Skip to main content

OurTown: May - June 2015

Page 1

May/June 2015


ssmdrs.com


May/June 2015

Our mission – To exceed your expectations on every project and partner with you in building your brand. Hel pi

ng

build their Brand sin c usto m e rs c

e 1 99

Contents 4 AROUND TOWN

Greater North County Chamber awards 2015 Scholarships and more

6 ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE The general store

7 MOORE ON LIFE Spring Clinging

4

Design › Printing Bindery Services › Promotional Products CALL US TODAY!

636.970.6316

5903 Suemandy Drive| Saint Peters, Missouri 63376

8 AUTOMOBILE ALLEY

Locally-built Chevrolet Colorado makes a strong impression

9 FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD Mentor knows best

10 FEATURE

A garden grows in North County Homeplate garden at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley a model for growing sustainable, organic food By Sara Hardin

13 ADVERTISER PROFILE

Forrest Keeling Nursery a regional institution

www.gibsonprinting.com

14 ENTERTAINMENT

Looking back at the career of director Cameron Crowe

15 THE MEDICAL MEMO

Timing critical in early heart attack care

17 TRAVEL

There is no excuse not to ride

18 NONPROFIT PROFILE

The Averi Budde Foundation looks to support little hearts

19 CALENDAR OF EVENTS VOL 6 / NO 3

Our Town is a Community News publication. It is published every other month and directmailed to 7,150 business executives in North and Northwest St. Louis county, plus online circulation. Online subscriptions are FREE and available at www.mycnews.com For advertising information please contact: Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Drive | O’Fallon, MO 63366 | 636.379.1775 | www.mycnews.com Publisher - Robert Huneke Editor - Mathew DeKinder Staff Writer - Sara Hardin Contributing Writers -Russ Patton Photographer - Ray Rockwell Art Director - Chris Oth Cover Photo - Big Stock Copyright 2014 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the publisher.

3

Our Town


around town

Greater North County Chamber awards 2015 Scholarships

The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce recently selected the recipients of six $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who reside in the Greater North County Chamber service area, which includes Bellefontaine Neighbors, Black Jack, Ferguson, Florissant, Hazelwood, Jennings, Spanish Lake, Old Jamestown and surrounding unincorporated St. Louis County. The 2015 scholarship recipients are Craig Biernbaum, North County Christian School; Amanda Blanton, Duchesne High School; Christine Marie Bollinger, North County Christian School; Joyce Hau, McCluer High School; Sharne McGill, McCluer High School; and Courtney Spink, McCluer High School. The students received their scholarships at the Chamber’s Membership Luncheon on April 15 at Catering To You Banquet Center in Florissant. The scholarship fund was established with donations from chamber members and an annual bowl-a-thon. This year’s Scholarship Bowl will be on Aug. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Crest Bowl in Florissant.

Photo courtesy Debbie Wright Six area high school students receive scholarships from the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce. Pictured are, from left to right, Jon Vogt, GNC Chamber Chair; Craig Biernbaum; Christine Marie Bollinger; Amanda Blanton; Sharne McGill; Courtney Spink; and Melissa Rakers, Board member and chair of the Partners in Education Committee. Not pictured is Joyce Hau.

For more information on the Scholarship Bowl, contact the Chamber office at 314-831-3500.

747-WELL To find a great primary care provider who’s covered under your insurance plan, call 314-747-WELL (9355). If needed, you can usually get an appointment within one or two business days.

Find a doctor who’s right for you and meets your insurance needs.

commercebank.com / 314.746.8700 4

Our Town


AROUND TOWN NCI names 2015’s award recipients to be honored at 38th Annual Breakfast celebration North County Incorporated (NCI) is pleased to announce its annual Business Development, Community Development, Elmer Belsha Leadership, Excellence in Partnership, Public Service, Special Recognition, Sustaining Our Community and award recipients has been chosen. The 2015 award recipients will be honored at NCI’s 38th Annual Breakfast on May 29 at 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. This year’s presenting sponsors are HDR Engineering, SSM DePaul Health Center and St. Louis County and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. The public is encouraged to attend and tickets are only $45 per person. Generous sponsorship packages are still available. Reservations are required; please call NCI at 314-895-6241 or go to www.NorthStLouisCounty.com. NCI’s Business Development Awards will be presented to those whose efforts positively affect the economic development and business climate of the North County area. On May 29 NCI will honor Raven Development for The Crossings at Northwest, and Watlow Electric with a Business Development Award.

NCI’s Community Development Awards will be presented to those whose efforts positively benefit youth, residents, civic organizations, or others through selfless acts. Rosemary Whitehead, Founder of Love In Action Community Outreach Center, Jack Olson, Board member of Spanish Lake Community Association and University of Missouri-St. Louis will be honored with Community Development Awards this year. Carolyn Marty, President of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce and NCI Executive Board member will receive the prestigious Elmer Belsha Leadership Award, which is presented annually to an individual whose long-term commitment to NCI and the North County region has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body that they serve. Excellence in Partnership Awards will be given to organizations or companies that have partnered with NCI to make a significant impact on the North County community for the betterment of the area’s quality of life through special initiatives and/or projects. The partners being recognized

are St. Louis Regional Chamber, regional Business Council and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Public Service Awards will be presented to outstanding individuals, elected, appointed, or employed by a public body whose long-time service has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body they serve. Chief Robert S. Pruett, City of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Denny Coleman, CECD, HLM, FM, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s CEO and Mayor Viola Murphy, City of Cool Valley Special Recognition Awards will be presented to individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on the communities and citizens of North County. Those receiving this award are Scott Bonner and the I  Ferguson Committee. Sustaining Our Community Awards will be presented to individuals, organizations or companies that went above and beyond their usual roles to impact North County with programs and resources that sustain or improve quality of life. The Urban League, St. Louis Crisis Nursery and Emerson will all be honored with this award.

International countertenor Terry Barber moves to St. Louis The city of St. Louis just added another notable player to its music scene with the arrival of internationally renowned and classicallytrained countertenor, Terry Barber. Countertenors, men who can easily sing in the classical or “bel canto” style in the range of a woman, are the rarest voice type, putting Barber in the elite ranks of the 50 or so high level professional countertenors in the world. Barber has performed as a soloist at some of the world’s greatest venues from Carnegie Hall in New York City, to Svetlanov Hall in Moscow, to Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

area. Barber has already connected with several esteemed musicians in the St. Louis area including Charles Metz- a performer with the St. Louis Symphony, the St. Louis Chamber Society and a board member of Early Music America- who loaned Barber a harpsichord for his most recent recording of “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.” Barber and Metz plan to collaborate on a local performance next season. Barber is also planning performances of Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” with the Kingsbury Ensemble, artistically directed by Maryse Carlin, in St. Louis next season.

Barber proudly traces his roots back to St. Louis, where his parents met at St. Louis University, and has more than twenty family members in the area. Having toured all over the world, he is excited to live in St. Louis for the first time, and cultivate opportunities in the

Barber earned a master’s degree in music performance from Trinity College in London and a bachelor’s degree and musical theatre certificate from Northwestern University where he began his studies as an engineering and music double major.

5

Our Town


ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE The general store “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it” reads the sign in the local general store. A staple of rural living, the local general store is the place to get groceries, beer, cigarettes, first-aid supplies, ice cream, camping supplies, fishing tackle and in some cases, mail, hardware, guns and ammo, gasoline and the latest gossip. Once away from urban areas and off the interstates, these institutions serve as local cultural hubs, enabling a very scattered and remote population to pick up necessities without going to “town,” as well as interact with each other. Without such institutions, many rural dwellers would have little to no contact with their neighbors. For most denizens of the hinterboonies, solitude and privacy are desirable features of remote living, but even a hermit needs to say “hi” to another human once in a while. For travelers and tourists passing through, a short stop in such an establishment can provide more information than any map, guidebook or social media posting. Where to go, what to see, where to stay and where and whom to stay away from can all be learned with a short stop and a few questions. The information and conversation flow a bit more freely when the questioning party makes some purchases. Yes, the locally owned and operated establishment will charge a bit more than the generic urban-mart. That’s because the remote purveyor of goods likely has to pay more wholesale for an item than the big box store can sell it for retail. However, you probably won’t find out what the road conditions are or where the best places to fish are located by asking questions at the nearest BigBox located 40 miles away. (Actually, you won’t find the best places to fish at the local store either, but you will probably be directed to places where you can catch fish. Only morons give up their best fishing holes.) Beyond obtaining goods and travel information, one can learn a lot about the flavor of a locale simply by meeting some of the residents. Farming and ranching topics dominate much of the conversation in the Midwest stores. Small shops near lake and river resort areas are well represented by fishermen and boaters. Here in the remote Rockies, a motley assortment of mountaineers, cowboys, movie stars, active-duty and retired enforcers (on both sides of the law), pastors, avalanche forecasters, lawyers, realtors, construction workers and a few with no visible means of support are the people you will find at the local general store. Some mornings during the off-season, it is a full-fledged hermits’ convention, with the more reclusive folks pushing the boundaries of their social phobias. Once more than a half-dozen or so humans are within conversation distance, the less sociable individuals make a hasty retreat away from the madding crowds. When the summer season arrives and the owners and employees are dealing with throngs of hungry and thirsty customers, the local customer base dwindles a bit; we’ll come back when it’s not so busy and there’s time to visit.

6

Photo by Avalanche

Nationwide, such establishments have declined in number over the last few years. The negative effects of the economic meltdown of a few years ago have not subsided much outside of those areas gifted by the central banks’ digitally-conjured bailouts. And the EPA, in a quest to protect aquifers, has been enforcing onerous and expensive regulations on gas stations. The current requirements for fuel storage and dispensing are simply too costly for a small volume gas station to cover. So, the owner faces a difficult choice of spending more money on fuel-dispensing equipment than will be returned in the hopes of boosting other sales; pulling the tanks out of the ground and losing the traffic; or simply walking away from the building and giving the keys to the bank. A drive through any sparselypopulated area reveals a lot of empty buildings with old gas pumps out front, standing on broken concrete pads overgrown with weeds, monuments to the passing of a simpler time. Difficulties aside, the local general store is alive and well. Most residents of those out-of-the-way places understand that if they don’t support their local business, it will go away and they’ll have to go to “town,” which is much worse than paying a few extra bucks for their goods. And visitors know they can get more local knowledge from the mom and pop establishment than anywhere else. If you stop by, grab an ice cream cone and visit a while, the locals are friendly. Just don’t expect us to give up our favorite fishing holes.

Our Town

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.


moore on life Spring

clinging

Spring has sprung and with it the daffodils, tulips and hiacythinths…hiathinmints? Oh, you know what I mean. Those really colorful flowers no one can pronounth let alone thpell!

A cold sweat appears on his brow while his left eye develops a visible twitch. “Release the nut jar!” “Why? They serve no purpose.”

Things inside are starting to spring open as well – like cupboards and closets.

This opportunity creates the perfect occasion for one of those cheery, husband-wife projects, which if done properly can cause bonding and teamwork and strangulation.

“They most certainly do,” he bristles. “Let me give you a typical scenario. It’s mid-May. A freak winter storm has shut down the entire state. Winds are howling 95 miles per hour; trees are being flipped from the ground like Pop Tarts from a toaster. Suddenly, from the bowels of the basement, there’s a distinct ping from the furnace. The problem: a quarter-inch Phillips-head screw has loosened itself from the thermostat setting off a chain reaction, causing the temperature to plunge 60 degrees. The next thing you know, I’m forced outdoors to battle sub-zero conditions and dodge flying roof tops to get the right component and save your extremities from frostbite.”

The reason…no one wants to part with their stuff.

He drops to the floor for visual effect and continues.

My husband begins by rummaging through my spice cabinet and says, “Let’s unload this tin can collection. They serve no purpose.”

“Then, after crawling through the blinding blizzard, I find the hardware store encased in a thick sheet of ice. Only by smashing through it with a shopping cart do I discover that all furnace parts have been winterized, warehoused and replaced by isles of Weed wackers and garden mulch. So much for your extremities! But no, I merely head out to the garage and pick out a replacement screw, which I rescued from an old snow blower engine, and ta-da, we’re toasty warm while you could have been forced to ignite your furniture to stay alive.”

Naturally, the reason they start to spring open is because of all our stuff – that major component which separates us from the rest of the animal species. And since we accumulate so much stuff those places that we do stuff our stuff tend to get overstuffed and spring open. Thus, the time for spring-cleaning rolls around.

He reaches back into the cabinet and snaps off a container of cream of tartar cemented to the bottom of the cupboard. “It appears you’re tartar has turned to mortar!” he says tossing it like a basketball into the garbage can. I rush in. “Stop! Do you realize that stuff costs three dollars an ounce? That’s 48 bucks a pound…$96,000 per ton. It’s not garbage; it’s gold!” “It’s mold! Canned botulism! And what exactly is this one?” He takes a cautious sniff. “Dill weed? Sweet mother of condiments! If you’re paying that kind of money for weed, it had darn well better be the illegal kind.” It joins the growing heap of cans. “Now, what about this thyme?” he says dipping a finger in it. “Is it supposed to be a solid or particle?” “Particle.”

“Listen, sweetie, if you expect me to hang onto 17 bottles of nails and screws in preparation for the return of the Ice Age, you’re nuttier than a jar of Skippy,” I say. “Yes, and if you think you’re suddenly going to take up cooking to use those toxic seasonings then I’ll eat that entire jar of Skippy.” “So-o-o, maybe we shouldn’t act too hastily,” I say, retrieving my rusted spice cans. “You’ve got a point there,” he says hugging the nut jar to his chest. “This cleaning can wait. It’s a nice spring day. Let’s go for a walk. The hiawathas are in full bloom.”

“It’s now particle board. Appears your thyme is up. And dare I ask about these cans marked, Ginger, Marjoram and Rosemary? What are you storing here, the cremated remains of the Spice Girls? Although, it would explain why the group broke up so suddenly.” He thinks he’s got me. I retaliate. “Well, Mr. Hoarder-pants, while we’re on the subject of clearing out, what about your mass collection of bolts and nuts?” I rattle a Mason jar filled with some of his stash.

7

Our Town

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.


AUTOMOBILE ALLEY Locally-built Chevrolet Colorado makes a strong impression Built exclusively at GM’s Wentzville assembly facility, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado is now being featured and showcased throughout the U.S. with the help of their 3,200 dealer network footprint. It’s the “sister product” of the GMC Canyon, which of course is built on the same manufacturing line. Colorado is positioned in the midsize pickup truck category. Ford and Chrysler (Dodge) previously were players in this arena stateside but elected to pull out some years ago due to declining sales and other factors. Import nameplates such as Toyota and Nissan remained as a viable choice in this specialty truck market as well. “Many people like the ‘can-do’ spirit of a truck, but they want a vehicle that is easier to maneuver in traffic and easier to park at work or at home,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. “For them, bigger is not necessarily better. Also, they don’t want to give up the latest in convenience and safety features, which aren’t available on current midsize pickups. For those customers, the new Chevrolet Colorado is the perfect choice.” This truck is designed to meet many of the “wants and needs” of truck customers in North America. Colorado has distinctive outer design cues coupled with a quiet and comfortable interior that offers car like amenities. It also has innovative extras such as the Chevy MyLink system with text messaging and app-based conveniences, plus built-in/available Wi-Fi (with a three-month complimentary data trial period). MyLink is standard on LT and Z71 models. It combines with OnStar to bring connectivity technology to the driver and passengers. Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert are also offered on this new truck. A built-in rear camera is standard across the model line up. Getting down to specifics, it’s available in a four-door extended or crew-cab body configuration. More precisely, the choices include the extended cab model with a 6’ 2” rear bed, a crew cab with a 5’ 2” cargo bed and a crew cab configuration with a 6’ 2” bed.

The truck’s unique design telegraphs a confident stance overall with a sporty demeanor. The raised/taller rear cargo box nicely matches the aggressively raked belt line of the truck’s cab. The vehicles distinctive proportion’s help reinforces the truck’s athleticism. Under Colorado’s hood, there is a choice of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 200-horsepower or a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine. With the heading of fuel efficiency, the latest EPA estimated numbers come out to be 27 mpg highway with the four-cylinder and 26 mpg with the V-6 (2-WD models). Under the umbrella of towing, its trailer rated at 7,000 pounds with the optional V-6 engine and with their heavy-duty “factory installed” towing package. As expected, it’s also offered with a four-wheel-drive underside set-up as well. With a test drive you’ll notice the quiet interior, due in part to their triple-sealed doors. A boldly designed instrument panel has large controls and a center console with a floor-mounted shifter. Attention is evident to detail and premium appointments. Colorado’s seats are designed for long-haul comfort and wear. The vehicle also has active automatic hidden aero front grille shutters, designed to enhance aerodynamics seamlessly while at highway speeds. Models and trim levels include their work truck model plus their LT and Z71 versions from General Motors. The four-wheel drive system employs an electronically controlled transfer case that allows the driver to shift from 2WD to 4WD. The driver can select from three modes, 2WD, 4WD HI or 4WD Lo. All models are matched with a six-speed automatic transmission; however, the extended cab 2WD models equipped with the 2.5L engine are also available with a six-speed manual gear box. Colorado is designed to help keep occupants safe on the road, employing a number of active and passive safety features. At road test, the Z71 4WD, Crew Short Box V-6 version I drove had an MSRP of $36,710. That also included the factories $875 shipping charges.

Standard with the rear cargo carrying bed is their lock-able tailgate and two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into upper and lower sections. This makes it easier to haul, store and conceal items such as tools. Furthermore, 13 cargo tie down rings are included with the bed rail plus tailgate protectors as well as their standard CornerStep rear bumper design for easy height access.

8

Our Town

By DAVID FINKELSTEIN

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 manufactures, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.


for the love of FOOD Mentor knows best Whether she’s your mom or a “like-amother” mentor, chances are you’ve got a lot to thank her for this Mother’s Day. It’s a time for celebrating your biggest supporters, number one fans and best friends. In life, we’re lucky to form relationships with women we can learn from and grow with. Beth Somers and Elizabeth Nelson from the Wilton Test Kitchen consider themselves lucky. Beth Somers, Director of Creative Content Development, owes her start to her former boss Milette Raz. Raz is trained in the Wilton Method of Cake DecoratingTM and taught Somers how to decorate. But Somers thinks of Raz as so much more — calling her a mentor, her second mother and her friend. Years after working together, the duo teamed up for Cupcake Wars on the Food Network, returning home as champions of season six with winning recipes like Tropical Getaway Cupcakes. Elizabeth Nelson, Assistant Culinary Specialist, attributes her love of baking to her grandma Ann, learning the basics with her and picking up passed down recipes that she brought with her to college. She looks up to her mother, her grandmother and her great-grandmother, whom she’s told she also gets her competitive nature from. Nelson and her grandmother went through a lot of trial and error together to come up with what they believe is the perfect cinnamon roll recipe, very similar to this recipe for Cinnamon Rolls with Cara-

Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Glaze Servings: 1 dozen rolls Ingredients: Rolls: 1 1/3 cups warm milk (105°F) 2 packages (1/4-ounce each) active dry yeast 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 2 egg yolks 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 3/4 teaspoon salt 4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting Filling: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons bread flour 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon Glaze: 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1/2 cup lightly-packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (about 1/4 pound)

mel Glaze. 9

Our Town

Directions: 1. For rolls, stir together warm milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let stand 5–10 minutes or until foamy. Add butter, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Mix with electric mixer using dough hook on medium speed until combined. Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until smooth, elastic dough forms, about 5 minutes. 2. Spray large bowl with vegetable pan spray. Form dough into ball, place into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand in warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. 3. For filling, stir together butter, sugar, flour and cinnamon in medium bowl until well-combined. 4. Prepare 13-by-9-inch pan with vegetable pan spray. 5. Punch dough down and roll out to 18-by-14-inch rectangle on floured surface. Spread filling onto dough and roll up from long end, like a jelly roll. Pinch seam to seal, trim ends and cut into 12 equally-sized pieces. 6. Place rolls into prepared pan; cover with plastic wrap and let rise 25–30 minutes or until doubled in size. 7. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap from rolls and bake 25–29 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack while preparing glaze. 8. For glaze, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cream. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a simmer; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pour glaze over warm rolls. Serve warm.


A garden grows in North County

Homeplate garden at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley a model for growing sustainable, organic food By Sara Hardin


The evidence of spring is finally making its annual debut, and as the flowers bloom and the birds start to sing, there are a group of people earning their green thumbs on the campus of St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley at the Homeplate garden.

Homeplate is an education-centered eco-garden on the campus of St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley that grows sustainable, healthy organic food made available to the campus and distributed to local food banks.

Submitted Photos

Homeplate is an education-centered eco-garden that grows sustainable, healthy organic food made available to the campus and distributed to local food banks. Mark Manteuffel, Ph.D., Homeplate creator and professor of biology at Florissant Valley, hopes above all that the impact of the lessons that the garden provides will extend far beyond the reach of his students and the campus. “The way I look at it, if I can do it, anybody can do it, because I don’t have any special talent in growing things, and I try to keep it extremely simple and extremely low-budget,” explained Manteuffel. “The goal is to transport this type of idea to our urban food deserts in areas where people don’t have access to healthy, organic food. We also raise food in a socially just way, which means that we provide it for free to local food pantries.” The garden resides on a plot of land that was originally a baseball field, which served as inspiration for its name and byline – ‘Strike out hunger. Healthy, organic food for all.’ Homeplate’s biggest surprises lie in the way in which the food is raised. Sustain-

ability is the biggest concern at Homeplate and a lot of effort is put into raising the crops in ways that mimics nature. Because of this, the garden avoids using harsh chemicals or fertilizers that could contaminate the garden’s crops and soil. “The mission of the garden is to both create and model how to go about breeding sustainable and just food systems,” said Manteuffel. “We work with nature and the natural processes, and the soil naturally will form itself. We also use native plant species. We have a native tall grass prairie grassland that we’ve created within the

garden area, and that attracts the natural predator/prey systems that keep out any type of pests that would overcome our plant area. This way we don’t have to use any artificial means of pest control; we’re featuring native plants and native natural ecosystems.” Stephen White, Dean of Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Technology at Florissant Valley, believes that the educational benefits that the garden provides to students are unique, and that the garden should be utilized in a way that educates the campus and the community. “Any time you can get students out of the classroom and applying the things that they’ve learned and getting their hands dirty, it’s a benefit to the students and increases learning. We’re moving in a direction where community gardens will be growing vegetables to feed food pantries and provide stock to people in need – that’s on the horizon. There’s this connection to bringing the community in and work, and then there’s the educational end. I think the garden is a nice use of space that a lot of colleges don’t have.” Homeplate hosted a Food Summit focused around the theme of food justice on April 22. The event was open to the general public free of charge, and featured student presentations on issues such as food deserts in the St. Louis area,

11

Our Town


initially designated as a baseball field. And now, it’s attracting native wildlife like box turtles, hawks, songbirds, and monarch butterflies. It’s literally an ecological oasis for wildlife in a semi-urban area.” Certainly, the product of Manteuffel’s efforts and the success seen at Homeplate thus far serve as a sure sign that changing the ways in which we grow and raise our food is something that should be considered on a much larger scale. Manteuffel warns that if things don’t change, our industrial food-raising could be detrimental to the planet and our civilizations.

Submitted photo The Homplate garden resides on a plot of land on the campus of St. Louis Community Collge – Florissant Valley that was originally a baseball field.

food availability, and climate change. Manteuffel also provided a tour of the garden, and invited other food-sustainability-related groups to share their own experiences and information. The Missouri Coalition of the Environment also made an appearance, with whom Manteuffel will be partnering with to create a sustainable food system in St. Louis. Manteuffel said that he hopes to have Food Summits on an annual basis, and to use the events as a hub for anybody who is interested in creating a local, home-grown food system in the Greater St. Louis area. However, he invites and encourages the general public to share ideas and visions in order to strengthen the garden’s mission. “Even though we currently don’t sell allotments or access to plots for the general public to plant, I always encourage the general public to come in a participate or share ideas and help create projects to fruition. Eventually we may consider opening it up as a partial community garden. At this time, it’s an educational garden with a surplus of food donated to people in need. There’s just so much potential for all ages to come out and learn about the Missouri native ecosystems and

eat the organic food. I continue to reach out and invite groups to get involved.” Manteuffel continues to be surprised by the impact the garden has had on the natural ecosystem of the area of land it takes up on the college campus. His efforts have virtually transformed the space into something completely different and aweinspiring after a short four years. “I’ve been working with treating Homeplate and building it for four years now, said Manteuffel. “It’s very exciting to be part of designing something that is a concrete demonstration of what a few people can do to transform – in a sustainable, ecologically-sound way – an area that was

Take it from

“I would say it’s imperative for the 21st Century to see the people of the world raise food in a way that sustains the soil that sustains the food that sustains the civilization,” said Manteuffel. “Many civilizations in the past have collapsed based on not taking care of their soil and their ecosystems. We looked at the history: if you don’t take care of your ecological processes and systems, and do things like artificial industrialized food production, you aren’t going to be able to continue to do that. The soil will just be depleted of nutrients, the water won’t naturally be sustained in the area and will run off, and there will be all kinds of pollutants. We’re seeing that at large on the planet, and we’re working on a very local scale to reverse all of those trends and create food production that continues sustainably into the future and actually enriches the area. We want to mimic nature and enhance the biodiversity and the nutrients in the food.” Anyone interested in volunteering or sharing ideas with Homeplate should contact Manteuffel at mmanteuffel@stlcc.edu.

Barbara

“Choosing The Villa is an intelligent decision. It’s a place of humming activity, great customer service and a diverse community full of wonderful people!”

Gracious Retirement Living

– Barbara Havis

Villa at Riverwood resident and retired Professor

#1 Pratt Place Florissant, MO 63031 314.839.5000

2 months free in first 13 months or no 2nd person fee for 12 months 12

Our Town


Promotion

Forrest Keeling Nursery a regional institution Forrest Keeling Nursery, located at 88 Forrest Keeling Ln in Elsberry, grows over 97 varieties of seedlings, 122 varieties of RPM (root production method) potted liners, 22 species of oaks and 27 varieties of nut trees. It specializes in native plant material. Finished stock includes ornamental shrubs, evergreens, and caliper trees up to 3” in diameter. Forrest Keeling was founded 60 years ago by Hugh A. Steavenson. Steavenson, then manager of the U.S. Soil Conservation Nursery in Elsberry, began to grow a variety of species in the backyard of his father-in-law, Dr. Forrest Keeling. Because of Dr. Keeling’s love of gardening, the Nursery was named for the Elsberry physician. Steavenson’s fledgling operation became a full-time operation on a 22-acre tract north of Elsberry and has grown to embrace 1,000 acres of prime agricultural ground south of Elsberry. Although Forrest Keeling’s rural location dictated its beginning as a retail mail-order nursery, rapid growth shifted emphasis to wholesale business and retail trade in the garden center only.

Photo courtesy Byerly RV Kim Lovelace Young is the owner of Forrest Keeling Nursery, located at 88 Forrest Keeling Ln in Elsberry.

Forrest Keeling greatly expanded its RPM propagation program to ten acres of greenhouses in the early 1990s. Production of a wide range of trees, shrubs, and evergreens is executed in a proprietary multi-step system. Today Forrest Keeling specializes in the production of native plant materials of unique quality: deciduous tree and shrub seedlings and RPM potted tree liners, as well as a full line of garden market and landscape-sized evergreens, trees, shrubs, ground covers and specimen trees. Forrest Keeling has an annual production of over four million seedlings, liner and transplant in more than 200 species. This production is efficiently and economically shipped from its central U.S. location to 49 states and across borders to Canada and countries of Europe and Asia.

13

Our Town


entertainment Looking back at the career of director Cameron Crowe Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) holds a boom box over his head while playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” to win back the love of his life (Ione Skye) in “Say Anything…” William Miller, a journalist - still in high school - rides a tour bus with an up-and-coming rock band as they sing along to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” in “Almost Famous.” Sports agent, Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) confesses his love to Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger) with the words “You complete me” followed by her responding words “You had me at ‘hello.’” This was long after his client, Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), forced him to scream the words “Show me the money!” as a bargaining chip to maintain their business relationship in “Jerry Maguire.”

These iconic movie moments have one thing in common: Cameron Crowe. His movies are rare and can take as long as half a decade to get made. As a filmmaker, his sure-handed direction is to simply protect his writing - which is the glory of his films. Actors love to work with him and the amount of freedom of expression they have through their characters on the big screen can easily suggest that. His stories (usually ranging between lighthearted dramas to down-to-earth comedies) often consist the antagonists as misfits, outcasts or even underdogs. What makes his films stand out are the little things in life that most movies don’t focus on. From the choice of words he gives his characters to say and when it comes to romance, nobody delivers like Crowe does. If there was a rule as to how people are supposed to fall in love in the movies, Mr. Crowe is one of the very few who have mastered it. It’s the human interaction that really sells his work, guided by awesome soundtracks that feature music specifically chosen by the filmmaker himself. Like (Jerry Maguire’s mentor) Dicky Fox said, “The key to this business is personal relationships.” Crowe has been a writer since the age of 15, beginning as a journalist. He submitted articles about music to the San Diego Union and even Rolling Stone magazine. (If this sounds similar to William Miller’s background in “Almost Famous”, you’re not crazy. It is partially an autobiographical account of Crowe’s life). Years later, he posed as a student in a high school to write a book – before writing his first screenplay based on it. Those efforts lead to the making of an 80’s

cult classic, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982) directed by Amy Heckerling. The comedy became one of the biggest breeding grounds of future stars - including Sean Penn

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

(in a legendary performance), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Eric Stoltz, Phoebe Cates, Forest Whitaker, Anthony Edwards, and even Nicolas Coppola (before he became Nicolas Cage the following year). Producer James L. Brooks (of “Terms of Endearment” fame) got in touch with him and offered him to be the writer for his next production. It was “Say Anything…” (1989); and, as it turned out, he also earned his shot at making this comedy his directorial debut. As years passed, it’s now regarded as one of the best movies about modern romance thanks to its sheer authenticity. Who knew that a young man holding a boom box over his head would become an iconic symbol of romance on film? “Jerry Maguire” was a bit out of Crowe’s comfort zone and took him five years to complete the screenplay before it became 14

Our Town

his biggest success to date. It was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Screenplay for Crowe, Best Actor for Tom Cruise and a win for Cuba Gooding Jr. in the Supporting Actor category. A movie with three famous quotes is something of a rare Hollywood gem. Cameron Crowe finally got his due and won his Oscar for Best Screenplay for “Almost Famous” (2000). It was another slow building success that became a classic over time and another breeding ground of future stars-like Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jimmy Fallon-before their fame. Rounding up the rest of his movies are “Singles” (1992), “Vanilla Sky” (2001), “Elizabethtown” (2005) and “We Bought A Zoo” (2011). When a film features Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinsky, Danny McBride and Bill Murray, you know something’s up. Since it happens to be written and directed by Cameron Crowe, I don’t care what the plot is. I’m already going to buy my ticket-giving the man the “kwan” he deserves. “Aloha” welcomes everyone in theaters May 29. 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.


Elie Azrak, MD

Timing critical in early heart attack care Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, accounting for more deaths in the United States each year than all cancers combined. Heart attacks don’t discriminate. They can strike anyone at any time. “When it comes to treating heart disease – and heart attacks specifically – timing is critical there are things you can do to up your chances of survival in the event of a heart attack and one of them is making sure you don’t waste time in getting medical attention,” said Elie Azrak, MD, SSM Heart Institute at DePaul Health Center cardiologist. “Time is muscle! The longer you wait, the more heart muscle injury occurs,” said Azrak. It is important to work with your primary care physician to find out what your heart disease risk factors are and what you can do to reduce them. While some risk factors can’t be changed – things like your age, gender and race – there are risk factors you can control. Many risk factors can be reduced by making lifestyle changes either before a heart attack happens or as part of a treatment plan following a heart attack. Risk factors for heart attack include: • Smoking • Having a high LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and a low HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels • Physical inactivity • Obesity • Uncontrolled diabetes • Uncontrolled stress and anger Another key to surviving a heart attack: knowing the symptoms so you can seek immediate medical care. The most common symptoms that both men and women report include: • Chest discomfort – a feeling of pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. • Pain and discomfort extending beyond your chest to other parts of your upper body like one or both arms, back, neck, stomach, teeth and jaw. • An unexplained shortness of breath that comes on with or without chest pain.

• Other symptoms like cold sweats, nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness, anxiety, indigestion and unexplained fatigue. In addition to these symptoms, women are more likely than men to experience symptoms not typically associated with heart attack. These can include: • Unexplained shortness of breath • Unexplained sweating • Unexplained extreme fatigue • Dizziness • Jaw, neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal pain • Nausea, vomiting or indigestion • Feeling of doom So, when you start feeling any of these symptoms what should you do? “Take two baby aspirin and seek immediate medical attention by calling 911,” said Azrak. “It’s important to call 911 within five minutes of experiencing heart attack symptoms. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms go away or try to drive yourself to the emergency room.

pressure and reduce the strain on your heart. • Anticoagulants or blood thinners are used to prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries and help keep existing clots from getting bigger. • Anticlotting medications can also be used to stop blood platelets from clumping together and forming clots. • Other medications could be used to relieve pain, relieve anxiety, treat arrhythmias that can happen during a heart attack or statins that lower your cholesterol. “Lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of heart attack significantly,” said Azrak. “Also, make sure you seek early medical care if you experience heart attack symptoms. Early medical interventions have resulted in many lives saved and a marked improvement in the quality of life after a heart attack.” Elie Azrak, MD, SSM Heart Institute at DePaul Health Center cardiologist.

By getting to the ER as quickly as possible with the help and care of a paramedic team, you will receive care quickly to minimize the damage to your heart muscle. Once a diagnosis of heart attack is made, doctors will typically choose from two main treatment types: medication designed to dissolve blood clots and a coronary angioplasty. While it sounds scary, a coronary angioplasty is actually a non-surgical treatment where flexible tubing fitted with a balloon or other device is inserted through a blood vessel – usually in the groin or upper thigh – to the narrowed or blocked artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated and blood flow is restored to the blocked artery. Sometimes, additional medication is used to help your heart work better during or immediately following a heart attack. These medications can include: • Beta-blockers to decrease your heart’s workload, relieve chest pain, help prevent repeat heart attacks or to treat arrhythmias. • ACE inhibitors may be used to lower blood 15

Our Town

www.rickniblettphotography.com


TRAVEL There is no excuse By Jim Huneke When the motorcycle gods have everything in alignment, there is no excuse to not ride. Such was the case last October when a family reunion in Missouri was on for the middle of that month. Even though it would be a long airplane ride for all of us from San Diego to St. Louis, my wife and our daughters’ families were all excited to attend the reunion and represent the California clan. Personally, the thought of being crammed in to an aluminum tube with a couple of hundred other people for several hours just did not appeal to me. I’m retired now, but over the years I’ve earned enough frequent flier miles visiting customers to know that the saddle on my Gold Wing is a heck of a lot more comfortable than the economy seats on any airline. Also, my sonin-law, Cory, was due home just one week before the reunion for his month off from his job in Iraq as a remote paramedic. He became part of the family just a few years ago and we have ridden toJim and Cory at the Rt 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma gether on the back roads in the San Diego area. Best of all, the weather in mid-October can be delightfully “in-between”: too late for the summer monsoon-like rain coming up from the Gulf of Mexico and too soon for the massive winter storms cycling in from the Pacific Ocean. There was no excuse and the choice was obvious: let’s ride our motorcycles there!

we met hunters whose recently-shot elk were sprawled in the back of their pickup trucks. The antlers were so big that they overhung the sides of the truck beds. We stayed the first night in Globe, AZ and the second night in Santa Rosa, NM. We were on the road before 8 a.m. and off before sunset, riding 471 miles each day. The weather was perfect with no clouds over all three states we traversed. We preferred adventure dining, which means we avoided fast food chains and sought out old-time diners or cafes. The Space Age in Gila Bend, AZ, Irene’s in Globe, AZ and Joseph’s in Santa Rosa, NM are great examples where good food is served with friendly service. Our favorite was breakfast at the Sweetheart Café in Show Low, AZ where the clientele included a cowboy complete with a ten-gallon hat and an eight-inch wide mustache. Before the ride, I had reviewed with Cory the various safety signals and we used them frequently while on the road. We waived, of course, to other motorcyclists. It amazes me how a small gesture of sticking the left arm out and down with a slight twist of the opened hand produces such a great feeling of connection and camaraderie. We waived to the railroad operators, too. Where the terrain was flat and straight, the rails and the road usually ran par-

My wife, daughters and five-year-old grandson all got air tickets for themselves. Cory’s usual ride is a sport bike, and this would be his first attempt at long distance. He decided to reserve a 2015 Harley Street Glide from the rental department at Bigg’s HD in San Marcos, CA. Their rental department manager, Brian, set everything up efficiently, including a tour pack and backrest. Cory’s flight from Iraq landed in California on Saturday. We picked up the Street Glide on Sunday and did a practice ride. We left for St. Louis on Monday morning. The ride on I-8 out of San Diego took us through mountains with very scenic, but windy sections before descending onto the desert floor. In Arizona we jumped on Hwy 60 and stayed on it all the way into New Mexico. We rode through canyons and vast open, flatlands on this two-lane road that goes through the heart of the Southwest. The ride down into and up out of the deep gorge where the Salt River separates the San Carlos and Fort Apache Reservation lands was spectacular. While refueling in Quemado, NM 16

Our Town

www.byerlyrv.com


travel allel for a long way; often, the tracks were very close to the two-lane highway. We saw many magnificent trains with three, sometimes four, massive locomotives pulling rolling stock of more than a hundred. Whenever we encountered one of these trains, we would raise our arm and give the engineer a double pump with our fist. He would respond with several wonderful notes from his high-pressure horn. It was really a blast, no pun intended. Day three we were back on the interstate under another cloudless, blue sky and riding 557 miles to Tulsa, OK for the night. This section of I-40 parallels Historic Rt. 66 making for very interesting stops during the day. The Rt. 66 Museum in Clinton, OK was a real treat. This redesigned museum neatly displays the history of the iconic road using old road signs, vehicles, photos and music. Plus it has a replica of a 1950’s diner. Rt. 66 museums can be found in many of the states along the route, but this one in Clinton is well worth the stop. Rt. 66 was decommissioned in 1985 and, sadly, many sections we rode were deserted and derelict. Other places were functioning, but poorly maintained, for example, the claimed “CLEAN RESTROOMS” in Bushland, TX. It is a matter of preference to stay on the old route or to jump on the interstate, but one spot to avoid, especially at rush hour, is the eastbound transition ramp from I-40 to I-44 in Oklahoma City.

traffic free with smooth pavement, rolling hills and gentle sweeping curves. Riding these roads put me “in the zone” and, at moments, the only perception of my forward motion was the red and gold leaves swirling behind me in my rear view mirrors.

Painted Desert, Arizona

souri. We jumped on twisty, two-lane Hwy 8 to enjoy the last leg of the trip through Ozark foothills under a fabulous canopy of fall colors. We arrived in St. Louis having ridden a total 1,947 miles in four days. The family reunion turned out to be a great success. Reconnecting face-to-face with relatives when we live so far away is very special. There was even time to do 158 miles of riding on the back roads of beautiful St. Genevieve County during our extended weekend in Missouri. The roads there are

There were many big, long haul trucks on both of these interstate highways. In California, highway speed limits for trucks are usually 10 to 15 mph lower than for the rest of the traffic. This is not the case across the Midwest, where the posted limit for all vehicles is 75 mph. We found ourselves boxed in several times by multiple big-rigs doing 80 mph. Lane positioning skills were critical to maintaining visibility and avoiding wind blasts. Once, a truck passed us while we had our cruise control set to 85 mph, making it very clear that we weren’t in California anymore. The next day, after having breakfast at a great place called Clancy’s in Vinita, OK, we rumbled down the interstate and into Mis-

17

Our Town

Opportunities like this adventure are out there waiting for us to grab them. The chance to spend quality time and share my touring experience with my son-in-law was priceless. Seeing all the family members in Missouri was made even more special in that many of them got to meet Cory and our young grandson for the first time. Traveling by motorcycle made for an epic road trip. Is there ever an excuse not to ride? Jim Huneke is a 15-year member of the AMA. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and has been retired since 2013. His current ride is a 2008 GL1800 Gold Wing.


nonprofit profile The Averi Budde Foundation looks to support little hearts

Several events coming up to benefit the foundation include the Annual Averi Budde Family Fun Day at Blue Springs Ranch, Bourbon Missouri on September 12, which includes a silent auction, carnival rides, bounce house, carriage rides and a dinner all included.

The Averi Budde Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 in support of pediatric heart programs in and around the St. Louis area and community, and to help support heart families and research programs. The foundation was founded after the birth of twin girls Adison and Averi Budde. Averi was born with several congenital heart defects requiring her to have open heart surgery at five days old. Averi has had five open heart surgeries to date and four cardiac cathertizations. During Averi’s stay in the hospital, Averi’s Grandma Vicki Isom and parents, Ryan and Staci Budde wanted to give back for the amazing care they received. They held a fundraiser at Blue Springs Ranch in Bourbon, Missouri to raise awareness and funding for the St. Louis-area patients and CICU. This year will be the eighth year for the fundraiser which is now held annually at Blue Springs Ranch on September 12. We encourage all to attend for an amazing fun day for a great cause! To date, the Averi Budde Foundation has raised $175,000 that has been donated to St. Louis Children’s CICU, SSM Cardinal Glennon Dallas Heart Center, Camp Rhythm (a camp for children that have had open heart surgery), AED/Defibrillators for Sullivan and Bourbon Ambulance districts and schools and Pulse Oximetry machine for Missouri Baptist Hospital Obstetrics department. The foundation has held a Pediatric Congenital Heart conference where five top surgeons and cardiologists came to educate St. Louis Children’s CICU staff. Several heart families have been assisted financially and with lodging while their child was in the hospital.

May 31 is our second Food Truck event to be held in Cottleville at Legacy Park from 4 - 8 p.m. with bounce houses and a washers tournament. There are approximately one-in-110-babies born with congenital heart disease and most will die before they see their first birthday. Our mission is to educate and help local institutions and families during their child’s hospital stay and help fund equipment, education tools and scholarships to the CICU staff.

Please find us on FB at the Averi Budde Foundation or our website at averisjourney.com or email at Staciisom@aol.com

www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com 18

Our Town


May: 1 - Fund raising opportunity The Knights of Columbus are providing midway booth rentals for this year’s Valley of Flowers from May 1 – May 3. For more details, contact Bob Belaska at 314-837-4393.

1 - Pursue Your Purpose 2015 Celebration of Entrepreneurs Awards Gala First Bank (Florissant Dierbergs) will serve as a co-sponsor for the Pursue Your Purpose 2015 Celebration of Entrepreneurs Awards Gala, an event that will kick off National Small Business Month by celebrating local entrepreneurs at the Renaissance Hotel, Airport and hosted by Pursue Your Purpose CEO and Founder Tamiko Cuellar, the awards gala will honor entrepreneurs in the St. Louis area for their outstanding contributions to humanity, innovation, and service to their customers, employees and community. To purchase tickets, nominate entrepreneurs or for sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.PursueYourPurpose.com/2015Gala.

2 - Blood drive Women’s Missionary Society of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church is sponsoring a Red Cross Charles Drew Blood Drive from 10a.m. – 2 p.m. We are located at 13820 Old Jamestown Rd. in Black Jack. Call 314-741-4222 to make your appointment.

CALENDAR of Events dents entering 9th- 12th grades. North County Christian School also offers a summer camp for Preschool through 2nd grade. To learn more about both camps, please attend our Summer Camp Open House at 7 p.m. in the NCCS Library at 845 Dunn Rd., Florissant or contact us by phone at 314-972-6227 or visit our website.

9 - City of Overland Pet Inoculation Day Pet Inoculation Day in Overland welcomes all dogs and cats, whether they are spayed or not altered. This event will take place from 9 - 11 a.m. behind the Overland City Hall at 9119 Lackland Road. Overland Residents may also purchase and/or renew their pet licenses at this event, or at Overland City Hall. For more information, please call city hall at 314-428-4321.

15 - School fundraiser Holy Trinity School will host a fundraiser from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria at 10901 St. Henry Lane in Saint Ann. Event will include shopping (40 vendors), card party (optional), luncheon, fashion show, Bunco, trivia, games, basket and restaurant raffle and attendance prizes. Cost is $15 for adult and $5 for children (12 and under). For more information contact Karen at 314-539-1962 or holytrinity@live.com

16 - Book signing Marilyn D. Brown will be signing copies of her books from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 6 North Café at 14438 Clayton Road in Ballwin. For more information call 636-527-0400 or visit www.6northcafe.com

3 - Flea market

18 - Free financial workshop

Flea market at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Contact Richard at 314-837-7057.

You are invited to join us here at DeSmet Retirement Community at 1425 N. New Florissant in Florissant at 6 p.m. for a free financial workshop. Please join us for this informational workshop it is the best way to prepare yourself and your loved ones for the future. For more information or to RSVP please call 314-838-3811. Please RSVP by May 11.

7 - Prayer breakfast The Kiwanis Club of Bridgeton will hold its 33rd Annual Prayer Breakfast at 7 a.m. at Syberg’s Restaurant at 2430 Old Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights. Our special guest will be Lauri Tanner, President and CEO of Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. Also ministers from various local churches will attend to share prayers and inspirational messages. Tickets for the breakfast are $14/per person or $130 for a table of ten. All tickets are sold in advance. For ticket information, please contact Mary Vaughan at mvaughan@ marylandheights.com or call 314-581-0497.

7 - Summer Camp Open House ASAP Summer Camp is now enrolling 3rd-8th grade! We are a nine-week program that incorporates a wide variety of activities, lessons, and programs to promote personal development, ministry, extended education, and physical activity though out the summer. Volunteering opportunities are available for stu-

22 - 2015 MU Extension in St. Louis Night Please join us for another evening to benefit MU Extension in St. Louis at Schon. Hors d’oeuvres, fine wines, desserts and fun; while enjoying all of the above you will be supporting local artists and MU Extension programming in the St. Louis area. Cost is $10 (You will pay at the door) (All proceeds benefit Extension Programming) Please visit our website at http://extension.missouri.edu/stlouis for more information.

30 - Book signing Jackie Polys will be signing copies of her book “Ralston the Rally Squirrel” from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 6 North Café at 14438 Clayton Road in Ballwin. For more information call 636-527-0400 or visit www.6northcafe.com. 19

Our Town

June: 6 – D-Day 14 – Flag Day 20 - Golf tournament

The Jennings Do-Dads are excited to announce our 22nd annual Juvenile Justice Scholarship Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament will begin with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at Eagle Springs Golf Course at 2575 Redman Rd in St. Louis. The tournament will raise funds for a scholarship for those who are planning a career in juvenile justice. Team entry (four players) costs $340 and includes greens fees, cart, limited beverages at course, attendance prizes and the post-tournament food and refreshments. Limited to the first 36 teams, entry forms and fees are preferred by May 31, 2015, although you may register and pay up to the day of the tournament. You can also pay online with a major credit card via PayPal at www.jenningsdodads.org. Register and pay by May 31, 2015 and the cost per foursome will be reduced to $320. For more information contact Jim Christian at 314-341-8417 or Jack Duepner at 314-608-0551.

21 – First Day of Summer 21 – Father’s Day


Presorted Std US Postage

PAID

St. Louis, MO Permit 2828

2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Drive O’Fallon, MO 63366

www.stygar.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
OurTown: May - June 2015 by Community News - Issuu