![Watching a small group scrimmage, Ben Lundt, St. Louis City SC goalkeeper and founder of Lundt Pro Soccer Training, shouts words of encouragement to players on Sunday, April 26 n the Lafayette grass soccer field. “The idea behind [the event] was to bring the professional soccer players closer to the community because usually people only get to see us on TV or in the stadium. [Families] actually having the opportunity to have their kids on the field with us is the most important aspect,” Ben Lundt said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6823-1200x800.jpg)
![In celebration of winning his second straight state title in the 215 weight class, junior Carter Brown backflips before leaving the mat. Brown won his bout against junior Kobe Rhymes of North Kansas City High School by fall in just 41 seconds. "Carter does what Carter does. We expect [success] out of him and his goals are bigger than the state championship," coach Sam Ritchie said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2784-1200x800.jpg)
The Foundry Art Centre hosted its annual Merry Makers Market on Friday, Dec. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring more than 50 unique vendors.
The two-day event offered visitors a chance to shop for handmade gifts such as soaps, candles, holiday decorations, plushies and more. Additionally, visitors had the opportunity to support local businesses and enjoy a festive holiday atmosphere.
One of this year’s vendors, April Riley owns rileymade, a small business that makes handcrafted plushies.
“I’ve been drawing since I was young, and ridiculous stuff has always just been my favorite. When my son was a toddler, I started making handmade plushies because I didn’t really like what I found in stores, I thought they were kind of homogenized and not really weird enough,” Riley said.
Additionally, the Dec. 5 market coincided with the Foundry’s monthly First Friday celebration, a community event typically featuring live music, open studios and interactive art activities. The next day, visitors continued browsing vendors and had the opportunity to meet the Foundry’s resident artists on the second floor.
A highlight of the weekend was the Mini Market, a special shopping area reserved for children ages 12 and under. During this time, young shoppers were encouraged to browse independently with all items priced under $20. All of the proceeds went towards the Foundry’s children’s programming.
