Rob Compton, Babaloo Music & Fun
Wacky Wednesdays at KPAC
This summer, you could run into some very distinguished gentlemen at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center — men like Tommy Terrific, Nitro Joe, and Babaloo. They are just a few of the talented performers who have helped make Wacky Wednesdays…wacky.
Wacky Wednesdays is a summer tradition that started at the Kirkwood Public Library in 1994. The program's popularity prompted a move to KPAC’s Strauss Black Box Theatre so that children, parents, and grandparents can enjoy this free, one-of-a-kind concert series.
Local favorite Babaloo Music & Fun is back in this year’s lineup. For more than 20 years, Rob Compton—known as Babaloo—has entertained kids with catchy songs about alligators and toothbrushes falling into the toilet. He says it best: “My job is to connect with kids; to make them smile and sing…and not just during the performance. I want them smiling and singing all the way home in the car, at the dinner table, in school the next day, and clear into the next year."
Wacky Wednesday | June and July |10:30 AM | KPAC
No registration or ticket required.
Sponsored by the Kirkwood Public Library.
Bruce Conner
Owner of Massage Envy Sunset Hills
When Bruce Conner, owner of Massage Envy in Sunset Hills, asks men why they haven't booked a massage, he usually hears the same thing: it never occurred to them. After twenty years in business, he’s still surprised by how many men wait until they’re sidelined by a pulled muscle before they finally come in.
"Getting massages and taking those knots out really makes you perform better. And you feel better," Bruce said. Whether you want a better golf score or to wake up feeling energized for the day, muscle tension can quietly hold you back. Regular massage not only helps you recover from injuries but also keeps your body functioning well.
Therapists at Sunset Hills have watched clients improve even more when they add stretching to their sessions. Deep tissue work combined with assisted stretching leads to a better range of motion than foam rolling alone. Clients who stretch regularly move more easily, recover faster, and stay pain-free longer.
Bruce noted another wellness topic many men still avoid - skin care. “Your face is what people notice first, so take care of it,” he said. “Facials are not just about looks—they’re about skin health. Younger men are clearing up stubborn acne with regular treatments, and older clients are seeing fewer signs of aging.”
Massage Envy in Sunset Hill is celebrating 20 years as a growing business serving our community. “I invite anyone, man or woman, who has ever thought about a career in this space to come and talk to us. We can help get you started,” offered Bruce. “Our mission is to help people feel better, move more, and show up as their best selves.”
Forrest Mann
AVP, Business Banker at Enterprise Bank & Trust.
Focusing on the long game is how one banker’s love of golf shapes the way he builds community.
It has been said that business happens on the golf course. Forrest Mann would agree. Swinging a club sharpens his focus as an AVP, Business Banker at Enterprise Bank & Trust.
“I got my first set of clubs when I was four years old,” he recalls, smiling. “It was a Michael Jordan-branded kids’ set, and I’ve been hooked ever since.” He didn’t realize it then, but golf would teach the discipline, insight, clarity, and patience needed to support business owners in the community.
Forrest’s career didn’t begin in finance. “While studying economics, I worked as a personal trainer,” he says, laughing. “It was accidental, but both personal training and banking are about helping people achieve their goals.” Now, as a business banker, Forrest is helping business owners with cash flow, guiding them through loan applications, payroll concerns, and educating office teams on avoiding online scams and cyberattacks.
One of Forrest’s favorite lessons comes from Harvey Penick, a legendary golf instructor. In his best-selling Little Red Book, Harvey emphasizes simple golf fundamentals such as "taking dead aim." On the golf course, that means knowing your target and committing to it. Off the course, Forrest sees it as a reminder to focus on what matters to each business owner aiming to achieve their specific goal. “Building relationships takes time and effort,” Forrest says. “There is a length to it.”
In the same way that Forrest is at his best out on the course, he’s equally on par hosting Enterprise Bank & Trust’s Coffee & Connections on the first Friday of each month in Clayton, and the second Friday every other month at the Kirkwood branch. These events give business teams the opportunity to meet other businesses in the community for quick conversations. Of course, Forrest will be happy to continue those conversations on the golf course.
Ryan Whittington and Jerry Rosen
Webster Groves Rotary Club
Grow Webster is an initiative to rejuvenate the Webster Groves Rotary Club.
When club president Ryan Whittington stepped into the role, he focused on three priorities: keeping longtime members engaged, creating more flexible ways to serve, and bringing in new energy.
Ryan tapped Jerry Rosen, the executive director of the Quad Chamber of Commerce, to chair Grow Webster. Together, they created a survey to better understand how people want to serve. The results revealed that younger demographics want to be involved. They just need options.
“We realized not everyone can make our regular meeting and Friday lunch,” Ryan said. “So Grow Webster was created to attract more members and younger professionals.”
“It wasn’t about changing tradition,” Jerry added. “It was figuring out how to build upon it. The community has been incredibly good to business. Grow Webster offers ways for business leaders to give back to their community.”
The first opportunity was creating weekend volunteer programs. From mulching trails in Blackburn Park to restoring Forest Park through their Legacy Oaks project, which plants saplings from acorns of century-old trees in Webster Groves.
“It’s not just about service hours,” Ryan said. “It’s about creating opportunities that actually impact someone’s future.” The club also supports scholarships and hosts Career Day, connecting students with professionals across industries.
Keeping with tradition, the Friday lunch meetings remain for those who value consistency and connection. “Membership is growing. Participation is up. More people are contributing ideas and seeing them put into action,” he said. “It’s a Rotary Club that looks a little different, but works better for the people it serves.”
For younger residents, professionals, and retirees, there’s a clear entry point for anyone who wants to connect to the community.
Ready to make an impact? Join us for Friday lunch or a service project—take the first step, and help shape the future of Webster Groves with Rotary. For more information, visit webstergrovesrotary.org
The Three Gearard Brothers… Plus Bob.
3Gerards Pizza
Four brothers. Three Gerards. One St. Louis Style Pizza. Rick Shaper, who founded 3Gerards Pizza with his brothers Tom, Scott, and Bob, explains the company’s name. “My middle name is Gerard, and my two younger brothers also have the middle name, Gerard. Our mother chose our middle names to honor St. Gerard, the patron saint of healthy babies. Bob’s middle name is Joseph… because he was born in St. Joseph.”
The four brothers grew up in St. Louis and decided to create a true tribute to authentic St. Louis Pizza. The authenticity begins with the right ingredients.
“St. Louis pizza is generally a sweet sauce, 100% provolone, ingredients all the way up to the edge, and a nice thin crispy crust,” says Rick. “The only difference is we freeze it so you can bake it at home.”
3Gerards stands out not just for its ingredients but also for its attention to detail. Every pizza is made by hand, not by machines, which is rare for frozen pizzas. Rick says, “Consistency matters. People know when you cut corners.” After a year of research and development, Rick’s team found the perfect sausage. “Once we found it, our commitment to our customers was to never change it,” Rick adds.
Rick notes that, “3Gerards is about more than pizza. It’s about local people who care about their neighborhood, their company, and their craft, making sure every pizza looks great before it leaves. We believe every pizza brings us closer to what matters most, family.”
Dierbergs proudly supports this family-owned business. “They bring a real sense of local community to their stores,” says Rick. “It’s easy to find our restaurant-quality St. Louis-style pizza in the freezer section. Our pizzas have a clear wrapper because we want shoppers to see the amount of toppings and know the care we put into making each pizza.”
Luke and Kevin Beattie
Fox's Finest Meats, Seafood & Marketplace
In 1875, Kirkwood’s first full-service market opened at Argonne and Clay. That spot is now home to Fox's Finest Meats, Seafood & Marketplace, a new specialty market in Downtown Kirkwood. The concept started with a gap. Father‑son team Kevin and Luke Beattie found it while cooking at home. “Luke is a foodie who loves to cook. We were driving 20 minutes for seafood and 30 for good meat,” Kevin said. “All the best businesses are born from a need,” said Luke. "We knew Kirkwood needed a market like this.”
Their idea for a local market grew as they traveled through France and Italy. They also visited cities like Charleston, South Carolina. There, Luke tried an unforgettable porchetta sandwich. A version of that sandwich now anchors Fox’s Finest specialty menu.
“Every time we walked into these great open-air and neighborhood markets, we discovered something new,” said Luke. “We both kept thinking this concept would fit perfectly in Kirkwood.”
Once their vision for the market was solidified, Luke and Kevin needed to land on a name. “Fox is both of our middle names,” said Luke. “It’s a family name.”
When you enter Fox's Finest, you'll see a curated selection of products, both approachable and premium. There are Wagyu beef hot dogs, fresh Faroe Islands salmon, sushi-grade tuna loins, and Amish-raised chicken. The charcuterie case is stocked with cheeses made by an Iowa artisan.
Along with meats, seafood, poultry, and pork, you'll meet friendly, knowledgeable butchers and staff skilled in selecting whole fish, cutting custom steaks, and recommending new recipes.
Kevin added, “We want to have a sense of abundance, discovery, and craft that hits you the moment you walk through the door.”
That's the point. The staff at Fox's Finest wants to be part of your food journey. “We’re focused on providing one-on-one personalized service,” said Kevin. “Our team is prepared to walk through how to prepare a halibut fillet or tell you the exact temperature and perfect time to pull off your ribeye.”
Luke explains, "We also realize not everyone is a gourmet chef. Some may need more confidence to cook and prepare a meal at home. We want to be that confidence bridge."
Both Kevin and Luke attend Kirkwood High School and take pride in being Pioneers. As part of their marketing push to prepare for the opening of Fox’s Finest, they chose to work with Kirkwood High School's marketing and DECA programs for students’ senior projects. “When I was a part of Kirkwood High School’s marketing program, I always knew I wanted to come back home and open up a business in downtown Kirkwood,” said Luke. “Kirkwood's always been a big part of my life. Being part of the community is what it's always been about."
"This issue celebrates the performers, entrepreneurs, bankers, volunteers, and families who show that when locals invest in our community, everyone benefits.”