Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Local farmers’ market vendors say that the fruits and veggies they grow are superior to grocery store produce for many reasons.
Do you buy the freshest produce possible? According to many area farmers, the fruits and vegetables you buy at the grocery store may not be as fresh as you think. With farmers' markets open now (or about to open) around the St. Louis area, including Wentzville, Lake Saint Louis, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Clayton, Ellisville, Wildwood, Arnold and elsewhere, we wanted to talk a little about what "fresh" means to you. Tim Hess, owner of Silent Oaks farm and a vendor at several area farmers’ markets, told Patch that most of the produce sold in local grocery stores comes from Calfornia or Florida, areas where many farms are staffed by migrant workers. “It’s a long trail and at the end of the trail you’ll find that migrant Mexican workers do …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Sendak has died at age 83. Tell us your memories of reading his books—especially "Where the Wild Things Are."
My two children are well above the age when they'd sit still for their mother and father reading a book to them. It won't be that many years before they have their own children. They'll be doing the reading. And I have no doubt that Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" will be among the books they crack open and recite. On Tuesday, we learned that the author of perhaps one of the most famous children's books of all time had died at the age of 83. The New York Times' report said the author had died from complications after a recent stroke. Writers have lauded Sendak's worth, but in particular his ability to craft children's stories out of what might have been considered "untraditional" — monsters "roaring their terrible roars" and "…
Monday, April 2, 2012
Charles Pavlack, a member of Ellisville's Planning & Zoning Committee, makes an endorsement of City Council Member Michelle Murray for mayor.
Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted by Charles Pavlack, a member of Ellisville's Planning & Zoning Committee and a former Ellisville City Council member. As someone who has been involved in Ellisville municipal government for almost a decade, it was disappointing to me, but not particularly surprising, to see the light turnout at the Ellisville candidates forum this past Tuesday evening. With the ongoing gnashing of teeth and rending of clothing that's been going on over the TIF/Wal-Mart issue, I had hoped that more of those who have spoken out on that matter would have shown a little more interest in finding out more about the candidates. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Let's be perfectly clear on one thing: The final …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
A secret ingredient to make your St. Patrick's Day dinner Saturday more grand is cooking with Irish beer.
Ask an Irishman what makes his Irish eyes smile and he’ll likely say it’s the brew in his glass. “I love checking out all the Irish beers this time of year,” said South Countian Mark Cobb who spent time this weekend comparing the Irish beer selections featured at Fenton’s Friar Tuck. “My favorites are the Irish red ales. They have a nice malty flavor that tastes great with a plate of corned beef.” Irish red ales and Ireland’s renowned dry, dark stouts will be the featured drink on countless St. Patrick’s Day tables. Each brew processes rich flavors worthy of consideration as an ingredient in everything from soup to a nut-laced chocolate cake. Brewmiesers and chefs agree, almost any recipe that calls for liquid could be replaced with beer. …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Ballwin resident and Health & Fitness columnist Dawn Runge says dieters should start small in order to achieve their fitness goals.
This week, as we continue our focus on National Nutrition Month, I'm going to take the reigns. As a Master’s student in nutrition, Doctor of Chiropractic student, amateur body builder and your faithful Health & Fitness columnist, I enjoy the benefit of picking up quite a few tips and tricks on ways to select the right foods at the right time—and how to stave off cravings for bad foods in the process. I often get asked how I stick to my competition diet and stay lean. Here is my advice: Inside first. First, before changing your diet, focus on your motivations and obstacles. You need to mentally prepare for challenges and expect them so they don’t throw off your goals. If weight loss is your goal, be realistic. You should go for the …
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Ellisville interior designer Patrice Munden writes that with spring officially just a week away, now is the time get in the spirit by freshening up your home inside and out.
The sun shines later, the breeze blows warmer and all of winter's muddy messes are slowly melting into the the background. Take advantage of this seasonal transition with a few tips on ways to make the most of this year's spring-cleaning. • Paint your walls. A fresh coat of paint will brighten any room in less than an hour. Paint your walls a warm color such as light-orange or butter-yellow to make your rooms feel sunny and warm. • Paint or re-stain your front door. This will give your entry a fresh, new and welcoming look for visitors. • Remove heavy wool rugs. Replace heavier rugs with natural or woven ones that will lighten the feel of a room. Try sisal, coir or natural cotton or one of the new indoor/outdoor rugs on the market. • Clean…
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Plus, Ed Martin, the former opponent of Ballwin's Ann Wagner, picks up the endorsement of former attorney general John Ashcroft.
This column took note a couple of weeks ago of a bid to designate St. Louis Brewery and the Boulevard Brewing Company as the official brewers of Missouri. That effort was all well and good, but it pales in comparison to an effort to enshrine Jim the Wonder Dog as the official historical state dog of Missouri. For those who may not know, Jim the Wonder Dog was an amazing canine from Marshall, MO. Legend has it that Jim the Wonder Dog could understand multiple languages and correctly guess the winner of sporting events. And according to former Columbia Tribune photographer Jenna Isaacson Pfueller, the dog had human-like eyes. Rep. Joe Aull’s legislation was referred to the House Committee on Tourism and Natural Resources. And while there’s …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
In honor of National Nutrition Month, local nutrition specialists offer practical ways to incorporate healthy eating in your life.
Fast winds aren't the only thing March brings to Ballwin and Ellisville. This month also marks National Nutrition Month, and Patch talked to nutritionists serving the area about what they'd like to see the public do to better their nutrition habits. St. Luke's Hospital has several registered and licensed dieticians on staff who specialize in the effects nutrition has on recovering from illness. Ballwin also has several experts at its own Nutrition Clinic, which emphasizes whole food nutrition. Marcie Barnes, a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at St. Luke’s, said simply recognizing the need for change might be the most important step of all. "Realize that small changes in your food choices can make a big difference in the overall …
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Plus: Updated caucus locations, St. Louis County Lincoln Days and more endorsements in the U.S. Senate race.
The kickoff of Missouri’s biennial filing day is often littered with surprises. But this year’s iteration may have taken the cake. Obviously, the biggest news is Rep. Russ Carnahan’s (D-MO) decision to run in the 1st Congressional District. The St. Louis City Democrat had considered running in the GOP-leaning 2nd Congressional District, but instead decided to enter into a race that will have him battling U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO). That race will be closely watched, since the district that encompasses all of St. Louis City and some of St. Louis County has a heavy Democratic lean. In essence, winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to election. An auxiliary effect of Carnahan’s decision means there probably won’t be a major Democratic …
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
IHOP in Ellisville and at locations nationwide are giving away free pancake today, but a short stack of controversy just might be piling up in the process.
News outlets across the country recently were alerted of an upcoming special being offered by International House of Pancakes: Free pancakes at your local IHOP Tuesday in honor of "National Pancake Day." But wait, hold the syrup. Like many Americans who was raised Catholic, I had a mother who lovingly filled her children's plates growing up with sweet, buttery pancakes every year on "Fat Tuesday," the day before Lent, which started last week. It's a tradition that reaches countless households, as MSNBC confirms. In fact, the practice is so common that other nations even dubbed that day as "Pancake Tuesday." Slate.com apparently shares my serious concern: To add to the confusion, a search on Google for "National Pancake Day" reveals that …
Ed Norman
1:28 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The two greatest deterrents to lo locally grown produce and fruits are... 1. Convenience - everyone wants to have their needs met close to home, easily accessible and inexpensive 2. Instant Gratification - "I want it NOW, even though it is not in season I want it and should be able to have it!" Gone are the days of waiting for the peaches and tomatoes to ripen in the backyard! I personally would … more ›