December 24, 2014
July 13, 2011 Vol 13 No 28 December 24, 2014 Serving those who serve Recipes Create a Cookie Tradition 11 Around Town 6 Business 8 Volleyball Champs Photo courtesy the USO of Missouri The USO of Missouri delivers a field lunch to troops stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood earlier this year. This is only one of the ways the USO of Missouri supports military personnel. USO of Missouri wins top honor for division located at Lambert International Airport By Brett Auten They are there at the most joyous of times and at the most sullen. Whether it’s that sensational reunion or escorting the families of the fallen, the USO has been a constant ally and partner in the lives of the U.S. military since the 1950s. Fortunately for those servicemen and servicewomen coming through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, they have the best there is to offer. The James S. McDonnell USO, a division of the Missouri USO, was honored for the top U.S. Airport Center-Large Division at the 2014 TellUSO Awards. Located on the lower level of Terminal 1 at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, the James S. McDonnell USO serves as many as 12,000 service members and their families each month along its satellite facility in Terminal 2. Since 1981, over 5 million traveling military and their families have benefited from the multitude of services offered there as the USO of Missouri provides services and smiles to more than 209,000 military personnel and their families annually. “We do the best we can to provide support and a warm, welcome environment,” said Kathy O’Conner, Executive Director of the USO of Missouri. The USO of Missouri serves the military and their families in Missouri and the Illinois counties of Jersey, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. “It’s a tribute to the volunteers for all the hard work they put in,” said David Waltrip, the President of the Board of Directors for the USO of Missouri, of the Terminal facility, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The USO of Missouri leans on 1,200 volunteers to serve troops across the state and those traveling through Lambert. Volunteers typically log around 7,500 hours a month. Military visitors at Lambert receive free food and drinks. The USO has had to roll with the punches of the changing times and have complete WiFi access, comfortable rest areas and an assortment of entertainment options. “It’s very exciting for us and our volunteers,” O’Conner said. “Our guests continually tell us we’re the best USO they’ve been to. The award now validates what we hear every day.” What makes the award extra special is that the TellUSO awards are based on the feedback of thousands of troops who are surveyed about the USO’s programs and services at centers in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Pacific regions. With nearby Ft. Leonard Wood, the Army is the most frequent branch that comes through Lambert, often times reaching double digits every month for servicemen and servicewomen heading to the Ozark installation. Despite all of the good vibes and positive feedback, it’s a hard financial fight to put out such a good product. The USO of Missouri and all outreach functions are governed by a board of di- rectors and funded solely by the generosity of donors. The USO of Missouri is not funded by the government, military or the United Way and is not part of the Department of Defense and is financially independent from the National USO. So in order to defend its title the Missouri USO will once again have to drum up funding. “In January we start back at zero,” O’Conner said. “We are blessed with community support and are able to raise our own finances.” For more information on services, volunteering or donations, call 314-4297702 or go to www.usomissouri.org. Sharing Success grant presented Over The Fence Language is Weird 16 “The Imitation Game” photo courtesy of Black Bear Pictures Movie FREE Online Subscription at mycnews.com 9 2 Around Town Vol. 16 No. 52 In This Issue... 2 Around Town Crisis Nursery raises $92,000 and more. 7 Business O’Fallon recognized for strong economic performance and more. 9 Movie “Imitation Game” a fascinating look at unheralded WWII hero. 10 Sports and Learn & Play Local with sports Gary B. Also, discover a new book with this week’s Novel Ideas. 11 Recipes Macaroon Kisses and Christmas Wreath Cookies. 12 What’s Happening 14 Classifieds 16 Over the Fence Joe Morice brings his unique views to the Community News. Follow us on www.pinterest.com/mycnews FREE Online Subscription www. mycnews December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Captain Todd appointed chief of new St. Charles County Police Department Subject to confirmation by the St. Charles County Council at its Dec. 15 meeting, County Executive Steve Ehlmann has appointed David L. Todd, Captain of the St. Charles County Sheriff ’s Department Bureau of Special Enforcement, as the first chief of the new St. Charles County Police Department. Upon approval, Captain Todd would assume the position effective Jan. 1, 2015. “I know Captain Todd will provide outstanding leadership in this new position,” said Ehlmann. “Not only does he have significant experience and education, he is a respected law enforcement professional who shows enthusiasm for and commitment to his work.” Todd has served in law enforcement for 37 years. During his 35 years with the St. Charles County Sheriff ’s Department, he has served in or supervised every bureau, beginning as a deputy sheriff in 1978, then achieving the rank of sergeant in 1981, lieutenant in 1997, and captain in 1998. As captain, he served as com- Photo courtesy St. Charles County Government David L. Todd, Captain of the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Special Enforcement, has been appointed the first chief of the new St. Charles County Police Department. mander over the Bureau of Field Operations from 19982002, supervising 80 personnel in patrol, criminal investigations, narcotics, crime lab, communications and crime scene investigations. From 2003-2004, Todd served as commander over the Bureau of Administrative Services, preparing and overseeing the department’s then $10 million budget and overseeing 45 Sheriff ’s Department per- sonnel in the records, civil process, and court services divisions. In 2004, Todd became the commander over the Bureau of Special Enforcement where he supervises 90 personnel in nine divisions, including emergency management, court services, the fugitive unit, community education and training, and SWAT. Todd received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University in 2004 and his Masters of Science from Lindenwood University in 2008. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and both the School of Staff and Command and the School of Executive Staff and Command programs at Northwestern University. Todd also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972-1976. His community work includes serving as coordinator of the Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony in St. Charles, board member of the U.S. Coast Guard Area Maritime Security Committee, law enforcement co-chair for the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS) Law Enforcement Committee, and as a volunteer for the U.S.O. Todd and his wife live and raised their children in St. Charles County. “I am honored to have the trust of the County Executive in this appointment, and I look forward to working with him, the County Council, police officers and staff, and the community in maintaining St. Charles County’s reputation as an excellent and safe place to live,” said Todd. “I appreciate the work and advances Sheriff Neer made with the Sheriff ’s Department during his administration, and I am excited to build upon that progress in the new Police Department.” In Nov. 2012, St. Charles County voters approved a charter amendment to establish a county police department responsible for direct law enforcement duties, with the sheriff ’s department having responsibility over court services and security, prisoner transport, civil process and bailiffs. In Nov. 2014, Scott A. Lewis was elected as Sheriff, and will also assume the position effective Jan. 1, 2015. Get your event or good news published in Community News: email your information in calendar and article formats to [email protected]. LINDENWOOD LOCATIONS ST. CHARLES LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTER (LUCC) 400 North Kingshighway 636-949-4933 For all your graphic design, marketing, and sign needs. NORTH COUNTY 4500 Washington Ave. 636-627-6640 WESTPORT 12000 Building 11960 Westline Industrial Dr. 636-627-6632 (636) 528-7473 www.MooneyMarketing.us Troy, MO 63379 SOUTH COUNTY 12224 Tesson Ferry Rd. Suite 200 St. Louis, MO 63128 636 627-6610 LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY ACCELERATED PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS ST. LOUIS CITY 1409 Washington Ave. 636-627-6650 O’FALLON, MO. 4701 Highway K 636-627-6600 WENTZVILLE 1102 E. Pitman 636-627-6623 WILDWOOD TOWN CENTER 16747 Main St. 636-627-6670 LINCOLN COUNTY MOSCOW MILLS 995 Main St. (Street Address Only - Do Not Mail) 636-627-6623 BELLEVILLE, ILL. 2600 West Main St. 618-239-6000 COLLINSVILLE, ILL. 1101 Eastport Plaza Drive 618-239-6025 GET YOUR DEGREE • KEEP YOUR LIFE! Learn how you can earn your degree at Lindenwood University • • • • Classes meet one night a week Earn nine credit hours in one quarter Degree programs to meet your goals Eleven regional centers throughout the metro area • Your degree is closer than you think • In the classroom or online WINTER QUARTER CLASSES START JANUARY 10 Start Today 636-949-4933 or www.lindenwood.edu www.lindenwood.edu www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 Around Town 3 Crisis Nursery raises $92,000 to keep kids safe Paramedics make Christmas merry On Nov. 7, Crisis Nurseries of St. Charles raised more than $92,000 at its 9th Annual Over the Top for Tots luncheon. The event, held at The Columns Banquet Center, benefitted the agency’s three 24-hour St. Charles area Nurseries and its Healing Hearts art therapy program for young children who needed help mending their broken spirits. There were many enthralling surprises to keep 500 guests entertained and updated on the Nursery’s profound impact in the lives of at-risk children and families. Most sentimental were a $5,000 check presentation by Crisis Nursery Board Members Vince Blood and Tony Taylor on behalf of UPS, and special gift of $10,000 in Shop ‘n Save gift cards coordinated and presented by Board Members Linda Markus of Shop ‘n Save and Angela Owen of Coca-Cola. The generous donations will be used to help children admitted into care at the safe haven, and their parents who may need additional support with the purchase of food, diapers, formula and other basic needs items. “We are very grateful to UPS, Shop ‘n Save and Coca-Cola for going above and beyond for our children and families,” said DiAnne Mueller, Crisis Nursery CEO. “This generous donation will help us to support so many families, especially during the cold winter months and holiday season.” The celebration continued with the awarding of distinct honors to three incredible supporters who have helped to forward Crisis Nursery’s mission of saving babies’ lives, keeping kids safe and building strong families. and bright for care facility residents Photos courtesy Crisis Nursery ABOVE: DiAnne Mueller, Crisis Nursery CEO with Mayor Sally Faith and Bruce Sowatsky, CCRB. BELOW: OTT Committee Members Tammy Durbin, Angela Owen, Keri Crocker, Christy Mundy, Raegan Parrish, KMOV Emily Rau, Penny Rogers, Jodi Lang, Kara Gatto and Karen Prideaux at the Crisis Nursery Over the Top for Tots luncheon. As the popular Christmas carol goes, “there’s no place like home for the holidays,” and that’s exactly what first responders in St. Charles County are facilitating for several residents of skilled nursing facilities in their community. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] Paramedics will take three residents to their families’ holiday celebrations, affording them the opportunity to spend a few hours at home. “To be a part of a Home for the Holidays trip is a very moving and rewarding experience for our staff,” said ambulance district spokesman Kyle Gaines, “The expressions of joy on the faces of the resident and their family members when we enter someone’s home on Christmas are something we never forget.” The ambulance district collaborates with social workers and leadership staff at the skilled nursing facilities in the county to identify good candidates for the program, and the trips are provided free of charge. Residents who participate are unable to travel by traditional vehicle due to medical conditions. “We’ve had numerous residents participate over the years, and for each one, the trip was something they talked about for months to come,” said Teri Reiter, administrator at Delmar Gardens of O’Fallon. Since Home for the Holidays’ inception more than 25 years ago, the ambulance district has provided trips for dozens of patients. pinterest.com/mycnews John and Keri Crocker, owners of Club Fitness were the inaugural recipients of the Healing Hearts Award. In 2013, The Crocker’s granted holiday wishes for more than 700 needy children by collecting new toys at each of their state-of-the-art Club Fitness locations. Jeff and Raegan Parrish, owners of Quintessential Dining & Nightlife, received the Children’s Champion Award. Each summer, the dedicated couple plays a pivotal role in helping Crisis Nursery St. Charles generate funds to protect area children by hosting the Wine and Martini Summer Soiree at their Historic Main Street restaurant. Lastly, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, Inc. was bestowed the Guardian Angel Award. Through their partnership, Crisis Nursery provides safe heating, school supplies, community outreach and education programs to families in need. www.pbtc.net 4 Around Town December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Virtual shoeboxes become tangible gifts for kids in need St. Charles County residents rallied together with like-minded communities nationwide to pack 10 million shoeboxes for children worldwide struggling with war, disease, poverty and similar difficult circumstances. Not everyone brought their shoeboxes to a collection site, or even touched them. For thousands, they shopped for their gifts, packed them, wrapped the boxes, and sent them straight to a child in need, right from the comfort of their own home. With Operation Christmas Child’s virtualpacking tool and an Internetaccessible device within arm’s reach, it was quick, easy and convenient. Most importantly, even with a busy lifestyle or online shopping preferences, the online tool lets anyone go from a virtual shopper to a vital influence in just a few clicks or screen swipes. At samaritanspurse.org, visitors select a child’s age and gender, shop through an online facebook.com/mycnews selection of culturally relevant gifts, “build” their shoebox, and finish it off by uploading a photo and writing a note of encouragement to the child who will receive it. After the shoebox is packed and sent by the Operation Christmas Child team, participants can continue to follow their boxes online and see their final destination regions. For many, building a shoebox online provides the perfect complement to a busy lifestyle, and a perfect way to provide a tangible expression of love to children living in desperate situations, at Christmas or any time of year. The virtual-packing tool also offers participants the option to challenge friends to participate or the opportunity to give a virtual shoebox donation that lets others build online themselves. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered giftfilled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in more than 150 countries. In 2014, Lincoln, Warren, Montgomery and St. Charles County residents hope to contribute 13,600 gifts to the global collection goal of reaching another 10 million children. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 314-2910983 or visit samaritanspurse. org. Rep. Curtman files bill to end red-light camera abuse In the wake of the overwhelming support of citizens in St. Charles County, Rep. Curtman filed House Bill 207, which will pose the people of Missouri with one simple question, “Do you support red-light cameras?” “Studies have consistently shown that the presence of red light cameras has done little if anything to improve compliance with traffic laws and in most cases has actually contributed to an increase in traffic collisions,” said Rep. Curtman. “What’s worse; municipal leaders have created ordinances that classify a movement caught by a red light camera as a non-moving violation, that way they can collect a fee without assigning points. If the same offense was observed by an officer, then there would likely be a fee and points assigned, which is a clear contradiction to the fundamental concepts of due process of the law,” Rep. Curtman explained. “This type of law-smithing leads to abuse and waste to the point that we have to spend valuable taxpayer dollars to get the Missouri courts to decide if moving through a red light constitutes a “moving violation”. This is absurd and it serves as a perfect illustration of why people distrust their government.” Rep. Curtman continued, “At the end of the day, its all about municipalities generating revenue in a way that builds barriers of distrust between the people and their government. I intend to afford Missourians the opportunity to speak loud and clear as a check and balance to their government; and this bill allows just that.” Rep. Curtman served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman on active duty from 1999-2003 and in the Marine Corps reserves until 2009. He currently serves as the chair of the House Committee on Downsizing State Government, which has aimed to examine the various ways in which government practices and operations have encroached on the everyday citizen. LU launches social media campaign to support Ferguson businesses Lindenwood University’s John W. Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise has launched a social media campaign encouraging people to support local businesses in Ferguson, Mo. Using the hashtag #FergusonFavorites, the institute is challenging people to post photographs of themselves on Facebook and Twitter as they dine and shop at Ferguson establishments. “After the recent unrest in the city of Ferguson, some businesses were seeing 70 to 80 percent drops in revenue,” said Rachel Douchant, Phd, director of the Hammond Institute’s Liberty and Ethics Center. “If businesses stay or rebuild, they need consumers to support them. This campaign is a simple way to offer that support, and to personally encourage the business owners and show them the community does care.” Lindenwood’s Hammond Institute Twitter handle is @ LUHammondInst, and the Institute’s Facebook address is www.facebook.com/LibertyandEthicsCenter. Photos posted with the #FergusonFavorites hashtag are encouraged on both platforms. www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 Midtown Neighborhood Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places After a multi-year process gathering historical and architectural details on the homes and businesses in the area, the city of St. Charles was informed that the Midtown Neighborhood Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 29, 2014, by the National Park Service. The 125.4 acre area is roughly encompassed by Clark Street on the north, Kingshighway on the west, Madison and Jefferson Streets on the south, with Second and Third Streets defining the east boundary. All the properties have been located in the city’s locally-designated Extended Historic Preservation District for some time. “In the historic preservation world, there are few greater honors than to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Brenda Rubach, Preservation Planner for the city of St. Charles, in the Department of Community Development. According to Rubach, the Midtown Neighborhood Historic District qualified for National Register inclusion due to the range of styles of structures built during an extensive period of significance. “The earliest structure dates back to 1838, with the most recent important building being constructed in 1959,” she said. “With 121 years of significance the area has the widest range of architectural styles of any neighborhood in the city of St. Charles.” The new National Reg- Around Town facebook.com/mycnews www.dpc4u.org Photo courtesy the city of St. Charles The Link House at 1005 Jefferson St. is one of several in the Midtown Neighborhood Historic District now listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. ister District contains 527 contributing buildings comprised of 377 primary structures, with 150 outbuildings, seven contributing sites and three contributing objects. Two buildings in the district were previously listed on the National Register; the African Church at 554 Madison Street and the Link House at 1005 Jefferson Street. The area also encompasses 287 noncontributing structures, nine non-contributing sites and two non-contributing objects. Architectural styles found in the new National Register District include Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Folk Victorian, Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque, Colonial Revival, Minimal Traditional, Craftsman and Tudor Revival. Additionally, there are several public buildings of the Neoclassical Revival style, along with a private school and car dealership built in the mid- 5 century Modern style within the district. Most structures in the district were originally residential in use; however, the area also includes the county courthouse, a building previously used for the fire department, several churches and schools, as well as some office and commercial use buildings. Both white- and bluecollar families resided in the area living alongside community leaders, business owners, professionals, tradesmen and laborers. Inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places makes certain included properties eligible for, both, federal and state tax credits to assist in appropriate major rehabilitation work on the building. For more information about the new District or Historic Preservation in St. Charles please contact Brenda Rubach by e-mail at brenda.rubach@ stcharlescitymo.gov; or by phone at 636-949-3228. W E W I S H YOU A Joyous Holiday Season www.medicallysupervisedweightloss.com You’rE right At homE WhEn You BAnk With us! Contact us for a business or commercial loan! 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Old Monroe Moscow Mills O’Fallon Wentzville 636-655-5601 636-356-4000 636-980-3585 636-332-4906 www.bankofoldmonroe.com www.bankofoldmonroe.com 6 Around Town December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com DAR honors Restore St. Charles with community service award Volleyball Champions Submitted photo Clayton Kruse (back row, far right) son of Ken Kruse, President of Payne Family Homes was part of the St. Alban Roe 8th Grade Boys recorded a 14-0 record in matches and 34-4 in games, winning the South Central District League Championship, the West County District Tournament, as well as the overall County Championship. The Caroline Close Stuart Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently honored Steve Collier with a community service award for his work in Restore St. Charles. This volunteer organization assists hundreds of families in St. Charles County rehabilitating their homes so they have safe housing that meet code requirements. They have 70 work sites each year. About 25 percent of their projects are wheelchair ramps, assisting the disabled. “It is our mission to restore lives, hope and faith by restoring homes and properties,” Collier said. “We organize volunteers, churches and sponsors to make a real difference in the lives of the needy. Work days are on the third Saturday of each month, working at four to eight work sites each month. Our motto is: ‘If your objective is to change the world, what better way to begin than to help your neighbor.’” Community Service Awards Committee was established by the NSDAR as an opportunity for chapters and states to recognize worthy individuals in their communities for outstanding unpaid voluntary achievements in cultural, educational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical, citizenship, or environmental conservation endeavors. A local chapter may present two awards per year. Anyone wishing to volunteer with Restore St. Charles may call the Dardenne Prairie Presbyterian Church at 636-5414347. Photo courtesy The Caroline Close Stuart Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Pictured from left, Jenny Kimmel, Community Service Chairman, award-winner Steve Collier and Karen Wisner, Chapter Regent. Youth sports league sign-ups begin in O’Fallon Youth Soccer www.byerlyrv.com www.ymcastlouis.org Nurture your child’s athletic side by enrolling him or her in O’Fallon’s exciting soccer leagues for kids ages 4-14. “In addition to getting healthy exercise from head to toe, kids will have fun making friends, developing their ball-handling skills, learning team strategy and playing the game,” said Alyssa Groeteke, Recreation Coordinator for O’Fallon’s Parks and Recreation Department. Starting March 21, an eight-game series will be played on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at O’Fallon Sports Park. Parents can register kids in coed leagues for ages 4-5, 6-and-under, and 14-and-under. Or, they can choose girls’ leagues or boys’ leagues for ages 4-5, 6-and-under, 7-andunder, ages 8-9, and 10-11. Eligibility is based on kids’ ages as of Aug. 1, 2014, but youngsters turning 4 by May 16, 2015 may participate in the 4-5year old league. The cost per child is $65 for O’Fallon residents and $73 for non-residents through Feb. 4, with a $12 late fee charged after that date. Registration ends Feb. 19 or when the league fills up, whichever comes first. Each player will receive a soccer ball, jersey and socks to keep. Parents who volunteer to coach will be eligible to have one child’s registration fee reduced, and also receive a free, one-hour coaching clinic courtesy of former Olympian Jamie Swanner at K.I.M. Sports. Visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ parks&rec/athletics for more information and to register kids, or call staff at 636-474-2732. For additional information, contact Recreation Coordinator Alyssa Groeteke at agroeteke@ofallon. mo.us or 636-474-8120. T-ball “Plaaayy t-ball!” This spring, introduce young children to that all-American pastime with O’Fallon’s fun and exciting t-ball program for boys and girls ages 4-5. The rules are similar to baseball but games are played on a smaller field and instead of trying to hit a pitched ball, batters take aim at a light-weight ball placed on a stationary tee. All kids get a chance to bat, run the bases and field balls hit by other players. O’Fallon’s t-ball program will meet once a week on Saturdays for six weeks in Westhoff Park, starting March 21. Games will be played between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cost is $40 per O’Fallon resident and $45 for non-residents through Feb. 4 and a $10 late fee will be charged for registration after that date. Registration ends Feb. 19 or when the program fills up, whichever comes first. Parents are needed to help with coaching. Parents who are interested should let staff know when their child is registered. To register kids for t-ball (course 42515), call staff at 636-474-2732 or register online at www.ofallon.mo.us/parks&rec/ athletics. For questions, contact Recreation Coordinator Alyssa Groeteke at agroeteke@ofallon. mo.us or 636-474-8120. www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 EPC raises over $12,000 for charity A total of $12,800 was raised for Honduran children at EPC, Inc.’s 13th annual Classic Carfest event in October. Just Because We Care, a St. Charlesbased charity whose mission is to “end the cycle of poverty in our Honduran mountain community by providing food, education, clothing and basic medical care,” was the beneficiary of this year’s day of family festivities. EPC, Inc., the largest professional electronics recycler and IT Asset Management (ITAM) firm in Missouri and one of the largest in the country, has raised nearly $150,000 for St. Charles-area charities since it began the Classic Carfest in 2002. “Since the beginning of the Classic Carfest, our goal has been to mix an old-fashioned vintage car show with great music, tasty food and good times for families in our community, and raise funds for a deserving charity in the process,” said Dan Fuller, founder and president of EPC. “This year’s beneficiary, Just Because We Care, is a wonderful example of how caring people in our area contribute their time and resources to help those in need,” he added. “We are honored to assist them.” The annual Classic Carfest is powered by volunteers and monetary contributions acquired through corporate sponsors, vendors, raffles and registration fees. Sponsors for the 2014 event were EPC, Mid-Nite Auto Supply, Ameristar, UPS, PUR Performance and CIA Clark Insurance, among others. Diane Wamhoff, executive director of Just Because We Care, was presented with a check for $12,800 in a ceremony held at EPC on Nov. 25. “Because of all of you, we are able to help feed 145 kids at a high school (in Honduras), the only food they get every day,” said Diane to representatives of various companies who helped sponsor this year’s Classic Carfest. Funds benefit “Timmy’s Mountain,” an organization in the small community of Brisas Del Norte de San Francisco, Honduras, named after Diane Wamhoff ’s son, a young man who died in a car accident in 1993. Timmy’s love of helping children in need inspired his mother to help a community in his name. Diane raises funds in the United States to support a school in Brisas Del Norte de San Francisco that feeds and educates impoverished local children. EPC has big plans and is looking for eager sponsors wishing to use the EPC Classic Carfest “Time Machine” ability as the perfect advertisement vehicle, as well as children-based charities that are interested in fostering a great learning experience. Contact EPC’s Classic Carfest at 800-235-1046 to tell us about your interest in becoming a sponsor for the Oct. 10, 2015 program or to bring awareness to a great charity that will benefit from what is the most diverse charity car show in the greater St. Louis area. Business 7 O’Fallon recognized for strong economic performance in 2014 NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy and financial literacy website, has recognized O’Fallon for its high performance in homeownership and employment analyses. In a NerdWallet analysis of the “Best Places for Homeownership in Missouri,” O’Fallon ranked fifth. With both a high median income and a high homeownership rate, O’Fallon is an excellent place for homeowners in Missouri. The city’s population increased 5.7% from 2010 to 2012 to reach 79,073 residents, according to census data. O’Fallon also boasts an attractive homeownership rate of 82.9%. O’Fallon also ranked fifth in NerdWallet’s “Best Places for Job Seekers in Missouri.” The largest employers in town include CitiMortgage, the home-lending arm of Citigroup, and MasterCard St. Louis Operations Center. Job seekers here can find resources through nearby St. Charles Community College, which offers workforce training for jobs in health care and manufacturing, and manages the Missouri Career Center Partnership, which offers career counseling, resume help and interview tips for all job seekers in the area. A healthy labor market, affordable homes and a high quality of life make the state of Missouri a great place to call home. The state gained 42,000 jobs from May 2013 to May 2014, and personal income in the state grew 0.6% from 2013’s last quarter to the first quarter of 2014, according to a report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Chamber honors businesses and business leaders The O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 2014 Annual Award winners in the categories of Small Business and Business of the Year, Community Servant of the Year and Sue Proost O’Fallon Chamber Person of the Year. Each year the Chamber solicits nominations among its members for businesses and people who have gone above and beyond to make O’Fallon a better place to do business. “Our awards program recognizes those organizations that really fulfill our vision of being a catalyst for the prosperity of our community,” said Erin Williams, President/CEO of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce. KFAV, a Kaspar Broadcasting station, will be recognized for Small Business of the Year. KFAV was nominated for their commitment to the O’Fallon community and dedication to small businesses. KFAV is a friend to the non-profit community as well; offering public service announcements at no charge and significantly reduced advertising prices for area nonprofit agencies. Component Bar Products will be honored as the Business of the Year. Earlier this year the company took it upon themselves to build and operate the Midwest Machine Tool Training Center in order to offer a solution to the workforce development issue in manufacturing. The new 30,000 square foot building opened in March of 2014 and will offer those 1828 years-of-age who have high school diplomas or GEDs the basic training needed to start in an industrial job. MMTTC offers hands-on, project-based learning that includes robotics, metallurgy, quality control, team work and soft skills. More than 30 businesses have agreed to partner with MMTTC for internships, job placement and continuing education. The O’Fallon Chamber will honor the city of O’Fallon’s Department of Economic Development as their 2014 Community Servant of the Year. In 2014 the Department of Economic Development has gone above and beyond to strengthen its assistance to O’Fallon businesses including the “Open in the O” program, which pro-actively assists as businesses relocate and consistently meets its aggressive retention goal of meeting with no less than 30 O’Fallon businesses each month. The department, which created a strategic plan in 2013, has taken many steps laid out by the plan to make doing businesses in O’Fallon as easy as possible, including the hiring of an economic development coordinator. This year’s Ambassador of the Year is Holly Murray of Metro West Accounting & Associates. Murray has been an active ambassador for the O’Fallon Chamber since 2012 and works with the group to promote the O’Fallon Chamber and create an atmosphere of welcoming and openness to allow businesses to build relationships with each other. Murray was selected by her peer Ambassadors for the award for her dedication to the role and to the O’Fallon Chamber. The Sue Proost O’Fallon Chamber Person of the Year is awarded to an O’Fallon Chamber member who has given back to the O’Fallon commu- nity and the Chamber of Commerce through their leadership, dedication and volunteerism. Barb Koch fits that description perfectly. Since joining the O’Fallon Chamber in 2011 with her business, The Bag Ladies, she has served as not only an ambassador, chair of the Taste of Vegas committee and on the nominating committee, but she has served as a resource for many other chamber members. Koch is a great connector of businesses and a constant volunteer, including her tireless work for the 2014 Walk for Alzheimer’s. “Our organization, the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce, is only as great as its members. You can see from this year’s award winners why we grow year after year in membership and enthusiasm. It is my pleasure to be able to serve a membership made up of people and businesses like these,” said Williams of the awardees. www.changescapeweb.com/cnewsad LIKE US AT: Troy Dental Care / Dr. Mary Berk www.gibsonprinting.com 8 Business December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Software To Go adds staff member Photo courtesy of Mike Bizelli From left, Rev. Fran Pieper; Jack Schreiber, President and COO, Commerce Bank; Crisis Nursery CEO DiAnne Mueller at a luncheon on Dec. 12 where Pieper was awarded the 2014 Community Service Award. The photo credit goes to Mike Bizelli. Karen Coppedge has joined the staff of Software To Go as a Service Representative. Karen will be coordinating service appointments, maintenance schedules and assuring even greater customer satisfaction. Software To Go President, Joe Balsarotti stated, “We are very pleased to welcome Karen to our company. We will be able to offer more options and even quicker response to our customers needs with her on board.” Software To Go, www.software-to-go.com, based in St. Peters is one of the Midwest’s oldest software and computer shops (founded in 1983) and Photo courtesy Software To Go Karen Coppedge has joined the staff of Software To Go as a Service Representative. specializes in personal computing solutions for small businesses, professionals, education and government. Rev. Fran Pieper receives community service award sponsored by Commerce Bank Rev. Fran Pieper was awarded the 2014 Community Service Award sponsored by Commerce Bank at a luncheon held on Dec. 12 at Bogey Hills Country Club. A grant of $10,000 funded by the William T. Kemper and Commerce Bancshares foundations was given in Fran’s name to the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery. Jack Schreiber, President and Chief Operating Officer of Commerce Bank, presented the service award and grants, saying, “Fran’s dedication to the community makes her an ideal choice for the community service award. She exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism in our community.” Fran moved to St. Charles, Missouri from Minnesota in 1972. Shortly thereafter, she and her late-husband, John, opened Pieper’s Furniture store which is currently in its 39th year of operation. In addition to the business, Fran has always had a passion for and commitment to children and women who are victims of abuse and neglect. The dedication lives on in the work she began 40 years ago. She initiated the Child Abuse Task Force and later was a founding member of the Family Stress Council of St. Charles County. Beyond education and awareness, the council envisioned a place where moms could bring their children in times of crisis. It was Fran’s relentless dedication and the work of the council that led to the opening of the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery site in St. Charles in 1992. She also served as the first chair of the St. Charles Domestic Violence Board and was actively involved with the group for more than 11 years. Additionally, Fran earned a theology degree in 1982. Ten years later, Fran founded the Gateway Center for Spiritual Growth. Today, Fran works with small groups and individuals who are hurting and are in need of a practical theology of healing both mind and body. STOP BY & ENTER TO WIN 2 ST. LOUIS BLUES TICKETS! 1000 OFF $ PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE Valid at Direct Tools in Chesterfield, MO only through 1/15/15. Excludes gift cards, clearance, and blowout items. Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. While supplies last. Limit one offer per household per day. St. Louis Premium Outlets - 18521 Outlet Blvd. - Suite 525 - Chesterfield, MO 63005 Phone: 636-778-1431 Photo courtesy St. Charles Community College (Left to Right) General Manager/CEO Dan L. Brown presents a “Sharing Success” grant to St. Charles Community College Director of Development Betsy Schneider and President Ron Chesbrough, Ph.D. Cuivre River and CoBank team up to share success at SCC CoBank and Cuivre River Electric Cooperative teamed up to help St. Charles Community College students through CoBank’s “Sharing Success” grant program resulting in a donation of $10,000 ($5,000 from each organization) to fund scholarships at SCC. “Through the support of the Sharing Success Program grant, the SCC Foundation will be able to award scholarships to make college a reality for many more students,” says Betsy Schneider, SCC director of development. In the grant program, CoBank matches contributions its cooperative customers, such as Cuivre River, make to non- profit organizations they nominate for the grant. “Sharing Success” provides a dollar-fordollar match up to a maximum of $5,000. “We are very appreciative of CoBank’s mission of sharing their success to help improve the quality of life in our community,” says CREC general manager/ CEO Den L. Brown. “We strive daily to follow this cooperative principle and Touchstone Energy core value: Commitment to our Community.” “This is a great opportunity to bring more resources to help students, support our community and support SCC, a valued Cuivre River member,” he adds. www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 Movie “The Imitation Game” 9 By Steve Bryan - Rated: PG-13 is heartbreakEver have ing to watch. to prove you’re a human being with The supCAPTCHA (Completely Automated porting cast Public Turing Test to Tell Computers here also and Humans Apart)? That identity turns in exvalidation comes courtesy of Alan Turceptional work. ing, the man who created one of the Matthew Goode earliest computational machines. Turstands out as Hugh ing also is the subject of “The Imitation Alexander, a member of Game,” a fascinating story about counthe Enigma team who ter-espionage during World War II. butts heads with Turing. Charles Benedict Cumberbatch is rock solid Dance is rather droll as Commander here as the eccentric mathematician Denniston, who oversees the dewho alienates just about anyone he cryption team. Rory Kinnear also meets. Turing joins a group that tries deserves mention as Detective Robto break the Enigma code used by Gerert Nock, the man who delves deeply many during World War II. To aid their into Turing’s personal life. efforts, the mathematician designed Ethics and morality also come into and built Christopher, a computer that play during “The Imitation Game.” sifts through millions of combinations Once Turing and his team crack the and settings. code, the Allies decide how to best Based on “Alan Turing: The Enigma” use this information. Many people, by Andrew Hodges, “The Imitation including the mathematician himGame” is an engaging and very human self, are forced to make life-andtale. Benedict Cumberbatch turns the death choices for other people. Best Actor Oscar category into a real In an awards field populated with horserace with his work in this film. “The Theory of Everything” and As shown on screen, the mathemati“Boyhood,” Benedict Cumberbatch cian knows he is brilliant and he exand “The Imitation Game” are a pects everyone else to know it too. force to be reckoned with. It’s a In flashbacks, director Morten Tysolid piece with great actors, clever ldum delves into Turing’s early perdialogue, and a bit of wartime hissonal life at an English boarding tory that remained classified for deschool. Though he made life choices cades. that are accepted today, England had “The Imitation Game,” rated PGexceptionally harsh laws prohibiting 13 for some sexual references, marelationships between men in Turing’s ture thematic material, and historitime. The brilliant mathematician cal smoking, opens on Christmas “The Imitation Game” photos courtesy of Black Bear Pictures faced criticism for both his mind and Day in St. Louis. orientation during his brief life. Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, “The Imitation Game” is not necessarily a starring vehicle for the talented Cumberbatch, though. Keira Knightley’s performance as codebreaker Joan Clarke is and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the one of her best. Turing recognized Clarke’s brilliant mind and did everything he same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood could to make her part of the team. Their personal relationship on screen also theaters. www.fiueros.com www.fiueroshotsauces.com www.Windowworld.com 10 December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Sports Great Christmas giftfree MMA tickets and free Sozo products The Fight Hard MMA group will return to action this Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Family Arena in St. Charles. As always the organization will be offering thousands of free tickets to fans through several area marketing and retail partners as well its Facebook page. Doors for the event will open at 6 p.m. with the first fight of the evening starting at 7 p.m. For more information about the event visit www.FamilyArena.com or www.FightHardMMA.com Visit the Sozo booth for complimentary products of the Most Healthiest drinks at www.SozoSTL.com Enter to win a free motorcycle!!! *Perfect gift-at the right price Rams give early Christmas present to Giants The St. Louis team played the New York Giants for their final home game of the 2014 campaign and was out-played falling to a 37-27 defeat. Even thought the Giants had several more penalties, they overcame that by possessing the ball near 10 minutes more. A few hightlights: • Quarterback Shaun Hill completed 24-of-32 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns for a 110.2 passer rating. As a comparison, the opposing QB Eli Manning threw 25 times for 391yards. • Runningback Tre Mason rushed 13 times for 76 yards and scored his fifth touchdown on a 10yard run. • Tight end Lance Kendricks also scored his fifth touchdown receiving a pass from Hill for 23-yards. • Wide receiver Chris Givens caught the other touchdown pass from Hill for 47-yards. • Wide receiver Kenny Britt hauled in a seasonhigh nine passes for 103 yards. He had not accomplished that feat for over three years. • Kicker Greg Zuerlein converted field goals of 51 and 20 yards. • Punter Johnny Hekker punted four times for SUDOKU: Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9. See solution on page 13 202 yards and placed three inside the 20-yard line. He had registered a new season-high (29) in punts placed inside the 20-yard line and was tied for the league lead in the category Next home game: *Exhibition game in August—maybe… *Not an impressive end of the home season It’s winter-think Rascal baseball The River City Rascals play baseball at TR Hughes in O’Fallon starting in May. They are proud to announce that fan-favorite Eric Williams has signed as the team’s hitting coach this upcoming season. He did not have impressive numbers at the plate as a player last year, but is a great communicator. In 2014 he had a .224 batting average with 26 runs batted in and a team high 90 walks. Williams knows how to work the plate as a player and now, as a coach, he will have to teach the same skill that made him succeed. *Welcome Coach Lindenwood coach drafted by Major League Lacrosse Lindenwood men’s lacrosse graduate assistant coach Sean Meagher was selected in the Major League Lacrosse supplemental draft this week. He was the 41st overall pick and went to the Charlotte Hounds. Meagher was in his first season as a graduate assistant coach for the Lindenwood program. He graduated from Robert Morris University in 2014. During the 2013 season, Meagher helped lead the team to the NEC Championship as its starting long stick midfielder. The following year, Meagher finished his senior year leading NCAA Division I lacrosse in caused turnovers as well as setting the Robert Morris career and single-season record. *Thanks to Lindenwood’s Tyler Scheller-Sports Information Graduate Assistant Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, and co-hosted SportsRadioSTL.com, among many other activities. Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, “The Unknown Americans” Mexican immigrants, Alma and Arturo Rivera, arrive in Delaware with their beautiful teenage daughter Maribel after a 30hour ride in the back of a pickup truck. They cross the border out of desperation, seeking help for Maribel, who has brain damage sustained in a fall. They’ve been told she will receive better treatment and schooling in the United States. So begins “The Book of Unknown Americans,” a heartbreaking and starkly realistic novel by Christina Henriquez, a pick-it-up and you’re-into-it-book that spins the story of the Riveras and another family, the Toros, who live in the same building. The Toros, from Panama, have two sons — Enrique, the golden boy, a soccer star and college student, and Mayor, his gentle, younger brother, a slight young man picked on by a neighborhood bully. When the bully threatens Maribel, Mayor stands up for her. So begins a bond that grows into a serious relationship. The teens find solace with each other, but are careful to keep the intensity of their feelings hidden from their parents, who have become friends. The Riveras are naturally protective of Maribel. While Arturo works endless hours at his job on a mushroom farm, Alma worries about the way boys and men ogle her daughter, especially the bully, Garrett Miller. While Maribel and Mayor eke out ways to spend time together, their families face job losses, frays over money and adjusting to a totally different culture. The Riveras and Toros have fled their countries for a better, more peaceful life, but instead are thrust into a violent scenario none of them could have foreseen. Short vignettes about other immigrants, minor players in the book, detail their troubled histories, and the reasons why they came to America. Well written and troubling, “The Unknown Americans” is literature at its best — fiction that makes us think about a current issue and walk a mile in the shoes of others, new, vulnerable inhabitants of our country. Reprinted with permission. Missourian Publishing Company. Copyright 2014. www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 Recipes: 11 Create a Cookie Tradition By Rebecca Brockmann | O’Fallon The holidays are a wonderful time of the year. Family comes together and gets to celebrate a joyous time together. One holiday pastime shared by many is baking cookies! Cookie baking is something that can be done by one or many, but of course it is more fun to cook together. Why don’t you start a new famly tradion of baking cookies as a family? Everyone can get in on the fun and make something delicious! Christmas Wreath Cookies I have included a couple recipes that I really enjoy. Try a simple recipe of Christmas Wreath Cookies, one of my all time favorites. These always gets devoured first in my home. Then try Macaroon Kisses. I made this recipe for the first time this year, and let me tell you, they were quite tasty. This holiday season get toghter and start baking with some new family tradions! Servings: 24 cookies Macaroon Kisses Servings: 48 cookies Photos by Rebecca Brockmann Ingredients: 1 stick butter 40 marshmallows (large) 4 1/2 cup cornflakes 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp. green food coloring red hot (optional) Directions: Melt Butter and marshmallows in microwave. (make sure the marshmallows don’t over flow out of the bowl) Ingredients: 1/3 cup butter, softened 3 oz. cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg yolk 2 tsp. almond extract 2 tsp. orange juice 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 5 cups flaked coconut, divided 48 milk chocolate kisses Directions: Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed in large bowl until well blended. Add egg yolk, almond extract and orange juice; beat well. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add into butter mixture. Stir in 3 cups of the coconut. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm enough to handle. In the meantime, remove the wrappers from the chocolates. Heat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll them in the remaining 2 cups of the coconut. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie once out of the oven. Cool 1 minute and carefully remove to a wire rack to cool completely. www.pinterest.com/mycnews Once melted. Add the vanilla and food coloring. Mix together. Once everything is mixed, add the cornflakes and carefully stir till coated. Drop about a spoonful of mixture onto wax paper to set. If choosing to add red hots, put 1-3 in the center of the cookie before they dry so that they stick. 12 What’s Happening December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Send your event to [email protected] and we'll print it! EVENTS Dec. 24: Christmas Eve services You are invited to Christmas Eve services at 4 and 6 p.m. at Wentzville Christian Church at 1507 Highway Z in Wentzville. For more information call 636-3276622 or visit wentzvillecc.org. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve services Join the United Methodist Church at Wentzville for Christmas Eve Services. At 5 p.m. is the family worship: “Happy Birthday to Jesus!” At 7 p.m. is the traditional worship: “A Season of Joy!” And at 11 p.m. is a service of lessons and carols. Candlelight, communion and “Silent Night” will occur at each service. The United Methodist Church at Wentzville is located at 725 Wall Street. For more information, please call 636-327-6377 or visit us at www.livelovegrow.org. Jan. 3, 2015: “Seussical” auditions Young People’s Theatre will hold open auditions for “Seussical” at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 3, in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building theater on the SCC campus. Performance dates are March 20-29. For students previously cast in an YPT production, appointments are required. Appointment times will begin at 1 p.m. Email Brisby Andrews at [email protected] for a timeslot. Callbacks for principle roles will be 1-5 p.m. Jan. 4. Auditions will consist of a solo song, which will be taught, a short dance combination and brief readings from the script. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes. A parent or guardian must be present. Those who wish to audition for a principle role should prepare 16 to 32 measures of a Broadway repertoire song in their key. Auditioners must bring an accompaniment CD, no a cappella singing. Any student cast must either have had Introductory Theater Workshop I or concurrently enroll in that class in addition to being in the production. Auditions are free, production fee is $175 if cast Jan.11: Auditions for Bill W. and Dr. Bob O’Fallon TheatreWorks to hold open auditions for Bill W. and Dr. Bob at 1 p.m. at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall) Gym at 100 North Main St. in O’Fallon. The play will be performed March 20–22 and 27–29. The cast of six calls for three males and three females ranging in age from 18 to 45. Crew members also are needed. For more information, contact Darren Granaas at 636-474-2732 or [email protected]. Jan. 11: Social Dance Classes Winter Session St. Charles Community College in the College Center at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville is offering classes in Ballroom, Imperial Swing Basic, Jitterbug Swing, Line Dance, Texas Two Step and West Coast Swing. The session costs $50 per person. Students, ages 14 and up, should enroll with a partner. For more information call 636-922-8233 or visit stchas. edu/dance Jan. 12: Educational seminar “It’s A Wonderful Life: Aging with Purpose” offered by Lutheran Senior Services starts at 10 a.m. The event is free and will be held at Dardenne Prairie City Hall. Coffee and muffins will be served. For more information, or to sign up, please contact Melissa at the parks office at 636-755-5308. Jan. 15, 2015 Wheelers and Dealers Square Dance Club Come join the fun. Stay active, exercise, meet new people and learn to square dance. Begins at 7:30 p.m at Memorial Hall in Blanchette Park. For more information call Lucy at 636-391-3822, Joan at 636-922- 3669, or Maxine at 314-291-4723. www.squaredancestcharles.com Jan. 19: King Day of Service 2015 From 10 a.m. – noon at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall), the King Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. Volunteers of all ages are invited to register in advance to participate in fun community service projects. To register for the King Day of Service, contact Volunteer Services at 636-379-5417 or [email protected]. Jan. 23: National Volunteer Blood Donor Month Blood Drive From 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall). Appointments are encouraged to speed the process and ensure adequate staffing; walk-ins also are welcome. Donors must be at least 17, healthy, and show a photo ID. For more information or to schedule a convenient time, call 636-379- 5417 or email [email protected]. To inquire about the benefits of blood donation or for eligibility questions, contact Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center at 1-800-747-5401 or visit their website www.bloodcenter.org. Jan. 24: Tree board applications due Lake Saint Louis residents are being sought to join the Lake Saint Louis Tree Board. The tree board’s responsibility is to counsel and guide staff ’s efforts in developing and implementing plans related to the maintenance of trees in city parks and other areas maintained by the city. The board also provides guidance on city codes related to residential and commercial tree care and preservation. This is an advisory board that meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. If you have an interest in how the city manages its tree inventory and would like to serve on the tree board, please fill out the Notice of Interest to Serve on Board/Committee and return it to city hall. Forms can be found on the city’s webpage www.lakesaintlouis.com under the Committees/ Boards tab or in person at city hall. Jan. 24-25: Cabin Fever Daze Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at O’Fallon Sports Park at 3589 Highway K in O’Fallon. Admission, parking and activities are free Beat the winter blues! Play games, have fun entering zany competitions, enjoy live entertainment, free! Vendors will sell food and beverages. Check for updates at www. ofallon.mo.us/cabin-fever-daze. Jan 28: Eagle Watching Tour From 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for a cost of $50 this Dardenne Prairie seniors event is a trip to view our winter visitors, the beautiful bald eagle. We will travel by Mid American coaches with a morning stop at the Audubon Center in West Alton, MO for a short program and river viewing. We will then travel along the Great River Road to Pere Marquette State Park for a family-style chicken lunch. Depending on time, we may stop at a few eagle viewing spots along the way where you may enjoy from the comfort of the bus or step off if you wish. Bus pick-up and dropoff will take place at the Dardenne Prairie Shop N’ Save. To register for this event, please call the parks office at 636-755-5308. Feb. 6: Registrations due Registration for the Lake Saint Louis Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance is now open! Baseball/softball registration will begin Jan. 2. Call 636-561-4620 for visit www.lakesaintlouis.com for more information. March 12: Educational seminar “Understanding Memory Loss” offered by Lutheran Senior Services starts at 10 a.m. The event is free and will be held at Dardenne Prairie City Hall. Coffee and muffins will be served. For more information, or to sign up, please contact Melissa at the parks office at 636755-5308. March 26: Educational seminar “Pizza and Preplanning” offered by Baue Funeral Home starts at 10 a.m. The event is free and will be held at Dardenne Prairie City Hall. Pizza and drinks will be served. For more information, or to sign up, please contact Melissa at the parks office at 636-755-5308. Ongoing Events 1st Monday: Gardeners of St. Charles County Monthly Meeting 6:30pm. Location varies. 314.304.7480. 1st Monday: St.Charles County Council of the Blind (SCCCB) meetings Business meetings are held on the first Monday of each month (second Monday in September due to Labor Day ) unless otherwise specified. No meetings are held in June, July, or December. Meetings are held in the Community Council Building (2nd floor of the Spencer Branch Library) from 6:30 - 9 p.m. For more information contact Beverly Kaskadden (President) at 636-561-6947. 2nd Monday: Winghaven Civil War Round Table 6:30pm, Midwest BankCentre board room, 2299 Technology Dr. O’Fallon. For more informaiton call Mike at 314.276.5018. 4th Monday: American Legion Post 388 Meets 6:30 pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 8945 Vets. Mem. Pkwy. 636.219.0553. Every Monday: St. Peters Rotary Club Noon at St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd. www.stpetersrotary.org. Every Monday: Seasoned Eye Carvers Meeting 9am to noon at the St. Charles Senior Citizens Center, 1455 Fairgrounds Rd. in St. Charles. For more information, visit www.stcharlesareawoodcarvers.com. www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 Every Monday: Cribbage Club 1pm, Heritage at Hawk Ridge Clubhouse, 235 Pigeon Dr. in Lake St. Louis. For more information, call 636.561.2970. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday: Fitness First Exercise Classes 9:30-10:30am, American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314.369.6521. Tuesday and Friday Evenings: Tae Kwon Do Classes Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. For more information, call 636.561.4347. 1st Tuesday: Fleur de Lis Garden Society 6:30pm at the Kisker Road Library, 1000 Kisker Road. Info: Jeanne at 314.605.8563. 2nd Tuesday: Show-me Stitchers Embroiderer’s Guild of America 7pm at the Ladue Chapel. Info: www.showmestitchers.com. Last Tuesday of every month, St. Charles American Legion Post 312 spaghetti dinner. 5pm, St. Charles American Legion Post 312, 2500 Raymond Drive in St. Charles. $5 per person. For more information call Post 312 at 636.947.7666. 4th Tuesday: O’Fallon Garden Club 6:30pm at Sunrise Methodist Church, 7116 Twin Chimney Blvd. Info: Barb at 636.978.5930. Every Tuesday: Kiwanis Club of St. Charles Noon-1pm at Bogey Hills Country Club, 1120 Country Club Rd. in St.Charles. Every Tuesday: St. Charles Optimist Club Noon-1pm at Pio’s Restaurant. Every Tuesday: Quilting Guild at the O’Fallon Family YMCA 1-4pm Free. Quilt for local charities. No sewing experience required. Every Tuesday: Toastmasters Meeting 7pm at the Renaud Spirit Center, 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon. Info: 636.379.2505. Every Tuesday: Gateway Spotlight ChorUS 7:15-9:45pm at First United Methodist Church, 801 First Capitol Drive in St. Charles. Info: www.gatewayspotlight.org or 636.256.6823. Every Tuesday & Thursday: Tai Chi at the St. Charles County Family YMCA 8-9am & 10:15-11:15am. No experience necessary. 636-928-1928. Tuesdays & Thursdays: Get Fit Exercise Classes 9-10am and 5:30-6:30pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall, New Melle. 314.369.6521. Tuesdays and Fridays: TaeKwonDo Ministry 5:30pm, Dardenne Presbyterian Church 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Moses Kim brings Christian teaching into taekwondo. For more information, or to sign up, call 636.561.4347. Every Wednesday: Dardenne Presbyterian Church Basketball 8-9:30pm, Dardenne Presbyterian Christian Life Center, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Open to 6th grade and up. Bring a light and dark shirt for different teams. Third Thursdays: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 458 Meeting 7pm, Amvets Post 106, 360 Brown Rd in St. Peters. Those who served in any branch between 1962 and 1975 are welcome. 1st Wednesday of each month: Hope & Healing 5-6pm, Dardenne Presbyterian Rock Church, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Unique service of music, worship, and prayer for those in need of hope and healing. Every Thursday: Dardenne Presbyterian Church Quilters 9am-2pm, Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Members do hand quilting to quilts of any size for donation that is given to various church supported charities. No experience is necessary to join the group. For more information, contact Vickie Young at 636.928.7348, or Brenda Kenny at 636.240.3753. Every Wednesday: Active Older Adults Game Day at the O’Fallon Family YMCA 10am Free. Bring a favorite snack to share. Anybody welcome. Every Wednesday: Crossroads Cribbage Club 10am Meets at 1380 Boone St., Troy, MO 63379. 636.528.8379. Every Wednesday: Men’s Golf League 5pm, tee off at 5:30 pm at Heritage of Hawk Ridge. www.lakesaintlouis.com, under the parks and recreation section. Every Wednesday: Charity Bingo 6:45pm VFW Post 5077 sponsors, at VFW Hall, 8500 Veterans Mem. Pkwy., O’Fallon. 636.272.1945 or www.vfwpost5077.org. Every Wednesday. Kiwanis Club of Harvester monthly meeting. Noon, Fratelli’s Restorante, 2061 Zumbehl Road in St Charles. For more information, please contact [email protected] Every Wednesday, Winfield Foley Firefighters Association Bingo. Doors open at 4:30, bingo at 6:30pm, Bingo hall is next door to County Market in the Winfield Plaza on Highway 47. For more information, call 636.566.6621 or 636.566.8406. 1st and 3rd Wednesday Each Month: St. Charles Area Wood Carvers St. Charles Area Wood Carvers have moved meeting location on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from the Weldon Spring site to Hollenbeck Middle School, 4555 Central School Road, St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit www.stcharlesareawoodcarvers.com. 2nd Wednesday: Free Financial Education- Money Matters 6:30pm at the O’Fallon Family YMCA. PNC Bank and The O’Fallon Family YMCA have partnered to provide monthly free financial education courses for members of the community. Info (including a list of topics): call PNC Bank at 636.272.2449. Every Thursday: Kiwanis Club of St. Peters 6:30am at IHOP (3851 Veteran’s Memorial Pkwy St. Peters). 636.328.4941. Every Thursday: Kiwanis Club of O’Fallon 11:45am Meets at JJ’s Restaurant in O’Fallon. Info: www.ofkiwanis.com. Every Thursday: O’Fallon Rotary Club Breakfast 7:30am at The Holy Cross Lutheran Church (8945 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, across from Fort Zumwalt Park). Visitors welcome. 636.980.1777. Every Thursday: Yoga at The St. Charles County Family YMCA 7-7:55pm Any level. Info: 636.928.1928. What’s Happening Every Thursday: O’Fallon Rotary Club Breakfast 7:30am, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 8945 Veterans Memorial Pkwy. in O’Fallon. All Rotarians or interested parties are welcome. 13 Louis, MO 63367. 314.479.0306, [email protected] or www. lslmothersclub.com. Every Friday: VFW Fish Fry 3-8pm VFW Post 2866. 66 VFW Lane. Call Bill Sams, 636.724.9612. 2nd and 4th Thursdays: Alexander Chapter #242 Order of the Eastern Star Meetings 7:30pm, St. Charles Masonic Lodge, 2051 Collier Corporate Parkway in St. Charles. Every Friday, St. Charles American Legion Post 312 charity bingo 6:30pm, St. Charles American Legion Post 312, 2500 Raymond Drive in St. Charles. For more information call Post 312 at 636.947.7666. Third Thursday of each month: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 458 meetings 7pm, Amvets Post 106, 360 Brown Rd in St. Peters. Every Saturday: Chess 8-11am or later in the food court at Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters. Third Thursday of the month, Ladies Night Out Cottleville Crafts, Etc..., 5335 Highway N in Cottleville. Vinyl design class. For more information, call 636.441.2700 or visit www.cottlevillecrafts.com. Every Saturday: Veterans Learn guitar for FREE 9:30am in Historic St. Charles. Info: Bill Dennis at 314.479.5750. Every Saturday: Peaceful Puppy Mill Protest 11am - 12:30pm at Petland, 6131 Ronald Reagan Drive, Lake St. Louis. banmo.puppymills@yahoo. com. 2nd & 4th Thursday: Alexander Chapter 242/Eastern Star St. Charles Masonic Lodge, 2051 Collier Corporate Parkway, St. Charles. 636.577.0056. Every Saturday: Charity Bingo 6:30pm, doors open at 4pm. Wentzville Community Club (500 West Main, Wentzville 63385). www. wentzvillefleamarket.org or www. facebook.com/wentzville-community-club. Third Thursday of each month: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 458 Meeting 7pm, Amvets Post 106, 360 Brown Rd. in St. Peters. Veterans who served in any branch of service between 1962 and 1975 are welcome. 1st & 3rd Saturday: St Peters Square Dance Club Dances 6:30pm. 1st United Methodist Church, 801 First Capital Dr. www. squaredancestcharles.com. Every Friday: Moms Play Group 10am at LSL Community Association, 100 Cognac Ct., Lake Saint CONNECT BY PRINT Community News 2014-2015 SPECIAL SECTIONS Everything Automotive Automobile buying and selling, repair, automotive insurance and more Powerful Readership Equals Powerful Results 2014: 8/13, 10/22 2015: 2/25, 4/8 , 8/12, 10/21 | 2016: 2/24, 4/20 Home and Garden It’s all about your most valuable investment – Your Home 2014: 8/27, 9/17, 10/15 | 2015: 4/29, 5/20, 6/17, 7/8, 8/26 Careers and Education Spotlighting relevant content on colleges, universities, private schools and more 2014: 10/1 | 2015: 1/21, 3/4, 6/24, 9/30 | 2016: 1/20, 3/2, 6/22 Banking and Finance Everything from banking to personal finance, investing, taxes and money matters 2014: 10/8 | 2015: 1/7, 5/13, 7/22, 10/7 | 2016: 1/6, 5/11, 7/20 | 2016: 2/17, 6/8, 8/3 Golden Years Devoted to our most treasured asset – our seniors 2014: 11/5 Place your business in a winning position by advertising in Community News’ Special Sections | | 2015: 2/18, 6/10, 8/5, 11/4 Wedding Guide Guide to creating your perfect day. Halls, caterers, dress shops and much more 2014: 11/12 | 2015: 2/4, 3/25, 5/6 | 2016: 11/9, 2/3, 3/23, 4/6 Vacation Guide Hotels, admission, travel and everything you need for the perfect Missouri Vacation 2015: 5/27, 7/1, 8/19, 10/14 | 2016: 5/25, 7/6, 8/17, 10/12 Holiday Shopping Guide Be an Expert in Your Field Limited Educational Article Space Available Gift giving, party planning and more 2014: 11/26, 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 | 2015: 11/25, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16 Healthy Living Digest Focuses on all things health related (Fitness, Doctors, Dentists, Chiropractors, Hospitals, Nutrition and more) Here’s to your health! 2014: 12/31 | 2015: 1/14, 1/28, 6/3, 12/30 | 2016: 1/13, 1/27, 5/18 The Real Estate Guide SUDOKU answers from page 10 Everything from home buying and selling, mortgage and title companies and more 2015: 2/11, 3/11, 4/15, 7/15 Limited space Reserve your spot today! 2016: 2/10, 3/9, 4/13, 6/1 Camp and School Guide Provides our readers with a guide to the best in preschools, daycares, summer camps and other education programs 2015: 3/18, 4/1, 4/22, 7/29 Connect with the | | 2016: 3/16, 3/30, 5/4, 7/13 Community News 636.379.1775 | [email protected] | www.mycnews.com www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • December 24, 2014 15 CLASSIFIEDS www.scrubbydutch.com www.windowworld.com Published Every Week Since 1921 Family-Owned & Operated 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Drive O’Fallon, MO 63366 St. Charles Combined [email protected] [email protected] www.mycnews.com St. Louis St. Louis St. Charles St. Charles Combined Combined Our publications use a combination of online subscription, direct mail, home delivery, and voluntary circulation methods. Voluntary refers to a circulation method where readers “voluntarily” choose to pick up a publication to read. This method is powerful because locations are carefully chosen and newsstands are monitored for 100% pick up. Community News has developed a network of over 650 convenient locations including every major supermarket chain. Our voluntary method is powerful for three reasons: 1 QUALITY READERS A voluntary reader is an interested reader, actively outside of the home, in stores, seeking out information about the community 2 TOTAL UTILITY 100% pick up assures no wasted papers. Every paper reaches an interested reader, yielding a full value for the entire print run. 3 EXPANDING SET Every print run reaches a unique group of readers, because the majority of voluntary readers are occasional readers. Over time, these unique groups add up to a readership size about three times greater than the print run. FOUR GREAT PUBLICATIONS Huneke Publications, Inc. offers four publications: two weekly newspapers and two news magazines, each covering a unique market segment within St. Louis County and St. Charles County. As a member of the Missouri Press Association, all of our publications feature verified circulation and an earned credibility among our peers. ON C RAZY Inside...C OUP y for 86 Years 1921 - Weekl Established & Operated ies Family Owned & St. Charles Count Louis Serving St. ws.com www.mycne Annual The 16th Fair Women’s , Fit will be Fun us! and Fabulo Fair Women’s By Shelly A. U FAB July 11, 2007 er ! toes: floodwa ter and perman If you believe mosquitoes. ent water Floodwater ing problem you have a mosquito breedmosqui their eggs on damp soil where toes lay sure, please on your property, but will occur are not call the Departm flooding or, in some munity Hea ent of Comcases, above water line lth and the the in tree holes, Environme tainers, or nt. Ofartificial con- ficials will make an inspecti other small on and evaluabodies of water. tion appointment, When rain and then recomm fills these areas (ARA) and floods the possible solution. end a - National St. Charles County resident Friendship stages, broods can upload s have the of mosquitoes greatest prevention method Day is Aufingertips. a two-mintoes are mainly Proper maintens right at their gust 5 and - propert of the ance ute video pest y is the first variety, and the first to of the in light of emerge in the are step toward describ ing mosquito spring months prevention. All trash Many of these a recent and refuse that . mosquitoes how a close ers and may are strong flycould survey that range up to propert friend lights ten miles or more drained y should be adequately i n d i c ate s up their life graded and , a blood meal to prevent women any pools or to lay .....................3 water that may to www.ra puddles of r story............. eggs. last place high Cove County mosqui ten days or longer. diance ribtheir eggs directly ....................6 to v a l u e control officer ider.... McCauley lists on the water bons.com. 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Religion 5 com. ‘Light Up Your invites Wom Life’ Contest en to Honor Friendships in the larval UE IN THIS ISS a grand tic entry into al beauty basas well as automa g – a person prize drawin JCPenney. y of ket courtes emiants nine mini-s fair gives participfrom including inforcare, nars to choose e, fitness, breast surexercis mation on and plastic nence, and urinary inconti al improvement person and bra fitting gery. Other topics include for holiday awareness “dos” “ups” and and the “spirit wardrobe, p made easy, hair, makeu Movie Talk Spor ..... ........ Cheese . . 16 7 . . . . ... ........ 6 ...... St. Peters........... Better You 9 ........ It’s About .. 17 ...... 10 2139 Bryan...................... Movie Review Valley Commer cial23Dr. • O’Fallon .22, , MO 63366 eds ...................... P: 636.379.1775 Classifi topics to ercial Dr. the spirit. Valley Comm sessions (threetime frame) 2139 Bryan Seminar MO 63366 during each O’Fallon, a.m., and 1:30 choose from 636-379-1632 s a.m., 10:40 9-1775 • FX: t begin at 9:30 P: 636-37 centurytel.ne 1:15 p.m. E-Mail: cnews@ and runs until - 2007 at 11:45 a.m. 8:30 a.m. page 17 Wonderland at Christmas in the lunTAINMENT Doors open Film Group’s See ENTER feature duringigh-energy Electra in Yari Carmen special and h A ea Chris Kattan lin. year will b cheon this Dan Cough by author page 3 presentation N’S FAIR See WOME Movie . . . ........ ...... Sports . . . 12 ........ . . . . . . 14 Real Estate/A utomotive . . . . 15 F: 636.379.1632 E: ofcnews@ centurytel.net Coupon Crazy .... What’s Happen . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ing . . . . . . . . . 18 Classifieds ........ ....... 22 www.mycnew s.com 2011 May/June COMMUNITY NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS - St. Charles County OUR TOWN MAGAZINE CROSSROADS MAGAZINE addresses in its service area, plus online subscribers. It is a Wentzville and Lake St. Louis areas. It is direct mailed with commerce news plus articles on the economy, technology, human resources, and marketing. plus online subscribers. First published in 1921, Community News is the longest published weekly newspaper in the St. Louis metropolitan area and has established a large audience of loyal readers. Community News circulates across a broad geographic region with newstands, home throw and online subscription. Published weekly with a powerful circulation combination of newsstands, home throw, and online subscription. The St. Charles County edition features countywide coverage including the cities of: St. Charles, St. Peters, Cottleville, Weldon Spring, O’Fallon, Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville, plus Troy. This monthly lifestyle magazine covers the’N fast-growing Published bi-monthly, Our Town is direct mailed to all business Our FREE publications are available in over 500 convenient locations, including every Dierbergs, Schnucks and Shop Save. - Vol 9 No 28 Missouri is home to about mosquitoes. Some live less 50 species of while others than may live several a week, months. Community Health and ment states the Environ it is only the female mosqui that “bites” and she does to so blood meal needed to lay to obtain the viable eggs. While mosqui more than drive toes usually do little the family from doors to the the outindoors, they carriers of are sometim dangerous es d isea may contrac t malaria, yellowses. Humans gue, and encepha fever, denlitis; and dogs heartworm. may get Most of these the exceptio diseases, with n of canine heartwo human encephalitis and rm, have been eliminated fairly well from Health officials the entire United States. said outbrea to borne encepha ks of mosqui litis have periodic occurred in ally Missou “Canine heartwori. rm is an problem, with endemic costs to ers escalatin animal owng each warned. “Effecti year,” health officials measures includinve mosquito control g the elimina swamp areas, tion of to keep road and maintenance efforts ditches clear have done and much to control water free mosquito for disease transmission.” S LOU Schneider C o o li n g It Shelly A. Schneid FIT!FUN! o busy, e it gets to to dies, befor is the time corner. La for you. Now ovement and take a day impr se for selffun in the set a cour and to have s self-awareness n will find the answer process! Wome health, family, career, ns on the 2007 at to questio , and more image, fashion – Fun, Fit, and FabuSt. Fair Nov. 17, at Women’s ay, for Saturd . lous – set unity College Charles Comm in partnership the college St. Joseph sented by ey and SSM take with JCPenn -Hospital West, will StuHealth Center a.m.-3 p.m. in the 8:30 Campus, 4601 place from on the SCC ille. dent Center in Cottlev Mall Drive the area Mid Rivers throughout reWomen from day of education, for a will gather and fun, includfood, laxation, prizes,eminars, a fashion show than 50 ing nine mini-s r, and more speake e ts and serand keynot ing produc vendors display vices. a continental seminars and and s exhibit a fashion tickets include urse cial $20 VIP speaker, and full-co e in show, keynot Grappa Grill and catered by luncheon st, exhibits, the breakfa consecutive addition to For the fourththe lunchtime seminars. ey will host ages year, JCPenn with styles for all fashion show, Follow the se tips to kee p your family and pets safe from mosquitoes . Mosquito Sea son By IN THIS ISSUE St. Louis P 636.379.1775 F 636.379.1632 r 14, 2007 Novembe 46 Vol. 86 No. additional copies available in newsstands, unique business-to-business magazine featuringat chamber of Or, sign up for a FREE ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION www.mycnews.com 14 December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com ATTORNEY help wanted NOVENA SERVICES PRAYER TO ST. JUDE PET CEMETERY May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us. www.saintcharlesfamilylaw.com over 2,500 pet burials; over 6 acres; over 40 yrs old. 314-576-3030 www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Thank you, St. Jude C.L.D. www.everyonebenefits.com/GaryB FOR Rent “Stuff ” Piling Up? $ 46 ial al-est e spec at per run re Let help advertise YOUR sale! Call Brooke at 636.697.2414 2x2 c w/color Call Brooke 636.697.2414 FOR SALE Classified Special! For Garage Sales, Moving Sales, Yard Sales, or Sale of Items. help wanted $15.00 Call 636-697-2414 Statewide Classifieds facebook.com/mycnews Check it Out! www.MYCNEWS.com 16 December 24, 2014 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Over the Fence Joe Morice Language Is Weird Have you ever wondered about trivial things like the difference between the words, “nerd” and “geek?” It seems trivial but Trivial Pursuit is a popular game enjoyed by millions. One must remember trivial things from bygone times. Some might say experts are “trivia nerds” or “trivia geeks.” The dictionary lists both. Geek is as follows: Etymology: probably from English dial. geek, fool, from Low German geck: Date: 1914 1: a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake. (A modern version might include rock stars.) 2: a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked. (Unemployable know-it-alls?) 3 : an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity (computer geek). Nerd is: Etymology: perhaps from nerd, a creature in the children’s books “If I Ran the Zoo” (1950) by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel): Date: 1951 : an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits (computer nerds). Both can be associated with expertise in a particular field and both mention computer experts. For the real difference, I consulted my expert teenaged friend that hangs around his dad’s garage. He puffed on a Marlboro and leaned on his 180 mph economy car and said, “There ain’t much difference. A geek is a guy that gets real good at something and walks around like he’s somebody special and a nerd is the same thing but he dresses bad and gets beat up a lot.” He smiled a little, took another puff on his Marlboro and said, “There’s a funny part some of my dad’s friends are always saying. He says the cheerleaders in his high school and college sometimes dated the geeks or were seen with them but they ended up marrying nerds.” He smiled and added, “Nerds make all the money.” That covers it, me thinks. After I thanked him for his genius, he flicked his cigarette on the lawn and screeched away in a cloud of tire smoke. Speed freak or speed geek…or nerd…? Forget it. When I see the vans that careen around town with “Geek Squad” painted on the sides, I now assume they might be computer experts that didn’t marry well. Listening to people talk, sometimes you can tell their age level or perhaps their peer group by how many ‘awesome’s’ and ‘I’m like’s’ they can cram into a conversation. Such as, “She was awesome and I’m like speechless and then she said hi and I‘m like…” Before it’s over, I tend to lose track of the subject. A minute of conversation without the “I’m likes” might last only five seconds, normally. If one drops in to a local “meat market” which is a slang term for “singles bar,” one can hear conversations full of “awesome’s” and “I’m like’s” among clusters of singles intent on impressing each other. Conventional conversationalists are usually seen sitting in a corner contemplating loneliness or perhaps, reading up on current slang terms at the risk of being thought of as intellectuals…or is it geeks? Words are actually a lot of fun or perhaps it’s the different ways people use them. On the other hand, sometimes they can be used in ways to make others appear dumb such as my father’s kindergarten teacher. He claimed she recited “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as such: “Mary had a diminutive tup, its pel- age was niveous as snow, and everywhere that Mary peregrinated, the tup would irrefrangibly go.” Gee, a teacher geek from Mars. Joe Morice is Community News’s blue-collar philosopher. He was born and raised in Missouri and spent most of his childhood on a farm and adulthood operating big machines. He has no formal training as a writer, unless 60 years of writing about any and everything counts. The opinions expressed in this column are Joe Morice’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News. www.sttlrv.net www.naa.org www.newspapermedia.com
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