Top hats, feathered tiaras, white lights, a glittering disco ball, and a Parisian park complete with the Eiffel Tower transformed the gymnasium at the James J. Eagan Center into a “New Year’s Eve in Paris” for this year's annual Florissant Senior New Year’s Eve Party. Every December 31st, Florissant senior citizen residents kick off the New Year at noon instead of midnight. The event starts at 10 a.m., with the countdown at noon, and ends with lunch served at 1 p.m. “We’ve been doing this [Florissant Senior New Year’s Eve Party] for probably twenty years,” said Peggy Hogan, who has been a lead volunteer for the event for the past six years. The event is hosted by the Florissant Senior Office and made possible with the 17-member volunteer Senior Commission as well as city employees and Florissant businesses. “We have a sell out crowd in there,” said Hogan, referring to the 350 seniors who purchased tickets to this year’s New Year’s Eve resident-only party. This year, guests danced to music played by the Michael Lacey Band and dined on food catered by Tornatore’s Catering. Several won attendance prizes. The first prize 32” flat screen television went to Janice Harrison. Second prize microwave oven went to Dorothy Brinker. Third prize toaster oven went to Jean Mack. Fourth prize 19” flat screen television went to Margie Recker. Many other prizes, from restaurant gift cards to watches to candles, were also awarded. Florissant resident Carolyn Wiegand has attended the event for the past three years. “It’s a wonderful service. Florissant is so good to its senior citizens,” Wiegand said.   Couple dancing at the stroke of Noon Dec. 31   Wiegand has been a resident of Florissant for three years and has attended several of the events held and hosted by the Florissant Senior Office. For information on future activities and event held throughout the year or information on next year’s Senior New Year’s Eve party, contact the Florissant Senior Office at 314-839-7604. Line dancing is always popular at the New Year's Eve Dance

The Board of Directors for North County Incorporated (NCI), a regional development association, has elected Sandy Weber as Chairwoman for 2012.  This is a one-year term, beginning Jan/ 1, 2012.  Weber succeeds Patty Gould, School/Business Partnership Director for the Pattonville School District, who served as North County Incorporated’s Board of Directors Chairwomen in 2011. “Sandy Weber has been an active member of the  NCI Board of Directors             and the community.  Her background knowledge and life experiences in North County will be an asset as the incoming Board Chair for North County Inc.  I look forward to her leading the charge for the organization,” Gould said. Weber is vice president/district director with US Bank.  She has worked in the banking industry for 36 years and currently focuses on expanding the growth of U.S. Bank in the St. Louis region.  She and her husband have been lifelong residents of North County.  She has served on North County Incorporated’s Board of Directors since 1998 and has served in the executive board as secretary and vice chair. “U.S. Bank has been involved with NCI since its inception because it serves as the voice for North County.  I am totally committed to advancing their scope of work which includes providing a connection to a network of the key leaders needed to build collaborative partnerships necessary to sustain and improve our residential and business environment,” said Weber. The NCI Board of Directors also named several new board members for 2012.  NCI’s in-coming board members for 2012 are Mayor James Knowles III, City of Ferguson; Dr. Art McCoy, Ferguson-Florissant School District; Justin Naber, Fred Weber Inc. Mayor James Knowles III was elected as mayor in April 2011.  Prior to his role as mayor, he had been on the Ferguson City Council since 2005.  He is a former employee of the Ferguson Police Department, serving nearly 4 years in the communications division.  He was a NCI 30 Leader in their Thirties Award recipient in 2009. He currently serves as the Eastern Missouri Council director for the Associated Builders and Contractors. Supt.  Art McCoy, Ed.D. serves as Ferguson-Florissant School District’s superintendent.  He was chosen by the Ferguson-Florissant School District Board of Education in the end of 2010.  He began his career in 1997 when he reported for teaching duties as Missouri’s youngest certified teacher (age 19). Justin Naber serves as the director of Business of Development for Fred Weber, Inc.  Naber is responsible for building and strengthening valued relationships for stone, asphalt, and specialty construction products. He's involved with Marygrove Child Center and Stray Rescue Foundation.     2012 North County Inc. Officers Chair – Sandy Weber, US Bank. Vice Chair – Ron McMullen, Christian Hospital Treasurer – Fletcher Wells II, St. John’s Bank & Trust Company Secretary – Marcia Pfeiffer, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley.

“Our district really does serve as a positive role model in the community,” said Supt. Art McCoy. “The accomplishments of our students and staff serve as proof that there can be high achievement for all through equity and excellence every day. They also establish us as a trailblazer locally, statewide and beyond,” he said. Elite FFSD students named KMOX/SEMO Students of Achievement. Jessica Brinkley, a McCluer High School student, and Melanie Gray, a McCluer South-Berkeley High School student, are 2012-13 KMOX/Southeast Missouri State University Students of Achievement. The award, sponsored by KMOX Radio, SEMO, the Suburban Journals and the Nine Network of Public Media recognizes 30 elite juniors for their achievement in academics, athletics, the arts, community service and leadership. Students of Achievement receive a $3,000 scholarship to SEMO that is renewable if they maintain a 3.5 cumulative SEMO GPA and complete 30-SEMO credit hours. Jessica and Melanie will be honored at a luncheon in May, and their achievements will be publicized by KMOX Radio, the Suburban Journals and the Nine Network. MN’s Alex Schwan receives honorable mention in Des Lee art showcase. Schwan's stunning self-portrait "Flight" was selected by Tuan Nguyen, education manager at the Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis, for display at the E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaboration Visual Arts Showcase held Nov. 30 at Powell Symphony Hall. Alex's two-dimensional artwork displays her back transformed into a runway for a flock of vibrant birds. The McCluer North High School senior received honorable mention for the piece created with colored pencils and metallic markers. MN's Visual Arts Department chairperson, Dorothy Morris, is very optimistic about Alex's future. "I've been teaching for more than 30 years, and Alex is one of my three most gifted students. She is a very impressive and talented young woman but also very focused and success-driven. She has been McCluer North's Rachel Franck is the Suburban North Conference Softball Player of the Year for the second year in a row. The senior was selected by SNC coaches for the accolade because of her superior softball skills. Rachel plays on the varsity softball team as a pitcher and outfielder. She also holds a 4.0 GPA. Rachel is certain that she would like to teach elementary school children, but she is still deciding what school she will attend after she graduates in May.

In late December North Technical High School Girls Basketball coach George Merritt received a late entry for the St. Louis Martin Luther King Girls Basketball Showcase from the Memphis Home Education Association that a team of homeschoolers will be competing. Merritt said the MHEA team is nationally ranked but where they are ranked and who ranks them were not available. Nonetheless MHEA had seven girls competing in the North Tech Showcase. Tracy Rice, MHEA head coach said two other players could not make the trip and one of them was injured. MHEA went back to the southwestern Tennessee city with two dominating wins. What helped the MHEA seven is the fact that they stayed out of foul trouble, Rice said. MHEA opened the Showcase Jan. 14 with a 66-29 blowout of Showcase host North Tech. MHEA had North Tech shut out, 18-0 until the Golden Eagles finally got on the scoreboard with a basket at the end of the first quarter buzzer. MHEA increased the lead to 40-11 at halftime and 58-18 after three quarters then coasted in the fourth quarter which had a non-stop clock, required for games whose margins of 30 points or more in the final quarter. The biggest reason for the MHEA rout of North Tech was the three-point shooting. Merritt said the shat 18 three-pointers but the official scorebook said MHEA hit 12 shots from three-point range. Two MHEA players scored in double figures as Torri Lewis scored 19 and Leah Lytle added 15. “It’s hard to defend threes when everybody shoots them” said Merritt. However the North Tech coach said he “purposefully” scheduled the game against MHEA. Defense also was the key as MHEA gave up no more than 11 points to North Tech in the fourth quarter. No Golden Eagle scored in double figures as Chaumora Henderson and Jalynn McCray led North Tech with eight points each. About 24 hours later, Jan. 15, MHEA took on a first-time visitor to the Showcase, the Academy of the Visitation, a school with a championship history. However MHEA almost did the same to Viz as they did to N.T. as MHEA routed Viz, 55-22. Visitation played even with MHEA from three-point range, two each, in the first quarter but the Vivettes led after one quarter 10-8. MHEA took charge from there outscoring the Vivettes 18-6 in the second quarter and 23-3 in the third. The non-stop clock was in effect in the fourth as MHEA outscored Viz 6-3. MHEA won the three-point shooting contest making seven shots, four of them made in the second quarter, to four for Viz. While Sarah Lytle led MHEA with 11 points the most any Viz player scored was six points from Emily Stewart. “This wasn’t our day,” said Visitation head coach and athletic director Paul Stoecklin. However MHEA “was the best team I’ve seen in a long time,” Stoecklin said. NORTH TECH 49, BUTLERVILLE (OHIO) UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HIGH 44 -- On Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 16 North Tech overcame a 14-6 first quarter deficit with a 21-15 second quarter to lead 27-21 at halftime then after being outscored 16-7 in the third quarter the Golden Eagles outscored the Wolves, 15-8 in the fourth quarter for the win. Henderson scored 23 points while Atlantis Sutton added 16. “I’m in a teaching stage trying to get them to win,” said Merritt. INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY 71, WESTBURY CHRISTIAN (HOUSTON, TEX.) 40 -- The defending two time Class Five Champion took charge Jan. 16 over a Texas State Champion team in the second half as the Red Knights overcame a 14-10 first quarter and 24-23 halftime deficit with a 48-16 second half including a 27-5 blow-away fourth quarter. Nakiah Bell, who made five shots from three-point range and had four steals, and Cierra Young, who had five assists, each scored 16 points while Taylor Manuel scored 15 while blocking five shots. “I think we started making shots,” said IWA coach Dan Rolfes about the second half. Then “it started steamrolling. Everybody feels comfortable.”

The acclaimed theatre group’s 67th season includes a family favorite, an entertaining musical comedy and a powerful, uplifting drama.  Subscribers to all three shows will save over 30% and have first dibs on the Best of Hawthorne musical revue scheduled in June. The season starts off in April with a dramatization of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.”  Director Lori Renna says to be sure to bring along the kids and grandkids to Hawthorne’s production of this classic story. The play begins one memorable Christmas when Marmee leaves to visit her sick husband and Jo sells her beautiful hair to help finance the trip. It ends just a year later when the happy family is again preparing to celebrate not only Christmas but also the return of Mr. March. In between these two events, we again live, laugh, love and cry with Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they go through the many trials and tribulations that have made this story a classic. For decades, Hawthorne’s summer musicals have been acclaimed as some of the best shows in local theatre, including last year’s “Annie” and 2010’s “The Producers,” which was named the Best Large Ensemble Musical in St. Louis region community theatre.  This summer the group presents Stephen Sondheim’s classic “Company.” An honest, witty, sophisticated look at relationships, “Company” is as contemporary and relevant as ever (witness the recent hit revivals on Broadway and the West End). It features a brilliant energetic score containing many of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs (including "Another Hundred People," "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Being Alive"). The Hawthorne season concludes in November with August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Fences.”  The show provides a riveting character study of Troy Maxson, an illiterate garbage collector with a touch of the heroic and poetic, overflowing with both contradictions and believability.  On Broadway, James Earl Jones originally played Maxson, and Denzel Washington played the role in the revival, both winning Tony awards. Season tickets are on sale now at $37 for adults and $34 for older adults and students. Order tickets at (314) 524-5201or on the web at www.hawthorneplayers.com. Publicity Director Larry Marsh notes that tickets would make great Valentine’s Day gifts.

Riverview Gardens High School is looking for something positive within the high school and the School District of Riverview Gardens. The Boys Basketball team may have accomplished something over Martin Luther King weekend at Kirkwood High School by winning the Denver Miller Tournament, named for a longtime Kirkwood legendary boys basketball coach. Snow on Jan. 12 forced the first two rounds to be delayed a day and the final round was delayed to Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 16 “This is a great win for the school (and the) team,” said Riverview head coach Ron Joyner. “(We) use this as a stepping stone.” Riverview secured the tournament championship Martin Luther King Day, Jan 16, with a 44-35 win over Eureka at the David Holley Assembly Hall. “I knew we had a good chance to win (the tournament),” Joyner said since the Rams were the top seed. With a 15-8 second quarter the Rams took a 25-13 lead at halftime but struggled late in the third quarter after Kalin Tutt went to the bench with four fouls and Eureka cut the Rams lead to 29-24 at the end of the third quarter. “They had the chance to win the game,” Joyner said. Riverview maintained the lead in the final quarter despite losing Edward Kinsey with five fouls and the Rams scored nine out of 15 points from the free throw line (Riverview made 13 out of 15 free throws). Excelle Thomas, Tyrin Williams and Darrien Danels each scored nine points to lead Riverview. Thomas, Williams and Tutt were named to the All-Tournament Team. Riverview opened the Miller Tournament Jan. 13 by winning over former Suburban North Conference rival Normandy, 59-42, in the only game of the tournament that was played at the older Denver Miller Gym. The Rams outscored the Vikings, 22-13 in the second quarter and 16-7 in the fourth. Thomas led the Rams with 21 points while Williams added 16. One day later, Jan. 14 at Holley Assembly Hall Riverview held off Duchesne 57-54, after leading at halftime 26-21. Williams scored 28 points while Thomas added 13. CBC  Defeats Lutheran North In Town and Country Jan. 9-13 CBC won their won D.C. Wilcutt Tournament named for their longtime legendary coach in the D.C. Wilcutt Gym. CBC defeated Clayton 80-52, Ladue, 78-57, and Lutheran North, 80-74 in overtime. Lutheran North got to their third tournament championship game by defeating Fort Zumwalt East, 69-59 and Whitfield, 63-59. For CBC Jordan Barnett and Aarion Maxey-Penton each scored 14 points against Clayton, Maxey Penton scored 15 against Ladue and Barnett had 24 points and 12 rebounds against Lutheran North. Anthony Virdure led Lutheran North by scoring 45 points against Fort Zumwalt East, 22 against Whitfield and 33 against CBC.  

With the popularity of TV shows like “America’s Got Talent,” “The X-Factor” and “Sing-Off,” it’s inevitable that someone like Todd Graff, with two other music competition-themed films to his credit (Camp and Bandslam) would decide to make a movie based on L.A.’s annual How Sweet the Sound Gospel Competition. Joyful Noise pays modest and moving tribute to the devotion (both in the secular and sacred sense) church choirs with awesome names like Our Lady of Perpetual Tears demonstrate in preparing themselves to raise a holy ruckus hoping to inspire the judges to award them the trophy. New to the world of church choir competition, and favoring several other musical genres over gospel, I was not sure what to expect from writer/director Graff’s take on the jubilant faith and hard work of a group like last year’s How Sweet the Sound Gospel Competition winners— the Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir, doubtless invests to realize its fervent dreams of being the chosen one. And, I was not sure what to expect from a film featuring one of country music and pop culture’s queens---Dolly Parton---who has not had a co-starring film role in almost 20 years (Straight Talk).  Although Joyful Noise feels like something Tyler Perry and Kenny Ortega may have collaborated on, by the film’s conclusion, I was thoroughly convinced that Graff and his cast had made me see the light. When it’s not focused on the choir and its mountain-moving music making, Graff’s script feels both family-friendly old-fashioned and a bit forced striving for occasional relevance when it comes to family dynamics and economic realities.  The characters and scenarios are a bit fancifully represented: The absent father; the strict mother; the innocent daughter; the decent rebel; the plucky widow;  and the down-trodden town. Besides the well-worn conceit of the “good” girl falling for the falsely maligned young rebel from out-of-town, Joyful Noise hangs its non-musical hat on the rivalry between two members of Pacashau, Georgia’s Sacred Divinity Church choir.  Pastor Dale (Courtney B. Vance) has chosen Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah) to lead the choir after the death of Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson); and his widow, G.G. (Parton), is not too happy about it. Suppressed dislike of one another keeps erupting in verbal put-downs; like, “When folks get wrapped up in themselves, they make very small packages.”  It doesn’t help that G.G.’s grandson, Randy Garrity (Jeremy Jordan), has eyes for Vi’s daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer), also in the choir. Although branded with a vague bad boy rep, based on the rumor he was thrown out of his parents’ home, Randy quickly changes minds when he adds a jolt of energy and edge to the choir’s musical arrangements and performance. He also reaches out to Olivia’s Asperger Syndrome-suffering brother (Dexter Darden). Vi’s de-moralized loneliness, over-protectiveness and bitterness towards her husband (who left her for another hitch in the Army); Olivia’s anger at her mother and father; G.G.’s scrappy defense of her “family;” and the pastor’s contention, after another defeat at the regional competition due to stale material. She feels that the money spent on the contest could be better used elsewhere and threatens the good people’s faith in their dream and desire to let the Lord speak through their musical voices. With music ranging from Beatles and Sly and the Family Stone, to Michael Jackson hits---as well as three songs provided by Parton---performed with divine inspiration, Joyful Noise is both exalting and accessible.  Whether believer or non-believer, you’ll feel a bit blessed to have experienced it.  An Alcon Entertainment production, rated PG-13 for language, mild sexual content.

Games are scheduled in January and February to coincide with the mission of the AHA. A banner from the organization will be displayed at the games. Hazelwood East and Hazelwood Central high schools will face off on Jan 21 at noon at HEHS. Both teams will wear red during warm-ups and the cheerleaders will collect donations for the AHA. At half-time, the school will make a presentation to the family of former assistant coach Charles Taylor, who passed away in April 2011 of a heart attack. Vendors are donating T-shirts to be worn at the game. Game tickets are $4. On Feb. 4, the Hazelwood Central High School Shoot-Out will include four basketball games between public and private schools. The tourney begins at noon with Parkway South versus DeSmet Jesuit; the 1:30 p.m. game features Vianney vs. Washington; Maplewood Richmond Heights faces Whitfield at 3:00 p.m.; the final game starts at 4:30 p.m. with Cardinal Ritter versus Hazelwood Central. Each player will wear red Nike socks, portions of both concession sales and entry fees will be donated to the AHA, and donation canisters will be set out for each team. During half-time of the final game, a check will be presented to the organization. Game tickets are $5. On Feb. 10, the varsity girls at Hazelwood West High School will face Pattonville High School at 6:30 p.m. at HWHS. The school will host T-shirt sales, $1 of each ticket sold will be contributed to an AHA fund and the cheerleaders will perform routines. Game tickets are $4. In addition, the district is participating in National Wear Red Day on Feb. 3. Each school in the District will go red for the cause, in addition to their participation in Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart fundraising activities. Julie Hederman, youth market director, AHA, said HSD “is the only district going red entirely” on Wear Red Day.

This tour stop of the Commissioner’s Trophy – awarded to the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals following their 2011 World Series victory -- is one of 53 planned for U.S. Cellular retail locations in Missouri, Illinois, and Tulsa, Okla. St. Louis Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III and Michelle Groves, sales director of U.S. Cellular in St. Louis, made the announcement about this trophy tour during a recent press conference.  “We are always looking for ways to enhance the fan’s experience,” Groves said. At each stop, fans may have their photo taken with the trophy at no cost.  They are welcome to bring their own digital cameras or use their cell phone cameras, Groves noted. The tour began on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the U.S. Cellular store, located at 6623 Delmar Boulevard, in University City from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Other tour stops presented by U.S. Cellular in North St. Louis County include the following locations: Ferguson, Thursday, March 29 – U.S. Cellular store, located at 10708 W. Florissant Avenue, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. St. John, Thursday, Jan. 19 – U.S. Cellular store, located at 9004 St. Charles Rock Road, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information on the Hazelwood event, call (314) 227-5691 or look up the St. Louis Mills Directory of Mall Stores at http://www.simon.com/mall/malldirectory.aspx?id=1244 for a store map.

   The Audubon Center at Riverlands is welcoming bird and nature lovers to one of the most significant migratory flyways in the world. The center, a partnership with the National Audubon Society and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Rivers Project Office, is located in the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary bordering the Mississippi River in West Alton, Mo. The center offers birding, education and outdoor activities year-round. Eagle watchers can take a break inside where it is warm and still view the birds through scopes placed around a wall of windows. There are numerous displays and a theater inside, and a deck and viewing barge outside. This is a very comfortable and informative place to begin your eagle watch or relax and regroup after a hard day of bird watching. On a visit to the center on Jan. 14, only one eagle was spotted, but we were treated to Trumpeter swans and a variety of other waterfowl in the Riverlands area. Eagles are reported to be slow arriving in the area due to the warmer than usual winter. An Eagle Watch Weekend will be held at the center on Feb.11 with a live eagle show from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., children’s activities, regularly scheduled hikes to the river’s edge with a guide, and hot cocoa and cookies. Center hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. every day except the following: Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. The center is located at 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton, MO 63386. For more information, call 636-899-0090 or visit the website, www.riverlands.audubon.org.

Kemoll's owner Mark Cusomano  donated the 42nd floor premises and the dinner service and Drury Hotel’s sponsored the pre dinner reception on the 40th floor where Archbishop Robert Carlson made a brief appearance. His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, was the keynote speaker at the dinner and shared a detailed reflection on the life of devotion and dedication to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and in particular her 14 years at St. Ferdinand in Florissant. Monsignor Jack Schuler of present day St. Ferdinand Parish was the master of ceremony aided by and Fathers Keller and Driscoll.  Many other priests in attendance included Monsignor Mark Ullrich of Sacred Heart who’s parish the Shrine is now located in. Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Shrine president Geri Debo presented gifts of appreciation to Rosemary Davison, Mary Kay Gladbach, Mary Keeven and Father Patrick Driscoll for their contributions to the preservation of the Shrine. Mayor Thomas P. Schneider noted that Florissant has always valued the Shrine and thanked the Archdiocese for taking a renewed interest in it. He shared biographical accounts that Mother Duchesne loved Florissant with a kind of vehemence for its solitude and in her eye it had the quality of hospitality and that we still have that asset. He shared quotes of admiration and awe of Rose Philippine Duchesne that were made by the famous missionary Priest Father Pierre-Jean DeSmet, S.J. who was ordained at St. Ferdinand. Fr. DeSmet said in 1847 “After a visit with her at St. Ferdinand I had the conviction that I was with a truly living saint….I should not be surprised if she were some day raised to our alters.” Schneider said that "our children have taken the lessons learned in Florissant on tolerance and hospitality to all corners of the globe returning some of the grace that was brought here by St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and Father DeSmet." Everyone was delighted to hear an announcement at the end of the evening that Mark Cusomano will host this tremendous event at Kemoll’s again next year.

It has been a while since North St. Louis County, especially the Florissant Valley area, had a wrestling team that could challenge in the upcoming district meet, which could be a step closer to serious competition to a state title. McCluer North, Suburban North Conference dual meet champions, is one team that could challenge for a district title and “That would be nice to win districts,” said head coach Jake Lapinski but “It’s going to take a total team effort.” The season is long and it comes down to districts and state. District wrestling will take place Feb. 10-11 and McCluer North will be in Class Four, District Two at Ritenour High School and the tournament will take place in Costilow Field House and, maybe, the North Gym, if it is needed.  North, Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood West, Pattonville and Riverview Gardens are the Suburban North Conference Schools visiting Ritenour. Also competing are CBC, DeSmet, Normandy, Fort Zumwalt West and the three Francis Howell District high schools -- Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North and Francis Howell High. Meanwhile, Chaminade, Hazelwood East and McCluer will be in Hannibal to compete in Class Three, District Two and McCluer South-Berkeley will be in Class Two, District Two in Mexico, Mo. The top four wrestlers from each of the 14 weight classes will advance to the state championships, Feb. 16-18, at Mizzou Arena, University of Missouri in Columbia. McCluer North, in tournament wrestling, started with second-place finishes at Ritenour (Ray Doney Invitational) Dec. 11, at Fort Zumwalt East, Dec. 17-18, and at Hazelwood Central (all St, Louis Suburban Conference Championships) Jan. 6-7. The finish at Hazelwood Central boosted the Stars as they won the Eric Lewis Invitational Jan. 20-21, and the Francis Howell North Invitational, Jan.28. Tournament winners for McCluer North were Darrell Pampkin (at Hazelwood Central, Ritenour, Fort Zumwalt East and MICDS), Jamarcus Carter (at Ritenour), Anthony Nichols (at Fort Zumwalt East), Josh Taylor (at Fort Zumwalt East) and Delvin Hutson (at Francis Howell North).

   Is it bad Karma to mention the fourth quarter of your game? Nah, it just makes sense. Still, I don’t like the idea of a “Bucket List.” Not that I don’t have goals. Just that I don’t like disappointment. I’ve been known to say, “have no expectations and you’ll never be disappointed.” So I have used up some precious brain cells here to compile my “Anti- Bucket List”, made up of “Things I’ll Never Do.” Number One: Fly to Europe. Unless they invent a way to teleport me a’la Star Trek, it’s just not gonna happen. I can barely make it to Chicago on I-55, and that’s with two stops for stretching. Yeah, I know about Ambien and all that. But just the thought of being five miles in the air over a very deep bunch of water for 8 hours starts my little tummy to roll. So sorry visits to the Vatican. Florida and California and New York, no problem. Just keep me where the prospects of an emergency landing don’t include using my seat cushion as a flotation device. Yeah, like that would work. Number Two: Bungee Jumping. Are you kidding me? I nearly croaked a few years ago shooting down a water slide at Disney World. So, no way on this inexplicable activity. It’s enough for me to just jump out of a golf cart. Number Three: Learn to play a musical instrument. I’ve had an acoustic guitar for over 30 years and the best I can do is about 20 chords. I also have my Marine Band harmonica, worth maybe a couple dozen songs. But what I don’t have is that little thing called talent. I’ll keep strumming chords and tooting on the mouth harp, but only for private consumption. Or when the grandkids come over and want to slobber all over it with their renditions. The harmonica, not the guitar. Number Four: Play at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. No, not play in the Masters. To do that you have to be a really good golfer. And to just play at the course, you have to be really rich or really famous. Really.  None of which I am. Besides, I bet they don’t allow golf carts or just playing 9 holes, which are the hallmarks of my game. So, yeah, no green jacket for  me. Number Five: Water ski. Much to the lovely brides delight, this is the one sport that she beats me at. Unless you count ice skating. She is good at both, and I could never come out of the crouch to ski. Of course, I only tried it that once, but that was enough. And skating? Bad ankle equals lots of ice time… on my rear. Number Six: Write the next Great American Novel. I tried. Twice. Random House wasn’t interested, along with about 50 other publishers. So I self-published one, and the other sits quietly in my documents file. Columns are easier. Brief, concise. Short stories, poems and songs are fun. Just no more novels.  But hey, maybe I can pen a screenplay of my book, add a few middle-school vampires, a time-traveling principal, center it around a school choir, throw in math-savant kid. Number Seven: Flip my hair out of my eyes. This fuzzy headed kid has longed to do this since childhood. Today, the old forehead is at least a “fivehead”. Maybe in my next life.And finally, Number Eight: Break 80 at Eagle Springs. Sorry for all the golf references. It’s the only sport I can come close to playing with any success (Anyway,     I’m revising this goal to something achievable. My new plan is to have no plan. Just have fun, hit good shots, enjoy the sun. Remember that Zen guy? So that’s about it. Make them Bucket Lists if you dare. I just can’t handle the pressure.

So I have used up some precious brain cells here to compile my “Anti- Bucket List”, made up of “Things I’ll Never Do.” Number One: Fly to Europe. Unless they invent a way to teleport me a’la Star Trek, it’s just not gonna happen. I can barely make it to Chicago on I-55, and that’s with two stops for stretching. Yeah, I know about Ambien and all that. But just the thought of being five miles in the air over a very deep bunch of water for 8 hours starts my little tummy to roll. So sorry visits to the Vatican. Florida and California and New York, no problem. Just keep me where the prospects of an emergency landing don’t include using my seat cushion as a flotation device. Yeah, like that would work. Number Two: Bungee Jumping. Are you kidding me? I nearly croaked a few years ago shooting down a water slide at Disney World. So, no way on this inexplicable activity. It’s enough for me to just jump out of a golf cart. Number Three: Learn to play a musical instrument. I’ve had an acoustic guitar for over 30 years and the best I can do is about 20 chords. I also have my Marine Band harmonica, worth maybe a couple dozen songs. But what I don’t have is that little thing called talent. I’ll keep strumming chords and tooting on the mouth harp, but only for private consumption. Or when the grandkids come over and want to slobber all over it with their renditions. The harmonica, not the guitar. Number Four: Play at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. No, not play in the Masters. To do that you have to be a really good golfer. And to just play at the course, you have to be really rich or really famous. Really.  None of which I am. Besides, I bet they don’t allow golf carts or just playing 9 holes, which are the hallmarks of my game. So, yeah, no green jacket for  me. Number Five: Water ski. Much to the lovely brides delight, this is the one sport that she beats me at. Unless you count ice skating. She is good at both, and I could never come out of the crouch to ski. Of course, I only tried it that once, but that was enough. And skating? Bad ankle equals lots of ice time… on my rear. Number Six: Write the next Great American Novel. I tried. Twice. Random House wasn’t interested, along with about 50 other publishers. So I self-published one, and the other sits quietly in my documents file. Columns are easier. Brief, concise. Short stories, poems and songs are fun. Just no more novels.  But hey, maybe I can pen a screenplay of my book, add a few middle-school vampires, a time-traveling principal, center it around a school choir, throw in math-savant kid. Number Seven: Flip my hair out of my eyes. This fuzzy headed kid has longed to do this since childhood. Today, the old forehead is at least a “fivehead”. Maybe in my next life. And finally, Number Eight: Break 80 at Eagle Springs. Sorry for all the golf references. It’s the only sport I can come close to playing with any success. Anyway,  I’m revising this goal to something achievable. My new plan is to have no plan. Just have fun, hit good shots, enjoy the sun. Remember that Zen guy? So that’s about it. Make them Bucket Lists if you dare. I just can’t handle the pressure.

“Our district really does serve as a positive role model in the community,” said Supt. Art McCoy. “The accomplishments of our students and staff serve as proof that there can be high achievement for all through equity and excellence every day." Wonder Twins take top slots in American Open, hope for Olympics. Darrel and Darren Barnes, affectionately known as the "Wonder Twins" at McCluer North High School, proved they deserve the moniker at the 2011 American Open Championship held in Mobile, Ala. The seniors took the top slots in their weight classes, even though their valor was tested by athletes in their 20s. Darrel finished second and his twin brother, Darren, finished first. [caption id="attachment_7276" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="McCluer North Weightlifter Darrel Barnes"][/caption] Their success is being noticed. This April, Nickelodeon will feature them and other teen Olypmic hopefuls on the "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" show. Meanwhile, the pair practice two and a half hours a day, six days a week in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Weightlifting planned for spring or summer. [caption id="attachment_7284" align="alignright" width="133" caption="McCluer North Weightlifter Darren Barnes"][/caption] FFSD athletes tapped for All-State football teams. McCluer High School's Jeff Shumpert, McCluer North High School's Demecho Crawford and McCluer South-Berkeley High School's Christian Winston, all seniors, were tapped for the Missouri Football Coaches’ Association All-State football second team. MN's Myles McIntyre, a junior; Keith Jones, a senior; and MSB's Trevion McGhaw, a senior; were selected for the All-State football first team. FFSD athletes, MN coach earn football honors. Two Ferguson-Florissant School District students and one coach were selected to receive the Suburban North 2011 all-conference football team's highest honors. McCluer High School's Jeff Shumpert, a senior, was named the Offensive Player of the Year. McCluer North High School's Keith Jones, a senior, was tapped as the Lineman of the Year. Last but not least, Jim Schottmueller, MN's varsity football coach, was named Suburban North Coach of the Year. During his more than 25 years as head coach, the team has advanced to nine final fours, five state championships and secured 17 district titles. In October, Schottmueller was chosen as the Charter Communications and St. Louis Rams Coach of the Week, an honor that included $2,000. Schottmueller used the funds to invest in "The Huddle." This technology helped MN send more than 400-student highlight films to colleges. FFSD students, staff sweep NCCU's MLK contest. For the first time, four of the five North County Churches Uniting for Racial Justice and Harmony’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Contest winners were part of the Ferguson-Florissant School District. The contest’s theme was "Dr. King's Unfinished Business: Promoting Economic Empowerment." Wynter March, a sixth-grader at Combs Elementary School; David Kirkman, a junior at McCluer High School; and Kourtney Harvey, a senior at McCluer North High School, were invited to read their essays at the January High Achievement for All District-Wide Task Force meeting. The students and adult winner, RaShawn Johnson, a reading teacher at Berkeley Middle School, also presented their speeches last month as part of St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley's annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. [caption id="attachment_7288" align="alignright" width="470" caption="Dr. McCoy and the Essay Winners"][/caption]  

“He’s an unkempt kid. In the beginning, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, he says what’s on his mind and he curses a lot,” said Cross of his character. As the play unfolds, Cross describes changes in Billy Ray Jr. “He spends more time with an older adult. His posture changes and he stands up straight. He uses a softer voice and he’s more pleasant to be around,” he said. “On Golden Pond” is a glimpse into the lives of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are spending their 48th summer in Golden Pond, ME, the childhood summer home of Ethel. Described as a universal story of family, the play explores love, disfavor and reconciliation. This is Cross’ first big stage play. He has been in school productions, and in fourth grade, he had a role in the opera “La Boheme.” He was also involved in a summer program hosted by the Black Rep. Cross said the theatre company invited him to audition for “On Golden Pond.” “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I didn’t want to pass it up,” said Cross. He auditioned with a monologue, a scene from “Pursuit of Happyness” with Will Smith and his son. “I like to entertain people,” said Cross when asked what he likes about being on stage. “It just feels right. I like to make people laugh.” His favorite sports are baseball and soccer, his favorite actors are Smith and Tom Cruise and his favorite entertainers are Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Drake and Lil Wayne. When asked what he likes about school, he said he likes being in SAIL – Students’ Activities in Investigative Learning. It is the gifted education program for middle school students. When he grows up, he wants to “be an actor turned mogul.” He cited interests in having a shoe company, a fashion line, real estate, and branching out into “other entertainment like singing and rapping.” Until then, he’ll continue his present role, while also auditioning for a commercial. "My parents are really behind this. They really think this can happen,” Cross said of his aspiration to become an actor. “My mom gives me tips, and she’s a good acting coach. She keeps me humble, too,” he said. Cross’ stage presence has been met with good reviews. “It makes me feel good to know people are recognizing my talent,” he said. He sometimes thinks that he didn’t do well after a performance, but the “advice and compliments are helping me become a better actor.” The play runs through February 5 at the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center.

McCluer North took a full team of 14 wrestlers to Ritenour High School’s Costilow Field House for the Class Four, District Two Championships, Feb. 10-11, and 11 of them are going on to Mizzou Arena, University of  Missouri, Columbia, Feb. 16-18 for the Class Four State Championships. Thanks to sending 11 wrestlers to state the McCluer North Stars won their first district title since 1999, the first for a Suburban North Conference team since Ritenour won in 2005 when the meet was at Hazelwood East. The Stars scored 199 points, 35.5 points ahead of runner up Fort Zumwalt West and 79.5 ahead of third-place Francis Howell Central. The closest pursuer to McCluer North from the Suburban North was Ritenour, who had 82 points, 117 behind the Stars, and the Huskies will send five to state. The key for the Stars win, according to head coach Jake Lapinski, was the semifinal round when eight wrestlers won their way to the district championship round and assured themselves a trip to state. Three more wrestlers rebounded by winning their way to the third-place matches and punched their ticket to Columbia. “We did not have a bad (semifinal) round,” Lapinski said. “It was a very good round.” Curtis Peebles returns to state after winning district at 132 pounds while Josh Taylor (152) and Gordon Phillips (182) were district champions. Anthony Nichols (120), Darrell Pampkin (125) sixth in state last year, Delvin Huston (145), a returning qualifier, Josh Wheeler (170) and Randall Young (285) were district runner ups.  Anthony Nichols was third at 120 while Gary Washington (160) and Kyrton Kilgore (195) each took fourth. “We have no superstars,” Lapinski said. “It was a team effort.” Now the Stars aim for their first state title since 1990, their fourth overall CBC was fifth with 117 points, 82 behind McCluer North and the Cadets will send eight wrestlers to state. That includes Ray Roehr, a returning state qualifier who won at 105, Patric Masterson (170), a returning qualifier and Alec Maglione, a district champion at 138. Ritenour returns three to state including Eric Bowman (152), fourth last year, and Lamar Welch, district champion at 160. Pattonville sends three to state including returning qualifier Matt Murphy (182), HAZELWOOD WEST send two including district champion Daniel Vaughn (285), a retuning qualifier, HAZELWOOD CENTRAL sends only Brittan McLaughlin (220) and DeSMET sends only Nick Wunderli (285). CLASS THREE -- HAZELWOOD EAST sends six to state after taking fourth-place in District Two at tourney champion Hannibal, CHAMINADE sends four and McCLUER sends three. Akintunde Odunleye returns to state for East after wining district at 182 and Cody Bain (145) also returns for the Spartans. Hazelwood East other wrestlers going to state are: Carlis Richardson, junior, 126-lb;  Kenneth Moore, senior, 160-lb; Jeffery Brock, junior, 170-lb;  and Lance Bush, junior, 220-lb. Leading the way for Chaminade is retuning qualifier Max Wilhelm (152), who was fourth last year. Two McCluer wrestlers -- Marvin Nelson (113) and district champion Johnathon Cain (220) -- also return. CLASS TWO -- McCLUER SOUTH-BERKELEY will send three to state including two returning qualifiers John Williams, a district champion at 120, and Wardell Morgan (126).

[caption id="attachment_7308" align="alignnone" width="363" caption="Florissant Police Chief William Karabas visited St. Ferdinand Catholic School during the Great Central US ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m. Chief Karabas is pictured here with 5th Graders Ashley P. and Braydi T. who are displaying the Proclamation from Gov. Jay Nixon, naming Feb. 2012 as Earthquake Awareness Month. Photo by Cara Koen, Federation of Catholic Schools"][/caption] In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the 1812 earthquake on Missouri’s New Madrid Fault, students in Mrs. McFail’s fifth grade class at St. Ferdinand Catholic School in Florissant learned about the history of earthquakes in Missouri and how to be prepared and safe should one occur. Geophysicist Gregory Hempen and State Emergency Management Agent Steve Besemer presented facts and tips on earthquake preparedness to the students on Tuesday morning, February 7, 2012.  “The key message for students is that disasters will occur, but do not be afraid; be prepared,” said Dr. Hempen.  He informed the 5th grade about the history of earthquakes in Missouri. Students learned about earthquakes, aftershocks and how magnitude is measured, as well as how to be prepared to respond safely if they experience an earthquake. At 10:15, all St. Ferdinand students and faculty participated in an Earthquake preparedness drill, dropping to the ground, getting under the cover of their desks, and holding on. Schools throughout Missouri and other central U.S. states participated in this safety drill as part of the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. The 10:15 time was exactly the 200th anniversary of the 1812 earthquake on Missouri's New Madrid Fault. The 1812 quake, the biggest ever to occur in the Midwest, had an epicenter near the Missouri Boot Heel. That great New Madrid Fault quake triggered other large quakes and many aftershocks. Florissant Mayor Schneider also spoke to the students, noting that our area was not a state yet and was part of the Louisiana Territory that was purchased from France eight years earlier. He also let them know that St. Ferdinand Parish was 23 years old and that Government in Florissant was 26 years old at the time of the quake. The only other parishes that existed at the time of the quake were in St. Genevieve and St. Louis. St. Ferdinand Catholic School is a member of the Federation of Catholic Schools in the Northeast Deanery, an  agreement between the pastors of the eleven parishes in the Northeast Deanery of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to  work more closely together in support of the mission of Catholic education in the North County community

North County Christian School, taking advantage of playing at home, won both boys and girls high school Twin Rivers Christian Activities Association Basketball Tournaments, Feb.     7, 10. North County Christian Boys wrapped up the tournament title Feb. 10 with a 62-37 win over Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis. CAGSL (14-5 prior to Feb. 14) had defeated NCCS twice (60-59 at NCCS on Jan. 13 and 70-52 on Feb. 6 at CAGSL). So the third time NCCS (15-6) took charge by scoring the first eight points but CAGSL, who trailed 14-7 after one quarter, rallied in the second to cut the deficit to 24-21 at halftime. The second half of the battle of Crusaders went to NCCS as they outscored CAGSL, 38-16. “They came out and really pushed themselves,” said NCCS Head Coach Darrell Alexander. “I’m really proud of them.” NCCS and CAGSL were both 4-2 in TRCAA games but CAGSL won the regular season title on head-to-head tiebreaker NCCS girls (15-5, 6-0 TRCAA) won the conference tournament title game Feb. 10 over Tower Grove Christian.  The Crusaders scored only three points in the first quarter and trailed the Tigers until the final three minutes of the third quarter when the Crusaders took an 18-16 lead and out scored the Tigers 14-7 the rest of the way. NCCS girls had a hard year dealing with injures so coach Rebekah Cline said she had to teach kids quickly. Nonetheless “I feel like we’re really successful,” Cline said. On Feb. 7 NCCS teams won over Collinsville Christian Academy in the TRCAA Tournament. NCCS Boys won 45-38 while NCCS Girls won 46-18. NCCS, CAGSL and Tower Grove Christian Basketball teams be in the Missouri Christian    State Athletic Association  Tournament, Feb. 16-18 in Joplin. Girls Swimming: Pattonville Wins Suburban North Tournament Pattonvillle High School won their fourth consecutive Suburban North Conference Tournament, their 14th overall, Feb. 7-9 at the Bridgeton Community Center. Pattonville, who won seven out of 12 events including all three relays (200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay), scored 392 points, Hazelwood West was a distant second with 283.5 followed by tourney host McCluer North (193.5), Hazelwood Central (139), Ritenour (114), McCluer (87) and Hazelwood East (44). Pattonville was led by Elise Amo, who won the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle, Jennifer Baker, who won the 50-yard freestyle and Laura Fulton, who won the one-meter diving. Katharina Schankin, McCluer North, won the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard freestyle; Annie Fitzgerald, Hazelwood West, won the 100-yard backstroke; Megan Hei, Hazelwood Central, won the 100-yard backstroke; and Lexie Smith, Ritenour, won the 100-yard butterfly. The State Championships are Feb. 17-18 at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

McCluer North Boys Basketball and Hazelwood Central Girls Basketball are the top seeds in the Class Five District Eight Tournament, scheduled to begin Feb. 22, and will take place at McCluer High School. The District Championships will be held Feb. 25 at 12 noon for boys and 2 p.m. for girls. The Gym will likely be cleared between games. McCluer North Boys, Hazelwood Central Boys and Girls and McCluer Girls will have a first round bye and will not play Feb. 20. The opening round begins Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. with a pair of girls’ games followed by a pair of boys’ games. Hazelwood East and Normandy open the Girls Tourney Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. game between McCluer North and Riverview Gardens. The Boys take over later that day, at 3 p.m. as Riverview Gardens and Hazelwood East play at 5 p.m. while McCluer plays Normandy at 5 p.m. The Gym will likely be cleared following each game. The Girls semifinals will take place Feb. 21 as Hazelwood Central plays Hazelwood East or Normandy at 4 p.m. while McCluer plays McCluer North or Riverview Gardens at 6 p.m. In the Boys Semifinals McCluer North plays Riverview Gardens Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. while      Hazelwood Central plays McCluer or Normandy Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. McCluer North (20-1 prior to Feb. 15), the defending Class Five State Boys Champions, can wrap up the Suburban North Conference title outright (6-0) with a win Feb. 16, 5:30 at Ritenour. Head coach Randy Reed -- after the Feb. 2 win over Hazelwood Central, 79-69 -- said the Stars, with nine seniors are meeting their goals. Defensively the Stars are “very good,” Reed said and he credits the man to man defense as “our bread and butter.” Hazelwood Central (18-6, 5-1 Suburban North prior to Feb. 14) has more sophomores (six) than seniors (four). Speaking after the Feb. 4 win over Cardinal Ritter (64-63) at home in the Red Out Shoot Out head coach Josh Martin said the Hawks “got to play 32 minutes, get to value the basketball and be unselfish.” McCluer (21-3. 4-2 Suburban North prior to Feb. 14) and, according to head coach Erwin Claggett, the Comets were “down to the wire” in the losses but “unable to close them out.” Following the Feb. 3 home win over Pattonville (77-49) said “we just got to be ready when playoffs start. Prior to districts Riverview Gardens host Hazelwood East Feb. 18 at 12 noon On the girls side Hazelwood Central (13-8 prior to Feb. 15) is the only team in the district with a winning record and will match 6-0 Suburban North records with Pattonville Feb. 16 in a 6 p.m. game at Pattonville, who plays Feb. 23, 7 p.m., in a Class Five, District Four game at Parkway Central against the winner of the Feb. 20, 3:30 game between Parkway North and Ritenour CLASS FIVE, DISTRICT FOUR AT PARKWAY CENTRAL -- Hazelwood West will play Feb. 20 in both girls and boys games.  West Girls play Parkway Central at 2 p.m. with the winner playing defending back-to-back champion Incarnate Word Academy Feb. 23 at 5:30. West boys play Pattonville at 5 p.m. with the winner playing Feb. 22, 5:30 against DeSmet. Championship games are Feb. 24 at 5:30 for girls and 7 p.m. for boys CLASS FOUR, DISTRICT SIX AT JENNINGS -- Trinity Catholic Girls open the tournament Feb. 18 with an 11 a.m. game against Beaumont with the winner playing Jennings Feb. 22 at 6:30. Trinity Boys play Sumner Feb.21 at 5 p.m. with the winner to play Soldan-International Studies Feb. 23 at 6:30. McCluer South-Berkeley Girls play Sumner Feb. 18, 12:30 with the winner playing Soldan-International Studies Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. MS-Berkeley Boys play Beaumont Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. with the winner playing against Jennings Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Championship games will be played Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. (girls) and 6:30 (boys). CLASS THREE, DISTRICT SIX--BOYS AT WHITFIELD -- On Feb. 28 Lutheran North plays against Principia at 6:30 while North Technical plays Whitfield at 8 p.m. and the two winners face each other March 1 at 7 p.m. That winner plays for the Championship March 2 at 6 p.m. GIRLS AT PRINCIPIA -- Game times and dates are not available but the likely start date for LHSN and North Tech will be Feb. 27.

The Valley of Flowers Committee has chosen “Valley of Flowers Celebrates 50 Years of Festivals as the theme for 2012. All parade units are invited to decorate their entries using any of the themes used over the past 50 festivals. A complete list of themes is available on the Valley of Flowers website or by calling the office. Annually, thousands of visitors to Florissant on the first full weekend in May are sure to find something of particular interest, whether it be sporting events, plant sale, the children’s festival of performing arts, car shows, carnival rides or delicious barbecue and other foods, arts and crafts or flea market. Applications are available for the Valley of Flowers: Parade, game booths, food booths, Queen crowning, flea market or craft fair online at www.ValleyofFlowers.com or by calling 314-837-0033. The parade will take place on Sunday, May 6th, 2012 in Old Town Florissant on rue St. Francois. There is no entry fee and applicants do not have to be a Florissant resident or business to be part of the parade. The Queen Candidates must be 16 years of age, a junior in high school and a Florissant resident. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 10th, 2012 for the first 25 candidates. Craft Fair, Flea Market and Food Booth applications for Friday, May 4th and Saturday, May 5th at the James J. Eagan Center are also available. The Craft Fair is on the covered Ice Rink Pavilion and the Flea Market is inside the building. All food booths are grouped together in the Food Tent on the grounds. Food booth applications for the Knights of Columbus grounds for Thursday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 6th are available at a cost of $125.00. Please submit your application request through our website or through our office located at 601rue St. Charles. The office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:45 to 12:45, and the phone number is 314-837-0033. For further information concerning the festival call the office at 314-837-0033, email us at valley-of-flowers@sbcglobal.net or visit the website at www.valleyofflowers.com.

The Student Government Associations (SGA) at STLCC’s four campuses are raising money to purchase trees through the Arbor Day Foundation. The SGA's Trees for Joplin Campaign, a friendly, intercampus competition, will wrap up by the end of March. SGA representatives are selling popcorn and candy and collecting donations at many other events on their campuses, from which proceeds will be used to purchase the trees. The Arbor Day Foundation initiated its Joplin Tree Recovery program through its own Trees for America program. The foundation delivered more than 120,000 trees to Gulf Coast families who were victims of Hurricane Katrina, and has replanted more than 20 million trees in national forests devastated by disease and fire. The foundation will match the funds raised by the STLCC students dollar for dollar. “We have issued a districtwide challenge to our sister campuses to see who can raise the most money,” said Derrick Varner, vice president of Forest Park’s SGA. “All of the funds will be contributed and donated under STLCC.” In lieu of attending the annual Missouri Community College Association-SGA Conference in Branson, Mo., last November, SGA representatives and their peers statewide all decided their time would be much better spent in Joplin. The group, which included more than 40 STLCC students and faculty, made the bus trip on Nov. 5. “It was an eye opener. Even though we were hit by a tornado (in April 2011) and there was lots of damage in North County, no lives were lost,” said Donna Brandy, STLCC-Florissant Valley’s SGA president. “Once we started working, it was truly rewarding to see new houses go up and to see everyone pitching in to do their part. It made the trip all the more worthwhile.” The Phi Theta Kappa chapter at STLCC-Wildwood organized a collection drive immediately after the tornado hit in April, collecting three carloads of clothes, household items, shoes, toiletries and toys that were delivered within a few weeks. Wildwood students Patrick Eberle and Abby Wood said the experience of participating in the group effort has left an indelible mark on their own lives. “A community isn’t just the people that live near you and around you. It’s also the people who support and care about you,” Eberle said. ”Joplin is definitely part of our community. After six months, people thought, ‘We donated once already, so we’re good.’ They still need help.” Said Woods, “Talking to all the people who were helping, working side by side with them and having them tell you how much it meant to them made me realize that it’s still going on for them. It’s part of their daily lives.” Before students left Joplin that day, they collected more than $100 amongst themselves and donated it to the AmeriCorps representatives who also were on site. The STLCC campus winner of this contest will be announced in mid-March; however, there are no losers in this competition. “When you’re volunteering or helping out, by making a difference in someone else’s life, you’re making a difference in yours,” Eberle said. If you would like information about how to donate to the SGA Trees for Joplin Campaign, contact Donna Brandy at dbrandy@my.stlcc.edu. (story provided by the St. Louis Community College.)  

Director Michael Sucsy’s romantic drama The Vow is “inspired by” the unique love-lost/love-found journey taken by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, as recounted in their autobiography.  It must have seemed a no-brainer to pitch the idea of turning their inspiring story into a can’t-miss movie. Sadly, somewhere in the transition from the tragedy and triumph of the people who lived it, to the triteness and treacle of the actors facing insurmountable odds to convey that tragedy and triumph, a profound experience was lost in translation.  With a more competently crafted script than writers Jason Katims and Abby Kohn jinx her with here, McAdams can give a wow performance.  But, their adaptation is so stunted and Sucsy’s direction is so devoid of nuance, that McAdams is stuck with three modes of expression: gushing grins (the most incessant mode), puzzled pouts and crocodile teary-eyes. Poor Tatum, on the other hand, can’t even catch that much of a break.  All Sucsy seems to have demanded of him is to project a stoic burliness; without appearing to care that Tatum’s dialogue seldom varies from a lock-jawed delivery for a distinctly unappealing effect.  Result: He fails to project anything convincingly resembling passion, or fear, or love or charm. As a man determined to inspire love in a woman who can’t remember she once loved him, this failure by Tatum turns high hopes in viewers for a romantic tear-jerker into a very glum experience, indeed.  Moving from Tatum’s failure to McAdams’---it becomes painfully obvious that her performance will do little to differentiate the “before Leo” from the “with Leo” Paige. Before Leo, she’s unsuccessfully pursuing a law degree and dealing with an inadequate boyfriend (Scott Speedman).  Fleeing law, boyfriend and parents (Sam Neill, Jessica Lange) who have failed her in some mysterious way, Paige becomes an Art Institute student, a waitress and a city-dweller with her own studio. Marriage (in a museum gallery) to Leo after a whirlwind courtship (complete with “Move In?” spelled out with blueberries) soon follows; and “with Leo” life appears idyllic (in montage) and moving towards planned parenthood, when the accident occurs. It turns back Paige’s mental clock to the days she ate meat and would upset mommy and daddy if she got a tattoo or voted Democrat. Eventually, after much frustration, Leo stops trying to force love: What if he simply quits pushing so hard and lets nature take its course? It doesn’t make for the most convincing turnaround on film, but there is still enough of a spark of interest left for us to feel a bit of a tug at our hearts. Narrative dullness gets the occasional jolt of male nudity (Tatum’s sculpted posterior) and feminine dainties (Paige and Leo strip down for a dip in Lake Michigan).  Rating: PG-13.

It made for spirited conversation about dear old Mom and Dad’s return to tradition. And to be honest, the big fir in the family room looked as good as or better than the guy we had in the box. Which brings me to the rest of this story. You see, we offered to donate that tree to a family in the area that didn’t have one. So son Tim and I hauled it over to the lady’s house, bid her “Merry Christmas” and went home. About twenty minutes later, she calls and says, “Hi, you brought us a tree? Thanks so much. But there is a problem.” What kind of problem, says I. “Well, you see, the top portion is missing.”Huh? I completely forgot that we put the top in a bag last year, since it was impossible to get the whole thing back in the box. You know how that goes. I give great props to people who pack stuff. I can never rebox something the way they get it, so tight and nice. Anyway. Okay, no problem, says I. I’ll get it over to you later today. Which would have been fine, except that I couldn’t find it. Anywhere. Not in the space above the garage, not in the basement. We had just totally pulled everything off of shelves and out of the laundry room downstairs not a week before, and there was nary a trace of a bag with the top of a tree inside. This was a quandary, a conundrum. A true life mystery. I called the lady back and sheepishly shared this bad news. She was very understanding, although I could detect a tinge of disappointment in her voice. With promises of finding it, somewhere, I hung up, then emailed the coordinator of our St. Vincent de Paul Society outreach efforts. After Christy stopped laughing, she said she would put out the word that we were in search of a tree top. Now, I know that Christmas miracles come in all shapes and sizes. This one arrived in the form of the top of a tree that someone had to offer as a replacement part for my three-fourth of a fir now standing forlornly in the living room of its new owner. When Christy took it over to the lady’s house, she noticed that the tree didn’t look all that bad, since the recipient had molded the branches into a conical form. We later laughed that all she really needed was an angel with a Triple XL dress size. As I sit here, I still wonder at how sometimes things just seem to work out. I trust that the family who got their tree, albeit from two sources, had a good Christmas. I know ours was enhanced by that story, and the fact that we are so blessed that we could afford to buy a real tree and new lights, and not have to worry about how to explain to young children the possibility of a Christmas morning without a tree. But the crazy part of the story is this. Somewhere in this house is a treetop, waiting to be discovered.

North County Inc. the Greater North County Chamber, the Maryland Heights Chamber and Northwest Chamber have announced their annual Legislative agenda for the North County region for 2012. Except of that agenda follow:

Funding. We support adequate Missouri transportation funding and a formula that reflects the economic strength and development needs of the St. Louis region. We support the emphasis on maintenance of existing infrastructure. We support maintaining St. Louis’ representation on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. We support various forms of user fees be considered as one source of new transportation funding. Transit. We support policies and funding for Metro that promote more effective and sustainable system operations, as well as system expansions in accordance with the Long-Range Transit Plan.

General Issues

Copper and Other Metal Theft Prevention. We support State legislation to set guidelines for the sale of scrap metal, particularly copper, to help prevent theft of such metals. Predatory Lending & Payday Loan Operations. We support legislation that would impose stricter regulations, with penalties, on lenders who engage in unfair and deceptive lending practices. Right to Work Status. We support the State maintaining the status quo as to workers right to organize. Tax Structure Review and Taxation for Local Governments. We support a tax structure review due to structural deficits caused by an out-of-date revenue system. Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. We support the concept of the collection of electronic sales tax for online and remote sales purchases. Emergency Cell Phone Fee. We support legislation to authorize a county-by-county vote for a cellular phone fee to fund enhanced 911 mobile services. Oversight. We call for all legislation to clearly define expected measurable outcomes and accountability measures with built in oversight and transparency.

[caption id="attachment_7341" align="alignnone" width="470" caption="NCI 2012 Legislative Reception: Sen. Timothy Green, Rep. Tommie Pierson, Rep. Bert Atkins, Rep. Clem Smith, Rep. Margo McNeil, Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray, (front row), Rep. Sharon Pace, NCI President Rebecca Zoll, Sen. Jane Cunningham (Rep. Sylvester Taylor and Rep. Churie Spreng are not pictured but did attend)"][/caption] While the conversation got interesting and political at times, there just wasn't enough time to follow-up all the questions. But attendees had one-on-one opportunities after the 2-hour event to gain more specific insights from the elected state representatives and two senators. The annual reception held at SSM DePaul Health Center Feb. 9 was a collaborative event, hosted by the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce, North County Incorporated Regional Development Association, and the Northwest Chamber of Commerce. It allowed area leaders to hear from state legislators about matters affecting North County and Missouri.  Program moderator Ann Brand, government relations liaison from St. Louis Community College, presented the 2012 North County legislative priorities on economic development, education, healthcare, transportation, and general issues. State legislators in attendance were: Senator Jane Cunningham, Senator Tim Green, Representative Bert Atkins, Representative Margo McNeil, Representative Sharon Pace, Representative Tommie Pierson, Representative Clem Smith, Representative Churie Spreng, Representative Sylvester Taylor, and Representative Rochelle Walton Gray. Legislators Respond on Issues Senator Cunningham, R-District 7, which includes Hazelwood and parts of Florissant, gave her position supporting Catholic schools as an alternative to public schools though the use of vouchers.  On a related subjects, most of the Democratic legislators (the majority attending) don't support charter schools and a some felt they have not exceeded public schools and sending public school students to other schools just hurt the public schools. State Rep. Thomas Pierson, D-69^th District, pointed that although Riverview Gardens School District is currently unaccredited, it has many students that get college scholarships. He blames too many "transients" for the problems leading to unaccredited districts like Riverview and the City of St. Louis. Most of the Democratic legislators oppose a voter photo ID requirement, proposed by Republications.  Rep. Margo McNeil- D. 78^th District, said she is urging Gov. Jay Nixon to veto any legislature calling for such ID requirements. "We would be disenfranchising the poor, the elderly and others who don't have a driver's license," she said. Rep. Churie Spreng, 76^th District, also opposed the voter photo ID legislation and would also urge the governor to veto such a bill. She said it could cost up to $7 million over three years to implement. McNeil and several others are in favor of a sales tax on Internet sales from Missouri businesses. "Missouri needs the same tax code like 24 other states that tax Internet sales." She said the funds could help Missouri with "sustainable energy and gas thermal affordable energy" methods, which would save money and taxes. Several legislators opposed eliminating the state income tax in favor of a sales tax and while acknowledging something has to be done on highway construction, they don't favor a toll road for I-70. Sen Tim Green, 13^th District, said while I-70  "is way past" it's need to be replaced, the current political climate in an election year means it's very unlikely this year. Rep. Clem Smith-District 71, said he favors a federal effort for highway improvements nationwide, noting that the Obama administration has been discussing the instruction situation and funding. North County Incorporated and the three local chambers collaboratively represent more than 1,000 area businesses and civic organizations.

Mark Behlmann has been on the Hazelwood Board of Education for 15 years. He is a widower with one daughter, Kari, and two granddaughters. A journeyman carpenter, he is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School who operated a custom home building business for 22 years until retiring in 2010. He is the builder / developer of the premier North County subdivision Parc Argonne Estates. He has served as director and president of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Florissant Parks Foundation, president of the Friends of Pallottine, and director on the Pallottine Renewal Center Board. He is also a member of North County Inc., Old Jamestown Association, Old Town Partners, St. Louis Home Builders Association and the Spanish Lake Democratic Club. He is a recipient of many awards: Outstanding Young Men of America 96, Chamber Business Person of the Year 97, Old Jamestown Association Citizen of the Year 02 and Trinity Catholic High School Hall of Fame 03. He received the highest level of certification offered by the Missouri School Board Association. He also served as director for MSBA and was the Region 7 Governmental Relations Chair. “Community service, involvement, and participation require a lot of personal devotion,” he said. “Fortunately, my family and I believe in these qualities for supporting a positive community environment. Being a productive school board member requires a lot of time, understanding, and patience. These experiences have taught me a lot in life, and I'm eager to learn more.” Desiree Whitlock has been a Director on the Hazelwood School District Board of Education for nine years, serving as President, Vice-President and Secretary. She has also held offices with the PTA at Keeven Elementary School, Kirby Junior High and Hazelwood East. She has served on various committees including Hazelwood 1st, Middle School Planning, Behavioral Guide Planning, Propositions 4, H and 1st, Scholarship Selection, Hazelwood Educator Evaluation Taskforce, Policy Review, Key Communicators, Legislative Advocacy and the Interview Committee for Teachers and Administrators. Ms. Whitlock has lived and been an active parent in HSD for the past 23 years.  She has worked on the polls for Hazelwood 1st, Propositions E and H. She is the mother of two daughters, Desiree B. and Bryona.  Desiree B. is a 2005 graduate of Hazelwood East and a graduate of Indiana State University. Bryona, a 2010 graduate of Hazelwood East High School, is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. Ms. Whitlock earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fisk University and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management from Lindenwood University. She has been employed by the BJC/HealthCare System for the past 27 years in the field of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. She has done community speaking engagements on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and Mental Health issues. She is a former Mentor in the St. Louis Public School System, and former Girl Scout Troop Leader at Keeven. She is currently the Coordinator of Retail, CPPW with the St. Louis County Department of Health. Keith L. Boykin Sr. A St. Louis native, he attended and graduated from the Normandy senior high in 1978. A few years after graduating from high school, he attended DeVry in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating in 1991 with an associate’s degree in electronics, Mr. Boykin worked at the Chrysler Plant in Fenton for a number of years, leaving in 2003 to pursue a dream of owning his own business. His company is Handyman Contracting Company known as Boykin & Sons Group, LLC. Mr. Boykin has resided in the Hazelwood School District since 1995. After eight years of marriage, his first wife passed away. They have two sons, D’Artanyun and Keith Jr. Mr. Boykin also has a son named Joseph, who is 28 and two daughters Jannie 22, and Keila 20. In 2005, Mr. Boykin remarried. His wife, Ada, has two daughters, Kalah and Monikah, from a previous marriage. Mr. Boykin is a member of Dads of Great Students (DOGS), Fathers.com and serves as a youth pastor at his church Kingdom Learning Center. He attended and graduated from Shepherd School for Pastors. The school is designed to help perfect a gift for pastoring and is located in what was formally known as Saint Louis Christian Center on Pershall Road. Mr. Boykin’s four children currently attend Hazelwood Central High School. He said, “As a concerned parent, I am looking forward to helping form the minds of our youths so that they can become productive contributing members of society.”

Hazelwood Central won their second straight district title while Incarnate Word Academy, who is seeking their third straight state title, won their third straight in districts. Hazelwood Central won District Eight defeating host McCluer, 57-34 on Feb. 25, four days after more than doubling up Hazelwood East, 85-41. Hazelwood Central took their 18-9 record to Maryville University Feb. 29 and played Francis Howell Central, with the two teams splitting their previous two games in December. The winner plays against Kirkwood or Fort Zumwalt West March 3, 1 p.m. at the University of Missouri St. Louis Incarnate Word, Metro Women’s Athletic Association White Division Champions, eliminated Suburban North Conference champion Pattonville, 48-39 on Feb. 24 a day after the Red Knights routed district host Parkway Central, 68-38. Two days before the IWA rout Parkway Central upset Hazelwood West, 51-46. IWA took their 23-6 record north to the University of Missouri-St. Louis for a Feb. 29 game against Parkway South with the winner returning to UMSL March 3 to face St. Joseph’s Academy or Jackson in a 6 p.m. contest The March 3 winners will play March 8 in the state semifinal game at Mizzou Arena, Columbia. The March 3 winners from UMSL can only meet at Mizzou Arena March 9 at 12 noon for third place or March 10 at 3 p.m. for the state championship. HAWKS REBOUND FROM LOSS TO PATTONVILLE IN ROLLING OVER DISTRICT RIVALS --Hazelwood Central wanted to achieve two goals but only manage to achieve to reach only one. Five days before beginning District Eight the Hawks 37-game Suburban North Conference wining streak ended (Feb. 16) with a 42-34 loss at Pattonville. Regardless of the outcome this has been “a challenging season” according to head coach Wendy Reeves Nine days after losing to Pattonville Hazelwood Central met their other goal by winning the district title. With half of the packed McCluer M-4 Gym crowd staying around after the McCluer North boys win (see related article) McCluer gave Hazelwood Central a first-half battle as the Hawks took a 22-16 lead to the locker room at halftime. “We were a little upset aft halftime,” Reeves said and part of being upset, although Reeves was not asked about it, was the fact that Alyssia Winston’s name was not in the official scorebook (it was in Hazelwood Central’s) and the Hawks were hit with a technical foul in the first quarter. McCluer made two free throws after the Hawks opened the scoring with a three-pointer. Hazelwood Central settled down in the third quarter, outscoring the Comets, 20-6, and took a 42-22 lead in the third quarter. The Hawks coasted from their outscoring McCluer 15-12 in the final quarter The key in the second half, Reeves said was key transitional baskets made by the Hawks Winston had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Alexis Chappelle scored 16. Against Hazelwood East “we did a pretty decent job,” Reeves said, and East “was playing well.” Central gradually pulled away from East during the game and sealed the game in the fourth quarter as the Hawks outscored the Spartans, 18-8. Chappelle scored 21 points while Winston pulled down 10 rebounds. INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY overcame a seven-point deficit against Pattonville to seal the District Four title, even though Pattonville’s Mikala McGhee was the game’s top scorer with 18 points. Lateesha Deloach led the Red Knights with 13 points while Taylor Manuel added 10. Against Parkway Central five Red Knights scored in double figures with Manuel having a game-high 15 points. In rebounding Parkway Central’s Chelsey Gibson had a game-high 19 while Carly Frala led Incarnate with 10. If Incarnate Word and St. Joseph’s meet March 3 expect the gym in the Mark Twain Building to be packed. IWA defeated St. Joe twice in packed gyms, at IWA in late January

Those fans were waiting to get in as early as two hours prior to the starting time of 12 noon according to a published report. When this reporter arrived at 10:50 a.m. parking next to the gym was restricted, cars were parked back to the east side of the campus near the entrance from Washington Street near the Interstate 270 entrance ramp, And the fans were lined up from the east side of the M-4 Gym to the south end of the parking lot next to the gym in the windy and freezing cold. The smallest gym in the Suburban North Conference was filled by 11:45 a.m., about 15 minutes prior to tip off of the Class Five, District Eight Boys Championship Game. Those that got in, prior to McCluer announcing a sellout which locked out those who can not get in due to Fire Marshall Laws, were able to watch a very tight battle between McCluer North, defending Class Five State Boys Champions, and McCluer High, the district tournament host. About 95 minutes after the opening tip off the McCluer North Stars were able to win a very tight scoring battle over the McCluer Comets, 58-54, and the Stars were able to take a district championship plaque back home to their campus on Waterford Drive at St. Catherine Street. The Suburban North rotates the site each year among those who participates in the predominately Suburban North district and it was McCluer that was assigned to host this year’s event. For the McCluer North players who saw the crowd waiting outside when they arrived on their bus it felt to them was like going to a big-time college event when people wait outside before the gym, field house or auditorium was open. “It made us all feel like this was college,” said McCluer North guard Galen Brown, who was also the football team’s starting quarterback. The 39-year rivalry between these Ferguson-Florissant District high schools in all sports has had a game of this magnitude, especially when the two boys’ basketball teams have a combined record after the game of 50-5. McCluer North head coach Randy Reed said this reminded him of the days when he was in high school at Vashon during the 1970s when the Public High League had big rivalries. "This is incredible,” said Reed. “I’ve never seen a rivalry like this. People were coming from all walks of life.” McCluer North let it be known that they were the defending state champions especially after Byron Ray’s three-pointer at the end of the first quarter broke up a 13-13 tie. But McCluer, who finished at 26-4, let it be known in the second quarter that the game was in their house when the Comets outscored the Stars 19-15 and took a 32-31 halftime lead in front of a standing-room only crowd. The Stars took over in the third quarter as they opened with a 13-0 run to take a 44-32 lead with 3:29 left. The Comets did not score until 3:07 left and scored the last eight points of the third quarter to cut the Stars lead to 44-40.  “They knew it was a game of runs,” Reed said. “The game plan was to keep McCluer off balance.”

The fourth quarter was even, each scoring 14 points as the Comets got no closer than one point down, 48-47, and the Stars led by no more than six points, 53-47. After the Comets got to within two points, 56-54 with 13.8 seconds left, the Stars sealed the win with 1.5 seconds left when Brown scored the last of his 13 points on two free throws. Jordan Granger scored 11 of his 25 points from the free throw line while pulling down 11 rebounds and Tremayne Garrett added 11 points. “We’re more of a balanced team, a completely smarter team (this year than last),” Reed said. Three days earlier, Feb. 22, McCluer North won going away from Hazelwood East, 89-57, with a 42-21 second half after leading at halftime, 47-36. Granger scored 22 points while Brown added 19. McCluer North took their 24-1 record to Maryville University Feb. 29 for a 7:30 game against 15-12 Fort Zumwalt South. The winner plays March 3, 2:45 against Vianney or Troy Buchanan at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The state semifinals-finals are March 8-10 at Mizzou Arena, Columbia.

Most adults, at one time or another, have wished to run away and return to a simpler life, especially in tough times.  As director David Wain’s movie Wanderlust starts, one gets the impression that it will offer some insight and laughs on that dream of escape from the problems such as job loss, financial ruin, and lack of direction.  Unfortunately, Wain and his co-screenwriter Ken Marino seem to believe that the audience is so stupid and hard up for sensationalized cursing and sexless nudity that these filmmakers can fill the screen with little that is funny or affecting. The movie opens with George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston, who, for an actress with so much acting ability, seems unable to pick a good script) in a realtor’s office going over the pros and cons of buying a “micro-loft” in the West Village.  (Linda Lavin is wonderful in this cameo as the realtor.) Within days of signing the purchase papers and moving in, the bottom drops out of their world because George’s boss is hauled off by the feds, the business closed, and George’s job lost.  Meanwhile, Linda is failing to sell her ultra-depressing documentary -- “An Inconvenient Truth meets March of the Penguin” -- to HBO.  When they return to sell the micro-loft, they learn the bottom has fallen out of the housing market. George and Linda move out of their overpriced micro-loft as quickly as they moved in and hit the road to George’s brother’s home in Atlanta; the road trip is a cute sequence.  On the way, they spend a night in the Elysium Bed and Breakfast run by a band of twig-tea-drinking, pot-smoking, free-love, vegan hippies.  George and Linda first meet Wayne (daring portrayed by Joe Lo Truglio), the resident nudist, who roams the “intentional community” naked -- all the time, inadvertently sticking his “business” in people’s faces.  Aside from the the prolonged shots of Wayne in his full-frontal glory, which will be repeated ad nauseam in the movie, the comedy has been subtle and sweet and actually funny up to this point. Unfortunately, George’s successful, but utterly obnoxious brother Rick, who is played by co-screenwriter/producer Ken Marino, is a completely foul-mouthed jerk who has anger issues and does see the pain he causes those he “loves.”  His wife, Marissa (Michaela Watkins) spends her days roaming their suburban McMansion in an alcohol-induced, dissociative state to escape her husband’s cruelty, profanity, and infidelity.  Of the hard to watch characters which Wain and Marino have created for this movie, this one is so lacking in nuance and is so over-the-top ugly that his presence on screen makes the movie hard to watch.  In fact, three seconds of this character would have been enough for the entire movie because viewers aren’t so stupid as to not understand that the character is a horrible human being without being subjected to so much of his dialogue.  Suddenly, the comedy is less funny, and Wain condescension towards his audience becomes blatant. Feeling the need to continue to support Linda and unable to work for or live with Rick, George sees their return to Elysium as his only option because the hippies have offered them sanctuary.  The couple privately agrees to a two week trial.  Now no longer paying guests, George and Linda need to adjust to the rules of the “no-rules” community, which include no doors, even in the bathroom, and to a quirky band of housemates with lots of their own issues. Against a backdrop of amusing, or perhaps only interesting, gags involving the culture clash between the hippies and the yuppies, Linda and George try to embrace a new lifestyle which promises happiness because everyone’s days are numbered.  The eccentrics populating Elysium including Carvin (Alan Alda), the commune's venerable founder, to whom time and drugs have not been kind, Seth (Justin Theroux) who seems to be forever competing in a Jesus look-alike contest, spouts philosophical mumbo-jumbo and Eva (Malin Akerman) who is Seth “partner” but is hot to invoke her free-love rights with George.  All that free-love is optional, but it isn’t long before Linda and George’s marriage and love are in trouble. At this point, Wain and Marino suddenly remember that the movie should have a little more plot and throw in an evil casino corporation, which is trying to get Carvin to produce a deed or vacate Elysium’s premises. Although the casting and acting is most superb, even brave, Wain and Marino’s movie has many problems. First, these filmmakers think that an adult audience is stupid enough to enjoy the juvenile, occasionally scatological, humor of repeating slang terms for body parts usually not seen, except in this movie.  Second, what could have been funny isn’t played for laughs because the actors have been directed to understate the humor to the point that the gags are flat.  Third, Wain and Marino believe that an adult audience will find incessant, pointless nudity amusing especially when all hints of sexual active seem to have been scripted under the strict conservatism of Hollywood’s 1930 Production Code.

[caption id="attachment_7417" align="aligncenter" width="470" caption="Members of the Class of Sacred Heart Class of 1941 at their recent reunion. From left to right, Florence Behlmann Krause, Irma Reckamp Korte, Marian Foeller Claspille, Sr. Helen Keeven, Eugene Ebbesmeyer, and Leonard Hoette."][/caption]

Irma Korte remembered her days at the school. In first and second grade, she said, and again in seventh and eighth, the students were in the convent building. The other grades were in what is now the Kindergarten and pre-school.

In seventh and eighth grade, the boys and girls were separated. "We only saw the boys at church," Korte said. The rest of the day, they were taught in separate rooms. One other big difference, Korte said, was the faculty. "All the teachers were nuns," she said, "plus there were two nuns who cooked." There were also two priests at the parish at the time. Out of the class of 38, 14 members are still living. The six at the reunion all live in the St. Louis area. The class members at the reunion have fond memories of their days at Sacred Heart.  Although Korte has moved to another parish in the area, she said, "my heart is still there."

Nearly 50 students and three teachers from Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East and Hazelwood West high schools attended the ceremony, as well as students from Saint Louis Public Schools, Riverview Gardens and Ferguson-Florissant districts. The mural is a tribute to the achievements of African-Americans in aviation from 1917 to the present. It features 75 figures from pilots to grounds crew to politicians and was dedicated in August 1990 after five years of fundraising, researching, planning and creativity. The history and significance of the mural was shared by panelists Judith Pruitt, the daughter of Vesta Pruitt, who initiated the mural and the fundraising; Solomon Thurman, one of two artists who created the mural, and Newman. The five-panel mural includes notables such as Bessie Coleman, the first African-American licensed pilot in the United States; Harry S. Truman, who as president, issued an executive order to integrate the Armed Forces; Eleanor Roosevelt, who generated positive publicity for African-American programs; and Lena Horne, an idol to servicemen during World War II. It includes pilots from St. Louis such as Newman, Wendell Pruitt, DFC, who was considered one of the most daring pilots, and Hugh White, DFC, who was shot down and a prisoner of war. Newman spoke about his experiences as a Tuskegee Airman. He flew 84 missions in his career and he was the only pilot to survive being shot down over the Adriatic Sea. His portrait is in Panel 3. “We had to prove that we could do it,” said Newman, in response to a question about the Tuskegee program. “The training was intense.” “It was the first thing in my life that I really wanted to do,” he continued. “I was destined to finish.” Thurman gave insight into the creation of the mural and the challenge of completing the research. He worked with Spencer Taylor, who was commissioned by project leaders. Thurman explained that they set criteria to decide who to depict, and that actual photos were hard to come by because they belonged to private citizens. The artists spent more than two years sketching and painting the mural in a two-car garage in Spanish Lake. Pruitt shared her mother’s involvement, from the initial idea and beyond. She said the mural is the story of America and of the human experience. She spoke of her memories of her uncle, Wendell Pruitt, and the stories she remembered of his time of service. After the presentation, the panelists answered questions from the audience, ranging from Newman’s experience as a pilot, racism, integration and his life after the military. The panelists signed autographs briefly after the ceremony. Participants from HSD included students involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines, such as Project Lead The Way’s Aerospace Engineering, Advanced Placement Physics and FIRST Robotics, as well as those selected to participate because of their interest in the opportunity. Story provided by the Hazelwood School District Communication Department

Schneider compared the EPA’s views on the landfill to its views on the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). “They made MSD put measures into place to prevent the sewers from overflowing, which doesn’t have much effect downstream in the river, but they’re letting this go,” he said. The EPA study offers three options for dealing with the waste. Schneider and the city staff who reviewed the study do not like any of the three options. “The bottom line is that our position is that the studies are incomplete. Everyone needs more information before taking action,” Schneider said.  

“These are the largest adjudication gatherings throughout the State of Missouri,” said Robert Swingler, the choir director at Hazelwood East High School. “The E. Desmond Lee Festival gives us the opportunity to step back, share, and communicate with each other the power of music and how it changes our lives from day-to-day.  It is an extremely long day, but when you hear the quality of musicianship that is exhibited throughout the evening concert, it makes it all worthwhile.” “It’s really a good opportunity for excelling students in band, orchestra and choir to gain experience through playing with other excelling students from the metro area,” said Ann Libby, band director at Hazelwood West Middle School. “It’s a District-wide endeavor and our kids get to know each other before they get to high school,” she added between band practices in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall. Conductor Larry Johnson led the students in a rehearsal of “Song of the Blacksmith,” complete with a sound that echoed that of hammers on horseshoes. Nearby, middle school orchestra students practiced with conductor L. Michelle Howard in the Whitaker Rehearsal Hall while choir students went through vocal exercises with conductor Raynard Brown in the Lee Theater. For the high school students, Dr. Jim Henry conducted the choir, Dr. James Richards conducted the orchestra and Gary W. Brandes conducted the band. “These students were selected for this honor,” noted John Mazar, orchestra director at Hazelwood North Middle School. “They were selected from our main student groups because they do the hard work and they spend time practicing before and after school.” Mazar said Howard challenged the students but not to the point where they could not keep up. He and the other directors said this concert is an excellent example of musical rigor for the students. In addition to Swingler, orchestra director Michael Hanf and band director Steve Stenzhorn attended from Hazelwood East High School. Kim Jackson, orchestra director at Hazelwood Central High School, Beth Schmedieke, orchestra director from Hazelwood West High School, Mark Thomas, band director from Hazelwood Central High School, and Aaron Jackson, band director from Hazelwood West High School attended. Middle school band directors Eric Meurer, Deborah Moser, Brent Beckmann, Ann Libby, Thomas Schwartz and Andrew Pulliam accompanied students to the university. Middle school orchestra directors attended - Mazar, Laura Null from Hazelwood Central Middle, Michael Hanf from Hazelwood East Middle, Monica Holy from Hazelwood Northwest Middle, Annah Harting from Hazelwood Southeast Middle and Kyla Herbert from Hazelwood West Middle. Middle school choir directors who attended were Kemara Skinner from Hazelwood East and Hazelwood Southeast middle schools and Vicki Mount from Hazelwood North Middle schools. The E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative serves 122 schools in 17 school districts. Its goal is to support and enhance fine arts education in those schools. The collaborative provides for in-school performances and presentations and for off-campus learning experiences, such as field trips to Powell Symphony Hall. The Des Lee Collaborative produces three major musical performances every year – the high school music festival, the middle school music festival and the showcase concert at Powell. (story courtesy of Hazelwood School District Communications Dept.)

“I’m honored, extremely pleased and humbled,” she said. “We were the first state in the country to require that interpreters are both certified and licensed, therefore ensuring quality of interpreting services. “SSD has more than 60 interpreters in St. Louis County, so this is wonderful way to get feedback,” she said. “I think we have a good cross-section of people in the trenches who share information with me and I can then bring that information to the board. Furthermore, the other BCI members and I will gather input from interpreters and consumers, deaf and non-deaf, throughout Missouri. We will also network with similar agencies.” Shearburn has a passion for working with persons who are deaf and hard of hearing that is rooted in her childhood; both of her parents were deaf. “My parents taught me American Sign Language (ASL),” she recalled. “I am so fortunate and grateful for that. ASL is my first language; later I learned English and the spoken word from my grandparents and in school. “When I was growing up, there were no interpreters or accessible telephone or television communications. There was discrimination toward deaf people and their use of sign language   “We are very proud of her accomplishment. Geneva not only helps our deaf students, but helps our hearing students to understand what it is like to be deaf,” said Julie Mazar, Lawson’s instructional specialist. “She helps our school community to be accepting and inclusive.” Shearburn’s term ends June 27, 2013.

Several awards will be announced at the breakfast. NCI encourages the public to submit nominations for these awards. A description of each award follows: The Business Development Award honors an individual, organization, or business whose efforts have positively impacted the economic development and business climate of the North County area. The Community Development Award honors an individual, organization, or business whose efforts positively benefited youth, residents, civic organizations, or others through selfless acts.  Their contribution needs to go beyond the individual’s employment responsibilities or a business/organization’s mission and scope of work. The Public Service Award honors an outstanding individual elected, appointed, or employed by a public body whose long-time service has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body they serve. The Elmer Belsha Leadership Award for an individual whose long-term commitment to NCI and the North County area has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body that they serve. If you would like to submit a nominee for one of these awards, you may send NCI the nominee’s name, phone number, email address, the award category you are nominating them for, and a paragraph as to why you believe they should be selected, along with a bio. Include your name and phone number as well. If your nominee is chosen, you will be contacted. Nominations are due by March 16 and can be sent to the NCI office at 350B Village Square Center, Hazelwood, MO 63042. Individual seats are available for purchase at the NCI office.  The cost for an individual ticket is $37.50.  Breakfast sponsorship and table sponsorship packages are now available.  For more information log onto www.NorthStLouisCounty.com, call (314) 895-6241 or email the office at nci@northcountyinc.com.

[caption id="attachment_7543" align="aligncenter" width="470" caption="MCCLUER NORTH, STATE CHAMPS: Row 1: Mario McCoy, Charles Lockett, Byron Ray, Head Coach Randy Reed, Zack Taylor, Alex Bluiett, Damon Clemons. Row 2: Keith Jones, Jacari Finley, Galen Brown, Terrance Bush, Jordon Granger, Latron Thomas, Dorian Holland, Tremayne Garrett, Coach Steve Lee. Not Pictured: Coach Trevor Laney, Coach Patrick Dougherty"][/caption] McCluer North Boys Basketball Head Coach Randy Reed has taken the Stars to the Class Five State Tournament at Mizzou Arena, on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia four times in six years since 2007. However the 2012 Stars were able to do what the 2008 team could not, repeat as State Champions. McCluer North became only the second high school in the Suburban North Conference (McCluer High the other in 1974-75 [Class 4A]) to win back to back state titles and McCluer North is only the second high school (Poplar Bluff is the other in 2004-05) to repeat as Class Five State Champions. With three state titles McCluer North has won the most Boys Basketball titles among Suburban North Conference teams and combined with the girls’ team winning the 1986 Class 4A title (the only title won by a Suburban North Girls’ team) the Stars have four state basketball titles. McCluer North, with the Class Five Boys Basketball title, now has won eight state titles in 38 years which begun in the winter of 1975 with Boys Soccer. The three state Boys Basketball titles tie the school mark for most titles by the school with Class 4A Wrestling (1988-90, coached by Charlie Sherertz). McCluer North was 28-1 and ended the season with 26 consecutive wins after losing only to St. Francis Borgia, 28-26, Nov. 26, 2011 in the championship game of the St. Francis Borgia Tournament. The Stars secured their second straight title, their third in six years, March 10 with a 69-60 in at Mizzou Arena over a Nixa team that won 30 in a row after their season-opening loss to Columbia Rock-Bridge. While other high  schools in St. Louis outside the Suburban North were mentioned highly McCluer North felt like they were “under the radar” and Reed mentioned that to at least a couple of reporters. The Stars were ranked second in state Class Five to Nixa but the Stars responded to the challenge. After trailing 16-15 at the end of the first quarter the Stars dominated the middle two quarters by outscoring the Eagles 33-21 including a 17-8 third quarter and took a 48-37 lead into the fourth quarter. In the fourth Nixa, who made eight shots from three-point range, tied the game at 54-54 with 2:43 left but the Stars finished on a 15-6 run to seal the title repeat. Jordan Granger closed his McCluer North career by scoring 26 points, 19 in the first half and pulled down 16 rebounds, 10 in the first half. Suburban North Player of the Year, and football quarterback, Galen Brown closed his career by scoring 14 of his 18 points in the second half. Nixa was led by Austin Ruder who made six shots from three-point range and scored 24 points. Two days earlier at Mizzou Arena, March 8 McCluer North rolled to a 70-57 semifinal win over Lee’s Summit West. The Stars led from start to finish as they outscored Lee’s Summit West, 15-2 in the first quarter and Lee’s Summit West got no closer than two points twice in the second quarter. The Stars padded on to their 26-20 halftime lead with a 44-37 second half. Brown scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half while Byron Ray added 19, 13 in the second half. Shaquille Harrison led Lee’s Summit West with 19 points, 13 in the second half, and 10 rebounds. On March 3 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Mark Twain Building the Stars won their quarterfinal game over St. John Vianney, 63-54, and ended the Golden Griffins’ season at 27-2. After leading 9-4 in the first quarter and 20-14 at halftime McCluer North took charge with a 19-12 third quarter and coasted from there. Brown led the Stars with 19 points, Granger added 18 to go with three blocks and Ray had 12 points and four assists. Leading the way for Vianney were Tony Cochran, 15 points, and Brad Woodson, 14 points. The most lopsided win for McCluer North on the road to the state title came Feb. 29 at Maryville University as the Stars routed Fort Zumwalt South, 62-28, in the sectional round. The Stars ran away from the Bulldogs with a 55-20 run through three quarters leaving the fourth quarter with a non-stop clock. Granger had 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, Brown had 11 points and five steals and Tremayne Garrett had five assists while George Cater led Fort Zumwalt South with 12 points.

Discussion of plans for a new Walmart dominated the Florissant City Council meeting on March 12. Members spent more than an hour purposing questions to Jeff Otto, with THF developers, but they paid special attention to one environmental issue—water detention. The proposal that Otto presented to the council included a designated area to collect water runoff from the new parking lot. Otto called these areas “rain gardens.” This one will be specially designed to collect storm water and debris, filter it, run it through underground pipes and, finally, flow slowly into Coldwater Creek through a riprap. A riprap is a hilled area of rocks that slow down water. Some of the water will absorb into the ground before reaching the creek. The garden will be fenced in and grassy. Otto mentioned that it would be designed to handle light to moderate rain that would filter through sand. The sand helps to remove elements from water that would otherwise end up in the creek. Councilman Tim Lee raised the issue of whether or not the filtered water will, in fact, be suitable to flow into the creek. He said that, before the council approves the request to build, Otto must obtain a declaration from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stating that it complies with section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Florissant residents and council members voiced their concerns with additional water flow into the creek. Councilwoman Karen McKay has witnessed overflow from the creek and worries that the additional water might make a flood situation worse. Otto justified his plan by mentioning the purpose of the riprap. A larger concern for the construction of a rain garden was that it might not be maintained well. “When there’s water sitting in it, it’s like a mosquito haven,” McKay said. She also mentioned that the area collects debris, and it can turn quickly from a beneficial water filtering system into an unpleasant use of land if not taken care of. An alternative to the aboveground garden would be a detention tank beneath the ground. According to McKay, underground systems are more expensive and harder to maintain. However, they prevent a potential eyesore. McKay did say that an underground system would put unneeded pressure on the sewer system. There are pros and cons to the rain garden, but council members did not make any urges to change the aboveground plan. McKay would like to see the area used for something else, but she also realizes the benefit for the sewer system. As long as the future business maintains the area and keeps it clean, the garden appears to be a construction that can satisfy almost every council member.

Folklore says he used the green shamrock, so abundant in the hills there, to teach the concept of the Trinity.  As for driving the snakes out of the Emerald Isle, well, that’s probably just a nice story.  Unless you see it used as a symbolic knocking of that dirty little snake, the “Divil Himself”, out of the land. So despite that bit of history, what’s the big deal about today’s local festivities on the 17th of March? Well, it seems that it has a lot to do with the Irish diaspora, which I just found out refers to ethnic communities living outside their homelands. It applies more to Jews outside the Holy Land, but can be used in the Irish story as well.  These expatriots of the Mother Land took on the date of their dear Patrick’s death as the link to acknowledging their heritage in their new settlements. The Irish had it rough back home, with oppression by the English who took over their lands, installing their own rule over the farmers.  And the event of the Great Potato Famine in the early 1800s didn’t help things.  As many as 3 million Irish immigrated to other lands at that time, many to North America, from 1845 to 1900. An exaggeration, perhaps, but evidence of the large presence in the new land.  many Irish of Protestant faiths, better know as Scotch-Irish, came to settle in the Appalachian regions, even as far back as the early 1700s. However, those who came to the urban areas were mostly Catholic, in hopes of finding work and a new life.  They were instrumental in the building the Erie Canal, the Statue of Liberty, and the eastern portions of the transcontinental railroads.  But their overall poverty led the men to the most dangerous of society’s professions: policemen, firefighters and miners, with the women going into the homes of the established wealthy as domestic servants.  The stereotype of the Irish cop and young lass as maid are not without foundation. They held to their traditions, and their faith.  And like many immigrant cultures, they needed to stick together to survive.  The day of their beloved St. Patrick became the reminder of their past, and a celebration of their present good fortune, always with hopes of future prosperity that was not known to them back across the ocean from  It became their anchor in this new land. Our town boasts two celebrations, with the long-established parade downtown on the Saturday prior to March 17, and the Dogtown neighborhood event on the actual date.  This year, of course, they coincide, and both will take place this Saturday, which will be, as one writer put it a century ago, “a day of feasting, wearing of the green, and copious consumption of alcohol.”  Not to mention a great day of family fun. Sure and this Germanic boy with nary of drop o’ the green in his veins will be celebratin’ with kith and kin on downtown streets as we have done since 1979.  This year, instead of riding in a carrier on my back like that first year, son Tim will be walking with his family in the parade, sporting his kilt, as he just joined the parade committee.  He is a Quinn, after all.

Lutheran North is playing in their sixth state semifinal in 33 years, their fourth in the last   11, all in Columbia. Lutheran North (25-7) will be playing March 15 at the Hearnes Center, on the University of Missouri campus, in an 8:20 Class Three State Semifinal game against Kansas City-based Hogan Prep Academy Charter. The other semifinal, also at Hearnes, pits Charleston, whom Lutheran North defeated in the 2005 championship game, against Mount Vernon at 6:40. Lutheran North played at Hearnes in winning the 2002 title, took fourth place in 1980 and took second place to Malden in 1985. The winners at Hearnes play March 17, 8:40, at Mizzou Arena for the Class Three title while the losers play March 16, 8:20, for third place at Mizzou Arena. Lutheran North won the 2005 title and was second to Maplewood-Richmond Heights in 2008 at Mizzou Arena. Lutheran North won Class Three, District Six at Whitfield in West St. Louis County. LHSN pulled away from Metro (formerly ABC) League rival Principia, 61-49 on Feb. 28, pulled off a last-second win over host Whitfield, 62-59 on March 1, and held off Metro League rival John Burroughs, 62-59 on March 2. Against Principia, Lutheran North sealed the win with a 22-14 fourth quarter as Anthony Virdure scored 21 points while James Mitchell pulled down 12 rebounds. Against Whitfield Virdure made 12 out of 15 shots for 31 points including a three-pointer with 1.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter to break a 59-59 tie. In their second win in three games against John Burroughs, a see-saw game throughout, Mitchell scored seven of his 19 points from the free throw line including a four out of four effort in the final 45 seconds to seal the district title. In the March 7 Sectional game at St. Louis Community College-Meramec, Lutheran North held off Cardinal Ritter 70-67 before a near-capacity crowd. Lutheran North started with a 12-0 run in a 16-4 first quarter, saw Cardinal Ritter come back to tie the game at 29-29 with 5:50 in the third quarter. Despite making 15 out of 34 free throws, Lutheran North managed to lead by 12 during the fourth quarter before Ritter’s pressure defense and missed LHSN free throws rallied to cut the Lion deficit to three, 70-67 with 8.8 seconds left, but time ran out and the last shot fell short. Virdure scored 32 points while Glenn Bradford added 14 for the Crusaders. Cameron Biedscheid, who averages nearly 32 points for Ritter, was held to 25 after being triple-teamed at times while Ryan Hill added 20. March 10 at Hannibal High LHSN won the quarterfinal game 61-51 over 2002 Class Three State runner up Elsberry, who was fourth in state last year. The Crusaders played without Mitchell who was suspended for the game after being ejected following a shoving match with Ritter’s Eric White. Lutheran North managed to take a 34-24 halftime lead while the second half was even at 27-27. Four Crusaders scored in double figures with Virdure leading the way with 16 points, six steals and five assists. DaVante Harrell added 14 to go along with three blocks while Colbren Thompson (13) and Bradford (11) were the other double-figure scorers.

Incarnate Word Academy had won two straight  Class Five Girls State Basketball Championships the last two seasons but hopes for a third straight hit a rock March 8 at Mizzou Arena, Columbia, on the University of Missouri campus. Rock as in Rock Bridge High School, which is located just over 2.6 miles south of Mizzou Arena, in Columbia. Rock Bridge denied Incarnate’s hope for a three-peat in the Class Five Semifinals as the Bruins edged the Red Knights, 46-43. It was the second win for Rock Bridge over IWA and snapping a 13-game Red Knight win streak between Bruin wins. IWA settled for third place with a 49-45 win March 9 over Fort Zumwalt West and the Red Knights finished the 2011-12 season with a 26-7 record. Against Blue Springs in the March 10 Class Five Girls Championship Game Rock Bridge won 52-41. IWA led by as much as 15 points early in the second quarter (20-5) but Rock Bridge slowly chewed that margin to 10 at halftime (26-16) and to four after three quarters (34-30). Rock Bridge took the lead for good in the fourth quarter with 4:49 left on a Sophie Cunningham free throw and led by as much as eight with 44 seconds left as IWA could not get any closer than three (46-43) with five seconds left on a three-pointer by Nakiah Bell. Taylor Manuel led IWA with 19 points and four blocks while the Cunninghams, Sophie and Lindsey, led Rock Bridge with 11 points each. Less than 24 hours later IWA took home their fifth third-place trophy. In 20 years IWA took home 11 state trophies including four championships. IWA trailed by as much as 10 points against Fort Zumwalt West three times in the second quarter including 26-16 with 3:23 left before cutting that margin to five at halftime (26-21). IWA kept it close in the second half and took over the lead for good (44-43) with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter as Manuel scored the final seven points for the Red Knights while Fort Zumwalt West only scored two points in the final  4:50. Manuel closed her prep career with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three steals while Gwen Adams scored 13. Marina Laramie led Fort Zumwalt West, who took home their first state girls basketball trophy, by scoring  18. IWA secured their trip to Mizzou Arena with a 49-42 quarterfinal win March 3 over St. Joseph’s Academy in a packed University of Missouri-St. Louis Mark Twain Building Gymnasium. It was the third time IWA defeated St. Joe as the Red Knights won at home on Jan. 28, 50-45, and in the championship game of the Visitation Academy Christmas Tournament, 46-41 on Dec. 28, 2011. The Red Knights were led by Manuel, with 12 points, and Cierra Young, who added 11 while St. Joe was led by Sydney Stipanovich with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Three days earlier, Feb. 29 at UMSL Mark Twain, IWA routed Parkway South, 6

Incarnate Word Academy Alumnae Association will celebrate the life of Katie Campanella at a Spring Boutique to be held in the IWA gymnasium on Thursday, April 19 from 5 to 9 p.m., The event will include more than 13 vendors as well as appetizers, dessert and attendance prizes. In 2011, Katie and her sister Beth were involved in a car accident. The tragic event resulted in the loss of 11-year-old Katie's life, and Beth sustained serious injuries. "Katie was a fun-loving, energetic and kindhearted 11-year-old with a smile that lit up the room," said Katie Eagan, Spring Boutique co-chair. The event will support the  Katie Campanella Visual Arts Scholarship Fund. In January, Beth returned to join her junior class at IWA. In addition to her sister, Katie's mother and aunt walked the halls of IWA, and she intended on following their paths. The $2,000 scholarship will be awarded yearly to a student with an interest in drawing, painting or photography. The first scholarship was awarded this year to an incoming freshman. The boutique will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to Katie's scholarship fund. Tickets are $5 for students and $25 for adults. Each ticket gives guests access to vendors such as Scentsy, Beijo Bags, Usborne Books, Cutco and many more. The opportunity to sponsor the event is also available. Ticket, sponsor and donation information is available online at iwacademy.org(Alumnae-Events-Spring Boutique-SB Ticket Order). Those interested can also call Megan Crane, director of Recruitment and Alumnae Relations at (314) 725-5850 Ext. 184. Reservations should be made no later than April 11.

“This speaks volumes about the tremendous support we received from the community and local businesses for Valley Industries,” said Chief Wolf.  “Despite a down economy, it was great to see that we surpassed our efforts last year and more people saw the value of purchasing tickets for our cause.  St. Louisans are known for their generosity and the large crowd we had at Garden Villas North is living proof of that fact.” The Mayors’ Shamrock Ball has turned into North County’s biggest social soirée of the year.  Guests were able to meet the mayors of three North County communities who were program hosts:  Mayor Norman McCourt of Black Jack; Mayor Tom Schneider of Florissant; and Mayor Matthew Robinson of Hazelwood.  In addition, other state/local elected officials and area business leaders were on hand to give guests an opportunity to network with some of the region’s prominent “movers and shakers.” For this year’s event, more chances were created to win something which may have been a contributing factor to the big turnout.  The Delmar Garden’s Family donated a 32” flat screen TV to be given away.  Also, a $10 raffle was held for a Treasure Chest of Happiness containing $500-$750 worth of assorted spirits and liquor with the proceeds benefiting Valley Industries.  In addition, Florissant Councilwoman Karen McKay and her former salon, Hairbenders, provided all the attendance door prizes.  Plus, everyone who bought a ticket was allowed to join the “Party in the Penthouse” on the facility’s third floor.

The evening’s festivities began with a performance of young dancers representing the Saint Louis Irish Arts.  Afterwards, the crowning of the King and Queen of the Mayors’ Shamrock Ball took place.  The chosen candidates were Valley Industries’ Workers of the Year for 2011, Bill Becker and Ivory Harris.  The Bob Kuban Band then started to rock the house playing “live” music.  Couples, both young and old alike, kept the dance floor busy all night long. The catering for six food stations was donated by Catering to You, Choices Catering Brokerage, Helfer’s Pastries and Deli Café, Longhorn Steakhouse, Mattingly’s Sports Bar and Grill, and O’Charley’s Restaurant.  Each station offered a variety of delectable hors d’oeuvres, signature menu items, pastries, and desserts.  Guests were given a card to be punched at every food station, encouraging them to walk around and sample all the food.  They were then instructed to drop their cards in a fish bowl for the attendance prize drawings   Yacovelli’s Restaurant hosted the two bars and t Anheuser-Busch/InBev donated beer products. The following were key sponsors Event Sponsors: Ameren Missouri; Florissant License Office (owned and operated by the Rotary Club of Florissant); and The Delmar Garden’s Family (includes Delmar Garden’s North & Garden Villas North) Pot of Gold Sponsors ($1,000 Level):  Allied Waste Services; Anheuser-Busch/InBev; Antennas Direct; BBi Constructors; Complete Auto Body & Truck Repair; Firefighters Local 2665; Florissant Councilwoman Karen McKay; Household Essentials; Karen McKay DBA Hairbenders; Minuteman Press; North County Inc.; SSM DePaul Health Center; US Foods; White Auto Body; and Yacovelli’s Restaurant. Leprechaun Sponsors ($500 Level):  Amanda Ceresia; American Traffic Solution; Aviator Business Park; Black Jack, Mo.; Bolin Services; Bommarito Nissan, Honda, & VW of Hazelwood; Bridal Connections; Charter Communications; Citizens National Bank; Florissant, Mo.; Gina Walsh; Hazelwood, Mo.; Mungenast Hyundai; Nimmons Wealth Management; Paul Cerame Ford & Kia; Plumbers of Pipefitters 562; Sun Rental; The Boyle Law Firm LLC; and United Technologies Corporation.

Lutheran North lost to Kansas City-based Hogan Prep Academy Charter, 68-64 at the Hearnes Center on the University of Missouri Campus. Since there were three classes competing in boys and girls basketball, half of the 12 semifinal games played on March 15 were at the Hearnes Center and the other half were played at Mizzou Arena. The third place games on March 16 and the championship games on March 17 were played at Mizzou Arena. Lutheran North rebounded from their semifinal loss by rolling over Mount Vernon (Mo.), 61-43, for third place March 16 at Mizzou Arena. Hogan Prep, who won the 2011 Class Three State title, was unable to repeat March 17 at Mizzou Arena as they lost to Charleston, 79-73, in the championship game. Lutheran North finished with a 25-8 record. The Lutheran North-Hogan Prep game was tied 17 times and the lead changed 17 times. Lutheran North led by no more than five points, 21-16 with 6:12 left in the first half on a James Mitchell free throw. Hogan Prep, who went ahead for good at 52-51 with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter on the second of two Amaad Wainwright free throws, led by no more than five in the game’s final minute. Hogan Prep outscored Lutheran North, 20-15 in the fourth quarter. Lutheran North had the game’s top scorer in Anthony Virdure, who scored 23 points, 19 coming in the second half. Mitchell scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Four of the Hogan Prep starters scored in double figures with Wainwright leading the way with 20 points, 17 coming in the second half. In the third place game, Mt. Vernon, in a low-scoring first half, led 19-17 at halftime but led by four twice during the first half.  Lutheran North took over the second half by outscoring Mt. Vernon 44-24 and the Crusaders, after the game was tied six times, went ahead for good, 23-21 with 5:42 left in the third quarter on a Virdure jumper. The Crusaders led by a much as 19 points, 58-39 with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter before Lutheran North Brent Rueter emptied his bench in the game’s final minute. Virdure led all scorers with 31 points, 19 in the second half rout while Mitchell scored 16 of his 18 in the second half. Kaden Jones led Mt. Vernon with 11 points while Chandler Myers added 10.

State Wrestling

Eric Bowman, Ritenour, was the only Suburban North Conference wrestlers that won a state title, Feb. 18 at Mizzou Arena. By winning the Class Four title at 152 pounds Bowman (36-4) became the school’s 86th state champion, the first since 1998. McCluer South-Berkeley, competing in Class Two, had three state medallists -- John Williams (18-1, 120 Runner-Up), Wardell Morgan (35-13, fourth at 126) and Darrion Current (17-8, fifth at 220). McCluer North, competing in Class four, had two medallists, Darrell Pampkin (43-6, fourth at 126) and Gordon Phillips (41-16, sixth at 182) while McCluer had a Class Three Runner up in Johnathan Cain (220, 37-3). Other medallists include Daniel Vaughn, Hazelwood West (28-7, fifth in Class Four 285) and Akintunde Odunleye, Hazelwood East (36-9, sixth in Class Three 182).

Hazelwood Central boys, Class Four State Champions the last two years, scored 109.25 points, 3.25 behind meet host Festus. Ritenour (54) was fifth, Hazelwood East (51) was sixth, McCluer South-Berkeley (37) was 10th and Riverview Gardens (nine) was 14th. Hazelwood Central girls scored 98 points but first-place East St. Louis (Ill.) had more than doubled the second place finisher by scoring 196.5. McCluer South-Berkeley (25.5) was 10th, Pattonville (16) was 14 and Ritenour (nine) was 17th. In Boys competition, Hazelwood Central won three out of four relay events -- 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 -- Kendall Preston won the 200-Meter Dash and Chris Wright won the 110-Meter Hurdles. Meanwhile, McCluer South-Berkeley’s David Jones won the 400 run. In Girls competition East St. Louis swept the two hurdle events, swept the four relay events and won three out of six field events. Hazelwood Central girls had only one winner as Ashley Henderson won the 100-Meter Dash. Washington University-Gateway Invitational St. Louis University High, DeSmet, CBC, McCluer and McCluer North took the top five places in the boys meet, while McCluer North, Cardinal Ritter, Hazelwood West, Hazelwood East and McCluer finished in the top six and behind meet winner Francis Howell. Four and one-half points separated first place SLUH (79) and third-place CBC (74.5) with DeSmet finishing second (77) two points behind their Jesuit rivals. Fourth-place McCluer (68) and fifth-place McCluer North (63) were only five points apart. Jennings (46) finished seventh while Cardinal Ritter (41) was eighth. While the boys top five were separated by 16 points Francis Howell won the girls meet by 21 points over second-place McCluer North (74). Cardinal Ritter (68) was third, Hazelwood West (63) was fourth, Hazelwood East (52) was fifth and McCluer (51) was sixth while Incarnate Word (24) finished 14th. SLUH had one winner in John Esswein (1,600 Meters), CBC won two events, 100-Meter Dash (Jamal Robinson) and 4x200 Relay, and DeSmet won two events, 200 Dash (Durron Neal) and 4x100 Relay. McCluer North won three events, including two hurdles events by Aaron Mallet (110 and 300 Meters) and a field event by Keith Jones (Discus) while McCluer won two field events, Malik Ray in the High Jump and Darrion Dillard in the Triple Jump. Cardinal Ritter was led by 800-Meter winner Charles Jones, while Jennings won two events, 400 Meter Run (Alfred Larry) and 4x400 Relay. Winners for McCluer North girls include Kimberlin Simon (100 Hurdles) and Alicia Shivers (Shot Put and Discus), Cardinal Ritter won two relay events (4x200 and 4x400), Hazelwood West had two winners, Tyler Kelly (300 Hurdles) and Lauralyn Rosenberger (Pole Vault), Hazelwood East won two events, 200 Dash (Tianna Valentine) and 4x100 Relay, McCluer’s Alauna Ray won the High Jump and Triple Jump and Incarnate Word’s Dasjah Mason won the Long Jump. Marie Arnett of Rosati Kain took fourth in the shot put. First Capitol Relays Hazelwood West Boys were the only non-St. Charles County team that competed at St. Charles West and the Wildcats finished third with 76.16 points. Fort Zumwalt West won the meet (108.5). Anthony Ball won the Triple Jump while Hazelwood West won the 4x400 Relay and the Shuttle Hurdle Relay.

The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor “Sample North County” 2012 Business Showcase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at Jamestown Mall. The public is invited to attend the event to learn more about area businesses and organizations and the products and services they offer to the community.  More than 40 vendors will participate in the event. Activities will include health screenings for adults, free books for children, a visit from “Charity” the clown with balloons from noon to 2 p.m. and much more. The Black Jack Fire Department and St. Louis County Police Department will have some equipment on site. Julie Berthold, who will be incoming chamber board chairman in April, is the chairperson of the 2012 Business Showcase. She suggests that patrons enter the Mall through the entrance near the theater for easy access to the event. The 2012 Presenting Sponsors are Christian Hospital, Garden Villas North & Delmar Gardens North and Schnucks Markets. Booth Sponsors are Handyman True Value Hardware and Crystal Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center. For more information call the Chamber office at 314-831-3500 or visit Chamber’s website at www. .greaternorthcountychamber.com

Florissant residents will be asked to vote on an annexation proposal in the April 3 election. A majority of voters in both the city and the area to be annexed must approve the proposal before the annexation will take place. The area under consideration for annexation  is an area bounded by Lindbergh on the north, Old Halls Ferry Road on the east and Coldwater Creek on the west and south. It includes about 350 homes. Subdivisions in the area include Spring Creek Condominiums, Sunland Hills and Candlewyck. The area also includes St. Angela Merici Catholic Church and School. The city of Florissant borders the area on the south and west, beyond Coldwater Creek. City officials say the police officers drive through the are to patrol other areas of Florissant. The area is south of  the city golf course, which is off Old Halls Ferry Road. City Charter Ballot Issues Also on the ballot are three proposed changes to the City Charter. The city council voted to put these changes on the ballot. Two of the proposed changes deal with election dates. When the charter was written, it specified a certain number of days in which an election should be held in the case of a tie or if a position became vacant due to death or resignation. Now the city uses dates set by the St. Louis County Board of Election. Sometimes, these election dates may not be in the timeframe set by the charter. The proposed changes would specify that the elections take place on the next Board of Election date. The third changes also deals with elections. Currently, the charter specifies that you must live in a ward for one year before you run for city council from that ward. The proposed amendment makes an allowance for people who are in the same house, but are in an area that was moved to another ward during redistricting. In that case, the year wait would be waived.

However, others just can’t seem to leave their main job at all.   They love what they do, are in good health and just keep on keeping on.  Hey, look at Paul Mc Cartney.  (For you younger set, he was in The Beatles. You know, The Fab Four?  John,  Paul, George, Ringo?)  Sir Paul has more shillings than the Queen Mum, but he’s still showing up on stage here and there.  Sure, his voice is pretty much shot and he’s had some work done (no wrinkles at nearly age 70… Please!)  But he can still play.  And I know even older guys and gals who have no intention of calling it quits.  To each their own. However, the AARP (I still think that sounds like an old geezer clearing phlegm) says that nearly 30% of folks who turn in their resignations don’t plan to do anything.  Work-wise, that is.  What they will do is a lot of traveling and spending of their kid’s inheritance to the tune of $750 billion annually.  So it seems that even with the recent blows to the financial markets, our group has hung in there dollar-wise. And we’re inarguably the healthiest older generation in world history, being beneficiaries of advanced medical care and a fitness rage that just seems to have no end.  So expect to see us hanging around for awhile. Once I stopped teaching full time, it was a summer of scratching off some projects around the old homestead.  But nothing like putting on an addition. My garage will never be mistaken for a workshop.  I discovered long ago that any job requiring more than a simple screwdriver or wrench is best left to the certified professionals. But after cleaning out said garage, a few touch-ups on the paint, and a bit of minor yard work, it became clear that I needed a purpose once I woke up and faced the morning.   So The Big Human Resources Director in the Sky sent me a gig driving people to doctor’s appointments, led me to sign up for home tutoring through my old school district, and I even got on the substitute teacher list.  Yeah, you may be saying “why did he retire from teaching, just to go back to teaching?”  Good question, which I will answer in a future column.  Sorry, you’ll just have to keep reading. And I got lucky enough to land on my feet with this newspaper.  The publication I used to write for decided to pull out of North County, and I was left high and dry.  But editor and publisher Bob Lindsey gave me a chance, and I’m even able to bring in some ad dollars on occasion.  So, funny how things work out, huh. You could say that when it comes to post-retirement actions, some of us old dogs can learn new tricks, and are not going quietly into that good night.  Besides, I just heard that the age for Medicare eligibility might be going up.

Hazelwood Central and Hazelwood East Varsity Track & Field teams dominated March 31 in the Suburban North Conference Relays at McCluer North High School. Hazelwood Central boys, who won Class Four State the last two years, scored 146 points to win the boys relays while Hazelwood East took second with 125. Ritenour follows at third place with 113 followed by McCluer (100), McCluer North (96), Riverview Gardens (68), Hazelwood West (67) and Pattonville (20). Hazelwood Schools took the top three in the girls’ relays as East won with 144 points, Central was second with 140 and West was a distant third with 114. McCluer North was fourth (88) followed by Ritenour (75), McCluer (59), Pattonville (50) and Riverview Gardens (44). Hazelwood Central won five boys relay events -- 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800 and 800 Sprint Medley -- and two girls relay events -- 4x400 and 4x800. Thedrick Davis helped Central by winning the 1,600 Run. Hazelwood East did not win any boys events but won four girls relay events -- 4x100, 4x200, 800 Sprint Medley and 400 Shuttle Hurdle. Hazelwood West was led by William Bahan, 3,200 Meters, and Lauralyn Rosenberger, Pole Vault. McCluer dominated in field events but also won the Girls Distance Medley Relay. In Boys field events Tyrone Griffin and Malik Ray shared first in the High Jump, Curtlan Gavin wins the Long Jump and Darrion Dillard won the Triple Jump. Girls had a two-event field winner in Alauna Ray, High Jump and Triple Jump. McCluer North Boys won the 4 x 1,600 and Distance Medley Relays and the Stars were led individually by Aaron Mallet, 300 Hurdles, and Keith Jones, Shot Put. On the Girls side McCluer North was led by Kimberlin Simon, 300 Hurdles, Alicia Shivers, Shot Put, and Marie Prophete, Discus. Ritenour won three boys and two girls’ events including the Boys 440 Shuttle Hurdle Relay and the Girls 4 x 1,600 Relay. Danny Askew won the Boys Pole Vault, Dovonte’ Simons won the Boys Discus and Sydia Darker won the Girls Long Jump. Pattonville was led by Jessica Hohenstein, Girls 1,600 and 3,200 Meters.

After opening the North County Classic March 26 with a 2-0 eight-inning victory at Lutheran North Hazelwood Central returned home March 31 to defeat Trinity Catholic, 3-1, and Suburban North Conference rival Ritenour, 11-2. Between the games of the North County Classic Hazelwood Central won a Suburban North Conference game March 29 at Hazelwood East, 10-0 called after five innings, and lost March 27 at McCluer North, 4-3. Hazelwood Central was 4-1, 1-1 in the Suburban North prior to the April 2 home game against Hazelwood East. “I’m proud of the kids,” said Hazelwood Central head coach Van Vanatta. “I’m putting something together.” The Hazelwood Central-Lutheran North game was a pitcher’s duel as the two teams combined for 32 strikeouts. Hazelwood Central pitching gave up only one hit and winning pitcher Jonathan Harris -- who gave up the only hit, a Troy Guffey double -- struck out 15 and allowed the game’s only walk -- to pitching opponent Conner Buenger, who also gave up only one hit while striking out 14. Hazelwood Central scored two unearned runs on two hits, aided by at least a Lutheran North error, in the eighth inning to win. Against Trinity Hazelwood Central Derek Watson was the winning pitcher and the Hawk defense slammed the door on the Titans on a game-ending double play. Vanatta also said timely Hawk hits helps. Against Ritenour winning pitcher Noble Hampton was aided by the Hawk offense that had nine hits (other stats were not available as of April 1). “Pitching has been good to us,” said Vanatta who also mentioned the Hawk earned run average is fewer than 2.00. Lutheran North rebounded from their eight-inning loss to Hazelwood Central with a pair of March 31 routs. North rolled over Hazelwood East, 13-0, and University City, 12-2, and both were called in the fifth inning, to take consolation honors. Against Hazelwood East Buenger scored twice and drove in two runs while D.J. Johnson allowed one hit while striking out nine. Against University City C.J. Lewis had a pair of doubles, two stolen bases and scored two runs while Buenger struck out five. McCluer split two games against Riverview Gardens, winning 20-10 and losing 14-9. In the final rounds of the North County Classic March 31 McCluer took third place over Trinity Catholic, 2-0, after losing the semifinal game to Ritenour, 9-1.

When High School Football begins District playoffs in late October McCluer North and Lutheran North will not compete against past district rivals because of drops in school enrollments. McCluer North, with an enrollment of 1,717 according to the Missouri State High School Activities Association, is ranked 38th largest high school and only the largest 32 high schools compete in Class Six Football. That includes four all-boys Catholic High Schools whose adjusted enrollments have than ranked in the top eight. McCluer North will compete in Class Five, District Two, a seven-team district with Ferguson-Florissant School District rival McCluer (1,323), two other Suburban North Conference rivals, Hazelwood East (1,436) and Riverview Gardens (1,394), Turkey Day rivals Kirkwood and Webster Groves and Metro Catholic Conference member Chaminade College Prep. In a bracket format with seeding based on win-loss records and strength of schedule the top-seeded team will get a bye when district play begins in week 10. Lutheran North, with an adjusted enrollment of 423 (35 percent larger than the actual enrollment), will be competing in Class Two, District Two in week 10. The eight-team district features Metro (formerly ABC) League rival Principia, three Public High League teams -- Carnahan High of the Future, Cleveland Naval Junior ROTC and Northwest Academy of Transportation and Law -- two neighboring rivals from near South St. Louis County, Brentwood and Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and Herculaneum, a Jefferson County town. Northwest Academy, enrollment 298, will compete as a cooperative with Beaumont, whose enrollment drops to 118. Hazelwood West, whose enrollment of 2,258 is ranked ninth by MSHSAA and the largest public high school in the St. Louis area, and Hazelwood Central, ranked 14th by MSHSAA in enrollment (2,049) will compete in Class Six, District Two and there are only four districts in Class Six. Also competing against West and Central in District Two are Suburban North rivals Pattonville and Ritenour, three all-boys Catholic high schools from the Metro Catholic Conference -- CBC, DeSmet and St. Louis University High -- and Francis Howell North, from St. Charles County. Trinity Catholic, adjusted enrollment of 465 (35 percent higher than actual enrolment), and McCluer South-Berkeley, enrollment 589, will remain as rivals in Class Three Football and will compete in District Five. The other six teams in District Five include two of Trinity’s newest rivals from the Archdiocesan Athletic Association, Duchesne (St. Charles) and Christian (O’Fallon) plus a third team from St. Charles County, Orchard Farm, former State and Public High League powerhouse Sumner as well as Wright City (Warren County) and Winfield (Lincoln County). District Football playoffs are three rounds each and are bracketed like other district sports. The District Football champions advance to the state quarterfinal round except for Class Six where the district winner advances to the semifinals.

Trinity Catholic will drop from Class Four to Class Three, since their adjusted enrollment of 465 fits in the Class Three enrollment range of 237-545. Trinity will compete against Lutheran North and North Tech (full-time enrollment of 521) in Class Three. Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, Hazelwood West, McCluer North, McCluer, Pattonville, Ritenour and Riverview Gardens will continue to compete in Class Five Basketball. Normandy dropped from Class Five to Class Four and competes against McCluer South-Berkeley and Jennings.

Director Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror is a delightfully twisted, campy, gorgeous, girl-powered version of the Grimm Brothers’ classic tale, Snow White.  Told from the Evil Queen’s perspective, Mirror Mirror shifts the familiar story around enough to flesh out the characters better than earlier versions. The opening animated sequence, in which the figures look like porcelain statues, catches the audience up on the back story, and because it is narrated by Evil Queen (play with delicious villainy by Julia Roberts) the audience is also introduced to the Evil Queen’s dark magic. Tarsem Singh also reimagines the looking glass as water passage to a exotic dwelling over a lake, where the Evil Queen visits her conscience, who warns the Evil Queen that there will be heavy price to pay for her use of magic.  The Evil Queen used a potion on King (Sean Bean) to induce marriage and promptly sends the King off into the woods which surround the castle.  He is never heard of again, and the Evil Queen taxes the people heavily and spends the money on herself.  Soon, the people no longer sing and dance for joy. Ten years later, Snow White (Lily Collins) turns 18 and is encourage by the Cook (Mare Winingham) to take back her kingdom.  Out for a walk in the woods, Snow finds two half dressed men dangling head first from a rope.  She frees them, unaware that one of them is Prince Alcott of Valencia (Armie Hammer), a fabulously wealthy prince who seeks adventure.  When the Prince shows up at the castle looking for assistance, the Evil Queen sees his bare chest, learns of his fortune, and hears their wedding bells.  (Roberts also revels in the role of a cougar). When Snow and the Prince enjoy dancing together a little too much, the Evil Queen orders her obsequious lackey, Brighton (Nathan Lane), to take Snow into the woods and kill her.  Brighton is unable to do this and tells Snow to run away.  Fortunately, Snow is given shelter, on a temporary basic, by a gang of dwarves, who the Evil Queen banished.  The dwarves, who are definitely not similar to those in the Disney version, are highway men and steal in order to survive, and they are the ones who set upon and humiliated the Prince. The dwarves have a darker sense of humor, and their drives and desires aren’t as cartoonish.    Half Pint (Mark Povinelli) doesn’t hide his crush on Snow, and Wolf (Sebastian Saraceno) and Chuckles (Ronald Lee Clark) tease him the most about it.  They also rib Grub (Joe Gnoffo), who wants Snow to stay and cook for them.  Napoleon (Jordan Prentice), who is the leader, and Grimm (Danny Woodburn), who was the school teacher, also make merry occasionally, but mostly they take serious defending the gang against the Queen and the Beast that lives in the forest.  Eventually, the dwarves vote to let Snow stay. From the animated opening right to Bollywood production number during the end credits,  Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror is a sumptuous, screwy romp and a triumph of art direction.  The wickedly witty script by Marc Klein and Jason Keller has an irreverence similar to The Princess Bride and Shrek.  The stunning costumes, such as the insect and animal inspired ones for the royal ball, were designed by the renown Oscar-winning costume designer Eiko Ishioka, who died is January at age 73.  The costumes compliment Tom Foden's glorious production design which is full of set piece inspired by nature, from the rustic, woodsy home of the dwarves to the Evil Queen’s pearlized, shell-shaped throne.  The snowy landscapes, dark woods, bleak town, and shimmering castle radiate the film’s themes and contrasts because of director of photography Brendan Galvin's strategic camera and lighting work incorporating live action and special effects.

Besides the weather, there were many different motives for coming to this year's event. Some were annual egg-hunters, while others were novices. Jaron Gant ,27, of St.Louis, explained “My wife and I thought we would do something different this year. Every year we do things with the kids so we decided to come out and have a little fun without them this year.” After the Easter festivities Lantis Fireworks and Lasers put on an amazing fireworks display. Eric Parks, 29, of Florissant, commented “It was an excellent show especially for this time of year. I was very surprised that it was such a big show.” [caption id="attachment_7694" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Adult egg hunters wait for the start of the hunt at White Birch Park."][/caption] Overall, it was a wonderful time for all and city officials are looking forward to next year's events Hopefully it will be as eventful for our young'ons as it was for the adults this year.

   North County Incorporated (NCI) has announced that its annual Business Development, Community Development, Elmer Belsha Leadership, Public Service and Special Recognition Award recipients have been chosen.  The 2012 award recipients will be honored at NCI’s 35th Annual Breakfast on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 a.m. at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. This year’s presenting sponsors are HDR Engineering and SSM DePaul Health Center.  The public is encouraged to attend and tickets are only $37.50 per person.  Generous sponsorship packages are still available.  Reservations are required; please call NCI at 895-6241 or go to www.NorthStLouisCounty.com.    NCI’s Business Development Awards are presented to those whose efforts positively affect the economic development and business climate of the North County area.  On Friday, May 18, NCI will honor the Corporate College - St. Louis Community College; Express Scripts and the Northwest HealthCare Expansion with Business Development Awards. NCI’s Community Development Awards are presented to those whose efforts positively benefit youth, residents, civic organizations, or others through selfless acts.  Jennings Do-Dads Charitable Organization; Ken Smith, former president of the Old Jamestown Association; Kim Braddy, executive director of the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce were chosen for this award. Lillie Dumas, vice president of Commerce Bank and past chairman of NCI,  will receive the prestigious Elmer Belsha Leadership Award, which is presented annually to an individual whose long-term commitment to NCI and the North County region has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body that they serve. Public Service Awards will be presented to outstanding individuals, elected, appointed, or employed by a public body whose long-time service has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body they serve.  Ann Gibbons, board member of the Hazelwood School District; Brian Fletcher, former mayor of the City of Ferguson; Supt. Cheryl Compton, of the Ritenour School District; and Greendale Mayor Monica Huddleston  will be this year’s Public Service Award recipients.     Special Recognition Awards will be presented to outstanding individuals who through their business and volunteer services exemplify leadership and service to the North County community, are dedicated to helping others, and improving the business environment and/or lives of those they serve.  Hubert H. Hoosman, Jr., President and CEO of Vantage Credit Union and Jerrilyn Eberhart, administrative secretary with the City of Berkeley Fire Department are this year’s Special Recognition Award recipients. NCI’s 35th Annual Breakfast is made possible by these generous sponsors:     Presenting Sponsors are HDR Engineering and SSM DePaul Health Center.  Corporate Plus sponsors include Bommarito of Hazelwood-Nissan, Honda, Volkswagen, Ford; St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley; U.S. Bank; Walmart Corporate sponsors include Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers; Christian Hospital; Commerce Bank; Community News; Favazza & Associates LLC; Firestone; Johnny Londoff Chevrolet; SSM Rehabilitation Hospital; St. Louis County; St. Louis County Economic Council Supporting sponsors include, City of Ferguson; Corporate College-St. Louis Community College; Ferguson-Florissant School District; Florissant License Office; Independent News; Lindenwood University; Paul Cerame Auto Group, Inc.; Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562; Serenity Women’s Healthcare, Inc.; St. Louis Community College Workforce Solutions Group; Trinity Catholic High School; Valley Industries

Hazelwood Central High School Boys and Girls Track and Field teams completed a sweep of first place at the Charlie Beck Invitational April 7 at University City High School. Hazelwood Central Boys scored 112 points and edged out second place St. Louis University High, who had 110. Marquette (Rockwood School District) was third with 71.2 followed by Ritenour (68.5), University City (62), McCluer North (48.2), Jennings (41), Mehlville (38), Washington High (29.7), Lutheran North (27), Hazelwood East (25), Cleveland Naval Junior ROTC (23) McCluer South-Berkeley (22), Normandy (11) Riverview Gardens (seven), Francis Howell (4.2) and North Tech (1.2) Hazelwood Central Girls scored 145.5 points, second-place Francis Howell scored 127.5 followed by Fort Zumwalt West (88), Washington High (65), Hazelwood East (61), McCluer North (51), University City (49), Ritenour (45), Lutheran North (24), North Tech (19), Jennings (13), Normandy (five) and Sumner (one). Hazelwood Central won three Boys relay events (4x200, 4x400 and 4x800) and two Girls relay events (4x100 and 4x200). Winning individually for Hazelwood Central at U. City were Kendall Preston (Boys 100 Dash), Ashley Henderson (Girls 400 Run) and Alexis Miller, Girls High Jump) McCluer North Boys were led by Aaron Mallet, who won the 110 High Hurdles and 300 Intermediate Hurdles, and Daniel Mueller, who won the 3,200 Run. McCluer North Girls were led by Kimberlin Simon, who won the 300 Hurdles. Hazelwood East was led by Tianna Valentine, who won two Girls Dash events, 100 Meters and 200 Meters. Ritenour had multiple event winners, Boys 4x100 Relay, Josh Thorpe, Boys Pole Vault, and Sydia Darker, Girls Long Jump. Other Winners at U City include Alphonso Hicks, Jr., Lutheran North, Boys 200 Dash, Alfred Larry, Jennings, Boys 400 Run, John Esswein, SLUH, Boys 800 Run, and Christian Winston, McCluer South-Berkeley, Boys Shot Put. Timberland Wolfpack Invitational-McCluer Boys Finish Second McCluer High School took second in Boys events at the Timberland Wolfpack Invitational in Wentzville. McCluer scored 96 points but was a distant second to Lafayette, who had 142. Also in boys track CBC took fourth with 56.5 while Cardinal Ritter seventh with 47. McCluer won three of the six Boys’ field events. Tyrone Griffin won the High Jump, Darrion Dillard won the Triple Jump and Kenneth Young won the Discus. Also winning for McCluer in boys competition was Jared Ingram, 400 Run. CBC won the Boys 4x200 Relay and had a winner in Jonathon Parker in the 200 Dash. Cardinal Ritter won two Boys Relay events, 4x400 and 4x800, and had an individual winner in Charles Jones, 800 Run. Girls-At the Timberland Wolfpack Invitational Cardinal Ritter took fourth place with 64 points, Hazelwood West was eighth (49) McCluer was 10th with 30 and Pattonville was 14th with 22. Lafayette also won the girls meet with 93.5 points. Cardinal Ritter Girls won the 4x200 and 4x400 Relays, Hazelwood West had a winner in Tyler Kelly, who won the 300 Hurdles, and McCluer was led by Alauna Ray, who won the Girls High Jump and Girls Triple Jump.

Elsewhere In Girls

McCluer South-Berkeley won the 1,600 Sprint Medley Relay at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational in East St. Louis, Ill., but, with 99 points, MS-Berkeley was a distant third behind East St. Louis (355), who won 13 events, and West Side from Gary, Ind. (106). Riverview Gardens was fifth (93.5) while Incarnate Word Academy was eighth (67). The only other non-Illinois winner was Beaumont’s Tiffeney Cannon, in the 100 Dash. Trinity Catholic Girls scored only five points and finished 13th in the Skippy Keefer Relays at John Burroughs. Nerinx Hall won the meet with 87.5 while Rosati-Kain was eighth with 31.

RaShawn Johnson is the FFSD Teacher of the Year. RaShawn Johnson, a reading teacher at Berkeley Middle School, is the 2012 Ferguson-Florissant School District Teacher of the Year. Johnson has taught in the district six years. Her love for children and education started at home. [caption id="attachment_7756" align="aligncenter" width="470" caption="Jo Ann Crawford is the FFSD Support Employee of the Year. See SEY photo. From left to right: Gwendolyn Diggs, chief learning officer; Ron Stedman, principal of Central Elementary School; Jo Ann Crawford, Support Employee of the Year; and Supt. Art McCoy."][/caption] Jo Ann Crawford is the FFSD Support Employee of the Year. Jo Ann Crawford, office manager at Central Elementary School, is the 2012 Ferguson-Florissant School District Support Employee of the Year. Jo Ann is well loved by Central families and staff. She said her secret is simple, " [caption id="attachment_7755" align="aligncenter" width="470" caption="McCluer Comets Pommies clinched first and second at the 4A state dance championship competition."][/caption] The McCluer High School Pommies placed first and second under Prop and Mix, respectively, at the 2012 Missouri dance team Class 4A championship -- honors they also won at the 2009 Class 5A championship. The Comets clinched first place with their luggage- and train-themed "All Aboard" act. They also snatched second for their show featuring the Black Eyed Peas' hit "Pump it." Statewide, more than 90 teams attended the Feb. 25 contest at Lee Summit West High School. Members are:  freshmen A’jee Anderson, Candace James and Sierra McKenzie; sophomores Christina Merritt and Taylor Smith; juniors Ashley Ross, Dasia Travis and Davyon West; senior and co-captain Zavier Alexander; and lastly, senior and captain Alexandria Clark. Rega Wesley-Stewart, MC math teacher, is head coach. Jackie Allen, Mark Twain Student Support Center teacher, is assistant coach. McCluer North Stars as Class 5 state champs for second year in a row. The McCluer North High School varsity boys basketball team won their second-straight Class 5 state championship at the University of Missouri-Columbia -- this time boasting a 9-point lead over Nixa (69-60). With a 26-game winning streak, the Stars remained poised for victory throughout the season and capped off their success by winning the state playoffs. McCluer High School’s Chantel Stanciel, and McCluer North High School’s Galen Brown and Randy Reed were selected to receive the Suburban North 2012 all-conference basketball team’s highest honors. Chantel, a senior, was tapped for the Sixth Man of the Year honor. Galen, a senior, earned the Player of the Year title. MC and MN students will attend Missouri Fine Arts Academy. Eleven Ferguson-Florissant juniors have been accepted into the highly-selective 2012 Missouri Fine Arts Academy. For the second year in a row, the FFSD has the most students accepted into the three-week summer program held at Missouri State University. The program immerses students into a chosen art discipline and provides them with cultural, recreational and leadership opportunities. They are:  McCluer High School’s Jennifer Boston, Shawntel Davis, Tiana Glass, Danasia Nance, Elvony Pleasant and Adrienne Thompson. Congratulations are also extended to McCluer North High School’s Benjamin Behlmann, Charles Black, Darby Dachroeden, Omar Morris and Quentin Singleton for the noteworthy accomplishment. Ferg-Flor students sweep Iota Phi Lambda Black History Month contest. The top winners in Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.’s 25th Annual Black History Month Essay and Oratorical contest attend school in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. The following students were recognized by the Alpha Zeta Chapter for their outstanding writing skills: Lee-Hamilton Elementary School’s Amanda Baranowski placed third, Sydni Ingram earned second and Alexandria Taylor won first-place in the sixth-grade category of the contest. second or third place, respectively. Danielle, Sydni and Keith also won first-, second- and third-place trophies, respectively, for their oratorical skills.

Barczykowski, the owner of five Curves locations, will be honored during the dinner. “I am honored to have been chosen as Greater North County Business Person of the Year,” Barczykowski said. “My employees and customers of Curves are what make an award like this even possible. I am grateful to all!” Barczykowski, who opened her first Curves in 2000, has three facilities in Florissant, one in Ferguson and one in Weldon Spring. She has been involved with the Greater North County Chamber for many years, served on its Board for seven years and is a past board chairwoman. She is the founder of the Lose To Win STL Program, which has had more than 3,000 local participants, and is the author of “Make the Harder Choice.” Barczykowski has served on the boards and chaired events for several community and civic organizations including the American Cancer Society’s North County Relay for Life, the American Heart Association, Marygrove and T.E.A.M. Born and raised in Florissant, Barczykowski now lives in St. Charles with her husband, Dan, and their three children. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Lindenwood College, Masters in Business Administration from Lindenwood University and has been certified in circuit training and weight management. “Bonnie is very deserving of this award,” said Carolyn Marty, chamber president. “She is a successful business woman who gives back to her community in many ways.” The cost of the dinner is $45. Call the chamber office at 831-3500 for reservations.

As with most reunions, this one holds the possibility and promise of reuniting with former crushes, of concocting variations on old pranks and of, however briefly, re-living, if only in their imaginations, the old glory days. But then they  finally acknowledging the passage of time and the transition from careless and carefree youth to responsible and tied-down adult. While the story opens in familiar vulgar territory involving internet porn and a shower wand, writers Adam Herz and Jon Hurwitz quickly demonstrate how the narrative will devote some quality time to Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas). All are  struggling to work through issues related to marriage, family life, careers and personal integrity. So as not to lose fans who have come for the perverse proceedings, Herz and Hurwitz are careful not to dole out grown-up material for too long of a stretch before inserting copious shots of young women in bikinis, or involving one or all of the buddies in compromising, carnal quandaries; most of which are hatched in the dirty mind of their “professional adolescent” friend, Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott), who arrives loaded for “bare” and determined to lead his disappointingly sedate friends astray.  While that will be a challenge where it concerns Jim, who has brought wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) along hoping to jump-start their hum-drum love life, Stifler has some success with the others aided by the presence of Heather (Mena Suvari), Selena (Dania Ramirez) and Vicky (Tara Reid). These older (no doubt a put-off for hot-blooded youngsters in the audience) and wiser former flames with their “histories” with Oz, Finch and Kevin should have created some sparks, but come off in their scenarios together more like cold showers than stimulation.  The other major distraction for the guys is a bevy of the new generation (“more slutty?”) of teenage girls. One in particular---Kara (Ali Cobrin)---sets her virgin cap for Jim.  His attempts at gentlemanly rejection get him into the film’s most hilarious pickle involving a pile of stuffed animals and falling off a roof dodging a suspicious dad, who’s clueless about just who may be taking advantage of whom when it comes to adolescent boys. Before the reunion dance where all the kinks will be ironed out (or, enthusiastically embraced by the right partners as they get it on), Stifler will go for one more moment of hi-jinks glory with a party he discovers to his chagrined let-down is populated by former classmates more interested in drinking chardonnay than shots. It’s up to Jim’s dad (Eugene Levy) and Stifler’s mom (Jennifer Coolidge) to give some wacked-out life to the party.  Turns out the character of Jim’s dad and his fumbling need to get back into life after the death of his wife provides one of the film’s few moments. It creates genuine feeling for its characters’ needs for sensual and emotional connection ‘Nuf said…heed the rating warning of R for adult content that includes bare breasts, profanity and profuse references to sexual fantasies and realities.

High School boys Tennis District Tournaments are scheduled to take place May 7-12 and Riverview Gardens is one of 32 district hosts Riverview will host Class Two, District Six with Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, McCluer North, McCluer and Normandy competing. Meanwhile Hazelwood West will be in Class Two, District Five, hosted by Parkway Central, with Parkway North, Pattonville and Ritenour in that field. In Class One Lutheran North is in Class Six, hosted by Duchesne, with Lutheran-St. Charles County, St. Charles West, St. Charles and St. Dominic. There are two tournaments in district tennis, team and individual. Team districts are dual meets consists of six singles and three doubles matches and each team will be seeded and paired to compete May 7-11. Individual districts are based on singles and doubles matches, to start no earlier than May 10 and close May 12, and each team will send two singles players and two doubles teams. The district team champions from Class Two, District Six and from Class One, District Six will host the Team Sectionals May 19 but could start no earlier than May 17. The Class Two, District Five champion will also be in that tournament. Sectionals are a four team tournament with the winner to advance to the State Team Tournament, May 24, at Cooper Tennis Complex, Springfield The top two district singles players and top two district doubles teams from Districts Five and Six will advance to team sectionals to be played May 14-16. Riverview and Duchesne will likely serve as sectional hosts. The singles and doubles winners from the Individual Sectionals will advance to the State Championships, May 25-26 at Cooper Tennis Complex.

High School Boys Golf District Tournaments involving area high schools will be taking place April 24-25. Each team can send as many as five golfers to district competition. A minimum of four is required for team scoring. The top two teams and top 15 golfers from the teams finishing third or lower at the district tournaments will advance to sectional play May 2-3, and teams finishing lower than second that send four or five to sectionals qualify for team scoring. The State championships will take place at four different golf courses May14-15. The top two teams from each sectional meet and the top 12 golfers from teams that did not finish in the top two qualify for state, and the teams that finish lower second send four or five golfers to state qualify for team scoring. In Class Four area high schools will be competing May 24, 8 a.m. in the District Three Tournament at Whitmore Country Club, a par-71 course in St. Charles County. This will feed into Sectional Two, May 2, 9 a.m. at Innsbrook Golf Course, a par-71 course in Wright City, and into state at Silo Ridge Golf Club, a par-72 course in Bolivar. Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, Hazelwood West, McCluer North and McCluer will compete in Class Four, District Three against Chaminade, DeSmet, Normandy, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Pattonville and Ritenour. In Class Three Lutheran North will compete May 25, 9 a.m. in District Three against Affton, Bishop DuBourg, Clayton, John Burroughs, Lutheran South, Mary Institute-Country Day School, Priory, St. Mary’s University City and Westminster Christian Academy at Forest Park Golf Course, a par-70 course in St. Louis. Also in Class Three, Trinity Catholic will compete in District Four, April 25m 10 a.m. at Heritage Hills Golf Course, in Moberly, against Duchesne, Hannibal, Kirksville, Mexico, Moberly, Mexico, St. Charles High, St. Charles West, St. Dominic, Warrenton and Winfield. Districts Three and Four in Class Three, feed into Sectional Two, May 3 at Innsbrook Golf Course, Wright City and to State at Rivercut Golf Club, a par-72 course in Springfield, Mo.

Hazelwood West and Trinity Catholic have two things in common with high school baseball through April 15 Both teams were 7-4 and both are second in conference play. Hazelwood West, as of April 15 was 5-1 in the Suburban North Conference while Trinity, as of April 15, was 5-2 in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association. Hazelwood West, prior to a rematch with Ritenour, April 17, has defeated  McCluer, 13-3, McCluer North, 6-0, Hazelwood Central, 9-4, Riverview Gardens, 9-4, and Ritenour, 10-0, in Suburban North Conference play. West has a conference loss to Pattonville, 5-4, and a non-conference loss to Kirkwood, 6-8. In the Lindbergh-Mehlville Tournament Hazelwood West took fourth place. In Pool B West defeated Oakville, 2-1, lost to Mehlville, 6-0, and defeated Affton, 5-2. In the third-place game West lost to St. John Vianney, 14-1. Hazelwood West hosted Fort Zumwalt West, April 18, 4:15 and McCluer, April 19, 4 p.m. Trinity, in AAA play, has defeated St. Mary’s twice, 3-2 and 7-6, defeated Bishop DuBourg, 11-7, John F. Kennedy, 14-5, and Lutheran-St. Charles County, 10-6, while losing twice to St. Dominic, 10-0 and 13-0. In the North County Classic Trinity took fourth place defeating Hazelwood East, 10-0 while losing to tourney champion Hazelwood Central, 3-1, and McCluer, 2-0. In a non-conference game Trinity won 4-2 over Lutheran North. Trinity had a rematch with McCluer April 16 then played Cardinal Ritter, April 17 at Ritter and April 23, 4:15 at home (behind Christ-Light of the Nations School-formerly Our Lady of Loretto). Trinity opens the Lutheran North Tournament April 19 with a 4:15 game at Orchard Farm. Hazelwood West Statistics: Offensively Connor Manis has a .719 slugging percentage with four triples while scoring 10 runs, Matt Leinberger has 10 runs on 14 hits including five doubles and six stolen bases, Jared Fosdick has nine runs batted in, Oday Alyatim has five walks. Pitching wise Jared Fosdick has three wins and 40 strikeouts while Brendan Fosdick has a1.14 earned run average. Trinity Statistics: Offensively Eric Modde is hitting .429 but has a .536 slugging percentage with 12 hits and 11 runs batted in, Tommy Koerper and Mike Hardin each has 12 runs scored  but Hardin has 11 walks and 13 stolen bases. Pitching wise Nick Payeur has three wins and 15 strikeouts, Modde also has 15 strikeouts and Tyler Bayer has a 1.75 earned run average. In Fielding Sean Hennessey has 71 put outs while Koerper has 25 assists.

To date, at least 95 second through fifth grade students have signed up to participate in the club, which takes place three days a week, before or after school. Students set fitness goals to “get moving,” keep track of their total miles in a database, and earn prizes for the number of miles they run or walk. Sarah Caswell, a kindergarten teacher, coordinates Mighty Milers. “Mighty Milers is a good thing for students to do before and after school. It’s free and it teaches kids how to take care of themselves,” she said. During a recent session, Caswell and other staff members split the students into two groups. The younger students ran or walked through the school hallways while the older students ran or walked around the campus. After 15 minutes or so, they switched. Before the club started, Caswell measured the hallways and campus perimeter using a measuring wheel provided by the Mighty Milers. Inside, students must run or walk each hallway five times for one mile. Outside, it takes five laps of the campus to equal a mile. A point Caswell emphasized is that students in Mighty Milers do not have to run. "We have walkers, too, so we have games that differentiate between running and walking, but no one is singled out for just walking,” she said. Caswell added these games also teach students to pace themselves. In the future, Caswell hopes to expand the program to include kindergarten and first grade. The club has only existed for about a month, so the focus has been getting the students used to running and pacing themselves. Soon, a healthy lifestyle component will be added, said Caswell. As incentives, students earn membership cards and certificates during the program. At each marathon milestone - 26.2, 52.4, 78.6 and 104.8 - they will receive special medals. Classes will receive a congratulatory poster for accumulating miles at three milestones - 500, 1,000 and 2,500. Additional incentive packages, which include items such as pencils, stickers and T-shirts, can be purchased. At the start of every program year, student mileage will reset to zero. “The good thing about the program is it’s not rigid. It’s not, ‘You have to do this, this and this,’” said Caswell. Story provided by Hazelwood School District Communications Department.

The goals of that first celebration were to make Florissant a better place in which to live, attract more tourist and visitors, encourage more businesses to locate in Florissant, increase property values, further Florissant loyalty and appreciation, and make the city even more beautiful than it already was. Mayor Tom Schneider and the City Council is asking every resident and business owner to join city employees in making Florissant as beautiful as possible for the festival. Florissant Public Works and Parks Department personnel will be giving extra attention to duties that will have a noticeable impact on the appearance of the city. Parks Maintenance personnel will be giving priority to maintaining islands and common ground in subdivisions, including grass cutting and over seeding, tree and shrub trimming, mulching and filling in tire ruts. Parks Maintenance will continue to maintain all of our beautiful parks and get them in outstanding shape in time for the festival. Public Works will be repairing and replacing any damaged or fading street signs. All signs illegally on public right of way will be removed. Property owners and renters with illegal signs on private property will be requested to remove them to avoid a summons. Public Works will be increasing our street sweeping service and all field personnel are instructed to stop and pick up any litter or debris found in the street. Code Enforcement Personnel will give extra attention to problem properties in the city.  Grass and weed violations will be immediately brought to the attention of property owners. Vacant lots already identified as problem areas will be maintained with the cost billed to the property owner. Lawn Care company maintenance results will be monitored to encourage them to do excellent work, especially those that work for lending institutions with vacant property. Mayor Schneider and the Florissant City Council encourage every resident and business owner to give extra attention to their property. In addition to routine maintenance, residents may want to plant new flowers and shrubs if possible, in honor of the 50-year tradition that is the signature event of Florissant and North County.

Chapman was nominated for the program. The program’s website explains that junior and senior students are nominated on strong academic performance, a demonstrated interest in conservation and the environment, and the ability to be an exceptional representative for their state and high school. Chapman is involved in Student Council, theatre and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Bridge Program Saturday Academy. Her classes include honors pre-calculus and Advanced Placement U.S. History. Her favorite subjects are English and science. "I understand science very well. It’s one of my strongest subjects,” she said. “I like medical science. One of my classes is Physiology and Anatomy.” Chapman is hopeful that she’ll be able to attend the conference. She is in the process of registering and her family is working toward covering the cost of tuition. Students at the conference will participate in hands-on, experiential learning through decision-making simulations. The program is designed to challenge students to solve problems and explore the creative, practical and ethical aspects of environmental issues. The program includes guest speakers who are well-known leaders in the field, such as researchers, directors and recent college graduates. In the meantime, Chapman is focused on the future. She wants to study biology to become a doctor or work in forensics. Her college interests are Washington University in St. Louis, Syracuse, University of Missouri-Columbia and George Mason.

When  I asked my brother-in-law—a devoted fan of Moe, Curly and Larry---if he was going to see the new Bobby and Peter Farrelly film, The Three Stooges, he said, “Why? They aren’t in it.”  With all due respect to my sister’s fantastic husband: He’s a numbskull. Chris Diamantopoulos (Moe), Will Sasso (Curly) and Sean Hayes (Larry), as well as the fantastic kids who play the Stooges as kids, couldn’t be closer to the spitting-in-your-eye image of the Stooges than if they’d been their clones. From head to toe, they’ve got every zany gesture and facial expression; every whiny, mean voice; every clobber; every slap; every eye-poke and every nose and ear pull down to perfection.  And, while the story is not “War and Peace,” the script by the Farrellys and Mike Cerrone has a tight, well-constructed feel of a classic Stooges “short;” where the action dictates the slapstick, not the other way around. It’s not mindless idiocy, but Stooges idiocy; and there’s a big difference. The Stooges and their antics tap into everyone’s primal experiences surviving childhood dealing with limited powers of mind and body against what could be a cruel and capricious world.  A world that often included annoying siblings for whom, when push-came-to-shove—literally—we felt an ironclad loyalty. We also recognize an ultimate innocence about the Stooges and their never-give-up attitude, no matter how many self-inflicted or Moe-inflicted hard knocks they suffer.  In contrast to what looks (to parents and pacifists) like cruelty on the part of Moe, the writers provide a few characters in the film who are truly mean; and make sure they suffer the most extreme (and hilarious) indignities as a consequence. There are other ways in which the Farrellys have succeeded spectacularly in triggering our Pavlovian response of belly laughs to what is transpiring on screen.  They’ve crammed the action with plenty of classic Stooges insults (verbal and physical), puns and word-manglings.  Curly: “I’m a victim of soycumstance!”   Moe: “Chowderhead!   Buy a toupee with some brains in it!”  Larry: “I’ll save him.  I know the Heineken maneuver!” Last, but not least, there are the classic Stooges predicaments; one of which—Moe and Curly dueling (dressed as female nurses) with whizzing newborn babies—is guaranteed to make you wet your drawers with laughter.  Then there’s the dolphin with a peanut in its blow hole that Larry nearly squeezes to death; a rat in a lady’s cleavage; a well-timed toot in a submerged car’s air pocket; a lion getting slapped silly (and mad); a piled-on and pummeled Monsignor (Brian Doyle-Murray) mistaken by the Stooges for a mugger; a stick of dynamite courtesy of the Stooges in a patient’s full-body cast. From the Stooges’ “ahwhoowhooowhoowhooowhooowhoo” to Curly’s sideways twirl on the ground, the Farrellys have missed nothing to bring the Stooges back to glorious low-brow life.  What’s the story you ask?  Abandoned at an orphanage as a holy terror “holy trinity” to the beleaguered and battered nuns who care for them for 35 years, Moe, Curly and Larry try to raise $830,000 in 30 days to save the orphanage from sale and the kids from foster homes. Their quest leads to a murder-for-hire scheme hatched by Lydia (Sofia Vergara) and her lover, Mac (Craig Bierko) and a part (Dyna-Moe) for Moe on a reality TV show.  Larry David as Sister Mary Mengele and Jane Lynch as the Mother Superior are side-splitting Stooges side-kicks and the Farrellys poke fun, literally, at the cast of “The Jersey Shore.” Don’t be a nitwit chump.  If you have to hitch a ride on a car bumper to get there (a classic Stooges form of transportation), get your “earthworm” body to the theatre for a sure-fire nyuk nyuk time!  A Twentieth Century Fox release rated PG for sledgehammer blows to the head, nose-hair pulling and other all-in-good-fun violence.

Von Hall has been in Scouts since first grade at Lawson Elementary School. He said it was his idea to build the doghouses and donate them. His Scoutmaster helped him with the design and his family helped with the construction. Von Hall said the materials were donated by “two Home Depot’s and a Lowe’s.” He wrote a letter to store managers to introduce himself and explain his project. He received wood, nails, paint, screws and more. He began the project on February 17 and finished on March 16. His family documented the project with photos, right up until the dog houses were delivered. Von Hall enjoys Boy Scouts because “it’s fun” and he said it has “changed my behavior to be more positive.” At school, Von Hall’s favorite class is math. “It’s easy,” he said. He also likes music. He is involved with the solo and ensemble group and plays the baritone and trumpet. He will become an Eagle Scout this month, and a ceremony will be held in July. According to the Boy Scouts of America, 56,176 Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2010, approximately five percent of all scouts. The average age of boys earning the honor was 17. To become an Eagle Scout, boys must progress through ranks in a specific order; earn 21 merit badges; serve six months in a troop leadership position; plan, develop and give leadership to a service project for any religious organization or any school or community; take part in a Scoutmaster conference; and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Bach was born on May 26, 2001 in the Czech Republic. The Florissant Police Department purchased Bach in September of 2004, and he was assigned to Officer Patrick O’Fallon. Officer O’Fallon and Bach graduated from the St. Louis City Canine Training School on November 19, 2004. During the almost eight years of service to the Florissant Police Department, Bach received two Certificates of Merit: one in June of 2005 for apprehending a suspect wanted for tampering and assaulting a law enforcement officer, and one in September of 2006 for apprehending a suspect wanted for a parole violation, rape, and child molestation. Bach also received two Letters of Commendation: one in July of 2007 for apprehending a suspect wanted for first degree assault on a law enforcement officer, and one in February of 2011 for apprehending several burglary suspects. Bach also received the following “Outstanding K-9 Service Awards from the German Shepherd Dog Club of St. Louis: 2006 for Tracking, 2007 for Controlled Substance Detection 2007 for Evidence Detection, 2007 for Tracking, 2008 for Suspect Apprehension. Along with Officer O’Fallon, Bach lived with Officer’s O’Fallon’s wife, Pam, and son, Patrick. Officer O’Fallon was preparing to transition Bach to retired life this summer. Officer O’Fallon said, “I have not only lost a partner, but a family member.” Bach was a major part of the Florissant Police and O’Fallon family, and he will be missed. Chief Karabas said, “Bach was an officer. He worked just as hard, and he needs to be remembered just as much.”  

McCluer High School and Mary Institute-Country Day School will be hosting the Missouri State High School Activities Association District Track and Field Championships May 12, times to be announced. McCluer High will be hosting Class Four, District Three. Coming to McCluer will include Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, Hazelwood West, Incarnate Word Academy, McCluer North, Normandy, Pattonville, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, Roosevelt and St. Louis University High MICDS will be hosting Class Three, District Three. Coming to MICDS will include Lutheran North, McCluer South-Berkeley, North Technical, Trinity Catholic, Jennings, Northwest Academy of Transportation and Law, Orchard Farm, Clayton, John Burroughs, John F. Kennedy, Priory, St. Charles, University City, Villa Duchesne, Visitation Academy and Westminster Christian Academy. Each participating school’s athletes will be limited to participating in no more than four events and that includes individual and/or relay events, based on qualifying time or distance standards. The top four finishers from each district event (there are 18 events for boys and 18 for girls) will advance to sectional competition, May 19, and the top four finishers from each sectional event will advance to the state championships, May 25-26. Athletes that finish in the top four at McCluer will compete in Class Four, Section Two May 19 at Timberland High in Wentzville while athletes that finish in the top four at MICDS will return to MICDS May 19 for Class Three, Section Two. The State Championships will take place May 25-26 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on the Lincoln University in Jefferson City. Hazelwood Central won the last two Boys Class Four State Championships, McCluer South-Berkeley was second last year in Class Three Boys and Hazelwood East took fourth place in Class Four Girls the last two years. Trinity Catholic was at the Archdiocesan Athletic Association meet May 1 at St. Francis Borgia in Washington, Mo., a new member to the AAA. The three Hazelwood School District High Schools, McCluer North, McCluer and Riverview Gardens as well as Pattonville and Ritenour will be at McCluer North for the Suburban North Conference championship meet May 2-3. McCluer South-Berkeley will host the Suburban East Conference Championship meet May 3.

DeSmet Jesuit High Boys Golf and one of their golfers, Nicholas Arman, were winners in the Class Four, District Three championships April 24 at Whitmoor Country Club in St. Charles. DeSmet won with a team stroke total of 310, six strokes better than Metro Catholic Conference Champion Chaminade and both qualified to compete in Sectional Two team competition that took place May 2 at Innsbrook Golf Course, a par-71 course in Wright City (results were not available at press time). Also in competition for team points because each team sent four to Class Four Sectional Two were Pattonville, third in District Three (350) and Parkway Central (fourth-357). Arman won the individual Class Four, District Three title with an even-par, 71-stroke effort. Arman finished four strokes ahead of the district runner up and Chaminade’s top performer, Chris Lambert (75). Hazelwood West sent three golfers to Sectional Two May 2. They include Alex Spurgetis (87), Keith Garland (90) and Derek Furuya (91). Other golfers that competed May 2 in Class Four, Sectional Two were Zach Schulz, McCluer North (86), and Timothy Lee, Hazelwood East (86). The top two teams and the top 12 golfers from teams that place third or lower will compete in the Class Four State Championships, May 14-15 at the Silo Ridge Golf Club, a par-72 course in Bolivar. Pattonville Wins Suburban North, Hazelwood West Second Only three Suburban North Conference teams scored points in the Boys Golf conference meet, April 27 at Emerald Green, a par-70 course. Pattonville, with a team stroke total of 334, won the meet, Hazelwood West (374) was second and McCluer North (379) was third. Pattonville’s Jacob Masek was the Suburban North individual winner with a nine-over par 79, two strokes better than runner up and teammate Alex Maierhoffer (81). Spurgetis (91) led the way for West while the top conference golfer for McCluer North was Wilnard Anderson (85).

Incarnate Word Academy Girls Soccer Team came home from St. Charles County with a second-place finish at the annual St. Dominic/Francis Howell North Shootout Most of the games IWA played were at Francis Howell High School. They include a 3-2 win April 23 over Francis Howell, a 0-0 tie April 24 with Villa Duchesne and a 4-2 win April 26 over St. Francis Borgia. In the championship game, April 28 at Francis Howell North IWA lost 1-0 to Metro Women’s Athletic Association White Division rival Cor Jesu. In the win over Francis Howell IWA made 20 shots but Francis Howell Goalkeeper Tiffany      Morris made 10 saves. However Melanie Donaldson, Allison Jetton and Maddie Orf each scored a Red Knight goal. Katie Skrivan had two assists. In the scoreless tie against Villa Duchesne the Red Knights had 17 shots but Saints Goalkeeper Hanna Benben made 12 saves. IWA Goalkeeper Jenny Schnelting made six saves. In the win over Borgia IWA had 33 shots but Borgia Goalkeeper Mackenzie Haddox made 13 saves Orf scored twice in the first half and assisted on two first half goals by Elly Freesmeier while Allie Zeilman had two first-half assists. Borgia had two Emily Grahl goals. In the loss to Cor Jesu Incarnate peppered Cor Jesu Goalkeeper Sam Bersett with 17 shots but none of them got into the net despite the fact that Bersett attended her school’s prom on April 27. Schnelting made 10 saves but allowed a first-half goal by Jenn Miller. IWA hosts Cor Jesu in a May 9 MWAA White game at 4:15. Prior to April 30, Incarnate Word has won nine games, lost three and tied one. In the Metro Women’s Athletic Association White Division games Incarnate Word won two games while losing none.

The students, members of the Hazelwood Central High Student Ambassadors, took lunch orders, served food, and opened beverage containers for residents. Later, students pushed wheelchairs or otherwise escorted residents about the park-like setting surrounding the veterans’ home. After a quick orientation, Julie Goulet, volunteer services manager, led the ambassadors into the dining room, where residents began gathering for the mid-day meal. She told the students that residents have a choice - they can walk through the lunch line and choose their meals or they can sit at tables and be waited on. “It’s important for students to give back to people who have done things for them even when the students are not aware of it,” said Principal Dr. Cheryol Mitchell, who accompanied the group. “It’s a nice environment to be in, to help people who are not seen like others are,” said Maya Toliver, president of the student ambassadors. “To put a smile on their faces just makes me feel good. I hope we can do this again." Classmate Daysha Gathing explained what she enjoyed. “I like getting to know people and ask them what they want,” she said. “They crack jokes and they say, ‘I want this instead of that.’ We get a one-on-one experience with them here.” Goulet said the Missouri Veterans Home encourages more public school participation so students can interact with the residents and earn community service hours needed to graduate. Home is a long-term care facility managed by the Missouri State Veterans Commission and is one of seven such homes in Missouri. Call (573) 751-3779 or go to www.mvc.dps.mo.gov for more information.

County residents will be able to bring unwanted household products such as paint thinner, cleaning solutions, motor oil, insecticides, and other products that can pose health hazards if not properly disposed of. “These events offer a safe alternative to throwing leftover household chemicals away in the trash,” said Dr. Dolores J. Gunn, Director of the Saint Louis County Department of Health.  “Ideally, consumers should buy only what they need, use products up entirely, or share any leftovers with neighbors and friends.” Both events will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., regardless of the weather.  The events are free of charge. Proof of county  residency, such as a driver’s license or tax bill, will be required. The cost for the household chemical events is covered by the Saint Louis County landfill surcharge fund.  For more information, call the Department of Health at (314) 615-8958 or visit www.RecycleSaintLouis.com. The following are the locations for both dates: Saturday, May 5: St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley Campus (on Pershall Rd. off I-270 Saturday, June 16. South County Center (formerly Westfield Shoppingtown – South County) south of the Dillard’s and Sears stores  For maps and directions, visit www.RecycleSaintLouis.com.

“We brought in a professional trainer with ‘Chief Instructor’ status from the Roco Rescue company to oversee the training for our department,” said Hazelwood Fire Chief Dave Radel.  “Battalion Chief Keith Shields has worked with us before.  He is a consummate professional and has a great rapport with our firefighters.” Shields works for a municipal fire department near Vancouver, BC, Canada, where technical rescues are made on a regular basis. During his off-duty time, he serves as an instructor for the Roco Rescue company, training firefighters and rescuers all over North America.  Shields provided four 10-hour training days for each of the three Hazelwood crews to complete this certification. [caption id="attachment_7889" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Precision rigging of ropes and pulleys is being used by this Hazelwood firefighter to lower a simulated victim."][/caption] With local business support, Hazelwood firefighters practiced rescues from the roof of the former Pillsbury building on Pershall Road.  This required precision rigging of ropes and pulleys, as well as securing a simulated victim (one of the firefighters) to lower or hoist to safety. Confined space rescues were simulated using a large training prop on loan from Ameren Missouri.  These types of rescues require a further layer of protective equipment and training for firefighters since these small areas often have poor air quality and other hazards. With their enhanced skills, Hazelwood firefighters will now continue with ongoing Roco training as part of their routine cycle of training exercises on a regular basis.