crossroads: april 2016

A lifeline in the sky

2 CROSSROADS | MARCH 2016

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ADP_Wentzville_CRSRDS_11.25h x 8.75w_Feb2016_F.indd 1 1/13/16 11:20 AM

Published monthly with newsstand circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis

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

For advertising information, please contact us at:

Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr.

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

www.mycnews.comCopyright 2015 Huneke Publications, Inc.

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

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

PublisherRobert Huneke

EditorMathew DeKinder

Production ManagerRebecca Brockmann

ContributorsAvalanche, David Finkelstein, Jenny Krestel, Tony Mathews, Cindy Moore, Russ Patton,

Laurie Simon, Leon Tow

PhotographerRay Rockwell

Staff WriterBrett Auten

VOL 13 | NO 4

By Leon Tow – President of Wentzville Community Club

Departments

features

4

By Jenny Krestel

By Russ Patton

By Brett Auten

10

7

16

19

14

13

9

8

6

12

17

18

Advertiser ProfilesRemodeling thanks to home equity loans and lines of credit

What do we do?

A lifeline in the skyO’Fallon-based Air Evac Lifeteam offers air medical service to rural communities across the country

Nonprofit ProfileThe Wentzville Community Club is both an organization and a place

Around Town Local news and events

EntertainmentThe long shots of Emmanuel Lubezki

BusinessWestern St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

FoodExplaining different coffee drinks

Always an Adventure No gas, no phone

Simon SaysHeroin epidemic affects both big and small

Moore on Life Fat chance

Community Calendar: April

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

Photo OpGolf Expo

APRIL 2016 | CROSSROADS 3

2016contentsAPRIL

On the Cover: Photo by Ray Rockwell

4 CROSSROADS | APRIL 2016

Around Town

Forrest Keeling Nursery offers 65 years of experience in creating native landscapes of all sizes. The local, family-owned nursery and community leader is newly focused on bringing their conservation expertise to home and farm habitats.“Our Habitat Headquarters Collections

are specially selected combinations of na-tive wildflowers and grasses,” explained Kim Lovelace-Young, Forrest Keeling vice-presi-dent. “We want to make it easy, affordable and fun for home owners and landowners to work with nature to create beautiful, prob-lem-solving landscapes.”“Hardy native plants,” Kim continued,

“evolved over centuries in their environment and provide important conservation bene-fits and wildlife needs. By adding wildflow-ers, for example, we can help support pol-linators like the honeybee that are critical to our agricultural industry. Similarly, deep-rooted native grasses, shrubs and trees help reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollut-ants from our groundwater.” Forrest Keeling has offered a garden center

for years but has updated it and renamed it Habitat Headquarters in honor of their em-phasis on bringing working landscapes to homes and farms.

Wayne Lovelace, Forrest Keeling president, is excited about bringing the Nursery’s con-servation concepts to the general public. “From container sized to multi-acre, we have the ‘right recipe’ to help even the inexperi-enced create attractive, low-maintenance areas from the backyard to the back forty! You might say natives are a natural for easy-care landscapes.”Forrest Keeling’s Habitat Headquarters Col-

lections include: • Rain Garden to reduce runoff and soggy

spots.• Hummingbird Haven for attracting hum-

mingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators.• Pocket Prairie which minimizes watering,

fertilizing and mowing.• And much more!“When you plant native plants,” Wayne

concluded, “you’re a native hero! You and your native landscape will partner with the environment to conserve resources and pro-vide needed food and cover.”Visit Forrest Keeling’s all-new Habitat

Headquarters at their location just south of Elsberry, Missouri on Hwy. 79 and less than an hour’s drive from St. Louis. Forrest Keel-ing is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Forrest Keeling Nursery wants to become your ‘Habitat Headquarters’

Advertiser Profile:

Forrest Keeling has offered a garden center for years but has updated it and renamed it Habitat Headquarters in honor of their emphasis on bringing working landscapes to homes and farms.

Submitted photo

www.seniorshelpingseniors.com

www.paperleafprinting.com


Around Town

Wentzville Christian Church proudly pres-ents a community theater production of “Beauty and the Beast” May 6-8. The church will offer four performances of the musical: May 6 at 7 p.m.; May 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and a special Mother’s Day matinee on May 8 at 2 p.m. Admission to the performances is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.This is the 10th year the church has pro-

duced a full-length Broadway musical to share with the community. WCC’s Arts for Life Theater Recognition Guild Award nomi-nated production of “Meet Me in St. Louis”

last year drew 1,400-1,500 people in three performances. This year’s production fea-tures a talented cast of 35 drawn from the church and surrounding area, along with a 17 piece orchestra (which includes members of the St. Charles Municipal Band). Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” features memorable songs including “Belle,” “Gaston,” “Home,” “Be Our Guest,” “Human Again” and of course “Beauty and the Beast”; along with lots of hu-mor, dancing, great costumes and great sets. Wentzville Christian Church is located at

1507 Hwy. Z (1 mile south of I-70). For more information call 636-327-6622 or visit the church website at wentzvillecc.org.

“Beauty and the Beast” is coming to Wentzville

Wentzville Christian Church proudly presents a community theater production of “Beauty and the Beast” May 6-8.

Photo by Mary Riley Photography, LLC

www.ofallonfamilyeyecare.com

www.takeatrip.net

As the fastest growing city in Missouri, Wentzville is ever changing and evolving. It is a proud city, intent on celebrating both its past and future. This passion has created the city’s newest event: Wentzville Days Fair and Music Festival, which will be held May 20-22, 2016. The event was created using the Wabash

Days structure, but keeping in mind the tra-ditions this town has grown to love. From a small town of about 7,250 in 2000, to a dynamic city of more than 33,000 today,

Wentzville has become a premier location for both businesses and tourism, all while retain-ing its hometown charm and friendliness. Wentzville Days has collaborated with the

Wentzville Blues and Classic Rock Festival to bring a three-day, family-friendly celebration to the streets of Downtown Wentzville. New festival additions such as a barbeque contest, new bands and entertainment options, an exclusive children’s area including a carnival and much more, will be incorporated into this much-anticipated spring event.

Wentzville Days Fair and Music Festival launches with much fanfare

Addiction is all around us. Whether it be alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or even food, it seem that everyone

knows someone struggling to overcome some pretty difficult obstacles. Lately the talk of the town has been the heroin epidemic that has hit our area with deep impact. Many people are affected with either addiction themselves, or seeing a loved one suffer with sometimes hopeless results. According to the city of Wentzville, an

initiative was proposed by the mayor and board of alderman for Wentzville Police Officers to start carrying NARCAN with them while on patrol. NARCAN (nalox-one), an opium antidote, can effectively block the effects of opioids and reverse an overdose. Wentzville officers responded to overdose calls four times in 2013, five times in 2014 and six times in 2015. So far in 2016, officers have responded to two overdose calls. In most instances, officers are on the scene before EMS. NARCAN works to block the effects of opioids, including heroin and prescription pain pills like morphine, codeine, oxycodone, methadone and Vicodin. When a person is overdosing on an opioid, breathing can slow down or stop and it can be very hard to wake someone from this state. While NARCAN is a prescription medicine, it cannot be used to get high. I can only assume that at least one per-

son reading this knows someone affected by the heroin epidemic and it just so hap-pens that my family has as well. Most of the time you hear the stories of parents and loved ones grieving the loss of their child to an overdose; but that is not my case at all. In March 2013 a beautiful bouncing baby boy was born in a local hospital arriving at 30 weeks gestation-al, 100 percent addicted to heroin. His mother decided to continue her drug use

throughout her pregnancy and in turn, gave birth to a heroin-addicted baby boy. Weighing just over 2 pounds at birth, this baby had a long way to go, if he could even survive the withdrawal. Just minutes after he was born he was rushed to the NICU where a heaping dose of methadone was administered through an IV. That precious baby stayed in that hos-

pital for almost 30 days overcoming the addiction he was born under, and by April 1, 2013 he was released into foster care weighing just over three pounds. His little bottom was still fused together and he still had hair covering his entire body, as he was supposed to still be cooking in his mommy’s belly for another six weeks. This baby’s mother had a chance to get him back. All she had to do was work her plan, have a job and get clean, but unfortunate-ly that’s a huge part of addiction – being unable to walk away and get clean. This woman couldn’t stay clean while preg-nant and much to our surprise, she didn’t get clean afterwards either. How do I know so much about this lit-

tle boy, you ask? Well, he is my nephew; my sweet, loving, spunky, strong-willed, three-year-old nephew. After much time in my sister’s home under foster care, he was officially adopted into our forever family in August 2014 when he was about 18 months old. While the drugs did have an impact on him, he has a bit of stiffness sometimes and he is quite small for his age, but other than that he is your typi-

cal fun loving three-year-old little boy for whom we are so incredibly blessed to have in our lives. To bring awareness of the heroin epi-

demic our area has been facing, the Wentzville Police Department will host a walk on May 14 at 9 a.m., beginning at Heartland Park at 100 William Dierberg Dr., and ending at the Wentzville Police Department’s Law Enforcement Center at 1019 Schroeder Creek Blvd. City officials will welcome attendees and lead the walk. Following, participants will hear from in-dividuals who have been affected by her-oin’s impact on their lives and the lives of those they love. (Additional details on this event will be shared in the near future). So you see, many people can be affected by heroin in many different ways. It’s time we take a stand as a community to put an end to this crazy epidemic. I ask that you and your family join me and mine in support of the heroin walk in Wentzville on May 14.

Together, we can make a difference!

By LAURIE SIMONLaurie Simon was just married and is settling into blissful newlywed life. She enjoys laying by the pool with friends, getting away to her family lake house on weekends, walking her

four-legged baby Maggie and spending every second possible with her new husband.


Simon Says

Heroin epidemic

affects botH big and small

Lauries nephew at 37 days old after being treated for heroin addiction. Photo courtesy Laurie Simon

Show your heart some loveWellness tips for body, mind and heart


It was during the early 30s, while the nation and the town were feel-ing the effects of the Depression, that a group of business men, pub-lic minded citizens and Lions Club members met and formed a new civic organization – The Wentzville Community Club. It helped a chartered town in its economic struggles. A series of community sales and dinners were held to raise money and to help stimulate busi-ness and trade.Up until 1935 the town had

been plagued with disastrous fires which threatened, on numerous occasions, to destroy the whole business district. Concerned citizens saw the need for a new water works and a sewage system. Through the persistence of the club, federal aid was secured for payment for the water tower, well digging and water lines; but there were no funds to pay for the service connections.The Community Club had an open air

street carnival to raise money for the water connections. In August of 1934, the event was held on North Main at Linn Avenue. The event raised $1,500.A Big Jubilee Celebration was held on

Labor Day weekend of the following year, 1935, to celebrate the completion of the

waterworks system. The event was in the form of a homecoming with the proceeds to go to the city to defray expenses. It was three days of fun, activities for the kids, wonderful food and all varieties of music and entertainment. During 1936 a Queen Pageant was added to the homecoming. The celebration became an annual affair.That original group of citizens continued

on in its efforts to help the city and its citi-zens grow and prosper through a variety of fundraising efforts. After operating at two other locations, the Community Club found its permanent place by constructing a building on the 18 acres that it sits on to-day in downtown Wentzville.

It is at this location that fundrais-ing continues with twice a month bingo games which provide the monies that are available to sup-port the needs of area non-for-profit organizations. In 2015 we assisted 40-plus charitable orga-nizations with financial aid and/or building use. We also award eight new scholarships each year which are available to Wentzville students. In 2015 we continued support of 24 students with schol-arships. The idea for the Sunday Flea Mar-

ket originated in the 1970’s when other fundraising efforts needed to be enhanced to support the ever growing financial needs of a growing community. On a typical summer Sunday the Flea Market provides spaces for over 400 vendors and has been recognized as one of the best in the region. A hard working group of volunteers con-

tinue to carry on the original intention of the founding fathers of the Wentzville Community Club; to work together for the well being of the city of Wentzville and its citizens. We are always looking for like-minded friends to join us in these efforts to continue the work of the Community Club.

The Wentzville Community Club is both an organization and a place

Nonprofit Profile

By Leon Tow – President of Wentzville Community Club

Submitted photo

This photo of the founders of the Wentzville Community Club was taken in the 1930s.

Living Word1/12

www.lwcs.us www.myprovidencebank.com

The Jeep loaded with brand-new camping gear pulled up and stopped in the middle of the main street in the little town. A woman passenger got out and frantically walked around with her “smart” phone held up high, moving this way and that, searching for a non-existent signal with the same desperation of a junkie tearing apart the house in the hopes of find-ing the next fix. The shopkeeper stood in front of his store watching the scene, one he had seen many times before. The exasperated woman spied him, and immediately approached while hurriedly stating, “I can’t get a signal, where can I get a signal?” The shopkeeper, weary of those few unhappy visitors who demand all the comforts of home, in his best dumb-local-yokel voice drawled, “Well…the nearest signal is about 10 miles that way down the highway,” while pointing north, “and it’s about 40 miles if ya go that-a-way,” pointing south. The woman became more agitated and stomped around a bit before getting back in the Jeep, while yelling, “What’s it like, living in Suckville?!?!” The Jeep sped off and was not seen again, much to the relief of the locals. It’s simply a matter of numbers and geography. Cell

phone signals are only reliable for line-of-sight cover-age, and don’t travel through mountains very well. The lines of sight, while spectacular, are fairly short in this narrow valley as it is surrounded by peaks several thousand feet above the river below. With maybe a thousand residents scattered along 20-plus miles of valley, it doesn’t make economic sense for a carrier to install one or more towers – that have to be built and serviced on a mountaintop via helicopter – for such a small customer base. The local sheriff and fire chief both want better coverage. When

there’s an incident on the highway, many times one emergency re-sponder has to drive up to a mountain pass in order to relay radio traffic from the personnel at the scene on the valley floor, to the dispatch center located 40 miles away, across two counties and one mountain range. However, neither the chief nor the sheriff have addressed how many more accidents will occur due to drivers pay-ing attention to their now-functional mobile devices instead of the road, and its attendant hazards such as rockslides, mudslides, snow, ice, wildlife and other distracted drivers. Whether or not the added communication capability will have a net benefit to public safety is open for debate. Likewise with fuel, a low-volume, high-cost service station is

doomed to economic failure. Thus, as the sign says, you can’t buy gasoline for a 60 mile stretch of highway. More than one traveler has desperately tried to find a place around here to fill up, despite having read the sign, thinking that it couldn’t be real. Those drivers are then reliant upon the goodwill of a stranger with a full gas can. For those accustomed to urban living, it can be quite a shock to

be without support services and supplies within a five-minute drive. Conversely, those of us who live here can’t fathom driving on less than a half-tank of gas, or picking up dinner at the grocery store ev-ery night. After all, the nearest grocery store and gas station are a half-hour away under good conditions, and the highway isn’t always easy, or possible, to travel. It’s best to keep the larder well-stocked in case you can’t make it to town for a few days.Most of the local businesses here don’t offer free Wi-Fi, as the avail-

able bandwidth is marginal for a limited number of private users, let alone unrestricted public access. A real benefit is that it makes people actually talk directly to each other and pay attention to the right-here-and-now, a pleasant respite from the artificial “virtual re-ality” of the digital age. Most who choose to live and visit here hap-pily view that as an asset. So if you head out this way, be sure to fill up the tank and get your

calls and web-surfing out of the way first. That way you’ll be able to better enjoy your visit to Suckville.


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

Always An Adventure

No gas, no phone

Photo by Avalanche


It’s been four long months since the big binge of the holidays ended, and still my husband and I are try-ing to get off the lunch wagon and eat better to reduce the chubs.We made our com-

mitment in January to go on a diet of some kind, but it was too hard to choose from the long list of plans. We’ve checked into many of them and are still looking and hop-ing one will stick as well as the fat sticking to our thighs.First there was the Master Cleanse regi-

men. It required drinking lemonade with maple syrup and cayenne pepper to clean out toxins in the body during the day. The lemonade and syrup sounded yummy, but the pepper ruined it for me. That’s just like giving someone a delicious banana split, and before taking the first bite some rude hater pours mulch all over the top of it. The mis-ery continued; for dessert at night the plan demanded an herbal tea laxative washed down with a quart of tasty salt water. So ba-sically we would have to don adult protec-tion then overwhelm our plumbing systems before retiring to bed, only to awaken with a drooping diaper saturated in sea water. That scenario may very well occur in old age, but I do not presently need such a cruel glimpse into my future.Next came the Paleo Plan. The problem

here was that we had to ingest things that our Jurassic ancestors used to eat. Sticks and rocks were very plentiful, but the clos-est thing to a T-Rex patty I could find, was a chameleon at Pets R Us. Scratch that one.The Ear Stapling diet intrigued us at first.

It’s flaunted by acupuncturists who claim that an area of the ear regulates the appe-

tite. Apparently the constant pressure of the staple on the “stomach” of the ear is supposed to curtail the urge to eat. Finally we came to the conclusion that mutilating our bodies was not going to be enough to stop us from raiding the refrigerator when a midnight craving occurred. We would need a more advanced plan – the Mouth Stapling. It could definitely “curtail” all eat-ing activity, provided we were kept far away from a staple remover.Now the Biblical Diet seemed to have pos-

sibilities. It permitted clean food and pro-hibited unclean food according to Biblical standards. Sadly, it failed miserably; how-ever, our faith developed immensely. After many days of being subjected to its restric-tive meal plan we prayed fervently for a quick and painless death.We moved on to research the HCG diet.

While this plan offers dramatic weight loss, it also requires supplemental injections of pregnancy hormone. My husband immedi-ately put the kibosh on it. Since he already had a belly that looked as if he were expect-ing, he didn’t want to chance a set of twins taking up residency in it. I agreed. I added that if anyone was going to stab me with a pointy hypodermic needle, it better be filled with chocolate sauce.Our last effort led us to the Breathar-

ian Diet. With this you must align yourself to the universe, and after making that connec-tion you no longer have need for food or water and can survive on air alone. Hmm, no kitchen, no cooking, no pans – no kidding? I was totally on board until I found out I couldn’t purchase cans of bacon-flavored oxygen anywhere.So we’ve been though

months of trial and error and despair.One day my husband was thumbing

through a health magazine that had come in the mail and made a startling discovery, “Do you think it’s any coincidence that the first three letters of diet are D-I-E?!”We stared blankly at each other as this tid-

bit of reality settled in.I looked at the pile of mail he had retrieved

and picked up a flyer on top – yet another ad for some overpriced exotic starvation scheme with bizarre and unrealistic foods? But no, this one seemed different. The eat-ing schedule was attainable, the price was affordable, and the fare and portions were phenomenal as well.We readied ourselves and headed out to

McChubbers all-you-can-eat buffet with our two-for-one coupon! Now there’s a meal plan we could L-I-V-E with.

Moore On Life

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

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

Fatchance

By Brett Auten

A lifeline in the

O’Fallon-based Air Evac Lifeteam offers air medical service to rural communities across the country

You could call them saviors to the rural communities.With their descent from the sky in the time of need,

they are borderline angelic.It began as a simple dream in 1985 to provide helicopter ambu-

lance service to citizens in a small south-Missouri community. To-day, Air Evac Lifeteam, with its corporation based in O’Fallon, is the largest independently owned and operated air medical service in the United States, with 125 bases in 15 states.

Locally, Air Evac Lifeteam #23 is based in Troy. The Troy base was established in March 2002 in cooperation with Lincoln County Medical Center.

Air Evac Lifeteam serves as the critical link to improved response time and immediate access to medical care facilities for numerous medically underserved communities. An Air Evac Lifeteam crew is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, standing ready to deliver the care needed at the scene of an accident or medical emergency.

Crews include a pilot, a flight nurse and a flight paramedic.Theo Kulczak, 58, has been at the Troy hub for 13 years. After re-

tiring from the Navy, where he was a pilot, he worked doing search and rescue missions in Nevada.

“I really enjoyed that type of flying,” Kulczak said. “It made me feel good and I knew I wanted to work with a help and rescue company.”

When a position opened up in Troy, Kulczak jumped at the op-portunity and after a lifetime bouncing around from state to state, has never left.

According to Shelly A. Schneider, Public Relations Manager with Air Evac Lifeteam, trauma victims living in medically underserved areas are twice as likely to die from an accident or medical condi-tion compared to an urban victim. Why? Failure to arrive at a hos-pital within the “Golden Hour.” In fact, more than 46 million Ameri-cans live in these medically underserved areas and are more than an hour away from a Level 1 or 2 trauma center. In addition, changes

sky



in the nation’s delivery of healthcare have made the trauma and specialized care centers vital hubs for outlying hospitals. The result is an increasing need to transport a greater number of patients lon-ger distances for complex, time-dependent care, including cardiac intervention, strokes and complex surgery.

Kulczak likens the job to that as a firefighter. When not called into action there is plenty of training involved for when the time does become now, the team is razor sharp.

The training now has even become more sophisticated.Air Evac Lifeteam pilots are now training in a Level 7 Flight Train-

ing Device. The FTD was recently certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, and is used to train newly hired pilots and pilots throughout the Air Evac Lifeteam system who return to O’Fallon each year for recurrent training. The Level 7 FTD includes the Garmin G500H Glass Cockpit, autopilot, and Frasca’s high-fidelity Night vision Goggles (NvG) simulation for the ultimate realism and accuracy in NvG training. Per-haps the most realistic feature of the flight simulator is TruCue, the newly developed simulator cueing and vibra-tion system which provides critical vestibular feedback to the pilots. This system makes the FTD fly more realistically and allows the pilot to naturally react to flight motion cues while training.

The new training will better equip the pilots to handle the two types of circumstances that they are usually called to.

The first type is a scene flight; which could be anything from a motor vehicle accident to a stroke or heart attack scenario. It is in these situations where a pilot’s heart-rate levels can increase, especially when it comes to landing.

“The landings don’t occur on a nice, safe runway,” Kul-czak said. “It’s usually a field in some remote area or on a highway. Our biggest challenges are trees and wires. Wires are our enemy and they tend to be all over the place and you have to constantly be aware of where they are.”

Kulczak said that he and other pilots need about a 60-by-60-foot area during the day time and 100-by-100-feet at night.

“And as free of obstacles as possible,” he said. “But some-times you don’t have that luxury.”

The second type of flight is a transfer. Depending on the level of the case, a patient may need to get from one hospi-tal to the other pronto, and with a highway filled with com-muter traffic an ambulance may not be the best option.

Both instances give Kulczak a feeling of fulfillment.“It is very satisfying,” he said. “You get a request and there

is a hurt person and you care for them, keep them stable so they can be treated. At the end of the day you’re like, ‘I did something really positive. They may not have been able to survive.’”

Air Evac Lifeteam was the first air medical service in the country to offer a membership program. Members pay an

annual fee and, if they are flown by Air Evac Lifeteam for life-or-limb-threatening medical emergencies, whatever their insurance pays is considered payment in full. Memberships are valid in all Air Evac Lifeteam service areas, so members are covered while traveling through Air Evac Lifeteam service areas. Air Evac Lifeteam members are also covered if they are flown by Med-Trans, EagleMed or REACH Air. Combined, members are covered by more than 240 bases in 32 states. Annual memberships are just $65 for the whole family.

Photos by Ray Rockwell

(Opposite) Members of the Air Evac Lifeteam #23, based in Troy, stand outside of their helicopter. The Troy base was established in March 2002 in cooperation with Lincoln County Medical Center.

(Below) Air Evac Lifeteam pilots train in a Level 7 Flight Training Device. The FTD was recently certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, and is used to train newly hired pilots and pilots throughout the Air Evac Lifeteam system who return to O’Fallon each year for recurrent training.


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

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

Thinking about the 2016 Dodge Charger, it’s difficult to comprehend what appears to be an endless amount of different build combinations offered to consumers. Man-ufactured on a rear-wheel-drive architec-ture (with all-wheel-drive as an option on certain trim levels), the extensive product mix also includes performance-oriented powertrains that features the latest rolling technology breakthroughs. All of this translates to a sought-after au-

tomobile with world-class passing power and acceleration, overall efficiency and head turning styling. This vehicle’s exterior was unmistakably inspired by the iconic second-generation Charger from the late 1960s. It further shadows precise design cues from the historic and popular 1969 model. Today’s Dodge Chargers have indis-putable scalloped body lines and a stream-line modern-appearing design. The car’s hood stampings, fenders, front and rear fascia assembly, wrap around headlamps, tail lamps, front doors and rear deck spoil-er all work together to provide the Charger with a chiseled yet nimble confident stance. With the thought of the cars product mix,

here is a rundown of the models offered. It starts with their SE model and from there, they make available their SXT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack and SRT 392 and then their SRT Hell-cat. As we peek under the car’s hood, the engine choices are quite extensive as well. If you choose the Hellcat, you better have

some serious accomplished driving skills as this car not only looks great, it will pass just about every other make and model on the road. Standard on every Charger model includes their eight-speed computer gov-erned automatic transmission for the ‘16 model year. Charger’s driver-focused interior cabin

features premium/up-scale soft-touch ma-terials. A full-color, highly detailed 7-inch customizable brilliantly lit driver informa-tion dash display gauge cluster is offered plus the factories latest Uconnect system with the segment’s largest available 8.4-inch touchscreen display. This midsize sedan seats five adults in

comfort. Also new for 2016 is their en-gaging Blacktop Appearance packages. It includes a lengthy list of equipment that helps set this model apart from the other Chargers. More than 80 standard and avail-able safety and security features also help frame the appeal of this four door au-tomobile. The warranty coverage shows 5-years/60,000 miles for powertrain com-ponentry and 3-years/36,000 miles for the basic limited bumper-to-bumper coverage. At road test, the SXT Plus, all-wheel-drive version I drove with the V-6 engine had an MSRP of $37,770. That pricing also in-cluded a few equipment groups as well as shipping and destination charges. The EPA numbers with this 3.6-liter engine showed 18-mpg city/27-mpg highway.

2016 Dodge Charger offers drivers an endless number

of build combinations

By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly Rv

Remodels can be an exciting and trying experience. If you’re look-ing to make some updates to your home, a home equity line of credit is the perfect way to use the equity you have already built in your house. Most banks offer both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, your loan officer should be able to evaluate your needs and financial situation and recommend which route is best for you.Home Equity Loan: Using your home as your collateral you are

able to borrow funds in addition to your mortgage to complete home projects or unexpected repairs. A loan amount will be de-termined along with a loan term for repayments with your loan officer. The funds from this loan are presented in one check to use as needed.Home Equity Line of Credit: Also utilizing your residence as

collateral this option allows you to obtain a line of credit, with an agreed upon loan amount. Accessed through the use of a check-book, a credit line allows you to access funds as you need them instead of receiving one lump sum at the loan closing. With a des-ignated cap there is a limit to your available funds. Regardless of which loan type you choose, the loan amount will

be determined by the current value of your home, your individual financial history and other factors. If your home appraises for more than you anticipated, that’s great news; but remember, it is always recommended to secure a loan only for the amount you need, en-suring you don’t overextend your budget!


Advertiser Profiles

Byerly Rv would like you to meet Michelle and Eric. What do they do? They are the experts who gather and organize all the details in preparation for delivering your new Rv. I remember when a sale involved little more than a signed title and a title application. Now some folders can be a quarter inch thick! Each form is designed to inform and protect, but check carefully. In the process of “just sign here” make sure you are not paying for

something you didn’t request. The business office also coordinates and explains the delivery process and offers other opportunities. They have answers to frequently asked questions like “What if we

have a flat tire?” (What if we can assure that you never have one?) “Do you sell insurance?” (yes, especially written for Rvs.) “Where can I get service on the road?” (Road service or complete service agreements are available.) “How can I protect my $1,500 windshield from chips and breaks?” (Thanks to space-age technology we can almost eliminate the hazard.) All of these products have value and can offer peace of mind. So,

know you know what they do. Of course, these extra services or products are not free, but they are affordable and can often be in-cluded in your financing if arranged beforehand. But, remember that thing about “check carefully?” Some big chain

outfits have been known to surreptitiously “pack” extra items into your purchase price when you show up for delivery. They are not free and federal law mandates that they should not be included in your contact unless you have previously discussed and autho-rized the inclusion.visit Byerly Rv in

Eureka and at www.byerlyrv.com or Facebook. Byerly Rv a family/employee owned local Rv Deal-er serving St Louis since 1948.

What do we do?Remodeling thanks to home equity loans and lines of credit

Photo courtesy Byerly RV

By JENNy KRESTELJenny Krestel is Asst. VP/Loan Officer for Peoples Bank & Trust Co.NMLS # 14113851310 N. Main Street O’Fallon, MO 63366(636) 980-1777 | www.pbtc.net


Chamber hosts four ribbon cutting ceremonies

WESTERN ST. CHARLES COuNTy CHAMBER OF COMMERCEBusiness

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce hosted four ribbon cutting ceremonies for His and Hers BBQ, ITEX, Imagi-nation Pottery, and Team New Direction Fitness – Ashley Amaya.

1. His and Hers BBQ is located at 7827 Hwy. N in Dardenne Prai-rie. You can reach them at 636-265-3350 or online at www.hisand-hersbbq.com.

2. ITEX is located at 1550 Wall St., Ste. 223 in St. Charles. You can reach them at 636-441-8930 or online at www.itex.com.

3. Imagination Pottery is located at 1463 Wentzville Parkway in Wentzville. You can reach them at 636-327-4699 or online at www.imaginationpotterystudio.com.

4. Team New Direction Fitness – Ashley Amaya can be reached at 636-290-0568 or online at www.teamnewdirectionfitness.com.

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of over 685 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the cham-ber. To view pictures and video of these recent ribbon cuttings please visit our chamber Facebook page.

www.treesbywoody.net

Wentzville EDC Business Spotlight

Located in the former Lincoln School (a one-room African-American school operated prior to desegregation), Harris Auto & Tire at 909 E. Pearce Blvd. is a second-generation business. Now owned by Jeremy and Amanda Harris, the business has been in Downtown Wentzville since 1985.

Harris Auto & Tire provides automobile repair, maintenance, and tires to its customers. The business prides itself on being trustworthy and “treating customers like they would like to be treated.”

The Harris family was proud to receive the 2015 Above & Beyond Service Award from the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce. They remain a family-owned business looking to expand, but still enjoying the small-town feel that is Wentzville.

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Business

Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie

By TONy MATHEWSTony Mathews is the President and CEO of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

For more on any of this information or the chamber in general, please call the chamber office at 636.327.6914 or visit

the website www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com.Located at 207 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

Spring Garden Gnome 5K RunThe Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce is excit-

ed to announce their Spring Garden Gnome 5K Fun Run on April 16. Get your gnome family, friends and co-workers together for a fun run. Each runner will receive a Garden Gnome hat and T-shirt when they pick up their race packets. Help us fill the streets of Lake St. Louis with gnomes this spring. The run is presented by National Information Solutions Cooperative. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. It will start and end at National In-

formation Solutions Cooperative (NISC) located in Lake St. Louis. There will be an inflatable obstacle course at the end of the race for any runners who would like to have some fun. The race will be $25 for runners. Run-ners can register for the race online by going to the chamber website http://westernstcharlescoun-tychamber.com, by contacting the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce at 636-327-6914, at the chamber office located at 207 South Linn Ave. in Wentzville or by download-ing a form from the chamber website http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

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Western St. Charles County Chamber to offer four scholarshipsThe Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce is offer-

ing four scholarships for local high school seniors to use towards furthering their education. “The chamber’s 685 members are very supportive of our local

students and want to help them succeed in their education and career goals,” said Tony Mathews, President/CEO of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce. “Our selection committee is hoping to receive many great applications this year.” The chamber will be awarding four $750 scholarships. To be eli-

gible a student must live in Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Dardenne Prairie or be the child of a chamber member. Students can download an application from the chamber website,

http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com. Applications are due by April 15 to the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Com-merce, PO Box 11, Wentzville, MO 63385. For more information call the chamber office at 636-327-6914 or

visit their website http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

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ACID STAINS


There are countless jobs and responsibili-ties when it comes to making a film. The as-surance that a director’s vision is perfectly captured through the lens falls to the direc-tor of photography (also known as the cin-ematographer). It is his/her job to not only manage the camera operations (including the lighting and grips department), but to also ensure that a scene is accurately – and properly – lit for what’s to be shot. Emman-uel Lubezki is today’s most celebrated direc-tor of photography having just earned his third-consecutive Oscar for Best Achieve-ment in Cinematography for “The Reve-nant.” He previously won last year for “Bird-man” and “Gravity” the year before. What all three of those films have in common are those long tracking shots that helped to capture the unique intensity and reality of the stories in these films – all of which were major Oscar contenders.

The long-term collaboration with Alfonso Cuarón

Many directors tend to keep using the same cinematographers throughout their careers and the filmmaker that has been Lu-bezki’s main collaborator is director Alfonso Cuarón. Lubezki has worked on most of Cu-arón’s films since the Mexican short “Ven-geance Is Mine” in 1983 and the two are as thick as thieves when they conjure up some of the most breathtaking and challenging shots ever put on film.

Those favored long tracking shots really took notice beginning with the 2006 film “Children of Men.” Taking place in the near

future where humanity’s downfall is nearly complete, women have become unable to have children. The most famous shot is an action scene viewed entirely from inside a car where our main characters (including the world’s first pregnant woman in eigh-teen years) are eventually attacked by a mob of people from outside the traveling car. The film crew had to construct a massive device on the roof of the vehicle in order for the camera to capture Cuarón’s specific vision of real-time terror. Emmanuel Lubezki’s work was recognized and was nominated for an Oscar for his work on “Children of Men.”

It was a seven-year process for Alfonso Cuarón to complete his next film with Lu-bezki at his side; the terrifying, outer-space-thriller “Gravity.” The film’s opening shot is about twelve-and-a-half minutes long as we witness our American astronauts (played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) com-pleting a routine space walk then surviving a horrific accident that left them stranded in space as their shuttle is destroyed. The rest of film lives up to that opening as it won seven Oscars, including Lubezki’s first win and Cuarón becoming the first Mexican to win Best Director.

Working with Alejandro González IñárrituEmmanuel Lubezki soon began work-

ing in two back-to-back films directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The first was “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ig-norance).” The story is about the progress of making a Broadway play by a former popu-lar actor, played by Michael Keaton, who is

trying to prove to the world that he is a true artist and not a wasted, has-been actor. Lu-bezki’s work comes into play as we continu-ously follow all the play actors and crew-members on and off the stage throughout the entire film – almost as if it was all one long take – thanks to some clever seamless editing. Iñárritu’s unique vision, along with Lubezki’s signature photographic touch earned each of them an Oscar win.

The second film, “The Revenant,” is the most recent – and more challenging – vi-sual gem achieved by both men. Not only were there more long takes, but the film was almost entirely shot with one hundred percent natural light from out in the snow-filled wilderness. The brutal opening action sequence and the bear-mauling scene of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) are two of the film’s many highlights as some of the most outstanding long-take scenes in recent cinematic history. The film was so expertly shot that Alejandro G. Iñárritu took home is second consecutive Oscar for Best Direc-tor (now three consecutive Mexican wins in that category) and Lubezki’s third Oscar in a row. This film is a must see in the theater – if you can still find it in one today.

Entertainment

The long shots of Emmanuel Lubezki

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

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MARCH 2016 | CROSSROADS 17

For the Love of Food

www.pbtc.net

Explaining diffErEnt coffEE drinkscoffee

But first, Americans love their coffee. Millions of people drink at least one cup

of coffee per day and many get their caffeine fix with a specialty coffee drink.

Dairy milk is a great complement for any cup of coffee; it’s both a tasty addition and a way to add essential nutrients to your mug. Every type of dairy milk, whether lowfat, fat free or organic, contains nine essential nutrients, including high-quality protein. In fact, milk is the top food source for three of the four nutrients of concern, or the nu-trients Americans, including children, are most lacking: calcium, po-tassium and vitamin D.

If you enjoy a morning cup of coffee, here are a few ways to create gourmet coffee drinks at home.

How to Make a Cafe au Lait: A cafe au lait is simply a strong-brewed coffee drink mixed with steamed milk. The best way to make one is to brew a dark-roast blend in a French press and mix with equal parts steamed milk.

There are a few easy ways to froth milk at home. Use an inexpensive milk frother or try this DIY tip: shake your favorite type of milk in a jar until it froths up. Remove the lid and microwave to desired tempera-ture. Now you’ve got warm milk for your coffee and foam to top it off.

How to Make a Latte: Lattes are two parts milk to one part espresso. Starting your day with a morning latte is a wonderful way to enjoy the buzz of coffee plus milk’s nine essential nutrients, including eight grams of high-quality protein per eight ounces.

How to Make a Cappuccino: Another Italian coffee drink, the cap-puccino’s name comes from the Italian word for “hood.” A cappuccino is made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk. A “dry” cappuccino has more foam while a “wet” cappuccino is closer to a latte in consistency.

Whether you prefer a cappuccino, latte or cafe au lait, adding milk to your coffee is a delicious, nutritious complement to your coffee bever-age of choice. From espresso to strong brewed coffee – adding dairy milk only adds to the enjoyment. For more tips, tricks and recipes, visit milklife.com.

Spicy LatteServes: 1

Ingredients:2 teaspoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee granules2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 1/2 teaspoons sugar Pinch of ground cinnamonPinch of ancho, chipotle or cayenne chile pepper1 cup fat free milk

Directions:In serving mug, stir together espresso, cocoa, sugar, cinnamon

and pepper. Stir in 2 tablespoons milk to make a paste.

In saucepan, heat remaining milk until very hot. Pour milk into mug and stir to blend with paste. Serve immediately.

Nutrition information per serv-ing: 120 calories; 0.5 g fat; 0 g satu-rated fat; 5 mg cholesterol; 9 g pro-tein; 22 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber; 105 mg sodium; 309 mg calcium (30 percent of daily value).

PHOTOS By RAy ROCKWELL


Photographer Ray Rockwell was in full swing at the St. Louis Golf Expo held at the St. Charles Convention Center Feb. 12-14. The event

featured golf-themed activities and exhibitors.

St. LouiS GoLf ExpoPhoto Op

Community Calendar


1 – April Fools’ Day

2 – Trivia nightThe event is presented by the O’Fallon and St. Charles Kiwanis and located at St. Peter Church/Parish Center at 221 First Capitol in St. Charles. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., game starts at 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit children globally and locally through a focus on developing their mind and body. Locally, we will be providing books to children in need, as well as supporting the sports program at The Boys & Girls Club. Globally, we save babies lives by work-ing to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus. Prizes award-ed to best themed table and first place team for high-est trivia score. Tables of eight are $200. Beer, soda and snacks are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own food and alcohol. We have raffle baskets, sports memorabilia, silent auctions, 50/50 and more! Sign up by calling Don at 314-630-4738 or e-mail [email protected] or go the our website http://stcharleskiwanis.com

6 – National Tartan Day

12 – National Library Workers Day

13 – Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday

16 – Trivia nightThe Kiwanis Club of West St. Charles County is holding a team trivia night at the Knights of Columbus hall lo-cated at St. Patrick’s Church at 405 S. Church Street in Wentzville. Call Erica Fiore at 636-327-5858 or Tim Hoo-ton at 636-695-4733 for more information.

18 – Tax Day

22 – Benefit shrimp boil Come to the Friedens UCC all-you-can-eat shrimp boil that will benefit the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Missis-sippi. Reservations with advance ticket purchase are re-quired. Go to the website at www.friedens-ucc.org or call the church office at 636-724-1918 for more information.

22 – Earth Day

23 – Passover (First Day)

27 – Administrative Professionals Day

28 – Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

29 – Arbor Day

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Wentzville636-332-4906

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crossroads: april 2016

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