crossroads: february 2016

Raising a flag over Wentzville

Published monthly with newsstand circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis

plus newsstands in O’Fallon, Troy, Lake Sherwood and Augusta.

For advertising information, please contact us at:

Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr.

O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632

www.mycnews.comCopyright 2015 Huneke Publications, Inc.

No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

Crossroads is a trademark of Huneke Publications, Inc. Any published use of Crossroads implying affiliation is strictly prohibited.

PublisherRobert Huneke

EditorMathew DeKinder

Production ManagerRebecca Brockmann

ContributorsAvalanche, Robin Daniels, David Finkelstein, Tony Mathews, Cindy Moore, Russ Patton,

Laurie Simon

PhotographerRay Rockwell

Staff WriterBrett Auten

VOL 13 | NO 2 Departments

features

4

By Russ Patton

By Robin Daniels

By Laurie Simon

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16

19

13

9

12

17

18

Advertiser Profiles

After holiday ID theft prevention

Entegra, a new family member

Raising a flag over Wentzville Community members pull together to build a flagpole to honor veterans

Around Town Local news and events

EntertainmentTrivia of the 88th Annual Academy Awards

BusinessWestern St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

FoodFour reasons to use canola oil

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14 Always an Adventure “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!”Moore on Life Birthday blunders

Community Calendar: February

Automobile Alley2016 Dodge Charger offers drivers an endless number of build combinations

Photo OpWentzville Unity Walk

FEBRUARY 2016 | CROSSROADS 3

2016contentsFEBRUARy

On the Cover: Photo by Laurie Simon

4 CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2016

Around Town

Legally-disabled O’Fallon residents who cannot drive may be eligible for a limited number of free rides to medical appoint-ments, banks, and grocery and personal care shopping through the city’s Disabled Transportation Program. “For adults with disabilities who are unable

to drive, the program helps with essential living appointments and offers a measure of independence in their lives,” said Alexis Jae-gers, O’Fallon’s Public Assistance Specialist. In order to assist as many residents as pro-

gram funds allow, the rides are limited to two round trips per person per month. Pick-up sites must originate in O’Fallon city lim-its and destinations must be in St. Charles County. To schedule a ride, residents should con-

tact the service provider, ZipCare Transpor-tation, at least 48 hours in advance by call-ing 314-292-7302 ext. 380. Or, a request can be submitted online through the company’s website, www.zipcaretransportation.com. To qualify for the ride program, residents

will need to show legal proof of Social Se-curity disability, such as a copy of the award letter and/or their Medicare part A and B card. Residents also will need photo identi-fication with proof of their O’Fallon address, and a copy of a current utility bill such as a bill for phone, gas, electric, water or trash collection.For more information, visit www.ofallon.

mo.us/disabled-transportation-program or contact Jaegers at 636-379-5411, or [email protected].

Hilliker Corporation, a St. Louis owned and managed commercial real estate company, is helping bring fitness and fun to the area.Rockin’ Jump, a national indoor trampoline

park, will make its debut at the end of April at 61 N. Central Dr. in O’Fallon. Owner Matt Strelo, a sports and entertainment manage-ment veteran, has leased the 30,000-square-foot space for 10 years. It will be the first Rockin’ Jump in St. Louis. The company’s national headquarters,

along with six corporate locations, are in California. Founded in 2010, the family-owned Rockin’ Jump has 17 franchises throughout the country with more than 100 currently under contract.

Owner Matt Strelo has worked in the sports and entertainment management in-dustry for 30 years. He previously served as the General Manager at Gateway Inter-national Raceway, as well as the Vice Presi-dent of Ticket Sales and Marketing for the St. Louis Blues.According to Strelo, “Our location is on the

big side because the typical Rockin’ Jump is between 20,000 and 22,000 square feet.” He said that the indoor trampoline park will include a an open jump area, trampo-line dodge ball courts, jousting challenges, a massive rock climbing wall and a full-service pizza café and restaurant.

O’Fallon continues its Disabled Transportation Program

Former sports management executive opens area’s first Rockin’ Jump

www.paperleafprinting.com

www.myprovidencebank.com

Rockin’ Jump, a national indoor trampoline park, will make its debut at the end of April at 61 N. Central Dr. in O’Fallon. Submitted photo


Around Town

The First Step Back Home (FSBH) Seventh Annual Christmas Won-derland, held Dec. 19, 2015, was the biggest event yet with more than 560 people from the community coming together to bless the disadvantaged with holiday cheer at Wentzville United Methodist Church. On hand to greet everyone were Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione, Missouri State Representative Bryan Spencer and FSBH Ministry Founder/Leader, Paul Kruse. This year’s event exceeded expectations for attendance, with 86 percent increase in participa-tion - 381 needy people from 109 families. Parents were able to “shop” for additional gifts for kids not at the

event and teens, with a total of 680 total gifts distributed through-out the day. Additionally 3,300 diapers from Harvester Christian’s “Wrap a Bottom” project, toiletry items, feminine hygiene prod-ucts, coats, gloves, hats and donated clothing items were given away. More than 1,000 cans of food had been collected by a group from Timberland High School in December during an after school activity organized by Kiley Hanff. A fourth grade class from John Weldon Elementary School collected more than 300 pairs of new socks last October during a “Sock-tober” event, that were given out as well. Each family also received a $25 gift card that had been left by Santa at the end of the day.For information on how to help next year contact Lana Kruse at

[email protected] or 314-799-3694.

Once again the Caroline Close Stuart Chapter, NSDAR completed another year of service, topping all previous years with over 15,000 hours of community service recorded in 2015. Since the 1890 founding, DAR members have worked tirelessly

to promote historic preservation, patriotism and educational ide-als through a comprehensive committee structure in communities across this nation and in Units Overseas. Yet, the NSDAR is often looked upon as purely a lineal society. Too often its service organi-zation mission often goes unappreciated by the general public and even by some members. Through a new effort to “Celebrate America” DAR chapter mem-

bers are recording the hours of their community service. Nation-wide DAR chapters across the country have recorded nearly three million service hours since the initiative began in 2013. In 2015 chapter members recorded time as tutors in the schools,

hospital volunteers, Boy and Girl Scout leaders, hostesses at the USO, driving shut-ins to the store and doctor visits, sending care packages to military bases and making shrouds for the Missouri Veterans home. These are just a few of the numerous ways chapter members are making an impact in the community. Even members who live in other states are making an impact in

those communities. Shawn Oehlberg, chapter member who hap-pens to live outside of Chicago, volunteers with the Scouts in her area. Elizabeth Kurpius volunteers at the Air Force base where she lives in Arizona.Judy Blandino, Chairman of the Chapter’s Celebrate America com-

mittee commented, “Recording our hours has shown us how much vibrancy and vitality there is in today’s DAR! Our mission has al-ways to give back to our communities. In the past we have only been known for the historic preservation and genealogy. It is nice to show how much we are involved in areas that touch veterans, the homeless and children. We are proud to give back to the nation we love.”

FSBH Christmas event was a true wonderland

Local DAR chapter logs over 15,000 hours of community service

Pictured are Nancy Milliken, Samantha Blandino, Helene Reece and Mary Jo Anderson staffing the Dut-zow Stop on the Katy Trail, helping to raise money for the Wheeling for Healing Ride sponsored by the Missouri State DAR and Katy Trail.

Submitted photo


Around Town

Submitted image

This is an artist’s rendering of the completed Providence Bank’s Lake Saint Louis Banking Center at 460 Hawk Ridge Trail in Lake Saint Louis.

Tom Hagar, President of the St. Louis mar-ket for Providence Bank is pleased to an-

nounce the opening of Providence Bank’s Lake Saint Louis Banking Center at 460 Hawk Ridge Trail in Lake Saint Louis. “We are very excited to complete the construction of the new banking center and relocate our current Lake Saint Louis Banking Center to this new, more convenient and accessible location. Lake Saint Louis is a fast-growing area and we are proud to be part of its growth,” said Hagar. The new Lake Saint Louis Banking Center is

conveniently located at 460 Hawk Ridge Trail, off Highway N on the South outer road, and near Providence Bank’s previous location at 6253 Ronald Reagan Drive at the Shoppes of Hawk Ridge. Coil Construction served as the general contractor and Cromwell Archi-tecture as the architect. The approximately 2,500 square-foot state-of-the-art, full-ser-vice banking center features a technology bar equipped with an iPad, Android Tablet, iPhone, Android Phone and touch screen computer for customer use and demonstra-tions. It also features two drive-thru lanes, a drive-up ATM with image deposit capability and safe deposit boxes. The floor plan is a

new prototype that may be used for future Providence Bank locations. Jen Megee, Executive Vice President, Di-

rector of Retail Banking and Deposit Ser-vices stated, “We are so proud to introduce our new full-service banking center to the community. The new convenient location and additional square footage allows us to introduce new technology, more products and services, and greater convenience for our customers. An exciting feature of our new banking center is the technology bar that allows customers to access online tools and learn how to tap into Providence Bank’s convenient products and services while hav-ing bank staff nearby to assist them when needed.”The Banking Center Lobby is open Mon-

day through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri-day 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. The drive thru is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. Providence Bank has been meeting the fi-

nancial needs of individuals and businesses for more than 127 years. Providence Bank is a FDIC Member and Equal Housing Lender.

Providence Bank opens new Lake Saint Louis Banking Center

Living Word1/12

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Around Town

Photo courtesy Wentzville School District

Martha Langston’s second-grade class at Crossroads Elementary in the Wentzville School District has been named one of five finalists in the seventh annual “Be a Famous Writer” national writing contest.

Crossroads Elementary class named finalist in national writing contest Martha Langston’s second-grade class at Crossroads Elementary in

the Wentzville School District has been named one of five finalists in the seventh annual “Be a Famous Writer” national writing con-test. “The Five Dogs and a Little Bit of Trouble” was a collaborative class project submitted by Langston for this year’s contest where K-4 classrooms across the country were invited to write about the theme of “pets.” “We had 28 states submit entries, and the quality of the stories

this year were amazing,” said Mrs. P (played by T.V. actress Kathy Kinney). “In fact, we even have an honorable mention to give out, because it was so hard to narrow it down to just five stories this year,” added Kinney. “This project sparked great conversations and teachable moments

in my classroom,” said Langston. “Not only have final copies of (my students’) writing assignments improved, but I see more of them taking their time to reread, revise and add more. Many of them are now inspired to write their own books in their free time.”The annual Be-a-Famous Writer contest is an opportunity for K-4

classrooms to spark their imaginations, according to the website. Finalists are selected based on originality, creativity, compelling nar-

rative, humor, sense of adventure and the development of a theme or point of view. Mrs. P Enterprises, LLC, was founded in 2008 by Hollywood team Clay Graham, Kathy Kinney and Dana Plautz. Af-ter having built successful careers in television and media, the three creators of MrsP.com were brought together by a love of reading and a desire to help spark that same passion in young people ev-erywhere.


Around Town

The city of O’Fallon is offering a new Siding Installation/Replace-ment Program to help low-income resident homeowners maintain their houses. The program provides applicants who qualify with grants of up to $10,000. The grants are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis to applicants who qualify, and they do not have to be repaid.“The program is designed to help low-to-moderate-income home-

owners with the extensive cost of siding installation and repair, costs that they could not otherwise afford,” said Alexis Jaegers, O’Fallon’s Public Assistance Specialist. “From a maintenance standpoint, sid-ing is one of the most important investments a homeowner can make, and, by helping homeowners maintain their home’s exterior, the program also benefits O’Fallon neighborhoods.” To qualify for the program, applicants must meet the same re-

quirements as the Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP), in-cluding household income limits, owning and occupying the house to be improved for at least one year and being current on mortgage payments and real estate taxes.Income limits are based on total gross incomes of no more than:

$39,400 for a one-person household, $45,000 for a two-person household, $50,650 for a household of three, $56,250 for a house-hold of four, $60,750 for a five-person household, $65,250 for a six-person household, $69,750 for a seven-person household and $74,250 for an eight-person household. More information about applying for the program can be found

at www.ofallon.mo.us/grants-assistance. Or, contact Ms. Jaegers at 636-379-5411 or [email protected].

To better reflect an expanded focus toward improving the well-being of residents and businesses, the St. Charles County Council enacted an ordinance that officially changed the name of the De-partment of Community Health and the Environment. Effective Jan. 1, the Department of Public Health emphasizes the services the three divisions (Environmental Health and Protection, Health Services and Humane Services) provide beyond that of simply be-ing a health clinic for those in need.“While we will continue to provide the high-quality services

our residents expect, our new name signals a transition toward a broader and more encompassing future for 2016 and beyond,” Department Director Hope Woodson stated. “We intend to show the importance of health in all aspects of county government ac-tions and for all of our customers and community partners. Our divisions enhance the lives of residents, their businesses and their pets each day, and this fresh, streamlined department name bet-ter reflects our themes and objectives.”For the last six years, a national report has ranked St. Charles

County among Missouri’s healthiest counties, and health depart-ment staff collaborates with other departments, agencies and individuals to build upon this success. The department contrib-utes to residents’ well-being through programs such as the WIC supplemental nutrition and education program for mothers and growing families; routine inspections of restaurants and other public service providers; distribution of no- or low-cost vaccina-tions; the successful adoptions of dogs, cats and other animals that enhance the enjoyment of pet owners; and much more.In the coming weeks, the department will introduce new pro-

grams that spread successful healthcare initiatives, participate in plans that further county residents’ physical, mental and social well-being; and work with community leaders to better serve the needs of our county. Here is just a sampling of those efforts:• Partnering with the prosecuting attorney, County Police De-

partment and others on a Regional Drug Task Force designed to minimize the heroin epidemic.• Hosting an Emergency Planning Summit to help St. Charles

area non-profit and human service agencies prepare themselves and their clients for future disasters.• Contracting with several area municipalities to extend animal

control and sheltering services throughout St. Charles County.• Coordinating public health education and community out-

reach with the St. Charles City/County Library District.• Presenting the Second Annual St. Charles County Earth Day

Celebration with the Parks Department.• Introducing a passport processing department to serve as a

“one-stop shop” for residents seeking to travel outside the United States.• Managing the licensing and permitting of St. Charles County

lodging establishments.

O’Fallon’s new siding installation program can help qualifying O’Fallon homeowners

Name change to Department of Public Health reflects expanded focus, role


Business

Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne PrairieWEsTERn sT. ChARLEs COUnTY ChAMBER OF COMMERCE

Chamber hosts two ribbon cutting ceremoniesThe Western St. Charles County Chamber

of Commerce hosted two ribbon cutting ceremonies for AAA Insurance and Travel and YP Marketing Solutions – Candace Hubbard.

1. AAA Insurance and Travel is located at 1126 West Pearce Boulevard in Wentzville. You can reach them at 636-327-0570 or on-line at www.aaa.com.

2. YP Marketing So-lutions is located at 1630 Des Peres Road in Saint Louis. You can reach them at 314-957-5160 or online at www.marketingsolutions.yp.com.

The Western St. Charles County Cham-ber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prai-rie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The cham-ber is comprised of over 685 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cut-ting at your place of business please con-tact the chamber. To view pictures & video

of these recent ribbon cuttings please visit our Chamber Facebook Page.For more information please call the

chamber office at 636-327-6914 or visit the chamber online at http://westernstcharles-countychamber.com.

Submitted photos

Chamber bestows annual awards

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce bestowed its annual awards at their Celebration Ball that was held on Jan. 30 at The Carpenter’s Hall in Wentzville. This year’s theme was “Inspiring Others.”This year the chamber selected the follow-

ing businesses, organizations, and individu-als as award winners: Above and Beyond Award for Exceptional Customer Service: Harris Automotive and Tire; You Made it Happen Award for Positively Impacting the Community: The Expert Realty Company; Chamber Business of the Year Award: Ser-co; Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award: Melinda Jarvis; Tony Award: Chamber Mys-tery Dinner Theater Cast and Allen & Chris Rone.The chamber also awarded Chamber Su-

perlative Awards that evening that consist-ed of: Most Likely to Make Your Day Better – Kathy Swanegan; Most Chamber Spirit – Laurie Simon; Best Chamber Friend – Tim Ritzel; Most Likely to be there When You Need Them – Amanda Werremeyer; Best Business Mentor – Hank Wylie; Most Com-munity Spirit – Little Black Book.

BY TONY MATHEWSTony Mathews is the President and CEO of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

For more on any of this information or the chamber in general, please call the chamber office at 636.327.6914 or visit the website www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

Located at 207 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

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When a community can come together to reach a specific goal, it makes my heart happy. On a cold but sunny Tuesday in January, I was honored to be invited to the dedication of a

new flagpole in Wentzville. Sitting at the entrance to the Village Center off the Hwy Z exit from Hwy 70 on Church Street, as you enter down-town Wentzville is a brand new flagpole. It stands tall and is proudly seen across the area. It was after the flag was raised and the words were spoken that I began to wonder…Why a flag? Why here at this location? Who was the mastermind to get this flagpole installed and dedicated? What is the significance of this? A few emails and phone calls later, my questions were answered.My first stop was to talk to Tom Durst, owner of Tommy D’s Pizza in

Wentzville. The flagpole stands right in front of his business. To my sur-prise, the flagpole was the brainchild of Tom and his wife Mary. Each year Tom and Mary Durst line the streets of Church Street with Ameri-can flags to support the “Run for the Wall” – the group of bikers that make their way into Wentzville each year to make a stop at the nation’s first ever Vietnam memorial that sits in front of the Wentzville Fire Pro-tection District on Pearce Boulevard. After talking about this yearly event, Mary Durst came up with the

idea of a permanent American flag proudly displayed at the entrance to Wentzville. One quick phone call to Demien Construction and Tom and Mary Durst knew they had some planning to do.As a permanent structure for anything isn’t cheap, Tom talked to the

owners of Demien Construction in Wentzville about the placement of the flagpole as well as reducing the cost to install it. It was decided the flagpole should be located at the entrance to the city on city grounds, because there was already a dusk to dawn light that sits beneath the Vil-lage Center sign leading into Wentzville. Demien Construction gracious-ly said they could reduce costs of the permanent structure. Everything then started falling into place. It was still going to cost around $2,800 to get everything constructed,

installed and ready to go. To get the ball rolling Demien Construction donated $1,000. Tom Durst and his wife talked it over and knew they could not afford the entire cost themselves. After pledging his dedica-tion and $500 towards the flagpole, Tom decided to pick up the phone and call for help to acquire the remainder of the funds needed. Tom’s first stop was the city of Wentzville who generously donated $800

to make the flagpole happen. When asked why the city of Wentzville took an interest in the matter, Mayor Nick Guccione had this to say, “The installation of this flag demonstrates what a great community we have here in Wentzville. Symbols like this honor our veterans, God and

By Laurie Simon

Raising a flag over WentzvilleCommunity members pull together to

build a flagpole to honor veterans


our country. We are proud to have this flag to mark the entrance into Wentzville’s downtown Village Center.” Mayor Guccione spoke a few words at the dedication ceremony and

led the group of bystanders in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Next up was the Wentzville Downtown Business Association (WDBA),

who also agreed to donate $500 to the project. President of the WDBA, Mike Wood, was also in attendance at the dedication ceremony and had this to say about the installation of the flagpole, “This was a great project that brought together a collaboration of organizations through private and public funding. It just so happened that we were able to pull to-gether resources for a great outcome. The monument is phenomenal and is represented by all, as the flagpole was constructed on a first class basis. It shows the commitment we all have for our city.” The Wentzville American Legion Post 323 also stepped in to lend a

helping hand by agreeing to supply the flag that sits atop the flagpole and to also maintain the grounds surrounding the permanent structure. The American Legion members that were in attendance the day of the dedication had the honor to hook and raise the flag for the first time. It was breathtaking to watch that beautiful American flag be raised high for the very first time by the men who fought so tirelessly to keep our nation safe. So next time you are entering the Village Center of downtown

Wentzville along Church Street, look up and see for yourself the beauti-ful new flagpole and monument dedicated to those who fought for the “Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free.”

Photos by Laurie Simon

All photos on page 10 & top right of page 11: The American Legion Post 323 raises the flag at a dedication ceremony on January 5, 2016.

Bottom right photo page 11: Permanent Flag is raised high at the entrance to the Village Center off church Street.

What is “Run for the Wall”?The “Run for the Wall” is a sanctioned, yearly event where folks gather on motorcycle and cross-country making stops at pertinent Veterans memorials along the way, with their

final destination being Washington, D.C./Arlington, VA. Three trips are planned – Midway, Central and Southern and on

May 23, 2016 the Central route for “Run for the Wall” will be stopping in Wentzville. The “Run for the Wall” promotes healing among all veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those

Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars,

and to support our military personnel all over the world.


We ride for those who can’t


BY DAVID FINKELSTEINDavid Finkelstein is a Master/Skill Automotive Service Technician, maintaining that role for over 45 years, coupled with being a shop owner in that time frame as well. He’s also invented a number of garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National

as well as local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. Addition-ally, he pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 40 years ago, starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio as well as hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for some 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and also does some consulting with various auto manufactures, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.

So what’s all this scuttlebutt regarding perplexing-automotive-hybrid-doohickey and gizmo-technology anyway? Let me try to break it down in the simplest terms! Of course, we need to start with a conventional gasoline engine as most of us might be accus-tomed to powering our daily commute vehi-cle, but with a mystifying hybrid powertrain, the engine is also mechanically linked with an electric motor (or motors) powered by a battery source for helping propel the vehicle down the road. And often (depending on the power and ac-

celeration required) the gasoline engine will magically cycle “on” and “off” thus allowing the car to accelerate with just electric power, or at times, in concert with the gas engine working as one power source. The end game is improved fuel mileage numbers and lower tail pipe emissions. Having said that, Toyota Motors just recent-

ly introduced two of their latest 2016 hybrid-powered vehicles. The first being their popu-lar Prius, as this automobile was completely redone for the ‘16 model year. This newest model has a distinctively striking and head-turning modern outer design. Improvements in its ride and handling characteristics, plus an elevated level of comfort and safety, fur-ther helps define the new Prius. With more than 3.5-million Prius owners, I’m certain that they would be pleasantly surprised in the lat-est version’s exceptional fuel mileage and a higher level of refinement and notable crea-ture comforts. The outer aerodynamic design will be fa-

miliar; however, this model is longer, lower and wider than the outgoing version. It also has more interior room coupled with a more planted stance for handling agility. A select-able switch allows the driver to choose from “Normal” and “Power” driving modes. “Nor-

mal” balances both fuel economy and ac-celeration while “Power” improves overall pick-up. Pricing starts out at $24,200 and it comes with complimentary factory-sched-uled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Oh but wait, Toyota is now making available

for 2016 their heavily refreshed RAV4 SUV Hybrid as well! Competing in the popular compact sport utility arena, RAV4’s proven hybrid powertrain apparatus (besides of-fered with a traditional gas engine), makes for an extraordinarily welcome choice if fuel mileage is paramount on your new vehicle shopping list. The five-passenger 2016 RAV4 Hybrid offers up car-like handling, ride com-fort and phenomenal fuel economy. Its tar-get buyers are generally active/young couples wanting to make a statement in regard to their no compromise “vehicle of choice” and the environment in general. The MSRP for the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid is

$28,370 for the AWD XLE and $33,610 for the AWD Limited. This vehicle brings the num-ber of Toyota hybrid models to eight for the ‘16 model year.

2016 Dodge Charger offers drivers an endless number

of build combinations

By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV

The hustle and bustle of holiday shopping is over, but in January the credit card bills start rolling in. Now is the time of the year to be most diligent in reviewing your account state-ments to ensure you have not become a victim of identity theft. Here are some things to look for when review-ing your state-ments:• Read over the transactions listed on each

statement and verify that you made those purchases. • Keep an eye out for small dollar amount

purchases that you don’t recognize. Lots of times Identity Thieves will make small dollar purchases that fall under the radar of credit monitoring programs to see if they can get away with using your credit. If the small pur-chases clear, larger ones usually follow.In addition to reviewing your statements,

make sure any statements that you receive via the mail don’t sit in your mailbox for ex-tended periods of time, inviting mail theft. If you receive your statements electronically, January is a good time to reset the passwords

for all your online accounts to help prevent unauthorized access. By using numbers, cap-italizations, and symbols you create a com-

plex but memo-rable password for your online portals.Lastly, any finan-

cial statements or bills that you have which are no longer needed should be prop-erly disposed of. Shredding these

unwanted documents makes it difficult for any potential criminals to discover your per-

sonal information. In digital records, ensure any unwanted files are destroyed through a specified program to ensure complete dele-tion from a system. If you do find a discrepancy on one of your

credit card statements, you should have a customer help line phone number that you can call to help get the issue resolved.


Advertiser Profiles

At the recent RV show, Byerly RV introduced to the St Louis market the Entegra luxury diesel motorhome. The Entegra Cornerstone model is designed for your rich uncle (we all have one) and the addition celebrates the marriage between two esteemed RV families, Byerly and Jayco.Other new products include: Fury and Spartan multi-pur-

pose SRVs, Vilano 5th wheels from the Tiffin family, and R-Pod a popular mini lightweight travel trailer. Our selection of RVs includes over 20 brand names in all sizes, models and prices. In fact, Byerly features 12 travel trailer models ranging from $12,000 to $20,000. Surely Byerly has something to fit everyone’s budget.Soon Byerly RVs monthly RV School will begin. Check out website

or Facebook for a schedule of classes and events. RV rentals are booking up fast. Lower gas prices assure that 2016

will be a year of the “road trip.” Plan ahead to reserve your time and

vehicle choice. Rental direct line is 636-938-2018.Byerly RV is a local, family/employee owned company and one of

the largest, most respected RV Dealers in the Midwest. Byerly, the Center of the RV World. Just 15 minutes west of I-270 on I-44 in Eureka. www.byerlyrv.com.

Entegra, a new family member

After holiday ID theft prevention

BY ROBIN DANIELSRobin Daniels is Asst VP/Secondary Market Manager for Peoples Bank & Trust Co.NMLS #408454(636) 290-7272 | www.pbtc.net

At the recent RV show, Byerly RV introduced to the St Louis market the Entegra luxury diesel motorhome.

Photo courtesy Byerly RV

www.johnson-heatingandcooling.com

CONTACT US FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

WHEN REPLACING YOUR UNIT

636-332-4141www. johnson-heat ingandcool ing.com

FULLY LICENSED AND INSUREDWe Service All Brands of Equipment


Chamber hosts two ribbon cutting ceremonies

BY AVALANCHEAvalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.

Dorothy’s famous epiphany is experienced by anyone moving from the flatlands to the mountains, soon after arrival at high altitude. The first symptom is usually a shortness of breath, from reasons other than the view. That shortness of breath subsides after a few days as the body acclimates to the reduced oxygen levels, but the process can be quite unpleas-ant, sometimes pro-gressing all the way to serious illness.

New arrivals to the mountains quickly find that hiking and driv-ing come with “steep” learning curves. Along with the reduced oxy-gen levels, elevation gains and losses are measured in thousands of feet, within just a few lineal miles. What looks like an easy day hike, as measured by inches on the map, can turn into a lung-searing death march within a matter of minutes on the trail. While oxygen concentration remains constant in the atmosphere, pressure drops with altitude, resulting in a reduction in blood oxygenation levels by about one percent for every 1,000 feet in elevation gain. In other words, at 10,000 feet above sea level, you’ll need to take one extra breath for every 10 breaths at sea level. Add in a steep, rocky trail, a light pack with a few extra pounds of water, food and extra clothing for the storms that suddenly appear, and the most capable athlete can be humbled in short order. Gravity is constant and unforgiving, especially with less-than-normal oxygen levels.

For those not in good shape, the mountains can be inhospitable places. You don’t see too many people carrying around a lot of extra weight, or puffing on cigarettes here. Many arrive and quickly realize that filling the lungs with tar and carbon monoxide is a bad habit; and those extra unneeded pounds have a negative impact on more

than just appearance. A few weeks at altitude does more to promote smoking cessation and weight-loss efforts than all the hand-wringing and proselytizing of sea-level health crusaders could ever achieve.

And then there’s the driving. With snowfall possible in any month of the year, a working knowledge of friction coefficients (trac-tion) and the physical dynamics of a large object in motion be-come more than dry, theoretical classroom exercises. The only way to learn to con-trol those forces is through the experi-ence of driving on slick roads, which has been minimal, for those who have arrived dur-ing the last few years of record-dry winters. One of the newer residents commented

that there was a lot of snow this year, and the roads were really slick. A quick check of the online backcountry snow level reports (SNOTEL sites) showed that this year’s snowpack is 100 percent of average. It doesn’t get any more middle-of-the-road than this. Fortunately, that particular neighbor is a sharp guy, loves the mountains, and has had no problems. Other recent arrivals, particularly those from warmer climates, have had some unpleasant, and sometimes expensive, learn-ing experiences. Four-wheel-drive is important, but it only serves to propel the vehicle in a forward direction. Stopping and turning are still governed by the limits of adhesion, which are quite minimal on snow and ice. Lots of horsepower and big fat tires might work great in deep mud, but have launched more than one driver into a snowbank of embarrassment and unplanned expense.

I’ve used my tow strap more this winter than during the last five years combined, pulling vehicles out of unscheduled off-road excur-sions. It’s been time consuming and a little frustrating, until I remem-ber one of my own early learning experiences, with my brand-new used truck wedged against a tree, pointing at an unnatural angle to-ward the sky. Some bemused longtime locals took pity on me, and showed me how to get out of such an entanglement without further damage. The unwritten, and unbroken, rule is that the rescued must then go on to become the rescuer of those in the early stages their learning process.

Always An Adventure

“Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!”

www.treesbywoody.net


Ahh, February. The time for showing love and remembering that singular someone who has cared unendingly, sacrificed un-ceasingly and toiled unselfishly. Also, it’s a time to give that particular person a little something extra special to show extra-spe-cial appreciation for all that extra-special dedication and hard work. Valentine’s Day, you say? Not hardly! It’s my extra-special birthday this month! But I guess if some other event has to butt in on my sweet gig, then it might as well be one for which I can acquire a box of chocolates as well. Ya…it’s all about me this month.However, this creates a dilemma. You may

ask how a problem can exist if a load of presents is about to be dropped upon my person. I will tell you, because if I don’t use care and my language skills precisely, I’ll suf-fer the same dire consequences as in prior years.Case in point:Years back and on the big day my husband

asked, “My darling, it has come to my at-tention that your date of birth is upon us. Pray tell, what shiny accessories and costly accoutrements does my sweet mooshkins desire to make her fondest dreams come true?”Actually it came across more like, “You re-

ally don’t want anything today do you?”Earlier that morning, I reminded him that

it was a special day.He jumped up with a foolish grin pasted

on his face then got ready and sped off in the car. Hours later he came back after spending the entire day at Manly Man’s Tool and Testoster-one Store which deals in all things paint, plumbing and ply-wood.I met him at the

door dressed up and ready to go with my arms crossed and a curt reminder of the birthday dinner I ex-pected on my special day.He said, “Well, why

didn’t you say so? I thought when you said, special day, it was to remind me of the lum-ber store’s half-off sales today.”Death stare.“Happy birthday,” he said while handing

me a new snow shovel with the sale tag still attached.Another year, I mistakenly asked for some-

thing to make my life a little easier expect-ing a new dishwasher or at the very least, a live-in nanny. Instead, I became the proud recipient of a sprinkler system.So I must be prepared and avoid the fool-

ish mistakes of the past.This time: I cannot merely hint that I want

something that smells good and expect ex-pensive perfume or flowers and be disap-pointed when I receive pine tree-shaped car fresheners.This year: I cannot just say I would really

like a delicious meal and be in shock when we pull up to Bubba’s Bodacious Burger Bar.This time: I will not ask for new pj’s by say-

ing I would like something smooth and silky that feels good on me only to receive a gal-lon of fabric softener.This year: I will not expect to receive a

new iPod by hinting about something that sounds good only to have him say, “Wanna go fishin’? That sounds good!”This time: I will not hope to go out and see

the latest movie by suggesting that I would like to see something awesome. After that request, he came out from the closet shirt-

less flexing a flabby bicep in my direction and said, “Is that awesome enough for ya?”So if I sound a little self-serving it’s only be-

cause if I’m not proactive I’ll receive a bunch of excuses or disastrous misunderstandings with no receipts for a refund.Instead, I have developed a new strategy.This year, I will rely on that ancient lost art

to remind him. I will actually write down my list of requests on a sticky note then attach it to his forehead. That way there will be no silly mix-ups and I will get something excit-ing, useful and loads of fun. Oops…I have to be careful not to say that out loud or I will most certainly receive a gift card from Manly Man’s Tool and Testosterone Store.

Birthday blunders

Moore On Life

BY CINDY MOORECindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeo-logical Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity

in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

www.takeatrip.net


It seems like only yesterday when the 68th Academy Awards rewarded “Braveheart” for Best Picture twenty years ago – barely top-ping the other favorite “Apollo 13.” Back then Mel Gibson won Best Director (“Braveheart”). This year it could be Alejandro González Iñár-ritu (“The Revenant”) for a possible second consecutive win. Nicolas Cage (“Leaving Las Vegas”) and Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”) won Oscars for Best Actor and Actress in their Leading Roles. This time it could be Leonardo DiCaprio and Brie Larson. Here I’m going to share with you some inter-esting trivia among the nominees themselves in some of the categories – particularly the ones where I can personally ramble on about with pure excitement. BEST PICTUREThis category is the most diverse list of

movie genres that have been chosen since – I can’t even remember. We have every-thing from period dramas (“Bridge Of Spies” and “Brooklyn”), the low-budget sensation (“Room”), a true story (“Spotlight”), a true story with a daring narrative twist (“The Big Short”), a true tale of survival (“The Rev-enant”), and two sci-fi thrillers (the post-apocalyptic “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the space survival-and-rescue mission “The Mar-tian”). “Mad Max” has earned itself 10 nomi-nations total and “The Martian” with seven. “Spotlight” was the early front-runner when released, but with twelve nominations it’s “The Revenant” that is right up there now.

BEST DIRECTORWhen Lenny Abrahamson was mentioned

for “Room” you could here the gasps in the room during the announcement - this was a pleasant surprise. Adam McKay (“The Big Short”) received some well-deserved cheers. Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) was a sure lock. In the end, this may be between George Mill-er (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) and Alejandro G. Iñárritu (“The Revenant”).BEST LEADING ACTOR AND ACTRESSIt’s now certain that Leonardo DiCaprio

(“The Revenant”) and Brie Larson (“Room”) are the Best Actor and Actress front-runners for their leading roles. Larson is will be up against – at least - two previous winners Jen-nifer Lawrence (“Joy”) and Cate Blanchett (Carol). DiCaprio’s competition is quite stiff – particularly with Michael Fassbender (“Steve Jobs”), and last year’s winner Eddie Red-mayne (“The Danish Girl”). It’s a tight race, but I think this is finally Leo’s year.BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AND AC-

TRESSSylvester Stallone may get a well-deserved

win for playing Rocky Balboa once more in “Creed.” Tom Hardy (“The Revenant”) was a nice surprise and I couldn’t be more thrilled that Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams were both recognized for “Spotlight”, but my real fa-vorite is Mark Rylance (“Bridge Of Spies”) who just effortlessly nailed every scene he’s in. A big omission is Idris Elba (“Beasts Of No Nation”).For the ladies – along with Adams – it’s all

up in the air, but I believe it’s between Taran-tino’s female player, Jennifer Jason Leigh (“The Hateful Eight”) and Rooney Mara (“Carol”).BEST ORIGINAL SCORE AND CINEMA-

TOGRAPHY CATEGORIESThe two former first-time Oscar nominees

of “The Shawshank Redemption” have each received their thirteenth nominations this year – still neither have won. We’re talking about composer Thomas Newman for scor-ing Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge Of Spies” and cinematographer Roger Deakins for shoot-ing “Sicario.” Newman’s competition is – the same man he stood in for – John Williams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and most notably Ennio Morricone (“The Hateful Eight”) as the other composer who already received The Academy’s Lifetime Achieve-ment Award. This could be Morricone’s first real win. As for Deakin’s competition, he’s – once again – up against Emmanuel Lubezki’s (“The Revenant”) impeccable tracking shots in 100 percent natural wilderness lighting. It’s expected to be Lubezki’s third consecutive win after “Birdman” and “Gravity.”“Straight Outta Compton” thankfully re-

ceived a Best Screenplay nomination, but I still wish it received even more recogni-tion in the end – including Jason Mitchell’s whole-hearted performance as Eazy-E. I also admit to being sad that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” did not make the Best Picture list, but it did receive a total of five nominations - including for Best Editing. It’s still the most exciting list of nominees I’ve heard in quite some time.For the full list of the nominees please visit

oscars.com and see if any of your favorites will take home the gold.

Entertainment

Trivia of the 88th Annual Academy AwardsSunday, Feb.28 is the big night for the entertainment industry

BY BRIAN GUERREROBrian Guerrero is a former resident of Los Angeles and a current resident of New York City with extensive experience in front of and behind the camera for film and television.


For the Love of Food

Four reasons to use canola oil

Salsa VinaigretteYield: 1 cup

Honey Lemon VinaigretteYield: 1/2 cup

Ingredients:2 teaspoons finely minced lemon zest1/4 cup fresh lemon juice1 1/2 tablespoons honey1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper1/4 cup canola oil

Directions:In medium bowl, whisk together lemon zest and juice, honey, salt and pepper. Slowly add canola oil, whisking briskly and continuously until emulsified. Serve with greens.

Ingredients:1/2 cup salsa1/3 cup water2 tablespoons canola oil2 tablespoons lime juice1 tablespoon minced cilantro1 teaspoon granulated sugar1 garlic clove, crushed

Directions:In container with tight-fitting lid, com-bine salsa, water, canola oil, lime juice, cilantro, sugar and garlic. Shake well.

When it’s time to get cooking, do you really know your oil? Some oils are great for high temperatures, others can’t take the heat. Some are heart-smart, while others are loaded with saturated fat. “As a dietitian, I want an oil that’s healthy, and

when I cook, I want an oil that’s versatile and per-forms consistently,” said Manuel Villacorta, R.D., au-thor of “Whole Body Reboot.” Sarah-Jane Bedwell, R.D., nutrition columnist at

“Self” and author of “Schedule Me Skinny,” echoes Villacorta, noting the ideal is an everyday cooking oil that’s low in saturated fat and high in heat toler-ance. “It’s important that people understand the dif-

ferences among cooking oils as they can’t be used interchangeably in everything you cook,” she said. “With 100 percent canola oil, I know what I’m get-ting in the kitchen and on my plate. It’s healthy and works in everything – an ‘all in one’ cooking oil.”

Here are four reasons Villacorta and Bedwell both prefer canola oil:

1. It’s healthy. Canola oil contains the least satu-rated fat – about half that of olive, soybean, corn and sunflower oils – and the most plant-based omega-3 fat of all common cooking oils. Research shows that eating 1 1/2 tablespoons of canola oil daily in place of saturated fat can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Canola oil may also help control blood sugar in people with type 2 dia-betes.2. It’s neutral. Canola oil has no taste and a light

texture (unlike olive or coconut oils), which is what you want when preparing a spicy Mexican feast, tart lemon cake or an herb-laced dressing, such as Salsa Vinaigrette or Honey Lemon Vinaigrette. The flavors of your ingredients, not your oil, take center stage. Other oils have heavier textures than canola oil.

3. It can take the heat. Broil, sear or even deep-fry to your heart’s content. Canola oil has one of the highest heat tolerances of any cooking oil (smoke point of 468 F), so it’s an ideal kitchen partner.

4. It’s affordable. Canola oil costs about the same as vegetable oil, but with canola oil, you know which oil is in the bottle. Vegetable oil may actually be any number of different oils.

For more recipes and facts about canola oil, visit canolainfo.org.

PHOTOS BY RAY ROCkwELL


Photo Op

Photographer Ray Rockwell braved the cold on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 18, for a Unity Walk held in Wentzville. The

walk began at Wentzville City Hall and ended at the intersec-tion of Pearce and Luetkenhaus Boulevards.

Wentzville Unity WalkWentzville Unity Walk

Community Calendar


February:1 – National Freedom Day

2 – Groundhog Day

5 – Trivia nightThe Child Center, Inc. & CHAMP Assistance Dogs present Super Hero For Kids Trivia Night at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) at O’Fallon Elks Lodge at 1163 Tom Ginnever Ave. in O’Fallon. Help the Child Center and CHAMP place highly-trained facility dogs to bring comfort and support to children who have suffered abuse or neglect. Register online at www.thechildcenter.com or contact Danielle Alsup at 636-332-0899.

8 – Chinese New Year

10 – Ash Wednesday

13 - Pancake breakfastThe Lake St. Louis Mothers Club is hosting Chris Cakes Pancake Break-fast/Brunch Fundraiser at the Lake Saint Louis Community Association Ballroom at 100 Cognac Ct. in Lake Saint Louis at both 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Activities for the event include: catching your flap jacks, raffle bas-kets, 50/50 drawing, a family picture, face painting and a Valentine’s craft. Space is limited, please purchase tickets in advance. Cost for an adult (age 13+) is $10 in advance, $13 at the door. Cost for a child (age 3-12) is $7 in advance, $10 at the door; children 0-2 are free (Children 0-2 may sit on your lap, strollers are welcome). Tickets may be purchased online at www.lslmothersclub.com or with a check using the form on the back of the flyer (can be downloaded on www.lslmothersclub.com).

14 – Valentine’s Day

14-15 – Theater auditionsWentzville Christian Church announces auditions for Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Feb.14 from 1- 2 p.m. for ages 14 and younger and 2 – 6 p.m. for ages 15 and older; and Feb. 15 from 5 – 6 p.m. for ages 14 and younger and 6 – 9 p.m. for ages 15 and older. Those auditioning should come prepared to sing 20-30 measures of a Broadway style song. An ac-companist will be provided. Please bring your own sheet music in the correct key. Actors will also be asked to read from the script and learn/perform a short dance. Actors auditioning for a lead role will be asked to sing a song from the musical. Please check the church website (www.wentzvillecc.org) for additional information. Production dates are May 6 - 8. Wentzville Christian Church is located at 1507 Highway Z in Wentzville. If you have any questions, please call Tammy at 636-219-3238.

15 – Presidents’ Day

20 – Hunting Heritage BanquetThe National Wild Turkey Federation St. Charles County Long Spurs Chap-ter will sponsor its annual “Hunting Heritage Banquet” beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Theodore Parish Center gymnasium in Flint Hill/Wentzville. The event includes dinner, an open bar, and one one-year membership in the NWTF. Tickets are $70 per couple or $55 for one person. There will be games, raffles, a silent auction and a live auction. Proceeds are all used to provide wildlife habitat and promote outdoor activities in Missouri. For advance tickets, call 314-952-0016. Tickets also are available at the door.

2139-A Bryan Valley Commercial Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63366

www.stygar.com www.themeadowsatlsl.com

www.pbtc.net

www.viperrocks.com

www.ofallonfamilyeyecare.com

crossroads: february 2016

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