A reverence and respect for water is a universal theme, found in cultures from ancient Greece to the remote Pacific Island of Vanuatu. The ritual significance of water spans across the globe to include the Native American rain dance, Christian baptismal font, the gleeful splashing of the Songkran water festival of the Dai New Year and the solemn funeral pyre on the Ganges. Learning to manage water, whether it is a lot or a little, is an important part of our shared community. Well-handled water can be cleansing, refreshing, energizing. Out-of-control water has the power to drown and destroy, to wash away with time even the greatest of mountains.

Actor, comedian and star banjo player Steve Martin wowed a sold-out crowd during a performance at last weekend’s Illumination Gala.

TAYLOR ROBINSON, a senior at Ladue Horton-Watkins High School, is one of 814 high school athletes nationwide who have been nominated to play in the 2013 McDonald’s All American Games. The 2013 nominees include high school basketball players from across the country who have been selected by coaches, athletic directors, principals and members of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee. Pictured: Taylor Robinson with Colleen Schoendienst, local McDonald's owner/operator

DOUGLAS CHANG has been appointed GM of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Previously, he oversaw the hotel's Maui location.

In 1990, when JoAnne Levy was ready to buy her first home, she returned to Olivette, where she had lived for the first few years of her life. Levy, VP of ROi, found a home in Chevy Chase and fell back in love with the area. After marrying Jim Thomeczek, an attorney with Thomeczek and Brink, their growing family dictated a move in 2001 to a bigger house just a half-mile away, in order to keep their kids in Old Bonhomme Elementary. Parents to Samantha, 25; Jake, 21; Jerry, 19; Mari, 16; and Josh, 12, the couple loves the diversity of the people, architecture and neighborhoods that Olivette offers. We ask JoAnne and Jim to share more about the community.

The date was July 10, 1999. The event was the final of the Women's World Cup between the United States and China. The audience of 40 million made it the most-watched soccer game ever on U.S. network television.

KATHLEEN MCELLIGOTT (1) has been appointed to Fontbonne University’s board of trustees.

With the popularity of interior/exterior design channels on television, a larger emphasis has been placed on the outside spaces.

• Chef CLARA MOORE of Local Harvest Cafe made her television debut last week as a contestant on Bravo’s latest culinary competition show, Around the World in 80 Plates, which takes 12 chefs through a variety of countries where they complete food-based challenges. Unfortunately, she was the victim of a treacherous co-competitor and was voted off the show. She made a good effort and represented the Lou well. Good job chef!
• Diners in West County have a new option for Mexican fare. Fiesta! Modern Mexican Cuisine debuted May 3 at 185 Hilltown Village Center in Chesterfield, near Highway 40 and Olive Blvd. The menu features south-of-the-border faves like fajitas, quesadillas and empanadas, among others.
• Brunch fans will be pleased to hear that long-time favorite Atlas Restaurant has started brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays between 8 am and 2 pm. The new menu features omelets, French toast, buttermilk pancakes and quiche, among other tempting dishes.
• Schlafly has added another offering to its stellar roster of beer festivals. On Saturday, May 26, from 10 am until 6 pm, the parking lot of the Schlafly Tap Room will be the site of Pork Shop: A Downtown BBQ & Garage Sale. Those interested in cleaning out their garages and basements can sign up to be vendors and bring their wares down for sale. Chef ANDY WHITE will be roasting six whole hogs, and there will be live music, as well as plenty of Schlafly beer on tap. Goodwill will have a donation site set up for any items that don’t sell. More details are available at schlafly.com.
• Looking for something to do in the early evening downtown? The Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District is hosting Wednesday Night Out, a downtown happy hour, every Wednesday from May through August from 4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy drink and food specials at some of the best bars and restaurants in the city. For details and a full roster of participating venues, go online at downtownstl.org/wednesdaynightout.
• Parents searching for something to keep the kids occupied after school lets out, check out L’Ecole Academy’s Young Chefs Summer Camp. L’Ecole chefs will be teaching children (ages 8 to 14) how to make a variety of food, from pizza to scones. The classes will be held at the L’Ecole Culinaire Academy for Culinary Development, 9200 Olive Blvd., Suite 108, in Olivette. Classes will be held daily from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. during the three one-week sessions available: June 25 through 29, July 9 through 13. and July 23 through 27. For more info, go to lecoleacademy.com.

We have had some pure shooters from St. Louis County over the years. However, nobody has ever shot the ball better than Parkway West alum Scott Highmark, who became one of the all-time great Billikens. If shooting were a virtue, Highmark would have been a saint. Technique, range, concentration—he had it all.

Esther and Doug Cohen just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, and have spent the last seven years as Olivette residents. As a child, Doug attended Old Bonhomme Elementary, and now some 40 years later, his 8-year-old son, Ethan, and 6-year-old daughter, Noa, attend the same school. Esther is a marketing manager at Love Funding in Clayton and Doug is the owner of Douglas Properties.

Mercy has named SHANNON SOCK (1) as executive VP of organizational effectiveness.

November marks National Bread Month, so what better way to celebrate than to learn more about some of our local bakeries’ bread-making traditions?

◆JIM FIALA is in the process of shuttering The Terrace View restaurant at City Garden downtown. The restaurant will go to lunch-only service in October from Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fiala says he won’t renew the lease once it expires at the end of the year, indicating that the main reason for the closure is that he just wasn’t able to attract enough folks downtown for dinner.

It was another busy month with a new Missouri women’s amateur champion crowned and one of the area’s finest recognized for her performances over the years. Let’s get to it:

    Congratu lations to LN fashion editor KATIE YEADON and her husband TIM on their new baby girl! ELEANOR MARGARET was born June 19—three weeks early, but we’re told Mommy and baby are doing well at home.