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2 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2017
Our Town Volume 08 | Number 11 NOVEMBER 2017
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
Holy Spirit Catholic School supports hurricane relief efforts and more.
Nonprofit Profile PUBLISHER Robert Huneke
Artistic dreams start at the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation.
Our Thoughts
EDITOR Mathew DeKinder
Moore on Life author Cindy Moore tangles with bears in the wilderness while Avalanche reflects on the pleasures of a cabin in the woods.
PRODUCTION Lisa Moran Melissa Nordmann
Feature
CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Brian Guerrero, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Sara Hardin
A lifetime of service Former Marine honored for establishing veterans’ foundation and dedicating his life to helping others By Sara Hardin
Caring Partners A closer look at vision health.
Lifestyle For advertising information, please contact us at:
info@mycnews.com or
Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632 www.mycnews.com
Copyright 2017 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
“The Florida Project” offers an honest view of the Sunshine State in Entertainment. The 2017 Ford Focus RS turns heads in this month’s Automobile Alley. Gear up for holiday entertaining excellence in For the Love of Food.
In Depth Community News donates archives to State Historical Society of Missouri.
Events Calendar Staff Writer – Sara Hardin Cover Photo – William Greenblatt
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AroundTown
Kids In The Middle (KITM) has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,945 from Cardinals Care to improve the furniture in the group counseling rooms. “We are so appreciative of the Cardinals Care grant as well as the generosity of Rothman Furniture and Mattress.” said KITM Chief Executive Officer Meredith Friedman. “The new furniture has transformed our therapy rooms to be a more welcoming and safe environment of Group and Fam-
ily Counseling.” Thanks to the generosity of Rothman Furniture and Mattress, Kids In The Middle was able to update several therapy rooms with beautiful new couches and chairs that will last for many years to come. Local residents can see how Kids In The Middle is benefitting from the Cardinals Care grant and furniture from Rothman Furniture and Mattress by scheduling a tour at the agency’s office in Maplewood.
Raising funds
School supports hurricane relief
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
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Kids In The Middle receives Cardinals Care grant
They searched between couch cushions and skimmed through junk drawers. Some knocked door-to-door in their neighborhood. One even had a brilliant idea of organizing a weekend garage sale. From preschool through grade eight Holy Spirit students collected spare change whenever and wherever possible in support of hurricane relief efforts. Resourcefulness was well rewarded as students raised $2,075.87 simply by collecting loose change. The grade 4 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2017
five class which raised the most funds celebrated their achievement with a Ted Drewes treat. School principal Jill Gould accompanied by three grade seven and two pre-kindergarten students presented a portion of the collection to hurricane relief representatives at SSM De Paul Hospital in Bridgeton. Holy Spirit School is a proud member of the North County Federation. Catholic schools in the entire area raised a combined total of over $8,000 to give to Catholic Charities.
AroundTown
Keeping warm Sixteen years after its inception and approximately 225,000 coats later, the Warner’s Warm-up Coat Drive has become a dependable resource for impoverished men, women, and children in the bi-state area. The Creve Coeur Police Department is proud to team up with the Kurt Warner First Things First Foundation and Operation Food Search for the 16th Annual Warners’ Warm-Up Coat Drive. From Nov.1 through 14, please donate new and gently-used winter coats to help keep our neighbors warm during the cold winter months. Donations can be dropped off 24 hours a day in the Creve Coeur Police Department lobby at 300 N. New Ballas Road. Operation Food Search will ensure the coats get to those who need them most. For more information, visit www.kurtwarner.org or contact Bess McCoy, Public Information Officer and Management Analyst, at bmccoy@crevecoeurmo.gov or 314442-2081.
Architect unveils new Creve Coeur Police Station renderings
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Warners’ Winter Warmup Coat Drive kicks off
New designs
Creve Coeur officials unveiled updated schematic designs for the new 25,000 square foot, two-story police station to be located on New Ballas Road north of the existing Government Center. City council will review the designs on Nov. 13. The architect, ArchImages, completed the first renderings in July and presented them to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) in August. P&Z made several suggested changes as conditions of approval, which the updated renderings seek to address. Major differences in the
new design include updated brick color, enhanced entryway and material improvements. The architect is currently drawing construction plans for the project. If the design is approved, the city will begin the construction bidding process in early December. Officials hope to award construction of the project in January and begin construction shortly thereafter. Funding for the project comes from voter-approved general obligation bonds totaling $10.69 million.
Community News Publications honored with Missouri Press Association awards BY STAFF REPORTS Community News Publications’ staff received six awards as a part of the 2017 Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, including firstplace awards for Best Columnist and Best Magazine. Competing against other weekly newspapers with a similar circulation size in the state of Missouri, CrossRoads magazine was awarded first place in the Magazine/Alternative Publication category, while Our Town magazine received third place in the same category. Community News Columnist Cindy Moore won first place in the Best Columnist – Humorous category. Cindy’s win was punctuated by this comment
from the anonymous judge, “Cindy takes situations that we all can relate to and consistently makes them LOL funny. Some writers have to strain to write humorously. Cindy does it naturally. I loved all of her columns.” Community News reporter Nicholas Elmes won second place in the Best Military Story category for his story titled “A trip of healing.” Bringing in third place in the Best Story About History category was Community News reporter Brett Auten for his story titled “History looking for a home.” Finally, Community News reporter Sara Hardin received
honorable mention in the Best Story About Religion for her story titled “Moving Ferguson forward.” “It’s always an honor to be recognized by the Missouri
Press Association,” said Community News editor Mathew DeKinder. “These awards are a reflection of the dedication, talent and professionalism of our entire staff.”
www.treesbywoody.net
NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
Staying fresh
Creve Coeur Farmers Market extended through winter months Mark your calendars for the extended farmers market. The Creve Coeur Farmers Market, at Westgate Shopping Center at 12320 Olive Blvd., will once again continue extended operations during the off-season months. Beginning Nov. 4, the market will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month through April. Although local winter produce is limited, a variety of local vendors will be selling baked goods, coffee, tea, meat and more. Look for up-to-date vendor information on the city website at www.creve-coeur. org/Market or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crevecoeurmarket.
A plan for the future
Creve Coeur to collaborate on Old Olive Master Plan On Oct. 9, Creve Coeur City Council approved a joint agreement with St. Louis County and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STLEDP) to create a master plan for Old Olive Street. A major component of the 39 North Innovation District Master Plan is to transform Old Olive Street into a more vibrant, multi-faceted, pedestrian, bike and transit network. The corridor will serve as a critical link between the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to the east and the retail, restaurants and residential areas to the west. The first step to transforming Old Olive Street from a highway to a local street is to obtain a detailed study of the road and to develop a master plan. Under the agreement, St. Louis County will contribute up to $450,000, Creve Coeur will contribute up to $50,000, and the STLEDP will manage and oversee the project. For more information, contact Jason Jaggi, Director of Community Development, at jjaggi@crevecoeurmo.govor 314-8722504. 6 | OUR TOWN |NOVEMBER 2017
Advertorial
The RVer who came in from the cold BY RUSS PATTON, OWNER OF BYERLY RV Most RVers in December are heading south or storing their RV, but not Adrienne. She is heading for Harmonie State Park in Indiana. Piddle here, piddle there, but finally at 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 she’s off. Her first stop is at Quality Times RV Park in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. So far, so good except she couldn’t get hot water. She calls service in the morning. How many ways can you turn three bypass valves until you get hot water? She continues down Highway 64 from Mt. Vernon and turns south at Carmi following the banks of the Wabash River toward New Harmony. New Harmony is one of those places that was out of the way a hundred years ago and is still out of the way. But people find it and pay tribute to its charm and uniqueness. Harmonie State Park is still open. Hiking trails are the attraction for Adrienne. In the evening she listens to CDs until the batteries die in the second act of “Carmen!” She calls to report that the weather is OK, but a little cloudy and the house battery is dead. Sunday night the rain starts and continues for 14 hours. When she calls I comment “you are lucky it isn’t snow.” She replies: “I know. It’s cold here and the campground is almost flooded. I better get out of here before everything turns to ice.” But she did find the kill switch for the house battery. The weather gets worse. I can imagine the tenseness of driving through snow driven by 40 mph winds and a wind chill of zero degrees. She calls. “I’m 27 miles from St. Louis according to the last sign. I didn’t stop over in Mt. Vernon. The motorhome is warm inside, except when I switch from heat to defrost. Then my feet get cold. I am at a
e th th Wor ive Dr
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rest area. I should be home in about an hour.” I felt like the guy in the light house trying to coax a ship to shore during a storm, except I got no light! About 7:05 p.m. on the longest day, the Fourwinds creeps down our narrow Kirkwood street. Adrienne deftly backs into grandma’s level driveway and just sits in the driver’s seat letting the adrenaline bleed off. I approach the motorhome, “Have a nice trip?” She replies, “Yeah, let’s go in and see mom and I’ll tell you all about it.” “Mom” has traveled through 47 states since the 1950s in their 1954 Byerly trailer. The two veteran RVers talk about the adventure like it was just another trip. As for me, I was glad the ordeal was over, and I didn’t even go! RVs create memories, some more vivid than others. Create your own memories in an RV from Byerly in Eureka, Missouri. Follow us on Facebook and check us out at www.byerlyrv.com or call 636-9382000.
Byerly RV 295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com
NonProfitProfile
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Artistic dreams start at the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation In June 1981, Fox Associates, LLC purchased The Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis. Under the direction of Mary Strauss, the theatre was restored to its original grandeur. After the Fox Theatre became one of the most successful venues in the country, and in a desire to give back to the community, the owners created the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation (FoxPACF) in 2002. FoxPACF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission of fostering, promoting and encouraging young people in our region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances. Fifteen years later, the foundation oversees five separate youth-focused performing arts programs which include: the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, Kids’ Night at the Fabulous Fox, Broadway Master Classes, Educational Encores, and is a producing partner of the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards. FoxPACF Board President Mary Strauss says “Our initial aspirations for the foundation have truly blossomed over time. I’m thrilled to see how the foundation has embraced its mission. Our programs vary in appeal from very young children to teenagers. I think we could easily say we’ve had a direct effect on more than 10,000 students’ lives…and we’re just beginning.” The annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition is an adjudicated competition showcasing talented teens of our region. Students compete for college scholarships, cash awards and prizes. Online registration for the eighth annual competition is open now through Dec. 1. There are no fees to participate and is open to any bi-state metro area high school student. The competition culminates in a free professionally produced event at the Fabulous Fox
Theatre, April 28, 2018. Introducing more youths to musical theater and helping families experience a show together at The Fabulous Fox, Kids Night at The Fabulous Fox (KNAFF) provides a free child’s ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket to a select touring Broadway show. These evenings also include pre-show activities in the Fox Theatre lobby. The 15th KNAFF will be Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music,” Feb. 2, 2018. Broadway Master Classes give students in our region direct access to the Fabulous Fox touring performers through a variety of artistic training sessions. Classes are held at locations throughout the community by the host partners. Educational Encores offer the opportunity for young people to interact with touring Broadway cast and crew members to enhance their live theatre experiences. These “talkback” sessions are held immediately following select Broadway performances at The Fabulous Fox. Reservations are made through the Student Group Sales at The Fox Box Office. St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards, which is produced as a collaboration between FoxPACF, The Muny and The Fabulous Fox, celebrates outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre. Participating schools have their productions reviewed and evaluated by a panel of theatre professionals. The year-long judging process culminates in an awards ceremony modeled on the Tony awards on June 10, 2018. To learn more about the unique opportunities that FoxPACF provides, please visit www.foxpacf.org.
NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 7
Eat, drink and be wary MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
S
ince this is the month of all things food, here’s a tasty tale of trepidation: Recently my husband and I went on a little jaunt up into the great forest of Yellowstone. Things have changed since I’d been there back when they let the bears roam freely. When I was itty bitty, (think wa-a-ay back when phones were cemented into the wall. When it rang, you needed to uproot yourself from the couch and walk a mile uphill in a deadly blizzard… barefoot, to answer it. I hated it when we got a wrong number!) Anyway…back to long ago when my dad took the family to Yellowstone. Upon entering the park, I distinctly remember cars parked along the roadway. Of course to the savvy vacationer, a string of cars meant, wildlife ahead! We pulled off as well and sure enough there were the star attractions…bears! And not just a glimpse of a straggler off in the far distance, but a family of them taking a leisurely stroll alongside the road even as Goldilocks ransacked their cave and devoured their porridge. But not to worry, 8 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2017
those furry beasties would not arrive home hungry because we sightseers had come equipped. Stuffed in our little knapsacks were cartons of graham crackers, bags of chips and enough marshmallows to stuff a turkey…or in this case…a bear. The lumbering omnivores would approach the vehicles and place their giant puffy paws up against the car windows. Then we’d roll them down just enough for a big pink tongue to dangle in and grab a graham or munch a mallow. Yes, those were the days. Alas, somewhere in between then and now, the bear must have developed a taste for tourist, because nowadays when you go into the park, you are met with warnings and signage, yea even threats not to entice the animals with any grocery item. Nay, not so much as a morsel for the buffalo or birds because this introduction of carcinogenicprocessed poison will seriously disrupt the balance of the fragile ecosystem and result in irreparable natural disasters of ecological cataclysmic consequences bordering on animal Armageddon! So, much to our dismay the exciting wildlife was sparse. But we restrained ourselves and honored the deep respect the rangers
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OurThoughts
had for nature and the creatures. After all, they were looking out for their best interests; they were troubled at the thoughtlessness of visitors on their habitat; they were concerned about endangering the feathered and furry ones very lives. We then halted our quest for the elusive brawny beasts temporarily and stopped at a local restaurant. The waitress handed us our menus. The selections included: braised duck, stuffed venison, buffalo burgers, elk steaks and freshly caught trout. I ate a salad then bought a pack of peanuts to entice the four-footed fur balls. Heck, I figured I was doing the park a service by fattening them up for the kitchen.
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
The simple pleasures of a cabin in the woods W
e walked up the muddy road, marveling at the fall colors and cool, wet weather; a welcome relief after a hot, parched summer season. Snow had fallen on the higher peaks and more was forecast to fall over the next few days...and in fact, much did fall. Staci and I were headed up a closed road at the invitation of the owners of a cabin on a piece of private land surrounded by public forest land. The road was a remnant from a formerly active mine, closed for a few decades now. I had been on the public portion of this road many times, mostly during training runs, and I would always turn around at the private gate at the end of the road. We had met the owners of the private property a week before, while walking the public road. They had graciously invited us to join them up at their place, and we were happy to accept. The gate to the private property had been left open, as promised by our hosts. We made our way up toward the sound of a motor running, and found the owners and their family gathered around a running wood splitter, getting ready for the fast-approaching winter. Greetings and introductions were made, and a tour of the cabin ensued. “Cabin” was technically accurate, as it was not a huge place, but probably a bit too humble of a term
for the beautifully constructed abode, situated in a place that would rival any wilderness campsite. While parts of the home had been built with commercially available materials, many of the logs had been sourced on the property. A huge picture window, salvaged from a distant construction job due to a small imperfection, faced a mountainous amphitheater. Remnants of some of the old mines were visible, but were inconspicuous in the grand, sweeping vistas. Tour completed, we joined in the woodsplitting and stacking activity until the dry, seasoned wood had been processed, with another stack of green wood left to be split next year. We made it inside just as a storm began to rage, with wind and rain pounding the exterior of the cabin. Hot drinks and snacks led to relaxed conversation. Tony, the owner, explained that the property had been homesteaded in the late 1800s, and a very small hunting cabin had been built in the early 1900s. He had purchased it nearly 30 years ago, shortly after it had gone on the market. It was a fortunate move, as prices soon skyrocketed, and he would not have been able to afford it only two years later. The house was built by family and friends. The defunct mine nearby had power lines running to it, so it was a simple matter to connect to
AVALANCHE
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
the existing lines, a welcome rarity this far back in the woods. While the place provided much peaceful solitude, frequent consultations with attorneys to sort out taxation and regulatory red tape were an expensive part of living here. Trespassers could also be a nuisance, with some “helpful” folks in town instructing eager hikers to walk up the road, and “just go around” the gate clearly marked with multiple “No Trespassing” signs. The property’s remote location kept such intrusions to a minimum. We enjoyed a bit more conversation about camping, hiking, hunting, and life in the mountains, while the storm outside abated, with the sun’s warmth displacing the cold, lashing rain. Staci and I took that opportunity to say our goodbyes to our new friends, and hike down the road back to the truck a couple miles distant. An invitation was extended for us to come back soon, which we will once again gladly accept. Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.
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A Lifetime of Service Former Marine honored for establishing veterans’ foundation and dedicating his life to helping others BY SARA HARDIN
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has poured years of dedication into. AN INHERITED DUTY Kretschmar’s involvement with the military began as a junior in high school, when he enlisted in the Navy Reserve. He was given an appointment to enter the Naval Academy through the Navy Reserve and through Missouri Senator Hennings, and entered the academy in 1954 after graduating from St. Louis Country Day School, now known as MICDS. Upon graduating from the Naval Academy, he took his commission in the Marine Corps, where he was on active duty for four years. “I remember coming home with a Navy uniform on as a junior in high school,” laughed Kretschmar. “My father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather and my greatgreat-grandfather were all U.S. Army. My great-grandfather and his father were in the Civil War, enlisted in St. Louis. [My greatgrandfather] was in the Civil War, his son was in the Spanish-American War, and then my father was in the Second World War fighting in the Pacific with the U.S. Army. So, I had an Army background, but I jumped ship and went to the Navy. And then I jumped ship a second time and became a Marine. All my life my family talked about
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Veterans Day is a day that urges you to listen to the stories that veterans are willing to share, and offers an opportunity to appreciate the perspective of someone who has experienced what most can only muse over. Thankfully, a group of Marines decided in 2010 that just one day a year wasn’t time enough to listen to our veterans. They worked together to organize what is now the Focus Marines Foundation, a volunteerled nonprofit through which former servicemen and women offer the tools to veterans to ease their transition back into civilian life. One of the Marines who helped in the founding of Focus Marines is Ted Kretschmar, a Marine officer and graduate of the Naval Academy. His efforts to offer help in the lives of those in need earned him recognition as an honoree at the 15th annual Ageless Remarkable St. Louisans Gala, held on Oct. 28 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch. The event, hosted each year by the St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System, honors seniors over the age of 75 who have continued to contribute their time to charitable causes or advocate for issues that matter to them. For Kretschmar, this has meant volunteering his time to his fellow Marines and to the lives of others in need through the organizations he
WILLIAM GREENBLATT
“When you’re helping other people, you’re also helping yourself.”
the service. We were a very patriotic family and very much interested in the military.” After his time in the Marine Corps, Kretschmar worked as the sales manager for his father’s mining company, Western Mica. His father had started the company in the mid-40s after World War II, and sold the company in 1966. Kretschmar then worked in aircraft parts and assembly manufacturing, and finally retired in 2009 from LMI Aerospace. Kretschmar and his wife, Mary Lou, have since relocated to Texas. “Our roots are very deep in St. Louis,” said Kretschmar. “I was born and raised in St. Louis. My wife and I have many, many friends in St. Louis. Texas is wonderful, but we’d love to see all of our friends move down here.” FOCUS MARINES FOUNDATION Many of the friends he speaks of come from the very same group of Marines that helped put together Focus Marines, which Kretschmar speaks of with the utmost knowledge and pride. “Many of the board members and many of those involved with Focus Marines are veterans from Vietnam,” said Kretschmar. “The reception that the veterans received after coming home from Vietnam was not a very good one. We wanted the veterans
coming home now to have a good reception and to help them in any way that we could. We finally settled on the veterans who have what are called ‘invisible wounds,’ such as post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, survival guilt, moral injury, among others. We wanted to be able to help those veterans that were kind of stuck in life and weren’t moving forward. Many of them come back and their old friends are no longer their friends. They see things much differently coming back from the wars than they saw before. The relationship with family members is not what it was. They find themselves fairly isolated. They’re not really trained to go out and find a job, and many of them have a very difficult time finding employment. Our whole idea is to help them with the issues they have, to change their mindset so that they have a positive outlook. When they leave, they are a totally different person than when they came to the farm. They came with hardly any hope for their future, and when they leave their whole mindset has changed. Everyone who is involved with Focus Marine Foundation is passionate about what they’re doing. It’s such a wonderful organization.” About 25 classes have gone through the Focus Marines program since its inception in March 2010. Each class is a week
long and consists of roughly 30 servicemen and women from across the country. There are four classes a year, completely free of charge to those attending. The Focus Marines team offers rides from the airport to a scenic farm in St. Charles County where they spend the week talking, formulating goals and getting to know their fellow veterans. Almost 800 veterans have now completed the Focus Marines program. “One of the best things for them, because they’ve been isolated and they feel like they’re the only veteran in the world who has the issues they have, is to meet another 29 or 30 Marines that have the same issues,” said Kretschmar. “One of their main problems is that they don’t want to tell anybody about their time in the service and the things they went through in combat. Things they had to do, things they saw. When they come into our class, all of a sudden they’re back with fellow Marines. They start talking and telling their stories. It’s probably the best thing that can happen to them.” Team leaders are assigned to each veteran to guide them through the week and get to know them and the future goals NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 11
Kretschmar. “There have been many foundations in the St. Louis area that have supported us financially as well as through other gifts such as food and various things.”
BIGSTOCK they’d like to set. Team leaders follow up with their veteran even after the program has ended to provide motivation and hold them accountable for the objectives they’ve put in place. “We have a curriculum that we’ve developed which draws them out and gives them some skills that they didn’t have before,” said Kretschmar. “We work with them on goal setting. They go home with goals to do one of the following things: one is to mend broken relationships. Another is to either go home and finish their education, or find a career-type job. Not just a job making a wage, but find a job that they love and look forward to. The third thing we try to get them to do is to try to help other people. Get involved with nonprofit organizations, visiting other veterans. When you’re helping other people, you’re also helping yourself. Another thing that we try to get them to do is to become involved in the community and networking. We try to get them to establish goals along those lines.” “A DESERVED HONOR” Kretschmar served as the Vice President of Development for Focus Marines from its beginning until he relocated to Texas earlier this year. His success in raising awareness and funds for the program are praised by the man who nominated Kretschmar to be an honoree 12 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2017
for the Ageless Remarkable St. Louisans Gala, Walt Suhre. Suhre worked within the group that helped to found Focus Marines, and was himself an honoree as an Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan in 2010. He served as the President of Focus Marines until last year, but remains as chair of the board. The friendship the two men have formed over the years has only been strengthened by the dedication that Suhre has witnessed Kretschmar pour into the organization they both love. “Ted is a dedicated, selfless, caring human being and good Marine officer who, as do all of the members of the organization, has his heart in the right place,” said Suhre. “I got to know him very well. He took over our development effort and just did an incredible job. Very few people that I know of, including me, don’t like to ask people for money. Ted was relentless and he raised millions of dollars for us. For Ted it’s a highly deserved honor. I’m glad to have been able to sponsor him.” Of course, Kretschmar gives credit to the various individuals and organizations in St. Louis that have committed resources to help make Focus Marines a possibility. “Without the financial support of the very generous people in St. Louis, we’d never be able to do what we’re doing” said
TEEN CHALLENGE Kretschmar’s commitment to helping others doesn’t end with his involvement with Focus Marines. He and his wife Mary Lou have both served on the board of directors for Teen Challenge, an international rehabilitation program for adult men and women fighting drug and alcohol addictions. “We both have a real heart for the men and women who go through that program,” said Kretschmar. “Teen Challenge is primarily a Christian organization. We are Christians, and it was through some other church members who were very involved with Teen Challenge way before we got involved. We saw the need for helping people who were desperate in their lives.” While most rehabilitation programs last a matter of weeks, Teen Challenge is a full year commitment. The length and accessibility of the program has resulted in a formula that’s highly successful in preventing future use for its participants. “Those who [complete the program] and stick with it come out really well-established in not going back to using,” said Mary Lou Kretschmar. “They are
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given so many tools for how to avoid it. They can also go back to Teen Challenge to see the mentors and teachers there and get involved in helping at Teen Challenge. They pay nothing. They only pay for their initial entrance medical exam. After that, they pay nothing for the year they’re there. [Teen Challenge] has one of the best records for people kicking their addictions.” The Kretschmars began working with Teen Challenge of St. Louis in 1990 and served on the board until their move to Texas in March. While in Texas, Ted continues to search for veterans who many not know about Focus Marines and raise awareness for the program. He urges the importance for everyone to have a plan and to have to motivation to see it through. “Have a plan for your life and then live your plan,” he said. “So many people don’t have a plan and then just kind of wander through life. I think it’s important to have a plan, know where you’re going and then follow that plan. Enjoy life. Life is a wonderful thing. Enjoy people, enjoy life.” To learn more about the Focus Marines Foundation, view the application for the program or to donate, visit the organization online at focusmarines.org. For more information about Teen Challenge of St. Louis, visit teenchallengestl.com.
CaringPartners
A closer look at vision health
A
n estimated 4.3 billion people suffer from the same health problem regardless of gender, age or ethnicity: vision impairment. Whether moderate or severe, vision impairment can have far-reaching social and economic impacts. As the number of Americans with visual impairment is expected to double by 2050, vision health has an obvious role in the national health conversation. Uncorrected vision is highly noticeable among certain groups, like the elderly and workers who rely on vision for safe and effective job completion. According to the Vision Impact Institute, two other groups significantly impacted by poor vision are drivers and children.
DRIVERS
A study from the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that one of the major causes of visual impairment is uncorrected refractive error (URE), and that preventable URE causes nearly 80 percent of the global burden. The number of people impacted by URE is especially troubling when taking into account day-to-day activities such as driving. A report from the American Academy of Optometry revealed that even moderate visual field loss causes drivers to have significantly poorer capabilities in completing tasks such as matching speed when changing lanes and maintaining lane position. When you consider how changing technology and business models like ride-sharing companies and delivery services are adding drivers to the road, this impact becomes all the more crucial. If eye exams were part of the standard for renewing driver’s
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Seeing clearly
licenses then these issues could be called out by an eye care provider in advance of potential accidents on the road.
CHILDREN
Today, vision impairments and eye disorders are the third-leading chronic conditions among children in the United States, with costs for direct medical care, vision aids, devices and caregivers amounting to $10 billion per year. In the U.S. alone, the total economic burden of eye disorders and vision loss was $139 billion in 2013. Uncorrected vision problems in children can have serious negative impacts on their educations and future employment opportunities. In 2014, researchers studied the impact on academic performance after providing a vision screening and free eyeglasses to low-income and minority elementary school children in the U.S. The study found that among fifth-grade students both the screening and eyeglasses significantly improved student achievement in math and reading. As 80 percent of all learning occurs through vision, a simple pair of eyeglasses could correct poor vision and drastically change the course of a child’s life. There are many correlations between vision health and the financial, educational and safety implications it can have on society. To learn more about vision standards and giving vision a voice in the national healthcare dialogue, visit visionimpactinstitute.org.
NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 13
OurLifestyle
SUMMER MOVIES ‘The Florida
Project’ takes a hard look at the reality SECOND HALFoutside of the magic kingdom
PHOTO COURTESY A24
“The Florida Project” is not the official title of this film because it’s set in Florida. I say this upfront because the film’s title can easily be misunderstood as a form of laziness in creativity. However, if you have a chance to dig into the different meanings of “The Florida Project” you’ll quickly realize it’s one of this year’s most cleverly titled films. Historically, it was the in-house term for Disney World during the development stages of the theme park (about a half-hour drive south of downtown Orlando). That’s one meaning. The second meaning focuses more on the rundown hotels - just outside of the Disney parks - that have been unofficially degraded to “projects” for the near poor. The Magic Castle is the (Disney knockoff) name of one of the real-life hotels that houses the unfortunate (in this film) - originally meant to house Disney tourists who cannot afford to stay in the hotels within “the parks.” A supporting character named Ashley (Mela Murder) is a single mother with a full-time job at a diner and, yet, can only afford to live in this hotel with 14 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2017
her son Scooty (Christopher Rivera). As a person born and raised in the suburbs of Orlando, it truthfully examines the irony and frustration to observe that this actually does take place just outside the parks of Disney World. The story is centered on a little girl named Moonee (Brooklynne Prince – such a joy to watch), a mischievous six-year-old always on the search for adventure. We follow her throughout the majority of the film as she wanders in excitement making the best out of everything - nearly oblivious to the unforgiving reality she’s in. You’ll remember a catchy funny moment when Moonee takes her new best friend Jancy (Valeria Cotto) to a nearby farm with roaming cows. “See, I took you on a safari,” she joked. That perfectly sums up the positive spirit within Moonee. While not a documentary, it’s a fictional story scripted by Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch under the direction of Sean Baker (“Tangerine”). He and cinematographer, Alexis Zabe, take full advantage of the beauty - and tackiness - of this particular
Florida environment– especially the constantly changing colors of the sky. The shot of the hotel manager Bobby (Willem Dafoe – in a moving role that’s making him a front runner for an Oscar) walking across the parking lot with the sunset clouds over his head is a visual iconic moment. Bobby is likely a new landmark role for Dafoe, the anchor of the film that has really become the true guardian of Moonee, her young troubled mother (Bria Vinaite), and the rest of the hotel’s residents, but never leaves the manager side of him behind – which can be a bit of a heartbreaker. As difficult as it is to watch at times, it’s also a warm and funny film that will also make you thankful you saw it, despite its tear-jerking end.
Brian Guerrero is a former resident of Los Angeles and a current resident of New York City with extensive experience in front of and behind the camera for film and television.
OurThoughts
The 2017 Ford Focus RS is a celebrated, high-performance version of their popular five-door lift-back family vehicle, but with a whole host of factory included performance extras. No question, Ford engineers developed an interesting vehicle from the ground floor up. The end game results in a five-passenger automobile that is an attention grabber where ever it travels. The car’s imprint is further emphasized with its throaty-sounding exhaust. From its bold outer body design with its unique front-end styling and upper trapezoidal grille, this Focus also includes aggressive lower ground effects and vertically mounted fog lamps. The car’s wide, muscular stance is showcased by the vehicle’s brake cooling air inlet ducts thus, executing an overall side profile that really stands out. Focus RS is further defined by the oversized and distinctive rear wing wind spoiler and the standard 235/35 R19 Michelin performance tires fitted on 20-spoke, cast alloy wheels. Perhaps some auto manufactures might add what looks like “performance extras” to a vehicle for solely appearance reasons however, that’s not the case with the ‘17 RS. Let’s take a second and address the car’s nerve center under the hood. It’s equipped with a very unique 2.3-liter EcoBoost four cylinder engine producing an astounding 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine’s output power curve ratio versus the cars overall curb weight helps thrust
THE 2017 FORD FOCUS RS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATTENTION GETTER the Focus RS with head-snapping acceleration. Power is channeled to a German manufactured six-speed manual transmission. An automatic isn’t on the option list. To help raise the bar when it comes to the next level of road dynamics and vehicle handling capability, an all-wheel-drive underside chassis is part of the performance receipt. It’s designed with their torque vectoring system for helping to push the limits in regards to the law of physics. Incorporated with precision tuned electronic power steering couple with extraordinary suspension componentry, this lift-back automobile has superior cornering stability, handling and chassis responsiveness. The high-performance build character of the Focus RS is further composed on the interior cabin with robust side bolstered RECARO sport seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel which includes a soft-feel leathercovering, metal pedals and unique instrument graphics. RS also includes a center dash mounted exclusive gauge cluster that gives the driver information in respect to
turbo boost pressure, engine oil pressure and oil temperature. Also included is Ford’s Sync audio/navigation system with an eightinch touch screen, all linked with 10 Sony high-end audio speakers. While in the driver’s seat, you have the option to select the “Drive Mode” settings best for your needs. You’ll have the option to choose from normal driving, sport, track or drift mode. Safety is brought to light with the vehicles numerous air bags and other related devices. With fuel economy numbers on the minds of many new car buyers, the EPA figures reflect 19-mpg city/25-mpg highway. The engines auto stop/start enhancement helps with the city fuel economy numbers as well. The base bumper-to-bumper warranty is for three-years/36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty is for 5-years/60,000 miles. After a few options, the MSRP showed $42,245. This included shipping charges of $875. The Ford Focus RS is generally cross shopped with the Subaru WRX.
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.
NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 15
OurLifestyle
Holiday
Entertaining Excellence
Savory appetizers, gifts and more
Cranberry and Walnut Phyllo Triangles
F
rom savory appetizers to delicious holiday gifts, cheese is a must-have holiday ingredient. These recipes from Chef George Duran, host of TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off” and Food Network’s “Ham on the Street,” make it easy to elevate your cheeseboard, serve up delightfully delicate puffed pastries or make glass canning jar gifts to give away to guests. Each dish features Jarlsberg Cheese, which was created in 1956 and remains based on the original Norwegian recipe, offering a slightly nutty, mild and delicious taste that helps every dish live up to festive occasions. Best known for its classic wedge, Jarlsberg is also available sliced and in snacks and crisps for simple appetizers, savory sides and even take-home treats your guests will love. Find more ideas to elevate this holiday season at jarlsberg.com.
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Servings: 4 Ingredients: Filling: 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup raisins 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup 1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice Triangles: 10 sheets fresh or frozen phyllo dough 1/3 cup melted butter 2 1/2 cups Jarlsberg Chunk Cheese, cut into 25 cubes 2 cups chopped walnuts Directions: Heat oven to 375 F. In saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, raisins, honey, orange peel and orange juice; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature. Carefully lay one phyllo sheet on cutting board and brush with melted but-
ter. Place another sheet of phyllo on top and brush with melted butter. Cover remaining sheets with damp towel to prevent drying out. Position brushed pastry horizontally and cut into five strips.
triangle. Continue folding to end of strip. Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts. Repeat with remaining strips of dough and remaining sheets of phyllo.
Place 1/2 teaspoon cranberry filling, one cube of cheese and 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts in lower corner of each strip. Fold dough over filling to form triangle. Fold triangle up then over, forming another
Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack before serving. Note: If using frozen phyllo dough, thaw in refrigerator overnight.
OurLifestyle Tomatoes Gratin Servings: 4
Ingredients: 4 tomatoes 2 ounces balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 4 ounces, divided 4 garlic cloves, sliced thin
Directions: Heat oven to 350 F.
maining olive oil until golden then set aside.
Cut tomatoes in half. In bowl, whisk together vinegar, 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper; gently mix in tomatoes. Transfer to ovenproof dish. Place tomatoes cut-side up and bake 15 minutes.
When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove skins and return to baking dish. Sprinkle tomatoes with shredded cheese. Return to oven and broil about 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Top with toasted pine nuts.
In pan, toast pine nuts with re-
4 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried) salt, to taste pepper, to taste 2 ounces pine (pignoli) nuts 8 ounces shredded Jarlsberg Cheese
French-Style Marinated Cheese Servings: 1 jar
Ingredients: 6 ounces Jarlsberg Original, Lite or Hickory Smoked Cheese 2 ounces black or green olives 1 small leek, bulb only (or small shallot) 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or tarragon (or equivalent dried)
Directions: Cube cheese and thinly slice olives and leek. Finely chop oregano and peppercorns, and finely mince thyme and garlic.
percorns, thyme and garlic. Layer cheese, olives and leeks inside jar. Cover with marinade and seal tightly.
To make marinade: Whisk vinegar with oil, oregano, pep-
1 teaspoon green or black peppercorns 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or equivalent dried) 1 clove garlic 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 4 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 1 glass canning jar
Place jar in refrigerator to marinate 1 day. For best results, use within 3 days.
NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 17
InDepth
A gift of the past Community News donates archives to State Historical Society of Missouri BY BRETT AUTEN Consider it a gift that is a window into the past. This month, the Community News donated a treasure trove of history – nearly 40 years’ worth of past issues – to the State Historical Society of Missouri. The bound books have every issue of the paper from 1931 to 1967. The large books contain the actual broadsheet newspapers and each year has its own designated book with each issue being anywhere from 16 to 24 pages. “We are thrilled to have these to help fill in the archives on St. Louis,” Mary Ellen Lohmann, Senior Strategic Communications Associate with The State Historical Society of Missouri, said. “For generations to come they will be able to gather information from these books.” Those interested in Missouri history, biography and genealogy will find an avalanche of news in the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Research Centers’ collections. The reference collection of books, pamphlets and official state publications total more than 165,000 items. The State Historical Society of Missouri also holds more than 9,000 manuscript collections, more than 8,000 maps, and over 56,000 rolls of newspapers on microfilm. “The donation that the Community News made will help fill in the details of daily life of the area,” Lohmann said. “There is a wealth of information about the St. Louis community. If it weren’t for the journalists who were capturing the climate of the day, all would be gone.” 18 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2017
InDepth In the late 1990s, the Community News began sprouting up in newsstands at all of the major local grocery chains in Bridgeton, Hazelwood and on Main Street in St. Charles. This was when O’Fallon was starting to bubble with its population growth. City leaders approached Huneke about including the area in the paper’s coverage and soon a satellite office was established. The twotimes a month O’Fallon paper soon grew into a weekly and in 2008 Huneke split the coverage into regions with a St. Louis County and St. Charles County editions and invested into the newsstand-only method of distribution. Henke can now rest easy that the archives of the paper are in secure hands and will be placed in front of new sets of eyes. “I feel better that the State Historical Society of Missouri will be watching over them and now someone else can see them besides us,” Huneke said.
PHOTOS BY MATHEW DEKINDER
The Community News began in 1918 as a bi-monthly newspaper that focused on news in the North St. Louis County area. After 1967, the decision was made to keep the past issues archived digitally. According to current owner and publisher, Bob Huneke Jr., who is a third-generation owner, the accumulating files were just too much to keep up, and space was beginning to be an issue at a previous Community News office in Jennings. When the Community News transferred in 2000 to O’Fallon, the books were placed into a storage facility. “It was a challenge to find a solution,” Huneke said. “But the State Historical Society was excited to receive the donation. Now, historians can look back at these papers and get a real grasp of the times.” Huneke said he used to take the books to various business fairs over the years and the old issues were always a hit. “People get a kick out of the old stories and the prices in the advertisements, like a diamond engagement ring for $59,” Huneke said. “There is a lot of interest in the front cover stories, and there is a fair amount of advertisement from local merchants.”
(Top) Peter McCarthy (left) and Dean Hargett (right) of the State Historical Society of Missouri stand with Community News publisher Bob Huneke Jr. McCarthy and Hargett removed the Community News archives from storage to the State Historical Society of Missouri’s headquarters in Columbia, Missouri. (Bottom) Archived editions of the Community News sit in storage before being removed to the State Historical Society of Missouri. NOVEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 19
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Owl Prowl Join a park ranger on a night hike to discover
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Daylight Savings Time Ends
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who that is hooting in the dark at Queeny Park You’ll learn some amazing facts about our secretive feathered friends and hopefully hear some of them calling. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight to view some other creatures of the night. Advanced registration required by calling 314615-4386. Cost is $6 per person.
NOVEMBER Citizen of the Year deadline The city of Creve Coeur is seeking nominations for the Citizen of the Year 2017 award, recognizing an individual who has made outstanding contributions to Creve Coeur. The Citizen of the Year must be a resident of Creve Coeur, owner or employee of a business in Creve Coeur, or an individual who has made a considerable contribution to the city and its residents. Nominations may be submitted at www.creve-coeur.org/CitizenOfTheYear or by e-mail to dryan@crevecoeurmo.gov. Nominations should include the nominator’s contact information; background information on the nominee including an explanation of why he or she deserves to be recognized as the Citizen of the Year 2017; and the nominee’s contact information. For more information, contact Deborah Ryan, City Clerk, at 314-8722517. Marine Corps Birthday Veterans Day Thanksgiving Black Friday #OptOutside Join the park rangers to take a bike ride or
a walk outside to stretch your legs. Walk-up only, no reservations required. Call 314-615-4386 for information. All activities are free. Bike Ride - Load up your wheels and breathe some fresh air on this park ranger led bike ride from 9 - 10 a.m. at Creve Coeur Park (Lakeside Restaurant). Helmets are required. K9 Dog Hike - Leash-up your dog and come for a walk from 2 - 3 p.m. at Queeny Park (Mason Rd. side). Bring proof of shots, wear appropriate clothing and bring water for you and man’s best friend. Must be able to walk three miles.
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Cyber Monday Town hall meeting This is an opportunity for
Olivette residents to hold small group conversations with the mayor, ask questions, and provide input on local issues. The meeting will take place from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Olivette City Center at 1140 Dielman Road in Olivette.