Local teacher seeks to raise awareness of kidney transplant need

 (My article as it appeared in the April 12, 2023 version of West and MidRivers Newsmagazines)

Every 10 minutes, another person is added to an organ donor transplant list. 

According to Organdonor.gov, that means more than 104,000 Americans are currently on the overall organ donor transplant waiting list. Sadly, 17 people die each day while awaiting a transplant. But for the most needed form of organ donation is for patients with kidney disease. As of January, well over 88,000 people are awaiting kidney transplants.

On March 27, Sanjana Ohri, a 24-year-old St. Charles County woman with cognitive and speech delays, was added to that list – and her mother, Pooja, a Fort Zumwalt School District teacher, stepped up her efforts to find her one. 

Sanjana’s kidney concerns were discovered by accident in 2009. 

“From the time they’re kids, we told our children to go to the bathroom, flush the toilet, wash their hands and come out, and that’s what Sanjana usually did,” Pooja said. “For some reason in 2009, she left without flushing, and when my mother (who was visiting from India) went to use the bathroom, she noticed that (Sanjana’s) pee was frothy, or bubbling, as if someone had opened a beer can.”

For awhile, Pooja said they didn’t give it a second thought. But after her parents left, they went to the doctor for Sanjana’s regular checkup and her doctor took a urine sample. That’s how her parents learned that Sanjana had too much protein in her system. They were directed to a nephrologist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

“The first thing he said was, ‘Your daughter will need a kidney transplant.’ I asked, ‘What’s the prognosis?’ He repeated, ‘Your daughter will need a kidney transplant.’ There was no sugar coating. I left the office wanting to find another doctor. We found one at St. Louis Children’s Hospital who said Sanjana would eventually need a kidney transplant.”

Sanjana’s biopsy showed she had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Pooja stopped buying her processed food.  Instead, she cooked everything from scratch and added an exercise regimen to prolong Sanjana’s kidney function. But now, Sanjana’s reaching renal failure with functions down to the 20% mark, which is how she landed on the transplant list. 

It’s up to doctors to add patients into the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). It’s a national computer system that puts patients in order on the waiting list and matches them to donors. Pooja said being disabled doesn’t move you to the front of the list. In Missouri, the wait for a deceased kidney donor is about three to seven years.

According to the Transplant Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, many people who need a kidney transplant discover they have a friend or family member willing to donate. When a suitable living donor match is identified, the recipient could have transplant surgery in as quickly as 12 weeks. 

Pooja wanted to give Sanjana a kidney, but she was diagnosed with appendicular cancer four years ago. Sanjana would have had trouble fighting cancer cells. Pooja’s husband, Sanjeev, is pre-diabetic. So, he also wouldn’t be a good fit for kidney donation.

The family decided that they needed to get creative. 

“We decided to put up a Facebook page for her so we could spread the word that we’re looking for a living donor,” Pooja said. “But when you have no friends, no occupation and a very limited circle, who comes forward? You start relying on strangers.”

The hope is that someone will see the Facebook page and request being a donor for Sanjana specifically. Even if someone steps up who is not a perfect match for Sanjana there is hope through Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s paired-donor kidney transplant exchange program. 

According to the hospital’s website, in a kidney exchange, as in other living kidney donor transplants, a donor gives a kidney and a patient receives a transplant. The only difference is that the donor gives to a different person than he or she may have originally expected to help. That person, say Sanjana, would then receive a living kidney from a different donor that meets her match criteria, while the donor who didn’t match the criteria for Sanjana is able to donate their kidney to someone who is a match. The Barnes-Jewish program can pair living kidney donors with patients in the St. Louis region as well as across the country.

A person’s blood type is a key factor in identifying a potential donor. Sanjana’s blood type is B-positive. According to the OPTN website, people with blood type B often wait longer for a kidney than people with other blood types; it’s harder to find a donor with type B blood. It’s a popular type in the region for both potential donors and those needing transplants.

Pooja is hopeful that with increased awareness Sanjana and others like her will find their living match. 

She also wants people to consider being an organ donor upon death. It’s estimated that every deceased donor can save eight lives and enhance over 75 more. But that said, for donations after life, only three in 1,000 people actually become donors even though 169 million are registered, because the manner of death does not allow for continued viability of the organs meant for donation.

Awareness of the need is critical, Pooja said. 

National Kidney Month takes place each March but unlike the constant reminders of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October or American Heart Month in February, there is virtually no mention of transplant waiting lists or kidney disease during March. The silence is madness for those affected but not surprising. 

After all, kidney disease is known as a “silent disease.” That’s because typically there are no symptoms in its early stages, and 90% of those who have chronic kidney disease don’t know they do until it’s highly advanced.

Risk factors, besides being over age 60, include high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. 

Urine tests and blood tests are good checks for major kidney issues. But in general, the best ways to help keep one’s kidneys healthy are having a diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free products. The consumption of sugar and salt also should be limited. Taking one’s prescribed medicines, limiting alcohol intake and stopping smoking is also important.

Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active at least 30 minutes a day, finding stress-reducing activities and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night is generally helpful for overall health. So is asking good questions and seeking routine screening from your healthcare provider.

Like any mom, Pooja wants to do all that she can to help her daughter live a happy and healthy life. To learn about being a potential donor, call (314) 362-5365 and choose Option 4, “Sanjana Ohri” code: 7050.

Bob Gibson’s Fierce Determination Drove Fireballer to Honor in Cooperstown

 

(my article that appeared in the March 1981 issue of The Sports Journal of Calgary, Alberta Canada shortly after Gibson’s HOF induction)

     Few people can deny that Bob Gibson’s childhood set the tone for his fabulous baseball career.  He had to overcome the adversities of rickets, a heart murmur, pneumonia and the Omaha ghetto.

     Also, Gibson never used his impoverished youth as a crutch to keep him down. He went all out in school and athletics, and never gave up hope of escaping the ghetto. Probably more than anyone else in the history of sports, that same level of determination has persisted within him through the years.

     During his career, Gibson was 251-174 with a 2.91 ERA with 3,117 strikeouts and 56 shutouts. He had five 20-win seasons and could have had four others.

     In 1963, an 18-win season, a broken ankle caused Gibson a miserable April. In 1964, when he won 19, Gibby was kicked out of a game in the fourth inning with the Cards ahead 7-1.  In 1967, he was shelved for two months with a broken leg. In 1972, a rainout cost Gibson number 20.

     Gibby’s greatest regular season game? It was his 1971 no-hitter in Three Rivers Stadium against the then mighty Pittsburgh Pirates. His greatest season was 1968 with a 23-9 record and a modern-day 1.12 ERA, 268 strikeouts and 13 shutouts.

     The tougher the competiton, the higher Gibson rose to the challenge. He won seven straight World Series decisions, had eight complete games in just nine starts therein, a rock bottom 1.89 ERA with 92 strikeouts.  That included 17 in a 1968 contest against the Detroit Tigers.

     “Watching him pitch in 1968,” said former teammate and current Cardinals color commentator Mike Shannon, “was like watching Rembrandt paint a picture; especially with his performance in the 1968 World Series. I talked to a lot of the Tigers after the series, and they said they had never seen a pitcher more overpowering than Gibson was.”

     Gibson could hit and field as well.  His lifetime batting average of .206 includes 24 home runs—five  in two different seasons! His fielding prowess earned him none Gold Gloves.

     All these feats led former battery mate Tim McCarver to insist, “Bob Gibson is the greatest athlete I have seen in any sport.”  None other than Pete Rose, Lou Brock and Henry Aaron claim that Gibson was the most competitive.

     Gibson would almost always shun members of the press, and was even thought by his own teammates to be a loner. But that was part of his determination and single-mindedness. The night before he was to pitch, Gibby was always by himself, making mental preparations for his opponents.

     Even through all the animosity he created, no one could deny Bob Gibson his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Clarkson Valley mayor moves on after 34 years in service to the city

 (This appeared in West Newsmagazine a few weeks ago...just prior to the new municipal elections.)

Scott Douglass, Clarkson Valley’s one and only mayor to date, is set to retire following the election of a new mayor this April. 

His retirement will cap a 34-year career of service to the city. 

“The only thing older than me is dirt!” he jokingly exclaimed. Born on July 6, 1930, in Columbia, Missouri, Douglass has lived in West County since 1983. “Clarkson Road was barely paved and was a two-lane road when we moved here.” 

In 1989, Clarkson Valley went from village to fourth-class city and transitioned from government by a board of trustees to a mayor and aldermen. Douglass, who was chairman of the board, was voted in as mayor. 

“When we went from village to city, we obviously had some ordinances that came from the village. So, we didn’t have to start from zero, but we started from (the) 10-yard line because we had to establish ordinances, who we were and why we were,” Douglass explained. 

Clarkson Valley is a community of 2,609 people, according to 2020 census data. It borders Chesterfield, Ballwin, Ellisville and Wildwood. Within those borders are Marquette High, Crestview Middle, a Rockwood Early Childhood Education facility, Forest Hills Country Club, First Church of Christ Scientist, Mercy Clinic Family Medicine and the Masonic Temple Association of St. Louis. 

The city also has 14 subdivisions, with residential properties that sit on at least one acre. According to city documents, each subdivisions has its own set of rules concerning landscaping, fencing, annual assessments, et cetera. Each subdivision also owns and maintains its own roads, sidewalks and retention ponds.

As to why Clarkson Valley was founded, it all comes down to one word: protection.

“I’m proud of our main focus, which has three areas: safety and protection of the individual, protection of property values, and protection of the environment,” Douglass said. “For protection of the individual, we had the Ballwin police, and now the Chesterfield police.  

“For property, the city was organized on individual private, single-acre residential properties with no retail and no business, and we’ve maintained that. Obviously, we have a hospital on … Clarkson and Clayton. Come on, you don’t want a residential house there. So, that’s the reason we were able to negotiate putting the health center there, and a church and school down a little way.”

Douglass noted that in terms of environmental protections, the city pays for trash collection and “has sound ordinances.”  It also has farmland “still in Clarkson Valley just north of Marquette High School.”

While the city does employ a city clerk, much of its work is handled by citizen volunteers. 

“That’s one of the real advantages of a small city,” Douglass said. “People can get easily involved, and when they do, it really provides good service for everybody.

“It’s easy to be the mayor of Clarkson Valley because (residents) over the years have taken personal responsibility for themselves. That’s who we are. As the administration of this city (mayor and board), we are pleased to say we’ve certainly encouraged that by stressing that good government is less government.”

Douglass may have been destined for local leadership. 

“I always had in the back of my mind a couple ideas that flashed through me when I was younger. I thought I wanted to be a race car driver or a politician and/or president of a company.” He succeeded in the latter two. In addition to being mayor of Clarkson Valley, he was president of one of Southwestern Bell’s three St. Louis subsidiaries when they broke away from the monopoly into a private company. 

Sue McNamara (Ward 1) shared, “One of my favorite stories concerns the time a resident called him frantically about a very large and valuable ring that was inadvertently tossed and discovered missing after the holiday trash had been picked up. The mayor contacted the trash company, accompanied the resident and helped dig through the landfill. They found the ring! Who does that?”

In 2012, Douglass was the recipient of the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis’ annual Buzz Westfall Award for Excellence in Local Government. The plaque he received notes that the award is “‘in recognition of outstanding leadership and commitment to the City of Clarkson Valley, St. Louis County and the St. Louis Region.”

It gives you a good feeling that what you’re doing is important …,” he said. 

Another important endeavor in which he has succeeded is his devoted marriage. He and his wife, June, will celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary this year. He said retirement will mean more time to spend together and perhaps an easier daily schedule.

“At this stage, it’s all just a little too much,” Douglass said of his duties as mayor. “I feel like I still function well enough, but I can’t stay on it with sustainability. I wear out now.  It takes me too long to bounce back.  You know, you have a busy day with a lot of activity and it used to be, I’d get up the next day and be ready to go. It’s hard for me to do that anymore.”

Even so, he said he will continue to volunteer at Community Christian Church in Manchester. “I happen to be an honorary elder there … an elder emeritus,” he said. 

Alderman Gregg Bogosian (Ward 3) noted that the mayor leaves big shoes to fill. 

“As our first and to date only mayor, to say he’s going to be a hard act to follow is a pathetic understatement,” Bogosian said. “I feel sorry for our next mayor; kind of like being the next quarterback after Tom Brady. 

“His 34 years of service give him an unmatched amount of institutional memory, and we’ll be calling him for advice and guidance for years to come.”

The Gateway Outdoor Expo will finally be held at an outdoor venue

(One of my most recent West Newsmagazine pieces...with all photos by Russell Ward)

For the first time in history, Gateway Outdoor Expo will truly live up to its title. It will finally be held outdoors on March 31-April 1 in the lush setting of Tower Grove Park.

The free, family-friendly event began in 2002, and has been run under a variety of names and ownerships.  However, the common thread was that it was always held indoors.

During those latter years, Ballwin resident Brad Kovach, who resides on the doorstep of Castlewood State Park and is the editor and publisher of Terrain Magazine, was an exhibitor at the event, which was owned by local nonprofit Trailnet.

“The show was up for sale or it was going to disappear. We approached Trailnet and St. Louis Bicycle Works, which had a hand in that show, and said, ‘Hey, we’re this outdoor magazine. This is kind of right up our alley, and we’re in a position to handle events along these lines if that’s OK with you?’  We purchased it from them about seven years ago.”

Under the guidance of Kovach, the event was held at the Gateway Center in Collinsville and St. Louis Union Station.  Then, after a two-year, COVID-related absence, it was held last year at America’s Center.

“We’ve had people ask us, ‘Why is your outdoor expo indoors?’ The honest answer would be because you wouldn’t have a lot to worry about. But even with possible questionable weather, we’re mostly hearty outdoors people. So, this year, it will finally be outdoors.”

Kovach expects some 200 exhibit booths and 8,000 attendees for the 2023 event. Go! St. Louis, which administers the region’s largest running event, has often partnered with Gateway Outdoor Expo. As such, packets for the Go! St. Louis Marathon, held downtown on April 1 and 2 as part of Family Fitness Weekend, can be picked up at the Expo. 

River City Outdoors (RCO), a nonprofit whose mission is to help create a variety of outdoor recreational experiences for St. Louisans from all socioeconomic backgrounds, is also involved in presenting the Expo. Kovach is on the steering committee of RCO, which works closely with the Boys and Girls Club and St. Louis Public Schools to be the facilitator to get youngsters connected with outdoor groups for a variety of experiences.

In addition to showcasing a plethora of outdoor gear, services and resources, interactive event highlights include:

• Technical tree climbing, sponsored by Vertical Voyages.

• A 23-foot-high rock climbing wall of varying difficulties, sponsored by Upper Limits.

• Mountain bike demo area, sponsored by Wheels Up Bike Camps and Clinics.

• Balance bike demo area for the very young, sponsored by St. Louis Bicycle Works.

• A wide variety of hiking, camping, running and paddling activities.

• Resources for adventure travel, health and wellness.

• Special giveaways. 

“The idea is to let folks know what outdoor resources are available in the region.  They include outdoor retailers and shops, plus manufacturers that exist in the St. Louis or Midwest region," Kovach explained. "Purchases help the local outdoor economy. (The Expo also introduces) assets like what parks and trails there are and what outdoor services are available, such as guides or Meetup groups for folks to get outdoors with. We want to foster that community. 

“Some people just come out because they’ve been stuck inside for a few months. It’s a good time to see your friends that maybe you haven’t seen for a while. It’s also a good place to get psyched for the rest of the year with plans to get outdoors.”

Kovach said he started Terrain from his home in January 2014 as a passion project, hobby or side hustle. He had been a magazine journalist for some 20 years while also working for other companies. 

“When I started Terrain, it was my way to do something for myself. I already had the professional knowledge for magazines. From a focus side, I’ve always been very outdoorsy, going to summer camps and being into canoeing, backpacking, hiking and anything else outside. Since I found no existing periodical serving that need specifically, I thought I’d give it a try. It’s been great; nine-plus years and we’re still going,” he said. 

The Expo will be preceded by a VIP/Vendor Party on March 30 at Schlafly Tap Room Brewhub. VIP ticket information and additional details about the Expo are  available at gatewayoutdoorexpo.com.

 

 

New 'honky tonk' brings country to Historic Main Street

 (This article posted the evening of February 10 on the MidRivers Newsmagazine site.  From the very next day and even through today, it has been the most read article on the entire site!)

Since its first known use in 1889, ‘honky tonk’ has carried mostly negative connotations as tawdry country music nightclubs or dance halls. But there’s nothing of poor quality at Main Street Honky Tonk, especially regarding its musical acts.

Dustin English and Paul Wegeng bought Uncle Joe’s Bar and Grill last April. They shut it down around July 1; then, held a grand opening for Main Street Honky Tonk in Historic Saint Charles on Dec. 16.

“It was a bit later than we wanted," English said. "But it’s been nothing but good things and good vibes.

“Our goal is just to give people a different experience on Main Street. I wanted a bit older and established crowd to come down there. The idea was to get ones who used to come down but kind of shied away because of some of the events that have happened recently. We’re trying to bring a different energy to Main Street. Our target market is about age 35 and older, but we want all ages to be there and feel welcome.”

                               Russo & Co playing at Main Street Honky Tonk (Tristan Shannon photo)

The major selling point of Main Street Honky Tonk is its abundance of live country music, which is offered every night, except on Tuesdays when it's all about karaoke. English attributed a great deal of the venue's musical success to Anthony Russo, who serves as its music booking manager.

"Not only was he a big help on the music side, he actually helped with some of the finishing construction stuff for us so we could get this place opened up as quickly as possible. He deserves a lot of credit,” English said.

Russo, who has an extensive entertainment background, also performs at Main Street Honky Tonk on a regular basis. He describes himself as "a backbeat type."

“Look up old artists like John Hartford, who was an old St. Louis musician who would take a banjo and flat foot dance at the same time. I’m more of a rhythm tap dancer," Russo said. "My band, and even when I’m playing by myself, do stop time which is when the band punches the downbeat of a measure then hold quiet for a second, and I’ll tap dance. Then, they’ll punch the downbeat and I’ll dance more. I’m trying to bring a little of the old style with the new. It goes over really well.”

His resume includes touring the world as a tap dancer beginning at age 17.

His maternal grandparents bought the Performing Arts Centre on Kingshighway in St. Charles in 1974. It moved to Main Street for 27 years, then to Country Club Plaza. His dad, Jerry, who passed in 2014, played guitar, acted and served as a carpenter for local theaters and was the technical director for New Jewish Theatre in Creve Coeur.

“I've always enjoyed performing,” said Russo, who noted that Main Street Honky Tonk is answering an unmet need.

“We’ve been saturated with the classic rock cover bands for as long as I remember,” he said. “I grew up on Main Street before you could drive down on it when it was still all cobblestones and brick fountains. There was Baja Rock Club, Tuners and a lot more classic rock acts and entertainment. But as far as the demographics go ... two hours away in every direction from St. Louis City, you’re going to find your majority market is country music."

Russo said Main Street Honky Tonk features solo acoustic acts during the week with duos, trios and full bands on Fridays and Saturdays. English added that, while most of the entertainers are from around the St. Louis area, they’ve also had people from Nashville and neighboring states.

“We felt pretty confident that live country music would go over well in St. Charles,” English said. “We want to give out a Nashville feel where they can enjoy the live music. People are having a blast! "

The one downside is the venue's size but soon it will have a sister venue – Margo Margo Ritas Plus Tacos – right next door.

“As patrons walk up to the Honky Tonk, if there’s a line up and down the sidewalk, (and they want) a little extra room to spread out, (they) can pop next door and have some food,” Russo said. “We also have a huge parking lot out back, and we are among some of the best bars and restaurants in St. Charles.”

Ellisville council rejects Seven Brew’s bid to the delight of Field Avenue residents

 (This is my totally unedited West Newsmagazine piece following three previous articles I had published on this subject that each time filled the council chambers of Ellisville City Hall!)

As the Seven Brew Drive-Thru Coffee proceedings developed, the Jan. 18 packed-house, Ellisville council meeting was far more reminiscent of a highly contentious court case.

Following a 7-1 negative setback at the Jan. 11 Ellisville Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, Seven Brew needed a super majority verdict to win the case. Instead, the Field Avenue faithful prevailed with a 4-2 vote with council member Dan Duffy (District 3) absent.

Five residents spoke in the initial Public Comments session.  Each one mentioned horrible traffic increases, backups on Clarkson and its own street plus imminent safety concerns stemming from Seven Brew’s plan of having one drive-thru side of the operation and the other walk up and bike up.

Bernie Barton added he was against any egress from that lot onto Field, including Seven Brew’s delivery truck.  Dave Goessman complained of potential loud music disturbances from onsite speakers.

The site of a proposed Seven Brew Drive Thru Coffee at Clarkson Road and Field Avenue in Ellisville. (Source: Google Maps) 

Words started calmly as attorney Chris Graville addressed the council as to why Seven Brew would be a good fit for the 309 Clarkson Road address. He noted that it’s a mere 600 square foot grab and go coffee kiosk that only serves beverages with no food or dine-in area. He also said the business is set up with a circulation type that avoids traffic tie-ups and it’s primarily a site for customers to make a brief stop to and from work.

Graville constantly defended a traffic study performed by both St. Louis County and MODOT showed this business would add very little traffic to the area. He also stated it’s the type of business Ellisville has been seeking for this area.

“We believe this is not only consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; we believe it furthers it,” he said. “We want to work with the city and its residents to get them comfortable with this conceptplan. Unlike Chick-fil-A, the traffic study shows there’s no significant trip generation with our plan.”

Graville spoke of a variety of sub-topics that he claimed would be a great fit for the city of Ellisville, including ones from the neighboring Field Avenue. But over time, it developed into an emotional, tension-filled verbal spat between Graville and his crew and Field attendees.

“You all have a very difficult job because you have to take your code, use your city engineer’s report and apply the facts to the code,” Graville said.  “If you apply the facts to the code, this is a very good development. You all took an oath when you were elected to office no different from Planning & Zoning to uphold the law.  We believe to deny our approval of this is completely arbitrary and is capricious.”

He added that every single negative issue brought up by the residents has been shot down by the traffic study.

“This is not traffic Armageddon.  We’ve been threatened at these meetings.  We’ve been told you’re never going away.  We’ve been told people are going to die.  We’ve heard Planning & Zoning saying they’re going to get sued. The residents have every right to give their opinion, but the Armageddon presented by the residents on this petition is not supported by this document which is the city’s engineering report.”

There were just a handful of questions from the council; mostly from Rob Compton (District 1). One inquiry was about the number of cars that might be waiting to leave the site and get back onto Clarkson Road. Julie Nolfo of Lochmueller Group answered that information was not from the traffic study, but provided by Seven Brew.

Compton calmly took exception to Graville comparing Vero Lane and its commercial development to that of Field with Seven Brew’s proposed development. Compton noted that Vero has a traffic light whereas Field has none.

A few more Field Avenue residents spoke out against the proposed development at the start of the second Public Comments session. What followed was a highly upset property owner Jordan Srote.

“Frankly, I’m disappointed to where we’ve gotten to today. I’ve listened to about 90 minutes over the last two P&Z meetings from everybody telling us why traffic was not going to work and none of them were experts. We spent countless amounts of time and money in Julie, and her team spent energy in building up a traffic study which states the facts. Nothing done there is arbitrary.  It’s based on science and facts with a proven method that works….and you’re saying ignore that.

Srote added that walk ability is a major part of Ellisville’s Comprehensive Plan, and he was highly disappointed that residents “were using children as pawns.” While safety is a concern, he said it was no worse than his long-abandoned property being vandalized twice since he’s owned it. He also vehemently denied rumors that property values would decrease.

“There’s the Harvard study and a lot of other studies out there. They call it the Starbucks Effect.  What’s it’s about is if you have a walkable coffee shop within your distance, your house is actually going to appreciate 3% more than a house that doesn’t have those things. And yet, we’re arguing that an abandoned property with a giant ‘For Lease’ signs is not degrading property values in the area?

“I’m also disappointed that when a resident states moments before a vote that somebody is going to die here, and that you, council members and the P&Z are going to be responsible for that and be in for a proper lawsuit.  That’s a blatant intimidation tactic. I’m disappointed in that and the disregard for facts. At the end of the day, this is not my lot or their street.  This is a community with 10,000 residents in it.  They will be directly and indirectly impacted by this through property taxes, accumulation of money that goes to the schools, the fire department.”

Srote’s own comments were followed by nine more sets of negative citizen comments.

Sara Fox said Comprehensive Plan states that it wants to ensure future developments and not duplicating existing developments and strengthen diversification within the business sector. “I did an online search and found there are already three coffee shops and two smoothie places within 1.2 miles or less of this particular development.”

Ed Fasnacht added that not just Field Avenue signed the petition against this specific development but more than 200 people from the general area did, and nobody wants to live close to dumpster smells.

“What’s actually disappointing is to hear the applicant disregarding and minimizing safety concerns that were communicated by the citizens,” Mahmoud Kaaki said.  “That’s disappointing and insulting.”

For the legislation segment, Mayor Mike Roemerman said it’s always very difficult when you have so many citizens vehemently opposed to a potential economic development.

“As elected officials, these are the tough ones for us. We have to consider the neighbors and Ellisville as a whole. Through it all, I’ve personally been on your side.  We had a development on my street, and I was opposed to it for a lot of reasons. But it was approved and looking back, it’s easy for me to see that it wasn’t as bad as what my neighbors made it out to be.”

Roemerman used an example of a neighbor across the street and one house over as an example that property values can actually jump sky high when commercial developments are build close by. He also said that Clarkson Road is dangerous all the time and everybody has to be extra diligent driving up Clarkson Road to Manchester.

Compton had an amendment added that no music can be played at the site. ‘No speakers’ was added by Roemerman.  All voted in favor of that. Still, only Roemerman and Greg Sanborn (District 2) voted for the project while council members Vince McGrath (District 1), Compton, Mick Cahill (District 2) and Curt Boggs (District 3) voted no.

Jai-Jai Goldstein is a true legend in the power lifting world

 (Sooooo excited that this just appeared yesterday on the West Newsmagazine online site with my photos from the Affton meet! Shared it on Facebook, tagging recipient...with more than 200 likes and 100 comments already!)

There is no better indicator of Jai-Jai Goldstein’s power lifting stature than the announcer’s introduction at The Center in Affton on Dec. 10. The long-time Creve Coeur resident and 1975 Parkway North graduate turned to tears when he referred to her as “The Legend,” and added, “Everybody knows Jai-Jai!”

Goldstein is also known as “Mama Jai” because she has performed in the sport since 2005. At age 65, she is also the oldest lifter at both Broken Bar Bell in Weldon Springs and St. Louis Barbell in Ellisville, two of 10 such gyms in the area. She also coaches locally and volunteers at several sites, including the Ability Gym at Mid Rivers Mall.

But Goldstein’s longevity is overshadowed by her lifting achievements. She is a true power lifting phenom.

Born Jaime Lavine in Trenton, New Jersey, Goldstein, did not place in her first meet. However, she finished first in every meet she entered from 2012 through May 2022. All USAPL and USPA meets include squats, bench press and dead lifts.

Highlights of her career include being the current Missouri State Champ in her weight class/age division plus a list of nearly 20 first-place finishes in the rather small number of events in which she has competed. Goldstein has also excelled in the Missouri Senior Olympics State games. They don’t do squats or dead lifts there, only arm curls, leg press and bench.

She wasn’t sure she had a chance of placing in the recent Dec. 10 meet due to a good number of physical ailments and uncertainty about making her desired weight class. Most meets are done by age and weight categories; however, this meet was an open meet, meaning she was competing against all the other Masters, a category that starts at age 40. She was concerned because younger girls are stronger.

“I do a water cut to lower my weight because the less you weigh and the more you lift, the better the numbers are. It’s another mind game. This is the very first time I have not made the weight I wanted. So, I had to go up a weight class because I waited too long to eat properly. I usually do it six months clean cut and I only did three months. So, I was six pounds off ... but I knew it coming in.”

That said, Goldstein admitted that entering any meet, you don’t know how you’ll do because you don’t know the recent numbers of those who you will compete against. She used to pay close attention to statistics and observe others during competitions. However, if others missed lifts, there was always a question of whether she should go up in weight or do the same lift.

She added that on her third lift of each event, she usually goes for as much weight as possible. That’s because it’s more a matter of competing against herself. At this meet, she only missed her final bench attempt.

Fellow lifter Kendra Strong never ruled out Goldstein placing in December.

“She’s been terrific to compete against and to be around,” Strong said. “You never know ahead of time if you have a chance or not. One meet, I only had one successful lift out of nine. I’m pretty sure she’ll be near the top at the end.”

The words of Strong, who Goldstein refers to as “a crazy Strong lady,” proved to be prophetic.

“The meet winner I competed against was freaking strong. She said, ‘I’m close to your age aren’t I?’ I said, ‘How old are you?’ She said she was 54. I told her, ‘I’m 11 years older than you.’ That’s a whole different ballgame and she’s an incredibly strong Masters. I was shocked that I even took second in that group!”

Goldstein was spurred on not only by the announcer’s words, but also encouragement from fellow athletes and the crew from one of her gyms.

“My mind goes elsewhere like thinking, ‘I can’t do this,’ but they told me, ‘Yes, you can! Think positive!’ One day, they’re supporting me; the next day, I’m going to support them. Also, the cheering was just amazing!”

Goldstein shared that her crew is always a huge help. They spot you, write you programs, and help with nutrition. Every person at the gym has some little area of expertise that everyone else doesn’t have. Some don’t lift. They just become cheerleaders. Also, people bring you food and drinks, she said.

Goldstein got involved in power lifting after joining Club Fitness in Creve Coeur where she worked out with niece Allison Lavine-Lindberg, a 2003 Parkway North grad.

“We met a trainer there named Chris Glover,” Goldstein said. “We signed up with him and he eventually started his own power lifting gym called Crossfit Maryland Heights. A couple years into it, he said, ‘Hey! Do you want to try some power lifting?’ He entered the three of us in a local power lift meet (in Wentzville around 2005). I took last place (as the oldest female competitor) and they both took first. But it snowballed from there because of Chris. He just competed in Columbia a couple months ago where I judged. They won the team title there. You want to talk about full circle! He’s a great trainer! Because of him, I’m still competing and now I’m a national judge. I owe it to him!”

Although excelling in the sport, Goldstein does also like being a referee or judge. However, she shared, “You always have to know your stuff as a judge. I’m constantly studying the book, including the week before I’m going to a meet. Even though I know the rules, I’m studying more to freshen up.”

Competitor, referee or judge still takes a back seat to the people she has met along the way.

“Put aside all the records, trophies and medals because the highlight is meeting the incredible amount of people from all over this country with whom I’ve become very close friends. Also, it’s a sport that doesn’t care how old you are, the color of your skin, how much you weigh, what your gender is or what you do for a living,” Goldstein said.

One of those people is Sara Kotthoff, who Goldstein introduced to the sport. At first, Kothoff was doing a limited amount of lifting due to an injury. She credits Goldstein with a good amount of her success.

“When I decided to do my first meet in October (2022), she loaned me one of her singlets so I could try competition without incurring any significant cost,” Kotthoff recalled. “She also made sure she was officiating at that meet and we shared a room. The support and encouragement was very much appreciated. She is truly the grand dame and is one of the women who showed me what I can be capable of at any age.”

Goldstein’s sports career began at Parkway North Junior High with volleyball, which is still her favorite sport. She believes every sport is 50% mental.

“But my mental is getting me physical and my physical is keeping my mental alive,” she said.

Although she is having total right knee surgery in March, she is hoping to be able to compete before the end of 2023. She shared that in power lifting, even if you have arthritis, you’re still moving. Realizing that she is going to be off for three-and-a-half to four months, she said she will try to ref, if she can. If not, she can work the table.

“Again it’s mindset; how fast am I going to do my (physical therapy)? I came back from my ACL/MCL (repaired) in three-and-a-half months playing competitive ball,” she said. “But this time, it’s my total right knee, so I have no clue.”

Goldstein added that working out and competing has helped her deal with the absolute greatest love in her life – being a grandmother to Henry, who lives in town.

“I babysit for him every week and I want to be able to keep going, to lift him up and into the air and keep crawling along the floor with him. We make forts and we paint. I know that in another year, he’s going to go to pre-school and I’m going to cry even more. I try and freeze time with him as much as I can because he’s my everything! He is my favorite human!”

Aside from power lifting and being a grandparent, Goldstein’s passion is her career. She started CPR-N-MORE with a fellow clinical instructor in 2006. In 2019, Goldstein became the sole owner of the company, which offers a wide variety of training classes which include first aid, first aid in the wilderness and CPR.

“In a nutshell, I teach people how to save lives,” Goldstein shared.

With several state and national records in tow, Goldstein said that after recovering from surgeries, she would also like to get her first attempt at competing for a world record. She shared that she’d like to be lifting into her 90s.

“It’s eluding me. But someday, that’s a goal of mine. At this age, we have to keep moving,” Goldstein said. “I don’t care if I lift just 5 pounds. We have to keep moving because we know the alternative.”