Sunday News Clips: 4/25

So much good local news to share today! Who says nothing positive ever happens in North County?!

• Trinity Catholic High School in Spanish Lake recently became the only high school in Missouri to have its own full-service credit union. Citing a need for students to learn sound financial management, the school joined forces with Gateway Metro Credit Union, who just opened a branch on-site and invested $5 for every new account. Gateway Metro also runs a comprehensive financial planning program for teens and is a great source for inexpensive vehicles that even high school students can afford to finance. To see KTVI’s video clip about the Trinity credit union, look here.

Mikala McGhee

• Crews for MTV’s reality show Made are currently in town to help Mikala McGhee, a sophomore at Pattonville High School, achieve her dream of being a ballroom dancer. Following six weeks of training, McGhee will trade in her usual soccer uniform for an elegant dancer’s outfit, performing in front of her entire school at a talent contest on May 22. No word yet on when the actual episode will air, but good luck Mikala!

• If you find yourself hungry this coming Thursday, April 29, why not head to Cork Wine Bar, Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant or Malone’s Grill and Pub? These three Ferguson establishments are the only North County restaurants participating in the 17th annual Dining Out for Life, a fundraiser benefiting St. Louis Effort for Aids. Simply buy your meal as usual and 25% of the proceeds will go toward HIV/AIDS prevention and support of those affected by the disease.

• Over in Hazelwood, another worthy charity will also be raising funds soon. On May 8, the city’s Parks, Police and Fire Departments are teaming up with StrollerFit to sponsor Trike-A-Thon, a fun day of bicycle and safety education that benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To participate in the event, local youngsters recruit sponsors for donations and then join in on bike safety classes, face painting and custom helmet fitting. Helmets will also be available for purchase at just $5. To register for Trike-A-Thon, which will run from 9:30am to 1pm at the Hazelwood Community Center, 1186 Teson Road, visit the event’s website.

• With so many Americans still without health insurance, it’s good to know that at least some free medical care is available. On Saturday, May 1, Riverview Gardens School District is hosting its second annual Community Health Fair, where participants can enjoy free access to blood pressure readings, BMI assessments, blood sugar screenings, and yes, even mammograms. Local dentists, chiropractors, massage therapists and nutrition experts will also be on hand to give advice, and fair-goers who visit at least six booths and fill out a short survey will receive a complimentary lunch. To register for a mammogram, you must call (314) 996-5170 ahead of time. Otherwise, just show up at the fair, ready to get healthy: 10am – 2pm @ Riverview Gardens High School, 1218 Shepley Drive, 63137.

Katie Schmidt's winning entry

• Congratulations to Katie Schmidt, a freshman at my own alma mater, Incarnate Word Academy, who recently won her age group in the 2010 Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest. Katie’s design will appear on 20 million ketchup packets. She will also receive $1,000 in art supplies and ketchup for IWA, as well as $1,000 for herself. Here she is being interviewed by KTVI’s Tim Ezell. Bravo, Katie!

• In other student news, a big thumbs up to Anthony Crawford, Adam Dean, Gerald Higginbotham and Reginald Thedford, Jr, four Hazelwood Central students who were chosen to be escorts at Delta Sigma Theta’s Rites of Passage Debutante Ball. The young men were selected because of their strong character, leadership ability and solid academic performance, and the event allowed them to meet many prominent St. Louisans.

Anthony Crawford, Reginald Thedford, Jr. and Gerald Higginbotham (L to R), three quality young men from Hazelwood Central High School

Proving that NoCo’s public schools can and do produce excellent students, Crawford plans to attend Mizzou, where he will study to become a high school music teacher. Dean will attend Purdue as an engineering major. Higginbotham has been accepted to Stanford University and wants to study economics and psychology. And Thedford, the only junior in the group, would like to attend Loyola University in Chicago and become an orthopedic surgeon. Wow!

• Dave “the Tin Man” Behlmann, a member of St. Ferdinand Parish in Florissant, was featured in the St. Louis Review this week for his work collecting scrap metal on behalf of his son’s class. As a result of his ongoing efforts, which entail picking up and cashing in many tons of donated tin, aluminum and other metals, it’s likely that every fifth-grader at St. Ferdinand will be able to attend Camp Wyman in Eureka at no cost! Way to go, Dave!

• Thanks to UMSL and a nonprofit group called Supporters of Civil Society in Russia, 27 Russian civic and political leaders will spend the next week in St. Louis, visiting with UMSL faculty and local leaders like County Executive Charlie Dooley. The fifth group of its kind to visit the area, the Russian delegation is here to experience American democracy and community life, so if you happen to see them out and about in NoCo, be sure to say zdrah-stvooy-tee (hello)!

• Know anyone who loves comic books? Then mark your calendar for May 1 – it’s Free Comic Book Day! In honor of this annual national event, all of the North County branches of St. Louis County Library (as well as the Fantasy Shop in Florissant) will be giving away one free comic to both kids and adults. Some of the titles available include GI Joe, Sonic the Hedgehog, Iron Man, Toy Story and Green Hornet. But get yours early…only a limited number of comics are available.

• St. Louis County Library is also launching a special program during May in honor of Mental Health Month. Every Monday at the Natural Bridge branch, licensed therapist Nichelle Hardy will host a free two-hour session on various mental health issues, with anyone welcome to attend. Topics include dysfunctional families (May 3), being single and satisfied (May 10), premarital counseling (May 17), and stress management (May 24). To register, visit the library’s website or call (314) 994-3300.

• Just a quick shout-out to all the churches, nonprofits and frequent festival vendors out there: planning is currently underway for Ferguson Streetfest, which will take place September 24 & 25. If you’re interested in hosting a booth or being involved in some way, please contact Mary Haux. Streetfest draws thousands of people!

• Finally, a huge thank you to my two newest NOCO sponsors: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School and Hill Brewing Company, both of Ferguson! BTC, which is actively enrolling kids of all faiths in kindergarten through 8th grade, made news in 2009 when parents and community members rallied to raise more than $300,000 to ensure its survival. An example of exceptional private education in North County, it really is a cornerstone of the Ferguson community.

Hill Brewing, of course, is probably the hottest thing going in NoCo right now. Our first and only microbrewery and a labor of love from the incredible Joe Lonero, this fabulous restaurant and brewpub has been PACKED every day since it opened on April 13 – and for good reason! If you haven’t been yet, GO!! So far, I’m really digging the Belgian Wit, the St. Louis Pale Ale (made from wild local hops) and the pulled pork. Watching the super cute “Wolfgang” Wilson brew beer isn’t half bad either…

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