West Newsmagazine 11-1-23

Vol. 28 No. 21 • November 1, 2023 

westnewsmagazine.com 

What's 

next? 

PLUS: Mature Focus ■ Plan the Perfect Holiday ■ Chesterfield's Top Cop

FIND GREAT RATES, LEASE CREDITS UP TO $9,900 

PLUS LOYALTY OFFERS ON NEW BMW’S IN-STOCK 

AND ARRIVING SOON OR BUILD YOUR OWN. 

LOCK IN YOUR DEAL BEFORE YOUR ROAD HOME! 

EXCELLENT INVENTORY SELECTION AND AMAZING 

OFFERS THROUGH NOVEMBER 30 th ! 

3015 S. Hanley Road 

Saint Louis, MO 63143 

www.bmwautohaus.com 

314-727-8870 

BMW Test Drive 

to End Hunger 

Nov. 1-30! 

*All offers plux tax, title, license and administration fees to qualified buyers with approved credit. All applicable BMW incentives applied. *Lease financing available through BMW Financial Servicers to eligible, qualified customers 

with excellent credit history who meet BMW Financial Financial Services’ credit requirements. Charge at lease end for excess wear and mileage. Photos for illustration purposes only. See dealer for details. Offers expire 11/30/23.

FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE 

WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM 

STAR PARKER 

November 1, 2023 

WEST NEWSMAGAZINE 

I OPINION I 3 

We must restore 

‘veritas’ at our universities 

According to a survey done by the Harvard 

Crimson in 2022, 80% of the faculty 

at Harvard University self-identified as 

“liberal.” Thirty-seven percent self-identified 

as “very liberal.” 

Only 1% self-identified as conservative. 

This snapshot of the politics of the faculty 

at the nation’s oldest and leading university 

is not exceptional. Surveys of most university 

faculties show them overwhelmingly 

on the left. 

If we think about it, it can help us 

understand why the president of Harvard, 

Claudine Gay, had such a hard 

time making a clear statement condemning 

the atrocities committed by Hamas 

against Israeli civilians. 

And it can help us understand demonstrations 

by students at Harvard, and other 

universities, accusing Israel, the victim of 

these atrocities, as their cause. 

As one Wall Street Journal columnist 

put it, one can hardly imagine demonstrations 

at Harvard against human brutality 

in China, Iran, North Korea, Russia 

or Syria. 

But somehow atrocities against Israelis 

are not only justified in the eyes of these 

left-wing university elite but caused by 

their Israeli victims. 

What is the sickness of the soul that has 

captured America’s elite of higher education? 

To start our inquiry, we must look at Harvard’s 

founding. John Harvard, who provided 

the college’s first endowment, was a 

clergyman. 

Read the language on Harvard’s seal. 

“Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae.” 

“Truth for Christ and Church.” 

How many of Harvard’s administration 

today, of those teaching at Harvard today, 

of those learning at Harvard today can 

identify with these words from the earliest 

days of their university? 

I don’t know the exact number, but I 

think if we guess zero, we’ll be close to the 

truth. 

America was founded and built by Christians 

who sought truth and worked to make 

a better world. 

Were there flaws, mistakes? Of course. 

They were men. 

But the way to improve is to get closer to 

the truth, not to throw it in the trash. 

Those administering, teaching and learning 

at Harvard and our other leading universities 

are not consumed by scholarship 

and truth-seeking, but by ideology. 

Ideology is strikingly similar to another 

word: idol. Something man builds for himself 

and worships. 

It is the product of egotism and pride and 

not the product of humility, which comes 

only from knowing there is a truth bigger 

than you, of which you are part. 

Claudine Gay condemned hate and said 

her university is about bringing people 

with differences together. 

This is a university president who does 

not see “veritas,” truth, and good and evil 

in the world, as embodied and conveyed in 

the message on her university seal and its 

history. 

The job of universities is to pursue truth. 

But this is impossible when they do not 

believe truth exists. Thinking that the point 

is bringing together people rather than 

pursing truth is an exercise in ideology, not 

scholarship, and leads only to the social, 

cultural and spiritual degeneration we are 

experiencing. 

If we want to save our country, let’s save 

our places of learning. Let’s purge the sea 

of ethnic, political and ideological clubs 

that dominate social and intellectual life at 

what are supposed to be our institutions of 

learning. 

The terrorists are financed by the sale of 

oil. That oil was found, developed and is 

worth mega-billions because of Western 

technology. A disproportionate contribution 

to the development of that science and 

technology has come from the very people 

whose homeland is Israel, against whom 

the terrorists commit atrocities. 

The United States grew and became 

great with the values that brought forth the 

miracle that is the modern State of Israel. 

The moral relativism and hedonism of 

America’s left is now obliterating these 

truths. 

A new birth of freedom in America 

means a new birth of truth and learning at 

our universities. 

• • • 

Star Parker is president of the Center 

for Urban Renewal and Education and 

host of the weekly television show “Cure 

America with Star Parker.” 

© 2023 Creators.com 

Read more on westnewsmagazine.com 

We salute our veterans. 

We salute our veterans. 

“This nation will remain the land of the free 

only so long as it is home of the brave.” 

- Elmer Davis 

This nation will remain the land of the free 

only so long as it is the home of the brave. 

WEST COUNTY 

14960 Manchester Rd. at Holloway 

Ballwin, MO 63011 

(636) 227-5511 (636) 938-3000 

www.schrader.com 

SCHRADER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY 

14960 Manchester Rd. at Holloway 


NO 

(636) 227-5511 

MEANS NO 

schrader.com 

ROCKWOOD’S 

PROP 

3 

We voted NO 

on Prop P 

April, 2022 

It’s a 10% tax increase forever. 

again 

VOTE NO ON NOV. 7 TH 

^ 

~Elmer Davis 

EUREKA 

108 North Central Ave. 

Eureka, MO 63025 

Paid for by MO Tax Relief Now - Dennis Ganahl, Treasurer 

SCHRADER FUNERAL HOME - EUREKA 

108 North Central Ave. 

Eureka, MO 63025 

(636) 938-3000 

©adfinity

4 I OPINION I 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Honor families of those 

who serve 

To the Editor: 

World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 

11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when 

the Armistice went into effect. The United 

States has observed Veterans Day, originally 

Armistice Day, every year since 1919. 

Veterans Day is when we honor those who 

have served in the armed forces of the United 

States. It is distinctly different from Memorial 

Day when we honor those who have 

made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 

When honoring our veterans, let us also 

honor the families of those who served. 

They sacrificed time with loved ones who 

were away on active duty. They did their 

best to continue with daily life while their 

loved ones were away serving. They did 

this knowing that at any time they could get 

that phone call or knock on the door that 

would tell them that a loved one had made 

the ultimate sacrifice. 

Let us honor and say thanks to all those 

who served on this Veterans Day, including 

their families! 

Scott Ottenberg 

Protecting our Second 

Amendment Rights 


Recent legislation passed by our County 

Council threatens to erode our Second 

Amendment rights. This legislation 

obstructs citizens’ right to open carry by 

mandating the possession of a concealed 

carry permit, in opposition to Missouri’s 

Constitutional Carry laws. This move is not 

only problematic but also unconstitutional. 

This legislation represents a significant 

overreach by our local government. I recognize 

the vital role our Second Amendment 

plays in safeguarding our individual freedoms. 

This legislation imposes unnecessary 

restrictions on those who seek to defend 

their families. 

One of my primary concerns is that this 

legislation only applies to unincorporated 

St. Louis County. This approach creates a 

confusing patchwork of different rules and 

regulations across our county regarding 

open carry. Such a haphazard system is not 

only confusing for our law-abiding citizens 

but also impractical for law enforcement 

agencies tasked with enforcing these varying 

regulations. 

This legislation may also be in direct 

violation of Missouri state statutes, which 

explicitly prohibit local governments from 

passing laws that differ from the state laws 

concerning firearms. Our state constitution 

upholds the right of our citizens to bear 

arms. It is my firm belief that we should not 

infringe upon those rights. 

I voted against this legislation. Criminals 

will continue to be criminals, and only lawabiding 

citizens will follow this new law. 

This law will also further its proponents’ 

stated goal, which is increased gun confiscation. 

State and federal law already prohibits 

the crimes being used as justification to 

pass this legislation. 

We must focus on effective and sensible 

measures that enhance public safety without 

infringing on our constitutional rights. This 

means supporting law enforcement and providing 

resources for mental health services. 

Our freedoms and our ability to defend our 

families should be cherished and protected, 

not undermined by ill-conceived legislation. 

Mark Harder 

Senior tax relief 


On Oct. 17, the St. Louis County Council 

once again missed the mark by approving a 

watered-down version of property tax relief. 

Although it is good we were able to see 

some progress on this issue, the council’s 

version applies to only some seniors and 

expires after five years. 

Multiple Missouri counties have already 

signed laws allowing this tax relief, including 

St. Charles County. Shockingly, the St. 

Louis County Council is unwilling to support 

a full property tax freeze for seniors. 

This isn’t complicated. St. Louis County, 

like St. Charles County, should protect all 

seniors. Our council should not pick winners 

and losers, set arbitrary home value 

cutoffs and establish expiration dates for 

important tax freezes, resulting in a burdensome 

tax hike down the road for the seniors 

who do qualify. 

To champion the cause of tax relief for all 

seniors, I am collecting names of St. Louis 

County residents who support real, permanent 

tax freezes. I urge county voters to add 

their names to the growing list of supporters 

at GregoryForMissouri.com and tell the 

St. Louis County Council to pass full senior 

property tax relief. Our seniors did their part 

– it’s time we did ours. 

David Gregory 

Founder 

Publisher Emeritus 

Publisher 

Managing Editor 

Associate Editor 

Staff Writer 

Features Editor 

Business Manager 

Graphic Designer 

Graphic Designer 

Graphic Layout 

Reporters 

Doug Huber 

Sharon Huber 

Tim Weber 

Kate Uptergrove 

Tracey Bruce 

Laura Saggar 

Lisa Russell 

Erica Myers 

Donna Deck 

Aly Doty 

Emily Rothermich 

Vice President - Direct Sales 

Vicky Czapla 

Advertising Account Executives 

Nancy Anderson 

Ellen Hartbeck 

Linda Joyce 

Suzanne Corbett 

Jeffry Greenberg 

DeAnne LeBlanc 

Joe Ritter 

Sheila Roberts 

Cathy Lenny 

Warren Mayes 

Shwetha Sundarrajan 

ATTENTION 

READERS: 

Make sure you are signed up for your 

FREE subscription today! 

1. If you got this paper in your mailbox and your first and last 

name are on the front cover label, THANK YOU for subscribing. 

You are all signed up and will continue to get the paper in your 

mailbox for the next three years. 

2. If you got this paper in your mailbox and the label reads 

“Current Resident” then you need to fill out and mail in the 

form on this ad or visit westnewsmagazine.com/subscribe to 

subscribe. Otherwise, this could be the last paper you receive 

in the mail. 

3. If you picked this paper up at a newsstand such as Schnucks 

or Dierbergs, thank you so much for your interest! Please visit 

westnewsmagazine.com/subscribe or fill out and mail in the 

form on this ad to subscribe and get the paper delivered right to 

your home FREE of charge. 

CLIP & MAIL 

By providing your signature below, West Newsmagazine will 

qualify as a Requester Periodical helping us save postage expense 

so we can continue to deliver your copy through the post office. 

YES, I want West Newsmagazine, 

Please deliver to: 

Name: 

Address: 

City: State: Zip: 

Phone: 

E-mail: 

Signature 

x 

Date: / / 

Mail to: 

754 Spirit 40 Park Drive • Chesterfield, MO 63005 

754 Spirit 40 Park Dr. 

Chesterfield, MO 63005 

(636) 591-0010 

westnewsmagazine.com 

Please send 

Comments, Letters and Press Releases to: 

editor@newsmagazinenetwork.com 

West Newsmagazine is published 24 times per year by 

West Media Inc. 40,000 distribution (direct mailed and 

newsstands) in West St. Louis County. Products and 

services advertised are not necessarily endorsed by 

West Newsmagazine and views expressed in editorial 

copy are not necessarily those of West Newsmagazine. 

No part of West Newsmagazine may be reproduced 

in any form without prior written consent from West 

Newsmagazine. All letters addressed to West 

Newsmagazine or its editor are assumed to be intended 

for publication and are subject to editing for content 

and length. West Newsmagazine reserves the right to 

refuse any advertisement or editorial submission. 

© Copyright 2023. 

A PUBLICATION OF





I 5 

Clearing up some questions 

related to Rockwood’s Prop 3 

Will the Rockwood School District get a tax revenue windfall 

from rising property assessments? 

NO! RSD will NOT get a revenue windfall, due to a Missouri law. On September 

28, 2023, the Rockwood Board of Education voted to LOWER the Rockwood 

portion of your tax rate to offset rising property values, as is required by 

Missouri’s Hancock Amendment. The new rate, approved by the Missouri 

State Auditor, is $3.8907. This is a decrease of 25.76 cents. 

Will this lower tax rate impact Prop 3? 

The decrease in the tax rate has no impact on Prop 3. The benefit of the 2023 

tax rate decrease will be realized by taxpayers in tax year 2023 and beyond, 

regardless of Proposition 3 ballot results. The ballot language will not change, 

and the timeline of the zero new taxes levy transfer detailed in Proposition 3 will 

remain as is. 

Will voting “no” on Prop 3 lower my tax rate even more? 

Voting no would NOT lower your tax rate, because the remaining bonds in Debt 

Service don’t pay off for 15 years. In addition, expenses related to maintaining 

3.8 million square feet don’t disappear if the proposition fails. Also, safety and 

technology needs for 20,000 students and thousands of staff don’t disappear. 

If Prop 3 fails, there are only two choices available for funding these ongoing 

expenses: bonds with millions wasted in interest, or a higher tax rate. 

Will RSD default on their remaining debt if Prop 3 is passed? 

NO! RSD will be able to pay off their existing bonds within their current maturity 

schedules with the remaining tax rate in the Debt Service Fund because of 

strategic refinancing that saved millions in interest. 

Why TRUST Prop 3 for Rockwood? 

The Rockwood School Board unanimously supports Prop 3 on the Nov 7th 

ballot! In addition to annually receiving the highest level of independent financial 

audit opinions, the district has earned multiple financial reporting and budgeting 

awards, plus a AAA from Standard & Poor’s. Also, RSD spends less per student 

than most area districts while outperforming them or matching their results. To 

read more visit: https://tinyurl.com/RSDStewardship 

Vote YES on Prop 3 on Nov 7th! 

For more information: 

RSD 

Prop 3 

FAQ 

Prop 3 

for a 

Stronger 

Rockwood 

The Lost and Found Nephew 

Law Matters 

I prepared a 

trust-based 

estate plan for a 

client. I 

explained the 

benefits in 

avoiding probate 

- more 

privacy, less 

cost. He understood. 

He was close to his elderly aunt 

who had never married. She had a 

sizeable estate. Her attorney had 

prepared a will-based plan for her. 

When my client, the nephew, talked 

to her about creating a trust, she told 

him that her attorney said trusts were 

not a good idea because you don't 

have court supervision of the 

administration of a trust. I know I'm a 

little jaded after practicing law for as 

long as I have, but I have to wonder 

whether the attorney was also 

thinking about the sizable probate fee 

he hoped to get. In any event, the aunt 

did not do a trust. 

Time passed, and sadly, the aunt 

died. When someone dies, all of their 

accounts and assets get frozen until an 

estate is opened. My client was named 

as the personal representative, the 

executor, and he came to me to 

probate her estate. 

When you open a probate estate, 

among other things, you need to try to 

contact potential heirs. In this case, 

there was another nephew. No one 

knew where he was, and there was no 

record of him in the aunt's address 

book or any letters or even Christmas 

cards. After some sluething, my client 

found an address for the cousin in a 

remote town in Minnesota. So, we 

sent him the required information, 

hoping that would be the end of it. 

We weren't that lucky. 

The next thing that happened 

was that I was contacted by an 

attorney. He told me that he representated 

the Minnesota cousin. He 

said that his client had, in fact, been 

very close to the deceased aunt and 

called her regularly, although the 

phone records didn't show that. He 

said that my client had taken advantage 

of the aunt and had her write his 

client out of the will. He demanded 

half of the estate. 

I told my client that this was a 

nuisance claim, and he could throw 

some money at it to make it go away. 

He authorized me to offer $20,000. I 

called the attorney and offered 

$5,000, and he accepted. That was a 

small price to pay for what could 

have been a protracted and terribly 

expensive will contest. 

If only the aunt had done a trust, 

we could have avoided all of that. 

Call if you want to talk. 

Everyone’s experience 

with estate planning is 

unique and you don’t 

always know what to 

expect. Fred has gathered 

some of the most 

interesting examples he 

knows into an entertaining 

and educational book. 

You Can’t Take It With You is available 

to order online at www.law-matters.net 

Fred L. Vilbig is an attorney with over 30 

years of experience in the areas of wills 

and trusts, small businesses, and real 

estate. This column is for informational 

purposes only. Nothing herein should be 

treated as legal advice or as creating an 

attorney-client relationship. The choice 

of a lawyer is an important decision 

and should not be based solely upon 

advertisements. 

Paid for by Prop 3 for a Stronger Rockwood; Treasurer Lana McPartlin 

(636) 537-7884 | fvilbig@lawmatters.llc| www.lawmatters.llc

6 I OPINION I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


all 

decked 

out 

Thursday, November 16 | 6 to 8 p.m. 

DoubleTree Hotel - Chesterfield 

Grab your besties and join St. Luke’s Spirit of 

Women for All Decked Out! KMOV’s Laura Hettiger 

will host an evening of food, drinks, health 

screenings and wellness information. Check off 

some of your gifting list (or treat yourself) while 

shopping with some great local businesses. Plus 

you could win a great attendance prize! 

Tickets: $30 

Includes health screenings, swag bag, appetizers, 

2 drink tickets and more! 

To register for this event, 

visit bit.ly/alldeckedout2023 

Questions? Call 314-205-6706. 

EDITORIAL 

Do you speak Republican? 

After several weeks of chaos, the United States House of Representatives 

has a speaker. Rep. Mike Johnson, a little-known Louisiana Republican, 

won the job last week without losing a single Republican vote. Mr. Johnson 

speaks Republican and oozes conservatism. 

He is ardently pro-life. He was a key figure in attempts to overturn the 

2020 election. He does not believe in human-caused climate change. He 

strongly opposes same-sex marriage. Out of 435 lawmakers, Johnson was 

ranked the 429th least bipartisan, according to an index by the Lugar Center 

and McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. 

A consensus builder he is not. 

A near month of public infighting has left the Republican brand bruised 

and battered. An ultra-conservative speaker who ends up on the unpopular 

side of a lot of issues will do little to repair that image. With that in mind, 

will Speaker Johnson be able to get anything done and does he even want to? 

There are some big items on the very near-term to-do list for Congress. 

They need to fund the government. They need to decide if we are going to 

continue to fund our allies in Ukraine and Israel. There are still funds needed 

for natural disasters in Hawaii, California and Vermont. The border crisis 

looms large. 

That is an awful lot to find on one’s plate, particularly when Matt Gaetz is 

off to the side, threatening to slap the plate out of your hands. Do Johnson’s 

conservative bona fides buy him some leeway with the far-right zealots like 

Gaetz? Maybe. Johnson is a fairly classic social conservative; Gaetz is more 

of a MAGA-come-lately conservative. They both speak Republican but with 

very different accents. 

All of this makes it very interesting that Johnson was able to unite the party 

in such a coherent fashion. His platform may look a lot like firebrand and 

failed speaker Jim Jordan, but his tactics are very different. He seems to have 

virtually no enemies within the party. 

There is a term used in football to describe quarterbacks who are good 

enough not to lose, but not good enough to create wins. They call them game 

managers. Mike Johnson seems like a game manager for the Republican 

party. Can he deliver large, generational wins not seen since the days of 

Newt Gingrich? Probably not. But he is also not likely to turn the ball over 

and create easy wins for Democrats, which is what lost Kevin McCarthy the 

job. 

The sad reality is that we have been without a Speaker of the House for 

nearly a month and, well, the house has stayed standing. We don’t really 

need a lot from the job. We don’t really need a lot from Congress. Those 

to-do items listed earlier aren’t just the priority items, they’re pretty much 

the only items that must get done. We used to be deathly afraid of gridlock. 

Gridlock seems like a decent outcome these days. The world is spinning 

faster and faster and faster, and if gridlock can slow it down for a bit, then 

sign us up. 

Do we believe that this was Matt Gaetz’s plan all along? No. Gaetz is 

playing checkers, not chess. This outcome is not horrible, however. In a perfect 

world, we would have ended up with a consensus-building, sensible 

center type of Speaker who could represent the agreement held by most of 

the country, both Republican and Democrat. We haven’t seen that perfect 

world for quite some time, however. Instead, we got a principled man who 

speaks Republican and is unlikely to get much done. That feels like a pretty 

good outcome, as well. 

Follow us on





I 7 

CONGRESSWOMAN 

ANN WAGNER 

HERE TO SERVE 

MISSOURI’S 2ND DISTRICT 

DO YOU NEED… 

H Help with a Federal Agency 

If you are not getting the customer service you deserve 

from a federal agency, contact my office for assistance. 

We can help you: 

• Navigate Social Security, Medicare, and IRS matters 

• Resolve passport issues 

• Get information on VA claims and benefits 

• Acquire military records or replacement military medals 

• Understand SBA loan programs 

• Much more! 

H A Ceremonial American Flag 

The American flag is the fabric of our nation. Call 

my D.C. office at (202) 225-1621 if you would like to 

order a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol. 

VISIONS OF HARMONY IN CONCERT 

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TOFU CONCERN, 

SPITFIRE, FLEET STREET, & 

THE AMBASSADORS OF HARMONY 

AT THE FOUNDRY ART CENTRE 

WED • NOV 15 • 7PM 

GET TICKETS AT FOUNDRYARTCENTRE.ORG 

OR CALL 636.255.0270 

Bethesda Meadow 

SALUTES ALL WHO HAVE SERVED! 

H A Special Commendation 

Do you know a first responder, teacher, or neighbor 

who has gone above and beyond for our community? 

How about a newly minted Eagle Scout? Let me know. 

I’d be honored to send a congressional commendation. 

OFFICE LOCATION 

301 Sovereign Court 

Suite 201 


wagner.house.gov 

Scan QR Code to Take 

My Congressional Issue Survey! 

We honor all veterans on this day. 

The sacrifice you made to make the lives 

of others better is not forgotten! 

322 Old State Road, Ellisville, MO 63021 • Just South Of Manchester Rd. 

636-227-3431 • www.BethesdaHealth.org

8 I NEWS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Like the Scott Brothers — some things in life are just better in pairs. 

Another great pairing? Bundling your auto and home policies for up to 28% in savings.* 

Plus, the more policies you bundle — the more you can save! 

*The average customer who bundles can save these discounts on each policy. Discounts may vary by state, property, policy form and company underwriting the auto or property policy. 

Discounts may not apply to all coverages on an auto or property policy. Discounts do not apply to a life policy. 

Contact me today to get a quote and start saving. 

John Shannon Ranson, Agent 

Ranson & Associates LLC 

16024 Manchester Rd Ste 100 

Ellisville, MO 63011 

(636) 391-4855 

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. & its 

Operating Companies, Life insurance underwritten by 

American Family Life Insurance Company, 

6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 

©2021 019569 – 4/21 – 15488813 

Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation and Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin at the 2023 

Woodchoppers Ball, where Chesterfield won the tug-of-war and travelling trophy. 

NEWS 

BRIEFS 

BALLWIN 

Young citizens recognized 

for emergency actions 

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Ballwin residents 

Avery and Owen Geraghty were recognized 

by the Ballwin Police Department 

and Metro West Fire Protection District for 

helping to save their dad’s life. 

In August, after their dad had a medical 

emergency, the boys ran in the dark to get 

their first responder neighbor for help. The 

boys then moved furniture and objects out of 

the way to make room for the first responders 

and continued to keep their dad alert by 

talking to him until paramedics arrived. 

CHESTERFIELD 

Amphitheater improvements 

receive approval 

The Chesterfield Amphitheater near the 

Veterans Honor Park is getting improvements 

that will provide an opportunity for 

better entertainment on ticketed events, 

which, in turn, could provide more free 

events for local residents. 

The improvements will include a restroom 

to be installed immediately west 

of the existing concession stand, as well 

as back-of-house improvements to better 

accommodate artists. 

The total estimated project cost is $2.1 

million, according to Jim Eckrich, Chesterfield’s 

public works director. 

Back house improvements will include a 

fully furnished habitable lounge space, with 

an anticipated west-facing view over the lake 

for performance artists and crew, he said. 

The space will include at least two personal 

dressing rooms, two additional restrooms, 

each providing shower and toilet 

facilities, a kitchen area with appliances 

and a laundry room. 

An outside lounging/catering space for 

the artists will include visual screening 

from the audience. 

Renovation of the existing changing and 

storage rooms will provide access to one of 

the existing restrooms. 

Bond Architects Inc. will be paid 

$245,637 for architectural services. 

Design work will begin immediately with 

the goal of bidding the construction project 

in the fall of 2024, Eckrich said. The $2.1 

million estimated cost breaks down to $1.2 

million for the back-of-house improvements 

and $900,000 for the restroom. 

Other accommodations include the addition 

of 60 amp “shore” power at the existing 

building for touring bus use and the 

consideration of enhancements to Circle 

Drive to better accommodate tour bus 

access and parking. Those projects will 

be funded through Parks Certificates of 

Participation 2020 and ARPA (American 

Rescue Plan Act) 2021 funds. 

At its Oct. 16 meeting, the City Council 

approved the agreement with Bond Architects. 

City brings home 

Woodchopper’s Ball trophy 

Once again Chesterfield won the bragging 

rights for the much-anticipated tug-of-war 

contest at the annual Balmar Farms Woodchopper’s 

Ball in Wildwood on Oct. 22. 

The contest is held every year between 

the two cities. Wildwood was close to winning 

when a couple of latecomers jumped 

into the fray and pulled Chesterfield to 

victory. In addition to bragging rights, the 

winning city receives a “traveling trophy,” 

though it is no longer the original hatchet 

in a log award designed by Bob Clausen. 

After 18 years, that trophy has stopped 

traveling to preserve it into perpetuity. 

The annual festival, hosted by Bill Ballard 

and Stacey and Stuart Morse, was 

attended by city officials from both cities, 

including Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation 

and Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin, along 

with community friends and family. 

Ballard reminisced about how the event 

got started. A group of neighbors who needed 

firewood showed up at the property to cut 

down trees. Afterward, the group all went up 

to the local gas station and had sandwiches. 

“We had a ball,” Ballard said. “The party’s 

grown quite a bit.” 

Other activities at the ball included field 

games, demonstrations of wood splitting and 

chainsaw work, and a dessert contest. Musical 

entertainment was provided by Country 

Fried Gentlemen, followed by a bonfire. 

The event raises funds for BackStoppers 

Inc., which provides financial assistance to 

the families of fallen public safety officers. As 

a fitting reminder of the cause members of the 

Monarch Fire Protection District displayed 

fire trucks during a parade around the property. 

Ballard noted that he sold land to the fire 

district 50 years ago to build its current 

firehouse on Wild Horse Creek Road. The 

district has since purchased property onehalf 

mile away on that same road to build 

a new firehouse. 

City approves new web host 

The Chesterfield City Council has approved 

an agreement with Civic Plus for web hosting 

and associated technology modules. Currently, 

the city hosts its website internally on 

servers that are set up and maintained by the 

information technology department. 

CivicPlus would provide a more secure, 

externally hosted website, Matt Haug, IT 

director, said. The parks and recreation 

department’s current RecTrac system 

would be replaced with the customer interface 

module CivicRec. 

CivicClerk would provide agenda management 

for the city clerk’s office and in 

the planning department, CivicGov would 

cover permitting and code enforcement. 

Click Fix is designed for work orders. 

In addition, the public works department 

would have an integrated problem reporting 

and tracking system to allow for externally 

uploaded documents and photos. 

While there would be no additional budgetary 

impact for 2023, the cost in 2024 

would be $154,894, with annual recurring 

net costs of $52,674 to be paid with American 

Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. 

Phase 2 of Spirit Valley 

Business Park underway 

Keystone Construction Company has 

begun construction of the 131,000-squarefoot 

headquarters and manufacturing facility 

for Tubular USA, a supplier of in-line 

galvanized pipe and tubing. The facility will 

replace Tubular’s two existing buildings in 

Weldon, and will feature offices, a steel fabrication 

manufacturing facility, warehouse 

space and room for future growth. 

The project is located within the Spirit 

Valley Business Park in Chesterfield Valley 

where Keystone recently began construction 

of the infrastructure to support multiple 

future buildings. Spirit Valley Business 

Park is positioned across from the St. Louis 

Premium Outlets and next to the Spirit of 

St. Louis Airport. 

Keystone built the infrastructure for 

Phase 1 of the 50-acre Spirit Valley Business 

Park in 2008 and has constructed 11 

buildings within the business park. Work 

at Phase 2 began earlier this month and





I NEWS I 9 

includes mass grading, new streets and 

infrastructure for sewer, water, electric and 

gas. It will be completed in December. 

Current tenants of the Spirit Valley Business 

Park Phase 1 include robotic and 

engineering firms, contractors and healthcare 

suppliers, including Vermeer Midwest, 

Neff Power, Oaktree Products, Chesterfield 

Fence & Deck, Fresh Air Heating & Cooling 

and BELFOR Property Restoration, St. 

Louis Auto Detail and Thompson Price. 

Keystone is also completing a $6 million 

mixed-use building at 675 Spirit Valley 

West Drive within the Spirit Valley Business 

Park. The building features 40,000 

square feet of flexible space. Keystone was 

the design-build contractor for the building 

core and shell and is now completing 

build-out of its own new headquarters to be 

occupied by the end of this year. 

TOWN & COUNTRY 

Donations sought for veterans, 

first responder memorial 

The city of Town & Country’s Veterans 

and First Responders Task Force is currently 

raising funds to erect a memorial in 

the city’s Town Square to acknowledge the 

contributions of all past and present veterans 

and first responders. 

The memorial will consist of a reflective 

walk around a solitary stone on which an 

American Flag will hang. The structure’s 

concrete base is to be engraved with the 

core values of duty, sacrifice, courage, 

and valor. The contemplative seating wall 

will be embossed with military and first 

responder crests. 

The project was initiated in 202 by 

alderman Sue Allen (Ward 4) with Mayor 

Charles H. Rehm establishing the task 

force in June 2021. Comprised of residents, 

stakeholders and public servants, the task 

force was charged with investigating an 

appropriate funding mechanism via public 

funds, grant monies, or private donations 

and evaluating potential locations. 

As the city continues working toward its 

$300,000 fundraising goal, donations are 

being collected through its “Military and 

First Responder Tribute” page at gofundme. 

com or by check mailed, with a memo of 

“Tribute,” to: City of Town & Country,1011 

Municipal Center Drive, Town & Country, 

MO 63131. 

Donors will be recognized at the appropriate 

levels: Patriot Leader ($10,000), 

Benefactor ($5,000), Sponsor ($1,000), 

Contributor ($500) and Friend (any 

amount). 

George Stock, of Stock & Associates, 

and Don Musick, of Musick Construction, 

have contributed to the project, which was 

designed by SWT Design. 

ALL SENIORS DESERVE A PERMANENT 

PROPERTY TAX FREEZE! 

The St. Louis County Council once again missed 

the mark by approving a watered-down version 

of property tax relief. 

The Council’s version applies to only some seniors 

and expires after 5 years. 

I am collecting names of St. Louis County 

residents who support real, permanent 

tax freezes for ALL seniors. 

SIGN UP AND 

SUPPORT TODAY! 

Scan QR code or visit 

www.gregoryformissouri.com 

Paid for by Gregory for Missouri, Treasurer Joe Garavaglia 

Sudoku brought to you by Cape Albeon 

Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. 

RETIREMENT COTTAGE HOMES & APARTMENTS 

ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE 

HEALTH FAIR 

NOVEMBER 13 

1:00-4:00PM 

RSVP to 636.861.3200 

3380 LAKE BEND DRIVE ST. LOUIS, MO 63088 

WWW.CAPEALBEON.COM 

Go to www.CapeAlbeon.com for Sudoku answers!

10 I NEWS I 



What’s next for The District? 

Developer Michael Staenberg says in many ways its users will decide 

By KATE UPTERGROVE 

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the consensus of 

the first-time visitors – gathered around 

a table at The Hub STL in The District in 

Chesterfield Valley – was that the atmosphere 

was great. 

People of varying ages were sitting in 

chairs on the green or at tables on raised 

platforms, listening to Folkstone, a Roots- 

Americana band, performing on stage. 

Others were playing cornhole. Some 

played catch with a football. Most had a 

beverage in hand from 4 Hands Brewing 

and/or a plate of food nearby from Hi- 

Pointe Drive-in, which had a steady line of 

customers all evening long. 

On the west end of the parking lot, a 

crowd was gathering at The Factory for a 

concert by Les Claypool and his Fearless 

Flying Frog Brigade. But in between The 

Hub STL and The Factory, more than a 

dozen spaces wait to be filled. A similar 

number wait to the east. And that begged 

the question: 

“What’s next for The District?” In three 

words: food, fun and function. 

First up, food. Michael Staenberg, president 

of The Staenberg Group (TSG) says 

there are a lot more restaurants coming in, 

some which have signed and others that 

are on the cusp. Included in that number 

are Napoli Bros. Pizza and Pasta, which 

is slated to open in the spring, and Narwhal’s 

Crafted, a frozen drink lounge that 

offers both spiked and virgin varieties. In 

the “haven’t quite signed yet” category are 

a Mexican restaurant and a sushi restaurant. 

On the sweeter side, Staenberg said a 

cookie and ice cream shop is also slated to 

open in The Hub STL area. 

In terms of fun, The Hub STL already is 

fast becoming the place to watch a game 

on the big screen, listen to free performances 

by local bands, host an impromptu 

cornhole tournament among friends or just 

relax on the green. 

“The Hub STL is such a gathering place 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Francis Howell School District teachers enjoy team-bonding during a cornhole tournament 

on the green at The Hub STL in The District on Oct. 23. 

(Source: The District) 

for football and hockey games, CITY SC – 

as I was leaving on Sunday (Oct. 22), about 

3:15 p.m., everyone was arriving in their 

Chiefs apparel,” added Jennifer Petrowsky, 

who serves as The District coordinator for 

TSG. “When Mizzou is playing everyone 

See THE DISTRICT, page 30 

Chesterfield Police Chief Ray Johnson announces retirement plans 

Local leaders look back on Johnson’s 35 years of service as the city’s ‘top cop’ 

By CATHY LENNY 

His reputation is as pristine as his appearance 

and his attention to detail is evident in 

the way he carries himself. With his starched 

shirts and shiny patent leather shoes, Ray 

Johnson is the quintessential police chief. 

Since 1988, he has been Chesterfield’s 

top cop. But Johnson will soon be hanging 

up his hat. He is set to retire in January. 

Johnson is the city’s first and only police 

chief. Hired shortly after Chesterfield’s 

incorporation, he began the arduous task 

of forming a police department and assembling 

a command and supervisory staff. 

Chesterfield’s first cop 

On June 1, 1989, 50 police officers were 

sworn in and began patrolling the streets. 

Under Johnson’s leadership, the department 

has grown to keep pace with the city’s 

residential and commercial growth. Its 

current authorized manpower is 99 sworn 

officers, 13 non-sworn civilian employees 

and several citizen volunteers. 

Ellisville Police Chief Steve Lewis 

worked with Johnson in Chesterfield for 

more than 24 years. He began as a police 

officer and left as captain, working directly 

under Johnson. He and Capt. Ed Nestor, 

who has since passed away, spent 12 years 

Chesterfield Police Chief Ray Johnson (center) with Lt. Greg Lehman and Lt. Dale 

Vogelpohl at the lieutenants’ retirement ceremony in September 2023. 

(Source: Chesterfield Police/Facebook) 

helping Johnson run the department. 

“Ray was ahead of his time when he 

started the Chesterfield Police Department,” 

Lewis said. “He brought professionalism 

and accountability to regional 

law enforcement. His claim to fame was 

his affiliation with the Commission on the 

Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies 

(CALEA) where he served as a commissioner 

for several years.” 

Chesterfield Police received its first international 

accreditation through CALEA on 

July 12, 2003, and was reaccredited in July 

2006, March 2009, July 2012, July 2015 

and July 2018. The purpose of CALEA’s 

accreditation programs is to improve the 

delivery of public safety services, primarily 

by maintaining a body of standards 

developed by public safety practitioners 

covering a wide range of up-to-date public 

safety initiatives, establishing and administering 

an accreditation process and recognizing 

professional excellence. 

Those are traits that Johnson holds close. 

Lewis said that although he was the 

public information officer for a decade, 

Johnson still reviewed every written document 

that left his office. 

“I once confronted him and asked why he 

had to change everything, and his response 

sticks with me to this day. (He said) anything 

that goes out under his name is a direct reflection 

of him. He always wanted to make sure 

that it met his criteria,” Lewis said. 

He added that Johnson has always prided 

himself on his fitness level and ability to 

outlast all others in his position. 

“He told his son, who was a well-known 

ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 

and Explosives) agent, that he would 

be working when his son retired. Not only 

did he keep his word, but he actually gave a 

speech at his son’s retirement party,” Lewis 

said. “That was close to 10 years ago now.” 

Capt. Daniel Dunn, Chesterfield’s commander 

of police operations, said Johnson 

has created one of the most professional 

organizations in the country. 

“If I had to choose one word to describe 

his leadership style it would be professionalism. 

He has always been willing to 

take on extra and go further than any other 

leader I’ve worked for. I firmly believe we 

wouldn’t be the police department we are 

today without him.” 

See JOHNSON, page 46

PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1901 

now open in west county! 

AUTO LOAN 

RATE SPECIAL 

JUMBO 

New 

JUMBO 

SAVINGS ACCOUNT 

1 

With e-Statements 

Deposit Balance Interest Rate APY* 

$250,000 and Above 

$150,000 - $249,999 

$100,000 - $149,999 

5.30% 

5.10% 

4.96% 

5.40% 

5.20% 

5.05% 

Below $100,000 0.00% 0.00% 

2 

5.99% APR 

Up to 60 Months - 2018 or Newer Models 

Loans closed on or before December 31, 2023 

West County 

1300 Clarkson Clayton Center 

Ellisville, MO 63011 

(636) 237-9000 

MISSOURI LOCATIONS 

South County 

12000 Tesson Ferry Road 

St. Louis, MO 63128 

(314) 842-9091 

Florissant 

14040 New Halls Ferry Road 

Florissant, MO 63033 

(314) 733-9096 

*Annual Percentage Yields (APY) effective as of 10/12/2023 and paid on the collected balance. This account will not earn interest if the daily collected balance falls below $100,000.00. 

1 

To qualify for the above disclosed interest rates and APYs, you must enroll in e-Statements at the time of account opening (provided within FCB’s Online Banking). If you do not enroll in e-Statements at the time of account opening, the 

FCB Jumbo Savings Account will earn the same interest rate and APY as the FCB Savings Account. If you enroll in e-Statements after account opening, the interest rate will be changed to the FCB Jumbo Savings interest rate within 5 days 

of enrolling in e-Statements. Current interest rate and APY on the FCB Savings Account is 0.50% for collected balances $500 and over. This is a tiered and variable rate account. Rates may fluctuate as your balance increases or decreases. 

Available to personal and grantor trust accounts only. FCB reserves the right to extend, modify, or discontinue offering these rates and/or account at any time. Interest is compounded and credited quarterly. If the account is closed 

before interest is credited, you will not receive the accrued interest. If the account is closed within 7 months, there is a $59 closing fee. Fees and charges may reduce earnings. Limitations: Six (6) withdrawals are allowed per month. 

Withdrawals include checks, ACH debits, savings withdrawals, internal transfers, and external transfers. Excess withdrawals are $10 each. 

2 

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) effective as of 10/12/2023 and is valid only at our Missouri locations. Special Auto Loan Rate is good on loans closed on or before December 31, 2023. Example: $20,000.00 loan amount with a 60 month 

term (5 years) at 5.99% APR and monthly payments of $386.56 (with auto deduct payment from FCB checking account). Applications are subject to underwriting and credit approval. Other terms available for commercial and older 

vehicles. Available on purchases and refinances from Non-FCB financial institutions. 

Message and data rates may apply. 

fcbbanks.com

12 I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


$500 off an installed cabinetry order of $5,000 or more.* 

*Offer expires on November 29, 2023. Must present ad offer at the time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offers. 

Family Owned & Operated 

Serving St. Louis for 73 Years 

Over 35 Displays 

Complete Project Needs from Cabinets & 

Countertops to Tile & Plumbing 

Low Prices on Granite & Quartz Countertops 

Cambria, Silestone, Caeserstone, & more 

10+ different cabinet lines 

We Offer Full Installation or Materials Only 

Financing Available 

West Location 

14381 Manchester Rd 

We Build and Design 

Your Dreams! 

Bath Studio 

233 Old Meramec Station Rd 

636.394.3655 

Visit our website to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter! 

www.modernkitchenandbaths.com 

CASH DISCOUNT 

$ 

1000 OFF 

HEATING & COOLING 

REPLACEMENT SYSTEM 

Valid on regularly priced systems. Offer must be presented at time 

of sale. Cannot be combined with other offers. Cannot be applied 

to previously purchased service or installations. Contact Indoor 

Comfort Team for complete details. * Offer expires 11/30/2023 

FREE 

SECOND OPINION 

If you have been advised that your AC or furnace requires 

replacement or faces expensive repair, and you’re 

seeking a second opinion, we are here to help.We offer 

a complimentary full diagnostic service. To schedule this 

free assessment, please provide us with a diagnostic 

report from our competitor at the time of scheduling. 

$ 

75 

SERVICE CALL DIAGNOSTICS 

During normal business hours. Includes trip charge and 

up to half hour of service call/diagnostics time. Parts 

and/or labor for repair will be at additional cost. 

Cannot be combined with other offers.* 

Offer expires 11/30/2023 

CALL 636-787-7555 

Locally owned & operated HVAC company serving the St. Louis area 

www.IndoorComfortTeam.com





I NEWS I 13 

Charter Communications settlement funds still under debate in Wildwood 


While Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin is 

determined to use the class action settlement 

funds from Charter Communications 

on trash refunds, some council members 

have different ideas. 

Under the proposed trash rebate program, 

the city would allocate $1 million to offset 

trash collection costs for residents. Specifically, 

it would collaborate with the city’s 

two service providers, Republic Services 

and Gateway Disposal, to reduce the bills 

for residents for one year. 

During the program’s 12-month duration, 

Republic Services customers would get a 

23.77% reduction on their monthly bills, 

while Gateway Disposal customers would 

receive a 17.65% decrease. 

that there are between 500 and 750 homes 

left to service and prices have gone up. 

Bowlin suggested there could be other 

means to provide for the installation of 

Phase 2 of the internet project, such as with 

remaining ARPA funds of $810,000, allocating 

line items in the budget, or by taking 

it from reserve funds of $28 million. 

Council member Debra Smith 

McCutchen (Ward 5) brought up the potential 

for BEAM (Broadband Equity, Access 

and Deployment) money from the state. 

However, Lee said those funds would have 

to be applied for and wouldn’t be available 

until September 2024. 

Council member Larry Brost (Ward 

1) questioned what amount the reserves 

should be. 

“I want to see something that quantifies 

what we need as a city,” he said. “I don’t 

mind earmarking for internet because 

internet is our number one goal for the city, 

and we all decided that.” 

Council member Scott Ottenberg (Ward 

3) made another motion to postpone the 

vote one month, to get more information 

on the reserve accounts. 

The vote was 9-6 in favor of postponing. 

Following the work session, Bowlin said, 

“I am committed to smaller government, 

and we should not keep excess money just 

because the opportunity exists. The class 

action settlement is in addition to those 

funds we have already determined to be 

available to complete our strategic plan for 

at least the next four years.” 

Freezing weather is coming! 

“The money came 

from Spectrum 

(Charter), let’s use 

it to finish what we 

started on internet 

expansion.” 

– Council member Lauren Edens 

Each household would save approximately 

$91 over a 12-month period. 

If approved, the city could either make 

a single lump-sum payment to each of the 

haulers or disburse payments to them on a 

quarterly basis. 

Council member Katie Dodwell (Ward 

4) believes the funds would be better spent 

for repairs to city hall or maintenance for 

the parks, as there is no parks fund or parks 

tax. 

“Every municipality in the area is currently 

dealing with a raised cost (for trash) 

or will be the next time they issue a contract,” 

Dodwell noted. 

Council member Lauren Edens (Ward 2) 

is still pushing for expanding internet. 

“Ward 2 was left out of the internet 

expansion Phase 1 contract, and I’ve got 

residents that are on hot spots,” Edens said. 

According to the contract, Phase 2 cannot 

start until Phase 1 is completed. 

“The money came from Spectrum (Charter), 

let’s use it to finish what we started on 

internet expansion,” Edens said. 

She made a motion to do just that. 

City Administrator Tom Lee said he 

expects the second phase of internet 

expansion to cost $3 to $4 million, given 

Slips and falls affect us all. 

Frost, ice and snow are particularly dangerous for our seniors. 

If you slip, give us a call! 

95% of our rehab residents return to home. 

EXPERTS IN DEMENTIA CARE 

gardenviewcarecenter.com 

636-537-3333 | CHESTERFIELD 

636-861-0500 | DOUGHERTY FERRY 

636-240-2840 | O’FALLON

The 

Affordable Alternative 

Home Loan 

can make your dream house a reality. 

Apply online, 

by phone 

or in-person 

*$1 share deposit required. Must qualify for membership. Five-Year ARM is a Five-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage. Rates are based on credit score, loan to value, and if cash will be taken out at closing. Rates may vary 

depending on these factors. At a 5.000% initial interest rate, the APR for this loan type is 5.334%, subject to increase after consummation. The Five Year Adjustable Mortgage has a 2% annual cap and 6% lifetime cap. 

Beginning with the first Change Date after 60 months, your interest rate will be based on an Index. The Index is the Weekly Average Yield on United States Treasury Securities Adjusted to a Constant Maturity Yield of 

1 (one) year. LTV > 90% will require Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). We offer ARM loans in Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

Loan subject to credit approval. Rates, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Escrow account required. Assumptions: purchase price of $187,500.00 with 20% down, amount financed $150,000.00 

for a 30 year term, 5.334% APR, monthly payment for first 60 months will be $805.51. Taxes, property insurance, flood & mortgage insurance (if applicable) are not included in this payment 

example and your actual monthly payment amount will be higher based on these items. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.



Chesterfield looks to cut ties with 

Landmark Preservation Committee 



I NEWS I 15 


City staff in Chesterfield are looking to 

disband the Chesterfield Historic and Landmark 

Preservation Committee (CHLCP). 

In lieu of its current form, CHLPC would 

be disbanded, and its regulatory activities 

would be assumed by the Architectural 

Review Board (ARB) and Planning Commission. 

Other activities such as education 

and promotion would be taken over by the 

Chesterfield Heritage Foundation. 

This issue was discussed at the Finance 

and Administration F&A Committee meeting 

on Oct. 9. 

City Administrator Mike Geisel said the 

idea was brought up in 2018 but the ultimate 

disposition at that time was for the 

group to form a 501(c)(3) organization to 

allow for more flexibility. 

new preservation ordinance to the ARB and 

planning commission. 

“ARB could assume responsibility for 

reviewing the certificate of appropriateness 

applications and advise applicants 

on appropriate treatment of their historic 

structures,” Wyse said. 

City Council member Barb McGuinness 

(Ward 1) said she was disappointed that the 

council did not have the power of review 

on CHLPC projects, in particular for the 

Queathem (Old House) in Hog Hollow. 

In the past year, the CHLPC approved 

features of the Old House such as a mural 

that was painted on the home and a patio 

added that were completed prior to receiving 

a certificate of appropriateness. 

“We’re the ones accountable and we 

don’t even have the power of review,” 

McGuinness said. 

Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center 

Sip n’ Shop Pop-Up 

Chesterfield History Museum staff and guests at the Flood of ‘93 event on Saturday, Oct. 

21, 2023. (Elaine Collins photo) 

So, the Chesterfield Heritage Foundation 

was established and a 501(c)(3) was created 

to take on traditional historical society 

tasks, including the creation of a museum, 

conducting educational and promotional 

activities, putting on events and lectures, 

and creating honorary services celebrating 

Chesterfield history. 

The CHLPC remained and continued as 

the city’s regulatory body over designated 

historic resources whether structures, districts, 

or archeological sites. 

Justin Wyse, director of planning, said 

the primary purpose of the CHLPC was 

to identify, nominate and place historic 

resources on the local register, and then regulate 

those designated resources through a 

certificate of appropriateness process when 

construction, alteration, removal, demolition 

and excavation is expected that would 

affect a historic resource. He said there 

are only four Chesterfield properties with 

the “Historic” designation and 10 Landmark 

Preservation Areas within the city, a 

relatively small number. At the meeting, he 

was seeking direction from F&A as to what 

role CHLPC should have moving forward. 

He recommended disbanding CHLPC and 

transferring regulatory tasks outlined in a 

She made a motion to dissolve the committee; 

council member Michael Moore 

(Ward 3) seconded the motion. 

Jane Durrell, a member of CHLCP, said 

she has been preserving history for 33 years 

and loves the organization. 

“All of us enjoy doing what we do. We do 

not want to disband but continue doing our 

projects, the preservation of structures and 

small things – tours, the (city’s historic) calendar 

... It has brought to the city a positive 

light and so much feedback. It’s an asset to 

the city. I think we’ve done an extraordinary 

job, raising awareness, the projects we have 

worked on, (all) with our own money,” Durrell 

said. “This came on us very quickly.” 

She suggested a round table discussion 

be held, with six to eight CHLPC members, 

council members and staff, to hammer out 

a workable situation. 

“We’re as qualified as, or more so, than 

anyone in the city,” Durrell said. “We will 

continue to work with you if you let us exist.” 

Geisel said the group has done invaluable 

things and that this action was not 

intended to dissolve the group, but to have 

it move forward as a 501(c)(3) entity. 

See COMMITTEE, page 18 

Always, 

the perfect gift! 

1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood, MO 63038 

passiglia@passiglia.com * 636-458-9202 

Online 

or in Store 

Winter Hours 

Mon-Sat: 10am to 5pm * Sun: 10am to 3pm 

The nursery is closed during time of inclement weather

16 I NEWS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Tickets on sale now for 35th Annual 

Progress 64 West Awards Banquet 

The Progress 64 West Awards Banquet keynote speaker will be Michael Staenberg (left); 

Marc Cox will serve as emcee. 

By KATE UPTERGROVE 

Progress 64 West will host its 35th 

Annual Excellence in Community Development 

Awards Banquet at 11 a.m. on 

Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the DoubleTree by 

Hilton Hotel, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road 

in Chesterfield. 

For nearly 35 years, the civic organization 

has participated in and promoted 

projects aimed at advancing economic 

development along the I-64 corridor in 

St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Today, 

those efforts include advocating for policy 

impacting the two-county region. 

“When responsible corporate partners 

locate within a community, residents realize 

not only an increase in job opportunities, 

but lower taxes, a higher quality education 

system, along with many other amenities that 

would not be possible without the added tax 

dollars that are returned to our communities,” 

Progress 64 West states on its website. 

“We are all champions – whether we are 

running a bank, civic leaders, healthcare 

workers, educating tomorrow’s leaders, 

building homes and commercial spaces, or 

even helping our neighbors in need. Every 

level, every operation, every tiny detail creates 

a beautiful story of life. When technicians, 

artisans, intellectuals, and craftsmen 

work together we all bring our skills to the 

table. It strengthens the region.” 

To that end, the annual banquet honors 

local leaders and corporate partners who 

live out that vision. This year those “Champions 

in Action” include: 

• Chesterfield City Administrator Mike 

Geisel, who has worked for the city since 

1988. Geisel assumed the role of city 

administrator in August 2016. 

• Chesterfield Sports Complex, represented 

by Stuart Duncan, executive 

director of the Chesterfield Sports Association 

(CSA). A project of the CSA, the 

97,000-square-foot complex features nine 

basketball courts that convert to 18 volleyball 

courts to host tournaments of every 

level and size for a range of sporting types, 

including gymnastics, martial arts and more. 

• Boone Center Inc. (BCI), represented 

by CEO Troy Compardo. BCI has, since 

1959, helped people with intellectual and 

developmental disabilities find meaningful 

employment. 

• The Brass Rail Steakhouse. Each 

Thanksgiving since 2013, the O’Fallon 

restaurant owned by Scott Ellinger has 

delivered thousands of free dinners to area 

residents in need. An army of volunteers 

steps up to pack and deliver the Thanksgiving 

feasts. The goodwill began in 2013 

when Ellinger was asked to help out with a 

backpack food program at the local school 

district. He realized that if those families 

don’t have food for the weekend, they 

certainly don’t have Thanksgiving dinner. 

That first year, he fed a little more than 100 

people. Today, it’s thousands of meals. 

Also being honored at the event will be the 

winners of the P64 Entrepreneurial Scholarship, 

which aims to support, encourage and 

foster young entrepreneurs who go to school 

and live in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, 

or St. Charles County. The scholarship 

program, now administered by the Youth- 

Bridge Community Foundation, grew out 

of the Progress 64 West scholarship named 

for one of West St. Louis County’s original 

“champions in action” – Louis S. Sachs. 

Sachs envisioned a downtown for Chesterfield 

in roughly the area where Michael 

Staenberg will, in coming years, redevelop 

Chesterfield Mall and where work continues 

on the mixed-use Wildhorse Village 

development. 

Staenberg will serve as the key note 

speaker for the awards banquet. Radio personality 

and journalist Marc Cox will serve 

as its master of ceremonies. 

Tickets are $90 per person. Tables seat 

eight and sponsorship opportunities are 

still available. To purchase tickets and 

learn more, visit progress64west.org.





I NEWS I 17 

County Council approves open carry restrictions targeted at teens 

By LAURA SAGGAR 

St. Louis County Council members (from left) Ernie Traskas, Rita 

Heard Days, Kelli Dunaway, Shalonda Webb, Mark Harder, Lisa 

Clancy, and Dennis Hancock. 

(Source: St. Louis County) 

The St. Louis County 

Council approved amendments 

to the county’s 

firearms code on Oct. 24, 

focusing on teens and open 

carry gun permits. The 

day marked the one year 

anniversary of the mass 

shooting at Central Visual 

and Performing Arts High 

in St. Louis. One student, 

Alexandria Bell, 15, and 

teacher, Jean Kuczka, 61, 

were killed and seven others were injured. 

The shooter, a 19-year-old former student, 

was fatally shot by police. Reports say that 

the shooter openly carried an AR-15 style 

rifle and 600 rounds of ammunition into 

the school. 

As the open carry law stands now, police 

are not authorized to approach someone, 

even a teenager, who is openly carrying 

a gun, for any reason unless that person 

points the gun in a threatening way or 

discharges it. The amendments to the 

county’s ordinance would make it unlawful 

for anyone 16 or younger to shoot a gun 

except while under the immediate supervision 

of the parent or guardian, or someone 

21 years or older who is designated by the 

parent or guardian to supervise the child 

while firing the gun. Additionally, those 

who do carry or display a firearm in unincorporated 

St. Louis County must be able 

to show their concealed carry endorsement 

or permit if asked to by law enforcement. 

The amendments to the firearms code, 

Bill 203, were sponsored by Council Chair 

Shalonda Webb (D-District 4) who said 

this legislation is needed in her district 

that serves the northernmost portion of St. 

Louis County. 

“We can’t wait in my community,” Webb 

said. “I’m trying to be proactive. 

We have youth carrying guns; 

police can’t even approach them. 

The police are supportive of this 

… tool. It gives them the authority 

to approach and ask to see their 

conceal and carry license.” 

Republican council members 

Mark Harder (R-District 7), 

Dennis Hancock (R-District 3) 

and Ernie Trakas (R-District 6) 

said they did not think the amendments 

would take any guns off 

the streets. They said they would 

like to take the issue to voters. 

“This will not take one gun off the street,” 

Harder said. “We already have laws on the 

books that limit kids under the age of 16 

that are not being enforced. People who 

are predisposed to break that law are going 

to break the law. I understand we want to 

make the streets safer. In my district it’s not 

a problem. Put it in front of the voters so 

they can decide for themselves what they 

think the course of action should be.” 

Harder also brought up concerns about 

possible inconsistencies in gun laws across 

the almost 100 municipalities in St. Louis 

County. County officials said municipalities 

could use the county’s ordinance as 

a template to pass their own open carry 

guidelines. 

“We can do more than one thing at a time,” 

council member Lisa Clancy (D-District 5) 

said. “We can support the police too, and 

we can (pass these amendments), and we 

can hold our state legislators accountable. 

This is a small step we can take against gun 

violence. It isn’t going to do everything, 

but it could do something. It’s the same 

tired excuses we’ve heard year after year. 

Kansas City has had this law in place since 

2016. No one has challenged it. Police support 

this bill. This is how we can support 

the police.” 

Those who voted in favor of the bill were 

Webb, Clancy, Rita Heard Days (D-District 

1) and Kelli Dunaway D-District 2).Those 

opposed were Trakas and Harder. Hancock 

abstained from voting because he said he 

felt the council wasn’t ready to vote on the 

amendments and that he felt voters should 

decide. 

“Thoughts and prayers are not helping 

anybody get through these storms,” Webb 

said. “It’s been a year to the date from the 

school shooting in St. Louis. We can’t sit 

and do nothing any longer. I have the support 

of the police and the community for a 

responsible open carry law.” 

WARM UP WITH SAVINGS 

WINDOWS • SIDING • ROOFS • ENTRY DOORS 

35% OFF WINDOWS, DOORS & SIDING 

ROOFS 

WINDOWS 

DOORS 

SIDING 

15% OFF ROOFS 

Experts In Condominiums And Apartments 

DALCO HOME REMODELING 

314-298-7300 • Showroom | 13795 St. Charles Rock Road 

www.dalcohomeremodeling.com 

All sales off suggested retail pricing. Sale ends November 30, 2023, not valid with other offers.

18 I NEWS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Council approves senior tax relief 


The St. Louis County Council approved 

bill 176, which will give senior citizens a 

rebate on their property taxes, in a 4-2 vote 

at their Oct. 17 meeting. Residents and stakeholders 

have been waiting to see whether or 

not the bill would pass. County Executive 

Dr. Sam Page had 15 days (which occurred 

after press time) to review the bill and decide 

whether to sign it into law, send it back to the 

council for changes or to veto it. 

The bill is similar to a bill sponsored by 

council member Mark Harder (R-District 7) 

that failed to pass along party lines in July. 

Council member Rita Heard Days (D-District 

1) voted in favor of the new bill, getting 

enough votes in order for it to pass. Council 

member Dennis Hancock (R-District 3) 

sponsored this new version of the bill that 

puts more restrictions on who can receive 

the tax rebate on their property taxes. 

The bill sets the minimum age of eligibility 

at 67, which is the age one must be 

to receive full social security benefits, by 

January 1 of the tax year. If signed into law, 

the rebate would begin in 2024. 

The bill also caps those eligible for the 

tax credit to those who own homes that do 

not exceed $550,000 in value. The taxpayer 

must also apply for the rebate; it will not 

automatically be given. Additionally, the 

bill sets a sunset date at five years in order 

to give the county a chance to review the 

impact of the rebate. Hancock reminded 

everyone that senior citizens still will have 

to pay property taxes, the rate will just be 

frozen from the year they turn 67. 

With these amended restrictions in 

place, there is a severance clause stating 

the amended bill language will be cut if 

found invalid in court, and the bill would 

revert to the original that does not have 

the age or home value restrictions. The 

original state legislation states the homeowner 

must be old enough to receive 

social security benefits, which could be 

interpreted to mean 62. 

While the wording of the new bill is 

more specific, the possibility of it being 

challenged in court was still too much of 

a risk for council chair Shalonda Webb 

(D-District 4) to support the bill, she said. 

During the discussion Hancock told the 

council that if any of the provisions of the 

bill were challenged in court and thrown 

out, he would submit legislation to rescind 

the bill. That was enough for Days to support 

the bill, she said. 

“We’ll see if it stands up to muster,” Days 

said. “(Council member) Hancock said if 

any of these come back he will personally 

get legislation to rescind this, so I am trusting 

his word.” 

The council members who voted in favor 

of the bill were Days, Hancock, Ernie 

Trakas (R-District 6) and Harder. Webb 

and Kelli Dunaway (D-District 2) voted 

against the bill. Lisa Clancy (D-District 5) 

was absent. St. Louis County will be the 

sixth county to pass legislation to include 

the property tax freeze for seniors. 

COMMITTEE, from page 15 

Wyse added that it could be a separate 

group, a nonprofit organization that would 

still bring value, just not under the umbrella 

of the city. 

Erin Compton, CHLCP chair, said the 

committee had just received notice of the 

potential dismantling of the committee two 

days prior and had no time to review the 

memo that was prepared by Petree Powell, 

assistant city planner. Compton suggested 

they hold off on a vote until the next meeting, 

as she believes there are inaccuracies 

in the memo. 

In the memo, Powell stated: 

“CHLPC has not shown the wherewithal 

or inclination to conduct research and nominate 

resources for designation. CHLPC 

did not have a clear understanding of the 

universe of potential historic sites ripe for 

placement on the register. 

“Moreover, CHLPC has made no effort 

to contact owners of potential designees 

despite having sufficient relevant information 

to do at least a preliminary inquiry.” 

She went on to say there has been some 

discussion that members have not felt 

qualified to approve or disapprove certificates 

of appropriateness due to their lack 

of architectural expertise and comfort level. 

“Members of CHLPC appear to be more 

interested in activities such as education, 

promotion, events, lectures and honorary 

services than the regulatory tasks in any 

event,” Powell noted in her memo. 

Compton said the group had asked for 

guidance over and over from city staff on 

various issues and that none was provided. 

McGuinness brought up a phone call that 

Compton had with a citizen from Spyglass 

Summit concerning the Old House, which 

Compton allegedly hung up on. Compton 

responded that she was told not to discuss 

certain items, which was confirmed by Wyse. 

“We don’t need to have the head of a committee 

hanging up on a citizen,” McGuinness 

retorted. 

Moore then made a motion to postpone 

the vote until the next F&A meeting in 

December to allow the committee time to 

go through the document more thoroughly. 

It was approved by a vote of 3 to 1, with 

McGuinness voting against it.

THE POWER OF PURPOSE 

M1 BANK RANKED 8TH BEST PERFORMING 

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN THE NATION, 

2022 YEAR END 

- S&P GLOBAL MARKET INTELLIGENCE 

M1 PREFERRED 

SAVINGS *** 

$5,000 AND UP 

% 

4.50APY** 

CERTIFICATE SPECIAL 

LIMITED TIME ONLY 

10 MONTH CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT* 

$1,000 MINIMUM TO OBTAIN APY 

% 

5.75APY** 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS COMING 2024 

MEMBER FDIC 

DES PERES BRANCH | 11697 Manchester Road | Des Peres, MO 63131 | 314-626-6788 

CLAYTON BRANCH | 112 S. Hanley Road, Ste. 120 | Clayton, MO 63105 | 314-721-2265 

WWW.M1.BANK 

*A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. *Rates subject to change. Rates accurate as of November 1, 2023. 

**APY = Annual Percentage Yield. ***This account is limited to six transfers per monthly statement cycle. 

***For these accounts, withdrawals made in person are unlimited. 

***Preferred Savings / Minimum Deposit to Open Account & Obtain APY is $5,000. Restricted to non-commercial accounts only.

20 I NEWS I 



It may surprise you to learn that 

“normal” aging alone does not lead 

to loss of independence and 

additional health issues. With 

normal aging you can expect a 

small decline of about 3% each 

year. Even though you will 

experience declines each year, 

they are not enough to make 

significant changes to your daily 

life. 

So what actually causes loss of 

independence and increased health 

issues as you age? Inactivity, 

illness and injury, otherwise known 

as the Triple Whammy of Aging, is 

the cause. Each of these factors 

can have a significant effect on 

your aging path. The good news is 

there are things you can do to 

better manage each. 

Over the last 18 years, I’ve worked 

with hundreds of clients who’ve 

experienced “accelerated” aging 

due to: inactivity, illness and injury. 

It’s amazing to witness their 

transformations as they slowly add 

more activity into their daily lives 

and become healthier. 

Unfortunately not enough people 

are out there sharing the true 

benefits and the importance of 

staying physically active and 

prioritizing exercise to the aging 

population. 

DEFYING TIME: YOUR 

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO 

EVERLASTING YOUTH! 

BY: DR. BETH TEMPLIN, PT, DPT, GCS 

GERIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST 

Too many people believe the 

changes they are experiencing are 

just a normal part of the aging 

process, when in reality they are 

experiencing "accelerated" aging. 

It’s why I’ve put together my Free 

Guide “How To Avoid the Triple 

Whammy of Aging”. 

Inside you'll learn: 

The difference between normal 

and accelerated aging. 

The negative impact of inactivity, 

illness and injury. 

The positive impact of physical 

activity on aging. 

How much physical activity you 

actually need. 

AND much more! 

This guide is available to you 

absolutely FREE of charge! To 

claim your copy, simply call our 

office at (314) 939-1377 or go 

online to our website at 

www.housefitstl.com/healthy-agingjourney 

to download the guide 

directly to your computer. 

This FREE Guide will allow you to 

better understand how to avoid 

accelerated aging and stay active 

and independent! 

3809 Lemay Ferry Rd. 

Saint Louis, MO 63125 

(314) 939-1377 

info@housefitstl.com 

HouseFit www.housefitstl.com 

By TRACEY BRUCE 

MERS Goodwill has opened a new 

attended donation center, Donation X-Press, 

in Ellisville. 

Located at 32 Clarkson Road, it is the first 

in a series of convenient, attended donation 

centers planned for St. Louis County that 

will handle donations to Goodwill more 

efficiently and put those resources to work. 

The 2,000-square-foot building is not a 

retail store but is solely dedicated to collecting 

donations. Its purpose is to make 

charitable giving more accessible in the St. 

Louis area. 

“By opening a new Donation X-Press, we 

not only provide a more streamlined donation 

experience but also relieve the pressure 

on some of our busier store locations,” said 

Mark Arens, president and CEO of MERS 

Goodwill. “Most importantly, this initiative 

reduces waiting times for donors while contributing 

to our mission and supporting our 

various employment and training programs.” 

Those employment and training programs 

are at the heart of MERS Goodwill 

and its purpose, said Mark Kahrs, executive 

vice president of MERS Goodwill said. 

Kahrs began working for MERS Goodwill 

more than 20 years ago in the Goodwill 

store in Manchester. 

“I guess, back then, I thought what most 

people think – that the store was there 

to provide items at a reasonable price 

for those who may need them, and that’s 

great. But it is a secondary benefit, not the 

primary role. Really, what we are doing 

is taking the money earned and putting it 

back in the community to get people jobs 

and get them back on their feet. 

“Whether they have barriers with a 

physical disability, a mental disability or 

an injury that maybe prevent them from 

getting to work or has caused them to 

change from the work they were doing, we 

work with them. We are like headhunters 

for the common man, we have a network 

of job developers that hook somebody’s 

passion and dreams into a job that fits for 

that person, and then help them to get the 

training to do that.” 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


MERS Goodwill opens new 

Donation X-Press in Ellisville 

The new Donation X-Press is located at 32 Clarkson Road. 

Goodwill is also tackling another barrier 

to succes – inadequate education. 

“There are half a million Missourians 

that have never finished high school and 

are over 21 years old. We have now opened 

our sixth high school in the state,” Kahrs 

said. “This is free high school for anyone 

over the age of 21 to come back to class. 

It’s not like getting a GED. We have professional 

teachers, retired from public or 

private schools, who want to continue in 

that kind of work, who work with adults 

who are wanting to get that education, 

whether they feel like they need that for 

forward progress in their career or a way to 

get into trade school or get into college, or 

are people who found themselves in a life 

situation and just feel like it’s important to 

them to finish because they never did.” 

“I have to say the stories that are so impactful 

are around that education piece. It’s 

watching parents go back to school because 

they have kids that are in middle school or 

high school and threatening to quit, saying, 

‘Well, you didn’t finish.’ And 

now they can take that excuse 

away from their kids. There 

are just miracles there every 

term.” 

He said achieving both the 

education and the job make 

a difference in people’s lives. 

“People that are proud 

of their accomplishments 

always achieve more,” he 

said. “There are adults who 

are working hard to do this at a different 

stage in life. I think the confidence on that 

end is so big. And on the job piece, it is the 

same thing. Going to a place and giving 

your effort and seeing the fruits of their labor 

gives people so much more confidence to 

tackle whatever else might be in their life.” 

“That’s the joy we find in doing what we 

do,” Kahrs said. 

Kahrs said that MERS Goodwill is glad 

to have the new attended donation center 

and he always looks forward to working 

with the community to provide opportunities 

for people. The center’s operating 

hours are from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., daily and 

attendants will issue tax receipts to donors. 

Donations given to the center in Ellisville 

will likely make their way to rural 

Goodwill stores where donations are fewer. 

Annually serving more than 11,000 individuals, 

MERS Goodwill, a nonprofit organization, 

operates in 46 locations serving 

93 counties in the bi-state area. 

For more information about MERS 

Goodwill or to find a Goodwill donation 

center near you, call (314) 241-3464 or 

visit mersgoodwill.org.

Mari de Villa 

SENIOR LIVING 

Serving The Families 

of St. Louis since 1960 

SENIOR LIVING 

OFFERING 

24-HOUR 

SKILLED 

NURSING 

All-Inclusive Rates • ALL Private Rooms and Suites 

And Some of the most competitive rates in St. Louis 

TOURING 7 DAYS EVERY WEEK! 

Virtual Tours of our accommodations are also available at MariDeVilla.com. 

636.227.5347 | 13900 CLAYTON ROAD, TOWN & COUNTRY, MO | WWW.MARIDEVILLA.COM 

Family Owned and Operated | Celebrating 63 Years of Service to Our Community 

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an 

affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial or national origin.

Veterans Day 

Your One Stop 

For Home Improvement – 

Anything Inside or Out! 

(636) 699-8316 

Thanks to all veterans for your service 

and immeasurable sacrifice. 

(636) 230-6900 

14932 Manchester Rd • Ballwin 

www.allsurfaceflooring.com 

This nation will remain the land of 

the free because of the bravery 

of our veterans! 

(636) 391-1117 

525 Old State Road • Ellisville 

www.aroofing.net 

Lisa Clemente 

Honoring our military & their families 

with gratitude & respect for their service. 

(636) 227-1072 

110A Holloway Road • Ballwin 

Thank you to all of our veterans. 

We appreciate your service. 

(636) 458-4323 

16290 Pierside Lane • Wildwood 

www.applehillpreschool.com 

Saluting our nation’s flag, our 

veterans and active military. 

(314) 727-8870 

www.bmwautohaus.com 

Thanks to all veterans and their families 

for your service to our country. 

Dr. Kimberly Simonds & Associates 

(636) 431-5280 

14649 Manchester Road • Ballwin 

Kathy Beaven, Broker 

Thank you all for your service! 

(636) 549-3800 

www.kathybeaven.com 

We honor all veterans 

for making our lives better. 

(636) 227-3431 


www.bethesdahealth.org 

May God bless our veterans, 

service members, their families, 

and the United States of America. 

www.BenBrownForSenate.com 

Nancy McClure, CSA, CPRS 

Nancy, Andrea and Sue would 

like to thank all veterans for 

protecting our freedom. 

(314) 471-0042 

www.carepatrol.com 

COMING SOON 

A Military and First Responder Tribute 

Dedicated to veterans, active 

military, and first responders, 

from a grateful community. 

Donate at gofundme.com 

Search Military and First Responder Tribute 

CLEAR WINDOW 

TECHNOLOGY 

We can offer veterans no better 

tribute than to protect what 

they have won for us. 

Veteran Owned & Operated. 

(636) 391-6154 • ClancysSTL.com 


Honoring our veterans today 

and every day. Thank you for 

your sacrifice. 

(314) 966-2666 

www.clearwindowtech.com 

Proud builder for the Gary Sinise 

Foundation & our local 

first responders & veterans. 

(636) 728-9477 

www.compass-stl.com 

Thank you all for your service ... and 

valor in defending our freedoms! 

(636) 530-0055 

17357 Edison Avenue • Chesterfield 

www.dreamplayrec.com

Veterans Day 

Thanks to all members of our 

military, in all branches, past and 

present, living and dead. 

(636) 227-5188 

14436 Manchester Rd • Manchester 

www.duenkecabinet.com 

We offer special savings to 

veterans & military personnel, 

and we support Folds of Honor! 

(314) 283-6510 

See our homes and communities 

at www.FandFhomes.com 

Freedom can’t be canceled. 

Thank you to all veterans and their 

families for their service and sacrifice. 

www.freedomprinciplemo.org 

freedomprinciplemo@protonmail.com 

Thank you to all our veterans 

for your courage, strength and 

dedication to keeping us safe. 

(636) 394-2992 (TTY-711) 

1 Strecker Road • Ellisville 

www.gambrillgardens.com 

JUN K HAULING 

Jeff Minnis, Owner 

Thank you for serving our country 

and protecting our freedom! 

(314) 852-8933 

www.MarkforMissouri.com 

Paid for by Citizens to Elect Mark Harder | Charles McCloskey, Treasurer 

Honoring veterans & active 

military families since 2010 

with special portrait pricing. 

(636) 273-6600 

www.higherfocus.net 

Thank you for your selfless 

service to our nation. 

(314) 312-1077 

www.honestjunk.com 

Thank you to all those who serve 

our country. 

(636) 256-7901 

14366 Manchester Rd • Manchester 

www.jeffcomputers.com 

Thank you for your sacrifice so that 

we may live free. May God bless 

you and keep you. 

www.hollyjones4mo.com 

Paid for by Holly Jones for Missouri, 

Brad Beebe - Treasurer 

Thank you, veterans, for serving 

to ensure the safety of our nation. 

(636) 317-1977 

5305 5th Street • Cottleville 

www.Joneshi.com 

Thank you to all who have served! 

Happy Veterans Day! 

www.benkeathley.com 

Paid for by Friends of Ben Keathley; Alan Keathley- Treasurer 

We salute your courage, honor & 

bravery, today, tomorrow & always 

1851 Schoettler Rd • Chesterfield 

(636) 230-1990 

6131 Mid Rivers Mall Dr • St. Peters 

(636) 397-3545 

Thanks to all veterans for serving 

and protecting our country 

and the world! 

www.votelovett.com 

Paid For By Colin Lovett for Missouri, Helena Webb, Treasurer 

Mobility & safety products – 

proudly serving our nation’s veterans. 

(314) 608-5789 

15461 Clayton Rd • Ballwin 

www.mobilityplus.com 

Saluting our nation’s symbol of 

freedom and all who have served 

our country. 

www.electphiloehlerking.com 

Paid for by The Committee to Elect Philip Oehlerking 

Charles R. Barker - Treasurer 

14343 S. Outer Forty Rd 

Suite 100N • Town & Country 

www.peoplesnationalbank.com

Veterans Day 

Holly Schremp, Realtor 

Thank you to all our veterans, 

I appreciate your service! 

(314) 920-2877 

www.hollyferris.com 

Proudly serving those who served with 

VA benefits claims & estate planning. 

(636) 394-7242 

14611 Manchester Rd • Manchester 

www.quinnestatelaw.com 

Thank you for your courage, strength 

and dedication to protecting and 

defending our country. 

(314) 239-7947 

www.87725rhino.com 

Thank you to all of our veterans! 

Without your devotion and sacrifice 

to our great nation we would not have 

the freedoms we have nor the ability 

to vote! God bless! 

www.ShaneforSOS.com 

Serving Our Community for Over 155 Year 

Thank you veterans for your service. 

(636) 227-5511 


(636) 938-3000 

108 N. Central Avenue • Eureka 

www.schrader.com 

There is no greater love than 

to be willing to sacrifice your life for 

another. Thank you to all Veterans 

who live the life of sacrifice. 

www.sparksformissouri.com 

Paid for by Sparks for Missouri, Tim Fitch Treasurer 

Thank you to all who actually 

pay the price for freedom! 

(314) 341-9676 

www. SqueakStoppers.com 

Continued on page 24 

All veterans heard the call to serve 

a very grateful nation and 

today we salute you! 

(636) 207-2386 ext. 3340| 

Ballwin • Ward 2 

mstallmann@ballwin.mo.us 

Paid for by Friends of Mark Stallmann, Karen V. Stallmann, Treasurer. 

Thank you for your service and 

dedication to our country! 

(636) 220-4860 

14401 Manchester Road 

Manchester 

Thank you for your service 

and your sacrifice. 

(636) 227-0095 

54 Clarkson Road • Ellisville 

www.timberwindsnursery.com 

Our country’s greatness is built on the 

courage and sacrifice of a veteran. 

(314) 428-7979 • Maryland Heights 

11477 Page Service Drive 

www.victorshade.com 

Thank you for defending 

liberty and freedom! 

(636) 227-8308 


www.wcvolvocars.com 

Cheryl Wambach, CRS, SRS, ASP 

God-bless all those who served to 

protect freedom and liberty. 

“On this Veteran’s Day, let us 

remember the service of our veterans, 

and let us renew our national promise 

to fulfill our sacred obligations 

to our veterans and their families 

who have sacrificed so much so that 

we can live free.” 

– Rep. Daniel Lipinski 

“The soldier, above all others, prays 

for peace, for it is the soldier who must 

suffer and bear the deepest wounds 

and scars of war.” 

– Gen. Douglas MacArthur 

“The willingness of America’s veterans 

to sacrifice for our country has earned 

them our lasting gratitude.” 

– Jeff Miller, American businessman 

C: (636) 579-1482 • O: (636) 530-4043 

17050 Baxter Road • Chesterfield 

www.cherylwambach.com 

FOR YOUR SERVICE



Former Marquette teacher shares passion for 

community service with German students 



I SCHOOLS I 25 

NEED A NEW FLOOR? 

NOW ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS OUR NAME 

German exchange students help build beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. (Kim Hotze photo) 

By JEFFRY GREENBERG 

“The future belongs to those who believe 

in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor 

Roosevelt. Kim Hotze has long lived by 

that saying. But it took a couple decades 

or so for long-time Chesterfield resident to 

realize her greatest passions and to share 

them with the world. 

Best known for being the Marquette 

High German teacher for 30 years, Hotze 

was also the school’s community service 

instructor for 10 of those years. That expertise 

helped her when she hosted Youth For 

Understanding (YFU) for a special twoweek 

project, Sept. 29 through Oct. 13. 

YFU is best known for facilitating yearlong 

study abroad programs for American 

and international students, predominately 

for high school students. However, the 

recent two-week experience was focused on 

service learning for 15 students, ages 15-17, 

from several small villages in the state of 

Thuringia. The students were accompanied 

by two adults, who served as chaperones. 

Hotze noted that Germany has an abundance 

of social programs whereas Americans 

depend on a lot of social organizations 

and volunteers. 

“What’s unique about this trip is that 

students in Germany have a two-week fall 

break. That’s when they arrived,” Hotze 

said. “They all interviewed and came over 

on German scholarships.” 

Hotze noted that this was the first time 

a YFU service-learning sabbatical was 

conducted in St. Louis. She credited West 

County resident Steven Rutherford with 

getting it started and hiring her. 

Hotze was a short-term hire to coordinate 

the event, find host families and set up a 

variety of community service projects. She 

was given a budget and worked with students 

on English lessons, fed them lunch 

every day and arranged transportation. 

“Sometimes they hire someone to do the 

English class teaching and someone else 

for the other job details,” Hotze explained. 

“I told them I’d rather do both because I 

needed to know where they were in English. 

I also gave them a variety of activities 

to see and learn because the goal is for 

kids to go back to Germany and know that, 

even as teenagers, they can promote volunteerism 

at their school and do things in 

their community to help each other.” 

Before the trip, Hotze joined Rutherford 

in recruiting local families from within 

his network. Three families hosted two 

students each for the two-week program. 

They were recruited early enough so that 

the German students could connect with 

their host families well before arrival. 

Among the places Hotze lined up for service 

work was Five Acres Animal Shelter 

in St. Charles, where the students made 

items for the animals, such as snuffle mats 

and chew toys. 

The students also conducted a cleanup 

effort at Johnson Shut-ins and Elephant 

Rocks state parks. 

And for two days, the students worked 

with the Youth Volunteer Corps organization 

at Arlington United Methodist Church in 

Bridgeton. As part of a larger outreach project 

for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, they built 

beds for kids. In two days they built 24 beds. 

“That was an amazing thing,” Hotze said. 

While she is grateful for all of the service 

learning projects, Hotze insisted on 

adding special thanks for the Schnucks at 

Clarkson and Clayton roads. Not only did 

the market act as home base for most of the 

YFU projects, the store also let the students 

its second-floor mezzanine free of charge 

as community space. 

All involved deemed the sabbatical a 

success that, if the funding can be secured, 

is likely to be repeated next fall. Until then, 

Hotze has travel plans of her own. 

“I’ve already traveled a bunch, but want 

to do more,” she said. “Three of my four 

kids live way out of town. In September, 

I rented a car and went to Montana by 

myself for two weeks and just explored all 

around without any plans. There’s so much 

out there and I love experiencing everything 

in life. I had always been that way, 

but my studies in Denmark really brought 

that back out in me. I love travel, cultures, 

languages and exploring the world because 

it really wets my whistle!” 

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE BREWERS 

SINCE 1982 

Where Quality Flooring is Sold for Less! 

•CARPET 

• CERAMIC 

• HARDWOOD 

•LAMINATE 

• VINYL 

•LUXURY 

VINYL TILES 

We 

We do it all 

and 

do it right 

12 

MONTHS 

FINANCING 

AVAILABLE 

(WAC) 

• PRICE 

• GREAT SELECTION 

• EXCELLENT SERVICE 

• EXPERT INSTALLATION 

•ACCREDITED 

BBB BUSINESS 

6 Meramec Valley Plaza 

Valley Park, MO 

(Hwy 141 & Marshall Rd. • Across from Carol House Furniture) 

(636) 225-8350 

HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 9:30AM-5PM 

SATURDAY 9:30AM-2PM 

CLOSED SUNDAY

26 I SCHOOLS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


The Merchants of 

Chesterfield Grove 

Market 

Mary Tuttle’s ~ Chesterfield Jewelers 

Amelia’s Fine Linens ~ F45 

Invite you to our annual 

Holiday Open House 

Saturday, November 11 | 12 - 4 pm 

Meet Santa 12-4 pm 

Meet Jingles 

the Reindeer 12-4 pm 

Refreshments 

Bring a non-perishable food item or donation and 

receive 20% off one item at participating retailers 

as well as be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing. 

Some exclusions apply, see store for details. 

17021 Baxter Road Chesterfield 63005 

636.728.0480 www.marytuttles.com 

Parkway Central High students wait for their “buddies” from other schools 

attending the Special Olympics soccer tournament on Oct. 23. (Source: PSD) 

BULLETIN 

BOARD 

Students’ work exhibited in 

statewide book trailer contest 

The work of LaSalle Springs Middle students 

Hailey Davenport and David McAdams 

is available to a statewide audience of 

book lovers after the two students won a 

Missouri Association of School Librarians 

(MASL) book trailer contest. Book trailers 

provide an engaging 30 to 90 second video 

about a book to engage potential readers. 

Hailey, a LaSalle Springs seventh-grader, 

is one of 10 students from around the state 

whose work was chosen to feature Mark 

Twain Award books. David, who moved 

overseas with his family before the school 

year, is one of 12 students chosen to promote 

Truman Award books. Both students 

completed their projects as sixth-graders 

last year when LaSalle Springs librarian 

Leslie Thompson invited interested student 

volunteers to work on their book trailers 

during Academic Lab time. Students read 

the books, watched the previous year’s 

winning book trailers for inspiration and 

worked with instructional technology specialist 

Dana Stiebel to learn the basics about 

the WeVideo production platform. After 

that, the students ran with their projects. 

“Every month, I send out book trailers to 

language arts teachers to share with their 

students, and it’s funny because those are 

the books that kids come in and ask for. 

With AcLab expanded to five days a 

week this year, Thompson is hoping to 

increase her students’ interest in entering 

MASL contests. 

Soccer and service bring 

Parkway students together 

Parkway Central High hosted its 6th 

annual school-wide Day of Service and Special 

Olympics event, a soccer tournament, on 

Oct. 23. On the Day of Service, all four grade 

levels participated: seniors and juniors hosted 

the Special Olympics soccer tournament 

and carnival for over 300 visiting studentathletes; 

sophomores volunteered at various 

off-site locations within the broader community; 

and freshmen participated in on campus 

service learning activities with multiple nonprofit 

organizations from the area. 

The sophomore class performed different 

service projects in the community, 

said Sarah Reeves, math instructor and 

Student Council sponsor. Some of the 

Academic Labs helped at the Parkway 

Food Pantry or beautified the campus at 

Central Middle. Classes also traveled 

to elementary feeder schools to read to 

and mentor first grade classes for the 

day. Some students traveled to Beaumont 

Scout Reservation and Ebsworth Park 

to clean, pull honeysuckle, and beautify 

different areas of the park. Other non 

profit organizations students worked with 

included Mission: St. Louis to help shop 

for teenagers in its Affordable Christmas 

program and KidSmart to prepare school 

supply packs for local children. 

For over 30 years, Central High has hosted 

a Special Olympics soccer tournament and 

carnival, which had grown to one of the largest 

Special Olympics events in the area, said 

Head Principal Tim McCarthy. Annually, 

hundreds of Central High students volunteered 

during the school day to support that 

event. Prior to 2016, Parkway added caring 

to the district’s mission. With that, student 

and teacher leaders at PCH took the opportunity 

to extend the opportunity to be of service 

from many students to all students, 

“Last Monday, all 1,200-plus Central High 

students were able to experience more deeply 

what it means to be of service, to care more 

deeply about others and their broader community,” 

McCarthy said. “In addition to our 

students being capable, curious and confident 

learners, we also want them to be caring 

human beings. Central High’s school-wide





I SCHOOLS I 27 

Day of Service is an opportunity for all of us, 

students and staff, to live that ideal.” 

 

 

 

with an education. 

 

 

Meet Valley Park High’s new 

student advisory team 

Valley Park High School has a new student 

leadership group – the Student Advisory 

Team (SAT). The SAT will represent 

their peers and convey their thoughts on 

issues to the Valley Park School District’s 

Board of Education, the superintendent, 

and building leaders. Students’ new roles 

will help develop critical thinking, problem 

solving, leadership and communication 

skills as well as encourage student engagement, 

advocacy and civic engagement, 

said Superintendent Tim Dilg. 

Students recently applied, interviewed 

and were chosen to be a part of the inaugural 

SAT. They were sworn in at the October 

Board of Education meeting. The team 

has eight members that represent all four 

grades at the high school. 

The group will also have certain tasks 

that include regular monthly meetings 

with administration, a representative each 

month who will sit with board members at 

open meetings of the board of education 

and a monthly podcast with the superintendent 

celebrating district (student) achievements, 

interviewing students and staff and 

updating the community about district programming 

and events. 

“The benefits to our students when introducing 

a program like this are public recognition 

at district-level events, resume 

building and building a connection with the 

administration, the board of education and 

our community. It strengthens communication 

and leadership skills, improves interpersonal 

skills, increases civic engagement 

and provides a student voice in decision 

making,” Dilg said. 

Operation Christmas Child 

provides shoeboxes of hope 

As families begin preparing for the holiday 

season, Samaritan’s Purse is asking 

that they not forget those who have so 

little that even a shoebox can hold a happy 

Christmas. 

Operation Christmas Child, now in its 

30th year, has delivered more than 209 

million gift-filled shoeboxes to children 

in more than 170 countries and territories 

in the last three decades. This year they 

hope to collect enough shoeboxes to reach 

another 11 million children. 

Inside those boxes though, aren’t just 

fun toys and personal care items, but tools 

to make a better life, pencils, crayons and 

notebooks which help provide children 

“Families in your neighborhood are 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 

 

YOUR 

 

WINTER SERVICE NOW! 

Visit SNPartners.com/service to schedule now for FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY.* 

Valid on Mowers, Gators, 1-5 Series Compact Tractors 

Valley Park High’s SAT members with Superintendent Tim Dilg 

(Source: VPSD) 

already transforming empty shoeboxes 

into gifts of hope …” said Lizette Miller of 

Samaritan’s Purse. “Operation Christmas 

Child will deliver the gift-filled shoeboxes 

to children to boys and girls in need.” 

Filling the boxes personally can become 

a Christmas tradition for families, churches 

and civic groups. Boxes also can be filled 

online with gifts matched to a child’s specific 

age and gender. Then finish packing the virtual 

shoebox by adding a photo and personal 

note of encouragement. Another option is to 

make a $10 donation for each box you would 

like to send online and receive a tracking 

label to discover its destination. 

“Operation Christmas Child seeks to demonstrate 

God’s love in a tangible way to children 

in need around the world, and together 

with the local church worldwide, share the 

Good News of Jesus Christ,” Miller said. 

National Collection Week is Nov. 13-20. 

The following local churches are collection 

points for shoeboxes: Central Baptist 

in Eureka, First Evengelical Free Church 

in Manchester, Fellowship of Wildwood in 

Glencoe, Parkway Baptist Church in Creve 

Coeur and West Hills Church in Town & 

Country. 

For more information about the program 

visit the Samaritan’s Purse website 

or Google Samaritan’s Purse Operation 

Christmas Child. 

Prescription glasses starting at $95, 

plus sunglasses and contacts, too 

NOW OPEN AT TOWN & COUNTRY CROSSING 

Offer valid on John Deere 1-5 Series Compact Utility Tractors, Mowers and Gators. 

Free pickup and delivery within 30 miles of an SNPartners location and must be scheduled by 12/30/23. 

 

Some exclusions apply. See dealer for details 

 

 

ST. 

CHARLES, MO 

DUTZOW, MO 

3575 Veterans 

Memorial Pkwy | 636-493-0288 14400 State Highway TT | 636-433-2256 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNPartners.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYDENSTRICKER 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOBBE

28 I SPORTS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Stay Strong, 

Stay Well 

Reserve your flu shot today. 

8 convenient locations: 

Arnold, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, 

Des Peres, Ellisville, Fenton, 

Ladue and O'Fallon. 

stlukes-stl.com/urgent-care 

314-205-6200 

LEARN MORE 

7-0135 

09/2023 

Westminster Christian Academy is the new Class 3 District 1 women’s golf champions. 

SPORTS 

BRIEFS 

By WARREN MAYES 

High school tennis 

St. Joseph’s Academy now has 14 state 

doubles champions. 

Juniors Ali Kenney and Ashely Behan 

won the Class 3 doubles championship held 

at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. 

They defeated the John Burroughs duo 

of Allie Wayne and Eva Kasal 6-2, 7-5. 

Kenney and Behan beat Pembroke Hill’s 

Helen Hendricks and Tatum Smith 6-4, 4-6, 

10-6 in the semifinals. 

“The Pembroke girls were very active 

at the net, so our girls wisely used lots of 

effective lobs to neutralize their poaching 

efforts,” Coach Doug Smith said. 

The win set up a championship match 

against Wayne and Kasal. Kenny and 

Behan defeated the Burroughs pair 6-1, 3-6, 

10-0 in the District 2 championship final. 

The Angels needed just two sets in the 

state final. Unfortunately, Smith missed the 

team’s match due to pneumonia. 

Both girls will be back for their senior 

season but Smith said it was too early to tell 

if they would be paired next fall. However, 

their leadership will be called on once more. 

“With no seniors on this year’s squad, 

Ali and Ashley were appointed captains 

as juniors, and they performed their duties 

very well,” Smith said. “I know they will 

continue to demonstrate the same leadership 

to anchor the Angels’ next editions.” 

High school softball 

Parkway West captured its first district 

softball championship since 1997 with 

a thrilling 6-5 win over the Westminster 

Christian Academy Wildcats. 

The Longhorns were the top seed in the 

Class 4 District 3 tourney. 

Sophomore Elena Potsou hit a two-out 

bases-loaded double in the bottom of the 

seventh inning to lift the Longhorns to the 

victory. It capped a four-run inning. 

St. Joseph’s Academy juniors Ali Kenney 

and Ashely Behan 

(Photo provided) 

(Photo provided) 

Longhorns coach Andrew Jett was not 

surprised Potsou delivered in the clutch. 

“She’s made huge strides since her freshman 

year,” Jett said. “We’re confident with 

her at the plate. There’s no moment too 

big for her. She has ice water in her veins. 

Once it happened, I let out a huge sigh of 

relief that we won.” 

The Wildcats grabbed a 5-0 lead in the 

first inning but did not score after that. 

“We battled and battled,” Jett said. “The 

girls never let down. They never stopped. 

They’ve been in these moments before 

but I don’t know if it was five runs. They 

know we can score runs. We talked about 

that first inning. We let them know that five 

runs is not insurmountable.” 

The Longhorns improved to 21-9. 

Westminster, which reached the state 

semifinals last season, saw its 15-game 

winning streak come to a disappointing 

halt. The Wildcats finished 24-5. 

“This was a really good softball game,” 

Westminster coach Dan Petke said. “It had 

two really good teams battling and it came 

down to the last out. We competed. It just 

didn’t go our way in the end.” 

High school golf 

Two schools – St. Joseph’s Academy and 

Westminster Christian Academy – won district 

golf tournaments. 

The St. Joseph’s Academy Angels won 

the Class 4 District 1 tournament held at 

Westborough Country Club in St. Louis. It 

was the ninth consecutive district team title 

for the Angels, who have also won seven 

successive state championships. 

The Angels shot a team total 323 to win 

first place by seven strokes. There were 15 

teams and 71 girls competing in the tournament. 

Senior Catherine Cronin and sophomore 

Maggie Drozda each shot an 80 for the 

Angels carded a 9-over 80 to tie for sixth 

place. Senior Isabella Buckley came in 

eighth with an 81. Junior KC Lenox finished 

with an 82 to come in ninth. Freshman 

Tess Guigon was 12th with an 88. 

Lafayette junior Addie Surber tied for 

second place in the Class 4 District 1 tournament 

with a 75. She also was second last fall 

in the district. Surber wrapped up her regular 

season by being the medalist in the Suburban 

Conference Yellow Pool championship. She 

took first by three strokes with a 1-over-par 

73 at Crescent Farms Golf Course. 

• • • 

Westminster Christian Academy captured 

the Class 3 District 1 tournament 

played at Crescent Farms Golf Club in 

Eureka. There were 15 teams and 71 girls 

competing in the tournament. 

Westminster finished with a team score 

of 342, good for an eight-stroke win over 

Summit. The state moved Westminster up 

to Class 3 this season after a second-place 

finish in Class 2 at state last year. 

Sophomore Caroline Domyan led the 

Wildcats with a fifth-place finish with an 

82. Junior Maryn Hill ended with an 84 

to finish tied for sixth. Sophie Nall and 

Kelsey Muschick each tied for 16th with 

scores of 88. Anna Drochelman tied for 

34th with a 102. 

Parkway West senior Kyle Secrest was 

the medalist in the tournament. She shot 

a 1-over 73 to win the district title and be 

able to return to the state tournament for a 

fourth time. 

Secrest finished fourth at state as a junior. 

As a sophomore, she scored an eighth-place 

result. As a freshman, she came in 27th. 

MICDS junior Morgan Withington finished 

second in the Class 3 District 2 girls 

golf tournament at The Golf Club of Wentzville. 

She fired a 2-under-par 69. That was one 

shot behind Hannibal’s Siena Minor in the 

tournament.



By WARREN MAYES 

Parkway North seniors Yvonne Shannon 

and Emily Koo scored an ace for the 

Vikings tennis program. 

The duo won the Class 2 doubles championship 

in the Missouri individual state 

tournament that was played at Cooper 

Tennis Complex in Springfield. They 

scored a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Villa Duchesne 

sisters Alex and Katie Todorovich. 

“I didn’t know we were the first team to 

win a state tennis title until we won, but 

knowing this fact made the victory feel so 

much better,” Koo said. “It makes me feel 

like I have a legacy that I’ve left for the 

tennis team and it makes me happy that 

Yvonne and I could end our final season so 

amazingly.” 

Shannon agreed. 

“I’m glad we could leave a mark at 

North,” she said. “Hopefully this will bring 

more attention to North and encourage 

other students to play tennis. Everyone 

was really excited and proud of us.” 

That includes Vikings coach Ron Lefcourt. 

“Both myself and my assistant coach, 

Isaac Pearlstone, were ecstatic,” Lecourt 

said. 

Shannon reached state in singles as a 

sophomore and junior after she moved 

to West County from Georgia, where she 

went to school as a freshman. She picked 

up medals in singles in both years, came in 

seventh as a sophomore and finished fourth 

as a junior. 

The girls have been playing together for 

three years with a record of 65-6. 

During the regular season, they went 

27-3 in doubles. In singles, Shannon went 



12-2 and Koo finished 11-1. 

“I happen to enjoy doubles more than I 

do singles and I also was tired of being the 

only one to go to state,” Shannon said. “I 

knew immediately after the second year 

of playing singles at state that I wanted 

to play doubles and to share my win with 

Emy. She’s not only a great doubles partner 

but also one of my greatest friends.” 

While Koo said she loves playing doubles 

with Shannon, singles has always 

been her favorite game. 

Shannon was confident about their ability 

to win a state championship. 

Both girls credited their chemistry as 

friends and teammates in helping to secure 

their win. But their talent cannot be denied. 

“We’re both very talented players with 

complementing skills,” Koo said. “My 

backhand stroke is my strongest and her 

forehand is her strongest stroke, so we’re 

able to cover both sides of the court very 

well. We also make sure to keep up good 

mentality by tapping racquets in between 

points and communicate what our strategy 

is for each point.” 

To get to state, they had to get through 

the district tournament. The Vikings earned 

a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Ladue’s Grace Qian 

and Nephthys Protho in the semifinals. 

Shannon and Koo defeated the Todorovich 

I SPORTS I 29 

Parkway North’s Shannon, Koo make school history with state doubles title 

Parkway North seniors Yvonne Shannon 

and Emily Koo at the Class 2 state doubles 

championship in Springfield. (Photo provided) 

sisters 2-6, 6-1, 10-5 to claim the district 

championship. 

In the state semifinals, the North tandem 

beat Glendale’s Chloe Stenger and Ann 

Beatty 7-6, 6-0. 

“Personally I think this match was 

tougher than the finals,” Shannon said. “I 

could tell how badly they wanted to win 

and they had a consistent level of confidence 

within the entire match.” 

Koo agreed. 

“Our match with Glendale was definitely 

difficult,” Shannon said. “Our opponents 

were solid players and rarely made errors. 

The wind played a huge part in this match 

because it was blowing at around 20 mph. 

This caused us to lose a lot of points due to 

unforced errors, but we were also able to 

use it to our advantage in the second set by 

hitting shots that were higher and deeper.” 

Their win meant a rematch with the 

Todorovich sisters for the state title. 

“Going into this I was a little nervous, 

even though we had previously beaten 

them,” Shannon said. “Anything could 

happen in our match, so I had to go into 

this match thinking everything is brand 

new and not to underestimate them.” 

Shannon will play in college at Missouri 

Baptist. Koo has not decided on what she 

will do yet.

30 I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


N O V 

2 

T H R U 

N O V 

5 

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE 

20% OFF 

NOVEMBER 2 nd - 5 th 

RECEIVE 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE* 

JOIN US 

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE 

*Discount excludes all Mackenzie-Child’s, previous purchases, markdowns, 

gift certificates, shipping fees and design fees. 

JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS 

Friends & Family Open House 

November 24 th - 26 th 

Mondays & Mimosas 

9 AM November 27 th 

THE DISTRICT, from page 10 

GIVING BACK 

The Folkstone concert on Oct. 17 

was one of the ways that The District, 

and more specifically TSG, seeks to 

do good in the world. The happy-hour 

event raised $60,000 for the purchase 

of a Life Support Ambulance for the 

Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency 

medical service. 

Staenberg noted that The Factory 

gives $300 from each concert’s ticket 

sales to smaller nonprofits for which 

a smaller donation can do a great deal 

of good. 

“I remember we gave $700 to a 

food pantry in North St. Louis and 

they could serve an extra 1,000 

people a year because they could buy 

a (restaurant-grade) cooler,” Staenberg 

said. “We just try to help people. 

Each of us have three Ts to share: 

time, talent and treasure. What can 

you do to make a difference.” 

is here in their Mizzou attire. 

“We send out an email to over 7,000 

people every two weeks letting them 

know what games will be shown on the 

big screen. To sign up, people just need to 

enter their email on The Hub STL webpage 

(thedistrictstl.com/the-hub).” 

In the spring, we’re going to be looking 

to area high schools so that they can have 

their show choir performances on The Hub 

STL stage,” Petrowsky said. “Maybe we’ll 

have yoga on the green or performance 

during the day. Like today, we have teachers 

from the Francis Howell School District 

using the green for a team-bounding 

cornhole competition.” 

As cooler and even colder weather moves 

in, both Staenberg and Petrowsky think the 

popularity of the green will continue. 

“Oh absolutely,” Staenberg said. “We’re 

going to have heaters out there and we 

have fire pits as does 4 Hands.” 

For guests who aren’t fans of the cold, 

a new indoor venue for fun is getting 

ready to open between The Hub and The 

Factory. On Nov. 3, Game Show Battle 

Rooms come to town. A new concept for 

St. Louis, it’s already popular in Kansas 

City. 

“It’s going to be the coolest thing,” 

Petrowsky predicts. “They’re games shows 

like the branded ones you see on TV, but 

it’s your family and friends, or corporate 

partners who are the contestants.” 

The choice of game show category is 

up to the group but must be decided in 

advance when tickets are purchased. The 

available categories are Classic Showdowns 

and Prime Time Showdowns. Both 

feature hosts who lead the experience as if 

the games were live television. 

Classic Showdowns include Survey Battles, 

a friendly feud of the top four survey 

answers; Spin and Solve, in which contestants 

spin the wheel and solve the phrase; 

and What’s that Cost, which features name 

that price games and The Drop. Primetime 

Showdowns include Survey Battles 

along with MatchUp Wars, in which contestants 

predict their teammates’ answers, 

and Time Rush Games that consist of 

60-second skill challenges. The battles are 

booked in 1-hour increments. Tickets are 

$35 per person. 

“What we’re trying to do is create an 

environment for the entire community,” 

Staenberg said. 

That concept means that businesses 

within The District are meant to be unique or 

uniquely local. It also means that the spaces 

yet to be filled will feature a variety that 

includes select retail and even office uses. 

Currently, The District features The Reverie 

event space; Performance Pilates; LIT 

cigar lounge; Phoenix Salon Suites, Arch 

Nemesis Brewing; The Gallery, which features 

artwork curated by Staenberg; House 

of Pain Gym; and the Main Event, which 

has games for all ages including bowling, 

escape rooms, indoor mini golf, virtual 

reality, laser tag and more. 

“What we’re really trying to do is have 

the demand filled by the people coming out 

here,” Staenberg said. 

Santa at Three French Hens 

December 3 rd from 2 to 4 PM 

THREE FRENCH HENS 

TIMELESS FURNISHINGS & INSPIRED DESIGNS FOR THE HOME 

16935 MANCHESTER RD WILDWOOD, MO. 63040 

PHONE: 636.458.8033 MON-SAT 10A - 5P & SUN 12P - 4P 

WWW.THREEFRENCHHENSWILDWOOD.COM 

THREE FRENCH HENS - WILDWOOD 

TFHSTL 

(The District/Jenn Carter photos above and on cover)





I 31 

Tell Their Story ... Remember Their Life 

#1 LOCAL CASH HOME BUYER IN ST LOUIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS 

WE BUY 

HOUSES 

AS IS 

FREE In-Home 

Consultation 

ANY PROPERTY • ANY REASON 

And always “As Is” 

No costs • No Fees • No commissions 

No inspection hassles • Highest cash offers 

100% Contingent FREE offers 

Mike Robinson 

314.283.0867 

Robang Properties, LLC 

P.O. Box 410486 • St. Louis , MO 63141 

www.RobangProperties.com 

We take 

great pride in 

custom designing 

a monument for 

your family as an 

everlasting tribute 

to your heritage. 

Mention 

this ad and 

receive 10% off 

the purchase 

of a new 

memorial. 

Expires 12/30/23 

Cemetery Memorials & Lettering | Custom Hand Etchings 

Vases | Ceramic Photos | Address Boulders 

Decorative Landscaping Stones | Granite Gravel | And More 

905 N. Truman Blvd | Crystal City, Missouri 

OFFICE: 636-931-4948 

www.twincitymonument.com 

You! 

WE’RE HERE FOR You! 

Turn to 

West Newsmagazine 

for content produced especially 

with older adults in mind. 

In the first issue of every month, count on 

Mature Focus to keep you in the know on 

timely topics related to aging well; plus a brief 

calendar of classes, screenings and more. 

In the second issue of the month, you’ll find 

Community Events for Older Adults. It’s 

chock full of classes, fitness and 

sports activities, social engagements 

and special interest opportunities presented 

by the cities of Ballwin, Chesterfield, 

Ellisville, Manchester and Wildwood. 

Twice a year we bring you 

Serving Our Seniors, a special advertising 

section that allows you to learn more about 

and connect with local businesses that might 

have just what you’re looking for. 

WE’RE PROUD TO BE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.

32 I 



By JEFFRY GREENBERG 

Life’s fortunes can turn on a 

dime. But the battle 72-year-old 

Jim Indelicato has been dealing 

with for more than 13 years far 

exceeds what anyone should face 

in an entire lifetime. 

The Mercy High graduate spent 

40 years in the military with 3 1/2 

years active duty for the Air Force 

with the balance in the Missouri 

Air National Guard in St. Louis. 

His main job was aircraft maintenance. 

But in those last several 

years, Jim’s commander also put 

him in charge of physical fitness. 

The choice makes sense as Jim is 

a 32-time marathoner, doing two a 

year, every year for 16 years. One 

was run in St. Louis and the other 

for the Air National Guard in Lincoln, 

Nebraska. Each guard unit 

competed against the other to promote 

physical fitness. Jim always 

kept himself in shape. 

Then, just 11 months and 2 weeks 

into retirement disaster struck on Sept. 16, 

2010. He suddenly felt very ill while driving 

to Lowe’s to get supplies to do a house 

rehab with his son, Jimmy. 

“Jim got really dizzy, pulled over on the 

side of the road and started throwing up,” 

said Diane, his wife of 52 years. 

“He started to turn around and come 

back home but got even worse. So, 

he stopped and threw the car in 

park. Our daughter, Jody, who is a 

nurse came to where he was, called 

an ambulance and they went to the 

closest hospital. 

“She called me and said, ‘Dad 

is sick. You need to come to the 

hospital.’ I didn’t think there was 

any reason to hurry because the 

man is rarely sick and so healthy. 

Jody thought it was a stroke or 

heart attack. He looked at Jody and 

said, ‘Why can’t I remember how 

to swallow?’” 

Diane said they couldn’t determine 

if it was a stroke because 

Jim’s blood pressure has always 

been good and he has had no heart 

or cholesterol issues. 

A second surgery revealed the 

culprit: a small clot in his brain 

stem that was interfering with his 

brain’s ability to tell his heart to 

beat and his lungs to breathe. Diane 

said Jim was at one hospital for six weeks 

where he was intubated and extubated four 

times before undergoing a tracheotomy. He 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


For one veteran, his greatest battle came in the form of a stroke 

Jim Indelicato works on his stroke recovery at Logan’s 

Montgomery Health Center. (Photo courtesy of Diane Indelicato) 

Jewelry 

Buying Event 

Get Paid Cash FOR GOLD, SILVER, DIAMONDS, 

COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES & COINS 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 • 11 am to 4 pm 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 • 11 am to 4 pm 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 • 11 am to 4 pm 

We also buy antiques, artwork, 

paintings, swords, china, crystal 

and other collectibles & rarities. 

If you would prefer 

a private or in-home 

appointment, 

call 314-691-2888 

west county mall 

LOWER LEVEL NEAR JCPENNEY 

HOLIDAY 

636-778-1400 

@TheFoyerHomeDecor 

was then sent to another hospital for two 

weeks. 

There, he was told that he would “be 

lucky to even eat pureed food.” 

“So, I went home with a feeding tube and 

a ventilator,” Jim said. 

Next, Diane and Jim went to The Rehab 

Institute of St. Louis (TRISL), an affiliation 

of BJC HealthCare and Encompass 

Health, where he received intense therapy 

for seven hours three times a week. 

“The therapist there was a godsend. She 

kept working with him on swallowing. I 

kept hoping but didn’t think he would be 

able to,” Diane confided. “But she helped 

him do so around February 2011.” 

That’s when the Indelicatos told a pulmonologist 

they wanted Jim’s tracheotomy 

tube removed. 

“He looked at us like we were crazy, but 

they tested Jim and took it out,” Diane said. 

“A few months later, he went to a bi-pap 

machine to help open his lungs. He’s still 

on that for sleeping.” 

The TRISL visits lasted two years. When 

nothing more could be done there, the 

couple headed to Paraquad in the city of St. 

Louis three times a week. 

See INDELICATO, next page 

Open House 

Join us 

NOVEMBER 

3 rd -5 th 

20% 

OFF 

ENTIRE STORE 

During Open House Only. 

Join us for Discounts, 

Giveaways and Snacks 

HOURS: 

Monday - Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm 

Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm 

1649 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield (Same plaza as Trader Joe’s) | thefoyerhomedecor.com



INDELICATO, from previous 

“It’s an amazing facility where he made 

many friends and received great physical 

therapy,” Diane said. “They started helping 

him walk with a walker. But I always 

had to hold his gait belt (to keep him 

steady). Then, Logan started a program 

there – the Stephen A. Orthwein Paraquad 

Center. For Jim, the center wasn’t about 

getting chiropractic care, but rather giving 

him back balance and just making him 

stronger because the most important thing 

to Jim was being able to walk again and 

then someday run.” 

Jim exceeded expectations and began 

going to Logan’s Montgomery Health 

Center facility in Chesterfield three days a 

week to continue his road to full recovery. 

after a stroke. 

“It takes a long time to recover from a 

stroke,” Diane said. “Doctors or professionals 

used to think if you weren’t better 

in six months or at most two years, that 

would be it. But Jim’s a living example 

that if you put in the work, you can change 

that. 

From the very outset, Jim was told he’d 

probably never eat again, but he proved 

them wrong. His speech therapist who 

helped get his swallow back, finally said, 

‘Jim, you eat anything you want,’ according 

to Diane. 

Even a pandemic could not stop his 

progress. Throughout it, he exercised at 

home. Even with left-side ataxia, Jim 

lifts weights and sometimes pushes himself 

to do not only two-minute planks but 

MEN’S 

SHOP SELIGASHOES.COM 

WOMEN’S STYLES 



I 33 

SHOP NEW STYLES! 

10% OFF 

ONE FULL PRICE ITEM 

NOV. 1 - 15, 2023 

With this ad. In-store only. 

Exclusions apply. 

HOURS: 

Monday-Saturday 

9am - 6pm 

Closed Sunday 

2530 Brentwood Blvd. 

314-961-0110 

Family Owned and Operated Since 1920 

“It takes a long time to recover from a stroke. 

Jim’s a living example that if you put in the 

work, you can change (your fate).” 

“We love the Logan people from the 

front desk to the students and clinicians,” 

Diane said. “We’ve been going so long 

that they treat him like a rock star. He does 

everything they want him to do and more! 

His old clinicians used to say, ‘Jim, on a 

scale from 1-10, where are you at regarding 

tiredness or whatever?’ He would say, 

‘An 8.’ I would look at him and say, ‘You 

know very well that’s a 12!’ He just works 

so hard toward his dream to walk with his 

cane. The students who are working with 

him right now are angels.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a twoyear 

hiatus in Jim’s journey but when he 

was able to return to Logan, he started on 

a walker with wheels and without Diane 

holding his gait belt. 

“Now, they’re helping him walk with a 

cane. Sometimes, it’s scary to watch as I’m 

afraid he’ll fall,” Diane said, “but his balance 

has really improved. It used to be that 

he always wanted to run. Now, his dream is 

he just wants to walk!” 

Diane said the atmosphere at Logan is 

very much about sharing everyone’s best 

ideas. The clinicians give students ideas 

and the students give clinicians ideas, she 

said. 

A perfect example, Diane said, is Allie 

Foddrill, who is currently working with 

Jim. She noticed that he primarily loses 

his balance when turning in the hall with 

his cane. So, she took the time to read up 

on strokes, then called a physical therapist 

to ask how to teach someone to turn 

– Diane Indelicato 

10-minute ones. 

His next goal is to totally regain balance 

and walk with a cane without any assistance. 

“He’s the second oldest of eight kids, 

was military for so long and was so driven 

that this personality has saved his life,” 

Dinae said. “He wouldn’t have made it 

in the hospital that long if he hadn’t been 

that strong. 

“Jim’s amazing and can do anything. 

If he doesn’t understand something, he 

reads, then he does. He can fix cars and 

build garages and beautiful wrap-around 

decks.” 

Diane said his siblings still call on him 

when they don’t know how to do things. 

The only problem now is that he can’t do 

those things himself. 

“It’s all in his brain,” she said. “He can 

tell them what to do, but his left-sided 

ataxia prevents him from building.” 

In addition to Jody and Jimmy, the 

Indelicatos have another daughter, Joy. 

They also have seven grandchildren. Diane 

added that their children and grandchildren 

have all been their saving grace. 

Logan offers three clinics, including 

Montgomery Health Center in Chesterfield 

and Logan Chiropractic Health in St. 

Peters. Each offers a variety of chiropractic 

services plus Dexa scans that measure 

bone density and body composition, sports 

rehab and skeletal services. Anyone can 

make Logan appointments for a variety of 

services at loganhealthcenters.com. 

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES THAT 

HIGH TECH DENTISTRY HAS TO OFFER 

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES THAT 

HIGH TECH DENTISTRY HAS TO OFFER 

CROWNS ON YOUR 

FIRST VISIT - 

NO NEED FOR 

TEMPORARY 

DIGITAL 

CROWNS 

IMPRESSIONS 

ARE MORE COMFORTABLE 

SAME DAY DENTISTRY 

SEE YOUR 

NEW SMILE 

HERE! 

SmileView TM 

Scan this code 

to see a preview 

of your teeth 

straightened 

by Invisalign 

SEE YOUR NEW 

SMILE HERE! 

SmileView TM 

Scan this code to see 

a preview of your teeth 

straightened by Invisalign 

DIGITAL 

IMPRESSIONS 

ARE MORE 

COMFORTABLE 

IMPLANTS ARE 

INCREDIBLY 

VERSATILE! 

STABILIZE LOOSE 

DENTURES OR 

REPLACE ALL 

TEETH IN ONE DAY! 

OUR INVISALIGN 

CAN STRAIGHTEN 

TEETH IN 4 MONTHS 

INSTEAD OF 

2 YEARS 

Voted one of 

St. Louis' 

"Top Dentists" 

2023 - St. Louis Magazine 

$50 OFF 

Voted one of St. Louis' 

"Top Dentists" 2021 

- St. Louis Magazine 

Treatment 

$50 OFF 

FREE Implant 

Consultation 

Treatment 

FREE Invisalign 

Consultation 

FREE Implant 

Consultation 

FREE Invisalign 

Consultation 

IMPLANTS ARE INCREDIBLY VERSATILE! 

STABILIZE LOOSE DENTURES OR REPLACE ALL TEETH IN ONE DAY! 

OUR INVISALIGN CAN 

STRAIGHTEN TEETH IN 

4 MONTHS INSTEAD 

OF 2 YEARS 

14560 Manchester Rd. Suite 25 

(Conveniently located in Winchester Plaza by St. Louis Bread Co.) 

Please visit our website: 428 www.ClineDentalGroup.com Old State Road • Ellisville, or MO call 63021 us at 636-230-8081 

Please visit our website: www.ClineDentalGroup.com or call us at 636-230-8081

_______________ Corporate Fax: 972-509-1603 

HALF PAGE 

FAV1117VR07S 

34 I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I 

Celebrating 

45 Years! 

Give the Gift of Good Taste 

This Holiday Season, 

A Gift Card from Favazza’s 

GIVE THE GIFT OF GOOD TASTE 

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, 

A GIFT CARD FROM FAVAZZA’S 

Celebrating 

39 Years! 

RESTAURANT & CATERING 

Gift Card 

5201 Southwest Ave · St. Louis, MO 63139 

314.772.4454 • www.favazzas.com 

FREE $30 

FREE $30 

Gift Certificate 

Valid January, February, March 2018 

FOR EVERY $100 

GIFT CARD PURCHASE 

valid january-march 2024 

Can be any combination totaling 

$100, $25 min., By 12/30/17 

Gift cards can be purchased at the 

restaurant or online at 

favazzas.com 

5201 Southwest · St. Louis, MO 63139 | 314.772.4454 | favazzas.com 

RESTAURANT & CATERING 

5201 SOUTHWEST • ST. LOUIS, MO 63139 | 314.772.4454 | FAVAZZAS.COM 

Gift Certificate 

for every $100 

gift card purchase 

Can be any combination totaling 

$100, $25 minimum. 

MUST PURCHASE BY 12/30/2023 

Gift cards can be purchased at the 

restaurant or online at favazzas.com. 

Not valid date of purchase. 

TWO WAYS TO FEAST 

THIS THANKSGIVING ... 

THANKSGIVING BUFFET 

Thursday, November 23, 2023 • 11am - 7pm 

ADULTS $29.95 | KIDS $14.95 

STARTERS 

Shrimp Cocktail Display 

SOUP + SALAD 

Lobster Bisque | Sweet Potato Bisque 

Walnut Salad | Caesar Salad 

Rolls and Whipped Butter 

ENTREES 

Roasted Holiday Turkey 

Carved Prime Rib with Au Jus 

+ Horseradish Aioli 

HOLIDAY FIXINGS 

Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

Traditional Stuffing | Gravy 

Cranberry Sauce 

SIDES 

French Green Beans | Baked Yams 

Creamed Corn 

Penne Pasta with Marinara 

DESSERTS 

Chocolate Cake | German Chocolate 

Cake | Petit Fours | Cookies 

Pumpkin Pie | Cherry Pie 

THANKSGIVING TAKE OUT 

Thursday, November 23, 2023 • 11am - 7pm 

CALL YOUR WALNUT GRILL TO ORDER AND SCHEDULE YOUR PICKUP TIME! 

ENTREES 

Roasted Turkey | Stuffing | Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

Gravy | Frenched Green Geans | Cranberry Sauce 

STARTERS (Choose One) 

Sweet Potato Bisque | Lobster Bisque 

French Onion | Caramelized Walnut Salad 

Caesar Salad | Garden Salad 

DESSERT (Choose One) 

Pumpkin Pie | Apple Pie a la mode | Brownie Works 

17392 Chesterfield Airport Rd | Chesterfield, MO | 636.778.9380 

4401 Hwy K | O’Fallon, MO | 636.685.0212 

FAV1117VR07S 



By TRACEY BRUCE 

Properly setting the mood for your holiday 

event can be the difference between a 

ho hum holiday and a real celebration. 

Think welcoming. Think family. Think 

of ways to wake the senses, that will years 

later bring those memories to mind. 

Whether you are planning a Thanksgiving 

gathering or Christmas dinner, set the mood 

with color and theme. Perhaps the place to 

start is the dinner table and centerpiece. The 

centerpiece you choose is important. There 

are not only aesthetic aspects to consider but 

logistical ones, such as how much room the 

centerpiece takes on the table. Will there be 

room for the food? Will it impede the passing 

of the sweet potatoes? Or will its height 

have you spending the evening trying to talk 

to your favorite aunt through wheat sheaves 

and candles. 

Thanksgiving calls to mind harvest days 

of old and plenty. To reflect the season, 

bring in fall colors, fall flowers or fall 

fruits – gourds, pumpkins, apples, nuts or 

perhaps a traditional or a contemporary 

cornucopia. Stop by your favorite decor 

store and peruse the table settings. They 

have design experts who can help you find 

something new and different that you can 

build your Thanksgiving memories around 

for years to come. 

As for Christmas, will it sparkle with 

silver and gold table settings or the warmth 

of a country Christmas with homespun 

decorations, pine greenery and sleigh bells? 

Perhaps there are little ones about, and the 

holiday should be cheery and bright with 

vibrant reds and greens and trinkets, snow 

globes and little elves everywhere. Or 

maybe your holiday will reflect the season 

of light with candles, strings of lights, stars 

and flowers. 

Speaking of flowers, fresh floral arrangements 

are a beautiful option for any seasonal 

gathering. Fresh flowers say “this is 

a special occasion.” 

For Thanksgiving, bring in autumn 

blooms – mums, sunflowers, Gerber daisies, 

fall lilies or orange roses with their 

vibrant colors. Visit your local florist and 

see what they have to offer in arrangements 

and containers. Follow your theme 

with an elegant ceramic pot, homespun 

basket, clean-lined contemporary container 

or maybe a cartoon turkey for fun. 

For Christmas, fresh flowers could 

include red and white roses, holly and pine 

cones, poinsettias, or a snowy white bouquet 

on a midnight blue tablecloth with a 

white lace runner. Flowers not only add 

visual magic to a table, they fill the room 

with fragrance. 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Setting the Mood 

Turning ho-hum into merry memories 

As for the sounds of the season, music 

adds cheer, community and a cherished 

tradition. Historically, “candles in the 

window and carols at the spinet” were sure 

heralders of Christmas cheer, but if you 

don’t have a piano and your family isn’t 

musical anyway, you might want to rent a 

karaoke machine or hire carolers, such as 

the Kingsbury Place Singers. 

The semi-professional caroling group is 

famous for their ugly sweater, festive attire 

or their traditional Charles Dickens’ costumes, 

their four-part harmony and interesting 

and fun arrangements of familiar 

secular and religious holiday songs. They 

too, sing in a variety of public places, but 

are available for your private party for a 

donation fee. Schedule quickly though, the 

season is upon us and that goes for all your 

party plans. 

If singing is your thing and spreading 

cheer and good will to others sounds like 

fun, add another party to your holiday calendar 

with the help of the St. Louis Christmas 

Carols Association. 

Caroling is a great way to get in the spirit 

of Christmas, whether going out and singing 

for others or gathering and listening to 

Holiday flowers by Mary Tuttle’s 

carols, explained Louisa Wimmer, administrative 

coordinator for the Kingsbury 

Place Singers. 

“It’s a way to gather in a creative and 

constructive way … (The Association’s) 

mission is to give back to kids. It’s joy on 

so many levels,” Wimmer said. “It gets us 

back in the Christmas Spirit and gets us 

back to what it all means, not the consumerism, 

buying all the new fancy stuff, but 

being with (and caring for) our neighbors.” 

Money collected provides grants to organizations 

that support children in the St. 

Louis area which are listed on their website. 

Gather friends and family, church mem- 

See MOOD, next page




The flip of the calendar to November 

means the holiday season is finally here. 

It’s hard to believe that in just a few weeks 

friends and family will be gathering together 

to give thanks and show gratitude for their 

blessings this year, along with making new 

memories. While it might seem early, now 

is the time to start planning, especially if 

you’re the host. One way to reduce the stress 

of party planning is to have the meal catered 

by a local restaurant. The sooner an order is 

placed, the better. 

Most restaurants that cater will have a special 

holiday menu available on their website, 

or just call them and ask. Dalie’s Smokehouse 

in Valley Park offers a holiday catering 

menu with main course, side dish and 

dessert options. Lauren Martin, manager of 

Dalie’s, said when calling a restaurant to ask 

about catering, it’s good to have a rough head 

count ahead of time, and to know how many 

of those in the party are children. Caterers 

know how big to make servings depending 

on the party size, so they can help take the 

guesswork out of how much food is needed 

to order. 

“Kids don’t eat as much as adults, so that 

goes into how many people we need to feed,” 

Martin said. 

A main course is key for the holidays and 

usually consists of a type of meat, whether 

it’s ham, turkey or brisket. Martin recommends 

having two to three side dishes as well, 

and cautions that less is more. 

“Any more than two or three sides gives 



Food Fabulous Food 

Lightening the load this holiday season 

Charcuterie from Dalie’s Smokehouse 

MOOD, from previous 

people too many options,” Martin said. “It’s 

easier for people to have less options when 

they have to decide on what they eat. Also, 

they don’t eat a lot if they are going to a lot of 

holiday parties on the same day.” 

Having a couple catered sides is an option 

to have in addition to traditional family sides 

that only grandma can make. 

Some restaurants will deliver and set up 

the dinner, while others will want the host to 

pick up the food. Ask the restaurant to find 

out what their policy is. Martin said Dalie’s 

catering service for parties of over 15 people 

includes delivery and set up for an 18% fee 

and includes disposable plates, 

utensils and napkins. 

Martin said most customers tip 

the delivery driver, and it’s usually 

an additional 15-20%. 

To keep the food nice and hot 

for guests, Martin recommends 

keeping food in an oven set to 225 

degrees fahrenheit. 

“Low and slow is what we tell 

people when it comes to keeping 

food warm or reheating,” Martin 

said. “Everything we use is oven 

safe. (Hosts) can put a pan of 

water in the bottom of the oven to 

help keep the food from drying out. We suggest 

reheating the food slowly so it doesn’t 

overcook.” 

Martin said to try to set up a delivery time 

close to the time you are going to eat to help 

keep the food hot. 

Be sure to ask restaurants about their 

kitchen if one of the guests has a food allergy. 

Also don’t forget about the vegetarians or 

vegans on the guest list. Martin said Dalie’s 

has a pulled jackfruit option for vegans, so 

be sure to ask. 

“You don’t want them to be left out,” 

Martin said. 

Earn bonus points as a guest and bring an 

appetizer to share. Martin said charcuterie 

boards are still a big hit for any kind of gathering. 

“Catering makes the holiday dinner so 

much easier when you’re hosting a big party,” 

Martin said. “It means less dishes and clean 

up, which means more time with your guests 

because all the work is done.” 

bers, scout troops or neighbors. Plan a 

meal or simply hot beverages and dessert. 

And tune up your voices to sing in your 

own neighborhood or at more public place 

like a nearby senior living community. The 

St. Louis Carolers Association (stlchristmascarols.org) 

will provide everything you 

need including song lists and collection 

cans with QR codes for online donations. 

With plans in place and preparations 

underway, even the hosts can have a wonderful 

time. 

Oh, and one more thing to set the mood 

for that party – remember to smile, laugh 

and hug your friends and family. 

I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I 35 

THE WHITE HARE 

Holiday Open House Weekend! 

Nov. 4 th • 10am - 6pm & Nov. 5 th • 12-5pm 

Spin the Wheel • Enter Raffles • Shop New Displays 

1 st 100 customers on Saturday 

receive a FREE gift! 

THE WHITE HARE 

1010 Miralago Way 

Cottleville, MO 63376 

(636) 441-1111 

Take care of your money 

so your money can 

take care of you. 

midwestbankcentre.com/cds/wn 

* 

* SPECIAL OFFER * 

7 MONTH CD 

5.15 

% 

APY* 

12 MONTH CD 

5.30 

Secure this rate today at a branch 

near you or online at: 

% 

APY* 

Annual Percentage Yield CDs can be opened online or in-branch to earn stated APY. Restrictions may apply. Rates effective as of 

8/16/2023 and are subject to change without notice. Fees may reduce earnings. While there is not an early withdrawal penalty for 

the 7-month no penalty CD, interest that has accrued, but has not been credited to the CD will NOT be paid upon termination. 

Minimum balance of $1,000 to earn APY. Visit midwestbankcentre.com/cds/wn for a full list of benefits and CD offers.

36 I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Holiday open houses help jumpstart 

a season of shopping local 

spend your holidays with us 

discoverstcharles.com 

Three French Hens 

Located at 16935 Manchester Road in 

Wildwood, this iconic decorating destination 

offers three opportunities for festive 

shopping at its best. 

First up is the 

Holiday Open House, 

Thursday, Nov. 2 

through Sunday, 

Nov. 5. Three 

French Hens boasts 

a 12,000-square-foot 

showroom bursting 

with furniture, European 

antiques, oil 

paintings and home 

accessories. For the 

holidays, guests will 

find trees, wreaths, 

florals and décor to 

deck their halls or give as gifts. The designers 

at Three French Hens also can help with 

in-home holiday decorating. Learn more 

about the decorating service when you stop 

by or via a form at threefrenchhenswildwood.com. 

On Friday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, 

Nov. 26, everyone is Friends and Family. 

During both the Holiday Open House and 

the Friends and Family event, guests can 

enjoy a 20% discount on most items. 

Don’t miss Mondays & Mimosas on 

Nov. 27 from 9-11 a.m. when designer Rae 

Sutton will share her tips and tricks for 

achieving the perfect holiday style! Mimosas 

and snacks are provided along with 

10% discount for customers in attendance. 

On Dec. 3 come in with the kiddos from 

2-4 p.m. for Photos with Santa, crafts, 

snacks and more! 

The Foyer 

Located at 1649 Clarkson Road in 

Chesterfield, The Foyer is home to unique 

statement pieces you won’t find anywhere 

else. That’s a promise owner Carrie Keipp 

takes seriously and one she invites guests 

to check out during the store’s Holiday 

Open House event, Friday, Nov. 3 through 

Saturday, Nov. 11. Store hours are 10 

a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 

noon-4 p.m. on Sundays. 

During the Open House event, all fall 

décor will be 25% off and all fall and everyday 

florals will be buy one, get one free. 

Get a sneak peek of all the beautiful 

things The Foyer has to offer @thefoyerhomedecor 

on Facebook.com. 

The White Hare 

Located at 1010 Miralago Way 

in Cottleville, The White Hare will 

host its Holiday Open House on Saturday, 

Nov. 4 and Sunday, Nov. 5. 

All weekend long, guests will have 

the chance to “Spin and Win,” enter 

raffles and enjoy refreshments. Plus 

the first 100 guests on Saturday will 

receive a free gift. Owned by Sarah 

Corrigan and her mother, Mary Kay, 

The White Hare has been delighting 

shoppers with its customer service and 

exceptional products since 2003 and in 

its current location since 2017. Sarah and 

Mary Kay say, “Come in and experience 

lots of new holiday merchandise and displays 

– and don’t miss out on the fun!” 

Keep up-to-date on everything happening 

in the 13,000-square-foot showroom by visiting 

@whiteharedecor on Facebook.com. 

Timberwinds Nursery 

Located at 54 Clarkson Road in Ellisville, 

Timberwinds Nursery is transformed 

into a winter wonderland each November 

with a large selection of Christmas trees, 

wreaths, garlands, gift items and home 

décor, of course, plants – including stunning 

poinsettias, Bonsai and tropicals. 

Giving Bonsai as a gift is considered to be 

an expression of love or respect. 

During the Holiday Open House from 9 

a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 and 

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, 

guests can explore everything Timberwinds 

Nursery has to offer – plus save 

25% off one regular price item with the 

coupon in our ad. 

Holiday Greens arrive Thanksgiving 

week, so plan ahead to make sure you have 

all the wreaths, boughs and trees you need.



Timberwinds Nursery is open daily and 

is online at timberwindsnursery.com or @ 

timberwindsnursery on Facebook.com. 



more. If you love Pinterest and Etsy then 

you are going to fall in love with Treasure 

Chest Shows. It’s the perfect weekend to 

kick off the holiday shopping season with 

family and friends. 

Union Furniture 

Be inspired to decorate your home for 

the holidays by shopping the 14 different 

holiday-themed windows at Union Furniture, 

located at 21 S. Washington Ave. 

in Union, Missouri. These windows are 

I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I 37 

The Best 

in Steaks, 

Seafood, Pasta & Mediterranean Cuisine 

Mary Tuttle’s Floral & Gifts 

Located at 17021 Baxter Road in Chesterfield, 

Mary Tuttle’s Floral & Gifts hosts 

a Christopher Radko Signing Event from 

2-4 p.m. on Nov. 10. Then, on Saturday, 

Nov. 11 from noon-4 p.m., it’s time for the 

store’s annual and much anticipated Holiday 

Open House. 

The all-ages event 

includes a very special 

visit from Santa 

and his reindeer 

from noon-4 p.m. 

At Mary Tuttle’s, 

you’ll find great 

gifts, home décor 

and handcrafted florals 

that are perfect 

for adding that element 

of fresh and 

fragrant beauty to 

your holidays. Check out a world of possibilities 

at marytuttles.com. 

Treasure Chest Holiday Expo 

Hosted at the St. Charles Convention 

Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza on 

the south side of Intestate 70, the 16th 

Annual Treasure Chest Holiday Expo takes 

place Friday, Nov. 17 through 

Sunday, Nov. 19. Expo hours 

are 1-6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-5 

p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 

p.m. on Sunday. An impressive 

160 booths will be filled 

with unique gift items, popular 

product vendors, one-of-a-kind 

arts and crafts, gourmet goodies, 

holiday and home décor, 

toys, books, games, goodies 

for your fur babies and so much 

decorated from floor to ceiling 

with holiday decor and designer 

Christmas trees. 

At Union Furniture’s 10-day 

Holiday Open House event, Nov. 

18-27, take 10% off your furniture 

purchase by donating a 

new toy or bag of non-perishable 

food items. Plus, register to win 

a $1,000 furniture gift card and 

a $300 flooring gift card. Store 

hours are 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 

p.m. on Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. on Sundays. 

Check out unionfurnituremo.com. 

Passiglia’s Nursery & Garden Center 

Located at 1855 Hwy. 109 in Wildwood, 

Passiglia’s Nursery & Garden Center has a 

full slate of holiday-themed events scheduled 

for November and early December. First 

up is its Sip & Shop 

Pop-Up from 5:30- 

7:30 p.m. on Thursday, 

Nov. 9 giving guests 

the chance to kickstart 

their holiday shopping. 

The nursery’s 

extensive collection of 

Christmas items and 

store inventory will 

all be available at discounts 

ranging from 

20% to 80%. 

Then, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 and 

at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, guests can 

design their very own unique porch pot or 

table décor at either Porch Pot Workshop. 

Finally, wrap up your holiday shopping 

at Passiglia’s Holiday Open House and 

Santa Visit from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, 

Dec. 2. This jolly celebration includes a 

visit with Santa, a petting zoo, hot chocolate, 

goodies, holiday sales and more! 

Happy Hour Menu! 

Tuesday - Thursday 4-6:30pm and Friday 4-6pm 

includes choice of soup or salad, entree, sides except for pasta, dessert, and beverage! 

With every 

$100.00 

Gift Card 

Purchase 

receive a bonus 

$20 Gift Card 

314.878.4449 

1054 N. Woods Mill • Chesterfield 

Buy Two 

Dinner Entrees 

and Appetizer 

Get Bottle of 

House Wine 

Valid on entrees $14.99 & up. Up to 10 people per coupon. 

Up to $100 value. House wine choices include: Merlot, 

Cabernet, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel. Max one coupon 

per visit, per table. Void with other offers or specials. 

Present coupon when ordering. NO CASH VALUE. Please 

offer your server a tip on the total bill before discount. 

NOT valid with the Early Bird Special, Happy Hour or any 

Major Holiday. Dine in only. Expires 12/31/23. 

314.878.4449 

1054 N. Woods Mill • Chesterfield 

View the Full Dinner Menu at 

www.spirosrestaurant.com or call 314.878.4449

38 I MATURE FOCUS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


Experience 

clearer 

hearing 

Tired of struggling to hear and 

understand conversations in 

crowded or noisy environments? 

Do you feel left out of social 

situations because of your 

hearing loss? It’s time to take 

control of your hearing and 

improve your quality of life 

and hear clearer today! 

We offer competitive pricing and 0% financing.* We know 

we have the right hearing aid to match your lifestyle. 

From listening to music to playing pickleball and more – 

our devices are designed for you, and we guarantee your 

hearing satisfaction! 

RECEIVE UP TO 

$ 

500 

TOWARDS A PAIR 

OF HEARING AIDS! 

BONUS OFFERS: 

RISK-FREE 

TRIAL & FREE 

PRODUCT 

DEMO 

Receive these offers when you purchase hearing aids in November. 

Give us a call at 636-391-9622 to schedule your visit today. 

* With approved credit. Terms and restrictions apply. 

SEE A HEARING HEALTHCARE EXPERT 

Dr. Anne Murray 

Au.D., CCC-A 

Michelle Smith 

M.S., CCC-A 

636-391-9622 

Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm 

Dr. Chelsea Tisckos, 

Au.D., CCC-A 

1475 Kisker Rd, Suite 270 | St. Charles, MO 63304 

15825 Manchester Rd. #209 | Ellisville, MO 63011 

(formerly Hearing Health Care) 

5 other locations in St. Louis and Illinois to serve you! 

News & Notes 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Progress in the fight 

This November’s national observance 

of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month may 

be a more hopeful one for the millions of 

American families impacted by this devastating 

disease. With approval of a new drug 

expected from the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration by the end of this year … 

the third such approval just since mid-2021 

… progress is finally beginning to accelerate 

in the fight against Alzheimer’s and 

related dementias. 

The newest medicine, called donanemab, 

is a monoclonal antibody similar to the 

other two recently introduced Alzheimer’s 

drugs, aducanumab (Aduhelm) and lecanemab 

(Leqembi). In a study of more 

than 1,700 people, donanemab slowed the 

progression of Alzheimer’s by about 35%, 

scientists reported in a study published in 

JAMA earlier this summer. 

All three of these new drugs work by 

attacking “plaques” in the brain made of a 

protein called amyloid, which disrupt the 

brain’s cellular functions and lead to the 

rapid spread of another damaging protein 

called tau. Both the amyloid and tau proteins 

are major contributors to the development 

of Alzheimer’s disease. 

On Oct. 16, the Centers for Medicare 

and Medicaid Services also removed existing 

limits on coverage of PET brain scans 

used to help diagnose early Alzheimer’s, 

allowing seniors on Medicare broader 

access to these new treatments. Medicare 

already has issued its decision to cover 

FDA-approved drugs in this new category 

– which come at a very high cost – but coverage 

requires patients to have documented 

evidence of amyloid in the brain, which 

PET scans provide. 

Although a cure is not yet possible, these 

new medicines have been shown to slow 

the progress of Alzheimer’s. They are most 

effective for people who are diagnosed in 

its earliest stages, so other therapies still 

are desperately needed to help those with 

more advanced disease. 

Seeing through grapes 

A nationwide analysis conducted in 2022 

found that nearly 20 million Americans are 

living with some form of age-related macular 

degeneration (AMD). By the time they 

reach age 50, adults have a one in 10 risk 

of being affected by the early form of this 

common eye disease, which can eventually 

Recent progress made in the fight 

against Alzheimer’s may make this year’s 

Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month a 

more hopeful one. (Source: Adobe Stock) 

lead to a dramatic loss of central vision. 

Researchers in Singapore, where a rapidly 

aging population has created similar 

concerns over AMD, recently found that 

a simple addition to one’s daily diet may 

offer protection. In a recent study, they 

found that eating grapes improved key 

markers of eye health in older adults, after 

just a few months. 

In this new study, 34 adults between 

the ages of 60 and 85 consumed either 

freeze-dried grape powder (equivalent to 

1 ½ cups of grapes per day) or a placebo 

powder every day for 16 weeks. Afterward, 

detailed tests showed that those who 

ate the grapes had significantly increased 

macular pigment accumulation, as well as 

improvements in other biomarkers of eye 

health. Those who did not eat the grapes 

saw a significant increase in the formation 

of substances called advanced glycation 

end products (AGEs), which may contribute 

to eye diseases in a number of ways. 

“Our study is the first to show that grape 

consumption beneficially impacts eye 

health in humans which is very exciting, 

especially with a growing aging population,” 

said lead author Dr. Jung Eun Kim 

of the National University of Singapore. 

“Grapes are an easy, accessible fruit that 

studies have shown can have a beneficial 

impact in normal amounts.” 

Grapes are a natural source of antioxidants 

and other polyphenols, which may 

be key factors underlying their protective 

effects on retinal structure and function, 

Kim added. The study was recently 

published in the scientific journal Food & 

Function. 

Hobbies for health 

Having a hobby leads to greater happiness, 

an improved perception of one’s own 

See MATURE FOCUS, page 40

Live Thankfully 

At Friendship Village, the table is set for 

celebrating! Enjoy the laughter of friends, savor 

chef-prepared meals, and share delightful 

moments in our resort-style amenities. Spend 

your days surrounded by everything you love 

about this season of togetherness. 

Come let us show you around! 

Chesterfield (636) 898-8500 

Sunset Hills (314) 270-7700 

FriendshipVillageSTL.com 

Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and 

Home Care options are also available to keep your 

independent spirit thriving. 

A not-for-profit Life Care community by Friendship Village Senior Services




@WESTNEWSMAG 


SINCE 1987 

SENIORS HOME CARE 

Dignified Care 

...with compassion 

TM 

Having a hobby – no matter what it may be – has positive impacts on well-being for older adults. 

(Source: Adobe Stock) 

Gretchen Whittington, CCO 

Ryan Whittington CDP,CEO 

Helping people live independently 

in their homes since 1987. 

Companionship Meal Preparation Light Housekeeping 

Personal Care Transportation Medication Reminders 

Nurse Care Management Medication Setup 

636.225.2600 

SENIORSHOMECARE.COM 

GAMBRILL GARDENS – WHERE 

SENIOR LIVING NEVER GETS OLD 

Now is the time to make your move into the most active 

Independent Living in the area. Located in Ellisville, MO, 

Gambrill Gardens features 25 acres of breathtaking grounds, 

daily social activities. a fitness center with a complimentary 

personal trainer, on-site restaurants, a 24-hour General Store, 

200 seat chapel, and more! Call our leasing agents for our 

limited-time leasing specials and to schedule your tour! 

636.207.3720 (TTY-711) • gambrillgardens.com 

1 Strecker Road • Ellisville, MO 63011 

MATURE FOCUS, from page 38 

health, and lower levels of depression in 

people over 65, according to researchers 

from University College London. 

Their recent study spanned nearly 

100,000 older adults living in 16 countries, 

including the U.S. 

A hobby was defined as any activity 

people engage in for pleasure during their 

leisure time, and ranged from social activities 

like volunteer work, playing a sport 

or participating in a club to more solitary 

ones such as reading, gardening or arts and 

crafts. 

Although the percentages of people 

from each country who had hobbies varied, 

the benefits to participants’ physical and 

mental well-being were universal, the 

researchers said. Those benefits remained 

after adjusting for other factors such as 

household income, employment and partnership 

status over an average of six years 

of follow-up. 

“Our study shows the potential of hobbies 

to protect older people from age-related 

decline in mental health and well-being. 

This potential is consistent across many 

countries and cultural settings,” said Dr. 

Karen Mak of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology 

& Health Care. “Hobbies may 

contribute to life satisfaction in our later 

years through many mechanisms, including 

feeling in control of our minds and 

bodies, finding a purpose in life, and feeling 

competent in tackling daily issues.” 

The study was published in the journal 

Nature Medicine. 

Clues to type 2 

Type 2 diabetes has become alarmingly 

common all over the world, and statistics 

show some form of the disease impacts 

about 27% of adults over age 65 in the U.S. 

alone. But type 2 doesn’t just begin with no 

warning, say a group of researchers from 

the U.K. It gives clues years before it is 

diagnosed, which could potentially allow 

people to prevent it from developing in the 

first place. 

These scientists recently analyzed up to 

50 years of health history for about 2,000 

people participating in a long-term study. 

The analysis revealed that those who eventually 

were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 

– which occurred when they were 53 years 

old on average – shared a distinct “illness 

trajectory” in the years leading up to their 

diagnosis. 

Common conditions which consistently 

appeared beforehand were high blood 

pressure; respiratory tract infections; heart 

conditions (i.e., heart failure, heart attack, 

angina, and various forms of heart disease); 

asthma, and eye, nose, and throat 

infections. 

The researchers also found that immediately 

prior to being diagnosed with type 2 

diabetes, more than one in three of these 

individuals experienced high blood pressure 

and respiratory tract infection. Around 

one in five were diagnosed with a heart 

condition or eye, nose, and throat infection. 

One in 10 suddenly developed asthma. 

By contrast, these conditions happened 

far less frequently in those who did not 

develop type 2 diabetes. Fewer than one 

in 20 individuals were diagnosed with any 

of them, with the exception of respiratory 

tract infections, which were experienced 

by around one in 10 participants without a 

type 2 diabetes diagnosis. 

“These novel insights into the onset and 

natural progression of type 2 diabetes… 

suggest an early phase of inflammationrelated 

disease activity long before any 

clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is 

made,” said senior author Dr. Adrian Heald, 

of Manchester University. “Understanding 

the long-term clinical history of type 2 diabetes 

years before diagnosis means that, in 

the future, people could have the time to 

make lifestyle changes to prevent this lifechanging 

disease from arising.” 

See MATURE FOCUS, page 42



LIKE 

LIVEROYALTY 

AT 

ASSISTED LIVING 

AND MEMORY CARE 

• Affordable Rates/All Inclusive 

• 3 Delicious Meals Daily 

• Weekly Housekeeping Services 

• Weekly Laundry Services 

WE DO THE WORK, 

YOU HAVE THE FUN! 

Activities, Transportation, Entertainment, Theatre & Much More 

BROOKING PARK ASSISTED LIVING 

307 SOUTH WOODS MILL RD 

CHESTERFIELD, MO 63017 

314-576-5545 | BROOKINGPARK.ORG 



AUTUMN SPECIALS AT 

BALLWIN DENTAL CARE 

Experience 

THE DIFFERENCE. 

NOVEMBER 

WHITENING SPECIALS! 

$25 OFF 

CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS 

$75 OFF 

IN-OFFICE ZOOM WHITENING 

Offer expires 11/30/23 

I MATURE FOCUS I 41 

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL 

$ 99 OR 

99 

$ 100 OFF 

YOUR FIRST VISIT 

New patients only. Cleaning, X-rays (up to 4), comprehensive exam, oral cancer 

screening. Not valid with other offers, including botox. Offer ends 11/30/23. 

$99 not valid for patients with gum disease. 

Dr. Kimberly Simonds & Associates 

14649 Manchester Road | Ballwin 

636-227-2552 

live life to the fullest 

Assisted Living Move-In Special: 

Recieve a 12-Month $500 Credit!* 

Call 636.242.5992 today 

to schedule your personal tour. 

*If move-in occurs prior to December 31, 2023. 

Ballwin | Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care | Long Term Care | Short Stay Rehab 

(MB237919) MB West News Ad – Size: 10” x 5.6” – Due: 10/30/23


WHEELCHAIRS 



Rentals • Sales • Service • Installation 

Renting Mobility Solutions 

for Family Gatherings! 

PORTABLE RAMPS 

SCOOTERS 

ENSURE COMFORT AND MOBILITY • CREATE ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS 

Contact us today to reserve your holiday rentals! Make sure no one misses a moment. 

15461 Clayton Rd. • Ballwin (Clayton & Kehrs Mill) • 314-608-5789 

HOURS: M-W-Th-F 9:30AM-5:30PM • TUES 11AM-8PM • SAT 9AM-2PM 

BRIAN G. QUINN, ESQ., cela, ATTORNEY AT LAW 

Gregory F. Quinn, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW 

• Estate Planning and Elder Law, Veterans Benefits, 

Medicaid Benefits and Special Needs Planning 

• Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills and 

Directives for all stages of life 

• Offering assistance with probate and other issues 

families will face after the death of a loved one 

• Helping families with long term care planning and 

crisis situations 

• Brain G. Quinn has received the designation of 

Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA ® ) from the 

National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) 

• Offering FREE -- Long-Term Care guidance through Elder Care Advisors. 

Call Jenn at 636-395-0877 for details 

Call our office for a FREE consultation to discuss your family’s solution 

636-394-7242 

quinnestatelaw.com 

info@quinnestatelaw.com | 14611 Manchester Road 

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. 

At Mobility Plus, 

we’re thankful 

for the opportunity 

to help make your 

gatherings 

inclusive and safe 

for every loved one. 

Take $500 off 

all stairlifts 

ordered 

in November 

Showers Rebuilt-Bathrooms Remodeled 

“Water Damaged Showers a Specialty” 

Tub to Stall Shower Conversions 

Grab Bars/High Toilets/Personal Showers 

Floors/Vanities/Barrier Free Showers 

NOW HIRING 

INSTALLERS! 

38 Years Experience • At this Location 30 Years 

Visit Our Showroom 

14770 Clayton Road • 63011 

TILE AND BATH SERVICE, Inc. 

636.394.0315 • www.tileandbathservice.com 

MATURE FOCUS, from page 40 

Failure to plan 

Many older adults don’t have long-term 

plans for their financial futures after retirement, 

nationwide data has shown. For 

example, the 2021 Survey of Income and 

Program Participation (SIPP), conducted 

by the U.S. Census Bureau, found that 

working-age baby boomers between 56 

and 64 were the most likely age group to 

own at least one type of retirement account 

as of 2020 – but only 58.1% of them had 

such accounts, meaning 41.9% did not. 

It turns out that people who make such 

forward-looking plans don’t just benefit 

financially, according to a recent study. 

Such planning also lowers their risk of 

dying, from any cause. 

Researchers analyzed data spanning 

a 22-year period for about 11,500 older 

Americans, along with a decade of data 

on about 11,300 British participants in 

the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. 

Both of these studies asked participants 

to complete questionnaires about their 

health, life expectancy, and how far into 

the future they typically planned their 

finances when making spending or saving 

decisions. 

Having a long-term financial plan also lowers seniors’ mortality 

risk, a recent study found. 


During both studies, people who planned 

their finances further into the future had a 

lower overall risk of death, researchers 

found. This held true even after statistically 

accounting for other factors that could 

affect mortality risk, including demographics, 

income, and self-reported life 

expectancy – all of which impact financial 

planning decisions, the authors said. 

“Our study suggests that a lack of financial 

planning is not only bad for your wallet, 

but also for your health and longevity,” the 

authors said. “By encouraging people to 

think more about their future needs and 

goals, we may be able to improve their 

well-being and reduce health disparities.” 

In addition, people who planned further 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


into the future had better self-reported 

physical health, and that association was 

strongest for those with the least financial 

resources. This could be the case because 

longer-term planning may be most beneficial 

to health for people who wouldn’t 

otherwise have saved for large or unanticipated 

medical expenses, they added. 

Led by researchers at the University of 

Colorado-Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, 

the study was recently published in 

the journal PLOS One. 

The value of gratitude 

As the years pass, married couples and 

others involved in long-term relationships 

often tend to take each other for 

granted and forget to show appreciation. 

A new study from the University of Illinois 

Urbana-Champaign found that this 

tendency can change with awareness and 

effort… and when it does, relationships 

change for the better. 

The study examined why perceived 

gratitude between spouses or domestic 

partners decreases over time, and whether 

it can be improved if couples participate in 

relationship intervention programs. 

“Gratitude almost seems to be a ‘secret 

sauce’ to relationships, 

and (it’s) an important 

piece to the puzzle of 

romantic relationships 

that hasn’t gotten much 

attention in research 

studies until recently 

… In couple relationships, 

it’s not just 

about being appreciative 

for your partner 

but also about feeling 

appreciated by your partner,” 

said Allen Barton, 

assistant professor in the 

university’s Department 

of Human Development 

and Family Studies. 

The study analyzed 

data from a randomized 

trial which included 

about 600 couples who signed up for a sixweek 

relationship intervention program. 

Both partners had to participate in order to 

qualify for the study. 

Couples assigned to its treatment group 

participated in one of two online relationship 

education interventions, both 

designed to teach couples to communicate 

better, understand conflict, and address 

problems in their relationships (although 

they did not focus specifically on gratitude). 

Those in the control group were 

assigned to a waitlist, and did not receive 

either of these interventions until after the 

study was over. 

The researchers collected data through 

surveys before program participation



began and at two-, four- and six-month 

follow-ups. For those in the control group, 

perceived gratitude remained at the same 

level throughout the study, while those in 

the intervention group reported improvements 

in partner gratitude. 

Barton said relationship interventions 

specifically geared towards improving 

gratitude have shown mixed results in the 

past, because when people start expressing 

gratitude to their partner because they’ve 

been asked to do so as part of a program, it 

may come across as insincere and be less 

effective. 

“(Gratitude) has been an overlooked 

dimension that makes for healthy, supportive 

relationships. Our findings indicate we 

should develop programming that aims to 

improve levels of perceived gratitude, but it 

shouldn’t be the sole focus. It should be one 

component of the intervention,” he said. 

On the calendar 

St. Louis Oasis presents a Cardio 

Strength class on Mondays and Wednesdays, 

Nov. 13 through Dec. 13, from 9:30- 

10:30 a.m. at the Chesterfield Community 

Center, 690 Chesterfield Parkway West 

(second floor of Chesterfield Mall, next to 

Macy’s). This workout is a mix between 

low-impact cardio and functional strength 

exercises which will help improve your 

cardiac health, increase muscle mass and 

improve bone density. The functional 

strength portion of the class will also help 

you perform activities in your everyday life 

more easily. The cost for all sessions is $85. 

Register by visiting st-louis.oasisnet.org. 

• • • 

Healthy Living for Your Brain and 

Body, presented by St. Louis Oasis, is 

on Monday, Nov. 13 from 10:30-11:30 

a.m. The event is offered both online via 

Zoom and in person at Clayton Oasis, 50 

Gay Ave. in Clayton. During this free class, 

attendees will learn about research in the 

areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive 

activity and social engagement, and 

use hands-on tools to incorporate these tips 

into a plan for healthy aging. Register at 

st-louis.oasisnet.org. 

• • • 

Transitions For Senior Living hosts 

a free event to support persons who 

support someone affected by memory 

impairment from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on 

Tuesday, Nov. 14 at The Lodge Des Peres 

1050 Des Peres Road. Ann Marie Mohr, 

of Project Present, will lead an interactive 

workshop demonstrating new techniques 

to improve and strengthen communication; 

to help when caring for an individual 

living with dementia. Additional community 

resources will also be present. Space 

is limited and RSVPs are required before 

Nov. 11 to tena@transitionsforseniorliving. 

com or by calling (314) 606-8531. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital offers a virtual 

Bone Builders Lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 

14 from 1-2:30 p.m., presented online only. 

According the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 

60% of adults age 50 or older are 

at risk of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis. 

Join us to learn more about exercise, 

nutrition and medications for bone health 

and osteoporosis prevention. A St. Luke’s 

physical therapist, dietitian and pharmacist 

will answer your questions during this free 

event. Register at stlukes-stl.com; for more 

information about St. Luke’s Bone Builders 

Program, call (314) 205-6881. 

• • • 

BJC Missouri Baptist Hospital offers a 

Today’s Grandparents class on Tuesday, 

Nov. 21 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Missouri 

Baptist Medical Center Clinical Learning 

Institute, 3005 N. Ballas Road. This handson 

class offers updates on current trends in 

infant care and feeding, and provides tips 

on local and long-distance grandparenting. 

The course fee is $20 per person (each 

person attending must register separately). 

Registration is available online at classesevents.bjc.org. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Effective 

Communication Strategies on 

Thursday, Nov. 30 from 6-7 p.m. at the 

hospital’s Institute for Health Education, 

232 S. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield. 

The event will also be livestreamed. St. 

Luke’s and the Alzheimer’s Association 

are hosting this free in-person and virtual 

education program to help families learn 

to decode verbal and behavioral messages 

from people with dementia. Communication 

is more than just talking and listening 

… it’s also about sending and receiving 

messages through attitude, tone of voice 

facial expressions and body language. 

As people with Alzheimer’s disease and 

other dementias progress in their journey 

and the ability to use words is lost, 

families need new ways to connect. Those 

who prefer to attend the event online will 

receive a link after registration. Sign up at 

stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents a free 

online program, A Discussion of Overactive 

Bladder with Dr. Cathy Naughton, 

on Wednesday, Dec. 13 beginning at 6 

p.m., live via Zoom. If symptoms such 

as uncomfortable urges to use the bathroom, 

frequent accidents requiring you to 

wear pads, and getting up multiple times 

at night are part of your everyday life … 

relief is possible! Join us for this educational 

event and learn options to regain 

control. This virtual webinar will be 

hosted by Dr. Cathy Naughton, a boardcertified 

urologist in practice at Urology 

Specialists of St. Luke’s. Register online 

at stlukes-stl.com. 

Partners Home, my mother receiv 


WEST NEWSMAGAZINE wonderful I MATURE care from FOCUS a tight I 43knit t 

of professionals that understands 

The Ideal Alternative to Hotel-like 

her individual needs and desires. 

Care for Those With Dementia! 

New 

Home 

Now 

OPEN! 

Schedule 

a Tour 

Today! 

Assisted Living 

Memory Care 

It feels like home. It is a home. 

Our residential homes 

are built specifically for the 

specialized needs of those 

with dementia promoting safety, 

comfort and engagement 

with a family feel. 

– Paula R., Daughter of Res 

Only 8-13 residents • Private Rooms • Best Care Staff to resident ratio 1:5 

Around the clock professional care • Fresh Prepared Homestyle Meals 

CALL FOR A PRIVATE TOUR! 

Manchester, MO • Call Jonna at 314.686.4468 

www.FamilyPartnersHome.com

44 I HEALTH I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


(314) 606-8531 

www.STLsenior.com 

CALLING ALL CAREGIVERS … JOIN US FOR THIS FREE EVENT! 

Ann Marie Mohr of Project Present shares techniques to improve and strengthen communication with loved ones living with dementia. 

The following resource groups will be available at the event: 

•Memory Keepers 

•The Caregiver Club 

•Memory Care Home Solutions •Memory & Aging 

Tuesday, November 14 | 2:30-4pm at The Lodge Des Peres 

Space is limited! Please RSVP by Nov. 11 to tena@transitionsforseniorliving.com 

Thanksgiving Day is also Family Health History Day, an opportunity for 

family members from multiple generations to share information that 

could protect the health of all. 


HEALTH 

CAPSULES 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Start your family’s health 

history this Thanksgiving 

When extended families gather for 

Thanksgiving celebrations later this month, 

they’ll have an opportunity to share more 

than a traditional feast. Thanksgiving Day 

also marks Family Health History Day, an 

annual public health campaign encouraging 

Americans to better understand the 

health characteristics – and the potential 

for genetically linked health problems – 

that run in their families. 

Is there a history of colon cancer, diabetes, 

high cholesterol or early heart disease 

in your family? Have any female relatives 

had breast or ovarian cancer, or is prostate 

cancer common among the men? If so, you 

or your children also could be at risk. 

A family health history can be an informative, 

no-cost component of your personalized 

healthcare plan. Sharing that history 

with each family member’s primary care 

physician may be helpful in predicting 

their risk for specific diseases, and suggesting 

whether further screening or preventive 

treatment is needed before any disease 

becomes evident. 

Using a free online tool from the U.S. 

Surgeon General called My Family Health 

Portrait, families can record and print 

their health histories and take them along 

to medical appointments. The tool also 

allows users to save their family history 

information to their own computers and 

share updates to health history information 

with other family members over time. 

According to the Surgeon General, a 

family health history ideally should contain 

health information going back at least 

three generations, listing the diseases and 

conditions that have affected members of 

each. It should include the age at which a 

particular disease was diagnosed and, in 

the case of deceased family members, the 

cause of death. The most important relatives 

to include are parents, siblings and 

children. 

Access to the My Family Health Portrait 

tool is available at genome.gov/health/ 

Family-Health-History. 

Ginger supplements may be 

anti-inflammatory treatment 

Ginger is quickly gaining in popularity 

worldwide, to the tune of nearly $3 billion 

in global sales on ginger-based products 

last year alone…and it’s not just because it 

adds a unique spicy flavor to Asian dishes 

and healthy smoothies. New research 

reveals that ginger supplements may be an 

effective, natural way to manage inflammation 

for people with autoimmune conditions 

such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. 

The study points to ginger’s ability to 

influence neutrophils, a type of white blood 

cell which is part of the immune system’s 

first line of defense against inflammation. 

Consuming ginger seems to make those 

cells less susceptible to a process called 

NETosis, which is triggered by a variety of 

infections and diseases. 

In a clinical trial, researchers found that 

healthy participants who took a ginger supplement 

every day for a week (containing 

20 mg of gingerols) increased their levels 

of a chemical that helped to block NETosis 

when exposed to certain inflammatory disease 

triggers, they said. 

“Our research, for the first time, provides 

evidence for the biological mechanism that 

underlies ginger’s apparent anti-inflammatory 

properties in people,” said senior 

co-author Jason Knight, M.D., Ph.D., an 

associate professor in the University of 

Michigan Division of Rheumatology. 

“There are not a lot of natural supplements, 

or prescription medications for that 

matter, that are known to fight overactive 

neutrophils. We, therefore, think ginger 

may have a real ability to complement 

treatment programs that are already underway,” 

Knight added. “The goal is to be 

Ginger supplements may be a natural way 

to treat autoimmune illnesses like lupus 

and rheumatoid arthritis, say University of 

Michigan scientists. (Source: Adobe Stock) 

more strategic and personalized in terms of 

helping to relieve people’s symptoms.” 

The researchers said they hope that 

providing more evidence about ginger’s 

benefits, including the direct mechanism 

by which ginger impacts neutrophils, 

will encourage healthcare providers and 

patients to include ginger as part of an antiinflammatory 

disease treatment plan. The 

study was published in JCI Insight. 

Do you ‘helicopter parent’ 

without realizing it? 

The fear of being labeled a “bad parent” 

– or of being criticized or blamed by others 

for not adequately supervising their child 

– is one reason parents don’t let their preteen 

kids be on their own or do things for 

themselves, according to a recent University 

of Michigan poll. And while most 

parents participating in the poll agreed that 

kids must have these opportunities to gain 

independence and confidence, they may 

be doing more “helicopter parenting” than 

they realize. 

“There’s a sizable gap between parent 

attitudes about promoting children’s 

independence and what they actually 

allow or encourage their children to do 

without supervision,” said C.S. Mott Poll 

Co-Director Sarah Clark, M.P.H. “This 

suggests some parents may be missing 

opportunities to guide their children in 

tasks of autonomy and unintentionally hindering 

kids’ development of independence 

and problem-solving skills.” 

Four out of five parents of children ages 

9-11, polled in the random survey of more 

than 1,000 parents nationwide, agreed that 

it’s good for children to have free time on 

their own without adult supervision. But 

far fewer reported their child actually does 

certain things without an adult present. 

For example, less than half said their 

child has walked or biked to a friend’s 

house, played at a park with a friend, or 

waited in the car while the parent ran a 

quick errand. About three in five said 

they have let their child stay home alone 

for 30-60 minutes, and half said they have 

let their child separate from them to look 

for an item in a store. Fewer than one in 

six said they have allowed their child to





I HEALTH I 45 

trick-or-treat with friends without a parent 

nearby. 

The top reason behind this hesitancy to 

allow independent milestones, parents said, 

was concern over their child’s safety. However, 

while just over half said they worried 

someone might scare, follow or harm their 

child, just 17% said their neighborhood is 

not safe for children to be alone. 

“To some extent, worrying about your 

child is natural. But some parents are limiting 

their child’s independent activities due 

to highly publicized media reports, even if 

those outcomes are very unlikely to occur 

or cannot be prevented,” Clark said. The 

elementary school years, she added, are 

a critical period for developing independence 

with parental guidance and support. 

A new poll of parents of preteen kids shows 

that many may be doing more “helicopter 

parenting” than they think. 


If helicopter parenting continues into the 

teen years – regardless of the well-intentioned 

reasons – research has shown a lack 

of independence can result in increased 

levels of anxiety and depression, ineffective 

coping skills, poor self-confidence and 

lowered academic performance, among 

other negative outcomes. 

On the calendar 

Schnucks and St. Luke’s Hospital offer 

an Eatwell Market grocery store tour 

on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 6-7 p.m. at 

Eatwell Boones Crossing, 220 THF Blvd. 

in Chesterfield. Take a wellness-focused 

tour through Eatwell Market by Schnucks 

with a St. Luke’s dietitian. Participants 

will receive wellness resources, food samples 

and a $10 gift card to use at Eatwell 

Market. The cost is $5; space is limited and 

registration is required. To sign up, visit 

stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

BJC presents a Family and Friends 

CPR virtual course on Wednesday, Nov. 8 

from 6:30-8:30 p.m., live via Teams Meeting. 

This class uses the American Heart 

Association curriculum to teach hands-on 

CPR skills (this course does not include 

certification upon completion). The cost is 

$50. Registration for a seat in this class is 

for two people. Register online by visiting 

bjc.org/cpr-class. 

• • • 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital presents 

a Staying Home Alone in-person 

class on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10-11:30 

a.m. at the SLCH Specialty Care Center 

West County, 13001 N. Outer Forty Road 

in Town & Country, in the third-floor conference 

room. A virtual class is also offered 

on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 6:30-8 p.m., live 

via TEAMS Meeting. Parents and children 

attend the class together to ensure a child’s 

readiness to stay at home alone. The registration 

fee is $25 per family. To register, 

call (314) 454-5437. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents a Be Still 

to Chill: Basics of Meditation course on 

Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the 

Desloge Outpatient Center, 121 St. Luke’s 

Center Drive in Chesterfield, in Conference 

Room 3 of Building A. Attend this free inperson 

program to learn the basics of meditation 

as well as many tips to support your 

practice. Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital sponsors 

a Babysitting 101 virtual class on 

Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 6-8:30 p.m., 

live via TEAMS Meeting. This interactive 

class is a great introduction to the basics 

of babysitting and is recommended for 

ages 10 and above. A workbook, first-aid 

kit, babysitter skills assessment and backpack 

are included in the cost of $25 per 

child. Parents may sit in on the class at no 

additional cost. Register online at bjc.org/ 

babysitting-class. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital sponsors an annual 

Spirit of Women event, All Decked Out, 

on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the 

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Louis – 

Chesterfield, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road 

in Chesterfield. Spend an evening with 

family and friends before the holiday hustle 

and bustle, enjoying appetizers and beverages 

along with motivating tips from St. 

Luke’s physicians to help you be your best. 

Free health screenings will be offered, along 

with attendance prizes and more. The cost 

of $30 per person includes two drink tickets, 

appetizers and “swag bag.” Register for the 

event online at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Vitamin 

ZZZ … Steps to Sounder Sleep on Tuesday, 

Dec. 5 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the St. 

Luke’s Hospital Institute for Health Education, 

222 S. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield, 

Rooms 1 and 2. Learn more about 

sleeping better at this free, in-person class. 

Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

Contact me for help with 

Lemon Law 

Wrongful Termination 

Business & Contract Litigation 

Free 20 minute consultation 

Open Saturdays from 9am-12pm 

David Pruitt, MBA, Esq. 

www.marshallpruittlaw.com 

314-347-3511 

BUYING ESTATES, COLLECTIONS 

& SINGLE ITEMS 

MILITARY MEMORABILIA 

Making sure 

you receive the 

highest price 

possible 

Buying 

and selling 

vintage 

wares of 

ALL kinds! 

Holiday 

GIFT GUIDE 

Coming again 

November 29 

Call 636.591.0010 to reserve 

your advertising space. 

PENS, CAMERAS, PIPES 

VINTAGE JEWELRY & WATCHES 

Mike’s Expert Advice ... 

Clearing out a lifetime 

of clutter is daunting, try 

one drawer – or one room 

– at a time. 

Your LOCAL expert for 

FREE appraisals 

GOLD, SILVER, OLD MONEY & evaluations 

Stop in or call for an In-Home Appointment 

Manchester Coin & Jewelry Co. ~ (636) 686-7222 

14319 Manchester Road (Just West of Hwy. 141) ~ www.buyingvaluables.net

46 

Holiday 


I WEST NEWSMAGAZINE 

OPEN HOUSE 

Saturday, November 11 

9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Sunday, November 12 

10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Explore our selection of Holiday Décor & Gifts 

Holiday Savings: 

25% off one regular price item 

One coupon per household. In stock items only. While supplies last. Cannot be combined 

with any other discounts or promotions. Not valid on prior purchases. Must present coupon 

to receive discount. Exclusions may apply. Valid 11/11/2023 & 11/12/2023. 

Holiday greens arrive Thanksgiving week! 

Plants - Trees - Pottery - Gift - Décor & More! 

54 Clarkson Road, Ellisville, MO 63011 

636.227.0095 Open 7 Days a Week 

timberwindsnursery.com 

JOHNSON, from page 10 

The department has had many challenges 

over the years, including providing 

uninterrupted delivery of police services 

throughout the long-term recovery phases 

of the Great Flood of 1993. During the 

disaster, Chesterfield’s police headquarters 

in a rented building in the Valley was inundated 

with 13 inches of water but services 

did not cease. During the eight months 

it took for floodwaters to recede and the 

damaged facility to be refurbished, the 

department operated from an underground 

bunker St. Louis County had established as 

an emergency operations center. 

Today, the department has a modern, 

state-of-the-art headquarters facility in a 

building shared with city hall. 

Among the services Chesterfield Police 

provide are a special operations division 

that encompasses school resource officers, 

a special enforcement unit (SEU) that provides 

enforcement and patrols in the city’s 

many parks and retail centers, and the traffic 

safety unit. 

Single-minded lawman 

“After 35 years, Johnson has remained 

the same straightforward police chief that 

he was the first day I worked with him,” 

said Dianne Johnson, command staff coordinator. 

“He is single-minded about law 

enforcement. He has always worked and 

re-worked each policy for the Chesterfield 

Police Department until he had each piece 

of the department polished. 

“He is an ultimate professional working 

with professional organizations throughout 

the state and was one of the first 

police chiefs to bring CALEA to this area. 

Because of initiatives, most (area) law 

enforcement agencies have followed his 

lead and are now also CALEA certified. 

These characteristics have never changed.” 

Under Johnson’s guidance, a full range 

of programs were implemented in the community, 

including the D.A.R.E. programs 

to provide substance avoidance training to 

middle school students; the Crisis Intervention 

Team (CIT), which is specially trained 

to respond to calls involving citizens with 

mental health concerns; the Neighborhood 

Watch program; adult and teen police academies; 

the annual Safety Town experience 

for young children; the Police Explorer 

Post; and child car seat installations. 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


Meet the Chief 

On Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m., the 

Chamber Understanding City Operations 

(CUCO) session, held jointly by 

the Chesterfield Regional Chamber 

and the city of Chesterfield at city 

hall, will offer the opportunity to meet 

Chief Ray Johnson. 

Johnson will share his insights, 

experience, wisdom and wit. The 

event is free and open to the public. 

Prankster and friend 

City Administrator Mike Geisel also 

calls Johnson a great friend, mentor and 

committed public servant. 

Geisel, who began his career with the 

city in 1988 as its assistant city engineer, 

was named co-city administrator alongside 

Johnson following the retirement of Mike 

Herring in 2016. 

“No one exemplifies the ‘attitude of gratitude’ 

or the ‘heart of a public servant’ more 

than Ray Johnson,” Geisel said. “After 35 

years, he still surprises with his intellect 

and humor on a daily basis. 

“I am both honored and humbled to have 

been privileged to work alongside the chief 

for all of these years. He has had and continues 

to have a profound influence on me 

both personally and professionally.” 

Geisel said he appreciates Johnson’s 

sharp wit and intelligence, but most notably 

his commitment to perpetuating pranks. 

Once, Johnson authored an email prank 

that caused Geisel to submit his resignation. 

The chief knew the administraator 

would respond intensely. 

But it wasn’t only Johnson who conspired 

to commit mischief. 

One of the pranks against Johnson was 

to regularly turn up the heat in his office 

through the building management systems. 

For his part, Johnson never acknowledged 

his discomfort, depriving its instigators of 

the satisfaction of the prank. 

Each week the chief and Geisel get 

together for a lunch meeting and Geisel 

said it’s always an event. 

“Going anywhere with the chief is like 

walking next to Elvis; he is a celebrity 

wherever he goes. People genuflect as he 

passes,” Geisel teased. 

He said most of all, he has viewed, 

admired and soaked in Johnson’s mentorship 

and advice. 

“While he is the consummate professional, 

with the most authentic and ethical 

set of beliefs, he is also one of the most 

compassionate and caring individuals I 

have ever known,” Geisel said. 

“No doubt the example and standard he 

has set have had a tremendous impact on 

the caliber of law enforcement provided to 

our community,” Mayor Bob Nation said. 

“He has distinguished himself and brought 

credit to the city of Chesterfield by serving 

in leadership of the St. Louis Area Major 

Case Squad, CALEA and St. Louis Area 

Police Chiefs Association (SLAPCA). 

Both Nation and City Council member 

Barb McGuinness (Ward 1) said finding 

someone to replace Johnson will not be 

easy. “He is such a professional, so classy, 

top-notch. Those will be big patent leather 

shoes to fill,” McGuinness said.



Whether it’s at the hearth or at the 

grill, people naturally congregate 

around a flame, said Frank Schmer, 

owner of St. Louis Home Fires. 

“It’s the warmth of the fire, it goes 

back to the very beginning, cavemen 

sitting around a fire cooking up meat,” 

he said. 

Now in the 21st century, with gas 

fireplaces and gas grills, heating and 

cooking have never been easier. 

Gas fireplaces take the drudgery out 

of building, stoking and extinguishing 

a fire, he said. 

“This is convenience. It’s all about 

the ease of it. We have remote control, 

so literally its about the turn of a knob 

or the click of a button, and it’s instant 

fire,” Schmer said. “There is no mess, 

no carrying wood through your house 

or walking out to the woodpile when its 

10 below zero.” 

People are using their fireplaces 

more because of it, he said. 

“You would never think to have a 

wood fire for half an hour, but you can 

turn these on and off. Take the chill 

off the room; have a cup of coffee, run 

them for half an hour, then go about 

your day and turn them back on in the 

evening.” 

St. Louis Home Fires also 

offers 99% efficient logs, 

Schmer said. 

“If people are concerned 

about home heating or the Schmer 

price of gas, you can actually add heat more 

efficiently than your furnace because the 

logs burn so clean they can be operated with 

the damper closed,” he said. 

As a reminder, Schmer says those who 

want gas logs by Christmas, need to get 

them on the schedule now. Installations 

are already booked into late November and 

early December. And before the fire season 

gets under way in earnest its a good idea to 

take care of any needed maintenance. 



“It’s not a bad idea every two or three 

years to have a maintenance call, a log tune 

up,” Schmer said. “We check the gas pressure, 

make sure the gas logs are working 

properly. It’s a really popular service.” 

St. Louis Home Fires also offers grill 

maintenance and grill cleaning in the off 

season. 

As for grills, some people make good 

use of them in every season, Schmer 

said. 

“You can cook outdoors all year 

round with smokers and pellet 

cookers. They need very little attention. 

They are kind of a set it and 

forget it type of smoking,” he said. 

Cooking outdoors is one of 

Schmer’s greatest pleasures. The 

founder and now president emeritus 

of the St. Louis BBQ Society 

said that the attraction of a good BBQ is 

about hospitality and entertaining family 

and friends. 

“I think our whole business is based on 

cooking for other people, cooking in the 

backyard. There’s something very gratifying 

about it. There’s nothing more worthwhile 

than cooking for someone else,” he said. 

Recently, St. Louis Home Fires 

expanded its space and its line to include 

prebuilt outdoor kitchens. Instead of stone 

I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 47 

St. Louis Home Fires can make your home the place at which to gather 

(St. Louis Home Fires photo) 

or brick these appliance cabinets are made 

of aluminum and are much more affordable, 

Schmer said. The store also carries a 

variety of outdoor gas and wood fire pits. 

This year, St. Louis Home Fires celebrates 

20 years in business. 

“Business has been good,” Schmer said. 

We are a part of the community both from 

an event standpoint and working with the 

people. We have a lot of regulars, and there 

is nothing more about community than 

barbecue and cooking in the backyard or 

family and friends sitting around their fireplace 

on the interior,” Schmer said. 

“We are in the service business,” Schmer 

said. “The products we sell are provided 

by companies we partner with that are just 

like us, reputable businesses that provide 

the best product and the best service. We 

don’t do a lot of different things. We don’t 

do patio furniture and hot tubs and all that 

kind of stuff. We do grills and fireplaces 

and gas logs, and we think what we do, we 

do better than anyone else.” 

St. Louis Home Fires 


stlhomefires@sbcglobal.net 

stlhomefires.com • 636-256-6564 

Owners Ben Boland & Jim Menner 

BEFORE 

H NEST 

JUN K HAULING 

CALL TODAY, WE’LL HAUL YOUR JUNK AWAY! 

AFTER 

Furniture • Appliances 

Electronics • Yard Clean Out 

Fences • Decks • Trampolines 

Swing Sets • Sheds • Pools 

• Real Estate Cleanup 

• Garage Clean Out 

• Basement Clean Out 

• Estate Clean Out 

• Remodeling Demo 

• Debris Loading & Hauling 

ALL ITEMS, LARGE & SMALL | REMOVAL, LOADING & DISPOSAL 

LARGE SCREEN 

$ TV PICK-UP 

30 OFF $ 

50 OFF 

SHEDS, PLAYSETS 

AND FENCES 

$ 

99 

HOT TUB 

REMOVAL 

Up to 65” – includes disposal fee 

(Each additional TV – $50) 

EXPIRES 12/2/23 EXPIRES 12/2/23 EXPIRES 12/2/23 

Cannot be combined with other offers. Cannot be combined with other offers. Cannot be combined with other offers. 

$ 

25 OFF 

ANY 

PICK-UP 

EXPIRES 12/2/23 

Cannot be combined with other offers. 

FREE ESTIMATES BY PHONE/TEXT OR ON-SITE 

314-312-1077 | www.honestjunk.com 

Locally Owned & Operated | Residential or Commercial 

6 

APR* 

Year 2: Fixed Rate of 6.25% 


00% 

. 


For Complete Details, Call: 

Jeffrey S. Patterson, Managing Partner 

Patterson Wealth Management LLC 

15415 Clayton Rd • Ballwin, MO 63011 

636-779-0664 • 800-536-8770 

pattersonwealthmanagement.com 

Issued By 

Wells Fargo & 

Company 

3 Yr. Step-UP Note 

Investment Rating: A1 / BBB+ 

Final Maturity Date: 10/26/2026 

First Callable Date: 10/26/2024 

*Subject to Availability. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) represents the interest earned through each eli-gible 

call date based on simple interest calculations, an investment price of $1000 per corporate bond, and is accurate 

as of October 19, 2023. Callable corporate bonds are more likely to be called in a lower interest rate environment, 

and investors may be unable to reinvest funds at the same rate as the original corporate bonds. The minimum 

balance required to purchase the corporate bond and obtain the APR is $10,000. Interest payouts are mandatory, 

and interest cannot remain on deposit. This investment is not FDIC insured. 

The Step-UP bonds are callable in twelve months, and six months thereafter. At the end of the 12-months, if the 

bonds are not called in, the interest rate will step up to 6.25%. The bonds will pay 6.25% for the next 12 months. 

If the bonds have not been called-in after 24-months from issuance, the interest rate will then increase to 6.50%, 

and will pay the rate for the last 12-months, until maturity. 

Corporate bond prices move opposite to interest rates, increasing when rates decline and falling when rates increase. 

Corporate bonds are intended to be held until maturity, as this assures redemption at par value. Investors 

may sell them before the stated maturity date, if needed, at the prevailing market prices, and proceeds may be 

more or less than the original investment. Market values of longer term corporate bonds tend to be more sen-sitive 

to interest rate fluctuation. Thus, the longer-term corporate bonds are generally not suitable for investors 

with a short-term horizon. Other factors that may affect corporate bonds are order size, call features, and investor 

demand. Sales charges may apply. Consider all risks and benefits and how this investment alternative may help 

meet investment objectives. 

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Cutter & Company, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. Patterson Wealth Management, 

Cutter & Company, Inc. and the issuer are not affiliated. Banking products and FDIC insurance are provided by the issuer.

48 I BUSINESS I 



CELEBRATING 15+ YEARS! 

Treasure Chest 

Holiday Expo 

Saint Charles Convention Center 

1 Convention Center Plaza | Saint Charles 

Fri 1pm-6pm | Sat 9am-5pm | Sun 10am-4pm 

FREE ADMISSION | FREE PARKING 

DON’T MISS: 

NOVEMBER 17-19 

Extravaganza showcasing 

160+ booths filled with 

unique gift items & more! 

Photos with Santa 

Saturday, Nov. 18 

11AM - 3PM 

Stray Paws Rescue Adoptions 

ALL WEEKEND 

Follow us on 

ENJOY YOUR FIRST WAX 

Look good and feel flawless with our Comfort Wax ® . This exclusive, violet wax combined 

with our specially trained experts is our secret to making your experience 

as comfortable as possible. We’re so confident you’ll love your experience that your first 

bikini line, underarm, ear, nose or brow wax is FREE.*first wax is free.* Offer Ends 11-15-23. 

CHESTERFIELD | 636 536 0777 

LADUE | 314 721 0777 

COTTLEVILLE | 636 447 9299 

waxcenter.com 

Additional terms may apply. Participation may vary; please visit waxcenter.com for general terms and conditions. Center locations are individually 

owned and operated. ©2022 EWC Franchise, LLC. All rights reserved. European Wax Center® is a registered trademark. 

BUSINESS 

BRIEFS 

Places 

The newest location of Panda Express 

opened at 16301 Truman Road in Ellisville 

on Oct. 19 with a ribbon cutting hosted 

by the West St. Louis County Chamber 

of Commerce. This new location marks a 

new store design for the restaurant chain, 

known as Panda Home, incorporating 

design elements inspired by traditional 

Chinese architecture and traditions with 

modern motifs. This location includes a 

drive thru and is featuring its firsts dessert 

item, an apple pie roll. 

• • • 

Schaefer Autobody Centers earned 

the 2023 TORCH Award for Ethics from 

the Better Business Bureau of Eastern & 

Southwest Missouri & Southern Illinois in 

the St. Louis and Columbia regions. The 

collision repairer operates in 14 locations 

across Missouri and Southern Illinois. 

• • • 

The Alberici/KAI Build Joint Venture 

partnership recently completed construction 

of The Mercy Center for Performance 

Medicine & Specialty Care and its connected 

1,000-space parking garage on the 

campus of Mercy Hospital, making it one 

of the largest outpatient surgery centers 

in the country. The five-level outpatient 

center includes neurosurgery, orthopedics 

and sports medicine, reconstructive surgery, 

bariatrics and urology. The facility 

includes weight and wellness-related care, 

imaging services, ten operating rooms and 

eight post-anesthesia care unit bays. 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


The newest location of Panda Express opened at 16301 Truman Road 

in Ellisville on Oct. 19 with a ribbon cutting hosted by the West St. Louis 

County Chamber of Commerce. 

(Laura Saggar photo) 

• • • 

General contractor Integrate Construction 

Partners completed construction 

of a second Metro MedSpa at 971 

Brittany Parkway Drive in Town & Country 

in September. Integrate constructed 

the 3,500-square-foot spa with a Botox 

bar, retail space, waiting area, coffee/ 

cocktail bar and private rooms for a variety 

of treatments. Integrate also installed 

a scent and soundscape system, custom 

wallcoverings, custom resin artwork and 

neon signage. 

People 

St. Louis County’s Department of 

Human Resources named Ambur Banner 

as the new deputy director. Banner has 

14 years of experience in the government 

sector and holds an MBA, MSW and is 

a licensed social worker. Prior to joining 

the Department of Human Services, 

Banner served as the Deputy Director of 

Public Health for the Unified Government 

Wyandotte County Public Health 

Department in Kansas. In the absence of 

the department’s director since February, 

Banner was appointed the department’s 

acting director. 

• • • 

Founder, and CEO of Data Connectors, 

Dawn Morrissey, of Chesterfield, has 

been honored with the 2023 Best of Chesterfield 

Award in the Event Planner category 

by the Chesterfield Award Program. 

Founded in 1999, Data Connectors is in 

the cybersecurity event planning industry, 

providing services to local and national 

businesses. The Chesterfield Award Program 

annually honors the achievements 

and accomplishments of local businesses 

throughout the area.


WEST NEWSMAGAZINE I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 49 

The Autohaus Experience is focused on customers before, during and after the sale 



Every day, Autohaus BMW of 

Maplewood strives to provide an 

excellent experience for their customers. 

From the moment they walk 

into the elegant showroom through 

the selection of their BMW to getting 

the service they need after the 

sale, customers and their satisfaction 

are the focus of all they do. That is 

the Autohaus experience. 

Maybe that’s why Autohaus is the 

largest BMW dealership in Missouri. 

“We’ve been the #1 New and 

Certified Pre-Owned BMW Sales 

Leader in Missouri for the past six 

years and the #1 New Luxury Car Sales 

Leader in the state,” said General Manager 

Joe Emerson. “Our 58,000-squarefoot 

facility is the largest BMW Center in 

the St. Louis area, and we have invested 

heavily in providing the best facility and 

experience for our clients.” 

Although the friendly sales staff and 

a new BMW go a long way to producing 

that experience, the Autohaus service 

department makes it last. It’s a department 

with longevity. 

“We have very low staff turnover. It 

is not unusual for our staff members to 

celebrate a 20- or 30-year anniversary or 

retirement,” Emerson said. “We promote 

from within as much as possible, building 

on their experience and training to provide 

a greater path to success, long-term employment 

and growth. They are a big part of the 

Autohaus Experience, building long-term 

relationships with our clients and promoting 

a strong family environment.” 

From now until December 31, those who 

want to know the Autohaus Experience first 

hand and at the best price should stop in and 

take advantage of the BMW Road Home 

Sales event. 

“It is our biggest BMW Sales event of the 

year,” Emerson said. “We’ll have our most 

aggressive offers, interest rates and leases 

and a larger selection of new BMW inventory 

on the ground and 

arriving sooner than in 

the past few years.” 

New vehicles will 

include the latest gasoline-powered, 

hybrids 

and all-electric BMWs. 

“With the global push 

for electric vehicles, we 

are excited for the interest 

that our loyal BMW 

customers are showing 

in the new all-electric 

BMW i4 and iX,” Emerson 

said. “Their quality 

and performance are outstanding and they are 

exhilarating to drive. The most recent electric 

arrivals are the all-new all-electric BMW i7 

and i5 sedans. Currently, however, our electric 

line-up is only 20% of our business, most 

incoming new BMW’s are gasoline powered 

and hybrid sedans and SUVs, the most popular 

being the BMW X3, X5 and X7 SUV’s, 

built here in America at BMW’s Spartanburg, 

SC plant.” 

So, come in for a test drive and Autohaus 

will make a difference for others in the St. 

Louis community with the BMW Drive 

to End Hunger. For every test drive from 

Nov. 1-30, $20 will be donated to Feeding 

America and local food banks to cover 

(Autohaus BMW photo) 

transportation costs for delivering 200 

meals and fresh food quickly to the most 

needy locations. 

“BMW is matching our donations,” Emerson 

said. “We are also involved with other 

St. Louis-based charities including Pedal 

the Cause, St. Louis Men’s Group Against 

Cancer, and others. St. Louis has been so 

good to us over 50 years. Our charity partners 

tend to have a strong connection to and 

benefit the St. Louis area.” 

Owned and operated by the Fink Family 

since 1966, Autohaus also has a strong St. 

Louis connection that continues with the next 

generation. Dealer Principal Peggy Wessel, 

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fink, has been at the 

helm since 2017. Emerson, of course, serves 

as general manager. He along with General 

Sales Manager Todd Cherry and Fixed Ops 

Director Todd Feuerhaken manage the staff 

and day-to-day operations. 

“We continue to uphold the standards and 

commitment to the BMW brand, our clients 

and our employees, with the next generation 

of seven family owners,” Emerson said. 

Autohaus BMW 

3015 S. Hanley Road • St. Louis 

314-727-8870 • bmwautohaus.com 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 

Notice is hereby given that the Planning and Zoning Commission of the 

City of Ellisville will hold a public hearing at the Parks and Recreation 

Building within Bluebird Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road, Ellisville, Missouri, 

63021, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. to consider the 

petition of Pete Pulizzi and Derek Hayes, on behalf of New Moon Studio 

LLC, for a text amendment to Title IV: Land Use; Chapter 400: Zoning 

Regulations; Sections 400.090 and 400.290 to amend the definition of 

tattooing and tattooing establishments and to add tattooing and tattooing 

establishments to the list of conditional uses within the “C-3” Commercial 

Zoning District of the City of Ellisville, and to adopt a new Section 400.336 

to regulate tattooing establishments. 

Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Ellisville will hold 

a public hearing at the Parks and Recreation Building within Bluebird 

Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road, Ellisville, Missouri, 63021, on Wednesday, 

November 15, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. to consider the petition of Pete Pulizzi and 

Derek Hayes, on behalf of New Moon Studio LLC, for a text amendment to 

Title IV: Land Use; Chapter 400: Zoning Regulations; Sections 400.090 and 

400.290 to amend the definition of tattooing and tattooing establishments 

and to add tattooing and tattooing establishments to the list of conditional 

uses within the “C-3” Commercial Zoning District of the City of Ellisville, 

and to adopt a new Section 400.336 to regulate tattooing establishments. 

These public hearings are in compliance with Title IV, Land Use, of the 

Municipal Code of the City of Ellisville, Missouri. 

Gills Tree 

Service 

• Tree Removal 

• Tree Trimming 

• Tree Pruning 

• Stump Removal 

IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 26 YEARS! 

Whether your tree is hazardous, interferes with your view, or just isn’t aesthetically pleasing, we have 

the experience and the equipment to remove it safely and securely. If you are considering removing a 

tree, speak with our team of St. Louis tree removal experts. 

636.274.1378 • Gillstrees.com 

FREE ESTIMATES 

SAME DAY AND 

EMERGENCY SERVICE 

AVAILABLE!

50 I EVENTS I 

LOCAL 

EVENTS 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

Longview Farm House Art Gallery 

is open for viewing from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 

Monday through Friday at the Longview 

Farm House, 13525 Clayton Road in Town 

& Country, featuring rotating exhibits of 

local artists. To become an artist at the 

gallery, fill out an application at town-andcountry.org 

or call (314) 587-2814. 

• • • 

The New Jewish Theatre presents “Into 

the Woods” Thursday, Nov. 30 through 

Thursday, Dec. 17 at the J’s Wool Studio 

Theatre, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in 

Creve Coeur. Tickets start at $53 and are 

available by phone at (314) 442-3283 or 

online at newjewishtheatre.org. 



BENEFITS 

Feed the Masses Food Drive is through 

November. Over 20 area parks and recreation 

departments are in competition to see 

which city can collect the most items to be 

donated to local food banks. Check with 

your local municipality to see if they are 

participating and how to donate. 

• • • 

The Eureka Masons breakfast is from 

6:30-11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the 

Meramec Masonic Lodge, 616 Stockell 

Drive. Adults are $11; children are $5; ages 

5 and younger are free. Benefits Eureka 

High scholarships and Shriners Hospital. 

• • • 

MOCM Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. (doors 

open at 6 p.m.) on Friday, Nov. 10 at The 

Heights, 8001 Dale Ave. in St. Louis, featuring 

trivia categories inspired by favorite 

board games, a silent auction, a wine pull, 

mulligans, 50/50 raffle and more. Bring 

drinks and food. Tickets are $25 each (tables 

seat eight). Register at mochambermusic.org. 

• • • 

A Sausage Supper is from 3-6 p.m. 

on Saturday, Nov. 11 at St. John United 

Church of Christ, 332 Old Sulphur Spring 

Road in Manchester. Dine-in and carryout 

are available. Adult meals are $15 per 

person; children (6-12) meals are $7. Children 

5 and younger eat free. 

• • • 

A Red, White and Blue Trivia Night 

is at 7:15 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) 

on Saturday, Nov. 11 at St. Gerard Majella 

Catholic Church, 1971 Dougherty Ferry 

Road in Kirkwood. Cost is $25 per person 

(tables seat 10). Wear red, white and blue 

for a door prize. Proceeds to benefit MS 

Bright Spots of Hope. For details, visit 

msbrightspotsofhope.org/trivia-night. 

• • • 

The Memory Care Home Solutions 

Gala is from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 

18 at the Palladium Saint Louis, 1400 Park 

Place, featuring dinner, a performance 

by the Charles Glenn Trio, a “Build your 

own jewelry Color Bar” by Kendra Scott, 

PhotoBooth with MirrorMeSTL and more. 

Complimentary valet parking. RSVP at 

cschwartzkopf@memorycarehs.org by Nov. 

6. For details, visit memorycarehs.org. 

@WESTNEWSMAG 


HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 

Letters to Santa - Manchester. Send 

your letters and a self-addressed, stamped 

envelope, by Dec. 18 to: Santa Claus, c/o 

Manchester Parks Department, 359 Old 

Meramec Station Road, Manchester, MO 

63021. 

• • • 

St. Mark Presbyterian Women’s 

Christmas Boutique is from 10:30 a.m.- 

7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 and from 10 

a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at St. 

Mark Presbyterian Church, 601 Claymont 

Drive in Ballwin. Christmas decorations, 

ornaments, handmade items, original artwork 

and crafts, fresh baked goods and 

more. St. Mark’s famous chicken salad, 

homemade soups and desserts will also be 

available for purchase. For details, visit 

discoverstmark.org. 

• • • 

Surviving the Holidays – A Grief 

Share event is from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

on Sunday, Nov. 12 at Living Word Church, 

17315 Manchester Road in Wildwood. For 

those struggling with grief during this 

season. All are welcome. For details, visit 

livingwordumc.org. 

• • • 

A Holiday Gift Sale is from 10 a.m.-3 

p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 at Friendship Village, 

15201 Olive Blvd. Artwork, woodwork, 

needlework and baked goods made 

by residents are featured alongside wares 

from outside vendors. The event is free 

with parking on site. Cash, checks and 

credit cards are accepted. For details, visit 

friendshipvillagestl.com. 

• • • 

The Downtown Kirkwood Holiday 

Walk is at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 

at The Kirkwood Train Station, 110 E. 

Argonne. Enjoy holiday shopping, free 

entertainment and refreshments. Santa 

Claus will pose for photos from 9:15 a.m.- 

See EVENTS, page 52 

gooD FrienDS. 

great FooD. 

colD DrinkS. 

Daily lunch & Dinner SpecialS 

288 lamp & lantern Village - upper leVel 

636-256-7201 

> 

> 

> 

Charro 

Mexican Restaurant & Bar 

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE 

$3.50 

MARGARITA 

(on the rocks) 

MONDAYS! 

HAPPY 

HOUR! 

3-6 PM DAILY 

COME PIG OUT AT 3 BAY BBQ & BAKERY 

Best Pulled Pork This Side Of The Mississippi! 

• smoked sticky baby-back ribs • pork steaks • paninis • brats • burgers 

• smoked brisket • smoked turkey breast • all-beef BIG hot dogs • homemade chips 

• homemade mac & cheese • GG burger • smoked pulled chicken 

smoked pulled pork • 3 Bay smoked brisket philly cheese • nachos & more! 

LUNCH 

SPECIALS 

START AT 

$6.99 

Open Sunday-Thursday: 11:00 - 10:00 pm 

Friday - Saturday: 11:00 - 10:30 pm 

14839 Clayton Road • Chesterfield 

636.256.7071 

www.charromexicanrestaurant.com 

> 

KIDS 

EAT 

FREE 

SUNDAYS 

1 PER FAMILY 

25% OFF 

One Meal 

With this coupon. 

Expires 11/30/23 

Excluding 1/2 & Full Slab of Ribs 

Gooey Butter Bars, Chocolate Chunk Brownies, Peanut Butter Bars, 

Hawaiian Pineapple Cake, Brookies, Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, 

Apple Chunk Cake, Banana Cake w/Cinnamon Frosting and so much more! 

NEW Sloppy Rib Sandwich 

Our Amazing Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Shredded, 

and Mixed with our own Sweet GG’S BBQ Sauce 

Inside W. County Phillips 66 @ Clayton & Woodsmill Rd 

14195 Clayton Rd, Town & Country, MO 63017 • 636.227.1208 

www.3baybbq.com • Tues-Fri 10:30am-7:00pm • Open Saturdays: Noon to 7pm 

> 

> 

> 

$3.00 OFF 

Purchase of 

$15 or More 

Mon.-Thurs. 

Coupon must be presented 

at time of purchase. Not 

valid with any other offers. 


$5.00 OFF 

Purchase of 

$25 or More 

Mon.-Thurs. 

Coupon must be presented 

at time of purchase. Not 

valid with any other offers. 


LIKE 

USON 

Facebook.com/westnewsmagazine 

Bundt Cakes FOR THE 

Dessert Table 

$5 Off 

purchase of $25 or more 

Valid at: 

St Louis-Chesterfield (Town & Country) 

St Louis-Brentwood 

St Peters 

Wentzville 

Expires 11/30/2023. Limit one (1) coupon per 

guest. Coupon must be presented at time of 

purchase. Valid only at the Nothing Bundt Cakes 

bakery(ies) listed. Valid only on baked goods; 

not valid on retail items. Must be claimed in 

bakery during normal business hours. Not valid 

for online orders. Not valid with any other offer. 

Discounts applied before tax. Coupon may not 

be reproduced, transferred or sold. Internet 

distribution strictly prohibited. No cash value. 

For 

Bakery



For from typical - Wildwood Pub & Grill strives to make guests happy 



I 51 

By SUZANNE CORBETT 

Wildwood Pub & Grill has a reputation 

beyond good food, cold drinks and golf. 

Its reputation is built on offering the unexpected. 

That’s something Mandy Williams, 

Wildwood Pub & Grill’s general manager, 

and her staff take pride in. 

“We do things differently. Always have, 

and that begins with the menu. Starting 

with our bread. It’s delivered fresh every 

day, which isn’t typical. We also don’t like 

using the same Kaiser roll on everything. 

We have bread options like pretzel buns 

and sourdough,” Williams said. 

Garlic parmesan encrusted sourdough is 

featured in the Adult Grilled Cheese. 

“Who wants a boring bread and cheese 

sandwich?: Williams asked. The Adult 

Grilled Cheese, she said, is far from typical. 

“That’s the reason it’s a favorite and 

why it’s on our new fall menu, which 

launched in September.” 

Wildwood Pub & Grill’s new menu is a 

multi-page litany of culinary offerings that 

Wildwood Pub and Grill 

range from appetizers to decadent desserts, 

including the sinfully rich Caramel and 

Chocolate Sauced Brownie Bite Sundae. 

Many guests still go straight to the pub 

grub classic – a hand-crafted, half-pound 

burger made with Creekstone Farms Black 

Angus premium beef. The best-seller is the 

charbroiled Wildwood Burger, which is 

dressed to order. All of the pub’s burgers 

are smashed on a flat-top grill as the new 

Frisco Smash makes clear. Topped with 

American and Swiss Cheese on buttery 

toasted sourdough and sauced with housemade 

1000 Island, it’s a burger that delivers 

a true San Franciso treat. 

Another handheld wonder making its 

debut on the sandwich roster is the Blackened 

Chicken Philly Cheesesteak. 

“We always had a Philly Cheesesteak but 

not a Blackened Chicken Philly Cheesesteak 

until our customers requested it. We 

listened and we made it happen. It’s been a 

winner,” Williams said. 

Representing the deep south is the 

Shrimp Po’Boy, which originally rolled 

17253 New College Ave • Wildwood • (636) 273-4300 • wildwoodpub.com 

Kitchen hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday - Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 

11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays • Check online for golf and bar hours. 

out as a Lenten special but made a big 

splash. Crispy battered shrimp are stacked 

on a toasted hoagie roll that is fitted with a 

leaf lettuce blanket, red onion, diced tomatoes, 

pickle, and homemade kayo sauce. A 

signature Wildwood Pub sauce, kayo is 

similar to a Louisiana Creole remoulade 

and makes this po-boy oh-so rich. 

Williams admitted that there’s a lot to 

choose from on the pub’s new menu. 

“But I would have to pick our new Pub 

Favorites section, which has something for 

almost anyone, from steak, seafood and 

pasta,” she said. 

The Chimichurri Steak features chargrilled 

sirloin that is topped with the trending 

Argentinian sauce made with parsley, 

garlic olive oil lemon juice and spices. 

It’s accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes 

and flash-fried spinach. The Fish and 

Chips, a pub staple, is hand-breaded and 

cooked fresh when ordered. Those who 

crave slow-smoked meats will find brisket, 

chicken and pork in abundance from sandwiches 

to tacos to pasta and pizza. 

“We smoke all our own meats 

daily. Drive by any day and you’ll 

probably smell the smoke. If you 

Chimichurri Steak 

smell the smoke you’ll smell the 

flavor,” Williams said. 

All the smoked items are seasoned 

or rubbed with Wildwood’s own 

spice blends – and the made-from-scratch. 

barbecue sauces perfectly compliment the 

restaurant’s smoked wings. But purists can 

still order wings fried and/or trashed. 

Wings are always a top pick for those 

who gather to party and play golf in one 

of six golf simulators. To reserve simulator 

space, book your tee time online. You’ll 

discover Wildwood Pub has the best rates 

in town. Book a single simulator or consider 

booking the golf suite that holds up to 

75 and includes the use of all six simulators. 

The not-so-typical happy hour is from 

3-7 p.m., Monday through Friday and runs 

throughout the entire restaurant and patio 

– not just the bar area. Now, that’s great service, 

which is typical. 

As Williams said, “We’re all about customer 

service here and making people 

happy.” 

THE LINKS AT 

WILDWOOD 

PUB & GRILL 

2023-2024 GOLF RATES: 

NOVEMBER 1 - MARCH 31: 

MONDAY - THURSDAY 

10am-3pm $20/hour 

3pm-11pm $25/hour 

FRIDAY - SATURDAY 

10am-11pm $35/hour 

SUNDAY 

10am-6pm $35/hour 

6pm-11pm $20/hour 

PLAY THE LINKS • TEE TIME ANYTIME 

BOOK YOUR TEE TIME ONLINE! 

17253 NEW COLLEGE AVE • WILDWOOD 63040 

636.273.4300 • WWW.WILDWOODPUB.COM 

Starting at $ 8.99 

It's been 3 Years since my Brother Bill Passed away! 

I will always remember his words. 

"Jack, we lose money on every transaction ... 

BUT ... we make up for it in VOLUME!" 

lol ... ONLY BILL WOULD HAVE SAID THAT!!! 


636-391-3700 

14312 South Outer 40 Road 

314-485-8800

52 I EVENTS I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


EVENTS, from page 50 

12:30 p.m. inside the train station. From 

9:15 a.m.-noon, Mrs. Claus will tell stories 

and sing with the children. At 1 p.m., the 

Lucille Rapp Tumblers and Dancers will 

perform. Free event. 

• • • 

The Eureka Tree Lighting Ceremony 

is from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 

the Central Avenue Spur, 394 South Central 

Ave. Enjoy hot cocoa and entertainment, 

plus crafts from local artists. Two of 

Santa’s reindeer will make an appearance. 

Free with a non-perishable food item donation. 

For more details, visit eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

A Service of Remembrance is at 6:30 

p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Living Word 

Church, 17315 Manchester Road in Wildwood 

for those who are dealing with grief 

and the loss of a loved one. For details, call 

(314) 330-0017 or visit livingwordumc.org. 

• • • 

The Turkey Trails 5K/10K is from 

9-11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Tremayne 

Shelter, 13725 Marine Ave. in Maryland 

Heights. Registration begins at $15. For 

details, visit runsignup.com and search 

“Turkey Trails.” 

• • • 

Ellisville residents and businesses 

can submit a photo of their “Light Up 

Ellisville” display to mfadler@ellisville. 

mo.us between Nov. 24 through Dec. 31. 

Each entry will be uploaded to the city’s 

Facebook for votes to choose the top five 

submissions, which will be entered into a 

drawing for a gift card. 

• • • 

Chesterfield’s Turkey Trot race is at 

8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23) 

at Chesterfield Central Park, 16365 Lydia 

Hill Drive. Choose between a 5K Run/ 

Walk or a 1-mile Fun Run (at 9:30 a.m.) 

geared toward children. Participation is 

$25 (5K) through Oct. 31; $15 for the Fun 

Run. To register, visit chesterfield.mo.us 

and search “Turkey Trot.” 

• • • 

Santa Claus at The National Museum of 

Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, 

is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 

25. Admission is $15 for adults; $13 for 

seniors and first responders; $7 for children 

ages 2-12. For details, visit tnmot.org. 

• • • 

Pictures with Santa is from noon-4 p.m. 

on Sunday, Nov. 26 at the Central Avenue 

Spur, 394 South Central Ave. in Eureka. 

Free with a non-perishable food item donation. 

For details, visit eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

Pizza with Santa is from 6:30-8 p.m. 

on Thursday, Nov. 30; from 6:30-8 p.m. 

on Friday, Dec. 1; from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 

2:30-4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, 

Dec. 2 at the Eureka Community 

Center, 333 Bald Hill Road. Children can 

enjoy pizza with Santa, decorate cookies, 

make a craft and write a letter to the 

big guy in red. Parents should bring their 

cameras. In-person registration is required 

at The Timbers of Eureka. Free with a nonperishable 

food item donation. For details, 

visit eureka.mo.us. 

• • • 

Cookies with the Claus is at 6:30 p.m. 

on Friday, Dec. 1 at the Chesterfield Community 

Center, 237 Chesterfield Mall. 

Enjoy a holiday cookie and sit by the tree 

as Santa reads stories. For ages 2-12. Cost 

is $5 per person. To register, visit chesterfield.mo.us/cookies-with-the-claus. 

• • • 

The Wildwood Holiday Tree Lighting 

Ceremony is from 3-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 

Dec. 2 at Town Center Plaza. Visit 

with Santa Claus, shop with local vendors 

and warm up by the fire pits while roasting 

marshmallows for s’mores. For details, 

visit cityofwildwood.com. 

• • • 

Santa Paws is from 4-5 p.m. on Friday, 

Dec. 8 at the Eberwein Dog Park, 1627 Old 

Baxter Road in Chesterfield. Bring your K9 

friends and take pictures with Santa. Free 

event. Dog park members only. Register by 

emailing recreation@chesterfield.mo.us. 

• • • 

Breakfast and Santa is at 8:30 a.m., 

9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 

9 at the Schroeder Park Building, 359 Old 

Meramec Springs Road in Manchester. 

Pancakes by Chris Cakes St. Louis. Cost 

is $10 for resident children; $12 for nonresident 

children; adults are $12 for residents; 

$14.40 for non-residents. Everyone 

ages 1 and older must have a ticket. Purchase 

tickets in advance at manchestermo. 

gov/630/Breakfast-with-Santa. Event will 

sell out. 

• • • 

A Christmas Candlelight Concert is at 

2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 

560 Music Center in St. Louis. Purchase 

tickets at bachsociety.org/christmas. 

• • • 

A Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt is from 

5-6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Bluebird 

Park in Ellisville. Guests should bring a 

flashlight and bag for collecting the candy. 

Afterward, enjoy hot cocoa, cookies and a 

visit from Santa. $6 per person. Pre-registration 

is required at ellisville.mo.us. 

• • • 

A Drive Through Christmas Experience 

is from 6:30-8 p.m. on Dec. 9-11 

and Dec. 16-18 at Pathfinder Church in 

Ellisville. Features lights synchronized to 

music, Christmas-themed inflatables, live 

music, Christmas characters, a live expres- 

ORDER YOUR 

THANKSGIVING 

PACKAGE TODAY! 

Packages ($99) 

& Ala Carte Items ($20-$75) 

Whole Smoked Turkey, Whole Smoked Turkey Breast, 

or Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Ham 

with Sweet Potato Peach Casserole, 

Green Bean Casserole and Turkey Gravy 

Call 636.529.1898 

or order at register 

LIMTED QUANTITY 

ORDER DEADLINE: Fri., 11/17 (or when sold out) 

2951 Dougherty Ferry Rd. (63122) 

www.daliessmokehouse.com/thanksgiving-menu 

PIZZA | WINGS | BREWS | SPORTS 

CRAFTY CHAMELEON 

NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH! 

OPEN EVERY DAY AT 11AM! 

Come see us during lunch & enjoy 

combo specials, personalized pizzas 

and ice cold craft brews! 

636.220.9144 • WWW.CRAFTYCHAMELEONBAR.COM 

1384 CLARKSON CLAYTON CENTER • ELLISVILLE 63011 

BAR HOURS: Mon-Sun: 11am – Midnight 

KITCHEN HOURS: Sun-Tues: 11am – 9pm • Wed-Sat: 11am – 10pm 

If crêpes aren’t love, 

I don’t know what is! 

Now Open! 

Authentic sweet & savory crêpes 

in Chesterfield! Come and 

taste a little bit of France 

Have a crêpe! 

Natacha Douglas, 

Owner 

17409 CHESTERFIELD AIRPORT RD, STE A | CHESTERFIELD, MO 63005 

636-778-0188 | WWW.FRENCHCREPERIE.COM | FRI-SAT-SUN 7AM-4PM





I EVENTS I 53 

sion of the nativity and more. Free event. 

For details, visit pathfinderstl.org/lights. 

• • • 

A Holiday Concert is at 2:30 p.m. on 

Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Ridgeway Auditorium, 

13201 Clayton Road, on the campus 

of The Principia. The Town & Country 

Orchestra performs “Winter Reveries” by 

Tchaikovsky and “The Nutcracker Suite.” 

Free tickets and details, visit tcsomo.org. 

SPECIAL INTEREST 

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is 

from Nov. 5-19 at St. Louis Jewish Community 

Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. 

Visit STLJewishBookFestival.org for a 

schedule of events. 

• • • 

A Veterans Day Breakfast is from 7-10 

a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the American 

Legion Post #208, 225 Sulphur Spring 

Road in Manchester. Provided by the city 

of Manchester. Registration is not required. 

• • • 

Be Well in the Barn Yoga is from 9-10 

a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Longview 

Farm Park Barn, 13525 Clayton Road in 

Town and Country. A single class is $18. 

Register at town-and-country.org. 

• • • 

“Starlight Sunset” Painting Class is 

from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 

the Schroeder Park Building, 359 Old 

Meramec Station Road in Manchester for a 

night of painting fun. Supplies and drinks 

are provided. The cost is $25 for residents 

and $32 for non-residents. For ages 21 

and older. To register, visit manchestermo. 

gov/755/Adult-Painting-Classes. 

• • • 

National Council of Jewish Women 

Jefferson City Trip is from 8:45 a.m.- 

5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16; departing 

from the NCJWSTL Office, 295 N. 

Lindbergh Blvd. Includes a visit to the 

State Capitol and Temple Beth El, the 

oldest synagogue west of the Mississippi 

in continuous use. The trip will end with 

a treat at Central Dairy. The cost is $36 a 

person. Everyone is welcome. To register, 

visit bit.ly/3S3U7U1. 

• • • 

Fall Bingo is from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 17 

at the Chesterfield Community Center, 

237 Chesterfield Mall. Each night is 

themed. All ages are welcome. Bring your 

own food and drinks. Light refreshments 

will be provided. There will be prizes for 

bingo winners. Groups of four residents, 

$38; non-residents, $44; individual residents, 

$10 non-residents, $12. Register via 

Don’t miss the Feztival of Trees at the 

Moolah Shrine Center 

The Moolah Shriners 5th Annual Feztival 

of Trees begins Nov. 18 and runs 

through Nov. 25 at the Moolah Shrine 

Center at 12545 Fee Fee Road. Doors 

will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. 

each day except Thanksgiving Day when 

the Center will close and on Nov. 25 

when the hours will be from 10 a.m. until 

6 p.m. Attendees can view more than 40 

Christmas trees decorated and loaded 

with gifts and enter a raffle to win one, 

or more, if they choose. Winners will be 

drawn after the event closes on Nov. 25. 

Raffle tickets are $1 each. The trees 

range in value from $500 to over 

$10,000. Admission for adults is $2. 

Kids age 12 and younger are free. Santa 

Claus will be there to pose with children 

for pictures. 

Shriners Children’s Hospital has been 

email at recreation@chesterfield.mo.us. 

• • • 

A Diwali Celebration is from noon-1:45 

p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Schroeder 

Park Building, 359 Old Meramec Station 

Source: Feztival of Trees) 

providing hope and healing to children 

for more than 100 years. Their compassionate, 

prestigious doctors and care 

teams are committed to excellence in 

pediatric care. 

Your donations help Shriners help kids. 

Road in Manchester. Explore Indian culture 

through creative meditation, group activities, 

Indian cultural song and dance performances, 

Indian food and more. Welcome to 

all ages. Register at tiny.cc/diwali_stl2. 

WEST HOME PAGES 

THE FAN MAN 

INSTAllATIoN ProFESSIoNAlS 

Ceiling Fans • Wholehouse Fans 

Gable Vent Fans • Recessed Lighting 

Specializing in installation for two story homes 

with no wiring on first floor. 

When Handyman Quality Just Won't Do. 

(314) 518-0231 

Clear Window 

TECHNOLOGY 

Family Owned & Operated Since 1983 

Windows • Entry Doors • Patio Doors 

Replacement & Repair 

Glass Replacement 

Call Today for a FREE ESTIMATE 

314-966-2666 • www.clearwindowtech.com 

Licensed & Insured 

H NEST 

JUNK HAULING 

Furniture, Appliances, Fences, 

Decks, Swing Sets & More 


314-312-1077 

Locally Owned & Operated 

ALL OF YOUR DECKING NEEDS 

• Wood 

• Vinyl 

• Composite 

• Aluminum 

• Refacing 

• New Decks 

• Deck Repairs 

• IPE (Hardwood) 

Rlinkconstruction@yahoo.com 

314.607.8953 

H NEST 

JUNK HAULING 

$ 

25.00 OFF 

Any Service 

FIND US ON 


314-312-1077 

Locally Owned & Operated 

Locally Owned & Operated by Tim Hallahan 

Serving West County for 25+ Years 

636.458.6400 

timjhallahan@gmail.com 

westwoodpaintinginc.com 

Driveways, Patios, Pool Decks, Garage Floors, 

Retaining Walls, Stamped and Colored Concrete 

Insured For Your Protection 

When you want it done right... 

Check our ads first. 

636.591.0010 

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS 

• NEW 

CONSTRUCTION 

• 24 HR 

• BATH 

EMERGENCY 

REMODELS 

SERVICE 

• ACCESSIBILITY • RESIDENTIAL 

REMODELS 

• COMMERCIAL 

WWW.JJKOKESHANDSON.COM

54 I 



@WESTNEWSMAG 


WEST HOME PAGES 

DECK STAINING 

BRUSH ONLY 

BY BRUSH ONLY 

(Because neatness counts) 

• NO Spraying or Rolling Mess! 

• NO Money Down! 

Painting Interior & Exterior 

Powerwashing 

Homes & Concrete 

Deck & Fence Staining 

Gutter Cleaning & Gutter Guards 

Window Cleaning 

Insured • Senior Discounts 

Call Chris 314-620-6677 

314-852-5467 

• FULLY INSURED • REFERENCES 

42+ Years! 

www.deckstainingbybrushonly.com 

YOU’VE SEEN THE MESS, TRY THE BEST 

CONCRETE 

Patios • Driveways • Sidewalks 

Textured Finishes also available 

Licensed & Insured 

Rlinkconstruction@yahoo.com 

314.607.8953 

CUSTOM DECKS 

SCREEN ROOMS, ENCLOSURES, 

REPAIRS, RESURFACE, PATIOS, STAMPED CONCRETE, 

4 SEASON ROOMS, OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES 

GENERAL CONTRACTOR | All Types Of Home Improvements 

Insurance Specialist, Fully Insured | A+ BBB Rating, 30 Years Experience 

FREE INSPECTIONS & ESTIMATES 

314-282-1991 | www.CovenantContractingSTL.com 

COMPLETE KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING 

PLUS OTHER INTERIOR PROJECTS 

References Available 

Serving West County & 

Reasonable Pricing 

surrounding areas since 1985 

Quality Work 

Edwards Remodeling • Call 314-397-5100 • Licensed & Insured 

314.518.0231 

PERMA JACK ® OF ST. LOUIS 

The St. Louis Area’s Most Trusted 

Foundation Repair and Basement 

Waterproofing Company 

For Nearly 50 Years! 

ROOFING 

TUCKPOINTING 

GUTTERS 

LEAFGARD 

314-968-7848 stlroofing.com 

J.D. CONTRACTING 

EXTERIOR SPECIALIST 

REPLACEMENT 

WINDOWS 

TEXT JIM 

314.723.0027 

• Low E 

• Energy Efficient 

• Double Hung 

• Siding, Soffit 

and Gutters 

CALL OR TEXT JIM TO REQUEST A BID! 

• Deck Construction 

• Deck Repairs 

• Deck Upgrades 

• Deck Staining 

• Staircases 

• Hand Rail 

• Fully Insured 

• Warranty 

• No Money Up Front 

Foundation Repair 

Basement Waterproofing 

Bowed Wall Repair 

Wall Crack Repair 

Yard Drainage Solutions 

BBB Rating: A+ 

FREE Home Inspection 

Call Today: 636-203-8192 

www.permajackofstlouis.com 

30+ YEARS 

EXPERIENCE 

County House Washing 

& Painting 

WEST 

A+ 

RATED 

Power Washing • Painting • Staining 

INTERIORS • EXTERIORS • CONCRETE 

CEDAR HOMES • DECKS & FENCES 

Mike Lynch 636.394.0013 

WWW.COUNTYHOUSEWASHING.COM 

20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE 

PATIOS • DRIVEWAYS 

RETAINING WALLS 

STAMPED CONCRETE 

314-698-0403 • www.rickthomasconcrete.com • Fully Insured 

TOP GUNN FAMILY 

CONSTRUCTION INC. 

Build and Repair Decks & Fences, 

All Painting, Wallpaper Removal, 

Powerwash/Stain Decks, Finish Basements, 

Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths 

Senior Discounts • Military Discounts 

First responders must show ID 

Call Today • 636-466-3956 

GunnFamilyConstruction@gmail.com 

JL CONCRETE 

SEALING & CAULKING 

Residential and Commercial 

• Sealing (Prevents pitting) 

• Caulking (Keep out the weeds) 

• Power Washing (Fresh & clean) 

• Crack Filling (Keeps moisture out) 

• Fence Washing 


Call Jerry Loosmore Jr. at 636-399-6193 

636-938-ROOF (7663) 

Like us on Facebook 

Locally Owned & Operated by Rick Hinkson 

J.D. CONTRACTING 

EXTERIOR SPECIALIST 

ROOFING 

PLUS Powerwashing, 

Decks & Staining 

TEXT JIM 

314.723.0027 

CALL OR TEXT JIM TO REQUEST A BID! 

• Emergency 

Repairs 

• Free Roofing 

Inspections 

• Insurance 

Claims 

• Siding, Soffit 

& Fascia 

• Insured 

Deck Restoration LLC 

∙ Power Wash ∙ Stain & Seal 

∙ Deck Repair & Rebuild 

∙ Mold & Mildew Removal 

∙ Cleaning Fences, Concrete, 

Vinyl Siding & Patios 

Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 

DUSTIN HANN 636-484-2967 

www.deckrestorationco.com





WEST CLASSIFIEDS • 636.591.0010 • CLASSIFIEDS@NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM 

I 55 

CARPET 

CLEANING SERVICES 

SPOTLESS CLEANING 

SERVICES 

for your home or business. 

Specializing in everyday cleaning 

of homes, rentals, move outs & 

home buying, etc. 

Family owned & operated 

Call today (636) 777-9319 

to schedule your cleaninag 

or a FREE ESTIMATE. 

Email: spotless.dina@gmail.com 

COLLECTIBLES 

OLD BOTTLE 

COLLECTION 

-SOME RARE- 

Manchester Road 

Wildwood 

By Appointment Only 

636-451-3034 

ELECTRICAL 

ERIC'S ELECTRIC 

Licensed, Bonded and Insured: 

Service upgrades, fans, can lights, 

switches, outlets, basements, 

code violations fixed, we do it 

all. Emergency calls & backa-up 

generators. No job too small. 

Competitively priced. Free Estimates. 

Just call 636-262-5840 

DECKS 

• Brushed & Rolled Only 

• No money up front/Warranty 

A+ 

Free Estimates • Insured/A+BBB 

EverythingDecks.net • (636) 337-7733 

-CARPET REPAIRS- 

Restretching • Reseaming 

& Patching. 

No job is to small! 

FREE Estimates 

(314) 892-1003 

WANTED TO BUY 

• SPORTS MEMORABILIA • 

Baseball Cards, Sports Cards, 

Cardinals Souvenirs and 

Memorabilia. Pre-1975 Only. 

Private Collector: 

314-302-1785 

DONATION PICKUP 

Keep your Saturdays to yourself 

and we will pick it up for you! 

Complimentary Curbside 

Donation Pickup. Anything that 

is non-perishable or flammable. 

Serving the West County area! 

CALL TODAY 

to schedule your appointment. 

314-742-4342. 

EDUCATION 

Traveling Fossil & Rock 

Presentations with a Biblical 

Perspective. Suitable for all grade 

levels. FREE Fossils for everyone. 

Can the Bible timeline 

be tested and trusted? 

Yes! 

The Rock’s Cry Out Ministry 

Contact Bill Barnes 314-608-2928 

Deck Staining 

GARAGE DOORS 

DSI/Door Solutions, Inc. 

Garage Doors, Electric Open–ers. 

Fast Repairs. All makes & models. 

Same day service. Free Estimates. 

Custom Wood and Steel Doors. 

BBB Member • Angie's List 

Call 314-550-4071 

www.dsi-stl.com 

HAULING 

J & J HAULING 

WE HAUL IT ALL 

Service 7 days. Debris, furniture, 

appliances, household trash, yard 

debris, railroad ties, fencing, decks. 

Garage & Basement Clean-up 

Neat, courteous, affordable rates. 

Call: 636-379-8062 or 

email: jandjhaul@aol.com 

SKIP'S HAULING & DEMOLITION 

Junk hauling and removal. Cleanouts, 

appliances, furniture, debris, 

construction rubble, yard waste, 

excavating & demolition! 10, 15 

& 20 cubic yd. rolloff dumpsters. 

Licensed & insured. Affordable, dependable 

and available! 

VISA/MC accepted. 22 yrs. service. 

Toll Free 1-888-STL-JUNK 

888-785-5865 or 314-644-1948 

HELP WANTED 

Rockwood School District 

Hiring For Position of: 

HVAC Maintenance Technician 

- 40 hrs/week 

- 12 months/year 

- Competitive Salary 

Full Benefit Package includes: 

- Retirement through the Public 

Educational Employee Retirement 

System (PEERS) of Missouri 

- Paid Medical, Dental 

& Vision Insurance 

- Flexible Spending Accounts 

- Life Insurance 

- Long-Term Disability 

- Employee Assistance Program 

- Sick Leave Compensation 

- Vacation Compensation 

- 11 Paid Holidays 

Apply at: 

https://rockwood.ted. 

peopleadmin.com/hire/index 

or call (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 



Food Service 

Our Child Nutrition Assistants 

work school days only 

Part time or Full time, 

No experience needed. 

Starting Pay $14 Hourly. 

Seven Paid Holidays, 

Retirement through PEERS, 

Perfect Attendance Days 

Manager positions available 

with full benefits. 

www.rsdmo.org 

or call 636-733-3253 

-HIRING NOW- 

• Experienced Kitchen/Bath 

Designer/Sales - Must know 2020 

Design Software 

• Kitchen/Bath Designer assistant 

• Experienced Kitchen/Bath Lead 

installer 

• Helper to the Lead installer 

Full Time Positions 

Send Resume to 

angiem@mkbstl.com 

or 

Call 636 394-3655 


Hiring For position of: 

Part-Time Custodians 

(Temporary Position) 

-Flexible Work Schedule 

-Competitive Wage 

-No weekends 

Apply at: 


peopleadmin.com/hire/ 

Viewjob.aspx?JobID=3198 

or call (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 



Mowing & Landscaping 

Technician in 

Grounds Department 

- 40 hrs/week 















- 11 Paid Holidays 

Apply at: 



or call (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 


Hiring For Positions of: 

-Plumbing Maintenance 

Technician- 

- 40 hrs/week 





Educational Employee 

Retirement 










- 12 Paid Holidays 

Apply at: 



or call (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 

COMPASSIONATE 

CAREGIVERS NEEDED!! 

VISITING ANGELS is hiring for 

Chesterfield/Wildwood/Ballwin/ 

Des Peres/ T&C- $17-19/hr. 

Personal Care Assistants & 

Homemaker shifts. Weekly Pay, 

Flexible Schedules, 401K match. 

Health Ins. after 6 mo. if FT 

Call 636-695-4422 or apply at 

VisitingAngels.com/westplex 

HELP WANTED 



CUSTODIAN 

- 40 hrs/week 















- 12 Paid Holidays 

Apply at: 


peopleadmin.com/ 

hire/index or call (636) 733-3270 

EEOC 

Technology Partners, Inc. 

seeks Senior Java Developer in 

Chesterfield, MO to work in an 

Agile environment across 

multiple teams to design and 

develop business components/ 

API’s using Java and Spring. 

Telecommuting permitted. 

Apply at 

www.jobpostingtoday.com 

Ref #72404. 

Sr Embedded Software/ 

Firmware Engineer; CIS Global, 

LLC (Wildwood, MO). Perform 

design, verification, specification 

& qualification of data center 

enviro & energy monitor product 

firmware. Use firmware 

development (dev) & debug 

tools for product dev based on 

networking capabilities. US travel 

req’d, ~3x/yr. Must have at least 

bachelor’s or equivalent in Comp 

Sci, Electronics/Electrical Eng’gor 

related & 5 yrs progressive work 

exp as Sr Embedded Firmware 

Design Engineer or related. Must 

have 5 yrs exp w/: embedded 

RTOS/Linux platform; Embedded 

C/C++; low level driver dev; 

various communication 

protocols; debugging using JTAG, 

SWD & similar tools; following 

strict code quality processes; & 

mentoring jr team members as a 

team lead. 

Resume to 

Jennifer.barela@nVent.com 

& reference Job Code SK102023 

HOME HEALTHCARE 

TROSSIE CARES 

Private Home Health 

24 hr. Affordable 

Home Healthcare Service. 

Referencces Available. 

Call 314-620-3550 

or email 

trossiecares@gmail.com 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

PRISTINE MIDWEST 

CONSTRUCTION LLC 

Specializing in 

Decks & Fences 

FREE Estimates 

pristinemidwest@gmail.com 

(314) 575-3879 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

AFFORDABLE CARPENTRY 

Kitchen Remodeling, 

Wainscoting, Cabinets, 

Crown Molding, Trim, Framing, 

Basement Finishing, Custom 

Decks, Doors, Windows. 

Free estimates! 

Anything inside & out! 

Call Joe 636-699-8316 

Total Bathroom Remodeling 

Cabinetry•Plumbing•Electrical 

30 Years Experience 

REMODEL & REPAIR 

Rotted wood, Painting, Tile, 

Drywall, Floors, Electrical, 

Carpentry, Plumbing, 

Power Washing. Insured. 


Tom Streckfuss 314-910-7458 

sbacontractingllc@gmail.com 

Mizzou Crew LLC (Since 2004) 

We can’t do everything, 

but we CAN do a lot! 

Landscaping, Demolition, 

Flooring, Light Construction, 

Furniture Assembly, Fencing, 

Deck Repair, Rough Carpentry. 

Call/text Jeff 314-520-5222 or 

email mizzoucrewstl@gmail.com 

LANDSCAPING 

MORALES LANDSCAPE LLC 

Clean-Up • Mowing • Mulching 

Planting • Aeration • Sod Install 

Leaf Removal • Paver Patios 

Trimming & Edging 

Stone & Brick 

Retaining Walls • Drainage Work 

- FREE ESTIMATES - 

636-293-2863 

moraleslandscape@hotmail.com 

WE SPECIALIZE IN 

RETAINING WALLS • PAVER PATIOS • DECKS 

FENCES • TREES • NEW LANDSCAPING 

LAWNS & MULCH AND MUCH MORE! 

Free Estimates 

314-280-2779 

poloslawn@aol.com 

• LEAF REMOVAL • 

Preparing/Cleaning Beds 

Mulching • Leaf Removal 

Bush/Shrub Trimming 

Aeration • Seeding 

Fertilizing • Dethatching 

-Now Offering Junk Removal- 

• FAST & FREE ESTIMATES • 

TWO MEN & A MOWER 

636-432-3451 

Retaining Walls • Patios • Pruning 

Chainsaw Work • Seasonal 

Clean-up • Honeysuckle Removal 

Friendly service with attention to detail 

Call Tom 636.938.9874 

www.mienerlandscaping.com 

LANDSCAPING 

Best Landscaping Values in Town! 

-Mizzou Crew- 

Mulch, Shrub Trimming, 

Yard Cleanups, Power Washing, 

Moles, Small Walls & Paver Patios. 

Hauling Services, 

Demolition, 

Handyman Services 

& Rough Carpentry 

Call/Text Jeff 

314-520-5222 

or www.MizzouCrew.com 

PAINTING 

Interior and 

exterior painting 

Deck staining 

- Insured & Free Estimates - 

Dickspainting.com 

314-707-3094 

PET SERVICES 

PLUMBING 

• ANYTHING IN PLUMBING • 

Good Prices! Basement 

bathrooms, small repairs & code 

violations repaired. Fast Service. 

Certified, licensed plumber - MBC 

Plumbing - Call or text anytime: 

314-409-5051 

LICENSED PLUMBER 

Bonded & Insured 

Available for all your 

plumbing needs. 

No job is too small. 


35 Years Experience. 

Senior Discounts 

24 hours service! 

314-808-4611 

TREE SERVICES 

• COLE TREE SERVICE • 

Tree and Stump Removal. 

Trimming and Deadwooding. 

Free Estimates. 

636-475-3661 

www.cole-tree-service.biz 

WEDDING SERVICES 

ANYTIME ANYWHERE 

- CEREMONIES - 

• Marriage Ceremonies 

• Vow Renewals 

• Baptisms 

• Pastoral Visits 

• Graveside Visits 

Full Service Ministry 

(314) 703-7456 

To place a Classified 

ad call 636-591-0010 

WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM

Hours: 

Mon-Fri 8AM - 6pm 

Sat 10AM - 4PM 

SUN Closed 

FLOORING, LLC 

TURKEY 

DAY 

SALE! 

CARPET 

LVT 

HARDWOOD 

LAMINATE 

in stock and ready for 

immediate installation 

the entire store is 

10% off 

EXCEPTIONALLY DURABLE 

MAKE YOUR HOUSE 

FEEL LIKE HOME 

FOR THE HOLIDAYS! 

12 MONTHS FINANCE FREE! 

14932 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011 • 636-230-6900 

WWW.ALLSURFACEFLOORINGSTL.COM

West Newsmagazine 11-1-23

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?