Issuu

February 18, 2015

Waddling back into the spotlight

Recipes

Cookie Flavors Inspire

Around Town

Radiothon Helps Ferguson

Photo courtesy Ray Meibaum/Saint Louis Zoo The horned puffin is one of the two puffin species that is inside at Penguin & Puffin Coast.

Penguin & Puffin Coast set to reopen at the Saint Louis Zoo By Sara Hardin Something exciting is happening at Saint Louis Zoo that lovers of birds and animals of all types should be happy to know about – the re-opening of Penguin & Puffin Coast. The exhibit has been closed since September 2013 to allow room for construction of McDonnell Polar Bear Point, which is next door to the penguin habitats. “We know our visitors have been missing the penguins since we closed for construction of McDonnell Polar Bear Point about a year and a half ago,” said Michael Macek, curator of birds for Saint Louis Zoo. “We’re happy to have the visitors back to see these interesting sea birds.” The popularity of Penguin & Puffin Coast makes its re-opening nothing short of a celebration, complete with a penguin parade the morning the doors once again become open to the public. “Since we opened the exhibit in 2003, it has been one of the zoo’s most popular exhibits when we survey our visitors,” said Macek. “Penguins are cute and interesting birds and very popular in pop culture. When our visitors walk into Penguin & Puffin Coast, they can see, hear and smell the penguins and sometimes get splashed, which makes for a memorable experience. On re-opening day, March 5 at 10:30 a.m., a few of our Gentoo and king penguins will walk in a parade line with their keepers from just outside the exhibit leading the visitors

inside.” Macek explained that special measures are taken to ensure the birds’ comfort in their habitat, which includes careful observation of the exhibit’s lighting and temperature. “Because penguins are from the Southern Hemisphere and puffins are from the Northern Hemisphere, we have to adjust the lighting throughout the year to reflect the change in seasons. You’ll see that it’s currently brighter on the penguin side and darker on the puffin side. The indoor exhibit is kept at 45-50 degrees year-round, so in the summer when you walk in, it’s a blast of cold air. We also have nature recordings of wind, ocean and animals playing to set the scene. There are rocky cliffs and waterfalls modeled after their shoreline habitats.” The same care is taken with the polar bears, and the new-and-improved McDonnell Polar Bear Point will include brand-new features to heighten the visitors’ experience and the comfort of the animals. “The spectacular new McDonnell Polar Bear Point, which has been under construction since fall of 2013, will open early this summer,” said David McGuire, William Bernoudy Vice President of Architecture and Planning at the Saint Louis Zoo. “The project occupies a 40,000-square-foot site and will offer visitors a variety of views, both above

and below water, including a massive 48-foot, curved glass panoramic viewing wall, where polar bears can come right up to great guests. The salt water polar dive pool features a 1,300-square-foot Arctic room with a four-panel underwater viewing wall.” The improved habitat will not only offer new and exciting views of the polar bears, but will provide a more comfortable area for the bears to live and breed under the zoo’s care. “It is critical that zoos protect polar bears, which are declining in the wild See WADDLING BACK page 2

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Volunteering Benefits

School

International Educators Connect

“The DUFF” photo courtesy of CBS Films

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Around Town

Vol. 17 No. 6

In This Issue...

Recipes Cookie flavors inspire new desserts.

Equity in education conference announced

Feature Section The Golden Years

Special Section Best of North County.

School STLCC to host TEAMS Competition and more.

Learn and Play Discover a new book, check in with Cindy Moore and more.

12 14 16

from cover

Sports Local sports with Gary B.

10 11

WADDLING BACK and are highly vulnerable,” explained Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Louis Zoo. “By working to not only conserve polar bears in the wild but to offer a wonderful habitat for breeding and protecting bears in our care, we can help save these iconic animals.” McDonnell Polar Bear Point is scheduled to re-open this summer. In the meantime, visitors can prepare to enjoy the antics of different species of penguins and puffins at Penguin & Puffin Coast. “At Penguin & Puffin Coast there are four species of penguins – the Southern rockhopper, king, Gentoo and Humboldt penguins,” said Macek. “We also have the tufted and horned puffins, plus a pair of king eiders, an Arctic duck species.” While observing the birds and waiting for the polar bears’ return, zoo visitors can also learn about the special adaptions of

Around Town St. Louis Rams accepting applications for community improvement project and more.

February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Movie “The DUFF” turns out to be a DUD.

What’s Happening Classifieds Over the Fence Joe Morice brings his unique views to the Community News.

The Midwest Equity Assistance Center is hosting the Educational Equity Leadership Conference to address issues of equity in education for the Greater St. Louis area at the University of Missouri – St. Louis on Feb. 19 – 20. The purpose of this conference is to provide educational context and history of the greater St. Louis area schools, identify equity needs within districts and share and col-

Photo courtesy Robin Winkelman/Saint Louis Zoo The king penguin is one of the penguin species that is inside at Penguin & Puffin Coast.

penguins and puffins and about conserving animals all over the world, including the efforts of the zoo’s WildCare Institute.

laborate creative solutions across districts. “It is an important time to host a conference like this, especially in this area,” April Warren-Grice, coordinator for professional development for MEAC, said. “This conference will be a catalyst for change to inspire greatness from the events that have shed such a negative light on the greater St. Louis area.” Warren-Grice worked with district lead-

Admission to the zoo and Penguin & Puffin Coast is free. For more information, visit www.stlzoo.org.

ers, including superintendents and school principals, to identify concerns within districts including concerns related to the events in Ferguson and how to support marginalized groups within schools. District leaders also expressed concerns with increasing minority educators, parental involvement, faculty and student leadership and teaching diverse students.

Missouri Advisory Committee to the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights announces public meeting

Free Vision Screening for Young Children, 6 months to 6 years

The Missouri Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will convene a series of panel discussions to examine police and community interactions, and the extent to which disparities in the use of force may persist on the basis of race or color. The meeting will take place on Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the J.C. Penny Conference Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis located at 1 University Drive, in St. Louis. The meeting is open to the public without registration. Of concern to the Missouri Advisory Committee is the extent to which disparities may persist in law enforcement practices that undermine equal protection under the law on the basis of race or color. The committee will hear testimony from community members, law enforcement, government officials, and experts in the field of community and police relations regarding this concern, as well as underlying factors that may contribute to such disparities and recommendations for addressing them. Members of the public will also be invited to speak during two open forum sessions beginning at 12:00pm and 4:15pm.

KidSight in conjunction with the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s Parents as Teachers program will offer free vision screenings on Feb. 23 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the James J Eagan Center, #1 James J. Eagan Drive in Florissant. The screening takes just seconds and requires nothing of the child except his attention. Using a Plusoptix photo-screening device the technician quickly and noninvasively takes a picture of each child’s eyes and the device produces an immediate “pass” or “fail”. The screening will detect a variety of vision problems including: Nearsightedness, farsightedness, amblyopia, astigmatism, anisometropia, anisocoria, misalignment and possible cataract. KidSight is a signature program of Saving Sight, a nonprofit organization with the mission to change lives by saving sight. Since 1995, KidSight technicians have screened more than 300,000 Missouri Children. For additional information call the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s Early Education Department, 314-506-9066.

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www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 18, 2015

St. Louis Rams now accepting applications for community improvment project The St. Louis Rams are now accepting applications for the team’s 7th Annual Playground Build/ Community Improvement Project. The chosen applicant will receive funding for the project and will be joined by members of the Rams organization to participate in the Playground Build/Community Improvement Project during the summer. While each of the previous six grants has resulted in playground builds, the application process also allows the public to identify other possible community improvement projects. The goal is to be able to respond to the community’s greatest needs whether it is funding and building a playground or contributing to another improvement project that would enhance the region.

Around Town

Radiothon on MLK Day helps Ferguson relief

In 2014, the St. Louis Rams built a playground at Marygrove, a residential home for children, teens and young adults. Washington Elementary in the Normandy School District was the recipient of the 2013 build. In 2012, the St. Louis Rams built a playground in Fairmont City, Ill., a community of 2,600 people that was previously without a playground. In 2011, the Rams built a playground for Giant Steps, a special education school and therapy center for children on the autism spectrum. The 2010 playground build was with the St. Louis Public School District at Monroe eMints Academy. In 2009, the Rams built a playground in East St. Louis. Applications are available at www.stlouisrams. com. Applications must be received by Mar. 2. Submitted photo

Free loans of home health equipment increase 43 percent at St. Louis HELP in 2014 St. Louis HELP, the non-profit organization that freely loans home health equipment to people who need it, loaned 43 percent more home health equipment in 2014 than in 2013, reflecting greater needs in metro St. Louis. St. Louis HELP loaned 6,193 items in 2014 including hospital beds, wheelchairs, scooters, elevated toilet seats, lift chairs, walkers, crutches and other reconditioned home health equipment that St. Louis HELP cleaned and repaired before loaning for as long as people need them. The group received 9,740 telephone requests for equipment, a 14 percent increase over 2013. “St. Louis HELP continues to increase the amount of used home medical equipment that we collect, recondition and distribute free to those in need,” said Founder and Executive Di-

rector Laura Cannon-Singer. “Demand for our services is increasing,” she said. “Although our equipment loans in 2014 increased 43 percent over 2013, donors of used medical equipment that we clean and recondition increased only five percent in 2014.” “We now face potential inventory shortages and are soliciting donations of used home health equipment that we can clean, repair and recycle as free loans to people who are ill, injured, disabled or elderly.” “We accept donations of nearly every type of home medical equipment in good working condition except oxygen and medications. For information or to donate used home health equipment, see the website http://www.stlhelp.org or call 314-567-4700.”

The 8th Annual Mayors’ Shamrock Ball adds a host city The city of Bellefontaine Neighbors is the newest municipality hosting this year’s 8th Annual Mayors’ Shamrock Ball on March 7 at Garden Villas North, 4505 Parker Road, from 6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. It will be joining four other hosting cities, Black Jack, Ferguson, Florissant and Hazelwood, in making this formal, green-tie Irish fare the biggest charitable social soirèe in North St. Louis County. All proceeds generated from Photo courtesy the city of Hazelwood this event benefit Valley InAt last year’s event, Mayors’ Shamrock Ball Event Chairman Chief Carl Wolf (ret.) made the andustries Sheltered Workshop, a nouncement that Bellefontaine Neighbors would be joining the cities of Black Jack, Ferguson, non-profit 501(c)(3) organiza- Florissant and Hazelwood as a host city for the 2015 event. Pictured (from left) are Mayor tion tasked with the mission of James Knowles III of Ferguson, Mayor Tom Schneider of Florissant, Mayor Matthew Robinson providing dignified, meaning- of Hazelwood, Mayor Norm McCourt of Black Jack, Mayor Robert Doerr of Bellefontaine Neighbors and Chief Carl Wolf (ret.). ful employment for adults with developmental disabilities. Last and Mayor Matthew G. Robinson of Hazelwood year’s event sold out. Funds raised topped $37,000, as event hosts. Each of them will be wearing black which was $12,000 more than the previous year. tuxedos with green ties, sashes and cummerbunds, The event attracted over 120 different event spon- as well as black top hats as they stand near the front sors and donors. Of that total, 60 of them were entrance greeting everyone to the event. cash sponsors. The number of individual tickets The public can purchase individual tickets onsold maxed out at 400. line or by mail for $125 each per person. There is “With the addition of Bellefontaine Neighbors as a limit of 400 tickets available for purchase. Once a host city, we hope this will encourage more North they are gone, the event is sold out. So don’t proCounty businesses and residents to come out and crastinate too long. Each guest who purchases an support this worthy cause,” said Chief Carl Wolf individual ticket will be treated to a full evening (ret.), Shamrock Ball Event Chairperson. “It’s a great of great food, open bar, attendance prizes, raffle way for local companies to enhance their brand im- drawings, “live” auction, and lively dance music. age with an event sponsorship. Plus, it gives couples Tickets can be purchased online at www.Valleyan opportunity to dress up and step out on the town Ind.net with either a Visa or MasterCard. Also, for an evening of fun entertainment.” they can be ordered by mail: Valley Industries Mayor Robert J. Doerr of Bellefontaine Neigh- Sheltered Workshop; 143 B McDonnell Boulebors will be joining Mayor Norman C. McCourt vard, Hazelwood, Mo., 63042. Please make the of Black Jack, Mayor James W. Knowles III of Fer- checks payable to Valley Industries. For questions, guson, Mayor Thomas P. Schneider of Florissant, call 314-731-1771.

(From left) Mike McMillan, Malik Yoba, DJ Staci Static and Nick Cannon all helped make the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Radiothon a success.

The St. Louis Regional Business Council and Radio One St. Louis, Old School 95.5 are pleased to announce the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Radiothon was a great success in raising donations to the Reinvest North County Fund, which helps the City of Ferguson and surrounding communities in their rebuilding efforts. “Many thanks go to Gary Gunter and the Radio One St. Louis team, the phone volunteers from the Young Professionals Network (YPN), and all of the participants who dedicated time on this important day for this important cause,” states Kathy Osborn, Executive Director of the RBC. “Special thanks to Nick Cannon, the Award Winning Actor, Producer and Host of TV’s “America’s Got Talent, for his generosity of time and support of the Fund.” As a result of the day-long Radiothon, an additional $19,500 has been donated to the Reinvest North County Fund. The RBC organized the Reinvest North County Fund as an immediate business response when civil unrest began in Ferguson. In partnership with North County Inc. and because of the generosity of caring businesses, organizations and individuals, the Fund has donated to date more than $500,000 to help numerous small businesses and support children and their families in four school districts – the Normandy Schools Collaborative, Ferguson-Florissant School District, Riverview Gardens School District and Jennings School District. “Producing this Radiothon aligned with our Company mission and allowed us to provide relevant content that affects the African American Community and listeners we serve while at the same time giving back to businesses in need that serve the Ferguson residents and our region as a whole,” states Gary Gunter, Vice President and General Manager of Radio One St. Louis. “We are thrilled about the event’s success and our contributions to Ferguson.”

Around Town

February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Volunteering benefits both the community and you

www.seniorshelpingseniors.com/stlouiscentral

Joan Valdes getting to know other volunteers and teaching kids about eating well as an OASIS CATCH Healthy Habits volunteer.

People volunteer for many reasons, starting with helping others. It’s okay to consider how doing so will help you too. Joan Valdes enjoys many benefits as a volunteer for OASIS CATCH Healthy Habits. Each week she joins a team of volunteers who are fighting obesity by teaching kids the fun of eating healthy foods and playing active games. Being recently retired and new to the community, volunteering helped Joan avoid becoming isolated. “I love being around the kids,” she said. “But I didn’t expect what a great group of people I’d have for support.” A dedicated “foodie,” Joan is also learning how to manage a chronic health condition by eating better, and she loves sharing healthy recipes and tips with the children.

Just a few of the ways volunteering can help you: It connects you with people. Working sideby-side with others who care about what you care about is a great way to make friends and get more connected to your community. It can help you find a job. Volunteering can help you make career connections, explore a new career path, sharpen your skills and show employers that you are proactive and care about the community. Volunteering improves your health. Research shows that it lowers depression rates and increases life expectancy. You can help someone. You know the saying, “to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Appreciation events are fun! While this may not be why you volunteer, most organizations host events where you can meet other people who share your interests. There are lots of ways to get involved in CATCH Healthy Habits – both with the children and behind the scenes. To learn more, contact Shelby Schroeder at 314-653-4092 or sschroeder@oasisnet.org

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www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 18, 2015

Around Town

Getting along with family after a parent dies What happened to those blissful summer re- family traditions are as simple as baking holiunions brimming with prized family recipes and day cookies, grilling in the backyard or attendboisterous laughter, or ing a sporting event listening to your brothfor the kids. Together er’s quirky stories during with your siblings and the holidays? broader family circle, The loss of one or both make a list of the traparents can complicate ditions you still want everything from settling to celebrate and pass wills to simply talking on to future generaon the phone. Sometions. times the death of Dad How has your famor Mom reveals relationship fractures that can ily navigated your relationships after the death widen into frustration, blame, distancing or rage. of a parent? After a parent passes, how can you adapt to For more information, visit Right at Home of your changing familial relationships now and in St. Charles at rahstcharles.com, 636-379-9955 or the future? How do you reconnect when the fam- email at info@rahstcharles.com. ily bonds are frayed or already severed? Perhaps the following tips will help: Practice small steps of open Join the fun - volunteer today! communication. Be direct and honest about what you value in the family. Post a fun famVolunteers age 50+ are needed to ily photo to Facebook. Pick up join CATCH Healthy Habits, a unique the phone and make a quick intergenerational program to help call. Suggest a time when most prevent childhood obesity. of the family can get together during the next six months. A It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Sponsored by: 1. Share a healthy snack graduation, wedding, birth of a 2. Teach a health lesson baby or holidays are all natural 3. Lead active games reasons to reunite for a shared occasion. Contact Shelby, 314-653-4092 or sschroeder@oasisnet.org Forgive and move on from Visit us atwww.catchhealthyhabits.org www.catchhealthyhabits.org the past. Some family members struggle to let go of resentment over things from years ago. Own up to your own faults and ask for forgiveness if necessary. Seek counseling to resolve destructive feelings and right your own ship. Otherwise, live in the present and give discontented family members space. Refuse to let another person’s unhealthy behavior ruin enjoyment for the rest of you. Reclaim or reset family traditions. If family reunions or vacations together have gone by the wayside, initiate at least one of them again. Maybe your

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February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Best of North County

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www.villagenorthretirement.org

h t C r o o . Ballot N f o t s e B Vote for your favorite Greater North County Chamber member or any other business in 63031, 63033, 63042, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138, 63032 or 63034 in the categories listed below. All entries due no later than March 1, 2015. Vote as often as you wish. There will be two winners in each category. Accounting

Catering

Fitness Center

Hotels/Lodging

Bakery/Donuts

Apartment Complex

Chiropractor

Florist

Insurance Agent

Printing

Attorney

Computer Services

Medical Doctor

Jeweler

Real Estate Co./Agent

Auto Repair

Childcare

Hair Salon

Landscaping/Lawncare

Restaurant/Dining

Bank/Credit Union

Dentist

Heating & Cooling

Mortgage Company

Roofing

Bar/Grill

Financial/Investments

Home Remodeling

Optometrist/Eye Care

Senior Living

You can vote online at www.mycnews.com as often as you want to... or you can email your vote to bestof1@mycnews.com... or you can clip this and mail to: Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366

www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 18, 2015

International educators connect with Berkeley Middle School students and staff Students and staff at Berkeley Middle School found out what education is like in other countries when the school hosted eight international educators of English. The international educators from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Costa Rica, Morocco, Nigeria, Serbia and United Arab Emirates, visited the school as part of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The program is aimed at Photo courtesy Ferguson-Florissant School District bringing professionals Berkeley Middle School social studies teacher Jim Hauff (top row, second from right) served as host to the United States for a to a group of international educators of English who recently visited the school to discuss education three-to-four week pro- practices in the U.S. and their respective countries. gram related to their field. “There is also a huge disparity in educational Berkeley Middle School resources and achievement between the regions was just one stop on the educators’ journey in the in Serbia,” said Danijela Serafijanovic, president St. Louis area. “Schools here (United States) are more struc- of the English Language Teachers’ Association in tured than in Brazil,” said Ana Maria Rocha an Belgrade, Serbia. Berkeley Middle School staffers English language teacher and State Secretariat of nodded their heads in agreement acknowledging Education of Rio de Janeiro. “I am here to observe the same differences between the various school good models and practices that I can take back to districts in the St. Louis area. As the educators shared information, their conBrazil.” During their visit to Berkeley Middle School, versations noted the strong STEM (science, techthe international educators observed English and nology, engineering, math) focus that is promisocial studies classes, participated in group discus- nent in educational systems throughout the world. “In my country, we call it STEAM (Science, sions with students and a round-table discussion with staff members. The purpose of their visit Technology, English, Arabic, Math),” said Marwas to enhance their understanding of American ouane El Baida, an English teacher from Larache, culture and history; showcase the variation and Morocco. STEAM focuses on science, technology distribution of the U.S. English language; interact and math, while adding English and Arabic lanwith language teachers and students in classroom guages to the mix. El Baida is working to create settings and exchange views with teachers on aca- a center dedicated to the STEAM subjects, as he demic practices; and connects with educational sees a great-unfulfilled need for students to improve their skills in this field. “STEM/STEAM policy makers. The international and Berkeley Middle School education helps better the future,” he stated. This is the second time Berkeley Middle School educators talked about similarities and differences in their educational systems. Several of the inter- has hosted international educators. A contingent national educators stated the average class size in visited the school in 2011. Jim Hauff, a social their schools is 35-40 students per class, which studies teacher at the school is a board member would be an extremely high number for district of the World Affairs Council, which facilitated the international educators’ visit to St. Louis. schools.

School

STLCC-Florissant Valley to host TEAMS Competition St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley will join 75 other colleges and universities to host the 2015 Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) Competition on Feb. 20. TEAMS is an annual competition for middle and high school students designed to help them discover their potential for engineering. The competition will be divided into two parts. Part 1 will take place at 9 a.m. and Part 2, at 10:45 a.m., in the Student Center Multipurpose Room. An awards ceremony will follow at 1 p.m., where awards will be presented based on students’ scores on the first part of the test. The awards ceremony will be open to the public. The TEAMS competition will be based on the 2015 theme, The Power of Engineering. Students will focus on energy and its relationship to engineering. “We currently have 28 teams from five area high schools and each team typically has eight students,” said Steve Ehlen, engineering technology instructor at STLCC-Florissant Valley. After participating in TEAMS, students increase their knowledge of engineering, feel more confident about participating in engineering activities, and increase their ability to work with others to solve complex problems. Some 10,000 ninth- to 12th-grade TEAMS participants will gather for one-day events between Feb. 9 and March 21 at 100 competition sites nationwide. The TEAMS national competition will take place June 28-July 2 in Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, outside of Dallas, Texas, during the national Technology Student Association Conference.

Living Word Christian School

Open enrollment begins March 1, 2015

At Living Word Christian School, we partner with Christian families to equip students with a Christcentered education, empowering them to impact the world for the glory of God. Honoring God in and out of the classroom since 1980, LWCS has been blessed to see our students excel academically, develop relationally, flourish athletically, thrive artistically, and grow spiritually. Our primary objective is to serve God by reaching and teaching this next generation by educating tomorrow’s leaders today – all within a biblical worldview. We offer an award-winning, dual-accredited, college-preparatory, PreK-12th grade program within a nurturing environment. In 2014, Christian High School was voted one of the Top 50 Christian High Schools in the U.S.

Call or come visit today (636) 978-1680 1145 Tom Ginnever Avenue, O’Fallon, MO 63366 www.lwcs.us 636-978-1680 | www.lwcs.us

www.mercy.net/UCHazelwood

Learn & Play

February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Community Toons

John Hanna

John Hanna is a part time, amateur cartoonist taking his first step into the world of print and online comic media. When he isn’t drawing or working at his second job, he can be seen in and around the St Charles area. If you like his work, that is good. If you don’t like it, that is good too.

By Cindy Moore

Let’s get egg-cited! It takes a lot to excite me these days to the point of sheer giddiness. The latest thing to shake my shaker was the fall in gas prices. Yipee skippy! Watching those numbers plummet had me doing an embarrassing happy dance at the gas station, at the post office and even in the produce section of the grocery store. Just thinking about it going below $3 had me dusting off one of my old disco moves and shaking my groove thang till security came. Well brush up my dance moves and call the cops because that time has come around once again. This week, I happened to be browsing my Facebook account and right there on my newsfeed

SUDOKU:

someone had posted a little video. It showed a hardboiled egg in hand. I must have been desperate for mind stimulation because eggs Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making don’t usually capture my attention, but sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box somehow I knew this particular one was includes all the digits 1 through 9. special and was going to be life-changing. I had to look. My life will never be the same! The video showed the egg being put into a jar with about a cup of water. The lid was screwed on tight and the person proceeded to shake the contents vigorously for less than five seconds. The lid was then removed and the entire egg’s shell slipped off slicker than your fat Aunt Tilly on a buttered Barcalounger. The egg was left

perfectly intact without a dent, dimple or ding. What?! How many years have I been on the planet not knowing about this time-saving wonder? How many bloody finger cuts and hours have passed away as I would gruel over a tedious batch of deviled eggs? Further, how many minutes have I wasted picking away bits of stubborn shell locked tight to an unyielding egg, only to end up with a finished product full of unsightly divots and gouges—unrecognizable and aesthetically not fit for human consumption? Answer to all: Way freakin’ too many. I demand those hours of my life back! So now’s your chance; try this tonight and be amazed. You’ll be doing a happy dance afterwards. 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. The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

Oldest Pick: “Fish in a Tree”

See solution on page 13

Community News is proud to offer our readers “Book Buzz.” This column will feature great books for children in three categories: Youngest Pick: early childhood to the first or second grade, Middle Pick: elementary school children, and Oldest Pick: middle school children. Enjoy!

“Freak, dumb, loser,” a steady dose of nasty name-calling has Ally in a slump. She has plenty to be down about in “A Fish in a Tree,” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. With her father serving in the Army, and now away in Afghanistan, Ally has attended seven schools in seven years — that’s made her feel like a fish out of water and up a tree. Ally is in the fifth grade, trying to hide the fact that she has trouble reading. It’s not something she wants anyone to know, certainly not Shay and her friends who bully her. But Ally won’t show them they hurt her. Instead she puts on an armor of “I don’t care” and acts out, earning a reputation as a troublemaker. All is not lost. Hope arises when Mr. Daniels takes over the class when Ally’s teacher leaves to have a baby. At first, Ally doesn’t trust him, but he wins her over with strategies that highlight Ally’s strengths, particularly her giftedness in art. Throw in a couple of friends with kind hearts and Ally begins to see the writing on the wall, and is able to read it for the first time ever.

www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 18, 2015

Movie

“The DUFF”

By Steve Bryan - Rated: PG-13

“The DUFF” should be sent to teen-comedy detention The ghost of John Hughes must be shaking his head over “The DUFF,” a contemporary teen comedy that is much crueler than the late filmmaker’s works. Director Ari Sandel takes many pages from Hughes’ playbook, but the results here are far less satisfying. Mae Whitman, so cute 20 years ago as the President’s daughter in “Independence Day,” is all grown up here as Bianca, a rebellious high school student with two beautiful friends. Bianca is happy with herself, but she learns that, in high school parlance, she is a DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). In this role, male classmates are friendly to her, but only to gather information about her cute friends. Desperate to shed this label, Bianca asks Wesley (Robbie Amell), the popular boy next door, for help. Surprisingly, this jock knows quite a bit about and style and fashion. Tomboy Bianca reinvents herself to impress one of her crushes, but she also realizes that she might be chasing after the wrong guy. Decidedly hit-or-miss, “The DUFF” contains moments of brilliant comedy buried under long stretches of boredom. Mae Whitman has the looks and charm to carry the film, but the screenplay is so threadbare that she doesn’t stand a chance. As a starring vehicle, Whitman deserves much better. As the designated villain of the piece, Bella Thorne is more of a parody than a threat. Her turn as Madison, the school’s queen bee, quickly turns sour after a few minutes. Madison is so cruel and obnoxious that it’s a wonder the entire student body doesn’t lock her in the janitor’s closet and throw away the key.

John Hughes’ films show the nuances of high school life, especially the stereotyped kids in “The Breakfast Club.” But times have changed, and the cruelty and labeling has reached epic proportions. “The DUFF” blames that on the explosion of social media. In one brilliant scene, though, Principal Buchanon (Romany Malco) declares the campus an Internet-free zone to stop the haters from Tweeting and videotaping everything. “The DUFF” also plays into the teen movie trope that no one likes the smart tomboy when there are so many “hot girls” around. Mae Whitman’s Bianca is equally adorable in overalls or a dress. Any guy with half a brain would be lining up to ask her out instead of fawning over someone like Madison. Bianca does, unfortunately, feel invisible to guys. Teen comedies are generally fun, but “The DUFF” isn’t very good. In the vocabulary of the movie, “The DUFF” really is the DUFF when compared to “Sixteen Candles” and “Pretty in Pink.” “The DUFF,” rated PG-13 for crude and sexual material throughout, some language, and teen partying, opens in theaters on Friday, February 20. Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

“The DUFF” photos courtesy of CBS Films

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February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Sports University of MissouriSt. Louis starts season on high note UMSL baseball is ranked 13th and the Tritons tried to move up the rankings with an a victories in their first tournaments accomplishing a 5-1 record at the NFCA Division II Lead Off Classic in Tucson, AZ. They also won the Gold Bracket consolation. And the women’s fast-pitch softball team is also just getting started. Senior Brianna Butler batted .500, recording 10 hits, including three home runs and three doubles, while sophomore Alex Stupek finished with eight hits, six RBIs and seven runs. As a team, UMSL tallied 10 homeruns in the six games. Senior Brittni Chapman went 3-0 in the circle with a save, boasting a 1.68 ERA. * Just getting started STL baseball facts We all know the Cardinals have won 11 World Series Titles, correct? They are also right near the top being victorious winning the National League pennants. Can you give the number that they have won since the 1800’s? Pick from these: 1) 14 2) 17 3) 19 4) 21 5) 23 Answer at end of article. Compliments of Viva El Birdos * I’m sure you will nail this one Larry

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River City baseball squad adds talent The O’Fallon team has brought four new position players to the roster for the upcoming season. They include Tyler Qualls, Jackson Slaid, Josh Silver and Brett Thomas. Qualls is a catcher joining the team after graduating from Louisiana Tech in 2014. A Jackson, Missouri native, he started 40 games for the LA Tech Bulldogs while earning a .248 average in 2014. He has caught 36 runners trying to steal and posted a .277 average in his career with the Bulldogs. Slaid is added to the squad after playing baseball for the University of Montevallo. This Louisiana native served as the starting catcher for all of the Falcons games in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He hit at a .332 average and a team-leading 59 RBIs

at the same time that he became a Presidential Scholar of the Peach Belt Conference Honor Roll in his final season with the Falcons. Silver is a graduate from Lee University after working on a degree in physical education. The shortstop posted a .263 average after appearing in 56 games for the Flames in 2014. His coach praises him as a great defensive shortstop as he earned a .966 fielding percentage in last year. Thomas is the unique player as he had already signed and has experience playing professional ball. Coming to the Rascals from the Clinton LumberKings, the A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, this outfielder posted a .250 batting average and 33 hits in 2014. A native of California, this University of Oregon graduate has experience at every position in the outfield after being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2013. Get ready as the club will open the weekend of May 15. * Welcome Wrestling team makes history at Lindenwood The Lindenwood wrestling team made history to win its first ever Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) regular season championship on their home mats when the Lions beat Newman Jets 33-10. The matches had a quick start for Lindenwood when Marco Tamayo won the dual’s opening match 6-5. After that the next two matches were forfeit wins for the Lions that increased their early lead to a commanding 15-0. In the first period Derrick Weller recorded a pin extending the Lindenwood’s lead. Batchka Zuulkhuu also won via a 5-0 decision followed by John McArdle pinning his opponent in the first period. In the final match of the day Jacob Borgmeyer won 10-4. The regular season conference championship was the school’s third overall MIAA title in just two seasons. * Thanks to Lindenwood’s Tyler Scheller-Sports Information Graduate Assistant ANSWER TO CARDINAL TRIVIA: 3) 19 Tune into Your Health Plus Radio Show, Every Saturday at 8 a.m. on KSLQ 104.5 FM For more information go to www.YourHealthPlus.info. One-hundred percent natural products to help focus, reduce stress, more energy, curb your appetite, healthiest coffee, anti-aging serum and more…

Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, and co-hosted SportsRadioSTL.com, among many other activities.

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www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 18, 2015

Recipe:

Cookie flavors inspire new desserts

A hot new dessert trend is here — cookies are getting a makeover. As identified in the McCormick Flavor Forecast 2015, favorite cookie flavors — like snickerdoodles and gingersnaps — are being reimagined in new decadent desserts. From peanut butter mousse tarts to chocolate chip biscotti with a creamy dipping sauce, these desserts redefine “milk and cookies.”

“Here in the kitchens, we looked at the distinctive flavors of popular cookies for inspiration,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “Cinnamon sugar is the signature flavor in snickerdoodles, so we reimagined that cinnamon sweetness into a peanut butter mousse and peanut crust, resulting in a delicious tart.”

Peanut Butter Snickerdoodle Tart with Cinnamon Peanut Crust Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 8 minutes | Refrigerate: 1 hour | Servings: 8 (1/2 tart) servings Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups lightly salted roasted peanuts, lightly crushed 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon, divided 3 tablespoons chocolate milk 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract 1/2 cup heavy cream Directions: Mix peanuts, sugar, butter and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon in medium bowl. Remove 1/4 cup and spread on small baking sheet. Divide remaining peanut mixture among 4 (4-inch) tart pans with removable bottoms. Press firmly onto bottom and up sides of each tart pan. Bake tart crusts and peanut crumble mixture together in preheated 350°F oven 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Meanwhile, microwave chocolate milk in medium microwavable bowl on high 45 seconds. Add chocolate; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside. Beat peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add heavy cream; beat until soft peaks form. Spread in prepared tart

crusts. Spread chocolate mixture over top. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Cut each tart in half. Sprinkle with toasted peanut crumble. Serve immediately. Note: To crush peanuts, place peanuts in large resealable plastic bag. Pound with a rolling pin, mallet or heavy skillet until lightly crushed.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Biscotti with White Chocolate Dipping Sauce Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 45 minutes | Servings: 16 servings (2 cookies and 2 1/2 tablespoons sauce each) Ingredients: Biscotti: 2 1/2 cups flour 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup instant nonfat dry milk 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 eggs 1 teaspoon McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract 1 cup miniature chocolate chips White Chocolate Dipping Sauce: 2 cups half-and-half 8 ounces white chocolate chips 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur 2 teaspoons McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract Directions: For the biscotti, mix flour, sugar, dry milk, baking powder and salt in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Mix eggs and vanilla in medium bowl until well blended. Gradually add to flour mixture, beating on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a

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What’s Happening

February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! Events Feb 18: Tips for improving your posture Learn from a physical therapist how to check your own posture along with techniques to instantly improve your posture from 12:30 -2 p.m. at Northwest HealthCare – Entrance A Lower Level Community Room at 1225 Graham Rd. You will also learn important posture exercises and about devices you can use to make you stand tall. To register for this free class, call 314-747WELL (9355). Feb 19: NCCS open house North County Christian School (NCCS) invites you to attend an

open house on Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. There will be a short welcome and introductory time in the library and then we will break into agelevel groups for a tour and time to meet several of the teachers and staff. NCCS offers preschool (age 3) through high school, extended care, reading in preschool, college preparatory curriculum, 95 percent matriculation into college, 23 ACT average, AP and dual enrollment classes and much more. NCCS is located at 845 Dunn Rd in Florissant. For more information on open house or fall enrollment, please call 314-972-6227 or visit www.nccsedu.org. Feb. 20: Fish fry

Fish fry at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 5 – 8 p.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314831-6121 for more information. Feb. 19: OASIS peer led discussion groups Laugh, reminisce and learn with OASIS during this discussion group program at Village North Retirement Community at 11160 Village North Dr. from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Enjoy fellowship and conversation on a variety of topics while making new friends or reconnecting with old ones. Attend one or attend every month. Light refreshments provided. To register, call 314-747WELL (9355) or 1-877-747-WELL (9355). Feb. 21: Valentines for Veterans Concert The VA St. Louis Health Care System is pleased to announce the 2015 Valentines for Veterans Concert with The Motown Miracles featuring Sydney Justin at 7 p.m. at The Pageant at 6161 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis. Concert tickets are complimentary for veterans and their families. All St. Louis area veterans wanting to attend the concert are encouraged to pick up tickets at the Jefferson Barracks or John Cochran Division Voluntary Service office or The Pageant Box Office. Tickets will be limited to two per veteran and will be given on a firstcome-first-serve basis until gone. For additional information please contact Marcena Gunter at 314289-6393.

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Feb. 21: Free show Beginning at 10 a.m. at the Florissant Parks and Recreation Department at 1 James J. Eagan Center Drive in Florissant he TripA-Light-Fantastic-Dancers will perform together with the play “Poor Liza,” a comedy presented by: The Adult and Young Adult Theatrical Troup. Reservations are not necessary and the show is suitable for all ages. Feb. 21: Justice For All Ball Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) will be rolling out the red carpet during a special 25th anniversary celebration of the Justice For All Ball at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch. The black-tie event begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction; dinner will be served

at 8 p.m., followed by dancing to the sounds of the Charles Glenn Band. Tickets for the Justice For All Ball are $200 and $300 per person; tables of 10 may be reserved for $2,000, $2,100, $2,500, $2,750 and 3,250. Reserve your tickets online at www.lsem.org. For more information about the Justice For All Ball, please contact LSEM Special Events Coordinator Louisa Gregory at 314-256-8736 (lmgregory@ lsem.org). Feb. 21: Organizing panels The St. Louis chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers is sponsoring Keep Calm and Ask a Professional Organizer, an educational event for the public. The event will feature two panels: one panel of professional organizers and another of organizing related industry members. The event will be held from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. at The Lodge Des Peres at 1050 Des Peres Rd. Due to limited space, early registration is encouraged. Admission is $10. Register online at www.napostl.com/keep-calm. Feb. 21: 2015 Christian Hospital Heart Fair Registration opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 11 a.m. Screenings and Informational Booths: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lectures: 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Space is limited, please call 314-747-WELL and register today! Event will be held at Christian Hospital Detrick Building – Atrium 11133 Dunn Road at I-270 & Hwy. 367 Feb. 21 & 28: Volunteer training Jamestown New Horizons, a notfor-profit therapeutic horseback riding center located at 15350 Old Jamestown Rd. in Florissant, is holding volunteer training sessions on Saturdays, Feb. 21 and 28, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., to teach adult volunteers how to serve as horse leaders and side-walkers for children with disabilities. For volunteer registration forms, you may visit the JNH website at www.jnh-goneriding.org. Send an email request to jnhgoneriding@charter.net, or contact the program director at (314) 741-5816. Come join the fun! Feb. 22: Cocoa with the Ice Queen Join the Florissant Parks & Recreation Department at the John F. Kennedy Community Center from 2 – 3 p.m. for a special visit from the Ice Queen and her sister! Kids

will enjoy crafts, songs and an interactive story while sipping on cocoa and eating cookies. Cost for residents is $10 and $15 for nonresidents. Registration begins for Florissant residents Jan. 12 and for non-residents Jan. 20 at both community centers. Preregistration is required. The event will be cancelled if minimum participation is not met so please register early. Only children need to register and pay. This event is for children ages 10 and under and their parents or adult guests. For additional information contact the JFK center 314921-4250 or JJE center 314-9214466. Feb. 24: Complete your FAFSA FAFSA Completion Event from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Webster University Westport campus. To RSVP and for more information, please call (314) 968-5955 email us at westport@ webster.edu. Feb. 25: Karaoke Karaoke at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314-831-6121 for more information. Feb. 27: Fish fry Fish fry at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 5 – 8 p.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314831-6121 for more information. Feb. 28: Celebrate Life, Celebrate Local Held from 5 -8 p.m., this event will give attendees the opportunity to sample a wide range of wines, spirits, and chocolate— all while supporting a wonderful cause, SSM Hospice and Home Care Foundation. The Foundry Art Centre is located at 520 North Main Center in St. Charles. Tickets are $50 each. For more information or to register, please call 314-989-2775, 314-9892310 or visit www.celebratelifecelebratelocal.org. Feb. 28: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Hazelwood School District invites district parents and community members to participate in this training from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Hazelwood School District Learning Center Board Room at 15955 New Halls Ferry Road in Florissant.

www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 18, 2015 Lunch will be provided. The National Council for Behavioral Health certifies individuals throughout the nation, including the Hazelwood School District, to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid courses to prepare communities with the knowledge and skills to help individuals who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. For more information on Youth Mental Health First Aid, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org. Please reserve your slot by calling 314-953-5566 before Feb. 23 and leave your name, phone number and email address or email madam@hazelwoodschools.org March 6: Party On the Ice Annual Party On the Ice youth event at the James J. Eagan Center ice rink at #1 James J. Eagan Dr. in Florissant for fifth – eighth grade from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Cost is $5 for residents, $7 for non-residents. There will be DJ music, ice skating, pizza, soda, contests and door prizes! Tickets required upon entry. Tickets are available now at the JJE and JFK Centers. Call 921-4466 or 921-4250 for more information. March 6: Fish fry Fish fry at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 5 – 8 p.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314-831-6121 for more information. March 6 and 15: Parenting workshop The Ferguson-Florissant School District will host a free workshop for parents on Therapeutic Limit Setting at 9:30 a.m. on two consecutive Saturdays, March 6 and 13. The two-hour, two-part workshops will be held in the Staff Development Room at the Administration Building, 1005 Waterford Dr. Parents will learn to enhance the relationship between them and their child; help their child develop self-control; effectively discipline and limit inappropriate behavior; understand a child’s emotional needs; communicate more effectively with their

child; and increase confidence as a parent. To register for the workshop, call 314-506-9069 or email tcosentino@fergflor.org. There is limited seating to this event. Light snacks and beverages will be served. This is an adult only activity and childcare will not be provided. March 6: Trivia night The Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce will host their 3rd Annual Trivia Night. A portion of the proceeds go toward the Shriners Hospital for Children. The event will take place at the Moolah Temple at 12545 Fee Fee Road in St. Louis County, doors open at 6 p.m., with games starting at 7 p.m. The cost for a table of 8 is only $160 and seating is limited. Call the chamber office for more information or to reserve your space at 314-576-6603 or www.mhcc.com. March 7: ‘Purses for Pantries’ Designer handbags, vintage pocketbooks, evening clutches and other accessories will be up for ‘grabs’ when Operation Food Search’s third annual ‘Purses for Pantries’ event is held at River City Casino & Hotel Event Center. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for the silent auction, followed by a noon luncheon and a live auction that begins at 1 p.m. Prices start at $35 for a single ticket. Reserved tables and other opportunities with sponsorship recognition are also available. To learn more about sponsorships or to inquire about tickets, please contact 314726-5355, extension 24 or Derek. May@OperationFoodSearch.org March 7: Book signing Thistle and Clover invites you to come meet Frank Muhm, author of “Passage to 2838.” Frank will read from his book and sign copies from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Thistle and Clover is located at 407 South Main Street, in Saint Charles. March 7: Snack with Spiderman Join the Florissant Parks & Recreation Department at the John F. Kennedy Community Center from

2 – 3 p.m. for a snack with your favorite neighborhood superhero, Spiderman! Kids will enjoy a snack with Spiderman and he will be here to teach kids the Superhero Oath, play games, and take pictures. Cost for residents is $10 and for nonresidents $15. Registration begins for Florissant residents Feb. 2 and for non-residents Feb. 9 at both community centers. Preregistration is required. The event will be cancelled if minimum participation is not met so please register early. Only children need to register and pay. This event is for children ages 10 and under and their parents or adult guests. For additional information contact the JFK center 314921-4250 or JJE center 314-9214466. March 8: Movie screening “Wings,” winner of the first Academy Award for Best Picture, will be screened at 2 p.m. at The Scottish Rite Auditorium at 3633 Lindell Blvd. in St. Louis. The silent movie will be accompanied Dr. Marvin Faulwell on the recently restored 1924, 56 rank Kimball Pipe Organ. Donations accepted for the benefit of St. Louis Theatre Organ Society (501c3) and the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Children (501c3). (http://www.srclinic.org/) This is an exclusive one time only showing. Parking garage located at the SUDOKU answers from page 8

What’s Happening

rear of the building off Olive Street (available for $10/car). Please contact the Saint Louis Theatre Organ Society (http://sltos.org) for additional information. March 8: BB gun meat shoot BB gun meat shoot at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois starts at 1 p.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314-831-6121 for more information. March 11: Karaoke Karaoke at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314-8316121 for more information.

March 14: Flea market Flea market at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Richard at 314-837-7057 for more information. March 14: Breakfast Breakfast at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 8 – 10 a.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314831-6121 for more information. March 14: Texas hold ‘em Texas hold ‘em with $10 buy in and great prizes at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois starts at 5 p.m. All profits go to support Veterans. Call 314831-6121 for more information.

February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

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Our publications use a combination of online subscription, direct mail, home delivery, and voluntary circulation methods. Voluntary refers to a circulation method where readers “voluntarily” choose to pick up a publication to read. This method is powerful because locations are carefully chosen and newsstands are monitored for 100% pick up. Community News has developed a network of over 650 convenient locations including every major supermarket chain. Our voluntary method is powerful for three reasons: 1 QUALITY READERS A voluntary reader is an interested reader, actively outside of the home, in stores, seeking out information about the community 2 TOTAL UTILITY 100% pick up assures no wasted papers. Every paper reaches an interested reader, yielding a full value for the entire print run. 3 EXPANDING SET Every print run reaches a unique group of readers, because the majority of voluntary readers are occasional readers. Over time, these unique groups add up to a readership size about three times greater than the print run.

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Movie Talk

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2011 May/June

COMMUNITY NEWS

COMMUNITY NEWS - St. Charles County

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

addresses in its service area, plus online subscribers. It is a

Wentzville and Lake St. Louis areas. It is direct mailed with

commerce news plus articles on the economy, technology, human resources, and marketing.

plus online subscribers.

First published in 1921, Community News is the longest published weekly newspaper in the St. Louis metropolitan area and has established a large audience of loyal readers. Community News circulates across a broad geographic region with newstands, home throw and online subscription.

Published weekly with a powerful circulation combination of newsstands, home throw, and online subscription. The St. Charles County edition features countywide coverage including the cities of: St. Charles, St. Peters, Cottleville, Weldon Spring, O’Fallon, Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville, plus Troy.

This monthly lifestyle magazine covers the’N fast-growing Published bi-monthly, Our Town is direct mailed to all business Our FREE publications are available in over 500 convenient locations, including every Dierbergs, Schnucks and Shop Save. -

Vol 9 No 28

Missouri is home to about mosquitoes. Some live less 50 species of while others than may live several a week, months. Community Health and ment states the Environ it is only the female mosqui that “bites” and she does to so blood meal needed to lay to obtain the viable eggs. While mosqui more than drive toes usually do little the family from doors to the the outindoors, they carriers of are sometim dangerous es d isea may contrac t malaria, yellowses. Humans gue, and encepha fever, denlitis; and dogs heartworm. may get Most of these the exceptio diseases, with n of canine heartwo human encephalitis and rm, have been eliminated fairly well from Health officials the entire United States. said outbrea to borne encepha ks of mosqui litis have periodic occurred in ally Missou “Canine heartwori. rm is an problem, with endemic costs to ers escalatin animal owng each warned. “Effecti year,” health officials measures includinve mosquito control g the elimina swamp areas, tion of to keep road and maintenance efforts ditches clear have done and much to control water free mosquito for disease transmission.”

S LOU

Schneider

C o o li n g It

Shelly A. Schneid

FIT!FUN!

o busy, e it gets to to dies, befor is the time corner. La for you. Now ovement and take a day impr se for selffun in the set a cour and to have s self-awareness n will find the answer process! Wome health, family, career, ns on the 2007 at to questio , and more image, fashion – Fun, Fit, and FabuSt. Fair Nov. 17, at Women’s ay, for Saturd . lous – set unity College Charles Comm in partnership the college St. Joseph sented by ey and SSM take with JCPenn -Hospital West, will StuHealth Center a.m.-3 p.m. in the 8:30 Campus, 4601 place from on the SCC ille. dent Center in Cottlev Mall Drive the area Mid Rivers throughout reWomen from day of education, for a will gather and fun, includfood, laxation, prizes,eminars, a fashion show than 50 ing nine mini-s r, and more speake e ts and serand keynot ing produc vendors display vices. a continental seminars and and s exhibit a fashion tickets include urse cial $20 VIP speaker, and full-co e in show, keynot Grappa Grill and catered by luncheon st, exhibits, the breakfa consecutive addition to For the fourththe lunchtime seminars. ey will host ages year, JCPenn with styles for all fashion show,

Follow the se tips to kee p your family and pets safe from mosquitoes . Mosquito Sea son By

IN THIS ISSUE

St. Louis

P 636.379.1775 F 636.379.1632

r 14, 2007 Novembe 46 Vol. 86 No.

additional copies available in newsstands, unique business-to-business magazine featuringat chamber of Or, sign up for a FREE ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION www.mycnews.com

February 18, 2015 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Over the Fence

By Joe Morice

The fifties and now I remember the Western Auto store in my small town. It was run by a local man that spent most of his time there and was well respected and liked by his customers and friends. This was the days of one or two channels on black and white televisions and Edward R. Murrow. Small businesses lined Main Street and thriving was considered making a small profit and folks living in homes they could afford. Those homes might be considered starter homes these days. There were other stores along Main Street; drug stores, barber shops, a small theatre, a hardware store, a department store, a dime store and so on. I remember

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the ones that were owned by families of my classmates. The drug store included a soda fountain and comic book racks. Fountain cokes were delicious; far better than the bottled stuff. Family cars were usually stick shifts with AM radios and little else. Wives stayed home and raised children while husbands worked. Children went to schools where they all knew each other. There weren’t thousands of them…yet. Misbehaving meant a smack on occasion. Small children that acquired minor injuries while playing were treated by teachers that sometimes kissed their hurts and hugged them. In today’s world this would have meant dismissal and lawsuits. The town had only one lawyer and he was the county’s district attorney. He often handled legal affairs of victims along with the victimizers. It usually turned out fair and seldom went to court. Parking was diagonal on Main Street. The town sheriff finally had to write parking tickets for locals and farmers that refused to feed the new parking meters. One sometimes saw him in a heated argument with a driver who received one. Saturday night drunks sometimes ended up in jail and were freed the next morning. I’m probably describing Mayberry RFD here. One thing stands out above all else when I compare those days to now. Hate and prejudice were seldom openly demonstrated. We had blacks in town. Although they were sometimes eyed with suspicion

or prejudice by whites, they weren’t openly scorned, at least not by the kids. Republicans and Democrats sometimes argued but seldom did it heat up into a conflagration. Both sides often attended barbecues and other events together. Civil discourse usually occurred with dignity and compassion. Rabid hatred seldom reared its ugly head. Businesses weren’t huge and soulless like the present. Profiteering was seldom encountered. Goods were American made. Farms were owned by families instead of sprawling corporations. There were still middlemen that profiteered between the farmers and the grocery stores but they hadn’t made it to billionaire levels yet. Was life better? Only in some ways. We still had bullies, bigots and violent drunks. People didn’t live as long because medical science was in its infancy compared to now. Kids still got in fights at school. Girls still got pregnant before graduating from high school. Human frailties existed, just as now. I suppose the main difference was expectations. We didn’t expect to get rich overnight. We didn’t expect to get a college education and then a high paying job; although a few of us did. None of us foresaw the hatred, greed and corruption that have divided America in recent years. How did we let that happen? “Today the world changes so quickly that in growing up we take leave not just of youth but of the world we were young in.” -Peter Medawar Joe Morice is Community News’s blue-collar philosopher. He was born and raised in Missouri and spent most of his childhood on a farm and adulthood operating heavy equipment. He has no formal training as a writer, unless a lifetime of writing about any and everything counts. The opinions expressed in this column are Joe Morice’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.