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Looking for a good time in West County? Head to Good News Brewing Co.’s new location at 2603 West Ave. in Wildwood for a pick-me-up of some hot pizza and cold beer. 

Good News opened its sixth location at the intersection of Old Manchester Road and Highway 109. With other locations in O’Fallon, Defiance, Augusta, St. Charles, and Alton, Illinois, the newest location marks owner Dan Tripp’s first foray into St. Louis County. 

“A lot of our customers are cyclists, so a lot of them are [on] the Katy Trail. They were urging me to find something in [the area near] Wildwood,” said Tripp.

 Responding to the public demand, the Wildwood location opened its doors in May and is packed with families, couples and people looking to kick back and relax.

Step inside the 2,000-square-foot indoor tasting room to be greeted by a minimalist design featuring black and white with wooden accents. Furnished with picnic tables and metal bar stools, the open space turns this brewery into a gathering place where family and friends can share the restaurant’s namesake “good news” over a pint. With drinks and fresh pizza just an order away, conversations tend to flow as freely as beer from the tap.

“One of my favorite things is to walk around and look at how many people are not on their cell phones. It’s a special thing that people are here to interact, to have fun. [Nowadays] people just aren’t going to restaurants, and [when they are], everyone’s just on their phones. You don’t see that here,” Tripp said.

As you take a step outside, the space transforms from a refined indoor experience into an outdoor backyard bash, with games like cornhole and bocce ball, along with a small stage for local musicians.  Pop in on a Friday night to enjoy the fall weather, try some local food trucks, and listen to local bands. Good News aims to be the backyard for Wildwood every Friday night, Tripp explains.

Their signature sourdough wood-fired pizzas are made in-house, baked to crispy perfection right in front of your eyes. Try the aptly named Vampire Deathwish, layered with garlic sauce, spinach, feta and mozzarella cheese, and wash it down with the Local 636 Hazy IPA, one of Good News’ most popular beers. 

“Good News prides itself on having something for everyone,” Tripp said. “I like to call them approachable beers. You get someone in here who isn’t really a craft beer enthusiast, but there’s something for everyone.”

For those new to the craft beer scene, Tripp recommends the Belgian White with hints of coriander and orange. The beers pair well with the Jalapeno Popper Pizza, with the signature Boom Boom sauce, jalapenos, bacon and crushed Fritos that’s topped off with a drizzle of ranch.

If you’re looking for something unique, try the Hazelnut Coffee Milk Stout, a perfect balance of hazelnut and rich coffee. Not a fan of IPAs? The Lime-Tangerine Sour, a crisp, bright, wheat-based ale, might be up your alley. Or, as the fall festivities approach, order their seasonal pumpkin brew, an amber ale with just the right hint of pumpkin spice. 

As business increases, Tripp has plans to open more locations in the St. Louis region, including an additional brewhouse at the Wildwood location, along with the company’s existing brewhouse in Augusta.

“Our goal is to get families and friends to gather and hang out and spend the afternoon together. That’s our focus and our priority, and that’s our mission,” Tripp said. “That’s kind of why we started, to be a light in a darkened world.”

Visit Good News Brewing Co.’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages for more updates. 

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Once a year, Walter Le Pere American Legion Post #208 holds a flag retirement ceremony for donated flags ready to be relieved of duty.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, the Legion members gathered at Post #208 to observe what Manchester Mayor Mike Clement described as a “respectful” and “dedicated” ceremony. He said it was “an expression of how beautiful the flag truly is.” 

“It has so much meaning,” Clement said. “And in my proclamation, I commented that this flag, through the generations, has flown over battlefields, over city halls, over government buildings, schools and churches. I called it the most powerful symbol of America.”

With the retired flag in arms, American Legion members marched by drumbeat as they carried the flag over to a charcoal grill, where it was set ablaze. As the flag was consumed in flames, fellow veterans, residents and a local troop of Boy Scouts watched in a respectful silence.

“They're learning the importance and the meaning of the flag and how to treat it, and they themselves were a part of that ceremony,” Clement said. “These are really important life lessons for the scouts.”

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, in 1937 the American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies, which states, "The approved method of disposing of unserviceable flags has long been that they be destroyed by burning."

While the recent ceremony only retired one flag, Post #208 accepts old American flags and will dispose of them properly. Drop off old flags at retirement box locations such as the one in Post #208 (225 Old Sulphur Spring Road) or at the Manchester Justice Center.

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Craving a snack after doing some grocery shopping? Come to Tatva Cafe at 15801 Manchester Road feeling hungry and leave feeling satiated. Located next to Bharath Bazar, the 1,300 square foot space has been whipping up delicious South Indian food since opening its doors to the public last fall.

Jars of freshly made snacks line the walls, and glass containers of achar, India- style pickles, sit behind the counter. Listen to the jingling of the colorful wind chimes hanging from the ceiling mingle with the traditional Indian music playing from the speakers. Owner Ms. Reddy says Tatva symbolizes the five elements of the universe. The decor is meant to evoke memories of traditional Indian cafes like Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular chain in South India.

“We wanted to make it South Indian authentic, like how you typically have the Rameshwaram Cafes in India,” Reddy said.

In the coming months, the cafe has plans to have a live pani puri station outside the cafe, just like in India, Reddy said. “So we're waiting on some permissions [from the city right now]. Once that is done, probably we'll have a live pani puri station like typical India, where people come and [eat pani puri] sitting outside,” Reddy said.

The mark of a good cafe is in its beverages, and Tatva Cafe’s chai is like no other. Reddy calls it Irani chai, and explains that the milk is boiled for 3 hours and uses "secret ingredients" to make the tea thicker.

“There are people who love our chai. They come all the way, like 30 miles from Lake Saint Louis. I have customers from Maryland Heights who just come for tea and go,” Reddy said.

Of course, chai time would be incomplete without the accompanying snacks like pakodas, vegetables dipped in a spiced batter, fried to crispy perfection. Or, try some punugulu, a crispy, savory snack from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh made with rice and urad dhal batter.

But what Tatva is known for is their dosas, a crispy, savory lentil pancake that’s typically made out of a fermented batter of rice and urad dhal.

“If you have tried dosas in any other Indian restaurant, those are crunchy, in and out. But ours are small sized, thick. We have special batter we prepare by our own chef,” Reddy said.

Tatva’s menu isn’t just limited to their tea and snacks; don’t miss out on the thali combo, which includes rice, flatbread, a choice of five curries, a lentil soup called Sambar, spicy pickle, a crispy savory lentil chip called Papad, and a dessert. Not feeling that voracious? Opt for a combo of rice, flatbread, and a choice of two curries for a few bucks less.

Or, if it’s looking to be a quick meal kind of day, pick up some steamed rice cakes called Idlis, or try Vada, a savory lentil donut fried to crispy, delicious perfection. And don’t leave without trying the poori, fried flatbread with a choice of a side of dal, curried lentils, chole, curried chickpeas, or a paneer side dish.

Tatva makes their food fresh, in-house, every day. The produce comes in fresh from neighboring grocery Bharath Bazar to craft their signature curries.

Reddy explained that while the ingredients might vary, the menu typically adheres to a vegetable fry, gravy gravy-type curry, a paneer side dish, and a lentil-based dal dish. “So we ensure we have all these four types of [curries]. But the vegetables change every day. One day it's okra, one day it's brinjal, one day it's bottle gourd,” Reddy said.

Have a dietary restriction or allergy? Don’t hesitate to ask for accommodations, as Tatva offers egg-free and onion- and garlic-free options.

“I feel there's no such space for them [vegetarians] where they can come and eat with freedom, like not thinking about what dishes we are using, whether we are swapping [between using] Veg or non-veg [utensils]. They are free from that stress. They just come enjoy the food,” Reddy said.

Visit their website or follow Tatva Cafe on Instagram for more updates.

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The city of Manchester’s Lyceum building is officially back in business.

On March 29th, the historic Lyceum building held an open house event where the public could check out what the refurbished space offers. 

“We know there are a lot of people that are looking for a place to connect and make community art or learn more about the arts,” Parks & Recreations Director Kathryn Schien said. “And so we're so excited to bring those together and to see everyone come out and support that was so cool.”

Summer class schedules have already been posted. While the Lyceum is open to all, Manchester residents are eligible for a discount, Schien said.

To reserve a spot, those interested can check out the Manchester Parks & Recreation website for more class details or call (636) 391-6326.

Currently, the parks department offers a variety of classes, including crochet, tapestry making, summer punch needling, youth photography, printmaking, and more. 

“And we also wanted to leave room (in the schedule) because we think there’s going to be a lot of artists in the community that reach out and say, ‘oh, I want to teach a class, or I'm interested in this,” Schien said.

As community interest in the Lyceum grows, Schien hopes that the Lyceum can grow to include things like a stage for performances, artist studios and more. 

“So we're really excited about this, and it is just the first step, but there are so many cool artists in the county that deserve a space to come and be, and sometimes it is worth driving into the city, but sometimes you want something closer to home too,” Schien said. 

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Tucked away in a strip mall corner by Andy’s Frozen Custard, Fuad Khalil and his team have been quietly slinging dough and whipping up delicious and dietary-friendly pizza options at Mizan’s Pizza at 15523 Manchester Road. 

A long-time resident of Ballwin, Khalil noticed the lack of halal options for the local Muslim community. “Because when we go to order something for the mosque or any events, we have a hard time explaining to people like, ‘Hey, I need no pork,’” Khalil said. “Some people refuse. Some people, they [get] confused.”

Halal refers to a specific way an animal is processed according to Muslim law. Halal chicken has a different taste to it than regular chicken, Khalil explains. Experience the difference by trying Mizan’s signature chicken shawarma pizza: mozzarella cheese, tomato, pickles, parsley, and pieces of chicken shawarma drizzled with a creamy garlic sauce.

Customers are most excited for the American Hottest pizza, which has turkey-based halal pepperoni, Khalil said. Traditionally, Muslims avoid eating pork because it is forbidden in Islam.

Don’t leave without trying the gyro pizza, where each bite features perfectly spiced, juicy gyro meat drizzled with a creamy tzatziki sauce. 

Grab a bite of the latest addition to the menu: the chicken tikka pizza. It’s Khalil’s favorite dish to order at Indian restaurants, so he put it on a pizza. 

A new day means new dough, and Mizan makes theirs fresh daily. Like its name Mizan, which means “scale” in Arabic, each ingredient is measured out and proofed overnight to ensure a soft yet crispy crust. 

Not a pizza lover? Mizan also offers a selection of wings, burgers, calzones and salads. To satisfy the sweet tooth, try some specialty baklava. 

Since opening its doors to the public this spring, Mizan Pizza has already garnered several regular customers and a bustling takeout business. “Some people ask, like, hey, what's halal? And we explained to them, and they've been like a customer now, they come from regularly like, 'Hey, your food is great,” Khalil said.

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Framing the measure as a move to “restore oversight and accountability,” the St. Louis County Council has added Prop B to the April 8 General Municipal ballot. 

If approved by a simple majority of voters, this bill would give the county council the authority to remove the county counselor and/or the head or director of any department by a vote of two-thirds. 

St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page criticized the measure at the Feb. 11 county council meeting, referring to it as “Prop Bad.” Page said the county had better ways to spend taxpayer money than on lawsuits surrounding the bill.

Introduced by Council Chair Rita Heard Days (D-District 1), the first iteration of the bill would’ve granted the council powers to remove the county executive, but that language was removed from the final draft of the bill. Days said she proposed the legislation after witnessing what council members call a lack of accountability and transparency.

“This is not about political payback or personality conflicts,” Days said. “It's about making certain that anyone entrusted with authority, be it a department head or our top elected official, answers to the taxpayers of St. Louis County.”

After the bill was passed to add Prop B to the ballot, department heads filed a lawsuit against the council and county Board of Elections to get the item removed from the ballot, arguing that the amendment would give sweeping new powers to the council and that the ballot language is misleading to voters. 

A circuit court judge ruled in favor of the county employees. An attorney appealed that decision on behalf of the council and an appellate judge ruled that the time to challenge the proposition is after the election. 

“As it stands, voters will have to vote on this absurd ballot language,” Page said. “I met with five of the seven council members over the course of today and there was a lot of talk on how to save money. One answer is not spending almost $600,000 in unbudgeted taxpayer funds on a flawed ballot question.”

However, council member Shalonda Webb (D-District 4) pushed back against Page’s characterization of the proposition, arguing that labeling it “Prop Bad” in the council chambers was inappropriate.

“I think that’s already you persuading the voters on how you feel about the proposition and it does not give this council an opportunity to have accurate, complete, accountable information provided to them by the directors of this county,” Webb said. “It’s about having checks and balances. And it’s about when a director is asked for specific information that they don’t give us partial information, or wrong information, whether deliberately or not deliberately.”

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It’s that time of year when temperatures consistently reach 90 degrees, so head to Kwality Indian Eatery & Ice Cream to try some unique flavors and cool off.

Located at 2550 Highway K in O’Fallon, Kwality opened its doors to the public last fall, serving authentic Indian cuisine and Indian ice cream flavors.

“There are a lot of [Indian] restaurants on Manchester Road, but I didn't see any on Highway K for the people who are living here,” Abbineni said. “I see [during] Covid, so many [people] moved to this location, but I didn't see any [Indian restaurants] coming here.”

iKwality is the latest endeavor for the owners Koushik Koganti, Avinash Abbineni, Chandra Garimidi, and Hemanth Bezawada. Koushik Koganti and team own several restaurant franchises across the USA and Canada, such as Godavari, Madras Dosa Co., Khiladi, Vaanga, 1947, Boston Halal, United Telugu Kitchens, and Ishtaa.

In a conversation with Sauce Magazine, co-owner Avinash Abbineni explained that the idea for an ice creamery blossomed after New Jersey-based ice cream maker Kwality opened a location near their Godavari branch in Austin, Texas.

“When we opened Kwality, we wanted it to be more than just a place to eat,” Abbineni said. “We imagined a spot where parents could bring their kids after school, where families could enjoy a full meal and a sweet treat in one place, and where everyone, from every background, would feel welcome.”

While the two share a similar name, it’s not to be confused. Kwality Indian Eatery & Ice Cream sources its ice cream from the Kwality brand based in New Jersey, which produces 25 different varieties of traditional Indian flavors like paan, chickoo, butterscotch, beetroot halwa, and malai. Try the bright pink beetroot halwa ice cream, with a creamy, floral taste. Or cool down with the Ferro Rocher milkshake, with real Ferro Rocher chocolates blended with vanilla ice cream. Don’t leave without slurping down a falooda, a cold dessert made with milk, rose syrup, vermicelli, and sweet basil seeds.

One of Kwality’s defining features is what Abbineni describes as the “fast casual” dining experience. Inside the 2,800 square foot space, a projector plays South Indian music videos, groups of friends and families mingle in the open dining area, and enjoy ice cream in the sunshine under the rainbow-striped awning.

First time at Kwality’s and not sure what to order? Abbineni recommends the paneer pulao, a basmati rice dish with cashews and cubes of paneer, lightly spiced with black pepper that comes with a side of raitha, a yogurt condiment, and some chutney.

Feeling a little peckish? Try the paneer kati roll–scrambled paneer in a flavorful yogurt sauce, with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions wrapped in a soft, flaky flatbread.

The restaurant and ice creamery are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekends.

“You ask any time in the day, we will give you [breakfast items like] dosa, idli, vada. So we're not closing during the middle [of the day]. So the [customers] can eat everything we have, like fast food, samosa, samosa chaat, street-style [foods], like vada pav. So customers can order all these [items] anytime,” Abbineni said.

Follow Kwality Indian Eatery & Ice Cream on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.

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The team behind Red Chili Indian Cuisine & Bar recently debuted a new concept called Mint & Martini, an Indian and Italian fusion restaurant, at 2490 Taylor Road in the Dierbergs Town Center in Wildwood, in the former home of Botanica.

Mint & Martini opened earlier this summer and has been serving up fusion dishes like the maharani curry and a Tikka Vikka pizza, two of Mint & Martini owner Ripal Patel’s favorite dishes on the menu. Patel said that she wanted to create a menu for a broader audience, without just focusing on Indian cuisine. 

“This is an Indian fusion of Italian, so we have some pizzas, pasta, and stuff for a broader audience, not just Indian [cuisine],” Patel said.

Out of the oven comes the Tikka Vikka pizza, which substitutes the classic pizza red sauce for a spiced tomato- and cream-based sauce that adds a sweet and earthy touch. Never pass up on the opportunity to try Mint & Martini’s signature curry sauce, the maharani sauce. Customers can choose from shrimp, chicken or salmon or opt for a vegetarian, potato-based version called the maharani aloo.

Make sure to wash it all down with a Mint & Martini, something off the cocktail menu that Patel describes as “completely different.” It’s made with mint leaf, simple syrup, vodka, a peppermint pastille, dry vermouth and sauvignon blanc wine. Don’t skip out on trying the rest of Mint & Martini’s extensive drink menu, which offers 10 varieties of martinis, spirits and some interesting nonalcoholic concoctions, such as a paan shot and a rose lassi, a yogurt-based drink. 

Mint & Martini’s quaint and partially hidden-from-view location provides a perfect spot for patio seating. The 4,000-square-foot patio can house nearly 100 guests to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, including an outdoor bar. Complete with a bar, a buffet area and a banquet hall, the 6,750-square-foot interior feels light and airy, with plenty of windows for natural light.

Mint & Martini opens at 11 a.m. daily, closing at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight on Friday and Saturday. Follow Mint & Martini on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

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Officials want to hear what residents envision for St. Louis County in the next 25 years. 

The county recently held a series of community workshops to gauge residents’ opinions on a variety of issues, including housing, infrastructure, transportation, sustainability and employment opportunities and growth. 

The workshops are part of the county’s goal to create what’s being called “STLCO 2050: a Sustainable and Equitable Comprehensive Plan.” 

“These are sort of the first flush of high-level, high-impact priority draft recommendations that the plan could include,” said Jacob Trimble, county director of planning.

Residents could attend any of the three workshops in West County, South County and North County, where attendees could comment on various policy recommendations.

“Yeah, the policies up on these boards are already ones that we think are high-level,” said Sean Tapia, a project manager with EACOM, a firm St Louis County has brought in to assist with the process. “What we'll be doing is collecting that feedback from folks, consolidating it and then using that to expand on the list of policies that we have to write more and to tie to those direct outcomes.”

Nearly 40 years have passed since the county last adopted a new comprehensive plan. 

According to Trimble, the response from residents has been overwhelmingly positive, with shared concerns surrounding community safety, public transportation options and more. 

“We're not done with the process. This is all part of a bigger scenario-planning process,” Trimble said. “So we are doing a lot of technical work about creating forecasts for what the county could be like over the next 25 years.”

The draft STLCO 2050 Plan is expected to be ready for consideration during the winter of 2024/2025. In accordance with the County's adoption procedure, the STLCO 2050 is projected to be formally adopted in Fall 2025. More information is available on the St. Louis County website.

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The Ground Coffeehouse and Plant Shop at 109 Ballpark Drive in Ballwin combines the two things owner Shannon Moore loved to do to pass the time during the pandemic – coffee and visiting garden nurseries. 

“And my friend and I would go, and we'd grab a coffee somewhere and go walk around the plant shop or a nursery. And that became a real big hobby of mine, really self-taught, but it became a love of mine,” said Moore. “So I'm like, why not merge the two and have two business models to fall back on and just make it a very cute, aesthetic place for people to come hang out?”

Located in an old craftsman-style house situated across from the Ballwin Police Department, the historic house has been preserved to the best of Moore's ability, but she was also able to give it some of her flair. 

“Everything tells a story. I feel like all these old homes and old buildings tell stories and St. Louis has so many beautiful ones that we just constantly tear down to build new and again. Being an architecture buff, I just don't believe in that.”

Most of the furniture in the 2,000-square-foot space is thrifted, Moore explains. Some pieces, like the condiment stand, are sentimental in nature – Moore said that she refurbished furniture from her wedding venue after it burned down. 

Moore opened doors to the public earlier this summer, serving botany-themed drinks, such as the Monstera Mint Mocha or the Ground Latte, which combines caramel and Madeline flavors. 

 “And I knew it wasn’t something that was actually common amongst a lot of the other coffee shops, especially chains, so I thought it would be something that would kind of stand out a little,” Moore said. 

For the non-coffee drinkers, try the Bird of Paradise smoothie or the Pink Princess Pothos. 

“We tried to make the menu expansive enough that everyone, even people who don’t drink coffee could find something when they’re here,” Moore said.

 Customers also have the option to sit and drink their beverage in the lower level where the plant shop is located. All the plants come from a local nursery. Moore added that she hopes to start propagating and selling her own plants one day. 

“We love our plants here, if anyone ever needs help or advice with their plants, we would love to help with that too, of course,” Moore said. 

When it comes to The Ground Coffeehouse, everything from the light fixtures to the coffee beans is locally sourced. 

“So it's pretty cool to know where the source of our beans come from, and then they're roasted locally as well. And so we wanted to keep with local, helping local,” Moore said.

Come check out The Ground Coffeehouse and Plant Shop, a woman-owned business serving up coffee and plants daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow the Ground Coffeehouse and Plant Shop on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.

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An executive order signed by Gov. Mike Parson on Aug. 1 banning the sale of foods containing psychoactive cannabis compounds like delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Missouri, unless those foods come from an approved source, is not yet in effect. Implementation of the executive order was delayed when Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft rejected the emergency rules detailing enforcement of the order, as the order did not meet the requirements of emergency status as defined in Missouri statutes, a spokesperson from Ashcroft’s office stated. The order now may take several months to be implemented. 

Some gummy products containing THC are packaged in wrappers similar to popular gummy candy consumed by children, which can make it difficult to distinguish from non-THC edibles. These products can be purchased in gas stations and liquor stores. On Aug. 29, The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) reported a 600% increase in cannabis poisoning among children under five since 2018.

Under the executive order, retailers with liquor licenses will face disciplinary action if they are found selling these products, according to the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). 

However, the executive order would not apply to cannabis products sold by licensed establishments under Missouri’s medical marijuana laws, regulated by the state’s Division of Cannabis Regulation.

If Ashcroft had authorized the emergency regulations, there would be no public comment period and the restrictions would have gone into effect after 10 working days. The regular regulations procedure will now need to be followed, which might take several months. 

In response to Ashcroft’s decision, on Sept. 10, Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced the establishment of a joint task force between the attorney general's office and the ATC to combat the spread of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in Missouri. 

"Together, with the help of the attorney general and his team, we will root out these cannabis products being deceptively marketed to our children until such time the General Assembly provides the statutory framework for commonsense regulations," Parson stated in a press release.

The press release went on to say that under the terms of the partnership, the ATC will be responsible for investigating its licensees who sell unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in their facilities, collecting evidence of deceptive marketing practices and referring matters to the attorney general.

According to the press release, since Sept. 1, the DHSS has visited 64 facilities, finding 39 with unregulated psychoactive cannabis products present on shelves. Thus far, 8,929 products have been embargoed through these enforcement efforts.

The office of the attorney general will create a specialized new unit within its Consumer Protection Division to evaluate referrals from the ATC and use its authority under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act to bring legal action against licensees who continue prohibited practices related to unregulated psychoactive cannabis products.

Following the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production and sale of hemp across the U.S., the demand for products containing delta-8 THC and other cannabinoids produced from hemp has increased dramatically.

“The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has jurisdiction over about 17,000 locations with liquor licenses across the state, and our team stands ready to enforce regulations to protect against these unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in these locations,” ATC State Supervisor Mike Leara said. “We have a long history of regulating intoxicating products, including related to ingredients, origin, labeling and age restrictions, and will bring this experience to this critical issue.”

In response to the governor’s executive order, the ATC filed a proposed administrative rule amendment that would ban the sale of psychedelic THC products by adding a section. This amendment disallows retailers from selling embargoed products and states that “no retailer shall sell, deliver, hold or offer for sale any food, drug, device, or cosmetic that has been embargoed by the Department of Health and Senior Services pursuant to Chapter 196, RSMo.”

The public comment period on this proposed amendment is open until Oct. 31. Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed amendment by mailing a letter to the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Central Office, 1738 E. Elm, Lower Level, Jefferson City, MO 65101, by facsimile at (573) 526-4369 or via email at atc@dps.mo.gov. At this time there is not a public hearing scheduled on this order.

After the public comment period closes, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will have a chance to review the proposed rule before sending it back to the secretary of state for publication. The rule likely would go into effect in late March at the earliest.

It’s hard to miss the city of Manchester’s iconic and historic blue- and white-trim Lyceum building, sitting at 14317 Manchester Road. 

But the building has sat empty since the city shifted its city hall location to 14317 Manchester Road last October.

It may find a new use soon, however. 

With the nearest arts opportunities miles away from Manchester residents, Parks & Recreation Director Kat Schien has proposed transforming the Lyceum into a community arts center. 

“Our families are having to travel quite a distance, and the park staff have created a three-phase vision for the immediate usage of the Lyceum that's going to allow for some immediate cash flow, a plan for expansion as time and grant funding allows to use the existing space kind of as it is,” Schien said. 

Art camps, classes and maker spaces could come to the Lyceum as early as spring 2025. With more community feedback, Schien hopes to expand the Lyceum as a space for artists and the creative-minded, complete with educational workshops, retail space and more. 

“Using the Lyceum would not only support the aging historic building but provide a much-needed space in our community,” Schien said. 

Although the Board of Aldermen hasn’t officially decided the Lyceum’s future, Mayor Mike Clement said the proposal would be looked at during a future meeting.

“I think it's going to be popular, and I think it's going to be a good, good, good win for a variety of needs,” Clement said. “But I feel it will move forward. Right now, it's kind of a dream, kind of a vision, but I think we'll have clarity pretty quick.”

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Walk onto a basketball court at the Chesterfield Sports Complex from June 10-20, and you’d have seen a summer camp like no other.

At MasterMindz Sports & Wellness Summer Camp, 64 at-risk middle school students from the Ferguson-Florissant R-II School District and St. Louis Public School District attended a two-week program that provides basketball, volleyball and social-emotional learning. The program’s cost, including transportation, program staff, meals, and more was fully subsidized by the Chesterfield Sports Association (CSA). 

“I'm a firm believer that there's a lot of kids that could be great athletes, but never have the opportunity because they don't have the finances or the means of transportation to get to a club practice or join a club to play a sport they could love. So we're helping with that,” said Stuart Duncan, executive director of the CSA.

The camp is in collaboration with Street GeeKz, a St. Louis-based non-profit organization committed to motivating youth and revitalizing unhealthy communities by way of math, literacy, mental health, sports and finance. Led by educator Santana Barnes, the camp is now in its second year. 

“These kids come from a lot of drugs, a lot of murders, a lot of killings,” Barnes said.  “A lot of conflict and they don't know what to do with the trauma so it just stacks up and what it ends up doing is showing yourself in the way of negative behaviors in the classroom. And so a lot of teachers a lot of educators, they want to solve it with ready-made pills.”

“They think that one answer will cater to one child, but the problem is, this child isn't going through the same thing that (another) child is going through. And so that's what this camp does. It deals with personal one-on-one.”

After students finish their meals, they head over to the basketball courts, where everyone is separated into groups with the camp counselors. Known as “Ya” (young adult) time, this is where social-emotional learning happens, Barnes said. 

For example, one question posed to the campers is, “How did a bad decision of yours create an unwanted consequence?” 

As students ponder the question posed, camp counselors walk around to ensure the discussions stay on track. All camp counselors are either graduated high schoolers or college students from the North County community.

“I like to use the community to kind of revitalize the community,” Barnes said. 

Once Ya time is over, campers are allowed to play basketball, volleyball or just socialize. 

At the camp, the environment is downright casual. Barnes watches the students play basketball, occasionally yelling out encouragement.

Students like Durrell Cornell, an 8th grader at Hazelwood Middle School, are encouraged to try new things like volleyball.

“And I learned to work with people because I never could have learned it (before),” Cornell said.

For Zoey Adams, a 7th grader at Carr Lane VPA Middle School, being at camp helps with building confidence.

“A lot of the times we don't feel confident, especially when teachers be telling us to speak up,” Adams said. “Most of us wasn’t confident. None of the girls won't say nothing and the boys were just looking cause they don’t know too. A lot of us have hard lives, now that I think about it.”

As the program continues to flourish, Barnes says he plans to expand this to the Riverview Gardens community and partner with the 4H program to accommodate high schoolers. 

The Chesterfield Sports Complex also has plans to give back to the community, Duncan said.

“So any additional money that we get, we're looking to give back. We're looking to, you know, do some scholarships to males and females, volleyball players, basketball players that you know are in the community. So that's something we plan on doing in the near future,” Duncan said. 

Murugan Temple of Saint Louis holds consecration ceremony of idols ahead of construction 

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Right behind the Wildwood YMCA recreational fields lies the site of the upcoming Murugan Temple of St. Louis, a project spearheaded by the devotees of the Hindu deity Lord Murugan. 

On Sept. 14-15, a consecration ceremony of smaller deities – Utsava Vighra – was held for the temple. 

Priest Shri Bharadwaj of the Hindu Temple of St. Louis conducted the ceremony and explained the significance of a Utsava Vighra. Unlike the moolavar, or stone idols, traditionally found in Hindu temples, metal idols are used when the idols need to be transported for religious ceremonies or other purposes.

“Since we don't have a proper structure of a temple, Murugan temple of St. Louis has decided to at least bring the Utsava Vigrahas (to St. Louis) so that they can function the temple for the next couple of years (until construction is complete),” Bharadwaj said. 

(Photo courtesy of Murugan Temple of St. Louis)

Devotees started a 501(c)(3) organization and purchased the land located off Turkey Track Lane in 2021. Last August, they installed two idols made out of stone. Weekly rituals will continue at the temple site where stone idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan’s trident reside. 

At the moment, the Murugan Temple continues to fundraise as they await city approval to start construction, Puja committee co-chair Alamelu Lakshmanan explained.

“And then we have to still do some fundraising, and then hopefully, in maybe two, three years, have the building [finished],” Lakshmanan said. 

Until construction concludes, the metal idols will be housed temporarily at the Wildwood Village Plaza Shopping Center. Hours of operation for visiting the temporary display will be announced at a later date via social media, Dr. Shanmugam Lakshmanan, President of the Murugan Temple of St. Louis told West Newsmagazine. 

(Photo courtesy of Murugan Temple of St. Louis)

Plans for the temple were conceptualized after devotees wanted a separate temple that reflected the traditional style of Murugan temples in India. Primarily worshipped in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the temple would reflect the six abodes of Lord Murugan. Each abode represents one of the six Murugan temples in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 

“When we do pilgrimage for Murugan, we try to go to all these six temples,” Alamelu Lakshmanan said. “And we all grew up going to all these temples (in India), so we want to showcase that to the next generation (in America).”

The Murugan temple would not only serve as a place of worship but also as a community center. 

“It's a kind of twofold,” Shanmugam Lakshmanan said. “One is spirituality, and the other is addressing the needs of the people, regardless of age, at various age groups, young, middle and old. And then keep expanding as and when the need arises.

In addition to the main temple, the plan is to include classrooms, a playground, a community center and a kitchen facility, with plans to grow produce in a garden to donate to the homeless, and more. 

“I feel like our goal is to do be something more than just a religious group, more just something that is for the community as a whole,” Yashu Senthilkumar, Murugan Temple youth group member said. 

At the consecration on Sept. 14, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami of the Kauai Hindu Monastery served as guest speaker and explained why temples are important. 

“Well, for Hindus, the temple is a way of experiencing God,” Veylanswami said. “You can go there and understand the worship. So it's a place where, as your understanding and maturity develop, you can approach it in a different way, once you learn how to worship a way of feeling God's blessing that Hindus are able to.”

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After multiple meetings and discussions regarding the construction of a new rehabilitation hospital, the doors to the Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis–West County opened on May 16. 

Located at 998 and 1002 Woods Mill Road, the 40-bed inpatient hospital will be jointly operated by BJC Health System and Encompass Health and is expected to start serving patients later this month. 

“This new, conveniently located facility will expand BJC and Encompass Health’s presence in West County, which will provide enhanced and specialized care for our patients,” said Joan Magruder, group president of BJC HealthCare. “We are thrilled to make these services available beyond the hospital setting so even more members of our community can access extraordinary care.”

The project had previously met with pushback from neighboring Ballwin residents, who had concerns regarding traffic flow, limited setbacks, parking, increased noise and light pollution. Residents argued that the influx of additional hospital staff, therapy students and visitors would further overcrowd a commercial area. 

While those residents’ concerns were listened to by the Town & Country Board of Aldermen, the board voted to approve the project on June 27, 2022. 

With the facility now open, on May 21 inpatient rehabilitation services at Missouri Baptist Medical Center will be transferred to the Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis–West County. The Missouri Baptist Medical Center facility will be converted to a Med-Surge unit, which provides general hospital patient services. 

The West County location is the fourth rehabilitation center in the region, including one in St. Peters. The West County location will provide rehabilitative services that help patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions to regain function and independence. 

“We are excited to celebrate the opening of our hospital where we will provide high-quality patient care to future patients of the West County community,” said Troy DeDecker, vice president of Encompass Health’s Central region. “Our patients remain at the forefront of our minds, and we have designed the hospital to accommodate all of their needs as they regain strength, function, hope and independence.” 

Amenities at the West County center include a therapy gym,  therapy courtyard, dining room, in-house pharmacy and dayroom area. 

“The hospital’s one-story building design provides patients with greater accessibility as transferred to different treatment and non-treatment areas of the hospital and more convenient access for families and visitors,” DeDecker said.

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A Parkway South High student has been arrested after school officials found a loaded handgun in the student’s backpack following an altercation with another student.

According to a press statement from Manchester Police, the fight began on a school bus and spilled onto the school parking lot. Administrators intervened, broke up the fight and began an investigation in cooperation with the police department. After examining the gun, officers found it to be unlawfully modified into a fully automatic weapon. 

According to an email sent to Parkway South High parents, one student cooperated with police, while the other student was “pursued and apprehended” by police. That student, 18-year-old Edward Kingston, has been charged by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with a Class E felony for unlawful use of a weapon and with a Class D felony of unlawful possession or transport of an illegal weapon. Kingston was transferred to St. Louis County Jail with bail at at $100,000.

Parkway South Principal Angie Pappas-Muyco said in an email to parents that the gun was not displayed at school. She added that the district would continue investigating the incident, and the students involved would “receive discipline ranging from lengthy superintendent-level suspension up to expulsion.”

“Possession of a weapon at school is a serious violation of the Missouri Safe Schools Act and the student will be excluded from school pending the outcome of the investigation,” Pappas-Muyco wrote.

Following Tuesday’s incident, additional security has been placed on Parkway South’s campus.

“The safety and well-being of our students and staff are always our highest priority and will remain a central focus of our actions and communications with all of you,” Pappas-Muyco told parents. She expressed gratitude to the school’s administrators and Manchester Police in keeping students and staff safe during the incident. 

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The Monarch Fire Protection District recently turned to the community for answers after facing increasing demand for services and rising operational costs.

On April 29, 30 and May 4, the fire district hosted community workshops for residents to attend and learn about problems the district is experiencing. 

Monarch Fire Chief Russ Adams said that the fire district has been stretched thin to accommodate the increased number of EMS calls. 

“So a lot of these happen, but the big thing is 72% of our calls in 2023 were EMS (related) so that means they needed an ambulance, the paramedics and transport to an emergency facility in St. Louis County,” Adams said.

Adams added that the fire district has been looking to replace outdated firefighting gear that contains PFAS, a synthetic chemical compound found in clothing that can be carcinogenic. 

“We're needing to replace that gear, and that's one big issue because our guys are running around on calls, basically sucking up cancer,” Adams said. “We've had three people die (over the course of a decade) in our department from cancer related from firefighting.”

To address these issues, Monarch has asked the community to weigh in on three potential options that would equip the fire district with the appropriate means to replace gear and purchase additional ambulances.

Option 1 involves raising the residential tax rate by 19 cents, which means that homes valued at $400,000 will see a $12 per month increase. The 19-cent tax increase would allow the fire district to add two ambulances to its fleet and hire the staff necessary to man the vehicles.

Option 2 involves raising the residential tax rate by 15 cents, which means that homes valued at $400,000 will see a $10 per month increase. A 15-cent tax increase would allow the fire district to purchase a single ambulance and hire additional staff to get it in service.

The third option means keeping the status quo. At the three workshops, residents were asked to select the option that they’d prefer. 

With the community workshops concluded Adams explained that a citizen committee would review residents' opinions before presenting their findings at the upcoming Board of Directors meeting on May 23. The board will then decide whether to move forward with placing an item on the August ballot, Adams said. 

Monarch currently serves residents in Chesterfield, Wildwood, Maryland Heights, Clarkson Valley, St. Louis County, Creve Coeur and Ballwin. Adams said that the fire district currently has five engine houses, but only four ambulances, which makes it difficult to serve the 80,000-plus residents who live in the district.

Deputy Chief of EMS Nick Smith pointed out that establishments like Top Golf, the Saint Louis Premium Outlet Mall, Chesterfield Sports Complex and the multitude of senior care facilities put additional stress on the fire district.

“Also (it) creates increased call volume, which takes away from the critical resources that are close to your home,” Smith said. “ So I think that is a really important point to understand that we'll see further here. For us as first responders, timing is everything. Minutes literally make the difference between life and death.”

On average, Monarch receives more than 6,300 EMS calls, 2,700 fire rescue and other calls according to Smith. 

“Right now we only have four ambulances to serve our entire population of residents and visitors,” Smith said. “So that's one ambulance for roughly every 20,000 residents which does not include the huge influx of visitors during the day and weekend hours.”

Nearly 10% of Monarch’s calls have a wait time of 10 minutes or more for an ambulance, Smith said. 

“A common phrase in EMS is that ‘time equals muscle’ right? For someone having a heart attack, those minutes matter and survival rates drop about seven to 10 percent. For somebody in cardiac arrest, for every minute that goes by that they don't receive defibrillation, brain death occurs in as little as six minutes,” Smith said.

Newly elected Wildwood City Council member Bob Mabry (Ward 2) attended Saturday’s workshop and said that he was surprised at the district’s lengthy response times.

“I deserve a higher quality of staffing with support as Ladue, Clayton or Huntleigh, or any other snooty municipalities,” Mabry said. “When I saw that their response times averaged this (time) and the winners were this (time), I go, ‘Well, that’s going to be my family that it took 25 minutes to get to. And if I lived in Sappington, it would’ve taken 11 minutes. And I only had to pay $12 a month to be a contender and win that race?”

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As part of a bill passed by the Missouri Legislature, the city of Manchester is now offering first responders mental wellness checks. 

Senate Bill 551 was passed in 2021 and aims to provide first responders with a way to deal with the stress of a critical incident or emotionally difficult event. 

“With police work, there's a lot of stress that comes with it,” Manchester Deputy Chief of Police Craig Smith said. “Too long hours, the calls that would go on, the time away from our families. Just how you're treated by the public, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's horrible. It just takes a toll on a police officer's mental health. So that was the whole idea behind passing this law is to kind of help the officers, give them an opportunity to check in with a mental health professional every so often, just to see if there's anything that they can help [with].”

SB551 requires first responders to meet with a program service provider once every three to five years for a mental health check-in. Justin Klocke, Manchester city administrator, explained that the annual wellness checks are only for police officers, and the option is extended to officer’s families.

“The legislation gave us a few years to get these enacted, it went into effect, but the legislation actually reads that wellness checks only need to be performed every 3 to 5 years, so we’re within that time frame to provide wellness checks,” Klocke said. “But now that we’re implementing this, the board of aldermen and the mayor chose to go above and beyond and decided to do annual wellness checks.”

Before SB551, Manchester offered all of its employees voluntary wellness checks provided through H&H Health Services. Now, the only difference is that SB551 and its statute require officers to have annual mental wellness checks within that set time period, Klocke explained.

With 27 years on the police force, Smith understands the stressful nature of the job and emphasized that all sessions would be strictly confidential.

“The average person sees a handful of traumatic events in their life,” Smith said. “A police officer could see upwards of 300-plus tragic accidents during the career which takes a toll on your body and mind. So I think it's really important and it’s going to do a lot of good for us.”

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On Friday, April 12, administrators at Parkway Central High were alerted of a substitute teacher who took down Black Lives Matter (BLM) and pride signs in a teacher’s classroom and tore them up. 

The substitute teacher, now identified as Jason Bryant Jennings, told West Newsmagazine that he destroyed the posters on Friday, April 5. He subsequently posted about the incident on X, on Monday, April 8, when he was subbing at Parkway Central again. 

“Yeah, so BLM is obviously a corrupt Marxist organization that should not be promoted to kids," Jennings said. "Teachers should not be – and not just teachers, but adults in general – should not be promoting pride or anything of that nature to students, to youth.”

Jennings is a Republican candidate running for State Representative in District 100, which encompasses the city of Ballwin and portions of Winchester. According to Jennings’ campaign website, he believes that “schools should be accountable for what they’re teaching.” 

Days after posting about the destroyed posters, Parkway Central administrators caught wind of Jennings’ actions and subsequently escorted him off campus. In an email to Parkway Central High parents, students and staff, Principal Dr. Tim McCarthy said that in addition to damaging the classroom, there were reports Jennings also solicited votes from students. 

“Based on my initial investigation and after consulting with human resources, I addressed the incident with the individual and escorted him out of the building,” McCarthy wrote. “Kelly Education employs the substitute who has worked part-time in some Parkway schools since 2022.”

However, Jennings denies soliciting votes from students, adding that Parkway Central isn’t located in the district he’s campaigning in. 

“So those kids at Parkway Central, they don’t even live in (District 100), and they’re not even old enough to vote,” Jennings said. “There’s no reason why I would do that, I would have nothing to gain by doing that.” 

A spokesperson from Kelly Education Services told West Newsmagazine that Jennings is suspended from all future assignments pending the completion of the investigation. 

“We do not tolerate any employee behavior that violates our policies or the policies of our school partners,” the statement read. “Our substitute educators undergo rigorous screenings and background checks before they are eligible for any assignment. During onboarding, our substitute educators receive role-specific training and are required to confirm that they understand and agree to follow Kelly Education and district policies. We are working with the school administration as we investigate the matter, and the substitute teacher has been suspended from all future assignments pending its completion. We will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”

According to Parkway’s staff conduct handbook, employees are prohibited from engaging in political campaigning, including promoting, advocating for or opposing specific issues. This includes and is not limited to the posting of political materials or petitions (unless part of an academic exercise) and the distribution of campaign materials to students in any manner that would indicate that an employee is furthering a personal political view on candidates for public office or issues of public policy. 

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As progress continues towards development of a proposed early childhood center between Wren Hollow Elementary and Southwest Middle in the Parkway School District, nearby residents have repeatedly expressed concern about traffic safety. 

The early childhood center is part of a $265 million bond issue that voters passed in November 2022. Expected to cost around $30-$35 million, Parkway’s second early childhood center will serve 300 students and house Parkway’s Teaching Learning and Accountability department employees. 

The residents’ concerns regarding the project were addressed at the March 18 Manchester’s Board of Aldermen meeting, where the board passed an ordinance that would double fines for certain traffic violations. Increased fines will be applied to the intersection of Wren Avenue and Sulphur Springs Road to the Parkway School District Southwest Middle School property line. Fines will also be increased from Canary Drive from Wren Avenue, including the intersection at Cardinal Lane and Big Bend Woods Drive. Violations subject to the ordinance include speeding, following too closely, careless and imprudent driving and failure to yield for stop signs or pedestrians. 

“This is great news to be able to pass the legislation that you just passed, and the city's commitment to safety and addressing some of the traffic problems around in new developments are happening,” said Manchester resident Dan Miller. “And although this helps with existing traffic and safety issues, that does not necessarily address capacity issues.”

In addition to traffic concerns, residents have raised concerns about flooding, school safety, and the use of green space. 

“And I have raised responsible and capable children who I trust to walk to school,” said Manchester resident Kayla Nenenswander. “But I do not trust the people that cut through 2:30 p.m. Every day we have to move to the backyard because the high school gets let out. And those kids are wild. And I can only imagine what that will do with the early childhood center how much more traffic that will be in our backyard. And my job is among us to protect my children. And that is to be so difficult when there are people that don't understand the value of the children passing through.”

Parkway is conducting a traffic study of the area and is expected to submit its official site development proposal to the city of Manchester when the study is finished. Although the district's initial goal is to start the permitting process this spring and start construction by late summer or early autumn, with an October 2026 opening, residents will still have a chance to hear about Parkway’s plans for its early childhood center at a public meeting on March 26 at 6 p.m. at Southwest Middle.

Likewise, the city of Manchester will also hold a public meeting with the police department and the public works department present on April 3 to hear from the residents.

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Add a little spice to brunch plans as St. Louis' newest Latin fusion brunch spot gears up to open to the public in March at 624 New Ballas Road in Creve Coeur. Oats & Honey Cafe is the newest venture from Ericka L. Vega, Jorge Maya and Jerry Flores, who currently own and manage Las Fuentes Restaurant locations in Arnold, Oakville, Affton and Florissant.

"Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day; I went to one famous [breakfast] place over there [in Mexico] and I even skipped classes to go eat [there]," Vega said. 

That passion for all things breakfast inspired the trio to create a fusion menu that combines Latin cuisine with traditional American breakfast food. Fusion plates include eggs Benedict with birria meat, chilaquiles topped with egg and avocado, barbacoa tacos, salads and fresh, house-made Mexican pan bread and pastries such as conchas.

"We don't want to say it's all Mexican food, more Latin food, because we're going to feature some dishes from different countries," Maya said. "You will have, for example, an eggs Benedict, but then we're going to be adding chorizo or carnitas – change the style a little bit. Since you have your classic omelet, we're going to have our own twist."

As a nod to the juicerias in Mexico, Maya wanted to bring the experience of serving freshly pressed fruit juices to Oats & Honey, as well as full bar offerings. "We got an extractor [for] extracting fresh juices, so that's half of the bar, and the other half has alcohol," Maya said. “So, it's kind of like healthy for the week and alcohol for the weekend.”

In addition to freshly pressed, organic juices, Oats & Honey will also serve coffee and espresso drinks, bloody marys, screwdrivers and mimosas. Like the complimentary chips and salsa served at Las Fuentes, complimentary mini conchas will be offered to each table at Oats & Honey. 

The café is around 4,000 square feet and has a seating capacity of 105. Large windows let natural light flow in, reflecting off the taffy-colored floors. Vega describes the décor as Bohemian with a modern touch. "I think about this place like healthy, natural and rugged, like the Bohemian style. And you know that they are the colors of the bee and the oats, and prompt you to go inside and understand that it's a healthy and clear place," Vega said. 

Maya said he has plans to one day integrate Bear Robotics' food delivery robot into Oats & Honey's serving staff, allowing food to be delivered to the luxury condos situated above the café. "There's this delivery robot that you can put the food inside the box, and it goes out and it communicates with the elevator, chooses the floor, finds your apartment and delivers to your door," Maya said.

The Creve Coeur restaurant is just the first location in the group's plan to turn Oats & Honey into a franchise. "One of the reasons why it took a little longer is because we've been recording and planning every step of the way. We've been really slow on moving forward with different things, with the logo, with the colors, everything is being recorded for brand to be able to replicated faster in the future," Maya said. 

Expected to open its doors to the public by early March, Oats & Honey Cafe will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Follow Oats & Honey on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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Nestled between Syberg's Chesterfield and the Old Spaghetti Factory at 17392 Chesterfield Airport Road is Chesterfield’s newest Indian fusion restaurant, Amrut Fusion. The restaurant is the brainchild of Karunakar Mandadi and Anis Hyderabad House owner Anil Jukanti.

Amrut Fusion opened in January 7, serving dishes like chatpata nachos, peri peri chicken wings, dosa quesadilla and more; however, the owners aim to ensure their restaurant has something that appeals to everyone, particularly children.

“So, at every Indian restaurant, our kids are never satisfied – there's something missing," Jukanti said. “You go to an Indian restaurant, kids don't like our Indian food. We serve pasta, we serve burgers, and the kids who come here are happy because it's a kid-[friendly] menu, [with] a kid's menu available. And whatever the American kids eat – pasta, spaghetti, sandwiches – we all have it here, but with an Indian twist.”

They also aim to please both international and local guests. “We wanted to satisfy both the crowds,” Mandadi said. “So that's how we came up with all of this, and we're still working on [improving] the menus.”

Unlike their past projects, Mandadi and Jukanti wanted to create a fine dining experience for patrons. That includes a separate enclosed dining room for bigger parties, sound-dampening panels on the walls for added privacy, and plans to open offer patio seating once the weather warms. 

They’ll also offer live music after 10:30 p.m. “Once the fine dining is done, that's when the live music starts, so that way it doesn't disturb the families,” Mandadi said. 

Peruse the menu and patrons will notice familiar dishes like brisket and ribs; however, at Amrut they are not beef or pork, but rather lamb. Mandadi explained that since many South Asians don’t eat beef, they wanted to create something familiar that could be enjoyed by everyone. And every dish is made fresh to order with no frozen ingredients.

Each freshly made fusion dish can be paired with the more than 50 types of bourbon that Amrut offers. “I'm not an expert in the bourbon area, but we're trying to cover almost everything from the bourbon to pairing of the foods,” Mandadi said. In addition to the vast bourbon selection and other spirits, there are also plenty of wines, draft and bottled beers, mango lassi and faluda.

The 6,100-square foot restaurant features wood and brick details with leather seating. There's room for 125 guests on the fine-dining side and 70 on the bar side of the space. Amrut opens at 11 a.m. daily, closing at 1:30 a.m. every day except Sunday when it closes at midnight.

In Sanskrit, the word Amrut translates to “nectar of immortality.” Follow Amrut Fusion on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

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It was all hustle and bustle at the Hindu Temple Community Center on Jan. 28 as students, parents and Balvihar faculty gathered to celebrate India’s Republic Day. India celebrated the adoption of the country’s constitution on Jan. 26. Balvihar is a nonprofit educational organization aimed at promoting and fostering Indian culture in youth. 

“This is an opportunity to celebrate (India), by making our children understand various parts of the country and even though we look different, even within our own country and speak so many different languages,” Tejaswini Nayak, Balvihar teacher said. “At the end of the day, we celebrate everything in a similar fashion, maybe with small nuances here [and there]. But at the end of the day, we’re all working towards the country as Indians and [we’re all] Indian at heart.”

Every year, the theme of the Republic Day celebration changes, according to Balvihar administrator Shanthi Krishnan. In previous years, each class was assigned an Indian state to create a presentation on. However, Krishnan and other faculty decided to switch up this year’s theme, focusing on the various festivals in India’s different regions and creating a competition between classes. 

Dressed in traditional garb, Balvihar students presented their displays to six judges. Some classes choreographed dances, some acted out skits, but all were hoping to make a lasting impression on the judges.

“The experience is fun because you get to, like, make poster boards, you get to do dances, you get to listen to people playing the national anthem in an orchestra, so it’s just a really fun experience,” Namita Rai, a third-grade student said.

Prominent community leaders, such as Carol Commerford and Linda Lee, of the Bach Society of Saint Louis, were selected as judges. 

Krishnan explained that the judges come from inside and outside the Indian community. 

Both Commerford and Lee focused on judging presentations from the fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade classes. 

“The fifth graders, they were so detailed and they had such beautiful displays, and they were very special. And the sixth graders have a lot of the same types of things and they had some demonstrations so that they kind of brought it to life for us with what they did. The seventh graders were a whole other walk. It was like walking into a whole other world,” Commerford said. 

After the judging was complete, it was time for the general audience performances. Several students kicked off the show with an instrumental rendition of the American and Indian national anthems. That was followed up by a fashion show presented by the kindergarten and first-grade classes. 

“My favorite part about Balvihar is that if you’re in America, you can still learn about the Indian cultures like different Indian people, the Ramayana, like everything about that. It’s also good because you can celebrate Indian festivals, even in America,” said third-grade student Yathvik Shridhar.

The festivities continued as kindergartners dressed up as characters from Jataka Tales, a collection of stories depicting the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. First graders dressed up as mythological characters from various Hindu epics. 

As the festivities wrapped up, students eagerly waited to hear who were the winners of the day’s competition. Raucous cheers came from the second and seventh graders as they were announced as the winners. 

“When I came last night, here [Hindu Temple Community Center], it was full. All the kids were here performing so that means that participation level was very high because it was different and they really enjoyed it,” Balvihar founder Sudhir Brahmbhatt said. 

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Located in the food court of Chesterfield Mall, a new Indian restaurant is making its mark on the St. Louis food scene. Sridhar Haribabu runs Tabla, serving dishes found in Indian states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Tabla recently opened its doors to the public in November, operating in the same space where Aaha! Restaurant was once located. 

Taking inspiration from his Bangalore and Bombay roots, Haribabu told Sauce Magazine that he wanted to do something different. “We don't have a typical menu like other restaurants. Our menus are totally different from other restaurants. We have some more [dishes] like for example, you can see the Thatte Idli, so that is from Bangalore. So people who live in Karnataka, they miss this kind of dish, so they come for that,” Haribabu said. “The same thing, we have some snacks like Maddur vada and dill leaf masala vada [that] you don't [often] get at another restaurant, so I'm trying to get all the local street food, you know, like South Indian local street food, the food that people are craving.”

Tabla’s menu is reminiscent of street food stalls in India, serving up chaat, India’s version of hors d'oeuvre. Haribabu’s specialty and a must-try is the masala dosa, a savory lentil crepe filled with spiced potatoes and red chutney. 

For those with a sweet tooth, try Karnataka classics like gudbud ice cream, akin to an ice cream and fruit salad lasagna. Or try one of Tabla’s fruit milkshakes, made with Indian flavors like rose and Sapota. “You don't get fruit juice in [Indian] restaurants here [in St. Louis]. Like every time you go to a restaurant here, the only thing you'll find is a mango lassi, so that's it, nothing else. So, we wanted to bring all those [flavors],” Haribabu said. 

As the Chesterfield Mall is set to be demolished later next year, Haribabu has his sights set on opening up an independent location. But for the time being, you can find Haribabu and his team cooking up a storm adjacent to the pickleball courts.

Follow Tabla on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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STL Thallu Vandi has joined Bombay Food Junkies as one of the only food trucks selling Indian cuisine in St. Louis. Owner Ranjitha Chandrasekar and her husband Chandrasekar Govindarajan started their culinary journey a year and a half ago as a catering service called STL Kari Virunthu.

“Until two years back, we were trying to find a good South Indian, especially Tamil Nadu, kind of food in St. Louis, which I don’t know if it is there. I have not found it,” Govindarajan said.

As their catering business gained popularity, the pair decided to launch their food truck STL Thallu Vandi in August 2023. Thallu Vandi means “pushcart” in Tamil, a South Indian language. 

The menu reflects the popular street food items of South India, like dosas, savory lentil crepes, or poori, a deep-fried bread. Another popular item is the chicken Frankie, curried pieces of chicken wrapped in a wheat-based bread called chapathi. If chicken isn’t your thing, Govindarajan recommends idlis, which are steamed rice cakes, or vadai, a savory lentil doughnut that you can pair with a delectable lentil soup called sambar.

Govindarajan said that he initially struggled to introduce traditional South Indian street food to the St. Louis community. “The real South Indian taste should be given to others like non-Indian people. They have to taste that,” he said. “So initially yes, they are afraid, they don’t want to try it out because they don’t know what it is,” Govindarajan explained.

In addition to a variety of South Indian fare, the truck also offers Madras coffee, a blend of ground coffee powder and chicory root with milk and sugar.

STL Thallu Vandi vends at a number of spots around town, including Frankie Martin’s Garden in Cottleville and Flock Food Truck Park in Alton, along with companies such as Charter and private events. For staff or students at St. Louis University or Washington University, you can also frequently catch them at the back end of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Follow STL Thallu Vandi on Instagram and Facebook for dates, location updates or to request they vend at your event.

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After the great success of Black Salt at 1709 Clarkson Road in Chesterfield since its doors opened last year, including being named a Best New Restaurant of 2023, co-owners Raj Pandey and Sanjiv Shekhar are broadening their horizons by opening two new locations.

The duo plans to open another location at 11429 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur around April or May. Located in the shopping center at the intersection of Craig Road and Olive Boulevard, the new location will focus its menu on serving “pan-Asian” cuisine by combining Indian fare with Japanese, Thai and Chinese influences. 

“We got invited there. I mean, the owner of these locations, the strip malls, they loved how we presented Black Salt in the Chesterfield location. They are the same owners [in Chesterfield] and they couldn't wait for something to be open in the other location so that they could bring us in. So they actually initiated that whole conversation,” Pandey said. 

And just like its predecessor, Black Salt’s new pan-Asian menu will be reflected in the restaurant’s drink menu, as well as the decor, which will be kept consistent across Black Salt locations with earthy tones and a modern, upscale feel.

“We made it a point that we don't [want to] Americanize the food because we wanted to believe in our taste. So we wanted to put forth that taste in a presentable and modern setting. So that is what prompted us to take this to the next level as well,” Pandey said. “And again, the idea behind the decor is to make sure it's more modern, yet Indian and authentic. And the one that we're planning for Creve Coeur, that might have a touch of Asian influence.”

The owners also intend to open what they call a "cloud kitchen" location called Black Salt X within The Hill Food Co ghost kitchen collective at 2360 Hampton Ave. in South City that will only offer takeout and delivery options by mid- to late February. “The idea behind that one was to make sure that we are also catering to the population toward more of the St. Louis city area, Clayton area, and all of that,” Pandey said. 

The cloud kitchen menu will be a combination of what is offered in Chesterfield and Creve Coeur, although the menus for both new locations are still being fine-tuned and finalized; however, both are likely to have some menu items ported over from Chesterfield. Pandey and Shekhar also have plans to add a patio extension to the Chesterfield location by June.

Follow Black Salt on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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Rigazzi’s, an iconic Italian landmark on the Hill at 4945 Daggett Ave., switched hands on Oct. 18 from longtime owners Joan Aiazzi and her late husband, Mark Aiazzi, to Corey Christanell and his business partner Donn Ganim. 

The new ownership team isn’t completely new to the game, however. Ganim brings business experience as he owned and operated Jeremiah’s Restaurant & Lounge in Cape Girardeau for 13 years, along with several franchise salons. On the other hand, Christanell brings St. Louis Italian spirit, as he grew up on the Hill, and his family have been regular patrons of Rigazzi’s since its opening in 1957.

“We found out the potential interest [for] Joan to possibly sell, and I reached out to Donn, and I’m like, that could be an amazing opportunity,” Christanell said. “There’s so much going on the history to the legacy of Rigazzi’s; we would have regretted it if we wouldn’t have pursued it.”

While there will still be the Italian classics like lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo and pizza, the new owners have promised some improvements, such as revamping the establishment’s bar menu. That’ll include drinks honoring the Italian and the Aiazzi heritage, such as limoncello martinis, bourbons, and the Mark’s Manhattan, in honor of Mark Aiazzi. “Just a broader drink menu, more modern, but still honoring the Italian heritage, but also the St. Louis and the Aiazzi family and the Rigazzi’s heritage. Trying to take care of everything if that makes sense – honoring the past, while evolving to the future,” Ganim said.

As the holidays draw nearer, patrons might see some slight changes taking place at Rigazzi’s. Christanell said that new additions like pub-style tables, higher chairs and perhaps larger or more TVs might be on the restaurant’s horizon.

“We know that there will be some changes, all restaurants have all changed, people’s tastes change. But we want to be really thoughtful about what we do, and we want to be respectful about the menu that has been there for 66 years. So, we know that we will update it, but we really know that we kind of have a responsibility on the Hill that we want to do the Italian classics, right? We want to nail them,” Christanell said.

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Though in their infancy, plans for a second early childhood center in Parkway are drawing the ire of residents living in the vicinity of the project site. 

Residents of Canary Estates Drive in Manchester say their primary concerns with the project involve the risk of flooding, a reduction of green space and a decrease in privacy. 

The new early childhood center would be located adjacent to Parkway Southwest Middle School and Wren Hollow Elementary School, off of Sulphur Spring Road. The project is part of the $265 million bond issue that voters passed in November 2022. It is expected cost is around $30 to $35 million.

The neighborhood and site area are located in the Fishpot Creek watershed. The site is in a natural state that residents say aids with stormwater absorption. However, they worry that adding a large parking lot will result in runoff that will increase the chance of flooding. 

Rita Fitzjarrell said she had taken her flooding concerns to the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District [MSD] but wasn’t taken seriously. 

“Two times we've had flooding,” Fitzjarrell said. “We're not going to be able to sell any of our houses once the word gets out that it floods here.”

Canary Estates resident Amanda Kennedy advocated for a smaller parking lot size, citing greenspace size and flooding concerns. 

“This is all grass and woods right now. So as it stands, (stormwater) gets absorbed, and so yeah, our neighborhood can handle that (right now), but then you're gonna put concrete on it, so what kind of neighborhood could handle that?” Kennedy asked. 

Parkway School District officials, project planners and Manchester city officials met with residents on Dec. 4 at Parkway Southwest Middle to answer questions and alleviate concerns.

However, Paul Boyer, principal at Civil Engineering Design Consultants, noted that the site plans are still in development and have a ways to go before anything goes into effect. 

“This is in the Fishpot Creek watershed, and I believe we'll design by the MSD’s criteria,” Boyer said in a post-meeting interview. “I told the residents I did want to make sure every one of them knew to make sure that they filed those complaints because when the engineer from MSD is assigned to the project, they will typically tell me (how) they want a property designed,” Boyer said. 

Echoing Boyer’s timeline, Elisa Tomich, Parkway’s chief communication officer, said the district plans to begin the permitting process in spring 2024 before submitting a site development plan to the city of Manchester. The district hopes to start construction by August 2024, following city approval. An anticipated completion date for the project would be winter 2026. 

According to Tomich, there is a significant need for an additional early childhood center in the district. 

“We have hundreds of children on waitlists for our early childhood program, which has been a trend for years,” Tomich said. “We have more demand than space to serve young children in Parkway. We want to better meet that need. This new early childhood center will help with that.

“Our market analysis shows that the greatest need for early childhood is in the 63021 zip code, where there is also a shortage of early childhood providers.”

Tomich added, "No trees will be cleared between the early childhood center building and the homes, and we'll plant some additional trees."

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The local South Indian community was sent into a tizzy after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned the export of non-basmati white rice in an effort to alleviate rising prices and ensure availability for the Indian market. 

The announcement came last month, catching local business owners like Santhosh Radhakrishnan, owner of Bharath Baazar, by surprise. 

“[We had] no hint at all. Because usually, the vendor will not give us any kind of information so we didn’t have a single hint about it [the ban]. But we were lucky to have a pallet before the ban, and after the ban, nothing has been happening,” Radhakrishnan said. 

The ban prohibits the exports of certain varieties of rice, such as the Sona Masoori and Ponni rice varieties. These rice varieties are integral to South Indian cooking, serving as a healthy alternative to basmati rice. According to Kishore Janga, who serves as the Saint Louis Hindu Temple Kitchen Committee Chair, the type of rice used in specific dishes such as tamarind rice can drastically affect the taste. 

“For example, jasmine rice is sticky. whereas most Indians go with the Sona Masoori, or Ponni rice. it is the refined rice. in case you switch rice types, it’s gonna make a difference, in terms of taste,” Janga said. 

Panicked by the new ban, West County residents flocked to local Indian grocery stores to stock up. West County resident Nalini Narayanan told West Newsmagazine that she had bought four bags of rice for a whopping $38. Prices were initially around $15 to $18 per bag, Janga said. But after the ban, prices nearly tripled, with bags of rice selling for $31 at Costco, Janga told West Newsmagazine. 

Radhakrishnan said that his stocks of rice completely sold out the day the ban was announced, leading him to enact policies that limited the bags of rice consumers could buy. 

Other stores, like Bombay Bazar, have also followed suit, putting up signs limiting one bag of rice per customer. Jay Patel, manager of Bombay Bazaar, said that orders placed prior to the ban have yet to arrive, putting a strain on stores to maintain existing stock. 

“I order 15 masters, which is 30 bags, and other places, we order 30 masters, which is 60 bags. That was Deccan Sona Masoori, very popular [brand],” Patel said. “But instead of 30 masters, I only received five masters, that sold out within 2 to 3 hours.”

West County resident Mahitha Naghichetty said that it was already too late by the time she learned about the ban going into effect. 

“So my niece who lives in Greensville, South Carolina had come to visit. She told us that her state still had rice, and brought some for us from South Carolina,” Naghichetty said.

However, small business owners like Radhakrishnan say that vendors have been favoring bigger stores and states with bigger Indian diaspora communities, like Texas, California, and New Jersey. 

“Even in St. Louis, the big shops might be getting a pallet, but we will not have a situation where we will be adding a pallet and all, because we don’t have space. It’s a big city and the bigger shops will get preference.”

It is unclear at the moment when India will lift it’s ban on rice exports, but in the meantime, business owners and vendors are urging people not to panic.

“It’s a temporary ban, so we don’t have to panic. We’ll get it. The Indian government will not let Indians living outside India starve, they will find some way,” Radhakrishnan said. 

How one Central Coast artist is transforming death into art

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On Thursday nights, Higuera Street is packed with various vendors hawking their wares at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market. Nestled between a jewelry vendor and a booth featuring succulents is one business that sells something genuinely bizarre.

Jars of decorated animal skulls, various preserved animal feet, pinned butterflies, and other creature curios are neatly arranged on a table. These unique creations are the work of Erin Binger, owner of Bizarre Antiques and Oddities.

“I don’t kill anything for my art. Most of my stuff comes from exterminators, where, you know, it’s their job to kill these things,” Binger said. “And so instead of just tossing it into the trash, I give it a second life.”

Before she started Bizarre Antiques and Oddities, Binger worked at a funeral home, where she learned how to embalm and preserve things. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, that’s when Binger decided to take a leap of faith, quit her job at the funeral home, and take up a new endeavor. Inspiration struck when a friend gifted Binger with a rodent skull two years ago.

“My cat kept messing with it and knocked it off the top of my cabinet and broke it. And so then I was like, OK, you know, I need to put something over this,” Binger said. “I put it up a little higher, and it didn’t work so I put a wineglass over the top of it, and it just snowballed from there.”

Since then, Binger has been turning the dead into works of art, preserving their beauty in glass cloches surrounded by flowers, pinning them in photo frames, or letting their natural beauty shine in a simple glass jar.

“I try to make things differently. You know, try not to make anything the same. Like I don’t want it to have that cookie-cutter reproductive [aesthetic],” said Binger, who often sources things to include in her art from antique stores.

“I try to keep the classical side of taxidermy and pinned creatures that they would do 200 years ago,” Binger said. “So I try to keep that same classy, Victorian style to my stuff as well as throwing in plastic things like that don’t fall apart and rot and decay, so that will literally last the way it is forever.”

Aside from getting specimens from exterminators and pet stores, Binger told New Times that sometimes people will donate things for her to use in her art, including deceased pets.

“Occasionally once in a blue moon, I might pick up roadkill, but it’s just meh. I don’t like stuff that I don’t know how long it’s been there,” Binger said.

Not every animal Binger receives can be useable. While she uses what she can, Binger said that she’ll oftentimes discard the guts.

“I have to kind of examine it, see what parts of it I can use or if I can use the whole creature—if it’s in good shape, I will essentially embalm the whole creature and put it in a jar,” Binger said. “If it’s damaged to the skull or damaged to the body, I will use what I can off of it so the littlest amount gets wasted.”

The process of transforming corpses into art can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on whether Binger is mummifying them, dehydrating them, or simply cleaning the skulls and bones. While Binger works on all sorts of critters, both big and small, she said that any poisonous animals and ones suspected to have rabies are off-limits.

“I have animals at home. I have my three dogs, three cats, two chickens, and 10 rabbits,” Binger said. “I can’t expose them or take a risk of exposing them to anything so I just don’t. That’s another reason why I don’t pick up a lot of roadkill.”

Out of all the creatures she works with, snakes are Binger’s personal favorite.

“I could never have a live one, just because they creep me out. They bite and sometimes, they’re kind of an unpredictable creature,” Binger said. “But when they’re dead, they’re beautiful. I love their skeletons. I love seeing them diaphonized. I love seeing them in a frame. “

Reactions to Binger’s art can vary. Binger says most people are fascinated by her creations, but there are some who are apprehensive. Macey Hardridge, owner of Lucky Lucky Studios in SLO became a fan of Binger’s art five months ago when her friend purchased a piece of Binger’s art. That led Hardridge to purchase pieces of her own—one of a snake skeleton, and another of an open-mouthed alligator skull.

“I think when it comes to artwork in general, a lot of it’s subjective, and so it depends on what people like, [and] it if it’s not their thing, I think that’s totally fine,” Hardridge said. “But if you think about it as artwork and also preserving beautiful things, I think that can change the mindset a little bit.”

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The morning starts with a brisk hike. Club President Kevin Perez-Norwood leads the pack, and everyone’s eyes are peeled for concealed fungi. Perez-Norwood explains the differences between edible mushrooms and their poisonous counterparts, while also demonstrating proper, sustainable techniques for foraging mushrooms.

The group stumbles upon one hidden among tufts of grass, crouching to get a better look at the specimen. Perez-Norwood parts the strands, gently prodding his knife around the fungi to loosen the dirt. The mushroom is the right size, prime for picking.

“We don’t really harvest the really young mushrooms, unless we’re desperate to find something,” says Toshiro Wada, a second year Cal Poly student.

With that, Perez-Norwood gingerly pulls out the mushroom, head and stem intact. “Leave no trace,” Perez-Norwood intones, as he covers up the hole he created by harvesting.

After getting their fill of fungi, the group moves on to their next destination on their foraging journey. The goal is to collect a few species of mushrooms—both edible and poisonous—to display at the SLO Museum of Art’s event, The Possibilities of Mushrooms. One of the group’s stops is the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, where they observe what’s growing because it’s illegal to pick mushrooms on the property.

Signs placed along the preserve’s trails warn pedestrians that foraging is prohibited, but that hasn’t stopped people from hauling away wild oyster mushrooms, morels, and porcinis. Posts on the Cambria Currents Facebook group call out the mushroom poachers, who often take “bags and bags of mushrooms.”

But the damage doesn’t stop with what poachers take with them—it’s also what they leave behind. Kitty Connolly, executive director of Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, explained over the phone that when foragers stray away from established trails to search for mushrooms, they can damage newly emerged seedlings and the part of fungi that grows below the surface.

“That’s part of the reason that picking is illegal, collecting is illegal on the ranch,” Connolly said. “It’s because we’re trying to support the ecosystem, local ecosystem, and you do that by not removing the resources.”

Foraging has burst into the limelight in the past three years, a phenomenon that Perez-Norwood calls the “shroom boom.” Increased public interest means that the existing natural resources on the preserve can’t continue to sustain the growing number of amateur foragers.

Connolly explained that even if each forager only takes 10 percent of the mushroom population, it eventually depletes the resources.

“Pretty soon you have 0.005 percent left of what that resource was, because there was a time before Europeans came to California when the whole state had a million people, and you could survive on foraging. But now your high school has a million people,” Connolly said.

Just because a mushroom has been picked doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. Fourth year Cal Poly student Joey Hammond explained to New Times via phone that mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of mycelium, an underground network of fungal threads that typically sprout mushrooms after a bout of rain.

“You won’t kill a species by picking mushrooms. You will cause ecosystem damage if you’re going around in areas that are, like, let’s say off trails and pushing through a lot of wilderness and things like that,” Hammond said. “But taking a lot of mushrooms, at least for an individual person, to my knowledge doesn’t cause ecosystem damage.”

Connolly explained that enforcing the “no foraging” rule has been especially difficult, due to it being a nonviolent crime, and the lack of a Cambria law enforcement agency. Instead, the ranch relies on visitors to “watch out for the ranch and its resources.”

“Irresponsible foragers don’t care about the rules. And they just take things if they want them, so it’s a real challenge to get people to want to behave ethically,” Connolly said.

But not all foragers are irresponsible. One way Hammond practices sustainable foraging is by avoiding smaller, underdeveloped mushrooms.

“Foraging is a very etiquette-based hobby because it’s very easy for someone to run through and destroy stuff or just kind of ruin the conditions for other people,” Hammond said.

And California isn’t necessarily set up to be forager friendly. Foraging is prohibited on most state-owned public lands, with the exception of Salt Point State Park. The same goes for foraging on private land, which is why Hammond uses an app called OnX Hunt, which shows land ownership.

“I really like finding new areas. I like looking at a map, looking at where the different forests of SLO are, looking at public access land, it’s almost like a treasure hunt. You get out there, and half the time you’re entirely wrong about something,” Hammond said. “Maybe you’re looking out for an hour and worst case scenario is you’re somewhere you haven’t been before; best case scenario, you find something.”

It can take up to a week for mushrooms to sprout after a storm, but overzealous foragers can quickly decimate that fresh crop, leaving none for hungry animals or other foragers. If practiced correctly, Perez-Norwood believes foraging can be more sustainable than getting groceries from the store.

“I think the main problem with foraging and a lot of these unsustainable practices are because people just aren’t informed of what’s right,” Perez-Norwood says. “They don’t think that they’re doing anything wrong for the most part.”

That’s why Perez-Norwood takes members of the mycology club on foraging trips, where he teaches beginners how to forage without damaging the environment.

On another stop of their foraging journey, club members gather around a large cluster of bright orange mushrooms as they watch Perez-Norwood carefully inspect the fungi’s characteristics.

To the untrained eye, a poisonous mushroom could look identical to its edible counterpart. There are a variety of litmus tests that mushroom hunters can perform to identify a poisonous mushroom.

One method of identification is using potassium hydroxide, which can prompt color change in a mushroom. Hammond, who is colorblind, uses other methods of identification to distinguish between fungi.

“Color is only part of the equation,” Hammond said. “With the mushrooms there’s more minute details and emotions, like the way that the caps are shaped, the way that the gills are shaped, attached to the stipe.”

While foragers have different philosophies on the hobby, Perez-Norwood believes that commercialization of the hobby contributes to the problems ailing the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.

“Foraging at its very core is connecting back to nature. I think if you’re a mindful, intentional forger, I think you’re more likely to protect nature,” Perez-Norwood says. “I think when you go into foraging just for the money, that isn’t a question to get spend as much as possible. Like damn anything else. It’s just kind of like you’re missing the point of it.” 

The way students complete assignments could change with new software that can do their work for them 

“This is a giant tidal wave coming to academia.”

That’s how Paso Robles High School English teacher Aaron Cantrell describes ChatGPT—a new artificial intelligence software that’s been the talk of classrooms all across the country. The software has ignited conversations among teachers at Paso High since its launch on Nov. 30, 2022. Created by San Francisco based company OpenAI, ChatGPT has the ability to formulate human-like written responses to any question or request asked by the user.

Once Cantrell started exploring ChatGPT, he said he realized it was “a force to be reckoned with.”

“I asked it to write all of the essays that I’ve assigned to my students this year,” he said. “A good chunk of them did phenomenally well in 15 seconds on each of them. I said, ‘Wow, we’re gonna have to have a conversation about this, because it’s a bit of a game changer.”

The way it works is simple—ask ChatGPT to write anything, like an essay, an article, or even a cover letter. Within 15 seconds, ChatGPT delivers, which makes it fairly easy for students to cheat. A survey conducted by study.com reveals that 89 percent of survey respondents said they have used the platform to help with a homework assignment.

Paso High School senior Cosmo Toohey-Bergvall explained that ChatGPT is blocked on the school’s Wi-Fi as well as students’ Google accounts, making it impossible for students to use the software on school-assigned Chromebooks even while they’re away from school.

Toohey-Bergvall said that the software lacks a “personal touch” when it comes to essays but noted that it could be good for “busy work” assignments.

“[It’s] a very, very useful tool that can create a large amount of text, push people off in a certain direction, inspire them, or just generally serve as a basis for your writing, rather than it being a thing that can create whatever you need from scratch from a few words and a prompt,” Toohey-Bergvall said. “It needs to be taken care of and nursed in the right direction.”

Cantrell said there could be a way to use the AI software that facilitates actual learning.

“What can we do to maybe use some functions of AI to do research?” Cantrell said. “I don’t think there’s anything necessarily virtuous about going through a card catalog, or search engine, and finding things and putting them in order. Maybe that part of it we can outsource to machines. But then the accumulation of all these ideas and the driving of some kind of argument can be retained by human beings.”

Ryan Jenkins, associate professor of philosophy at Cal Poly, said that any integration of chatbots into education should be handled carefully.

“I think that that has a pretty significant potential to erode some of the values of going through a college class. For example, if you reach the point—so, far end of the spectrum—where an AI is writing your essays for you, it’s not obviously different to me than having one of your classmates hand you an essay,” Jenkins said. “That is to say, neither of those is really challenging the students to reflect on their own beliefs to work through a different difficult puzzle.”

There’s not a lot of plagiarism software equipped to deal with AI-written essays. So far, the most popular detection software is called GPTZero, which was developed by 22-year-old Princeton student Edward Tian.

Since the technology is so new, teachers and administrators at Cal Poly are divided on how to tackle the use of ChatGPT.

“I think you see a range of all kinds of responses from this sort of Chicken Little ‘the sky is falling’ response to people who are openly embracing it,” Jenkins said. “In the middle, I think you have a lot of folks that are saying, ‘Look, we can’t fight against this. You know, we can’t prevent students [from] remembering that this technology exists.”

While there has been no official directive from Cal Poly administrators regarding what to do with ChatGPT, Jenkins said that there’s been a lot of “hand-wringing” within departments.

However, Cal Poly computer science professor Franz Kurfess has begun using ChatGPT as a learning tool. In his Computer Support for Knowledge Management class, Kurfess encourages his students to compare their proposal with a version that ChatGPT generated.

“A few students already experimented with it, and the results were decidedly mixed. So some of them said they were actually impressed because the results that ChatGPT delivered were reasonable, not perfect, but then the students’ proposal probably also will not be perfect,” Kurfess said. “Other students said it was practically unusable. And it’s too early to draw conclusions, but my suspicion is that the students who didn’t get good results had very technical topics.”

One student who experimented with ChatGPT was fourth-year Computer Engineering major Brett Gowling, who explored the chatbot’s capabilities and its shortcomings through a presentation he did for Kurfess’ class.

“I think the main problem that you have to avoid with students using this is the direct adoption of the AI output as one’s own. And I think you can use, or you should be able to use, maybe an outline or structure that the bot developed,” Gowling said. “But the text should be either modified significantly, to make it your own, or it should be direct quotes, if it’s going to remain unchanged, and you need to give credit then to the chatbot.”

In an effort to further facilitate conversations about the implications of ChatGPT in academia, Jenkins and his colleagues published a report on Jan. 30 about the norms of using and crediting AI for its contributions to scholarship.

“There have been several papers that have been co-authored by ChatGPT and other large language models. So we sort of drew up some principles about this and how to think about this from the perspective of a scholar,” Jenkins said. “I think next we’ll try to suggest some language for the administration to propagate down to students.”

While it might be too early to predict what the future of education might look like with the introduction of ChatGPT, Jenkins said that teaching methods are going to have to change.

“My worry is that this technology will sort of start at the boundaries and creep in to colonize or to displace more and more of the kinds of activities and assessments that we would have in a classroom that are supposed to really challenge people to think,” Jenkins said. 

More security measures needed at Hearst Castle, employees claim 

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Confusion, fear, and panic engulfed Hearst Castle when a suspect stole a car and led law enforcement on a chase through the state park that ended with the suspect barricading himself in one of the cottages on the hill.

Although the suspect, identified as Jarrod Michael Crockrom, was eventually apprehended by officers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, and California Highway Patrol, some Hearst Castle employees felt that there weren’t enough security measures in place and that this situation could have escalated had the suspect been armed.

According to one Hearst Castle employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, the Feb. 26 incident showed them that State Parks doesn’t care about the well-being of employees.

“I’m willing to admit, unfortunately, the state doesn’t care about me as a person. They don’t care about my colleagues. They care about revenue,” the employee said. “And that’s where I’d become not a disgruntled employee but a concerned employee.”

One of the things staff members are concerned about is a lack of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and medical personnel stationed in the park. While Hearst Castle does have security guards in addition to park rangers, the employee said that the security guards—also known as “day security”—are not qualified to handle incidents like the one that occurred on Feb. 26.

“They’re there to tell you not to stand on the Persian rug. Don’t sit on that 16th century table,” the employee said. “They’re there to protect the monument, not necessarily the individual.”

Had there been more of a law enforcement presence on castle grounds the day of the break-in, this entire event could have been prevented, the employee said.

According to Dan Falat—superintendent of State Parks’ San Luis Obispo Coast District, which includes Hearst Castle—the total number of rangers assigned to the park at any one time varies. He said that during the incident, approximately 12 law enforcement officers were on scene as well as fire and medical personnel.

Currently, Hearst Castle is working to hire more fire personnel, after the last firefighter stationed on-site retired in November 2022, according to Falat. Having fire personnel on-site is something that the two employees who spoke to New Times feel is necessary due to how long it takes for emergency personnel to respond to calls from Hearst Castle.

File Photo By Shwetha Sundarrajan

BREAK IN Hearst Castle employees sheltered in place on Feb. 26 as Jarrod Michael Crockrom allegedly led police on a chase through the state park, eventually barricading himself in one of the castle’s cottages.

On Feb. 26, the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from the Cambria Community Services District on Rodeo Grounds Road in Cambria. As officers were taking the report, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla, State Park rangers notified officers that they had located the stolen vehicle and were in pursuit. Falat said the vehicle was seen near Leffingwell Landing, a day-use area off Moonstone Drive in Cambria. The suspect then drove north on Highway 1 toward Hearst Castle, with law enforcement in pursuit.

Falat said that the stolen car burst through two separate gates—the first gate near the visitors center, which is when the emergency siren went off for the first time in 20 years, then the second gate closer to the castle. When the suspect hit a dead-end road, Falat said he barricaded himself in one of the guest cottages.

“There was an evacuation as well as shelter-in-place that was throughout the entire incident,” Falat said. “You know, depending on where the employees were and where the public was. Wherever the security breaches [are] depends on what actions are called, but that kind of security and emergency protocols started from the moment it was breached.”

The two employees who spoke to New Times felt that staff could’ve been notified of what was happening once the suspect turned off Highway 1 toward the Hearst Castle entrance. However, Falat said that there was no need to sound the alarm before the suspect breached the first gate. He added that Hearst Castle’s dispatch center did an “outstanding job” of coordinating with law enforcement and park staff to manage a chaotic situation.

The Feb. 26 incident was the first time someone had breached Hearst Castle grounds during public hours, according to Falat, who added that there have been incidents in the past where people have intruded onto castle grounds during off-hours.

“[Intruders have] been located and found [at] various points, whether it’s down here at the visitor’s center, or even potentially have reached the outer gate, usually on foot or something like that. But those haven’t happened in quite some time. I don’t even recall the last time that occurred,” Falat said.

The last time Hearst Castle used its emergency sirens was in 2003 during the San Simeon earthquake. Incidents involving emergency sirens are rare, due to Hearst Castle having round-the-clock security, radio and cellphone communications, and 24/7 on-duty security staff. Falat said that he thought the staff did an excellent job responding to the February incident.

“From a security standpoint … does it mean we can improve? Yes. We can always improve if it’s warranted and justified,” Falat said. “Those warning protocols are critical to ensuring effective communication to everybody throughout the castle.”

Another Hearst Castle employee, who also requested anonymity, said that employees don’t get enough emergency situation training, adding that the last training staff received was in 2020.

“We have a whole lot of new staff because we lost a lot of people during COVID. So we have a whole lot of new people that have never received that training,” the employee said. “I think it’s a little negligent on their part not to have this kind of training at least once a year.”

Falat said that every employee goes through safety training as part of their hiring process, adding that he spoke to staff and visitors after the incident to ensure that staff was aware of the security procedures in place.

“We’re evaluating that and any corrections that need to be made,” he said.

Falat also told New Times that employee safety training is the responsibility of each employee’s supervisor, adding that training is supposed to be done annually with staff, but it can be difficult to do with rotating staff and being open 363 days a year. He said that the park is still evaluating ways to improve in the wake of this incident, which includes reviewing protocols to make sure all employees are aware of what to do in an emergency or medical situation.

“We’ve had a lot of—we’ve had some new guides, and if anything, I think the testament to how well [the training program] worked is proof based upon the incident itself,” Falat said. 

Local music programs to introduce lower-income students to music education

MUNCIE, Indiana–---Music is everywhere, no matter wherever you go. From the rhythmic pattering of rain, the bass resonating through wooden floors, the collective first breath of an orchestra, the sound of strings being tuned, to the feeling of a brand new reed,  music is omnipresent in everyone’s lives, whether one is a musician or not. 

Multiple studies have shown the impacts that music can have on children, from improving cognitive functions, language skills, team-building skills, and more. Despite multiple research studies conducted proving the benefits of music, then why are music education programs across the country under attack? Music and arts programs in public schools across the country are constantly at risk of getting funding cut, due to school districts facing financial shortfalls. Prior to Muncie Community school’s partnership with Ball State, MCS was on the verge of financial collapse. There were several financial and enrollment concerns. Muncie Community Schools had a little over 11,000 students enrolled in 1984, and since then, the number of students enrolled has decreased by 53%. With about 5,500 kids in the district, the district had about $12 million in debt in 2019. Except for 2009, the Muncie education system had spent more than the annual budget every year. 

The lack of enrollment and financial stress meant there were more staff cuts, which has eliminated a strings program offered in Muncie Community Schools, says Deborah Mizelle, who has been leading the band program at Northside Middle Schools for 9 years. 

“Our enrollment this year is the biggest system since 2016. So things are turning around. And there’s a good chance that [the strings program] could come back again. When it comes time to make cuts, and I hate to admit it, but the dollar runs things,” Mizelle said. 

While money does make the world go round, it can also limit students from lower-income families from learning music. And learning music isn’t cheap. Private lessons can range anywhere from $30-80, depending on locality and the type of instructor. Mizelle does the best she can to reduce rental costs, from having extra supplies, such as reeds, cork grease, valve oil, and more to compiling her own instrument inventory. 

“When I first started I think I’ve probably in the time I’ve been here added maybe 20 to 25 instruments, have not gotten any money like a grant, have gotten instruments on Facebook marketplace, have had parents donate instruments,” Mizelle said. She’s done everything from buying her neighbor’s clarinet to fundraising with World’s Finest Chocolate in order to expand the music inventory. With the help of the assistant superintendent, Mizelle pushed for more funding. 

“I don’t know where that money came from, but 35 more kids could play an instrument that worked. And that’s the first time that’s happened. And the school system has been very supportive. The school board is very supportive. And Ball State has done great things and helped the school,” Mizelle said. 

According to the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, “The schools that produced the highest academic achievement in the United States today are spending 20% to 30% of the day on the arts, with special emphasis on music.” Multiple studies have proven the impact music has on kids, so it is imperative that music should be accessible to all. 

“I don’t ever want a kid not to be able to play because they can’t afford it. I had a student [who] really wanted to play the saxophone, and it was too much money. And I said, I don’t have any saxophones, but I have a clarinet and she was a little disappointed but said okay. Somehow her mom found a clarinet somewhere,” Mizelle said. “And last Friday, she said can I play a song for it? Now we’re playing Mary Had a Little Lamb. That’s where the kids are. She said, ‘can I play a song I just figured out for you?’ And she played the opening part of fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra. She just sat down she started playing it. I know. I looked at it I go could you just sit and figure that out? She said she did so during her free time,” Mizelle said. 

Not only does Mizelle make it easier for her students to access music, but other music organizations like the Youth Symphony Orchestra also have options for students who cannot afford the expensive costs of instrument rentals. According to Tiffany Arnold, Executive Director of the Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO), the rental cost can vary, depending on the instrument.

 “I think if you rented a violin at the local music store or at an online store and probably be I’m guessing 20 to 30, per month. And then, larger instruments like cello and bass would be just a lot more,” Arnold said. 

The Youth Symphony Orchestra removes these financial roadblocks for students by making a violin, viola, cello, and bass rental fee around 50 per school year, plus a $25 security deposit for repairs. They also offer financial assistance for students who require it. 

Founded in 1964, the Youth Symphony Orchestras of East Central Indiana (YSOECI) brings together young musicians from Delaware and surrounding counties to provide weekly orchestral experiences specifically tailored for students. 

Arnold’s love for music began in 4th grade when she started playing the violin at Burris. After years of practice, Arnold went to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she got a degree in violin performance. After working in retail management, Arnold came back to teaching and opened her studio at 40 years old and has never looked back. In addition to teaching private lessons, Arnold also teaches Suzuki-Based violin classes for 5-6-year-olds at YSOECI. 

While learning music is certainly beneficial, it’s difficult for students to learn who comes from a working or lower-income family due to the time and financial commitment needed to learn an instrument. “if a parent is not familiar with the importance of strings or it, or any instrument of music, then they might not prioritize it for their child,” says Arnold. 

According to a study called Learning improved by arts training by Nature Journal, students of lower socioeconomic status who took music lessons in grades 8-12 increased their math scores significantly as compared to non-music students. But just as important, reading, history, geography, and even social skills soared by 40%. 

Not only does music affect academics, but it can help students with their teamwork skills.

 “One of the things that I think is really cool about playing in an orchestra for students is that they will be playing with people who they would never encounter, necessarily, otherwise so that student playing next to them may not look like them, they might never meet them in school there might be a different age, but playing music as you know, can really forge bonds between individuals,” Arnold said. 

When you walk through the double doors at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on Mondays, you’ll hear the faint orchestral music waft through the hallways. Follow the music, and you’ll see an ensemble of young musicians laughing, dancing, and practicing. Leading this ensemble is Dr. Matthew H. Spieker, Conductor of the Youth Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Spieker is also a professor of music at Ball State and is in charge of a partnership between Ball State and YSOECI where pre-service teachers are gaining teaching experience by working with students in the YSO. 

 “ I want them [my students]  to be the kind of a director in a school that learns while the importance and the value of creating a small community within a high school, especially these big high schools because kids just get lost in those places. When you’ve got an orchestra home, or you got a choir home or you got a band home, you have these incredible experiences with other kids by making music,” Spieker said.

Not only does Spieker encourages his students to work with YSO students, but to also works with students at the Ross Community Center, which offers viola and cello lessons as an after-school opportunity for students living in lower-income areas. The program started in 2019 when the Muncie Symphony Orchestra would put on an “instrument petting zoo” event in order to introduce kids to various instruments.

 Jackie Hannoman is the Executive Director at the Ross Community Center and was inspired to bring music to lower-income areas. Hannoman connected with Arnold, and YSOECI was able to bring Prelude to the Ross Center, where Youth Symphony staff, board members, and volunteers provide beginning stringed instrument instruction to students enrolled in Ross Community Center. Alex Moss, a junior instrumental music education major, is part of Spieker’s partnership program, and she devotes her time to both YSO & the Ross Community Center. 

“A big part of it, for me personally, is providing a space for students to feel safe and feel welcome and feel like they can express themselves in a positive way. Some of these students don’t necessarily have, the best support system or they might not have all the resources to express themselves freely and in other regards. So it’s nice to be able to give them space to make some noise and to learn a new skill,” Moss said. 

Although learning music can pose many barriers from financial to time constraints for families and schools, it cannot be denied that music plays a detrimental role in the development of a child. Music education needs to be more widespread in our country, and it’s becoming more accessible to students from lower-income families because of programs like the Youth Symphony Orchestras of East Central Indiana and the Ross Community Center.

Read the original article here. 

Victims and abusers alike are affected by the narrative of domestic abuse.

Brian Walkup has close-cropped hair covered by a ball cap, striking blue eyes, and a silver chain around his neck. At first glance, you wouldn’t know he has been to prison six times, has been arrested 50-60 times, stabbed, shot, was jumped by the Aryan Brotherhood, and was a domestic abuser.

Brian is from Worcester, Mass., where he was raised by a single mother in the projects. He calls himself a “career criminal” since he started dealing drugs and hanging out with gang members as a teenager. When Brian turned 18, he enlisted in the Marine Corps at the insistence of his mother and uncles to straighten out his life.

“I wasn’t thinking long-term goals. The job I picked was infantry. For a kid who was already violent, that was a bad combination because I spent the next four years of my life, in essence, just training how to kill people every day just in case war happened,” Brian says.

When Brian turned 19, he took a trip to West Lafayette, Ind., to build a relationship with his estranged father. Six months passed, but Brian says he didn’t feel any closer with his father. He did, however, meet a woman, which enticed him to stay in Indiana.

But after 11 years of living amongst the Hoosier cornfields, Brian found himself in and out of prison six times for various reasons, through two marriages and divorces and “a whole lot of trouble.”

After serving his sixth prison stint, Brian decided that he was done with being a career criminal. That resolve didn’t last for long, because two years out of prison, Brian got arrested again for domestic battery in 2014.

“I sat in a jail cell for 12 hours and kind of just kept playing it in my head. Most times I got in a fight, it would be over with, and I couldn’t care less. The next day I sleep fine. But that [the assault] really bothered me,” Brian says. “Part of it was because she was a girl, and I never really viewed myself as physical with women before and the realization that I could have killed her hit me.”

As he was walked from his cell to the courtroom, Brian says he was overcome with guilt, and he pled accordingly. His sentence: two years of unsupervised probation and 26 weeks of Abuse Awareness Accountability (AAA). Led by Harry Heyer, the program helps those like Brian remedy their abusive behaviors. Sometimes, Heyer says, participants don’t acknowledge that their behaviors were or are abusive.

“We define abuse as anything that breaks the golden rule, so by that definition everybody on the planet is a perpetrator at some level and a victim at some level,” Heyer explains.

After completing his court-mandated 26 weeks of the program, Brian kept coming back for more classes until he decided to become an AAA instructor. Brian says that decision changed his life for the better.

Heyer understands Brian. The director of AAA was once arrested for domestic battery and struggled with alcoholism. Like Brian, he was mandated to the 26-week program, and kept coming back for more classes.

Seeing the program’s influence, Heyer began to train as a program facilitator and then decided to get a master’s in social work at IUPUI. He shared his own personal struggles in his classes.

According to Heyer, abuse stems from multiple factors, but the problem emerges due to many people not being taught in a healthy way to recognize and deal with fear.

“We are taught to shift fear to anger,” says Heyer.

This fear and anger can create stress that causes people to rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms like drinking and smoking. Heyer recommends doing what you can to eliminate stress from your life, because these behaviors, paired with abuse, can be a dangerous combination. Brian and Heyer are just two examples of how it can play out.

PART TWO: BREAKING THE NARRATIVE MOLD

If you type domestic abuse into your browser, you’re presented with hundreds of images of bruised and battered women cowering from a threatening male figure. And that’s the majority of narratives that surround the issue of domestic violence: the man hits the woman. However, according to the Association of Domestic Violence Intervention Providers, rates of female-perpetrated violence are higher than male-perpetrated—28.3% vs. 21.6%.

According to the Duluth Power and Control Wheel, domestic abuse encompasses far more than the physical. Emotional abuse, isolation, denial, and intimidation are just some of the ways that women can abuse.

PART THREE: NOT JUST A STATISTIC, BUT A PERSON

Melanie Jones was 26 when she met her abuser. Having a degree in social work, she thought she knew what domestic violence looked like and would recognize the signs before falling into an abusive situation herself.

Melanie completed her undergraduate at Anderson University in 2004 and subsequently spent two years at Anderson University’s School of Theology and Christian Seminary before dropping out due to a heartbreaking situation. She fell in love with a female classmate during a time when the university was not accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. Her classmate, who was studying to become a minister, was moved far away from Melanie by the ministry.

“I literally just fell off the face of the earth and walked away from my community and from most of my friends,” Melanie says.

It was during this low point that she met her abusive ex.

Being a part of a Christian community meant that it was difficult for Melanie to connect with others who were like her because homosexuality was considered taboo at the time.

“I was so terrified of being alone the rest of my life that it was kind of a situation of the first person who showed any interest in me. My ex was very manipulative. She was good at figuring out what I valued to make herself seem like that person,” says Melanie.

Three months into the relationship, Melanie says she realized it was abusive and tried to break it off. However, Melanie’s ex suffered a heart attack right around that time, so it was easy for her to guilt Melanie into staying. A lot of the red flags that Melanie noticed early on included emotional abuse and controlling behavior.

Melanie specifically remembers one instance when her abusive partner confronted her for having a phone conversation with her dad without consulting her. She still recalls being lectured about supposedly hiding things and how guilty it made her feel.

“It would turn into making herself the victim. It was very easy for her to play off a lot of her bad behavior that way,” Melanie says.

PART FOUR: LOOKING INSIDE

It may seem like the obvious decision to leave an abusive partner at the first red flag. But for many people, including Melanie, it isn’t always that simple. The constant guilt-tripping and manipulation tactics that preyed upon Melanie’s weaknesses and her generous nature kept her in the clutches of an abusive relationship for nearly eight years.

For example, Melanie says her partner often took in people and animals who needed a home. Since Melanie was the primary wage earner in their household, she felt pressured to stay and care for them.

One night, her partner’s lecturing turned into threatening to destroy her property and cut off her mode of transportation by blocking her vehicle. She even physically cornered Melanie in the hallway. Soon after she fell asleep, Melanie sat in her car, doors locked, and made a call to the domestic violence hotline. After explaining her situation, she was transferred to the local police, who she says were unhelpful.

According to Melanie, the police stated that they could come out if she felt unsafe, but ultimately, they couldn’t force the person who caused that feeling inside of her to leave.

“It didn’t matter that it was my house. It didn’t matter that she was making all these threats to me. None of that matters in the end. I did eventually get a protective order against her, but it took me three tries,” Melanie says.

After her first protective order was denied, the legal system decided to send Melanie’s ex a notification that she had filed a protective order, which Melanie says made matters worse.

Even with help from the Muncie Victim Advocate program, filing the second restraining order was difficult for Melanie. She says she believes her requests were denied because her abuser was a woman. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), nearly 45% of LGBTQ+ victims of intimate partner violence do not report the abuse they experience to the police because they believe they will not be helped.

In Melanie’s case, the third time really was the charm. With the help from the Muncie Victim Advocate program, she was finally able to file her protective order.

Shelby Looper leads the Muncie Victim Advocate program as its director, helping people like Melanie with anything ranging from protective orders, assistance in court, and necessities such as providing information regarding their case, counseling, and more.

“The criminal justice system as a whole is centered around offenders. So the criminal justice system was made because of bad people if you will, and at its core, the victims are left out. So, until we make better efforts to make sure they’re included, like forming programs like mine, it’s going to be that way,” Looper explains.

Domestic violence isn’t just black and white, Looper says. There is a myriad of reasons why victims don’t leave their abusers, including children, finances, and homelessness.

Domestic abuse does not always leave a physical scar. According to Looper, some indicators of domestic abuse victims include avoiding eye contact, apologizing frequently, and being heavily dependent on their partners.

Abusers and their victims could be anyone. But people can change, and so can the narrative surrounding abuse.