Kirkwood Pulse • October 21, 2025

Autogenerated on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 12:08 UTC • 8 stories from the last 36 hours.

Kirkwood Pulse • October 21, 2025

release_date: 2025-10-17 plot: An icebound ship in the Arctic discovers an injured Victor Frankenstein who warns them about a creature hunting him. Frankenstein recounts his tragic story of love, loss, and his quest to revive life, leading to moral dilemmas about life and death. review: director: Guillermo Del Toro adaptation: A skillful and compelling adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 gothic novel, focusing on moral themes rather than horror. story_structure: Begins in the Arctic, then unfolds in three chapters: a preface, Frankenstein’s story, and the creature’s story. themes: -: redemption -: forgiveness -: love -: moral dilemmas about life and death -: humanity visuals: Gorgeous 19th century settings and stunning cinematography immerse viewers in Victor Frankenstein's scientific mind. characters: Victor Frankenstein: Portrayed by Oscar Isaac, a driven and tragic figure torn between ambition and morality. Elizabeth: Played by Mia Goth, a stoic character who contrasts Victor’s unrelenting drive. Creature: Jacob Elordi’s scarred but sympathetic creation, evolving from innocent victim to savior. Supporting: Lars Mikkelson as the ship’s captain, Felix Kamerer as William, Christoph Waltz as the unsettling philanthropist Harlander. moral_questions: -: Has Victor created life or cheated death? -: What part of the creation holds the soul? tone: A character-driven narrative with emotional depth, blending gothic horror with themes of humanity and redemption. performance: Excellent performances with distinctive and memorable characters. topic: Gun violence and youth survivors key_points: -: Bailey Elizabeth Rogers, a Des Peres photographer, created a multimedia photo exhibit titled 'How Many Daughters, How Many Sons' to highlight the ongoing tragedy of youth gun violence in America. -: Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 18 in the U.S., surpassing car crashes and cancer for the third consecutive year, according to Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. -: The exhibit features 13 families from the St. Louis region who have lost children to gun violence, including notable individuals like Lisa Tompkins, Connie Johnson, Mike Brown Sr., and Erica 'Minnow' Jones. -: Rogers emphasizes that most youth victims are bystanders and not involved in dangerous situations, challenging common assumptions. -: The exhibit was displayed in South City during Gun Violence Awareness Month and is available online on Rogers' website. -: Moms Demand Action, a prominent gun violence prevention group with roots in Webster Groves, played a key role in connecting Rogers with affected families. -: The Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action has grown to 18 chapters statewide and supports survivors through programs like the Survivor Network. -: Mary Gross of Missouri Moms highlights the need for better public education on gun violence, noting only 26% of Americans know it is the leading cause of child death. -: Rogers' work has been showcased at various local events and earned her a position on the New Young Professionals Board of the St. Louis Crime Victim Center. -: The exhibit and related efforts aim to raise awareness, connect survivors, and inspire community-driven responses to gun violence. local_impact: The project sheds light on the St. Louis region's struggles with gun violence and the community's efforts to support survivors and advocate for change. call_to_action: -: Visit Rogers' website to view the photo exhibit. -: Support or get involved with Moms Demand Action at momsdemandaction.org. -: Explore local arts initiatives like Faces Not Forgotten at facesnotforgotten.org. subject: Jon Clark, former principal of Webster Groves High School (WGHS) key_points: -: Jon Clark passed away on October 11, 2025, at age 59 after battling brain cancer for nearly 20 years. -: He served as WGHS assistant principal starting in 1996 and principal from 2003 to 2018. -: Clark was deeply respected and loved by students, staff, and the community for his dedication, kindness, and leadership. -: He was known for personally knowing every student, supporting extracurricular activities, and fostering student success. -: Clark helped launch important programs including the Statesmen Center for at-risk students, Chelsea Detrick Experiential Learning Center, and Future Leaders program. -: Under his leadership, WGHS achieved record-high academic scores and A+ School certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. -: He was named Principal of the Year in 2005 by the St. Louis Association of Secondary Schools. -: Clark continued to support the district after retirement, including backing the Thrive Entrepreneurship Incubator for student business startups. -: The community and former students have shared many stories highlighting his servant leadership, compassion, and positive impact on their lives. -: His family, including wife Vinisha and children Jacob (a WGHS math teacher) and Jenna, expressed gratitude for the community's ongoing support. impact: Jon Clark's leadership and personal care profoundly shaped WGHS and the Webster Groves community, leaving a lasting legacy of educational excellence and compassionate mentorship.

Vibe-O-Meter

• Score (0-100): 50
• Sentiment (-100..100): 0
• Mood: Even Keel
• Why: Mix of 0 positive, 8 neutral, and 0 negative stories. Average sentiment lands at 0.

Stories worth a look

• Frankenstein (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — release_date: 2025-10-17 plot: An icebound ship in the Arctic discovers an injured Victor Frankenstein who warns them about a creature hunting him. Frankenstein recounts his tragic story of love, loss, and his quest to revive life, leading to moral dilemmas about life and death. review: director: Guillermo Del Toro adaptation: A skillful and compelling adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 gothic novel, focusing on moral themes rather than horror. story_structure: Begins in the Arctic, then unfolds in three chapters: a preface, Frankenstein’s story, and the creature’s story. themes: -: redemption -: forgiveness -: love -: moral dilemmas about life and death -: humanity visuals: Gorgeous 19th century settings and stunning cinematography immerse viewers in Victor Frankenstein's scientific mind. characters: Victor Frankenstein: Portrayed by Oscar Isaac, a driven and tragic figure torn between ambition and morality. Elizabeth: Played by Mia Goth, a stoic character who contrasts Victor’s unrelenting drive. Creature: Jacob Elordi’s scarred but sympathetic creation, evolving from innocent victim to savior. Supporting: Lars Mikkelson as the ship’s captain, Felix Kamerer as William, Christoph Waltz as the unsettling philanthropist Harlander. moral_questions: -: Has Victor created life or cheated death? -: What part of the creation holds the soul? tone: A character-driven narrative with emotional depth, blending gothic horror with themes of humanity and redemption. performance: Excellent performances with distinctive and memorable characters. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Photos Of Survivors (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — topic: Gun violence and youth survivors key_points: -: Bailey Elizabeth Rogers, a Des Peres photographer, created a multimedia photo exhibit titled 'How Many Daughters, How Many Sons' to highlight the ongoing tragedy of youth gun violence in America. -: Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 18 in the U.S., surpassing car crashes and cancer for the third consecutive year, according to Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. -: The exhibit features 13 families from the St. Louis region who have lost children to gun violence, including notable individuals like Lisa Tompkins, Connie Johnson, Mike Brown Sr., and Erica 'Minnow' Jones. -: Rogers emphasizes that most youth victims are bystanders and not involved in dangerous situations, challenging common assumptions. -: The exhibit was displayed in South City during Gun Violence Awareness Month and is available online on Rogers' website. -: Moms Demand Action, a prominent gun violence prevention group with roots in Webster Groves, played a key role in connecting Rogers with affected families. -: The Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action has grown to 18 chapters statewide and supports survivors through programs like the Survivor Network. -: Mary Gross of Missouri Moms highlights the need for better public education on gun violence, noting only 26% of Americans know it is the leading cause of child death. -: Rogers' work has been showcased at various local events and earned her a position on the New Young Professionals Board of the St. Louis Crime Victim Center. -: The exhibit and related efforts aim to raise awareness, connect survivors, and inspire community-driven responses to gun violence. local_impact: The project sheds light on the St. Louis region's struggles with gun violence and the community's efforts to support survivors and advocate for change. call_to_action: -: Visit Rogers' website to view the photo exhibit. -: Support or get involved with Moms Demand Action at momsdemandaction.org. -: Explore local arts initiatives like Faces Not Forgotten at facesnotforgotten.org. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Community Remembers Beloved WGHS Principal Jon Clark (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — subject: Jon Clark, former principal of Webster Groves High School (WGHS) key_points: -: Jon Clark passed away on October 11, 2025, at age 59 after battling brain cancer for nearly 20 years. -: He served as WGHS assistant principal starting in 1996 and principal from 2003 to 2018. -: Clark was deeply respected and loved by students, staff, and the community for his dedication, kindness, and leadership. -: He was known for personally knowing every student, supporting extracurricular activities, and fostering student success. -: Clark helped launch important programs including the Statesmen Center for at-risk students, Chelsea Detrick Experiential Learning Center, and Future Leaders program. -: Under his leadership, WGHS achieved record-high academic scores and A+ School certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. -: He was named Principal of the Year in 2005 by the St. Louis Association of Secondary Schools. -: Clark continued to support the district after retirement, including backing the Thrive Entrepreneurship Incubator for student business startups. -: The community and former students have shared many stories highlighting his servant leadership, compassion, and positive impact on their lives. -: His family, including wife Vinisha and children Jacob (a WGHS math teacher) and Jenna, expressed gratitude for the community's ongoing support. impact: Jon Clark's leadership and personal care profoundly shaped WGHS and the Webster Groves community, leaving a lasting legacy of educational excellence and compassionate mentorship. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Soaring Into Retirement (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — subject: Terri Nappier age: 63 location: Kirkwood retirement_details: retired_from: Washington University years_of_service: 33 role: Editor of WashU Magazine tenure_as_editor: 26 contributions: issues_edited: 85 online_editions: 50 written_stories: hundreds skills: -: editing articles, headlines, blurbs, captions -: writing cover copy and story briefs -: managing reader communications career_highlights: education: -: Undergrad women's soccer at UMSL -: Graduate journalism degree at Mizzou technology_adapted: -: typewriters -: laptops -: WordPress -: InDesign -: circulation data analysis -: page views and click-through metrics work_ethic: long hours, effortless handling of responsibilities post_retirement_life: activities: -: attending Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta -: walking with her Goldendoodle Bo -: playing pickleball (3 games per week) family: partner: Claire Harter extended_family: True philosophy: Embracing uncertainty and new experiences in retirement colleagues_sentiment: Happy and supportive of her retirement notable_quotes: -: It is weird to think no one needs me for anything. -: Chart your course. Let the wind blow. Let’s see where it takes us, and where we land next! Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Ms. Missouri Senior America Pageant Seeks Contestants (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — event: Ms. Missouri Senior America Pageant date: 2026-04-26 location: Florissant Performing Arts Center eligibility: Contestants must be at least 60 years old by April 1, 2026 pageant_activities: -: Recite a 35-second personal philosophy of life -: Interview with professional judges -: Model an age-appropriate evening gown -: Perform a nearly 3-minute talent presentation key_dates: initial_interview: -: 2026-01-20 -: 2026-01-22 talent_audition: 2026-02-05 awards: -: Queen crowned -: First runner-up -: Second runner-up post_pageant: All participants become members of the Missouri Senior Cameo Club, a nonprofit that performs variety shows at senior facilities in the St. Louis metro area registration: website: MsMissouriSenior.org contact: name: Susan Pellegrino email: msmosenior@gmail.com phone: 314-640-5789 Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• The Worst Part Of Parenting (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — The article humorously describes the challenges and frustrations of seasonal clothing turnover for parents. It details the emotional and logistical difficulties of sorting kids' clothes, dealing with their resistance, managing donations and hand-me-downs, and the overall chaos that ensues. The author highlights the emotional attachment children have to certain clothes and the exhaustion parents feel during this task, ultimately calling it the worst part of parenting. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Freelance Reporter Wanted To Cover Municipal Meetings (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — The Webster-Kirkwood Times is seeking a freelance reporter with experience in covering city government to report on municipal government meetings. Interested candidates should send their resume and writing samples to Editor-in-Chief Jaime Mowers at jmowers@timesnewspapers.com. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

• Area Crime Reports – Published October 17, 2025 (Webster-Kirkwood Times – News) — Des Peres:
  date: 2025-10-03
  incident: Firearm flourished at a driver on Manchester Road
  -:
  date: 2025-10-03
  incident: Female arrested for theft at JC Penney, West County Center
  -:
  date: 2025-10-07
  incident: Vehicle wanted in domestic assault located at West County Center; suspect not found

Glendale: -: date: 2025-10-18

Keep an eye on Frankenstein from Webster-Kirkwood Times – News.