StreetScape Magazine - November | December 2014

1November | December 2014

November | Decem

HonorCelebrating our Veterans

Flight

AmyGrant

Speaks on major life changes new album release&

Marshallthe miracle dog

Meet

2 StreetScape Magazine

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NEXPERIENCE ST. LOUIS BBQ & BLUES

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INDULGE YOURSELF WITH ST. CHARLES’ #1 BBQ • VISIT US TODAY!HEAR THE BEST ST. LOUIS BLUES MUSICIANS AT MOONSHINE BLUES BAR

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Opening Day 11am to 9pm | Wednesdays and Fridays 6:30 to 9pmSaturdays 11am to 9pm • Sundays Noon to 5pm

Christmas Eve - December 24, 11am to 2pm

November 28-December 24, 2014

Saint Charles Christmas Traditions produced by the Greater Saint Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau

Visit stcharleschristmas.com for all the specific dates, times, & events scheduled during the 40th Year Celebration

Opening Ceremony - Friday, November 28 at 11amKister Park Gazebo - 400 block of South Main Street

Official Saint Charles City Christmas Tree Lighting with Mayor Sally Faith

November 28 at 5pm - Berthold Square

Santas from around the world & The Legends of ChristmasChestnuts Roasting & Marshmallow RoastMusic by the Cobblestone Wassailiers & Sleigh Bell Singers Photos with Santa & Katy Depot Train Display in Santa’s Cottage Santa Parade on Saturdays & SundaysLate night shopping by sparkling lights on select eveningsLive greenery & red bows along brick-lined streetsBreakfast with SantaGingerbread Village

2014New F�40 Years of Christmas Traditions – The Great Ornament HuntYuletide Dinner with the Legends of ChristmasLive ReindeerCelebration of Saint Nicholas Day and Santa Lucia DayKriskindlmarkt (Nov. 28-30)

“40 Years of Christmas Traditions –Where Christmas Past Comes to Life”

A Special Documentary Presentation�ursday, November 20 | 6pm | Foundry Art Centre

(copies available for purchase during festival hours)

Saint Charles, Missouri

Follow Us On

6. ASK THE EXPERT: APRIL’S ON MAIN

8. FALL FAVORITES / HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

12. AMY GRANT

18. EXTRAORDINARY MOMMY

20. ROCK IT TO FIT

28. HONOR FLIGHT

32. WAYWORD CRITIC

34. EXPECT DELAYS

36. MARSHALL THE MIRACLE DOG

38. CARRINGTON PLACE

40. THE CHESS CLUB

42. CROSS MY HEART

47. SOCIETY PAGES

Department Pages

Table of Contents

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34 Layout: Grace Pettit


ST. CHARLES BELLEVILLE TEN REGIONAL CENTERS

209 South Kingshighway St. Charles, MO 63301 (636) 949-2000www.lindenwood.edu

Rooted in Tradition,Embracing Innovation

Lindenwood University is advancing the idea of what a university can be: loyal to debate and dialogue, cherishing diversity of thought, and devoted to our students. Lindenwood enjoys ever-increasing prominence.

Following nearly two decades of rapid growth, an expansion of innovative academic programs and premium accreditations, Lindenwood thrives as one of the Midwest’s larger independent universities.

Lindenwood has struck a new chord … orchestrating education in a new key.

in a New KeyEducation


the

Best part of this decorating method is that you only need to remove the items that are specifically Fall related and continue with your Christmas decor. The first layer featured in both pictures remain intact. Feel free to lavish as many pine sprays or garlands in the beginning stages as you want to use for Christmas since they are a live element of fall in nature. Once again, add in more holiday pretties and you have transitioned easily into your next season.

Our knowledgeable staff has years of experience in decorating for all seasons. If you want to bring in pictures for us to give suggestions or invite us into your home, we would be glad to help with all your decorating needs. Come see us at April’s on Main at 222 North Main Street, St Charles MO 63301, or call 636-395-7605. ¤

Ask Expert

One of the biggest issues we face during the holiday season is the limited amount of time between fall and Christmas in which to decorate. Many of the rich bold colors of fall transition beautifully into Christmas. Fall pallettes of bright to earthy shades of greens, golds, reds and bronzes can all be used along with winter greens to create the staging area for your decor. The underlying elements may include sparkly stems, picks, leaves, flowers and ornaments that will remain in place when the next layer of fall decorations are removed.

Once your base is established it is time to add in the fall leaves, pumpkins, gourds, bittersweet and accessories. Pictured above are both Fall and Christmas scenes created using most of the same decorative items. The mirror has been draped in greenery and stems much the same as one might do for entryway garland. Pedastel centerpiece container has been lavishly filled to compli-ment. Apothecary jars have been filled with gourds, berries, battery operated lights and candies. Candlesticks are twined with orange berries and adorned with either candles or pumpkins. Red cro-cheted doilies for added color and surface protection are great for Fall and Christmas. Using “Luminara” brand candles with realistic flame techology allow for elaborate placement without worry. Add a few extras around the display like “Mark Roberts” fairies/elves or pilgrims and turkeys and you are ready to welcome Fall.

APRIL’S ON MAIN is a unique woman’s getaway. We are a complete

home decor and gift store. From the one-of-a-kind centerpiece to the

perfect necklace made just for your needs. We carry silk florals, artwork,

furniture, candles, jewelry, lotion, table top accessories, pot-pouri and

much more. We have in-house designers to help you with all of your

decor needs. Aprils On Main St. Charles can be found on Facebook,

Yelp! and Twitter.

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AfterThis St. Charles homeowner was readyto give her master bath a much neededupdate. Everything was pink includingthe vinyl floor, counter top and accenttile. She desired the sooth-ing colors of a beach spa butdidn’t want to break thebank. By keeping the tub,deck and shower, a morereasonable remodel could beaccomplished. My contrac-tor carefully removed thepink accent tile on the tubskirt, which was replaced with green glasstile. New ceramic tile floors, an updatedvanity, mirror and light fixtures, all inneutral, complimented the tile inspiredcolor scheme and colorful window treat-ment. This master bath is now a beautifuland luxurious retreat!

Let us assist you in creating your own“beautiful room”!

Before

Owner Interior Designer

Nancy Barrett

DesignerKathy Cissell

636.519.4090 • www.BeautifulRoomsDesign.com

From custom florals, jewelry, lotions, artwork, upholstery, furniture and more. Whether you need a gift or the perfect accessory to complete your home.

We have something for everyone.

(636)395-7605 222 North Main St St. Charles MO 63301

Aprils on Main St Charles

Store Hours:MWF 9:30-7pmT|TR|SAT 9:30-5pmSunday 11:30- 5pm

WORTHINGTON


Turkey, football and leftovers are something we can unanimously agree to be an American Thanksgiving staple. It is a day we look forward to every year. Thanksgiving is about focusing on what matters most: family, friends and the ultimate comfort food. We all have our favorite recipes and traditions. This year, break out of the same-old, same-old with some fun twists to serving your feast and decorating your table. We have collected our favorite recipes and entertaining tips sure to make your holiday season fun, festive and delicious.

A beautifully set table makes any meal special – and what meal could be more special than Thanksgiving. Let your table reflect the warm colors of the season. Aged wood, roses the color of fallen leaves and fresh produce can create a simple, yet elegant centerpiece.

Instead of using a tablecloth, arrange sheer runners across the width of the table. Purchase inexpensive gold glass chargers from an imports store. Basic white plates look great and allow colorful napkins and decor to take the stage.

There’s no disputing the fact that butternut squash soup is one of the best (and most classic) recipes for fall. Everyone has their variation of this delicious soup: some add apple, some prefer brown sugar, or some call for more garlic. The best butternut squash soup recipe, in our opinion, perfectly balances the sweet and savory features of this fall squash, and is finished off by a surprising ingredient -- a bit of sherry. This dry wine adds a layer that will elevate your butternut squash soup’s flavor, while the nutmeg, pepper, cream and leeks ensure it will still have all the markings of the classic butternut squash soup you love.Pumpkins can be used for just about anything these days. They are easy to find and inexpensive. And with so many varieties and colors to choose, they have become a staple for event planners to use as a foundation at their events. They can be used for ev-erything from a candle holder to a beverage dispenser. We have included a few easy to do yourself ideas to add some flair to your turkey day.

TIP: Try using a large pumpkin as a cooler. Simply hollow out the insides of a pumpkin and fill with ice and your favorite beverage. Now that’s a cooler!

Fall Pumpkin Candle CenterpieceAll you need for this darling centerpiece are three simple materi-als. The pumpkin, a candle and some fall sprigs! Simply carve out the top of the pumpkin enough to firmly hold the candle, leaving just a little room for the leaves. Placing the finished candle centerpiece on a large mirror adds an elegant touch.

Pumpkin Pie Dip If you like pumpkin pie you will love this dip! It has a creamy texture and just enough spices, but is not over-powering. When eaten with cinnamon graham crackers, it tastes just like pumpkin pie! *Any dip can be used inside the pumpkin.

Ingredients1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix OR 2 cups powdered sugar1 cup canned pumpkin1/2 cup sour cream1 teaspoon ground cinnamon2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice1/2 teaspoon ground ginger1 cup frozen whipped cream, thawedGingersnap cookies, apples, or cinnamon graham cracker sticks

DirectionsHollow out small to medium size pumpkin and clean well inside, removing all the seeds and lining. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.

Add in pumpkin, sour cream, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger. Mix well.

Fold in the thawed whipped cream. Chill until ready to serve.Serve with green apples, graham cracker sticks, or gingersnaps.Store in refrigerator.

Story by Kate Santellano Photos Courtesy Kate Santellano

FallFavorites


December is filled with end of the year deadlines, company parties and family celebra-tions. With busy schedules creating a menu for a group can be daunting. And lets face it, borderline painful. Yet, we want to share the season with families and friends.

If you are like most, you have decorations from years gone by. Some hold special memories while others have seen better days but end up being used. After all, we have too many other things to worry about then updating our decorations. Luckily, we have created this survival guide that gives your table décor should be a reflection of your per-sonality. Incorporating a bit of nature to your décor brings warmth and touch of elegance to your table. Holly lasts for a few weeks and looks stunning when placed throughout the house. For a quick and easy alternative to flowers fill a clear vase with cranberries and a floating candle. Add some holly around the base to complete the natural feel. If you have your heart set on flowers, you can still use the cranberries in the vase.

Ornaments are another favorite decoration staple. Scatter around the base of your serving pieces, candle sticks or buffet table to add some shimmer and shine. All gold ornaments add an elegant touch and dress up any table. crème fraîche

Desserts are often either overlooked completely or so heavy that you need a crane to lift you out of the door. This year, make a dessert station that has a variety of small portion desserts. Arrange them on a table of their own and display platters at varying heights. Before your very own eyes, you just created a masterpiece!

This easy to create set can be used anywhere around the house. Grouped together or placed throughout the home, your guests will be amazed that YOU did this yourself.

Butternut Squash Soup with SherryIngredients1/2 large yellow or white onion, about 1 1/2 cups2 tablespoons butter1/3 to 1/2 pound bacon or salt pork, diced1 quart turkey, chicken or vegetable stock5 bay leaves1 large butternut squash, about 2 poundsSalt2 heaping tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream Sherry

Directions1. Peel the squash, scrape out the insides and chop it into chunks.

2. In a large pot, heat the butter over medium-high heat and add the onions and bacon. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent. You don’t want them browning. Pour in the stock, add the squash, bay leaves and a healthy pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer gently for an hour. Stir it once or twice in that time.

3. Uncover the pot, remove the bay leaves and puree the soup, either with an immersion blend-er, by moving the soup to a blender or a food processor, or by pushing it through a food mill. An immersion blender will give you a slightly chunky soup, a blender the smoothest. Return the soup to the pot, put the bay leaves back in and simmer, uncovered, for another 15 minutes. Stir frequently to keep it from sticking on the bottom.

4. Add salt to taste. Right before you serve, whisk in the crème fraîche. Top with a bit of your favorite sherry.

December HolidaySurvival Guide


Marshmallow PopsYou will want to have your serving tray close by to put the finished treats on. You may want to have wax paper to line. Use red napkins and plates to make the desserts pop.

Ingredients24-48 red striped paper straws (depending on how many people you are having. (Count on 2 per person)1 Bag of marshmallows (you can use flavored ones too)1 Bag crushed mints (you should be able to find them in the baking section of your grocery store)

Directions1. Cut straws to desired length and place ¾ of the way in one side of the marshmallow. (The whole straw looks best but you can cut in half to save money if you are doing a lot).2. Roll the bottom half of the marshmallows in the crushed mints and place on serving tray.

Santa ConesThis easy to create set can be used anywhere around the house. Grouped together or placed throughout the home, your guests will be amazed that YOU did this yourself.

Supplies3 Styrofoam cones of varying heights (or thick paper mache cones that are hallow on the inside) 1 Yard red felt / 22-24 Inches black felt1 Yard White fur / 50-60 RhinestonesHot glue gun or clear craft glue*All supplies can be found at your local craft store.

Directions1. Wrap cones with red felt 2. Add black felt / belt 3. Add rhinestones (One package of 52 does the trick!)4. Next add fur to the bottom and make a ball for on top

Hot Chocolate CupsThis variation is just as easy and does not use straws.

IngredientsSmall candy canesBakers chocolate (microwave cups with chocolate are avail-able in the baking aisle of grocery store)

Directions1. Snap off the crook of the candy cane. Put the remaining pieces in a bowl to crush next.2. Melt chocolate and roll the top half of the marshmallows in melted chocolate.3. Dip the top of the marshmallow in the crushed pieces of candy cane. (You can also use sprinkles).4. Attach the hook of a candy cane to one side of the marshmal-low.

Place on serving tray and enjoy!

The Pulizzi Family Invites You To Enjoy

Authentic Italian Specialties

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Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos Courtesy of Southside Entertainment


AmyGrant

“THE QUEEN OF CHRISTIAN POP,” Amy Grant, will be performing December 7 at the Lindenwood J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts. The show will feature songs from her first full studio album in a decade.

“How Mercy Looks From Here.” According to Grant, the album is “the soundtrack of a life well lived.”

“A lot of major life changes happened during these past few years.” Grant said. “So, on this record, there’s zero filler. Every song has a real story behind it.”

In telling those stories, Grant recruited an array of friends and heroes, including James Taylor, Carole King, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Eric Paslay and Will Hoge, to deliver a vibrant collection of songs. She said the inspiration behind the album was a talk she had with her ailing mother.

“A conversation I had with my mother a couple of months before she died helped set the direction for this record,” she said. Grant’s mother passed away in April 2011. “Mom had a lifelong curiosity that kept her young at heart, even when her mind was failing. One night, when I stopped by to visit her on my way to my bus to drive to a concert, she was surprised to discover that I was a singer. ‘Oh you sing?’ she asked. I said, ‘Yes ma’am.

I sing.’ She asked, ‘What kind of songs do you sing?’ I was explaining what I sang to her, and she asked if she could get on the bus and go with me. She was frail and clearly wearing out, and I said, ‘Not this time.’ She said, ‘Well if I can’t go, do me a favor. When you get on stage, sing something that matters.” That simple, profound bit of advice took root and became Grant’s mantra for the new record, which she dedicated to her mom. “It’s not all serious. It’s not all silly. It’s just things that matter.’ ” According to Biography.com, Grant grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, in a close-knit, religious family. It was in church that Grant was exposed to the hymns and Christian stories that would influence her work.

As a teenager, Grant taught herself how to play guitar and worked part-time at a recording studio. According to Biography.com, she made a tape of her music for her parents, which was discovered by a producer with Word Records, a Christian music label. This led to a recording contract, and her first album was released in 1977. The self-titled album was a big success in the world of Christian music. With her unique style, Grant charted new territory. She fused elements of existing genres of gospel and hymns to create a new sound that had not been heard before. Grant met Gary Chapman while making “My Father’s Eyes” (1979). He joined her on tour as her opening act for the album “Never Alone” (1980). The couple married in 1982. That

Queen of Christian Pop


same year, she released “Age to Age,” for which she won her first Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance.

Grant’s sound began changing with her 1985 album “Unguarded.” The soft-rock element of her music began to transform into a mainstream pop sound. Her first crossover success on the pop charts was complete with the track “Find a Way” and its accompanying music video on MTV. Many in the Christian community were upset, however, that the lyrics on the album had few direct religious references and that she was seemingly abandoning her gospel roots for pop stardom.

Her album “Heart in Motion” (1991), which featured the song “Baby, Baby,” reached number one on the Billboard’s pop chart. According to Biography.com, her next release, “House of Love” (1994), featured love songs, as well as songs reflecting her devotion to God. The album featured a duet with her current husband Vince Gill, a top country music performer, on the title track, which scored well on the pop and adult contemporary charts. Grant has built a career on music that matters. Ever since she burst on the scene as a fresh-faced teenager bringing contemporary Christian music to the forefront of American culture, the Nashville native gained a reputation for creating meaningful songs that examined life’s complexities.

Grant became the first artist in Christian music to have a platinum record and went on to become a crossover sensation. Her musical gifts seemed to transcend genre boundaries and quickly made her a household name. She’s earned six Grammy Awards and more than 20 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. She has produced three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums, and four gold albums. She’s achieved 10 Top 40 pop singles and placed 17 hits on the Top 40 Adult Contemporary chart, as well as scored numerous hits on the contemporary Christian charts.

A longtime and active Nashville resident, Grant is as well known for her philanthropy as her music. She and husband Vince Gill are tireless in their efforts to aid worthy causes.

The “How Mercy Looks From Here” project opens with “If I Could See,” described by Grant as a spirited, up-tempo number with an engaging melody and uplifting lyric that kicks off the album with a sense of purpose and the feeling of a musical adventure.

The ballad “Shovel in Hand” began as a poem Grant penned after her son, Matt, lost a close friend when he was only 19. Grant said

the song chronicles the emotion a mother feels seeing her child wrestle with tragedy.

The song “Better Not to Know” also came from the deep well of personal experience, Grant said. After her grandmother died in 1988, Grant took her inheritance money and planted 75 fruit trees on the Tennessee farm where she was living with her first husband and children.

“Don’t Try So Hard” is a tender ballad about resting in God’s grace that features James Taylor. “I’ve loved his voice forever,”

Grant said. Grant recruited Carole King to join her on the upbeat “Our Time Is Now.” “I felt like that lyric applied to both of us, to Carole and myself. It’s a special song,” Grants says of the tune, which also features her children’s voices and her father. Among

the other guest vocalists on the album is Nashville-based, singer/songwriter Will Hoge.

Grant said she feels the most “settled” she has ever felt in her life.

“At some point in life you realize that some things really matter and some things don’t,” Grant says. “Living matters. Celebrating life matters. Seeing the value in hard times matters. Relationships and people matter. Faith matters. I feel like that’s where my head has been while writing and recording this project. I feel this is a very positive record. I hope it is life-affirming. Life prepares us for the journey. You don’t know what’s ahead, and that is one of the great things about getting older in a framework of faith. Faith is the one thing that stands the test of time.” ¤

St. Charles’ Economic Development Department Accredited by the International Economic Development Council

[Washington, DC] – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announced that the Economic Development Department for the City of St. Charles has been recognized as one of 42 economic development organizations accredited by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO).

“The department displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle.

The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate informa-tion about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.

“We are proud and excited to have earned this honor,” stated Mayor Sally Faith. “Accreditation means our city is doing the right things for economic development success.”

“Achieving this elite status is a significant accomplishment for the city,” Faith added. Earning the AEDO accredita-tion tells the community and prospects that St. Charles has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well-placed and their business is in good hands.

The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. For more information on IEDC or the AEDO program: email [email protected]; or International Economic Development Council.


StreetScape Book Review

Review by Main Street Books

Title: Kiss of Steel

Author: Bec McMaster

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Buy it at Main Street Books307 S Main St., St. Charles MO 63301(636) 949-0105 www.MainStreetBooks.netFollow us on twitter @mainstreetbooks

Most romance novels are light and airy, perfect for resetting the mind and lifting the spirits. Far from being a mere break in the tide of more “serious literature”, Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series is a meaty, delicious, sizzling saga that will delight fans of fantasy and romance alike. In the first book, Kiss of Steel, the author expertly weaves the tale of a strong-willed, independent woman and a gorgeous, Prince-of-Darkness vampire into a tapestry of 1880’s London- a London ruled over by the Vampire Elite. It takes on the question of power and who should have the authority to rule over the masses, as well as subjects like discrimination, women’s rights, and international politics. The Steampunk elements are spot-on, from mechanized soldiers to steam-powered submarines, and the more romantic scenes… Well, let’s just say that this reader was reaching for some ice water. London Steampunk won’t just clear your palate- it will take you over and leave you thirsty for more. Book 5 will be released in March 2015.

London Steampunk Series : Kiss of Steel | Heart of Iron | My Lady Quicksilver Of Silk and Steam

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS are almost as exciting as the holidays for me. They mark a passage of another year. They document the amazing growth of my small people; and I must admit, there is something so extraordinary about seeing the joy and love of my family captured in time. For us, family photos are an annual fall tradition, which means every year I need to tackle the ever-important question:

What will we wear? Since I know that, for many people, this can be nearly as much of a challenge as finding the right photographer — a very important issue I will tackle in a later post — I wanted to offer my favorite 10 tips.

1) Coordinate, don’t match I know. It used to be a thing. Everyone would wear the exact same outfit, like jeans and a white t-shirt. A million years ago, I even did it. Don’t do it now. I clearly remember a photographer in San Diego fretting to me about all of the fami-lies doing it. (I was one of those families – see below.) And while I wouldn’t change those captured memories, we have all moved on and learned to be more stylish. Choose a color scheme, then mix and match colors so that everyone flows and coordinates.

2) Start with one piece and buildWhen I don’t know what colors I want to choose for a photo shoot, I choose one piece and build around it. For the shoot below, I found this green dress that I loved and then built the rest of my family’s attire around it, adding blue for my daughter and husband and orange for my son.

3) Plan in advanceThe more time you allow yourself to decide what you would like everyone to wear, the calmer you will feel. Waiting until two nights before your shoot is bound to make you feel panicked. What if something you choose doesn’t fit, you can’t find the right shoes, or your five-year-old refuses the outfit you’ve chosen. Just give yourself time. And options never hurt.

4) Keep your location in mindAre you going to be on the beach? Will you be surrounded by beautiful foliage? Sometimes you can choose what you are wearing to accent the locale. Fall colors – deep reds, oranges and greens – look lovely this time of year, while a softer palette accents the coast.

5) Avoid being too seasonalSince you ultimately want your pictures to be up all year long, you should avoid being too seasonal. You may want to skip Santa hats, reindeer ears or Halloween costumes, even if you are taking specific holiday pictures.

6) Consider your home decorMatching your clothing to your home decor? I know it may sound silly, but this is more about matching your personal style. As you probably want your pictures to be on display for a very long time,


Photographer Joanna Kleine

Story by Danielle Smith

Extraordinary MommyTen Tips for What to Wear in Family Photos

consider whether you are normally drawn to bold colors or neutral ones. This will allow your photographs to blend seamlessly with your home permanently.

7) Comfort mattersWe have all seen it done – photos with people (kids especially) styled in hats, boots, tutus, and jackets. And they look adorable! But if those kids aren’t comfortable, you are in for one miserable photo shoot. Make sure to keep everyone’s comfort level in mind. A tutu may sound like a great idea, but if you choose a blustery November day, your girl may be freezing, so have a backup plan in mind.

8) Skip the extra patternsThat favorite sweater or scarf of yours… you know the really loud one with the stripes AND dots? It might be best to skip it. A little bit of texture or patterning can be a good thing in one place, but if there are multiple patterns in a photo, it can be distracting

9) Just say no to charactersI know your sweet girl loves her Frozen Dress and crown; but as this is a more formal photo and one you want to put on display, it is best to keep characters out of the picture.

If this might mean a fight, you can always bring the crown along. Then, much like my family always does, take at least one crazy, silly, funny-face photo, and make the princess photo one of the last ones you do.

10) Think timelessFashions and styles come and go. You want your family photos to be timeless, so it is best to aim for more of a classic look, not one that instantly dates you. Just as we can easily point to wedding photos from the 70s and 80s, noting the hairstyles, the frills and lace, your goal is to have this year’s photographs blend right in.

Good luck and HAVE FUN! ¤

DANIELLE SMITH is a digital correspondent, a lifestyle entrepreneur, a spokesperson,

media personality and author. She is the founder of parenting and lifestyle website,

ExtraordinaryMommy.com, the author of Mom, Incorporated: A Guide to Business +

Baby and most recently Social Media Engagement for Dummies. A California girl, living

in St. Louis with her family, she credits her small people, Delaney and Cooper as THE

reason she follows her dreams.

Danielle Smith | Founder

Extraordinary Mommy: www.extraordinarymommy.com

Danielle Smith Media: www.daniellesmithmedia.com

Social Media Engagement for Dummies: Available Now on Amazon.com!

Mom Incorporated: A Guide to Business + Baby: Available Now on Amazon.com!

Digital Correspondent * Speaker * Author * Host * Media Trainer


Photographer Gina Kelly

A Stretch to Flexibility

Do you wake up in the morning, throw your arms above your head as far as you can reach, extend your legs as far as you can push them, give out a huge yawn, and then stretch? How wonderful is that feeling?

As a personal trainer, I encourage all of my clients to stretch as much as possible. But research indicates it has mixed results. Most studies show that stretching is beneficial for improving your range of motion and increasing your flexibility. However, a few studies have shown that there is no benefit to stretching. Regardless, stretching the proper way will not hurt you.

Flexibility varies between individuals. Some may never notice an increase in their range of motion due to stretching. Others reap major benefits from continued stretching.

About three years ago, I started feeling back pain. This is not uncommon since 80% of all Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. I continued to work out and train clients as the pain progressed, but finally bit the bullet and made an appointment with a doctor. For the next year, I received temporary fixes from a pain management doctor, such as injec-tions and muscle relaxers. I got to the point where the doctor bills were mounting up, yet the pain was so unbearable I was unable to complete a full body workout. I also had issues trying to train my clients. It was debilitating and frustrating. Friends, family, and coworkers were tired of hearing about it.

Finally, I decided to go to a different doctor who ordered an MRI. It was clear after seeing the MRI films that I had a herniated disc, and my sacroiliac joint was out of alignment.

In the meantime, I am required to earn continuing education credits in order to stay certified. I ordered an online course called “Injury Prevention – The Spine.” I began taking the course and realized immediately that I was educating myself better than any other physician had done for me up until this point.

The course explained how a herniated disc could easily hit a nerve root, creating excruciating pain. The fix… STRETCHING. By stretching the spine, each vertebra in your spine expands, pulling that herniated disc back closer to the vertebra and away from the nerve root. This has alleviated 85% of my pain. These days, I only notice issues with my back when I do not stretch.

This example, obviously, is not necessarily the story for every individual who is suffering from back pain.

So exactly what is flexibility?

Flexibility refers to the range of movement in a joint or series of joints and the length of muscles that cross the joints to induce a bending movement or motion. Flexibility in some joints can be increased, to a certain degree, by stretching. Improving and maintaining a good range of motion in the joints can enhance quality of life. Stretching can also improve athletic performance, decrease risk of injury, and reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Stretching also increases blood flow to the muscles.

Individual body flexibility varies from person to person. Genet-ics, age and gender are factors to take into consideration. Your best friend may be able to touch her chin to her knees while seated with her legs in front of her, but then you don’t come any-where close to that range of motion, even though you lead similar lives as far as exercising and stretching. You also have different joint structure, ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. which are factors in levels of flexibility.

The following is how to stretch in a safe and effective way:

Movement into stretching – Always approach stretching gen-tly. Gentle movement can help you be more flexible in specific movements. Tai Chi, Pilates and yoga are all great ways to gently stretch.


Rock It To FitBuilding a healthy lifestyle

Story by Maria Mazzola Photo by Michael Schlueter

Stretching should never be a warm up – Walking, cycling and light jump roping at a low intensity are examples of ways to warm your muscles prior to stretching. Stretching cold muscles could cause injury.

Stretch both sides equally – If you stretch your right hamstring, make sure you stretch the left hamstring, as well.

Focus on major muscle groups – Glutes, hamstrings, calves, lower back, hips, neck and shoulders are the muscles that get the most use and seem to tighten up quickly with inactivity.

Hold your stretch – Hold each stretch at least 30 seconds. For problem areas, hold the stretch longer up to 60 seconds. Gently breathe into the stretch and extend the stretch just a bit further every 15 seconds.

Stretch to feel good, with no pain – Feel tension while stretching. If you feel pain, you are either exceeding the correct range of motion, or you are feeling an injury that should probably be left alone until you can consult a physician.

Keep up with stretching – Stretching is time consuming, but you can achieve the benefits of stretching if you do it three to four times per week. If you do not keep up with stretching, your range of motion may decrease again.

More research is needed, but it can’t hurt to squeeze a few minutes of stretching into your day. Who knows, you may notice an improvement in an area where you ache and feel fantastic for the rest of the day! ¤

Rock It To Fit, [email protected]

314.707.0512


Few things can be more frustrating than styling our

hair. There are boat-loads of products claiming to

be the fix to all your hair challenges, and navigating

your way through shelf after shelf requires a day

off with a packed lunch. To ease the suffering, I’ve

spotlighted some excellent products for particular

hair types.

LET’S FACE ITBest Hair Products

BEST FOR FINE / THIN HAIRThis is the most challenged type of hair to style. It can be heredi-tary or many times hormonal/medication induced. Tackling this issue with nutrition and supplements can greatly help in stimulat-ing growth. For styling, it needs a product that gives fullness, yet using too much (or the wrong product) can weigh it down and make it look stringy. The art is in the application and your patience. As soon as you come out of the shower flip your head upside down and wrap your hair in a moisture absorbent towel. Start by applying the styling product at the roots first then mas-saging your way down. The bulk of the product should start near your scalp for maximum fullness. Blow dry upside down until 80 to 90% dry then flip over to finish with a round brush for lift.

Shampoo & Conditioner: Nexxus Diametress Luscious Hair Thickening Shampoo & Sublime Volume Luscious Bodifying Conditioner ranks high in actually increasing the diameter of the hair shaft. This gives great volume and body, leaving the hair soft and manageable.

Hairspray: Tri Aerogel is specially designed for those with fine hair or sensi-tive scalps, this hairspray contains a gel base in an aerosol can. It’s important that fine & thin hair have a strong hold that still leaves their hair soft and brushable without weighing it down.

Volumizing Thickening Spray: Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray is quite a flexible spray. Although many call this a hairspray, I love to use it on damp hair also. It helps create great volume when sprayed at the roots and worked down. Use on all types of hair as a styling product wet or dry.

Story by Tamara Tungate

Texturizing Spray: When you have fine, limp hair, but want curls or waves or just plain body, a texturizing spray can be a Godsend. Prive Finishing Texture Spray adds grip to the hair shaft preventing slippery and stringy hair. It adds body and shine.Curling iron: ¾ to 1 inch barrel with adjustable heat control. Soft curls always add more volume.

BEST FOR CURLY / FRIZZY HAIRThe biggest challenge for this hair type is finding the right product and type of application. Thin, curly hair might need a light-weight product, whereas thick, curly hair may need a much heavier product. Most stylists agree that to maximize your natural curl, the first step is in the shower. After shampoo and condi-tioning do NOT comb through and rub dry with a towel. Finger comb through the curls. Buy a moisture absorbent towel and blot the curls gently, always pushing up instead of downward. Finger through a curl cream.

Shampoo for Curly Hair: My curly-haired friends swear by Deva Curl’s No-Poo and Lo- Poo shampoos. These shampoos contain no sulfates, so they won’t lather. But this also means there›s no bad ingredients to dry out your curls even further. Try the Lo Poo if you have curly hair that’s not too dehydrated. The No Poo has no lathering capabili-ties at all, but will cleanse the hair and scalp while not stripping it of natural oils.

Shampoo for Dry Curly Hair:A lot of curly hair is also dry hair. Aveda’s Remedy Kit gets raves for softening and shining up dry hair with many a user enjoying their air dried curls for the first time!


Curl Crème for Thick Curly Hair: Naturally wavy hair people believe in this crème. Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding takes frizzy hair and turns it into perfect coiled waves and curls. Put a small amount in your palm and work it through hair before air-drying or blow-drying with a diffuser on the lowest heat and speed setting possible. Infused with macadamia and sweet almond oil for a fragrant scent.

Curl Product for Thin Curly Hair: Curly Sexy Hair Full On Curls Volumizing and Texturizing Styler is designed to create a varied curl pattern and major volume for the thin, hair curly ladies. Every curly head needs this go-to styling aid! Simply apply to damp hair for bouncy, well-defined curls. I even apply it to dry hair that’s starting to frizz. The spray has a tendency to make you feel like it’s snowing but the results are worth it.

Flyaways and Edges:A must-have in my on-set bag is the OLive Oil Edge Control hair Gel. It slicks and holds down edges while adding shine and moisture to the hair. Use it around the face for those stubborn short pieces or use to help keep frizzy sections under control and when possible opt for this to control flyaways instead of hairspray. Curling iron: 3/8 to 5/8 size barrel helps pick up that drooping curl that occasionally misbehaves.

BEST FOR THICK / COARSE HAIRCoarse hair is thirsty hair and heavy emollients like creams, oils and silicone gels help calm the cuticle and give the hair moisture and shine. Many are scared of overdoing the application but depending on how thick and coarse your hair is you could certainly use a Ping-Pong ball size in your hand and even more in some cases. An ionic hairdryer is a big help. To keep hair smooth after applying your product, use an ionic hairdryer point-ed downward over your hair. Use a 1½ metal round brush stretching the hair downward.

Shampoos and Conditioner: The raves on the product are great. Exquisite Oil Micro-OIl Shampoo & Conditioner contains an oil blend of Moringa, Macadamia, Coconut and Almond oils which not only provides moisture and frizz control but gives a beautiful shine and touch ability to coarse hair. Depending on your thickness you may only need to shampoo with this product!

Heat / Styling Spray: Want soft, smooth and silky hair? Sally’s Silk Elements Megasilk heat protection spray is a favorite for dry, damaged or coarse hair. A couple of spritzes of this lightweight for-mula before using your flatiron and you have super protection and long term hold. Love this stuff for thin or thick hair.

Styling and Replenishing Treatment: Biosilk Silk Therapy is a go-to product for me when using heat on dry or damaged hair. Apply to the dry areas of your hair (generally the ends) for added moisture. Moisture is what allows you to shape your hair with heat and Biosilk not only protects buts adds the needed drink so your hair looks styled and soft.

FLAT IRON:Chi Air EXpert Classic Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron is one product I urge you not to skimp on. Ceramic plated (not ceramic coated) infused with Tourmaline crystals re-ally make a BIG difference. You need even, hot heat so that a one-time pass over your strands does the trick. Apply heat protectant spray over all strands you plan to straight-en. Then use a slow and steady stroke over the hair while pressing firmly.



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Honor FlightOrganization guarantees veterans see memorials

made in their honor

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

“THEY ANSWERED THE CALL to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front … As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest … In a deep sense they didn’t think that what they were doing was that special, because everyone else was doing it too.” — Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation

It is estimated that anywhere from 550 to 900 WWII veterans are dying each day in the United States. USA Today reported last year that fewer than 1.7 million were still alive at that time of the 16.1 million who served. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that the last of the WWII veterans will die around 2035.

Before that time arrives, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight is making sure they are able to see the memorials that were built in their honor.

Honor Flight Board Member, Bob Graves, said his mission is simple.

“We get the older veterans, the oldest of the veterans, or the terminally ill veterans and fly them to D.C. on a tour of their memorials,” Graves said. “Anyone who served during one of the conflicts is eligible to go to see their memorial, but our focus in St. Louis is on WWII and the terminally ill.”

Veterans are initially placed on the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following priorities: WWII veterans and terminally ill veterans of any conflict, followed by Korean War and Vietnam veterans. Because of the growing waiting list, Honor Flight is currently unable to accommodate spouses, unless they are eligible veterans themselves.

Graves said there are Honor Flight chapters in nearly every major city in the United States. There are eight in Missouri alone.

All of the chapters, including St. Louis, are part of the National Honor Flight Network conceived by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired U.S. Air Force captain, to honor veterans he

Bob Graves – at Lambert Intl Airport with Southwest – the carrier he uses to fly these veterans to Washington DC


took care of for years. National Honor Flight originated in Ohio in May 2005 with six small planes flying 12 WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. As the waiting list of veterans continued to expand, commercial airline carriers were used to accommodate as many veterans as possible, as quickly as possible. Southwest Airlines is the national partner for the organization.

The Greater St. Louis Honor Flight was created in 2009. Since then, the group has flown about 600 veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their memorials.

Two EMTs accompany veterans on every trip in case they are in need of any medical help. Three to four flight leaders are also part of the group. These individuals are responsible for all of the planning and itineraries on every trip.

Brian Beasley, a firefighter/EMT with Central County Fire & Rescue in St. Peters, made the trip in August.

“Most of these heroes have some substantial health issues. It was comforting for the veterans and their guardians to know they would have some immediate help should there be a problem,” Beasley said. “Fortunately, our services were not needed on this trip.”

Nevertheless, Beasley said it was he who felt honored.

“It was such an honor to travel with these men and hear the stories and the sacrifices they made during these wars. For me, getting to travel with them and offer something like medical care should the need arise, is just my way of saying thank you for what they have done. It was definitely an honor for me. If anyone doesn’t understand why they called these guys and gals the greatest generation, just sit and talk with one.”

Each veteran is accompanied by his or her own “guardian.” This person serves as the veteran’s “wing man” and, while guardians used to be mainly active duty service members, more often than not they are now family members. They must be 18 years old, but no more than 64 years old. Guardians are responsible for any needs the veterans might have, from medication to a drink of water to holding their hands if they need assistance walking. Guardians pay for their own trips and attend a mandatory training session.

Veterans’ flights are funded by private donations from individu-als, corporations, foundations and other groups.

Graves said Honor Flight leaves Lambert International Airport at around 6 a.m. on the day of the trip with a group of about 54 people, including veterans, guardians, flight leaders and EMTs. As soon as they reach Washington, D.C., they head straight for the WWII Memorial surrounded by the majestic Capitol Mall. From there they are taken to see the Vietnam Veterans Memo-rial, Korean War Memorial, and “The Changing of the Guard” at Arlington National Cemetery. The veterans are allowed to drive straight up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Graves said.

“We have the privilege, because we are Honor Flight. We can go all the way through the cemetery directly to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

They also drive by the side of the Pentagon that was hit during the attacks of 9/11.

A veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, Graves served in an artillery unit for six years, including during Desert Storm. He said the day sometimes gets to him.

“The day really is an emotional roller coaster. These veterans get off the plane, and you see all of these people applauding them. There could be 75 or 375 people making a tunnel as they walk through. It’s just phenomenal,” he said. “I will tell you, these guys are so energized by what’s going on around them and strangers coming up and introducing themselves and thanking them. They have more energy than most of their guardians standing next to them. And they out-age their guardians by sometimes 50, 60, 70 years.”

The Honor Flight Network has safely transported more than 81,000 veterans to see their memorials, at no cost to them, since 2005.

“It’s important to me that we are celebrating what these guys were able to do 70 years ago, to allow us to continue to have the freedoms we have today,” Graves said. “All of these folks need to be revered and thanked beyond anything we could possibly ever do for them. This is just a small token of what we could do.”

For more information on giving to or volunteering for Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, call 636-230-2466 or visit www.gslhonorflight.org. ¤

For our city.

MIKE

MAYOR

KLINGHAMMER

paid for by Mike Klinghammer for MayorSam Mejia, Treasurer

MikeKlinghammerForMayor.com

learn more


WrapHayden Mosley

-A-Bottom


FOR OVER TWO DECADES, Harvester Christian Church has been telling the Christmas story in a way like no one else. For even longer than that, the congrega-tion has been collecting food, coats or presents for those in need in its commu-nity during the Christmas season. But members of the congregation won’t be wrapping any presents this year. Instead, they say they want to wrap bottoms. And they want the whole community in on it.

Two years ago, the church escorted nearly 20,000 people through its “Journey to Bethlehem” outdoor, interactive ver-sion of the birth of Jesus. This year, the congregation, with the help of the commu-nity, hopes to collect over five times that number in diapers.

Lead Pastor Brian Jobe said church mem-bers knew last year that they would not be putting on their beloved “Journey to Bethlehem” production in 2014, and pos-sibly 2015, because it was time to finish construction of the new sanctuary.

For the last 13 years, Harvester has been meeting inside a Sprung structure.

Although it looks like, and has been likened to, a big Hershey’s Kiss along Highway 94, the temporary building is actually an engineered, stressed-mem-brane structure constructed of extruded aluminum arches. It’s integrally connected to an all-weather, outer performance, architectural membrane that has been engineered to withstand high wind loads and designed to shed snow. The struc-ture seats 850 people. Harvester’s new worship center, slated for completion in the summer of 2015, will seat 1,250. Visioneering, a Christian design-and-build architectural firm out of California, is building the new sanctuary.

It was obvious to the congregation that construction on the Harvester property would prohibit them from carrying out the massive undertaking that is involved in “Journey to Bethlehem.” So the church set out to find what it could do to reach the community with the real story behind Jesus’ birth, which, Jobe said, is God’s love for His people.

“In the past we’ve done other things in addition to Journey. We always want to

reach out and bless our community,” Jobe said. “But this year, we wanted to take it up a notch.”

Harvester has collected coats for children in need at Christmas time before, but Jobe said Kurt Warner’s organization, “War-ner’s Warm-up Coat Drive,” now has over 700 collection sites in the St. Louis area for coats.

“They’re going to have plenty of coats. So we set about doing research on what the need is, and we found out there’s a need for diapers. It’s not glamorous, but we can make a difference.”

With a little dedication online and con-versations with organizations Harvester already ministers to, Jobe said it wasn’t long before church staff found out that moms in the St. Louis region have a huge need for diapers.

“Thirty percent of mothers report diaper need,” Jobe said. “It really tugged at our hearts. We found out that childcare and daycare providers often require the parents to provide a day’s worth of diapers. If the parent can’t afford diapers, they can’t take their child to childcare. So they can’t go out and get a job to pay for the diapers

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they need, which just perpetuates the problem. We decided this is bigger than anybody knows.”

Babies generally need between eight and 12 diapers a day, with infants needing about 12 and toddlers, eight. Diapers typically cost about $18 per week, $100 per month, and $936 per year per child. Jobe said, unbeknownst to most of his staff, diapers cannot be obtained with food stamps.

An alarming statistic that Jobe and the church discovered is that one in 20 moms have actually reused soiled diapers.

Armed with statistics that the church staff obtained from the “Huggies: Every Little Bottom” campaign website, the National Diaper Bank website, and an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from April, his church decided it was going to help fulfill what it had discovered was one of the greatest needs of mothers in the community.

Harvester hopes to collect 100,000 diapers by December 21, 2014. As part of its Community Christmas initiative, the church will be advertising around the area, “100,000 by 12-21-14.” Church members have committed to become personal collection sites for the effort. They will hand out post cards in their various subdivi-sions asking for donations of diapers and telling their neighbors to drop them off on their porches. They, in turn, will deliver them to the church.

“We want to invite them to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” Jobe said. “It really is a community initiative.”

On Sunday, December 21, church members, and anyone else-who shows up, will be loading trucks with the diapers that the church hopes, by that time, will fill their sanctuary and halls. After the diapers are all counted and delivered, the church will rent a couple of billboards near them and proclaim the number of diapers that the community (not just the church) supplied to their neighbors’ children, thus spreading the story of God’s love in a whole new way, Jobe said.

“I think we will surpass the 100,000 number by a lot,” Jobe said. “I think we’re going to have hundreds of thousands of diapers when it’s all said and done. This year we’re going to take the journey into the community. This year we’re going to take the Christmas story into the streets and share the love of Christ in a tangible way.”

St. Louis Crisis Nursery and Safe Families For Children, as well as the Salvation Army and local food pantries, will help Harvester Christian Church distribute the diapers collected.

For more information on Wrap-A-Bottom, visit www.harvesterchristian.org. ¤

HAPPY HOLLOW DAZE!Finding the Balance of Cheery and Curmudgeonly in Holiday ViewingIf you get nostalgic for family holidays of yore (ahem Boomers and early Xers)—the whole family huddled together with pie and hot chocolate, all watching the same shows they waited an entire year to view together (Charlie Brown’s Christmas special, It’s a Wonderful Life), then look at the current holiday “shared entertainment” prospects--everyone huddled over their iPads and Androids, in their own little bubbles--you are not alone.

Transport our 10-year-old brains from then to the holidays now and our cornucopia of choices in movies, cable, VOD and internet offerings would make our heads explode. But those were our traditions and the anticipation of an evening of decent TV with a big bowl of warm popcorn was worth it.

New traditions emerge; the old specials fade in their nostalgic charms, and we create new holiday viewing traditions. In theatres, we have the heavy-hitter Oscar contend-ers and family fare. TV’s 500 channels are rife with the old and the countless horrible copies of the old, but there are a few gems out there. So trade in your many versions of A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, and Planes Trains and Automobiles and consider these alternatives:

THANKSGIVINGBabette’s FeastOne of my Thanksgiving treats, this Dan-ish gem based on Isak Dinesen’s densely woven novella is the best film ever about gratitude and will completely seduce your appetite when it reaches the sumptuous feast at the core of the story. Yes, it is subtitled in English from Danish, and it’s slowly paced, simmering like a good stew, but Stephane Audran’s humble French chef is at once heartbreaking and uplifting, just like a family holiday should be. The beautiful Criterion transfer is available on Hulu+ or amazon.

CHRISTMASThe Polar ExpressWhen it first came out, some critics derid-ed its digital animation as “soul-less,” but they’re dead wrong. This movie above so many others keeps the warm feelings and traditions very much alive. It’s an old-fashioned Christmas tale told via deep digital rendering, and is a great conversa-tion-starter about whether ‘ol Saint Nick is the real deal or a shared dream. Watching it with fresh hot cha-cha-chocolate is a must. Available on amazon prime.

National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationI know, hard to call a “classic,” but what family can’t see traces of its own foibles in the lunacy of the Griswolds? The Christmas house lights unveiling scene is an American icon, and this is probably the most heartfelt of all the “Vacation” mov-ies. Available on amazon.


Story by Lance Tilford

Meet John DoeFrank Capra’s 1941 classic starring Gary Cooper and Bar-bara Stanwyck predated It’s a Wonderful Life (1945) and was the epitome of Capra’s populist idealism. It’s as much a Christmas movie as It’s a Wonderful Life (the movies end during the holidays), but goes darker into the corrupt-ibility of society and politics than either that or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. One of Gary Cooper’s most brilliant roles. Available on Hulu+ and amazon prime.

The RefEvery year we get a family ensemble dramedy around the holidays, filled with bickering siblings, black sheep, and warm resolutions by the end. Few are as original as this quirky 1994 original from Ted Demme, starring Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis as the bickering couple and Denis Leary as a frustrated burglar unlucky enough to have chosen them as his Christmas Eve vic-tims. Available on amazon.

Groundhog DayYes, let’s think of Groundhog Day as a holiday. As a holiday movie, Groundhog Day hits all the right beats—a selfish, Scroogish curmudgeon (Bill Murray) finds himself repeat-ing the same day over and over again until he finds the true meaning and reward of being a generous spirit. It’s hilarious but weaves a pro-found spiritual web to ponder.

For commiserating in overall winter bleakness, I am usually drawn into a seasonal re-viewing of The Coen Brothers’ Fargo; Frances McDormand’s perky pregnant policewoman trying to make sense of a kidnapping gone horribly wrong cannot fail by comparison to make your own life look rosy and wonder-ful. When I am at my most curmudgeonly at Christmas, Terry Zwigoff’s Bad Santa (starring Billy Bob Thornton and Bernie Mac) seems to hit the right pessimistic notes (note: this is not a family film). But never fear, the sugary sweetness of Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and A Christmas Story are only a click away. And don’t forget that Gremlins is actually a Christmas movie! ¤

The Wayward Critic reviews new releases and trawls the online and VOD services for notable offerings. Follow the

reviews at www.streetscapemag.com/the-wayward-critic, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/waywardcritic and

Twitter @waywardcritic.


MOVIES ARE MARKETED TO MIDDLE AMERICA, but they’re made on the coasts. Seem ridiculous? Ted Trent thinks so. The Midwestern-born-and-bred-man, turned Hollywood actor/director, has spent the last two decades in the City of Angels wondering why.

But his theories on the possibility of successful moviemaking in the Midwest proved dead on when his film “Belleville”premiered in 13 Wehrenberg theaters in September. The move was part of an exclusive distribution deal between Ted Trent Studios and Circa 87, two Los Angeles-based film production companies that seek to bring filmmaking to the Midwest.

Trent, raised in Southern Illinois, and writer/director Dan Steadman, who grew up in Michigan, hope to share their vision for telling the heartland’s stories with the launch and red-carpet premiere of a second film this Christmas season.

Expect DelaysHollywood comes to Middle America with premier of Christmas movie


“Expect Delays” is the consummate story of the dysfunction around the dinner table at Christmas — but with a twist. Complete with the condescending know-it-all, the needy relative, the jokesters, the yuppie couple, and the matriarch, “Expect Delays” begs the question what would Christmas be without a little family tension? Trent plays the lead character, Alec Harney. Steadman wrote the story.

The story revolves around Harney returning home for Christmas ready to confront the issues he has with his small-town family, only to find that his overblown ego and condescending attitude are the real problem.

“The movie examines a person who gets too good for his fam-ily,” Steadman said. “I thought it was important to examine what if the person who comes back from the big city is the problem. In my story, he is the one with the dysfunction. In actuality, his


Ted Trent, star of “Expect Delays”

family is all fine. I see it a lot in L.A. People are from all over the country, and there is a lot of attitude. Sometimes you forget when you come home that your family may have evolved, too.”

Trent said his vision began with his and Steadman’s movie “Belleville,” the story of a developing friendship between a widowed farmer living as a recluse on a Belleville farm and an otherworldly “man,” who lands on the small farm. The full-length feature film, shot last October in Belleville and surrounding communities, debuted in April at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Belleville.

Trent steered Steadman to Illinois from Los Angeles with his dream of making movies in the Midwest. It was an easy sell. Steadman grew up in Michigan and graduated from a Waukegan, IL. high school. He said he wrote “Belleville” at a Fairview Heights St. Louis Bread Co.

Steadman started on public access television with his own children’s show in Michigan at the age of 14. He was a writer for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and had just finished the comedy “Jesus People,” which was released on iTunes and video-on-demand in April, when he met Trent.

Steadman said 38 of the 40 speaking parts in “Belleville” were actors from the St. Louis and Belleville areas. “Expect Delays” will feature 15 of those same actors. Cooper Shaw, a St. Louis actress who played the lead female role in “Belleville,” won the American Movie Award for that role.

“So our little independent movie got that major award for a lead female role,” Steadman said. “I went back to L.A. raving about what great actors I had found in St. Louis and with that award it was like, ‘I told you so.’”

Trent said that was exactly what he anticipated from his hometown. “I wanted to come back home and bring back a writer/director to capture what is happening uniquely in the United States,” Trent said.

“When we watch a television story about an uptown New York or L.A. detective, it’s really not relative to Midwesterners and how they experience their day-to-day lives.”

Trent said television and movies are writ-ten for Midwesterners because of the bad weather in Middle America (Midwesterners are inside more often), but

are madeon the coasts for the same reason. It only rains an average of 12 days in L.A. But Steadman said that is starting to change somewhat, and Trent Studios, along with Circa 87, want to be a big part of the movement. Hollywood is already filming a great deal in New Orleans, La., due to the movie capital’s willingness to invest in the rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Katrina, and in Atlanta, Ga., following Tyler Perry’s mega investment in the city toward film production (he turned numerous airplane hangars into studios and is making millions for his efforts).

Independent films are the lifeblood

of adult moviegoers, Steadman said. While most movies are marketed toward 14-year-old boys (Hollywood has learned girls will go see what boys want to see, instead of the reverse), independent films are able to target adults of both sexes, he said.

“With ‘Expect Delays,’ I wanted to write a movie for adults. I wanted characters in their forties and fifties and sixties and seventies. I wanted an ensemble movie where all the characters are given equal importance in the film.”

“Expect Delays” is what Hollywood is calling a “dramady” now. It’s part

comedy and part drama.

“I really wanted to dig deep,” Steadman said. “None of the characters are surfacy or light. When I discovered actors this good, I knew they deserved nothing less than rich, complex characters.”

Steadman’s goal is to be based in the St. Louis area and for Trent Studios and Circa 87 to continue to make movies here. Their next project is a sports-themed movie that they hope to shoot next year.

He said if Midwestern-ers want moviemaking

to happen in Middle America, they have to support it by going to see the films made here and purchasing the DVDs.

“If people don’t support independent films, they will go away; and all you will see is comic book movies made for the 14-year-old boys. ‘Expect Delays’ is a movie we want you to watch every Christmas,” he said. “We are hoping people will own the DVD and watch it every year.”

For more information on movie times and locations, visit www.expectdelaysmovie.com. ¤



Team member fine tuning a robot

Story by Kelley Lamm Photos by Chris Benson, Lamplight Films

I WAS HONORED to be Marshall the Miracle Dog’s first interview on radio. He came in wagging his tail, ready to speak! Cyndi Willenbrock, St Louis native, author of Marshall the Miracle Dog, and mommy to Marshall, was all smiles with her furry friend and ready to tell their remarkable true story through her children’s book. The popular children’s book, Marshall the Miracle Dog, has begun the Marshall Movement that is now heading to the big movie screen, with a sequel to follow, a children’s TV series, and a Broadway play. They are all intended to inspire children to be kind to themselves, others and to act with courage to stop bullying.

Marshall was found in 2010 while being filmed by Animal Planets Confessions: Animal Hoarding. More than 60 dogs were found living on the grounds of an abandoned property at the time of his rescue. Marshall was in the worst shape of all. He had been attacked by other dogs, resulting in bite marks all over his body, a broken front leg, and a hole the size of a tennis ball on the side of his face.

The Humane Society of Missouri immediately came to rescue all the dogs. Because Marshall was so badly injured, he could not be put up for adoption right away. During his surgery, Marshall died on the operating table, but was resuscitated by Dr. Schwartz.

The doctor and his medical team sewed up Marshall’s face and amputated his badly infected front leg.

After a few months, Marshall, who did not give up his fight and survived the un-survivable, regained his strength and put the spirit back in all who worked so hard to save him. It was at that point he was ready to be adopted. It was then he went to his “forever home” with Cyndi Willenbrock. Most of us believe Cyndi rescued Marshall, taking on the heavy task of rehabilitat-ing a badly bullied dog, but Cyndi knows Marshall rescued her. Marshall knows he has a job to do and that job is to give back. Cyndi is there by Marshall’s side, ready to share this miracle and very loving journey to help others. Marshall and Cyndi have visited more than 250 schools to share his story of courage and the will to overcome abuse and neglect. The Marshall Movement is inspiring children throughout the country.

Charlotte Nations from the Special School District of St. Louis County says, “This story will ‘rescue’ children who blame them-selves for being bullied. It will be a salve for children who worry about acceptance and ‘healing’ for children living with physical or mental illnesses. It will show them the value of self-respect and the beauty of love.”

Marshallthe miracle dog


The Channel Cat team

It was exciting to have another chance to interview Marshall the Miracle Dog and mommy, Cyndi Willenbrock, on KFAV 99.9FM this past September to hear all the exciting news about Marshall’s new journey. After a wag of his tail and a loud bark from Marshall, Cyndi and I began our interview.

KELLEY: Meet Cyndi Willenbrock, the mother, the owner, the rescuer of this magical dog, Marshall. It’s so exciting to have you back on the air with me after meeting you and Marshall a few years back when you visited my radio show introducing your magical, true children’s book, “Marshall the Miracle Dog.” Cyndi, here you are now, bringing your true story to the lives of so many to inspire and give courage to survive and stop bully-ing. So many of us have been bullied or felt alone as this real life dog, Marshall, also endured. Cyndi, tell us about Marshall and how far you both have come through this journey.

CYNDI: Marshall was rescued from a hoarding situation back in 2010. He was bullied, brutally attacked and left for dead. The Humane Society of Missouri knew he was a miracle when he had survived for so long with his injuries. No one gave up on him, and the miracles of this dog are now connecting and touching hearts of all ages.

KELLEY: Cyndi, so many of us have felt we don’t fit in – both children and grownups who have been bullied in life. You have brought us this beautiful, true story of survival and complete unconditional love that is making incredible miracles. Tell us about the Marshall Movement and mentor program that is happening because of you and Marshall, the miracle dog.

CYNDI: Honestly, this is the most exciting part of anything that is going on with Marshall. The Marshall Movement is a mentor-ing program that gives Marshall a way to be in the lives of every child. It is my grand vision. There is a Marshall in all of us. That place of inadequacy; that place of am I enough, am I lovable, am I perfect just the way I am? The answer is yes. Marshall brings that out in us. We get requests from cities all over the country to give Marshall’s message. We can’t be everywhere, so we have brought in experts in psychology, experts in education,

and experts in bully prevention who have put together a cur-riculum where we can train high school students to be me and be mentors to deliver Marshall’s message to the children in class-rooms throughout different cities, so he can be in all of these children’s lives. Our mentors teach Marshall’s five cornerstones – empathy, kindness, courage, strength and forgiveness. Not only are the children’s lives changed, but the mentors who are teach-ing these kids and being leaders lives are being changed, too.

KELLEY: You saved Marshall, and he saved you; and now you are saving others. What a magical movement the two of you have begun. I can’t wait for the movie to hit the big screen, star-ring Lauren Holly, Lucas Carroll, Matthew Settle and so many more stars gracing the screen in this heartwarming true story. Cyndi, you have so much happening; and Marshall is every-where. How do we find out more about Marshall, Marshall’s Movement, the mentor program, as well as the movie and more?

CYNDI: You can go to www.Marshallthemiracledog.com and find any information on Marshall, the mentor program, our products, Girl Scout patch and updates about what is going on in Marshall’s world. You know, Marshall has his own Facebook page, along with Twitter and Instagram. Social media has been a wonderful way to see how Marshall continuously touches the lives of others. He is doing so much these days. Recently, Mar-shall threw out the first pitch with St. Louis Blues captain David Backes, who is fighting back against bullying, for the 2nd annual “Marshall’s Bullying and Prevention Day” with the Cardinals. He is everywhere, and people can’t get enough of his message of kindness, nor can we hear them enough.

KELLEY: The St. Louis Humane Society of Missouri says, “Believe you can make a difference.” They have been a big part of this miracle, too, and we want to thank them. Cyndi Willenbrock, thank you for this beautiful and endearing true story you have shared with us, and around the world, that inspires children to be kind to themselves and others and to act with courage to stop bullying.

Be a part of the Marshall Movement, and let’s join together to stop bullying, show courage, and be kind. ¤


Residents of Carrington Place

People You Should Know

NINETY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Dr. J.C. Mont-gomery doesn’t like the place because of the spa or the hotel rooms or the fancy restaurant-style eating or even the men’s poker area, though he’s thankful for it all – well, maybe all but the poker room. The retired Methodist minister said he just feels safe and secure at Carrington Place of St. Charles.

“Carrington Place truly lives up to its name as a caring place. Because my immediate family is far away, it offers me present and future security with its four levels of living should I need them in time to come,” he explained. “The amenities have made for gracious living and the activities help keep the cobwebs of age from body and mind alike. It has seemed tailor-made for the needs of my senior years, and I have never regretted being part of its community.”

Carrington Place of St. Charles is a continuing-care retirement community that offers a choice of carefree lifestyles designed to meet residents’ needs at any stage. Carrington’s director of marketing, Jen Ryan, said monthly fees are affordable

and include a complete range of services tailored to each resident.

Ryan said taking good care of seniors is what she strives for every day at Carrington.

“I feel like telling them, ‘You deserve this. You deserve to be pampered. You made us who we are. You made everything pos-sible for us.’ Whether they’re veterans or teachers or anyone, they deserve this, and their families deserve peace of mind.”

Formerly Parkside Meadows, Carrington has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation to its campus in the last year. With several common areas, including painting, craft and sewing rooms, as well as a spa room and poker area, Carrington is aiming to fulfill just about any interest. Gems among its amenities include the new Townhall Market, which is adorned with a panoramic view of Historic Main Street in St. Charles. Management at Carrington had a photographer take pictures of Main Street, including the sky, and made them into murals that now cover the entire

space. The market has a convenience store area with fast foods, like ice cream, pizza, hotdogs, popcorn and snacks, as well as areas for special occasions and vendors.

Also new to Carrington are the hotel suites that have been fashioned from former apartments. Large, amenity-filled rooms are now offered to family and friends of residents for a nightly fee. The rooms are nothing short of full hotel suites with mini-kitchens and sitting areas.

“No other facility has these,” Ryan said. “They may have a respite room or guest suites or rent roll away beds. But we are the only ones with hotel rooms.”

Carrington offers a continuum of four separate living arrangements that afford seniors the opportunity to stay during all stages of their retirement beginning with independent living. They are all in a relax-

Carrington PlaceMarketing Director Jen Ryan (L) works on scrap booking project with resident Margaret.


ing environment located near a wide variety of facilities offer-ing educational opportunities, cultural activities, and sporting events. Apartments are available in varying sizes, and residents even pick and choose their upgrades, just like when they built their own homes. Some of the upgrades include marble flooring, granite countertops, fine cabinetry and crown molding. Patios are also offered, as are efficiency apartments with simple micro-waves and mini-fridges for individuals who want to eat in the restaurants instead of cooking.

Standard services for independent living include computer and Wi-Fi access, cable, use of washer and dryer, social and cultural agendas, exercise programs, and weekly housekeeping. Trans-portation is also available. Apartments are maintained, and utilities are included. A daily check-in program is offered for all residents, and all apartments and rooms have pull chords in the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Residential, assisted, memory care and also short- and long-term care living are available with varying benefits and services, depending on the needs of the resident.

Carrington values a wellness philosophy at all living levels, which encourages residents to live a full and balanced lifestyle. A complete calendar of activities and social programs are offered for all resident lifestyles. Medical staff, including nurses and qualified physical, occupational and speech therapists, are also on-site. Carrington Place’s health center is licensed by the State of Missouri and participates in the Medicare and Medicaid Pro-grams, as well as third-party insurance programs.

Montgomery has seen a lot of living in his nearly 100-year life span. He said what he really wants now is to relax and maybe go to the library once in a while. His computer frustrates him sometimes.

“My father used to say, when lawnmowers came to be powered, that there was a personal devil built into each one of them,” Montgomery said. “I think that’s true of computers.”

Montgomery said he doesn’t miss his manual typewriter, though he admits its evolution is one of the most amazing changes he’s seen.

“The change from manual typewriters to electric typewriters to computers to tablets to Kindles is amazing. Sometimes you won-der whether social media is a good thing or not,” he said.

“I do recall someone asked Alexander Graham Bell, when the first telephone went live, ‘But what if people haven’t anything to say to one another?”

For more information on Carrington Place, call 636-946-4966. ¤

Bistro Dining area

Residents visit at the New Town Square at Carrington Place


French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (left) and Italian Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana

AMERICAN-BORN, Italian Grand Master Fabiano Caruana took the world chess champion title from Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and $100,000 in prize money at the 2014 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis in September. Caruana won seven games and had three draws, for a stunning margin over the rest of the strongest-rated field in history.

Six of the world’s top 10 grand masters in the game of chess descended on St. Louis as the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis held the 2014 Sinquefield Cup, including then-world chess cham-pion, Norwegian Grand Master Magnus Carlsen.

Brian Jerault, communications specialist for the club, said last year’s event was the strongest chess tournament ever held on U.S. soil. This year, he said, the competitors were the strongest in the 1,500-year history of chess — ever!

“To get these six players into one room is near impossible,” he said. “This caliber of tournament has not been in the U.S. since the era of Bobby Fischer.”

Players included grand masters Caruana, 22, of Italy; Carlsen, 23, of Norway; Veselin Topalov, 39, of Bulgaria; Levon Aronian, 31, of Armenia; Hikaru Nakamura, 26, of the United States; and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 23, of France.

Fabiano Caruana finished the 2014 Sinquefield Cup with a solid draw against Levon Aronian to end the highest-rated tournament in history, three points ahead of his nearest follower, Carlsen.

Caruana began the tournament as number three in the world, with a United States Chess Federation (USCF) rating of 2801 — only the eighth player in history to pass the 2800 barrier. (USCF assigns ratings to members who play in official

tournaments. Ratings range from 100 to around 2800). Grandmaster (abbreviated often to GM) is the highest title you can achieve in chess. Like International Mas-ter (abbreviated to IM), it’s an international title and is awarded by FIDE, the International Federation of Echecs.

Born in Miami, FL, Caruana was introduced to chess through an afterschool program as a five-year-old in Brooklyn, N.Y. Ironically, he lived in the same neighborhood where famed chess great Bobby Fischer was raised. He played in his first tournament the same year at the Susan Polgar Chess Center in Queens, N.Y. At 10, he became the youngest American to defeat a GM in a sanctioned event. He officially switched federations to Italy in October 2005, though he still shares dual citizenship with the U.S. At 14 years, 11 months and 20 days, Caruana became the youngest GM in the history of both Italy and the United States.

GM Ian Rogers, reporting for U.S. Chess Champs, wrote, “Caruana’s performance generated high praise from the other players and chess fans around the world. ‘Fantastico!’ GM Hikaru Nakamura said. ‘Ruthless,’ said GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. There was one dissent-ing voice, however – that of Carlsen – who, with clear sarcasm, summed up the Italian’s triumph as ‘Depressing.’”

It’s the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis’ mission to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess. The club and center do this by maintaining a formal program of chess instruction and reaching out to the com-munity through local and national partnerships. It also hosts the Sinquefield Cup and the annual U.S. Chess Championships from its community center in the Central West End as a means of raising the profile and prominence of the educational value of chess.

“The truth is, we don’t always have the world chess champion in town pulling in lots of international attention every day,” Jerauld said. “For the other 50 weeks of the year, we are fueled by our huge scholastic initiative, pushing chess into schools and classrooms all over St. Louis. We teach chess to kids and adults alike,


The Chess Club2014 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis


with weekly lessons and lectures, and offer the game at every level - competitive, casual or educationally - all operating out of our fancy community center right here in the Central West End.”

Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield founded the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center at 4657 Maryland Avenue in St. Louis in 2007. In September 2011, the couple opened the World Chess Hall of Fame directly across the street from the club. The historic 15,000-square-foot building features displays from a permanent collection of artifacts, as well as temporary exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games, and the rich cultural history of chess.

As part of the Sinquefields’ dedication to Missouri students, and in keeping with their belief in the cognitive and behavioral benefits of the game of chess, the club partners with schools on in-school programs and provides resources for schools to implement after-school programs. Last year the club implemented programs in more than 100 classrooms and com-munity centers for more than 4,000 students. Jerauld said the club has also partnered with the Kasparov Chess Foundation, an internationally-recognized chess organization, to find, develop and train the top youth players in the country.

According to www.uschess.org, the most important development in chess in the past decade has been Internet chess and computer technology. Numerous Internet chess venues, such as the ICC and Yahoo chess, exist where amateurs and professionals practice their openings, network, and compete for cash prizes and rating points. ChessBase software allows any serious player to access a database of over 2 million games. Before major tournaments, players often search their opponents’ games on ChessBase, analyzing their styles or which openings they favor.“Chess is a mental sport of offense and defense,” Jerauld said. “It’s a great equalizer of all ages and races. You can have an

older person staring at a seven-year-old; and we think about that older person, ‘You better watch yourself. You never know who you’re playing.’ ”

In April of 2013, U.S Representatives William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced resolutions in the U.S. House and Senate recognizing Saint Louis as the National Chess Capital and the Chess Club as a thought leader in chess and education. It also recognized the success of chess after-school programs and the benefit for students, including fostering problem-solving skills and improving math and reading test scores.

Jerauld said the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is the premier chess facility in the country and one of the best in the world. A 501c3 educational organization, the 6,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art chess center features a world-class, tournament playing hall, classroom, library, and casual play area. It currently boasts more than 1,000 active members.

St. Louis has hosted the U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship each of the past six years and the U.S. Junior Closed Championship from 2010 to 2013. These are the three most prestigious, invite-only chess tournaments in the U.S., Jerauld said.

Every year since 2009, the United States Chess Federation (USCF) has presented Rex Sinquefield the Gold Koltanowski Award, for being the person who did the most to further chess in the U.S. In 2012 and 2013, Jeanne Sinquefield also was awarded the Gold Koltanowski Award for establishing the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge for chess.

The club is open six days a week and offers kids classes, adult beginner classes and intermediate classes free for members on a weekly basis. Membership is $10 per month or $50 per year for students and $15 per month or $100 per year for adults. Family memberships are available for $150 per year.

Summer camps, field trips, private lessons and free classes are also offered. The club always has a full-time resident grandmaster on staff that gives private lessons and presents free special lectures for members multiple times per week.

For more information, call 314-361-2437 or visit www.saintlouischessclub.org. ¤


My HeartCross

School crossing guard remembered for 40 years of service on her 80th birthday


Pat Kennett


PAT KENNETT TURNED 80 IN AUGUST. And while few may know her by name, countless students of the Fort Zumwalt School District, as well as motorists in the O’Fallon area, will put 2 and 2 together when they think of the crossing guard at the corner of St. Joseph and St. Matthew in the Forest Park subdivision in O’Fallon.

“She was always a sweet lady standing on the street corner wav-ing to every car that went by,” said Kim Brown-Bextermueller, who grew up in O’Fallon and attended school in the Fort Zumwalt School District. “I still think of her every time I go by the corner of St. Joseph and St. Matthew.”

“What a wonderful person. She is a great lady and was always so friendly,” said Lori Cope, who also attended Fort Zumwalt.Kennett, now a retired great-grandmother, crossed hundreds of children in the O’Fallon area in the forty-plus years she served both the city and the school district as a crossing guard.

“I started in 1973,” Kennett said. “I worked for the city of O’Fallon. I started up by the Assumption Parish School. Then I moved down to St. Matthew and St. Joseph when I started working for the school district.”

It was a rare occasion that pedestrians or motorists didn’t get a friendly greeting from Kennett.

“I always came to work. There were a lot of times I was sick because I had sugar diabetes, but I came to work,” she said.

The school district honored Kennett with a plaque for forty years of service.

“It’s buried in a box somewhere,” she said. “But when you’re a good worker, they honor you. And I was a good worker. They just couldn’t go out and get a crossing guard just like that, because nobody wanted to be a crossing guard. But I did.”

In 1980, Kennett was hit by a car while walking home from the Sigmund’s Laundromat where she worked. Luckily that didn’t interfere with her crossing guard duties.

“It really messed up my shoulder, but luckily I could still hold up the stop sign with my right arm.”

Even nasty weather couldn’t keep Kennett from her post.

“There was a tree there. I liked it so much because when the weather was bad, I would stand under that tree.” Many people remembered her standing there in her oversized yellow rain coat.“I got presents from the kids and sometimes even people driving by,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for me, some of them may have gotten hit, because some were rowdy. I had to tame them down. I’d point my finger at them and say, ‘You’re going to mind or else.’ ”

Kennett said that over the years even the police officers befriended her.

“I would tell them about the juvenile delinquents and the cars running stop signs. I was friends with the O’Fallon Police

School crossing guard remembered for 40 years of service on her 80th birthday

Pat in action

Pat & friends enjoying StreetScape magazine


Department. I loved my job. They missed me terrible when I left. They told me they did.”

But no one loved her like the kids.

“They’d put their little arms around me and say, ‘I love you, Mrs. Kennett.’ ”

Born August 3, 1934, in St. Louis, Kennett was one of three children of Francis and Nora Kinealy. Her father worked in civil service, and her mother was a homemaker. She said she met the love of her life, Wally Kennett, at the Casa Loma Ballroom on Iowa Avenue in St. Louis. The two had a church wedding at St. Paul Presbyterian Church on June 5, 1954. They moved to O’Fallon in 1960.

“Wally was just a person you’d like to talk to,” she said. “We lived on Allen Drive in Forest Park.”

Wally worked at the Koken Barbers’ Supply Co. in St. Louis. Before becoming a crossing guard, Pat also worked at Miss Hulling’s Cafeteria at the corner of 11th and Locust Streets in St. Louis.

Pat and Wally had a son and daughter. Daughter Patty Kennett Hoeckelmann posted her mother’s photo to her Facebook page in July with a reminder of Pat’s birthday. Friends and family promised to send cards and well wishes to the assisted living facility where Pat now resides in Troy, MO. Comments, such as “I remember her,” and “She crossed my children, too,” immediately came across the feed.

Patty said the irony of it all is that her mother never did learn to drive. “Here she is commanding half of O’Fallon going by, and she never had a license.”

Happy birthday, Mrs. Kennett. Thanks for a job well done. ¤

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Photos: A. Welcome to Ballpark Village. B. Celebrating 8 Years! C. StreetScape Family. D. John Clark & Friend. E. Dr. Kristin Porlier & Mary Enderle. F. Angel Magasano & Dr. Kristin Porlier. G. The Cool Kids. H. Suzanne Scott Lay, Tom Hannegan, Shannon Dougherty. I. Zack Smithey. J. Kelley Lamm & Theresa Balthasar. K. Overland Optical. L. Connie Petree, Grace Harmon, Mary Ellen Renaud. M. Mary Jo Spurgeon & Friend.

BALLPARK VILLAGEAugust 28, 2014 A fun filled evening of making connections, laughter, delicious appetizers & drinks as friends and family of StreetScape came together to celebrate our 8 year anniversary! Local artist, Zack Smithey rendered an amazing painting on site that was auctioned at the end of the evening to benefit Cardinal Care. A great time was had by all!

Society

Photos by Michael Schlueter

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Hooray For Play GalaSeptember 20, 2014 was held at the Missouri Athletic Club in Downtown St. Louis. It was a fun-filled, memorable evening of entertainment, zany photos, delicious 3 course meal, open bar, awards ceremony, silent and live auctions and music.This year’s Playmaker Awards honored Cal Ripken Jr., the honorable Mayor Francis Slay and Developmental Disability Resource (DDR) St. Louis City. The gala raised funds to support Unlimited Play’s mission and operations.

Photos: A. Play Maker Awards - (2014 PlayMaker Award Honorees - Cal Ripken Jr.; Mayor Francis G. Slay of St. Louis; and DDR St. Louis B. Cassi, Zachary (namesake of Zachary’s Playground) Todd Blakemore, Lindsey, and Brianna. C. Sharlencia Knuckles, Jessica Portis. D. Caitlin Hibbeler and Victoria Schmitt Babb. E. Mayor Francis G. Slay of St. Louis, MO (Playmaker Honoree). F. Gary and Mary Ann Schmitt, Matt Schmitt, Mike Schmitt, Victoria Schmitt Babb, Gary Schmitt Jr, Michelle Gorman, Chamane Barbatti, Karen Schmitt. G. Dr. Rummel and Natalie Blakemore. H. Jim and Diane Vollmer. I. Loren Babb, Victoria Schmitt Babb and Maya. J. Natalie Blakemore and Mayor Bill Hennessy of O’Fallon, MO. K. Barb Hibbeler, Megan and Mike Judy, Caitlin Hibbeler. L. Joe Gable, Gus (namesake of Gus’ Playground) and Penny Long.

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Society

Jay Leno RecapSeptember 12, 2014 Jay Leno performed on J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts stage of Lindewood University, in front of a sold out crowd. The audience enjoyed at laughter filled evening.


Chocolate, Wine and All That JazzSeptember 6, 2014 The Tri-County Region of United Way of Greater St. Louis held its sixth annual “Chocolate, Wine and All That Jazz” Campaign Kickoff event at the beautiful campus of St. Charles Community College in Cottleville, MO., on Saturday, September 6, 2014. More than 200 guests enjoyed an extensive array of heavy appetizers, samplings of fine wine and chocolate, silent and live auctions, a United Way agency presentation from Emmaus Homes, live jazz from The Coleman Hughes Project and were the first to hear the announcement of this year’s campaign goal. The 2014 campaign goal for the Tri-County Region of United Way of Greater St. Louis is $3,050,000.

Photos by Natasha Sakovich

Photos: A. Guests enjoy plenty of samples of chocolate & wine throughout the evening at the beautiful outdoor lakeside setting at St. Charles Community College. B. (Back row, left to right) Denise Wulff, Alison Ko, Dave Spahn (Front, left to right) Paul Spahn, Diane Mundschenk, Vicky Spahn. C. Guests enjoy a sample of one of dozens of wine options offered throughout the evening. D. Deborah White and David E. Glenn, Sr. E. (Left to right) Zack Barron, Stacy Barron, and Jeff Boehne. F. (Left to right) Mary Finklang, Orv Kimbrough, and Doug Finklang. G. Yumiko Miyaoka, Yinka Faleti, and Stephanie Gable. H. (Left to right) Ron Chesbrough, Todd and Amy Galbierz, Steve and Paige Galbierz. I. Mike and Yvonne Borgna. J. Chocolate in every variety was in no short supply throughout the evening. Pictured here is the “A Little Chocolate and Wine” silent auction package up for bid by the Chocolatier Wine Company.

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Forest Park Balloon GlowSeptember 19, 2014 The 42nd Annual Great Forest Park Balloon took place Friday evening at Forest Park. The balloon glow offers spectators an up-close, walk-around view of inflated balloons lighted by their burners.

Photos by JML Photography


St. Louis Zoo Holiday “Wild” LightsNovember & December, 2014 Walk through the St. Louis Zoo’s holiday wonderland of spectacular light displays, animated light exhibits, and seasonal sounds from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., November 28-30 and December 5-7, 12-14, 19-23, and 26-30. U.S. Bank, Prairie Farms Dairy, Build-A-Bear Workshop at the Zoo, and Fresh 102.5 will sponsor the “Wild Lights” display. The extravaganza is known for thousands of colorful, vibrant lights, including polar bears chillin’, prairie dogs in motion, swinging lighted monkeys, an illuminated penguin family, glowing life-size African elephants and giraffes, along with a gingerbread village. Bright, lighted flamingos and a flashy butterfly garden bring enchantment to the zoo, as well.

Visitors can cozy up by the fire as theatrical interpreters spin captivating wintry tales about penguins, reindeer and other wildlife. Visitors can make crafts and sip hot chocolate at the Lakeside Café, and enjoy carolers around the event.

Cost for Wild Lights is $6 for Zoo members and $7 for the general public. Children under 2 are free. For more information, call 314-646-4771 or visit www.stlzoo.org/wildlights.

Photos by Roger Brandt / St. Louis Zoo

Society

Art of TravelOctober 2, 2014 The Art of Travel returned for a fourth year at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. A ‘40s-style film-noir celebration with top-notch edibles prepared before guests very eyes by premier chefs. Guests sipped signature AOT cocktails while being entertained with swing dancing demonstrations. Limited edition prints made by local artists from copper recovered from Lambert’s historic roof was available at this year’s silent auction.



Businessmen’s Prayer Breakfast of St. Charles CountySeptember 9, 2014 Businessmen’s Prayer Breakfast of St Charles County was held at the St. Charles Convention Center. The Speaker was John O’Leary.

Photos by Don Adam’s Jr., DAJR Photo

StreetScape Magazine - November | December 2014

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Transcript of StreetScape Magazine - November | December 2014