Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 11-6-24
Local news, local politics and community events for St. Charles County Missouri.
Local news, local politics and community events for St. Charles County Missouri.
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Vol. 21 No. 21 • November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
midriversnewsmagazine.com<br />
PLUS: Library CEO Steps Down ■ Holiday Happenings ■ Mature Focus
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STAR PARKER<br />
What’s wrong in<br />
our nation?<br />
As we move to the conclusion of this<br />
election cycle, there seems to be only one<br />
thing about which all Americans agree.<br />
That is, that something is very wrong in<br />
our nation.<br />
In the latest Gallup polling, only 22%<br />
say they are satisfied with the direction of<br />
the country. The highest this has been over<br />
the last 16 years was 45% back in February<br />
of 2020.<br />
So, despite change in party control over<br />
these years, the sense that something is<br />
wrong in the country has persisted.<br />
More in the framework of this election,<br />
only 39% say they are better off than they<br />
were four years ago, and 52% say they are<br />
not better off.<br />
Most Americans do not even have confidence<br />
in the sources where they get their<br />
news. Only 31% say they have a great deal<br />
or fair amount of confidence in mass media.<br />
The first time Gallup asked this question,<br />
back in 1972, 68% expressed confidence in<br />
mass media.<br />
A record high percentage of Americans,<br />
80%, say the country is “greatly divided”<br />
on the most important values.<br />
In a New York Times/Siena College poll,<br />
only 49% say “American democracy does<br />
a good job representing the people.” And<br />
76% say, “American democracy is currently<br />
under threat.”<br />
All agree that something is wrong, but no<br />
consensus emerges about what exactly the<br />
problem is.<br />
Is it possible to put a finger on what is<br />
causing the cynicism and disillusionment<br />
that grips the psyche of our nation?<br />
My view is the problem is the drift of the<br />
nation from its founding principles.<br />
To put it another way, we have no choice<br />
about whether we have faith or belief. But<br />
we do have a choice about what it is we<br />
believe.<br />
The dramatic change that has taken place<br />
in America is the uprooting of the Bible as<br />
our starting point for right and wrong.<br />
In 1950, Gallup reports 0% of Americans<br />
said they have no religion. By 1970,<br />
this was up to 3%, and by 2023, this was<br />
up to 22%.<br />
Over this same time, in 1950, the federal<br />
government consumed 14.2% of our<br />
GDP. The estimate from the Congressional<br />
Budget Office is that in 20<strong>24</strong>, that percentage<br />
will be 23.9%.<br />
The preamble to our Constitution<br />
explains its purpose is “to secure the blessings<br />
of liberty to ourselves and posterity.”<br />
Our Constitution was not presumed to be<br />
the source of our freedom. We are already<br />
free by virtue, as noted in the Declaration<br />
of Independence, of being created thus by<br />
our God.<br />
Our Constitution was designed to limit<br />
interference by government in the ability of<br />
free, God-fearing men and women to live<br />
their lives as they see fit.<br />
The guideline for behavior, for right and<br />
wrong, is that which is transmitted to us<br />
from our Creator through the Bible.<br />
Under this reality, America grew and<br />
became great.<br />
However, success brings the sin of<br />
pride, and we begin to attribute our success<br />
to our cleverness rather than our faith<br />
and personal responsibility. As increasing<br />
numbers of Americans have turned away<br />
from God, they have turned more to government.<br />
The sad paradox is that as Americans<br />
turn to government, they abrogate the very<br />
freedom that the founders envisioned as<br />
the government’s role to secure.<br />
The result is less economic growth,<br />
breakdown of the American family and<br />
disappearance of children.<br />
Growth of government, growth of federal<br />
debt and no children is no formula for<br />
a country with a future.<br />
I believe this is what Americans are sensing<br />
and what is producing all the negative<br />
feelings and pessimism.<br />
We must return to the vision of our<br />
founders. A free nation, under God, and a<br />
Constitution that secures “the blessings of<br />
liberty.”<br />
Short of this, although we may experience<br />
ups and downs, the nation will not<br />
realize its great potential.<br />
• • •<br />
Star Parker is president of the Center for<br />
Urban Renewal and Education and host of<br />
the weekly television show “Cure America<br />
with Star Parker.”<br />
© 20<strong>24</strong> Creators.com<br />
Read more on midriversnewsmagazine.com<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
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November Wild Lights-Print-West 6, 20<strong>24</strong> News Magazine-STL-<strong>24</strong>1796.pdf 1 10/28/<strong>24</strong> 4:05 PM<br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K<br />
See yourself<br />
in the magic<br />
Following Through<br />
Law Matters<br />
A couple came<br />
to see me<br />
several years ago<br />
about their<br />
estate plan.<br />
They both had<br />
kids by prior<br />
marriages. He<br />
had daughters,<br />
and she had sons. I made a proposal.<br />
They paid their initial fee. We drafted<br />
documents and sent them for review<br />
like we always do. And then we heard<br />
nothing. We tried 3 or 4 times to<br />
contact them every two or three<br />
weeks, but we never got a response.<br />
Every once in a while, this happens<br />
where people have paid a part of their<br />
fee, but they don't follow through. We<br />
don't know why because they never<br />
get back to us. So, after a number of<br />
attempts at contacting them, we send<br />
a letter telling them we can always<br />
reopen their file and get started again,<br />
but that we are going to close their file<br />
for the time being.<br />
Several years later, I got a call from<br />
the husband. Independent of our<br />
earlier dealings, he was referred to me<br />
by a financial planner. The wife had<br />
developed dementia. He was taking<br />
care of her, but it was probably time to<br />
put her in a memory-care facility.<br />
Although he had put locks and alarms<br />
on the doors, on occasion she would<br />
get out. He had in-home caregivers<br />
two or three days a week, but it was<br />
getting tough. He wasn't getting any<br />
younger. It was time for him to be<br />
appointed as her guardian and<br />
conservator.<br />
We filed a petition and sent notice<br />
to her sons as required b y the law.<br />
One of the sons had threatened to go<br />
to court before, but he had never<br />
gone through with it ... until now.<br />
He hired an attorney and filed a<br />
cross-petition, and totally unnecessary<br />
and wasteful litigation follows.<br />
All of this could have been<br />
avoided if the couple had followed<br />
through with their estate plan that<br />
we had started. As a part of that plan,<br />
we had prepared a durable power of<br />
attorney that would have allowed<br />
each of them to handle finances for<br />
the other if one of them became<br />
incompetent. And we also had<br />
prepared medical directives with<br />
medical durable powers of attorney<br />
which would have allowed each of<br />
them to arrange for and manage<br />
medical care for one another,<br />
including admission to a memory<br />
care facility as was currently necessary.<br />
Sadly, instead, my client has ended<br />
up in court fighting with one of his<br />
wife's sons. And all he wants to do is<br />
to take care of his wife as they agreed.<br />
Call if you want to talk.<br />
<br />
with estate planning is<br />
<br />
always know what to<br />
expect. Fred has gathered<br />
some of the most<br />
interesting examples he<br />
knows into an entertaining<br />
and eduational book.<br />
at ae t t is available<br />
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Fred L. Vilbig is an attorney with over 30<br />
years of experience in the areas of wills<br />
and trusts, small businesses, and real<br />
estate. This column is for informational<br />
purposes only. Nothing herein should be<br />
treated as legal advice or as creating an<br />
attorney-client relationship. The choice<br />
of a lawyer is an important decision<br />
and should not be based solely upon<br />
advertisements.<br />
(636) 537-7884 | | www.lawatters.
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6 I OPINION I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
It’s OK. It’s fine. Everything’s gonna be alright.<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Back in 2016, a Georgia man named<br />
Joe Chandler went to bed early on election<br />
night. He woke up not knowing the<br />
results, and the peacefulness of ignorance<br />
washed over him. He spent the next<br />
week actively avoiding the outcome of<br />
the election. He worked from home and<br />
avoided social media and national news<br />
broadcasts. He wore a sign that read, “I<br />
Don’t Know Who Won the Election and<br />
Don’t Want To. PLEASE DON’T TELL<br />
ME.”<br />
Joe Chandler is our hero.<br />
You see, we send our newsmagazine<br />
off to the printer the Friday before you<br />
receive it in your mailbox or pick it up in<br />
the store. In this case, that means we hit<br />
“send” on Friday, Nov. 1. Once our server<br />
reads “transfer complete,” we are as powerless<br />
to change it as we are to influence<br />
the tide. Our hard work has entered a time<br />
warp to reawaken in the world the following<br />
Wednesday like Joe Chandler, ignorant<br />
of what has happened over the preceding<br />
five days, knowing only the inputs we gave<br />
it the Friday before.<br />
In many ways, it is blissful. This newspaper<br />
has no idea who won the election<br />
and no ability to influence the outcome.<br />
However, there is one thing we are absolutely<br />
certain of – everything’s gonna be<br />
alright.<br />
This election was couched in apocalyptic<br />
terms. Donald Trump is a threat to democracy,<br />
the left shouted. Kamala Harris will<br />
end the republic, cried the right. We may<br />
not know who won, but we know both of<br />
those statements are false. Half the country<br />
might be disappointed right now, but the<br />
country itself will survive.<br />
We survived COVID-19 and the Civil<br />
War, 9/<strong>11</strong> and the Great Depression. We<br />
are resilient, we are mighty, we are united.<br />
The nature of elections is to be fatalistic,<br />
to exaggerate flaws and to emphasize differences.<br />
The nature of humanity is the<br />
opposite of that. We are better educated,<br />
healthier, wealthier and more understanding<br />
of our fellow humans than any generation<br />
before. We have already survived one<br />
Trump presidential term and one Harris<br />
vice-presidential term.<br />
Everything’s gonna be alright.<br />
Our nation, the United States of America,<br />
is remarkable. We are the envy of the<br />
world politically, economically, socially<br />
and militarily. We are imperfect, and our<br />
willingness to acknowledge those imperfections<br />
keeps us on the path of increasing<br />
greatness. We try things, improve things,<br />
innovate upon things and often change the<br />
things that no longer work. Change is hard,<br />
messy, painful and part of the fabric that<br />
makes us the greatest nation in all of history.<br />
Everything’s gonna be alright.<br />
Do you remember when mom used<br />
to tell us that sitting too close to the TV<br />
would hurt our eyes? That is us during<br />
modern elections. We are way too close to<br />
the screen. Back up. See the whole picture.<br />
Your candidate won or lost. Your amendment<br />
passed or failed. It happened before;<br />
it’ll happen again. Heck, it probably happened<br />
in the last election. In a democracy,<br />
frequently, the other side wins.<br />
Just remember that our nation has survived<br />
natural disasters and world wars. We<br />
have witnessed the eradication of smallpox<br />
and the proliferation of capitalism. We<br />
invented the internet. We created jazz. We<br />
can do anything.<br />
Nobody has ever won an election by<br />
saying that all is well; nobody gains a vote<br />
by saying the other side is doing a darn<br />
fine job. But when we sing together, we<br />
sing that our star-spangled banner does yet<br />
wave. We are the land of the free. We are<br />
the home of the brave.<br />
Everything’s gonna be alright.<br />
• • •<br />
Rise up this mornin’<br />
Smiled with the risin’ sun<br />
Three little birds<br />
Pitch by my doorstep<br />
Singin’ sweet songs<br />
Of melodies pure and true<br />
Sayin’, this is my message to you<br />
Singing’ don’t worry ‘bout a thing<br />
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright<br />
Singing’ don’t worry (don’t worry) ‘bout a<br />
thing<br />
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright<br />
– Bob Marley, “Three Little Birds”<br />
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8 I NEWS I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Residents of Dardenne Prairie had the opportunity to view the Moon, Saturn,<br />
Venus and millions of stars during the city’s first Sky Party. The event was<br />
made possible with the help of the St. Charles City-County Library and the<br />
Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri, who also host night sky viewings<br />
each Friday at Broemmelsiek Park<br />
(Source: City of Dardenne Prairie)<br />
NEWS<br />
BRIEFS<br />
COTTLEVILLE<br />
Small car detail shop<br />
given green light<br />
Cottleville city officials voted to<br />
approve a new used car detail shop at<br />
5<strong>24</strong>7 Hwy. N at the Oct. 16 Board of<br />
Aldermen meeting. The owner, Samuel<br />
Stahl, was granted a rezoning request and<br />
conditional use permit (CUP) needed to<br />
operate the business.<br />
Cottleville Planning & Zoning Chairman<br />
Todd Smith recommended a defined<br />
limit on the number of cars allowed at the<br />
facility at one time during the Sept. 9 P&Z<br />
meeting. The board later agreed, adding<br />
that condition into the CUP prior to the<br />
vote to approve.<br />
A public hearing was also held regarding<br />
the business at the Sept. 18 meeting,<br />
during which Stahl discussed his plans for<br />
the location. He said it would be a “small<br />
scale” operation, with “no display lot.”<br />
He agreed to have no more than five cars<br />
parked at the facility at one time.<br />
Stahl said he hoped to be up and running<br />
before the first of the year.<br />
Gutermuth Road improvement<br />
project to proceed<br />
Initially delayed when construction bids<br />
came in over budget, the third phase of the<br />
Gutermuth Road improvement project is<br />
now underway.<br />
Cottleville Mayor Bob Ronkoski and St.<br />
Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann<br />
recently met to review the road construction<br />
progress. While Phase 3 is a county<br />
road project the overall endeavor has been<br />
a partnership between the city of Cottleville<br />
and the county government.<br />
The project was awarded to Gershenson<br />
Construction, with a notice to proceed<br />
issued in August 20<strong>24</strong>.<br />
Phase 3 will feature safety enhancements,<br />
such as new driving pavement, lane<br />
widening, flattening of hills, straightening<br />
of curves, and a curb and gutter stormwater<br />
systems. A new 14-foot-wide multi-use<br />
path will be added on the south side of the<br />
road.<br />
DARDENNE PRAIRIE<br />
City codes updated regarding<br />
sidewalks, rights of way<br />
Dardenne Prairie has amended its<br />
municipal code regarding the maintenance<br />
of sidewalks, driveways and rights<br />
of way.<br />
The legislation has been following a<br />
winding path since September, with revisions<br />
made to not overly burden residents.<br />
Initially, the legislation, introduced on<br />
Sept. 18, stated that any person, owner,<br />
lessee, occupant or representative thereof<br />
“possessing or having control over any<br />
lot or ground or any part of any lot, shall<br />
keep the sidewalk or the right of way or<br />
easement abutting their property clear of<br />
snow, ice, debris or other obstructions.”<br />
The bill extended to residents keeping<br />
their driveways in good repair. Residents<br />
were expected to have any area, lawn or<br />
easement adjacent to their property and<br />
belonging to the city of Dardenne Prairie<br />
maintained.<br />
Residents had attended that meeting to<br />
comment on the proposed bill.<br />
“Our homeowner’s policy does not cover<br />
any potential liability that could occur<br />
with the maintenance of a public sidewalk<br />
right of way,” Angela McAllister, resident<br />
in the Dardenne Acres subdivision, said.<br />
“It only covers the property that we own.<br />
Based on the fact that our insurance does<br />
not cover us to perform maintenance of<br />
public sidewalks, (and) right of way property<br />
and the potential liability concerns,<br />
we are against this and will not support<br />
it if passed.”<br />
Lake Saint Louis enacted a similar ordinance<br />
regarding the rights of way, and<br />
much of the language from that was used<br />
in Dardenne Prairie’s original version.<br />
The board postponed the bill at its<br />
Sept. 18 meeting. Alderman Mark Johnson<br />
(Ward 3) said he wanted to postpone<br />
due to clearer language since Lake Saint<br />
Louis does not have a complex like The<br />
Prairie Apartments. The motion to postpone<br />
passed unanimously.<br />
“We’re figuring out a way for businesses<br />
to mow up to the roadway,” Johnson said.<br />
“As you go by The Prairie, it is stateowned,<br />
but they’re not mowing (to the<br />
roadway). We can enact an ordinance to<br />
have them mow all the way up there. It’s<br />
not intended to burden the residents.”<br />
On Oct. 2, a new bill was presented and<br />
read for the first time.<br />
Johnson said the new bill eliminates<br />
residential property from the language<br />
and is guided toward commercial property<br />
to mow and maintain driveways and<br />
sidewalks. The new bill was read for a<br />
second time and approved at the Oct. 16<br />
board meeting.<br />
O’FALLON<br />
Police department receives<br />
CALEA accreditation<br />
CALEA is the nonprofit Commission on<br />
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.<br />
It was created in 1979 as a credentialing<br />
authority through the joint efforts of<br />
law enforcement’s major executive associations:<br />
International Association of Chiefs<br />
of Police (IACP); National Organization<br />
of Black Law Enforcement Executives<br />
(NOBLE); National Sheriffs’ Association<br />
(NSA); Police Executive Research Forum<br />
(PERF).<br />
This accreditation is considered the gold<br />
standard in public safety. Only about 5%<br />
of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.<br />
are CALEA-accredited, encompassing<br />
about 25% of all police officers.<br />
In July 20<strong>24</strong>, the O’Fallon Police Department<br />
was awarded CALEA Accreditation<br />
after completing a two-year process.<br />
At the Oct. <strong>24</strong> City Council meeting,<br />
CALEA Regional Program Manager Tim<br />
Baysinger formally presented the award to<br />
O’Fallon Police Chief Frank Mininni and<br />
the department’s accreditation manager, Lt.<br />
Steve Landsness.<br />
“Police departments usually need three<br />
years or more to earn an award, but Steve<br />
was able to complete all assessment preparations<br />
in just two years after enrollment,”<br />
Baysinger said.<br />
Baysinger said CALEA is an opportunity<br />
for a police department to voluntarily<br />
apply standards representing best practices<br />
in the delivery of public safety services,<br />
written processes and actual practices, all<br />
examined and assessed by outsiders who<br />
point out all areas needing improvement.<br />
Mininni and Mayor Bill Hennessy<br />
thanked Landsness for his hard work<br />
over two years in leading the department<br />
through the rigorous accreditation process.<br />
“CALEA is a commitment that we uphold<br />
the highest standards of professionalism,<br />
accountability and transparency in law<br />
enforcement,” Mininni said.<br />
Landsness, a Medal of Valor recipient,<br />
said he was happy to help the department<br />
achieve this honor.<br />
“We tried to do this in the ‘80s and ‘90s,<br />
but it just didn’t work out,” Landsness said.<br />
“I promised the chief CALEA accreditation<br />
before my retirement, so I am happy we<br />
were able to accomplish this.”<br />
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I NEWS I 9<br />
Next steps authorized for law<br />
enforcement training center<br />
The cities of O’Fallon and St. Charles have<br />
partnered to fund, construct and operate a<br />
new law enforcement training facility located<br />
on an 87-acre site off Hwy. 79, north of Interstate<br />
70, called The Center for Advanced<br />
Skills Training in Law Enforcement.<br />
The center will be unique in the metro St.<br />
Louis region. No other training facility currently<br />
exists or is planned in St. Louis County<br />
or St. Charles County with comprehensive<br />
law enforcement training in one location.<br />
The first phase of this facility, a live-fire<br />
200-yard rifle and pistol range, is already<br />
under construction.<br />
Both cities are actively seeking additional<br />
funding for the center from the state<br />
and the federal government. If unsuccessful,<br />
the cities plan to use bond issues during<br />
the second half of 2025.<br />
At its Oct. <strong>24</strong> meeting, the O’Fallon City<br />
Council passed three resolutions to authorize<br />
agreements and amendments to agreements<br />
totaling $875,187 to facilitate the<br />
next steps in constructing the center. Each<br />
resolution was passed by a vote of 10-0.<br />
<strong>Mid</strong>-year O’Fallon budget adjustments<br />
will be submitted for each of those.<br />
All three resolutions cover the firing<br />
range pavilion building, classroom building,<br />
simulated live fire building, fleet<br />
maintenance building, observation tower,<br />
emergency vehicle operations course,<br />
associated parking lots and pavements,<br />
parking lot lighting, underground utilities,<br />
obstacle course areas, SWAT training area<br />
and all other items necessary to complete<br />
the facility improvements.<br />
The resolution and bill are for the same<br />
bond issue from which the city is seeking<br />
an estimated $13,990,000 needed for water<br />
treatment plant improvement projects.<br />
ST. PETERS<br />
Man recognized for<br />
helping neighbors<br />
Richard Evans was recognized with the St.<br />
Peters Random Act of Kindness Award at the<br />
Oct. <strong>24</strong> Board of Aldermen meeting. He was<br />
nominated by his neighbor, Rob Lehman.<br />
When Lehman was a child, his father<br />
passed away, and Evans helped to look<br />
after him.<br />
Evans was recognized for his dedication<br />
in helping Lehman and other neighbors<br />
with various tasks.<br />
When Lehman nominated Evans, he said<br />
that his neighbor set an example that led<br />
him to try and live up to a legacy of helping<br />
others. During the award presentation,<br />
he pointed out that when people have good<br />
neighbors, they want to keep them.<br />
“If you accept this award, you’re signing<br />
that you’ll never move,” Lehman joked.<br />
“Such a great guy,” he added, noting that<br />
Evans will do anything to help anybody.<br />
Alderman Judy Bateman (Ward 2) presented<br />
Evans with his award and called<br />
him a “wonderful neighbor.”<br />
“Your neighbor Rob witnessed you do<br />
anything for anyone for over 21 years,<br />
including when you helped him after<br />
his father passed away,” she said. “Two<br />
decades on, you’re still doing everything<br />
you can for your neighbors.”<br />
Evans attributed his dedication to his<br />
grandfather’s example and when his grandfather<br />
died, he stepped in to take his place<br />
and keep that legacy of helping others alive.<br />
“I grew up doing it,” Evans said. “Friend,<br />
foe, whatever, I’m here to help.”<br />
Freezing weather is coming!<br />
City to issue bonds for<br />
water projects funding<br />
The city of O’Fallon plans to issue special<br />
obligation bonds to fund improvements<br />
to its waterworks system. At its Oct. <strong>24</strong><br />
meeting, the City Council introduced a bill<br />
that would authorize the issuance, sale and<br />
delivery of the special obligation bonds in<br />
an amount not to exceed $14.5 million for<br />
the purpose of that waterworks funding.<br />
The bill will receive a vote for passage<br />
at the next meeting on Nov. 21. This bond<br />
issue would cover project costs related to<br />
the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Filter<br />
Valve Improvement Project, and the WTP<br />
Improvements Project for new reverse<br />
osmosis skids, building improvements,<br />
chemical process improvements, electrical<br />
and SCADA (Supervisory Control and<br />
Data Acquisition) improvements. On Oct.<br />
<strong>24</strong>, the council also voted 10-0 to approve<br />
a resolution that authorizes the sale of the<br />
Special Obligation Bonds. The sale is the<br />
offering of the bonds for a competitive bid.<br />
The bill authorizes city staff to execute<br />
documents to issue and deliver the bonds.<br />
Slips and falls affect us all.<br />
Frost, ice and snow are particularly dangerous for our seniors.<br />
If you slip, give us a call!<br />
95% of our rehab residents return to home.<br />
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636-<strong>24</strong>0-2840 | O’FALLON<br />
636-537-3333 | CHESTERFIELD<br />
636-861-0500 | DOUGHERTY FERRY
10 I NEWS I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
Library district CEO steps down following ‘difficult period’<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
By ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON<br />
After seven years with the St. Charles<br />
City-County Library District, CEO Jason<br />
Kuhl has resigned to serve as CEO for the<br />
Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma<br />
County, beginning in January 2025. The<br />
departure has been met with varied reactions.<br />
Kuhl informed his staff via email on Oct.<br />
18, when he announced he’d be leaving<br />
Nov. 4 for another job.<br />
“I know leadership changes aren’t easy,<br />
but I truly feel the organization is on the<br />
right path, and this is the right time for a<br />
change, both for myself and for the library,”<br />
Kuhl said in the email.<br />
Kuhl did not respond to a request for an<br />
interview; however, library district Chief<br />
Communications and Engagement Officer<br />
Lori Beth Crawford released a statement in<br />
which Kuhl wished “nothing but the best”<br />
for the library district, its staff and community<br />
moving forward.<br />
“I am honored and grateful to have been<br />
allowed to serve in this position for nearly<br />
seven years, and I am proud of the organization’s<br />
accomplishments during that<br />
time,” Kuhl said in the statement.<br />
The district’s Board of Trustees will<br />
meet soon to discuss the next steps, including<br />
placing someone in the interim and<br />
beginning the search for a new CEO. The<br />
next regular board meeting is Nov. 19.<br />
Recent history at the library district<br />
has included some high-profile events,<br />
including a controversy over books some<br />
patrons said were obscene being displayed<br />
where children could access them. Patron<br />
complaints about the attire of a library<br />
employee also brought scrutiny and attention<br />
to the district in 2023.<br />
At a special meeting of the board in May,<br />
a proposal was put forward by Kuhl that<br />
would have closed three libraries, laid off<br />
nearly 40 employees and left 25 vacant<br />
positions unfilled. The plan was meant<br />
to remedy financial issues that Kuhl said<br />
were caused by the rising costs of services,<br />
electronic books, streaming platforms and<br />
capital expenditures. Patrons expressed<br />
there displeasure and the board of trustees<br />
delayed that vote indefinitely.<br />
The board had promised change and<br />
tasked Kuhl to come up with a new plan to<br />
contain costs while retaining district staff<br />
and keeping branches open.<br />
St. Charles County Executive Steve<br />
Ehlmann and St. Charles City Mayor Dan<br />
Borgmeyer can send recommendations for<br />
a new district CEO to the library board, but<br />
the board members will appoint an interim<br />
director and make the final decision on<br />
who replaces Kuhl after forming a search<br />
committee. Ehlmann appoints five of the<br />
nine board members, and Borgmeyer<br />
appoints four. The board members vote to<br />
confirm all appointments.<br />
Borgmeyer said he hopes the next director<br />
will have a “stronger revenue perspective<br />
on the library than a library sciences<br />
perspective.”<br />
“We have to make sure the library generates<br />
enough funds to operate without<br />
closing down branches,” Borgmeyer said.<br />
“I respected [Kuhl’s] credentials, but we<br />
parted ideologies over the closing of<br />
branches.”<br />
Borgmeyer added that while he himself<br />
is a “very strong First Amendment supporter,”<br />
he “still opposes damaging literature”<br />
in the libraries of St. Charles County.<br />
“Jason was a great guardian of the First<br />
Amendment, but there have to be certain<br />
guidelines with children that need to be<br />
met,” Borgmeyer said.<br />
In an email, St. Charles County Executive<br />
Steve Ehlmann listed several concerns<br />
he’d had with Kuhl’s leadership, from the<br />
way the library district handled COVID<br />
lockdowns to what he saw as a focus on<br />
social programs and issues.<br />
“I first became concerned about Jason in<br />
2019 after I attended a fundraising dinner<br />
hosted by the Friends of the Library, and<br />
the speakers, rather than talk about library<br />
services or even programs to help kids<br />
learn how to read, they talked about social<br />
programs being run by or in the library,”<br />
Ehlmann said. “(I) brought it up with Jason<br />
at a meeting in my office, and he assured<br />
me it was not a major emphasis for the<br />
system.”<br />
Ehlmann called the public’s reaction to<br />
recent library events “the well-publicized<br />
opening shots in our local battle in the culture<br />
war.”<br />
“You know the rest of the story,” he said.<br />
St. Charles County Council Member Joe<br />
Brazil (District 2) did not mince any words<br />
regarding his view of Kuhl’s time as CEO.<br />
“Jason Kuhl was an absolute disaster,”<br />
Brazil said. “He couldn’t financially operate<br />
the district. He was trying to sell off libraries<br />
because he was in the red. He was a political<br />
hack, spreading his political nonsense.<br />
Their job is to run the library, not politically<br />
indoctrinate the citizens of our county.”<br />
Library district board member Richard<br />
Gartner said he was completely “taken<br />
aback” by Kuhl’s announcement.<br />
“I thought Jason was very competent, but<br />
some members were not very happy with<br />
him,” Gartner said. “Since we closed the<br />
book on closing the libraries, I thought we<br />
had turned the page.”<br />
Gartner said the trustees had instructed<br />
Kuhl to come up with a plan for the longterm<br />
fiscal stability of the library.<br />
“His plan was to close three libraries and<br />
move with the population,” Gartner said.<br />
“So he became the scapegoat for doing<br />
what we asked him to do.”<br />
Gartner said rumors that the board was<br />
going to fire Kuhl had he not resigned are<br />
untrue or at least had not been brought to<br />
the table.<br />
“There were no motions to fire him,”<br />
Gartner said. “I would have resisted that.<br />
There was negative talk, but he did a good<br />
job leading in a difficult period. I had no<br />
idea he was leaving, and honestly, I hope<br />
it’s because he had a job offer somewhere<br />
else.”<br />
Construction on right-turn lane near <strong>Mid</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> Mall Chick-fil-A to begin in 2025<br />
By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER<br />
Relief for northbound traffic backup on<br />
<strong>Mid</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> Mall Drive near the Home Depot<br />
and Chick-fil-A is coming. Vehicle congestion<br />
has been an issue in the area for years,<br />
leading to extended traffic backups that affect<br />
Interstate 94, Route 364 and access to the<br />
Hwy. N/Central School Road intersection.<br />
In 2021, St. Peters approved a road<br />
improvement project that would install a<br />
right-turn lane into the Home Depot parking<br />
lot that connects to Chick-fil-A on the<br />
south side of the property. Also planned<br />
was the installation of a sidewalk along<br />
the east side of the road. Impacting traffic<br />
are the large lunch and dinner rushes at the<br />
Chick-fil-A. This has led drivers to use the<br />
current shoulder as a turn lane, which was<br />
not designed to hold the weight of the cars<br />
and creates a dangerous situation for any<br />
pedestrians who frequent the area.<br />
According to the St. Peters website, the right<br />
turn lane project is expected to cost $206,236<br />
Relief is coming fro patrons of the Chick-fil-A on <strong>Mid</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> Mall Drive, south of Central School Road.<br />
and is approved to receive 80% in reimbursement<br />
funding from St. Charles County.<br />
It was initially expected to begin at the<br />
start of 20<strong>24</strong>. However, the schedule has<br />
been shifted to 2025.<br />
“The project is scheduled to be advertised<br />
for bid by early 2025, with construction<br />
expected to begin in spring 2025,”<br />
Burt Benesek, St. Peters manager of staff<br />
support services, said. “The original start<br />
date for the project was delayed because<br />
property negotiations for the project area<br />
took longer than expected.”<br />
The Bax Engineering Co. is signed on for<br />
the project, and residents have expressed<br />
their enthusiasm for this road development<br />
to start early next year.<br />
A bill to approve the easements needed<br />
to kick off the highly-anticipated project<br />
was unanimously approved during the<br />
Board of Aldermen meeting on Oct. <strong>24</strong>.<br />
“Alderman (Nick) Trupiano and I have<br />
(Source: Google)<br />
gotten a lot of positive feedback, and a<br />
lot of people (are) looking forward to this<br />
dedicated right-turn lane to make it safe to<br />
go into that parking lot as well as to ease<br />
the congestion,” alderman Patrick Barclay<br />
(Ward 4) said before the vote to pass the<br />
bill. “Because, as we know, sometime<br />
around four o’clock, it starts getting really<br />
bad going north <strong>Mid</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong>, so they just<br />
wanted me to thank the city and the staff<br />
for doing this.”
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MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
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14 I NEWS I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Golf cart parking approved for<br />
new subdivision<br />
The Cottleville Trails subdivision G, H,<br />
and I phases were approved at the Oct. 16<br />
Board of Aldermen meeting. This came<br />
after months of updates and a high-volume<br />
public hearing where resident concerns<br />
were addressed regarding the development<br />
of villages located South of Hwy. N and<br />
east of Hwy. K.<br />
At the Aug. 21 public hearing, residents<br />
expressed frustration over high-density<br />
developments and concerns about the safety<br />
and well-being of those who live and work<br />
in the area. Bill Reichmuth, a retired police<br />
officer and Castlebrook HOA president,<br />
said one of the amenities – an open-style<br />
golf cart parking and charging carport –<br />
would create a ‘thieves’ den.”<br />
Applicant Jeff Kolb had previously<br />
updated the plans to remove a five-story<br />
apartment building and replace it with 84 forsale<br />
townhomes. He also agreed that changes<br />
could be made to the golf cart parking.<br />
His partner, Steve Valentine of Lombardo<br />
Homes, addressed the golf cart parking safety<br />
concerns at the Sep. 18 Board of Aldermen<br />
meeting. He displayed an updated version<br />
that placed gated access around the structure.<br />
Mayor Bob Ronkoski and the board discussed<br />
the new design, noting that the bars<br />
did not offer a pleasing look or feel and<br />
requested an enclosed building.<br />
Valentine said he would prefer the<br />
golf cart parking altogether if it had to be<br />
enclosed.<br />
Alderman Mike Guccione (Ward 1) referenced<br />
the farmhouse-style theme of the<br />
(Adobe Stock photo)<br />
development and said, “You got the farmhouses;<br />
make it a stable.”<br />
The issue was revisited once more on Oct.<br />
16, when Jeff Simmons of Bax Engineering<br />
presented an updated and enclosed version<br />
of the golf-cart parking/charging station<br />
with a grey exterior.<br />
The mayor and board discussed the<br />
update and noted that it was closer to what<br />
they believed best represented the people of<br />
Cottleville and their style, but still didn’t fit.<br />
“Is there any way that you can make it look<br />
like the other buildings?” Ronkoski asked.<br />
Simmons agreed to update the plans to<br />
model the structure after the current design<br />
for the subdivision clubhouse in the farmhouse<br />
style.<br />
The board unanimously voted to approve<br />
the partial amended planned urban development<br />
(P.U.D.) area plan, partial amended<br />
P.U.D. final plan, and the conditional use<br />
permit for Cottleville Trails Villages G, H<br />
and I under the provision that the golf cart<br />
parking is updated as discussed.<br />
Fallen paramedic honored in St. Charles County<br />
By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER<br />
St. Charles County first responders led<br />
a procession for fallen paramedic Michael<br />
Clarke on Saturday, Oct. 19. A long line of<br />
fire trucks, ambulances and police cars from<br />
agencies around the Metro area led the procession<br />
through St. Peters as residents lined<br />
the streets to pay their respects.<br />
The procession started on West Clay<br />
Road and traveled past St. Peters City Hall,<br />
where Mayor Len Pagano stood to honor<br />
Clarke. The route went around the city<br />
before crossing I-70 and ending at Baue<br />
Memorial Gardens.<br />
Clarke passed away while on duty<br />
Monday, Oct. 14. Just after 7 a.m., Clarke’s<br />
unit had been assigned to a 9<strong>11</strong> call. When<br />
Clarke did not report to the ambulance, his<br />
partner found him unresponsive in one of<br />
the station’s bedrooms.<br />
Paramedics initiated CPR and other lifesaving<br />
measures, which were continued<br />
at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, but<br />
despite their efforts, Clarke did not survive.<br />
He was 27 and had joined the St. Charles<br />
County Ambulance District in November<br />
2022. His two years in the field left a lasting<br />
impression.<br />
“Michael embodied each of our values,<br />
but perhaps none more so than compassion<br />
– his kindness put patients at ease and earned<br />
him respect among colleagues and community<br />
health partners,” SCCAD Chief Kelly<br />
Cope said in a press release. “This loss is<br />
profound, and we appreciate the support of<br />
our community during this difficult time.”<br />
Gov. Mike Parson ordered the Ameri-<br />
See PARAMEDIC, next page
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE I NEWS I 15<br />
St. Peters collecting public input for Barkwood Trails Drive improvement project<br />
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MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER<br />
The city of St. Peters is currently in the<br />
planning phases of a long-term reconstruction<br />
and safety improvement project for<br />
Barkwood Trails Drive, involving the section<br />
from Jungermann Road to Maple Leaf<br />
Drive.<br />
The project is focused on improving safety<br />
for residents, drivers and pedestrians and<br />
rebuilding the road with improved trafficcalming<br />
measures, like potential pavement<br />
dips and roundabouts. Reconstruction and<br />
widening of sidewalks are also a primary<br />
focus, as is resurfacing the road with thicker<br />
pavement.<br />
This .7-mile stretch of road was built in the<br />
1970s and 1980. The city website states that<br />
the road was not designed to handle the traffic<br />
volumes it currently faces. The proposed<br />
updates are estimated to cost $4.4 million,<br />
with the potential to have 96% reimbursed<br />
through federal and St. Charles County Road<br />
Board funding.<br />
In early October, the city hosted a meeting<br />
to gain residential feedback on this<br />
subject. Alderman Dave Kuppler (Ward 3)<br />
recapped that event at the Oct. 10 Board<br />
of Aldermen meeting. He said there were<br />
varied opinions in the room and some<br />
understandable frustration, but added,<br />
“Right now we’re in the opinion and, basically,<br />
the input phase.”<br />
Kuppler said by the end of the feedback<br />
meeting, he found that residents seemed<br />
more hopeful for the project.<br />
“It’s going to be much better than what it is<br />
today,” Kuppler said.<br />
Transportation Development Services<br />
Manager Burt Benesek said meetings with<br />
the Tanglewood and Huntleigh Estates<br />
homeowners associations, made it clear that<br />
maintaining on-street parking on both sides<br />
of Barkwood Trails Drive was important<br />
to those residents. The currently proposed<br />
project concept accommodates those priorities,<br />
except at intersections that will be<br />
reconstructed as round-a-bouts and at two<br />
locations with a pedestrian refuge island or<br />
curb extension.<br />
“At the October public meeting, we talked<br />
with interested residents who own property<br />
near those locations to review and answer<br />
questions about the project’s potential<br />
impacts to their property,” Benesek added.<br />
“Those discussions may lead to some modifications<br />
to the final design to improve driveway<br />
access or accommodate the residents’<br />
parking needs in another way.”<br />
Benesek stated that residents questioned<br />
the proposed mini-roundabouts and how<br />
they impact larger vehicles like school buses.<br />
The city staff presented a video of different<br />
vehicles navigating roundabouts and ensured<br />
that they were working with the school district<br />
to accommodate their needs.<br />
“Our residents will enjoy a brand-new,<br />
smoother, stronger road that is constructed<br />
to current design standards,” Benesek said.<br />
“Reconstructed Barkwood Trails Drive will<br />
maintain its residential character but be better<br />
able to accommodate current and future traffic<br />
demands.”<br />
The project is expected to be completed<br />
by the start of the 2026-2027 school year<br />
but is subject to change. The city is currently<br />
asking residents who were not able to attend<br />
the October meeting to provide feedback<br />
by scrolling to the bottom of the Barkwood<br />
Trails Reconstruction and Safety Improvements<br />
Project page on the city’s website<br />
stpetersmo.net.<br />
PARAMEDIC, from previous<br />
can and state flags be lowered to half-staff<br />
across statewide emergency services buildings<br />
in Clarke’s honor.<br />
“Paramedic Michael Clarke loved working<br />
as a paramedic, had compassion for the<br />
people he treated, and was honored earlier<br />
this year for saving the life of a patient in<br />
cardiac arrest,” Parson said in a statement<br />
released on Friday. “He committed his life to<br />
serving the people of St. Charles County but<br />
sadly died in the line of duty after two years<br />
of honorable service with the St. Charles<br />
County Ambulance District. Teresa and I<br />
send up our prayers for paramedic Clarke’s<br />
parents, siblings, and all who loved him.”
16 I COVER STORY I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
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KATE UPTERGROVE<br />
Whether it’s a watch, a fitness tracker, a<br />
glucose monitor or a sock for your baby’s<br />
foot, wearable health-related tech is everywhere.<br />
According to Verified Market<br />
Research, the global market for such<br />
devices is projected to reach 37.4 billion<br />
by 2028, growing at a compound annual<br />
growth rate of 13.1% from 2021 to 2028.<br />
So popularity isn’t a problem, but there<br />
is a question that begs to be answered. Will<br />
our wearables make us healthier?<br />
Dr. Ray Weick, regional physician<br />
executive in Mercy’s Missouri<br />
East Region, believes they<br />
can if we will let them.<br />
“The biggest benefit of wearables<br />
… can be just simple awareness,”<br />
Weick said. “(Wearble tech)<br />
can also be a motivator for someone<br />
to bring something up to their<br />
physician.”<br />
Weick offered an example in<br />
which biometrics from a wearable<br />
indicate an abnormal sleep pattern.<br />
That information, he said, could<br />
prompt the person to talk with<br />
their physician about whether they<br />
need to be concerned or whether<br />
the readings were simply an aberration of<br />
the technology.<br />
When asked if those occurrences run the<br />
risk of creating a culture of hypochondriacs,<br />
Weick said most physicians would<br />
prefer more information than less.<br />
“I would rather talk to 10 patients who<br />
have an aberration and nothing of concern<br />
than miss one patient who has something<br />
significant where we could make a difference<br />
in their outcome,” Weick said.<br />
Counting steps was just the beginning<br />
Pedometers, considered to be the first<br />
wearable fitness tracker, have been around<br />
since the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the mid-<br />
2010s that activity tracking really took off<br />
in America. In 2015, Fitbit had sold 21.4<br />
million devices. That same year, the then-<br />
8-year-old company filed with the Securities<br />
and Exchange Commission and its<br />
biggest competitor, the Apple Watch, was<br />
launched.<br />
Today, the wearable technology market<br />
offers smart watches, smart rings and fitness<br />
trackers as well as earpods that double<br />
as hearing aids and health monitoring<br />
devices that can keep tabs on blood glucose<br />
levels and even a baby’s heart rate<br />
and oxygen levels. Devices like Abbott’s<br />
Libre glucose monitoring system for diabetic<br />
patients and Owlet’s Dream Sock for<br />
babies aged 1-18 months automatically<br />
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MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Hitting the ‘easy button’ – letting<br />
AI guide our health<br />
(Adobe Stock photo)<br />
send real-time data to users via mobile<br />
apps. The Owlet tracks the child’s pulse<br />
rate, oxygen level, wakings and sleep<br />
trends to give parents increased peace of<br />
mind. Like other wearables, it also could<br />
help physicians better understand and<br />
anticipate their patients’ needs.<br />
“I think there’s extraordinary value in<br />
wearables,” Weick said, “and I think we’ll<br />
only see the relationship between devices<br />
and health grow.<br />
“A good example is the recent advancement<br />
with earpods, that they can be used<br />
as hearing aids. We may find that wearables<br />
provide an enormous enhancement<br />
in healthcare, not just in this particular<br />
case with hearing loss, but as a global,<br />
halo effect on all of healthcare. We know,<br />
for example, that there’s an association<br />
between the isolation of hearing loss and<br />
memory loss. But wow, what a pretty cool<br />
thing it could be if we are able to have an<br />
easy piece of technology that can help prevent<br />
memory loss by helping people feel<br />
less isolated. If we can get to that level,<br />
think of what a profound effect that would<br />
have.”<br />
Other functions already available in<br />
wearable technology also can help in slowing<br />
cognitive decline and memory loss.<br />
“One risk factor for memory loss over<br />
time is poor sleep. Another is inactivity,”<br />
Weick said. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we<br />
could say, ‘OK, if a person has this certain<br />
age, this activity level and this sleep impact<br />
their risk of having memory loss over time<br />
is exceeded by this percentage. If we could<br />
give a patient that feedback in real time and<br />
they’re young enough to make changes<br />
think of the impact that would have on the<br />
individual, on our health system and on the<br />
financing of healthcare in our country. That<br />
would be pretty extraordinary.<br />
See COVER STORY, page 30
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I SCHOOLS I 17<br />
Sah Do Mu Sul to send martial arts students to world tournament<br />
By BETHANY COAD<br />
Kelly Fleites has been training in martial<br />
arts since 1995, and her partner, George<br />
Fleites, has been following close behind<br />
since 1998. Owners of Sah Do Mu Sul martial<br />
arts school in O’Fallon, the pair met in<br />
2002 at the World Kuk Sool tournament in<br />
South Korea.<br />
Two decades after opening Sah Do Mu<br />
Sul’s doors in 2005, students from the school<br />
have been invited to represent O’Fallon<br />
in the 2025 United Mirae Kuk Sool World<br />
Tournament in Scotland.<br />
“Our school has won several Kuk Sool<br />
tournaments,” Kelly said. “We first won the<br />
<strong>Mid</strong>west Kuk Sool Championship in 2008<br />
and have won every year since. Our school<br />
won first in the World Kuk Sool tournament<br />
in Houston in 20<strong>11</strong> and 2021.”<br />
In 2023, the school participated in a United<br />
Mirae Kuk Sool Tournament in California.<br />
“Because of our reputation and how well<br />
we did at the California tournament, the<br />
Scottish instructors invited us to Scotland to<br />
participate in the World United Mirae Tournament<br />
in 2025,” Kelly said.<br />
Accepting the invitation was a no-brainer,<br />
but the cost of such a journey – roughly $4,000<br />
per student – was going to take some figuring.<br />
“Our goal as martial arts school owners is<br />
and always has been to change lives through<br />
the practice of martial arts by fostering an<br />
environment in which students gain confidence<br />
through achievement,” Kelly said.<br />
Not only will it be the school’s first trip to<br />
Scotland, but for many of the students, it will<br />
be their first time out of the country.<br />
“We will be fundraising through next year<br />
to raise funds for this awesome opportunity,”<br />
Kelly said.<br />
Opportunity and growth are the name of<br />
the game at Sah Do Mu Sul, which focuses<br />
on teaching a comprehensive self-defense<br />
curriculum designed for long-term physical<br />
and mental health.<br />
Sah Do Mu Sul teaches joint locks, pressure<br />
points, takedowns, techniques, weapons,<br />
forms, sparring, ki (energy) breathing and<br />
meditation, all of which lead to overall body<br />
conditioning, improved mental health, confidence<br />
and self-control.<br />
“All martial arts are great if you’re getting<br />
out of it what you need,” Kelly said. “I love<br />
training Sah Do Mu Sul because I can do it<br />
regardless of my age. When I first started, it<br />
was all about self-defense. As I grow older, I<br />
use it for stress relief and body conditioning.”<br />
While there are benefits that come with<br />
competing in a martial art, the pressure and<br />
discipline that goes into preparing can also<br />
create anxiety and stress.<br />
“Students are working to perfect their<br />
form or technique, and this can sometimes<br />
be frustrating and emotional, but overcoming<br />
these challenges is what leads to their<br />
personal growth and their best performance,”<br />
Kelly said.<br />
The Sah Do Mu Sol Booster Club is<br />
hosting a Chips & Sips fundraiser at 4:30<br />
p.m. on Nov. 9 at O’Fallon VFW Post<br />
5077, 8500 Veterans Memorial Parkway.<br />
Attendees can try various spirits while<br />
participating in a Texas Hold ’Em tournament.<br />
Advance registration is required. For<br />
more information, visit sdmsbooster.com/<br />
events-and-fundraisers.<br />
Students at Sah Do Mu Sul practice forms and self-defense.<br />
(Source: Sah Do Mu Sul LLC)
18 I SPORTS I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
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Brockmeyer becomes career<br />
goal scorer leader for Duchesne<br />
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Duchesne Pioneers senior Cole Brockmeyer<br />
knows how to get into the spotlight.<br />
The 6-foot-2, 160-pound Brockmeyer is a<br />
two-sport state champion for the Duchesne<br />
High Pioneers in soccer and baseball.<br />
Brockmeyer is a three-sport athlete, as he<br />
also plays basketball in the winter. When he<br />
was a sophomore, he moonlighted on the<br />
football team as a kicker.<br />
“Cole is a multi-talented athlete and contributes<br />
to all of the Pioneer sports teams he<br />
plays for,” soccer coach Patrick Turner said.<br />
Baseball coach Mike Hollander agreed.<br />
“Winning two state championships in one<br />
high school career is a rare and remarkable<br />
achievement … especially when they are<br />
contributing at such a high level for both<br />
teams,” Hollander said. “Cole, along with<br />
Anthony Painter, Luke Fink and Landon<br />
Rehagen, accomplished this feat last year,<br />
winning in both baseball and soccer. That<br />
is one of the really cool things about Duchesne<br />
with our school size, it makes playing<br />
multiple varsity sports at a high level a<br />
reachable thing.”<br />
Brockmeyer has been to Final Fours in<br />
four different sports.<br />
“So many athletes are told they should<br />
play or specialize in one sport to optimize<br />
their chance at playing at the next level,”<br />
Brockmeyer said. “I’m just having fun and<br />
enjoying high school. I’m not worried about<br />
playing at the next level or wanting to go<br />
pro.”<br />
Brockmeyer, a forward, became the alltime<br />
leading goal scorer in the soccer program’s<br />
history this fall. He surpassed the 53<br />
goals scored by Andy Pacio, whose career<br />
wrapped up at Duchesne in 2000.<br />
Turner knew Brockmeyer would reach<br />
the big mark.<br />
“He has everything a goal scorer needs.<br />
He’s big and strong, great speed, and can<br />
finish in a variety of ways,” Turner said.<br />
The record-setting goal came in a 3-2 win<br />
at home over Granite City.<br />
Brockmeyer was aware that he was on<br />
the verge of breaking the school record.<br />
“The pressure was really on. People asked<br />
me constantly when I was going to break it.<br />
It’s not that easy to just say when you will<br />
break it,” Brockmeyer said. “I went into the<br />
game needing one to tie and two to break.<br />
“It was such a proud moment to reach that<br />
long-time goal but there was also a strong<br />
sense of relief to have that pressure off my<br />
back and get back to just playing soccer.”<br />
Brockmeyer has tallied 14 goals and<br />
seven assists this season, making 61 goals<br />
and 20 assists for his career.<br />
Cole Brockmeyer played on two state<br />
championship teams in soccer and<br />
baseball as a junior.<br />
(Photo provided)<br />
He grew up playing as a defender. When<br />
he got to Duchesne, Turner changed his role<br />
and put him in at forward. That was a good<br />
move. His freshman year, Brockmeyer tied<br />
for the team lead with seven goals.<br />
“The seniors, when I was a freshman,<br />
really took me under their wing, specifically<br />
one of the captains, Danny Parks, who also<br />
had seven goals,” Brockmeyer said. “I think<br />
I was under the radar because I was a freshman<br />
and was still learning how to play as a<br />
forward.”<br />
Turner said it’s not rare for the team to<br />
play young players.<br />
“I like to think that if they’re good enough<br />
to play, then they are old enough to play,”<br />
Turner said. “Cole proved early his freshman<br />
season that he was ready to compete.”<br />
Brockmeyer’s sophomore year was a<br />
breakout season. He scored 17 goals.<br />
Last season brought the state championship<br />
to Duchesne and for Brockmeyer, a<br />
chance to win one with his brother.<br />
“Winning a state title with my brother and<br />
this team was the pinnacle of my soccer<br />
career,” Brockmeyer said.<br />
It was Duchesne’s first soccer title in 30<br />
years.<br />
While soccer has been a main focus,<br />
Brockmeyer has made his mark in baseball<br />
and basketball as well. The Pioneers baseball<br />
team won the state championship last year.<br />
This winter, he’ll hit the court for the Pioneer’s<br />
basketball squad.<br />
“I grew up watching Duchesne basketball<br />
as a kid,” Brockmeyer said. “I couldn’t wait<br />
to play for coach (Wade) Bouslog and wear<br />
the Duchesne jersey. I have been on the varsity<br />
since I was a freshman and we went to<br />
the Final Four.”<br />
He currently has no plans to play in college.
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I 19<br />
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM.<br />
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20 I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I<br />
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Tuesday - Thursday 4-6:30pm and Friday 4-6pm<br />
includes choice of soup or salad, entree, sides except for pasta, dessert, and beverage!<br />
With every<br />
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Offer expires 12/31/<strong>24</strong><br />
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Buy Two<br />
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Get Bottle of<br />
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Valid on entrees $14.99 & up. Up to 10 people per coupon.<br />
Up to $100 value. House wine choices include: Merlot,<br />
Cabernet, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel. Max one coupon<br />
per visit, per table. Void with other offers or specials.<br />
Present coupon when ordering. NO CASH VALUE. Please<br />
offer your server a tip on the total bill before discount.<br />
NOT valid with the Early Bird Special, Happy Hour or any<br />
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View the Full Dinner Menu at<br />
www.spirosrestaurant.com or call 314.878.4449<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
COTTLEVILLE<br />
Salvation Army Tree of Lights Tree<br />
Lighting • Gather around the Clock Tower<br />
in historic Cottleville at 6 p.m. on Tuesday,<br />
Dec. 3 for the tree lighting, shopping, free<br />
cookies and hot cocoa, and music from the<br />
St. Joseph Children’s Choir, Men Harmony<br />
Group, The Fearless Followers and Salvation<br />
Army Brass Band. A QR code will be<br />
on the tree all season for donations to the<br />
Salvation Army. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their<br />
elves will attend the event.<br />
• • •<br />
Story Time with Mrs. Claus • Come to<br />
the log cabin Legacy Park, 5490 Fifth St.,<br />
from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10 to hear<br />
a story read by Mrs. Claus. Cookies and hot<br />
coco will be available for purchase from<br />
Dirty Dough Food Truck.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Light Contest • Cottleville residents<br />
can compete for bragging rights with<br />
judging taking place Dec. 16-20. Homes<br />
need to be decorated before judging begins<br />
to be included in the contest. First and<br />
second place signs will be given for properties<br />
of a half-acre or more and for half-acre<br />
or less. A most spirited neighborhood also<br />
will be named.<br />
DARDENNE PRAIRIE<br />
Breakfast with Santa • Join Santa at<br />
9:30 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Nov.<br />
30 at Dardenne Prairie City Hall, 2032<br />
Hanley Road. Enjoy pancakes from Chris<br />
Cakes. Seating is limited and will sell out<br />
fast. A minimum $10 donation per person<br />
to the Salvation Army is required. Santa<br />
will be available for photos before and after<br />
each scheduled seating time.<br />
• • •<br />
Tree of Lights Celebration • The Salvation<br />
Army and the city of Dardenne Prairie<br />
will host their annual tree lighting ceremony<br />
at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 at City Hall<br />
Park, 2032 Hanley Road. Bring a new,<br />
unwrapped toy to be donated to children<br />
in need. This free event will include music<br />
from area schools, refreshments, activities<br />
and Santa.<br />
O’FALLON<br />
Tree Lighting Ceremony & Holiday<br />
Market • Santa Claus is coming to light the<br />
city’s holiday tree at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov.<br />
20 inside City Hall, 100 N. Main St. Guests<br />
can enjoy holiday games and shop for festive<br />
holiday decor. Drinks, treats and snacks<br />
will be available for purchase.<br />
• • •<br />
Celebration of Lights • Fort Zumwalt<br />
Park’s Celebration of Lights (1000 Jessup<br />
Drive West) is from 6-9 p.m. nightly, beginning<br />
Friday, Nov. 29 and ending Monday,<br />
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Holiday Happenings<br />
Dec. 30. Drive-through tickets must be<br />
purchased in advance but can be used on<br />
almost any evening through Dec. 30. Cost<br />
is $16 for cars, $35 for passenger vans<br />
and $45 for buses. Celebration of Lights is<br />
closed to vehicles on Dec. 2, 8, 9, 10 and<br />
16. The entire display is closed on Christmas<br />
Day. Specialty rides are also available.<br />
Visit ofallon.mo.us/celebration-of-lights for<br />
details.<br />
• • •<br />
Santa’s Winter Wonderland • Children<br />
can enjoy workshop crafts and activities, a<br />
candy cane hunt and milk and cookies from<br />
9:30-<strong>11</strong>:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the<br />
Krekel Civic Center, 305 Civic Park Drive.<br />
Registration is required by Nov. 29, but<br />
could end sooner as spots fill. The cost is<br />
$20 per resident and $<strong>24</strong> for non-residents.<br />
Register by calling (636) 474-2732 or at<br />
ofallonmo.gov/parks&rec.<br />
• • •<br />
Snaps with Santa + Paws & Claus •<br />
Santa visits O’Day Lodge, <strong>11</strong>00 O’Day Park<br />
Drive, to meet you and your four-legged<br />
friends from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec.<br />
8. Receive a professional photo (up to five<br />
people and two dogs). Treats will be available<br />
for all guests. Registration is required<br />
by Nov. 29 or until spots are filled. Cost is<br />
$8 per time slot. Register by calling (636)<br />
474-2732 or at ofallonmo.gov/parks&rec.<br />
• • •<br />
Choral Arts Singers Holiday Concert •<br />
Dona Nobis Pacem - Grant Us Peace and<br />
other holiday classics will be performed at<br />
3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at The Chapel of<br />
Assumption Catholic Parish, 403 N. Main<br />
St. Admission is free, donations are appreciated.<br />
For details, visit concertarts.org.<br />
• • •<br />
Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll • Experience<br />
the Celebration of Lights (1000 Jessup<br />
Drive West) by walking through it, sipping<br />
cocoa and watching fireworks. Tickets are<br />
$8 per person; ages 2 and younger are free.<br />
Strolls are available on Dec. 8, 9 and 10.<br />
Limited tickets are available for each evening.<br />
Parking is available at Fort Zumwalt<br />
West High, with free shuttles to the park.<br />
• • •<br />
Snowball Blizzard Blitz • The annual<br />
Snowball Blizzard Blitz at the Renaud<br />
Center, 2650 Tri Sports Circle, is from 6-7<br />
p.m. or 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13.<br />
Warm up with an indoor snowball fight and<br />
other festive winter-themed games. Register<br />
by Dec. 6 for one of the two time slots.<br />
Cost is $15 per resident and $18 for non-residents.Register<br />
by calling (636) 474-2732<br />
or at ofallonmo.gov/parks&rec.<br />
ST. CHARLES<br />
Merry Makers Market • Get your
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I 21<br />
Christmas shopping in the bag at the<br />
Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Center<br />
from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 and from 10<br />
a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. Features<br />
artists selling handmade items and other<br />
vendors.<br />
• • •<br />
Candy Cane Hunt • Santa’s elves have<br />
hidden hundreds of candy canes in Wapelhorst<br />
Park, 1875 Muegge Road. The hunt<br />
is on from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-noon on Sunday, Dec. 8.<br />
Santa will stop by for a visit. Hot cocoa will<br />
be served. Guests should bring their own<br />
bag or bucket to collect your candy canes.<br />
Cost is $15 per person (14 and younger).<br />
Register at stcharlesparks.com.<br />
• • •<br />
Ugly Sweater Bingo • Wear your ugliest<br />
holiday sweater and bring your friends<br />
(aged 21 and older) to Ugly Sweater Bingo<br />
from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 at Memorial<br />
Hall in Blanchette Park, 1900 W. Randolph<br />
St. Cost is $25 per person or $180<br />
per table of eight. Fees cover admission, all<br />
rounds of bingo, beer and soda. Participant<br />
with the ugliest sweater will receive a prize.<br />
Register at stcharlesparks.com.<br />
• • •<br />
Storytime with Santa • What better way<br />
to get ready for Christmas than with a Santa<br />
storytime from 6-7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15<br />
at Webster Park Community Building, 2201<br />
S. River Road. The cost to attend is $15<br />
per person. Register at stcharlesparks.com.<br />
Children are welcome to wear pajamas,<br />
bring their blankets and pillows.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Charles Christmas Traditions •<br />
It’s just not Christmas without this timetested<br />
(50 years of memories) event<br />
making Historic Main Street merry. Each<br />
Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Nov.<br />
29 through Dec. <strong>24</strong>, Main Street guests<br />
can experience the Legends of Christmas,<br />
a Holiday Food Hall of Fame, a Holiday<br />
History Trail, a Christmas Carol Stroll<br />
(Wednesday evenings only) and more. For<br />
all the details, visit discoverstcharles.com.<br />
ST. PETERS<br />
DJ Skate – Toepick Turkey Trot • Put<br />
on your Thanksgiving-themed accessories<br />
for DJ Skate – Toepick Turkey Trot from<br />
7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at Rec-Plex,<br />
5200 Mexico Road, North. No registration is<br />
required for this public skating session with<br />
show lighting and music. Rec-Plex members<br />
receive free skate rental and admission. General<br />
public pays daily admission; skate rental<br />
is $3.50 per pair.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Art Show • Through Dec. 30,<br />
art lovers can view and purchase original<br />
works at the St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre,<br />
1 St. Peters Centre Blvd. Pieces are priced at<br />
or under $100 and can be picked up on Dec.<br />
21, 23 or <strong>24</strong>.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Peters 35th Annual Holiday Tree<br />
Lighting • Kick off the holiday season with<br />
the city’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at<br />
6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at St. Peters City<br />
Hall, 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd. This outdoor<br />
program features performances by Childbloom<br />
Guitar Program of St. Charles County<br />
and Lindenwood University’s Voices Only a<br />
capella choir, plus a visit by Santa. Travelin’<br />
Toms Coffee truck will be on-site for coffee<br />
or hot cocoa purchases. Immediately following<br />
the tree lighting is the Holiday Hop<br />
concert with Butch Wax & The Hollywoods.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Peters Police Tree Trimming • Make<br />
an ornament from provided materials and<br />
hang it with help from an officer. From 5-8<br />
p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at St. Peters Justice<br />
Center, 1020 Grand Teton Drive. No reservations<br />
are needed. All ages are invited to<br />
participate, but the event is recommended<br />
for children aged 3-12. Guests can enjoy<br />
free refreshments of hot cocoa and cookies.<br />
Parking is available in the mall parking lot<br />
across the street from the Justice Center.<br />
• • •<br />
Symphony Orchestra Concert • Get<br />
into the spirit of the season with holiday<br />
hits performed by the St. Charles County<br />
Symphony Orchestra at 2 p.m. on Saturday,<br />
Dec. 7 at St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre, 1<br />
St. Peters Centre Blvd. Tickets must be purchased<br />
in advance by mailing your request<br />
and check ($10 per ticket) to St. Charles<br />
County Symphony, 1272 Edinburgh Drive,<br />
St. Charles, MO 63303. Requests must<br />
include your address and phone number so<br />
that the tickets can be mailed to you.<br />
• • •<br />
Breakfast with Santa • Children, aged<br />
2-8, are invited to Breakfast with Santa<br />
from 9-<strong>11</strong> a.m on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Rec-<br />
Plex North, 5200 Mexico Road. Enjoy a<br />
continental breakfast, make crafts and sing<br />
Christmas carols and more. Registration for<br />
Rec-Plex members is $9 per child, $14 per<br />
adult; non-member registration is $16 per<br />
child, $<strong>11</strong> per adult<br />
• • •<br />
DJ Skate – Frosty Friday • Wear your<br />
ugliest holiday sweater to DJ Skate - Frosty<br />
Friday from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at<br />
Rec-Plex North, 5200 Mexico Road. Food<br />
Court. Play games, listen to live music from<br />
a DJ and skate with Frosty the Snowman.<br />
No registration is required. Skate rental and<br />
admission are free to Rec-Plex members.<br />
General public pays daily admission; skate<br />
rental is $3.50 per pair.<br />
• • •<br />
Winter Wonderland on Ice • Watch solo<br />
skaters and teams take the ice for two Winter<br />
See HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS, page 31<br />
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22 I PLAN THE PERFECT HOLIDAY I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
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Plan the Perfect Holiday with a trip<br />
to these Holiday Open Houses<br />
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The White Hare<br />
By KATE UPTERGROVE<br />
Holiday shopping is easy and fun when<br />
you gather a group of friends and head to<br />
local open houses. There, you’ll find special<br />
offers, refreshments, picture perfect<br />
home decor and gifts to give – and maybe<br />
some to keep for yourself!<br />
Several local stores also have visits<br />
with Santa planned alongside pint-sized<br />
activities for the youngest members of the<br />
family. But the best gift found in shopping<br />
local this holiday season is what it does for<br />
the local community.<br />
In a very real way, with every purchase<br />
you make from a local small business,<br />
you’re strengthening your community by<br />
providing jobs and generating tax revenue.<br />
According to a May 2023 Harris Poll,<br />
small business owners serve many crucial<br />
support functions in the local community,<br />
including donating goods or services<br />
(63%), volunteering (51%), creating jobs<br />
(51%), partnering with local charities,<br />
groups, or business organizations (39%),<br />
and sponsoring local organizations, teams<br />
and events (31%).<br />
“Small business owners often step out<br />
from behind their shop counters and can<br />
be found in the community giving back,”<br />
The Foyer<br />
the poll summarized.<br />
Shopping local first this holiday season<br />
offers a chance to say “thanks” and help to<br />
ensure that our local businesses continue<br />
to thrive.<br />
THE FOYER<br />
Located at 1649 Clarkson Road in Chesterfield,<br />
The Foyer hosts its Holiday Open<br />
House on Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov.<br />
9. The festive event will feature mimosas<br />
and snacks for guests along with a 20%<br />
discount on all holiday merchandise. Store<br />
hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through<br />
Saturday and closed on Sundays.<br />
Owner Carrie Keipp is also delighted to<br />
be able to offer area shoppers a Christmas<br />
at The Foyer pop-up store located at 1851<br />
Outlet Mall Blvd. at St. Louis Premium<br />
Outlets in Chesterfield. The pop-up is open<br />
from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday<br />
and from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays.<br />
THE WHITE HARE<br />
Located at 1010 Miralago Way in Cottleville,<br />
The White Hare will host its Holiday<br />
Open House from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on<br />
Saturday, Nov. 9 and from noon-5 p.m.<br />
on Sunday, Nov. 10. All weekend long,<br />
guests will have the chance to “Spin and<br />
Win,” enter raffles and enjoy<br />
refreshments. Plus the first<br />
100 guests on Saturday will<br />
receive a free gift.<br />
Owned by Sarah Corrigan<br />
and her mother, Mary Kay,<br />
The White Hare has been<br />
delighting shoppers with its<br />
customer service and exceptional<br />
products since 2003.<br />
It’s been in its current location<br />
since 2017. Keep up-to-date<br />
on everything happening in<br />
the 13,000-square-foot showroom<br />
by visiting @whiteharedecor<br />
on Facebook.com.
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I MATURE FOCUS I 23<br />
News & Notes<br />
By LISA RUSSELL<br />
Vitamin D season<br />
As the days get shorter and cloudier,<br />
people who struggle with issues like fatigue,<br />
sadness and depression during the winter<br />
months may be feeling the effects of lower<br />
vitamin D levels. Often called the “sunshine<br />
vitamin” because skin exposure to the sun’s<br />
ultraviolet rays is one of its primary sources<br />
in the body, low vitamin D has been linked<br />
with health conditions including osteoporosis,<br />
bone fractures and muscle weakness in<br />
addition to seasonal depression.<br />
However, a large analysis of nearly 100<br />
past studies related to vitamin D has shown<br />
that it may play an even bigger role in<br />
overall health than previously thought. An<br />
international team led by scientists at Brown<br />
University found that taking a daily vitamin<br />
D supplement averaging about 3000 IU may<br />
produce improvements in several important<br />
measures of health. These included reduced<br />
blood pressure, lower total cholesterol,<br />
decreased hemoglobin A1C (an indicator of<br />
type 2 diabetes), and improved fasting glucose<br />
and insulin levels.<br />
According to Simin Liu, M.D., the study’s<br />
lead author, vitamin D supplements provided<br />
the greatest benefits for people over<br />
age 50, those with lower circulating vitamin<br />
D levels, and those with a body mass index<br />
Nominate a Stroke Hero<br />
Getting enough vitamin D during the winter<br />
months may provide more health benefits<br />
than previously thought, especially for<br />
those over 50.<br />
(Adobe Stock photo)<br />
under 30. Liu said its findings are particularly<br />
relevant for older adults, because vitamin<br />
D levels tend to decrease with age.<br />
He added that “One size does not fit all”<br />
when it comes to vitamin D supplementation,<br />
so people should talk with a doctor or<br />
healthcare professional before starting one.<br />
The study was published in the journal<br />
Engineering.<br />
Reaching the limit?<br />
A new report from University of Illinois<br />
researchers recently concluded that humans<br />
are approaching a maximum limit to their<br />
See MATURE FOCUS, page <strong>24</strong><br />
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S.<br />
suffers a stroke … which means these<br />
catastrophic health events impact millions<br />
of individuals and families across the<br />
country. The American Stroke Association<br />
launched the Stroke Hero Awards in<br />
1998 to honor stroke survivors, caregivers,<br />
advocates and experts who make a significant<br />
difference in the lives and futures of<br />
those who have experienced a stroke.<br />
Nominations are open now for next<br />
year’s awards at Stroke.org/HeroAwards,<br />
and will close on Dec. 3. Winners will be<br />
announced on May 1, 2025.<br />
The 2025 Stroke Hero Awards categories<br />
are:<br />
• Survivor Hero – Honors an individual<br />
who has survived a stroke and used their<br />
experience to educate, inspire and bring<br />
awareness about stroke.<br />
• Pediatric Hero – Honors an individual<br />
younger than 18 who has survived a<br />
stroke and overcome significant hurdles<br />
and whose family has used its experience<br />
to educate, inspire and bring awareness<br />
to stroke.<br />
• Caregiver Hero – Honors an individual<br />
who has cared for a stroke survivor<br />
and used their experience to educate,<br />
inspire and bring awareness about stroke<br />
on a local or national level.<br />
• Equity Hero – Honors an individual<br />
working to ensure equitable health outcomes<br />
for those at risk for stroke, stroke<br />
survivors and stroke caregivers.<br />
• Group Heroes – Honors a group committed<br />
to educating, inspiring and raising<br />
awareness about stroke.<br />
• F.A.S.T. Hero – This new award<br />
for 2025 honors an individual who recognized<br />
the warning signs of a stroke<br />
and acted fast to get help for the person<br />
having a stroke.<br />
• Voters’ Choice Hero – To be chosen<br />
by public vote next March, this award<br />
honors an individual or group making<br />
an outstanding effort to educate, inspire<br />
and bring awareness about stroke.<br />
We’re redefining senior living<br />
with independence at the forefront.<br />
Senior living at Clarendale of St. Peters is anything but traditional.<br />
Why? We encourage and celebrate the independence of<br />
residents instead of focusing solely on their limitations. All are<br />
welcome to be themselves and make the most out of life.<br />
Discover an integrated environment between independent living<br />
and assisted living, where residents share amenities,<br />
life-enriching experiences, and many laughs. It’s the perfect<br />
balance of freedom and support.<br />
To learn more or schedule a visit, call 636-<strong>24</strong>2-6096<br />
or visit ClarendaleOfStPeters.com.<br />
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Serving the St. Charles Community
<strong>24</strong> I MATURE FOCUS I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
STAY IN THE LOOP<br />
View exclusive stories and<br />
content on our website.<br />
live life to the fullest<br />
Breeze Park has been a wonderful<br />
place for my mother. The staff is<br />
professional and compassionate,<br />
and I feel secure knowing that she is<br />
receiving good care.<br />
– Breeze Park Resident<br />
Schedule a personal tour for Assisted Living<br />
or Memory Support at 636.<strong>24</strong>2.8944<br />
Weldon Spring | Independent Living | Assisted Living<br />
Memory Support | Long Term Care | Short Stay Rehab<br />
A new report concludes that human life expectancy is reaching its upper limit.<br />
(Adobe Stock photo)<br />
MATURE FOCUS, from page 23<br />
longevity. They say that despite a faster<br />
pace of medical breakthroughs, life expectancy<br />
at birth among the world’s longestliving<br />
populations has increased by only 6.5<br />
years since 1990 – falling far short of some<br />
scientists’ predictions that life expectancy<br />
would rise faster in the 21st century.<br />
“Most people alive today at older ages<br />
are living on time that was manufactured<br />
by medicine,” said lead author S. Jay<br />
Olshansky, a professor of epidemiology<br />
and biostatistics at Illinois. “But these<br />
medical ‘Band-Aids’ are producing fewer<br />
years of life even though they’re occurring<br />
at an accelerated pace, implying that the<br />
period of rapid increases in life expectancy<br />
is now documented to be over.”<br />
Today’s efforts to extend average lifespan<br />
even more by reducing disease could actually<br />
be harmful if those additional years<br />
aren’t healthy ones, Olshansky added. “We<br />
should now shift our focus to efforts that<br />
slow aging and extend healthspan,” he said.<br />
The study looked at data from the eight<br />
longest-living countries, as well as the<br />
United States and Hong Kong, between<br />
1990 and 2019. The U.S. was one of the few<br />
countries that saw an overall decrease in<br />
life expectancy over the study period. While<br />
more Americans may reach 100 years of age<br />
and beyond in this century as the large Baby<br />
Boom generation reaches old age, those<br />
cases won’t raise average life expectancy<br />
significantly higher overall, Olshansky said.<br />
The study’s conclusion contradicts those<br />
of other experts, notably in the insurance and<br />
wealth management industries, which often<br />
make calculations based on the assumption<br />
that most people will live to be 100.<br />
“This is profoundly bad advice because<br />
only a small percentage of the population<br />
will live that long in this century,” he said.<br />
Calling the evidence that human beings<br />
are reaching a biological upper limit to<br />
lifespan “a glass ceiling, not a brick wall,”<br />
Olshansky said, “There’s plenty of room<br />
for improvement: for reducing risk factors,<br />
working to eliminate disparities and<br />
encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles<br />
… all of which can enable people to<br />
live longer and healthier.”<br />
The report, “Implausibility of Radical<br />
Life Extension in Humans in the 21st Century,”<br />
was published in Nature Medicine.<br />
Menopause and ‘bad’<br />
cholesterol<br />
Among the many changes women commonly<br />
go through during and after menopause<br />
are changes to their blood cholesterol<br />
profiles, which could negatively impact<br />
their heart health, according to a U.S. study<br />
recently presented at the European Society<br />
of Cardiology’s annual meeting.<br />
“There is an increase in ‘bad’ low-density<br />
type lipoprotein (LDL) particles and a<br />
decrease in ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein<br />
particles (HDL) that takes place during and<br />
after the menopause transition,” said study<br />
author Dr. Stephanie Moreno of the University<br />
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in<br />
Dallas. “Taken together, these changes suggest<br />
that menopause is associated with a transition<br />
to a higher-risk lipoprotein profile that<br />
could be more likely to cause cardiovascular<br />
disease, such as coronary artery disease.”<br />
Data for the research came from more<br />
than 1,200 participants in the Dallas Heart<br />
Study (DHS) whose blood cholesterol profiles<br />
were measured at various points in<br />
their transition through menopause. About<br />
35% were premenopausal, <strong>24</strong>% were in<br />
perimenopause (the period just before<br />
menopause) and 41% were post-menopausal.<br />
They were also compared with a<br />
group of same-aged men.<br />
Over a median follow-up of seven years,<br />
all three groups of women had increases in<br />
their LDL levels, with the greatest difference<br />
of 8.3% found between the peri- and postmenopausal<br />
groups. The post-menopausal<br />
women also had a much higher percentage<br />
of negative LDL change than the men.<br />
“When looked at together, these changes<br />
could help explain the increase of car-
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diovascular disease in post-menopausal<br />
women and help determine if earlier interventions<br />
are warranted,” Moreno said. She<br />
noted that despite the common misconception<br />
that heart disease is a “man’s disease,”<br />
40% of all deaths in women are now due to<br />
cardiovascular causes.<br />
Never too late to quit<br />
Older adults who’ve smoked cigarettes<br />
for decades may think there’s no point in<br />
quitting later in life, often believing the<br />
damage already caused can’t be undone.<br />
But even as late as age 75, kicking the habit<br />
can significantly increase life expectancy,<br />
according to new research.<br />
“We have seen a remarkable decline in<br />
young adult smoking over the past decade.<br />
However, rates among older adults who<br />
smoke have remained stagnant … we<br />
wanted to show that stopping smoking is<br />
beneficial at any age and provide an incentive<br />
for older people who smoke to quit,”<br />
said Thuy T.T. Le, Ph.D., of the University<br />
of Michigan School of Public Health.<br />
Even after many decades of smoking,<br />
kicking the habit can pay off in a longer life,<br />
according to a recent study.<br />
(Adobe Stock photo)<br />
Cigarette smoking continues to cause<br />
about 480,000 deaths among Americans<br />
annually, primarily from cancer, stroke,<br />
heart disease and lung disease. Le and her<br />
team used mortality risks related to smoking<br />
to build “life tables” showing the benefits<br />
of quitting at different ages.<br />
Those tables showed that nearly 10% of<br />
adults who quit at age 65 add at least eight<br />
years to their lives compared to those who<br />
continue smoking. Additionally, 8% of those<br />
who quit by age 75 gain at least four years<br />
of life compared to those who keep smoking.<br />
Overall, the chances of gaining at least<br />
one additional year of life are 23.4% among<br />
those who quit at age 65 and 14.2% at age<br />
75, the study found. The first to quantify the<br />
impact of quitting smoking for people older<br />
than 65, it was published in the American<br />
Journal of Preventive Medicine.<br />
On the calendar<br />
St. Luke’s Hospital presents Stay in the<br />
Game: Preventing Pickleball Injuries<br />
on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.<br />
at the St. Luke’s Institute for Health Education,<br />
232 S. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield.<br />
Join us for an informative session<br />
with Dr. Devon Myers, an orthopedic<br />
sports medicine physician with St. Luke’s<br />
Medical Group, to learn about common<br />
pickleball injuries, prevention strategies<br />
and rehabilitation tips. The program is free.<br />
Register at stlukes-stl.com.<br />
• • •<br />
BJC Missouri Baptist Hospital hosts a<br />
Stroke Support Group in-person meeting<br />
on Thursday, Nov. 14 from noon-2 p.m.<br />
in the hospital’s Clinical Learning Institute,<br />
3015 N. Ballas Road in St. Louis, in Room<br />
416. Light refreshments and snacks will be<br />
provided. There is no cost to participate.<br />
Register at classes-events.bjc.org.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Luke’s Hospital presents a Bone<br />
Builders Workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 19<br />
from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Desloge Outpatient<br />
Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive<br />
in Chesterfield, in Building A, Conference<br />
Room 3. Join us for this free class to learn<br />
more about exercise, nutrition and medication<br />
for bone health and osteoporosis<br />
prevention. The class is facilitated by a<br />
physical therapist, a dietitian and a pharmacist.<br />
Register at stlukes-stl.com.<br />
• • •<br />
BJC Missouri Baptist Hospital hosts<br />
Today’s Grandparents classes on Wednesday,<br />
Nov. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 4 from<br />
6-8:30 p.m. at the Missouri Baptist Medical<br />
Center Clinical Learning Institute, 3005<br />
N. Ballas Road. This hands-on class offers<br />
updates on current trends in infant care and<br />
feeding, and provides tips on local and longdistance<br />
grandparenting. The course fee is<br />
$20 per person (each person attending must<br />
register separately). Registration is available<br />
online at classes-events.bjc.org.<br />
• • •<br />
The city of Chesterfield and St. Luke’s<br />
Hospital co-host a Healthy Seniors Series<br />
presentation on Thursday, Nov. 21 from<br />
10-<strong>11</strong> a.m. at Chesterfield City Hall, 690<br />
Chesterfield Parkway West. This month’s<br />
topic is de-stressing the holidays; learn<br />
effective strategies to do just that at this free<br />
workshop. To register, email olderadults@<br />
chesterfield.mo.us or call (636) 812-9500.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Louis Oasis presents Free from Falls:<br />
A Physical Therapist’s Perspective on<br />
Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m.-noon at the<br />
WingHaven Branch Library, 7435 Village<br />
Center Drive in O’Fallon. Whether you’ve<br />
had a fall or just want to learn more about<br />
what you can do to prevent future falls, this<br />
free class is for you. The course is sponsored<br />
by BJC. Register at classes-events.<br />
bjc.org.<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
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This year’s election has created unprecedented stress levels among Americans,<br />
especially women and young people, according to a recent survey.<br />
(Adobe Stock photo)<br />
HEALTH<br />
CAPSULES<br />
By LISA RUSSELL<br />
‘Election stress’ has affected<br />
most Americans’ mental health<br />
As this publication goes to press, it’s impossible<br />
to know which political candidates have<br />
emerged on top in the Nov. 5 general election.<br />
It’s far more certain, however, that electionrelated<br />
stress has topped all previous levels<br />
among Americans this year.<br />
A survey conducted in October by Talker<br />
Research (formerly OnePoll) in conjunction<br />
with Forbes Health found that more<br />
than 60% of adults report feeling some<br />
level of anxiety, stress or even fear related<br />
to the 20<strong>24</strong> election, all of which they say<br />
have taken a toll on their mental health.<br />
In a similar nationwide survey conducted<br />
before the 2020 presidential election, a<br />
much lower 40% of U.S. adults said politics<br />
was a prominent source of stress in<br />
their lives.<br />
In 20<strong>24</strong>, it also appears that women and<br />
younger adults are feeling that stress most<br />
acutely, the October survey found.<br />
Nearly two-thirds of women reported<br />
negative mental health effects, compared<br />
to 58% of men. Among the generations,<br />
Gen Z (66%), millennials (64%) and Gen X<br />
(63%) were most likely to express that the<br />
election has had at least a slight negative<br />
impact on their mental health, compared to<br />
56% of baby boomers.<br />
Diet, exercise could reverse<br />
liver disease, say MU scientists<br />
Fatty liver disease unrelated to alcohol consumption<br />
has become an extremely common<br />
– and increasingly dangerous – health issue<br />
for Americans. Now impacting up to 38% of<br />
U.S. adults according to National Institutes<br />
of Health statistics, the condition is linked<br />
to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems,<br />
liver failure and early mortality.<br />
But new research from the University<br />
of Missouri School of Medicine suggests<br />
intensive lifestyle interventions, namely diet<br />
changes and exercise, are an effective way<br />
of treating and even reversing the course of<br />
this type of liver disease when used together.<br />
In a new MU study of <strong>24</strong> patients with<br />
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis<br />
(MASH) caused by excessive fat<br />
buildup in the liver, one group followed a<br />
restricted diet paired with a high- intensity<br />
interval training exercise program for 10<br />
months. They dramatically improved their<br />
liver health over a control group of patients<br />
who received standard treatment.<br />
Although diet and exercise are already<br />
considered first-line treatments for fatty<br />
liver disease, the study is the first to examine<br />
the impact of diet and exercise on liver<br />
health and confirm the vital organ’s recovery<br />
through imaging and diagnostic biopsies.<br />
“Other studies investigated the impact of<br />
either diet or exercise on the liver, not both,”<br />
explained study author Elizabeth Parks,<br />
Ph.D., an MU professor of nutrition and<br />
exercise physiology. “Obesity and diabetes<br />
are going up in the country, and they are the<br />
two main risk factors for fatty liver disease,”<br />
Parks said. “Liver disease is increasing too<br />
fast. We were able to show in our research<br />
how diet and exercise should be the mainstay<br />
of treatment for the disease … Our<br />
findings suggest liver disease doesn’t have<br />
to be a chronic, progressive condition.”<br />
On the calendar<br />
BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers<br />
a Family & Friends CPR course on Saturday,<br />
Nov. 9 from 9 a.m.-noon at Missouri<br />
Baptist Medical Center, 3015 N. Ballas<br />
Road, in Auditorium Rooms 1, 2 and 3. This<br />
class uses the American Heart Association’s<br />
curriculum to teach hands-on CPR skills.<br />
Course does not include certification upon<br />
completion. Registration for a seat in this<br />
class is for two people. The cost is $50. Register<br />
at classes-events.bjc.org.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Luke’s Hospital and Schnucks offer a<br />
nutrition class on Monday, Nov. 18 from<br />
2-3 p.m. at Schnucks Kehrs Mill, 25<strong>11</strong> Kehrs<br />
Mill Road in Ballwin. A St. Luke’s dietitian<br />
will discuss how to find and make healthier<br />
choices at the grocery store. Participants will<br />
also receive wellness resources, samples and<br />
a $10 Schnucks gift card. The cost is $5 per<br />
person. Register at stlukes-stl.com.<br />
• • •<br />
BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers<br />
a Babysitting 101 course on Saturday, Nov.<br />
16 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the SLCH Specialty<br />
Care Center West County, 13001 N.<br />
Outer Forty Road in Town & Country. This<br />
interactive class, recommended for kids age<br />
10 and above is a great introduction to the<br />
basics of babysitting. The cost is $25 per<br />
child. Advance registration is required at<br />
classes-events.bjc.org.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Luke’s Hospital presents Make Peace<br />
with Food: Basics of Mindful Eating on<br />
Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the<br />
Desloge Outpatient Center, 121 St. Luke’s<br />
Center Drive in Chesterfield, in Conference<br />
Room 3 of Building A. Join us for a free inperson<br />
class to learn the basics about mindful<br />
eating. Register at stlukes-stl.com.<br />
• • •<br />
St. Luke’s Hospital hosts Conversations<br />
for Women on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6:30-<br />
7:30 p.m. at the Desloge Outpatient Center<br />
– Building A, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive<br />
in Chesterfield. Have OB or GYN questions?<br />
Dr. Jennifer McDonald can provide<br />
the answers during this free open Q&A<br />
session. Register online at stlukes-stl.com.<br />
St. Louis Children’s repeats as one of top hospitals for kids<br />
For the 16th straight year, BJC St.<br />
Louis Children’s Hospital has been<br />
ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s<br />
hospitals by U.S. News and World<br />
Report.<br />
In addition to being recognized as the<br />
top children’s hospital in the region, St.<br />
Louis Children’s was rated among America’s<br />
top 20 for seven of the specialty<br />
areas rated by the publication, more than<br />
any other pediatric hospital in Missouri.<br />
These included Neurology & Neurosurgery<br />
(No. 12); Neonatal Care (No. 13);<br />
Orthopedics (No. 14); Nephrology (No.<br />
19); and Cancer, Gastroenterology & GI<br />
Surgery and Pulmonology (No. 20).<br />
“Together with our WashU School of<br />
Medicine partners, the team’s clinical<br />
expertise, dedication and compassion<br />
make St. Louis Children’s a place that<br />
families from all over the world trust,”<br />
said St. Louis Children’s President Trish<br />
Lollo. “Whether at our hospital, Specialty<br />
Care Centers, After Hours sites,<br />
community clinics or mobile units, our<br />
teams focus on delivering exceptional<br />
care to kids, because that’s what every<br />
family deserves.”
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I BUSINESS I 27<br />
NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN!<br />
ImpactLife Blood Donation celebrated its 50th Anniversary in St.<br />
Peters on Oct. 16. ImpactLife provides lifesaving blood products to<br />
more than 120 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in<br />
a four-state region.<br />
(Photo provided)<br />
BUSINESS<br />
BRIEFS<br />
PLACES<br />
ImpactLife Blood Donation celebrated<br />
its 50th Anniversary in St. Peters on Oct.<br />
16. ImpactLife provides lifesaving blood<br />
products to more than 120 hospitals and<br />
emergency medical service providers<br />
in a four-state region. Donors can make<br />
appointments to give blood at a donor centers<br />
or at routine mobile locations located<br />
throughout ImpactLife’s service region.<br />
The St. Peters office is located at 4891<br />
Mexico Road, Suite 100. For more information,<br />
call (800) 747-5401.<br />
• • •<br />
On Oct. <strong>24</strong> Miriam Learning Center<br />
announced the expansion of its specialized<br />
services into St. Charles County. The<br />
expansion will provide tutoring and testing<br />
services for students with diverse learning<br />
needs. Visit miriamstl.org or call (314)<br />
961-1500.<br />
• • •<br />
Studio Luxe Kitchen Bath and Home<br />
Interiors, is now open at 6022 Weldon<br />
Spring Parkway. Visit studioluxeinteriors.<br />
com.<br />
• • •<br />
Heartland Regional Investment Fund,<br />
LLC (HRIF), a subsidiary of St. Louis<br />
Economic Development Partnership, was<br />
recently awarded $30 million in New<br />
Markets Tax Credits through the U.S.<br />
Department of the Treasury Community<br />
Development Financial Institutions Funds.<br />
HRIF provides financing to projects in<br />
distressed communities by the managing<br />
members, consisting of the city of St.<br />
Charles, Southwest Illinois Development<br />
Authority and STL Partnership.<br />
• • •<br />
Christian Brothers Automotive<br />
Weldon Spring celebrated the grand opening<br />
of its new location at 100 Prosperity<br />
Drive in Weldon Spring on Oct. 23. Owned<br />
by first-time franchisees Doug and Calie<br />
Kircher, this new location is the eighth in<br />
Missouri. Visit cbac.com/weldon-spring.<br />
• • •<br />
SafeSplash Swim School, is now open<br />
at 1471 Cottleville Parkway. SafeSplash is a<br />
learn-to-swim and performance-based swim<br />
school that teaches all skill levels ranging<br />
from the fundamentals of water safety to<br />
competitive instruction. Visit safesplashcom.<br />
PEOPLE<br />
Progress 64 West hosts its 36th Excellence<br />
in Community Development Awards<br />
banquet from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-1 p.m. on Nov. 27<br />
at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel,<br />
located at 1335 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The<br />
keynote speaker at this year’s banquet<br />
is Build-A-Bear founder Maxine Clark.<br />
The Master of Ceremonies will be Scott<br />
Drachnik, president and CEO of the Economic<br />
Development Council of St. Charles<br />
County. Those community members being<br />
recognized for their contributions to the<br />
St. Louis and St. Charles region are: Keith<br />
Schneider, commercial real estate broker<br />
at Schneider Commercial Partners; Tom<br />
Kaiman, Mia Rose Holdings president, real<br />
estate developer; Dr. Keith Marty, superintendent<br />
of the Parkway School District;<br />
and Bob O’Loughlin, chairman and CEO<br />
of Lodging Hospitality Management. Progress<br />
64 West also grants several scholarships<br />
to local high school seniors at the banquet.<br />
Purchase tickets at progress64west.org.<br />
• • •<br />
The Optimist Club of St. Charles<br />
recently presented the Optimist of the Year<br />
award to Fred McGinley. Also receiving<br />
special recognition were Mike Ebert, who<br />
received the President’s Award, and rookie<br />
member Chuck Ratterman. The Optimist<br />
Club plans events, activities and fundraisers<br />
to support St. Charles. Visit scoptimists.<br />
weebly.com.<br />
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28 I EVENTS I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
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LOCAL<br />
EVENTS<br />
BENEFITS<br />
ImpactLife Blood Drives are from<br />
8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10<br />
at All Saints Catholic Church, 7 McMenamy<br />
Road in St. Peters • from 7:30 a.m.-<br />
noon on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Immaculate<br />
Conception of Dardenne, 7701 Hwy. N •<br />
from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17 at<br />
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 1 Seton<br />
Court in St. Charles • from noon-4 p.m.<br />
on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at SSM Health St.<br />
Joseph Hospital, 300 First Capitol Drive in<br />
St. Charles. To schedule an appointment,<br />
visit bloodcenter.org or call, (800) 747-<br />
5401.<br />
• • •<br />
The Frame the Future Gala is at 6 p.m.<br />
on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Ameristar Casino<br />
Resort Spa, 1 Ameristar Blvd. in St Charles.<br />
All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity<br />
of St. Charles County. Tickets start at<br />
$150. Formal attire is required. To purchase<br />
a ticket or a table, become a sponsor, or<br />
donate a basket for auction, visit hfhgala.<br />
BE INFORMED,<br />
MEET ELECTED OFFICIALS<br />
Nov. 8 | Bill Eigel –<br />
Govenor’s Campaign/What’s Next<br />
Nov. 15 I TBD<br />
Nov. 22 I Kurt Bahr – Election Results<br />
Nov. 29 I NO MEETING<br />
MEETING LOCATION:<br />
B. Hall’s Family Grill<br />
3782 Monticello Plaza Dr I O’Fallon 63304<br />
FRIDAY LUNCH MEETINGS AT NOON<br />
FOLLOW US<br />
St. Charles County<br />
Pachyderm Club<br />
@St.CharlesCountyPachydermClub<br />
The Best In Italian Cuisine<br />
Special Holiday Daily Features<br />
Chilean Sea Bass<br />
Sicilian Chops • Chicken Spedini<br />
Deep Fried Lobster Tails<br />
Includes Salad & Side Dish<br />
P<br />
Book Your Holiday Party<br />
PVISIT US ON<br />
Open Monday - Thursday 4 - 9 pm<br />
Friday and Saturday <strong>11</strong>:30 am - 10 pm<br />
Closed Sunday<br />
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED<br />
Ask about Catering!<br />
org. For details, call (636) 978-5712.<br />
• • •<br />
The Wentzville Lions Club hosts its annual<br />
Thanksgiving Luncheon from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-3<br />
p.m. on Nov. 28 in the St. Patrick Catholic<br />
School Cafeteria, 701 S. Church St. in Wentzville.<br />
The club is also looking for food<br />
donations to help support the event, including<br />
turkeys, stuffing mix, bread, cranberry<br />
sauce and green beans. Non-perishable food<br />
donations at the door will also be accepted to<br />
support local food pantries.<br />
FAMILY & KIDS<br />
Old Fashioned Hay Rides are on Fridays<br />
and Saturdays through Saturday, Nov.<br />
9 at Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Hwy. DD<br />
in Defiance. Bring friends and enjoy a<br />
45-minute scenic hayride through the park<br />
ending with a campfire to roast your own<br />
treats. All ages are welcome. The cost is<br />
$125 per wagon. Groups of up to 20 may<br />
reserve a wagon at 5, 6, 7 or 8 p.m. To register,<br />
visit sccmo.org or call (636) 949-7535.<br />
• • •<br />
Hands-on Heritage Gourd Crafting is<br />
from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9<br />
at the Historic Daniel Boone Home, 868<br />
Hwy. F in Defiance. Participants partake<br />
in the entire gourd crafting process, from<br />
scrubbing the gourd to preparing the surface<br />
for crafting. Bring a lunch. Cost is $5<br />
per person. Registration is required. The<br />
program is held outdoors under a pavilion.<br />
Wear clothing that can get dirty. For ages<br />
12 and up. To register, visit stccparks.com<br />
or call (636) 798-2005.<br />
MEETINGS<br />
The Kiwanis Club of Cottleville/<br />
Weldon Spring meets at noon on the first<br />
Monday of the month at Bandanas, 3446<br />
Pheasant Meadow Drive in O’Fallon. All<br />
are welcome. For details, email cwskiwanisclub@gmail.com.<br />
• • •<br />
The St. Peters Lions Club meets at 7<br />
p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the<br />
month at The Lion’s Club Den, 9 Park St.<br />
in St. Peters. Become part of an organization<br />
doing good work locally and internationally.<br />
For details, visit e-clubhouse.org/<br />
sites/stpetersmo.<br />
• • •<br />
The Rough Writers meet from 7-9 p.m.<br />
on the second Tuesday of the month at the<br />
Crossroads Arts Center, 310 W. Pearce Blvd.<br />
in Wentzville. Join this writing group to share<br />
writing, encourage others, and improve your<br />
skills. For details, contact Deborah Bowman<br />
at deborahbowman12@yahoo.com.<br />
• • •<br />
The Wentzville Veteran’s Coffee<br />
Group meets every second and fourth<br />
Wednesday at the Wentzville Senior Center.<br />
Join for friendship and a cup of coffee.<br />
• • •<br />
Stitch ‘n B***h Fiber Crafts Club is<br />
from 6-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of<br />
every month at The Foundry Art Centre,<br />
520 N. Main Center in St. Charles. All<br />
fiber crafts are welcome. Bring your own<br />
snacks. Select beverages may be available<br />
for purchase. Free event. For details, visit<br />
foundryartcentre.org/adult-workshops.<br />
SPECIAL INTEREST<br />
Wheelers & Dealers of St. Charles<br />
Square Dance Lessons are from 7-9 p.m.<br />
on Thursdays at Friedens UCC, 1703 S.<br />
Old Hw. 94 in St. Charles. $5 per lesson.<br />
Lessons are offered through March.<br />
• • •<br />
Friday Night Public Stargazing begins at<br />
sunset or 7 p.m. on clear Friday nights at the<br />
Broemmelsiek Park Astronomy Site,1593<br />
Schwede Road in Wentzville. Discover the<br />
planets, stars, constellations, nebulas and galaxies<br />
through the largest public-viewing telescope<br />
in Missouri and other complex scopes.<br />
Viewing begins at sunset and can last into the<br />
night. Advanced registration is requested for<br />
groups of 10 or more. Free event. For details,<br />
visit asemonline.org or email, outreach@<br />
asemonline.org.<br />
Who, What, When,<br />
Where, Why and How –<br />
that’s what we want to know.<br />
Send your event details to<br />
events@newsmagazinenetwork.com and score free publicity.<br />
Event notices for print publication are due at least six weeks<br />
out from the date of the event. Events with advance registration<br />
should be submitted six weeks out from that deadline.<br />
All events will be listed online and in print when sent in with<br />
enough advance notice.
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November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I EVENTS I 29<br />
• • •<br />
The Gateway Outdoor Expo is from<br />
1-5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22; from 10<br />
a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 and from<br />
10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. <strong>24</strong> at the St.<br />
Charles Convention Center, 1 Convention<br />
Center Blvd. Outdoor gear, services and<br />
resources are featured as well as interactive<br />
demos and experiential attractions in<br />
a festive, family-friendly environment. For<br />
details, visit gatewayoutdoorexpo.com.<br />
• • •<br />
A Ranger-Guided Bird Walk is from<br />
8-9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23 at The Historic<br />
Daniel Boone Home, 1868 Hwy. F<br />
in Defiance. Join park rangers on a 1-mile<br />
hike to observe the birds and learn about<br />
migration patterns. All ages are welcome.<br />
Wear weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy<br />
shoes and bring a water bottle. If you have<br />
a set of binoculars and a field guide bring<br />
them, too; a limited supply will be available.<br />
Free program but pre-registration is<br />
required. For details, visit sccmo.org or<br />
call (636) 949-7535.<br />
• • •<br />
The Turkey Toss Disc Golf Glow Tournament<br />
is at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Nov.<br />
23 at Indian Camp Creek Park, 2679 Dietrich<br />
Road in Foristell. Follow glow sticklined<br />
baskets that mark the 18-hole course.<br />
Trophies for top finishers and the closest<br />
to the basket wins a Thanksgiving turkey.<br />
Registration is $10 per person from 4:15-5<br />
p.m. on the day of the event. For details,<br />
call (636) 949-7535.<br />
VETERANS DAY<br />
The St. Charles Salutes - Veterans Day<br />
Celebration is from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-4 p.m. on<br />
Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Lewis and Clark<br />
Boathouse Parking Lot, 1050 S. <strong>Rivers</strong>ide<br />
Drive. The event will begin with a parade,<br />
followed by a ceremony at the memorial<br />
and live music at 3 p.m. by Steve<br />
D. Wilson, Army and Air Force veteran<br />
singer/songwriter. There will also be a<br />
vendor fair, music, and more. For details,<br />
visit stcharlescitymo.gov.<br />
• • •<br />
A Veterans Day Ceremony is at 10<br />
a.m. on Monday, Nov. <strong>11</strong> at the Cultural<br />
Arts Centre at City Hall, One St. Peters<br />
Centre Blvd. Sgt. Maj. Serena J. Rowan,<br />
U.S. Army (Ret.) and Cmdr. Patricia Lee,<br />
U.S. Navy Reserves. Refreshments will be<br />
served after the ceremony. For details, visit<br />
stpetersmo.net.<br />
• • •<br />
A Veterans Day Observance is at <strong>11</strong><br />
a.m. on Monday, Nov. <strong>11</strong> at Lake Saint<br />
Louis Veteran’s Memorial Park. Speakers<br />
will be Mayor Jason Law, Cmdr. Sam<br />
Young (Ret.) and Maj. Gen. Robert Carrothers<br />
(Ret.).<br />
Come in for our nightly specials!<br />
MONDAY - THURSDAY<br />
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TUESDAY<br />
WEDNESDAY<br />
THURSDAY<br />
Any Large Pizza for the<br />
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Any Large Pizza<br />
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Sunday - Thursday.<br />
Dine in or Carryout. Not valid with any other<br />
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Pizza, Pasta, Steaks Seafood, Salad<br />
Carryout & Delivery • Catering<br />
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30 I<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
COVER STORY, from page 16<br />
“We’re not there yet, but I can’t help but<br />
think that at some point, certainly in my<br />
career, that is where we’ll be.”<br />
The future is AI<br />
Although wearables may differ in the<br />
potential good they offer, they all share<br />
one drawback: humans. The people who<br />
wear them have at least three challenges:<br />
keeping them charged, remembering to<br />
wear them and being open to following any<br />
medical advice triggered by their device.<br />
“How do we continue to make the relationship<br />
between wearer and wearable<br />
easier and easier?” Weick asked. “Conceptually,<br />
in health, if we can make the right<br />
thing the easiest thing, then that easy thing<br />
becomes common, and that common thing<br />
becomes our culture. I think that’s the<br />
sweet spot of any type of medical technology,<br />
but especially wearables.<br />
“I wear my (Apple Watch) because it<br />
reminds me to be more active ... that I need<br />
to walk down the hall and get some motion<br />
going.”<br />
Watches, Weick said, are the “easy<br />
button” because people enjoy using them<br />
for other convenient functions such as testing,<br />
answering phone calls, and of course,<br />
telling time.<br />
But not all health trackers feel the need<br />
to be all things to all people. In fact, fitness<br />
tracker Whoop is faceless. The company<br />
slogan is “No screens. No distractions.<br />
Just science.” The device monitors key<br />
vitals like skin temperature, heart rate and<br />
blood oxygen (something Apple Watches<br />
no longer offer due to a patent dispute) as<br />
well as sleep, strain, recovery after exertion<br />
and stress. Because keeping devices<br />
charged and on one’s body is a primary<br />
way in which humans fail, Whoop users<br />
power their battery pack, which then slips<br />
onto their device while in use. The device<br />
never has to be taken off.<br />
“I’ve been a family physician for 20 years,”<br />
Weick said. “When I started in practice,<br />
there was no way that we could think that<br />
we’re going to manage diabetes by being<br />
able to know a patient’s blood sugar levels<br />
literally down to five-minute intervals. We<br />
never would have thought that we would be<br />
able to use a wearable or an assisted device<br />
to manage someone’s heart failure.<br />
“Devices like smart scales give us the<br />
ability to, when someone steps on a scale,<br />
track their blood pressure and provide us<br />
with some great data points via electronic<br />
transmission. That’s a little different than<br />
a wearable, but maybe in the future, we’ll<br />
have a wearable that does show blood<br />
pressure and can give us an association<br />
of weight that we can proactively manage<br />
people’s disease states.”<br />
As artificial intelligence continues to<br />
advance, Weick said he hopes wearable<br />
technology will continue to evolve to look<br />
at different data points that may not seem<br />
to be related to health or a disease state.<br />
“(Imagine if we can) build algorithms to<br />
say there is a change in an individual that<br />
hasn’t presented itself as something that<br />
the patient feels but that we know is going<br />
to result in a negative change,” Weick said.<br />
“We’re just scratching the surface of AI and<br />
generative AI, in particular, to understand<br />
where are those now sort of hidden associations<br />
and links (to disease). That I think<br />
is going to be so beneficial – that we can<br />
embrace this amazing technology to truly<br />
prevent diseases from happening down the<br />
road.”<br />
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FACEBOOK.COM/MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
November 6, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
I EVENTS I 31<br />
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS, from page 21<br />
Wonderland shows at 5 p.m. on Saturday,<br />
Dec. 14 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 at<br />
the Rec-Plex, 5200 Mexico Road. Tickets<br />
cost $7 for Rec-Plex child/senior members,<br />
$9 per adult member. General admission is<br />
$8 per child/senior and $10 per adult.<br />
WENTZVILLE<br />
Wentzville Wobble • Participants of all<br />
ages are invited to the Wentzville Wobble<br />
1-mile walk/run at 8 a.m. on Saturday,<br />
Nov. 23 at Heartland Park, 100 William<br />
Dierberg Drive. Registration by Nov. 20 is<br />
required. Cost is $25 per resident and $30<br />
for non-residents.<br />
• • •<br />
The St. Louis Christmas Carols Association<br />
• Gather friends, family and coworkers<br />
to help create a holiday tradition rooted<br />
in philanthropy. Sign up at stlchristmascarols.org/go-caroling<br />
by Nov. 30 to learn<br />
more and receive a caroling kit.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Night Lights Drive-Thru •<br />
Rotary Park, 2577 W. Meyer Road, is lit<br />
up from 5:30-9:30 p.m. nightly, beginning<br />
Friday, Nov. 29 and ending Monday, Dec.<br />
30. Closed on Dec. 9 and Dec. 25. Admission<br />
is $10 per vehicle, up to six passengers,<br />
plus $1 for each additional passenger.<br />
Tickets can be purchased in advance at<br />
wentzvillemo.gov or at the gate. Santa<br />
will be on-site at the Kolb Building near<br />
the end of the route on Saturdays Nov. 30,<br />
Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21. Letters can<br />
be given to Santa or dropped in one of the<br />
special mailboxes at the Progress Park<br />
Recreation Center.<br />
• • •<br />
Annual Tree Lighting & Spirit of the<br />
Season Parade • Kick off the holidays<br />
at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 in historic<br />
downtown Wentzville (Luetkenhaus<br />
and Pearce boulevards). The Spirit of the<br />
Season Parade will follow the tree lighting,<br />
starting at Pearce Hall and ending at<br />
the Station 1 Firehouse. Cookies, candy<br />
canes, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa<br />
and Mrs. Claus will be available after the<br />
parade.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Night Lights 5K/Fun Run •<br />
Run through the Holiday Night Lights in<br />
Rotary Park, 2577 W. Meyer Road, at 5 p.m.<br />
Sunday, Dec. 8. Registration is required by<br />
Sunday, Dec. 1. The cost for the 5K is $40<br />
for residents and $45 for non-residents. Cost<br />
for the Fun Run is $25 for residents and $30<br />
for non-residents. Water, snacks and holiday<br />
music at the finish line.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Night Lights Walk-Thru •<br />
Walk through the 1-mile long Holiday Night<br />
Lights in Rotary Park, 2577 W. Meyer<br />
Road, from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9.<br />
After their stroll, visitors are invited to the<br />
Kolb Building to admire the decorated trees,<br />
enjoy refreshments and take a picture with<br />
Santa. The cost is $5 per person. Children<br />
ages 2 and younger are free.<br />
ST. CHARLES COUNTY<br />
Holiday Train Display • The annual<br />
train exhibit is on display from Saturday,<br />
Nov. 30 through Thursday, Jan. 5 at the St.<br />
Charles County Heritage Museum. Normal<br />
operating hours as 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wednesday<br />
through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on<br />
Sundays.<br />
• • •<br />
Santa at the Mall • Santa will make his<br />
grand arrival at <strong>Mid</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> Mall on Nov. 13<br />
at <strong>11</strong> a.m., where he’ll be celebrating the holiday<br />
season and hearing Christmas wishes at<br />
his workshop in center court. Pet Photos with<br />
Santa are on Mondays from Nov. 18 through<br />
Dec. 16. Registering for your Santa visit at<br />
shopmidriversmall.com is recommended.<br />
• • •<br />
Choral Arts Singers Holiday Concert<br />
• Dona Nobis Pacem - Grant Us Peace and<br />
other holiday classics will be performed<br />
at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Fellowship<br />
Baptist Church, 1015 S. State Hwy. 46 in<br />
Warrenton and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7<br />
at Zion United Church of Christ, 725 Main<br />
St. in Troy. Admission is free, donations are<br />
appreciated. For details, visit concertarts.org.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Remembrance Candlelight<br />
Ceremony • Guests are invited to remember<br />
those they have lost with a name-reading<br />
ceremony, music, light refreshments<br />
and a candle-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on<br />
Thursday, Dec. 5 at Baue-O’Fallon, at <strong>11</strong><br />
a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Baue-<br />
Cave Springs and at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec.<br />
9 at Baue- St. Charles. To register, visit baue.<br />
com or call (636) 328-0874.<br />
• • •<br />
The Augusta Candlelight Christmas<br />
Walk • Experience a world of holiday magic<br />
on the streets of historic downtown Augusta<br />
from 5-10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 and Friday,<br />
Dec. 13. Over 1,000 luminaries will light the<br />
way. For details, visit discoverstcharles.com.<br />
• • •<br />
Holiday Fridays at the Museum • Kids<br />
of all ages are invited to participate in<br />
Ornament Making on Dec. 6, Snow Globe<br />
Making on Dec. 16, Toy Train Painting on<br />
Dec. 20, Cornhusk Doll Making on Dec. 27<br />
and Rock Painting on Jan. 3. Register by<br />
session at sccmo.org. Cost is $5 per person.<br />
• • •<br />
Christmas Candlelight Walks • Experience<br />
the holiday traditions of life in the<br />
early 1800s at the Historic Daniel Boone<br />
Home. Admission is available from 6-10<br />
p.m. on Dec. 6 and 13 and from 4:30-8:30<br />
p.m. on Dec. 7 and 14. Tickets for village<br />
only tours are $10 per person. Tickets to the<br />
village and Boone Home are $15 per person.<br />
This outdoor stroll features holiday tales,<br />
thousands of candles and more.<br />
• • •<br />
Skate with Santa • Join the jolly old elf<br />
at Kinetic Park, 801 Town Square Ave. in<br />
Dardenne Prairie, from <strong>11</strong> a.m.-2 p.m. on<br />
Saturday, Dec. 14. All are invited to bring<br />
their Christmas lists for Santa. A parent<br />
signed waiver and helmets are required.<br />
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ELECTRICAL<br />
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10% OFF<br />
Pricing good through 12/31/<strong>24</strong><br />
The best Holiday gift for your home is a new floor.<br />
Shop now to ensure installation before the holidays!<br />
ASK ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCING<br />
5773 Westwood Drive | St. Charles<br />
(636) 926-9989 besedaflooring.com<br />
HOURS: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.<br />
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Free In Home Estimates!