X-MEN CONNECTION TO OUR TOWN
A star was born 11 years ago to former St. Louisans April and Andy Gross, who now live in Santa Monica, Calif.: Morgan Lily Gross(pictured at right). She began modeling internationally at age 4 and has appeared in 21 TV commercials, as well as the movies He's Just Not Into You and Pornstar. She can soon be seen again on the big screen as young Mystique in X-Men: First Class, opening next Friday.
AMERICAN IDOL WINNER SCOTTY McCREERY CANOODLES WITH OUR TOWN
In the May Nielsen ratings, FOX 2's prime-time numbers continued to triumph as it came in No. 1 locally among adults ages 18–49 and 25–54. Among all nationally metered markets, the station was No. 3 in households for American Idol—behind only Raleigh and Greensboro, both of which are in McCreery's home state of North Carolina. (A reminder: American Idol will host auditions here for season 11 at a location to be announced.)
COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER DR. MARY CASE TO BE EXAMINED
Want to spend a day in the life of St. Louis County medical examiner Dr. Mary Case? (Perhaps even an autopsy can be espied in the county morgue—yuck!) That, along with two tickets to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles will be on the auction block at the ZOOFARI 2011 black-tie event on June 17 at the Saint Louis Zoo. Dinner and dancing will also be on tap.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT LAMBERT
On Friday, as the official holiday weekend began, the columnist worked Lambert International Airport and met some interesting people:
• A Whelan Security agent at the entrance: "We have stopped cars loaded with fertilizer. After all, teamed with electric components, it's dangerous."
• Roosevelt Mitchell, a semi-retired baggage check-in employee at curbside: "Charging for baggage is putting holes in our hearts without killing us. No tips. Come back and see me when you have some luggage."
• Lanita Price, an attendant at the Explore St. Louis counter: "We've had passengers ask us to take them to their hotels. Some incoming visitors ask where they could get hot dogs, barbecue, or Ted Drewes frozen custard."
• Mumma Brahim, a native of Nairobi, worker at Head Start and is a student in the master's program at Webster University: "It's very peaceful in St. Louis. In Nairobi one walks because there's no need to drive. There are more opportunities for women here." So what kind of food does she miss in Kenya? "Fresh goat and camel milk."
• Christian Pletsch and George Kuhnapfel, missionaries with the Child Evangelism Fellowship and natives of Germany's Ruhr Valey: "We're on our way back to Germany," said Pletsch. "There are 2 or 3 billion children in the world who need to know the Lord." Of President Obama, Kuhnapfel opined, "He came in like a messiah, but reality caught him just like any human being and into debt and wars. He must get to know Jesus."
• Carlos Ruiz, a student at Missouri Baptist University and an outfielder on the baseball team: "Pujols will never leave St. Louis!"
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car exec Ryan Short and his wife, Kristina: "We moved here from southern California and have lived in Wildwood for 11 years. We miss the beaches there, but we do have a pool in our place at Innsbrook. We do wish there were better restaurants in Wildwood or Chesterfield, instead of chains."
• Edison Lee, a native of Shanghai, who once attended Timberland High School in Wentzville and now lives in New York; he greeted his mother, Joy, and others visiting from Shanghai: "My favorite food is soup with dumplings, which I miss. But, you know, in southern parts of China, they still eat dog."
• At the taxi stand we learned about the Better Business Bureau's warning to veterans and their families that scammers may be victimizing them, particularly the elderly and frail. Among the scams: offering for sale military records and forms that may be obtained for free or at a lower cost elsewhere; trumpeting the need to update the victims' credit-card information or other records for the Veterans Administration, so the scammers can get information to commit identity theft; bogus charities with names that reference the Armed Forces. (The BBB might have overlooked some taxi drivers who tell departing passengers there will be an extra charge for gas.)
