CrossRoads: May 2012

CROSSROADS MAY 20122

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2012contents

Community NewsShelly SchneiderRay RockwellSteve BryanDonna M. Huneke

PublisherEditor

PhotographerMovie Critic

Creative Design

VOL 8 | NO 5

3MAY 2012 CROSSROADS

MAY

spotlight

lifestyle

entertainment

around town

St. Charles County’s Newest Park4

6

9

Mommy Jeopardyby Shelly A. Schneider

by Steve Bryan

13

16

A Beginner’s Guide to “The Avengers”

photos by Ray Rockwell

courtesy of Family Features

photo op

food

Pinwheels for Prevention

14 Should We or Shouldn’t We?by Joe Morice

10

12

15

17

18

Community Calendar

Wentzville Chamber News

Run for the Wall

LSLDP Chamber News

Delicious No-Fuss Desserts

“South Pacific” Comes to Wentzville7

8 Whip Your Yard into Shape This Spring

Wentzville Police Officer Honored

2012 St. Louis Renaissance Faire7

by Shelly A. Schneider

by Shelly A. Schneider

www.jeffowens-insurance.com

SPOTLIGHT


St. Charles County’s Newest Park Opens May 11

It’s affectionately known as the Pink Plantation. The home, purchased in the 1950s by Hale and Betty Towne, and the 109-acre site, were do-nated to the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department. Towne Park will be dedicated at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 11. Located on Hwy. 61, approximately six miles north of I-70, the park includes a certified Nature Explore Classroom, the restored home, a botanical preserve, a fishing pond, a paved trail, natural trails, picnic areas and more.Bettie Yahn-Kramer, director of St.

Charles County Parks and Recreation, said interpretive reenactors will be on hand opening day and weekend to tell the story of the Boyd family, who pur-chased the land in the early 1800s.Nancy Lee Gomer, marketing coordi-

nator for the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department, said the land on which Towne Park rests dates back to the early 1800s and is recognized historically throughout St. Charles County. Ruth and Wil-liam Boyd were an upper-class couple from Kentucky who married in 1798, and shortly after began a family. William, a gun maker, decided he wanted to find a new home and teach his children how to farm on their new property. So in 1830, he set out to explore property in St. Charles County. Shortly after traveling back to Kentucky, he died. It was at that time that Ruth decided to carry on her husband’s dreams, so she packed up the children and all their belongings, and moved to St. Charles County. Ruth, the children, and 17 slaves farmed the land for years, producing

grains and tobacco. In 1880, Ruth’s sons tilled 150 acres of land with six acres being tobacco. The property was later referred to as being a tobacco farm because of the tobacco harvested. When the Townes purchased the home in the 1950s, Betty painted

BY SHELLY A. SCHNEIDER - with information from the St. Charles County Parks & Recreation Department

the home her favorite color – pink. To ensure the home and land would be utilized by children and families, Betty Towne donated them to the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department.

One unique aspect of the park is the Nature Explore Classroom. The Na-ture Explore Classroom is the first in St. Charles County. Yahn-Kramer said one of the department’s foresters heard about the process and brought it to her attention. The Nature Explore Class-room features 11 stations.1. Building – features building blocks

and pieces of cedar shaped like cookies nestled in recycled cedar bins for chil-dren to stack and construct. The floor of the area is made out of cedar tree cookies and spans more than 300 feet in diameter.2. Nature Art – features habitat found

in nature. Turtle shells, animal bones, seed pods from trees, deer antlers and much more will be housed in discovery tables. The floor of the area is made up of natural flagstone and spans more than 300 feet in diameter.3. Water – features a body-powered water pump made out of a bi-

cycle frame. When peddled, the pump will draw water from a well and send it cascading down into the nearly two-acre pond below. The pond, which is stocked with bluegill, catfish and bass, will eventually be open for fishing for groups visiting for the day.4. Music and Movement – features a stage made out of repurposed

wood, which allows children to perform and entertain using a variety of musical instruments. Children can use a xylophone-type instru-ment, a 55-gallon barrel drum, handmade rain sticks, bongo-type drums, bamboo wind chimes, maracas and tambourines.5. Open Play – features a large grassy area made out of native buffalo

grass for children to run around and play on.

The Pink PlantationPhotos courtesy of the St. Charles County Parks & Recreation Department


SPOTLIGHT

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6. Messy Materi-als – features two hollow logs large enough for children to get in and crawl through. The floor of the area is made up of mulch and is bordered by cedar logs.7. Sand Play – features a roofless log cabin that contains a large sand box

equipped with sand tools. There is also a sand table outside for children to use.8. Climbing and Crawling – features stump steppers, raised balance beams, and

platforms for children to walk across.9. Gathering Place – features a large area furnished with natural cedar benches

for groups to use to talk and convene.10. Dirt Digging – stocked with buckets and garden shovels for children to dig.11. Paths through Plantings – discover native plants while walking through the

natural-surfaced paths. Totem-face-like carvings are placed throughout the paths.“This classroom without walls is meant to help a child learn and play in a very

creative way,” Yahn-Kramer said. “This work was done entirely by staff and volun-teers who worked all winter. The volunteers primarily were made up of the Con-fluence Chapter Master Naturalists. They worked throughout the winter to build this project. We’re very proud of that.”The home, reconstructed after a devastating 2004 fire, will be a living history site

to honor the agricultural and natural history of the region. The house will be open and on display for the public to view during specific occasions. Parks Historian Ryan Graham started by furnishing three rooms on the home’s

lower level – the hall, the parlor and the dining room.“The furnishings that will be placed in the home range from the American Em-

pire Period, to the early Victorian era,” Graham said. “Future plans of the property also include: recreating the Boyd’s summer kitchen, a barn, a blacksmith shop and a smoke house. The house will also encompass vintage items and photos of Mrs. Betty Towne.”If you have an item that you would be interested in possibly donating to the ef-

fort to restore the Boyd home, contact Ryan Graham at 636.255.6000.For more information about Towne Park, please visit http://parks.sccmo.org.

Towne Park Nature Explore Classroom

BY SHELLY A. SCHNEIDER

CROSSROADS MAY 2012

LIFESTYLE

6

It’s hard for me to just jump on the el-liptical and start moving. Face it. Ellip-ticizing is boring. You can’t really read a magazine (at least I can’t without falling off and injuring myself), and I’m not the type that can meditate while on a machine. My mind wanders.Some people use MP3 players to

make the time pass. I tried that, but my kids’ MP3 players are filled with the “Real Men of Genius” spots…and last week I nearly fell off the ma-chine laughing. When music plays on the MP3, my kids politely request that I not sing along. That’s impossible. I know I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but that doesn’t stop me. So, unoriginal as it sounds,

I turn to the television while burning calories. All it takes to make time fly is a rousing round of “Jeopardy!” It’s not that Alex Trebec does any-thing for me. I like to chal-lenge my brain. Much of the day is spent schlepping three kids, grocery shopping and cleaning…things that just don’t use a lot of brain power, so it’s nice to give my brain and muscles a simultaneous workout.Some days I luck out and can answer many of the “Jeop-

ardy!” questions. Many times, though, I discover that my knowledge on subjects like Greek mythology has flown the coop…only to be replaced by Sponge Bob trivia.One of these days I’m going to sit down and design a triv-

ia game just for moms (and dads, too). The game would go something like this:(Contestant) “Alex, I’ll take ‘Name That Look’ for $800,

please.”(Host) “Certainly, Shell. The answer is: Sitting on the sofa

at 1 a.m., unblinking eyes to the door.”(Contestant) “Ooh! Ooh!” (Which, coincidentally, would

replace the stupid button players have to push on “Jeop-

Mommy Jeopardy

ardy!”) “What is the ‘You’re two hours late. Haven’t you ever heard of a phone?’ look?”(Host) “Well done, Shelly. Select again, please.”(Contestant) “Alex, let’s move on to Children’s Television

for $1,000.”(Host) “Feeling adventurous today, eh, Shell? Here we go.

They portrayed Mr. Conductor on the hit show, “Thomas the Tank Engine,” before Alec Baldwin.”(Contestant, laughing out loud) “Ha! I mean, Ooh! Ooh!

Who are Ringo Starr and George Carlin?”(Host) “My goodness,

Shelly, you’re kickin’ some “Mommy Jeopardy” butt to-day. Where would you like to go next?”(Contestant) “Let’s go

‘Name that Stain’ for $600, Alex.”(Host) “Alrighty, then. And

remember, it’s a video an-swer.”It takes the contestant, me,

about two seconds to recog-nize and ring in.(Contestant) “Ooh! Ooh!”(Host) “Go for it, Shell.”(Contestant) “What are the

yogurt, popsicle and one teaspoon of cough syrup my

16 year-old brought forth last week?”You see, in my version of “Jeopardy!” I pretty much al-

ways win. Other great mommy-only categories would be:• Line up the kids and pick out the fibber• I didn’t do it, she did• What’s for dinner, Mom?• Not now, Mommy’s on the phone (or in the shower)• Body parts that change after childbirth• Creative recipes using macaroni, peanut butter and/or

hot dogsWhen “Mommy Jeopardy” is a humungous hit on the

Game Show Network, I will go head-to-head with Ken Jennings and emerge victorious! Until that day arrives, I’ll keep ellipticizing and fanaticizing about being a contes-tant. Who knows? Maybe I’ll learn something new.


AROUND TOWN

The 2012 St. Louis Renaissance Faire opens to the public on Saturday, May 19, and will be open Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day through June 10. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine, and the Faire is located in Wentzville’s beautiful Rotary Park. Tickets are $14.95 per day for adults, $7.95 for children ages 6-13 and free for children 5 and under. Season passes are also available, and $2 discounts are given at the gate for military, police, firefight-ers and seniors (65+). Travel back in time as you step into the beautifully wooded, 16th century village, we call

Petit Lyon! Immerse yourself in the costumes and mannerisms of the era. Thrill to the ex-ploits of jousting knights on thundering steeds. Roam the village shops for unique crafts and goods as our artisans demonstrate period skills. Delight in comedy, music and feats of der-ring do. Feast on delicious food and drink while strolling minstrels entertain. Interact with the colorful villagers, nobles, peasants and personalities of ages pastDirections: Take I-70 West (or Hwy. 40 to I-70 W) to the Wentzville Parkway Exit 208. Turn

Right onto Wentzville Parkway. At West Meyer Road turn left. Continue to Rotary Park on the right.For more information, please visit www.renstl.org.

“South Pacific” Comes to Wentzville!

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Renaissance Faire

2012 St. Louis Renaissance Faire

Wentzville Christian Church will present a community theater pro-duction of “South Pacific” at 7 p.m. on May 4, and at 2 and 7 p.m. on May 5. Admission is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first served. Doors open 30 minutes before the show begins. Last year’s production drew more than 1400 people in the three performances. Tammy Rodenbaugh, director, said this is the sixth year the church

has produced a full-length Broadway musical. This year’s production features a talented cast and crew of 35 drawn from the church and sur-rounding area, along with a 15-piece orchestra (which includes mem-bers of the St. Charles Municipal Band). Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific”, based on James A. Mi-

chener’s “Tales of the South Pacific,” features memorable songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame,” and “Bali Ha’I,” along with lots of laughs and a great message of acceptance. Wentzville Christian Church is located at 1507 Hwy. Z (1 mile south of

I-70). For more information call 636.327.6622 or visit wentzvillecc.org . Photo courtesy of Mary Riley Photography

8 CROSSROADS MAY 2012

AROUND TOWN

Want to Whip Your Yard into Shape this Spring? BBB has Tips for Hiring Landscaping, Lawn Services

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Sunny spring days have many homeowners think-ing about getting their lawns in shape. Some may want to get their lawn mowed while others may be considering a major landscaping project, such as a patio, deck or fence.The Better Business Bu-

reau (BBB) can help you find a reliable company. Free BBB Business Reviews provide background on thousands of local companies, in-cluding how they handle complaints and how long they’ve been in business. And the BBB Request A Quote option (accessible from BBB reviews or the BBB Accredited Business directory) allows you to request information directly from BBB Accredited Businesses.“Recent warm spring days have many people itching to get to

work on their yards or homes,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB presi-dent & CEO. “Consumers need to know a company’s background before they ask for a bid. Checking companies out with the BBB is a good first step.”Consumers can save themselves a lot of hassle by considering

their budget and any deadlines they have for completing a project. You should ask contractors whether they have done work nearby and ask for addresses so you can inspect the work and ask other homeowners about their experience working with the company.If you’re hiring a lawn service company for the season, make sure

you and the lawn service have clear, written expectations for what the company will provide for the agreed-upon fees. Does the lawn need reseeding? Do you expect the company to sweep up clippings or do you want them left on the lawn to enrich the soil? Are there areas of the yard where extra care is needed to protect landscaping plants?The BBB offers the following advice to help consumers find a lawn

care or landscaping company:

• Know what you want. Lawn care and landscaping companies provide many services, so it is important to decide what services and products are appropriate for your needs and budget. What do you want the yard, patio or deck to look like when the job is com-plete? • Ask around. Ask friends and family what lawn care companies

they use. If you’re considering a major project like a deck or patio, ask friends if you can see their projects and ask how it was to work with the contractor. • Check the company out with the BBB at www.bbb.org. BBB

Business Reviews provide important background on businesses, such as how long they’ve been in business, who owns them and how they resolve complaints. • Ask for a lawn inspection and free estimate. Lawn care com-

panies that quote a price without seeing your lawn cannot be sure what you need. A landscaper will need to measure the area where the patio or deck will go and consider access to the yard. Quality companies will offer an estimate only after they see what they are working with. • Request a written contract. A contract should clearly state the

services you will receive, as well as how you will pay for it. If you are contracting for a recurring service, it should state how often the company will mow your lawn and when you will be billed. • Remember the rule of thirds. If you’re getting a new patio,

deck or major landscaping, consider paying a third of the contract amount to secure the contract, a third when the work is half done and the final third only after the job is completed and you are satis-fied with the work.Before you do business with a charity or company, check its BBB

Business Review at www.bbb.org or by calling 314.645.3300.About the BBB: The BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organiza-

tion that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Reviews on more than 4 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolu-tion services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting mar-ketplace trust. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information.

BY STEVE BRYAN

MAY 2012 CROSSROADS

A Beginner’s Guide to “The Avengers”

On May 4, “The Avengers” officially kicks off the summer movie season. Unlike other Marvel Comics films, this adventure brings together six superheroes that form a team with a common goal, namely saving the world. This film is the culmination of years of planning and coordination and, with di-rector Joss Whedon behind the camera, it should set the bar high for the rest of the season.2008’s “Iron Man” provided the first indica-

tion that an “Avengers” movie was truly on the horizon. Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) was captured by terrorists, later returning home with shrap-nel in his chest and the designs for an ar-mored bodysuit. At the end of the movie, Nick Fury, head of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), talked to Stark about the “Avengers Initiative.”Later that same summer, “The Incredible

Hulk” showed the green superhero and his potential connection to the team. Edward Norton had taken over the role of Bruce Banner, the researcher who tested out a Super Soldier formula on himself. Instead of merely augmenting his strength and en-durance, Banner became a hulking green monster motivated by inner rage and pain. Mark Ruffalo currently is playing Dr. Banner in “The Avengers.”Banner’s experiments continue research first conducted during

World War II. As the “Captain America” movie showed, frail Steve

9

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Rogers was given a dose of the Super Soldier formula that transformed him into a near-ly perfect human being. While saving the world from a devastating weapon, Captain America crashed his plane in the Arctic. Seventy years later, Rogers wakes up in 2011 and once again must help save the world.“Thor,” one of the most popular films of

2011, introduces the legendary Norse god of thunder. Chris Hemsworth plays the hotheaded Thor whose arrogance breaks a truce between the frost giants and the gods of Asgard. Separated from his mighty ham-mer, Thor is sent to Earth by his father to learn humility.Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s adopted

brother, is partially to blame for his exile on Earth. Jealous of Thor’s popularity, Loki seizes power in Asgard, but he too is cast out of Asgard. Before the beginning of the “Avengers” movie, Loki tries to get his hands on “Odin’s Tesseract,” a glowing cube that

could be a source of limitless power.In the aforementioned “Captain America” movie, the villain-

ous Red Skull possessed the same cube. Although he planned to take over the world, Captain America defeated him, but there is a chance that the Red Skull will return to claim the cube once again in 2012.“Marvel’s The Avengers,” which is not yet rated, opens in the-

aters on May 4.

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COMMUNITYC A L E N D A R

MAY 2012

To see your organization’s event listed here, please contact us.

E-mail: [email protected]: 636.379.1632Mail: 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366

CrossRoads MagazineAROUND TOWN


MayGolf Leagues AssociationEnjoy an evening of golf in a league, play-ing in a relaxed, fun, friendly style. Open to all skill levels. There are currently open-ings at the Bluffs (Tuesdays), Wentzville (Wednesdays and the Links (Thursdays). Play starts from 5 to 6 p.m. Registration forms are at www.golfleagueassociation.com or email [email protected]. For more information, please call Bud Arbore at 636.463.2978.

May 3Community Gardening ClassesThe Lincoln County Master Gardeners are hosting classes this spring. Classes are of-fered at a low price at the University of Missouri Extension Center, 880 West Col-lege Street in Troy. For a full schedule, call the Extension Office at 636.528.4613.

May 3Flex & Strength Adult Yoga Classes Join our instructor as she incorporates poses and stretches from yoga and Pilates. All skill levels welcome. Classes meet Mon-days and Thursdays from 4:45-5:45 p.m. through June 14. Note: Please bring your own mat to class. Fee: 54 for LSL residents and $66 for nonresidents. For more infor-mation and to register, please view the parks and recreation section of our website at www.lakesaintlouis.com.

May 4Weekly Public Star Shows

Join members of the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri each Friday night (weather permitting) for a viewing of the stars as they present a

public open house for two hours beginning at dark at Broemmelsiek Park. View far-away places through complex telescopes and discover secrets of the universe. All are welcome to attend. For more information, visit the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri at www.asemonline.org.

May 4 & 5Used Book Sale for Powell LibraryHeld from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Satur-day in the lobby of the Bonfils Auditorium. Bag of books for $2.

May 5Citywide Yard Sale The Yard Sale booklet is on sale May 2 for $2 (at City Hall, Progress Park or the Util-ity Service Center). The Yard Sale booklet includes a map to help you locate the bar-gains! The yard sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call the Wentzville Parks and Recreation De-partment at 636.332.9236 or email [email protected].

May 5Moonlight Bike Ride SeriesJoin experienced guides on a moonlight bike ride through Indian Camp Creek Park, 2679 Dietrich Road off of Hwy. 61 near Wentzville. The event takes place from 8:30 – 11 p.m. Open to all skill levels. Bring a bike light! For more information, please call the St. Charles County Parks and Rec-reation office at 636.949.7535.

May 5May Days Festival on the Boardwalk12 Noon – 3:30 p.m.

It’s the 3rd Annual May Days Festival on the Boardwalk in WingHaven. Area Merchants will have the opportunity to have a booth at this event to showcase their business. Booths are $125. This is a great family fes-tival! Live Band, Bounce Houses, clowns, face painting, games and much more. For more information or to have a booth contact Jan–Travel Leaders/Jan’s Travel and Cruise – 636-561-2626.

May 7 - 11Large I tem Spring Pick-Up Dispose of your bulky items at no charge. Place items at the curb by 6 a.m. on your normal sanitation pick-up day (Wentzville residents only). Acceptable items include: appliances, mattresses, furniture, basket-ball hoops, etc. For more information, please call the city of Wentzville Public Works Department at 636.327.5102.

May 18H.O.P.P. NightFor kids in grades 6 through 8. Hangin’ Out at Progress Park (H.O.P.P.) is a fun and safe way for kids to spend some time with their friends. Dance, listen to your favorite songs and have fun under the supervision of rec-reation staff, volunteers and police officers. Register and pay at the door ($3 per per-son plus money for refreshments). Every-one must stay the entire time unless signed out by an adult. No outside beverages or backpacks allowed. For more information, please call the Wentzville Parks and Recre-ation Department 636.332.9236 or email [email protected].

May 19National Walk in the Woods DayThe American Forest Foundation has des-ignated Saturday, May 19 as National Walk in the Woods Day. Get outdoors with


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family and friends and walk the wooded family and friends and walk the wooded trails, go bird watching or even camp out in a St. Charles County Park. Discover and celebrate being in the woods at:

• Broemmelsiek Park, 1615 Schwede Road at Highway DD/Winghaven Blvd., south of O’Fallon• Indian Camp Creek Park, 2679 Dietrich Road, off of Ferris Rd., at Highway 61, near Wentzville• Louis H. Bangert Memorial Wildlife Area, entrance situated along Old South River Road, off Fifth St., in St. Charles• Klondike Park, 4600 Highway 94 South, in Augusta• Matson Hill Park, 700 Matson Hill Road, in Defiance• Quail Ridge Park, 5501 Quail Ridge Park-way, in Wentzville• Towne Park, 100 Towne Park Drive, off of Farris Road, at Highway 61, near Wentzville

May 19YAP Late Skate Skate and play from 4 p.m. to midnight at the Youth Activity Park (YAP), 7801 Hwy. N in Dardenne Prairie. Fee: $5 per per-son (must be a registered member of the park). For more information, please call 636.561.4964.

May 19Concert Series Come and enjoy the free Flaming Pie (Bea-tles/British Invasion Band) concert from 7 – 10 p.m. at Boulevard Park in Lake Saint Louis. Presented by the Lake Saint Louis

Parks & Recreation Department, spon-sored by West Community Credit Union.

May 20Broemmelsiek Challenge Bike RaceRegister on the day of the race. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bro-emmelsiek Park, 1615 Schwede Road at Highway DD/Winghaven Blvd. For more information, please visit www.unitedindirt.com.

May 29Gators Summer Day Camp Summer day camp will be offered weekly from May 29 through August 10, Monday through Friday. Registrations are now be-ing accepted for the 2012 season. For more information and to register, please view the parks and recreation section of our website at www.lakesaintlouis.com.

June 1Movies in the Park Coming again this summer! Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and head out to Boulevard Park Amphitheater in LSL to en-

joy a free movie under the stars. Movies be-gin at dusk (approxi-mately 8 p.m.). The June 1 movie is Puss in Boots (rated PG).

The advertisement in the March 2012 issue of CrossRoads Magazine for Alderman Rick Stokes,

Ward 3, Wentzville, should have included the following statement:

“Paid for by Citizens for Rick Stokes - Don Lesser, Treasurer.”

June 4Adult Art & Painting Lake Saint Louis offers four separate classes taught by award-win-ning artist Marie Do-nato. Choose from Adult Drawing, Pastel Painting, Portrait or Wa-tercolor. Classes begin the week of June 4 and will meet for six weeks on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Fee: $65 for LSL residents and $82 for nonresidents. For more informa-tion and to register, please view the parks and recreation section of our website at www.lakesaintlouis.com.

AROUND TOWN

WENTZVILLE - Chamber News BY TONY MATHEWS

Sears Home Appliance Photo courtesy Wentzville Chamber of Commerce


Wentzville Chamber Welcomes New MembersEach month the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce continues

to expand our membership due to the great leadership of our Wentzville business community. This month the chamber wel-comes five new members into our organization. “I am proud to have these great businesses and their representa-

tive as members into the Wentzville Chamber,” said Tony Mathews, President/CEO of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce. The five businesses and organizations are:1) Best Dressed Lawn & Landscape, 61 Canterbury, Troy, MO

63379. 636.775.1199. Contact: Adam Bridgman. 2) Morning Star Church, 1600 Feise Rd., Dardenne Prairie, MO

63368. 636.561.5680. Contact: Heather Kemper. 3) Chick-fil-A, 1918 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, MO 63385.

636.639.2356. Contact: James Bennett.

4) Jason Jacobs – Schneider Real Estate, 615 Courageous Lane, Foristell, MO 63348. 636.327.0747. Contact: Jason Jacobs. 5) Flash Flyer, 212 West Pearce Blvd., Wentzville, MO 63385.

636.332.2809. Contact: Tonia Thieman.

To discover all the 400 local businesses and organizations that are members of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce please visit www.wentzvillechamber.com. Become a friend of the Wentzville Chamber on Facebook. As a friend of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce you can stay up to date with new businesses coming into the area! If you have any questions please call the Wentzville Chamber of

Commerce at 636.327.6914.

The Wentzville Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 22nd Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 23, 2011. The tournament will be held at Incline Village Golf Course. Everyone is encouraged to sign up today and reserve their place. The tournament will be played in teams of three, and the cost

per player is only $110. Fees include the following: 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch provided by Sunny Street Cafe, steak dinner, unlimited

22nd Annual Wentzville Chamber Golf Tournament

The Wentzville Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon cutting ceremonies for Dr. Jennifer Heller and Sears Home Appliance. Sears Home Appliance experts will assist you in finding the perfect appli-

ances to meet your needs. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and enjoy some refreshments while you shop. They are located at 1890 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, MO 63385. You can contact them at 636.327.6444. Dr. Jennifer Heller Chiropractic is where physical therapy and chiropractic

meet! You can call Dr. Heller at 636.625.4448 for more information and to book your appointment. Her office is located at 212 Centre on the Lake, Lake St. Louis, MO 63367.Representatives of each business, the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce

and the City of Wentzville helped cut the ceremonial ribbons.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

drinks, prizes, a Golf Cart Hole-in-One provided by TNT Golf Car & Motorsports, a Golf Ball Drop and much more. This is an excel-lent opportunity to kick the summer golfing season off, so get your team of three together today.For more information please contact the Wentzville Chamber of

Commerce office at 636.327.6914 or www.wentzvillechamber.com.

The Wentzville Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its first Celebrate Dad 5K Family Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, June 10, 2012. Make reservations for you and your dad to race together. The race will begin at 8 a.m. The fee is $20 per person for runners and $15 for walkers. The race is sponsored by 1st Financial Federal Credit Union.

Celebrate Dad 5K Family Fun Run/WalkThe race will begin at 1st Financial Federal Credit Union, 1232

Wentzville Parkway in Wentzville, and end at Twin Oaks at Heri-tage Pointe, 228 Savannah Terrace in Wentzville. For more information please contact the Wentzville Chamber of

Commerce office at 636.327.6914 or www.wentzvillechamber.com.


Photo OpPHOTOS BY RAY ROCKWELL

Pinwheels for PreventionPhotographer Ray Rockwell was on hand for Go Blue Day, April 14

at Fifth Third Bank in O’Fallon. The event was held to promote Child Abuse Prevention Month.

L to R: Angela Campbell, VP The Child Center; Joyce Schuette, Pres. The Child Center; O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy; St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano; Ellen Teller, Exec. Dir. The Child Center; Judge

Dan Pelikan; MO House Representative Chuck Gatschenberger; St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith; Mark Delcourt, secretary The Child Center and VP at Fifth Third Bank (host of Go Blue Day).

LIFESTYLES


Years ago, an offbeat friend of mine was home laying around his parent’s house on summer vacation from college where he majored mostly in substance abuse. It was a small rural town in northern Missouri with a population less than 500. His father asked him when he was going to

get a job. He told him there were no sum-mer jobs and it was too far to a larger town to commute. Then his father asked him what he was going to do for money? That‘s fa-ther talk for, “You’re not laying around here all summer.” My friend finally said, “I don’t know Dad, I’ll probably have to go out and sell drugs.” Via his father’s connections, a week later he

was riding on the hood of a huge earth-mov-ing machine while the operator taught him how to run it.Selling and using drugs in rural areas probably happens more

than many people believe. There is little to do for mischief-prone small-town teenagers during summer months or any oth-er times when this age group seeks ways to prevent boredom. My friend once took me for a ride around his small town and

pointed out all the places he and his friends had drug and booze parties out of sight when he was a teenager. There was a cem-etery, an abandoned barn, a wooded area and so on. A few places included where someone had died of a drug overdose. He often joked about older folks that thought drug pushers from the city came there to sell drugs to their offspring. It was usually the other way around. Their offspring went to the city to buy them. According to a St. Charles County street gang member, some of the best drug customers were from outlying areas.One of the sadder outcomes of this are the older teens arrested

Should We or Shouldn’t We?BY JOE MORICE

for selling drugs and ending up in prison. When and if they fi-nally get out, nobody will hire them. Many have no place to go and end up back in the illegal drug business. There is little doubt we’re not winning the war on drugs.There are many arguments for and against legalizing drugs.

One can see both sides having legitimate concerns. The big question is, “Would we become a nation of drug addicts?” It’s countered with legalized alcoholic beverages being around for

decades and we haven’t become a nation of drunks. Late on weekend nights, the police might argue that point.In China, drugs were once legal and opium

dens had customers who could smoke any-thing without fear of arrest. According to some historians, the Chinese government be-came alarmed at the increasing number of us-ers and eventually stopped it.The argument drags on.

What I find most embarrassing are the hundreds of honest Mexican citizens being murdered by drug cartels to keep drugs flowing to the United States.The U.S. provides the most lucrative market for illegal drugs.

If we actually did legalize them, as some retired U.S. lawmakers and government officials quietly believe we should, we would save untold billions and virtually bankrupt the illegal drug in-dustry around the world and also remove a major source of ter-rorist funding.Would the users grow their own drugs? Would our society’s

rebellious minions find a new provocative affront to society? Who knows?The worst part for me is that we’re too busy to take a close

look at ourselves and see the truth. The world’s most vicious, bloodthirsty criminals are laughing all the way to the bank be-cause millions of U.S. citizens keep buying their products.

www.elegantsalon.comwww.elegantsalon.comwww.elegantsalon.com


AROUND TOWN

Wentzville Police Officer HonoredThe Kiwanis Club of West St. Charles County recently created a new

program to publicly recognize a Wentzville Police Officer of the Quar-ter. Members of the Wentzville Police Department will nominate and vote on a fellow officer to receive the honor. The first officer to be recognized under the program is Officer Paul

Burkemper.Officer Burkemper, being aware of the vacancy in the Code Enforce-

ment Division of the Building Department, took it upon himself to develop and maintain a book on derelict vehicles. While completing his normal duties, he kept up on all the derelict vehicles he found. He also worked with the IT department, which resulted in the addition of a derelict vehicle identifier computer program to aid in correlating and keeping records on these calls. Over the past six months, Officer Burkemper has issued more than 100 summonses for these vehicles. He has identified 172 issues in total. He started a positive dialog with the citizens and worked with many to correct these problems before the issuance of a summons became necessary. Thanks to Officer Burkemper, these derelict vehicles have been re-

moved from our community. For more information on the Wentzville Police Department, please

visit www.wentzvillemo.org. For more information on the Kiwanis Club of West St. Charles County, please visit www.wscckiwanis.org.

Kiwanis President Jon Parmentier with Wentzville Police Officer of the Quarter, Paul Burkemper

FOOD


Delicious, Non-Fuss Desserts(Family Features) Are you hungry for a sweet treat but don’t have the time or energy to create something from scratch? These no-fuss dessert recipes are sure to delight. Start with convenient ingredients, such as Sara Lee Pound Cake, and make a few easy

enhancements. In no time, you can put together an Easy Trifle, Pound Cake S’Mores, or even a Classic Strawberry Shortcake. With a few extra minutes, you can create a delectable Banana Nut Pound Cake Pudding, or Grilled Pound Cake with Ice Cream, Pineapple and Chocolate Drizzle — perfect for sharing any day of the week.All of these easy recipes can be made with Sara Lee Pound Cake Slices, too. The pre-sliced and individually-wrapped slices are ideal for

making perfectly-portioned desserts or snacks.Get more delicious, no-fuss recipes at www.saraleedesserts.com. And to get recipes and tips delivered to your inbox, sign up for a free

newsletter at www.saraleedesserts.com/enews-sign-up.

Prep Time: 5 minutesServes: 2

2 Sara Lee Pound Cake Slices, or 2 (1/2-inch) slices from 1 pkg of Sara Lee Pound Cake 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips 1/4 cup mini marshmallows 2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray an 8x8-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. Place each pound cake slice on the bottom of the baking pan. Top each slice with 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips and 2

tablespoons mini marshmallows.Bake for 5 minutes or until marshmallows are melted and lightly

toasted.Top with peanuts, if desired.

To cook in microwave:Thaw 2 pound cake slices according to package directions and

place each pound cake slice on a microwave-safe plate.Top each slice with 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips and 2

tablespoons mini marshmallows. Microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds or until marshmallows

and chocolate chips are slightly melted. Top with peanuts, if de-sired.

Prep Time: 20 minutes - Cook Time: 60 minutesServes: 4

4 Sara Lee Pound Cake Slices, or 2 (1/2-inch) slices from pkg of Sara Lee Pound Cake2 eggs 1 cup half and half1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 2 small ripe bananas, thinly sliced 1/2 cup candied pecans (optional) Whipped topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°F. Thaw 4 pound cake slices according to package directions. Cut

pound cake slices into 1/2-inch squares and place on a baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly toasted. Whisk eggs, half and half, vanilla and brown sugar until well

blended. Set aside.Spray a 1-quart baking dish with cooking spray. If using, sprin-

kle 1/4 cup pecans onto prepared baking dish. Top with toasted pound cake and banana slices and pour egg mixture on top. Press down pound cake cubes with back of spoon to submerge com-pletely; let stand 10 minutes. If using, sprinkle with remaining pe-cans.Cover baking dish with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove cover and

continue baking 15 minutes or until eggs are set. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with whipped

cream, if desired.

Pound Cake S’Mores Banana Nut Pound Cake Pudding

AROUND TOWN


Run for the Wall

The 24th Annual Run for the Wall (RFTW) will cross the country May 16-26, and stops in Wentzville on Monday, May 21. Robert Williams, media chairman for RFTW and the VFW Post #5327 in Wentzville, said he’s expecting more than 500 motorcycles to roll into town around 4 p.m.“They’ll be 700 bikes before they leave the next morning,” Wil-

liams said. “The riders will come to the VFW Post 5327 for dinner and a ceremony.”The VFW Post also feeds the riders breakfast on May 22 before

they ride out of town and travel to Jefferson Barracks for another ceremony. Before they leave, the riders will visit Wentzville’s Viet-nam Memorial – the nation’s very first Vietnam Memorial.“We’re the only original stop on the Central Route after all these

years,” Williams said. “They love coming here. The whole city gets involved, and the participants thank us for everything the whole city does for them.”Run for the Wall recognizes the sacrifices and contributions

made by all veterans who have served our nation. Veterans of re-cent conflicts and those currently on active duty are especially welcome to join the participants as they ride for those who can-not. Run for the Wall’s mission statement is to promote healing among all veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all prisoners of war and those missing in action, to honor the memory of those killed in action from all wars, and to support the country’s military personnel all over the world. RFTW ends in Washington D.C., where the riders join in with thousands of others for Rolling Thunder on Memorial Day.A fundraiser for the Annual Run for the Wall national event will

be held at VFW Post #5327 in Wentzville on May 5. The event features a silent auction and dinner. The auction items will be dis-played beginning at noon. For more information about the fund-raiser, please call 636.639.1648. For more information about Run for the Wall, please visit www.rftw.org.

WWW.BANKFM.COM

www.rhf.org

Photos from 2011 Run for the Wall by Ray Rcokwell

BY SHELLY A. SCHNEIDER

AROUND TOWN

LAKE SAINT LOUIS - DARDENNE PRAIRIE


Chamber News BY GENA BREYNE

Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber

Whether you’re looking for goods or services or just something for the family to do, The Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce website is a great resource. Take time to visit us at www.lsldpchamber.com. All of the businesses that are members of the Chamber help to support the economic vitality of the community. Please give special consideration to these businesses when choosing where to shop, play or stay.

Photos courtesy LSL/DP Chamber of Commerce

The Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce and Lake Forest Coun-try Club invite you and your friends to the 2012 Jazz on the Green Event. Enjoy yourself at this Creative Black Tie event. Journey from hole to hole as the amazing sounds of Jazz are enjoyed by all at the beautiful Lake Forest Country Club. Tastings from wineries and amazing foods from local restaurants will be paired on each stop. Guests may also view and purchase works of art from our local artisans. A dessert bar under the stars tops off the evening. A cash bar will be available from 9 – 10 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person. Three local charities will benefit from the event: Friends helping Friends, Volunteers in Medicine, and Operation Food Search. For more information, please visit www.lsldpchamber.com.

Dr. Jennifer Heller Chiropractic and Physical TherapyCentre on the Lake, Suite 212, Lake Saint Louis MO 63367 636.625.4448 ~ www.drjenniferheller.com

Ribbon Cuttings

ber of Commerce is excited to present our newest members. These new members join the more than 250 local businesses that are proud to be known as members of the LSLDP Area Chamber. To find more information on any of our members please visit www.lsldpchamber.com.

Mattress Direct ~ Pat McCurren7943 Highway N, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368636.625.1440 ~ www.stlmattressdirect.com

The Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Cham-

Welcome New Members

Advance Beauty College WentzvilleGina Kinion982 Wentzville ParkwayWentzville, MO 63385636.332.0777

Culligan Water of O’FallonSteve Hawn8911 Veterans Memorial ParkwayO’Fallon, MO 63367636.272.2224

River City Catering/ Stumpy’s BBQGeorge Duvenick1017 Wolfrum RoadSt. Charles, MO 63304314.495.5696

www.pbtc.net


www.The NorthBrothers.com

www.lakestlouisgardencenter.com

Presorted Std US Postage

PAIDSt. Louis, MO Permit 28282139-A Bryan Valley Commercial Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63366

866-240-1313636-466-4076

www.petlandstl.com

CrossRoads: May 2012

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