Happenings — Issue No. 6
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J U N E • I S S U E N O . 6 HOME | BUSINESS | WELLNESS | TRAVEL | EVENTS | REAL ESTATE happenings. N°94 & 370Valley Live. Work. Play.
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Member Spotlight Join the HUB for growing your Community Networking & Advertising Group. You could be in the spotlight! 314.308.0799 Commcoremarketing.Com Laura DeVries Owner 3324 Rue Royale St St. Charles, MO 63301 info@CommonsGroup.CO CommonsGroup.CO 636-493-0307
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CONTENTS ORCHARD FARM FFA PA G E 5 The goal of the National FFA Organization is to promote education based on agriculture. POLLY AND THE PEACOCK PA G E 16 Stephanie and TJ Bakula light up the metro area with their female fronted 90s era cover band. SPORTS PA G E 23 Orchard Farm Football kicks off in the state-of-the-art training facility at the new high school. MIDYEAR BUSINESS ROUNDUP PA G E 32 Take a look at our local business features to-date as we reach the midyear mark of our first volume. NO.6 SUMMER SWIMMING SAFETY PA G E 13 Ten essential swimming safety tips to help ensure your summer is both enjoyable and accident-free. NEW TOWN GARDEN TOUR PA G E 28 Since 2010, the garden tour has highlighted the community’s love for nature and shared spaces. PA G E 2 | C O N T E N TS Summer Rides in The Confluence
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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 One of my favorite seasons in the confluence is summer. There is something about the freshly planted corn and the almost daily sunsets over the hills of Calhoun County that bring a sense of appreciation for each day. In this issue, we take a look at the Orchard Farm FFA. An organization that educates young leaders on the importance of agriculture—showing them how this industry plays such a vital role in the sustainability of communities and in our daily lives. We also highlight Polly and the Peacock—a cover band in New Town with a goal to preserve the era that brought us the likes of Nirvana and Chumbawamba. As we reach our midyear issue, take a look at our previous business Q&A pieces within the pages of this issue and please continue to support the small businesses that make this region a place for personal and professional growth. As always, thank you to all of our readers, subscribers and partners. Zac Metcalf Editor/Publisher SIXTH ISSUE On the cover: Snow Cone Season in New Town! 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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When did the FFA get started? Our FFA Chapter was chartered in 2014, but the National FFA has been around since 1928. There was a need for Agricultural Education, with the help of the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 the idea of Future Farmers of America was born. Later on in Kansas City, Missouri Future Farmers of America was established in 1928 with the first president being Leslie Applegate of New Jersey. Since then the name has changed from “Future Farmers of America'' to “National FFA” to encompass the advances in agriculture. A group of students at Orchard Farm High School had shown interest in starting an FFA Chapter. With the help of our school board, students, and community members the Chapter was chartered in 2014. What is the foundation/goal of the FFA? The goal of the National FFA Organization is to promote education based on agriculture. FFA is a student-run organization that has chapters in all 50 states. The principles have changed in this organization from being mostly farming-based to opening up opportunities to every aspect of agriculture. The FFA Vision is “Growing the next generation of leaders who will change the world”. The FFA Mission is A RICH HISTORY AND STRONG FOUNDATION PA G E 6 | F EAT U RE
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“FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education”. What community events does the FFA participate in and how can students get involved? Our chapter tries to be as involved in the community as possible. Any chance we have, we try to give back to our supporters. Some events we participate in are delivering harvest snack bags to farmers, Trunk or Treat at the ELC, adopting a family during Christmas, volunteering at the St. Charles Co. Dinner Auction, and running the kid's games at our local county fair. Students have the opportunity to participate in their selection of events because we want to make our schedule adaptable to every member’s needs. A few educational events we host throughout the year for our school are Food For America, Early Learning Center Day, and a summer camp for 6th to 8th graders. Food For America is a program that promotes education on food sources from the farm to consumer tables for our third graders in the fall. The Early Learning Center Day is geared towards educating our preschoolers about simple agricultural practices and products. Students have to be enrolled in an agricultural education course at the high school level and show up to the monthly FFA meetings to be in FFA. Students have the opportunity to do community service projects, travel to conferences and workshops in Missouri and the US, compete in agricultural content areas against other schools in Missouri and the US, and participate in many agricultural-
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specific academies and camps that are only available through FFA. There are opportunities for leadership roles within the organization as well. What are some future plans for the FFA? Because we are such a new chapter, I think that our main goal is to keep growing our student membership and gaining experience. Creating a chapter that has enthusiastic and involved members is also a top priority. By showing the community our desire to grow, we also hope to expand to an adult education program and an alumni chapter in the future. A few events we are looking to add to our program of activities for the year are an annual “Fun Run” and a “Fishing Derby”. From a student's perspective, what are the benefits of joining the FFA, both during their high school years and beyond? Tess Bauer: I would say that as a student, I have witnessed all of the personal growth I have gained since joining FFA. My public speaking skills, leadership, and communication skills have benefited greatly from this organization. I also feel that FFA, being a national organization, is like a family to all its members. It is amazing to think that so many people share common interests and when I see the blue jacket, I know that I share my love of agriculture with them. As an organization that is ensconced in a region with a rich farming community and history, can you highlight the agricultural reach and impact that this region has (both locally to Missouri and throughout the United States)? Though our community does have a rich PA G E 9 | F EAT U RE
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farming history, within the last decade we have seen that our school district has become more urban and developed. This means that most of our FFA members do not come from a farming background, yet they still have a passion for agriculture. On the bright side, many of the remaining farmers in this area were Orchard Farm alumni, and are more than happy to be supporters of our chapter. Since our chapter wasn’t founded until 2014, most of these supporters would have likely been interested in FFA had it been offered while they were in high school. The interest we have seen is reassuring that our chapter has people who are willing to have our backs for years to come. As far as our region's impact goes, we have mostly row crop farming and less livestock-based agriculture. Most if not all of the farming operations in our community are family businesses that go back generations. I find it inspiring that so many people have continued their family’s legacy of farming. I think that this concept showcases how agriculture is an ongoing industry full of potential and growth. Because I have seen how people continue to advocate for it, I’m confident that our little town in Missouri can set an example for agriculture around the world. When reviewing the 2022 Census St. Charles County has 589 farms, while Missouri has 87,887 farms. Our county is mainly focused on row crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans, along with some hay production. Missouri agriculture is both focused on row crops and livestock in the areas of Beef, Poultry, Hogs, and some milk production. happenings. F E A T U R E PA G E 10 | F EAT U RE
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Food / Drink / Retail 1. Bobaque Kiosk 2. Bonnidell’s Ice Cream 3. Casa Mia 4. Domain Street Wine Bar 5. Marsala’s Market 6. Molly O’s Tropical Sno 7. Padavan’s NY 8. Suga Baby Cakes 9. Pauly’s Pizza & Coney Shack 10. Sweet Things Bakery Event Venues The Commons - Event Space The Commons - Courtyard The Bridge Coffee & Fair Trade Market Professional Services The Commons - Shared Office Nieroda Insurance Personal Services The Commons - Fitness Center Offices 45. Arrow Senior Living 46. Sunshine Senior Services 47. Henschel Hat Company 48. DigiCan Printing 49. New Town General Assembly Religious 57. St. Charles Christian Church 58. Soma Church 11. The Bridge | Faith Community Real Estate 50. New Town Sales Center Promenade at New Town The Commons - Commercial RE 14. 15. 16. GlenMark Farms 17. New Town Amphitheater 18. New Town Event Tent 19. New Town Chapel 20. Town Hall 11. 12. Bobaque Restaurant 13. Brewtique 40. 41. Farmers Insurance 42. 43. Shelter Insurance 44. M. Dinzebach Construction 21. 22. American Puppy Grooming 23. Salon Alchemy 24. Salon Turbo 25. Back in Motion Chiropractic 26. Bluebird Family Dental 27. Hair Commander Barber Shop 28. Studio Blend Salon and Spa 29. New Town Dance Academy 30. Demure Portrait 31. The Pampered Pineapple 32. Vet Stop 34. New Town Pickelball 51. 52. 53. NT Rental Properties 23 41 (C) 2023 Steve Cox. All Rights Reserved. 2542 53 30 24 22 32 43 10 31 27 3 26 11 7 1 4 2 48 47 8 19 58 29 17 9 51 6 220 18 5 12 49 28 13 46 45 44 1440 52 1550 21 16 57 33NEW TOWN PICKLEBALL 5001 MERTEN CROSSING BROUGHT TO YOU BY *Listings with logos are part of The HUB powered by The Commons ‘New Town’ and ‘New Town at St. Charles’ are registered trademarks and used with permission and may not be used or reprinted without the express written permission of licensor.
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As the temperatures rise, many of us head to pools, lakes, and oceans to cool off and enjoy the water. Swimming is a great way to beat the heat and have fun, but it's crucial to prioritize safety. Here are ten essential swimming safety tips to help ensure your summer is both enjoyable and accident-free. 1. Always Supervise Children Children should never be left unattended near water. Drowning can happen quickly and quietly. Designate a responsible adult to actively supervise kids at all times, whether they're in the pool, ocean, or even a bathtub. 2. Learn to Swim One of the best ways to stay safe in the water is to know how to swim. Enroll yourself and your children in swimming lessons. Knowing how to swim not only provides a fun activity but also an essential life-saving skill. SUMMER SWIMMING SAFETY PA G E 1 3 | T I PS
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cillum consectetur nulla esse eu qui proident occaecat irure fugiat dolor est anim aliqua ipsum cillum nulla deserunt nulla consequat ut nisi aute fugiat pariatur 3. Know the Water Before jumping in, make sure you're familiar with the water you're about to swim in. In natural bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, or oceans, be aware of currents, tides, and underwater hazards. In pools, ensure the depth is appropriate for diving or jumping. 4. Use Life Jackets For non-swimmers or weak swimmers, wearing a life jacket can be a lifesaver. Ensure that life jackets are Coast Guard-approved and fit properly. Even strong swimmers can benefit from wearing a life jacket when participating in water sports. 5. Swim with a Buddy Swimming alone is never a good idea. Always swim with a buddy, especially in natural bodies of water. In case of an emergency, having someone there can make a critical difference. 6. Avoid Alcohol Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and coordination. Drinking while swimming or supervising children can be dangerous. Save the drinks for after the water activities to ensure everyone's safety. 7. Know CPR Learning CPR can be a life-saving skill. In case of a water emergency, knowing how to perform CPR can keep someone alive until professional help arrives. Many organizations offer CPR certification courses that you can complete in just a few hours. 8. Follow Pool Rules Public pools have rules in place for a reason. Follow posted signs and instructions from lifeguards. Common rules include no running, PA G E 1 4 | T I PS
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H A P P E N I N G S M A G A Z I N E CEO OF RIMBERIO COMPANY no diving in shallow water, and no rough play. These rules are designed to keep everyone safe. 9. Protect Against the Sun While enjoying the water, don't forget to protect yourself from the sun. Apply waterproof sunscreen regularly, wear a hat, and use UV-protective clothing. Staying in the shade during peak sun hours can also help prevent sunburn and heat-related illnesses. 10. Stay Hydrated Swimming might make you feel cool, but it’s still easy to get dehydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you're spending extended time in the sun and water. Avoid sugary and caffeinated beverages, which can contribute to dehydration. happenings. T R A V E L ash1818.org | 636-946-6127 | admissions@ash1818.org 619 N. Second St. | St. Charles, MO 63301 Discover howthe Academy prepareschildren for a lifetime of learning and leadership! Watch our newvideo here. Catholic| Independent | PreK3 - 8 Open to all Faiths Member ofthe Network of Sacred Heart Schools Celebrating the Class of 2024
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RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Polly and the Pocket—a husband and wife band in New Town By Stephanie Bakula others. I took my own band (Uptown) on a Carnival Cruise ship (The Sensation) when I was nineteen and when I came back I continued working as a vocalist. I've gotten to sing with Theo Peoples of the Temptations and I've opened for Taylor Dayne. In 2005, I was the winner of the St. Louis American Idol Contest. At one of my shows at Harrah's, all of the members of not only Motley Crue, but Skid Row —yes Skid Row—walked in and sat in with my band for a set. They wanted to hang out after, but you wouldn't believe that I actually said no. I needed to get back home to my cats One and Two. I met my husband TJ in a band called Jukebox Jealousy. We bonded quickly over our love of music and our interest in of all things gardening. I thought he was even more handsome than one of my favorite Italian singers Dean Martin, and when he knew what a Black Krim tomato was, I realized I met my twin flame. We both share very motivated dispositions too, so I knew we would do great in whatever we tried to accomplish together. PA G E 1 6 | RESI D E N T SP O T L I G H T I grew up in South St. Louis and went to a now closed private school called St Francis DeSales where I attended mass in the coolest gothic mini Cathedral in the United States! My South side roots are strong. My grandma owned beauty salons in Soulard before I was born! When my brothers and I played outside, I could smell the hops from Anheuser Busch. I grew up very much surrounded by music as my father was a professional keyboard player. While most kiddos were learning their abc's, I was practicing singing songs from the likes of artists like Linda Rondstadt, Connie Francis and Roy Orbison. I'd say around five years old was when I sang in front of a real audience with my dad's band at the St. Thomas Aquinas school picnic in 1986! My first professional/paid show was at fifteen years old at Westborough Country Club for a wedding anniversary party. I was hired by my high school band director as his band's lead singer after that first gig. From fifteen years old and on, you couldn't get me off the stage as I went on to sing in many popular St. Louis bands like Boom (formerly Rupert's Orchestra) Boogie Chyld, Accolade and
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Forming a band with him was a no brainer as he's a very talented drummer, too. Ps: He also had a cool motorcycle when I met him, so there was that, and It wasn't long after we dated that we knew we were destined to be together. Fast forward to today, we share my first born, Rooney (from my previous marriage) and our son Giugno (pronounced June-yo/It's Italian). Our kiddos love music! Rooney is eleven years old and is currently taking acoustic guitar lessons, sings like an angel and has an obsession for Elvis. She wants to work at Graceland one day. Juney, our eight year old, is taking violin lessons, sings impeccably and plays the drums like his dad. He has the energy of a superstar, and with his middle name Rocket we're sure he will pursue music with as much veracity as we did! We wouldn't be surprised if a family band pops up a little later as they continue on their musical journeys. About a year ago we started Polly and the Pocket. Tj and I both grew up in the 90s. I'm a little older than TJ—5 years—so I was in high school between 95 and 99 and right smack in the middle of the grunge movement, as well as many other emerging musical styles like New Jack Swing, Britpop, Alternative Rock, pop punk and Emo. I loved it all and I was heavily influenced by a great many styles. TJ and I noticed that there were a lot of bands covering 70s and 80s over the years, but not really a lot of bands covering the 90s decade. We also noticed a lot of "younger-ish" people wearing and re-introducing 90s fashion trends, so we thought "what the heck" let's make a 90s review band and name it after something so quintessentially 90s that no one will doubt what type of music we play (No Doubt) Hence the name, Polly and the Pocket. Also, in musical terminology, the pocket is the groove, it's the backbeat, the bottom., and the drummer lays it down. Symbolic for TJ. And even the rest of the band really. Polly is me! I also kind of "carry" the band around with me wherever I go so there's
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that. And obviously the toy itself was very popular in the 90s. As of right now, Polly and The Pocket covers a variety of music from the 90s into the early 2000s and we've recorded a demo soundtrack that is on our website at Pollyandthepocket.com Specifically, some of the artists/bands you will hear from us are No Doubt, Alanis Morisette, Nirvana, Four Non Blondes, The Cranberries, Lenny Kravitz, Spin Doctors, Filter, Ace of Base, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Imbruglia, Radiohead, Hole, Sheryl Crowe, The Cardigans and Chumbawumba—just to name a few. You can catch us live at shows listed on our website, one of which will be played from the New Town amphitheater on July 3rd 2024! TJ and I moved there in 2017 and we absolutely love it. Every summer at the amphitheater, one can see a lot of great bands. New Town has been a huge blessing for our family. There is just so much to do in the summer. We love going to our pool because there's a great lazy river, and the lakes and canals around the community are wonderful for fishing and paddleboarding. The people in New Town are so warm and friendly and it's just been a welcoming environment for our kids. I know there's occasionally talk of the perfect look of the place and it can deter suspicious minds— lol—but it really is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. I'm not microchipped living in New Town and it feels like growing up in the neighborhoods of the 80s when kids would just ride their bikes around and go to the local grocery store for a candy bar and pop. Everyone that we know in New Town has been super supportive of Polly and The Pocket playing an amphitheater show, too, so we're super excited. It helps that I get to meet a lot of folks because I'm the manager of the non-forprofit coffee shop in town, The Bridge. I get to yap about everything to everyone!
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And speaking of noise, Polly and the Pocket doesn't use any pre-recorded material in our show and what you're hearing is all live—there are no click tracks! We've been told by our audience and sound techs that it's refreshing to hear a band that isn't using technology to fill in the holes. We all know our instruments and play them well! Maybe in the future, you'll hear the band play their own originals, but for now we are happy reminiscing over the music we grew up with! Originating from St. Charles MO, Polly and the Pocket is a high energy, female fronted alternative rock band covering all your favorite songs from the 90's. They encompass heavy sounds from the Riot grrrl movement while paying tribute to lighter tracks you might recognize them from the Lilith Fair festival. Throw in all your Pop favorites you remembered hearing Casey Kasem announcing for American's Top 40 back in the day and you've got - Polly and the Pocket. happenings. R E S I D E N T S
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O R C H AR D FAR M
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SP O RTS
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PA G E F O U R| J O U R N EY FOOD & DRINK Smash Burgers Ingre d ient s : G roun d b eef ( 8 0 /2 0 b len d for b es t f l a vor ) - 1 p oun d Sa l t - to t a s te Bl ack p e p p er - to t a s te But ter - 2 t a b les p oons C heese s l ices ( Amer ican cheese i s cl a s s ic) - 4 s l ices Burger b uns - 4 V eget a b le oi l - 1 t a b les p oon O p t iona l to p p ings : Let tuce Toma to Pick les O nions ( thinl y s l ice d ) K etchu p M us t a r d M a yonna i se Ins t ruct ions : 1. Pre p a re the groun d b eef : D i v i d e the groun d b eef into 4 e q ua l p or t ions ( a b out 4 ounces each) . D o not form p a t t ies ; kee p them loose. 2. H ea t the s k i l let : Prehea t a ca s t - i ron s k i l let or gr i d d le over me d ium-high hea t . A d d a sma l l amount of veget a b le oi l an d s p rea d i t a roun d . 1. Toa s t the b uns : M el t 1 t a b les p oon of b ut ter in the s k i l let . Pl ace the b uns , cut s i d e d o w n, in the s k i l let an d toa s t unt i l gol d en b ro w n. R emove an d set a s i d e. 2 . C ook the b urger s : Increa se the hea t to high. Pl ace a p or t ion of the groun d b eef on the s k i l let . U s ing a s tur d y s p a tul a ( p refer a b l y met a l ) , p res s d o w n f i rml y to f l a t ten the b eef into a thin p a t t y . Sea son generous l y w i th s a l t an d p e p p er . C ook for a b out 2 minutes w i thout mov ing the p a t t y , a l lo w ing i t to d evelo p a crus t . 3 . F l i p an d a d d cheese: F l i p the p a t t y an d imme d i a tel y p l ace a s l ice of cheese on to p . C ook for an a d d i t iona l 1 -2 minutes unt i l the cheese i s mel te d an d the b urger i s cooke d through. PA G E 25 | F O O D & D RI N K
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Ellie Sojin Metcalf, Food Columnist, Happenings Magazine. 4. A s semb le the b urger s : Pl ace the cooke d p a t t ies on the b ot tom ha l f of the toa s te d b uns . A d d any d es i re d to p p ings ( let tuce, toma to, p ick les , onions ) an d con d iment s ( ketchu p , mus t a r d , ma yonna i se) . 5 .Ser ve imme d i a tel y : To p w i th the other ha l f of the b un an d ser ve the sma sh b urger s hot . PA G E 26 | F O O D & D RI N K
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SHOW ME MO’ BOURBON
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The annual New Town Garden Tour for 2024 will be June 23, starting at noon and ending at 4:00 p.m. Ten gardens are slated to be on the tour this year. Ticket prices are $15 and are available through this QR code through Paypal. Bring proof of ticket purchase to Town Hall on Rue Royale in New Town (take the New Town exit on Hwy 370 and look for signs) on the day of the event so you can receive your map. Tickets are also available on the day of the event. A limited amount of golf carts and drivers will be available to help those unfamiliar with New Town. Also, you can purchase a raffle ticket for a wreath and floral notecards for $3.00 each. These cards are suitable for any occasion! The Garden Tour, initiated by residents in 2010, is a testament to our community's love for nature and shared spaces. With eleven gardens and the organic farm open for tours, the event was a grand success. The funds raised were dedicated to the New Town Trust, which supports initiatives like feeding the animals at our organic farm. This year, we eagerly anticipate your continued support and participation in this communitydriven event that truly reflects the spirit of New Town. 2024 NEW TOWN SUMMER GARDEN TOUR NEW TOWN GARDEN CLUB PA G E 28 | H O M E
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The tour has been hosted annually, a testament to our commitment to fostering a love for nature and community engagement. In 2020, despite the challenges, we adapted and held the tour online, allowing participants to virtually explore the gardens and learn about our community's green spaces. You can still experience the 2020 tour by visiting the website at newtowngardens.wordpress.com. The New Town Garden Tour features unique properties designed for New Town. Small gardens, serving as extensions to indoor living spaces, provide exceptional opportunities for dedicated spaces for visiting, hosting events, small cutting gardens, and vertical gardening. New Town residents make the most of each square inch of their properties. Along the Garden Tour, you will see evidence of New Town’s planned botanical spaces with green spaces designed for play, strolling, fishing, swimming, beach life, and more. New Town has planned trees that line each street, creating beautiful areas in which to walk. Some roads are AN ANNUAL EVENT
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built to resemble cobblestone, while others are edged in stunning cast iron bollards. Tree-lined canals serve as reading spots, fishing areas, and ice skating when the canals freeze to a safe thickness in the winter. Nearly all the homes feature front porches creatively designed with potted plants, furniture, and art. Take advantage of the local dining scene by having lunch, afternoon cocktails, or an early dinner at Padavan’s, Bobaque, Casa Mia, or The Wine Bar. Snacks are available at Molly O’s Sno Cones, Della’s Ice Cream, The Bridge Coffee House, or Marsala’s Market. If you love art, you may want to check out the animal statues in Animal Park on Galt House Drive or the mural on the side of The Commons building. The mural has been nominated for a state neighborhood art award. Several windmills are located throughout New Town, and the Obelisk can be seen as you enter New Town from New Town Boulevard and move onto New Town Lake Drive. Beautiful water fountains are located between The Wine Bar and Galt House Drive. The Garden Tour welcomes you to the tour whether you live in or out of New Town. Come and enjoy our neighborhood and take away some great ideas for your spaces. Contact Terri Steffes at terristeffes1117@gmail.com if you need more information about the tour. PA G E 30 | H O M E
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3333-5 Rue Royale St Charles, MO 63301 • Easy Parking • (636) 493-0307 CommonsFit.com *Formerly New Town Fitness Choose Your 24/7 Access Membership Where Community & Fitness Come Together JOIN NOW
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M I D YEAR L O C AL B U SI N ESSES R O U N D U P PA G E 32 | B U SI N ESS
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We sat down with New Town resident Dan Hough. Dan currently operates a local branch of Hommati—a company that provides realtors in the area with innovative marketing and home listing services. Happenings: Hi Dan, thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Tell us a little about your background and how you came to Hommati. Dan: Absolutely. I have been living in New Town since 2017. My prior background is in property management and before that I was in the Coast Guard for 15 years. Happenings: That’s great experience. And, what initially piqued your interest in photography and real estate? Dan: Well, in high school, I was actually into photography. Back then we didn’t have the go-pros and iphones like we have today, so we used photography to capture us kicking around on our skateboards and snowboarding. That, coupled with my experience after the coast guard as a property manager, created a nice synergy to get into the types of services that Hommati provides. Happenings: And, as for Hommati, how did you come to manage your own franchise? Dan: During my experience in property management, including about 150 properties in the St. Louis area, I was in the process of starting my own home inspection service, as well. About three quarters through that process, a friend of mine introduced me to the opportunity to operate a Hommati Franchise. Happenings: And what initially drew you to pursue that opportunity? Dan: Speaking with realtors over the years I saw a real need for agents to have a Q & A WITH DAN AT HOMMATI
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consistent, yet affordable suite of marketing services—as most of them were paying out-of-pocket for those services, along with listing platforms taking a fee on top of that and promoting other realtors beyond the main listing agent. When I met with the folks that run Hommati, I immediately loved their energy and their concept—which was to give back to the agents. Happenings: Can you describe a bit further how Hommati helps both the agents and home buyers/sellers? Dan: I help agents generate up to four times more traffic to their listings by adding dynamic visual content, such as 3D tours, aerial/interior video, photography for their clients and much more. If an agent it partnered with Hommati, the home sellers and buyers can rest assured the agent is utilizing that dynamic visual content which can sell homes up to 31 percent faster and increase the selling price by up to 9 percent. This creates a strong value add for agents, home buyers and home sellers. Happenings: Along with the listings, what other marketing services are involved? Dan: We also offer a featured agent program in which agents receive discounts on all Hommati packages and services. This program helps agents win more listings and sell more homes. Secondly, our agent advantage program— one of the most powerful closing tools that easily integrates into their current listing presentation—includes a custom branded pre-listing video and innovative agent magazine. The language in the mediums is presented to home owners and goes over how agents will market their property and get the best sale possible for their homes. It ends up being a one-stop-shop for them and the home owners. Happenings: Thank you for telling us a bit more about Hommati and the services that you provide. It seems like a great program and one that has the best interests of realtors and home owners alike. Final question for today, what do you like about living in the area, especially being in New Town? Dan: I enjoy the work/life balance here. New Town is an extremely walkable community that has a bit of everything. There is also a strong support of each other in the community and word of mouth goes a long way for local, independent business owners. Happenings: We appreciate you joining us today, and we wish you all the best in your future with Hommati. Dan Hough (Hommati Franchise Owner) www.hommati.com/office/221 happenings. B U S I N E S S
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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
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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?
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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
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We sat down with St. Charles Resident Dr. Beckeman. Dr. Beckeman is the operator of Vet Stop—a full-service veterinary clinic in the heart of New Town. Happenings: Hi Dr. Beckeman, thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Tell us a little about your background and how you became involved in animal care. Dr. Beckeman: So, I guess how I got started and became interested in pet care is growing up in Arnold and visiting my Grandfather’s farm in Van Buren, Mo. —I enjoyed taking care of and looking after the animals on the farm. In college, I wasn’t initially interested in veterinary care, but during my senior year I needed to take an agriculture class to have an Ag credit as a part of my studies. I ended up loving it and then decided to get into Vet School and graduated in ‘96 from Mizzou. Dr. Beckeman: The bulk of my work after college was for a clinic in Fenton, Mo. for 18 years, and we moved here in 2017. At that time, I recognized the need for New Town to have a Veterinary Clinic. As I was close to retirement age, I wasn’t sure that I was wanting to invest in anything. However, I was walking the dogs through New Town one day and saw a sign that said, “Vet Stop Coming Soon”. I went home, called that day and got an interview with Dr. McKnight—she started the New Town office following her dream. Happenings: That is a wonderful story. And, when it comes to pet care, what types of services do you provide. Dr. Beckeman: We are a full-service clinic —from routine vaccines to surgeries and managing complex diseases. For surgeries, I specialize in orthopedics and soft tissue. With us being in Missouri, the temperatures can warm quickly, so we recommend all pets to be on heartworm and flea and tick medication year-round. Happenings: I am sure you have a lot of success stories, but is there one particular recovery that a pet has made that really stands out? Q & A WITH DR. BECKEMAN AT VET STOP
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Dr. Beckeman: Sure. We had one parvo case—a virus that affects the intestinal track, and there is no cure for it. Usually it is a couple of days where we treat the pets symptomatically and they either make it or don’t within that timeframe. But, this one lab puppy we ended up treating for nearly three weeks, and he ended up pulling through. I think it shows the resilience that pets have—even at such a young age. Happenings: Success stories like that are why it is so important to have pet care nearby and accessible. With both living and working in New Town, what do you enjoy about this area most? Dr. Beckeman: We moved out here because my brother-in-law lives in New Town and we have other family nearby in St. Charles. I love the sense of community here. It has that kind of small town feel, but yet it is still a part of St. Charles. I like working here due to the fact that I get to know my clients and see them out and about. This allows me to partner with the owners when it comes to their pet’s care— seeing them walking with their pets, I can see their progress in real-time. By observing them outside of work, I think that helps to provide the pets with the best care possible. Even though I am fear free certified, the pets are so much more relaxed in an outside environment and less guarded overall. Happenings: That extended care is definitely a benefit to having your place of work be in the same neighborhood. That brings me to my final question. Other than having pets on a routine preventative care program, what is your top recommendation to pet owners when it comes to caring for their pets at home?
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Dr. Beckeman: Exercise and nutrition. Your pet’s weight management is a huge key to their longevity. Pets are notoriously resilient, so they may seem fine when eating a not-so-healthy diet, but that will catch-up with them at some point. The number one thing a pet owner can do to keep pets healthy is to keep them thin. Overweight pets have a shorter lifespan. Maintaining a diet is better for their joints and better for their health overall. And, that is something that pet owners have complete control over. People love their pets and at times do want to give them treats. We just encourage controlled portions—instead of a full treat, give them half. Happenings: Thanks so much for talking with us today, Dr. Beckeman. It is nice to have a place in the neighborhood to look after our pets and create a healthy atmosphere for them to thrive in the community. We wish you and the clinic all the best in the future. Dr. Beckeman, Veterinarian at Vet Stop https://vetstopanimalclinics.com/new-townlocation/ At the New Town location, along with Dr. Beckeman, is Dr. Miller every other Saturday. Dr. Miller practices at Vet Stop in St. Peters—a large facility with supervised daycare, attentive boarding, and in-house grooming. It is also a firstclass medical facility housing Dr. Smith and Dr. Thornberry.
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Happenings: Hi, Stacy. Thank you for taking the time to visit with us today. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came into Real Estate. Stacy: I think like most people, I have always been interested in real estate, home sales and looking at what is out there. I had my first investment property when I was 22 on the Hill in St. Louis, and that gave me a taste of what goes behind property management and the valuation of properties. From there, I had a marketing and advertising career. This took me all over the country. After moving around quite a bit for 15 years or so—due to the nature of the job—I wanted to move back to St. Louis. At that time was when Anheuser Busch sold, which caused a tightening in the fields of marketing. But, I wanted to look for another field that would still allow me to use my expertise in marketing and advertising. This led me to getting a position in marketing through a vendor that worked with a lot of the regional realtors—and I guess this was my first immediate exposure and behind-thescenes view to realty companies and real estate professionals. Happenings: That sounds like your prior experience in sales and marketing gave you a strong foundation to set you up for success in real estate. As for your first experience with a property sale, how did that come about, and what initial lessons did you learn? Stacy: Around eight years ago, my husband and I started renovating our home in U-City. At that time, we had an agent that was fairly new to the game— also a friend of ours—so I took it upon myself to do a lot of the background work that comes with putting a property up for sale. I took all of the photos, wrote the description and prepped everything ahead of the open-house. I also did my own analysis of the neighborhood and came up with the appropriate pricing for the home. I think through that experience I realized that it was something that I enjoyed. With the sale of that home, we decided to move out to the New Town area. Happenings: With the move to New Town, did you end up buying an existing home or go through the home building process? Stacy: Yes, we ended up building a new home. Through that process—with my background and applying things that I learned with our U-City home sale—I ended up diving into the process and actually taking part in the negotiations and other aspects that would typically fall on the agents. That is when I realized that this might be a good fit. It felt natural to me, and I ended up going through the stages of getting my realtor license. Q & A WITH STACY MOELLER
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Due to my background in the marketing world with a lot of the brokers in the area, I immediately knew that I wanted to work for Berkshire Hathaway—due to their brand awareness, strong training and comprehensive marketing. They also have strong mentoring programs. In real estate, there are so many laws and regulations to be aware of, and this is where having a mentor to help guide you through your initial setup can be quite beneficial. So, to-date, I have been an agent for five years and in the industry in one way or another for about eight years. Happenings: And, with that experience, from the perspective of a homebuyer or home seller, what are your recommendations for steps that they can take to be prepared—whether it be a first time buying or selling a home? Stacy: To speak to the buying side, people can’t get in touch with a real estate agent soon enough—even if your plan to buy a home might be two years down the road. Agents are a big resource for you when it comes to things that you need to consider prior to the home buying process. Let your agent know what you are thinking, what kind of neighborhood you are looking for and what you are looking for in a home. They have access to resources to help notify you of available properties within those specifications along the way to considering a final purchase. Don’t be shy to ask agents questions—whether it be different contractors or lenders that they might have access to. Lenders are a huge part of the process, and getting that prequalification early on can be a huge benefit to help you refine your home search within your desired price range. Agents and lenders are your best advocates. They are there to protect you and help you find the best situation possible. Happenings: And, on the flip-side, what are some things that can help those that are selling their home? Stacy: When it comes to preparing the home, making sure everything is presentable is not necessarily the first priority. I look at homes through realtor eyes—focused on common denominators such as square footage and comp homes in the area. If there are areas that need attention, finding the most affordable ways to make those improvements— offering the best options for return on investment —is the best approach. Completely remodeling a bathroom that already has things in good shape and working order, is often not something
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that will offset funds spent, when it comes to the final sale of the home. Areas that I like to focus on are what I call “cause for pause” situations—such as cracks in the foundation, problems with drywall or any other problems that might concern the buyer. One of the easiest ways that a homeowner can immediately up the value of the home is to make it inviting—this can be done with just a fresh coat of paint and clean windows. Brightening the home and making it appealing to all five senses can go a long way and help with potential buyers’ initial interest and entry point to the home— which quite often comes from photos they see in the listings and the first time they walk in the door. As far as major renovations that can increase the overall value of your home, those are usually done through expanding the square footage of your home. Finishing your basement, for example, can greatly increase your sale price. Happenings: As for the current market trends, with a higher interest rate period, how is that affecting the home buying and selling process? Stacy: Well, even though the interest rates have gone up, we are still in an historically low period. The big issue at the moment is the number of buyers compared to available home inventories. So, this is considered a sellers market— where they have more control on price points and concessions. Having a good lender can be key to getting that purchase. Make sure you have a strong pre-approval and are ready to finance before you even walk in the door. Happenings: Thank you, Stacy, this is all wonderful information. And, as a homeowner here in New Town, what do you and your family enjoy the most about living in the area? Stacy: I would say I love New Town. The sense of community is very strong here—a place where you get to know your neighbors and they look out after each other. It is also a beautiful place, especially when everyone embraces the holidays and creates such a festive display on an annual basis. The organized tours, such as the garden tour, are also wonderful. I am always amazed at what people do with these spaces in and around their homes.
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We sat down with St. Charles native Jonas Buxton. Jonas is the CEO of Bare Wood Bottle Aged Spirits—featuring an innovative design to age spirits with full barrel aged flavor post production. Happenings: Hi Jonas, thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Tell us a little about your background and how Bare Wood Spirits came alive. Jonas: Sure thing. My background from college is actually in physics and engineering. When I was in high school, I was lucky enough to take part in a mentor program at the Old Post Office that helped students understand the process of starting your own business. This, coupled with my engineering background, led to Bare Wood Spirits. Happenings: That is definitely an original combination. What aspects make Bare Wood Spirits unique and how does the process work? Jonas: When my partner initially came to me about using wooden rods to age spirits after they had been bottled, I was immediately intrigued. The only missing part was obtaining a patent for the device —which we have officially received! Happenings: And, how does the device work? Jonas: Spirits have been traditionally aged in barrels for thousands of years. The interactions between the spirits and the wood release different flavors into the spirits. The breathing action through the wood that is achieved with changes in temperature and pressure is an important part of this process. The idea of our wood rods is to allow that process to continue while in the bottle. Since we don’t have to worry about leaking, we can offer different types of wood rods to add new and exotic flavor profiles to spirits for people to experience. Q & A WITH JONAS AT BARE WOOD SPIRITS
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Happenings: That is a really cool idea. So, which types of spirits would you recommend aging further with this process? Jonas: So far one of our most popular spirits is actually Tequila. Tequila was never a spirit that I gravitated towards myself, but when we were first getting started I sampled some that had been aged for about nine months in the bottle with our process. It was the smoothest tequila that I ever tried! So, this process can be used with a range of spirits—from bourbon and rum to vodka and tequila, and even wine and beer! Happenings: So folks can really experiment with different sprits and types of wood. That is exciting. Are their any opportunities for people to sample different wood rods and combinations? Jonas: Absolutely. We are going to roll out a sample pack of three to six 50ml bottles with different spirits and wood combinations. This will give people a chance to try different flavor profiles and even try different stages of the aging process, as a bourbon that has been aged through the wood rods tastes a lot different at three months than six months. For more information on Bare Wood Spirits and bottle reservations, visit: www.barewoodspirits.com Happenings: With the patent approved, how is the roadmap coming along on the retail release and how are people able to purchase from you now? Jonas: Once I have our license from the TTB I will have the ability to reach out to distributors and retail locations. We currently have a distillery that we are working with so that we can bottle and label everything legally. At the moment, customers can put in a request to reserve a bottle on our website. We can then have that available for pick-up once the bottles are ready. Our next goal is to have our spirits stocked at retail locations, aging right there on the shelf while they are waiting to get scooped up by customers! Happenings: Thank you for telling us a bit more about the launch of Bare Wood Spirits and the exciting developments in the works. It seems like a project that you all are passionate about, and we really like how it involves the customers in the creation—with endless preferences within the aging process. Jonas: Most definitely. We are really looking forward to the next chapter and the journey with Bare Wood Spirits. Happenings: That sounds great. We wish you all future success! Looking forward to sampling some of the creations. Captions happenings. B U S I N E S S
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FRE N C H T OWN
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PAI N T T H E T OWN Photos courtesy of Lindsey Schmiemeier and The City of St. Charles
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Clubs FEATURED EVENT 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 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 LINE DANCING Monthly happenings. U P C O M I N G REIKI CIRCLE Monthly PA G E 4 9 | U P C O M I N G
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HAPPENINGS MAGAZINESUMMER CANOE TRIP! Join us for three days two nights on the beautiful Mississippi River Water Trail in the backyard of Orchard Farm. The trip will leave from the Cuivre River Confluence of the Mississippi River and end at Hideaway Harbor. Trip includes camping on beaches of two of the main islands along the route — complete with swimming, sand, bird watching and campfire food. To book your spot and for questions, please e-mail zac@370valley.com or call 636-312-0422