All Entries Tagged With: "Jennings"
Maline Greenway plans to be unveiled 3/24 & 29
Suburban Avenue in Ferguson will eventually rest at the heart of the Maline Greenway, a proposed trail network spanning all across North County.
As I first mentioned back in October, the planning process is officially underway for the new Maline Greenway, an interconnected trail system that will run from the city of St. Louis all the way to Berkeley. Following the length of the historic Maline Creek, it will travel through Kinloch, Ferguson, Cool Valley, Jennings, Moline Acres, Riverview and unincorporated North County, ultimately linking the existing St. Vincent and Confluence Greenways and adding to the 600+ miles of trails that the local nonprofit Great Rivers Greenway has already completed.
Consultants from GRG have been busy soliciting citizen input and hammering out the details on the Maline project, and now they’re ready to share their results. During public open houses that start next week, they’ll lay out conceptual plans for the new trail and offer a glimpse at what each of the participating communities can expect.
“Our plan for Maline Greenway is intended to inspire citizens, developers, community organizations and local governments to work together to form an interconnected trail system along Maline Creek, providing children and families with a safe option for exercise, commuting and outdoor activities,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway.
The first open house will be held March 24, from 6-8 pm at the Bellefontaine Recreational Center, 9669 Bellefontaine Road, 63137. The second open house will be held on March 29 from 6-8 pm, at Ferguson Middle School, 701 January Ave., 63135. All are welcome. Free snacks and children’s crafts will be available during the event.
If you can’t make it, you may want to check out this video from Great Rivers Greenway. It follows a bus tour of the proposed Maline route, with commentary provided by GRG staff. The sound kicks in around :49.
By the way, the photo at the top of this post shows last year’s Live Well Ferguson 5K. Just wait until this year’s event, when my colorful new Ferguson banners will line Suburban Avenue… Have you registered for the race yet? It’s May 14th.
LOST DOGS: Please help find George & Girl
Ever since their dogs, George and Girl, first went missing several weeks ago, my neighbors Tom and Theresa Carper have passed out more than 300 flyers, visited multiple shelters and spent every single day scouring North County to find their beloved pets.
George, above left, is a male Chow/Corgi who weighs around 60lbs and is just two years old. He is skittish around strangers but is very attached to his companion, Girl. She is a female Malamute mix, similar in size to George, and she’s wearing a red collar with a rabies tag on it. She is more likely to come when called.
The dogs left Ferguson and were initially seen in Kinloch but may now be near Switzer Avenue in Jennings. The Carpers are desperate to find them and are currently putting out food near Calvary Cemetery in hope of luring them out of the dense woods nearby – if, in fact, they’re in there. They may actually be headed toward the city.
If you see George and Girl, please contact the Carpers right away! They are brokenhearted over this and would greatly appreciate your help. They can be reached at (314) 521-5031, (314) 330-3016 or (314) 330-3690. Thank you very much!!
A day in the life: North County Meals on Wheels
Volunteers for North County Meals on Wheels pick up their meals at a centralized drop-off spot then make more than 100 deliveries every weekday.
It’s a Thursday morning in the parking lot of St. Mark’s Church on Graham Road, and despite the fact that it’s raining buckets, volunteers for North County Meals on Wheels are not deterred. When the van carrying fresh-cooked meals from Christian Hospital arrives, all ten of them leap from their cars and quickly grab the coolers and neatly stacked containers for their delivery routes.
Every weekday, there are 21 lunch routes to be completed, serving more than 100 senior citizens and handicapped people all over North County. And though Christian Hospital’s food service department generously prepares the meals at cost, charging patrons just $3.25, it’s the volunteer delivery drivers – many of them elderly themselves – who really make Meals on Wheels possible.
One of those volunteers, Pat Jackson, has been delivering meals since 1996, and she’s kind enough to let me tag along for the day. Our route covers a swath of Hazelwood between Lindbergh and Howdershell, and as we wind through the neighborhood in Pat’s diminutive Smart Car, she flips through a small stack of index cards marked with customers’ names and addresses.
“If you’re ever new to town, Meals on Wheels is a great way to learn the lay of the land,” she says. “Plus, you usually drive the same route every week, so you can really get to know the people you’re delivering to.”
Our first stop is Jim, one of Pat’s regulars, and he greets us with a big smile. His wife is in a care facility, and he doesn’t get around very well anymore, so Meals on Wheels is a great convenience for him. “I can’t give you a complaint about it…except the zucchini,” he tells me with a laugh. “I don’t like the zucchini!”
Aside from the option of fish during Lent, Meals on Wheels customers do not get to choose their lunch, though special diets can be coordinated through their doctor. “Stuffed shells is our least popular dish,” Pat says as we head to our next stop. “Nobody likes it.”
But just around the corner, Mildred doesn’t seem to mind. Relatively new to the program, she tells me she’s been pleasantly surprised by the food. “The people are nice and the quality is better than expected,” she says. “I’ve enjoyed it very much.”
Just a few blocks over, we arrive at Harry’s house. He and Pat have an ongoing competition to see who can get to the door first, and today he’s the winner. Standing ready with his used containers, he’s thrilled to see Pat but won’t let me take his photo. He forgot to put his teeth in.
“You never know if they want you to come in and visit or not,” Pat tells me. “But sometimes they really welcome the company.”
Two more stops, again within blocks. Both are new customers recovering from surgery. Then we make a U-turn or two – ironically, Pat has “directional dyslexia” – and finally arrive at our last stop, Irene’s house.
Pat has come to know Irene, 91, quite well and usually saves her for last so there’s time to sit down and talk. With a quick knock, we walk right into Irene’s living room and find her sitting at her kitchen table. She has had lupus since an early age and has suffered multiple broken backs and other painful injuries, but today she’s in good spirits. She just learned that her son is now cancer-free.
“He’s my first-born and I just love him so much,” she says, still emotional from the news. “He calls me a tough old broad, and I guess I am. I may have my problems, but who doesn’t?”
Until he got sick, Irene’s son used to be her primary caregiver, following her husband’s death ten years ago. But facing chemotherapy, radiation and several surgeries, he was unable to help her as much. That’s when Irene’s doctor suggested Meals on Wheels.
“You can’t beat the food,” she says. “It may not be top chef billing but it’s still good nourishment… I really don’t care for the turkey but I was taught to finish my plate, so I do.”
Indeed, Pat collects Irene’s used containers and they’re all empty and clean. We say goodbye to Irene and head over to the Graham Road Medical Center, where the containers are dropped off and returned to Christian Hospital. Inside is the Meals on Wheels office.
Volunteer Mary Lou Nolde stands beside a map showing all 21 North County Meals on Wheels routes.
Also staffed by volunteers, this is where customers call in to sign up for the program. Mary Lou Nolde, who has been with Meals on Wheels for three years, is responsible for asking them things like, “Are you home-bound? Do you use a walker or cane? Can you pay?”
“Sometimes we have to negotiate the cost and cover some of it ourselves,” Mary Lou says. “If we feel they really need it, that is a possibility.”
She and other volunteers also send customers birthday cards and Christmas stockings – anything to make them feel like they’re not alone. “Sometimes we are their only connection to the outside world.”
And yet, both Pat and Mary Lou tell me, North County Meals on Wheels operates with a shoestring staff, and many of the volunteers are actually good candidates for Meals on Wheels themselves.
“We could use volunteers across the board,” Pat says. “I knew we were in trouble the day I watched one of my drivers pick up his cooler of drinks in one hand and support himself with his cane in the other hand as he made his way to his car.”
“We could always use more help,” Mary Lou reiterates. “And it’s not necessarily a big time commitment. Some of our volunteers put in just one or two hours a month. Whatever you can give.”
“Where are the stay-at-home moms, the empty nesters and the young retirees?” Pat wonders. “It seems like there are plenty of people out there who could spare an hour or so.” And NOCO fans, I have to agree. After seeing how much joy you can bring to some of North County’s most needy residents in such a short amount of time, I also wonder why more people don’t volunteer with this amazing nonprofit.
Founded in 1975, North County Meals on Wheels receives no government funding and instead relies on donations from church groups, civic organizations, businesses and individuals. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation or learn more about volunteer opportunities, call the office at (314) 953-6800 – 10am to 1pm, Monday through Friday. I guarantee you won’t be sorry!
12 Ways to EAT NoCo for the Holidays
With Christmas Eve less than a week away, chances are your holiday shopping will soon focus on what really matters: food! If you’re looking to enliven your Christmas menu or maybe give someone a special gourmet gift, here are 12 tasty ways to do just that with fresh, local delights from North County:
1) Kringles @ Helfer’s Pastries, 380 St. Ferdinand St, 63031, (314) 837-6050
If you’ve never had a kringle, or don’t even know what one is, get yourself to Helfer’s Pastries in Florissant ASAP! Inside this decadent Danish pastry you’ll find a heavenly filling of butterscotch, topped with either raspberries or pecans. It’s the perfect hostess treat for a holiday party. According to legend, kringles date to the 1800s and their oval shape is said to represent the eternal love of God. Aw. Unfortunately, not even God can help you score a kringle if you don’t act soon. Helfer’s is really hopping this time of year, and orders for Christmas Eve MUST be placed by Tuesday, 12/22.
2) Linzer cookies @ Cose Dolci, 100 S. Florissant, 63135, (314) 799-2157
It’s just an added bonus that Beth Thompson, owner of this amazing little Ferguson bakery, is one of the nicest people ever. But what really keeps Cose Dolci busy (especially in December) is the fact that its made-from-scratch, all-natural cookies are divine! Beth also makes fantastic cupcakes, sweet breads, scones, muffins and more, but her most popular item is the Linzer Cookie, a delicate, jam-filled indulgence that originated in Austria centuries ago. Buy just a bag or combine several types of baked goods for one of Cose Dolci’s delicious gift sets.
3) Peppermint Stick custard @ The Whistle Stop, 1 Carson Rd, 63135, (314) 521-1600
Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last day of the year to stock up on handmade gourmet frozen custard from The Whistle Stop in Ferguson. After that, you’ll have to wait until February! Take-home quarts are available for every flavor of Whistle Stop custard, but may I suggest three delicious seasonal varieties: Eggnog, Peppermint Stick and Pumpkin Pie. If you’re not too late, you may also be able to nab a holiday pie, a German Chocolate Cake or some super sweet Peppermint Fudge.
4) Exotic meats @ John’s Butcher Shoppe, 2608 Walton Rd, 63114, (314) 423-8066
So…you’ve got someone a little adventurous coming for Christmas dinner? Why not head to John’s Butcher Shoppe in Charlack? This old-timey store has been selling fine meats for 35 years, and it carries way more than just steak. Elk, wild boar, and Potosi, Missouri-raised ostrich and bison are also available for purchase here, in a variety of cuts. You can even get the friendly folks at John’s to wrap up a gift box for you.
5) Donuts @ Old Town Donuts, 510 New Florissant Rd, 63031, (314) 831-0907
Who could resist the fluffy perfection of an Old Town donut, especially as presents are being torn open on Christmas Day? This classic Florissant shop has been churning out some of the best donuts, muffins and cookies in the St. Louis area for 30 years, with workers making fresh batches day and night. Normally open 24 hours, Old Town Donuts will take a rare break for the holidays, closing at 4pm on Christmas Eve and not opening again until 4am on Saturday, December 26. So plan accordingly, or be prepared to put your chocolate long-john fix on hold!
6) Peking duck @ Chopstix Asian Kitchen, Plaza on the Boulevard, 8021 W. Florissant, 63136, (314) 383-6888
If you still laugh every time you think of the Chinese restaurant scene in A Christmas Story, just know that you too can enjoy a little Asian flair in your holiday festivities. Chopstix Asian Kitchen in Jennings (across from Target) specializes in traditional Chinese fare, including the most wonderful Peking duck, which is made fresh every day. The owners of this stylish little place are second-generation restaurateurs, so keep them in mind as you shop for holiday eats.
7) Nostalgic candy @ Remembering When Candies, 3232 Parker Rd, 63033, (314) 831-9436
Perhaps your idea of the perfect candy is a giant pair of wax lips or a handful of Pop Rocks. If so, be sure to sweeten up your holidays with a trip to Remembering When in Florissant. This wee shop sells a dizzying array of nostalgic candies, including brands from 1950s and earlier than you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
8 ) Steak gift sets @ Paul’s Market, 1020 N. Elizabeth, 63135, (314) 524-3652
On the verge of celebrating its 50th year in business, Paul’s Market in Ferguson draws shoppers from all over the St. Louis area, primarily because of its mouth-watering filet mignon. Wrapped in bacon and sold for an incredible price, Paul’s filets are by far its best-selling item. And now through December 22, you can get ten four-ouncers – wrapped in a gift box – for just $29.95! Talk about a steak lover’s dream come true!
9) Chestnuts @ J. Goeke Produce, 449 rue St. Ferdinand, Florissant MO 63031; (314) 831-3140
I don’t know about you, but my early Christmas memories often involve nuts. As a kid, it was my duty (and my delight) to sit and crack my grandpa’s big bag of walnuts, Brazil nuts, and other shelled snacks. But what I never did was the one nut-related activity you’re supposed to do at Christmas – roast chestnuts over an open fire. Well, now I’ve got the fire. And thanks to Goeke’s in Florissant, I also have the fresh chestnuts. Let the roasting begin!
10) Gluten-free cookies @ Free Range Cookies, 425 S. Florissant, 63135, (314) 882-0163
It must really stink to have Celiac Disease during the holidays, not being able to tolerate wheat products. That’s probably why I keep seeing a steady stream of overjoyed kids walking out of Free Range Cookies in Ferguson. This small, sweet-smelling shop offers a full range of gluten-free baked goods, including breads, pizza crusts and of course delicious cookies. My vegan friends rave about Free Range’s vegan scones, and I know the bakery is also popular with the dairy-free crowd. If you’re serving a special needs eater this Christmas, you just might be able to satisfy them here.
11) Sheet cakes @ Knodel’s Bakery, 6621 W. Florissant, 63136, (314) 385-2000
Since 1901, Knodel’s Bakery in Jennings has been whipping up some of the most scrumptious cakes in St. Louis. Unique photo cakes have become its recent specialty, allowing you to literally put your face in the frosting, but this old-fashioned bakery also offers classic sheet cakes, perfect for holiday entertaining. Order ASAP if you need something in time for Christmas – Knodel’s usually requires 5 days notice.
12) Conchas @ Las Palmas Mexican Bakery, 4018 Woodson Rd, 63134, (314) 954-6862
You’ll find a delicious world of south-of-the-border baked goods at this petite Mexican bakery in Woodson Terrace. Milk cakes, cookies, fruit pastries, and pan dulce sweet breads are sure to entice you, but may I recommend the conchas. They’re basically big buns with a sweet, colorful topping, and I imagine they’d be quite delightful when paired with a cup of coffee on Christmas Day. Las Palmas Mexican Bakery is also a great place to buy Rosca de Reyes, a sweet roll with a baby Jesus figurine hidden inside, normally served on the feast of the Epiphany, January 6th.
Happy holidays and happy eating! Hope you can shop NoCo for at least a portion of your seasonal needs.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K