Forest Park student Manar Al-Hussainy still is haunted by the memory of a girl at her Iraqi elementary school who mentioned that her parents had “talked bad” about President Sadaam Hussein. The wrong people overhead the girl’s indiscretion and informed Iraqi secret police, known as the “Mukhabarat.” Her parents were promptly killed. Al-Hussainy also has disturbing stories about the effects of war on her Iraqi homeland and family. […]
Three students made Forest Park proud at a competition at the Culinary Institute of St. Louis at Hickey College last month. Wauneen Rucker, 49, got a bronze medal in the cake-decorating division for a three-tiered event cake garnished with large butterfly-shaped confections. “(The judges) didn’t do a tasting,” Rucker said. “They didn’t care what was inside, as long as it wasn’t Styrofoam. It was all presentation and decorating technique.” […]
New York City artist Eto Otitigbe invites people to challenge their brains and see things differently with his exhibit, “Curious Industry.” It’s on display in The Gallery of Contemporary Art on the Forest Park campus through Nov. 1. The multi-media exhibit is a collection Otitigbe has been working on in the past few years. “I was interested in seeing if there was anything that could come out of grouping the work,” he said. […]
The adventurous Forest Park student can get college credit and an adrenaline fix with a Beginning Rock Climbing class. “You do not have to be in the best of shape or even have experience,” said instructor Mark Applegate. “It’s more of a mental challenge, getting over that initial fear.” Rock-climbing can be good exercise. […]
Forest Park students, faculty and staff can eat in a new “restaurant” almost every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Culinary arts training includes practice runs for students, who take turns planning and preparing lunches and dinners and serving them to the public. “(In their last semester), all students rotate through every position they may potentially work in a restaurant situation,” said Clarke Griffin, instructor of restaurant operations. […]
Linda Foster walks the halls of Forest Park with a bright smile, hiding the challenges she’s faced in the past year. The 62-year-old student from North St. Louis completed an early childhood education degree in May while battling cancer. “I didn’t want to be a hindrance to anybody, so I tried to get (chemotherapy and radiation) treatments on the days I didn’t have school,” she said. […]
July 19 marked the 50th anniversary of the loss of a beloved St. Louis landmark. A fire destroyed the Forest Park Highlands, also known as “The Highlands,” an amusement park that stood where St. Louis Community College at Forest Park is today. […]
On the north side of downtown St. Louis, there’s a little family owned and operated restaurant that has been patronized by St. Louisans for 100 years. Walking in the door of Crown Candy Kitchen is like taking a step back in time with the malt machines, small jukeboxes at every booth and vintage Coca-Cola signs on the walls. […]
Imagine sitting on a stage completely naked. The room is quiet as an art instructor tells students how to sketch you – fat rolls, wrinkles and all. Sound scary? This is part of a regular day for nude models, who bare it all in Forest Park art classes. “I’ve never been nervous,” said Bert Haier, 72, of Webster Groves, a retired hairdresser who has been modeling for 35 years. “I have always been comfortable with my body.” […]
Richard Athens was 15 years old when he bought his first car for $45 in 1973. It was a yellow, green and gray 1956 Chevy. A customer at his father’s service station sold it to him after determining he couldn’t afford the repairs. “It was the first in a long line of cars,” Athens said. “I remember blowing the transmission drag racing on Grand.” Athens, 54, has been teaching in the automotive studies department at Forest Park for 25 years. He recently was promoted to department chair. […]
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