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www.windowworld.com
www.forrestkeeling.com
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www.concertarts.org
N THIS SSUE
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Around Town
Creve Coeur officer recognized as Police Officer of the Year and more.
Nonprofit Profile Lighthouse for the Blind-St. Louis acts like a for-profit company – even though it is nonprofit.
Feature St. Monica’s: Out of the ashes Arson pulls congregation together By Nicholas Elmes
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore finds a lot to laugh about in April while Avalanche sets out on wild and harrowing motorcyle ride. The 2017 Mazda CX-3 delivers on the promise of big things in small packages this month’s Automobile Alley.
Caring Partners Better balance for heart health.
Lifestyle Director Jeff Nichols delivers honest portraits of rural America in Entertainment. Behold the endless possibilities with potatoes in For the Love of Food.
In Depth Girl Scout cookies hit the streets in an annual, massive undertaking.
Events Calendar Cover Photo - Ray Rockwell Staff Writer - Nicholas Elmes
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AuthorBiographies
Our Town Volume 08 | Number 4 APRIL 2017
4 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017
PUBLISHER Robert Huneke EDITOR Mathew DeKinder PRODUCTION Lisa Moran Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Brian Guerrero, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Nicholas Elmes
For advertising information, please contact us at:
info@mycnews.com or
Community News
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.
Avalanche
Nicholas Elmes is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience leading the newsrooms of small community newspapers in Virginia and North Carolina. A recent transplant to the St. Louis area, he is excited to get a chance to explore the diverse region while helping to share the stories of all of the good things happing in these communities.
Nicholas Elmes
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 manufacturers, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.
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
Brian Guerro
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.
Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 7,000 monthly through over 105 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www. mycnews.com
2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632 www.mycnews.com Copyright 2017 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
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Eat Shop Love
LET YOUR BUSINESS MEET OUR READERS
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery collects 500 purses for women in need
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of our readers purchased from our advertisers in the past 90 days.
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Guests visit Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’ Eat Shop Love event held at Plaza Frontenac.
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery collected 500 purses during their Eat Shop Love event. The free event benefitted women using Crisis Nursery services. Guests were asked to donate new or gently used handbags filled with lotions, sanitizers, toiletries, gas cards and other items women living in poverty may not be able to afford. New this year, guests were asked to donate new or gently used jewelry and accessories. The event kicked off at Plaza Frontenac’s North Court outside of Saks Fifth Avenue, Brio served delicious appetizers and pasta, and Canyon Café served appetizers and offered happy hour prices on drinks. Saks Fifth Avenue gave guests gift cards for a complimentary facial or makeover and Yoga Six Des Peres offered one week free of unlimited yoga. Guests also enjoyed a 10 minute chair massage from N8 Sloan Massage. As a bonus, each purse donated entered ladies to
win a beautiful brand new Kate Spade bag. The Crisis Nursery offered a silent auction that raised funds for the Nursery’s Emergency Fund Request that helps pay utilities to keep kids warm and stops families from being evicted. Eat Shop Love began five years ago after the Crisis Nursery team noticed that their moms were using plastic and paper bags as purses during parenting groups. Knowing how generous the St. Louis community is, the Crisis Nursery asked for help and started collecting purses from women all over the St. Louis region. “We believed this was not right and that we could do better” said DiAnne Mueller, Saint Louis Crisis Nursery CEO “and because of the generous community we have, we are able to give these purses to moms that are really struggling. It just shows our moms that they’re not alone and they are so grateful.”
www.CenterPointeHospital.com
APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 5
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Officer honored
www.rockroadloan.com 6 | OUR TOWN |APRIL 2017
Officer Doug Manninger of the Creve Coeur Police Department was recently recognized by the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce as the 2016 Police Officer of the Year. Manninger joined the department in October 2010 and has been the Creve Coeur Crime Prevention Officer since January of 2016. In 2016, Manninger worked diligently to educate citizens, students and businesses on crime prevention strategies. He coordinated several educational programs including Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), Rape Aggression Defense, West County Citizens Police Academy, civilian response to active shooters training, and safety presentations on identity theft, personal safety and business security. In addition to crime prevention education, Manninger was also committed to building relationships between the police department and the community. He coordinating several community building events including Creve Coeur Night Out, the Neighborhood Watch Halloween Party, the Neighborhood Watch Trivia Night and the first Creve Coeur Coffee with a Cop. He also arranged
KEVIN MCCARTY
Creve Coeur officer recognized as Police Officer of the Year
Officer Doug Manninger (right) with Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce President Rich Sames at the annual Auction and Award Dinner at Orlando’s Event and Conference Center on Feb. 24.
fundraisers for both Backstoppers and the Special Olympics, raising $2,843 and $2,155 respectively. Manninger demonstrated his dedication to reinforcing trust between the police department and the community by expanding the department’s online presence. He actively manages the Creve Coeur Police Department’s Facebook and twitter accounts, regularly updating them with crime prevention tips and information. He also updated the department’s web presence by creating a “Drug Facts and Resources” page and “Press Release” page on the city’s website. “Officer Manninger
has shown his dedication to improving public safety and building strong relationships between our Police Department and the Creve Coeur community,” said chief of police Glenn Eidman. “He is committed to the city of Creve Coeur and to the law enforcement profession, and is well deserving of this recognition.” The chamber also recognized patrolman Madison Coates of the Olivette Police Department, Lieutenant Rich Garrett of the Olivette Fire Department, and firefighter and paramedic Nikolas Kimbel of the Creve Coeur Fire Protection District for their dedication and service to the community.
AroundTown
Scam alert
BIGSTOCK
Maryland Heights warns of telephone scam
The city of Maryland Heights would like to make community members aware of a major scam occurring throughout the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently confirmed that the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number is being used as part of a telephone spoofing scam targeting individuals throughout the country. These scammers represent themselves as HHS OIG Hotline employees and can alter the appearance of the caller ID to make it seem as if the call is coming from the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-4478477). The perpetrator may use various tactics to obtain or verify the victim’s personal information, which can then be used to steal money from an individual’s bank account or for other fraudulent activity. HHS OIG takes this matter seriously. They are actively investigating this matter and intend to have the perpetrators prosecuted. It is important to know that HHS OIG will not use the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number to make outgoing calls and individuals should not answer calls from 1-800-HHSTIPS (1-800-447-8477). The public is encouraged to remain vigilant, protect their personal information and guard against providing personal information during calls that purport to be from the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number. It is still safe to call into the HHS OIG Hotline to report fraud. Those who believe they may have been a victim of the telephone spoofing scam are strongly encouraged to report that information through the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or spoof@oig.hhs.gov. Individuals may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission 1-877-FTC-HELP (1877-382-4357).
www.kdar@kdarco.com
APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 7
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Helping the hungry
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The Monsanto Fund presents grant to Operation Food Search
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, recently awarded a grant of more than $16,000 to Operation Food Search that will be used for the organization’s Operation Backpack program, which will benefit food-insecure children from the School District of Washington, Missouri.
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, recently awarded a grant of more than $16,000 to Operation Food Search (OFS), a hunger relief organization that provides food to the area’s hungry. The grant will be used for the organization’s Operation Backpack program, which will benefit food-insecure children from the School District of Washington, Missouri. The grant will enable OFS to continue directly serving 125 children at risk for weekend hunger by providing 4,000 backpacks filled with a healthy mix of foods and nutrition information throughout the 2017-2018 school year. Research shows that, compared to metropolitan areas, there are many challenges in rural communities including limited social services; higher concentration 8 | OUR TOWN |APRIL 2017
of employment in low-wage industries; greater unemployment and underemployment; decreased accessibility to public transportation networks, and; lack of available worksupport services such as flexible and affordable child care. The Monsanto Fund is a not-forprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto employees live and work. This is the fifth consecutive year the organization has provided a grant for the Operation Backpack program to serve children in the Washington, Missouri. school district. “Operation Backpack does not require additional effort from the receiving family, so this program is particularly effective for the School District of Washington where support services and long distance travel can create barriers for a food-insecure
child,” said OFS Executive Director Sunny Schaefer. “Teachers report fewer absences and overall better behavior from students in schools where our backpack program is implemented. That’s because children’s hungerrelated issues are alleviated and school staff can completely focus on education.” “Healthy eating and access to nutritious food not only go a long way in helping children achieve at school, but they are essential elements to a dignified and fulfilling life for those children and their families,” said Michelle Insco, Monsanto Fund program officer. “Operation Food Search has been serving St. Louis and surrounding communities for more than 35 years, and due to both their reach and expertise, I cannot imagine a better or more impactful partner.”
AroundTown
Rolling for a good cause
The International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF), now known as Rettsyndrome.org, will host its 10th annual St. Louis Strollathon on May 6 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 500-plus participants and more than $550,000 total has been raised from the past nine 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 $10 million nationwide for research treatments and a cure in the last 13 years. St. Louis features a specialty clinic to care for and support children with Rett syndrome and Rettrelated disorders. The clinic,
a collaboration between Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, was named one of 14 Rett syndrome clinical research centers of excellence. The clinic features a team of specialists with substantial experience in the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of individuals with Rett syndrome. By partnering with families and community healthcare providers, the clinic delivers care that is comprehensive and appropriate for a family’s individual needs. 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 and women lose their ability to walk. Those diagnosed with Rett 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.
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Rett Syndrome Foundation to host 10th Strollathon
The International Rett Syndrome Foundation, now known as Rettsyndrome.org, will host its 10th annual St. Louis Strollathon on May 6 at Tilles Park’s Gloria Rodgers Shelter.
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, non-profit organization that has funded more than $40
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 314346-1323, e-mail her at stlstrollathon@gmail.com, or visit the organization’s web site at http://www. rettsyndrome.org. APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 9
AroundTown
Walking St. Louis
Advertorial
FIRST-TIME RV’ERS …CONFUSED?
Registration now open for Citizens for Modern Transit’s Ten Toe Express Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and AARP in St. Louis are gearing up for the start of the spring session of CMT’s award-winning Ten Toe Express Program. Created to inspire St. Louis area seniors, as well as any other interested individuals, to see how easy it is to integrate walking with public transit use to get around town, the Ten Toe Express Walk Program also promotes the health and well-being benefits of alternative commuting. With the spring session of the program set to get underway on April 6, CMT and AARP in St. Louis will host several Ten Toe Express Registration events throughout the St. Louis region over the next several weeks. Area residents interested in participating in the program may also register online now by visiting www.cmt-stl.org. The upcoming 12-week Ten Toe Express session will run from April to June and the cost to participate is $10. Ten Toe participants gain access to a variety of helpful resources including walk maps providing detailed directives on how to utilize transit to get to many of the region’s cultural and entertainment hot spots. Participants also have the ability to take part in weekly guided Ten Toe Express Walking Tours which allow walkers to be part of a group as they become familiar with the transit system and how to utilize it to get to destinations. These walks, led by trained, volunteer walk leaders, range in length from 0.3 to 5 miles depending on the group and destination and originate from the Brentwood, Forest Park, Belleville, Rock Road, North Hanley and Shrewsbury MetroLink stations. 10 | OUR TOWN |APRIL 2017
BY RUSS PATTON, OWNER OF BYERLY RV The number of first-time RV buyers continues to grow. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that shipments are at the highest level in 40 years. Smaller motorhomes and travel trailers are leading the way. And those who started small in the last couple years are trading up to larger RVs with more space and features. So many families are eager to buy a new RV, but it can be confusing with such a variety from which to choose. All RVs are not alike and neither are all RV dealers. Since many first-time buyers’ inexperience leads them to rely upon price and size to make a decision, some dealers focus only on entry-level, lower-cost RVs. The new buyers get their education in the campground and many wish they had shopped a bit more carefully. Savvier first-time buyers can save a lot by checking out late-model RVs traded-in at dealers who offer a more complete selection of vehicles. Byerly RV, in Eureka, always has a good selection of late model trade-ins. Some of them are like new and hardly used. For almost 70 years Byerly RV has learned to shop hard to provide our customers the best value. Some competitors say we are more expensive. Not true. We didn’t grow to become one of the Midwest’s largest RV dealers by charging higher prices. In fact, we offer 15 models of new travel trailers for under $20,000. We shop for the best quality at the best price. Sure, we sell luxury motorhomes like Tiffin and Entegra for over $500,000. We do it because we can! The best manufacturers want to be on Byerly’s lot. Byerly offers a dozen models of motorhomes from 23 foot to 40 foot. In fact, Byerly RV has been the largest Class A motorhome dealer in the state of Missouri for years. How to decide? Compare Google ratings on local dealers. For instance, at last glance, the big national chain outlet showed 2.8 out of five. Does that sound good? Customers’ comments explain the ratings. Local dealers are family owned and dedicated to our local customers. Buy Missouri and the money stays in Missouri.Check us out at www. byerlyrv.com. e h t th Wor ive Byerly RV Dr
295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com
NonProfitProfile
Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, also known as LHB Industries, Inc., is a not-for-profit entity functioning like a for-profit company to advance a charitable social services mission. It is one of the nation’s top providers of emergency preparedness kits to help people survive earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, floods, accidents, terrorist attacks and building lock-downs. The brand is Quake Kare/Emergency Ready https://www. quakekare.com. LHB also produces the popular Tear Mender brand of non-toxic, all-natural adhesive and sealants for repairing clothing, fabrics, footwear, leather, upholstery, vinyl and other items for indoor and outdoor use. The company is releasing Simple Bond, an all-purpose adhesive later this month. Simple Bond coupled with Tear Mender will provide customers with a total repair package. (https://www.tearmender.com). In addition to these useful products, the 48 legally blind employees at LHB plants in Overland and Berkeley, produce medical kits; catheters; aerosol and liquid paints; aerosol and liquid cleaners; adhesives; eco-friendly products; and others for business, consumer and government customers nationwide. (http://www.lhbindustries. com). Founded in 1933, LHB is a 501(c)3 organization that helps people who are visually impaired maintain dignity and independence by offering employment, education and support services. All sales revenues from LHB, Quake Kare and Tear Mender directly support LHB’s 16 different Blind Community
Outreach Programs. These “See the Future” programs serve children and adults who are legally blind and visually impaired in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois. John Thompson, LHB president, says, “A few years ago, we chose to boost our commercial business by evaluating potential acquisitions of established for-profit companies whose operations would be a good fit and create revenues to support our nonprofit mission. Two acquisitions now help us achieve that goal.” In 2014, LHB purchased Quake Kare, Inc., which was based near Los Angeles. Quake Kare today provides more than 100 custom- and pre-packed disaster preparedness kits for virtually any type of crisis. In 2015, LHB acquired all assets of Val-A Chicago, Inc., producer of the well-known Tear Mender brand of nontoxic, all-natural adhesive and sealants. “Our acquisition and integration of Quake Kare and Tear Mender are natural expansions of LHB manufacturing operations in St. Louis because kit and product assembly are among our core competencies,” Thompson says. Brian Houser, LHB director of sales and marketing, says. “Quake Kare has been busy since a fleet of semi-trucks unloaded Quake Kare inventory in St. Louis after we acquired the company. Sales spike whenever an earthquake, bad flood or destructive tornado occurs. We take pride in ensuring our customers are prepared to survive the unexpected.” “Our acquisition of Tear Mender
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St. Louis non-profit acts like a for-profit company – even though it is nonprofit
John Thompson, Lighthouse for the Blind-St. Louis president.
provides LHB with a line of adhesive and sealant products that are popular with consumers,” adds Houser. “It’s a good fit for us – Tear Mender sales have been steady ever since we acquired the company’s assets.” Thompson says, “We are very proud of our skilled employees in our production plants, and we are proud of our mission-specific staff members who develop, sustain and provide our service programs for the blind community in Missouri and Illinois.” In January 2017, LHB was honored with the 2016 Employment Growth Award by National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind. The award recognizes LHB’s success to increase employment retention, growth and upward mobility for people who are blind. Quake Kare and Tear Mender products can be purchased online and at leading retail locations nationwide. Please see http://www.lhbindustries. com or call 800-542-3697. APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 11
St. Monica’s: Out of the ashes Arson pulls congregation together BY NICHOLAS ELMES Churches and congregations around the area are gearing up to celebrate the season of rebirth, but this year, the congregation at St. Monica’s Catholic Church will have even more to celebrate as they enjoy their newly restored sanctuary. The celebration will be a welcome one after an already long year of trials and tribulations for the congregation because the renovation of their sanctuary was not planned, but was instead forced upon the parish after they were faced with a horrible case of arson just two days after Christmas. “At around 5 p.m. on Dec. 27 somebody came in and took the Priest’s Chair and the pulpit and put them on the nativity scene and started a fire,” said Father Joseph Weber. “Thankfully, because we are a church and a school, the fire alarm is directly wired to the fire department so they were here lickety-split.” Weber was having dinner 12 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017
with the associate pastor in the parish house when he heard the sirens. “We hear sirens here every day, but then we saw a fire truck turn into the parking lot,” he remembers. “It was devastating,” said Music Director Heather Cooper. “I was sitting in my chair at home, exhausted from everything that had come before with Christmas when I got the call.” She immediately rushed to the church and was greeted with a horrific sight. “I was driving up Olive, and by the time I could see the building I could see the smoke coming out of the windows,” she said. “It was all black.” “It was very scary,” said Weber. Luckily the fire was set in large open area of the church, and the quick response from local fire departments meant they were able to prevent the fire from causing any major structural
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Members of the eighth grade choir at St. Monica’s helped recover choir music from the church after the fire.
damage to the building, but the heat and smoke caused extensive damage to the sanctuary resulting in months of work and planning for church leaders to be able to reopen the space for the congregation. “The fire did not burn that long, but it burned hot and burned ‘smokily,’” said Cooper. “Then when they hit it with the water; that is when the smoke really started filling the room. The smell was horrendous from the smoke and the varnish on the stuff that had burned. The smoke and soot got into everything. It got into cabinets. It got behind the cross at the top. At the top of the wall, it was just absolutely black.” Faced with a blackened and stinky sanctuary, leaders of the church, which holds Mass every day, had to quickly start planning how they could continue to serve their congregation. “I called the bishop, our media relations guy, and Woodard Cleaning and Restoration in that order,” said Weber. “We started cleaning up immediately. Then, the next morning, we had a meeting with Woodard, members from the Diocese, our principal, music director and head of maintenance and started doing a game plan.” “We had to turn it around and fix it so we could worship elsewhere during the most festive parts of the year,” said
Cooper. “We set up a chapel in one of the music classrooms so we could have mass the next morning.” After assessing the damage, which included a destroyed altar, major smoke damage to the sanctuary, and additional smoke damage to the organ, it became clear that the congregation would have to find a new place to worship for a considerable amount of time. “Woodard had to put scaffolding up all over the sanctuary to clean the smoke damage,” said Weber. “We decided that we would hold Masses in the gymnasium, but it was basketball season so we could not just set it up and let it stay that way. We had to set up the gym and take it down every time we used it for the sanctuary. “It was like going through a big move, only one that was not planned,” he added. “It was almost two months before we were able to move back in.” Thankfully the congregation and members of the community rallied around the church, offering donations and help in working to get things back to normal. “We had people getting very creative working on stuff,” said Weber, explaining that many things the church needed to operate had to be retrieved from soot-filled areas of the church.
The Priest’s Chair that was used to fuel the fire.
The altar was heavily damaged in the fire. APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 13
PHOTOS BY NICHOLAS ELMES
(Above top) The congregation of St. Monica’s holds Mass in the cleaned and repaired sanctuary. (Above bottom) St. Monica’s Music Director Heather Cooper shows the current state of the church’s organ as it sits in pieces waiting to be cleaned and repaired.
14 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017
“For example, we needed our choir folders which were in these big plastic bins,” said Cooper. “The smell in the area where they were stored was horrendous from the smoke and varnish and stuff that had burned, so our eighth graders put these big suits on and went in and got the books out.” Weber said other area Catholic schools also helped with rearranging basketball schedules to accommodate the need to use the gym for Masses, and one school even loaned the church a crib so they could continue to have a nativity scene. “Local florists donated poinsettias,” he said. “There were a lot of people who offered to help. We have received thousands of dollars from individuals, other parishes, and the Knights of Columbus who have wanted to give us money to help get back to normal.” He said some of that money would be used to install a new security camera system in the sanctuary and update security throughout the campus, to help prevent incidents like the fire from ever happening again. But, while the congregation has finally made it back into the now soot-free sanctuary, Weber and Cooper said they were still a long way from being completely back to normal. That is because two of the key portions of the sanctuary, the altar and the organ, will still take some time be replaced or repaired.
“When the water hit the old altar, it was so hot that it just shattered,” said Weber. “They cannot tell us when the new altar will be in. They think it could be up to two months by the time it is quarried, then brought here and cut to the right form and brought in. We are hoping we can do it by Easter but I can’t guarantee it.” For now, Mass is being held on a temporary altar in front of the shattered old altar. Weber said when the new altar comes in the church will hold a special ceremony with the Bishop blessing it, as well as burying the old altar in sacred ground. Restoring the organ is an even more complex process, according to Cooper. “It was filled with sticky soot that got everywhere,” she said. “It got into the organ, down inside of all of the pipes on both the inside and outside and all over the keyboard. They literally have to take all of the pipes offsite and clean them. Thankfully there was no heat damage to the pipes.” Despite all of the damage and the disruption to normalcy at the church, Weber and Cooper agreed that the experience had actually strengthened the church. “The people really pulled together,” said Weber. “We are a stronger congregation because of this.” “We are continuing to celebrate our faith,” agreed Cooper. “That has not stopped at all.”
OurThoughts MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
NOBODY’S FOOL H
ave you noticed that April Fool’s and Tax Day fall in the very same month? Coincidence? I think not! So to commemorate this fluky occurrence, I’m going to combine the two and observe both at once – kind of like combining an all-you-can-eat dessert bar with a laxative. One is fun while the other is a real bummer! To begin with on my tax forms,
I will take huge deductions on my dependents. Scooter and Ticker are my pudgy, pot-bellied cat dependents. They cannot survive without me. All they are able to do is consume and collapse. Oh, there is the occasional movement and repositioning of their body mass, but this occurs only when they fill their doodie box or hack up a fur ball on my freshly cleaned floors. They are totally dependent on me. I
assume the IRS personnel will get a giggle-snort out of this. Next, when my tax forms are finished, I will proceed to cut them up into tiny jigsaw puzzle pieces and pour them into a large envelope along with a note instructing the tax examiner that some assembly is required. That should be effective for a few good belly laughs. If I owe money, I might send in a big fat check written on a rubber beach ball to ensure it will bounce. I think that would be wildly entertaining for those sour-faced auditors, who look like they’ve been sucking lemons and downing vinegar shots. I suspect it will bring a hearty chuckle and crack their stony faces, which would be wildly entertaining for me to watch. Of course there are other options to consider. For kicks, perhaps I’ll send in a variation of some of the following to cover the fee: Mason jars filled with pennies; a few baseball cards; a variety of valuable Beanie Babies; a number of grocery coupons; a couple of Taco Bell gift cards and a handful of arcade tokens. But realistically, the IRS agents would come to my house grim-faced and not chortling as expected. They would hit me with a nasty audit; slap a lien on my house; garnish my wages; repossess my cats; seize my commemorative Elvis plates and then confiscate my Kohl’s Cash! Wait! From my cold dead hand! Those April fools just can’t take a joke! APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 15
OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
I
Just a few more miles...
t was mid-April, and winter had mostly faded into a pleasant spring. A few token ski lifts were still running, catering to the dwindling cadre of local die-hard skiers who were content to slide down the dirty-colored slush that remained on the mountains. Temps were in the mid-50’s, the sun was out and I decided to take the bike out for short ride to celebrate the return of riding season. Digging the riding gear out of its seasonal grave in the back of a closet took little time. I had recently serviced the machine, including the installation of new tires, so the preride checkout was minimal. Not planning on going far, I expected to be back in an hour, maybe two... Once underway, my riding skills returned quickly from their winter dormancy as the machine warmed up to operating temperature. Throttle, clutch and brake-work progressed from rough and jerky, to smooth and precise, coordinated with leaning into turns—a three-dimensional symphony of motion. The feeling of moving on two wheels always brings a smile and the first ride of spring is accompanied by a feeling of liberation from a long winter. A half-hour’s ride brought me to an intersection, my planned turn-around point, but I chose a left turn instead, to head up a little-traveled highway with lots of curves. It was a slow and cautious cruise, with much sand, rocks and other winter debris still on the pavement. Another half-hour and I crested a pass with a stunning view. Lots of snow still on the ground, but the pavement was dry. There were a few more clouds in the sky, but nothing threatening. Just a few more miles, and I would turn around… Five miles down the other side of the pass, a gravel road I had not been on before beckoned on the right. Just a few miles down there and I would turn around… Several miles later, I made the commitment to just go ahead and ride to the other end of the gravel, as I knew it led to an interstate highway which would bring me back to the state highway where this trip started. It would be a longer loop than originally planned, but since I was this far along, why not? 16 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017
The gravel road turned out to be much, much longer than I realized. While I knew it would lead to the interstate, my limited knowledge of having seen the road on a map (which I did not have with me) did not match the reality of the length and condition of the road. The road passed through many miles of remote forest land. Many curves and rough surface conditions kept the pace very slow. The afternoon grew late, and the few clouds from earlier became a solid, dark overcast ceiling which began to spit rain and snow. Before long, the snow became moderately heavy, and then it became a wet, soggy blizzard. In short order, my twowheeled travel down a remote forest road in the mountains went from being a liberating spring ritual, to an unpleasant experience, to an impossible task. Visibility went to zero, just as the sun set. My face-shield was plastered with slush on the outside, and totally fogged up inside. I wrestled the machine off to the side of the road, found a solid spot to set the kickstand, and waited for the storm to subside. There were no trees to hide under, with sagebrush my only companion. My waterproof-breathable riding suit performed just fine, as I stayed dry, though not particularly warm. Once the snow storm had passed, I began riding again, though even slower than before. The dirt road surface had softened with all the moisture, and had a thick layer of slush on top. Much of that mud, snow and rock mixture packed up under my front fender and rubbed two deep grooves into my brandnew tire. One would have thought that the European manufacturer who had pioneered the so-called “AdventureTouring” bike would have made it a little more compatible with rough conditions. While it was, and is, an excellent multi-purpose street bike, the concept of a 600 lb. dirt bike is a figment of effective marketing and wishful thinking. The dirt road finally turned to pavement just shy of the interstate that eventually took me home. I stumbled in the house after 10 hours on the road, much worse for wear. It took a couple weeks and a new front tire before I was able to venture out again.
OurThoughts
2017 Mazda CX-3
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
delivers on the promise of big things in small packages
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
I
t’s a small package overall; however, it’s loaded with “big car” features. I’m referring to the 2017 Mazda CX-3 subcompact crossover. Now in its second model year, this product is a proven road warrior for just about every driving surface you’re up against. First shown in the fall of 2014, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, CX-3 basically mystified the crowd. The front view of the CX-3 is designed to commence a bold look that suits the model’s overwhelming sporty proportions. The front grille has seven fins with available silver-painted front edges to create an expression of energy that flows horizontally. The signature “wing grille” surround is somewhat pronounced and three-dimensional. It forms the starting point for a powerful sense of speed that flows across the entire body. With the larger Mazda CX-5 as a possible benchmark, CX-3 carries its styling and framework forward, with its elongated engine hood bonnet, short body overhangs, large wheels and a slim cabin design. The proportions overall tend to help set the stage for CX-3 to telegraph a sense of strength and vitality as well as conveying an
impression of constant motion. This is even more prominent under nighttime lighting with CX-3’s high luster paint finish. The outer body has a sleek look achieved by blacking out the vehicles side D-pillars. Frankly speaking, CX-3 is sort of a “mini-me” version of their larger CX-5 compact SUV. It’s shorter and lower but tends to deliver a similar driving experience - in part, due to the availability of their predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel-drive system. Powering CX-3 is their spirited 146-horsepower, 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G engine. All versions come with a sixspeed automatic transmission. EPA numbers come out to be 29-mpg city/34-highway with the front-wheeldrive setup. CX-3 was developed to deliver a rich, inviting experience for the driver and all occupants. Seating is comfortable with extra cushy padding and high seat backs in front. The rear seats are positioned slightly inboard to ease conversation between front and rear passengers. It’s a vehicle with interior details that look and feel quite upscale and elegant. This further includes attractive dark red seat stitching as well as soft touch materials. The dash
controls are well thought out. The large window glass gives an outstanding field of view. In the quickly growing subcompact crossover segment, CX-3 stands alone in part due to attention to detail, purposeful ergonomics and welcomed amenities from bumper-tobumper. The driver-oriented interior comes with soft touch-points including available raised stitching on the gauge cluster housing, among other interior componentry that further gives the feeling of tailored craftsmanship. CX-3 illustrates the “Mazda Premium” philosophy. It’s defined as giving the customer an intimate cabin environment, designed to feel timeless and personalized, catering to those who sweat the details and crave not just a mode of transportation but an experience and expression of their personalities. The all-wheel drive system can adjust power output more than 200 times per second, using 27 different variables, to “predict” what road conditions are ahead. Offered in three trim levels; Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, their base model pricing starts out at $19,960. APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 17
CaringPartners
GETTY IMAGES
E C N h A t l L a A e B h t r R BETTE for hea
When it comes to creating and maintaining healthy habits, all the admonishments to “stop this” and “don’t do that” can be overwhelming. While there are some things you do need to cut back on, finding better balance is the true key to better heart health. You may be surprised by the things you should actually do more of in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. With these tips from DSM Nutritional Products, you can put a priority on your health. Increase your stress-busting activity. Whether you favor exercise, yoga or meditation, finding effective ways to channel your stress can help support the health of your heart. It’s no secret that 18 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017
stress makes your blood pressure rise, and that puts extra strain on your heart. Soothing your nerves keeps your stress in check and moderates your blood pressure. Remember that managing your stress doesn’t even have to be a formal activity; you may find relief from simply relaxing with a book or a cup of tea, or enjoying casual time with loved ones. Whatever strategy works for you, try to make a stress-reducing effort part of your everyday routine. Balance your caloric intake. Instead of viewing weight management in terms of what you can’t have or have to do, consider thinking of your diet as a teeter-totter that you need to keep in balance. Overeating and indulging in
nutrient-poor foods makes one side drop, but physical activity and regular exercise brings the other side down. Strive for a balance so you’re burning the calories you’re taking in; consume fewer calories and exercise more to help support a balanced weight. When it comes to the calories you consume, be sure they’re from nutrient-rich sources so your body reaps maximum benefits from its fuel. Check your omega-3 levels. Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fats, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that numerous studies have shown to have heart-health benefits. More specifically, supportive but inconclusive research shows omega-3s EPA and DHA may help to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease – the leading cause of death among both men and women, according to the Food and Drug Administration and the American Heart Association. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, anchovies and sardines, as well as vegetarian sources like algae. If you don’t eat fish on a regular basis, you can find high-quality supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil or algal oil. Be sure to consult your health care provider before starting any supplement program, and ask your health care practitioner to check your omega-3 levels to make sure you are getting enough heart-healthy fats in your diet. Learn more at knowyouro.com.
OurLifestyle
JEFF NICHOLS: BIGSTOCK
MASTER CHRONICLER OF OUR COUNTRYSIDE
His movies are difficult to market, but he’s had some of the best in the business that continue to back up his reputation. LIONSGATE
BY BRIAN GUERRO Jeff Nichols is a filmmaker originally from Little Rock, Arkansas and all five films he directed - and scripted - take place in rural America. His stories and characters are thoughtfully drawn in ways that could only be from a bit of personal experiences. With uncommon depth, he has a welcoming way of presenting them to the audience. Nichols cuts straight through any stereotypical thoughts giving us wholesome - and honest - views of where his characters are coming from. It’s not just the settings that make his films fresh, but the journeys his characters must take. It’s also refreshing to know that big name actors love taking their chances with Nichols and his films. Bottom line, we need an original filmmaker like Jeff Nichols in the mainstream of movie making.
plagued with recurring apocalyptic nightmares and hallucinations. As he questions his own sanity (as does the town and his own family) his dreams continue to get worse and decides to build a storm shelter on his family’s property - nearly costing them everything they have. Jessica Chastain (during her rise to fame) turned in a highly effective performance playing the wife and mother of his children. The film won many awards from the numerous film festivals with some Oscar-worthy praise for Shannon’s performance.
“Shotgun Stories” (2007) His first film, “Shotgun Stories,” was shot in Arkansas on a very low budget and came out in 2007. The little seen film features an early breaking turn from Michael Shannon as the film’s lead. The story is about the rising tensions between two sets of half brothers after the death of their father. Shannon’s’ performance proved him worthy as a fine lead just two years before his Oscar Nominated performance in “Revolutionary Road.”
“Mud” (2013) This was the year of Matthew McConaughey - not just for his starring title role in “Mud,” but also this was the year he won the Oscar for Best Actor for “Dallas Buyers Club.” While exploring an island on the Mississippi River, two teenage boys meet the mysterious Mud living in a boat lodged in a tree (from a previous flood). The boys make a pact with Mud to help keep his whereabouts hidden from mysterious vigilantes while also finding his lost love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). This complex comingof-age drama – and thriller - is a cult classic for Nichols as he brings out the best from his cast including a standout performance from the young Tye Sheridan.
“Take Shelter” (2011) Jeff Nichols reteams with Michael Shannon who plays a family man
“Midnight Special” (2016) While this road trip thriller does have science fiction elements with some
action beats, Jeff Nichols always puts his story and characters first. This time we have a story that picks up on a plot already in motion. It first appears that two men (Michael Shannon and Joel Edgerton) have kidnapped a boy (Jaeden Lieberher) with strange special powers while the feds and a religious cult are hot on their trail. We soon realize one of the men is the boy’s father trying to keep him from out of harms way as a certain unknown event continues to loom over them. This event turns out to be a special place they must get to in time that is vital for the boy’s survival and the answer to his true identity. The cast also includes Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver and Sam Shepard. “Loving” (2016) Jeff Nichols takes on his first biography to make – what turned out to be – his most urgently popular film yet. “Loving” is the true story about Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga) the interracial couple whose marriage was forbidden in the state of Virginia. They were arrested and incarcerated which led to the famous Supreme Court case Loving vs. Virginia, the case that would ban any laws that forbade marriages between people of different races. The film was received numerous award nominations including an Oscar Nomination for Best Actress (for Ruth Negga) – the first Oscar nomination for a Jeff Nichols film. APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 19
ENDLESS OurLifestyle
POSSIBILITIES W I T H
POTATOES
Delicious and nutritious, it’s no wonder potatoes are a menu staple for many. Everyone craves meal variety, and potatoes offer a perfect canvas to inspire new flavor exploration so you can enjoy something different every day. From russets, reds, yellows, whites and purples to petites, fingerlings
Ingredients: 1/4 pound thinly sliced prosciutto 3 medium russet potatoes (or 3 cups mashed potatoes) 1 teaspoon salt, plus additional for salting water 1/2 cup milk 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 large eggs, beaten 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Directions: Heat oven to 400 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly lay prosciutto on paper. Bake 1015 minutes until prosciutto is crispy. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Potato Prosciutto Waffles Yield: 6 | Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 5 minutes
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Peel and cube potatoes. Place in pot of salted water and bring to boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to rapid simmer and cook until pota-
and more, there are multiple varieties to keep dishes interesting. You might be used to preparing this kitchen staple mashed, baked or fried, but these inventive recipes show how easy it is to incorporate flavors and techniques to create new potato dishes for any meal of the day in 30 minutes or less.
toes are fork tender, about 10 minutes. Strain potatoes from water and transfer to large bowl. Mash potatoes with fork or potato masher. Add milk, butter, eggs, cheese and thyme to potatoes. Stir to combine. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add to potato mixture and stir until just combined. Crumble prosciutto and fold it into batter. Heat waffle iron. If required, grease with cooking spray. Spoon about 1 cup batter onto waffle iron and cook according to iron’s instructions until waffles are golden, about 4 minutes. Keep waffles warm in 200 F oven until all waffles are cooked and ready to serve. Serve with touch of butter, sour cream or poached or fried egg. Nutritional information per serving: 332 calories; 16 g fat; 109 mg cholesterol; 1,138 mg sodium; 13% vitamin C; 32 g carbohydrates; 3 g fiber; 15 g protein; 653 mg potassium.
OurLifestyle Steak and Potato Tacos with Poblano Chiles Yield: 12 | Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 large onion, sliced 2 poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded and sliced 12 ounces white potatoes, quartered lengthwise then cut crosswise into 1/4inch thick slices 1 flank steak (12 ounces) garlic powder chili powder salt pepper 12 corn tortillas (6 inches each) chopped fresh cilantro pico de gallo salsa hot sauce Directions: In heavy, large nonstick skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and chiles and saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to bowl. In same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-
Fiesta Potato Smashers Yield: 8 | Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes
high heat. Add potatoes and saute until golden brown and tender, about 12 minutes. Return onion mixture to skillet with potatoes and keep warm. Sprinkle both sides of steak generously with garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. In heavy, large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook until browned on both sides, turning once, about 8 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer steak to cutting board; let rest 5 minutes. While steak rests, heat tortillas on griddle or over gas flame until warm, turning frequently with tongs. Thinly slice steak. Top tortillas with steak and potato mixture; sprinkle with cilantro. Serve with pico de gallo and/ or hot sauce. Nutritional information per serving: 167.9 calories; 6.3 g fat; 13 mg cholesterol; 19.1 mg sodium; 6.8% vitamin C; 20.9 g carbohydrates; 2.5 g fiber; 7.1 g protein; 147.4 mg potassium.
Ingredients: 5 small yellow potatoes 5 small red potatoes or potato of your choice 1 pint sweet mini peppers (red, orange and yellow) cooking spray 4 tablespoons fat-free sour cream or fat-free Greek yogurt (optional) 8 sprigs cilantro, picked from stems salt, to taste chili powder, to taste freshly ground pepper, to taste Directions: Place whole potatoes into microwave-safe, covered dish. Microwave on high 3-4 minutes. While potatoes are cooking, cut mini peppers into 1/4inch slices. Spray nonstick
pan with cooking spray and heat to medium. Add peppers and saute until they start to brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Remove potatoes from microwave and with layer of paper towels covering each potato, smash on cutting board until 1 3/4-inch thick. Spray saute pan with cooking spray, heat on high and add smashed potatoes. Cook 1-2 minutes until potatoes start to brown. On plate, place potatoes and layer with sour cream or yogurt, if desired, peppers and cilantro. Dust with salt, chili powder and pepper, to taste. Serve warm. Nutritional information per serving: 50 calories; 350 mg sodium; 0.7% vitamin C; 1 g fiber; 1 g protein; 293 mg potassium.
APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 21
InDepth
The power of a c
kie
Girl Scout cookies hit the streets in an annual, massive undertaking that – BY NICHOLAS ELMES results in life lessons and vital funding Thin Mints. Samoas. Tagalongs. Trefoils. Savannah Smiles. Do-si-dos. Whatever your favorite Girl Scout cookie may be, the long wait for them is over. The time-honored tradition of buying, and enjoying, Girl Scout cookies is a key Girl Scout program, providing both funding for troops and great life lessons and experiences each year for Girl Scout troops across the region. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program is an important legacy program,” said CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Bonnie Barczykowski. “It teaches girls integral business skills and instills a lifelong sense of civic responsibility that creates leaders. At Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, so many amazing girls within our ranks are doing positive, impactful things with their cookie earnings. Girls are participating in outstanding community service projects, taking fun, educational field trips and participating in programs with focuses in STEM, money management, and health.” Olivia Fong, a Senior Girl Scout with Troop 2423, sells about 2,700 boxes of cookies each year. “If you ever get frustrated when selling cookies, you just think about the outcome, what you can do with all the money that you are raising,” said Fong. “My troop has been able to go to Chicago and we have also been going to camps and other fun things like going into St. Louis to play human foosball. “We have recently set up a trip to go to China in June of 2019 and are working on raising money for that with our cookie sales,” she added, noting that the trip will be a very special trip for her. “My dad is originally from China, so we will get to see some of my family on the trip. It is so cool that my experience in Girl Scouts is helping me 22 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017
to get to a piece of information about my family that I did not know about. I have never been to China before, so I will be getting to see some of my family members for the very first time.” Her troop’s trip has been planned in conjunction with EF Tours to create a guided immersive cultural experience for all of the scouts lucky enough to have earned the opportunity. A large number of troops in the region also use some of their cookie sales proceeds each year to give back to the community by helping to fund a variety of their community service projects ranging from helping homeless people to creating care packages for animal shelters. All proceeds raised through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays local, powering thousands of fun and impactful experiences and activities for more than 44,000 girls in eastern Missouri.. A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT COOKIE CENTRAL But do you know how that initial order given to a smiling scout at your door turns into a box of tasty goodness being delivered this week? “Nobody would ever really understand all that goes into this program if they did not experience themselves,” said Erin Eberhard. And she should know. Eberhard serves as the Director of Product Programs for the entire Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri Council. Her behind-the-scenes work enabled Girl Scouts of all ages to sell over 2.6 million boxes of cookies throughout the local council area last year. “All of the people it requires to make it happen, all of the logistics it requires to make it happen, all of the volunteers
– it is definitely a team effort to do this,” she said. “Moving 2.6 million boxes of cookies in a 12 week period is absolutely amazing. It is a true testament to the commitment our volunteers have to the organization and our community and to the girls that are on the front line of the program.” The path to that cookie success begins in the summer each year as council leaders start planning for orders and training for all of the needed volunteers. “We have lots of meetings with our baker, Little Brownie Bakers,” said Eberhard. “We look to see what we could do to enhance the experience for the girls and the volunteers and members. We want to make sure that we initially have the cookies that the girls need based on what has sold in the past. This year we looked at each individual area and really dove deep into the numbers to make sure that what the girls sold last year will be available to them automatically this year.” But, of course, dealing with 2.6 million boxes of cookies over a wide geographic area is not an easy process logistically – it is a process that takes hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and some pretty exacting planning. “We have three major volunteer roles,” said Eberhard. “We have cookie managers that help with a large cookie neighborhood. We have cupboard managers who provide a space to store all of the cookies in a geographic area so that if a troop needs more for a booth they can go there to pick them up. Then we have district level volunteers who serve as mentors to the other volunteers.” Eberhard said every volunteer, from the individual troop leaders and parents to the district level mentors, are integral to a successful cookie season.
InDepth THE ART OF COOKIE SALES From there, the success of the cookie sales rests with each individual Girl Scout and their troop. Fong, who is hoping to sell close to 3,000 boxes of cookies this year (the average Girl Scout in this area sells about 120 boxes each year), said that a good attitude and persistence are both key to being successful selling cookies. “My whole family usually buys from me and are very supportive of it,” she said. “Then there are people in my neighborhood who have known me since I was around four when I was out selling with my older sisters and they always wait to buy from me.” Fong sells cookies both by going door-to-door and at cookie booths. “At a booth, people get to see all of the options and know you are going to be there and they already have money with them,” she said. “It takes longer to go door-to-door, but you just have to be persistent in getting to see people. The main thing I keep in mind is to stay positive and to give people all of the information so then they know they are buying from someone who knows what they are doing.” Fong said providing customers with contact information is also key to being successful. “Sometimes I will give them a way to get in touch with my troop leader,” she said. “It is helpful to know that they have a number to get more cookies when they run out.”
HIGH TECH COMES TO COOKIE BOOTHS This year the council is supporting cookie booths through two new tech initiatives which will make it easier for customers to find and buy their favorite cookies. “We have a new Cookie Locator app, where you can go into the app and enter your zip code or let it track your location and it will tell you where the closest cookie booths around you are at that moment,” said Eberhard, noting that many booths will also be offering credit and debit card purchases using the new Square technology. “Troop leaders can go through training online, and then we set them up with a Square reader they can plug into their phones. Using those can help increase their booth sales by 20 percent.” The council also helps to manage booth locations, partnering with a variety of area businesses like Dierbergs Markets, H&R Block, and Cricket Wireless to set up regular booth opportunities. “The troop leaders are very savvy and over the years they have, through trial and error, really figured out the best places and times to set up a booth,” said Eberhard. “We have set up council scheduled booths where troops can go into our system and sign up. We also have troop leaders who will go out and secure their own booth locations and we
just ask them to let us know so we don’t have multiple troops showing up.” THE VALUE OF A BOX OF COOKIES From planning for orders and mobilizing hundreds of volunteers, to the days and weeks spent by every Girl Scout selling cookies in their neighborhoods or at cookie booths, it might be hard to visualize just what each box of cookies is really worth. Sales each year help fund troop trips, weeks at summer camps and yearlong programming from the council, but Eberhard says the true value of all of that work is so much more. “When you see the girls that are participating in this, they are enjoying it, they are having fun, and they are learning the skills it takes to run a business,” she said. “And many of them are doing at just five-years-old. You can’t beat that. Those are our leaders for tomorrow. We are starting them off at age five learning how to go up to a person and speak to them and explain to them why they would want these cookies. “It instills so many skills in them as such a young age,” she added. “Then you see what the girls look like at 17 when they are getting on stage at Dessert First and receiving scholarships. That is the real benefit – the leadership they gain from the program. That makes it all worth it.”
APRIL 2017 | OUR TOWN | 23
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April National Tartan Day
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Easter Sunday
Masters Mayhem Golf Tournament
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Tax Day
Join the fun at the Creve Coeur City Golf Course with extended fairways and challenging greens. Participants play the nine-hole course in a two-person scramble followed by lunch and awards. Afterward, you can watch The Masters on the big screen TV. Tournament fee includes player package and polo. Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the shotgun start begins at noon. The price is $55 per player or $110 per team. For more information or to register, call the Golf Pro Shop at 314-4321806.
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Ribbon cutting
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Passover (first day)
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Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday
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Good Friday
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Dog Egg Hunt Bring your furry friend to an egg hunt just for dogs in Millennium Park. Thousands of plastic eggs will be filled with dog treats and coupons donated by Three Dog Bakery. Registration starts at 1 p.m. and the hunt starts at 2 p.m. The $5 registration donation to benefit local dog charity. Guests will have the opportunity to adopt a dog on-site or donate kennels, dog crates or toys. Please make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and do not use retractable leashes.
The Olivette City Center dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony will take place from 3 -6 p.m. at Olivette City Center at 1140 Dielman Road in Olivette.
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Administrative Professionals Day
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Arbor Day
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Arbor Day celebration The city of Creve Coeur is hosting a free and fun-filled Arbor Day Celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Tappmeyer House in Millennium Park at 2 Barnes West Drive in Creve Coeur. Hosted by the city’s Horticulture, Ecology and Beautification Committee, Arts Committee, Parks and Historic Preservation Committee, and Energy and Environment Committee, the Arbor Day Celebration will include a display of entries from the all-ages art contest. This family-friendly event also includes face painting, a craft activity, a plant swap, educational displays, and more. Free serviceberry saplings will be offered to attendees on a firstcome, first-served basis, encouraging the planting of this beautiful native shrub throughout our community. For more information, contact Sharon Stott, Assistant to the City Administrator, at sstott@crevecoeurmo.gov or 314-872-2516.