CrossRoads: January 2015

Winter at the wineries

2 CROSSROADS | JANUARY 2015

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PublisherBob Huneke

EditorMathew DeKinder

Production ManagerRebecca Brockmann

ContributorsAvalanche, Robin Daniels, Val Joyner,

Tony Mathews, Cindy Moore, Russ Patton

PhotographerRay Rockwell

Staff WriterBrett Auten

VOL 12 | NO 1Departments

features

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By Robin Daniels

Clarification: In the feature story “Being Santa” than ran in the December edition of CrossRoads Allen Rone was identified of a fixture of the Western St. Charles County Chamber Parade. He is instead a fixture of the Western St. Charles County Chamber Parade Float. The Community News regrets any confusion this may have caused.

By Russ Patton

By: Brett Auten

By Val Joyner, PR Manager at Saint Louis Crisis Nursery

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Advertiser ProfilesByerly RV gearing up for a busy 2015

Setting financial goals for 2015

Winter at the wineriesOff-season gives wineries along Highway 94 a chance to retool

Nonprofit ProfileCrisis Nursery provides safe haven for children and families

Around Town Local news and events

EntertainmentThe best movies of 2014

BusinessWestern St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

FoodPairing wine with winter recipes

Always an Adventure Battling the snow with a mechanical behemoth

Moore on Life Resolutions Schmesolutions

Community CalendarJanuary

Health & WellnessSix ways to achieve meaningful change

Photo OpO’Fallon Celebration of Lights

On the cover: Photo by Ray Rockwell

JANUARY 2015 | CROSSROADS 3

2015contentsJANUARY

DAR honors Restore St. Charles with community service award

The Caroline Close Stuart Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently honored Steve Collier with a community service award for his work in Restore St. Charles. This volunteer organization assists hundreds of families in St. Charles County rehabilitating their homes so they have safe hous-ing that meet code requirements. They have 70 work sites each year. About 25 percent of their projects are wheelchair ramps, assisting the disabled.“It is our mission to restore lives, hope and faith by restoring homes and prop-

erties,” Collier said. “We organize volunteers, churches and sponsors to make a real difference in the lives of the needy. Work days are on the third Saturday of each month, working at four to eight work sites each month. Our motto is: ‘If your objective is to change the world, what better way to begin than to help your neighbor.’” Community Service Awards Committee was established by the NSDAR as an

opportunity for chapters and states to recognize worthy individuals in their communities for outstanding unpaid voluntary achievements in cultural, edu-cational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical, citizenship, or environmental con-servation endeavors. A local chapter may present two awards per year.Anyone wishing to volunteer with Restore St. Charles may call the Dardenne

Prairie Presbyterian Church at 636-541-4347.

Instead of trashing your natural tree after the Yuletide celebration, consider recycling it as a way to give one last gift to the en-vironment. To make recycling your tree easier, the St. Charles County Division of Environmental Health and Protection part-ners with area municipalities to offer resi-dents this service at various sites through-out our community, including the County’s Recycle Works locations in St. Charles and Wentzville. There is no charge to participate in this program.Before bringing natural trees to one of the

listed locations, residents must be sure to remove the tree stand, all decorations and any plastic bags or coverings.St. Peters• Laurel Park (upper parking lot), off McClay Road• St. Peters Golf & Recreation Center, 200A Salt Lick Road• St. Peters Earth Centre, 115 Ecology DriveOpen 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Saturday, Dec. 29 to Jan. 17

Wentzville• Progress Park (parking lot), 968 Meyer RoadOpen 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from Dec. 26 to Jan. 18

O’Fallon• Civic Park (upper parking lot), 400 Civic Park Drive• O’Fallon Sports Park, 3589 Highway KLocations open from dawn to dusk, Dec. 26 to Jan. 11

Lake Saint Louis• Founders Park, 7 Freymuth Road Open during daylight hours, Dec. 26 to Jan. 17

St. Charles County • Recycle Works Central, 60 Triad South (St. Charles)• Recycle Works West, 2110 East Pitman Avenue (Wentzville)Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Satur-day, Dec. 26 to Jan. 17

• Quail Ridge Park (Group Picnic Area parking lot), 5501 Quail Ridge Parkway (Wentzville)Open 7 a.m. to sunset, Dec. 26 to Jan. 18

To further assist the community this sea-son, the Recycle Works West and Recycle Works Central locations offer free recy-cling of non-foil gift boxes, wrapping paper and unwanted Christmas tree lights for St. Charles County residents.For more information on recycling ef-

forts within St. Charles County, please call 636-949-1800 or visit http://www.sccmo.org/861/Recycling.

Pictured from left, Jenny Kimmel, Community Service Chairman, award-winner Steve Collier and Karen Wisner, Chapter Regent.


Around Town

Photo courtesy The Caroline Close Stuart Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

St. Charles County offers residents free recycling of natural Christmas trees

Firefighters from the Wentzville Fire Protection District and em-ployees of the Wentzville School District distributed over 300 coats to kids in need at an event held at Wentzville Fire Station #1 on Nov. 22. WFPD firefighters partnered with Operation Warm and the Wentzville School District to supply the brand new coats to el-ementary students identified by school district counselors. “This is a tremendous program and we are very grateful to all of the fire-fighters and school counselors who made this happen again this year,” said Director of Community Relations Matt Deichmann. “It’s another example of a great community partnership that ultimately benefits hundreds of WSD students.”

The coats were purchased by the firefighters with proceeds from their trivia night event held earlier in November. Operation Warm and the Coats for Kids Foundation were founded in 1998 on a national level to assist local organizations with providing qual-ity, American-made coats to kids in need. Captain Chris Browder helped organize the second annual effort. “The firefighters believe it is important for every child to have a warm winter coat,” said Browder. “When you see the smiles on the children’s faces as well as the parents after receiving the coat, you can’t help but feel that it’s one less thing the family has to worry about. We are dedicated to serving the citizens of this fire district in any way we can.”

WSD partners with Wentzville firefighters

to provide coats for students in need

Wentzville firefighters teamed up with staff members of the Wentzville School District to distribute over 300 coats to kids in need.


Around Town

Submitted photo

Captain Todd appointed chief of new St. Charles County Police DepartmentSubject to confirmation by the St. Charles

County Council at its Dec. 15 meeting, County Executive Steve Ehlmann has ap-pointed David L. Todd, Captain of the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Special Enforcement, as the first chief of the new St. Charles County Po-lice Department. Upon approval, Captain Todd would assume the po-sition effective Jan. 1, 2015.“I know Captain Todd

will provide outstanding leadership in this new position,” said Ehlmann. “Not only does he have significant experience and education, he is a respected law enforce-ment professional who shows enthusiasm for and commitment to his work.”Todd has served in law enforcement for

37 years. During his 35 years with the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department, he has served in or supervised every bureau, beginning as a deputy sheriff in 1978, then achieving the rank of sergeant in 1981, lieutenant in 1997, and captain in 1998. As captain, he served as commander over the Bureau of Field Operations from 1998-2002, supervising 80 personnel in patrol, criminal investigations, narcotics, crime lab, communications and crime scene in-vestigations. From 2003-2004, Todd served as commander over the Bureau of Admin-istrative Services, preparing and overseeing the department’s then $10 million budget and overseeing 45 Sheriff’s Department personnel in the records, civil process, and court services divisions. In 2004, Todd be-came the commander over the Bureau of Special Enforcement where he supervises 90 personnel in nine divisions, including emergency management, court services, the fugitive unit, community education and training, and SWAT.

Todd received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University in 2004 and his Masters of Science from Lindenwood University in 2008. He is a graduate of the

FBI National Academy and both the School of Staff and Command and the School of Executive Staff and Command pro-grams at Northwestern University. Todd also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972-1976. His commu-nity work includes serv-ing as coordinator of the Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony in St. Charles, board member of the U.S. Coast Guard Area Maritime Security Com-mittee, law enforcement co-chair for the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS) Law Enforcement Commit-

tee, and as a volunteer for the U.S.O. Todd and his wife live and raised their children in St. Charles County.“I am honored to have the trust of the

County Executive in this appointment, and I look forward to working with him, the County Council, police officers and staff, and the community in maintaining St. Charles County’s reputation as an excellent and safe place to live,” said Todd. “I appre-ciate the work and advances Sheriff Neer made with the Sheriff’s Department dur-ing his administration, and I am excited to build upon that progress in the new Police Department.”In Nov. 2012, St. Charles County voters ap-

proved a charter amendment to establish a county police department responsible for direct law enforcement duties, with the sheriff’s department having responsibility over court services and security, prisoner transport, civil process and bailiffs. In Nov. 2014, Scott A. Lewis was elected as Sheriff, and will also assume the position effective Jan. 1, 2015.


Around Town

www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com

David L. Todd, Captain of the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Special Enforcement, has been appointed the first chief of the new St. Charles County Police Department.

Photo courtesy St. Charles County Government

For more than two decades, Crisis Nursery has served as a beacon of hope to families with children (birth through age 12) that find themselves in overwhelming emergency situations. Now operating three Crisis Nurseries in St. Charles County in partnership with the St. Charles County Community and Children’s Resource Board and SSM St. Joseph Health Center, the Nursery is a safe-haven, offering hope for vulnerable children and parents who have nowhere else to turn for support during the most difficult time of their lives.Crisis Nursery is an independent, not-for-

profit that offers short-term care for chil-dren, birth through age 12, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. While children are safe and protected in the Nursery’s home-styled safe havens, their parents receive abuse/ne-glect prevention services, including parent-ing education, confidential counseling and access to much needed basic resources.Each child who stays at the Nursery re-

ceives a full range of services necessary for their growth and well-being. In addition to food, formula, clothing and shoes, diapers and medical care, they also receive thera-peutic services to encourage positive self-expression. Thanks to donor and commu-nity contributions, all services are available at no cost to the parents.Four-year-old twins Maury and Mason* visited the Nursery one

cold winter evening, following their family’s eviction from a one-bedroom apartment that was condemned because of sewage contamination. The twins were ecstatic to freely run around the Nurs-ery in new superhero pajamas and slippers playing with dinosaurs and race cars. When asked how they liked being at the Nursery, Mason replied: “It smells like yummy here, and I get lots of hugs!”Meanwhile, their parents were connected

with a Crisis Nursery Family Empowerment Program (FEP) staff that provided one-on-one counseling services, helped them with personal hygiene items and food, and con-nected them to job and housing referrals.

The parents are still active with the Crisis Nursery FEP and they have a secure, stable and clean place to call home. Both parents are employed; and the twins have new friends in their safe community.

As the ancient proverb suggests, it takes a village to raise a child. Agency-wide, Crisis Nursery provides cares for close to 7,000 children each year. Dedicated staff and volunteers together deliver approximately 240,000 hours of individualized support to every child in care. Not one child’s needs are unnoticed or unattended. The agency’s flexible volunteer schedule

offers an opportunity for more commu-nity members to get involved. Interested volunteers can register to be a member of the “Crisis Nursery Best Friends” to help in the Nursery; shopping for children, family and Nursery needs; and to support fund-raising events. Each contribution, whether its volunteer work or donating new or gen-tly used items, helps forward the Nursery’s mission of saving babies’ lives, keeping kids safe, and building strong families. To learn more about Crisis Nursery and

the “Best Friends,” visit www.crisisnurs-erykids.org. To volunteer, email Volunteer Manager MaryPat at [email protected]. For emergency care, call (636)

947-0600. You may also follow the agency on social media at Face-book: Saint Louis Crisis Nursery and Twitter: @STLCrisisKids.*names changed to maintain confidentially

By Val Joyner, MA | Public Relations Manager at Saint Louis Crisis Nursery

Crisis Nursery provides a safe haven for children and families


Nonprofit Profile


The snow fell faster than I could shovel, and had been doing so for several days. The pile at the end of the driveway rose to well above my head; it was becoming quite difficult to throw each shovel load up to that level. Many such efforts didn’t clear the top, and after landing on the side of the pile, the lifted and flung snow simply slid back down adding to my workload and the already thick blanket of white on the ground. Staci opened the front door and yelled out, “Jeff found two snow-

throwers in the city, an 11 horsepower model and a 13hp. Which one do you want?” Pausing in my seem-ingly futile quest and looking at the growing pile I yelled back, “Have him get the biggest @$^$#%& one they have!!” The next day I took delivery of a 360 lb., 32” wide, two-stage snow-thrower from my friend Jeff. When he purchased the beast, it was one of two left in the state. He said he was the subject of much envy as he rolled it out of the store. With good reason, as it was an epic snow year in Colorado. My neighbor measured over 70 inches that fell between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Narrow roads in the neighborhood resembled tunnels, with tall white sides and covered by snow-laden trees sagging over the roadway. Parking areas became quickly shrinking spots where one could barely squeeze in and out of a vehicle. The highways weren’t much better, as the state highway depart-

ment could barely keep snow cleared from the traffic lanes; the shoulders quickly became tall berms of snow, to be cleaned off later, once the precipitation stopped. Driving in the nearly continuous storm was hazardous, as the white covered pavement blended in with the white snow banks on the shoulders and the white falling from the sky. Visibility and depth perception would become non-existent in the whiteout, causing traffic to slow to a crawl or stop, with the only other option being “drive-by-feel.” Of course, some dimwitted motorists chose the kinesthetic driving method, and the cleanup of the results of their choices added tow trucks and state

trooper vehicles to the mix. That year the snow-thrower was worth the extortionate amount I

paid for it. It would easily chew up and spit out over a foot of fresh accumulation without slowing down. It would then launch the de-bris up to 50 feet away, enabling me to clear out the piles along-side the driveway and deposit them into the woods. I was suddenly quite popular with the neighbors, giving me an assortment of newly found best friends. Staci hated the thing. Weighing as much as some full-sized motor-

cycles, it was less-than-graceful when maneuvering around corners and in deep snow. Pull-starting it took a fair amount of grunting, especially when very cold outside. It was loud enough to require hearing protec-tion, and it guzzled gas fast enough to make an oil sheik smile. It could be maintenance intensive, as shear pins would break as designed when the machine devoured rocks, fro-zen newspapers and any other solid objects buried and forgotten after weeks of blizzards. Staci’s dislike was

irrelevant to me, as I was the one doing most of the snow removal work, and the care and feeding of the beast was much less than say, a motor grader owned by a municipality. I was, and still am, quite happy with the purchase. The rest of that winter went well from my perspective. I could

quickly clear areas that otherwise would have remained under feet of snow. Our dogs now could wander about the yard without hav-ing to paddle through deep fluff. My neighbors quickly learned that while I would help anyone in an emergency, routine snow removal cost money. Most were quite happy to pay for the service, making the purchase price of the beast a little less painful, and putting some lunch money in my pocket. Staci still hates the thing, especially after one winter when I was

out of town for a couple of months. She was burdened with a fair amount of snow, and a heavy, maintenance-intensive contraption to clear it with. She still reminds me that “the biggest @$^$#%& one they have” was not the choice she would have made. This year, as this month’s Crossroads goes to press, my roads and

yard are clear of snow. It rained a few days ago, melting off what snow fell in November. The snow-thrower remains in the garage. Instead of wrestling with snow-throwers, Jeff and I are still riding our motorcycles, making for some unseasonably warm fun.

Always An Adventure

Battling the snow with a mechanical behemoth

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.


It’s a brand new year and we all know what to expect. For me it means I’ll still be writing “2014” in the checkbook until mid-July. But for others, it’s a great time to make big flashy promises that con-sciously will never ever be kept. Of course, I could also be referring to the pledges of any of our elected government officials. But at this time of year these blatant fairy tales are not referred to as campaign promises, they are simply called “resolutions.”Yes, January is that special time of year which allows each and ev-

ery one of us to fabricate as many big, flashy whoppers as possible without the fear of man’s disapproval or God’s wrath. And sadly, while we are only privy to this once-a-year, free-for-all phenome-non, politicians get the fun of practicing it throughout their term limits. So enjoy!Here are a few favorites, which won’t last past the turning of the

first page of the new calendar.

1. I’m going on a diet.This fat fib is about as likely to last as that freeloading neighbor is

about to return the snow shovel he “borrowed” last December. Re-member…the one you needed right before the epic snowfall trans-formed your house into an igloo, which didn’t melt until mid-July? (Coincidentally, right around the time I figured out the correct year to write in my checkbook.) We all know it merely takes the realiza-tion that you received a $50 Christmas gift card from your favor-ite Aunt Minnie to The Delicious Pig BBQ to blow that ridiculous promise right out of the water and straight over to the all-you-can-eat buffet bar.

2. I’m going to get out of debt and save money.Can I just say…Ha! And by Ha, I mean the kind of explosive HA

that produces an embarrassing pig-snort along with tears and the need for a quick trip to the bathroom. Yea right! This fictitious false-hood lasts only long enough for the after-Christmas-sale catalogs to enter the mailbox. It’s then quickly forgotten in a frenzy of irresist-ible ads: Buy-one-get-two-free, 50 percent off…60 percent off plus gobs of rebates or no interest deals until the year Hailey’s Comet returns along with free hot dogs and soda! I personally prefer those ads which offer free dogs with every purchase! A poodle and a pop for every customer! Now, if someone would only give out free snow shovel coupons.

3. I’m going to spend more time with the family.This phony fallacy sounds as sugary as your momma’s sweet tea

in summertime, but only lasts up until you discover that you don’t actually like your family. This happens right about the same time crazy Uncle Willie backs into that new snow blower you specifically requested from Santa because your deadbeat neighbor still hasn’t returned the shovel. It is further reinforced when your children complain that the Xbox 360 you sold your granny’s wedding ring for is already a Jurassic relic. Little Tommy adds further insult by suggesting you might as well have purchased him a cotton gin. You are then compared to Mr. Johnson who is apparently a total hipster since he bought his kids the new Xbox One. Coincidentally, this is the very same Mr. Johnson who suddenly has oodles of money for an expensive toy but somehow can’t fork out ten bucks to get his

own snow shovel! Another resolution goes down.

4. I’m going to learn something new.This fraudulent fantasy is about as well-intended as promising to

go on a diet (refer to #1). This goal is equally impossible to achieve because people typically commit to mastering something unattain-able, such as learning to race-car drive or mountain climb Everest or become proficient in a new incredibly difficult language...teen text (Which would make it possible to actually converse with the kids—lol). Unfortunately, this year you will only learn to never loan your tools to the neighbors and discover how to clear a path in your driveway after a blizzard using a garden trowel and the kitchen broom.But wait. All is not lost. There is one pledge that you can absolutely

keep.

5. I’m going to break all of my resolutions.

Congratulations! You may be the one and only person to ever fulfill a New Year’s commitment.

Moore On Life

Resolutions Schmesolutions

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? Archeological 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.

Payne1/8


After the last present is unwrapped, the final cork popped, and the ending re-frain of “Auld Lang Syne” is sung, the

hum around the plush and plentiful winer-ies and vineyards dotted along Highway 94 comes to a reflective rest.Like all economic heartbeats that lean on

a more preferable climate, the peaks of ac-tivity and interest are sharp with interest, while the lulls needed and often welcomed.During these gray months of winter the

precious grapes of 2015 are sleeping while the 2014 crop that was harvested in the fall is fermenting in barrels and tanks. The 2014 vintages will be bottled and good to go for the spring.“The magic that happens in every bottle of

wine it all starts in the winter,” Jessica Cahill, marketing director for both the Augusta and Montelle wineries said. While traffic does slow to a creep, it is not

at a complete ghost town.Spread out over 30 acres, Sugar Creek

Winery has eight to 10 employees bounc-

ing around during the busy spring, summer and fall months. But on this December day it was just Debby Buckler.“Because it’s tourism, in the summer we

have more than we can handle and winter is a chance to get back to normal,” Buckler said. Sugar Creek, like most others, while scaled

back some, keeps an almost business-as-usual approach.“We have plenty of fireplaces and fire pits,”

Buckley said. “We overlook the Missouri River Valley and it’s a nice winter getaway after you have been stuck inside. This place is built for a small, cozy atmosphere. It doesn’t seem empty.” Becky Dunston is the Senior Events Man-

ager at Chandler Hill Vineyards and the off-season gives her a chance to get creative when it comes to drawing a crowd. Aside from just discounts, Chandler Hill is offering a shuttle service, private tours and host of other winter promotions. Chandler Hill will keep live music during

By Brett Auten

Winter at the wineries Off-season gives wineries and vineyards along Highway 94 a chance to retool, refocus and provide a little merriment along the way

By Brett Auten


the weekends and people can’t help but flock around its huge fireplace.“We still get decent crowds whether it’s

a birthday, anniversary; people like to cel-ebrate something,” Dunston said. “There are usually a few engagements over the holidays so that usually leads to quite a few new inquiries and tours.”With part-time staff employed through

December, Augusta and Montelle have just the management staff on deck for the oc-casional drop-in taster or to fill out ship-ping requests that occur often enough to keep the wheels of commerce steady. Reaching customers who aren’t walking inside the door is paramount at Augusta and Montelle. Shipping is a high priority and it is not long into the new year when the establishment will tease and promote Valentine’s specials.“We do the brunt of our shipping during

December through February,” Cahill said. “As far as actual bodies, it is definitely not at our peak but there is enough.”The onset of the new year is the perfect

time for these businesses to circle the wag-ons.“It gives me a chance to network and set

up marketing ideas for the rest of the year,” Dunston said. This is when ideas are hatched. If a new

logo is going to be pasted over thousands of bottles of wine, the debate over the font, size and color starts now. When and where to advertise, what bands are booked for a big Fourth of July weekend; this is when the calls are made and emails sent out“My job is to get the marketing laid out for

at least the first six months,” Cahill added. It may not swing like on a warm spring af-

ternoon or a snug fall night, but in the win-ter the wineries and vineyards along High-way 94 still provide mirth, warm ambiance, and then some.

Photos by Ray Rockwell

Page 10 top: Wine barrels sit outside of Sugar Creek Winery. Sugar Creek is one of many wineries along Highway 94 that scale back op-erations during the winter months.

Page 10 bottom: Chris Lorch, the winemaker at Sugar Creek Winery, prepares to sample a glass of wine. Page 11: top and bottom: The interior of Chandler Hill Vineyards hosts several events during the winter in a warm and cozy environ-ment.

Page 11 center: Sugar Creek Winery continues production in the winter as wine from the 2014 crop ferments in barrels and tanks (right) and won’t make it to the table (left) until the spring of 2015.


Every year, many Americans resolve to change or improve some-thing in their lives in the coming months. Too often, their January fervor to take control fizzles by February. But a new approach to managing resolutions could make 2015 the year you achieve mean-ingful, lasting change.Paul Kriegler, assistant program manager of nutrition at Life Time

- The Health Way of Life Company, offers these six tips to help you make a commitment for the new year and capitalize on the energy surrounding the change in the calendar.

Avoid ambiguityAspiring to “lose weight” isn’t an effective resolution. Instead,

Kriegler says, you should focus on a course of actions rather than the outcome such actions produce. “Focus on making small, realis-tic commitments to goals you can achieve along the way,” he says. “Lose five pounds of fat over the next three months is a much better - and more achievable resolution, plus you’ll be able to track your progress and set new goals once you achieve it.”

Kick off your commitment in a healthy wayDemonstrate your commitment by kicking off the new year with

an activity that will help you reach your goals. This year, commit to being one of the million people logging a workout at Life Time during it’s first-ever Commitment Day Festival and Fun Run Jan. 1-4. Walk your first 5K with your friends or family on Jan. 1 at the Com-mitment Day 5K, bring the kids for some football-inspired fitness fun or a winter pool party in the indoor pool, or even try a tri with a 60-minute indoor workout.

Resolve to take daily action - no matter how simplistic it is“Most of us bite off more than we can chew and forget about

what’s not within our direct control,” says Kriegler. “Life is busy - everyone has demands to meet and responsibilities often prevent us from carrying out our grand intentions of turning our lifestyles on end by working out, sleeping eight hours each night or perfect-ly portioning our home-prepped meals.” Instead of setting grand plans, resolve to string together 365 days of tiny battles won and see what happens. Chances are, if you’re constantly building up small wins each day, you’ll stay motivated and even find room to do more than the minimal effort you’d envisioned.

Expect to fail sometimesIf you keep things simple, an occasional failure shouldn’t be a prob-

lem. In fact, it should seem so easy to get back on the right track that you almost have to laugh at yourself for falling off in the first place. Set behavior goals that appear easy but are effective enough to make progress even if you only hit the target 80 percent of the time. Kriegler says that missing one day of sticking to your plan shouldn’t ruin your desire to continue, especially if the miss is an expected part of the process.

Eat well to live wellThe types of food you eat can be as important as, if not more

important than, the calories they contain. This year, commit to re-ally thinking about the foods you eat, every time you eat. Keep a food journal for a week and write down everything that you eat and drink as well as how much and make a point to note how you feel. Be honest with yourself about those occasions when you may choose to eat something that isn’t in the interest of your healthy eating plan. When you do an honest assessment of your eating pat-terns, you will likely see where moderation can work for you and where it can’t.

Take others with you on your course of actionIf you get down on yourself when you can’t stick to your intentions,

Kriegler suggests adding to your support system. “Using a group or partner approach is known to increase adherence to exercise habits and healthier eating, but it also makes the process more enjoyable and more fun with the shared intention,” he says. Not only can your resolutions foster better health and happiness in your life, but they can inspire positive energy and change in others’ habits as well.

To learn more tips about staying committed to your health and fitness, visit LifeTimeWeightLoss.com. To register for Commitment Day, visit CommitmentDay.com.

Health & Wellness

Don't let New Year's fervor fizzle: Six ways to achieve meaningful change

Submitted photo


It’s a new year and while many people make reso-lutions to eat better or get back to the gym, now’s the perfect time to take a look at your spend-ing and saving habits and set some financial goals for 2015.The best place to start

when it comes to evaluat-ing your finances is your budget. Where does your money go each month? Being able to track how you spend your money will make it easier to see where you can cut back or even spend a little more. Don’t have a budget? Create one! The tech-nology of today offers countless download-able charts, websites and mobile apps all geared at helping you create, track and stick to a household budget. Once you have a budget set up, evalu-

ate how much money you are saving each month. A general rule of thumb is putting aside 10% of each paycheck into savings

as well as having an emergency fund with enough money set aside to cover three months worth of expenses. Saving money isn’t always easy, but making small changes to your daily habits and following a budget can make a world of difference. For exam-ple, instead of spending $4 on a morning coffee, brew a pot at home and take a cup with you on the go. That $4 a day calculates into $1,460 a year that could be put into a savings account. Another route is to look into having a percentage of each paycheck directly deposited into a separate savings

account. This way the savings is already done for you verses you having to transfer the funds and being tempted to leave the extra money in your spending account.Along with budgeting and saving, try to

incorporate paying off debt into your fi-nancial goals for the new year. To tackle credit card debt, first focus on minimizing the balance of cards that have high interest rates. Whenever possible, pay more than the minimum to cut down on the interest and pay down the principal more quickly. For other forms of debt, such as your house or car loan, review your policies and talk to your loan officer to ensure you’re paying the lowest possible interest rate. Refinancing or even combining loans could mean potential savings in the long run.

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

Advertiser Profiles

By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV

Byerly RV gearing up for a busy 2015

Setting financial goals for 2015

This time of year, RVers in the Midwest either hibernate or join the great migration to warmer climates. Meanwhile dealers are winding up the year and planning for 2015. The Midwest Gateway RV Show, Jan. 29-31, promises to be another record breaker. Hundreds of RVs will be on display at Americas Center. Byerly began our holiday season with our annual Light Show Car-

avan which drew over 400 people. Pat and crew shuttled custom-ers in motorhomes from Byerly up to Jellystone Campground near Six Flags in Eureka. Each year Jellystone decorates the campground with a fantastic array of lights for the holiday season. Special thanks go to Jellystone for permitting the motorhomes

to go to the head of the line. Anxious attendees waited in the show-room and enjoyed cocoa, cookies and had photos taken with Santa Claus. What a beautiful way to end another great year. After another bountiful year we enjoy a brief rest. Our lot is filled

because we anticipate shortages and long backlogs on orders. Falling gas prices are a factor, but the compelling reason is the appeal of the family centered lifestyle provided by RVs. From $5,000 to $500,000 Byerly RV has an RV waiting for you. We call Byerly the “Center of the

RV World” because customers come hundreds of miles to buy from one of the Midwest’s oldest and most reputable RV Dealers. See you in 2015. Meanwhile visit us at www.byerlyrv.com and watch for our upcoming Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of Byerly RV


WEsTERN sT. CHARLEs COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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 210 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce will be-stow its annual awards at their Celebration Ball to be held from 6 – 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Andrews Academy, 1701 Feise Road in Lake St. Louis. This year’s theme is “Ice Gala.” The Celebra-tion Ball is open to the public and will include an awards ceremo-ny, dinner, drinks, and live entertainment. Award winners can be found on the WSCC Chamber Website. The chamber is awarding the following four awards: Above &

Beyond Award for Exceptional Customer Service, You Made it Happen Award for Positively Impacting the Community, Cham-ber Business of the Year Award, and Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award. Tickets to the Celebration Ball are $45 ($55 after January 1),

which includes the ceremony, dinner, an open bar, and live enter-tainment. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce at 636-327-6914.For more information please contact the Western St. Charles

County Chamber of Commerce at 636-327-6914 or visit us online at http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

Chamber Celebration Ball – January 24

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce is having their sec-ond Progressive Dinner Party on March 22 from 2 to 7:30 p.m. This dinner party’s theme is Easter Extravaganza! There will a fun adult Easter egg hunt at the end of the party! Tickets are only $25 and includes food, drinks, party bus ride, and commemorative t-shirts. Only a very limited amount

of tickets will be sold and they will sell out fast, so get your group together and reserve your spots. You can call the WSCC Chamber Office to reserve your spots today at 636-327-6914. An itinerary for the evening can be found online at http://west-ernstcharlescoun-tychamber.com.

Progressive Dinner Party will be an Easter Extravaganza this year

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FEATURINGFEATURING


Chamber hosts two ribbon cuttings The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon cutting ceremo-

nies for Papin Street Café at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and Ultimate Art Form Tattoo Studio.

Papin Street Café at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West is located at 100 Medical Plaza in Lake St. Louis. You can contact them at 636-625-5200 or online at www.ssmhealth.com/hospitalwest.

Ultimate Art Form Tattoo Studio opened their new location at 115 East Pearce Blvd., in Wentzville. You can contact them at 636-639-5415 or online at http://theultimateartform.com/.

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St.

Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of over 630 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the chamber. To view pictures & video of these recent ribbon cuttings please visit our chamber Facebook page.For more information please call the chamber office at 636-327-6914 or visit the chamber

online at http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

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Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie


The Best Movies of 20142014 wasn’t exactly a year to remember at

the movies. There were a lot of good films, but no truly great ones (and a whole lot more that were just plain lousy).Even still, we had a lot of fun at the mov-

ies this year and putting together a list of the best 10 movies of 2014 was much easier than I initially thought it was going to be. That’s what makes the movies so great, even a down year will produce some really cool stuff. Let’s get to it!

10. “Captain America: The Winter Sol-dier” – Marvel Studios continue to make blockbusters that also happen to be re-ally good movies. A superhero movie that smacked of a 70s political thriller (complete with Robert Redford), this second Captain America stand-alone film solidified Chris Ev-ans’ status as a movie star and proved that it’s ok to have a big, loud action movie that makes you think a little bit.

9. “Finding Vivian Maier” – This little-seen documentary was as compelling as it was mysterious. Beginning with a man purchasing a lot of old negatives at an auction, the movie follows his quest to learn everything he can about the incredibly talented, unknown pho-tographer who left them behind. The more we learn about the woman who took the pictures, the murkier her story becomes. This movie is an amazing study of identity, artistry and legacy. It is one of the year’s hidden gems.

8. “Gone Girl” – You’re going to be hard-pressed to complain about your marriage ever again after seeing this movie. Taking a tabloid premise, straining it through the dark

lens of director David Fincher and mixing in tremendous performances from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl” was the per-fect date movie for masochists. It was also clever, witty and had some interesting things to say about relationships and the media.

7. “The Guardians of the Galaxy” – This was the most fun I have had at the movies in a long time and all it took was a butt-kicking tree, a wise-cracking raccoon and a 70s AM gold soundtrack. Bringing a sense of playful-ness and wonder to a superhero genre that had become pretty grim, “The Guardians” were like a breath of cinematic fresh air. We are Groot.

6. “Nightcrawler” – For those who like their social commentary a little creepy and unsettling this was the movie for you. Set in the unseemly world of L.A. crime journal-ism, this pitch-black satire features Jake Gyl-lenhaal causally dropping one of the best performances of the year. Best described as “Taxi Driver” meets “Network,” this is one of those movies you are going to want to take a shower after watching.

5. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – I’m a sucker for a Wes Anderson movie, so this one was probably destined for this list even before it opened. His mannered quirks aren’t for everyone, but even the biggest Anderson hater would have to tip his hat to the perfor-mance Ralph Fiennes gives as the mannered concierge at the titular, opulent, pre-World-War-II European hotel. If Fiennes made noth-ing but comedies from here on out I would be totally fine with that.

4. “The Imitation Game” – This is one of those based-on-a-true-story movies that is so incredible you can’t believe you haven’t heard about it before. British mathematician Alan Turing (played with heartbreaking pre-cision by Benedict Cumberbatch) not only cracked the unbreakable Nazi code to help the Allies win World War II, but he invented the modern computer while doing it. He was also socially abrasive, reclusive and harbored a few secrets of his own. Probably the most well-rounded entrant on this list.

3. “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue

of Ignorance)” – Easily the most impos-sible move to summarize in a paragraph. This movie is a beautiful freak, a film that lives on the edge, satirically skewers showbiz and has singlehandedly revives the career of Mi-chael Keaton by parading him around Times Square in his tighty-whities. It’s one of those movies that if you go with its flow you’ll wind up soaring above the clouds, but struggle against it and you’ll come crashing back down to earth.

2. Whiplash – This movie! It’s an intense, rhythmic, tightly-crafted film about a stu-dent in a musical conservatory (played by Miles Teller) and his relationship with a tyrannical professor (played by Best Sup-porting Actor frontrunner J.K. Simmons). It effortlessly wrestles with big concepts like: “What is greatness?” “What does it take to achieve greatness?” “Is greatness even worth the sacrifices it takes to get there?” Plus it features one of the most breathtaking finales you’re going to see anywhere. It’s something to behold.

1. Boyhood – The top movie on my list is the very definition of a labor of love. Filmed on the sly over a 12-year period, writer/direc-tor Richard Linklater has crafted “the” de-finitive coming-of-age movie by showing his cast actually coming of age. But this movie is more than just its gimmick as Ellar Coltrane goes from a boy to a man under the watch of a volatile single mother (played by Patricia Arquette) and a semi-present father (Ethan Hawke) who talks a much better game than he plays. In addition to being sublimely beau-tiful, this movie this movie struck a personal chord as it caught me at the perfect time in life where I found myself able relate to both the kids and the parents. “Boyhood” is like an unpolished jewel which makes it the perfect movie to top the list for 2014.

BY MATHEW DEKINDERMathew DeKinder is a film critic and member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association, and also serves as the editor of the Community News.

Entertainment

Recipe created by Dirk Yeaton on murphygoodewinery.comServings: 10–12

Ingredients:6 dried chili pods, seeds and stems removedSalt and pepper, to taste1 1/2 pounds top round cut into cubes1 1/2 pounds chuck steak cut into cubes1 cup vegetable oil1 medium onion, chopped3 small cloves garlic, minced1 1/2 ounces chili powder1 tablespoon paprika3 tablespoons cumin2 tablespoons oregano steeped in 1 cup of red wine1 tablespoon cider vinegar1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder2 cups beef broth10 ounces stewed tomatoes1/2 cup grated Pepato cheese

Directions:Toast dried chilies over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of water and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain out chilies to cool, then chop and reserve.Season meat liberally with salt. Heat oil over high heat in large, heavy bottom pot until it begins to smoke. Carefully place beef

into pan and brown on all sides until moisture cooks out and light brown film forms on bottom of pan. Reduce heat to medium. Drain meat of oil and fat.

Add onions and garlic, cooking until soft. Add chili powder, pa-prika and cumin. Cook until fragrant. Add reserved chopped chil-ies and rest of ingredients (except for cheese) and stir well with wooden spoon, scraping browned bits off bottom of pot.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, occasionally stirring. To serve, place in bowl and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Recipe created by Tracey Shepos on lacrema.com Servings: 4

Ingredients:8 sprigs oregano, leaves picked (1/2 cup packed) 5 cloves garlic 2 lemons, one zested and one cut into eight wedges2 teaspoons cumin 3 tablespoons olive oil 8 chicken thighs (1 1/2 pounds), bone in, skin on 2 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch circles4 teaspoons kosher salt 1 cup Castelvetrano olives, pitted and drained

Directions:Preheat oven to 350°F.

In food processor, combine oregano, garlic, lemon zest, cumin and 2 table-spoons oil. Process until chopped. Place mixture in large bowl and toss with chicken thighs.

In 10-inch cast iron pan, layer 1 table-spoon oil and top with potatoes and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt. Place chicken thighs on top and sprinkle again with 2 teaspoons salt. Scatter lemon wedges in between chicken thighs.

Place pan over medium heat, cook for 5 minutes or until edges start to brown. Immediately place pan on top rack in oven and bake for 10 minutes. Adjust oven temperature to 400°F and cook for another 25 minutes or until chicken is browned and internal tem-perature reaches 160°F. Scatter olives on top and serve.

Recipe created by Molly Yeh on mynameisyeh.com Servings: 16

Ingredients:1/4 cup powdered sugar1/4 cup cornstarch1/4 cup Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Pinot Noir1/2 cup water2 packets unflavored gelatin powder3/4 cup sugar1/2 cup light corn syrup1 pinch salt

Directions:In small bowl, combine powdered sugar and cornstarch. Grease two loaf pans or one 8- or 9-inch square pan and dust bot-tom and sides with half of powdered sugar mixture. Pour out any excess mixture back into bowl.

In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, combine pinot noir and 1/4 cup water. Sprinkle gelatin over liquid. Grease rubber spatula and have standing by mix-er, as well as prepared pan(s).

In small saucepan, combine re-maining 1/4 cup of water, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Clip on candy thermometer. Heat mixture over medium heat until it reaches 240°F. Resist urge to crank heat level higher, oth-erwise it could heat up too fast. (If takes a while to heat up to those last few degrees, you can inch heat level up to medium high, keeping a close eye on thermom-eter.)

Turn mixer on low and drizzle sugar mix-ture in slow and steady stream down side of bowl. Once entire mixture is in, increase

speed to high and let it mix for 10–12 minutes, until lukewarm and fluffy.

Using greased spatula, immediately scrape mixture into pans and spread out evenly as possible. Dust tops with remaining powdered sugar mixture and (if needed) use hands to flatten mixture out com-pletely. Let set for hour, cut into squares and dust edges of squares with remaining powdered sugar mixture.


Winter & WineWinter is a great time to experiment with

new culinary creations that incorporate the bold flavors of wine for delicious results. Noth-ing pleases the senses quite like a comfort food dish on a chilly evening. If you’re planning a menu for just you and your mate, a small group of close friends or a full-blown dinner party, stock up on great wine selections to complete the menu.

Smoky Chili and Murphy-Goode Homefront Red: Just as a robust chili calls for a blend of signature in-gredients, so does the perfect wine to complement it. The smoky flavors of seasoned steak cubes and dried chili pods will please the palate when united with Murphy-Goode Homefront Red — a blend of syrah, merlot, petite sirah and zinfandel. This wine is comfort food friendly and fruit forward, chock full of flavors of black cherry and raspberry, vanilla and toast. Plus, for every bottle sold, the winery donates fifty cents to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides assistance to service members and their families.

Classic Roast Chicken and La Cre-ma Sonoma Coast Chardonnay: Fresh oregano, fragrant garlic and buttery Castelvetrano olives star in

this traditional chicken dish which pairs wonderfully with vibrant La Crema Sonoma Coast Char-donnay. Just as in the Burgundy region of France, these vineyards offer an unusually long, cool growing season, so grapes devel-op complex flavors. The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is beautifully

aromatic, with an intriguing in-terplay of lively citrus and subtle toasted oak, laced with just a kiss of butterscotch.

Toasted S’mores and Kendall-Jack-son Grand Reserve Pinot Noir: Take the traditional fireside treat to a new, gooey level with homemade, wine-infused marshmallows served with a glass of Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Pinot Noir. Handcrafted from the top seven percent of all the winery’s lots, with 70 percent sourced from the same vineyard blocks year-to-year, it ensures greater consistency and enhanced complexity with each vintage. Please your sweet tooth and palate with this pinot noir, with lively berry pie notes defined in wild strawberry and black cherry, with hints of vanilla and earthy aromas.

Chili with Pepato Cheese

Chicken Thighs with Potato, Lemon &

Castelvetrano Olives

For the Love of Food

Pinot Noir Marshmallows

PHOTOS BY RAY ROCKWELL

O’Fallon Celebration of Lights Ray Rockwell embarked on the Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll through the Celebration of Lights in Fort Zumwalt Park on Dec. 9.

In addition to the lights there was a station for kids to visit Santa and a fireworks display.


Photo Op


Community Calendar

January:1 New Years Day

11

28

23-25

19

15

13

12

5

27

21

20

29

31

19

23

Auditions for Bill W. and Dr. Bob

Eagle Watching Tour

Cabin Fever Daze

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

National Hat Day

International Skeptics Day

National Pharmacist Day

National Bird Day

Chocolate Cake Day

National Hugging Day

National Buttercrunch Day

National Puzzle Day

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

King Day of Service 2015

National Volunteer Blood Donor Month Blood Drive

O’Fallon TheatreWorks to hold open auditions for Bill W. and Dr. Bob at 1 p.m. at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall) Gym at 100 North Main St. in O’Fallon. The play will be performed March 20–22 and 27–29. The cast of six calls for three males and three females ranging in age from 18 to 45. Crew members also are needed. For more information, contact Darren Granaas at 636-474-2732 or [email protected].

From 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for a cost of $50 this Dardenne Prai-rie seniors event is a trip to view our winter visitors, the beauti-ful bald eagle. We will travel by Mid American coaches with a morning stop at the Audubon Center in West Alton, MO for a short program and river viewing. We will then travel along the Great River Road to Pere Marquette State Park for a family-style chicken lunch. Depending on time, we may stop at a few eagle viewing spots along the way where you may enjoy from the com-fort of the bus or step off if you wish. Bus pick-up and drop-off will take place at the Dardenne Prairie Shop N’ Save. To register for this event, please call the parks office at 636-755-5308.

Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at O’Fallon Sports Park at 3589 Highway K in O’Fallon. Ad-mission, parking and activities are free. Beat the winter blues! Play games, have fun entering zany competitions, enjoy live en-tertainment, free! Vendors will sell food and beverages. Check for updates at www.ofallon.mo.us/cabin-fever-daze.

From 10 a.m. – noon at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall), the King Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. Volunteers of all ages are invited to register in advance to participate in fun com-munity service projects. To register for the King Day of Service, contact Volunteer Services at 636-379-5417 or [email protected].

From 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall). Appointments are encouraged to speed the process and ensure adequate staffing; walk-ins also are welcome. Donors must be at least 17, healthy, and show a photo ID. For more in-formation or to schedule a convenient time, call 636-379- 5417 or email [email protected]. To inquire about the benefits of blood donation or for eligibility questions, contact Mississip-pi Valley Regional Blood Center at 1-800-747-5401 or visit their website www.bloodcenter.org.

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

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CrossRoads: January 2015