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Around Town Local news and events
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Business Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce
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Entertainment The Career Path of Interstellar’s Christopher Nolan
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Food Flavors of Fall
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Always an Adventure Thanksgiving
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Moore on Life Phooey on Phancy Phood Photos
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Health Flu Fighters: Busting Six Sickening Flu Myths
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Photo Op Prost to St. Charles Oktoberfest 2014
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Community Calendar November
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Community News
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Fun for ALL! Thanks for Giving By Dave Welborn, Exec. Director, KEEN St. Louis
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contents
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VOL 11 | NO 11
Published monthly with direct mail circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis, plus newsstands in Troy.
2014
Advertiser Profiles Buy vs. Rent? By Robin Daniels
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A Community News Thanksgiving A peek into the holiday traditions of the Community News Family By: Avalanche, Laurie Nobe, Randy Davies, Catherine Armbruster and Brian Guerrero
On the cover: Photo courtesy Big Stock
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AROUND TOWN Wentzville School District to Host Emergency Preparedness Course Wentzville Holt High School senior Emily Rosenblum, the national chairperson and one of 15 FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, representatives from across the U.S., will work with the Wentzville School District this November to host TEEN CERT training. The course will be taught over two weekends on Nov. 7 and 8 and Nov. 14 and 15. The two Friday sessions will be from 7 to 10 pm and the Saturday sessions will be from 8 am to 5 pm, with a one-hour lunch break. All classes will be taught by trained instructors and first responders through the Mid America TEEN CERT program at Holt High School, 600 Campus Drive, Wentzville. This class is open to other schools and the public. It is developed to allow instruction to service groups or organizations including HOSA, NHS, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and 4H. The program is set up to teach both adult and teen learners with almost half of
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the program’s more than 1,000 graduates being 18 years old and older. Students learn skills and resources to aid them in the event of a disaster. The Incident Command scenario, for example, was developed to teach organizing skills and leadership. Students experience rescuing their injured classmates and bringing them safely to the treatment area. Students also crawl through a dark closet and classroom searching for their fallen peers. Throughout the 24-hour training, students are taught how to handle medical emergencies, extinguish live fires and perform student searches. The course will be presented at the high school, so the students experiStudents learn how to properly and safely extinguish a live fire during a TEEN ence it in their most probable en- CERT Emergency Preparedness session. Photo Courtesy Mid America Teen Comvironment. The post-disaster “hot munity Emergency Response Team wash” portion of the training is meant to teach students what is normal, ex- take care of themselves? How would they pected and abnormal. Students are taught handle a crisis, much less a major disaster?” While Wentzville School District was the to manage stress, assist with people with first to initiate the training through a cerspecial and functional physical needs, and recognize signs and symptoms of disaster- tified TEEN CERT program, other school related psychological issues. The class cul- districts around the area are requesting the minates with a real-time, life-like simulated training in their schools. As the training is disaster exercise that will showcase the new- gaining popularity, TEEN CERT is been rely learned emergency skills of the students. quested as a permanent part of the curricu“Providing TEEN CERT training has proven lum and education departments are reviewto be an important program in educating ing cost and resource impacts. This year, as national chairperson, Rosenour youth and adult citizens on how to care blum’s goal is to hold a nationwide contest for themselves and their neighbors,” Rosento find the most creative “mascot” or story blum said. “If the adults are at work to exemplify emergency preparedness. This or injured during mascot would be akin to Smokey Bear, Mca disaster, who will Gruff the Crime Dog, and Sparky the Fire take care of their Dog. children? With an For more information about this class, average of 25-40 TEEN CERT or emergency preparedness, students per class, contact Kim Voss at kimberlyvoss@wentzthis provides an un- ville.k12.mo.us or Emily Rosenblum, FEMA manageable ratio. Youth Preparedness Council Chairperson at Would your child YPCChairman@gmail.com or FEMA-Youthknow what to do in Preparedness@fema.dhs.gov. Seating is lima disaster situation? ited, so RSVP soon to reserve a spot in the Could they safely class.
AROUND TOWN Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Celebrates National Cooperative Month Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is one of more than 29,000 member-owned cooperatives in the United States that observe National Cooperative Month during October. Cuivre River members share ownership of their local offices, facilities and distribution system, the cooperative-owned power supply network and power plants, and their national brand, Touchstone Energy Cooperative. Besides Cuivre River, brand names including Land O’ Lakes, Ocean Spray, REI, Florida’s Natural, ACE Hardware, Sun-Maid, Nationwide Insurance, Blue Diamond, Welch’s and Riceland, all come from cooperatives. More than 130 million Americans find solutions to their needs through cooperatives that provide common goods and services. Cooperatives generate in excess of $500 billion in yearly revenue, employ more than 850,000 Americans, and have total payrolls of more than $25 billion annually. Cooperatives operate in a variety of industries, including agriculture, child care, electricity, financial services, food retailing and distribution, health care insurance, housing, purchasing and shared services, tele-
communications and others. Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is owned by more than 60,000 consumers, who receive electricity in St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Pike and Montgomery counties. Cuivre River is governed by 12 elected consumermembers, who serve as the board of directors for all cooperative members. During 2014, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative returned $4.4 million to its member-owners. Cuivre River Electric Cooperative consistently ranks among the top electric providers in the nation according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index. Cuivre River’s recent ACSI score of 88 was 13 points above the industry average. The ACSI is produced by the Stephen M. Ross Business School at the University of Michigan, in partnership with the American Society for Quality and the international consulting firm, CFI Group. Cuivre River is the largest electric cooperative in Missouri, providing electric service to more than 60,000 homes and businesses. Currently, 58 percent of Cuivre River members live in St. Charles County, 25 percent in Lincoln County, 15 percent
in Warren County, and 2 percent in Pike County. Several members also live in Montgomery County. For more information, call 636.528.8261, 695.4700, or 800.392.3709, or visit www.cuivre.com.
High School Equivalency Classes Offered The St. Charles Community College Adult Education and Literacy program is offering free High School Equivalency preparation classes in St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Pike counties. The High School Equivalency (HSE), HiSet exam, replaced the GED in January 2014. Preparation classes are offered in the mornings and evenings, Monday through Thursday, depending on the location. Classes are at St. Charles Community ColDRIVEWAYS lege, St. Charles High School, Timberland High School in Wentzville, GREAT JOBS AT A GREAT PRICE! to Take Advantage of Our PATIOS | POOL DECKS Missouri Career Center in St. Peters, University Extension Center in $ F Call Now OF 0 30 “EARLY BIRD” Specials 00 Warrenton, Troy Probation and Parole offices, Winfield High School, Any Job Over $4,0 ROOM ADDITIONS OR and Pike Lincoln Technical Center in Eolia. FOUNDATIONS | STAMPED $ F 0 OF 60 Classes are filling quickly and registration is required. There is only Any Job Over $7,000 EXPOSED AGGREGATE one registration date left for 2014. Must present ad. valid with other offers. Not RETAINING WALLS In addition to HSE preparation classes, the Adult Education proExpires: 9/30/14 gram offers free English as a Second Language classes. Students can ACID STAINS study mornings and evenings, Monday through Sunday, depending on the class location. Classes meet at St. Charles Community ColCall for a FREE Estimate! lege, St. Charles, Wentzville and Wright City. 636-795-2865 or 636-345-3554 Call 636.922.8411 for information on registration dates, times and Residential/Commercial • Licensed, Bonded & Insured Locally Owned and Operated Since 1956! locations. More information can be found at www.stchas.edu/ael. NOVEMBER 2014 CROSSROADS
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AROUND TOWN Discovery Ridge Elementary Celebrates 5th Annual Discovery Days Students at Discovery Ridge Elementary participated in the 5th Annual Discovery Days during the week of Oct. 6-10. The event, conceived by faculty members in 2010 before construction of the new elementary school was completed, focuses on discovery in the physical world. “Discovery Days is week of hands-on learning about space and flight,” Principal Laura Bates said. “The annual event has developed our school’s sense of community, commitment to learning, and love of science.” On Friday, the week culminated with activities that included a visit from retired
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USAF Colonel J.P. Morgan, whose brother was an original Tuskegee Airman. Other activities included solar scope viewing with the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri, and a Monsanto outreach program on sound and light. Boeing fighter jet pilots also shared with students what it was like to fly an F/A-18 Super Hornet built in St. Louis. Additional events included Dino Odell’s science songs and the St. Louis Science Center unisphere, a portable, inflatable miniplanetarium. The celebration concluded Friday night with a dinner followed by an astronomy viewing at Broemmelsiek Park.
Groups Host 5K Run on Phase 3 of Page Avenue Extension
Runners eat up the road during the recent One Shot and Done 5K held on Phase 3 of Highway 364. Photo courtesy Greater St. Charles Chamber of Commerce
The St. Charles Kiwanis Club, MODoT and St. Charles County Government hosted the One Shot and Done 5K Run on Phase 3 of Highway 364 on Oct. 4. More than 250 runners were treated to a view St. Charles County from the unique vantage point on a fine, but chilly morning. The St. Charles Kiwanis Club will donate proceeds from the run to the children’s charities 6
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it supports. The Kiwanis Club of St. Charles is a service organization with the objective of bringing aid to children in need. The majority of its efforts benefit children in the local community. A portion of the funds go to help meet Kiwanis International objectives, which focus on the special needs of young children from prenatal development to age five.
Fun for ALL!
THANKS FOR GIVING By Dave Welborn, Exec. Director, KEEN St. Louis
After the verb “To Love”... “To Help” is the most beautiful verb in the world. – Bertha Von Suttner, Nobel laureate The end of the year is a great time for all of us to sit down and reflect on all of the blessings we have received throughout the year while giving thanks to all those who have helped us along the way. While there are many individuals, groups and organizations that deserve our thanks this Holiday season, there is one particular group of individuals who not only risk their lives to protect us each day, but take time away from their families and friends on their off days to go the extra mile to lend a hand. The Cottleville Firefighters, like many firefighters, have a long history of helping those that are less fortunate. For many years, this group has raised thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations (a record $20,000+ for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this year alone), adopted needy families during the holidays, and contributed to coat drives and other charitable initiates. The Cottleville Firefighters are part of the Cottleville Fire Protection District (CFPD), which serves Cottleville, Harvester, Weldon Springs, O’Fallon and St. Peters. In 2008, to further organize and broaden its charitable activities, the Firefighters established Cottleville Firefighters Outreach, or CFO, a nonprofit, charitable organization. CFO is funded by community events and is 100 percent volunteer run, operating out of the CFPD’s Station #1 in Cottleville. “We are a mix of firefighters, fire chiefs, other district employees and community members that share a common interest in achieving our mission to make our community a safer, healthier and happier place to live and work,” said CFO Executive Director, Captain Skip Stephens. “We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish in our community.” And what they have accomplished this year alone is staggering. In addition to its very successful St. Patrick’s Day “Run for the Helmet,” the group has hosted activities including a golf tournament, trivia night, a family fun festival, a volleyball tournament and more. They
sat on the roof of Chick-Fil-A to raise money for MDA, assisted with a Bike Safety Day, and stood out on the hottest day of the year, collecting canned goods for local food banks. Most recently, the group hosted its annual Haunted Hayride and Food Truck Festival attended by thousands looking to get a fright-fix. All the money raised at these events helps individuals and groups in need. “CFO is my passion because we have a direct and palpable impact on the lives of the people we serve and protect on a daily basis,” Stephens said. “Serving as a firefighter is quite rewarding in of itself, but serving as a firefighter and having CFO as an additional avenue to help people on our ‘off’ days makes us feel like we are really making a difference. “ Stephens is also thankful this Holiday season. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to all of the residents in our community. It may be our mission to make the community safer, healthier and happier, but because of the wonderful people who live here, it is already the best place in the world,” he said. And thank you, Captain Stephens and the CFO for enriching all of our lives through your selfless work. For more information of the CFO, visit www.fireoutreach.com
KEEN St. Louis offers a free program for schools which celebrates diversity by pointing out characteristics that makes us more alike than different. Dave Welborn is the Executive Director of KEEN St. Louis, a local nonprofit which provides free recreational programs for kids with physical and mental disabilities age 5-17. For more information visit www.keenstlouis.org NOVEMBER 2014 CROSSROADS
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BUSINESS Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie Recent Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreaking The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies for NISC, Home Video Studio, Papa Murphy’s, DIY Rifle, Sugarfire Winghaven and Route 364. 1. National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) celebrated a groundbreaking for a new addition to their location in Lake St. Louis. NISC is a technology cooperative that creates software solutions for the electricity and telecommunications industries. Visit their offices at One Innovation Circle, Lake St. Louis, MO 63367. For more information, call 636.755.2300, or visit www.nisc.coop.
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Living Word 1/12
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2. Home Video Studio Home Video Studio celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony at their location in Wentzville. Home Video Studio specializes in video editing, video to DVD transfer, DVD and CD duplication, photo/video montages, Super 8mm, 8mm & 16mm home movie transfers, 35mm slide transfers, video tape repair and much more. Visit them at 13 West Allen St., Wentzville, MO 63385. For more information, call 636.887.2883, or visit www.homevideostudio.com/stl. 3. Papa Murphy’s Papa Murphy’s celebrated the opening of their new location in Lake St. Louis with a Ribbon Cutting. Their Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza model has positioned them as the “#1 Pizza Chain” in several national surveys year after year. Visit them at 6289 Ronald Reagan Dr., Lake St. Louis, MO 63367. For more information, call 636.625.8800, visit www.papamurphys.com. Continued on page 9
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BUSINESS Pay it Forward Holiday Raffle
Chamber Gearing up for a Inaugural Holiday Festival & Scavenger Hunt Nov. 8 The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring local residents their inaugural Holiday Festival & Scavenger Hunt from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Meadows in Lake St. Louis. The Chamber invites everyone in the community to come shop at the Vendor Fair, participate in the fun Family Scavenger Hunt, and try some local food trucks! There will be many vendors offering special pricing and unique gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list, free family holiday photos, visit and photos with Santa, fire trucks, family scavenger hunt, free gift wrap-
4. DIY Rifle DIY Rifle celebrated the opening of their location in Wentzville with a Ribbon Cutting. DIY was founded on the belief that an educated firearm owner is a better firearm owner. Through their classes, they teach students to build their own rifles, how rifles work, and how to maintain them. Visit them at 152 Enterprise Drive #108, Wentzville, MO 63385. For more information, call 636.336.6935, or visit www.diyrifle.com.
ping, and more. Vendor Fair will be from 10 am – 1 pm and the scavenger hunt will begin at 1 pm. The event will be hosted at The Meadows Shopping Center, 20 Meadows Circle Dr. in Lake St. Louis. The price to sign up for the Scavenger Hunt is $10 per person. That includes a t-shirt and prizes. The Festival’s vendor fee is $75. The fee includes table, table cloth, electric, and signage. To sign up for booth space, or scavenger hunt team members, call the chamber office at 636.327.6914, or visit www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com.
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The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce their 3rd Annual “Pay It Forward Raffle.” There will be two Grand Prize Winners this year. Each winner will receive a $500 Visa Gift Card. With each ticket purchased the chamber will be paying it forward and donating $1,500 from the raffle sales to Operation Food Search and $1,500 to the four $750 scholarships the chamber awards annually to local students. Tickets are $10 a piece and the Chamber is selling only 400 tickets. Each raffle ticket purchased helps to provide food for local families and scholarships for local students. The drawing will be held on Dec. 11, 2014. To purchase tickets, call the Chamber office at 636.327.6914, visit the Chamber office at 210 S. Linn Ave. in Wentzville, or visit. www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com.
By tony mathews
Tony Mathews is the President and CEO of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce
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5. Sugarfire Winghaven Sugarfire Winghaven celebrated the opening of their restaurant with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Visit them at 9955 Winghaven Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63368. Sugarfire is consistently ranked 6 among the best BBQ restaurants in the metro area. They offer tra- Photos courtesy Western St. Charles Chamber of Commerce ditional smoked meats like baby help reduce commute times throughout back ribs, juicy pulled pork, and beef brisket. the county. For more information, call 636.265.1234, or visit www.sugarfiresmokehouse.com. The Western St. Charles County Chamber 6. Route 364 The chamber attended the opening of the Route 364 from Hwy. 40 to Hwy. K. The chamber was proud to attend this ribbon cutting ceremony and knows that it will
Enter for a Change to Win $500
of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of 625 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the chamber.
For more on any of this information or the chamber in general, please call the chamber office at 636.327.6914 or visit the website www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com. Located at 210 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.
www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com
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ENTERTAINMENT The Career Path of Interstellar’s Christopher Nolan I still remember the days when this filmmaker made it big with a small budget independent-film masterpiece called Memento— which blew away everyone’s expectations with its mind-bending premise—before becoming the blockbuster master he his today. Christopher Nolan, mostly known for directing all three films of The Dark Knight Trilogy, has quite a career path that lead him to where he is today. It’s worth exploring as we prepare for his next anticipated film, Interstellar, which is set to open Nov. 8. Following (1998) With only a $6,000 budget, Nolan wrote, shot, and directed his first feature film. The story is about an inspiring writer who decides to follow strangers for inspirational material. What he didn’t count on was meeting a thief who interestingly takes him under his wing. Displayed purposely out of sequence, the audience is treated to a twisted story that makes one wonder who will ultimately be out-conned in the end. The ultra-low budget film will have viewers in for quite a surprise in the end. Memento (2000) Christopher Nolan created his first masterpiece about a man (actor Guy Pearce in top form) who suffers from short-term memory loss while trying to track down his wife’s killer. What makes this one of the most original films ever made is the fact that Nolan (with help from his brother Jonathan Nolan) came up with the brilliant idea to tell the major portion of the story backwards in seg-
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Christopher Nolan photo courtesy Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
ments—the only sure way for the viewer to feel what the lead character is experiencing. Just when the viewer may have this movie figured out (much like Following) a revolutionary twist at the end erases the thought. Insomnia (2002) Nolan began his long-standing relationship with Warner Bros. when he was chosen to direct Insomnia—his first studio film. This next psychological thriller required him to direct three Academy Award winners, Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Robin Williams (in his first villainous role). Pacino plays an LAPD detective who was invited to head a murder investigation in Nightmute, Alaska. It’s the time of year when the sun is out 24 hours a day, making him severely sleep-deprived for the case, while a situation back at home continues to catch up with him. Nolan cleverly found a way for the viewer to experience the effects of insomnia as a suspenseful tool—with no sleepy side effects! Batman Begins (2005) The age of rebooting a franchise in cinemas began with this film that gave Batman (Christian Bale) his “mojo” back. Critics and fans were impressed with Nolan’s bold decision to replace the quirky element of the last franchise, respectively, with a grittier tone in the new one. Nolan continues to progress as a filmmaker by adding a big budget action movie to his resume and Batman Begins proved to be a solid one at that. The Prestige (2006) Our director’s next project is a period piece about two rival magicians (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman) that will do almost any-
thing to out perform the other during the end of the nineteenth century. Nolan takes the viewer into the psychological depths of obsession with both characters as they compete to perform the ultimate illusion with some tragic results that happen along the way. The Dark Knight (2008) Many say the sequel to Batman Begins as the greatest superhero movie ever made and there are countless reasons to back that up. Nolan’s direction had never been better at this point along with the help of a stellar cast and crew. The Dark Knight became the second highest grossing movie of all-time that year and won two Oscars out of eight nominations including a win for Heath Ledger as The Joker. Nolan earned his status as a top Hollywood director of our modern times. Inception (2010) Ten years prior to this film’s release, Christopher Nolan had an idea on what it would be like to wonder within a person’s dream and even exploring a dream within a dream. Leonardo DiCaprio is Cobb, a thief on the run who has the technology of dream sharing and uses it to steal other peoples’ secrets. With grade-A epic action and terrific mind-bending tactics—and visual effects, Inception is the ultimate Christopher Nolan film that plays to all of his signatures and strengths as a filmmaker. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Nolan completed his third and final Batman blockbuster that takes place eight years from where the last film left off. When Gotham’s most ruthless terror, Bane, ceases control of the entire city, Bruce Wayne’s alter ego is forced out of hiding for his last fight that concludes the series in what is now labeled as The Dark Knight Trilogy. By Brian GuerRero
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.
Flavors of Fall Carol Hurst from The Olde Town Spice Shoppe in St. Charles has shared with us some sweet treats for the fall months. Celebrate the tastes of fall with these two pie recipes.
Presidential Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients: 3 sweet potatoes, cut in half lengthwise Potato Topper: 1/2 teaspoon ground Vietnamese cinnamon, Olde Town Spice Shoppe 6 star anise, Olde Town Spice Shoppe 1 orange, cut in to 6 pieces 2 tablespoon melted butter 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoon butter, melted 2 eggs 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon or one teaspoon Vanilla Paste, Olde Town Spice Shoppe (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, Olde Town Spice Shoppe 1 cup milk 9-inch unbaked pie crust Meringue, optional 3 egg whites 1/4 cup sugar
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. For the potatoes: place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and add toppers: cinnamon, star anise and orange and drizzle 2 tbl melted butter over everything. Bake at 350 degrees until the sweet potatoes are tender (about 50 min.). Discard the anise stars and orange. Scoop out the potatoes and press them against the side of a bowl with a fork so it turns into a potato purée. Set the potato purée aside (approx 2 cups) to cool. For the filling: using an electric hand mixer, combine the potatoes, 1 cup of the sugar, ¼ stick butter, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Add the milk and continue to mix. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pie on a rack and cool to room temperature before covering with meringue. For the meringue: using an electric mixer, beat the egg
whites until soft peaks form; beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is glossy and stiff, but not dry. With a rubber spatula, spoon the meringue onto the pie, forming peaks. Make sure the meringue touches the crust all around. Sprinkle with a pinch of granulated sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until delicately browned with a toasted color. Cool. You can also top with marshmallows and brown or just add a dollop of sweetened, whipped cream.
Cinnamon Roll Pecan Pie The cinnamon rolls make a beautiful and delicious crust – I love making it in a clear glass pie plate so you can really show off the unique and tasty recipe! Ingredients: One 9-inch pie crust, not yet baked (such as a refrigerated Pillsbury crust, or a Jiffy prepared crust) 4 tbsp melted butter 4 tsp ground Vietnamese cinnamon, divided use 3/4 cup dark or light corn syrup 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tsp vanilla paste (vanilla extract will work) 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups pecan halves Directions: Start with dough that is slightly chilled but still pliable. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment or waxed paper until it’s a little less than 1/4-inch thick. Brush 1 tablespoon of the butter on top of the crust– for the cinnamon to stick to. Leave the rest of the melted butter to put in the filling. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the cinnamon on top of the crust, and spread it around. Now roll it up into a tight spiral. Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the spiral log into rounds, about 1/2-inch thick. If your dough has become too soft to cut cleanly, or is getting smashed down during the process, refrigerate or freeze it briefly until it is firm.
Rub a 9-inch pie pan liberally with butter. Start placing the cinnamon swirl pie pieces in the pan and begin to flatten them with your fingers, pressing them down so that they expand. Place them next to each other across the entire bottom and up the sides, filling in all of the gaps. You shouldn’t see any empty space between the pieces. Try to get them all about the same depth. Press everything together until you have a solid crust in an even thickness. Use a sharp paring knife to trim the rough crust edges so that they are smooth and Photo courtesy Olde Towne Spice Shoppe even all the way around the top piecrust After 15 minutes, remove the pie from the oven. Tear edge. Once the crust is made, place it in the refrigerator to chill while you mix up the filling, and off a few long strips of aluminum foil and crimp them along the edges, covering the crust. The center of the preheat the oven to 375 degrees. For the easy filling- in a large bowl, combine the corn pie should remain exposed, so it will cook properly, but syrup and the brown sugar. Whisk them together until not overcooking the crust. Reduce the oven’s temperathere are no lumps of sugar. The mixture will be thick. ture to 350 F and return the pie to the oven to continue Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of melted butter and cooking. Cook the pie for an additional 20-25 minutes. the eggs, whisking well. Finally, add the vanilla, the salt, and remaining 2 tsps of cinnamon, as well as the pe- When it is finished, the center of the pie should be cans. Stir everything well until it’s entirely blended, then puffed and have slight cracks in the surface. When you carefully pour it in to the cinnamon roll pie crust. Put lightly tap the pie tin, the center should remain steady the pie on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil, instead of jiggling. Let the pie cool completely on a wire should it accidentally spill over. Bake the pie in the 375 rack at room temperature. F oven for 15 minutes. For other recipes and spices visit oldtownspices.com.
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ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE Thanksgiving
Hundreds of inches fell...
“With no snow on the ground and none in the forecast, the ski mountain might not open on Thanksgiving. If that’s the case, revenue will be way down. We might have to make some layoffs until the snow flies and the mountain opens,” the boss informed us after his meeting with the city’s management staff. Layoffs….not the news one wants to hear at the beginning of the holidays. Working and living in a ski resort town makes one dependent on the weather as much as a farmer. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the crop—our ski season— is just not there. No crop, no money. Despite the millions spent on marketing efforts with the glossy photos of beautiful people recreating in beautiful mountain settings, it is impossible to provide that product if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Tourists, especially wealthy ones, won’t spend large chunks of their discretionary income to travel to the mountains only to have to take two chairlift rides up to—and down from—the top portion of the mountain where there is a little bit of snow. Frozen mud, rocks and weeds on ski runs where pure white snow is expected to be tend to reduce demand for $1,000 per night condos. Ski resorts have learned, after enough dry years, to cut the weeds down on the lower slopes in the late fall. That way even just a few inches of snow completely covers the ground. Vacation photos show a pure white base just outside the condo door, instead of a dirty slope that looks like a just-harvested cornfield with a dusting of snow. Snowmaking technology has dramatically improved over the last couple of decades, and grooming techniques have been refined to take just a little bit of the white stuff and turn it into the makings of a good, if not great ski experience, even in marginal years. It had been dry throughout much of the fall. Hunting season had seen some snowfall, but less than normal. By mid-November the mountains are normally covered with the white stuff, but this year there wasn’t much accumulation even above treeline. It really wasn’t looking good going into Thanksgiving, the traditional opening day for most ski resorts. A few who had been around the area during the worst drought years in the 70s could remember having to take
the chairlift halfway up—and down—the mountain all the way into January. Lots of people had lost their jobs, and some even their businesses. This could be a big deal. Management staff had been instructed to prepare a contingency plan to cut staff and expenses in case the snow and money didn’t arrive. In the way of corporate and government offices everywhere, the general idea was to cut primarily junior staff, especially in the ranks of public safety and public works. Cops, trash collectors and plow drivers would be laid off. In other words, the people that do the work that the public sees on a day-to-day basis. Administration staff would mostly remain on the job. There’s always lots of “administering” to do even with no one in town. I was the junior member of a three-man mechanic crew in the public works department. But the two other wrench-turners were relatively new as well, including the boss. They decided, without much input from me, that we would all work reduced hours if necessary. That way everyone would share the pain, and I would not be out of a job that I had only recently been hired to do. Thanks guys! Heavy snow started falling just a few days after the slightly-delayed opening and continued well into the next spring. Hundreds of inches fell, with over 100 inches on the ground for much of the season. It wasn’t a record year for snowfall, but it was close. Lots of tourists gladly paid big bucks for fantastic skiing, and they got their money’s worth. All members of the public works and public safety departments worked lots of overtime and no one got laid off. After anticipating a dismal winter, we had much to be thankful for. By Avalanche
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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CROSSROADS NOVEMBER 2014
MOORE ON LIFE Phooey on Phancy Phood Photos I declare November the official month of food. After all, we’re planning for the biggest most important meal of the year—Thanksgiving dinner, which is why I’m in such a panic! Cooking and mealplanning in general are not my strongest points. I love to eat, but hate to cook. A typical night at my house sees me five minutes before dinnertime rummaging through the cupboards desperately trying to come up with something to eat that doesn’t require thinking, prep time, or the use of a complicated kitchen appliance such as a can opener. Neither should it need to be thawed, marinated, stirred or require some fancy-schmancy imported spice such as salt or pepper. I come up with a promising option… a can of tuna and a tub of cream cheese frosting. Possible? Yes. But then it would also involve using the dreaded can opener. Scratch that idea. I head to the refrigerator in hopes of another choice. Aha…there behind the empty pickle jar, hidden beyond numerous expired doggy bags of doom and tucked around the jug of fabric softener (So that’s where it went. I’ve been looking for that forever) is a plastic container of hope. A tasty microwavable dish of delicious leftovers perhaps? Not so. I open it to find a Petri dish of questionable fungus of which one sniff could bring on an infectious sinus disease. Whatever it once was has now morphed into a new life form and is trying to crawl over the sides. I snap the lid on and shove it back in behind the bottles of pickle juice and fabric softener. Just when I am about to reconsider the tuna frosting surprise, I get a text. Bling bling goes my cell phone. Hmmm, who could be bothering me now right when I’m in the middle of meal-planning meltdown? From the screen of my phone I see a disturbing sight. Someone has sent me a picture of a platter piled high with smoky ribs, tantalizing brisket and chicken thighs as big as my thighs. They are smothered in mouth-watering sauce accompanied by crispy-looking sweet potato fries and a side order of yummy coleslaw. I wipe the drool from my mouth before it can fall onto the phone’s screen. The image is followed by a text: Hi everyone. We’re having BBQ at The Delicious Pig and about to gorge on this feast. What are you doing? I bite my phone hoping the taste will somehow penetrate through. I think I chipped a tooth. What is with this new trend about photographing meals and sending them off to starving kitchen-illiterates like me? What new form of visual cruelty have people sunk to? Then I remind myself…I am just as guilty. If we go out to a favorite restaurant and the chef has prepared a particularly spectacular
meal and presented it in a masterful way (meaning: the burger has lettuce and the fries are curled) I too feel that I must take a picture to freeze it in time and send it off to as many friends as possible. Particularly to those who I happen to know are home dining on a cold bowl of Cap’n Crunch. It’s my sick way of saying, “Sorry to hear you are eating from a box. By the way, take a look at what tasty thing I’m about to consume.” I suppose I earned some payback from The Delicious Pig. But as the big day for the big meal speedily approaches I envision myself burning the bird and combusting the cranberries. Maybe some kind soul will invite us over instead. Sadly, I’m convinced my reputation about my cooking has spread far and wide. Last time we were invited over for Thanksgiving, my dinner assignment was to bring a package of frozen peas, which I might add, I carried out flawlessly without charring. So as we are all about to partake of a bounteous meal this season, let’s take time to remember those culinary-incompetents and have some compassion. Invitations yes, photos no. With any luck, this year we will be assigned dessert. Hopefully they will all have a taste for creamy tuna pickle juice pie or I will be forced to find a picture of something on my phone to pass around the table. by Cindy Moore
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.
Payne 1/8 NOVEMBER 2014 CROSSROADS
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ADVERTISER PROFILE Buy vs. Rent? Due to the recent trends in the housing market, more people are wrestling with the decision of renting or buying a home. If you’re currently trying to decide whether a monthly rent payment or a mortgage is right for you, take a moment to consider the following: Price: What can you afford? The housing market varies across the country, and even by county so depending on where you want to live, buying a house doesn’t always make sense for your pocketbook. If you want to live in a downtown area or large city, renting may be more expensive than a house; however in suburban areas, renting a home is of-
ten cheaper than monthly mortgage payments. Regardless, you have to do the math and determine how much of your monthly income can be spent on housing. In addition to a monthly payment, the auxiliary expenses need to be considered for both scenarios. Many apartment buildings have maintenance or association fees that cover snow removal or security, some landlords require occupants to have renters insurance and parking isn’t always free when you rent. On the flip side, owning your home costs more than just a mortgage. For example, a lawnmower, gas and the time to mow are all needed for a lawn that otherwise might not exist in an apartment complex. In addition, repairs and upkeep to a house are the owners’ responsibility and can cost a considerable amount of money.
it comes to moving. However if you’ve found your dream job and aren’t going anywhere, purchasing a home allows the opportunity to start building equity. In addition, are you single, married, have kids or are planning to? Typically the farther along you are in your family lifecycle, the more likely purchasing a home makes sense whereas singles and newlyweds find renting a better option. When trying to make the decision if renting or buying a house is right for you, it’s best to utilize all your available recourses. In addition to the multitude of online calculators that will help you assess what scenario is right for you, talk to a loan officer at your local communitybank about which mortgage product would be right for you and the monthly payment you can afford.
Lifestyle: Where do you see yourself in the future? Factors other than cost need to be taken into consideration when trying to decide to buy or rent. If your job offers the possibility of relocation, renting offers more flexibility when
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CROSSROADS NOVEMBER 2014
By Robin Daniels
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HEALTH
Flu Fighters: Busting Six Sickening Flu Myths Ready for this year’s flu season? You may think you know a lot about flu prevention and treatment - but being wrong about the flu can make you downright ill. Here are six myths about the flu, and the truth behind them. Myth 1: Cold weather will give you the flu. Fact: Although flu cases commonly peak in January or February, and the “season” usually lasts from early October to late May, it is possible to get the flu at any time of year. During cold weather, people are inside in confined spaces for greater amounts of time. This, combined with bringing germs home from work or school, creates more opportunities for the flu to spread. Myth 2: If you’ve had a flu shot, you can’t get sick. Fact: It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccination to fully protect you, and you could catch the virus during that time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the flu vaccine protects against specific strains expected to be prevalent in any given year, it’s also possible for you to be exposed to a strain not covered by the current vaccine. Finally, the vaccine may be less effective in older people or those who are chronically ill, the CDC says. Myth 3: Once you’ve treated a surface with a disinfectant, it is instantly flu free. Fact: Disinfectants don’t work instantly to kill germs on surfaces. In fact, some antibacterial cleaners can take as long as 10 minutes to work. And they have to be used correctly. First, clean the surface and then spray it again, leaving it wet for the time specified on package directions. Anything less and you may not kill the flu virus, exposing yourself and others to illness. The flu virus can live up to 24 hours on surfaces such as counters, remote controls, video game controllers, door knobs and faucets. Use a household cleaner that disinfects to clean these high-touch surfaces to help prevent your family from spreading the cold and flu. Myth 4: You got vaccinated last year, so you don’t need a shot this year. Fact: Like all viruses, flu viruses are highly adaptable and can change from year to year. Also, the strains vary each year, so the vaccination you got last year may not be effective against the flu that’s active this year. In fact, it most likely won’t be effective. Myth 5: You got the flu shot, wash your hands frequently and disinfect religiously—you’ve eliminated your risk of flu exposure. Fact: We don’t live or work in sterile environments. Germs are brought home every day on items like messenger bags, cell phones, notebooks, shoes - even on your clothes. If someone in your home gets sick, or is exposed to someone with the flu, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and discard the tissue in the trash right away. Wash hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Remember that germs spread through touch, so avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Myth 6: Getting the flu isn’t that big of a deal. Fact: It could be. Last year was the worst flu season since 2009, the CDC said, and during the week of Jan. 6 to 12, 2013, more than 8 per-
cent of all deaths nationwide were attributable to flu and flu-related pneumonia. In addition to making you miserable, flu can make existing medical conditions worse, lead to sinusitis and bronchitis—even pneumonia. Bottom line: if you are not feeling well, avoid making yourself and others around you sick by staying home.
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www.bankofoldmonroe.com www.bankofoldmonroe.com NOVEMBER 2014 CROSSROADS 15
A Community News Thanksgiving A peek into the holiday traditions of the Community News Family
Thanksgiving in the Mountains By Avalanche This time of year the Avalanche Clan settles in for winter. Snow is usually on the ground, and the money-making ski season kicks off. In other words, we get busy. Mrs. Av bundles up, as she is always cold, even working in the office (causing one to ponder the mystery of her choice of residence) and Mr. Av gets the snow removal equipment into service and chops a lot of firewood. The Newfie sleeps on the porch despite the temps, and only comes in when her paws begin sticking to the pavement. As far as she’s concerned, 10 below is still comfortable enough to go outside for a couple of hours of fresh air. The Beagle, displaced from the St. Louis area, always finds a sunny spot to curl up and nap; she misses the milder temps. Many years have found us working on Thanksgiving, as detailed in this month’s column. Not so much lately, but most family members are over a thousand miles away in the CrossRoads circulation area and travel can be difficult this time of year, so large get-togethers are rare. Many residents here in the mountains are transplants, and Thanksgiving gatherings tend to be impromptu events as work and time permit. The dogs enjoy the day just the same; extra food and hugs are always appreciated, something that’s true for all of us.
My Big Fat Italian Thanksgiving By Laurie Nobe Oh the holidays, where families meet…and eat! In my big Italian family we pride ourselves on tradition, no matter what that tradition is. And don’t even think for a second that you could change anything. One time a family “newbie”, (my cousins significant other), thought they would offer to bring rolls for Thanksgiving, which would have been a terrific and thoughtful idea—until the words GRANDS came out of their mouth. Grands? Grands?! Blasphemy! No store bought roll will ever be brought into the Iezzi household for this holiday! See, the rolls are what makes our Thanksgiving well, Thanksgiving. My Grandma Maude made the rolls from scratch, a recipe that was handed down to her from her grandmother. Our family lost our matriarchs long ago, and my own mother took to carrying on the tradition of the famous Iezzi rolls. Just seeing the ingredients lying on the counter will make the smell of those rolls come wafting through my nose and get my mouth watering in an instant. I love those little yeast balls that turn into the most beautiful baked-good I have ever seen or tasted. When the rolls hit the table on Thanksgiving night you better have cat like reflexes, a small weapon, and a little trash talk to ward off those attempting to shove as many rolls as possible in their mouth so they win the “I got more of Grandma Maude’s rolls than you” game. After the rolls are eaten, along with all the other food people think is just as great as the rolls, we throw back the Wild Turkey, start a bonfire, break out the cigars and throw all children in the hot tub as we look through Black Friday ads picking out all that stuff we want, but know realistically that we won’t get up at the crack of dawn to get. After Thanksgiving disappears in the night, you sleep in, digest the umpteen hundred Grandma Maude rolls you consumed, and start the countdown to next Thanksgiving… which we all know is just a countdown to the rolls.
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CROSSROADS NOVEMBER 2014
The Potato Cooker Incident of 1958 By Randy Davies It was Thanksgiving Day 1958. It was a cold, snowy day at our home up near Lake Erie. I was an eightyear-old boy and I was fascinated by the new convenient kitchen items that were being used by my mother in her kitchen. You know, like slicers, blenders, mixers and “potato cookers.” Early in the morning I thought I would help prepare for Thanksgiving by surprising my mother as her little kitchen helper. I decided to sneak into the kitchen and cook the potatoes for her. You have to have mashed potatoes and gravy for Thanksgiving! I wasn’t quite sure how to do it, but I thought I had seen my mother use a “potato cooker” before. I proceeded to place the “potato cooker” on the stove and get started. Now then, once the “potato cooker” was good and hot, I dumped in a hand full of cold wet taters. (note: I didn’t know there is no such item as a potato cooker ) It is truly amazing the horrific, greasy mess that a quart or so of hot deep fry oil can make all over the stove, counters, and floor of the kitchen! Oops! That’s when all hell broke loose. The very high, shrill screaming and the beatings were over soon, and of course I was sent to my room and banned from the kitchen for next 10 years. Gee whizz, I was just trying to help. My Mother’s hysteria was set aside once good ol’ Uncle George arrived. Now Uncle George was a bachelor and he didn’t cook much either. Soon after the turkey dinner was complete it was time for some yummy pumpkin pie. Since Uncle George was our guest, he received the first piece of pie and he was handed his plate and a can of Ready Whip. He had never seen this new modern item before. It was explained to him how it worked. Shake it up, point and bend the nozzle. He did, and he blasted whipped cream all over the walls, the table, and of course the people. After the second kitchen clean up, we finally enjoyed a nice dessert. I still don’t understand why Uncle George wasn’t sent to his room! Happy Thanksgiving.
Cats, Hats, and Thanksgiving By Cay Armbruster My family has many great memories from Thanksgivings past. I remember playing in the leaves and roasting marshmallows in the fireplace at my grandparents house. I loved playing on their piano while my grandmother’s one cat, Sheba, sat above watching. She was probably hoping I would stop because I’ve never had a lesson in my life. One year, at their house, I got to keep the wishbone from the turkey and I wished for a giant lollipop. One appeared in my room a few days later. Woo hoo!
My Aunt and Uncle have held the big family Thanksgiving at their house many times. When I was a kid, my cousin and I liked being the “bartenders” at the mini bar in their living room. (Don’t worry, we were only allowed to hand out soda.) One Thanksgiving, my aunt brought out all of these different men’s and women’s dress hats she had collected. We all wore one while we sat around the dining room table playing board games and laughing at all the funny stories from over the past year. When it comes to Thanksgiving traditions, we have a very special one before we sit down for dinner. Everyone stands in the kitchen and we bow our heads as one family member leads us in prayer. We pray for those who couldn’t be there with us but are with us in spirit, and for continued blessings for the coming New Year. It is a tradition very dear to us and we hope it will continue with new generations to come. Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
Three types of Pie, a big, fat, Juicy Turkey, a Football and a Frisbee By Brian Guerrero Since the days I could barely walk, my family’s tradition of Thanksgiving would take place in Winter Park, Fl. (an Orlando suburb) at my Grandparent’s house, from my mother’s side of the family, nearly every year. There were also fun Thanksgivings with my father’s side back when his parents still lived in Pembroke Pines. Mainly it was held in the home where my mother grew up since she was twoyears-old, with my father’s family in attendance. Our choice of food that we’d make was the usual stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, cranberry sauce (sometimes made, but usually out of a can – which I didn’t mind), stuffing and of course a big, fat, juicy turkey. Now comes our unique traditions I’d like to share. Every night before Thanksgiving my dad would prepare the pies from scratch for our tasty holiday desert. The classic pumpkin, pecan and apple pecan became the classic pies that we’ve enjoyed many times over again–with an optional scoop of whipped cream. However, my favorite tradition takes place before desert, in which we go for a walk in the neighborhood before the sun comes down. This became the reason why we have our feast, usually, no later than 2 o’clock in the afternoon. What started out as a harmless neighborhood walk quickly turned into a time of throwing footballs, Frisbees, and tennis balls during our walk. Occasionally, my sister would have the worst luck of being the one who’d get hit in the head the most over the years, as memory serves. As for me, I tend to laugh any time a football or Frisbee would hit a street sign as we walked by, so much so that I’d intentionally hit one and played it off like it was an accident.
NOVEMBER 2014 CROSSROADS 17
Photo Op Photos courtesy St. Charles, Missouri Oktoberfest
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CROSSROADS NOVEMBER 2014
Prost to St. Charles Oktoberfest 2014 Another successful Oktoberfest was held in St. Charles on Sept. 26-28 in Frontier Park along the Missouri River. Check out these great photos from the festivities!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Daylight Saving Time Ends (Move your clock back 1 hour)
Pizza with the Ice Queen and Her Sister
November
To see your organization’s event listed here, please email editor@mycnews.com
Wild in the Woods Race 9-11am, Broemmelsiek Park, 636.949.7535
Fill the Truck Food Drive & Dyno Day
10am-3pm, Certified Performance & Auto repair, Moscow Mills, 636.356.4200
Election Day
2-3pm, Progress Park Center, 636.332.9236
Sausage Dinner & Christmas Bazaar 11am-4pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, Troy
Moonlight Bike Ride, 6-9pm, Matson Hill Park, Defiance, 636.949.7535
Veterans Day Veterans Day Ceremony
Turkey Shoot
Helping Hands
3-5pm, Progress Park Gymnasium, 636.332.9236
4:30-5:30pm, TBD, Wentzville, 636.332.9236
11am-noon, Veterans Memorial Walk, O’Fallon
Tree Lighting Ceremony
6-8pm, O’Fallon City Hall, 636.379.5574
Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt
Turkey Toss Disc Golf Tourney
7-9pm, Heartland Park, 636.332.9236
5:30pm, Indian Camp Creek Park, Foristell, 636.949.7535
Celebration of Lights begins
Turkey Bowl! Men’s Flag Football Tournament
PALS Meeting
7pm, Cuivre River Electric, 1112 E. Cherry St., Troy, 636.338.1818
Holiday Night Lights Turkey Dash 3-6pm, Rotary Park, 636.332.9236
Thanksgiving
6-9pm, Fort Zumwalt Park, 636.379.5614 10am-3pm, Heartland Park, 636.332.9236
Holiday Night Lights begins 6-10pm, Rotary Park, 636.332.9236
NOVEMBER 2014 CROSSROADS 19
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