AuthorBiographies
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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David Finkelstein is a Master/Skill Automotive Service Technician, maintaining that role for over 45 years, coupled with being a shop owner in that time frame as well. He’s also invented a number of garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National as well as local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. Additionally, he pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 40 years ago, starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio as well as hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for some 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and also does some consulting with various auto manufacturers, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.
David Finkelstein
Brian Guerro
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.
Cindy Moore
Sara Hardin
Sara Hardin is a senior English and Writing student at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. After earning her degree, she hopes to continue her writing journey with Community News, through which she has been able to meet and speak with many of the community’s most influential individuals from her home in North County.
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.
N THIS SSUE
Around Town Creve Coeur Economic Development Committee launches new business awards and more
Non Profit Profile First Step Back Home
Feature Story Ageless and remarkable Olivette resident reflects on a long and eventful life By Sara Hardin
Our Thoughts Moore on Life Author, Cindy Moore, talks the miracle of childbirth Nissan Maxima raises the bar with world-class quality in this month’s Automobile Alley
Lifestyle J.J. Abrams’ “10 Cloverfield Lane” proves mystery is still alive in Entertainment Putting a twist on springtime celebrations with lamb in For the Love of Food
Caring Partners Understanding thyroid problems and more
Events Calandar Cover Photo – Erica Avellone
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AroundTown Creve Coeur Economic Development Committee launches new business awards The Creve Coeur Economic Development Committee (EDC) is seeking nominations for the first Creve Coeur Business Awards. Nominations are being accepted through 5 p.m. on March 15. “We take great pride in our excellent business community,” said Sekhar Prabhakar, EDC chair. “These awards provide an opportunity to honor Creve Coeur’s outstanding businesses for their hard work and contributions to the community.” Award categories include: Heart of the Community honors a Creve Coeur business or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to the community by making a positive impact in Creve Coeur or the St. Louis region. Most Innovative Business - honors a Creve Coeur business or organization that has demonstrated innovation, unique achievements or significant
advancements in their field. Favorite Restaurant - honors a Creve Coeur restaurant nominated by its customers for its outstanding service and food quality. To submit a nomination, visit www. creve-coeur.org/businessawards. Entries are welcome from all types of organizations. All nominees must be Creve Coeur businesses. “Creve Coeur is home to over 1,000 businesses,” said Mayor Barry Glantz. “While our resident population is 18,000, our daytime population triples as these businesses attract employees from across the region. They help fuel our local economy and drive innovation and progress on a national and global level.” For more information, contact Andrea Muskopf, Human Resource Assistant, at amuskopf@ci.crevecoeur.mo.us or 314-872-2511.
Green Trails Elementary teacher named Parkway District Teacher of the Year Parkway has selected its 2016 Elementary, Middle, High school and District Teachers of the Year. Sasha Walchli, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher at Green Trails Elementary was named the Elementary and District Teacher of the Year. Walchli has been teaching for 12 years and has been at Green Trails for eight years. Green Trails Principal Dr. Rene Sommers said, “Sasha Walchli is the type of teacher who exemplifies Parkway. She knows the importance of developing curious, capable and confident learners…and models these descriptors every day.” Walchli is a Parkway North High 1999 graduate. Angie Lolley, history teacher at Southwest Middle is the Parkway 4 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
Middle School Teacher of the Year. Lolly is a 1990 graduate of Parkway South High. The High School Teacher of the Year is Eve Diel, librarian at North High. All the 2016 Teachers of the Year will be recognized at the March 9 Board of Education meeting and on April 25 at Parkway’s Appreciation Evening event. The elementary, middle, high school and district teachers of the year are selected by a committee comprised of former Parkway teachers of the year. The Parkway Alumni Association is the sponsor of the Parkway Teacher of the Year program and awards each teacher with a crystal apple and cash award.
Our Town Volume 07 | Number 02 March 2016
Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 15,000 monthly through over 200 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www. mycnews.com Publisher Robert Huneke Editor Mathew DeKinder Production Lisa Moran Melissa Nordmann Contributors Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Brian Guerrero, Cindy Moore Photographer Erica Avellone Staff WriterS Brett Auten Sara Hardin For advertising information, please contact us at:
info@mycnews.com or
Community News
2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632 www.mycnews.com Copyright 2016 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
AroundTown New coworking space is the first in St. Louis’ history dedicated to women in business Carpe Diem Coworking, is a new coworking space in St. Louis that opened to the community in February. This space is the first women’s only coworking space ever established in St. Louis. The facility is located at 14356 Manchester Road in Manchester. The goal of this space is to revolutionize how women do business, and be more than a mailing address. The coworking space houses a podcast room, several “think-areas” with seating for four, and conference rooms with smart televisions; which seat up to 20. It also provides desk space for 85 ladies, and four private cubicles. Women can rent working space monthly, or on a drop-in basis. Jennifer Loeffel is the owner of the history-making coworking space. When asked what inspired her to buy this abandoned historic property she said, “I wanted to create a space that allows female small business owners the room to grow their businesses through community, collaboration and lifelong connections. The thought of being able to provide an affordable space for women to create this type of community, makes me feel elated. I can’t imagine something more powerful to give back to the community. This is going to be a game changer for women that operate small businesses. Imagine women working on growing their businesses independently, but with a community of women to back them up! This includes community experts teaching free business education workshops. We have already booked lawyers, accountants, successful business owners, health consultants, and social media marketers. That is nothing short of amazing.” Carpe Diem Coworking house, is also known in the community as the Amelia Straszer house. This house was built in 1896, and was designed by Amelia Straszer herself. She owned the home for 40 years, and then it was passed onto her daughter. This house is of the Queen Anne design, and was considered to be one of the most prestigious homes in Manchester at the time. It is unequivocally one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in St. Louis County. “Just the history of the building alone told me this place was it. I couldn’t even believe this place had been abandoned. This is something I have wanted to achieve for a long time, and I found the perfect place to make it happen,” said Loeffel. Jennifer Loeffel has been a female entrepreneur for many years herself. Her journey began as a business owner in 2005 as a restaurateur. In 2009, she began Eco Chic Market, a local eco-friendly shop that sells sustainable goods. Throughout her time as a business owner, she has surrounded herself with other women in business.
“I’ve been a part of entrepreneurial support for a while through a couple of women-only groups,” said Loeffel. “I have learned so much from the women in Business Women Connecting and Prosper. I have seen first-hand the lifechanging impact women can have on each other when they come together to build each other up.” Kate Brockmeyer, founder of Business Women Connecting, is the megaphone for Carpe Diem Coworking. She has been diligently helping to get the word out among women in business in the region. Kate Brockmeyer said, “This has been a vision I have shared with Jennifer Loeffel for a long time. To be able to team up and make this even possible for female entrepreneurs in St. Louis is mind blowing. I am ecstatic to be a part of this,” said Brockmeyer. For more information, visit http://www. carpediemcoworking.com.
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AroundTown Rett Syndrome Foundation to host 9th ‘strollathon’ The International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF), now known as Rettsyndrome.org, will host its ninth annual St. Louis Strollathon on May 7 with registration starting at 9 a.m. and the walk beginning at 10 a.m. The one-mile family-friendly stroll, which will be held at Tilles Park’s Gloria Rodgers Shelter located at 9551 Litzsinger Rd. in Ladue, includes a visit from Fredbird, entertainment and food. All proceeds will benefit Rett Syndrome research. Each year’s event has had more than 500 participants, and more than $500,000 total has been raised from the past eight walks. The Strollathon program, Rettsyndrome. org’s national signature fundraising event, has brought families together to fundraise and to strengthen the local Rett community since 2004. Strollathons have raised a grand total of nearly $8 million nationwide for research treatments and a cure in the last ten years. A specialty clinic recently opened in St. Louis to care for and support children with Rett Syndrome and Rett-related disorders. The clinic is a collaboration between Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Patients and their families now have the opportunity to meet with several health care providers including neurology, therapy, and nutrition along with other needed specialists. Rett Syndrome is a genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in females and becomes apparent after 6-18 months of early normal development. It results in a regression that leads to lifelong impairments. Those inflicted with this disorder have multiple dysfunctions: speech is lost, seizures develop and scoliosis occurs, many develop irregular breathing patterns, and more than half of the girls
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The International Rett Syndrome Foundation will host its ninth annual St. Louis Strollathon on May 7 at Tilles Park.
and women lose their ability to walk. Those diagnosed with Rett Syndrome require maximum assistance with even the most basic daily activities. The hallmark sign of Rett Syndrome is near constant repetitive hand movements while awake. The gene that causes Rett Syndrome was discovered in 1999 and, in 2007, research proved the theory of reversibility in mice. Human clinical trials began in Boston in 2010 to improve and possibly reverse the disorder’s progression. Research is currently focusing on multiple disease-modifying human clinical trials. Rettsyndrome.org is the world’s leading private, nonprofit organization that has funded more than $35 million for research to date. Donations are appreciated to the Strollathon, which is free and open to the public. For more information, call Strollathon chair Joyce Opinsky at 314-878-0868, e-mail her at stlstrollathon@gmail.com, or visit the organization’s web site at http://www.rettsyndrome.org.
Maryland Heights Chamber and Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital partner for black tie event Do you like giving back for a great cause while having fun? Do you enjoy the Kentucky Derby? If so, get your hat and come on April 30 from 6 – 9 p.m. for an Inaugural Black Tie event. The event theme is Kentucky Derby and a cash prize of $250 will be given to the best hat in the house! The event will take place at Sheraton Chalet located at 191 Westport Plaza in St. Louis County. Tick6 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
ets are $129 each or a table of eight for $1,000. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. Sponsorship opportunities are available. This event will sell out fast, so contact the chamber now to reserve your spot. For more information, contact the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce at 314-576-6603 or visit www.mhcc.com.
AroundTown Creve Coeur City Council appoints new member to fill vacancy The Creve Coeur City Council has appointed Susan Baseley to the fourth ward seat that was left vacant when Robert Kent resigned. Pursuant to the City Charter section 3.6(c), the vacancy was filled by an appointment from Mayor Barry Glantz with the consent of the majority of the remaining members on the council. Baseley was sworn in at the regular city council meeting held on Jan. 25, to represent Ward 4 on the city council. The newly appointed councilwoman has been a resident of Creve Coeur for 20 years and was awarded Creve Coeur Citizen of the Year in 2013. She most recently served on the Creve Coeur Horticulture, Ecology and Beautification Committee, serving terms as chair and vice-chair, and also served as chair of the Climate Action Task Force. Baseley is excited to continue serving the city of Creve
Coeur in her new role on the city council. “I am very honored to have been appointed to this position,” said Baseley. “I have so much respect for Mayor Glantz and for the city council members, and I am looking forward to serving alongside each of them. Living in Creve Coeur has been so good for me and for my family. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community.” Baseley will fill the seat through the remainder of the term which expires in April. She will run for election during the April 2016 general election. “Sue is a long-time Creve Coeur resident and has been a very active volunteer in our community,” said Mayor Glantz. “I am confident that she will continue to exhibit the same dedication as a member of the City Council.” Kent resigned from his seat on the Creve Coeur City Council on Jan. 5.
Bigstock
Tickets on sale for Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and STEM Expo
Advance purchase tickets are now on sale for The Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and STEM Expo, presented by Boeing, May 14-15, 2016 at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield. Attendees who purchase general admission tickets online prior to May 1 pay only $15. Tickets purchased on or after May 1, or at the gate are $25. Additionally, all military personnel with a valid ID, along with children ages six and under will receive free admission. In addition to launching ticket sales, two new performers are now booked for the event. The CAF B-29 Superfortress “Fifi,” the only flying B-29 in the world, will perform and be on display both days, as will the Fighters & Legends Chance Vought F4U-5N Corsair. Attendees will also witness performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, flying the St. Louis-built Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team, and the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet demonstration team, along with many other flight
performances and static-aircraft displays. The event’s popular STEM Expo, presented by MasterCard, will highlight the science, technology, engineering and math initiatives of academic, business and not-for-profit institutions in the St. Louis area, inspiring youth to pursue these important areas of study. There will also be a Veteran Village, providing a venue where key resource providers can share valuable information and connectivity for military members who have recently, or will soon return to civilian life. The 2014 Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and STEM Expo attracted more than 125,000 attendees, with many more watching from surrounding vantage points. To purchase tickets or learn more about the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and STEM Expo, visit www.spirit-airshow.com.
March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 7
AroundTown Parkway North student wins 2016 St. Louis County Regional Poetry Out Loud Competition The St. Louis County Regional Poetry Out Loud competition featured eleven impressive high school competitors in three rounds of memorized poetry recitation on Feb. 2 at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre. Florissant Mayor Thomas P. Schneider welcomed the contestants and shared his own thoughts and a few poetic lines with the audience of contestants, educators, family and friends. Winning the event, senior Sarah Koo from Parkway North High School will be representing St. Louis County at the state finals for Poetry Out Loud on March 10 at 10 a.m. in Jefferson City. She will be recognized at a dinner for all regional champions, their chaperones and their state legislators on March 9, arranged by the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies. Sarah says, “Taking part in this competition helped me develop a better appreciation of the words I hear around me every day and I‘m thankful
I’ve gotten this far to love them even more.” Finishing in second place was Pamela Pettercheck from Affton High School (Troy Kozak-school coordinator) and in third place, Kaitlyn Reynolds from Nerinx Hall (Jean Fry coordinator). Other participants representing their respective schools were Katherine Yee, John Burroughs School; Solomon Cazer, Christian Brothers College High School; Taelor Morris, Lutheran High School North; Tayler Jackson, McCluer South-Berkeley; Mary Ellen Grace Fedorchak, Oakville Senior High School; Jessica Estep, Parkway South High School; Jesse Calvert, Parkway West High School; and Karissa Simon, Villa Duchesne. Four judges evaluated each contestant in three rounds on physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, evidence of understanding, overall performance and accuracy.
O’Fallon resident reunited with her dog in Olivette For the past several weeks, citizens called into the Olivette Police Department to report a dog in the area of Grandview and Forsythia. Citizens were concerned with the dog’s wellbeing, as the dog did not appear to be a stray. Olivette officers, with the Animal Control Officer Roman Shmulevich, saw the dog and tried to catch it on several occasions; however, when approached, the dog would run away. Animal Control Officer Shmulevich would use food to attract the animal, but to no avail. Shmulevich insured the animal was fed, until he decided to borrow a large humane trap from
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the St Louis County Animal Care and Control. An Olivette resident allowed the trap to be set up on his property and Shmulevich placed food in the surrounding area and in the trap. The trap was checked each hour and at 8 p.m. the dog was found in the trap – prior to the night’s bitter cold. The dog was taken to St. Louis County Animal Care and Control where she was found to be in good health and microchipped. Due to the microchip, dog owner, Charlene Snider of O’Fallon, Missouri, was contacted and she was reunited with her dog, Zoe.
Submitted photo
Charlene Snider with her dog, Zoe and Animal Control Officer Roman Shmulevich
Snider told officers that Zoe escaped from her daughter’s home in Overland, where Zoe was being watched while Snider was out of town. Zoe has been missing since November. Snider said she had posted flyers and pictures “all over the place” as well as on social media and missing pet websites. Snider expressed her gratitude to all of the agencies involved in finding Zoe and stated that she was, “on cloud nine.” Prior to coming to Olivette, Animal County Officer Shmulevich trained dogs and has many medals from training dogs for shows.
Advertorial
AroundTown
The good, the bad and the beautiful by russ patton, owner of byerly What beautiful weather for mid-winter! We can’t help but conjure up beautiful dreams of coming spring. Maybe we will even buy an RV or trade up into a new one. Then comes the ugly part: A sales rep resorts to selling “fear” rather than “fun.” “That other brand leaks; tap on the counter, ours are more durable; look underneath, their frames are weak; that company has bad service; their prices are too high; etc.”
Sad to be so bad. We hear it all. Frequently competitive brands are manufactured by the same parent company. Sure, there are differences, but they are all pretty good. Maybe it’s the dealer/seller one should be grading. How many certified RV technicians do they have? How large is their parts department? Are they reinvesting in their business, or just their sales force? Consistently being number one or number two in RV sales in our market area confirms that our buying and selling model works. If a competitive sales rep seems to know more about our brands than the ones he sells we feel complimented. Meanwhile check out our website at www.byerlyrv. com or visit us on Facebook to learn about the next monthly RV school or details on our spring campout. We are Byerly, The Center of the RV World. the h t r Wo ive Dr
Byerly RV 295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 www.byerlyrv.com
Maryland Heights and Creve Coeur Olivette Chambers join forces for mouse races Do you like having fun while having a chance to grow your business? Are you a business professional looking for new leads? If so, arrive on Aug. 25 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. for the Maryland Heights and Creve Coeur Olivette Chambers of Commerce Mouse Races Business after Hours event. The event will take place at Plaza Jaguar St. Louis located at 11654 Olive Blvd in Creve Coeur. Tickets are $15 each or two for $25 which includes food, beverages and $10 mouse money for each person. Sponsorship opportunities are also available starting at $50. This event will sell out fast, so contact the chamber now to reserve your spot. For more information, contact the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce at 314-576-6603 or visit online at www.mhcc.com.
Barretts and Craig Elementary Schools named a Missouri School of Character Two Parkway elementary schools were named 2016 Missouri Schools of Character – Barretts and Craig elementary schools. The schools demonstrated that their focus on character development has had a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate. The designation comes from Character.org, a national advocate and leader in the movement to educate, inspire and empower young people to be ethical and engaged citizens. This year, 66 schools and four districts from 16 states were named State Schools of Character for 2016. The Schools of Character application process is an opportunity for schools and districts to receive thoughtful feedback for growth and excellence in the area of character development through Character.org’s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education framework. It is also a method of recognizing exemplary schools and districts in the nation. “We are truly proud of this year’s designated schools and districts,” said Becky Sipos, Character.org’s President & CEO. “Their character initiatives have created conditions for learning where students are thriving and growing into ethical and productive members of our society.” March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 9
AroundTown
With millions of books spanning over 150 categories, the Annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair (April 28-May 1) will once again offer volumes of great reads and bargains for book lovers and collectors across the St. Louis region and nationwide. One of the oldest and most popular charity book sales in the Midwest, the Greater St. Louis Book Fair will return to West County Center in Des Peres with all proceeds going to area literacy and education programs. “Our donations this year are really interesting and unique in many different categories,” said Marilyn Brown, Director of the Greater St. Louis Book Fair. “We also have plenty of current hot reads along with some trendy offerings such as graphic novels, vinyl records and LPS and coloring books. It’s shaping up to be another fabulous fair and we encourage everyone to peruse our aisles, buy plenty of books, while supporting local literacy and education programs.” Now in its 67th year, the fair will feature a variety of impressive collections including limited editions, rare books, signed copies, coffee table art books, children’s books, music, cook books as well as CDs, DVDs and ephemera. The fair also has a new category of “Book Fair Recommends” books – recent publications and classics in a variety of categories: fiction, mystery, biography, literature, African-American and sports. Popularity of printed books In a digital age where American’s reading habits have changed, Brown said the popularity and staying power of the Greater St. Louis Book Fair proves there is still a high demand for printed books. Several recent studies support her. “Printed books remain popular and matter to a great deal of people,” said Brown. “We typically get a wide range of shoppers but all share one thing in common – a passion for printed books. E-book devices and tablet computers are great but readers want to get physical. There’s just something magical about physically possessing a copy of a book; then sharing that story you love with someone else.” 10 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
Bigstock
Book bonanza awaits at beloved book fair
Greater St. Louis Book Fair schedule To provide a more convenient, ample environment to shop, the Greater St. Louis Book Fair will hold a free, easy access shopping hour (9 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 30) for elderly and disabled persons. Entry into the Greater St. Louis Book Fair is $10 the first day (April 28) and free the next three days (April 29-May 1). The following is the complete schedule for the Greater St. Louis Book Fair: •
April 28, 4 to 9 p.m.
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April 29, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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April 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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May 1, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event takes place at West County Center I-270 and Manchester Road in Des Peres, in the Ballas Road parking structure, just off of Ballas Road. For more information visit StLouisBookFair.org, Facebook.com/STLBook Fair, call 314-993-1995 or email info@stlouisbookfair.org.
NonProfitProfile
First Step Back Home Providing resources for homeless and working poor
Submitted photo
By Lana Kruse
Fourth graders from John Weldon School collected over 300 pairs of socks and donated them to FSBH to be distributed to the homeless last fall.
F
or the past 11 years one local ministry has been making a dent in the homeless problems of St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren Counties and has greatly increased the awareness of these ongoing problems right in our own backyards. First Step Back Home, (FSBH), was organized in March, 2005 as an outcome of finding homeless men living in the woods behind the TA Travel Center at Foristell and realizing there were no local resources for single, homeless men anywhere in the region, short of downtown St. Louis. Paul and Lana Kruse of Lake St. Louis had been serving truckers at the TA Travel Center with Sunday morning services that began in 2001, and found that homeless people often were stuck there; either dropped off at the St. Charles County line at Highway T or from hitchhiking I-70. At that time neither of them knew anything about the local homeless needs, but that changed fast. Through activities with the St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren Continuum of Care through the Community Council and contacts to other local social service agencies, it became
clear there were many gaps in services not only for single, homeless men, but for many of the other homeless folks, women and children as well, as the growing, working-poor families still housed in apartments, with extended families and the like. The Kruses were led to form a public charity to be able to receive tax deductible donations and now, 11 years later, they have served more than 7,000 homeless and working poor; and have received more than one million dollars to do the work they’ve been called to do here. The FSBH program utilizes local motels to lodge the homeless and get them focused on starting job searches. After a good night’s rest, clients are told to be focused on getting a job as soon as possible using local temporary services or finding work in some of the 1,000plus worksites in the Wentzville area. To support the clients in their stabilization efforts, FSBH coordinates a motel-based, hot meals program, so nourishing food can be available every evening from volunteers who provide “pot luck” type offerings in the lobby
daily. More than 25 church and community groups bring the meals, and offer fellowship to the clients as they interact. Paul provides those needing cell phones with those essential tools. How else could a client land a job, if he didn’t have a phone connection? Fuel or insurance assistance is also provided when funds are available. Thanks to many churches that have collected gift cards, there are funds to pay for food, clothing and fuel at local department stores. Seven Board Members oversee the operations of the public charity. The ministry has one part-time bookkeeper and caseworker and Paul as employees. People interested in donating to FSBH can do so from the ministry website, via Pay Pal or by sending a check to this FSBH, PO Box 966, O’Fallon, MO 63366. For information on ways to help or for services needed, call Paul Kruse at 636-466-1365 or email at paulwkruse@centurytel.net. “Like” them on the First Step Back Home Facebook Page and follow activities throughout the year. March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 11
&
Ageless Remarkable
Olivette resident reflects on a long and eventful life By sara hardin When Ken Wilde was approached by the St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System and asked if they could recognize him as an honoree at their 13th annual Ageless Remarkable St. Louisans Gala, his response was something along the lines of, “If you want to!” Wilde, 92, was chosen as one of 16 seniors to be recognized at the gala, an event that aims to honor ‘remarkable’ St. Louisans who redefine what it means to grow older by dedicating their time to continuing their careers or bettering their communities. Sitting in the Olivette home he shares with his wife Eve,
Wilde recounts on the buzz that surrounded the event, describing himself as being “deeply flattered” by the fascination surrounding his story. He is noticeably humbled, shrugging praise off with disclaimers such as “There are thousands with more interesting stories than mine. It just so happened that the sun happened to shine on me.” This isn’t the first time Wilde has garnered attention for his achievements. In 2009 he became UMSL’s oldest graduate when he received his master’s degree in history, a pursuit inspired by Eve’s interest in her classes at St. Louis Community College – Meramec.
(Facing Page Top) Mr. Wilde holding a picture of his father’s clothing store, Weiss Clothing, in Germany. Mr. Weiss had to sell the store when the Jewish boycott started. He never received full payment for the sale because in 1938, after Kristallnacht (night of the broken glass) it became illegal for a Jewish person to own a business. The building was bombed and destroyed in WWII. (Facing Page Bottom) 22 year old Sergent Wilde in uniform working as a German Interpretor for the British Army on an inspection tour at Kiel, Germany in 1946. 12 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
Even so, Wilde hasn’t exactly warmed up to the spotlight. Much of the interest his experiences have generated surround his upbringing after being born in Berlin, where he says he experienced what he describes as a “relatively normal” childhood.
foreigners were eventually rounded up to be sent to internment camps. “The minute I was 16 that was the minimum age to be interned I got picked up and was interned for a few months. Then, they let everybody go again. People were saying, ‘This is crazy! These people are our friends, they got away from Germany and now you’re interning them again.’ So, I was sent home and went to work.” Wilde worked for Selfridges department store until he turned 18, when he decided to join the English army.
Fleeing Nazi Germany
“My father was a business man. He had a clothing store in Berlin. It was a pretty normal, middle class upbringing. I went to school, went on summer vacations and I had my family.” Wilde was 10 years old when Nazis took over the German government and began their rise to power. Those who had the means emigrated, but heavilyguarded borders kept those without family ties elsewhere secured within the German limits. Wilde stayed in Germany until an opportunity for him to flee presented itself through a family friend and the Kindertransport, a rescue effort organized to bring Jewish children into Great Britain. “[Kindertransport] worked with the government of Great Britain to take in refugee children. My mother had a friend in London who she had known since her teenage years who was married to an English gentleman. This woman was giving German lessons to another lady who said, ‘I’ve been reading about these kids coming and I wouldn’t mind having somebody like that.’ [My mother’s friend] said ‘I think I know just the kind of kid you might want.’ And so, through this lady and my new foster mother, it was arranged for me to go to London and join this family. I think they were a little disappointed because I was 15 years old already by that time. I think the cutoff was 17. I think she was kind of expecting a toddler, not a difficult teenager,” he says with a laugh. “But, it worked out fine and I lived with them off and on for seven years. They became sort of like my parents.” Wilde arrived at his new home less than six months before war broke out in Europe in September, 1939. The German occupation of France sent a wave of anxiety through the people of England in anticipation of an invasion, and many
“It was a pretty normal, middle class upbringing. I went to school, went on summer vacations and I had my family.”
From the British Army to St. Louis
“We went across a couple of weeks after D-Day. We went through France, Belgium and Holland and into Germany. The war ended and I stayed on for another year or so. About 1948 I came out of the army, and in the meantime my parents and my brother had been able to get to the United States. Of course the obvious thing for me to do was to go and join them. They came to St. Louis, so I came to St. Louis. I’ve been here since 1948. Once we got off the train and I was reunited with my family, everything turned out to be very nice.” His experience working for Selfridges in England led Wilde to apply for a job for Stix, Baer and Fuller department store upon his arrival in St. Louis. It was through an organization of newcomers from Europe that Wilde met Eve. “My mother took me to meet some of the other recent arrivals. She had met Eve’s mother and I was introduced to her. Her mother said ‘I would like you to meet my daughter,’ and so I met Eve. She said ‘I would be happy to show you around town since you’re new here.’ I thought she was a volunteer to take people around and get them acquainted. So, our first dates felt kind of official!” he laughs. “I thought she was probably personally interested, but I did think it was sort of a duty in a way.”
A busy retirement
Wilde and Eve married in 1951. He worked his way up in Stix, Baer and March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 13
Fuller to become a buyer and stayed with the company for 42 years until he retired in 1989. Today, Wilde enjoys spending his retirement at the library, volunteering, and with Eve at Powell Hall or visiting with their three children and seven grandchildren. He spends a day each week delivering for Meals on Wheels and also tutors remedial
reading through the St. Louis Literacy Council. There’s a certain twinkle in his eye as he talks about the book club he facilitates, a group he has been an active part of since 1960. “The original founders of this particular group happened to be professors from Washington University. They were medical doctors,” he says. “The main guy was just a brilliant man. I really enjoyed going to his meetings. When he passed away, I took over. This was about 20 years ago and I’ve been running it ever since. There are usually approximately 10-15 people
Find something to occupy your time and maybe find something to contribute to the benefit of the community. Advice to younger people: get older!
that meet. It has sort of become a family thing. We have a picnic once a year at someone’s house. It’s the kind of thing you look forward to. I set a syllabus for the season. We go from September to April usually and have 15 readings.” His interest in history steers his reading interests to nonfiction, particularly that which covers the 20th century. His most recent pickups from the library were written on presidents Richard Nixon and Franklin D. Roosevelt. While he doesn’t consider himself to be an expert advice-giver, Wilde’s experiences, perspectives and youthful energy leave him with wise words to share for both old and young alike. “If you don’t feel your age, I think you should go and do whatever you can to keep active. Find things that interest you in life. There’s so much that can be done. There’s nothing worse than getting out of bed and having absolutely no aim in life until it’s time to go back to bed again. This is the only advice I can give. Find something to occupy your time and maybe find something to contribute to the benefit of the community. Advice to younger people: get older!”
Photos by Erica Avellone
(Top) Portrait of Mr. Wilde in Germany as a seven year old in his sailor suit. (Bottom Left) 2006 UM-St. Louis Graduation with his wife Eve. (Bottom Right) One of the last pictures of Mr. Wilde taken before he moved to England. A group shot of his junior high school, he was 11 years old and is in the lower right with “777” written under him.
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OurThoughts Moore on Life by Cindy Moore
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Special deliveries
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his past year I am happy to say our family set a record. Each of our three married kids delivered babies within the space of seven months – three bouncing baby boys. Each birth had its own degree of intensity and afterwards we mothers discussed the gory details in length. For some reason, there will always be a certain morbid need for moms who have made it through childbirth to wear it as a badge of honor and boast, blab and brag about their experience to anyone with functioning eardrums. Men do not have membership in this exclusive club. Until they have carried around a kidney stone the size of a hubbard squash and passed it out in the back seat of a Buick that’s run out of gas on the tracks of an oncoming freight train in the middle of an F-5 tornado, then we’ll chat. Until then, they may amuse themselves with their riveting little fish stories while we women discuss staring death in its ugly face and laughing at its nasty nose hairs. After each of my daughters and daughter-in-law related her baby story, it was time for the old, experienced birther (me) to come up to bat and enlighten these young ladies about what “real” pain is. The time to impart an account of one of my particularly harrowing deliveries had come, and I owned six listening ears. Now it may have been many decades ago that this happened and the details may have
become a bit sketchy from the fog of all those epidurals and heavy meds, but similar to a politician’s theory about campaign promises: facts and truth are annoying little irritations that get in the way of a compelling story. And so I began. “There I was lying in bed…immobile…seven weeks overdue and big as a buffalo, with a baby estimated to weigh twice as much as a baby buffalo. My daughters gave an audible gasp. Their eyes widened. My audience was captured. I continued. “Suddenly…in the dead of night…with a torrential rainstorm beating against the windows like a herd of wild apes trying to break into a banana store, my water broke. Your dad woke up in a panic soaked to the skin thinking a tsunami had busted through the walls. The weather made it too dangerous to venture out to the hospital. By then, the contractions were coming so hard and fast that I bent the metal bar of the headboard in half. There was nothing to alleviate the pain so your dad handed me a towel to chew on. I bit through three before I realized something wasn’t right. The baby was sitting crosswise in the chute and refusing to budge. There was no time and little choice. Someone was going to have to turn it around. Like a good Boy Scout, your dad wrapped himself in an old raincoat, slipped on a shower cap and some rubber dish-
washing gloves then covered his eyes with his woodshop goggles, grabbed a flashlight and a bottle of vegetable oil and said, ‘Babe, I’m going in. If I’m not back within an hour, call search and rescue to come haul me out!’ After fifty-nine minutes and 48 seconds, he pulled out your brother slicker than a greased jelly fish. And I suffered through the entire excruciating episode without so much as an aspirin, a Band-Aid or even a bedpan.” A silent reverence fell upon the room. One by one, my daughters stood and began clapping and wiping at their tear-streaked faces. I received their hugs and praise unashamedly. My husband came in near the end and butted in. “You guys talking about babies? I remember that one clearly. We were in the hospital on the exact due date. Your mom demanded enough anesthesia to choke a bull moose then only after three minutes of labor she sneezed and out popped a perfect baby. Of course, there was that major complication. The hospital didn’t release her in enough time to make her tanning session at the mall. Man, I’ll never hear the end of that one.” Suddenly the wise words of that old Scottish poem came back to remind me: “Oh the tangled web we weave, when first we practice to conceive…”
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OurThoughts Always An Adventure by Avalanche
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here are more elk than people living within a five-mile radius around my house. Elk, deer, bighorn sheep, turkeys, bear, grouse and even a few recently-arrived moose – among other species – all make their homes here in these mountains. Large numbers of these wild neighbors are seen on a near-daily basis. With this incredible bounty of wild game, cougars – a.k.a. mountain lions – are also prolific, though seldom seen. A tawnycolored blur moving through the brush or a rustle in the leaves are generally the only advertisements that a big cat is in the area. On occasion, a screeching that begins like a house cat’s wail and rises into a blood-curdling scream cuts through a quiet night and reminds one that there is a very serious predator in the neighborhood. An adult cougar weighs about the same as an average adult human female. While not particularly large, the speed and strength of these cats is unbelievable. They can outrun virtually any big game for a short distance and their strength is simply mind-boggling, enabling them to kill and carry prey much larger than themselves. One spring morning I went out looking for shed antlers, which the elk drop in late winter. It was still a little early in the season, as I saw some younger elk in the area with their antlers still attached. I had looked around for a couple hours, and was about to start walking back home about noon, when I heard movement in some oak brush about 50 yards away. I saw a shiny object near where 16 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
Avalanche
Cougar kill
the sound originated. Unable to determine what the object was, even with binoculars, I walked over and discovered it was a shiny, still-damp jawbone of a yearling elk, protruding from a pile of grass and debris. Said jawbone was attached to the rest of the elk, which had been expertly covered up, perfectly camouflaged with the surroundings. I couldn’t figure out what it was until I was only a few feet away. There were fresh mountain lion tracks around the kill. The cat had carefully scraped the surrounding area of some grass, leaves and branches, and used the material to cover up the kill amazingly well. The elk carcass was only covered by a couple inches of the debris, but it looked like part of the ground. (See the large mound of grass and brush, located behind the cougar in photo above.) The carcass showed signs of having been chewed on, and the neck looked to be broken. The elk had likely been killed the previous night. I went home and got my game camera, and went back about four hours later. I set up the camera on a tree overlooking the kill, close enough to trigger the motion sensor, (all while keeping a close eye on the surrounding area for a rapidlyreturning hungry cougar) and went back home and impatiently waited for an incredibly long three days. When I went back to the site, the elk was gone from underneath the brush, and after looking for about an hour,
I could not find any sign of where it had been moved to. Not a drag mark anywhere, and no blood or tufts of hair, except where it had been buried under the brush. Having hauled numerous, exhaustingly heavy backpack-loads of elk meat (one quarter at a time) out of the mountains during hunting seasons, I’m familiar with just what a feat this was. This cat had simply picked up the entire carcass, (minus what had been eaten) and carried it off to parts unknown, without any signs of difficulty. Wow. My camera got numerous photos of the cougar feeding on the carcass, with one of the best shots leading this article. In one photo taken at night, there are two sets of eyes very close to the camera. A neighbor who is quite knowledgeable about cougars said it was probably a mother with a kit feeding on the carcass, as adults aren’t known to willingly share lunch. In one of the last photos, the brush pile had been disturbed a bit. In the next photo, the carcass was gone, and a fox was feeding on scraps left behind. Looking at that field where the elk had been killed, there was a line of old lumps of grass and brush that looked remarkably similar to the pile discussed here, remnants of past kills. It seems that this field is a very productive hunting ground for happy cats. It’s a stark reminder of the struggle between life and death, just a short hike away from home.
2016 Nissan Maxima raises the bar with world-class styling and quality by David Finkelstein Now manufactured in its eighth generation, the all-new 2016 Nissan Maxima is positioned as a four door sports sedan. It competes in the class of the Toyota Avalon, Acura TLX and the BMW 335i. Maxima raises the bar as never before with world-class, cutting-edge styling, underlining quick acceleration and being an innovative leader in craftsmanship and build quality. This flagship vehicle seats five in comfort as it’s assembled on an all new architecture to this segment. The dual panel overhead panoramic moon roof with power operated sunshade is a must recommendation. The car’s attractive lighting features boomerang-style headlights and taillights plus LED daytime running lights. Maxima’s side profile has sweeping lines and to add to this contemporary theme. Large dual exhaust tailpipe extensions further help bring the car’s rear more into focus as a totally new and fresh design. The totally redesigned interior was developed to be a well-thought-out driver’s command cockpit. I will add, the”D” shaped wheel itself really helps to enhance your overall driving experience and handling if twisty roads are part of your commute. Interior quietness is enhanced by an electronically controlled “active noise cancellation” system A paired/redundant smaller seveninch advanced drive assist display is situated within the center gauge instrument cluster housing. This gives the
driver vehicle-and-heading information at a glance, helping to prevent you from being distracted and taking your eyes off the road. Nissan Motors also offers an impressive list of safety, security and driving aids; including predictive-forwardcollision-warning and intelligent cruise control. Also offered is automatic forward emergency braking and blind spot warning. Powering the ‘16 Maxima is a 3.5-liter V6 engine. It’s been redesigned with more than 60 percent new parts. This all-aluminum engine produces 300-horsepower with an approximately 15 percent increase in highway fuel economy. Highway MPG numbers are 30, while it gets some 22 MPG in city driving. The factory recommends premium grade high octane fuel. The engine is matched with their performanceoriented Xtronic CVT automatic transmission. The new Maxima’s enhanced handling and ride comfort starts with a redesigned underside platform that features increased use of high strength steel and a revised, highly reworked four-wheel independent suspension system. Versions of the 2016 Maxima are offered in five trim levels: S, SV, SL, SR and their high end Platinum edition. Pricing starts out at $32,510 for the S Model and tops out at $39,960 for the Platinum Model. This doesn’t include dealer shipping and factory destination charges of $825. All build combinations are manufactured in Tennessee. This mid-size sedan is only offered in a front-wheel-drive powertrain. March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 17
OurLifestyle J.J. Abrams’ ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ proves mystery is still alive by brian guerrero He just became the filmmaker responsible for the highest grossing film of all-time (not adjusted for inflation). We’re talking about “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” of course - the new addition of the beloved franchise that put director J.J. Abrams at a new career high. All eyes have been on Abrams since 2013 from the second he accepted the position as the director for the most anticipated film in cinema history. You see the brilliance of Abrams is his healthy obsession to share with viewers his mysteries, puzzles and plot twists. In order to achieve this, one must have a knack for keeping big secrets hidden away from the public. With a film as enormously popular as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” he achieved the impossible task of keeping that film’s entire plot and history of its characters completely behind the curtain from the masses – and he happily succeeded. He enjoys this. After the blockbuster’s global success, one could not have guessed he saved the best unsuspecting twist for last. In fact, this twist hardly has anything to do with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” but the blockbuster seems to have been used as the perfect tool of distraction from this other project that he was producing in complete secrecy. That would be “10 Cloverfield Lane” the - yes you guessed it – sequel, (or ‘blood relative’ according to J.J’s own words) to the 2008 film “Cloverfield.” Abrams got his start in the business as a writer for films such as “Regarding Henry,” “Forever Young,” “Armaged18 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures
don,” and “Joy Ride” to name a few. Then he turned to television creating a drama called “Felicity” (one of the shows that put - what was - the WB network on the map) followed by the popular, thrilling drama “Alias” - the show that marked the beginning of his gift of sharing mysteries. When “Lost” debuted on the ABC network in the fall of 2004, J.J. Abrams’ obsession of mystery and science fiction were fully realized and television has never been the same since. He helped to create a mysterious science fiction drama series (and he won an Emmy for directing the two-hour pilot) about the survivors of a plane crash on an unknown tropical island. One of the major groundbreaking trends used by this show was its use of background stories (or flashbacks if you will) that are used in every episode to explain the history – or mystery – of a certain character in relation to their current situation on the island. More shows in recent years, especially like “Orange Is the New Black,” wisely adapted this method of storytelling
that led to their popular success. For those like me who occasionally long for a good mystery, we couldn’t be happier for what’s in store just a few days from now. When the trailer for “10 Cloverfield Lane” was released in January – without any warning – only then did we know this movie was being made and it opens just two months later on March 11. We can’t forget about the mysterious stunt the first teaser trailer for the original film revealed… a release date – with no movie title. “10 Cloverfield Lane” (featuring the directorial debut of Dan Trachtenberg) is right up there with that kind of mysterious craziness, and it makes you feel like you have to find out what this film will turn out to be (we now know it’s not ‘found footage’ this time). It’s a miracle these days that a movie by a major studio (thank you Paramount) can pull off the making of a film in complete secrecy until the can of worms are opened just two months prior to opening day. This is going to cause – and add a lot more – madness on top of March Madness!
OurLifestyle
A leg up
Put a twist on springtime celebrations
Grilled Butterflied American Lamb Leg with Mint-Pistachio Pesto Serves: 6-8
Ingredients 3 lbs boneless leg of American lamb, butterflied salt and pepper (to taste) Mint-Pistachio Pesto 1 cup shelled pistachios 1 cup fresh mint (leaves only) 1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tbsp lemon juice (to taste) 1 tsp lemon zest 1/2 tsp sea salt (to taste) freshly ground black pepper (to taste) pinch red chili pepper flakes
Directions: Heat oven to 350 F.
mint, parsley, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper and chili flakes; blend until somewhat chunky.
Lay lamb leg open on a cutting board. Trim off visible fat. Season lamb generously with salt and pepper; allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to grilling. Toast pistachios by placing in single layer in shallow dish or pan and baking 8 to 10 minutes. In food processor, add pistachios,
Heat grill to medium-high. Grill lamb leg to medium-rare (remove from heat when thermometer reads between 130 F and 135 F), or to desired doneness. Rest meat, lightly covered, for at least 10 minutes before serving. Slice meat across grain into thin slices. Serve lamb with pesto, grilled vegetables and salad. March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 19
CaringPartners Medical Memo™ By Dr. Jason and Dr. Jen Rhodes
If you’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroid disease, you’re very aware of how frustrating it can be. You are told by your doctor that your thyroid isn’t functioning well and that you need to take thyroid hormones. However, when you had your blood work done, the results may have come back “normal,” but you still don’t feel well. You are still tired, you keep gaining weight just looking at food, and you feel low—almost depressed—on most days. “How can my test be ‘normal’ and I feel so terrible?” This is where a functional medicine approach may be the answer you’re looking for.
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Thyroid problems?
Functional medicine is a branch of health care that asks, “why” rather than “what.” Why is your thyroid not functioning well, as opposed to, what is the thyroid doing wrong? Here are the six patterns we are looking for: 1. Primary Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland gets lazy and the pituitary gland tries to “kick it in the pants” by pumping extra TSH. This is the only pattern of the six that may require hormone replacement therapy. 2. Hypothyroidism is Secondary to Pituitary Hypofunction: The pituitary gets “lazy” for many reasons, such as: chronic stress, hormone pills, creams with estrogen, postpartum depression, pregnancy and fluctuating insulin/glucose levels. 3. Thyroid Under-Conversion: Chronic stress gives rise to increased cortisol, which suppresses T4 to T3 conversion. 4. Thyroid Over-Conversion and Decreased TBG: The number one cause is insulin resistance, especially in women. The cells are not “listening” to the insulin, so more insulin is secreted. This increases testosterone levels in females. 5. Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG) Elevation: Too much TBG in the blood is like too many taxis transporting hormone around the body but never releasing it to do its job. Why? Oral contraceptives or estrogen replacement therapy can cause an increase in estrogen, which leads to increases in TBG. 6. Thyroid Resistance Pituitary: The thyroid glands are fine and so are the hormone levels. However, the hormones aren’t getting into the cells. Why? Chronic stress stimulates the adrenal glands (stress glands) to produce too much cortisol. Want to get to the bottom of your thyroid issues? Attend our free seminar on March 17 by calling 314-983-9355.
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CaringPartners
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Medical Memo™
Dr. Daniel Mattson
Understanding epilepsy helps patients maintain full, active lives Epilepsy is a condition many have heard of, but few realize just how common the seizure disorder is. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports nearly three million Americans are living with active epilepsy. An estimated 30 million people have a history of seizures of any type. Daniel Mattson, MD, a neurologist with SSM Health DePaul Hospital who specializes in epilepsy, treats and advises many patients living with a seizure disorder. Are seizures and epilepsy the same? A seizure happens when something causes a surge of abnormal electrical activity in a patient’s brain. This change in electrical activity causes a change in behavior or appearance for a short time. If seizures occur recurrently, or the person has a tendency to have repeated seizures, this is then referred to as epilepsy or a seizure disorder, two different names for the same condition. Mattson said often physical signs of a seizure can be hard to spot. “Many seizures do not include convulsions,” said Mattson. “Sometimes seizures comes across as confusion, motor or sensory problems. I’ve seen patients whose only physical indicator of seizure is a chewing motion.” Seizures fall generally into two categories: generalized seizures which affect both sides of the brain, or focal seizures which are located in one area of the brain. Seizures can last for several minutes. Patients with epilepsy can experience more than one type of seizure. The frequency and severity of the seizures can also widely vary. What causes seizures and epilepsy? Seizures and epileptic conditions can be caused by a variety of things. Strokes, tumors and brain injuries can cause seizures. Some seizures can be caused by medical conditions like diabetes or stroke. Some patients experience seizures because of a high fever. However many seizure disorders are genetic and sometimes the cause of a seizure or seizure disorder is unknown. How is epilepsy diagnosed?
Testing starts with your primary care physician. From there, if a seizure is suspected, your doctor will look for potential causes. If another medical condition like diabetes or a high fever caused your seizure you will be treated for that condition. If epilepsy is suspected, medication can be prescribed to help prevent additional seizure activity. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy are then referred to a neurologist, often with special training in epilepsy. They can help you find the right treatment to best manage your epilepsy. How is epilepsy treated? For most patients, treatment includes medication and lifestyle changes. Things like reducing your stress and getting regular sleep can reduce the risk of future seizure activity. For most people living with epilepsy – 70 percent – medication works well in controlling seizures. When seizures are caused by an abnormality in the brain, such as a tumor or cyst, surgical removal can be an option. “When they’re doing well, most patients just need relatively infrequent checks to make sure everything is fine,” said Mattson. “Modern seizure medications are better and cause fewer side effects than medications from the past. It’s also important to remember that each person is different, so one medication might treat your seizures better than other medications. It’s important to work with your health care team to find the best treatment, and stay on the medications you are prescribed,” said Mattson. Can epilepsy be cured? The vast majority of people with seizures will establish complete control with zero seizures. Even if they continue to have seizures, they can be greatly reduced, and new medications and treatments are continuously entering the market. “Most of my patients do very well with a combination of medication and other treatments,” Mattson said. “Epilepsy very rarely limits a person’s lifestyle or quality of life.” March 2016 | OUR TOWN | 21
CaringPartners Free yourself from the flu
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Preventive steps to protect your home and business
With flu season in full swing, parents may be bracing for an outbreak at their children’s schools, but adults are also highly susceptible at work and in other public places. “Influenza is a serious viral infection, and the toll on public health each year related to influenza is significant,” said Dr. John Hanlin, vice president of public health and food safety at Ecolab. “Fortunately, there are a number of important measures that you, your family and your business colleagues can take to reduce the risk of influenza.” Getting a flu vaccine and taking anti-viral medications as prescribed if you do contract the flu are two ways the CDC advocates stopping the spread of flu germs. Another vital factor in protecting yourself from the flu is preventing its spread. The flu is a respiratory infection accompanied by fever and often respiratory complications that is transmitted from person to person, either through personal contact, or through contact with a contaminated surface. Individuals who have contracted the virus are contagious at least one day prior to displaying symptoms, and up to seven days after they first appear. In addition, the flu virus can survive up to 48 hours on stainless steel and plastic surfaces, and up to 12 hours on cloth, paper and tissues. Properly cleaning and disinfecting can minimize the chances of individuals contracting the virus from a contaminated surface. Prevent contamination • Clean any visible soil from surfaces before disinfecting. • Thoroughly wet the surface with a U.S. EPA registered disinfectant and follow label instructions. Choose disinfectants effective against the flu virus. • Disinfect frequently touched hard surfaces often, including tables, chairs, light switches, door handles and restroom facilities. 22 | OUR TOWN | March 2016
• Give special attention to frequently touched surfaces in food preparation areas, as well as the restroom, including light and air control switches, faucets, toilet flush levers, door knobs and handrails. • Avoid touching public items that sustain heavy use, such as elevator buttons and push plates on doors, with your hands. Proper hand hygiene Proper hand-washing helps remove most bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, so they can’t be spread to others. The CDC recommends these steps: • Wet hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap. • Rub hands together to lather the soap. Clean the backs of hands, between fingers and under nails. • Scrub for at least 20 seconds. • Rinse well under clean, running water. • Dry with a clean towel or air dry. • Before using hand sanitizer, remove any dirt from hands with soap and water. Apply product to palm and rub hands together until it disappears (15-20 seconds). Six ways to minimize exposure to the flu 1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 2. Stay home when you are sick. 3. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. 4. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer frequently. 5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. For additional information on how Ecolab can help you and your business prepare for the flu season, visit ecolab. com/pages/flu.
March 1
St. David’s Day
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Read Across America Day
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Employee Appreciation Day
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Trivia night
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Home improvement expo
EventsCalendar
The Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce will host their Fourth Annual Trivia Night at 7 p.m. There will be complimentary soda, water, beer and a couple of fun twists throughout the 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, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and trivia starting at 7 p.m. The event sold out fast last year. The cost for a table of eight 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.
Looking to complete a home or garden project? Want to increase the value of your home? Not sure where to start? The Maryland Heights Home Improvement Expo can help! City staff will also be available to answer your questions at the Maryland Heights Community Center at 2344 McKelvey Road in Maryland Heights from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Free admission and free parking.
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Daylight Savings Time Begins
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St. Patrick’s Day
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Day trip: “In the Mood” at the Touhill
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First Day of Spring
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Good Friday
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Easter
Get “In the Mood” to hear a “Moonlight Serenade” performed by a 13-piece big band and a half-dozen singer-dancers with some hot boogie woogie! Prior to the show, we’ll stop for lunch at Pasta House. Cost includes coach transportation, lunch with tea or water (other drinks on your own) and tickets to the show. For more information, call 314-738-2599.
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