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MU Health Care now offers a Love Your Heart Cardiac Screening designed to catch potential heart issues before they become a problem. This one-hour screening includes a lab analysis and cardiac calcium score to give an image of your heart health with next-step recommendations and advice.
Consider a screening if you:
Have high blood pressure or cholesterol (even if medically managed)
Have a family history of heart disease
Have Type 2 diabetes
Are a smoker or former smoker
Schedule at your convenience — no referral necessary.
Learn more at muhealth.org/love-your-heart.
At Delight Events, we create delightful occasions that leave you with a full heart and memories to last a lifetime. We specialize in one thing in particular; making your event stress free and fun!
We see ourselves as the ultimate partner in event planning and seek to create an experience unlike any other. We approach your event with high levels of attention to detail and communication and promise you’ll walk away not only as a favorite client, but also as a friend.
We welcome all kinds of couples, regardless of their sexuality, gender, race, religion, or body size. We work with guests lists, budgets, and events of all sizes that place a value on creating a quality guest experience.
From proposal to party time, it’s our goal to provide you with a seamless experience that leaves you wishing you could do it all over again!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you and give you the BEST DAY EVER in 2023 and beyond! To set up a complimentary consultation, please use the QR code.
What is your go to place to take a visitor in Columbia?
Hittsville, USA baby! Uprise/Ragtag/Hitt Rexx
What’s your fave past time in Columbia?
I love riding my bike on the trails.
What do you think is Columbia’s best kept secret?
Do not sleep on Columbia’s rad live theater scene. Columbia Entertainment Company is my favorite but all the companies are doing amazing work.
How would you describe Columbia in one word? Cool.
Barbie Banks is the Co-Executive Director of the Ragtag Film Society.
One of the things I love most about Columbia is the endless array of things to do for entertainment. When we planned this issue, the topic was really wide as Columbia is so full of options for so many interests. When people ask me why I love Columbia so much, I mention the fact that there is a texture, a vibe in Columbia that is uniquely its own and that comes in part from what COMO has to o er in the form of entertainment. For its size, Columbia has an impressive o ering of live music, art, sports, nature trails, independently-owned restaurants, lm, theater, dance, and many other things I have yet to discover.
I’ve always said that a bored person is a boring person. If you’re bored in Columbia, you might want to have a talk with yourself. For me, in weather over 60, you can hopefully nd me on one of Columbia’s many golf courses during the day on a Saturday and at Rose Music Hall or e Blue Note listening to live music that night.
e farmer’s market is a great way to start a weekend with a co ee in hand, fresh owers for my home, plants for the geeky gardener side of me, and many other goodies to choose from.
You can’t mention entertainment in Columbia without paying homage to the sports scene. Any given Saturday in the fall, the town hums with excitement as people swarm to their favorite tailgate location before cheering on the Tigers in SEC football play. In the winter, especially this one, MU’s basketball team takes over with a vengeance appearing on TVs in sports bars and homes all across COMO and selling out the arena.
Even if you prefer a quieter happy hour with friends, try one of my favorite
locations — Teller’s — where you can get a lovely martini and admire an art show by one of Columbia’s many artists. It’s where I fell in love with my favorite Martin Pope painting who you’ll read about in our next issue.
Lastly, I would be amiss not to mention the many festivals in Columbia, my favorite being True/False Film Fest. Every year, I take o the entire festival with a high goal of seeing more lms than my body can actually tolerate. is gem of a festival is world renown and has shown many Oscar award winners before many other people have been able to see them. I can’t wait to make my picks for this year.
As of the writing of this letter, I am 45 years and four days old. I’ve decided to make this the year of “Me” and learn new things about myself. In order to do that, I will be trying new things. It turns out that at one time, my current favorite items were all new to me. I’ve decided to add to my entertainment mix a painting class, a cooking class, and a personal protection class. I’ll keep you posted here with more of my favorite picks, and you let me know if you have some of your own that I should try.
Enjoy COMO, my friends! It’s made for you.
Dennis Gates, Whitten Family Men’s Basketball Head Coach
If you’re bored in Columbia, you might want to have a talk with yourself.
As a member of the Columbia Walk to End Alzheimer’s Planning Committee, you join a dedicated group of individuals who are passionate about the cause and committed to the success of Walk to End Alzheimer’s and a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias. It’s because of volunteers like you that Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to fight the disease.
If you are interested in participating in the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s as a committee member, please contact Chris Cottle at ccottle@alz.org
With this career, I have been blessed to experience some amazing opportunities and meet some incredible people. My best buddy, Charles and I were able to meet MU’s new head basketball coach, Dennis Gates. In this issue, you can also get to know more about Coach Gates on page 83. He is doing incredible things with our basketball program.
It is no secret that I am obsessed with live music. I have shared my love for this many times and rarely miss a show at e Blue Note or Rose Music Hall. What I have never really stopped to think about is the production behind it all! e planning and organizing that goes into bringing shows to COMO, the setup, the clean-up ... all of it! Be sure to check out this story on page 86 and then thank someone the next time you are at a show.
I experienced two new rsts this past year — attending my rst Missouri Symphony performance and my rst play at the Columbia Entertainment Company. Stories about both organizations can be found on pages 71 and 74. I could not recommend e Missouri Symphony more. I went to the Symphony of Toys, and it was magical! It gives me chills just thinking about it again. e new conductor, Wilbur Lin, could not be more personable and was a joy to work with. If anyone else was at this symphony and happened to notice the Christmas trees on stage ... fun fact, they were decorated by yours truly ... ME!
I kinda have a thing for Christmas trees.
I was able to steal my mom away for a night at the Columbia Entertainment Company and we saw the play Steel Magnolias, another incredible experience. I had no idea what to expect, and I was extremely impressed. From the building itself, to the stage, sets, actors, the warm and cozy atmosphere — 10/10 recommend!
I always joke that I am the entertainment ... I swear my friends and I could have a reality show. We love to have fun, we love to eat, and drink, and sing, and dance — lucky for us, we are so fortunate to live in a town that provides a whole lot of fun! If you happen to see us at an event, or at a show, wherever we may be — make sure to say “Hi!”
What do you do for entertainment? I am always looking for new things and would love to hear from you. My email is always open! What do you want to hear about? What should we be talking about? Who should we meet? Let’s hear it COMO — Kim@comomag.com
Cheers to a lifetime of having FUN!
You do not have to look far to fi nd some sort of entertainment in this town.Charles, Coach Dennis Gates, and I at the Chamber of Commerce quarterly membership breakfast.
KIM AMBRA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
XO,
President Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com
EDITORIAL
Publisher | Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com
Editor-in-Chief | Kim Ambra Kim@comomag.com
Digital Editor | Jodie Jackson Jr Jodie@comomag.com
DESIGN
Creative Director | Kate Morrow Kate@comomag.com
Senior Designer | Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Charles Bruce, Lana Eklund, Madi Green, Rain Harlow Anthony Jinson, Chris Padgett
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Taylor Ambra, Candice Ball, Sam Barrett, Kathryn Dotson, Lauren Sable Freiman, Jules Graebner, Jodie Jackson, Amanda Long, Steve Spellman, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale, Emmi Weiner
Director of Operations Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com
MARKETING
Director of Sales | Charles Bruce Charles@comomag.com
Director of Events | Scott Callahan Scott@comomag.com
OUR MISSION
To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reflects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.
CONTACT
The COMO Companies
18 S. Ninth St. Ste 201, Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 499-1830
comomag.com
/wearecomomag @wearecomomag
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $39 for 12 issues for one year or $69 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag.com or by phone.
We take pride in representing our community well and we couldn’t do what we do without our COMO Magazine advisory board. Thank You!
Beth Bramstedt
Associate Pastor
Christian Fellowship Church
Heather Brown Strategic Partnership Officer
Harry S Truman VA Hospital
Chris Cottle
Walk Manager
Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter
Nickie Davis
Executive Director
The District, Downtown CID
Alex George Owner
Skylark Bookshop
Executive Director
Unbound Book Festival Author
Chris Horn
Reinsurance Manager Shelter Insurance
Barbra Horrell Consultant
Horrell Associates
Jeremiah Hunter Assistant Police Chief
Commander Investigations Bureau Columbia Police Department
Kris Husted
Senior Content Editor
NPR Midwest Newsroom
Amanda Jacobs
Owner Jacobs Property Management
Darren Morton Program Director Turning Point
David Nivens
Chief Executive Officer Midwest Computech
Suzanne Rothwell
Vice President
Advancement Division Columbia College
Megan Steen Vice President
Burrell Behavioral Health
La Toya Stevens
Director of Communications for the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity University of Missouri-Columbia
Nathan Todd
Business Services Specialist
First State Community Bank
Wende Wagner
Director of Philanthropy
The Missouri Symphony
52 CHAMPIONS OF THE VIRTUAL ARENA Esports are attracting a whole new kind of team player here in Columbia and around the world.
56
THE ROYAL COURT OF COLUMBIA Nclusion Plus entertains and educates through the art of drag performance.
86
SOUNDS OF SUMMER Summerfest plans big acts and cool sounds.
92
THE DOLLARS & SENSE OF COMO'S EVENTS Roots N Blues and True/False Film Fest are only part of the picture.
“A four-day celebration of art, music, and film, transforming downtown Columbia into a one-of-a-kind creative wonderland.”
PASSES ON SALE NOW! TRUEFALSE.ORG
The Candy Factory celebrates a half-century of handmade confections and delighting the senses.
Ballet dancer Emmy Mertens creates stories of hope and redemption.
Nclusion Plus entertains and educates through the art of drag performance.
Columbia’s comedy scene has blossomed over the past 10 years, and a lot has gone into that. Although many have day jobs, some comedians do this for a living, and it’s no funny business.
Robert Harris is one of Columbia’s most popular comedians and has been a part of the Columbia comedy scene for more than 10 years now.
“I just like to make people laugh; I’ve always been a clown,” he says. “I don’t know — it just feels good, really.”
Robert always loved comedy but never thought about doing it until he moved to Columbia. After his divorce in 2012, henally leaned into a comedy career.
Taking inspiration from comedians like Sam Jay, Bill Burr, and Mitch Hedberg, Robert likes to let jokes come to him, taking in uence from everyday experiences.
“I talk mostly just about stu that happens to me. If I’m talking to someone and people laugh, I jot it down,” he explains. “If I get on stage and it’s funny, then I write more or elaborate on it as things come to me. I can’t really just sit down and write things out.”
As a single dad, a big part of Robert’s career has been on hold.
“ is year I just want to focus on doing more road shows, which is something in the past I haven’t done,” he says. “I have a daughter, so I didn’t want to be gone a lot, but she graduates high school this
year. So this year I’m going to be focusing on the road.”
Robert has already lined up shows in nearby states and is eager to see if he can make some fresh faces laugh.
However, Robert also has some big plans for the Columbia comedy scene.
Robert was able to get his start at the As Yet Unnamed Comedy Show at Eastside Tavern, and although it’s been a hard climb, he now hosts his own show, Pints and Punchlines, at e Blue Note, where he gets a chance to shine more light on local comedians. Robert and his friend, Michael Yetman, started Pints and Punchlines together seven years ago.
“I think our rst show we had 10 people come. We just kept doing it every month and it’s grown,” Robert adds. “ e most we’ve had show up is around 300 people.”
Now that they’ve been on the scene for a while, putting on a show is a smooth process.
“ e process that goes into a show is basically just setting up a lineup, getting everyone’s music ready — that’s really it,” Robert explains. “ ere’s not a whole lot on my end; just making sure I talk to e Blue Note. It’s pretty easy, other than picking who I want to have on.”
Deciding which comedians to host is a task Robert takes his time on.
“I usually try to do at least two outof-town comedians. I try to have at least two road comedians. I try to do six comedians each show; sometimes I have more,” he adds. “I’ll have like three or four local comedians. We have people from St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Nashville, just around.”
While e Blue Note is relatively new to the comedy scene, other venues have been working the scene for a while.
e As Yet Unnamed Comedy Show has been putting on shows at Eastside Tavern since 2007.
“When we started doing comedy, we had already been open for 10 years,” says Sal Nuccio, owner of Eastside Tavern. “Sometimes I’d sit around the bar with whoever was bartending at the time, and we would think of things to do besides just being a regular old bar; to be more creative and get more involved with the local scene.”
at’s when Sal and a regular customer, Dan, came up with the idea of doing a regular comedy night.
Sal doesn’t mean to brag, but he claims to have inspired almost all the comedy shows that are currently running in Columbia, stating that before him there wasn’t a single weekly comedy show near Columbia.
As a smaller, local business, Sal has his own opinion on the comedy scene.
“ ere are three shows right now, and I feel that it’s too many because
2 - Purdy Bee
3 - Harley Bushdiecker
4 - Lisa Pockets
there’s only so many lovers of comedy. When you have too many cooks in the kitchen it ruins the pot,” he says. “I’ve seen that happen with the live music scene here, too, where there’s too many venues and not enough bands to go around, and then everyone’s shows end up having thin turnouts and stu like that.”
Sal says that involvement from the community has wavered over the years, but there are a lot of great people in the comedy community right now.
“When we rst started out, we had a lot of the right people involved, so it came out to a good start in the beginning. en I saw it die o for a couple of years, but then it resurged with the right people,” he adds. “It’s usually the right people being involved. Right now, I got a guy called Nick Gorgers and another guy, Harley — they just love comedy, it’s almost what they live for.”
Sal says Nick and Harley aren't making a living doing comedy — they also have day jobs — “but if there’s anything they like to do with their spare time, it’s comedy.”
“ at type of involvement is what really helps the scene and what helps my show,” he adds.
You can catch a show weekly at the As Yet Unnamed Comedy Show at 8 p.m. every Tuesday, or you can stop by e Blue Note once a month for Pints and Punchlines.
With a staff of dog pros as professors, Dogwarts combines the love of dogs and Harry Potter.
BY KATHRYN DOTSONGry ndog, Slobberin, Roverclaw, or Hu e u ? Which house would the sorting hat assign your canine companion to? Hint: You won’t have to board at Platform 9 ¾ to nd out!
While she may not have a magical hat, Robin Diebold, the headmaster, and owner of Dogwart’s: A School of Bonecraft and Pup-priety, has the knowledge, training, and experience needed to understand every dog’s unique personality and help create an individualized training program that will help maximize your dog’s results.
Robin says that while Dogwarts commonly trains for leash walking and basic obedience, like no jumping or barking, you can share any goals or behaviors you want to see in your dog, and her team will help you achieve them.
What makes Dogwarts so successful? Robin attributes it to its whole home training approach.
“We focus on teaching the people," she says, "teaching them how to keep their dogs trained once the work is done because it can be easy to untrain a dog if
the people don’t understand the ongoing training needs of the dog.”
Robin and fellow trainer, Payton Vollmer, have combined their over 15 years of dog training experience and love of Harry Potter to bring a unique experience to their clients.
“I knew I wanted to do a school theme for the business and I’m a big Harry Potter fan," Robin says. "It seemed to be the best school t, especially since they also had the sorting hat and houses.”
Robin attended the Atlanta Dog Trainer Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, to become a Certi ed Professional Canine Behavior and Obedience Trainer before applying for her business permit. Established in 2019, Dogwarts brings a fun, fresh, and e ective approach to the dog training and pet care industry, o ering a wide range of services from in-house obedience training, inhome pet sitting, dog walking, and doggy eld trip opportunities.
Dogwarts has big dreams and plans, such as transitioning to a new facility and o ering a wide selection of group classes, as well as daycare and boarding services.
Long term, Dogwarts hopes to extend its love of dogs and their people by launching a membership-only dog park. Group classes will include various options from puppy classes, basic obedience, useful skills, rainy day games, agility, charms, enchantments, and scent work.
“We have games classes where we just teach you indoor games for rainy days with your dog, how to keep them occupied," Robin adds. "We try to include the whole family for those. We also o er conditioning classes for older dogs that work on balance and muscle building so they can stay t as they get older.”
Whether you solemnly swear your dog is up to no good, or you're just looking for some boredom busters, this magical school can transform your cantankerous canine into the charming companion you have been wishing for.
There are over
Every child should know they are not alone, they are worthy, they are loved, they are valued, and they are cared for. Do your part to help these children by partnering with CMFCAA.
Cooper’s Ridge 24991 MO-98
Boonville, MO 65233
Muse Pole Fitness started in 2012 with one pole in owner Jordan Mazur’s living room and has grown into a three-room studio tucked into a strip mall at 3605 South Providence. While it appears unassuming, there is an unmistakable, almost electric energy that can only come from an inclusive, welcoming environment that builds con dence.
Muse currently o ers a variety of classes on a drop in basis: pole trick, pole choreography, strength and exibility, chair dancing, oor work, and lyra, or aerial hoop. Classes are available for all skill levels from those dancing for the rst time to experienced performers.
“It's a balance of foundational elements found in both yoga and Pilates,” Jordan says about the workout. “It can be empowering and sexy, or not. Some classes are more skill based and others are just about feeling sexy. You can choose.”
e freedom to participate in a way that is comfortable and to show up as you are is essential to Muse Pole Fitness. It is a place where people can gather, learn new skills, support each other, and look and feel badass while doing it.
Jordan says pole dancing provides a variety of physical and mental health bene ts.
“Some people will see some weight loss. A lot of people nd a lot of mental health bene ts," she adds. "We are by no means therapists, but a lot of people nd that they have a healthier relationship with their bodies and that makes them happier and that makes them feel empowered.”
Dancers can know they are "in a place where they're not discriminated against
for any reason," and that it's accessible to everyone, Jordan says.
Along with sundry physical and mental health bene ts, Muse Pole Fitness also fosters a sense of community that is essential to a sense of purpose. Muse aims to be an all around accepting place for all bodies and individuals.
“I think a lot of people who have struggled nding community elsewhere nd that they have a community here,” she explains.
Jordan says the rst level of classes is among her favorites because “everything is a victory.”
“People walk in thinking that they're not going to be capable of much and then there's a lot of things they nd they can do quickly,” she explains, her voice rising with excitement.
e goal is to have teachers prepared and classes accessible. Everybody is different and teachers are ready to provide variations that will provide opportunities to grow and explore sensations through movement.
MAY 6-7 & 13-14
Bittersweet Productions
Presents: Willy Wonka
@ Muse Pole Fitness
AUGUST 2023
Vertical Desires
@ The Blue Note
“We go through teacher training and then we constantly revisit all the things in our syllabus and progressions to just sort of talk about if there's ever something that comes up that we haven't seen and what the best way to handle it is,” Jordan says. “Whether it be an injury, or somebody who's slidy or just whatever, it might be best spotting cues.”
If you are interested in joining Jordan and her team of teachers at Muse Pole Fitness, you can join online or call the studio for more information.
Muse Pole Fitness promotes physical movement and welcomes everyone as they are.
The University of Missouri student-run florist specializing in cutting-edge design making your wedding or special event a spectacular affair.
Our special events division focuses on weddings, receptions, large-scale events, and more.
From the Mizzou campus to beyond the City of Columbia, we bring inspirations to life, one bloom at a time.
Ifhitting downtown Columbia’s restaurants and shops gure prominently into your plans for attending collegiate events, one of Columbia’s incredible festivals, or if you’re here on business, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to stay in one of the upscale 818 E. Broadway apartments. Located right on Broadway between Tellers Gallery & Bar and Broadway Brewery, the three high-end Airbnb properties are in the heart of downtown and the perfect place to stay for football games, homecomings, graduations, the True/False Film Festival, or business trips.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Greg DeLine added the properties to his business holdings in 2019 and immediately put them on Airbnb. Randy Minchew, vice president for business development at DeLine Holdings, is an Airbnb Superhost and manages the properties.
“ e guy I bought them from was [already renting them out on] Airbnb,” Greg says. e properties needed very little work, so he was able to turn them around and make them available for rent very soon after purchase.
“We’re booked 30 to 40 percent of the time, which is pretty high in the Airbnb world, so we’re rockin’ and rollin’,” Randy says. Based on the outstanding reviews both he and the apartment have received, there’s no question that Randy’s management of the properties has contributed to these high occupancy rates.
If you’d like to feel like Carrie Bradshaw walking into a prewar brownstone in Manhattan, you’ll want to book the “A View of Broadway” apartment. e 20foot ceilings in this two-bed, one-bath space really steal the show, along with loads of 100-plus-year-old exposed bricks. Neither Randy nor Greg know much about the history of the property, located above what used to be Maude Vintage Clothing, but based on the architectural features of the storefront, and the history of the block between Eighth and Ninth streets, the building likely was erected sometime between the 1890s and 1930. e storefront that once housed Maude is now home to Alpha Real Estate and Total Lending Concepts, both of which are a part of DeLine Holdings.
A row of four tall, narrow windows, each capped with an elliptical masonry fan pediment, span one side of the apartment and overlook Broadway below. e pediments,
The 20-foot ceilings in this two-bed, one-bath space really steal the show, along with loads of 100-plus-year-old exposed bricks.
along with vintage wood shutters on the ends, accentuate the history of this unique, open-concept space. An equine theme in the decor is established with large pieces of art that ll the substantial wall space. Hardwood oors shine throughout.
A small but thoughtfully planned kitchen, which includes a uniquely shaped island with bar seating, glimmers in clean white in one corner of the apartment. A dining room table that seats six is ideal for a meal or a place to get some work done. e cozy living room, lled with warm leather furniture, invites guests to relax and feel a world away. One plush bedroom and the bathroom round out the downstairs.
e second bedroom is tucked away in a small lofted area above the entry hall. e apartment sleeps three and goes for about $500/night for the whole place.
Greg says the apartment serves three purposes: it’s a revenue-generating investment, it’s great for company retreats or meetings, and it o ers a unique philanthropic opportunity.
“We use [this apartment] for a multitude of purposes. It’s really a corporate space,” Greg says. “When we want to give something philanthropically, we give this.” A night’s stay in the apartment, along with a gift certi cate to one of the nearby eateries, makes for an upscale prize package for nonpro t ra es.
If you’re an alumnus of any of Columbia’s campuses, imagine a reunion with your college pals in this decidedly grown-up space where you can walk out the door onto Broadway and be within steps of Teller’s, Broadway Brewery, Geisha Sushi Bar, Sycamore, Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream, Shortwave Co ee, and the Blue Note. Relive those college memories by shopping your favorite boutiques by day, and hitting your favorite bars and restaurants by night—no car needed— before returning to the luxury of your New York-style rental. is concept also lends itself well to bachelor/ bachelorette parties. If you’re in town on business, or for a festival, and your travel style includes sampling local fare and exploring the local haunts, “A View of Broadway” will put you right in the heart of it all.
If being right on Broadway is what you’re looking for, but you don’t necessarily need the high-end, New York feel, you might want to book one of the other two units, “Bee on Broadway” and “C U on Broadway.” Bee is a three-bedroom, 1.5-bath apartment that sleeps six and boasts a roomy living room and a washer/ dryer. It shares a Broadway entrance with “A View of Broadway,” and goes for around $350/night. C U also has three beds and 1.5 baths, a roomier, family feel, and goes for around $350/night. e entrance to this apartment is in the alley, just to the right of Broadway Brewery’s alley entrance. You can’t miss this apartment’s festively painted door. Both apartments are modern, clean, and cozy. No matter which of the three apartments you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Randy says.
“We’re booked 30 to 40 percent of the time, which is pretty high in the Airbnb world, so we’re rockin’ and rollin’,”
BRENDAN ROST ROST LANDSCAPING
SHAUN HENRY ATKINS
JAKE BAUMGARTNER BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE
Renovating a landscape offers endless possibilities and an opportunity to make an environment your own. To achieve the desired results, it’s important to clearly convey your expectations. The initial meeting with a client is where designers gain insight on important factors such as lifestyle, function, style, and budget. Your lifestyle defines your needs and is a vital consideration. Young families often need to avoid fall hazards, benefit from coaching on plant care, and anticipate future needs. Retirees and busy professionals require convenience, lowmaintenance, and simplicity. If you take a moment to identify your lifestyle demands and inform your contractor, it ensures a design well suited to your routine. If you’re new to renovations or have no knowledge of landscape design, Pinterest boards, magazines, and example sites are great ways to communicate your personal taste. The landscape works best when it complements the architecture and space around it. Incorporating a flair from another style with the help of a knowledgeable designer can give your yard that pop that makes it stand out. In function, there is beauty. Features like steps, walls, and screens can become keystones of a project with the right material and placement. Many features that aid in aesthetics serve a dual purpose.
Brendan Rost is a Columbia native and son of Rost Landscaping owners Tim and Toby Rost. He grew up playing at the garden center and nursery and has worked in all divisions of Rost Inc. Brendan received his degree in horticulture and design from MU and now works as a designer in the landscaping division. He thrives on building relationships and creating unique landscapes that complement their space.
(573) 445-4465
ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM
It’s important to explain the issues you’re facing and rely on the designer’s expertise to solve the problem in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Budget is an important consideration. It’s perfectly reasonable to be unsure of the price tag of your wish list, and the only way to find out is to
have it bid by a reputable contractor. By communicating any budgets upfront, you can streamline the design process. Every project is unique, but planning ahead and adequately communicating your wants and needs will get your project moving in the right direction from the start.
When Baumgartner’s Furniture tells you that there’s a “big city store” experience waiting for you in our showrooms — without having to drive to the big city — what does that mean?
It means that the brands you’ve already come to know and trust — and to find in a larger city — are available in the heart of Missouri at the Baumgartner’s Furniture store in Columbia. Some buyers look for specific styles and pieces for the bedroom, dining room, living room, or home office, while others prefer to shop by brand. Either way, Baumgartner’s Furniture has you covered.
As an authorized retailer of TempurPedic products, Baumgartner’s Furniture features the one-of-a-kind mattress that changed the way the world sleeps. When you lie on a Tempur-Pedic mattress, this unique material conforms to your individual weight, shape, and temperature to provide personalized comfort and fullbody support night after night.
Here’s a sampling from our collections so you can find the feel that’s right for you.
• The TEMPUR-LUXEbreeze° has a 4-level system of cutting-edge cooling materials that work together from cover to core to keep you cool all night long. The enhanced zip-off cover provides double the cool-to-touch comfort when you lie down and exclusive PureCool+™ Phase Change Material absorbs excess heat while you fall asleep.
• The TEMPUR-PRObreeze° has a 3-level system of cutting-edge materials that work together from cover to core to keep you cool all night long. The zip-off cover provides cool-to-touch comfort when you lie down, while exclusive PureCool+™ Phase Change Material absorbs excess heat while you fall asleep.
Jake essentially grew up in the furniture industry, as he is the fourth generation involved in Baumgartner’s Furniture. Working very closely with his father, Alan, Jake has been devoted to the stores full-time since 2004. His greatest enjoyment, however, still comes from working closely with the customers. He is married to Sarah, and they have two active boys, Noah and Laine. Jake received his degree in finance from Saint Louis University.
(573) 256-6288
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• Other selections include: TEMPURLuxeAdapt (ultimate experience for total relaxation and maximum pressurerelieving power); TEMPUR-ProAdapt (advanced pressure relief for restorative rest); and TEMPUR-Adapt (legendary comfort and support for deeper sleep).
Now let’s turn our attention to the living room for a reminder of what La-Z-Boy has to offer. Their brand has become highly recognized and synonymous with comfort and quality. The brand and its selection have really evolved since La-Z-Boy first introduced the recliner in 1928. Since then, the product line has grown to include myriad pieces and styles.
Ready to shop La-Z-Boy living room pieces?
Here are some browsing options: Sofas and loveseats; sleeper sofas; sectionals and wedges; chairs and ottomans; recliners (you knew we’d get to this!); consoles and tables; living room storage; and benches.
Have we mentioned “rocking recliners?”
Simply use the convenient handle on the outside arm to raise the leg rest for reading, relaxing, or watching TV. And when you’re not reclining, it’s a relaxing rocker with a smooth, graceful motion.
Here are some of the La-Z-Boy selections you’ll want to check out include:
• Finley rocking recliner - This contemporary style recliner has clean, modern lines, sleek track arms, and a foam back to give it a structured look. Also available with a headrest or with a headrest and lumbar.
• Clover swivel occasional chair - From the Clover Collection, an oversized chair and a half scale with 360-degree swivel base. Ideal for a living room, family room, den, or nursery. Features curved rail arms and back.
• Cleo 2-arm chaise with storage - Here is a piece of furniture designed specifically for all your serious lounging needs.
Cuddle up with a book or the remote and a fuzzy blanket and pop them into the storage compartment when not in use.
• Alani sectional - Elegant and comfy, this sectional features accent pillow with welt and welt trim and double-picked blown fiber fill for improved shape and retention. High-grade foam seat cushion maintains its comfort and appearance.
If you have questions give us a call at 573256-6288 or simply stop by Baumgartner’s Furniture at 1905 Bernadette Drive, Suite 102, in the Columbia Plaza Shopping Center. We’ll be glad to help you!
Having your family and close friends over for an evening of food, drinks, conversation, music, and games is a great way to entertain and it may provide for some of best times you’ll ever have. One thing we often don’t think about is “what do we do when they all leave?” When the party ends, you’re usually still wound up and possibly exhausted from all the activity. Unfortunately, now you must clean up.
Cleaning up your home after entertaining is a very important step and one you won’t want to overlook. Failing to do so can lead to a future pest infestation! Following these steps can help prevent any issues in your home:
• One thing most all pests have in common is their relentless search for a quality food source. For a good number of common pests like ants, mice, roaches and others, they can be drawn to your home if there are crumbs of food or spills that go uncleaned and left behind for the critters and bugs to find.
• Clean the kitchen, your outdoor grill space, counter, and bar tops to ensure no food scraps, crumbs, or spills are left for potential pests to consume. Wipe down all surfaces, too.
• Put all the big scraps into a sealable trash bag. Paper plates, plasticware, and anything else you’re not saving should go in there as well.
• Wash all the dishes! Allowing dirty dishes to sit in the sink or the dishwasher is the same as leaving them out on the counter. If you put the dishes in the dishwasher, go ahead and run it. The sooner the better.
A Columbia native, Shaun Henry found a home at Atkins in 2000 when he started his career as a turf technician. Shaun holds a commercial applicator’s license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Mid-America Green Industry Council, and the Missouri Green Industry Alliance. Shaun strongly believes in the importance of a great customer experience where the Atkins staff knows their clients and anticipates their needs accordingly.
Shaun is an MU alumnus and has a degree in plant science.
• Sweep, Swiffer®, mop, or vacuum the floors to get any fallen crumbs or spills there, too. Use whatever works best for your floors (hardwood, laminate, etc.) and the spills you’re dealing with.
• If you used the outdoor kitchen or grill, keep in mind the ants, flies, raccoons, and opossums that live out there. Spend some extra time looking for and cleaning up out there. Any food scrap that remains is an invitation to every pest in the area.
• Depending on the size of your group and the length of your party, you can bet that most of the people there used the restroom multiple times during their visit. You’ll want to inspect each of the bathrooms in your home and give them a quick clean.
• Clean up any water splashed out around the sink or even the floor. Many pests need a moist environment and they will be out looking for a good water source. You don’t want it to be your bathroom.
• Be sure to check the floor for food crumbs and the trash for any food scraps
that your guests may have tossed in there. Those pests looking for water would love to have a snack while at it, I’m sure.
• Be sure to scan the guest bedrooms, living areas, hallways, and entryways in case a plate was left behind or a spill went unnoticed. Maybe even unreported…
• Not so much this time of year, but when weather allows, almost all our family and friend gatherings are held outside, so check the patio and around your lawn for leftover drink cups, plates and food scraps. This is always on my list of afterparty cleanup tasks.
No matter how you entertain, I’m sure that you want your house to be clean before everyone gets there. Just keep in mind the cleaning up afterwards is crucial to avoiding a potential pest invasion. Of course, if you happen to ever discover pests in or around your home, calling Atkins is always a good first choice. We’re here to help. It’s what we do!
The classic comedy and tragedy masks of theatre represent the range of emotions in entertainment.
Modern television news broadcasts of a sensational nature are often called “infotainment.” Likewise following the political scene, and conjuring up the darned emotions — it’s often hard to know whether to laugh or cry.
e national political news produces endless such fodder. Our most recent former president was previously a reality TV star, and maybe still is. In recent years, many political races around the country have seen the likes of reality stars and internet celebrities throwing their hats in the ring, such as celebrity physician Dr. Oz in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race last fall.
Observers of our state legislature last year described the Senate as resembling a circus, with warring ideological factions shutting down almost any other debate, including the necessary redrawing of congressional maps after the 2020 Census. Candidates including Taylor Burks and Sara Walsh led for Congress, but later their districts were redrawn away from where they lived.
But we have plenty of homegrown drama here in COMO. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wanna bang your head against the wall, or throw your hands up in the air and go home. City council meetings routinely run many hours, into the wee hours on a school night, featuring a multitude of citizens declaring their impassioned allegiances for this or that method of residential garbage collection.
And there are channels beyond the “Trash Network.”
e “Police All Suck Channel” is an epic tale starring a cast of, well, dozens, in which each episode details how police are yet again up to no good. School resource o cers slyly disguised as engaging in helpful community policing, building relationships with schoolchildren — but we know better.
A new program to help gather footage from businesses’ security cameras, which they already voluntarily provide after the fact anyway, got analyzed as “Columbia Wants to Build a Batcave.”
For premium subscribers, there’s the “Citizens Police Review Board Channel,” guest starring that seemingly otherwise nice guy, Police Chief Geo Jones. He plays a sort of Joan of Arc, perpetually burned at the stake with rhetorical restorm inquisitions. Alas, that action lm nally burned out in a chaotic collapse, and the CPRB had to be reassembled recently with a new cast.
Each episode of “ is New House” marches up a greedy land speculator pitching some project at City Hall, where we all know “developer” is a four-letter word. You know the caricature — diabolically trying to get away with building houses and stu that happy families might enjoy living in.
Local civil engineer Tim Crockett has made somewhat of a career being so type-cast, meekly soaking up a barrage of verbal arrows. e endless ow of new residents into our thriving community don’t need that crap anyway.
Likewise following the political scene, and conjuring up the darned emotions — it’s often hard to know whether to laugh or cry.
It can also be entertaining watching out-of-towners navigate some of COMO's unique tra c elements, like the diverging diamond near Columbia Mall, crossing over to the left side of the road on Stadium. Several roundabouts can catch drivers o guard, too. e puny one on Fairview is hardly round, though. You know, that's where big pickups just rumble over the top of that big pimple in the street.
When the Rangeline underpass of I-70 was refashioned into a double tra c circle called a “dog bone,” weeks of demolition derby broke out.
While just down the street at the Boone County Commission, citizens apparently nd those meetings about as captivating as watching paint dry, so their ratings are always abysmal.
e public library used to be ditto, until a group of workers said they felt unsafe during Covid, and generally aren’t paid enough. So now everybody is guring out how their new labor union is supposed to work there. en the Secretary of State proposed book decency rules, which got everybody stirred up. Not quiet there anymore …
e Columbia Board of Education also used to avoid drama. at did pick up when some parents questioned unfortunate trends within special education; and then again more with questions about pandemic-extended school closures and mask requirements. e district reigned in these wild cards with new requirements for public speakers. And Eric
After contacting the district o ce about coming in to le before the 5 p.m. deadline on December 27, he was informed that he actually needed to have made an appointment to do so by the 22nd. It turned out the district o ce was closed on the 27th anyway. While locked out in the cold, Mr. Basye called a friend for advice, reaching out to none other than Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s top election o cial, who was at the time out in the boonies hunting. Mr. Ashcroft, the son of a former governor (and possibly our next one), advised Bayse — the former chair of the House Education Committee — to immediately make a beeline to the county clerk’s o ce
Not accustomed to school board election ling, a friendly sta er went above and beyond to gure it out, seemingly beating the clock — maybe. e next day, though, the school district informed Basye it would not be accepting his candidacy. So he is engaging with an attorney, applying the Perry Mason treatment, to le a lawsuit that these ling requirements violate state law.
Shortly after, he and long-time other-side-of-the-aisle rival, Stephen Webber, traded barbs in a sophomoric pissing match on Facebook. Sound like a plot for a made-for-TV movie? is stu can't be made up. In fact, a local politico declared she is “stocked up on popcorn to watch
As entertaining as movies, sports, theatre, and people-watching on the
Steve Spellman is a lifelong Columbia-area
As entertaining as movies, sports, theatre, and peoplewatching on the front porch might be, the
An iconic, family-owned business and cornerstone of downtown Columbia for nearly 50 years, e Candy Factory continues to produce gourmet, handmade confections that delight the senses.
To step inside beneath the striped awning is an experience in itself – the kaleidoscope of brightly colored candies and packaging easily melds with tantalizing aromas of slow-cooking caramel and to ee and freshly-popped popcorn.
Open year-round, e Candy Factory transforms its interior seasonally o ering a variety of limited-time specialty holiday items, as well as its beloved favorites. New and returning customers alike delight in the hand-dipped caramel apples at Halloween, French silk chocolate eggs at Easter, and of course, the coveted, perfectly double-dipped, chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day.
Amy Atkinson, co-owner of e Candy Factory, says one of the most important components of the famously delicious chocolate-covered strawberries is that the strawberries are delivered fresh directly from the farms in California, resulting in an undisclosed number of boxes sold each year.
“We have people come in from all over the Midwest saying they are purposefully driving through Missouri so they can stop at e Candy Factory for their strawberries,” she says. “It’s pretty special.”
When viewing the rows of delicacies in the glass display cases, consumers may not realize or appreciate the intensive labor that goes into making just one chocolate salted caramel. e caramel is made from scratch and cooked in an old-fashioned copper kettle over an open ame
while it is gently stirred by hand. en the molten caramel is poured into pans where it cools overnight. e next day the slabs of caramel are cut into squares, covered in either milk or dark chocolate, and hand-sprinkled with just the right amount of sea salt.
e Candy Factory opened in 1974 and is touted as one of the rst woman-founded businesses in Columbia.
“Georgia Lundgren had some really wonderful candy recipes that she made for her family and friends, and they encouraged her to start a business,” Amy says.
In 1986, Georgia sold the business to Columbia locals Sam and Donna Atkinson, who used their creative vision, innovation, and leadership to continue to expand and grow the business over the next nearly 20 years.
“Not only does Sam Atkinson have a brilliant business mind, but he is also a mechanical genius,” says Amy of her father-in-law. “He designed and built much of e Candy Factory’s equipment from scratch and our family jokingly refers to him as MacGyver.”
Amy notes that Donna’s forward-thinking business mind and continued adaptability to new trends in the candy, gift, and consumer markets are key factors in the business’s success.
Sam and Donna’s son, Mike, who was 5 years old when they took ownership, remembers helping his parents out in the shop. “I was a literal kid in a candy shop,” he says, laughing.
The Candy Factory celebrates a half-century of handmade confections and delighting the senses.
After high school, Mike moved to Texas to attend Baylor University in 1999 where he met his wife, Amy, and it was love at rst site. e two coincidently started dating at a Mizzou vs. Baylor football game and were married in 2004.
Just one year later, Mike and Amy received a call from Sam and Donna asking if they wanted to be the next generation of owners of the family candy business. Amy remembers that she and Mike looked at each other and said, “How many people get the opportunity to run a candy store? Whether we love it or hate it, we at least have to try.”
Today Mike and Amy work side-by-side as co-owners, concurrently maintaining and growing the legacy of e Candy Factory.
“I truly enjoy working with Mike every day –there is no one else I would trust to run a business with. We play on each other’s strengths – he does the things he’s good at, I do the things I’m good at, and we collaborate a lot,” says Amy.
“I truly enjoy working with Mike every day — there is no one else I would trust to run a business with. We play on each other’s strengths — he does the things he’s good at, I do the things I’m good at, and we collaborate a lot.”
While many things are still the same at e Candy Factory — including Georgia’s original, hand-written chocolate recipe kept under lock and key — over the years Mike, Amy, and their team of skilled candy makers have continued to experiment with new avors, ideas, and processes.
“ e business has grown tremendously as we strive to make the same delicious candy recipes, but on a much larger scale with a much larger team and add new products,” Amy says. “A lot of the creative force behind that is Mike.” She says that the popular chocolate-covered potato chips were a Mike creation.
e Candy Factory o ers a one-of-akind viewing room, open Monday through Friday, located upstairs outside the production facility for customers to come and see the magic happen.
“We want our customers to know that the candy they are buying is made here, onsite, by hand,” says Mike. He adds that it has also become a hot sel e spot. “We’ve noticed that some people like to come and take photos of not only us but of themselves and our unique candy-making kitchen.”
e Candy Factory currently has 15 full and part-time employees.
“Our team is phenomenal,” Amy says. “Our confectioners are full-time career people who are working around the clock to put out high-quality, consistent gourmet products. eir attention to detail must be immaculate. It’s part science, part artform, and they are really re ned at their craft.”
Additionally, Amy says the retail sta , made up of mostly college students, not only serves the customers but also packages the candy behind the scenes, often staying in Columbia over breaks to work the holidays.
“We have a family of employees here. It is so much bigger than one person – we are a team.”
As e Candy Factory’s 50th-anniversary approaches in 2024, Amy says she and Mike often daydream about the next evolution of their beloved shop.
“I love being downtown and a part of this vibrant community,” she says. “We are committed to making delicious, quality chocolates and candies, and committed to doing right by our team, our community, our customers, and each other to the best of our ability.”
BY DE'CARLON SEEWOOD
Recently, I celebrated a very special anniversary as January 15 was my one-year anniversary as the city manager for the City of Columbia. My rst year in the position has been many things, including but not limited to, challenging, exciting, and extremely rewarding.
Many residents in Columbia may not know exactly what a city manager does. I have found this to be the case in most of the cities where I have lived and worked. Our city has a council-manager form of government that combines the political leadership of elected o cials with the managerial experience of an appointed professional manager. e city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and appoints a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations,
draft budgets, submit policy recommendations for programs and priorities, and to implement and enforce the council's policy and legislative initiatives.
At the risk of oversimplifying things, every rst and third Monday of the month, our elected city council sets priorities and it is then my job to direct sta on how to accomplish them.
As someone who has been in the city management profession for over 25 years, and has worked in many di erent places, I can say Columbia is a truly special place. I know what you are thinking; every city manager is supposed to say that about their city and, hopefully, they do. But I truly feel this community is unique. We have a particularly engaged citizenry — and a very passionate one as well. We
have citizens that believe in service and are willing to put in their time and e orts to help this community be successful. Just like them, I am also passionate about making this community the best place it can be.
As I re ect back on what has been accomplished during my rst year, there are a few projects that stand out as a small step in this direction, and as I look forward to the coming years as Columbia’s city manager there are several more areas I would like to see the city focus on.
When I stepped into this role I knew one of my main focuses needed to be tackling sta ng at the city from all angles. e city of Columbia is lucky to have one of the most dedicated groups of employees. Many have served long careers to provide the highest level of service to our citizens and I will be the rst to say public service is not easy.
Unfortunately, nancial di culties initiated by economic downturns have caused employees’ pay to begin to lag the market. Just like many organizations in the last few years, many of our most senior employees began to leave due to retirement, and currently, more than 200 members of our workforce are eligible to retire in the next ve years. Addi-
tionally, Columbia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Missouri which has made recruiting for vacant positions even more challenging.
Even members of the city’s executive team were impacted by retirements and departures. In January of last year, the city had ve vacant department director positions, leaving gaps in our leadership team and employees in those departments felt a sense of unease. After extensive searches, we were able to ll positions with skilled and passionate employees. In our process, we found that our homegrown sta was both the most quali ed and the best t for those positions.
Employees are our most valuable resource, which is why in my rst meeting with city employees I pledged to put them rst. In response to employees' dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided retention pay for those who continued to provide service to Columbia residents during unprecedented times. As part of a mid-year adjustment, city employees also received a raise across the board of 3 percent and then another 4 percent at the beginning of the current scal year.
ese immediate actions helped retain the skilled sta we currently have, but the reality is the city is not competitive. Many of our salaries are below the market and we continue to struggle to recruit new employees.
In January 2022, the city hired a consultant to perform a comprehensive analysis of salaries and bene ts. Members of our sta have had the opportunity to meet with the consultant to discuss their concerns and provide feedback on what is important to them. e consultant has conducted a comparative review of similar cities and private sector organizations to help us establish salary ranges that would allow us to be competitive in the market.
at study is on schedule to be completed before scal year 2024 and my hope is the recommendations will help us adjust wages and implement pay philosophies that will make us the employer of choice in Columbia.
Another primary challenge facing the city, and something I focused on in my rst year, is helping our most vulnerable citizens. One of my rst city council meetings as city manager was a memorable one. e council chamber was full of
residents who were there expressing the community’s need for shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness, pointing out harsh winter conditions and the lack of available overnight warming centers. While this is not a new problem in Columbia, it has become a priority of ours.
In October, the city purchased the Ashley Street Center, formerly VFW Post 280, for $865,000, which is currently serving as a permanent location for the overnight shelter, Room at the Inn (RATI). is shelter has served as a safe, warm place for people to get food and avoid sleeping in dangerous temperatures. In past years, the shelter used resources from local churches and changed locations from week to week, but now volunteers and employees at RATI have a permanent location to provide this necessary service to those citizens in need.
is center will continue to play a role in the larger plan to address this issue in Columbia, but we realize we cannot do this alone. As the Voluntary Action Center, Columbia Housing Authority, Room at the Inn, and other local organizations nalize plans for an Opportunity Campus, we will continue to look at how the Ashley Street Center can provide an interim location for some of these services.
Of course, as the city’s to-do list seems to be getting longer, there are many projects and initiatives that I could point out as highlights from my rst 12 months as city manager. In the coming months, the city will continue to address sta ng and social services, but our focus will also shift to include topics the community is already feeling — the e ects of a ordable housing, community violence and business development are all at the top of my mind.
My rst year as city manager has provided me the opportunity to listen and learn, and I feel both equipped and motivated to tackle our biggest challenges with help along the way. Community members, local organizations, our business community, and of course, our city sta together will create the perfect recipe for success.
As someone who has been in the city management profession for over 25 years, and has worked in many different places, I can say Columbia is a truly special place.
BY JODIE JACKSON JR
PHOTOS BY MADI GREEN
When she pushed the play button, ready to create a solo ballet performance to the soul stirring Pentatonix cover of “Mary Did You Know?”, there was no music. Only silence. But the camera was already rolling.
Instead of inviting panic, Emerson Mertens immersed herself in the storytelling — and the story — and she danced, connecting with her Creator in silence, save for the graceful moves and motions that gently sliced the air and swished the oor at the City Ballet eater in Columbia. Dancing without music was unusual; even more curious was creating choreography to a Christmas classic in July.
Emerson, or “Emmy,” is a professionally-trained ballet dancer and teacher, and the artistic director and co-creative director of City Ballet eater, located in north Columbia at 2601 Rangeline St., on the lower level of the Wilson’s Fitness building. Emmy, 28, originally from California, Mo., is also COMO Magazine’s “Columbia’s Got Talent” winner for 2023, based in part on a nomination from her mom, Heather Mertens. Heather is the administrative director and co-creative director at City Ballet eater, which opened in July 2022.
“I knew I wanted to do a Christmas show as soon as we could when we opened,” Emmy says. “And that song …” Her voice turns to a whisper. “ at song, especially the Pentatonix version, that’s just incredible.” She wanted to record her dance for an opportunity to work on it more and to show her ballet students and others.
It was also important to Emmy and Heather to make a statement, via ballet, about their strong faith.
“And I just felt like I knew God wanted me to do it,” Emmy says. “And He provided a way. I did the entire thing in one take — no choreography, just improv based on the lyrics and the music that I remembered.”
Later, when she used an editing program to add the music to the video, the dance matched the music.
“Perfectly,” Heather recalls. “So, I cried when I saw it.”
And the statement they were hoping to make?
“ is is what we’re about,” Emmy explains. “ is is what I’m about.”
Emmy repeated the dance at the studio’s Christmas performance, which also featured her students ranging in age from 3 years old to adults. ey performed e Nutcracker with 16 students. e studio opened with six students, and the number has grown to around 30, which includes a class for adults as well as former dancers who wanted to return to their art in CBT’s setting.
By the way, e Nutcracker drew an attendance of 196 people.
“Our rst show was phenomenal,” Emmy says. “ at was incredible.”
Heather describes CBT as a professional dance company and pre-professional dance school, combining dance and theater, that opened to be “a family-friendly, classical dance school.”
Heather and Emmy both sprinkle their comments with enthusiastic, even glowing,
adjectives. But there’s something to know about the journey that led the duo to open CBT about eight months ago. Emmy dances and choreographs despite having two diseases that a ect her muscles, organs, central nervous system, and connective tissue.
e rst is called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or hEDS, that is caused by defects in the protein collagen. Symptoms include joint hypermobility — “I can move in ways that I really shouldn’t necessarily be able to, as a human,” Emmy explains — a ecting both large and small joints (elbows and knees, ngers and toes), and soft, smooth skin that may be slightly elastic and bruises easily. More severe forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome a ect blood vessel walls and organs.
Chronic muscle and bone pain is the main calling card and can be debilitating. Emmy wasn’t diagnosed (after years of misdiagnoses) until she was 19. Both Heather and Emmy also have bromyalgia, a chronic disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping.
“It’s truly a miracle that she dances and choreographs,” Heather wrote in the COMO’s Got Talent nomination email. Emmy had given up dancing for about ve years and wasn’t sure she’d return to the storytelling art that she loved.
Emmy gives some examples of how hEDS a ects her. Sometimes if she bends her knee incorrectly, a tendon will slip because the tissue around it is weakened by the lack of collagen. ere are times when she rolls over her knees in certain ways that the “band” on the side of joint slips out and her leg gets caught at a backwards angle.
“It causes a tremendous amount of pain — the worst pain I’ve ever felt, actually,” she explains. “So I would literally have to physically pop my leg back to where it was supposed to be.”
Because the condition a ects ligaments and tissues, slipping joints and bones can create problems in her rib cage.
“It makes it hard to breathe” at times, Emmy adds. “And then I can only take shallow breaths.”
Heather says those episodes can last anywhere from 30 seconds to three hours.
“Sometimes there were countless — probably hundreds of nights when she was growing up — that I would spend in her room at night,” Heather adds. “We would spend hours crying, lying in bed, just crying through it and praying.”
Emmy takes medication to help manage pain. She and Heather have both become familiar with homeopathic and dietary treatments, too. Getting rest is the primary method of dealing with the pain and fatigue. But the best pain management comes through dance and faith, Heather says.
“Now she has her own place to inspire others,” Heather says. “She encourages others to pursue dancing despite their life obstacles.”
Emmy has been trained by some of the top dancers and instructors in the country and, at the age of 9, she choreographed her rst dance — for the Manhattan Dance Project showcase. She danced the lead role of Clara in e Nutcracker with the Minnesota Ballet at age 12 and started her rst dance company when she was 17. Emmy earned a Bachelor of Science in religion (Biblical and theological studies) with an emphasis on digital arts from Liberty University.
While her talent has provided opportunities to travel far and wide, the Mertens have called Columbia home for the last 10 years."
Heather adds, “It’s been a long journey.”
Ballet provokes wonder, emotion, and connection. As an art form of movement created by the human body, ballet can — intended or not — be sensual and provocative. CBT’s dress code spells out the importance of keeping “all attire modest and appropriate.” Ballet can also “be sort of a mirror for society” in the ways that male and female dancers interact with each other.
“It is true that dance, it’s a physical art form and sport, in some ways” can be sensual and provocative, Emmy says. “ ere is that element of physicality that sometimes, I think, goes too far in this world. So we’re trying to take the redeeming qualities of that and see it as God gave you these bodies and you can use them in ways that are positive and family-friendly and can also give glory to Him and how He made you.”
For dancers and students, the environment itself can be “very self-deprecating,” Emmy says.
“A lot of body image issues come out of dance because you’re constantly staring in the mirror and there’s costuming and everything,” she explains. CBT class time takes time out for healthy snacks to model good nutrition. Emmy recalls several experiences in her training that were not positive — and instilled poor coping habits.
“ at’s a pattern we have as dancers. Being very hard on yourself,” she says, recalling previous experiences. “People can be
hard on you, too. And the dancers aren’t always nice to each other, unfortunately.”
Emmy began ballet at age 4 and when she began showing symptoms of hEDS, some of her teachers said she was “just lazy.”
“And it was very hard. Because you start to believe what you’re told,” she explains. “If somebody tells you something over and over, if you tell yourself something over and over, it’s very powerful.”
City Ballet Company is built on a different philosophy that aims to uphold a positive body image and the importance of self-care, rather than training through pain or injuries. Emmy says she is deliberate about not hiding her physical struggles, which is counter to what part of the dance world teaches: “Don’t tell anybody what you’re going through.” CBT strives for students to be “precise, not perfect.”
“You know, there’s a lot of hidden pain, especially hidden emotion and physical pain,” she adds. “It’s so freeing not to have to hide that.”
A year ago, Emmy was pondering plans to move to Florida and open a dance school. e warmer climate would be a reprieve from cold weather that exacerbated her joint pain. But a feeling — a calling? — that she was supposed to stay in Columbia lingered and moved her and Heather to begin looking for studio space in Columbia.
Within two weeks, they discovered a space for lease just two doors down from Lakota, their favorite co ee shop, in the Wilson’s Fitness building. Heather credits Wilson’s owners Terry Wilson and J.D. Abrams for their response to a dance studio.
“ ey loved our concept. ey loved that we were tness-based,” Heather adds. “ ey were amazing and worked with us and just helped us to make this space our own.”
City Ballet Company is preparing for an upcoming performance of Sleeping Beauty, a variety show, and an Easter season performance that will tell the story of the death and resurrection of Christ.
“Our faith is what motivates us,” Emmy says, “and that’s our mission, to be that positive in uence because of what God did for us and what Jesus did for us. We want to show that love to other people.”
Columbia knows that Stephens College students have contributed to the national Arts and Culture scene since its beginnings in 1833.
Did you also know that when you watch shows such as Ramy, 13 Reasons Why, Seal Team, Generations, Station 19 and The Equalizer you are watching stories written by the alumni of our MFA in TV and Screenwriting?
Did you know Best Colleges recently wrote the Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting “offers the #1 most affordable film studies online degree on our list!”?
2799 N Garth Ave.
The three-acre dog park at Garth Nature Area is fenced all around and has a pond, dog wash station, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain with pet bowl (during the warmer months). Dog owners may also enjoy taking their dogs on leash for a walk on the 1.6 miles of wetland trails nearby or getting on the 4.8-mile Bear Creek Trail.
2011 Old Hwy. 63 S.
Dogs have almost 200 acres to roam in this beautiful nature area. This park has woods, open fields, bluffs, and Grindstone Creek running through the middle of the property.
2500 Chapel Hill Rd.
Lakeside Dog Park (3.9 acres) This roomy area is for all dog sizes during the spring through fall season. It is fenced on three sides, with the lake serving as the west boundary. Dogs can enjoy playing in the 16-acre fishing lake.
Paws Pond Dog Park (2.9 acres) Small dogs' rule in this new area created just for them. Dogs visiting this area should be no taller than 18 inches at the shoulder. There is a small pond in this fenced area. This area is closed during the winter – generally December through February.
Off-Season Dog Park (3.3 acres) For the winter off-season – generally December through February - this dog park for all dog sizes is set up to help safeguard dogs from falling through the lake ice.
5009 Aztec Blvd.
1.5-acre fenced dog park on the west side of the parking lot. Nearby restrooms are open April 15 to October 15.
Get those fur babies ready to shake off the winter blues with this list of local dog parks.PHOTOS BY CHRIS PADGETT INFORMATION SOURCED FROM COMO.GOV/PARKS
When you hear the word, “esports,” what’s the rst thing that comes to mind? If you think of teenagers sitting on their couches in front of a TV screen, thumbs ying, the sound of gun re shattering the silence, you’re like most people. But you would be wrong.
Electronic sports, a.k.a. “esports,” are indeed computer-based video games, but they’re played in a structured way by gamers of all ages, nationalities, and genders as individuals and teams. is isn’t like playing on your grandmother’s Atari. With nearly 30 million monthly viewers in an industry producing more than $1 billion in annual revenue, esports is big business, and it’s getting bigger every day in both the professional and amateur arenas.
Columbia certainly isn’t immune. Esports is a varsity sport at Mizzou and Columbia College, and at Battle, Hickman, and Rock Bridge high schools. Lange Middle School has an Esports Club. Columbia Parks and Recreation has its own Discord community — a group chat app for gamers — and sponsors weekly tournaments. With interest breaking into the mainstream, many are curious to learn more about the virtual arena and how it works.
In the early 2000s, the South Korean government needed a distraction from a struggling economy. e “new” internet provided opportunities for bars and restaurants to attract people who shared a love for gaming. Game developers and publishers found themselves wielding tremendous power in the creation and distribution of their products. And a new crop of private corporations found themselves with not only the intellectual property rights to the games they developed but with exclusive rights to organized competition.
One of the most powerful to emerge is Riot Games, developer of the multiplayer online battle arena League of Legends, or just “League,” as it’s known to those who watch and play. To summarize for lay folk, League pits two teams in player-to-player combat as each team defends its half of the map. Each player has special skills. ey can earn experience points, earn gold, and buy things that will help them defend their territory and win their opponent’s territory.
Esports is all about the game. In addition to League, Columbia teams compete in Overwatch, Rocket League, Valorant, and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. Some
Esports are attracting a whole new kind of team player here in Columbia and around the world.
competitions are individual, and others are among teams competing against other teams. Players excel in certain games, practicing and competing in the same one over and over again.
Viewers watch the game and the players on huge screens in small rooms and large arenas. It hasn’t taken long for esports competitions to attract the same multi-million-dollar sponsorships as sponsors who put their names on football stadiums. As viewership of traditional sports continues to fall, corporate marketing departments are taking advantage of the esport viewership boom.
Mizzou reports having one of the largest university gaming facilities in the country. e recently upgraded MSI Training Facility on campus features 5,000 square feet of space and top-tier equipment. ink cutting-edge headsets, cameras, keyboards, mouses, screens, hard drives, and fans that keep everything cool enough to run when the heat is on. And don’t forget the high-speed Wi-Fi. e equipment isn’t inexpensive for competitors and tournament hosts. Plus, those who own the games themselves invest massive sums of money in servers that don’t lag when thousands of gamers on online. ere’s the equipment needed to play esports, but it’s the players that make everything hum.
ere are always debates about what does and doesn’t qualify as a “sport” and, by extension, who quali es as an athlete. Without getting into the weeds in this debate, let’s just say that if competition requiring little physical exertion, like billiards and poker, are considered sports, esports certainly ts the bill. And programs at Columbia’s educational institutions are an easy t in their respective athletic departments.
“Esports at Columbia College are treated just like any other traditional sport on campus,” says Aaron Shockley, director of esports. “We require our students to maintain certain academic requirements, attend weightlifting sessions with our strength and conditioning coach, and follow university and team policies.”
“Esports has all the aspects of traditional sports,” says Blake Kronsbein, Mizzou esports general manager. “Team prac-
Battle High School
Columbia College
Hickman High School
Rock Bridge High School
tice and scrimmages, individual training, coaches, managers, and more importantly, competitions. In order to compete at a high level, thousands of hours in practice are required.”
e cumulative team grade point averages are impressive. And just as in every collegiate sport, recruiters at Mizzou and Columbia College watch game lm, invite players to try out, and award scholarships to attract the best athletes.
If you’re wondering why you haven’t read anything about Mizzou’s esports ranking in the SEC or Columbia College’s ranking among NAIA schools, that’s because the structure is di erent from traditional sports. ere are leagues that any college or university can compete in, such as the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) or developer leagues like Riot Games’ leagues for League of Legends and Valorant.
ere’s also an alphabet soup of organizational involvement at the high school level, such as the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation (MOSEF) and North America Scholastic Esports Federation. An esports search of the Missouri State High School Activities Association website will take you to the National Federation of State High School Associations, which partners with PlayVS, a scholastic esports provider.
ere are opportunities for competition locally, statewide, and nationally, and high schools, colleges, and universities are nding where they t best. It’s not surprising given the newness of esports. Columbia College started competing in 2016. Columbia Public Schools started them during the 2017-18 school year. And Mizzou entered the arena as recently as 2019.
e common factor is how successful all these Columbia teams are, each holding solid records of impressive wins.
Coaches at CPS schools say that esports gives students who aren’t interested in traditional sports a new way to compete with school pride.
“Many of these students never really cared much for traditional sports and the idea of being able to represent their school in sports was never really an option until now,” says Matthew Pryor, Rock Bridge
High School’s head esports coach. “I have seen growth in con dence, happiness, and belonging in all my players and it shows esports has incredible value to uplift and grow a new generation of athletes. ese athletes are amazingly talented and allowing them to thrive and learn about themselves in a structured team environment is more valuable than many realize.”
“Esports has essentially the same value as traditional sports for high school students,” says Battle Coach Stefan Shefeld. “It allows students to make friends, build a community, learn how to work as a team, and provides possible scholarship and career path opportunities as well. I think giving more students di erent opportunities to experience team sports and competition is also highly valuable.”
Andrew Bechtel, Hickman's esports coach, agrees.
“ ere is a strong sense of community among the members, and the challenges and achievements of the competitive season lead to a lot of personal growth for the student-athletes,” Andrew says. "I also emphasize the importance of communication, reliability, and time commitment to the team members."
Every year, there are a few new members who learn a di cult lesson when they miss a practice or match, he says, adding,
"Even though most of our athletes won’t play esports in college or professionally, these other skills will help them in higher education and their future careers. If they do go on to compete at the collegiate level, they’ll continue bene ting from esports."
Aaron says that esports at Columbia College provides a student who is competitive in the scene to have an opportunity to compete while getting a great education. He tells students that "just like in traditional sports, you can use your athletic abilities to further your education and continue the passion you have for your sport or in this case, your game.”
At Mizzou’s MSI Training Facility, esports competitions aren’t the only thing happening. e Esports Media Room, supported by the School of Journalism, provides the opportunity for student production teams to create and produce content for the university’s top competitive teams.
“Esports, and especially collegiate esports, is a growing and new space that can o er anyone the opportunity to succeed, as long as they work hard and apply themselves,” says MU's Blake. “ e best people to work with in esports — whether it be players, streamers, casters, managers, coaches — are those who are passionate about and want to see the community grow and succeed.”
Under the dazzling stage lights in a room gone hazy from clouds of hair spray, a performer is giving it her all, furiously lip syncing to an Ariana Grande song. Audience members are trans xed, o ering up their hard-earned cash as thanks for a performance that will not soon be forgotten. Here, she is treated with the kind of reverence that can only be o ered to a queen. A drag queen, to be precise.
“In its simplest terms, drag is gender performance art,” says Veronika Versace, and former Miss Gay Missouri USofA. “It was based on female impersonation and male impersonation, but as we evolve over time [in the way] people see and express gender, there is a lot of uidity in that.”
“ ere are so many kinds of drag — drag queens, drag kings — but for me, it’s like putting on a character or persona and performing,” adds KayCee, the reigning Miss Gay City of Columbia America. Each drag show is di erent, featuring acts like lip syncing, dancing, live singing, and comedy routines. Some hostesses conduct the evening like a pageant, while others turn the night into a game show resembling a mashup of American Idol and Jeopardy.
KayCee, the reigning Miss Gay City of Columbia America.
“In Columbia, [drag shows] had always been in one building,” Veronika says. As a co-founder of DIVAS by Design, she goes on to say that the closures of the SoCo Club and the Yin Yang Night Club left the community feeling uncertain. “When COVID hit the last drag bar — there was always one bar, year, after year, after year — all the entertainers had to get really creative and think, ‘Where are we going to go? What are we going to do?’”
After Yin Yang Night Club closed its doors for the nal time in 2020, fans and performers alike banded together to keep the art of drag alive in Columbia, as well as provide safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.
is is exactly how membership organization Nclusion Plus was born, explains co-founder Anthony Plogger. When Anthony and the other eventual co-founders heard the news that Yin Yang had closed, they knew that they had to take matters into their own hands.
“It felt like the torch had been passed — left on the shoulders of just a few people,” he says. “We knew that in order to be successful, it takes a village.”
After enlisting the help of a few performers, Nclusion Plus held their rst drag show, live-streamed on Facebook. ough they had little more than a backdrop in an o ce space, the show received more than 15,000 views in the rst week alone.
Careful to adhere to the COVID-19 safety restrictions in place at the time, Nclusion Plus soon expanded to their rst in-person drag show at the Stephens Lake Pavilion. ey held two, back-to-back dinner shows capped at 50 people, both of which sold out.
“At this point, we’re like, ‘Okay. We’re really doing something,’” Anthony remembers. “‘People actually want to see this. People want to keep your act alive.”
Since then, Nclusion Plus has held pop up shows all over Columbia, expanding outward to surrounding towns like Moberly, Fulton, and Ashland.
ough Nclusion Plus puts on a fantastic show, it’s about more than just entertainment. Along with the other co-founders, Anthony wanted to create a meaningful impact in the Columbia community, incorporating his background in education into each of the organization’s shows.
“It started with myself and a few of the entertainers that are also teachers,” he says. “We came up with PowerPoint presentations about things like Pride Pioneers, who are historical gures who have done things to pave the way for queer people, or LGBTQ+ health care, the importance of HIV testing. We try to include these elements in all of our major shows, as well as o ering free HIV and STI testing, and free contraceptives from the health department.”
Nclusion Plus also goes beyond their own shows, doing outreach through guest lecturer series and partnering with the Center Project. Anthony feels this education and outreach is especially important when Nclusion Plus ventures beyond Columbia, visiting small towns that have fewer LGBTQIA+ resources.
“When we go to small towns, there’s some people that aren’t happy about it, but ultimately we want to provide safe spaces for the people of Ashland, for the people of Fulton,” he says.
“When we go to these areas, my favorite thing is there’s always one person that will come up to us and say something like, ‘ is meant something to me, wholeheartedly. It made me feel seen and safe. I felt like I belonged,’” Anthony says, visibly moved. “ at’s the reason we do this. It’s not for the money — it’s for the community.”
With the help of organizations like Nclusion Plus, Columbia’s drag community is burgeoning — and sometimes competitive, too.
“I stumbled upon RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2013 or so,” KayCee remembers. “I watched it and I was so intrigued because I had never heard of anything like this. I grew up in a pretty conservative town, so I didn’t get to see many di erent styles of art.”
KayCee attended drag shows at the Yin Yang Night Club during college, but it was not until 2020 when she dove headrst into the world of drag. Despite having a background in acting and dance, it was a di cult learning curve.
“I already had a background in performance, but when you switch over to another gender — it threw me for a loop!” she laughs. “It took me a while to just gure out how to stand in high heels, my song choices didn’t t my personality, my makeup was rough… But [since then] I’ve been able to improve and I’m more attuned to criticism than I was at the beginning.”
ese days, KayCee’s full getting ready routine takes just under two hours (as a seasoned performer, Veronika can knock out her makeup in half an hour) and walks with condence in even the highest stilettos.
Fortunately, KayCee’s hard work paid o , as she was crowned Miss Gay City of Columbia America 2023.
It wasn’t an easy road to the title. KayCee describes the intense planning, practice, and investments it required just to participate. e pageant uses a point-based system, scoring competitors on aspects like their appearance and performance.
“Veronika was hosting [the pageant] and she was drawing everything out so long,” KayCee says, imitating a dirge-like delivery that elicits a giggle from Veronika. When Veronika nally called her name, KayCee was elated. “I could have cried, but I was at that point of adrenaline where it was like a sigh of relief. It was a huge [moment] like, ‘Oh my gosh, I did it!’”
Still, drag isn’t all titles and tiaras. Veronika explains that while drag can be glamorous, it is deeply personal for many performers.
“I think when a lot of people rst start [doing] drag, we turn to it because we’re shy or awkward and we don’t know how to express ourselves,” she says. “I was a little bit shy when I was rst coming out and coming into the scene, and drag often presents itself as armor, a mask, or a shield.”
Support from Columbia’s residents is vital in keeping the drag scene alive. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to stand by the performers and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Columbia’s drag community is nothing if not resilient.
Nclusion Plus is funded by memberships at multiple price points, which go toward putting on shows and paying the sta and entertainers. e memberships come with some serious perks, such as free merchandise and tickets to Nclusion Plus events.
“Just come to a show,” says KayCee. “ at’s what really matters.”
“I’d love for the community just to see what we’re o ering here… ere’s so many di erent layers to the community. You can’t just see one drag queen or one type of drag show and think that’s what it’s all about,” Veronika adds, explaining that there are many di erent types of drag shows that appeal to di erent demographics.
She continues: “A pageant is di erent from a regular drag show. A drag queen story hour is absolutely di erent from a drag show. A regular, 21+ drag show can be raunchy, but it’s supposed to be fun and [adults] are drinking. at’s very different from a pageant, where you see beautiful evening gowns and a talent showcase… even more di erent than a drag queen story hour, where we read the kids a Barney book or something. All [the kids] see is someone who looks like a princess in a theme park. We’re relating to the kids, helping them have fun and smile, helping them learn to love and relate to all people in the world. We’re not performing there.”
Even with the constant media discourse, Anthony feels that there is a lot of love for the drag community in Columbia.
“In just our three years, the amount of love and support we're getting from our allies and ally businesses that want to show the queer community that there are safe spaces, that there are people that accept them and love them,” he says. “I love how the city has grown, because I didn’t always [feel] safe going to a drag show at the gay bar… Now, if there’s a drag show going on and the people that don’t want to see it are like, ‘it’s not for me, and that’s okay.’ ey’re being respectful about it.”
With a bit of a chuckle, Anthony adds, “But then you get the ones like, ‘Oh my God — is that a drag show? Let’s grab a seat!’”
CONNECT WITH NCLUSION PLUS nclusionplus.com“There’s always one person that will come up to us and say something like, ‘This meant something to me, wholeheartedly. It made me feel seen and safe. I felt like I belonged.’”
—Anthony Plogger
Everyone hates lawyers. Hire one that shares your values… and often times your opinions about lawyers. When you work with Venneman Injury Law, you sit down with our Attorney, Thomas Venneman. He will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, address your goals, and create a plan of action that works for your unique situation. Whether you need an aggressive negotiator or a savvy litigator, Venneman Injury Law is here to get you the best outcome possible.
Trust us to handle your personal injury case with the same care and dedication as we would for ourselves and our families.
Congratulations to Greg N. Bell on his 40 years of dedicated service at Woodhaven! Greg is highly respected among Woodhaven colleagues for his leadership, compassion, and caring personality. Having held various positions within the organization throughout the years, Greg has a deep understanding of the concerns of his employees. His wealth of experience and commitment to the organization is greatly appreciated.
< Dennis Palmer, Owner Coastal Electric and member of Woodhaven’s Board of Directors with Greg N. Bell, COO & Interim CEO during the Years of Service Luncheon 2023
To learn about our current opportunities, scan the QR code or visit woodhaventeam.org/careers/opportunities.
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• Sarah Wilkerson
• Roland Yunusa
• Kim Ashcraft
• Mary Richards
15 YEARS
• Mehemie Bastien
• Jeff Boyes
• Carol Deardorff
• Theresa Green
• Steve Jackson
• Jessica Oliver-Ruth
• Kelly O’Neill
• Kristin Smith
• Stephanie Stapleton
20 YEARS
• Jerry Carpenter
• Greg Evans
• Reggie Simmons
25 YEARS
• Gayla Palmero
• Tina Rickard
• Diana Thieman
40 YEARS
• Greg N. Bell
83 PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW
Get to know Mizzou’s new men’s basketball coach, Dennis Gates.
AN ESSENTIAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY
From shampoo and clothing, to every flavor of Faygo you could imagine, Essentialz CoMo is your new one-stop destination.
92 THE DOLLARS & SENSE OF COMO’S EVENTS
Roots N Blues and True/False Film Fest are only part of the picture.
Rise & Grind is a local bagel shop brought to you by e Grind Co ee House. e Grind Co ee House has four co ee shops throughout town (south, north, Forum, and campus - inside the J School at Mizzou). e shop decided to try something a little di erent and bring a new bagel shop to downtown Columbia, partnering with B&B Bagels to carry the dough so the bagels can be baked and boiled freshly in the shop. Not only does Rise & Grind serve B&B Bagels, but there's also a full co ee menu from e Grind. Beyond the well-known coffee and bagels, Rise & Grind is excited to introduce some new exclusive menu items. In an e ort to support other local businesses, it often o ers some of the favorite items from other local shops such as donuts from Elliana's Donut
Shop, various desserts from Briar Patch Bakery, grab and go sandwiches from Eclipse Catering, ice cream from Ice Cream Factory, and more. Rise & Grind brought in local artist Adrienne Luther who designed and painted a custom mural that is used as a sel e wall.
904 ELM ST. - SUITE 100
WWW.THECOLUMBIAGRIND.COM
@RISEANDGRINDCOMO
Lumia Med Spa was founded in 2020 and began as a mobile service. Dr. Austyn P. Belle Isle, owner, took the leap to open the rst brick and mortar location in 2021, and is now expanding to a new location opening in February 2023. “We are thrilled to be able to o er an even better experience for our clients in this
new space,” Austyn says. “My passion for medical aesthetics was born from my personal interest in art and a clinical background based on meticulous precision with needles. For me, this is the perfect blend of art and science, and caring for people in this way makes my heart sing. I truly believe that lasting beauty comes from the energy we carry through life, and this business allows me to share that energy with others.” Lumia’s focus is to provide excellent quality of care, based on the empowerment and education that it provides to clients. Lumia's belief is that everyone who walks through the door deserves to feel seen, safe, cared for, and heard. Lumia's goal is to help you reach your goals.
2011 CHAPEL PLAZA CT - SUITE 111 WWW.SPALUMIA.COMNutrishop is located on the north side of town next to e Grind Co ee House and Wilsons Fitness. “When we opened our doors back in 2017, we made it our goal to help people lose weight, live a healthier lifestyle, and have a better quality of life. We sell third-party tested supplements but also provide meal plans, body compositions, workout plans, and so much more,” says owner Amber Goodwin. Nutrishop is known for providing transformation challenges for business, free Inbody Analysis Screenings, and the friendly sta is always happy to answer questions. “We know the tness/ health world can be a little overwhelming, so we are here to get rid of the guessing game and provide the best in person service you deserve,” says Amber. Fun Fact: Nutrishop even has an emotional support pup on sta that works Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
UScellular delivered a nearly $600 gift card to Community Garden Coalition, located at 711 Claudell Lane in Columbia. e nonpro t volunteer group provides support, supplies, and garden plots to community gardeners, seeking especially to help lowerincome individuals, the elderly, people with disabilities, children, and others who might not be able to have a garden on their own. “ e Community Garden Coalition does so much for our community, so we wanted to ful ll their wish list and help them deliver the much-needed support they provide throughout the Columbia area,” said Kelli McAllister, store manager for UScellular in Columbia. “Food has the power to connect people, and we believe every family deserves to come together, strengthen ties, and make memories this time of year.”
Since 2009, UScellular has donated more than $22.6 million and technology items to nonpro t organizations across the country.
e State Historical Society of Missouri is awarding Center for Missouri Studies fellowships to three history scholars in 2023. Sarah S. Jones, interpreter and educator at the Missouri State Museum in Je erson City, has won a fellowship for her proposal, “Missouri’s Post O ce Murals: Artistic Expression, Local Collaborations.” Brooks Blevins, the Noel Boyd Professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University, has been awarded a fellowship for his proposal, “ e Missouri Scenic Rivers Act and the Rise of the Rural Right.” Jenny Barker-Devine, professor of history at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, has won a fellowship award for her proposed study, “‘Protection for All Citizens’: Civil Defense and the Problem of Evacuating Missouri’s Urban Centers during the Cold War, 1960–1980.” Each fellowship award includes a $5,000 stipend. e fellowship o ers an opportunity to write an article for publication in the Missouri Historical Review, a scholarly journal published by the State Historical Society. Center for Missouri Studies fellows are also invited to make a public presentation of their work. BarkerDevine, Blevins, and Jones will hold their appointments for the 2023 calendar year.
Frederick Douglass High School has earned national recognition for e ective teaching. e school has been awarded Level 2 certi cation in Marzano High Reliability Schools™. Level 2 certi cation means Douglass High School has established “E ective Teaching in Every Classroom,” where all students learn the content and
skills they need for success in college, careers, and beyond through highquality instruction. e High Reliability School program was created by Marzano Resources to help transform schools into organizations that take proactive steps to ensure student success. Using a research-based, ve-level hierarchy, along with leading and lagging indicators, educators learn to assess, monitor, and con rm the e ectiveness of their schools. is framework, based on 50 years of educational research, de nes ve progressive levels of performance that a school must master to become a High Reliability School. Schools must collect data and validate their performance to climb each level of the hierarchy. Certi cation is determined by Marzano Resources analysts in cooperation with school data teams.
REDI has announced the awardees for the 2022 MBE Grant program, in partnership with Central Missouri Community Action. Eleven grants totaling $55,000 were awarded to the following MBE businesses ($5,000 each), based on their submitted proposals:
• Ginger Sims, Dimples & Rolls
• Ranjana Hans, Raw Roots Turmeric
• Jeremy Bass, Sr, WRM Painting & Cleaning
• Darius Uhuru, Uhuru Kingdom
• Jessica Woodson, Woodson & Associates
• Takyra Miller, e Dancing Divas
• Betty Dudley, McDudley Care
• Natasha Harris, e Faith Goal CFO
• Atterio Norman, America’s Best $10 Shuttle
• Lashunda Lane-Glasgow, A Galaxy of Stars
• Giselle Ballenger, Resurfaced
In honor of Welcome Home’s 30-year anniversary this year, sta and board members came together to celebrate the organization's milestone. Driven by the mission to honor veterans and restore their lives, Welcome Home has had a signi cant impact in the lives of veterans and their families around Mid-Missouri since 1992. Founded by a group of Columbia Vietnam veterans, Welcome Home was created to support homeless veterans “who might have come home, but didn’t land well,” said executive director Megan Sievers. In September 2017, after a successful $3.5 million capital campaign, Welcome Home moved into its current facility at 2120 Business Loop 70 East. e new property features 32 private rooms with bathrooms, including two family rooms and separate corridor for female veterans. On average, Welcome Home serves 350 veterans and their family members annually, with more than 10,000 of bed nights and 30,000 meals provided. “ e entire sta and board of directors takes Welcome Home’s mission very seriously,” said board president Jenny Lorenz-Rudkin. “We have dedicated 30 years so far and we are progressing with even greater momentum as we expand our outreach, resources, and results.”
Wilbur Lin is a talented Taiwanese-American conductor, known for his creative programming and captivating stage presence. He has performed in various venues across the US, Europe, Latin America, and Taiwan. Lin founded the Chamber Philharmonic Taipei and has conducted various orchestras including the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Indiana’s Richmond Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber, LaPorte Symphony, and Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Academy orchestras. A graduate of Riccardo Muti’s Italian Opera Academy, Lin also holds a doctoral degree in orchestral conducting from Indiana University and has studied under renowned conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Sir Mark Elder, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
e Missouri Symphony (MOSY) announced esteemed conductor, composer, and director Jacob Schnitzer has been appointed the position of Missouri Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor and Missouri Symphony Conservatory teaching artist, joining the MOSY artistic team alongside recently appointed music director designate, Wilbur Lin. Jacob earned his master's degree in orchestral conducting from Boston University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory. Jacob enters his sixth year as artistic director and conductor of the chamber orchestra and new music collective Density512 in Austin, Texas, and continues as assistant conductor of the UMKC Conservatory Orchestra.
has played key roles in the implementation of innovative business, development, and operations solutions while creating an engaged culture and environment.
Columbia Insurance Group has named Lisa Wharton vice president and chief information o cer. She will be responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the Information Technology department in support of the company’s strategic objectives. Lisa is an accomplished technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the insurance and nancial services industry providing technology strategic direction in developing longrange IT portfolio planning. roughout her career, she
Following a national search, Gabe Hu ngton has been named as the City of Columbia’s next Parks and Recreation director. Gabe has been serving as the department’s acting director since April 2022. Previously, he served in several positions within the department, including golf and sports supervisor, park services manager, and assistant director. Gabe will be responsible for a park system that encompasses 3,554 acres, 77 parks, 12 indoor recreation facilities, two golf courses, eight aquatic facilities, and 62.45 miles of trails. Gabe holds a master’s degree in business administration and an associate degree in turf and landscape management. Gabe currently serves as the president of the Missouri Park and Recreation Association. He has spent eight years as an adjunct professor with the University of Missouri Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Department.
sexual violence. Michele has an extensive background working with children and families who have been a ected by trauma and understands the importance of supportive networks that empower victims and survivors to heal. Michele earned a bachelor's degree in family studies and gerontology from Southern Nazarene University and a master's degree in criminal justice from Columbia College.
Columbia Board of Realtors recognizes Julie Wesley for 40 years of service. Julie has sold real estate in Columbia since 1982. Her teammate, JulieAnne Mattison, joined her in 2012 to form the Tiger Home Team. In her time with House of Brokers, Julie has been a multi-milliondollar producer, has Top Pro Certi cation (the Top 5 percent of all sales professionals in the industry), and is one of House of Brokers top agents in listing volume sold, dollar volume sold, and number of listings sold.
Michele Snodderley is the new executive director for True North, bringing more than 20 years of human services experience to the agency which provides safety, shelter, and other support for those who have been a ected by domestic and
Nathan Boone and Monica Collins have been selected to the Columbia Board of Realtors Leadership Academy. Nathan has been an independent business owner in Columbia for over a decade. His dependability, attention to detail, and dedication provide them with a sense of con dence and calm in the often hectic world of real estate. Prior to joining the House of Brokers family, Monica worked in the University of Missouri System for almost 10 years, focusing on the philanthropy sector.
Over the past 44 years, the Columbia Entertainment Company has put 305 productions under its belt, comprised of 136 musicals and 169 plays. Now, as CEC prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary in August 2023, the organization continues to grow and ourish. CEC’s basic mission, listed on its website, is to “enrich the community by providing quality live theater experiences to the citizens of mid-Missouri through education and participation.”
Enola Riann-White, executive director of CEC, describes the company’s goals as centered equally on community and creativity.
BY CANDICE BALL“We’re a nonpro t community theater here in Columbia,” Enola says. “Our aim is to continue and advance theatrical education and access.”
CEC achieves this by putting on workshops in all avenues related to theater, from auditions to technical applications to backstage management, so people can learn what it takes to make a show happen. “It’s a good, creative outlet for folks who have those skills, and [provides] opportunities to showcase their creativity and their talents.”
Enola got involved with CEC as an orchestra member, playing both the saxophone and all woodwind instruments.
“ at’s how I got my little bug bitten,” she says. “ en I joined a committee, and then I joined the board, and then I was appointed executive director in 2020, during the pandemic.” Enola describes those rst months in her current role as a “joyous, interesting ride.”
Enola says CEC's people — its actors, stagehands, directors, and set designers — come from the community. Some have a background in theater, and others just have creative instincts that they can use to make magic happen on stage. CEC advertises opportunities on social media, but its most tried and true way of bringing people into the company is by word
of mouth. Enola says that creating a theater family within CEC presents opportunities “for people to come and audition, for people to come and direct, for people to build the sets, for people to play in the orchestra, for people to come and see the shows. Word of mouth is our best asset in terms of getting our name out there and letting people know what’s going on with the CEC.”
In addition to her executive director duties, Enola refers to her full-time, “Bruce Wayne job,” channeling Batman. She divides her focus among operational management, fundraising, marketing, making sure CEC remains visible, keeping the community up to speed on what projects it is working on, and making sure people know how to get involved. She also makes it a priority to nd di erent avenues for advancing CEC's mission.
“You really see that come together in a space like a theater space,” Enola says. “Because you do have to have the folks who are more creative-minded on the costume side, and the folks who are more kind of business-oriented in the front of house, and the people who have the musical talent in musicals, in the orchestra and dancing, and the scenic building, and all of that. Being in such an arts-centric town, like Columbia, just makes it that much better for the CEC.”
At present, CEC produces ve to six shows a year, choosing subject matter carefully. CEC has a play selection committee that reviews the choices, and that
committee considers a number of factors, including popular shows requested by patrons, actors, and volunteers, as well as what’s already on stage in the surrounding areas. In addition, CEC is actively committed to producing at least one August Wilson play in as many seasons as possible. Wilson, a renowned African American playwright, created the American Century Cycle, a series of 10 plays that document di erent experiences within the Black community in the 20th century.
“It documents di erent experiences that the Black community has,” Enola explains, “because there’s been a problem in the theater setting where people of color, their voices aren’t always seen and heard on stage, so we wanted to make sure we were serving that community and making sure that all kinds of di erent representations are on our stage –not only physical representation, but also making sure there’s representation in terms of the kinds of stories we’re telling.”
Enola says CEC has just chosen its shows for the 45th season, but she’s keeping the details under wraps; CEC will announce the calendar at a reveal party on March 18. Rounding out its 44th season, CEC is preparing to open e Addams Family, which will run for three weekends, from February 16 through March 5.
CEC remains focused on providing a creative outlet and a refuge to people in the area.
“Our goal is to be the community theater, for the community, by the community,” Enola says. “So it’s really being a safe space for as many individuals as we possibly can: that’s what we want to be. We want to have a lot of fun, put on some good shows, and continue to uphold and advance arts in this area.”
“It’s a good creative outlet for folks who have those skills, and [provides] opportunities to showcase their creativity and their talents.”
ENOLA RIANN-WHITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COLUMBIA ENTERTAINMENT COMPANYPeter and the Starcatcher, 2019, CEC
“In what was a nerve-racking, worrisome time for us, Miha, with Elizabeth’s help, handled our case in the most calming, organized, efficient, and timely way possible. They were so incredibly easy to work with and responded to our questions quickly and concisely.̕̕
The Missouri Symphony brings enriching musical events and education to the Columbia region.
BY TAYLOR AMBRAMISSION
The Missouri Symphony enriches our community through music education, professional performances, and diverse experiences
1970
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• Julia Gaines, President
at’s one of Wilbur Lin’s musical mantras that guides his role as the Missouri Symphony’s newest conductor. e Missouri Symphony, also known as MOSY, provides musical experiences and education in addition to community-building opportunities in the heart of downtown Columbia.
With deep roots in Columbia, MOSY calls the historical Missouri eatre home for many of its well-known events such as the Hot Summer Nights Music Festival and the Symphony of Toys.
MOSY is made up of three branches — the orchestra, the conservatory, and the league. e orchestra is the core of the organization and is comprised of top musicians from across the world to provide symphonic concerts in Columbia and the surrounding areas.
e conservatory provides music education through content areas including large ensembles, chamber music, and musical skills and knowledge. e league is a social community that allows members to connect and support the organization throughout the year.
Since its beginning in 1970, the Missouri Symphony has only had two conductors. Hugo Vianello both founded and conducted the orchestra from 1970 to 1998 and was then followed by Kirk Trevor until his retirement in 2021. In 2021, the board of directors set out to nd the third conductor through a rigorous process that took nearly a year and a half.
e process identi ed 30 candidates and the eld was narrowed down via in-
• Scott Pummill, Vice-President
• Nicole Robovsky, Secretary
• Greg Brockmeier, Treasurer
• Jessie Kwatamdia, Officer-at-Large
• Brandon Banks, Member
• Jolene Schulz, Member
• Charles Bruce III, Member
• Julie Swope, Member
• Rodney Dixon, Member
• Tim Ireland, Member
• Keegan Thompson, Member
• Shana Trager, Member
• Jackie Rodgers, Jr., Member
• Eric Margheim, Member
• Chris Thomas, Member
• Lindsey Tyler, Member
• Matthew Vianello, Member
• Pauli Landhuis, Member
• Laura Hayes, Member
• Siri Geenen, Member
“Music is an important part of community building.”Wilbur Lin
terviews, meetings, and engagements with a variety of sta and board members. e team selected four nalists who were invited to conduct two concerts through MOSY’s notorious Hot Summer Nights Music Festival in 2022, which was labeled “ e Summer of Conductors.”
Trent Rash, MOSY executive director, says the focus was not only on their conducting talents but also on how well each candidate connected with the musicians and the audience. After the music festival ended, the board made the decision to invite Wilbur Lin to become MOSY’s newest — and third-ever — conductor. He agreed and signed a three-year contract, though he hopes to spend longer than three years to accomplish his goals and vision for MOSY. However, he says it is important for new ideas and people to keep owing into the organization, so he doesn’t want to extend his stay past 10 years.
Wilbur has lived and worked all over the world including Taiwan, New Jersey, England, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and California, and he even visited Columbia in 2017 to take a master class from previous conductor Kirk Trevor. His most recent work was in Cincinnati as an assistant conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Wilbur says that from the time he was a young child, he’s always had an interest in music, but it wasn’t until high school that he realized conducting was his passion. As MOSY conductor, he will be directing both the orchestra and the conservatory which he says allows him time to work directly with the students each week. He says he is eager to bring new ideas on ways
to connect the symphony and the community in a town that is eager to learn.
He hopes to teach others the art of critical listening and analysis that extend beyond music to foster connections and conversations with others.
e Missouri Symphony prides itself on being culturally diverse within a community that continues to make strides in cultural competence and diverse experiences. e organization is set on meeting people where they are most comfortable, Trent says. He understands that coming into the theatre for a symphonic concert can be overwhelming at rst.
As a result, MOSY has created events such as Preludes at the Pub, where music is paired with happy hour at local bars to introduce the community to the orchestra. is opens the opportunity for community members to hear MOSY’s music and to increase interest in local concerts and events.
Wilbur says that while MOSY has a dedicated audience, it is his mission to create a larger and more sustainable audience. While upholding traditions of annual
events, he also hopes to add larger and more frequent events for the community to be involved in all seasons.
Keeping classical music relevant and providing exposure to the symphony is at the forefront of MOSY’s mission.
e Missouri Symphony receives funding from both the city and the state; however, private donations are key to maintaining its operation.
“We only exist because of the support of others,” Trent says.
e organization has extensive plans for growth in 2023, including a new, immersive event in the spring that will pair food and music together by connecting the director with a local chef. With each course, the chef and director will share how their work is connected and inspired by each other.
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SCOTT & KARA BRAUDIS SMITH CHARITABLE TRUSTEssentialz CoMo opened its downtown location in February 2021, but the journey there started many years ago. Owner Dimetrious Woods has traveled a long, challenging road to success. Now he's motivated to give back to the community and the people that supported him.
Dimetrious was born in St. Louis, but his family moved to Columbia in an attempt to help him escape drugs and violence. Growing up in poverty, Dimetrious says he already the instinct to hustle.
“I got to Columbia and immediately was like, 'Wow, there’s no violence' — it was a di erent Columbia than now. I was like, 'Man, I can sell drugs and not have to shoot people’ because I was never real violent back then,” he recalls. “I was growing up and doing what I thought I had to do to get something to eat. Nevertheless, I fell in love with Columbia.”
Although he felt more at home in Columbia, Dimetrious still struggled with his decisions, spending time behind bars before he even turned 18. He later opened
Tint Crafters, now known as Tiger Tinting. He also started his own clothing line, Motivated Fashions, which he rst sold out of Parkade Plaza in Columbia.
But in 2007, Dimetrious was convicted of drug tra cking. An article in the April 23, 2020, online issue of e Missouri Times reported that he was deemed a repeat o ender. He was sentenced to 25 years with no possibility of parole. e article said Dimetrious “went through hell,” developing insomnia and anxiety. However, he says his motivation never faded.
“I worked my butt off, and that’s what really saved my life. The community seeing me doing the work.”
e Missouri Times article said that after the Missouri legislature revised the criminal code, eliminating language prohibiting probation or parole for prior and persistent drug o enders, Woods fought for the changes to be retroactive. He had to become his own best advocate and studied in the prison library — paying for extra time, the article stated — and he learned how to write a legal motion.
Dimetrious was nally getting a glimpse at a brighter future when he was granted a parole hearing and released from prison in March 2018. He opened Wood’s Auto Spa, along with Munchi's, a food truck, the following year.
His life seemed to take another negative turn when the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the parole board erred in releasing him. As Dimetrious operated multiple businesses and dealt with the prolonged stress of his case, his luck was nally about to change. On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, he was summoned to Je erson City.
“I was working, and I get a call from Andrew Bailey: 'Hey, how are you doing?
Andrew Bailey, governor’s o ce, can you come up Wednesday?'” Dimetrious recalls. “I told him I would talk to my legal team. He said, 'Ah, don't bring them. What about one of your younger kids or something?’ So, I knew then” that it was not bad news.
Governor Mike Parson partially commuted the prison sentence.
“I worked my butt o , and that’s what really saved my life. e community seeing me doing the work,” Dimetrious says.
Now the journey comes full circle. In 2021, Dimetrious opened Essentialz CoMo in downtown Columbia. e store carries a variety of items, from the eclectic to groceries. Stop by to grab a latenight snack or check o half the groceries on your list. e unusual and common selections beg the question: How does Dimetrious decide what to stock?
“I learn from my customers; I listen to my employees,” he says. “I start the right conversations, and that’s how I got to this. I’m just open and I listen. Knowing
that it’s an ever-changing industry and adapting to it. I don’t get too stuck on what I want, or what I like. I shift with it.”
With such an array of products, Dimetrious can cater to many di erent demographics in the community, which has helped the business grow. Essentialz CoMo is also home to Dimetrious’ quickly-expanding clothing line, Motivated e Brand. After moving away from the idea of a fashion line, Dimetrious felt the urge to try again.
Like most of Dimetrious’ business, Motivated e Brand is not just another way to make money. e clothing brand is something that Dimetrious has been contemplating for years, with inspiration sprouting from di erent experiences and people in his life.
Motivated e Brand was born after his release and was inspired by many other motivated people he met along the way. e fashion line continues to be motivated by people like one of Dimetrious’ sons, who is designing clothing under the Motivated e Brand name.
Dimetrious opened a second Essentialz location on the southside in April of last year. At his new location, you can also grab a bite to eat at his food-truckgone restaurant, Munchi’s. Munchi’s is like the store it’s housed in; there are an abundance of options. e menu includes burgers, cat sh, wings, pizza, funnel cake, and more.
Just like Dimetrious’s other businesses, Munchi’s is working its way up the ladder of success. You can now nd Munchi’s serving at MU athletic events.
While Dimetrious is still fully motivated to hustling says he will always make time to give back to the community. e Missouri Times article pointed out that he has mentored at-risk youth and sponsored a dance team. He also paid his employees for a full day’s work while encouraging them to take o early to participate in charity work. e article continued, “And he doesn’t turn away those seeking help — no matter how busy he is.”
BY JODIE JACKSON JR
PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUND
Cody Robart and Jason Fairless are automobile and motorcycle restoration experts, whose commitment to their craft and customers borrows from the ancient Greek medical oath: “First, do no harm.”
“If you want to work on a hundredthousand-dollar car, you’d better be able to prove you can do it,” says Cody, who joined forces with Jason to open F&A Cycle eight years ago at the intersection of Old Highway 63 and Business Loop 70.
Restoring treasured vehicles and motorcycles was the work that brought the two together. F&A Cycle also has a full line of outdoor race apparel, an impressive array of high-performance remote-controlled vehicles (trucks and airplanes, primarily), and recently added a new Cerakote and powder-coating facility.
And there’s also a small airplane — hanging in pieces on the walls and from the rafters — that will be fully assembled once the engine arrives.
Roughly a decade ago, Cody was an insurance agent, with a passion for power sports. He bought and sold ATVs, motorcycles, and parts on Craigslist in his spare time. He also refurbished motorcycles and did other refurbishing work that included repainting wheels and racks, installing graphics kits, and recovering seats. Jason, who has an engineering degree and a lifetime of mechanical projects already to his credit, was doing vehicle restoration in his home garage, building a strong client base. One day Jason came across some of the machines that Cody had arranged to sell at a now-defunct motorcycle shop — they both bought parts
there — and he was complimentary about Cody’s attention to detail.
“Because Jason has a high attention to detail as well, he saw that in me and invited me into his world,” Cody recalls. It wasn’t long before their collaboration in Jason’s garage created even more demand for their services.
“We had to have a garage to nish some of these restoration projects that we had lined up,” he says. ey called it F&A Cycle and went into business so they could buy motorcycle parts with a dealer discount.
“We thought if anybody else in the public wants us to buy some stu from us, we’ll help them, too,” Cody adds. at was just an option they could pursue, because with the restoration work already on their schedule, he says, “we didn’t care whether the motorcycle business ever had any customers at all.”
But, of course, the motorcycle customers came; and kept coming. And adding Cody’s refurbishing skills to Jason’s mechanical expertise, the shop will take on practically any project.
“We have customers that have eets of restored antique cars,” Cody says. “ ey don’t want to take them just anywhere. We stayed booked out so far in advance on just the antiques.”
Giving a tour of the shop, Cody pointed to the Porsche 911 Carrera on the lift. A 1959 Chevrolet El Camino was undergoing restoration and will have
modern performance attributes. Cody proudly describes the shop’s embrace of “old school” mechanics and solutions.
“ e old school mechanics can help you get real world drivability,” he says. “ ese New Age mechanics and their computers can just give you the highest number on bar graph; but it's still gonna cackle and cough and be hard to start, and sputter at stop lights.”
F&A Cycle introduced remotecontrolled cars and planes after customers saw the shop sta playing with the cool trucks in the parking lot.
“People kept seeing us play with them in the parking lot and they’d drive by and go, ‘Where’d you get those? How do I get one? Do you sell them?’” Cody recalls. “And I'd hand them a magazine” for ordering the R/C vehicles. Before they knew it, the shop had orders for about 20.
“I thought, ‘Well, maybe I need to start selling them,’” he says. “It was like opening another business within a business. We didn’t realize that at the time.”
When F&A Cycle rst opened its doors, the store shelves were mostly bare—and stayed that way a while. After all, Cody and Jason only wanted the garage space.
“As we got more and more input from the public over time, that’s when we started to stock our shelves with things people had asked for,” Cody explains. “Some people go into business, and they've got a plan and they're like,
‘I know exactly what I'm gonna buy,’ and we didn't.”
e shop began providing the Cerakote and powder coat service about a year ago, and now that line has expanded to include di erent options. Cody doesn’t disagree with the observation that opening the business was sort of an experiment.
“I guess to some extent it is still an experiment because a lot of the technology on everything is ever changing and we try to grow with it,” he says. “But it's been fun. And every day, whenever I answer the phone, it's not like it's the same thing over and over.”
Sometimes the caller has a question about or project with a motorcycle. Sometimes it's a four-wheeler, a dirt bike, or auto restoration. Maybe it’s restoring cast iron lawn furniture or upgrading to the next level of remote-controlled vehicle.
“And we kind of like it that the way,” Cody says. “It keeps the days very interesting.”
Oh, and about that airplane the team is building? e wings are ready, hanging from the rafters. e rest of the airplane adorns the walls. Cody says Jason is just waiting on the motor to put it all together. What is its destination?
“It’s going to y,” Cody says, quickly adding, “Well, I’m not going to, but Jason’s gonna y it.” He notes that Jason is a pilot. “So, yeah, it’s the real deal.”
COMPANY/ORGANIZATION: University of Missouri
JOB DESCRIPTION
PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON• Bachelor’s of Sociology from California ‘01
• Master’s in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from Florida State ‘05
• Skill and Development Coach, Los Angeles Clippers (2002-03)
• Graduate Assistant, Marquette (2003-04)
• Assistant Coach, Northern Illinois (2007-09)
• Assistant Coach, Nevada (2009-11)
• Assistant Coach, Florida State (2011-19)
• Head Coach Cleveland State (2019-22)
• Two Time Horizon League Coach of the Year while at Cleveland State
HOMETOWN
Chicago, Illinois
TIME LIVED IN COLUMBIA
10 months
FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/ COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
Supporting as many organizations and programs as I have been able to work with during my rst year in Columbia, such as the Suicide Prevention Walk, the Homecoming Parade, MLK Day Walk, and supporting local businesses.
FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT
Joining forces with our administration and the women’s basketball program to bring Mizzou Madness to e Columns.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESS PERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY
Richard Miller from Millers Professional Imaging. He has been a leader in the Columbia business scene and a leader in his support of the University of Missouri.
WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB
Basketball is a platform for myself to impact my student-athletes in the classroom, on the court and in the community. I like to build a bridge for student-athletes for the next phase of their life.
WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY
e people in the athletic department, the rich tradition of Mizzou, and the fans in the community.
IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD I would be a teacher and an educator if I decided to pursue a career outside of coaching.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION
Five percent of my job is coaching basketball and the other 95 percent is managing, mentoring and developing
student-athletes into successful men o the court.
THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY
e potential expansion of the NCAA Tournament and how that will change the landscape of college basketball. We have utilized the current format for nearly 40 years but now is the time to evolve and continue to put the student-athletes and their college experience at the top priority.
YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL
It is my dream to one day cut down nets, hold up trophies and raise banners at Missouri.
BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN BUSINESS
To allow people to be who they are and give grace. I want to hold up a mirror and show student-athletes the best version of themselves.
HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY
I want to inspire future generations to be Mizzou Tigers.
GREATEST STRENGTH
My greatest strength is patience.
WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN
Fishing and painting are fun hobbies of mine and allow me to relax away from the basketball court.
FAMILY
Wife, Jocelyn, daughter, Avery and sons, Duke and Denver
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA
My favorite place in Columbia is Mizzou Arena as there is nothing quite like a sold-out crowd in front of the best fans in the country.
ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF
My biggest accomplishment is being a husband to my beautiful wife, Joceyln, and raising my three beautiful children. Professionally, I am most proud of having a 100 percent graduation rate as a head coach and an average grade point average of 3.4.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I want to sh in every body of water across the globe.
I’ve only just a minute, Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it, Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, But it’s up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it, Give an account if I abuse it, Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
— “Life Is Just a Minute” by Benjamin E. Mays
Photo by Karl Bussen
Summerfest plans hot acts and cool sounds.
BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN
As summer ushers in warm air, long days, and plenty of sunshine, Columbia’s music scene begins to buzz with excitement in anticipation of Summerfest, an annual outdoor concert series that lls both Ninth Street and Rose Park with music fans from across Missouri and beyond.
“ is will be my twelfth season and Summerfest had been going on at least a few years prior to me,” says Mike Nolan, marketing director at FPC Live, the company that operates e Blue Note and Rose Music Hall.
Formerly known as Ninth Street Summerfest, as it was held on Ninth Street in front of e Blue Note. e event’s name changed to Downtown Summerfest in 2017 when it expanded to include the outdoor stage at Rose Park. While there are many contributing factors, the Summerfest concert series typically features four to ve shows on Ninth Street and four to seven shows in Rose Park.
Unlike other music festivals, Summerfest doesn’t focus on a speci c genre of music. e series features a wide range of artists and musical styles. While both e Blue Note and Rose Music Hall bring in artists throughout the year, Summerfest is noteworthy because it traditionally attracts bigger acts.
“ e capacity on Ninth Street is more than three times what we can sell inside e Blue Note, and Rose Park holds more than three or four times what we can sell inside Rose Music Hall,” Mike says. “ at gives us time to showcase artists we wouldn’t have the capability to bring to town. Summerfest allows us to showcase artists that we normally wouldn’t see inside e Blue Note or Rose Music Hall, because if a band can sell 3,000 tickets, they won’t play at a venue where we can only sell 850 tickets.”
Mike says that Summerfest’s team has the experience to book the right bands into the right venues based on capacity. Rose Park can sell 1,500 tickets, while Ninth Street can sell 3,000 tickets.
“We don’t want to put someone on Ninth Street who will sell 1,000 tickets because it wouldn’t feel good for the artist to be there,” he says. “We try to book them where they’ll sell out the venue.”
Despite being an outdoor concert series, Mike says his team books acts the same way it does for e Blue Note or Rose Music Hall.
“It just depends on what bands are routing through and which bands are going on tour,” Mike says. “We aren't cherry-picking bands and ying them in. ese bands are already on tour. We are mindful of who is releasing records and going on tour, then will see who will be in the Midwest and try to lock in dates.”
While the concerts are scheduled throughout the warm summer months, planning takes place all year long. e higher caliber acts are planning their tours six months to one year in advance, which means that Mike and his team are constantly having conversations with bands, and working to build out the summer schedule.
“We have the ability of having conversations with agents of bands of this caliber because of the size of the venue we are able to put them in during Summerfest,” Mike says. “We are pretty much always planning, always having the conversations to try to chase down a band.”
At the same time the talent buyers are connecting with bands and agents, the production and technical teams are also hard at work planning for the needs of the various bands.
“ e tech and talent buying are going on at the same time because everything goes hand in hand,” Mike says. “We have to have all the production and tech needs gured out before a band will entertain the thought of playing in the street. We have to have the right stage size and the right technology to accommodate the band.”
e shows at Rose Park aren’t quite as complicated because they’re held at a fenced-in property with an existing stage and in-house production team. Creating the outdoor space on Ninth Street, however, is more time-consuming.
“On Ninth Street, we’re building a venue out of thin air,” Mike says. “We have to get permits to close down the street, talk to neighboring businesses to make sure it’s okay for those dates, arrange parking for several massive touring vehicles, get alcohol permits, and hire a large amount
of sta we don’t normally have for Blue Note shows. It’s a large puzzle to get an event on Ninth Street.”
While arranging shows on Ninth Street is a big undertaking, the number of people required to sta a concert in the middle of the street is also immense. Mike says they’ll hire 35 to 40 security guards, four production techs and audio engineers, eight to 15 stagehands, 20 bartenders, and four or ve production sta , in addition to the crews that the tech and staging vendors bring.
Because of the setup, the sta ng needs at Rose Park are minimal. Mike says that team typically hires 10 to 12 security guards, eight bartenders, two to three techs, and a handful of stagehands.
Taking Center Stage
Summerfest undoubtedly elevates arts and culture in Columbia and brings a wow factor to Columbia’s music scene.
“If you compare us to other towns of similar size, we are in the top echelon of what we do,” Mike says. “Summerfest keeps us on the map and brings joy and happiness to the people of Columbia, and that’s why we do it.”
Photo by Johnny Eaker
Photo by Karl Bussen
Although there is a considerable investment in the bands and in creating the Ninth Street venue, Summerfest impacts Columbia’s economy in a big way.
“If we do our jobs right, a successful season would put us at selling 18,000 to 20,000 tickets,” Mike says.
Summerfest also receives support from a number of sponsors, including its title sponsor, Central Bank of Boone County.
While Mike says Columbia has been witness to many memorable Summerfest shows over the years, he says he clearly remembers e Flaming Lips who performed on Ninth Street in 2010.
“ e production was bonkers,” Mike says. “ ey had lights, confetti machines, and Wayne, the frontman, is notorious for rolling around on the crowd in a giant hamster ball. I’ve never seen that take place in an outdoor venue before.”
Last year, Summerfest brought alternative country singer Orville Peck to the stage. e crowd, says Mike, was a “cool melting pot.”
“Your faith in humanity is restored a little bit,” Mike says. “ ere was no divisiveness and everyone was getting along. ere were walks of life that you wouldn’t necessarily assume to see in the same location. It was really special to me.”
Since playing Summerfest, Mike says Orville Peck’s career has blown up. He’s collaborated with big names and even released a single with Shania Twain.
“Sometimes we capture the lightning in the bottle with some of these performers,” Mike says. “ ey blow up and never come back to play Columbia unless it’s Mizzou Arena.”
While the pandemic put a damper on the past couple of summers, Mike says his team is going into this summer with fewer unknowns, more con dence, and plenty of excitement.
“I think we’re going to crush it this year,” Mike says. “Last year wasn’t disappointing but we had hoped for more shows. We are looking forward to bringing the series back to what everyone is expecting from it. We are always looking to make things bigger and better.”
If you compare us to other towns of similar size, we are in the top echelon of what we do. Summerfest keeps us on the map and brings joy and happiness to the people of Columbia, and that’s why we do it.”
- Mike NolanPhoto by Karl Bussen
BY JODIE JACKSON JR
Richard King has spent 43 years playing a major role in shaping and reshaping Columbia’s entertainment and festival landscape, acquiring valuable perspective about the economic impact those events have on the city.
He recalls an experience from the “early years” of the Roots N Blues festival—which will mark its 16th year in October—when he was on a golf cart and stopped at one of the parking lots near Old Highway 63 to see if a visiting couple needed a ride to the festival site at Stephens Lake Park. Richard didn’t tell the couple he was the festival’s main architect and promoter
“ ey were from Kansas City; this was their second year here” for Roots N Blues, he says. “ e woman just looked at me and said, ‘ is is the best-kept secret in the state of Missouri.’ What an awesome thing to hear.”
Apparently, the secret is out. With Roots N Blues and the True/False Film Fest, which the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau consider the community’s “hallmark events,” the Unbound Book Festival, the Heritage Festival, countless concerts at local venues, including the Missouri eatre, tourism spending in Columbia and Boone County was a whopping $499 million in scal year 2022.
“It was our highest tourism-related spending number in history — by a signi cant amount,” says Megan McConachie, CVB’s strategic communications director. e annual tourism revenue report come from the Missouri Division of Tourism and when that tally came in, Megan says, “I had to email them back and make sure they had sent me the right number.”
e Columbia and Boone County tourism spending total is an accumulation and data extraction of dollars spent at festivals, concerts, trade shows and conventions, sporting events, and tournaments, and for meals, lodging, retail shopping, transportation, and other costs. e cash remains in circulation or investments that fuel the local economy, Megan explains. e tourism-related total for scal year 2019 was $425 million, which was the previous high, and the total for scal year 2021 was just over $393 million. at total included the last portion of calendar year 2020 when the COVID pandemic wreaked havoc on events, lives, and the economy in unprecedented ways.
“Columbia and tourism have really come back in a big way,” Megan adds, pointing to the nearly $500 million spending total in the last cycle. ere had been bold predictions — almost to the point of sounding cliche — about pent-up demand for community events and tourism throughout the pandemic.
“ at is very genuinely what happened,” she says. “ at’s not cliché at all. I think that’s really been evident.”
What is the speci c economic bene t of True/False and Roots N Blues? ough the numbers are pre-pandemic, studies have shown signi cant economic impacts. True/False had an estimated attendance of 16,000 in 2018 with an impact of $2.19 million. e study for Roots N Blues in 2019 estimated attendance at 24,000 and an economic impact of $2.71 million. e reports were prepared by Dae-Young Kim, PhD, associate professor of hospitality management at Mizzou, and two doctoral students.
Megan says it’s also notable that Columbia and Boone County residents not only attend the local events but also volunteer or have paid jobs that directly support the events. at’s an observation that festival organizers also share.
“We’ve been to festivals [in other cities] where you’re talking to people who say the entire town leaves when the festival happens,” says Barbie Banks, co-executive director of True/False. “Our volunteers are from Columbia. Our people don’t leave. ey stick around.”
For that reason, True/False curates lms and festival events that also have local avor.
“We’ve tried to strike a really good balance with international appeal and appeal to people in Columbia,” Barbie says.
Richard also points out the local support in spending and volunteering.
“I don’t think there’s any loss of support in the community for these events. e list is long in terms of businesses and people who wanted to support what we’re doing,” he says. “It makes you feel good.”
Others have suggested that the local support — a feeling of ownership, perhaps — among residents has become part of the community’s DNA. It’s certainly true for Barbie, who was a volunteer for True/False before becoming part of the executive team for the Ragtag Film Society, the lm festival’s owner.
“Each volunteer feels ‘this is part of me and part of the town I live in, and I’m really proud of it,’” she explains. ere’s a feeling of purpose, too, from “exposing everyone to di erent ideas, and making it feel grassroots,” Barbie says, adding that even though Roots N Blues has grown exponentially since it began, “it’s still put on by people who live here.”
e ongoing community involvement and success of local festivals that attract as much as half of the attendees from outof-state, as well as internationally, does set a high bar for other communities that might want to follow Columbia’s lead.
Ragtag Film Society’s scal year 2022 report noted there were 17 full-time and 13 part-time employees, plus 581 volun-
The Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Development Program is made possible by Columbia’s lodging tax. The program was created to provide financial support to enhance and develop attractions, festivals, and events. Eligible events must have the potential to attract visitors, generate overnight stays in Columbia hotels, and provide overall economic impact.
program
teers (accounting for 9,400 hours worked) and 101 independent contractors. Unless residents are plugged into the lm and lmmaking scene, they might not be aware of Ragtag’s expansive presence. Other highlights from the recent report that show other revenue streams that ow into the total reported by the CVB:
• 60 new arthouse lms shown at Ragtag Cinema.
• e 12th annual Boone Dawdle, an annual bike ride from downtown Columbia to e Blu top at Rocheport, featuring several musical acts. It had nearly 350 attendees and 88 volunteers.
• e 3rd annual CoMo Famous series.
• A variety of special events.
• Field trips and other programming with Locust Street Elementary.
• e showing of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a lm that has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards.
The overall tourism spending picture includes local and nearby events, festivals, and other scheduled activities, including, among others: Fourth of July FIre in the Sky; the Boone County Heritage and Craft Show; Boone County Fair; Art in the Park; Hot Summer Nights Music Festival; Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival; Cattlemen Days Rodeo in Ashland; the Centralia Anchor Fest; Show-Me State Games; Mid-Missouri Pridefest; and sundry stage and music performances at Columbia College, Stephens College, and the University of Missouri.
• e 19th annual True/False Film Fest, with 101 screenings of 32 feature and 19 short non ction lms, 35 musical acts, 15 visual art installations, and 98 U.S. premieres.
A CVB consultant has recommended that the city look into adding outdoor events and making greater use of outdoor recreation for future tourism growth. Whether that means a greater emphasis on marketing parks and trails or attracting sports teams and tournaments, Megan says CVB sta is still evaluating and exploring options.
“We’re always happy to talk to people who are interested in starting new events,” she says. “We want to nd out if they think there’s the right time of year, the right concept, and facilities.”
So far there doesn’t appear to be any worry about reaching the point of critical mass by having too many special events and festivals. Richard, the former owner of e Blue Note and Mojo’s (now Rose Music Hall) and former owner of Roots N Blues, has the background to help answer that question.
“Any business, whether it be entertainment — or anything — it’s really hard,” he says. “I had so many great experiences. I think I got really lucky. I was in a great community where I got a lot of support.”
Richard adds: “I pinch myself every now and then when I talk to people about it.”
Richard sold e Blue Note and Mojo’s in 2014 and continued to run Roots N Blues until selling it in 2019. at same year he was part of a group that bought Cooper’s Landing, a Missouri River marina and live music venue 12 miles south of Columbia. He has kept going, and he expects Columbia’s entertainment and tourism scene to keep it up, too.
He also credits the CVB sta for their work in helping the community navigate those options.
“ ey do a really good job,” Richard says. “ ey are on top of their game. All of them. I’ve worked with a lot of them over the years.”
He doesn’t fret over whether the festivals and events are sustainable.
“I think this town is young enough and old enough to like all the things that come this way,” he adds. “I think we have a very special situation here in Columbia. I’m hoping it does remain as strong as it is. And I think it will.”
Halle Kearns and Jordan Davis at Rose Music Hall
– KIM AMBRA
Editor-in-Chief
Every show is “ e Show of the Year!”
– CHARLES BRUCE III Director of Sales
Jimmy Eat World at e Blue Note
– SCOTT CALLAHAN Director of Events
Dopapod at Rose Music Hall
– CHRIS COTTLE Advisory Board
Phantom of the Opera at Jesse Hall or Flaming Lips at e Blue Note’s Summer Fest ... oh or 311 OR Lucius at e Blue Note ... dang, so many good ones back in the day!
– NICKIE DAVIS Advisory Board omas Rhett at Mizzou Arena
– SARAH HEMPELMANN Account Manager
A ballet (don’t judge) at CPAC
– JEREMIAH HUNTER Advisory Board
Maren Morris at Roots N Blues 2019 at Stephens Lake Park
– KRIS HUSTED Advisory Board
Little Shop of Horrors at Columbia Entertainment Company
– JODIE JACKSON JR Digital Editor
e Mixtapes at e Blue Note
– AMANDA JACOBS Advisory Board
It was the 90’s/00’s Hip Hop DJ in 2017 or 2018 at e Blue Note
– DARREN MORTON Advisory Board
Paul Cauthen at Rose Music Hall
– ERICA PEFFERMAN President & Publisher
Luke Skywalker Meets Harry Potter with the Missouri Symphony at e Missouri eatre
– WENDE WAGNER Advisory Board
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls at e Blue Note in 2016!
– JORDAN WATTS Senior Designer
