Happenings — Issue No. 2

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Don’t need a workspace, but want to be a part of the buzz? Packed with exclusive benefits and opportunities, The HUB membership is designed to empower professionals and help them thrive in a vibrant business community. HTUB H E Join our growing Community Networking & Advertising Group! 3324 Rue Royale St St. Charles, MO 63301 info@CommonsGroup.CO CommonsGroup.CO 636-493-0307 Member Spotlight

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CONTENTS WHAT IS THE 370 VALLEY? PA G E 4 The North 94 and 370 Valley Regions offer up a diverse area for an active lifestyle. BOURBON REVIEW PA G E 26 A local Charlestowne resident provides his top five list when it comes to bourbon. BUSINESS FEATURE PA G E 1 0 The Commons event and shared office space helps to cultivate community involvement and innovation. GARDEN OF THE MONTH PA G E 29 The New Town Garden Club highlights unique landscapes in the neighborhood. NO.2 RESIDENT PHOTOS PA G E 14 Take a look at some great photos from residents in the area. NEW PARK DEVELOPMENT PA G E 16 The approved master plan for the Highway B Park provides an overview for an exciting new feature in the area. PA G E 2 | C O N T E N TS

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editor’s letter happenings. M A G A Z I N E PART N ERS E d i tor /Pu b l i sher Z a c M e t c a l f Photogr a p hy & D es ign E l l i e M e t c a l f E d i tor i a l O f f ice 3 324 Rue Roy a l e St e . 206 St . C ha r l e s , M O 6 3 301 6 3 6 - 3 12-0422 We’ve turned two! Or, at least our monthly editions have. As we enter the new year, it is a time of reflection and continued growth. Luckily, we live in a region that cultivates a well-rounded lifestyle—where one can find solace in routine and new opportunities and experiences to explore. In this issue, we take a further look at the North 94 and 370 Valley regions— highlighting the diverse mix of recreation, commerce, neighborhoods and future developments that is making this area a sought-after destination for regional, outof-state and international interests. As always, we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our partners and our title sponsor, The Commons. The support we have received from family, friends and new connections for this endeavor have been truly amazing. Zac Metcalf Editor/Publisher SECOND ISSUE On the cover: A peaceful stroll as the fog lifts on the Boschert Green way. Photo: Local New Town Resident, Stephen Cox Inquiries: Please submit interest in becoming a partner to: zac@370valley.com or call: 636-312- 0422 PA G E 3 | E D I T O R’S L E T T ER T HHUB E

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The 370 Valley encompasses a unique location within the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers — with the “Little Hills” on the Southern Border and the karst topography that makes up Pierre Marquette State Park and the river bluffs on the Northern Border. A large swath of this land includes the fertile soil of Orchard Farm that is home to multi-generational farming that helps produce a number of crops — such as soybeans, corn and wheat. Not only does the farming in this area help provide feed and fuel to the country, but it also plays a vital role in the conservation efforts of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Confluence. This confluence is a major part of one of the great natural highways and migratory routes for birds — with over 325 species passing through on an annual basis. Conservation zones, such as the Pelican Island Natural Area and the Maris Temps Clair Conservation Area. These zones offer some of the most diverse and frequent bird-watching opportunities throughout each of the four seasons. CONTINUED on Page 6 WHAT IS THE 370 VALLEY? PA G E 4 | E D I T O RIAL

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PA G E F O U R| J O U R N EY PA G E F O U R| J O U R N EY With such a large footprint and one that is nestled in between the two largest rivers in the US, the 370 Valley area offers up a plethora of recreational activities for all walks of life and is an all-inclusive area for an active lifestyle. From canoeing the Mississippi Water Trail to cycling the backroads of Orchard Farm to fishing on the many lakes in the region, there is no shortage of activities for folks to explore. The best part is that all of the recreation is just a hop skip and jump away from the local neighborhoods, enabling people to have a regular hobby— whether it be on the weekends or weekdays. FISHING With over 20 designated fishing areas, one can argue that the area offers some of the most diverse fishing in the entire state of Missouri—from the 140 acre Lakeside 370 area, to the Fountain Lakes region, to the banks of the Mississippi River, to the neighborhood lakes in New Town & Charlestowne, one can encounter a diverse range of fish species that vary in size from small sunfish to large catfish. CANOEING & KAYAKING With two identified water trails in the area—the Dardene Blueway and the Mississippi Water Trail—paddlers can experience the waterways as day outings or as multi-day trip experiences, including opportunities to camp on the beaches that line the islands of the Mississippi River. Paddlers can also take a more leisurely pace on the main lake at “AN ALL-INCLUSIVE AREA FOR AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE...” PA G E 6 | E D I T O RIAL

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Lakeside 370 or in one of the neighborhood lakes/access points. CYCLING With over 60 miles of country roads in the confluence and Orchard Farm, this area offers some of the best, uninhibited road cycling in the entire State of Missouri. That coupled with a trip across the river on the golden eagle ferry to ride the bucolic hills of Calhoun County provides an experience like no other in the metropolitan region. The Boschert Greenway also provides a pathway to connect New Town directly to Frenchtown. PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS With the number of families in the region, there are numerous parks and playgrounds to entertain the little ones over the weekend or on a weekday during the long days of summer. A few highlights in the area include the Lakeside 370 Park, the Jaycee Park off of Elm Street, Blanchette Park near Little Hills Expressway, the animal park in New Town and the DuSables Playground. Each one of these parks offers unique play structures —with the Lakeside 370 and Elm Street locations also having splash zones in the warmer months. Lakeside 370 and DuSables also offer dog parks. TEAM SPORTS There is no shortage of sports that both youth and adults can get involved with in the area. Whether it be the youth soccer programs at they SLYSA and St. Charles Soccer Complex fields, the DuSable Cricket Cages, Portage Des Sioux youth baseball programs or the active pickleball program in New Town, team sports play an active part in the community. PA G E 7 | E D I T O RIAL

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RESTAURANTS & SHOPPING From the 370 highway, there are two main exits to access restaurants and shopping in the area—the Elm Street/New Town Blvd exit and the Old Highway 94/3rd St. Exit. Each area offers unique options, from the likes of Massa’s Italian Restaurant and El Agave near the exit or smoked barbecue from BobaQue in New Town. Farther east, Old Highway 94 includes a range of fare—from Greek food at Gyros to sourdough pizza and craft beer at Good News Brewery. Both the Frenchtown and New Town areas also offer botique style shopping. NEIGHBORHOODS & SCHOOL DISTRICT The most concentrated area of homes lies off of the Elm Street/New Town Blvd and Boschertowne Road/highway B—with the largest developments being the Charlestowne group of neighborhoods and New Town. Multi-generational farms make up the vast majority of the Orchard Farm area, with a few new developments, such as the Twin Silos neighborhood, in that region. The main school district is the Orchard Farm School District— comprised of two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. PA G E 8 | E D I T O RIAL

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BUSINESS The area boasts large manufacturers in the aerospace industry, including Boeing, and numerous logistics companies. The newly developed Premier 370 Business Park is an 850-acre business community that has attracted big names like Amazon and Best Buy. Premier 370 has access to rail and more than 4 million total square feet of space to accommodate a full spectrum of real estate business solutions. Additionally, multiple professional and services businesses call 370 Valley home and The Commons—a coworking space in New Town—has recently become the go-to space for startups and small businesses to plant themselves and blossom. Business development in the area has helped to spur population growth in the 370 Valley corridor. PA G E 9 | E D I T O RIAL

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We sat down with St. Charles Resident Paul Dinkins. Paul is the owner of The Commons—a shared office and event space in the business district of New Town. Happenings: Hi Paul, thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Tell us a little about your background and how The Commons came alive. Paul: Absolutely. I have lived here for sixteen years and I became intrigued with the co-working concept in 2006 from a space that I saw in Seattle. When this building came available, I was in a place to try to create a co-working space in the business district of New Town. I have a passion for this community and my primary motivation was to utilize this space in order to make a local impact. Happenings: That certainly is a great motivating factor. And, what have you done to this space and the interior to help facilitate that vision? Paul: Well, I do not have the term coworking in my description as it is not a concept that is as familiar in the St. Charles area—so I call it a shared office and event space to be more descriptive. I did not have to do anything in regard to the interior structure and was able to immediately start adding to the space. I came across the idea of referring to the space as “The Commons” and the logo from a photo that depicted an arial view of Vanderbilt University. With that in mind, the brand really incorporates greenery. This is expressed through a turf wall, hedges around the cubicles, nature photography from local photographer Stephen Cox and local wild flowers included on the exterior mural of the building. Happenings: With the idea of a greenspace, growth and sustainability, how does that help members with their own business and networking goals? Q & A WITH PAUL AT THE COMMONS PA G E 10 | B U SI N ESS F EAT U RE

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Paul: Sure. Coworking spaces, such as Regis—one of the larger brands—do differ in the fact that people tend to be more isolated. So, there are intentional collaborative spaces when you walk in— including on of my favorite spaces which is a conference room ping pong table. At the same time, we do have private offices and a phone booth for zoom or teams meetings. I would say that a lot of serendipitous things have happened due to the collaborative nature, though. The space naturally attracts individuals that have a community-driven mindset. This causes conversations to occur organically —leading to new ideas and referrals between small business owners, corporations and independent professionals. Happenings: The community mindset is certainly a major factor for innovation and making connections. For someone who is looking to operate from this space, what are some of the options you provide? Paul: We have anything from day passes, to a $99 per month option for remote workers that may want to be in a more productive space to business owners and entrepreneurs that can utilize conference rooms and have a dedicated business address. Happenings: It is nice to have a full range of offerings for both individuals and corporations. As far as your future outlook for the shared office—including any upcoming events on the radar—what does that look like for both individuals looking to get into this space or those that have been well-established for some time? PA G E 11 | B U SI N ESS F EAT U RE

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Paul: A couple months ago, I started the HUB, which is a separate $29 per month fee and acts as a community business association. There is a large value proposition for that—including two networking events per month that includes lunch and after hours meetups. It also includes a single month day pass that people can pass along to friends or other business partners that might be interested in trying out the shared office. We are also doing a lot of advertising, including in magazines like this one. We are not just limited to New Town, but cater to the entire 94 North and 370 Valley. The networking events have been really positive and have led to new customers and referrals already. The HUB is still in its infancy, but I see that as a huge area for growth. Happenings: It is great to see this vision come alive. Lastly, for the area, what do you enjoy about living in the North 94 and 370 Valley region? Paul: I think it is such an awesome community for families, with all of the free parks and recreation in the area—not only in New Town—but also the park at Dusables and Lakeside 370. The residents of the area have such a strong community mindset, as well. That coupled with the Orchard Farm School District make this an enticing place to live and an area that I have called home for sixteen years. Happenings: That’s wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us today. We wish you all the best with your future endeavors and are excited to see the future events and collabs that come out from this space. Paul Dinkins, Founder of The Commons & The HUB www.commonsgroup.co PA G E 11 | B U SI N ESS F EAT U RE

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PA G E F O U R| J O U R N EY FOOD & DRINK Bulgogi Recipe Ingre d ient s : 1 pound thinl y s l i c ed be e f ( r ibe y e or s i r loin) 1 medium- s i z ed onion, thinl y s l i c ed 2 gr e en onions , chopped ( for ga rni sh) For the M a r ina d e: 1 /2 cup soy s auc e 3 t abl e spoons bro w n suga r 2 t abl e spoons mi r in ( r i c e w ine ) 1 t abl e spoon s e s ame oi l 1 t abl e spoon gr a t ed ginge r 3 c lov e s ga r l i c , minc ed 1 t abl e spoon s e s ame s e eds (opt iona l ) 1 / 4 t e a spoon bl a c k peppe r Ins t ruct ions : Pr epa r e the M a r inade : In a bo w l , w hi s k toge the r soy s auc e , bro w n suga r , mi r in, s e s ame oi l , gr a t ed ginge r , minc ed ga r l i c , s e s ame s e eds ( i f us ing) , and bl a c k peppe r . Ensur e the suga r i s ful l y di s sol v ed. Sl i c e the Be e f : I f the be e f i s not a l r e ady thinl y s l i c ed, cut i t into thin s l i c e s . Thi s i s e a s i e r to do w hen the me a t i s pa r t i a l l y f roz en. M a r ina t e the Be e f : Pl a c e the s l i c ed be e f in a bo w l and pour the ma r inade ov e r i t . M a k e sur e the be e f i s w e l l coa t ed. C ov e r the bo w l w i th pl a s t i c w r ap and l e t i t ma r ina t e for a t l e a s t 30 minut e s to an hour . For be t t e r f l a vor , you c an ma r ina t e i t in the r e f r ige r a tor for a f e w hour s or ov e rnight . PA G E 12 | F O O D & D RI N K

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Bulgogi is often garnished with green onions, sliced carrots and cooked with white onions. happenings. F O O D & D R I N K C O O KI N G C LASSES| C AT ERI N G | M EAL PLA N S 6 3 6 - 3 12-0909 Ins t ruct ions (cont inue d ) : C ook ing: H e a t a pan or a gr i l l ov e r medium-high he a t . Add the ma r ina t ed be e f s l i c e s and s l i c ed onions to the pan. C ook for 5 - 7 minut e s or unt i l the be e f i s cook ed through, s t i r r ing oc c a s iona l l y . I f you ha v e a gr i l l , you c an gr i l l the bulgogi for an authent i c smok y f l a vor . G a rni sh and Se r v e : G a rni sh w i th chopped gr e en onions . Se r v e the bulgogi ov e r s t e amed r i c e or in l e t tuc e w r aps . I t ' s a l so gr e a t w i th a s ide of k imchi and pi c k l ed v ege t abl e s . PA G E 1 3 | F O O D & D RI N K

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RESI D E N T

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P H O T O S

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HI G HWAY B P R O P O SE D PARK The highway B proposed park master plan has been approved by the city of St. Charles. Overall, the plan aims to utilize roughly 100 acres adjacent to the new high school at the intersection of Highway 94 and Highway B. It is an exciting development in the region—one that further identifies the area as a soughtafter community for a family-oriented and healthy lifestyle. The park is part of a broader 2,600 acre development plan by the city. The city aims to have an “ammenity-driven” corridor that will encourage further economic growth in the region. Some of the ammenities in the approved masterplan include a 10-12 acre lake for water-based recreation, multiple sports facilities, nature trails and an indoor field house. With the growth of sports in the area, the city is embracing the region as one that encourages “sports tourism” and the adoption of up-and-coming sports, such as cricket and pickelball. Beyond recreational activities, the complex has space for food trucks and open spaces to accommodate seasonal events. Gazebos and other community structures will also be located throughout the park—enabling residents and visitors opportunities to host family gatherings or group picnics. Designed to be extremely accessible, nearby residents will be able to utilize the numerous nature trails, both paved and unpaved— including a 1.5 mile perimeter loop trail for pedestrians, runners and cyclists. A highlight of the trails system is a boardwalk over the storm drainage area, giving folks a look at the unique wetland type landscape that inhabits the North 94 region. For those that like to bike, the area is proposing a complete bike park with both BMX style and pump ramp opportunities. This would create the only dedicated bike park within the city of St. Charles. This, coupled with PA G E 1 6 | D EVE L O P M E N TS

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BOTTOM: Photo renderings of the some of the master plan amenities of the new park—to include water sports, lounge and café areas, food trucks, nature trails, fishing locations, a food truck park, a bike park and much more. “A HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM IS THE BOARDWALK THAT WILL GO OVER AND THROUGH THE UNIQUE WETLANDS IN THE AREA.” PA G E 1 7 | D EVE L O P M E N TS the nearby Katy Trail, Lakeside 370 bike path, Boschert Greenway and Orchard Farm country roads, will make the North 94 and 370 Valley one of the top destinations in the region for cycling. Other amenities will include an 18- hole disc golf area, a nature education zone and multiple playground structures. The $64 million plan is currently looking at various funding strategies that will include city funds, strategic partners and grants. For more information on the status of the development, visit: https://stcharlesparks.com/park/new-parkdevelopment/

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CHARLESTOWNE LANDING Charlestowne Landing—the latest phase of the Charlestowne group of neighborhoods— is nearing completion. The neighborhood runs the length of Highway B just west of Highway 94 to the new high school entrance. The neighborhood boasts two lakes, two playgrounds and an fenced-in dog park. This latest edition brings the total home count of the overall Charlestowne complex to well over 3,000 homes, comprised of Fischer & Fritchel, McBride and T.R. Hughes builds. These neighborhoods, like New Town, are sought after and seeing increased home value. This increase is due to myriad factors, including the proximity of the new high school and additional economic development in the area. With the approval of the Highway B park master plan, this trend looks to continue. The Charlestowne Landing extension has also provided an increase for the student population at Orchard Farm Elementary School—with the school boundary running west of the power lines. This has created a synergy between the families of New Town and this portion of Charlestowne, as a majority of the elementary school students share the same school location and bus routes. That synergy, along with the other neighborhoods of Charlestowne, extends into the business, restaurant and recreational areas of New Town from Charlestowne. This final phase caps off over 20 years of development in this region and serves as a model for a sustained vision of community PA G E 1 8 | D EVE L O P M E N TS

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“THAT SYNERGY EXTENDS INTO THE BUSINESS, RESTAURANT AND RECREATIONAL AREAS OF NEW TOWN FROM CHARLESTOWNE.” neighborhoods that have unique attributes, yet have a shared infrastructure and home building partners. As these new additions and neighborhoods are developed, it opens the door to additional commercial real estate and recreational development along the Highway B and North 94 corridors. Development that can further the economic importance of the region. A region that has numerous homes, yet maintains vast areas of conservation and limited traffic. This, coupled with the new Highway B Park and state-of-the art high school, will not only attract people from the entire St. Louis Metro area but also people from out of the state, identifying this region as a top destination to raise a family. Below: adjacent to one of the two lakes in Charlestowne is a new play structure and fenced-in dog park—the first of its kind for Charlestowne. PA G E 1 9 | D EVE L O P M E N TS

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The Foundry Art Centre’s Wag: An Exhibition For Dogs officially kicked off on January 5. The exhibit is open to your favorite four-legged friend and provides an interactive experience —along with dog-themed art pieces. A highlight on opening night was the local petthemed retailers in the area—offering up everything from baked goods to dog accessories and doggie frappuccinos at the pop-up bar. The exhibit has activities for both pets and their human siblings where kids can paint a portrait of their dog and dogs can express themselves creatively and paint a canvas— with a little peanut butter encouragement. Along with the art on display, there are also some interactive zones, including a photo-op in a makeshift convertible. Dogs also have the opportunity to partake in a few mini obstacle courses in the center of the gallery. With the number of dogs at the exhibit, a few “accidents” can happen. To help with this, F O U N D R Y AR T CE N T R E PA G E 20 | ARTS

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TOP: Water & Food Dish art installation made from ceramics and metal. LEFT: Throughout the event tables, trivia questions provided some esoteric knowledge. BOTTOM: Portraits taken of our four-legged friends PA G E 21 | ARTS

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DiscoverMore! Activities| STEM | Tours Catholic| Independent | Grades PreK3 - 8 | Children of all Faiths Academy of the Sacred Heart Be Part of the Heart Open House Sunday, February 11,11 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn more and register for events at ash1818.org/admissions ash1818.org | 619 N. Second St. | St. Charles, MO 63301 | 636-946-6127 | admissions@ash1818.org Member ofthe Network of Sacred Heart Schools Scan towatch a 2023 highlight video!

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TOP: The convertible top photo-op—where dogs and their human companions can stick their heads out into the wind. are clean-up stations every few feet. The stations also include some doggie biscuits— which are quite useful for encouragement to have your pet sit still during the photo-ops. The Wag: An Exhibition For Dogs showcase will run through March 23. Each week will also have dog-themed events, such as puppy yoga, yappy hour and working dog demonstrations. For more information on this event and the foundry art center please visit: https://foundryartcentre.org/wag-anexhibition-for-dogs happenings. A R T S PA G E 23 | ARTS

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PETS Maize is 10 years old, very petite, weighing only 10 lbs. She is a teacup or imperial shih tzu. The little sweetheart was born with bad knees. The pet store had her in a cage in the back of the store. They could not sell her because she wasn’t perfect. When we went back a second time to see her, the store said the breeder would rather give her up at loss than put her down. Maize became the perfect pet for us. We may have spoiled her. She thinks that she is a little princess. Because of her knees, Maize can’t jump, so she barks and we pick her up and put her on the couch. She barks and we put her down. She barks at the foot of our bed to tell us that she is tired and ready for bed. We were perfectly happy with one furry child, until our son Peter decided he wanted a puppy. He found a litter of Shih Tzu puppies online near Hillsboro. He asked if we wanted to go along to look at them with him. The litter of 8 was only two weeks old, and all but two were already spoken for. The two left were both completely black, like their mother, a girl and a boy. Peter wanted a girl and put down a deposit. We told ourselves that we did not need another dog. They were so cute. Only one left. We couldn’t break up the family, right? We put down a deposit too. Chris and David share the same middle name, Lee. And we both liked the name Finn, So we named him Finnlee. He is now 3 1/2 years old. Finnlee is a smart little boy and knows lots of tricks. Among his favorites are: sit, shake, high five, dance, speak, play dead, rollover, then rollover the other way, and being a deacon’s dog, his favorite is “say your prayers”! Finnlee and Maize are lucky because his litter PA G E 24 | P E TS MEET MAIZE & FINLEE

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PETS mate sister Ellie also lives in New Town and she comes over to play often. They enjoy scraps from the table, waiting patiently for us to finish eating. We save the last bites for them. Finnlee thinks that he likes everything that his Daddy is eating or drinking. He even likes coffee and beer, but only a sip though. Finnlee and Maize are lucky to have a small fenced in yard, so they can go out to go potty. But for some reason, Finnlee doesn’t like to poop in his own yard, so he has trained himself to hold it until he goes on a walk with his Daddy. He seems to think that Daddy enjoys bagging up everything that falls out of his butt. We know that we have spoiled our puppies. But they have spoiled us. They give us so much love. They are always so happy to see us when we come home. Unconditional love is what they give us, kind of like the love of God. And we love them back. The Billings with their furry friends, Maize and Finlee Interested in having your pet featured? Please submit pet photos and bios to: zac@370valley.com Interested in having your pet featured? Please submit pet photos and bios to: zac@370valley.com happenings. P E T S PA G E 25 | P E TS

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SPIRITS BOURBON REVIEW So, a friend asks you to write an article for Happenings Magazine—you think, well I didn't like writing classes in school way back when, nor did I really enjoy teaching writing as an elementary teacher. With those two points, I was about to hit send on a no thanks reply. Then he sweetens the idea. The article is to be about my top five favorite bourbons. BY JONATHON LEE

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TOP FIVE EVAN WILLIAMS - BOTTLE-IN-BOND - $14 Now I mentioned that these weren't in any particular order, but this one is probably my go to, especially when the budget is running low! With a low price point, I appreciate the minimal four year requirement a Bottle-inBond comes with. Flavor profile is not overpowering and smooth going down. I'm not seasoned enough to really talk about “taste notes", but I know I appreciate the taste of this easy to find bottle. I quickly delete my text before I accidentally hit send.to think through the ask some more. Yes, the previous statements are still true, but I do like drinking whiskey. I rewrite the text, with a simple sure! Now the thinking really begins. I do love bourbon, now. I am fairly new to the game, barely old enough to pass bottle-in-bond status. However I have had the opportunity to taste quite a bit over the years and tour some great distilleries. My top five? I began the process of figuring out how I wanted to narrow this list. There are so many Bourbons to choose from! If you're reading this, you too are probably a bourbon drinker, quite possibly an enthusiast. To narrow the scope, here are the parameters for this particular top 5: Sticking with the Kentucky Bourbons for this list Must be a bottle that anyone can walk into your local shop and pick up to enjoy Decent price point - under $50 I know there are SO many good Bourbons out there, so we invite you to share your top five, just make sure yours meet the parameters. Though this is a top five, these aren't in any particular order. Let's get into it.

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FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH - $32 As I was narrowing down this list, I knew that one of the Four Roses bottles would be on the list, I just wasn’t sure which one it would be. I went with the small batch mainly because of the price. If you pick up the Single Barrel by accident, you won't be disappointed either. The Small Batch is a wonderful sipping bourbon. Easy, smooth and little to no burn going down the hatch. I do like the Small Batch Select, but in this drinker's opinion it isn't worth the price upgrade. VERY OLD BARTON 80 PROOF - $13 This bourbon almost didn't make the list. Mainly because it isn’t always available. I actually prefer the 100 proof, but that bottle is hard to find, so I put down the 80. I do typically prefer a higher proof, but again for the price point, this little bottle is great to have on hand for others to enjoy.

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KNOW THE TRENDS RUSSEL’S RESERVE 10 - $32 If the Evan Williams BnB is really first, then this bottle is a very close second. If I am with someone who is a “newbie" this is definitely the bottle I pull. High age, low price point and very smooth. Have had many comments about how easy this pour was to handle. This is a wonderful Wild Turkey bottle. Again, like the Four Roses, the Special Reserve is supposedly better, but I disagree. That bottle is twice as expensive, aged four less years and doesn't taste that different. Again, just my humble opinion, share yours if you disagree. GREEN RIVER - $30 This is a fairly new bottle to our region. It was purchased by Heaven Hill, which is what brought it to our market. If this was a top five best bottles to hold and pour, then this would take the number one spot for sure. It's curved side, makes it so easy to pour that it can be a little dangerous! This new comer is fabulous. Very smooth with a lot of flavor. Because it is pretty new to the market, there might be a visit you don't see it, but there have not been many trips that I have not seen it on the shelf begging me to take it home! Alright, there you have it, my first top five bourbon list. Remember the parameters I put in place.I bring this back because I know the first thing a few friends said about my list was, “wow no Buffalo Trace products!" These are not easy to find unfortunately and most are on the allocation list. This is the main reason those bottles didn't make this particular list. I'll say, this wasn’t easy. Had to take a couple extra trips to Royal Liquors to make some adjustments. There were a couple other bottles that were on, then off the list. The internal/extermal arguments with myself were fun to listen to! I'm not sure my wife would agree! Share your list. There are so many to choose from! I cannot wait to build the next top five. A Missouri list will definitely be coming in the future! Appreciate the read! Sip WiseLee Jonathon Lee is a Charlestowne Landing Resident. He is a husband, father of two, educator, tech enthusiast, podcaster. In his free time, he enjoys sitting back with a good bourbon and cigar.

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The New Town Garden Club began recognizing outstanding yards and gardens throughout the community in 2022. Many New Town homeowners deal with unusual circumstances with their yards such as tiny spaces, dappled shade and lack of quality soil. These homeowners have found ways to make the most of their gardens and yards by planting vertically, using professional services like Studio Luebke LLC (owner Charles Luebke is a local resident and understands the New Town dilemmas very well) and creating spaces that are multi-purpose. Here are a few of the winners over the last three years. The New Town Garden Club Yard of the Month is selected by committee members who are members of the Garden Club. Led by resident Stacy Moeller, each member nominates and votes for the nominees. The criteria for the selection is simply that the design must be visible from the street. Some of the photos you see in this article show photos that the homeowners took or that were used from the Garden Club’s annual Garden Tour. Sherrie and Gary Kight on Tarn Street believe that gardens are a greeting card to the world. They say, I am thinking about you and hope this gives you a little joy today. Sherrie and Gary utilize bright colors and art to complete the look for their New Town home. NEW TOWN GARDEN OF THE MONTH PA G E 30 | H O M E

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This yard on New Town Lake Drive was planted and cared for by Aqueda and Jerry Matlock. Aqueda has a natural touch with plants, plus she has a fertilizing secret passed on to her by her father! Aqueda likes bright colors with lots of annuals to create a garden that draws the eye toward her large porch. PA G E 3 1 | H O M E

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July is a hard time to keep your garden and yard flourishing, but Wanda Fox has the magic touch. Her home on Woolen Mill has been featured on the annual Garden Tour. Wanda’s garden is a blessing for her friends and neighbors. Wanda has shade that she likes to grow hostas in, plus uses borders to draw the eye to her lovely architecture. PA G E 32 | H O M E The Yard of the Month program is sponsored by Studio Luebke LLC (he can be found on Facebook) and begins in April of each year. Our last Yard of the Month is given in September. To nominate someone for Yard of the Month, contact terristeffes1117@gmail.com with the address of the yard. We take it from there! happenings. N E I G H B O R S

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BUSINESS TIPS KNOW YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS Before diving into AI, assess your business needs. Identify areas where AI can make a significant impact, such as customer support, marketing, or data analysis. Understanding your specific requirements will guide you in selecting the right AI tools. 5 PRACTICAL TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS START WITH CHATBOTS Brought to you this issue by : WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? One of the simplest ways to incorporate AI is by using chatbots. Tools like Chatfuel and ManyChat allow you to create chatbots for your website or social media. Chatbots can handle routine customer inquiries, freeing up your time for more critical tasks. As a starting point, you can also play around with the free version of ChatGPT, a versatile AI chatbot. EXISTING TOOLS HOW TO HARNESS THE POWER OF AI &

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AI-POWERED CRM Implementing a CRM system with AI capabilities, like Zoho CRM, can help you manage customer interactions efficiently. AI can assist in lead scoring, predictive analytics, and automated follow-ups, enhancing your customer relationships. BONUS TIP CUSTOMER RETENTION Educate Yourself: Invest time in learning about AI. Online courses on platforms like Coursera and edX offer AI-related courses that can help you understand the basics and how AI can benefit your business. CONTINUED EDUCATION EMAIL MARKETING AUTOMATION AI-powered email marketing tools like Mailchimp can help you personalize your email campaigns, segment your audience, and optimize email scheduling. This can lead to higher open rates and engagement with your customers. ANALYSIS WITH AI REACH YOUR AUDIENCE IfTools such as Google Analytics and Tableau use AI to process and interpret data. They can provide insights into customer behavior, website traffic, and sales trends, allowing you to make data-driven decisions. DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS T H IS A R TI C L E C A M E F R O M T H E H U B'S M O N T H LY S M A L L B U SI N ESS SE M I N A R . L E A R N M O R E C O M M O N S G R O U P. C O / H U B

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Starting small with AI doesn't have to be daunting. By understanding your needs, using chatbots, leveraging AI for data analysis, implementing AI-powered CRM systems, and playing around with free AI tools like ChatGPT, you can enhance your business operations and stay competitive. As you become more familiar with AI, you can explore additional tools and strategies to further propel your small business into the future. ADJUST & IMPLEMENT IN SUMMARY “In today's fast-paced business landscape, staying competitive and efficient is crucial for the success of any small business. One powerful tool that can help small business entrepreneurs achieve this is Artificial Intelligence (AI). While the concept of AI might seem intimidating to those who have never used it before, incorporating AI into your business operations can be easier than you think.” - Jeff Wade

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KI D ’S C O R N ER Kids’ Story Time is every Friday morning at 9:30-11:00 am in the Micah Room at The Bridge. Betty Luebke and Jean Lee are the volunteer organizers of the event which includes a craft related to the book being read that day. The kids also have some play time as well. This past December, they adopted a local family in need and gave presents to the whole family. We received a grant from Thrivent to help with the cost of the gifts as well. Occasionally we have some guest readers. Here are some photos of the event. KID’S STORY TIME IN NEW TOWN PA G E 3 6 | KI D ’S C O R N ER

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PA G E F O U R| J O U R N EY EVENTS & CLUBS Clubs Family Other MARDI GRAS PARADE 2/10, 11 a.m. French Town MIZZOU TO THE LOU QUAD GYMNASTICS MEET 2/16, 6 - 10 p.m. Family Arena DADDY DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT 2/24, 6 p.m. Beer and BBQ Shop St. Peters, Mid Rivers Mall Dr. ST. LOUIS GOLF EXPO 2/2 - 2/4 St. Charles Convention Center F3 FITNESSS CLUB www.f3thechuck.com NEW TOWN YOGA Weekly meetings GARDEN CLUB 3rd Thursday of the month Spring through Fall https://www.facebook.com/groups/364 944010221011 CYCLING Weekly rides http://www.stlbiking.com/mondaygroup-rides.html THE OTHER BOOK CLUB Monthly meeting https://www.facebook.com/groups/648 406315791231 Event Postings: To list your event, please send event details to: zac@370valley.com or call: 636-312- 0422 Club listings: To list your club please send club details and frequency to: zac@370valley.com or call: 636-312- 0422 WOMEN’S CLUB Monthly meeting MEN’S CLUB Weekly meeting at The Commons BOCCE BALL Annual Leagues https://www.ntga.net/bocce-ballleague-rules/ PICKLEBALL Tandem and Mixed Leagues www.newtownpickleball.com THE FOUNDRY ART CENTRE WAG EHIBIT 1/5 - 3/23, during hours of operation Foundry Art Centre, N. Main St. LINE DANCING Monthly GREAT TRAIN SHOW Through January 28th St. Charles Convention Center SPONSORED BY: happenings. E V E N T S REIKI CIRCLE Monthly ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART “BE A PART OF THE HEART” OPEN HOUSE 2/11, 11 - 1 p.m. Academy of the Sacred Heart, 619 N. Second St. PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT 2/3, 10 - 1 p.m. Chicken N Pickle PA G E 3 7 | EVE N TS

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SATURDAYAPRIL6TH,2024 BENEFITING SEND AUDITION VIDEOS (3 - 5 MINUTES) TO JENNIFER NEMET AT NEWTOWNTALENTSHOW@GMAIL.COM SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 25 LOCATION 3337RUEROYALEST. THE NEWTOWN CARING FUND&LAUNCH PRESENTED BY THE RESIDENTS OF NEW TOWN @newtowngotstalent FAMILY FRIENDLY 12 CHLIDREN ACTS, 5-16; 12 ADULT ACTS, 17 & OVER new town talent show