgrims progress has changed!

Saint Louis Crisis Nursery awarded $40,000 grant from Monsanto Fund

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Advertorial

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery received a $40,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund for its Food and Nutrition (FAN) program. Each nursery location has a vegetable garden in the yard where children, many for the first time, can see where fresh vegetables grow and help with weeding, watering and picking.

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The new “Pre-RV”— The “GO” by SylvanSport The “GO” is the perfect solution for the modern camper. You won’t find this product in the camping stores. Why? Well, it has wheels, it’s a vehicle, it’s an RV (?)… sort of. But you have to see it at Byerly RV in Eureka, Missouri. The “GO” is light weight-840lbs. It is a camper, but also a utility trailer and adapts to many uses. National Geographic Adventure calls this the “Coolest Camper Ever.” Check it out at www.byerlyrv.com and come see us at 295 East Fifth in Eureka. See us on Facebook. Call us at 636-938-2000. Byerly RV, celebrating 70 years in business. Voted in the Top 50 RV Dealers in the United States in 2017.

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The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery received a $40,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund for its Food and Nutrition (FAN) program. With the Monsanto Fund grant, the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s FAN program will be able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, ingredients for healthy meals, milk, and infant formula for 500 children receiving crisis care at the five Nursery locations each month. The program will also help stock the on-site food pantries at each location, making emergency nutritional support available to an additional 300 food insecure families each month. “One in six St. Louis area children live in poverty, their families struggling to find their next meal,” explained DiAnne Mueller, CEO of the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery. “Studies show that good nutrition is crucial in the first three years of life, and children who are food insecure are at a greater risk for poor health and quality of life. With the help of this generous Monsanto Fund grant, we will be able to assist many of those families and children and improve their outcomes.” “The Monsanto Fund has been active in the fight against food insecurity by working with various organizations within St. Louis and globally to improve access to healthy, balanced and nutritional meals,” said Michelle Insco, Monsanto Fund Program Officer. “We are proud to support the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery in their efforts to work with families impacted by malnutrition.” Each nursery location has a vegetable garden in the yard where children, many for the first time, can see where fresh vegetables grow and help with weeding, watering and picking. The Crisis Nursery staff uses these occasions to talk about making healthy food choices when possible. The Monsanto Fund grant will provide parents and children activities and educational material regarding proper nutrition, which can lead to healthier families and communities.

AroundTown

From Pattonville to the stars St. Ann native will be participating in flight tests for new American-made, commercial spacecraft to fly missions to the International Space Station On Aug. 3, NASA released news of nine astronauts who will be participating in flight tests for American-made, commercial spacecraft. One of those nine astronauts is Pattonville High School’s 1988 alumni, Colonel Robert Behnken. Behnken, who has a doctorate in engineering from California Institute of Technology (Caltech), joined the astronaut corps in 2000 and flew aboard space shuttle Endeavour twice for missions during which he performed six spacewalks totaling more than 37 hours. Before receiving his doctorate degree, Behnken received his bachelor of science degree in physics and bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering both from Washington University in 1992. His master of science in mechanical engineering was received from Caltech in 1993. When asked if he knew in high school that he wanted to be an astronaut, Behnken responded, “I was really focused on a way to pay for college and went through the Air Force ROTC program. The astronaut piece became a little bit more of an option after I was graduating from ROTC when I was finishing up at Washington University. When I looked at the Air Force job positions there was one out there for astronaut.” The St. Ann native explained that there is a “dream sheet” that is given to those who finish the program to complete and select a position they desire, starting with their first choice. He picked astronaut but officials in the Air Force smiled at him advising that he aim lower for his first choice of a position. “’Cause you’re not going to get that one yet,” Behnken laughed. “You kind of waste your choices if you pick something like astronaut for your first choice on your job sheet. So, I took that to heart and picked an engineering job. But a couple years later I applied for the test pilot school. At the test pilot school everyone was applying to be an astronaut.” Behnken shared more about the endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. “For the last three years I have been working with two companies that have con-

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BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

Colonel Robert Behnke, Pattonville High School Class of 1988 joined the astronaut corps at NASA in 2000 and flew aboard space shuttle Endeavour twice for missions during which he performed six spacewalks totaling more than 37 hours.

tracts with NASA to build new spacecrafts to shepherd people back and forth to the [International] Space Station. We do have U.S. astronauts in space continually right now. They rotate out about every six months and use the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to do that. NASA put together some contracts several years back to try finding an alternate way, so we didn’t rely on that Russian spacecraft to get into space,” he said. That is when some American companies got involved. “So, I’ve been working with the two providers, SpaceX and Boeing, for about three years. Now it’s coming the time where both of those companies are mature enough that we will be able to start flushing out the test mission that will demonstrate that we have that capability. So, I’ll be on one of those missions that demonstrate that we can get to the space station, swap out crews and bring that vehicle back. We will do that over just a couple week periods. So, it will be a short mission and then the following mission will pick up that role of replacing the Soyuz spacecraft,” he said. Behnken explained that the team of astronauts working on the move from Soyuz usage were recently split into two respective groups for SpaceX and Boeing. Currently, Behnke is working with the SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. They are scheduled to launch in 2019. “My biggest hope is that we can start launching again in Florida,” stated Behnken. “And it will become a regular thing like it was with the space shuttles. I got to do a

couple of those missions. After those missions I was able to go back to talk to people, whether it was in St. Louis or elsewhere around the country. Folks really were interested in the space program that was here in the U.S. and not a program launching out of Kazakhstan. It was very different when you spoke to school kids about their futures. If you were going to work on a rocket it was a lot more of a possibility for them if it was in Florida versus if it was in Kazakhstan. After the mission we will have gone to the Space Station, come back safely, landed off the coast of Florida and I’ll be able to share that mission with a lot of folks so that they can be as excited as I am about the space program.” Behnken encourages students to not let opportunities pass them by while they are in school. “When I went to Pattonville High School they had a good science program and they had a good math program. I was able to take chemistry, physics and calculus. At the end of my time in high school, that really did set me up to be successful at Washington University, at Caltech, in the Air Force and at NASA.” Behnken went on to share the impact of his schooling at Pattonville. “Throughout my years there were projects that made math and science not just book learning where you would open up the book and do problem exercises. We did things. We built geodesic domes. We tried to apply all the math that we were learning. I had a wonderful teacher, even as far back as grade school, that was interested in us doing science activities and then talking about them from a perspective of not only understanding but being able to help other people understand. Across the board I had a great experience at Pattonville with the opportunities for learning math and science and [being able to] explain in addition to understanding it.” For more information about Col. Behnken or his current mission visit: https://www. nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/robertl-behnken or https://www.nasa.gov/pressrelease/nasa-assigns-crews-to-first-testflights-missions-on-commercial-spacecraft.

SEPTEMBER 2018 | OUR TOWN | 7

OurThoughts MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE

BIGSTOCK

“Fishing,” he said “Fishing?” I asked. “Ya. It’ll be fun. A new hobby. We’ll grab a few things and we’ll catch our limit within a minute.” A “few things” later and we were off: reels and poles, a tackle box filled with extra line, line cutters, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, spinners, swivels, lures, plastic worms, real worms, special bait, needle nose pliers, fillet knife, tape measure, nets, fish-head-bopper, along with a specialized cooler to keep head-bopped fish

Something’s fishy in, fishing chairs, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lip balm, snacks, first aid kit and TP…just in case. “Looks like we’ve unloaded your granny’s attic!” I said, “Why do we need all this stuff?” “I’ve done extensive research; these are the basics,” he said. “Holy mackerel!” “Incorrect! Not mackerel, but trout. Big giant, juicy lake trout.” So off we went. We wedged ourselves into a sandy area between two men with lines already in the water. “Hi guys! Catch anything?” I caught some crusty glares, which would be much more than I was going to hook that day. I sensed we were intruding on some personal space. We moved over to a nice uncrowded location on a rocky point of the lake. After losing three hooks and 8 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2018

snapping the line in half we came to the realization that the rocky point was unoccupied because rocky points contain rocky bottoms, which eat fishing line. “Patience,” said my husband. I cast my line again. Soon I had something on the hook. A big one! I reeled in a nice three pound, slime-covered log. “Change your bait,” counseled the fishing expert. He gave me a wad of special goo. It smelled like the armpit of a sweaty gorilla, but was hot pink and had sparkles in it. “What in the name of all that is vile and rotted, but yet strangely alluring, is this hot mess?” He explained, “Simple. I suspect the smell attracts the male fish and the color and glitter attract the females. You know…a little something for everyone.” A few more snags, some lost lures and

bait and we noticed the banks around us were clearing out. “Where’s everyone going?” I asked one group leaving. “Wrong time of day.” “Seriously? Then how are we supposed to get any fish?” “Big Bob’s down the street. They’ve got a special on fried mackerel today.”

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 ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

180 pounds of

AVALANCHE

puppies

ur friend David used to regale us with tales of when he had three Newfoundlands in the house, laughingly describing the havoc the mutts would wreak on his home. Dog bones buried in the couch cushions, games of tugof-war gone awry and piles of shredded goods were topics remembered with good humor. One of his favorite tales involved two “puppies” weighing one hundred pounds apiece running down the hallway together, then trying to stop – much too late – at the end of the hall. Both dogs slid on the hardwood floor and blew right through the closet doors at the end of the hall, necessitating the purchase and installation of a new pair of doors. Staci and I used listen to these stories and laugh, finding amusement in the trials and tribulations of others. We enjoyed the luxury of the separation of time and distance, as those stories were told in the past tense, and they involved other people’s stuff getting destroyed. Fast forward to today, when our cute, cuddly Newfy puppies have a combined weight north of 180 lbs., the stories involve our stuff and past tense is defined as the last few hours or days. It’s our stuff being trashed, right now. Our male, named

Clouseau (Chief Inspector, no less,) weighs in a little less than 110 lbs., and his female sidekick Cato tips the scales at a svelte 71 lbs. Just under nine-months of age, they sometimes resemble giant-breed termites, exploring the world with their teeth. A couple months ago, Cato began her reconnaissance-by-chewing by working on the front deck railing. After delivering some verbal correction and treating the damaged woodwork with dog-repellant tea tree oil, Staci sanded the not-too-damaged railing smooth, preparing the surface for fresh stain. Within a couple days, new gnaw marks appeared on the railing. Uncertain which puppy had again defaced the woodwork, we just doused the wood with more tea tree oil, and so far the teeth marks have not multiplied, as the mutts seem to have grown bored with that part of their world. An antique armoire was next, with damage confined to two small bottom corners, easily smoothed and re-stained. The armoire now wears a blanket skirt taped in place over the bottom molding. We’ve had no further problems there. Three of Staci’s shoes, all from different pairs, were part of last week’s damage tally. One of my shirts and a small, solar lamp in the front yard rounded out the list of items

gnawed into shreds. Cato is the energetic one; if not asleep, she’s always in motion. Once she finds something interesting, Clouseau come over to investigate, consistent with his title of Chief Inspector. If he deems the item worthy of chewing, it gets chewed in a most thorough manner, as his beastly jaw size gives him remarkable powers of mastication. We hope others find our puppy tales as entertaining as we previously found the stories of other goofy Newfy owners. Right now the situation can be a bit taxing. Despite the damaged goods, the dogs are still hopelessly cute and are always good for a laugh and a smile, making it all worth it…I think. I’ll report back after their combined tonnage exceeds 200 lbs.

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.

SEPTEMBER 2018

| OUR TOWN | 9

BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

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Bringing history to life in Faust Park St. Louis County Parks Department hosts educational programs that gives students a firsthand look at life on the frontier BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

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Missouri is rich with educational landmarks, such as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which became Gateway Arch National Park in 2018, but many are also still learning about Faust Park. The educational field trips of Faust Park at 15185 Olive Blvd in Chesterfield have been in operation for over 15 years. The educational programs were developed by an educator to meet Missouri Grade Level Expectations for fourth grade. Though mainly geared towards students below grade seven, its programs offer something for all ages. Thomas Hoff, Museum Educator, shares that the staff are normally booked every Tuesday and Wednesday when school is in session.

“We do have a lot of kids coming through here. We start in late September with our fall groups [which runs] through Veteran’s Day.” The history staff at Faust Park are currently booking spring registration for its programs while the fall group is now underway. There are five programs in addition to their guided tours for adults and/or mixed age groups: Farmsteading at Thornhill, Thornhill on the Frontier, Frontier Homes, The Passage West and Life on the Frontier. Hoff shares that of all the offerings, attendees express Farmsteading at Thornhill to be their favorite program. The four-hour program accommodates 40 students at one time for grades three through six. Students spend a half day learning about the Louisiana Purchase and early Missouri history. With the learning, they take part in activities that allow them to experience what chores were like in the early 1800s, such as hauling water, butter churning and candle dipping. One of the two-hour programs, Thornhill on the Frontier, accommodates 50 students (grades three through six) at one time and involves a tour of Governor Bates’ home and outbuildings. Besides providing them history, students are introduced to what it meant to process fibers into fabric, cultivate food and cook. They also explore the world of transportation and family life that existed in the 19th century. Students participate in one hands-on activity as well during the two hours. Frontier Homes, another two-hour program for grades three through six, accommodates up to 40 students. This learning tour may include topics such as home construction, crop

“The children learn a lot about the responsibilities that they would have had 200 years ago as a child. It gives a chance to get out and do some exercise in fresh air and learn something about our cultural past.”

~Thomas Hoff, Museum Educator

cultivation, food preservation, cooking, blacksmithing, slavery, immigration and other aspects of everyday life from the mid-1800s. Students also get to experience one hands-on activity. Similar experience is available with the 2.5 hour Passage West program, which includes two hands-on activities. Special needs classes can be accommodated with modification to the twohour Life on the Frontier program, which was designed for kindergarten to second grade students. This program allows a maximum of 35 students to experience daily chores similar to what is offered with the Farmsteading at Thornhill program. “We have schools that are very determined to get booked at least once a year for their kids because they see it as a very positive experience. The children learn a lot about the responsibilities that they would have had 200 years ago as a child. It gives a chance to get out and do some exercise in fresh air and learn something about our cultural past.” Hoff expressed that schools may travel quite a distance for a program because the schools feel the history is very important. “One of the things I find very satisfying,” stated Hoff, “is watching children make the intellectual connection to the past. So many of our kids today are used to having a more sedentary or indoor lifestyle where life revolves around video games and [such]. Watching them experience the way childhood would have been 200 years ago and making that connection…it’s always a good thing to see them expand their thinking.” For more information or to make reservations, please call Faust Park at 314-615-8336 or email THoff@stlouisco.com. SEPTEMBER 2018 | OUR TOWN | 11

NonProfitProfile

Radio Arts Foundation (RAF-STL) is ‘a voice for all the arts in St. Louis’ On April 8, the Radio Arts Foundation (Classic 107.3 and 96.3 HD2 and streaming live at www.rafstl.org) marked their fifth anniversary of bringing back classical music to radio in St. Louis. As a nonprofit, RAF-STL’s mission is to provide classical music programming to strengthen our region’s cultural landscape and enrich a vibrant arts community. The station was established as a result of the unexpected demise of Classic 99 (KFUO) in 2010. Having served St. Louisans for 62 years, St. Louis was left without a classical music radio station. A group of music lovers, including supporters of Classic 99(KFUO) and Noémi and Michael Neidorff, worked on starting a replacement station. In April, 2013 Radio Arts Foundation went “live”. First Class program line-up includes: • Jazz at Lincoln Center • San Francisco, Chicago, Milwaukee Symphonies, Los Angeles, New York Philharmonics • Spanish & English Classical Music “Concierto” and Latin-American Music “Fiesta!” • Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center • December holiday programs In-house produced programming: • Notable at Nine with Jim Doyle • Opera with Tom Sudholt • Friday Morning with the Arts with by Jim Doyle • Classics 4 Kids hosted by Kathy Lawton Brown • Re-choired Listening hosted by Philip Barnes of the St. Louis Chamber Chorus • Inside Classical Guitar hosted by John Clayton of the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society • “Sunday Matinee on Broadway” showcasing the best of Broadway hosted by Julie Schuster • “Somethin Else” jazz show hosted by Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch arts critic “Kaleidoscope”, a program created by the station to support local arts and education, partnered with Webster University’s Community Music School, in presenting a children’s concert headlining young virtuoso pianist, Jerry Chang. Careers in the Arts, an educational series of discussions between renowned figures in the arts and people in the community included: 12 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2018

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Dance: Facilitated by Sally Brayley Bliss & Michael Uthoff, w/Alicia Graf Mack, Kirven & Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Christine Knoblauch-O’Neal & Erin Warner Prange Opera: Facilitated by Timothy O’Leary of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, w/Christine Brewer, Gene Dobbs Bradford, Rick Dildine, Duane Martin Foster & Amy Kaiser Theater: Facilitated by Mike Isaacson of the Muny, w/Robert Mark Morgan, Megan Larche Dominick & Nathan Scheuer Live interviews are conducted with well-known artists including Leonard Slatkin, Timothy O’Leary, and Grace Bumbry to name a few. Event information is announced for free from a variety of organizations including The Black Rep, New Jewish Theater, Dance St. Louis and many others. There is more to come, so stay tuned, and mark your calendars for these upcoming events: The second Annual Wine and Jazz under the Stars event at the Butterfly House on Sept. 14 from 6 – 9 p.m. featuring live entertainment from Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers. The 2019 Gala will be in April at the Sheldon, featuring Leonard Slatkin, Olga Kern, performing with her son, Vladislav Kern and Thomas Hampson presenting Carnival of the Animals, along with other fabulous surprises. To learn more about RAF-STL and how you can support the station, please visit rafstl.org or call 314-881-3053.

ChamberCorner

looking after your four-legged friends

BY CHARLOTTE BEARD The Creve Coeur Animal Hospital, located at 12550 Olive Blvd in Creve Coeur, will be celebrating it’s 25th anniversary in October. The hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). It is stated that only the top small animal hospitals in the United States and Canada have achieved accreditation by the Association. To maintain accredited status, Creve Coeur Animal Hospital must continue to be evaluated regularly by AAHA. The hospital of approximately 30 staff members, cares for dogs, cats, rabbits, ferret, and reptiles. In addition to certain pet food for the animals in their care, they also deliver medication. “We deliver medication for our clients in a five-mile radius of the hospital,” states Luci Smith, Office Manager. Full-day or half-day doggy camp is available and Smith shares that the hospital can board approximately 50 to 75 animals at one time. The hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday – 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. For more information or to schedule an appointment visit: w w w . crevecoeurvets.com or call 314-434-4300. Creve Coeur Animal Hospital participates in the Veterinary Information Network where thousands of veterinarians and veterinary specialists meet via the internet to discuss medical cases and important issues. The VIN is another way in which Creve Coeur Animal Hospital provides excellent care for you and your pet.

SEPTEMBER 2018 | OUR TOWN | 13

OurLifestyle

2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER

A UNIQUE, FUN-TO-DRIVE SPORTS CAR With Hyundai Motors now making available their redone 2019 Veloster and Veloster Turbo, I felt that the natural thing was to ask their Chief Operating Officer, Brian Smith, “Will it still be manufactured with three-doors, in order to allow rear seat occupants easier access from the passenger side?” His response was a resounding, “Yes, of course it will, as it’s quite popular with many of our buyers!” Having learned that, this clearly brings their design language more into focus with a level of uniqueness and personality to Veloster, as no other car company has in their product mix. Their development engineers referrer to this as a “two-plus-one door asymmetrical body style configuration.” As GM’s Saturn division did years ago, bringing back a three-door concept to the forefront is yet another illustration of Hyundai’s commitment to reaching out to a broad customer base. First unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2018, it’s worth noting that this fun-to-drive sports car is showcased with a fresh and welcomed blueprint. The new Veloster features a comprehensive exterior and interior redesign, powertrain enhancements, and a lengthy list of new and improved infotainment and connectivity features. With its more expressive design, this reworked shape conveys a focused level of dynamic performance, coupled with its more muscular well planted stance. The 14 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2018

roofline has been lowered for a unique profile, resulting in a distinctive coupe-inspired presentation. The fender line is also more coupe-like, and the rear now has a more aggressive integrated leading-edge design. Veloster’s dynamic rear design has a distinctive glass hatch and center-fascia with chrome exhaust tips, utilizing a single outlet for the 2.0-liter model and dual-outlets for the Turbo and R-Spec models. The standard four-cylinder engine was developed with superior efficiency and lower emissions and has a peak output of 147 horsepower. This engine is either coupled with a six-speed manual or a six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission. The optional 1.6-liter turbocharged, directinjected engine produces 201 horsepower with regular grade fuel. The Turbo is paired with a standard sixspeed manual transmission or a sevenspeed dual clutch automatic. Included are steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters, which result in a more connected driving experience. The fuel economy range reflects 25-mpg, to 34-mpg, depending on the engine and gearbox. All models offer Torque Vectoring Control. This active cornering feature utilizes capabilities from the Electronic Stability Control and powertrain control systems, resulting in improved dynamic cornering during more enthusiastic driving. The Turbo features a quicker-ratio steering system which gives drivers precise cornering and feedback. All Turbo models include Active Engine Sound, which

enhances sound characteristics inside the cabin for a more complete and heightened driving experience. The interior design features a driver-focused layout with easy to read gauges. There is also generous rear cargo capabilities of 19.9 cubic feet of volume behind the 2nd row seat. A brightly lit Heads-Up Display system is available, projecting a virtual image onto the windshield, thus helping the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road. With a starting price point of $18,500 and a notable warranty, there is a value story here as well, reflecting the four-passenger, FWD, 2019 Hyundai Veloster. MSRP excludes $885 freight/shipping charges. 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

THE HAPPYTIME

MURDERS GLEEFULLY TAKES PUPPETS INTO THE GUTTER

Puppets behaving badly should somehow feel edgier. And while “The Happytime Murders” does push a lot of boundaries, most of it feels pretty stale and familiar. At the very least this movie has a pedigree, because if you’re going to make a film with puppets, you better have a Henson involved. Brian Henson, son of the late, great Jim Henson directs this sendup of grisly crime thrillers and while some of the wacky outrageousness manages to stick the landing, it’s mostly a felt-covered thud. In a world where humans and puppets coexist, our hero is private investigator Phil Philips (performed by Muppets veteran Bill Barretta), a puppet and disgraced former cop who gets wrapped up in a series of murders involving the cast of an old TV show called “The Happytime Gang.” Philips former human-partner Detective Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy) doesn’t want him sniffing around the crimes as the pair have a complicated, antagonistic relationship. “The Happytime Murders” attempts to

make some larger points about discrimination with puppets treated as secondclass citizens. But then an allegory for discrimination dressed up as a comedic crime drama was done so much better by “Zootopia.” That means that “The Happytime Murders” has to fall back on raunchy comedy and the shock of seeing puppets involved in all manner of rude and crude activities. This works to a certain extent (you’ll never look at cows and octopi in the same way ever again), but raunchiness for the sake of raunchiness feels more hollow than anything else. That then leaves the human cast, who actually almost pulls this thing out of the fire. McCarthy, who is always at her best when she is angry and unhinged, gives this movie everything she’s got and, sadly enough, the movie actually shines when there’s not a puppet to be found in scenes where McCarthy gets paired with Maya Rudlolph who plays Philips’ secretary Bubbles. I would watch a movie with just these two solving crimes. But then “The Happytime Murders” can’t

keep the momentum going as it winds up wasting the talents of Elizabeth Banks as the lone human cast member of “The Happytime Gang” and Joel McHale as a jerky FBI agent. Unless you’re a devotee of the art of puppetry or mildly funny sex jokes you can probably just let this one slide and instead catch “Avenue Q” the next time it comes to town. “The Happytime Murders” is rated R for strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material. For up to the minute reviews, columns and all things entertainment go to www. matsentertainment.com 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.

SEPTEMBER 2018

| OUR TOWN | 15

OurLifestyle

Save time on school nights Simple, savory recipes for busy families

Back-to-school season means plenty of evening hours spent completing homework, attending extracurricular activities and preparing to repeat the schoolday routine the next day. For many families, having time to prepare and cook quality, nutritious meals can be next to impossible. Instead of choosing between valuable family time and hours spent in the kitchen, RAGÚ blogger, fitness enthusiast and busy mom Jamie Krauss Hess recommends stocking up on go-to pantry staples you feel good about and including them in quick, nutritious recipes everyone can enjoy together. Try recipes such as Mini Turkey Sloppy Joes, which swap out beef for ground turkey to provide a flavorful alternative while offering a special twist to a classic family favorite. Quinoa Penne with Savory Tomato-Basil Sauce can hit the spot with just a handful of ingredients. Or, if the little ones clamor for a more kid-friendly dish and the adults don’t mind a throwback to childhood, Grown-Up Tomato Mac and Cheese can provide the best of both worlds. All three recipes take less than an hour to make and feature RAGÚ Simply pasta sauces, which are made with 100 percent olive oil and contain no added sugar. They’re available in four varieties including: Traditional, Chunky Marinara, Chunky Garden Vegetable and Flavored with Meat. By using simple ingredients like California vine-ripened tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, onions and spices, the result is a tastetempting sauce with recipe versatility. Find more family-pleasing and simple-to-prepare recipes ideal for busy school nights at ragu. com. 16 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2018

Quinoa Penne with Savory Tomato-Basil Sauce Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 8-10 minutes | Servings: 6

Ingredients: 12

2 1 4 1/4

ounces (about 5 cups) uncooked quinoa penne pasta tablespoons olive oil large shallot, chopped cloves garlic, thinly sliced cup oil-packed sundried tomatoes, drained and chopped

1/2 1

teaspoon smoked paprika jar (24 ounces) RAGÚ Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable Pasta Sauce 1 1/4 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves, chopped, divided

Directions: Cook pasta as directed on package. In large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add shallots; cook 5-7 minutes, or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add garlic, tomatoes and paprika; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in sauce and basil, reserving small amount of basil for garnish. Drain pasta; add to sauce mixture. Mix well. Cook 1-2 minutes until heated through. Sprinkle with reserved basil before serving. Tip: For extra protein, add 1 pound sliced, grilled chicken when stirring in pasta.

OurLifestyle Grown-Up Tomato Mac and Cheese Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Servings: 8 Ingredients: 1 box (16 ounces) gemelli pasta 4 cups water 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided 1/2 cup (2 ounces) Pecorino Romano cheese, grated

1 1 1 2

tablespoon corn starch can (5 ounces) evaporated milk jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce teaspoons cracked black pepper

Directions: In large pot, combine pasta and water. Cook over medium-high heat 20-22 minutes, or until pasta is done, stirring occasionally. In bowl, combine 2 cups cheddar cheese, Pecorino Romano cheese and corn starch. Reduce heat to medium; stir milk, cheese mixture and sauce together with cooked pasta. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted and mixture is thickened, stirring frequently. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and pepper; serve immediately. Tip: This stovetop method eliminates the need to drain the pasta after cooking. The starchy pasta water gets stirred in and helps create an extrarich sauce. Elevate this dish by sprinkling crushed Parmesan cheese crisps on top before serving.

Mini Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe courtesy of Honey and Birch

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound ground turkey 1 cup carrots, finely diced 1 medium green pepper, diced 1 medium red pepper, diced 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 8 mini buns Directions: In large skillet over medium heat, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When hot, add onion and garlic; sautĂŠ until onion is translucent. Add ground turkey to pan. Break up meat and stir frequently until meat is browned. Add carrots, green pepper and red pepper. Cook 5 minutes so vegetables can begin to soften.

Add marinara sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, kosher salt and black pepper. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce heat so it simmers; partially cover pan. Cook 10 minutes. Serve on mini buns.

SEPTEMBER 2018

| OUR TOWN | 17

InDepth

Looking for humans

Humans of St. Louis is a nonprofit that collects the stories of everyday people across the area and shares them with the world Videographer Jon Alexander is working as part of Humans of St. Louis for their Kickstarter campaign.

BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

What really makes any city what it is? Is it the buildings that people see around town or the food for which it has become known? Some people may believe that a city is representative of what is stated in the media. Five years ago, two women made it part of their mission to show that the genuine experiences of everyday people in St. Louis make St. Louis what it is. Caroline Fish and Lindy Drew, both co-founders, began Humans of St. Louis (HOSTL) when they were both in school studying social work and public health at The Brown School – Washington University in St. Louis. The concept modeled after Brandon Stanton’s Humans of

18 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2018

New York, began in St. Louis due to Fish’s experience with open one-on-one conversations when she lived in New York. While in school at Washington University, Fish continued her love of capturing the stories of others and decided that she needed a photographer. A friend connected her to Drew, who was photographer. Drew stated, “She told me about the project in New York. I’d never heard of it. She told me to ‘check it out online and if you like it let’s go out on the street and we’ll just start talking to people and see what kind of stories we get.’ So, we did.” Drew shared that after three months they had an ar-

InDepth ray of stories that represented a spectrum of people with their backgrounds and some emotional stories. With those stories they launched their online platform for HOSTL. “We include very genuine stories from conversations that are organically happening from us randomly approaching strangers,” stated Drew. “(We thought) ‘maybe there is a need here in St. Louis to have a platform where people can see each other a little bit more and talk to each other.’ That’s how (this) happened. And now we’ve just (become) totally addicted. It’s so fun. I’ve been telling people if I don’t have any stories lined-up for this next week I know I can always grab my camera and walk outside my door, or go to a new neighborhood, or walk down a street I’ve never been down before and walk up to a stranger in St. Louis and introduce myself. I am very transparent about what it is I’m doing and start a conversation with someone.” Drew went on to state that HOSTL respects that not everyone wants to share their life story so openly. However, she stated that there are instances where through the start of random conversations with random St. Louisans, captivating stories have evolved. “Part of it is just the curiosity of meeting someone,” said Drew. “Where they are (in life) and starting to find out ‘who are you?’ It’s not about surface talk. I don’t want to know necessarily where you’re from or what your favorite color is or what you think about the weather. What I want to know is when was the last time someone made you cry and why? When (was) the last time someone told you they loved you and it made your heart skip a beat? When was a time you saw someone cross the racial divide? To launch right into questions like that, sometimes people don’t have an answer but (other) times it sparks their memory or a thought.” Drew also shared that some interviews have ended with people feeling as though they have had a much-needed therapy session.

In addition to Drew as Lead Storyteller and Fish as Story Editor and Board President, the nonprofit is made up of three other primary members: Dessa Somerside, Story Editor; Chris Ferrara, Treasurer; and Justin Smith, Finance Manager. Drew also stated that they have two other volunteers that assist HOSTL in their efforts. For the storytelling initiatives the group has undertaken they have sustained themselves with the help of volunteers, donations, grants, print purchases, and paid storytelling collaborations. The city of Ferguson and Missouri Foundation for Health have been among some of those collaborations. HOSTL has teamed up with St. Louisans of diverse backgrounds to help create and publish the upcoming “Humans of St. Louis: The Book.” HOSTL has approximately 2,000 stories which have been featured online. The 300plus page book will capture more than 250 picture stories. Drew shared that there will be a combination of old and new content not previously seen online. “For this next step we wanted to take some of the stories off my hard drive (computer) and off the social media site because they just stay there, and they only get one day of (viewing) time. They’re so relevant and beautiful to St. Louis and need to be seen. We want to memorialize these stories a little bit longer and give people the gift of holding a book. We want to take the reader on a journey.” By self-publishing the book, Drew shared that HOSTL will maintain creative control for how the book will be put together. HOSTL also realized that because they are a nonprofit they would need some community support and decided to conduct a fundraiser. They began a Kickstarter campaign for $30,000 that will help with pre-sale of 2,000 books to the community. Their greatest desire is to reach $120,000 to cover their overall budget for the project. For campaign pledges of $105 or more, HOSTL is giving acknowledgements in the book and on their website.

“We need help with the printing, distribution, and paying the team of creatives that we hired to build the book.” HOSTL hopes to complete all phases of the project to make the book available by the end of this year. Visit https:// www.humansofstl.org/donate and follow the Kickstarter link for more details. Drew, an Arizona native, also expressed that HOSTL’s hope is that people will give the book as a gift to people with whom they work, to people who are leaving St. Louis and need a reminder of what it is like to live here, or to people who have visited St. Louis and desire a modern, contemporary piece of St. Louis to take with them. “People ask me, ‘Why do you stay? What’s the number one thing that keeps you here?’ It’s the people. It’s the people. You can take down a building and build something else. We can have incredibly raw moments where this city has been like cut and it’s wide open as we’ve seen. People (have) marched in the streets fighting for their rights. When people come together…when we see them driven to tell how they feel and why they feel that way, it’s so moving. It gives you another sense of closeness with this city. I’ve never felt that way interviewing anywhere else and I’ve done a lot of interviews.” HOSTL can be found online at www. humansofstl.org in addition to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Sound Cloud.

Lindy Drew, co-founder and lead storyteller of Humans of St. Louis looks at photo proofs.

SEPTEMBER 2018

| OUR TOWN | 19

Labor Day

National Grandparents Day

11 13

Patriot Day

All Olivette Garage Sale

Movie in the park

The annual All Olivette Garage Sale will be held from 8 a.m. -2 p.m.. Citywide maps for the event will be available online, as well as at the Olivette Community Center and City Center on Sept. 21. Although the event is scheduled from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., participants are permitted to start earlier, or run later on that date, should they choose. Garage sale signs are available at the Olivette Community Center with a $10 deposit. (Signs must be returned no later than Sept. 25, and the deposit fee will be refunded, upon return of the signs.) To register to participate, please contact the Olivette Community Center at 314.991.1249, or register online at: https://www.olivetteparksandrec.com/garage-sale. html Deadline for registration is Sept. 14.

Arrive at dusk, at Warson Park at 9723 Grandview Drive in Olivette, for a free showing of “Black Panther.” Bring your dinner and lawn chairs and set up early.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Air Force Birthday

National Day

POW/MIA

First Day of Autumn

Recognition

Free concert There will be a free concert at Vago Park at 2700 Fee Fee Road at the intersection of Midland Ave. and Fee Fee Rd. in Maryland Heights with the music of Retro Nerds. Food trucks will be present from 6 – 9 p.m. The band will play from 7 – 9 p.m. Pack up those chairs and picnic blankets and come listen to some great local music at our local parks.

Mobile mammography van The Missouri Baptist Medical Center will be offering mammography services in their mobile mammography van at the Creve Coeur Farmer’s Market the Westgate Shopping Center at 12320 Olive Blvd. from 8 a.m. to noon. Those interested should check with their medical insurance provider to verify eligibility. Insurance card, physician’s name and phone number and a form of identification should be brought to appointments. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are also welcome. To make an appointment, call Missouri Baptist Medical Center at 314-996-5170.