COMO - The Everything Issue 2022

The Yenta with Lox on an Everything Bagel from Goldie's Bagels

We

host monthly respite events with fun activities for the children we serve.

We advocate for education, mental health, behavioral issues, and other family support.

teach and support the next generation of foster, kinship, and adoption families.

Happy Holidays

2023 & Best Wishes in the New Year

Tennille Lester, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Trust Ofcer, helps individuals and families in the areas of investment management, retirement, tax, and estate planning, trust administration and estate settlement.

Jenny Hayes, Account Administrator, is often a rst point of contact when you call or visit our ofce. She assists Tennille in providing the best client service and handling the day-to-day ofce administration.

Tennille & Jenny

Let us help you to be prosperous in the new year, by assisting you in dening your nancial goals and creating an investment strategy that will put you on a path to live life to its fullest!

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”

– Albert Einstein

After meeting at Rock Bridge High School as teenagers, reuniting and dating for a year, Kelsey (Oerly) and Eric Clark were married on January 8, 2022, with the wedding ceremony held at the beautiful Firestone Baars Chapel and a reception following at Coopers Ridge Event Venue.

Kelsey and Eric’s day was filled with undertones of their love story and how they came together as a couple. They had a close friend officiate their ceremony and fellow RBHS alums, Kristen and Andrew Camp of The January Lanterns, played the ceremony music, including Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid.

Their reception was a reflection of their fun and laid back personalities. Guests RSVP’ed for either burgers and hot dogs, pizza, or pasta and dessert featured a whole wall of tasty treats for guests. DJ Shark Attack kept the dance floor going and guests loved watching the live painting from Cindy Scott unfold.

The bridal party braved the chilly weather for photos around Stephens College campus and Coopers Ridge which gave Eric and Kelsey a reason to show off their wedding shoes. Eric was given his first pair of black and gold Jordans from his groomsmen and Kelsey chose Jimmy Choo flats.

Kelsey and Eric’s wedding day may have been cold, but it was full of the warmth of their love!

VENDORS:

Planning & Design: Delight Events

Ceremony: The United Methodist Church

Reception: The Atrium on Tenth

Photography: Rachel Reyes Photography

Videography: James Smith Films

Floral & Decor: D-Zines by T Flowers and Gifts

Rentals: A1 Party & Event Rentals

Vintage Rentals: Pretty Little Things

DJ: Complete Weddings & Events

Transportation: Any Event Luxury Transportation

Hair: Blanc Studio

Cake: The Pear Tree Kitchen & Bar

Grooms Cake: Cakes by Krystina

Photo Booth: Picture Perfect

Bridal Gown: Breeze Bridal

an investor for 10 years, I am REDI because I believe in REDI’s mission to elevate our economy and in doing so, continue to make Columbia and Boone County a great place to work, live and play.”

Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI)

“As

Matt Jenne, Owner, Addison’s & Sophia’s columbiaredi.com

In the Beginning...

I’ve been in marketing and media in one form or another for 24 years. I spent 11 years in radio, worked for two agencies, owned my own consulting business, and now have owned this magazine and a full-service marketing rm Columbia Marketing Group for the last 9 years. To say that I geek out on marketing and communications is a complete understatement. I found my way into marketing when I was 17 years old and my Nana told me that was what I was going to college for. To some of you, that may seem a little bit of an overreach by a grandmother. For me, what Nana said went. Her word was what I lived by. She had heard in the mid 90’s that it was important to businesses but knew nothing about it, so o I went to Missouri Southern State University to learn what this marketing was all about.

Our family owned Anderson’s Western Wear in Joplin, MO. My tall, handsome Papa who went by “Andy” was the glad-hander, a hell of a golfer, in the Governor’s Mounted Guard, and known by all in a four state area since the 1940’s. My Nana, on the other hand, ran the show. Watching her taught me the art of negotiation and customer service. She stood at 4’11” on her best and most determined day. She was sharp and unrelenting and saved that company many times over through all the economy had to throw her way — including a re. ey have both been gone for many years, but I still talk to her almost every day asking for guidance.

After my Nana, I consider Dave Baugher to be one of my most in uential and important mentors. People often ask me my origin story with the magazine and it goes like this: after 11 years in radio, I started a consulting company for owner-operated media companies in Missouri. I was hired as a consultant

to help with the original Business Times Company which owned three magazines (Columbia Home, Columbia Business Times, and Je erson City Magazine) by the current partners Dave Baugher, Renea Sapp, and Al Germond. After working hand in hand with them for six months, the agreement was made that I would come onboard fulltime as a minority partner. David Baugher was the only person that I would have worked for then and even now. at was in August of 2013. Over the next six years, I earned full partner status and took the company forward after the original partners of e Business Times Holdings retired in May 2019. Little did I know what the next three years had in store for me or how heavily I would rely on the words of wisdom Dave had provided me. When times were really tough, I took him to lunch, laid it all out for him, and heard the same reassuring wisdom I had for years before.

As I close out 2022, I have never been so happy to have a year go behind me. It has been full of huge challenges and wonderful things. e roller coaster of being a business owner has never been more real to me as we have navigated the soaring prices and lack of availability of paper, a changing world, and an intense need for innovation. I’m so grateful for the partnerships that I have with clients, vendors, and even new actual business partners as we navigate a new world.

2023 will come with many new things from e COMO Companies. I can’t wait to show you what we have up our sleeves. ank you, as always, for being part of COMO.

ON THE COVER

What’s better than everything? A bagel with everything. Our cover features the Yenta with lox on an Everything bagel from Goldie’s Bagels.

THEEverything

PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER

Letter from

ERICA

Top: My grandparents, Andy and JoAnne Anderson. Bottom: Dave Baugher and me! THE EVERYTHING ISSUE A PUBLICATION OF THE BUSINESS TIMES HOLDINGS

Photo by Drew Piester

Our loyal readers and followers know that each issue comes with a theme. is theme is mostly to keep our creative brains on track. ey set some sort of parameters for us. However, there are often stories that we cannot share due to “not tting in the theme.” Hence why “ e Everything Issue” was created. To give us a space to share all the things.

Since I do not have a speci c theme or topic to discuss, I thought I would use this opportunity to re ect on the past … Where I have come from and where I am going. A look back at some of my favorite stories and moments since joining the COMO crew.

I have shared a little of my backstory in previous letters, but a brief catch-up: I was blessed to be able to be a stayat-home mom for 14 years. Once all three of my kiddos were in school and I joined the workforce, my background has always been in healthcare. is job literally fell into my lap during a chance encounter with Erica Pe erman. I walked through the doors knowing absolutely nothing. I was doing a lot of smiling and nodding, and then frantically googling what the heck things meant and what people were talking about.

Funny story that I still hear about years later — double truck.

In my rst few days at COMO Magazine, I was smiling and nodding my way through a conversation about needing a double truck for an upcoming issue. In my brain I was thinking, “How in the heck am I

supposed to nd two matching trucks to get in the magazine?!” But don’t you worry … I would have made it happen somehow! Long story short, turns out a double truck, is magazine talk for a two-page spread (insert eye roll). I look back at where I started, and where I am today, three years later — WOW. Anything is possible, friends!

I think most of my favorite moments come with our COMO events. e Impact COMO awards get me Every. Single. Time. So much work behind the scenes goes into these events … I read each and every nomination. I do my research. I learn so much about each and every individual. I think, “Surely I have seen and heard it all!” and by the time the event rolls around, I’ll be good. NOPE. I cry every single year. Seeing their faces in person. Watching the joy and excitement. It makes every long day worth it. It is an annual reminder of why we do what we do. It will really humble a person.

I can’t even get started on 20 under 40 — the people, the friendships made, the magical event itself — that would require another page.

What stands out the most to me since my beginning are the relationships formed. I have had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people. e relationships within our COMO work family. e relationships in the community. I truly cannot think of a more rewarding and ful lling career than being able to share so many amazing stories. ree years sure ies by when you are having so much fun. I can’t even imagine what the future holds, but I am so excited to nd out! is magazine is for YOU, COMO! I would love to hear from you. What should we talk about in upcoming issues? Feel free to share, Kim@comomag.com.

Cheers to 100 more years!

Letter from the Editor Started from the bottom, now we’re here.

You never know where you might find me working around the COMO offices! We work hard, and play hard.

KIM AMBRA EDITOR

XO,

President

Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

EDITORIAL

Publisher | Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

Editor | Kim Ambra Kim@comomag.com

Digital Editor | Jodie Jackson Jr. Jodie@comomag.com

Copy Editor | Ryan Shiner

DESIGN

Creative Director | Kate Morrow Kate@comomag.com

Photo Director | Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com

Senior Designer | Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lana Eklund, Anthony Jinson, Sarah Mosteller, Chris Padgett, Drew Piester, Sadie Thibodeaux

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Candice Ball, Alicia Belmore, Sam Barrett, Lauren Sable Freiman, Jodie Jackson, Jr., Amanda Long, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale

Featuring students from Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment

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

Business Times Holdings, LLC 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.

Advisory Board

Representing Voices from All Different Walks of Life.

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

23 EVERYTHING AND THE BAGEL

Goldie’s Bagels provides more than a delicious bagel. For many, they’re a taste of home.

MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

The Whitakers decorate their 6,300-square-foot home for the holidays.

TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY CHEER

Kids from the the Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment School unwrap the treasures of traditions.

Let’s Go to the Movies

"Everyone has a story to tell about going to the movie theater."

- Dianna Borsi O'Brien

BY CANDICE BALL | PHOTOS BY SARAH MOSTELLER

Dianna Borsi O’Brien describes herself as a “hyper-local girl.”

Originally from Ohio, she’s a Mizzou graduate and a former adjunct journalism professor at MU, and she’s passionate about preserving our town’s history.

“I love Columbia,” she says.

at’s why she’s made it her mission to advocate for historical buildings in our community. Her book, “Historic Movie eaters of Columbia, Missouri,” details the rich past behind 28 theaters in our area.

“Everyone has a story to tell about going to the movie theater, whether it’s where they had their rst date, their rst kiss, their rst job, or simply enjoyed family outings,” Dianna writes in the rst chapter. “Movie theaters are a part of everyone’s lives. Even if you can stream a movie, there’s something special about going to a movie the-

ater and sharing that experience that gives us a sense of belonging and community.” e rst movie audiences ever experienced in Columbia was at Haden Opera House in 1897, Dianna writes on her blog, CoMoHistoricPlaces.com. “ e rst movie wasn’t much and was simply noted in the newspaper as a moving picture exhibit,” she writes. “Movies back then were novelties and were often only a minute or two with no plot or storyline. Just as movies and movie theaters grew up, so did Columbia.”

“ e city and the country have undergone tremendous changes in the economy, technology, race relations, class, gender roles, and sexual mores,” Dianna writes. Each theater she pro les speaks to a di erent historical moment, and she nds value in all of those moments. And she hopes to preserve those moments, by

preserving our buildings. “SOS,” she says. “Save our Stu .”

Dianna organized the book so that each chapter is devoted to a speci c theater, in order of its inception, and each chapter provides an in-depth look at the past and present of each theater, from e Airdome, to e Hall eatre, to e Missouri eatre, and everything in-between.

She got to know the places — and the people who made them such an important part of our landscape — intimately.

“Writing this book,” she says, “I felt like I became friends with these guys.”

Dianna loves Columbia, and she’s formed a new group to help “do things that aren’t getting done.”

It’s called CoMo Preservation, which started meeting in May 2022. e group continues to grow and thrive, and Dianna hopes it will continue on that path.

eir mission statement: “Preserving historic buildings: Enriching today and tomorrow.”

“ rough advocacy, education and salvage, we will increase awareness of the importance of historic preservation,” Dianna says, “and nd ways to o er people and institutions alternatives to demolition.”

Dianna's book can be purchased through CoMoHistoricPlaces.com or via Arcadia Publishing. The CoMo Preservation Facebook group is Comohistoricplaces, and there you can find details about how to join and when and where to attend meetings.

Dianna Borsi O’Brien’s book is a labor of love devoted to local theaters.

Striving to meet the needs of homeowners.

Hank Manson knew he was capable of creating a business that could provide for his family, while doing what he loved and providing high end craftsmanship at a reasonable price for his customers.

“Getting to work with my customers to make their dreams a reality is what I love about my job. I’m very thankful for all my customers, some of which have become good friends over the years.”

- HANK MANSON

I am very thankful for the opportunities our growing business has given us. We are able to enjoy all the big moments as first time parents while still balancing work and family life.”

- MARISSA MANSON

TOM F.

“Manson’s Renovation & Repair created this amazing

center for us in our new home. Hank is meticulous and has an eye for details! You won’t regret having this business create something special for you. We couldn’t be happier.”

Hank and Marissa Manson welcomed their first son, Sailer, in April of 2022.

Photo by Wilder Rays Photography

Heroes for Our Heroes

In times of distress, we always have people to call; firefighters, police officers, EMT’s — but who do they turn to when they’re in need?

BY SAM BARRETT

First Responders Support is a new nonpro t organization focused on the Boone County area and was founded in October 2022 by Randy Minchew, with DeLine Holdings, and Jared Torbet, with the Anxiety & Depression Clinic of Columbia.

According to their mission statement, “First Responder Support exists to promote goodwill between rst responders and the community, increase awareness of the realities facing rst responders, and provide relief and support to those who serve Boone County as rst responders.”

Founder Jared Torbet says First Responders Support is still piecing together what this mission statement looks like in action, but it encompasses the organization's four target areas: promote goodwill between rst responders and the community, educate rst responders and their agencies, provide relief, and provide support.

EDUCATE, SUPPORT, AND RELIEF

ere is a wide range of rst-responder occupations, including police o cers, EMT’s, reghters, doctors, and more. Each job comes with unique challenges and stressors, which many rst responders carry with them outside of the “o ce.”

One of First Responders Support’s main goals is to challenge the stigma on rst responders struggling with mental health by educating the community and rst responders’ agencies on the unique mental health issues they face.

Jared owns and operates his own mental health clinic, the Anxiety & Depression Clinic of Columbia, and has dealt with many rst responders and their families in the past. He says there are many mental health issues that can come with the job like complex PTSD, sui-

cide, depression, and family issues — just to name a few.

“By having this organization here, we’re constantly assessing their needs, and problem solving to meet those needs. Right now, we’re still assessing,” Jared says.

Jared and others at the nonpro t are working to nd out more speci cs on what mental health help rst responders need through methods such as information collection, focus groups, and surveys. ey hope to then provide this help through as many outlets/networks as they can, including further educating rst responders’ agencies and their leaders.

“We’re building a system and processes that allow us to learn directly from rst responders what their needs are and how they want us to meet those needs," Jared says. “For example, when a rst responder experiences trauma, how great would it be for a leader to pull them aside and say, ‘you just saw something tragic, or something traumatic just happened to you, what can we do to help you?'”

PROMOTING GOODWILL

First Responders Support believes through educating community members and leaders on the issues that rst responders face, stronger connections and appreciation will be built between the community and rst responders.

“ e big thing, to me, is educating the public about those traumas, and creating that relationship between the community and rst responders. I think those kind of go hand-in-hand,” says Ken Gregory, retired rst responder and member of the nonpro t's advisory panel.

First responders are constantly supporting their communities through their work — with long, strenuous hours, regularly facing traumatic events. First Responders Support urges the community to get involved and give back, letting local rst responders know they’re supported, too.

“We feel that they deserve support and appreciation from all angles, and we also want our community members to feel safe, protected, and connected to their local rst responders,” Jared says.

First Responders Support plans to offer numerous opportunities for community members to get involved and show their support through community events, volunteer work, or just simply by donating. Visit firstrespondersupport.net for more information.

The Columbia community gathers to show support for the launch of First Responders Support organization.

Goldie's Bagels provides more than a delicious bagel. For many, they're a taste of home.

BY AMANDA LONG | PHOTOS BY DREW PIESTER

& THE BAGEL

Earlier this year, Goldie’s Bagels transformed from pop-up shop located inside local restaurant Pizza Tree, owned by Amanda Rainey and John Gilbreth, to an expanded eatery with a location all its own at 114 South Ninth Street.

Beyond Goldie’s signature New York-style bagels, Columbia’s only Jewish deli has an expanded menu featuring bagel sandwiches, spreads, and pastries.

Amanda, who grew up in a tight-knit Jewish family in St. Louis, moved to Columbia to attend Mizzou, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor of arts in sociology. at is when she joined Congregation Beth Shalom, where she taught religious school and gave private lessons to bar and bat mitzvah students.

“Opening Goldie’s Bagels was important to me and the Jewish community,” says Amanda, who provides mini bagels for children’s Sunday school and hallah for services to Congregation

Beth Shalom, and caters bar and bat mitzvahs.

“Since there is only one synagogue in Columbia, the Jewish community is small and supportive but diverse consisting of people from all over the country including a mix of professors, locals and transplants,” she says. “We haven’t had a rabbi for three years –just interim or student rabbi – but the congregation has stepped up and led services.”

e shotgun-style interior of Goldie’s Bagels has an open-kitchen layout with a walk-up counter for ordering and pick up, although welcoming smiles can be found in place of the good-natured yelling and teasing typical of a Jewish New York deli.

e rear of the eatery has a collection of eclectic tables and chairs for dining in, walls adorned with authentic family photographs and tchotchkes that came from the basement of Amanda’s bubbe (grandmother), as well as wall hangings inspired by bubbe’s quilt squares. “People come in a lot and say it feels like I’m at home,” says Amanda.

“We’re hosting a family reunion in January,” she says. “ ere are nine grandkids, nine great grandkids, and bubbe is turning 90, so it is a really special occasion. She is a true matriarch.”

Amanda says more than 30 family members are coming to Columbia, some for the rst time. She plans to host Friday night Shabbat at Goldie's, including matzo ball soup as well as food from the Barred Owl, which also catered her and John’s wedding.

“I’ll make bagels for the day after the reunion and John’s band e Onions will play for the rst time since Covid,” she says.

When Amanda started making bagels in Pizza Tree’s kitchen late summer 2020, she cleverly adapted the existing ingredients and ovens, creating an innovative new way to craft her product. “ e dough is di erent than the pizza dough John uses, but not super different. We had to tweak the recipe a bit and the way we shape and proof,” she says.

Amanda’s bagel-making is a two-day process. e rst day the dough is made and shaped into rings using a dough divider. “It’s an unconventional way to make a bagel,” Amanda says. “Traditionally you cut strips and roll them out, but Pizza Tree makes dough balls, and we adapted that process.”

e formed bagels proof overnight, then early the next morning the bagels are boiled for a quick 30 seconds, seasoned, and baked in a pizza oven upside down on a bagel board that is wrapped in wet burlap, which keeps the tops of the bagels moist and elastic so as not to harden and crack open during baking. en the bagels are ipped right side up to nish baking.

“When we rst opened, I did everything from baking all the bagels to washing all the dishes. Initially I

was only o ering bagels and cream cheese, slowly adding things to and expanding the menu. I didn’t come from a restaurant background, so I had to learn everything as I went,” Amanda says.

Today, Goldie’s Bagels’ sta of 14 produces approximately 350 bagels a day during the week Tuesday through Friday, and close to 650 per day on the weekend, including traditional avors like everything and blueberry, plus their own signature Goldie’s bagel with turmeric and black sesame seeds, a nod to Mizzou’s gold and black school colors.

Thirty-pound blocks of cream cheese are made spreadable by whipping in a super-sized mixer, and then the ingredients are added to make the four or ve di erent spreads on the menu.

“Weekends here are slammed, but I enjoy it! It’s super busy from 7 a.m. until we sell out or close,” Amanda says. “We try to waste as little as possible so we would rather have less choices and sell out of things than have things thrown out.”

In addition to madefresh-daily bagels and schmears, Goldie’s menu features open-faced bagels such as the Yenta with

“When we rst opened, I did everything from baking all the bagels to washing all the dishes. Initially I was only o ering bagels and cream cheese, slowly adding things to and expanding the menu. I didn’t come from a restaurant background, so I had to learn everything as I went.”

— AMANDA RAINEY

smoked salmon lox, whipped cream cheese, capers, cucumbers and red onion, and bagel sandwiches.

“We also make the rye bread for the pastrami sandwich served on Tuesday – we get the pastrami from Buds Barbecue,” says Amanda. “ ey are so nice and love what we’re doing here. It’s a great partnership - we trade bagels for part of the payment.”

Goldie’s o ers catering for small events such as o ce meetings, baby showers and open house events, but has no plans to expand the space or menu.

“I think a lot of places try to grow too fast and try to open a second location and then realize they’re spread too thin, making it hard to maintain consistency,” Amanda says.

With no phone number or online ordering, customers are encouraged to “Come in and see us!” Amanda says she’s not interested in overwhelming her sta , letting them focus on delivering great food and service.

“I also don’t think it is fair to make the people who came in and want that face-to-face interaction to have to wait. If customers come in and we have bagels, we have bagels and if we don’t, we don’t,” she says. “As a mom of a 3- and 6-year-old, I’m very used to saying, ‘You get what you get, and you don’t throw a t.’”

Being a part of and giving back to the local Columbia community has always been at the forefront of the Goldie’s Bagels mission.

“We have been giving out a free bagel and a co ee to anyone who comes in and says they need a meal since we opened,” Amanda says. “Recently we decided to put up a sign and start the Neighbor Account so we could track what we were giving and so people could contribute. It went viral when a very online rabbi posted it to Twitter! ese days we feed 6 to 10 people a day.”

Time of the Year M t Wonderful

BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE | PHOTOS BY SADIE THIBODEAUX

The Whitakers decorate their 6,300-square-foot home for the holidays.

It’s

a question that seems to come up around this time every year, and people love to debate it: Should Christmas decorations go up before or after anksgiving?

And since that rst bleak pandemic Christmas in 2020, media outlets such as e Today Show and Washington Post have published pieces proclaiming that decorating early for the holidays is good for you, that experts encourage you to decorate early because it makes you happier.

We won’t examine the credibility of some of these claims here, but Beth and Todd Whitaker would agree decorating early and keeping your decorations up well past Christmas enhances the holiday spirit. e Whitakers always decorate before anksgiving and keep their decorations up — at least the non-Christmas wintry decorations — through at least Valentine’s Day. ey say they love it, so why not? But at more than 6,000 square feet, decorating their home for Christmas is not a one-day or even weekend-long process. But it’s one that they enjoy and share equally.

“Beth has phenomenal taste in decorating in general,” Todd gushes about his wife. “If it wasn’t for her, it wouldn’t connect in such a wonderful fashion. We put up our decorations early and take them down late. We do so because it is a great deal of work and we might as well enjoy them as long as possible.”

We wrote about the Whitakers’ extensive backyard renovation by Roth Landscaping Services in May 2019. e couple bought their 6,350-square-foot modern stone ranch, in southwest Columbia, in 2016.

e spacious six-bedroom, four-bathroom estate is a case study in how to accomplish the warmth of a traditional look in a modern, open-concept design.

“Our goal is to have a touch of Christmas everywhere,” Beth says. “But not overdone, we don’t ever try to decorate every inch of our house.”

Todd agrees, adding, “ ere may be some spaces that are not decorated, but we like having a holiday feel in each room. And we have a lot of visitors and company, and it’s fun for them.”

Where Contemporary Meets Traditional

“ is is a more contemporary home than what we’ve had in the past, and so we tried to mix our warmth of traditional style with

the contemporary design of the home, and we did that with Christmas, too,” Beth says. “On the upper level we went with a silver and red theme with a more modern feel, while making it warm and comfortable. e design process is pretty organic for us. When we see something we know we like, we try to integrate it into our holiday setting.”

e red and silver theme also adorns the exterior of the home. Evergreen arrangements decorated with sprigs of red berries, and large red and silver orbs, are found in the window wreaths and front porch planters. ese accents, coupled with simple white lights that follow the roof line professionally installed by Candy Cane Crib, make a holiday statement that complements the house’s grandeur without being busy or ostentatious. A decorative sleigh pulled by a set of metal reindeer silhouettes adds some whimsy to the front yard.

White pillows embroidered with red snowakes sit perched on each poolside lounge chair in the backyard. Santa and snowman pillows, along with more evergreen arrangements with red and silver baubles, trim the patio overlooking the pool, pulling the looks together. Come inside, and the festive feel explodes with thoughtfully placed red accents throughout.

Opting Only for High-Impact Pieces

Beth loves to scour Christmas magazines for ideas but doesn’t try to duplicate them; instead, she looks for what most represents the Beth and Todd aesthetic. “It’s very much from the heart,” Beth says.

“Something we’ve done for about the last 10 years is instead of getting lots of little things and trinkets, we only add what I call ‘impact items,’” Todd explains. “Like the nutcrackers, the 13-foot Christmas tree — if we’re going to go through the trouble of setting it up, I want it to have an impact. And I like trinkets, but I don’t want to set all of that up and have it seemingly disappear in the room.”

Todd, who openly adores his wife, adds, “I married an impact item 35 years ago, so I like to decorate with impact items.”

Four pairs of life-size, fully-working, solid-wood nutcrackers are among Todd’s top impact items, and there’s a story behind them.

e couple lived in Terre Haute, Ind., for 22 years, where they were professors at Indiana State University (the pair originally are from Missouri and met in grad school at Mizzou; moving to Columbia in 2016 gave them the opportunity to be closer to children and grandchildren). Every year, Stein Mart released one

pair of commemorative nutcrackers per store. e Terre Haute shop knew Todd would come to buy them, so they would set them aside for him. He’d seatbelt them into his convertible, and once they were buckled in, the employees would take pictures for their website. Todd loves them because they are so unique and not likely to be seen elsewhere, even if they are incredibly heavy to set up.

Another high-impact item rounding out the decor is a Mizzou-themed Christmas tree in Todd’s home o ce, which the couple bought at a charity auction. e skinny tree drips with black and gold ribbon, confetti, and ornaments.

“It’s one of the rst things we put up every year, and one of the last things we take down,” Todd says. [It] blends two of our passions — Mizzou and Christmas.”

e ambiance is what Beth considers the most enjoyable part of decorating for Christmas. “My favorite part of the holiday decor is enjoying it at dusk when all of the twinkle lights come on.”

For Todd, he loves his Mizzou tree, as well as breaking out an enormous set of Nöel wine glasses he got from Stein Mart years ago.

Less is More

After several moves, the Whitakers have accumulated many holiday decorations over their 35 years together. Todd says it feels as if they could decorate ve houses each year with all the items they do not put out. Beth’s holiday decorating tips include knowing when to stop.

“Sometimes less is more,” Beth says. “I have a tendency to overdo and have to remind myself that a few signi cant key items can complete a space.” Todd nods in agreement as this matches his high-impact philosophy.

Beth says it’s easy to do what feels familiar — the arrangement that worked in a previous home may not work here, for example. So, tinker and play; decorating should be fun.

“Don’t be afraid to redo,” Beth says. “I’ll put something out and live with it for a day or two to see if it works.”

Todd’s decorating tip, besides going for high -impact items, is all about practicality. “My grandson suggested making sure we don’t have a re burning in our replace on Christmas Eve so Santa can come down the chimney,” he says while laughing.

ough decking the halls takes some time, the Whitakers enjoy the process as much as they do the end result.

“It’s just the way everything works when it’s put together, and I love the thought process of assembling our holiday puzzle,” Beth says.

SHAUN HENRY ATKINS

WHY CHOOSE MULTI-STEM TREES FOR YOUR YARD?

By Nate Anderson Find more at rostlandscaping.com

Multi-stem trees are a common choice for landscape designers, and over the recent years they have increased in popularity and availability for all gardeners. A multi-stem tree is a tree that has two or more stems or trunks growing from one root. Therefore, they will have a broader canopy and more foliage, but you can still see through the open-structured base. They are a suitable choice for a naturalistic garden but also fit perfectly in a more contemporary one. Features such as size, blooms, and foliage color are always top of mind but the sculptural characteristics you can find in a multistem tree make it something we’d highly recommend that you consider adding to your landscape. Below, I am sharing a handful of my favorite multi-stem trees to utilize in a landscape design.

1. Witch Hazel:

This small multi-stem tree has yellow to orange blooms and are very low maintenance. There are even some Missourinative varieties. The unique thing about them is that they bloom in winter, and they make for a beautiful show when they are blooming with snow on the ground. So often people when people think of winter interest plantings, they think of evergreens, so the addition of the multi-stem structure and winter blooms makes this a fantastic choice.

2. Crabapple ‘Royal Raindrops’:

These trees provide 3 seasons of interest boasting a bright pink bloom in the spring, showy red fruit in fall, and my favorite feature—deep purple foliage throughout the year. Royal Raindrops will come in both single or multi-stem but I love the structure of the multi-stem form.

3. Seven-Son Flower:

NATE ANDERSON ROST LANDSCAPING

Nate Anderson has been a resident of Columbia for seven years, and he has been working in the landscape industry for just as long. Nate is a designer and estimator for Rost Inc. While working on his degree in plant science and landscape design, he also worked as a foreman at Rost Landscaping, where he oversaw landscape construction projects. He credits much of his inspiration to his “early years” where he got to be a part of the construction of many beautiful landscapes.

These multi-stem trees are prized by plant lovers. They have a unique exfoliating red bark that provides significant winter interest and fragrant white blooms. Another perk of the Seven-Son Flower is that, compared to so many spring-blooming trees, it’s fragrant white flowers will bloom in Summer. But even more showy than the blooms, are the bright pinkish red bracts (fruit) that reveal themselves in fall once it is done flowering.

4. Magnolia ‘Sweetbay’:

Growing about as tall as they do wide, creating a beautiful canopy, the Sweetbay Magnolia also has a unique branching structure. By removing the lower branches of these trees over time, you can shape them to really highlight their multi-stem structure. In addition, to their ornamental structure, you can look forward to creamy white, cup-shaped flowers in late spring and a shiny, green foliage.

5. Fringetree:

The Fringtree is a perfect option for a specimen plant. The small size of this tree makes it a great option to be planted in any

area where a smaller tree is needed such as near a patio, below power lines, etc. The blooms are very distinctive with their strap shaped petals that give the blooms a fluffy, fringe-like appearance in addition to a wonderful fragrance.

Be sure to check out these and other varieties of multi-stem trees for your yard. We’re confident that you’ll love the distinctive look, plus you get more bang for your buck with instant structure and a broad canopy.

IS YOUR HOME WORKSPACE WORKING?

By Jake Baumgartner Find more at baumgartners.com

We’re now two years into “the new normal” when many of us started working from home, and now that there’s a full-fledged, work-fromhome culture developing across the country, it’s time to ask yourself if your home workspace is working for you, your employer, and your home. Here are some thoughts to help get the process started:

1. Your desk, file, chair, credenza, bookcase, and accent selections need to fit your needs for establishing office space. But as additions to your overall furnishing scheme, those pieces can match or complement what’s already in place.

2. If you want to create a unique space with its own style and ambiance, the options and collections are almost endless.

3. If you’re self-employed, the work-fromhome experience will continue for as long as you want. If you’re in a hybrid situation and on-site working might return as the norm, your home office furnishings will continue to be used, so keep that in mind.

DESKS

The workspace in front of you — your desk — can have a modern, sophisticated look and feel, something more minimalistic, or elegant with a hint of luxury. The choice is

JAKE BAUMGARTNER BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE

THE HOME PROS KNOW

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.

yours! Check out Archbold’s modular desk and file, the classic L-shape arrangement that is sleek and modern from the modular office collection.

Or picture yourself working at Liberty Furniture Industries’ credenza and hutch, a stylish, signature piece with antique white base finish and weather bark tops. Also from Liberty Furniture Industries is the three-piece, junior executive desk and hutch. (Browsing and buying tip: If you see a junior executive size and you want the same style or color in senior executive style, be sure to ask! And vice versa.)

FILES

Some choices among today’s stylish offerings: a classy, wood-finish lateral file (Magnusson Home, Lancaster Collection); rolling file (Archbold Furniture, modural office collection); and the Hampton file cabinet (Legends furniture, Hampton Collection.)

ALL IN ONE

When you decide on your style, color, finish, and use, why not go all-in on a complete, five-piece desk? The Magnolia Manor Collection from Liberty Furniture Industries

(573) 256-6288

BAUMGARTNERS.COM

is crafted of poplar solids with white oak and birch veneers, with a credenza featuring seven drawers and a hutch, open center with two cubbies beneath it, and touch LED lighting to illuminate your space. (Users will appreciate the added convenience of the built-in wire management system!)

WORKSTATION COMBO

Here are a desk, file, and drawers in a single piece, which is incredibly functional for matching or complementing other furnishings in the room. Selections include wonderful pieces from Riverside’s Osborne Collection and Aspen Furniture’s Sinclair Collection.

OTHER ACCESSORIES

Your desk (and your back!) will want a scrollback upholstered desk chair (Belmeade Collection, Riverside) or the junior exec chair (Liberty Furniture Industries).

Always remember that Baumgartner’s offers big city selection without having the drive to Kansas City or St. Louis. Since we got our family-owned and operated start more than 73 years ago, our promise to treat you with courtesy and respect hasn’t changed.

THE HEART OF THE HOME

By Anne Tuckley Find more at AnneTuckleyhome.com

When I walk into my kitchen today, I am not alone. Whether we know it or not, none of us is. We bring fathers and mothers and kitchen tables, and every meal we have ever eaten. Food is never just food. It’s also a way of getting at something else: who we are, who we have been, and who we want to be.”

- Molly Wizenberg

The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. It is the space in which meals are prepared, stories are shared, and families gather. The kitchen is the foundation of many of my childhood memories. It is a space where I was taught many important life lessons that I treasure to this day.

The kitchen is a necessity in any home, and the abundance of appliances, fixtures, and materials available lend it to being one of the most enjoyable (at least for me) rooms to decorate. The kitchen is the epitome of storage space optimization and in a way is like a puzzle - how to maximize storage without losing aesthetics.

The following are several ways that I like to maximize space and functionality in kitchens while maintaining beauty.

Add some green.

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

Anne has been in the interior design industry for more than 20 years and has resided in metropolitan cities ranging from NYC to Houston while honing her skills. Her specialties are interior design and home staging with a focus on unique perception. Anne graduated with a BFA in fine arts with a concentration in design and illustration. She has extensive experience in designing new construction as well as remodeling and conceptualizing out-of-the-box ideas. She ensures cutting-edge design and superb customer service.

4250 E. BROADWAY SUITE 1043 COLUMBIA, MO, 65201 (573) 639-1989 ANNETUCKLEYHOME.COM

Think vintage.

Incorporate small pots with herbs and edible flowers. The plants will add a touch of beauty to the room and an amazing taste to your food.

Use the wall.

Optimize storage space (or lack thereof) by adding shelves. This can be as simple as a couple shelves over a stove. All wall space is valuable, so even a very narrow floor to ceiling shelving display can be used to display attractive glassware, ceramics, etc.

Consider what is above.

Maximize storage space by adding ceiling racks to display your collection of pots, pans, strainers, etc.

Add a vintage beverage cart to display your liquor, decanters, and other glassware. This will save you shelf space and adds a touch of class and function to your dinner parties.

Make your kitchen your library. Is there anyone that does not fantasize about having a ladder in a gorgeous home library? The reality is that very few people have the space available to designate a room as a library, so why not add the element to your kitchen? This allows you to reach even higher up on the wall to access products and creates more storage opportunities. Just don’t drink wine prior to use.

Happy decorating!

LIGHT UP YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON

By Shaun Henry Find more at AtkinsInc.com

The holiday season means different things to different people, but for most, I think we can agree that everyone loves lights. Research shows that adding some sparkle and holiday colors to your lawn, landscape and house really can make you feel happy. If you hear “wow” as people pass by, it’s even better.

To help light up your holiday season, we thought we’d share some outdoor lighting tips we’ve learned over the years.

Highlight the architecture of your home. Outlining the gables, gutters, arches, chimney or other interesting features of your home, office building or other commercial property is a simple way to light things up to show off a bit of your property’s charm. A lot of styles and colors are available, but most use LED C-9 lights for this.

Add lights to the lawn and landscape. Wrapping trees and shrubs can help tie-in the lights on the house. You don’t have to light them all but putting lights in a single tree, or a few shrubs can really add to your lighting display. The “magic trees” around town are quite impressive and always draw in the crowds. You don’t have to go quite that far with your trees to get an inspiring effect, but I always say “the more lights the better!” After testing your mini lights, roll them up into a ball. This simple step takes a bit of time but saves you in the end with not having to deal with loose ends flopping around and tangles.

Hanging decorations and lawn displays

For larger trees there are lighted decorations to hang if wrapping the tree is not feasible. Lighted or blow up displays out in the lawn can be fun as well. Let your imagination run wild and have fun with it.

Color? Do you like the look of the classic, clean white lights or do you prefer color? White lights are classic but adding color to your lights seem to be more popular these days. Red and green, of course, are holiday

SHAUN HENRY ATKINS

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.

mainstays, but why not add more color? Color changing lights are available and make it simple to mix it up a bit each year.

More is usually better. Don’t skimp on the lights. If outlining the house, you’ll have an idea of how many linear feet you need to cover it. It’s easy to underestimate how many lights you’ll need for your trees and shrubs. For example, an 8’ tall evergreen tree likely needs 400 lights or more in it to fill it up.

LED lights, electricity and moisture. New LED lights use 10 percent of the energy that incandescent bulbs do, and they should last a lot longer. They also allow more linear feet of lights to be connected from one power source with less risk of overloading the circuit. This will reduce the number of connections and electrical cords you need (no more Clark W. Griswold connections). Something that can help keep your GFI’s from tripping is to be sure to fill the end of your cords with dielectric grease. This will help to keep moisture out of the connections. Be sure to keep the plugs out of puddles and out of your gutters. Please remember not to use staples to hang your lights. They can damage the insulative sheath on your lighting cord and create a tremendous safety hazard.

Lessons on ladders. Don’t use a broken ladder. Make sure all moving parts are locked

into place. Fold-up ladders and extension ladders work great, but only if you use them properly. Don’t stand on the top step and if you need a spotter – get one! Use 3 points of contact (2 hands, one foot or 2 feet and one hand). Be aware of overhead hazards when standing up or moving your ladder too. We don’t need anyone bumping an overhead powerline. Most accidents happen when getting on or off the ladder, so slow down and be careful.

Don’t forget to take your lights down! Taking your lights down at the end of the season isn’t nearly as fun as putting them up. It’s typically a lot colder too. Taking the lights down each season will help them to last a lot longer and give you more holiday cheer years to come.

Hire a professional. We love this time of year and would love to help light up your holiday season. If designing, installing a holiday display, climbing ladders and rooftops are not your thing, let us help.

It is hard to believe that another year has passed. As Atkins sneaks up on our 100th year anniversary, we thank you, our customers and community, for trusting us to help manage and improve upon properties all over Central Missouri. From all of us at Atkins –Happy holidays and happy New Year!

Scan the QR code to give the gift of support and help Woodhaven reach our CoMoGives Campaign goal!

Woodhaven is so grateful for our staff and many supporters — you are the reason we can change so many lives!

woodhaventeam.org

COMO’s

1 Million Cups Runneth Over

The local chapter connects entrepreneurs with experience.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR.

You have one of those lightbulb ideas that sparks your entrepreneurial inspiration,

but you need a place to present the budding business idea to others who have successfully cultivated their own “aha!” ideas to reality. Or, you’ve been in business a while and made an unexpected pivot to a new level of success, and your story may bene t and inspire others.

Where do you have those conversations and share those stories? at’s where 1 Million Cups comes in at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays in the Regional Economic Development Inc. hub downtown in Suite 102 at 500 E. Walnut.

Columbia was one of the rst 12 cities that launched 1 Million Cups chapters nine years ago; there are now more than 200 chapters around the world.

“We have to lean on each other to grow” our businesses and community, says Jay Sparks, who is REDI’s entrepreneurship program coordinator. “If you try to go o in a silo and do it yourself, it’s often too hard. e hill is too steep.”

1 Million Cups was created by the Ewing Marion Kau man Foundation in 2012 and is a free, national initiative that helps educate and connect entrepreneurs and business owners. e local community of entrepreneurs can share their experiences and wisdom with startups and existing businesses by making a short presentation about their businesses and the challenges they face. e program fosters a safe culture of inclusivity and support.

e idea of grabbing a cup of joe and having an informal conversation with a group of friends is at the heart of the 1 Million Cups philosophy. In Columbia, the REDI hub seems an ideal place for hosting those “pooled resources and fertile ground,” Jay says.

e list of myriad presenters is evidence of the diverse menagerie of startups, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonpro ts that dot Columbia’s economic and cultural landscape. Presenters have included: Life and business coaches; media and technology businesses; pet sitting services and services focused on kids; event and party planning; digital and virtual training and education; “boutique” bookkeeping (services tailored for niche businesses); marketing and consulting for small businesses; and dozens of other topic areas.

“ ere are amazing connections that happen here,” says Nickie Davis, who is the executive director of the Downtown Community Improvement District.  “It touches a lot of di erent areas in our community.”

e experiential learning format is consistent for each 1 Million Cups chapter. e presenters get six minutes to share their stories and challenges with the audience, followed by a question-and-answer session. e weekly session is scheduled for one hour, though

the conversations often continue either at the hub or in co ee shops and other locations as fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, or other peers help traverse the business terrain.

“ ere are going to be conversations beyond what happens here at 1 Million Cups,” says Lisa Driskel Hawxby, REDI’s business development specialist since January 2022. Her primary focus is business retention and expansion. While she now emcees most of Columbia’s 1 Million Cups Wednesday morning sessions, she was already familiar with the organization and the format.

“I’ve presented here a couple of times myself,” Lisa says. She and her husband, Van Hawxby, have been co-founders of DogMaster Distillery since 2014, and Van was one of the earliest presenters at 1 Million Cups.

“Being part of the entrepreneurial community really helps me understand how to approach businesses that are already running,” Lisa says. “We do have a rich business community, and there is room for everyone.”

It’s also a learning environment for everyone in the room. One of the hallmarks of a 1 Million Cups presentation is the question-and-answer period.

“We’re going to drill down with some good questions for you, because we want to see you thrive,” Nickie explains. “It’s always fascinating to see who’s in the audience, where those questions are going, and where they are leading the business that’s presenting.”

Lisa also vouches for the “richness” of the questions and responses.

“You might gain a lot of good information or questions that you may be thinking about for your own business,” she says.

Jay, who joined the REDI team in September 2020, is often among the rst with tough questions.

“It’s never to call them out,” he says. ose questions, ranging from “have you thought about this?” to “how do you manage the pitfalls that have derailed others?” re ect how he coaches business owners and entrepreneurs through his work at the REDI hub.

Nickie doesn’t want the question-and-answer description to frighten anyone away, adding, “It is our ultimate goal to be a completely safe, interactive, inclusive environment.”

Allyson Imho is among the group of nine community organizers responsible for planning Columbia’s 1 Million Cups presentations and events. She echoes the value of the presentation and question-and-answer session format and networking.

“It’s just a lot of good information for business owners,” she says. “Even people who don’t know anyone will gain a lot of connections.”

Allyson is evidence of that connection process. As a journalism student, she was assigned to write a story about a local entrepreneur, which led to 1 Million Cups and now her position as social media manager for the local organization.

Allyson marked her 21st birthday at a recent presentation that was also attended by 40 University of Missouri students, skewing the crowd to an overall youthful composition.

“We have a very dynamic crowd — young and also a wide variety in mid-life and retired,” Lisa says. “ ey want to stay in the game and provide resources and information that they have. e beauty of an older presenter is the rich life experience that brought them here.”

Jay recently spoke at a University Extension-sponsored entrepreneurial conference in Hermann, talking about Columbia’s catalysts for creating a positive environment for entrepreneurs.

“1 Million Cups was rst on my list, with three exclamation points,” Jay recalls. He turned his speaker notes to show the audience, adding, “ is is how important 1 Million Cups is.”

Two weeks after that conference, Hermann applied for and was granted a 1 Million Cups chapter that will begin in 2023.

“1 Million Cups is that oasis that links some of our silos and opens doors” to expanded knowledge and resources, Jay says. “ at happens when everyone starts to pull together.”

“We do have a rich business community, and there is room for everyone.”

— Lisa Driskel Hawxby, REDI’s business development specialist

‘Tis the Season for

H O L IDA Y

C H E E R

Kids from the Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment School unwrap the treasures of traditions.

BY CALE STUDENTS | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CALE SCHOOL

Kids often have the best insights about the splendor of the holiday season. ey certainly ask the best questions—and, no, the questions aren’t always about gifts. (Well, not always.)

We turned our reporter’s notebook over to students from the Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment, asking them to have fun interviews with important people in their lives. We’re con dent the young scribes discovered that the ageless magic of the holidays has no age limits.

by A yDixon & Indiana

er

Interview With . . .

EMI CARPENTER

CALE Student, Age 7

Ages 8 & 7

We love Emi! She is such a kind friend and she is always willing to help everyone and she always has a big smile on her face. We were excited to interview her to learn more about what she does during the holidays!

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

I love hanging out with my family! We eat lots of yummy food and I love all the presents!

What are your favorite holiday foods?

My favorite foods are panettone, turkey, and Christmas cookies.

What are your favorite holiday memories?

One time, my family built a really long ramp so we could go down on a sled.

It was so cool! Until I fell o going down… We all had a good laugh and it’s something I will always remember!

What do you love most about the holiday season? Spending time with family, and I always hope we will have snow!

What is your favorite thing to do on Christmas Eve?

We get to open one present on Christmas Eve — that is so fun! I always try to guess what it’s going to be and sometimes I even get it right!

by Adi nDixon & Connor dberg

An Interview With . . .

MS. CORINNE CARPENTER

Junior Kindergarten Teacher at CALE

Ages 10 & 8

Ms. Corrine is so nice! She teaches the youngest students at CALE. She is so kind and helpful and we were really excited to ask her about what she does during the holiday season!

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

I celebrate by making cookies as a family for our neighbors and by listening to Christmas music. I love listening to the music while we make cookies. It’s such a magical time of year!

What are your favorite holiday foods?

My favorite holiday foods are my mom’s cheesy potatoes and panettones. YUM!! I can’t wait to eat them this year!

What are your favorite holiday memories?

My favorite holiday memories are making Christmas cookies with my grandma and watching Christmas movies with my kids, Emi and Luca.

What do you want for Christmas?

I want my family to be safe, happy, and joyful. at’s what I ask for every year.

What do you love most about the holiday season?

I love all the Christmas music and the lights, and I love the snow!

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

My very favorite Christmas movie is “Elf!” It’s been so fun to share the movie with my kids and laugh with them!

Do you travel for Christmas?

No, we spend Christmas Day at home in our jammies all day! It’s the BEST!!

b y Jiso e Deakins mi Carpenter , &I ell e L o n g e n rekce

Ages 8 , 7, & 9

Interview With . . .

MS. NANCY TRUESDELL

K-1 Teacher at CALE

We love the holidays! We love the lights, traditions, and the time spent with family and friends. We interviewed one of our teachers, Ms. Nancy Truesdell. She is a very special teacher who has been teaching for more than 30 years! We are so lucky to have her at CALE and we love her so much.

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

We always have a big, beautiful tree, we hang an advent wreath, and we go to church on Christmas Eve.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

I love sugar cookies, hot chocolate, and mashed potatoes.

What are your favorite funny holiday memories?

When I was little, I would always try to wait up all night in hopes of seeing Santa. I was also always afraid Santa wouldn’t be able to get into my house because we didn’t have a chimney! I also loved to go ice skating on our pond.

What do you love most about the holiday season?

I love seeing the lights everywhere! I also enjoy being with my family and getting together with friends.

What is your favorite thing to do on Christmas Eve?

We always go to church, we open gifts, and we sit by the re and watch the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

What is your favorite part about Christmas?

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is remembering that we celebrate the season to celebrate the birth of Christ. My other favorite part is having so much time to spend with the people I love.

Do you believe in Santa?

YES!!! I absolutely believe in Santa!!

by

TIFFANY PALMERO

We were excited to interview a parent at CALE! We love Ms. Tiffany. She does really fun events for our school. This year she planned a Trivia Night and it was AWESOME!! We are glad we were able to learn more about what she does with her family for the holidays.

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

I go with my family to church and then we all go eat at Kobe’s! YUM!

What are your favorite holiday foods?

We always do a Christmas Eve ham. It’s so good! I look forward to it every year.

What are your favorite holiday memories?

Having all of my family together. is makes me very happy.

What do you want for Christmas?

I want everyone to be happy for Christmas and I hope Santa brings me a Chicago deep dish pizza!

What do you love most about the holiday season?

I love to look at the lights and watch fun Christmas movies. I love to drive around town and look at the lights and pretty decorations.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Every year, I have to make sure I watch “Holiday Inn” and “Silent Night.”

A tin Palm ero & Joh Stoll

Ages 7 & 8

An Interview With . . .

Parent of a Student at CALE

DR. SUSAN DEAKINS

Ms. Susan is the best! We actually call her Ms. Suze. She is funny and she is always making us laugh. We were excited to ask her questions about the holidays because we know it’s her most favorite time of the year. We also know she loves to sing Christmas music at the top of her lungs and that she starts listening the first of November and doesn’t stop until the last day of the year!

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

We have a big dinner, we hang our stockings, we have a tree, we go to church on Christmas Eve, and then we do dinner and sing karaoke! My family loves to sing Christmas music! We also open our presents on Christmas day.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

I love Christmas cookies! All kinds of Christmas cookies! I really enjoy baking them with my daughter.

What are your favorite holiday memories?

One of my most favorite memories is going to my grandparent’s house on Christmas Eve in Fayette every single year. We would have a huge dinner there and then we all went to church together. We have a huge family, so we took up a lot of room! I also

love Christmas morning. We always have country ham and eggs which I LOVE!

What do you want for Christmas?

I just want to spend every minute with my family. I always look forward to this time of year because everything slows down and I just get to spend time with the people I love. I’ll have to wait to see what Santa brings me this year…

What do you love most about the holiday season?

Spending time with family. I love when we build a re outside and I get to sit around with my children, and talk and laugh!

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

My favorite Christmas movie is “Christmas Vacation.” I watch this with my entire family every year!

b y B l a i n e

Munzlinger,Kaleb Diekmann , & Madd o x nworB

Ages 10, 11, &9

An Interview With . . .

Co-Founder and Teacher at CALE

BLAKE FONTINEL

Marketing Director at CALE

Ages 10, 10, &10

Blake is one of our very favorite people. He is the Marketing Director at CALE. He is SUPER TALENTED! He is a musician and we love to listen to his music @blakesmusic.

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

We spend lots of time as a family. We have gifts under the tree, a wonderful family dinner, and we go to church together.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

Christmas cookies are my favorite! I also like homemade apple pie. My mom’s is the best!

What are your favorite holiday Christmas memories?

It was in 2002 when I got my very rst bike! It was bright red and I will never forget it.

Do you travel anywhere for the holidays?

We go to Iowa and stay for a few days. We also spend New Year’s Eve in a cabin in Iowa which is always so fun. It even has a new hot tub! We are excited to use that this year.

Where do you sleep on Christmas night?

In my room. But when I was little, I always tried to stay up to wait for Santa! I also like to take a drive on Christmas Eve and see all the Christmas lights in town. ey are so pretty.

Do you watch any Christmas movies?

I like to watch “Christmas Vacation” and “Elf” and we watch this each year with our family in Iowa. I also love to watch “Batman Returns!”

b y Juliet H n Ava Sh owers , & a Beze n e k

MIRA LAZAR-RUTHERFORD

Ages 11 & 11

Mira is the sister of Meriel Lazar-Rutherford and a student at Rock Bridge High School. We enjoyed getting to talk to her about all the things that make the holidays special for her.

What traditions do you celebrate on Christmas?

I celebrate each year by making peanut butter balls with my sister and my mom.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

I like many kinds of cookies, but sugar cookies are my favorite! I look forward to them every Christmas!

What do you love most about the holiday season?

I love to see my grandma’s house decorated for Christmas. It’s really beautiful.

What is the best Christmas gift you ever received?

I have gotten many things over the years that I have really loved, but I will always remember the year I got a hover board! It was the best gift ever!

What do you want for Christmas this year?

I want jewelry making supplies! I really love to make jewelry and I’m excited to get new supplies this year so that I can make new creations.

Junior at Rock Bridge High School

by

Ages 8 , 7, & 9

MS. JEAN MONNIG

Ms. Jean is our amazing math teacher and we are so thankful to have her with us at CALE! She has been a teacher for more than 30 years. She is the best at math and she makes it very fun for us. We were excited to learn more about what she does for the holidays!

What traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

My family likes to decorate, make good food like cookies and candy, and spend time together.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

My favorite holiday foods are cookies and pecan pie.

What are your favorite holiday memories?

My favorite memories are from my childhood when I would wait for my parents to wake up on Christmas morning. I would be so excited to see what Santa brought. It was always very magical!

What do you want for Christmas?

I do not have anything I especially want for Christmas. I would just like to enjoy the holidays with friends and family.

What do you love most about the holiday season?

I like winter with the cold and snow, so I am hoping for a white Christmas!

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I have many Christmas movies that I like, but I think “Home Alone” is my favorite.

Do you travel for Christmas?

Since my husband and I like snow, we sometimes like to go skiing and snowmobiling during the holidays.

O wen Die nn, Eli Hawkins & eagan J o n se

An Interview With . . .

Math Teacher at CALE

Thrive A PLACE TO

Diversity and inclusion efforts take center stage at

Missouri.

BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN

PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUND

In 2015, a student’s hunger strike, football players’ refusal to practice or play, and other displays of protest catapulted the University of Missouri into the national spotlight. e resignation of the University System president and campus chancellor followed, along with falling enrollment, a decline in state funding, and layo s.

While the events of 2015 stained the university’s reputation in the years that followed, today, the University of Missouri is in a di erent, better place. Mizzou is laser-focused on moving forward from the events of 2015 and on creating an atmosphere where every student and sta member can grow and thrive.

“My charge is quite simple,” says Dr. Maurice Gipson, who joined the university as vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity, and equity in June 2020. “In a broad way it’s making sure that any individual who comes into contact with the university is successful, regardless of background or diverse descriptors. Regardless, you can be successful here at the university, and we have the infrastructure to ensure that success.”

With a team of 40 full-time employees, along with several part-time employees and student sta , Maurice says that the division for inclusion, diversity, and equity touches the university’s students and sta .

“Look at the demographics of our country,” Maurice says. “We are becoming a more diverse society, so it is critically important that our students and those who come to work here are well-versed at engaging and supporting people of various backgrounds and identities.”

the University of

A NEW DIVISION

Maurice is the third person to hold the role of vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity, and equity, a position that was created in 2016. While the division itself was created post-2015, several of the pieces that make up the division were in place prior to that year.

“We already had 60-to-65 percent of our sta in place in some capacity, and we had quite a few pieces in place prior to them coming under the same umbrella,” he says. “We brought on 30-to-35 percent for new roles.”

As a division, there is a large focus on “creating a culture of caring,” Maurice says. Understanding di erences and appreciating di erent backgrounds creates an environment where everybody thrives.

“We do work in this space so when people come into contact with the university, they know they can be successful and that their fellow Tigers care about their success as well.”

While his division is focused on issues of inclusion, diversity, and equity, Maurice says that those e orts are decentralized. at means that professionals across campus are also working on issues surrounding inclusion, diversity, and equity. Each college has a sta member who works on IDE matters.

“ at is a critical model. Our work can’t live in one division, we have to make sure that everyone on campus is engaged and everyone feels that this work is just as important,” Maurice says. “We have diversity champions out among the campus and other units, and without that, it is di cult to achieve your goals.”

SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Delivering on promises to students is a key focus of the IDE division.

“We want to make sure students with any diverse identities or diversity descriptors have success rates like their peers, and we want to narrow any success gaps that may exist among our students,” Maurice says. “We want to make sure that the students we admit, graduate. We want to get as close to 100 percent as possible. We want to make sure we make good on our promise to students, and our promise is that we will make sure you can graduate.”

MU is also committed to attracting students from all backgrounds.

“We are already designing a unique recruitment strategy to go out there and recruit, and we are laser focused on making sure that all of those students who can be admitted to Mizzou, are,” Maurice says. “We are trying to go after students just like other schools, and when they get here, we will have the infrastructure for them to succeed.”

SUPPORTING FACULTY AND STAFF

Just as the university is recruiting a diverse student body, it is also focused on recruiting a diverse and accomplished faculty.

-

‘We know we’re the best and we can go out there and attract the best,” Maurice says. “We are rolling up our sleeves and going places we may not have traditionally gone to recruit faculty. It takes work but we feel that by doing the tough work on the front end, our results will be good on the back end.”

He says one of the recruitment strategies involves recruiting from Ph.D. producing programs with diverse faculty members.

“We will do our absolute best to attract world class faculty and sta , and we want to make sure we continue our e orts to make our sta re ective of our community and our country,” he says.

“We are becoming a more diverse society, so it is critically important that our students and those who come to work here are well-versed at engaging and supporting people of various backgrounds and identities.”

DR. MAURICE GIPSON

FOCUSED INITIATIVES

Along with ongoing e orts to enhance and support diversity and inclusion on campus, the university supports targeted initiatives focused on supporting and increasing diversity.

STEM Cubs, a partnership with Columbia Public Schools, is a program that works to expose students in the Columbia Public Schools to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming. Open to those in kindergarten through eighth grades, the program, running since 2017, has served 951 students, out of an applicant base of almost 1,800.

STEM Cubs was just announced as one of 79 programs in the country to receive an Inspiring Programs in STEM award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine. e award is given to college programs that encourage and support the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented students into STEM elds.

“We want to make sure that these future jobs in STEM are lled by Missourians,” Maurice says. “We want to make sure those students in CPS have an opportunity to be exposed to STEM.”

MU also hosts the McNair Scholars Program, a federal program that helps prepare diverse and underrepresented students for graduate and doctoral degrees.

“ e goal is to increase the number of underrepresented students in post-graduate work,” Maurice says. “A student doesn’t have to get a Ph.D, but we have a good percentage who go on to get a Ph.D.”

As part of the McNair Scholars Program, students are paired with doctoral mentors who can help them through the graduate program selection process and guide them through the application process, Maurice says. Participants also get a job in their eld during their junior year and focus on intensive studies.

e Graduate Scholars of Excellence program is another program serving underrepresented students who are working towards a doctoral degree at Mizzou. Since 2019, the program has served 50 doctoral students, and Maurice says half of those students have since graduated and become tenure track faculty members at other universities.

“We are preparing students at Mizzou to go out and receive tenure track positions, and we have one of the more successful programs in the country at getting students into tenure track jobs, representing all areas,” he says.

As part of the program, Ph.D students mentor undergraduate students and expose them to the rigors of doctoral studies.

“ e more we can expose undergrads to the rigor of Ph.D programs, the more likely to get them to enroll,” Maurice says. “ at’s part of our pipeline programming that prepares for success post graduation.”

While the events of 2015 will always remain a part of Mizzou history, the University of Missouri has grown leaps and bounds from that time, and Maurice says he and his team are working every day to achieve their goals.

“We are becoming a more welcoming environment, and knowing how to engage with and appreciate di erences makes us unique,” he says.

Faith and Community

Second Baptist fills key role in Columbia .

BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN | PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUND

Located at the corner of Providence and Broadway, it’s hard to miss Second Missionary Baptist Church. With historic character and the original stained-glass windows — which have been meticulously maintained over the years — the church, on the National Register of Historic Places, has anchored the corner since 1866.

Oftentimes, churches located in residential neighborhoods consider it an important part of their mission to reach out to the families and children around them, but at Second Baptist Church, the mission is a bit di erent.

“ e church has always been actively engaged in social justice issues and we feel that is our mission,” says Pastor Clyde Rufn. “As the only African American church located downtown rather than being rooted in a speci c residential neighborhood, it changes the role we play in the community into a gathering place in times of social and political unrest. We aim to educate the community on the social and political issues in the time that we live.”

Clyde retired from his full-time position as a professor and chair of the department of theatre at the University of Missouri in

2015, but he continues to serve the ministry of Second Baptist Church. Next year, he will celebrate 20 years in that position.

“We have a long history, it changes and evolves,” Clyde says. “When there is a critical issue, we have people from all walks of life who gather here, and we do our best to promote understanding, education, and unity for the good of the community. I don’t know of any other churches, black or white, that has that calling, a unique position in terms of how we are seen in the community.”

A DEEP CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY

With a diverse membership that includes members in their 90s all the way down to infants, Clyde says the church has a signi cant young adult demographic, including many university students. e membership includes a range of people from di erent educational and economic backgrounds, and with various life experiences. ough the church is a historically African American congregation founded by recently emancipated slaves and free people of color, today’s membership represents all races.

“From the outset, our church has included people with important leadership positions in the community as well as working class people,” Clyde says. “ at fusion has certainly been a unifying force in the community as well.”

Clyde hopes to restore the belltower in the next 3-5 years.

— Clyde Ruffin

“When there is a critical issue, we have people from all walks of life who gather here, and we do our best to promote understanding, education, and unity for the good of the community. I don’t know of any other churches, black or white, that has that calling, a unique position in terms of how we are seen in the community.”

With its broad membership and unique location in the heart of Columbia, the church takes an active role in supporting, educating, and engaging the community, and takes pride in serving as a place where all people feel comfortable gathering.

“ e NAACP operates the local chapter out of our church, the president is a member of our church, we host candidate forums for every election,” Clyde says. “We completed doing voter registration for more than a month leading up to the October election by walking the neighborhoods, registering people to vote. We’ve worked consistently with the city to host nancial literacy training, to do special presentations for rst-time home buyers. When the Columbia Housing Authority was in the process of planning the new additions to the a ordable housing areas, all the meetings were held here at the church in order to attract people who would be most interested in the process.”

e church has also served as a central meeting place, time and time again, when the community has come together to process and respond to tragedy and injustice. When the world saw protests over the killing of George Floyd, Clyde says the church hosted the initial planning meetings for a local response.

“ is is the gathering place for not just community issues but national issues where our community wants to decide how to respond,” Clyde says. “ at’s happened so many times that I can’t recall. Protest marches always come past the church on the way to the nal destination.”

Second Baptist also serves as a convener of diverse congregations and faiths when the community faces critical issues.

“ is is just a place to gather where people feel comfortable gathering, where we discuss issues that impact the African American and other marginalized communities,” Clyde says. “When there is a critical issue, we have people from all walks of life who gather here.”

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE

After serving the Second Ward on the Columbia City Council for ve years, Clyde says he has a special commitment to promoting understanding, education, and unity for the good of the community. As the spiritual leader of a congregation so deeply rooted in the city, he says his focus is on setting the groundwork for future generations.

“With our congregation as old as it is, our purpose is to plant the seeds,” Clyde says. “We may not even be here to see the full harvest, but we have faith that we’re going to make a signi cant di erence, whether we see it or not. We just do what is right and believe it will come to pass for the betterment of the community, for those lives of the individuals who are impacted by it.”

As he works to continue Second Baptist’s legacy, Clyde says a new sense of focus on the future is one of the most signi cant changes he’s seen in his years at the church.

“We came out of the pandemic with renewed commitment to build a legacy and develop leadership for the next generation,” Clyde says. “Every ministry in our church is committed to recruiting and developing youth and young adults in leadership positions.”

PRESERVING HISTORY

As he prepares for the congregation’s future, Clyde has also made a concerted e ort to document the past. Historically, many Afri-

can American churches did not keep their records on site. Instead, they were often kept in private homes by church clerks. When those clerks passed away, the documents they kept were often lost.

“It’s di cult to really document the ongoing history,” Clyde says. “I’ve spent the past 20 years rewriting the history to document and expand our history, and we’ve done major work in terms of that project.

We now have an extensive archive of every single thing that has happened here. We have a huge paper trail from the past 20 years.”

Just as he has committed to documenting the church’s history, Clyde is also committed to preserving the physical space the church occupies. e stainedglass windows have been maintained at a signi cant cost, and Clyde has set his

sights on rebuilding the bell tower that once adorned the top of the church.

“I am committed to restoring the church to its original look as it was constructed,” he says. “I have a photograph from 1917 of the bell tower intact. ere is no one living who can remember how or when it was destroyed, but we’ve applied for federal grants and hopefully we can restore it in the next four or ve years.”

Member FDIC

87

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Columbia’s Rotary clubs connect professionals, create lasting friendships, and change the community for the better.

AN ABUNDANCE OF OPPORTUNITY

DeLine Holdings and the University of Missouri have partnered to establish The DeLine Community Research Site, an outdoor classroom right in the university’s backyard.

92

TAKING AIM AT RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING FIXES

Columbia is competing with others for trained police officers.

Vitality Day Spa

With 18 years in the industry, Angela Gilmore says it has always been a dream of hers to own her own business. And that dream came true in October 2022 when Vitality Day Spa opened its doors, o ering treatments using organic and vegan skincare lines.

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In addition to the current body treatments, Angela hopes to soon be able to o er makeup and updo services, being both an esthetician and licensed cosme-

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Briefly in the News

UScellular’s Optimization Engineer

Zach Perry and Senior Optimization Engineer Christopher Brinkman are pictured with members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia who took part in the “Ask an Engineer” event on Oct. 25. An LG XBOOM Go, Soundcore Mini 3 Pro, and JBL Clip 4 speakers were among the giveaways presented to club members for their active participation in the hour-long event.

COMMUNITY

UScellular Hosts ‘Ask an Engineer’ Event at Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia

To help drive interest and develop understanding of engineering careers, UScellular representatives visited Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia to discuss the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in wireless technology. Local UScellular engineering associates, Christopher Brinkman and Zach Perry, led an “Ask an Engineer” session to show club members how STEM applies in speci c careers. During the session, the children heard about the vital role UScellular engineers play in maintaining a strong network in Missouri. Participants learned a rundown of everyday tasks from how texts are sent and received to how cell towers are used to ensure coverage for customers. e engineers also discussed how they entered the STEM eld and the lessons learned along the way. UScellular is focused on addressing gaps in STEM education and is connecting more than 200,000 of tomorrow’s innovators each year with the resources they need to help shape future opportunities. Since 2015, the company has donated $188,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia along with $92,000 in hot spots and two years of wireless service through its After School Access Program to help keep club members connected to reliable internet service.

(LEFT TO RIGHT)

Single-Family Real Estate Statistics Released

Single-family home sales stats for Boone County have been posted to midmohome nder.com — which have declined from this time last year by 33% to 149 units.

Overall home sales are down almost 15% year-to-date and down 2.7% compared to 2019. Speci cally in Columbia, home sales have declined 13% year over year.

Property prices have continued to increase from this time last year, with the average price increasing 14% to $333,724 and the median price up 18% to $295,000. Larger price increases were in the city of Columbia last month, with the average price up to $362,936, a 25% increase, and the median jumped 23% to $309,000.

Days on market continue to increase to 28 days, up 47%. Homes priced from $300K to $749k had an average of 42 days on market, while homes under $300k averaged 17 days on market.

Pending listings (homes under contract) were down 30% last month signaling that, more than likely, the number of sales per month will continue to decline through the end of the year.

Inaugural ‘That’s What She Said Columbia’ to Feature Local Women’s Stories

Since 2013, e She Said Project’s at’s What She Said performances have been inspiring audiences and empowering communities throughout the country with powerful, intimate stories shared by local women. In this inaugural production in Columbia, 10 women from the community will take the stage and share their own stories of success, hardship, and overcoming barriers. e show is under the direction of Allie Teagarden, who moved to Columbia in 2017 from ChampaignUrbana, Illinois, where at’s What She

Said was founded. With 11 years of experience leading teams, managing programs, and supporting students in public higher education across the Midwest, Allie recently pivoted her career to focus on serving the Columbia community and developing the potential of the people within it by bringing at’s What She Said to Columbia.

A variety of local businesses, many of them women-owned, are investing in the mission of at’s What She Said to celebrate and empower women’s voices in Columbia. Each at’s What She Said live show supports a local nonpro t organization with a percentage of the ticket sales. e local partnering nonpro t for this year’s show is True North of Columbia, whose mission is to provide safety, shelter, education, and transitional support for those who have been a ected by domestic and sexual violence and to empower all to create a safe community.

at’s What She Said strives to bring together women of di erent ages and backgrounds to capture a wide range of personal stories, from hilarious, to empowering, to tear-jerking.

e upcoming at's What She Said Columbia will take place at the Missouri eatre on April 15th at 7 p.m. e performances will feature local women who are leaders in business, education, public service, media, and the arts here in Columbia. e full lineup of speakers will be announced in early 2023.

BUSINESS

City of Refuge Launches City Boutique

City of Refuge announces the grand opening of City Boutique, a new store providing gently used, donated items. e shop also has future plans to sell artisan pieces produced by the Columbia refugee community. Many of the donated items do not meet the immediate needs of refugees served by City of Refuge, so the store intends to sell these items, including household things, toys and games, and decorations, providing nancial bene t

for City of Refuge's ongoing work with resettled refugees. City Boutique is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Monday through Friday at 10 North Garth Avenue in Columbia.

Global con icts in places like Afghanistan and Ukraine continue to create a crisis of displaced persons crossing international borders, hundreds of whom arrive annually to make a new permanent home in the Columbia area. City of Refuge mobilizes more than 150 volunteers to serve over 1,200 resettled refugees every year and to celebrate their contributions to our community. e boutique’s operations will support these needs.

Executive director Debbie Beal says, “All proceeds from our sales go directly back into City of Refuge's refugee programming and care — they will help make our everyday work happen. When you buy here, your dollars will have a global impact. e money you spend at City Boutique will make a di erence in the lives of real people. Real people with real needs that come into our o ce every single day.”

CELEBRATIONS

2022 Annual Kindness in Business Awards Honorees Announced

Children’s Grove and Missouri Business Alert have announced the 2022 honorees of the Kindness in Business Awards, a celebration of Boone County businesses and nonpro ts that have shown and promoted kindness in dealings with customers, employees, youth, and the community at large over the past year. e honorees were chosen by a local committee following a public nomination period.

is year’s honorees include:

• Kindness to Youth: Day Dreams Foundation, Dream Tree Academy 573, Flourish Initiative

• Kindness to Employees: Family Physicians Inquiries Network, ParentLink, Shek Boutique & Sagebrush Salon

• Kindness to the Community: Goldie’s Bagels, Rock the Community, Satin Stitches.

Lombardo Homes is now building in Columbia!

Lombardo Homes, known for their quality, luxury, and customization in homebuilding, is now building in Columbia, Missouri! Lombardo’s spacious home plans are designed for maximum livability with storage, entertaining, and day-to-day functionality a priority.

Lombardo Homes is offering homesites in desirable communities in Columbia and Ashland, plus build-on-your-lot opportunities throughout the greater Columbia area. Contact our team to learn more! 573-542-0605 | lhcolumbia@lombardohomes.com | lombardohomes.com

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BURRELL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Burrell Behavioral Health recognizes a variety of sta milestones occurring in the last quarter.

Rachel Ballew was recently promoted to director, talent acquisition. She joined Burrell in 2020. In this new role, Rachel will lead recruitment e orts for the organization’s Central Region.

Several Burrell Central Region employees celebrated 15 years, or more, of service in the last quarter, Including: Bryan Miller, school based liaison, 16 years; Carisa Kessler, director, crisis services, 16 years; Megan Adams, ER enhancement specialist, 15 years; and Tanya Watson, community support specialist II, 15 years.

Burrell’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) recently celebrated Brenna Ishler, assistant director, adult community services, and Tanya Watson, community support specialist II as they completed their master’s degrees online from the Missouri State University School of Social Work.

ROCK BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

Rock Bridge High School is proud to announce the 2022 inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Honored for exceptional personal, community, and professional achievements:

• Alex Espy, class of 1995, director of education, What If Puppets.

• Teresa Brooks, class of 1982, senior director of

revenue cycle operations, MU Healthcare.

• Sarah Phillips, class of 2004, director/ cinematographer.

• Robin Wenneker, class of 1987, managing partner, Wenneker Properties.

TONYA DOBBINS

After an extensive search process, the Great Rivers Council announces that Tonya Dobbins will join their team as assistant scout executive. Her responsibilities will include eld operations, unit service, membership/recruitment initiatives, community engagement and awareness, product sales, and support for the council program and summer camp. Tonya is a native of Ohio who started her career in the banking industry. After nine years in the banking industry, she decided to make a change into the nonpro t sector. Tonya most recently served as a eld director in the National Capital Area Council in Bethesda.

Tonya has more than 17 years of volunteer experience in scouting in various unit, district, and council level positions.

relationships, fostered collaboration, she gives back freely and with commitment, all the while being an enthusiastic celebrant.” Jan was a founding member and president of the board of the Assistance League of Mid-Missouri; was a founding board member of the Vincent P. Gurucharri Foundation; founder and continued supporter of the Columbia Public Schools Foundation; member of the Columbia Metro Rotary Club and participates in their charitable activities including weekly readings to pre-school children at the Columbia Public Schools Early Childhood Learning Center; and member and former Columbia Chamber of Commerce board member and past chair of the ambassador program. Jan has served on the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees since 2011 and is the current board secretary.

SHANNON KUCZYNSKI

JAN BECKETT

Boone Health Trustee Jan Beckett was selected as Woman of e Year – Civic Leader by Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation. As written by Greater Missouri: “ rough her years of community service and more than 50 years of involvement with healthcare, she has built meaningful

Boone Health announces Shannon Kuczynski, MSN-A, MHSA, RN, NE-BC as its next chief nursing o cer. Shannon grew up in Columbia, attending David. H. Hickman High School before earning her degrees at the University of Kansas – Kansas City. Shannon brings 28 years of nursing experience, 25 in leadership, having most recently served as division vice president, service lines, and division chief nursing informatics o cer for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in Overland Park, Kansas. While there, Shannon specialized in work ow optimization and transforming data into usable knowledge.

THE BANK OF

From family traditions to cozy couch read-alouds, the holidays are a special time for family. As a local community bank, we work closely with our customers to understand their priorities and the changes that affect their finances. No matter how you choose to bank, The Bank of Missouri is here for you. Get started at BANKOFMISSOURI.COM.

Celebrating a Century-and-a-half of Columbia Public Schools

After 150 years of educating Columbians, CPS is ready to celebrate.

BY ALICIA BELMORE | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CPS

The Columbia Public School district has grown and changed in the 150 years it has served the growing community. ere have been numerous contributors to the school’s success, coming in many di erent shapes and sizes.

“We’ve had amazing people help guide and lead the district over its 150-year history,” says Michelle Baumstark, chief communications o cer for CPS.

From 300 students at its formation, the school district enrollment has swelled to more than 19,000 today, making it the fth largest in Missouri. e district’s 2020 annual report shows that CPS had more than 2,800 employees.

To celebrate the 150-year milestone, the board of education will have a formal recognition and a proclamation at its January 9, 2023, meeting. roughout the school year, the district is also collecting historical stories and recordings from members of the sta .

“Our amazing ne arts crew is gathering 150 stories for 150 years,” Baumstark says. e initiative is headed by James Melton. In addition, the district is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rock Bridge High School and the 10th anniversary of Battle High School.

FROM THE BEGINNING

While the students began learning a year before, in January 1873 the rst board of education formed and classes began at a location near what is now the corner of Providence and Broadway. According to handwritten minutes from the rst board meeting on Jan. 7, 1873, the rst president of the board was omas B Gentry. Other founding board members were R.H. Clinkscales, William Anderson, John Samuel, R.A. Moore, and J.P. Moss.

Growth and expansion were the norm from the beginning, with the rst permanent building constructed in 1881 at Eighth and Rogers streets, across from Christian Female College (what we now know as Columbia College).

Columbia High School was built in 1910; that building is now Je erson Middle School. Frederick C. Douglass School was built in 1917 and was renovated in 2017 for its 100th anniversary. Soon after, two more schools were added after voter approval in 1925: Hickman High School and Benton Elementary School. ere were additions to other existing buildings at that time, too.

According to the CPS website, the school acquired 40 acres that had been used as a circus or fairgrounds. But the community had delayed approving the Hickman project as community members thought the location was “way outside of town” and that the 40 acres secured was more than needed, “doubting that the growth of Columbia would ever reach that far north.” However, as we know, the city grew well beyond those boundaries.

Continued growth

In 1972 — 100 years after the rst board of education meeting — the school district was up to 11,000 students. e district also transitioned from an ungraded elementary program to the K-12 program that is in place today. Additionally, Rock Bridge High School opened.

In 2010, the administration building at 1818 West Worley was renovated and renamed to honor Neil C. Aslin, who had been a longtime educator and Columbia Public Schools superintendent from 1946-1962. Aslin is credited with saying, “What is educationally desirable should be made administratively possible.”

More about Aslin’s career and impact, as well as details about innovative features of the Aslin building, are available at cpsk12.org. e school’s website proclaims, “Dr. Aslin set an example of excellence, loyalty, dedication, and high ideals for each student.”

From top to bottom, left to right: First public school building in Columbia, Common School built in 1836; David Henry HIckman High School in in 1912; Columbia Public School at 8th & Rogers; Benton School in Columbia; Elementary lunchroom date unknown.

From top to bottom, Grant School at Garth and Broadway which opened in 1910; Lee School opened in 1903 at Locust and Waugh; Douglass HS in 1950; Rock Bridge High School; Aerial of Battle High School's campus

Making Kids’ Day Dreams Come True

Local youth foundation provides the means for Columbia children to pursue their passions.

BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN

Photo by Trischa Splitter

Since 2014, Day Dreams Foundation has provided more than $260,000 in scholarships and equipment to more than 550 of Columbia’s youth. is support has allowed them to pursue their passions by participating in activities such as sports, music, STEM, dance, and theater — or whatever else they dream of.

All school-age children living in the Columbia Public Schools district who qualify for free or reduced lunch are able to apply for the needs-based funding, which can be used toward registration fees, uniform costs, and equipment costs for extracurricular activities. While program participants most certainly bene t from the camaraderie, pride, and excitement of being part of a team or learning a new skill, they also learn about living healthy lifestyles, goal setting, and the importance of academics. Participants are able to access gently used items from the Day Dreams equipment closet, free of charge.

“Scholarships are renewable up until the child graduates, as long as the family is still eligible,” says Day Dreams executive director Tricia Koedel. “While on scholarship, Day Dreams kids are asked to be actively involved in the community and pay it forward in a way that is meaningful to them.”

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY

In addition to providing scholarships for extracurricular activities, Tricia says the organization aims to expose kids to other opportunities throughout the community. Last spring, Day Dreams, in partnership with the University of Missouri athletics department, held a Field Day where kids from Day Dreams Foundation, KIDZ I.N.K, and the Boys & Girls Club of Columbia were able to interact with MU student athletes.

“I loved seeing all of the smiles that day, on the kids’ faces as well as the student athletes,” Tricia says. “ e children were excited and inspired and heard how it took a lot of hard work to get to be a collegiate athlete.”

is exposure to new opportunities, and the formative experience that extracurricular activities can provide, not only impacts program participants — it impacts the entire community.

“Our community is better when we support the goals and dreams of our youth,” says Kelsey Louder Kirchho , who is Day Dreams’ board president. “By giving scholarships for extracurricular activities, we hope to contribute to healthy lifestyles and encourage Day Dreams kids to believe in themselves. We get the opportunity to hear stories of kids building condence, learning leadership skills, making

Day Dreams Foundation

MISSION

Day Dreams Foundation

eliminates financial barriers to participating in extracurricular activities and promotes healthy lifestyles, goal setting, academics, teamwork and respect for others.

FOUNDED

2014 BOARD

• Joe Bradley, Founder & President

• Trischa Splitter, Vice President, Fundraising & Marketing Committee

• Rick Matheny, Treasurer, Program Committee

• Josh Giliberto, Secretary, Program Committee

• Amy Watson, Internal Affairs Committee

• Hannah Orf, Fundraising & Marketing Committee

• Jeremy Osborne, Program Committee

• Lee Franklin, Program Committee

• Danielle Burrow, Fundraising & Marketing Committee

• K.D. Bartelt, Fundraising & Marketing Committee

friends; all the bene ts of participating in extracurriculars. We also get to hear kids talk about how much they love their chosen activity. e joy and excitement that comes from kids trying new things and just getting to be kids can really impact a community in such a positive way.”

Day Dreams also awards one renewable college scholarship each year to a local high school senior who has bene ted from participating in an extracurricular activity. Since 2016, Day Dreams has awarded $16,750 in Jenny Bradley College Scholarships.

While each individual scholarship award is certainly an investment in the recipient, it’s also an investment in the community-at-large.

“ e more opportunities we can provide for youth development and enrichment, the more our community will thrive,” Tricia says.

A GROWING IMPACT

Not surprisingly, after years of isolation due to COVID-19, parents are more eager than ever to get their children active, involved, and engaged in activities alongside their peers.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past couple of years,” Tricia says. “I think that after enduring lockdown and then hybrid schooling, many parents were eager to get their kids active again and engaged with their peers face-toface. We all know that sports and other activities can be so bene cial to improving not only physical health, but mental health as well.”

At the same time, in ation has caused price tags to increase across the board, straining household budgets. As a result, the foundation is receiving more applications than ever before. In 2019, the foundation awarded just over $31,000 in scholarships and equipment to 125 kids. is year alone, Tricia says the foundation will award more than $75,000 to over 225 kids.

“Many families are having a hard time right now, and for some, there just aren’t

funds left over in their budget to pay for their kids’ activities, which can be expensive,” Tricia says. “For these reasons, I think, we’ve seen the number of applications jump by more than 42 percent this year compared to 2021.”

As the scholarship program has gained popularity throughout Columbia, the foundation has also experienced exciting organizational growth. With help and support from Veterans United Foundation, the organization recently moved into a larger, more accessible o ce space, which allows Tricia, and new part-time program coordinator Annmarie Athon, to better serve families.

“When I rst started this job, just a couple years ago, I didn’t come across too many people who knew what Day Dreams was about,” Tricia says. “ rough conscious e orts to build relationships in the community, I’m pleased to witness an increased awareness of our organization and our mission. e more people who know about us, the more kids we can help.”

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE

Day Dreams has big plans to capitalize on their momentum by continuing to build partnerships with businesses, organizations and other community stakeholders that align with their mission. In addition to the Field Day partnership with MU Athletics, Day Dreams also partnered with Boys and Girls Club of Columbia for an equipment giveaway, resale, and resource fair. LBO Sports and Columbia College have donated camp spots in the past, and Tricia says they are always on the lookout for additional business sponsors willing to donate spots at clinics and summer camps.

“Five hundred dollars per year only goes so far, and many Day Dreams kids would not be able to have those extra experiences without their wonderful generosity,” Tricia says.

DAY DREAMS FOUNDATION

200 E. Walnut St., Suite #4 573-214-2600

tricia@daydreamsfoundation.org daydreamsfoundation.org

Photos, clockwise from top left: Jai’Keem, receiving an award, from founder Joe Bradley, for “Overcoming Obstacles” at the 2021 gala; The Day Dreams board from the 2022 gala; King receiving his award for track accomplishments; Soccer cleats from the equipment giveaway/resale event held at the Boys & Girls Club gym.

Interest Rate Increases Affect Our Daily Lives

BY STEVE SPELLMAN

With many subjects in the news vying for our attention — from the stock market uctuations, to in ation, or that whole election thing last month — one maybe-notso-sexy topic that a ects our lives in many ways is the recent increase in interest rates.

Many readers might often see headlines that the Federal Reserve (aka the “Fed”) plans to increase rates by x% again, y times in the next year, and gure it might as well be a lecture by the schoolteacher from Charlie Brown cartoons: “Wah wah waaah.”

Up until just last year, interest rates had been super low for a good decade. In fact, ever-lower rates had been the trend going back about 40 years, longer than many COMO residents have been alive.

e overall e ect of low interest rates is that it helps borrowers but hurts savers. It makes borrowing money cheap, but on the ip side means savers and bond investors get paid near nothing. is is purposeful to get an economy stimulated, as taking out a loan to buy big-ticket items like a house or a car will have lower loan payments.

On top of that, federal pandemic stimulus programs provided American consumers a lot of extra cash, burning a hole in their pockets. Suddenly, in ation caught up with us, with the highest cost of living increases in 40 years — including an insane feeding frenzy in residential real estate, making for an out of balance seller’s market, driving up home prices.

erefore, to bring the cost of living back down to earth, there’s been a recent reversal to instead increase interest rates. is purposefully hurts borrowers, making it more expensive to take out a new loan and to slow down runaway consumer prices. e ip side is that it helps savers and bond investors to actually earn some interest again.

For instance, mortgage rates jumping from about 3% to 7% earlier this year basically doubles many borrowers’ monthly payments. Buyers can no longer a ord to pay as much for a house, putting downward pressure on home prices.

Local home builders have gotten more cautious about starting that next spec home. Realtors’ sales volumes have subsided, a ecting their take home pay. Financial providers making mortgage loans have seen activity slow down, including the trend in mortgage loan renancing (re- s have utterly dried up).

Homeowners who, say, had a loan from years ago at 8%, then when rates drifted to 5%, found it smart to re nance to lower their monthly mortgage payments; then when rates bottomed out again at about 3%, did so again.

So now with rates on the sharp uptick, that opportunity for consumers has come to a halt.

It’s a similar story for other big-ticket items which buyers commonly take out a loan to purchase, like automobiles. Buying the same price car is more expensive now than it was even months ago, due to higher interest rates causing higher car payments. is also has a cooling e ect on prices.

Local small businesses are experiencing sticker shock with their monthly payments on loans for operating funds, which feature adjustable rates. Rates were low and stable for years, but now with this sharp uptick, the cost of carrying a loan balance has shot up in recent months. Same goes for many homeowners with supplemental loans, such as a Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC) with a oating rate.

Already struggling with other higher expenses, and the continued labor shortage, many small businesses have to refocus on their cash ow — or tighten up collecting payments from customers. Back in the era of cheap loans, a payments lag wasn’t so costly, or worth paying so much attention to.

Any reader in a line of work that heavily depends on borrowed money is already being a ected by this — from real estate to auto sales, and certainly banks.

Still, this is not doomsaying, as people will still need houses and cars, (as well as food and furniture). It was just this sharp run-up in prices had to be brought down to earth.

COMO’s local economy would certainly not likely crater, either. In past eco-

nomic cycles, Columbia was said to be “recession proof” — if not at least “recession resistant.” COMO has a lot going for us, and a strong competitive advantage compared to many other communities where people could live, work, study, or recreate.

We are big enough to have any essential goods or services, but small enough to avoid many big-city problems. We have a diversi ed economy, many cultural and physical amenities, and (relatively) good highway access. We have many well-educated residents with Midwestern values of hard work, honesty, cooperation, and charity.

COMO has long been a magnet for the best and brightest in the region. How many thousands came here from rural and small-town communities within a 50- to 100-mile radius, for college or a job opportunity, and decided to stick around? Likewise, as other communities might hit economic problems, even more people might end up gravitating our way.

Just as COMO at large could bene t from a ight to quality, so do individual professionals in their elds. ough the macroeconomy may be in ux, quality realtors, mortgage lenders, builders, car dealers, retail sales reps, accountants, etc. will always attract the best opportunities, regardless.

e best in their eld stands to be resilient through downturns, whereas mediocre providers feel the pain of less lucrative conditions. It tends to be those more marginal providers — with less real value to o er customers in the rst place — who are the rst to fold when the easy times dry up.

Rising interest rates make it more expensive to borrow money, though the increases help savers. is is a big deal, which most of us have no personal experience with. It is not the end of the world, but even for those with a steady income and stable lifestyle, it’s smart to consider how this trend a ects you, get good advice, and make any prudent tweaks in your household or business.

In past economic cycles, Columbia was said to be “recession proof” — if not at least “recession resistant.”

Steve Spellman is a lifelong Columbia-area resident and political observer.

Opportunity AN ABUNDANCE OF

DeLine Holdings and the University of Missouri have partnered to establish The DeLine Community Research Site, an outdoor classroom right in the university's backyard.

BY SAM BARRETT PORTRAIT BY ANTHONY JINSON ENVIRONMENTALS

BY CHRIS PADGETT

G reg Deline, chief executive o cer of DeLine Holdings, donated 94 acres of land to the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture in hopes of granting students an outdoor classroom with an abundance of opportunity for research.

Greg stumbled upon the land with a friend who had a desire to do more with it.

“ ere was nothing being done. It was just sitting there and listed as a museum on the Missouri registry,” Greg says.

Greg is a MU alumnus, so to him this partnership was meant to be.

“I tell people all the time that I bleed Mizzou. I attended the university, both of my daughters graduated from Missouri,” Greg says, “and I’m really fond of Mun Choi; I think he’s just awesome.”

THE SITE

is 94-acre research site includes a cave, a creek, and forested areas.

“I think the uniqueness is the very diverse topography and the joining of the wetlands, the forest, and the cave. It does provide a very diverse set of conditions in which students and faculty members can perform their research,” UM system president Mun Choi says.

e land is meant to be completely unaltered for its 15-year loan period.

According to MU’s Agriculture Experiment Station, “the site is a collaboration developing outdoor research and educational opportunities to facilitate a better understanding of natural systems and processes.”

Students will have the opportunity to observe and research all the di erent ecosystems spread out

An article posted by MU’s College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources (CAFNR), “Initial research and educational opportunities will include the impact of land use on water quality; tree improvement and sustainable forest management; sustainable food processing using native fruits like pawpaw seen abundantly in these forests; and positive health benets from engagement with nature.”

e DeLine Community Research

Site o ers many unique bene ts to agricultural students, including the convenient location; the research site is just a short 13-minute drive

“I think one of the university people told me that the closest thing they had was like 100 miles, so this is just right in their backyard,” Greg says.

Of course, the diversity is a bene t as well. Students can observe multiple ecosystems and their multitude of inhabitants, like the pawpaw — a small, native tree that produces a large, yellow-green fruit. With this land at their ngertips, students and sta will be able to perform signicant research on natuMun Choi and Greg DeLine

– GREG D e LINE

“Two heads are better than one. We need one another in life. It was just a way to offer up something, a good idea, and the university took it to the next level.”

“Students will have an opportunity to perform research in the very diverse land, the cave, as well as the wetlands that this preserve provides. ey can do research on agroforestry, land erosion prevention, and conservation. It bene ts us because they create new knowledge that will advance our understanding of these very important topics,” Mun Choi says.

Not only does the DeLine Community Research Site bene t MU and its students, but sta at CAFNR also hope to extend opportunities to the community.

In the same article posted by CAFNR, Dusty Walter, who will oversee the research site for CAFNR, said he hopes to partner with local school districts for similar educational connections.

“With the close proximity of the property to the University of Missouri campus and elementary, middle and high schools, the opportunities for research, education and outreach are endless,” CAFNR’s associate dean for research, Shibu Jose, said in the same article.

In an article by the DeLine Holdings teams says that Greg and leaders at CAFNR plan to engage with students at the Columbia Public Schools through STEM, stating “ e DeLine site is an excellent opportunity for Columbia Public Schools and private schools to use as an outdoor classroom for natural resource/environmental education.”

THE IMPACT

“Two heads are better than one. We need one another in life. It was just a way to o er up something, a good idea, and the university took it to the next level,” Greg said.

Over a year after forming this partnership, the DeLine Community Research Site has gone completely unaltered, as planned, while students and sta are already getting great use out of the 94 acres.

“ e site looks the same. We want to make sure we maintain the natural beauty of that land preserve, but more and more students and faculty members are using it. We plan to use it more for outreach, so that we can get young people in Columbia and Boone County exposed to the type of research we do at that site,” Mun Choi says.

A DeLine Holdings blog post says numerous research projects are in progress, including working to understand the impact of environmental change and gain knowledge on water quality, food security, and sustainable food processes. e site is also home to numerous agriculture classes like Dr. Hank Stelzer’s dendrology class and Dr. Mike Stambaugh’s forest ecology class.

e DeLine Community Research site is opening the door to endless research possibilities and bene ts that the entire Columbia community, not just MU, can reap.

“I would say to the university, number one: make it your own, it’s yours to use,” Greg says, “Number two: maximize that opportunity. e sky’s the limit.”

DELINE COMMUNITY RESEARCH SITE

4508 O’Neal Rd. Columbia, MO 65202

Contact: Dusty Walter, CAFNR

WalterD@Missouri.edu| 573-882-4450

Roger Johnson

Prosecuting Attorney, Boone County

BY ANTHONY JINSON

JOB DESCRIPTION

Represent the citizens of Boone County in prosecution of criminal matters.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

I began working in 2005 as Assistant Attorney General representing the State of Missouri in criminal appeals. In 2008, I joined the Boone County O ce of the Prosecuting Attorney as an assistant prosecutor. I spent a year doing educational law representing school districts before returning to the prosecutor’s o ce in 2017. In 2018, I was promoted to rst assistant. I left in April 2021 to join the Van Matre Law Firm where I handled criminal and family law cases.

HOMETOWN Norwood, MO

YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA

21 years total, including four years at Mizzou as an undergraduate.

PHOTO

QUOTE YOU LIVE BY

“[A prosecutor] in a peculiar and very de nite sense the servant of the law, the twofold aim of which is that guilt shall not escape or innocence su er. He may prosecute with earnestness and vigor— indeed, he should do so. But, while he may strike hard blows, he is not at liberty to strike foul ones.” Justice Sutherland, Berger vs. United States.

FAVORITE

VOLUNTEER/

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY Art in the Park

FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT

I worked with a team to transition the prosecutor’s o ce to paperless les. e project was completed just before the start of the pandemic and allowed us to work and appear for court remotely. Previously, that would have been impossible. On a personal level, my daughter and I just built a rolling lumber storage cart for our workshop.

A COMO PERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

Shaunda Hamilton. Shaunda is a local entrepreneur and activist who founded the nonpro t, Boone County Community Against Violence, after losing her daughter to gun violence. e organization started by providing training on CPR and ways to stop bleeding. e group has grown to promote conversations between community groups about how to make our community safer.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB

As prosecutors, our job and obligation are to seek justice, and in all things to try to do the right thing the right way. If we don’t think something is right, we don’t do it. In the legal eld that’s a unique opportunity. And I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work towards making our community better and safer.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY

Boone County is a great place to live and raise a family, and our county government is made up of some really dedicated and talented public servants.

IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU

WOULD Be sailing around the world.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION

“Very little of real prosecution is accurately shown on TV or movies.”

and more handling disputes through violence. When people don’t believe in and participate in the legal justice system, vigilantism rises. In the court system, there are rules designed to protect the rights of the accused and ensure fairness. But the vigilante system is not guided by fairness or justice. Instead, if someone insults you, you shoot up their house. And because you shot up their house, their friend shoots up your friend’s house. Eventually people get killed, and the cycles goes on. Too many are being hurt and killed by violence. We must do better in criminal justice to restore trust and increase participation.

YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL

I want to improve management skills. As the o ce has grown, the needs of the organization have changed, but our management development hasn’t kept pace. Toward that end, the county provided the opportunity for me to take the National Association of Counties High Performance Leadership class, and I am reading some books on organizational change and management.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION

My job is to seek justice, not just to try to get convictions or send people to prison. If we don’t believe a person committed an o ense, we don’t have to charge them. If we learn something that makes us doubt a person’s guilt, we can dismiss a case at any time. We aren’t always pushing to send people to prison. Our goal is to make the community safer. Sometimes the best way to do that is to use resources we have to help people get jobs or treat addiction. ere are crimes, including violent crimes, drug dealing, and crimes against children, where we are ghting hard to lock people away. But that’s not because of pressure to look good or just win. Every decision we make is guided rst by what is just and right.

Very little of real prosecution is accurately shown on TV or movies. It just isn’t dramatic enough, and making it into something dramatic has created a lot of confusion and misconception about what is really happening.

THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY

Over time, there has been less and less cooperation by citizens and witnesses

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN BUSINESS

Welcoming and encouraging feedback is critical. We owe it to ourselves and the community we serve to be the best we can, and improvement requires honest feedback.

GREATEST WEAKNESS

Mornings. I’m not naturally a morning person and prefer to work later instead, but we are in a morning-schedule world.

WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN

Travel, read, and watch movies with my wife and daughter.

FAMILY

My wife, Jessica, and our daughter, Savannah, and our two dogs.

FAVORITE

PLACE IN COMO

Top Ten Wines

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT

After college I worked at an apple orchard, and during the Halloween season dressed in a head-to-toe gorilla costume for the haunted corn maze.

Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment (CALE) is a place where kids can be kids while also reaching their full academic potential.

We are a whole-child approach to education which means we have built our school to engage in student-centered teaching and learning while also caring for the mind and body.

Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten are offered as a full or half-day option. We intentionally keep our class sizes small and place a strong emphasis on our positive and collaborative culture. All CALE students will thrive in an environment that sculpts a love of self, others, and the community at large.

SERVICE

A bove SELF

Columbia’s Rotary clubs connect professionals, create lasting friendships, and change the community for the better.

BY MICHELLE TERHUNE

Service above self. at’s the principal motto of Rotary International, a service organization with more than 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million members around the globe. Founded in 1905, Rotary is all about building friendships, connections, and networks convening professionals from all types of backgrounds, experiences, and expertise to solve problems in their communities and throughout the world.

If that sounds like a weighty responsibility, it is. And yet, 300-plus Columbians come together weekly, spread out between ve Rotary Clubs, to serve Columbia above themselves. With thousands of hours devoted each year to service, the di erence they make is powerful.

Not Just a Cog in the Machine

Even those who aren’t familiar with Rotary probably recognize the gold wheel with spokes. e teeth on the outside of the cog are designed to connect with another wheel to move. It’s no accident that is the Rotary’s logo. Its members also transfer motion by engaging others.

“Rotary is compiled of many professionals from the community, and the synergy from this collaboration bene ts those that need assistance by using innovative ideas to solve community problems,” says Columbia’s Martin Walker, assistant governor for Zone 4 of Rotary District 6080.

“Rotary is appealing to those that want to make a di erence in their community and the world in general,” Martin says. “Mentorship and associating with professionals can give a person a broader view of problems and solutions, that in some cases, can change the lives of those less fortunate. Rotarians are problem solvers.”

If you thought Rotary was just about getting together for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every week, think again. ose cogs are in a constant state of motion, moving themselves while propelling others. And while all ve of Columbia’s clubs share the same Rotarian aims, each takes on a personality of its own.

Five Diverse Choices, One Shared Purpose

e ve Rotary clubs meet at di erent times, and locations. Each meeting o ers time for fellowship, networking, guest speakers, and a business meeting. But the similarities don’t mean all clubs are the same. ere’s a club for everyone.

Rotary Club of Columbia was chartered 101 years ago and is now referred to as the Downtown Rotary Club. Co-presidents Renée Reed-Miller and Chuck Doss say making a local-to-global impact by supporting refugees for generations is important to the community, like sponsoring a family that ed Afghanistan. On the local level, so is deep-frying 350 turkeys on anksgiving for Columbia residents and nonpro ts.

Rotary South is 35 years young. Dell Epperson, club president, lists planting trees, cleaning up the riverbanks after ooding in 2019, and buying notebook computers for young Columbians with autism, as recent service projects. In December, the club provided a grant for scholarships and fed 500 runners, their families, and volunteers at the Heart of Missouri Girls on the Run 5k graduation event.

At 30 years of age, Columbia Metro Rotary has an a nity for service to the young people in the community. Club president Loretta Schouten says the club has designed its own program, Reach Out Metro, designed to support those ages 16-26 in career exploration, networking, resume building, and interviewing skills. Who better to learn such things from than a Rotarian?

Columbia Evening Rotary was created seven years ago for those seeking involvement in the hours after work and school. President Kathleen Dolan says service is a major priority for its members who replace one weekly meeting every month to roll up their sleeves for a project. ey took to outdoor projects during the pandemic and create close to 1,000 drain bag holders for Ellis Fischel Cancer Center patients every year.

Founded only in 2019, Impact Rotary’s president, Heather Hargrove, says that fellowship is a key part of the club experience. Although members still give back through community service, the club spends a lot of time getting together with members and families outside of meeting times. ey meet every Tuesday but take o the last Tuesday of the month to allow some downtime.

e clubs work together on some projects, and there’s even some healthy challenges when they do. Take, for instance, a challenge to see how many hours or how much money each club can make while ringing bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. And all the Columbia clubs collectively raised more than $50,000 to fund the clever vegetable-themed creation and installation of the playground at the Columbia Farmer’s Market.

e list of community nonpro t organizations bene tting from the time, money, and resources from Columbia’s Rotary clubs and their members is lengthy. It might be di cult to nd one that has never been on the receiving end of Rotary’s commitment to service above self.

Pandemic Adaptation

One Columbia club, Northwest Rotary, shut down in June 2022. Before the pandemic, the small club was having trouble recruiting new members, which led to having di culty nding a weekly meeting spot. e pandemic, according to Chris Bouchard, who was president of the club, was the nal blow.

As you might expect, membership numbers fell among all clubs during the pandemic. e good

“Rotary is appealing to those that want to make a difference in their community and the world in general.”

— Martin Walker

Downtown Rotary Club

Chartered on April 1, 1922 rotarycolumbiamo.org Noon, Thursdays

First Presbyterian Church

news is that club presidents report membership numbers going back up. at includes many of the members of the Northwest club who have found new homes with other Columbia Rotary clubs.

Rotary South

Chartered in June 1989 columbiarotarysouth.org 6:45 a.m., Fridays Country Club of Missouri

Columbia Metro Rotary

Chartered on June 10, 1993 columbiametrorotary.org Noon, Wednesdays

Columbia Country Club

Even after the Downtown and South clubs started meeting in person again, they have continued o ering a livestream for the convenience of their members. Downtown’s Chuck says they have a dozen or so members logging in weekly while traveling for business or pleasure. South Rotary’s Dell said one of his club’s past presidents moved to San Francisco but decided to rejoin the Columbia club, attending weekly meetings virtually. Once a Rotarian, always a Rotarian.

before that happened, former president Drew Anderson led e orts to raise more than $70,000 over three years to fund the Craft Beer and Cart program. Proceeds from local craft beer fundraisers were donated to Mobility Worldwide, a nonprofit that provides hand-cranked carts to those with limited mobility across the globe.

Columbia Evening Rotary

Chartered on June 27, 2016 facebook.com/CoMoEveningRotary/ 5:15 p.m., Mondays Grand Cru Restaurant

Impact Rotary

Chartered in 2019 6:45 a.m., Tuesdays

Country Club of Missouri

— Martin Walker

Downtown Rotary is working to help Rotoract get back up and running. e group develops tomorrow’s Rotarians in leadership and service, making them naturals for a lifetime of Rotary membership, no matter where they go.

The Future of Rotary Service organizations of all types have been challenged by problems with recruiting young members – particularly those in their 20s and 30s. Although Rotary has fared far better than many other service organizations, the Columbia clubs are making special e orts to attract that demographic and others.

“Our club is on the upturn,” Renée says. “We have been very explicit about recruiting younger members, but really about creating diversity on all levels in Rotary. And we’re excited about that.”

“ e Rotary model involves service in action,” Kathleen says. “I think that is really attractive to a younger crowd because they want to see an immediate impact.” ey get some help from Rotoract, established by Rotary International. Rotoract members are 18 years old or older who form their own clubs and choose their own service projects while learning leadership skills with the help of Rotary clubs. Columbia’s Rotoract Club is regrouping after the pandemic a ected its young, mostly college student membership. But

“Rotoract’s Drew Anderson told us to look around our workplaces at young professionals. Twenty and 30-year olds want to be part of something, but you have to ask,” South Rotary’s Dell says. “So that’s what we’re encouraging everybody to do right now.”

Something for Everyone Who Wants to Give Back

Age is certainly not the prime concern when recruiting new members. Commitment to the tenets of Rotary is.

“What we have been doing is looking at speci c industries that don’t have membership representation in our club,” says Impact’s Heather. “Who do we know in those industries that would make for a great Rotarian? We reach across all ages.”

Columbia’s Rotary clubs are looking for more people who want to embrace Rotary’s ideals and give back to the community. And it doesn’t matter which club you join.

“We may not be a great t for everybody, and that’s OK,” says Metro’s Loretta Schouten. “ at’s why we have all these Rotary clubs in Columbia. We want you to t somewhere, and it’s OK that it’s not with us.” ere is always room for more because these wheels keeps spinning.

“ e synergy from this collaboration bene ts those that need assistance by using innovative ideas to solve community problems.”

Chief of Police Geoff Jones (left) and Assistant Police Chief, Investigative Operations Support Bureau Jeremiah Hunter (right)

Taking Aim

at Recruitment and Staffing Fixes

Columbia is competing with others for trained police officers.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR. | PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON

It’s been almost 20 years since Jeremiah Hunter left the Jasper County Sheri ’s O ce to join the Columbia Police Department where he is now the assistant chief. He remembers there were nearly 200 other applicants for a few open positions with the Columbia police force.

at was then.

e reality now facing the CPD, as well as most other municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies, is a dearth of jobseekers looking for work as a law enforcement o cer. Combine the shortage of cop candidates with lagging wages and extraordinary public scrutiny of police and police departments — “everyone’s got one of these,” Jeremiah says, holding up a smartphone — and the challenge to recruit and retain o cers is magni ed.

ese days, instead of 200 cop job applicants for open positions like it was 20 years ago, or the 20 to 25 applicants just three years ago, “now you get ve or 10,” he says.

CPD’s vacancy rate is typically between 12-15 positions, which includes patrol o cers, evidence technicians, investigators, and other posts. e industry norm, Jeremiah says, is 10-11 percent vacancy for police sta .

“Sta ng is a moving target,” he adds. “Our sta ng shortage ebbs and ows.”

e CPD has funding for 191 sworn, commissioned patrol ofcers among the 248 full-time positions budgeted for scal year 2023 — compared to 210 positions in 2018. e growth has come through additions to patrol sta in addition to detective and investigative units, as well as records custodians and other positions that do not require the training to become a commissioned o cer.

“We need to be a little bit more aggressive with our salary and bene ts,” Jeremiah says, noting that the city has commissioned a study comparing salaries, bene ts, crime rates, and other factors with 20 “benchmark cities” of similar size and with sizeable college and university populations.

“A lot of them pay more. A lot of them have more o cers than we do,” he adds. “As far as recruiting, we’re all in the same boat. We’re all after the same people.”

Matthew Nichols, president of the Columbia Police O cers Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #26, is more blunt about the salary issue.

“We are not competitive with pay. We are not competitive with a bene ts package,” Matthew says. “So there’s really no incentive there that would put us ahead of those other agencies” for recruiting and retaining o cers.

e Missouri Police Chiefs Association reports that the average starting pay for a law enforcement o cer in Missouri is between $53,800-$55,200. e state’s two largest cities — Kansas City and St. Louis — have starting wages of roughly $60,200 and $58,300, respectively. e third-largest city, Spring eld, has a starting salary of $58,000. As the fourth-largest city, Columbia’s population of roughly 127,000 is about 5,000 higher than Independence, the fth largest, which has an average starting wage of $68,000.

O’Fallon in St. Charles County comes in No. 6 in population with 94,000 residents but leads the salary scale with a $69,000 starting wage. Some smaller communities are comparable with Columbia.

— JEREMIAH HUNTER

As of early November 2022, the department had about 20 vacancies for commissioned o cers, with another nine new hires in eld training, others on family leave, and “a signi cant amount” with military reserves training duties or military deployment, Jeremiah says.

Totaling those numbers — vacancies, o cers in training, and military duty — leaves a void that requires constant juggling.

Meanwhile, starting pay for a Columbia police o cer is $24.56 per hour or just over $51,000 annually. e starting pay for a University of Missouri police o cer is roughly $54,000 or higher for an experienced o cer, and a Boone County sheri ’s deputy will start — depending on experience — in a range from around $51,000-$57,000 per year. Both MUPD and the sheri ’s o ce also o er perks CPD does not have.

For MUPD, it’s health insurance and a tuition discount for employees and their families, and for the Boone County Sheri ’s O ce one of the bene ts is its take home car program, saving employees on fuel and vehicle expenses.

e Lincoln County city of Troy, with around 14,000 residents, and Rolla in south-central Missouri has about 20,000 residents. Both of those cities have starting cop salaries like Columbia.

State budget gures for 2022 show that the starting wage for a Missouri Highway Patrol o cer is around $52,000, with the Missouri Department of Public Safety at the bottom of the scale with starting pay of $42,900.

Focusing on Columbia, Matthew says CPOA’s collective bargaining process with the city has repeatedly sought to address “the pay disparity between CPD and other surrounding agencies.”

For example, the Je erson City Police Department’s starting pay is similar to Columbia’s, Matthew says, but Je erson City is o ering a $10,000 incentive for lateral hires — trained o cers with prior experience with other departments and agencies.

“Money always talks,” he adds. “Money is always going to be a big motivator for people. If the city came forward with the money to pay in a competitive market, that would mean a lot.” Matthew also has qualms with the decision-makers — the city’s elected ofcials — who control the purse strings, claiming, “ e city coun-

“As far as recruiting, we’re all in the same boat.

We’re all after the same people.”

Average Starting Pay of a Law Enforcement Officer

O'FALLON

$69,000 pop. 93,644 INDEPENDENCE

$68,000 pop. 122,088 KANSAS CITY

$60,200 pop. 508,394 ST. LOUIS $58,300 pop. 293,310 SPRINGFIELD $58,000 pop. 169,724 TROY $54,500 pop. 12,820 MUPD $54,000 BOONE CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT $51,000 COLUMBIA

$51,000 pop. 126,853 ROLLA

$48,900 pop. 19,943

JEFFERSON CITY $46,000 pop. 43,772

cil does not appreciate and value the police department.”

Matthew, who soon begins his third year as CPOA president, says retention is as much an issue among the rank-and- le as recruitment.

“If there was better show of support from city leadership — speci cally elected individuals — I think that would help with retention to a large degree,” he says.

Salary and bene ts are not the only issues with sta size.

“ e process to even get hired is probably four months. And that’s fast,” he says, noting that a voice stress analysis, psychological exam, and comprehensive background check are among the steps involved in the hiring process. If the new hire is not POST-certi ed (the acronym for Police O cer Standards and Training Program), then a four-month stint in the Law Enforcement Training Academy is required to get the certi cation. After successfully graduating from the academy, the o cer will go through three months of eld training.

“You’re looking at a year” for that process to run the course, Jeremiah says.

Police Chief Geo Jones says the hiring and vacancy situations are not unique to Columbia.

“ ere’s very few people that don’t have a signi cant sta ng shortage and everybody’s looking for ways to recruit, train, and retain employees,” Geo says.

For Geo , his barometer for optimism about a deeper pool of future police o cer candidates is the larger classes at the training academy at the Law Enforcement Training Institute at the University of Missouri. e academy o ers training in excess of the 600 hours of basic training required for Class A, POST certi cation.

As recently as 2018, academy classes averaged 25 to 30 participants, says Danielle Johnson, academy assistant. In 2021, the average was 38 to 40 per class.

“ ere is an uptake” in interest, she says. “And we’re expecting another uptake in January.” A scholarship program championed by Gov. Mike Parsons “seems to have incentivized” and boosted interest in law enforcement o cer training, Johnson concludes.

Most students in the academy are getting training for jobs they’ve already been hired for, such as the case with new Columbia police trainees. For those who do not yet have a job in law enforcement, Johnson says the academy has a 95 to 100 percent placement rate.

Of course, there’s a way around waiting for an o cer to be trained.

“ e alternative is hiring police o cers from another jurisdiction,” Jeremiah explains. In fact, that has happened more than a few times; speci cally with hires from the Moberly Police Department.

“We took 90 percent of their o cers,” he says. en he grinned. “It’s a running joke. Don’t go through that town if you’re a Columbia, Missouri police o cer.”

Good humor aside, police work is simply a tough task, Geo says. Especially since the pandemic.

“We have this 24/7 news cycle on social media and the web. It’s very easy to project another agency’s shortcomings on another agency,” he adds. “ at’s not to say we don’t have improvements we need to make.” And that’s where community policing comes in to play.

Even o cers hired away from other departments must go through some level of eld training to become familiar with the practices and principals of community policing, which basically boils down to getting to know the residents and the neighborhoods being patrolled.

“It’s making relationships. at is the crux of it,” Jeremiah says. “You have to know the community you’re policing. And not everything requires handcu s.” Instead, it’s a practice that gives o cers “training and resources to solve issues without enforcement action.”

Still, there’s that public microscope and scrutiny that wasn’t so ubiquitous until a few years ago. Jeremiah again points to his smartphone.

“Everything you say and do is recorded. And we’re the face of the government,” he says, adding that even though police departments are apolitical, they are “an easy target for public resentment,” even for abuse of force and other high-pro le incidents in other parts of the country.

“We felt the e ects here,” Jeremiah says. “It only takes one incident” for all police and police department cultures to be scrutinized. at’s why Matthew says it’s vital for police to have both monetary and institutional support from city leaders.

“ e CPD is lled with unbelievable men and women — truly phenomenal community servants,” Matthew says. “It’s really going to come down to the city seeing the bene t to pay our people more to recruit and retain. And I don’t know when that’s going to come to fruition.”

Meanwhile, Jeremiah says he might have different career objectives if he was starting over.

“I don’t know if I would be a cop today,” he says. “It’s been a very rewarding career. But you’ve got to want to do this job. It takes a special kind of person.”

Sources: Missouri Police Chiefs Association; University of Missouri; Boone County Sheriff's Offi

Columbia Police Department

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