August 21 - 27, 2015

South County Times

Anniversary Of The 19th Amendment from page 3

Boulevard and Manchester Road.
Voter education is a key mission of the
LWV in St. Louis.
It is becoming more and more
obvious that we need more women
elected and represented in our
Congress and our state legislatures,
said McDaniel. I am sure there will
be conversations about that as we
celebrate.
I personally worry about a retreat
from and an erosion of voter rights
in this country for different groups,
added McDaniel. We always have to
be on guard for that.
Crestwoods Barbara Harris, also a
member of LWV, agreed with
McDaniel. She noted the U.S. Supreme
Court decision that pares back some of
the protections provided for minorities
under the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
I think it is right to worry about
what some states are doing now when
it comes to voter rights, said Harris.
Its something to think about as we
recall our important date for womens
rights. The league is dedicated to voter
rights and I am proud to be a part of
it.
Raise A Glass!
Celebrators were definitely up on
their womens history on Tuesday
night as they raised a glass to such
past suffragettes as Lucretia Mott,
Angelina and Sarah Grimke, Elizabeth

Cady Stanton and more of the early

women pacemakers.
Among those honored who were in
the suffrage movement and involved
in passing the 19th Amendment:
Lucretia Mott, a Quaker minister,
who became a force early in the
movement, saw parallels in the fight
to free the slaves and to free women
from the restrictions on their lives.
Susan B. Anthony, who was also an
abolitionist and who persuaded several
states to grant the right to vote for
women before 1920.
Carrie Chapman Cait, who headed
the National Womens Suffrage
Association and recruited thousands
to the cause.
Breaking The Rules
From the 19th century, I love
Elizabeth Caty Stanton, said Now.
During her time, women were not to
speak before mixed audiences of men
and women. She broke the rules and
spoke about the Declaration of
Independence as the basis for womens
rights in America.
From the 20th century, I love Alice
Paul, added Now. She arrived on the
scene when womens issues had grown
quiet for a few decades. She was a
rabble rouser. Got thrown in jail. Went
on a hunger strike. Her radical tactics
wore down President Wilson, who
finally came out in support of the 19th

Lynda Shaw of Fenton (left) and Barabara Harris of Crestwood (right) attended a
celebration held Tuesday at Llewelyns Pub in Webster Groves commemorating the
95th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the
right to vote. Harris is a member of the local League of Women Voters.
photo by Diana Linsley
Amendment.
Now said she hopes the womens
rights celebration and future events
inspire a new generation of young
women to enlist in the cause and to
become aware of womens issues.
Young women, I am afraid, dont

understand the long struggle women

have had, said Now. And the fight
has not just been about the right to
vote in elections, but property rights,
marriage equality, equal pay. Theres
still a lot at stake.

HOMETOWN business profiles

Located at Lindbergh and I55 (behind Dennys).

From L: Ally, Rachel, Kaylan, Dana, Brittany and Julie.

Best Home Furnishings: Proud

To Be Made By Americans In America

Best Home Furnishings owner, Carl

Boyer, not only takes pride in his business,
he takes pride in his country.
Since 2007, Boyer has found that
his customers appreciate the fact that
Best products available at his store are
American made by Americans in America.
Best Home Furnishings has been
building furniture since 1962, selling
furniture made in Southern Indiana. The
family-owned company started as Best
Chairs and has now become the worlds
largest chair manufacturer.
The South County Showroom is located
just off Lindbergh Boulevard behind
Dennys restaurant. It has been expanded
and now carries a complete leather gallery,
in addition to the hundreds of chairs, sofas
and recliners, office chairs, sectionals, home
theatre products that
Best offers. Best Home
Furnishings
furniture
is available in over 700
fabrics and leathers.
Customers can find the

perfect piece or complete room group in the

fabric or covering they choose.
Best products are made using hardwood
frames that are kiln dried and cut in Bests
own lumber plant. Recliners, rocking and
gliding mechanisms are supplied by Leggett
and Platt, a Carthage, Mo., company.
Customers can select the perfect
furniture in their choice of covering and
have it in their home in three weeks or less.
This is the only factory-direct store
anywhere in the world for the worlds
largest chair manufacturer, Boyer said.
From the factory in Ferdinand, Ind.,
product is sent to 4,000 retailers in 38
countries and all 50 states. Here in St. Louis,
Best Home Furnishings factory-direct store
serves the entire St. Louis metro area and
many customers from out-state Missouri and
Illinois.
Boyer finds satisfaction
by making St. Louis
homes more beautiful, he
said.

11182-B South Towne Square 314-894-9922

Lindbergh & 55

www.bhfstl.com

South County
behind Dennys

Shop Nicole Rae Boutique For

Unique Items At Competitive Prices
South County may not be the first place
shoppers think about for a boutique, but its
a natural for Dana Crosswhite, owner of
Nicole Rae Boutique in Concord Plaza.
Entering her third year in business,
Crosswhite finds that people are still
discovering Nicole Rae in its unexpected
location.
I was born and raised in South County
and I realized there were no boutiques in
this area, Crosswhite said. My family
and I live here and are proud to be a part of
the community.
The
boutique
carries
clothing,
accessories, jewelry, gifts and home dcor
items merchandise that cant be found
in the area big box stores.
The shop buys items from about 500
different vendors, including womens
clothing lines Elan, Lucy Love, Double
Zero and Articles of Society.
We will have something
for you is the stores motto.
Owning a boutique is
something Crosswhite always
wanted to do. In 2013, she

decided to go for it.

After raising my two daughters,
I wanted to pursue a longtime dream
of owning my own boutique, said
Crosswhite.
Crosswhite created the name Nicole
Rae from the middle names of her two
daughters. Those two daughters, Kaylan
and Ally, both Lindbergh High School
students, work with their mother at the
shop. Kaylan, Ally and Brittany model
many of the shops fashions for the Nicole
Rae Facebook page, which spotlights new
items as they become available.
Crosswhites customers tell her they
appreciate that the boutique carries unique
items at more than competitive prices.
They also appreciate the fact that new
merchandise arrives weekly.
The shop is open five days a week,
from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday
through
Friday
and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday. It is closed on
Sunday and Monday.

117 Concord Plaza St. Louis 314-270-9191

South County Times

August 21 - 27, 2015

HOMETOWN BUSINESS PROFILES

Tom and Judy Honigfort.

From left: Judi Winfrey, Ellen Mazur, Lisa Davis. (Not pictured: Megan Heath)

Taste The Farm-To-Table Difference

At Great Harvest Bread Co.

The farm-to-table food concept has

been growing in popularity across the
country, and Great Harvest Bread Co. is a
perfect example of it in practice.
The idea is that foods we find on our
table can be traced back to their points of
origin and dont have added chemicals or
food additives, said Judy Honigfort, who
owns the bakery with her husband, Tom.
The main staple in most breads and baked
goods is Montana-grown, non-genetically
modified whole wheat.
Our wheat is hand-selected from
Montana family farms and shipped directly
to us as berries, Honigfort said. We then
mill those berries into wheat here in our
bakery, and bake with it within 48 hours.
Baking with freshly milled wheat
produces a flavor like no other and
enhances the breads nutritional
value.
When customers add
butter to their free Great
Harvest slice of bread, they
often ask where they can
find that wonderful butter,
Honigfort said. But its not

the unsalted butter thats different. Its

the bread. Most customers arent used
to tasting butter on freshly milled wheat
bread with no additives or preservatives.
Great Harvest also sells cookies,
scones, muffins and bars, as well as
specialty merchandise such as gourmet nut
butters and jams.
Great Harvest is a great resource
for health-conscious consumers because
our baked goods contain no additives,
preservatives or dough conditioners,
Honigfort said.
Customer services is also an important
ingredient at Great Harvest.
Many of our staff members were
fans of Great Harvest before they became
employees, she said. In fact, most of our
counter staff are moms who have
purchased our bread for their
families. They can relate to
customers looking for that
something special, and they
can make recommendations
for an everyday, nutritional
sandwich bread.

125 W. Argonne Kirkwood 314-821-1848

www.greatharvestkirkwood.com

From L: Kristine Carey, Will Rohlfing, Tim Garvey, owner, Austin Chambliss and Louie Condellire.

The Twisted Tale

Of Pretzel Boys In Des Peres

Pretzel Boys has a twisted tale to tell.

The Des Peres shop makes and serves
soft pretzels, pretzel nuggets, hot dogs,
homemade dips, custom-shaped pretzels,
and sausage and bratwurst pretzels.
Brothers Tim and Matt Garvey and
Tims wife, Jamie, started Pretzel Boys
in 2011 with five employees. They now
employ 20. The business has expanded in
other ways too.
Our pretzels are sold in more
concession stands and cafeterias now,
Tim Garvey said. Our catering for offices
has increased, as have our custom pretzel
orders.
In September, the Garveys are opening
a second store at 3802 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
in Sunset Hills. If interested in joining the
crew, email pretzelboys.jobs@gmail.com.
Garvey gets his greatest business
satisfaction from working with the staff.
We have a great
staff composed mostly
of students and recent
college graduates, he
said.

Garvey himself started the business

one year after graduating from Spring Hill
College. After learning how to execute the
pretzel recipe from a friend in Philadelphia,
he headed home to St. Louis to open a
pretzel shop.
Although that recipe is classified,
Garvey shares other pretzel tips. He
advises unbagging the fresh pretzels as
soon as possible to avoid sogginess.
Never store pretzels in plastic, he
cautioned, adding that pretzels can be
frozen in a paper bag, then reheated in a
microwave oven.
Garvey enjoys talking with customers.
We have formed many relationships
with our customers over the past five years.
Through these relationships, we have
become very involved in the community.
Pretzel Boys hires neighborhood kids,
supports school fundraisers and sponsors
donation days for local
charities.

11750 Manchester Road Des Peres 314-835-9698

3802 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Sunset Hills
www.stlpretzelboys.com

Shop Sugar Magnolia For The Perfect

Bra & Specialty Lingerie

Sugar Magnolia Boutique, Webster

Groves specialty lingerie and bra shop, features custom-fit bras and offers loungewear,
intimates, bridal, burlesque and maternity
lingerie, as well as hosiery, jewelry, soaps
and candles.
I have always loved lingerie, but after 16
years of marriage and three children, I didnt
even recognize my own body, said shop
owner Lisa Davis.
Left frustrated by the lack of options and
the difficulty in locating a proper-fitting bra,
Davis founded Sugar Magnolia in February
2012. The goal was a unique specialty shop
that provides a personal experience, as well
as an array of sizes.
Were trying to fill the void between a
boring bra shop and a swanky adult store,
Davis said.
Owner Lisa Davis, Ellen Mazur, Judi
Winfrey and Megan Heath
make up Sugar Magnolias
team. While Davis has a true
passion for lingerie, Mazur,
Winfrey and Heath bring
their savvy fashion ideas,
knowledge of the products

and cheerful smiles making them the perfect team!

We are changing the way women feel
about themselves, one bra at a time, Davis
said.
Recent research showed that about 80
percent of women are wearing the wrong bra
size. An ill-fitting bra can cause neck, back
and shoulder pain.
At Sugar Magnolia, you will be fitted by
one of our specialists and given the knowledge to help you understand why a great fitting bra is so important for every woman no
matter her size, Davis said,
Customers say they love the array of bra
sizes from cup sizes AA to N and band sizes
from 28 to 50. The shop also carries lacy,
silky, risqu and romantic styles, plus special
made-in-the-shop garters.
Whether youre seeking the perfect gift,
a custom special order,
space for a party, or a basic
everyday bra, you can
expect a comfortable, highly personalized shopping
experience
at
Sugar
Magnolia, Davis said.

38 N. Gore Ave. Webster Groves 314-395-9159

www.sugar-magnolia.com

Since 1997, Marthas Hands has provided over 3,000,000 hours of compassionate, private-duty home
care. Marthas Hands is locally owned by Denise Huber and Eileen Hedrick.

Marthas Hands Home Care:

Compassionate Partners In Life Care
Does an elder family member or friend
need a little help to stay in their home? You
can place your trust in Marthas Hands. Our
nurse care manager will visit with the client
and their family to customize care.
What separates Marthas Hands from
other agencies is their unique Nurse Care
Manager approach. All clients receive care
oversight by a registered nurse, with access
to them 24/7.
Typical services include bathing and
dressing assistance, meal preparation/cleanup, medication set-up and reminders, light
housekeeping, laundry, errand running, and
companionship.
Eileen Hedrick founded Marthas Hands
on a mission of Love through Service.
While a nursing student, Eileen was taught
by the Sisters of Mercy, emphasizing total
wellness. Eileen applied this mission in her
nursing career.

They are regularly looking for compassionate individuals willing to serve the needs
of the elderly. Marthas Hands provides training and matches a caregivers skills with the
clients needs. Their nurse supervisor introduces the new caregiver to the client, and
reviews the care plan to make everyone feel
comfortable.
Affording care can be a concern. Marthas
Hands can assist clients in discovering potential funding sources and care options.
Marthas Hands is actively involved with
the Home Care Association of America,
Missouri Alliance for Home Care,
Alzheimers Association and the Kirkwood
Chamber of Commerce.
Eileens daughter, Denise Hedrick Huber,
co-owns Marthas Hands and has become
more involved in running the business, working to continue Eileens original mission of
Love through Service.

www.marthashands.com 314-965-4350

August 21 - 27, 2015

South County Times

HOMETOWN BUSINESS PROFILES

From L: (Front row) Pat Pendelton, Gina Burlison, Betty Coffman, Jan Fanetti, Kathy Foshage. (Back row)
Jacqui Wahby, Michele VanTuyl, Karen Baumann, Kailey Beckett. Not pictured: Kevin Goessling, Diane Bade.

Bryan and Jennifer Ficken

Common Cents Rental Sells, Rents

Repairs Outdoor Equipment

Common Cents Rental Inc. is

approaching its seventh anniversary.
The family company, which opened
in 2009, carries major equipment brands,
including Echo, Grasshopper, Husqvarna,
Hustler Turf, Redmax, Tanaka, Toro and
Shindaiwa and Fisher Snow Plows to its
line of sales and repair.
We have also just added Scags to our
line-up featuring Scags mowers and GiantVac, said Jennifer Ficken, who owns the
business with her husband Bryan.
Customers can rent a wide range of
lawn and power equipment, including
air tools, aerators, backhoes, chain saws,
concrete tools, drain snakes, flooring tools,
pallet forks, skids, welders and snow plows.
The couple acquired the business from
the retiring previous owner. It
was a good fit because Bryan
Ficken has worked in lawn
and garden his whole life. So it
was only natural to add a lawn
and garden component to the
business, building on the base of
his longstanding customers.
In the past seven years,

we have grown leaps and bounds

because of wonderful customers who have
recommended us, she said. We are now
in the process of expanding our facility to
include the building next door.
Customers appreciate that Common
Cents prices are fair and realistic and that
the rental equipment is in very good shape,
Ficken said.
Jennifer Ficken gets the most
satisfaction in her job from customers
being pleased with our work, friendliness
and willingness to work with them, she
said. We have recently made some staffing
changes to better serve our customers.
Although summer may yet bring some
hot days, fall and winter are just around the
corner.
Keep us in mind for aerator
rental and seed, as well as
salt and snow plows, Ficken
said. She noted that aeration is
especially important this year to
fight the fungus that is causing
brown spots on the lawn.

1080 Gravois Road Fenton 636-326-4888

www.commoncentsrental.com

From left: Bob Starr, Libby Blake, Barry Bornstein, Marcia Herrmann, Terri Johnson and Gary Lerner.

Show Me Blinds & Shutters:

Small Business With Big Values

Whether shopping for a single window

treatment, redecorating an entire house or
seeking the solution to a complex design
challenge, Show Me Blinds & Shutters in
Kirkwood, a gallery store for the HunterDouglas brand, can help.
Show Me Blinds has been offering sales
and installation on a wide range of window
treatments since 1996.
Veteran design consultants Marcia
Hermann and Libby Blake can help customers select from limitless combinations of
color, texture, fabrics and function during a
free home consultation.
Every order is custom
designed, measured and
made. Bob Starr performs
the installations.

Show Me Blinds was one of the first

Hunter Douglas Gallery stores established
in the United States 10 years ago. All HunterDouglas products are made in the U.S.A.
The connection with the well-known
Hunter-Douglas brand gives the store the aura
of a small business with big values.
Customers love that Show Me Blinds is a
small family business in Kirkwood.
For the staff, the best aspect of their work
is seeing homeowners excitement after their
new window treatments have been installed.
We provide free in-home design consultation, quote, measuring and
installation.
Customer satisfaction
is an important part of
the business.

Shop UniQue Ideas N More For

Personalized, Affordable Custom Gifts

No two gifts need to be the same when

shopping at UniQue Ideas N More.
The Fenton Plaza personalized gift boutique has been putting individual touches on
gifts since 2007. They offer a wide variety of
embroidery, vinyl lettering, monogrammed
jewelry, custom T-shirts and apparel, home decor, school spirit wear, embroidery and more.
We wanted to offer the community creative ideas and personal gifts at affordable
prices for any occasion, said Michele VanTuyl, co-owner of the store.
UniQue Ideas N More moved to its current location in 2012 after outgrowing their
first two places. The boutique was started by
VanTuyl and production manager, Gina Burlison and two close friends: Pat Pendleton, office manager and Karen Baumann, sales associate, and now she partners with her mother,
Diane Bade.
We have grown into a
much larger location, offering
a wider variety of items for
wedding, baby, birthdays and
holidays, more custom apparel
and home decor choices avail-

able than ever before, said VanTuyl.

The staff is a tight-knit group. They will
go out of their way to help customers create
a special gift, even if its something thats not
actually displayed in the store. said VanTuyl.
VanTuyl derives satisfaction from hearing
from customers that the shops prices are affordable so just about anyone can purchase
personalized gifts and custom apparel for
more than just a few people in their lives.
Customers also see the success the store
has achieved over the years.
I love hearing how much they love our
selection of merchandise, said VanTuyl.
However, more importantly, nothing pleases
me more than when I hear they love our customer service so friendly and personable.
If I didnt have the outstanding employees that I have, our store wouldnt be where
it is today and our customers
wouldnt be as happy, she said.
Watch for announcements
about Girls Night Out, the Fall
Fashion Show and our annual
Holiday Open House.

58 Fenton Plaza Fenton 636-343-2200

www.uniqueideasnmore.com

From L: Rita Milford, Stephanie Sepe and Marchay Bell.

The Milfords Have Helped To Create

Beautiful Kitchens & Baths Since 1969

The Milford family has been helping customers with kitchen and bath updates since
1969. Tim Milford and his wife Rita, the second generation, now run Milford Kitchen and
Bath at its Fenton showroom.
Milford Kitchen and Bath is a showroom
for homeowners, contractors, and its customers to purchase quality kitchen and bath products. Milford is a Registered Kohler Showroom and Moen Showroom of Distinction. In
addition to Kohler and Moen fixtures, it offers
kitchen and vanity cabinets as well as counter tops in various materials including onyx,
quartz and granite.
We have full-time kitchen and bath designers helping customers with space planning and product selection,
said Showroom Manager Rita
Milford.
Tim Milfords father and
uncle, Tom Milford and Robert Allan, established Milford
Plumbing Supply Co. in 1969
in North St. Louis near Sportmans Park. In 1973, the company moved to South County.

Over the years, Milford Supply has expanded

with branches in St. Louis City at 4219 S.
Kingshighway near Chippewa and in St.
Charles at 1799 Ford Lane.
Recently, Milford Supply acquired Soulard Plumbing Supply, a company that has
been in existence since 1954, and located at
78 N. Gore in Webster Groves. The Milfords
are excited about the addition of Soulard
Plumbing and are happy to be a part of the
Webster Groves community. Plans to renovate
and expand the Soulard showroom are forthcoming. This showroom is a great location for
area residents.
Rita Milford most enjoys working closely
with customers and seeing a project go from
idea to reality.
Customers often compliment the Milfords on their
customer service and refer
other customers to the store.
Customers are pleased
that we work with their budgets and offer several price options, Milford said.

Milford Kitchen & Bath

933 S. Kirkwood Road Kirkwood 314-909-1177

Monday Friday 9 a.m. 5 p.m.
www.showmeblinds.com

936 Brookwood Center Fenton 636-717-0700

Soulard Plumbing

78 N. Gore Webster Groves 314-961-8626