COMO Magazine | The Celebration Issue | December 2025

Boone Health is wishing all of mid-Missouri a very wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year.

We’re so grateful that you continue to choose us for all your health care needs.

PRINT IS NOT DEAD!

PUBLISHING

David Nivens, Publisher david@comocompanies.com

Chris Harrison, Associate Publisher chris@comocompanies.com

EDITORIAL

Jodie Jackson Jr, Editor jodie@comocompanies.com

Kelsey Winkeljohn, Associate Editor kelsey@comocompanies.com

Karen Pasley, Contributing Copyeditor

DESIGN

Jordan Watts, Senior Designer jordan@comocompanies.com

MARKETING

Charles Bruce, Director of Client Relations charles@comocompanies.com

Kerrie Bloss, Account Executive kerrie@comocompanies.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sunitha Bosecker, Hoss Koetting, David Owens, Stephi Smith, Veterans United, Kelsey Winkeljohn

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sunitha Bosecker, Beth Bramstedt, Barbara Bu aloe, Olivia DeSmet, Jodie Jackson Jr, Hoss Koetting, Stephi Smith, Marcus Wilkins, Kelsey Winkeljohn

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Magazines are $5 an issue. Subscription rate is $54 for 12 issues for one year or $89 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag.com or by phone. COMO Magazine is published monthly by e COMO Companies.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

COMO Magazine and comomag.com strive to inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that re ects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.

Copyright e COMO Companies, 2025

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

FEEDBACK

Have a story idea, feedback, or a general inquiry? Email our editor at Jodie@comocompanies.com.

CONTACT e COMO Companies | 404 Portland, Columbia, MO 65201 573-577-1965 | comomag.com | comobusinesstimes.com

Letter from the Associate Editor

The COMO Mojo: ‘Celebration,’ Track 3

Some of my favorite memories are the ones that, at rst glance, might seem random and insigni cant — as in, they just feel like weird little blips of consciousness. Birthdays, school plays, and vacations are fun to rediscover in hazy VHS tapes, but the moments that carry little dramatic emotion are equally meaningful to me.

One memory from around 2009 comes to mind. McDonald’s had just started including Kidz Bop CDs in its Happy Meals. I vaguely remember sitting in the backseat of my mom’s green minivan, listening to Disc 5, Track 3 — “Celebration” by Kool & e Gang.

ere’s a party goin’ on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

I mean, what a feel-good song! Maybe that is what made that moment so memorable: being in a safe place, surrendering to the car’s route down a familiar course, and allowing the positive lyrics to seep into my little 8-year-old brain.

From a marketing standpoint, the song is brilliant for deliberately leaving the “celebration” ambiguous; it can t the vibe at almost any festive occasion. On a deeper level, though, I think it reminds us to honor all of life’s moments. Life itself is the celebration — a joy meant to “last throughout the years.”

e year 2025 was full of celebrations, major and minor, both personally and professionally. Indulge me as I play a brief, imaginary highlight reel, recalling when I:

• Spent a January afternoon with Jodie on KFRU, talking about the incredible work our

team would be doing in the new year

• Took a charcuterie-building class with my friend Stephanie, hosted by Abby Does Charcuterie (see August 2024’s Closer Look)

• Finally visited Ragtag — long overdue

• Helped lm a TV show through work

• Worked with our team to roll out two new magazine websites and niche newsletters

• Tried the notorious Malört (not that bad!)

• Started therapy

• Attended a writer’s workshop with my friend (and occasional COMO Magazine freelance writer) McKenna

As we move through the holiday season, steeped in gratitude, love, and merrymaking, I invite you to re ect on your own highlight reel from the year. It’s so easy to get caught up in the stress of day-to-day life and the heaviness of the world, sometimes to the point that it overshadows our daily joys. While it’s essential to stay aware and work toward peace for all, we should also remain hopeful and thankful for what we do have. May we carry that spirit of appreciation into the new year, nding reasons to celebrate each and every day.

I hope you enjoy the 2025 “Celebration” issue, presented to you with an imaginary, delightfully gaudy bow!

KELSEY WINKELJOHN ASSOCIATE EDITOR kelsey@comocompanies.com

ON THE COVER

MIZ! ZOU! Golden Girls Livie Causey (2022-present) and Chrissy Stanard Meyer (1989-1993) represent a legacy that’s been roaring for 60 years.

by David Owens

Photo

COMO Magazine represents at the Missouri Women Who Write Retreat. Pictured left to right: Sunitha Bosecker (freelance writer), Kelsey Winkeljohn, Karen Pasley (contributing copyeditor)

COMO’S ADVISORY BOARD

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

Church Life Pastor, Christian Fellowship Church

Heather Brown

Strategic Partnership Officer, Harry S Truman VA Hospital

Emily Dunlap Burnham

Principal Investigator and Owner, Missouri Investigative Group

Tootie Burns

Artist and Treasurer, North Village Art District

Chris Horn

Principal Treaty

Reinsurance Underwriter, American Family Insurance

Jeremiah Hunter

Assistant Police Chief, Columbia Police Department

Kris Husted

Investigative Editor, NPR Midwest Newsroom

Laura Johnson Writer

Laura Schemel

Director of Marketing and Communications, MU Health Care

Art Smith

Author & Musician, Almost Retired

Megan Steen

Chief Operating Officer, Central Region, Burrell Behavioral Health

Nathan Todd

Business Services Officer, First State Community Bank

Casey Twidwell

Community Engagement Manager, Heart of Missouri CASA

Wende Wagner Development Manager, DeafLEAD

Have a story idea, feedback, or a general inquiry? Email Jodie@comocompanies.com.

Photo by Karl Bussen

Pulling Together

The Smith family continues a century-old draft horse tradition through competitions and holiday carriage rides.

BY KELSEY WINKELJOHN

Ashort drive from the small town of Clark, Missouri, best known for its Amish community and rich agricultural landscape, Cedar Hollow Farms has upheld one tradition for more than a century and across four generations: working with draft horses.

is month marks patriarch and landowner Ray Smith’s seventy-second year on the property. For as long as he can remember, draft horses have been part of his life. His father, Reese, never obtained a driver’s license; instead, he relied on horses for both transportation and work. Reese was employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the New Deal, using horses to build roads by excavating and grading the roadbeds with a “Fresno” scraper.

Ray himself fondly recalls a horse named Nipper, his companion when he was about seven years old, so gentle that he would bend down to let young Ray climb onto his back. It’s one of many memories that illustrate the deep bond between horse and human.

FAMILY BONDS AND HORSEPOWER

Today, Ray, his wife Carol, and sons Ryan (with his wife, Charisse) and Andy continue the family legacy. Raised on the same property and immersed in the world of national and regional draft horse competition, the brothers a ectionately describe their horses as “oversized pets” but also as dependable partners that they work with daily. Each horse has its own distinct personality, and over time, family members often form special bonds with their favorites.

“I tend to identify with high-strung people pleasers that previous owners may not have understood,” says Ryan. “Dad likes ones with a little stubborn streak. Mark is probably Dad’s favorite — he could be stubborn at rst, but Dad earned his respect, and they’ve had a special bond since. For me, it’s probably Buster, since he needed patience and trust to excel in competitions.”

e Smiths’ draft horses — the Belgian breed, often called “gentle giants” — stand just over seven feet tall (twenty-one

hands) and weigh between a ton and 2,200 pounds. During pulling competitions, a pair of horses can tow between 8,000 and 15,000 pounds — roughly two to three and a half times their combined weight.

e family has taken home numerous wins, including titles from the Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska state fairs. eir rstplace nish in the Missouri State Fair’s Draft Horse Sled Pull in 2010 remains a proud highlight.

“Each competition is like solving a puzzle,” Ryan explains. “You have to pair two horses that complement and challenge each other to reach their full potential. ere’s an intellectual challenge in learning what motivates each horse and building that trust, but it’s also physically demanding to manage a 2,000-pound animal eager to perform. When everything clicks — when you’re in sync and ‘pulling’ together — it’s an incredible feeling.”

TAKING TRADITION TO THE STREETS

In addition to competing, the Smith family shares their passion with the community through horse-drawn carriage rides. Since 2022, their teams have brought holiday cheer to downtown Columbia, and after seeing growing demand, they added a second carriage the following year.

Photos by Kelsey Winkeljohn

Photo by Karl Bussen

According to Nickie Davis, executive director of e District, more than 2,000 riders enjoyed a carriage ride during the 2024 holiday season — a signi cant increase from the approximately 500 riders who experienced it during the Smiths’ rst year downtown.

“ ere’s something magical about this time of year — especially when little ones light up at the sight of these beautiful horses,” Davis says. “ ese are the traditions that build lifelong memories. e District is honored to o er this experience at no cost and help create moments our community will cherish for years to come.”

Each open-air wagon, handcrafted by Ray and Ryan and festively decorated by Carol, is built with safety in mind. e carriages comfortably seat ten passengers and feature secure side panels that keep riders safely enclosed while still allowing an open view of the city lights. An optional tted canopy for the wagon is available during poor weather conditions.

e family is also keen on maintaining optimal comfort for their Belgian buddies. To ensure the safety of both horses and passengers, the pickup and drop-o area includes a two-gate system that separates the horses from pedestrian tra c. is setup allows visitors to admire and interact with the horses while also providing the animals with space to step back when needed.

While Ray and Ryan note that their Belgians love staying active and working, they limit carriage rides around downtown to a three-hour window to ensure the horses aren’t overworked and that their hooves remain in good shape. Andy makes the point that Belgian draft horses often live into their 20s when properly cared for — and because the horses and the Smiths share such a close bond, that’s precisely what the family intends to do, both during competitions and in the slower holiday season.

Ryan explains that while the competitions are exhilarating, there’s something equally enjoyable about the tranquility of the carriage rides.

“I think for the carriage rides, it’s getting to share an experience that has meant a lot to all of us throughout our lives with others who don’t have that access,” he says. “I’ve maintained that there’s something meditative about the calm and quiet as you engage with your surroundings at a pace that really allows for soaking it all in.”

Photos by Karl Bussen

e Smiths feel that sense of connection between generations, horses, and the Columbia community is what keeps the tradition alive. Each clop of hooves along e District’s brick streets is an echo of a family’s history and a reminder that some of the most enduring traditions are built not by machines, but by heart, hard work, and a team that pulls together.

Limited-Edition Ornaments Tell COMO’s History

Central Bank selects Boone Hospital for the 2025 commemorative ornament.

BY STEPHI SMITH

Central Bank of Boone County has commissioned holiday ornaments commemorating famous Columbia landmarks every year since 1988, with the rst ornament depicting Jesse Hall at the University of Missouri.

Since the program’s inception, Central Bank’s intricate metal ornaments, with their multi-layered, three-dimensional appearance, have celebrated thirty-seven Columbia-area institutions and landmarks, including the nearly 400-year-old state champion burr oak at McBaine, the towering Tiger Hotel, and the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Some of the past years’ ornaments are available at the Boone County Historical Society.

A COVETED COLLECTORS’ ITEM

Mary Wilkerson, senior vice president of marketing at Central Bank, said the ornaments are limited edition, and individuals wanting to start a collection shouldn’t expect to collect all thirty-seven.

“ e simple truth is, when they’re gone, they’re gone,” Wilkerson said. “A lot of the very old ornaments simply don’t exist anymore. So if you wanted Jesse Hall, for example, you ain’t gonna nd it.”

Wilkerson has several Columbia-themed ornaments on her own Christmas tree — “but not all [of them] because they started before I got here,” she added. Wilkerson’s rst ornament was the Boone County Courthouse, which she acquired in 1992, her rst year with the bank.

e maker of this year’s ornament, artist Steven Bixby, has designed limited-edition Christmas ornaments for years. In 1998, Bixby designed an ornament for the National Garden in Washington, D.C., featuring the United States Capitol building and butter ies. In 1990, Bixby designed a Yankee Stadium ornament for the New York Yankees.

THIS YEAR’S HONOREE: BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Bixby’s 2025 ornament for Central Bank depicts Boone Hospital Center, originally built in 1921, at 1600 E. Broadway. Brady Dubois, president and CEO of Boone Health, said the hospital feels honored to be part of Central Bank’s ornaments list.

“For more than 100 years, we have served mid-Missourians with some of the highest health care quality in the nation,” Dubois stated in an email. “ e strength of the building’s duration through all of the tough times and good times is a symbol of our employees’ strength and dedication to the health of midMissouri. We appreciate the recognition from Central Bank.”

Th roughout the Years

SELECTING A SUBJECT

When selecting a new ornament subject, Wilkerson said she seeks out historic and interesting-looking buildings. She has a running list of around fty suggestions of historic buildings in cities throughout mid-Missouri, including Boonville, Ashland, Centralia, and Moberly. Central Bank of Boone County’s executive board makes the nal decision on which building to feature.

Sometimes, Wilkerson said, Central Bank is able to celebrate an anniversary with the ornaments, as in 2007, when the ornament sported a painting of jazz singers to celebrate the Roots N Blues Festival.

Wilkerson said her favorite ornament is the 2021 edition, another design that doesn’t feature a building. Rather, it depicts the “La Colomba” stainless steel statue located across the street from the Daniel Boone Regional Library.

It’s “better known as the ‘french fries,’” Wilkerson said, referring to the shape of the statue. e work portrays an abstract dove in ight and has been on display since 1979.

She said it can be hard to pick a subject sometimes, since mid-Missouri has a lot of historic and interesting buildings, and Central Bank wants to select something people will recognize.

Wilkerson said the bank also focuses on a building’s aesthetics. Historic buildings tend to be more distinctive than modern structures, and Wilkerson said Central Bank tries to choose something with a lot of character — especially since the ornaments can have bright colors now.

e more iconic a location is, Wilkerson noted, the more excited people are. When Central Bank selected Broadway Diner, the old-school restaurant at 22 S. Fourth St., Wilkerson said “people went bananas” because almost everybody in Columbia has a memory of going to Broadway Diner, either with family or at the end of a night out.

Broadway Diner’s owner, Dave Johnson, said it was an honor to receive an ornament for his Christmas tree that featured his own business.

“It was so much better than it looked in the designing, and it just turned out beautifully,” Johnson said. “Everybody was really super pleased and thrilled for the diner to be part of Columbia’s history like that.”

A SEASON OF GIVING

When the completed ornaments arrive, Central Bank provides the owner of the chosen building or business with a box of ornaments to distribute. Johnson said he remembers getting around 100 ornaments and handing them out to friends, family, and longtime customers. Wilkerson noted that bank sta also receive a box to hand out to customers.

“Like any business around the holidays, everybody gives gifts,” she added. She said it’s refreshing to have an excuse to nd a genuine and human connection with somebody else.

“We’re all so busy. We do everything by email and texting,” Wilkerson said, noting the personal touch involved in the metal ornaments. “I always feel like people are very grateful, mostly those folks that have just been around Columbia a long time.”

Caring Hearts and Gentle Goodbyes

BY KELSEY WINKELJOHN | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JACKIE REED

Merriam-Webster characterizes the word “sonder” as “a profound … realization that each person has a life as rich and complex as our own,” lled with triumphs, challenges, love, and loss. Each of us experiences moments that shape who we are, for better or worse, and although our stories di er, one truth unites us all: For each of us, life eventually reaches its nal chapter.

Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia (CHHC), a local nonpro t providing 24-hour end-of-life care, strives to make this transition period as gentle as possible by bringing love and dignity to each guest’s nal days, regardless of nancial circumstance.

Co-founded in 2020 by Dorreen Rardin, a registered nurse with forty-seven years of

experience, and Jackie Reed, a registered palliative care nurse at Boone Hospital with twenty-eight years of experience, the organization o cially opened its doors in 2023 after pandemic-related delays.

“Dorreen had been the palliative care coordinator at Boone Hospital for about twenty years, and as she was retiring, I actually ended up moving into that department myself,” says Reed. “We saw lots of family members who were really struggling to take care of their loved one at the end of life, either emotionally, nancially, or physically, because they didn’t have the resources to be able to take them home and provide 24-hour care.”

Reed notes that many people aren’t aware that Medicare covers hospice personnel in nursing homes; still, it doesn’t

cover the cost of room and board, which can total a burdensome $10,000 or more per month.

Rardin had heard about a home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, called Clarehouse — a ten-bedroom social model hospice that focuses on the emotional, social, and practical well-being of each guest. After visiting, Reed says they fell in love with the concept.

“We knew that it would be the answer to a lot of the di culties that a lot of our family members were facing.”

CARE ROOTED IN COMFORT

Volunteers sta the CHHC home from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a team of caregivers rotating in overnight. As a social model home, it prioritizes holistic, communitybased support rather than medical interventions, aiming to make each guest as comfortable as possible in their nal moments. Because of this, guests must also be under the care of a hospice provider who maintains medical oversight. Family members are encouraged to visit and stay close to their loved ones throughout care.

“We try to tailor their care to their wants and needs,” explains Reed. “We nd out what their favorite foods are, what shows they like to watch, and what music they enjoy. We try to make it as special an experience as possible.”

During the holidays, sta decorate the home to feel cozy — “a home away from home” — often baking cookies or serving refreshments for visiting families. Occasionally, musicians such as harpists, guitarists, or end-of-life singers are invited to create a calm, comforting atmosphere.

“A lot of family members comment on how homey and welcoming the home looks,” says Reed.

e house o ers a spacious kitchen where family members can cook their own meals if they wish, as well as two extra bedrooms, so those traveling from farther away have a place to stay close to their loved ones without paying extra for accommodations.

FINDING BEAUTY IN FINAL MOMENTS

With extensive experience in palliative care, Reed doesn’t deny the heaviness of the job — but she does emphasize the reward.

“People often ask us how we can keep doing this over and over. But you know,

The Caring Hearts and Hands home, some photos showing holiday decorations

Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia

MISSION

To provide a comfortable home where the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our guests and their families are met with compassion, love, and respect 24/7.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Jackie Reed, RN Co-Founder and Vice Chair

• Kristen Dean Treasurer and Board Chair

• Beth Thompson Secretary

• Dorreen Rardin, RN Co-Founder

• Deborah Portell Board Member

• Dick Otto Board Member

• LeAnn Rehard, BSN, RN, NI-BC Board Member

• Chance Tacia Board Member

• Amira Nuur Board Member

• George Cox Board Member

GUIDING VALUES

• We offer a safe, warm, and loving environment where each resident and their family remain our priority and where no one dies alone.

• We consistently provide compassionate and excellent care for our residents.

• We respect and nurture the unique personal, cultural, and religious values of our residents and their families.

• We ensure an environment that promotes two-way communication, honesty, acceptance, and discovery for our residents and their families to help guide them on their endof-life journey.

spending somebody’s last days, hours, and moments with them can be a really precious and sacred time.”

Reed recalls the story of one woman who had a favorite breakfast of fried sauerkraut and eggs. One morning, the guest said, “I want half of a banana. Please eat the other half, or it’ll go bad.”

e guest, who had a heart condition, died later that day. Reed remembers how meaningful it was to give her that nal breakfast she loved and make her morning special.

“ e family members are always so incredibly grateful,” she adds. “Just knowing you’ve made a di erence in someone’s life makes it worthwhile.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND GROWTH

anks to an endowment, private donations, and fundraisers, CHHC continues to o er free services to guests and their families, easing the nancial burden during an already di cult time.

One annual fundraiser, born out of pandemic-era limitations, is the Lights for Love Memorial Event. Held each October, Lights for Love invites families to donate in honor of loved ones who have passed — whether at the CHHC home or elsewhere — with each contribution represented by a glowing luminary that lights up the night in remembrance.

Reed believes it’s a meaningful community event where people can come together to celebrate the lives of those they’ve loved and connect with

others who have experienced loss. It also helps the organization further its mission through funding. While care is free for guests and their families, CHHC asks that families consider memorial donations after their loved one has passed, allowing the nonpro t to continue serving others in need.

Under Missouri regulations, only two guests may be served in a residence that is not a licensed facility. When the house is full, individuals are placed on a waitlist. Guests typically stay for about thirty days, but if they show signs of improvement, they may be asked to relocate so more people can be accommodated. Reed hopes that if volunteer interest, funding, and demand remain stable, CHHC will one day be able to expand, perhaps opening a villa or duplex to serve more guests in a homelike setting.

Every guest’s journey may look different, but through the compassion of volunteers and the generosity of the community, Caring Hearts and Hands ensures that no guest has to face their nal chapter alone. ose who are interested in volunteering with CHHC or donating to its mission can visit their website for more information.

Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia

(573) 530-6224

caringheartandhands.org

FB: CaringHeartsAndHandsCoMo

The 2025 Lights for Love annual fundraiser.

Columbia Native Publishes Children’s Christmas Book

BY OLIVIA D E SMIT | ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMELIA MANGHAM

Iwould love to say that my foray into the world of children’s publishing was a labor of love, but the truth is that the actual book-writing part took less than a day. e concept for my newly released book, Edwin’s Perfect Gift, developed during one of those 9 p.m. try-anything-to-get-your-childto-bed moments. A time when pure exhaustion and forced creativity cause the brain to explore unimagined places. is story — about a young rabbit, Edwin, who becomes friends with an older mouse, Miss Vonna — emerged during one of those nights and helped an overtired four-year-old drift o to sleep.

While I frequently create new stories for my daughter at bedtime, this one stuck with me for a few days afterward. I eshed out the storyline with my daughter’s Melissa & Doug paper pad and crayons one day and realized that it could be a story worth sharing.

I dove into the process headrst, assuring myself that with my background in magazine publishing, this would be a breeze. Unsurprisingly, I quickly learned there are quite a few di erences between self-publishing a children’s book and running an already-existing magazine. From nding an illustrator to pitching to local bookstores, there is a lot of time and e ort that goes on behind the scenes. Yet while most children’s books take months from start to nish, Edwin’s Perfect Gift went from concept to publication in approximately six weeks.

Now that the process is done, I can take a deep breath and re ect on why this particular story drove me to take this leap. My primary goal with Edwin was to create a children’s book that evokes strong feelings of warmth, love, and comfort in both the story and illustrations. e message of Edwin’s Perfect Gift is that not only are handmade gifts worth investing in, but more importantly, that older generations are worthy of our time, a ection, and friendship and that they have much to o er.

Growing up just outside of Columbia’s city limits, I had an older neighbor who taught me to sew — she was my inspiration for the character of Miss Vonna in the book. When I was little, I would ride my bike the half mile around the neighborhood loop, grab a “soadie” as she called it — usually an Orange Crush — and we would sit and chat while I learned to sew an apron or whatever else she had a paper pattern for.

My mom made a huge e ort when I was a child to value and create relationships

with older people. We frequently volunteered at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and we served food at the local Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen for years. ose experiences really shaped how I view people as an adult.

In Edwin’s Perfect Gift, Edwin befriends Miss Vonna, and while the young rabbit may not realize how valuable the relationship is at rst, Miss Vonna con des that she values him a lot. Hopefully that message is something that sticks with readers and encourages them to be kind and form relationships across generations.

e illustrations in Edwin’s Perfect Gift were hand-drawn with ink by U.K.-based artist Amelia Mangham, and color was added digitally to preserve the ink sketches. e illustrations are inspired by Beatrix Potter, mainly because I associate her books with lovely childhood memories. e outdoor scenery was inspired by my childhood in Columbia, especially the striking fall leaves on Rock Quarry Road and the woods behind my house growing up.

It is my hope that the hand-drawn illustrations in Edwin combat the rise of AI and rushed digital graphics that are becoming rampant in children’s media. Not only do AI “illustrations” steal from actual artists, but the quality is subpar. Our children deserve the richness of high-quality, hand-drawn art, with stories and pictures that will stay with them and o er teachable moments.

My nal goal with Edwin was to make him accessible. While I am not bilingual, when I visit my local library’s children’s section, I can’t help but notice the vast amount of English books compared to a few shelves of Spanish books. For that reason, Edwin’s Perfect Gift has been translated into Spanish and is available as Edwin y El Regalo Perfecto

Edwin’s Perfect Gift is available locally at Skylark, e Tin Roof, and Plume, as well as at most online retailers. Edwin y El Regalo Perfecto is also available at Skylark and online retailers.

Celebrating Christmas

Finding Jesus in the unlikely corners of our lives.

BY BETH BRAMSTEDT

This month, we celebrate the events that happened thousands of years ago, events centered around the town of Bethlehem, the city where King David was born and raised. e city that the prophet Malachi prophesied would be the birthplace of the Messiah.

We marvel at the wise men who came from the East and encountered God through a star. ese were men who, despite being foreigners and feeling di erent, were compelled to nd the King of the Jews and worship him. And we stand in awe at the story of the shepherds, who encountered the presence of God through the angels while working in a eld. ese lowly servants were simply going about their daily lives, discounted in so many ways, yet were compelled to see the things the angels had told them about.

We also encounter Mary — a Middle Eastern teenager, a virgin, who was with child. Mary, who made her way to Bethlehem with Joseph, her ancé, to be counted

in the census. Mary, who gave birth to our Savior in the equivalent of a stable, surrounded by animals.

e angel Gabriel describes Mary as one who had found favor with God. Mary describes herself as one whom the generations will call blessed.

We might describe Mary as devoted, the one chosen by God to carry his son. She was a woman endowed with grace. She found favor not because of anything she had done, but because of what God was going to do in and through her.

Mary was also a lowly servant girl, and as an unwed pregnant teenager, she felt di erent, like the wise men, and was discounted, like the shepherds. Yet regardless of her stature, Mary was one in whom God dwelled and delighted. She was the one he trusted to carry his most precious treasure. e coming of God in Jesus was about so much more than just her, but he couldn’t have accomplished his purposes without her.

You see, God could have chosen to come into the world in so many ways — mounted on a chariot, straddling a stallion, or oating on angel’s wings. He could have come fully grown, trained, privileged, and already in charge.

But instead, God came to us oating in embryonic uid.

ere was a moment in history when Jesus was conceived. When he began to form and take shape. When he was embedded in Mary’s uterine wall. When his presence was not seen as a star or heard as angels’ voices but was felt as the nagging discomfort of morning sickness. ere was a time when he was enclosed in darkness, tucked into the safety of Mary’s womb, possibly even sitting on her sciatic nerve.

What does it say about God that he was willing to:

• Be attached to a placenta for nourishment?

• Be formed in a human womb?

• Come into this world tiny, naked, and afraid?

• Be fearfully and wonderfully made, just like us?

• Trust the process of childbearing with a human mother?

It tells us that, like Mary, we too are ones in whom God dwells and delights. It assures us that we are highly favored and that God has endowed us with grace. And as ones who believe, we experience that grace as the Holy Spirit living within us, drawing us near.

So this month we celebrate that gift. e gift that began with Christ’s coming. e gift that came from afar to bring us near. Because of that gift, we can encounter him … like the wise men, like the shepherds, like Mary, in the stars, the elds, and childbirth — in the unlikely corners of our lives.

Beth Bramstedt is the Church Life Pastor at Christian Fellowship.

Cathédrale Sainte Bénigne - Dijon, FRANCE: Stained glass (19th century) of Christmas Nativity Scene with Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Listening, Learning, and Moving Forward — Together

BY MAYOR BARBARA BUFFALOE

Each year, the city of Columbia conducts a citizen survey to understand how residents feel about our community and their local government. e 2024 results gave us a lot to think about — and even more to act on. Residents told us they value Columbia’s sense of community and quality of life but want to see stronger transparency, more focus on homelessness and safety, and continued investment in infrastructure and engagement. roughout 2025, we’ve taken those priorities seriously. Some changes are visible already, while others — like longterm housing and infrastructure improvements — require sustained e ort. Real progress takes time, but I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken together this year.

One of the clearest messages from the survey was that residents want to be heard. In response, we expanded opportunities for public engagement across the city. Last spring, we hosted the rst-ever Community Summit, where more than 300 residents gave feedback in person on the city’s strategic plan. We also launched Let’s Talk Local, monthly ward-based meetings where residents and council members discuss neighborhood issues in an informal setting. ese conversations — combined with our interactive budget town halls — have brought hundreds of residents into the decision-making process in new ways.

Public safety and housing were at the top of residents’ concerns. is year, the Columbia Police Department increased sta ng, graduated our rst class of ocers from our in-house training academy, and created a new transparency dashboard to share data on response times and service calls. We’ve also strengthened community-based safety e orts through the O ce of Violence Prevention, which coordinates with neighborhood groups, youth mentors, and nonpro ts to reduce violence before it starts.

On housing and homelessness, collaboration remains key. e city’s new

Housing and Neighborhood Services Department has continued implementing the 2023 Housing Study recommendations. We expanded the DIVERT Program, which helps individuals experiencing homelessness connect to services instead of entering the criminal justice system. We also worked closely with Love Columbia, Turning Point, and Room at the Inn to expand access to shelter and case management.

While Columbia continues to make local progress, this year also reminded us that we’re part of a larger national picture. e recent federal government shutdown and reductions in federal spending created real hardship for families who rely on SNAP and WIC bene ts. Yet in that di cult moment, Columbia showed what community looks like.

When SNAP bene ts were paused, the city of Columbia, Boone County, and local partners stepped up, reallocating funds to support the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. Together, we contributed more than $100,000 in emergency assistance. And the community didn’t stop there — our residents, businesses, and nonpro ts mobilized through CoMoHelps to raise even more. ese collective actions remind me that

compassion and collaboration remain at the heart of who we are.

As City Manager De’Carlon Seewood highlighted in his State of the City address, 2025 has also been a year of progress behind the scenes. We welcomed back United Airlines with new daily ights to Denver and Chicago, completed phase one of the Perche Creek Trail, and opened new pickleball and tennis courts at A. Perry Philips Park, re ecting how growth can improve both connectivity and quality of life.

Not every goal can be achieved in a single year — but progress is visible, and it’s rooted in your feedback. Whether through a town hall, survey, or casual conversation, your voice helps guide our work. As we close 2025, I’m grateful for your trust, patience, and partnership. Columbia is growing, learning, and adapting. And though the path forward takes time, it’s one we walk together.

Barbara Bu aloe is currently serving her second term in o ce as the mayor of Columbia.

Kathy Horn is a Senior Customer Service Representative at our Customer Service Center! Her bright smile and positive demeanor are infectious, making the workplace more pleasant every day. She takes the time to listen to her customers and have meaningful conversations. Kathy always does whatever she can to help. She will even step outside her comfort zone to help in whatever way she can.

Dr. Luther & Raspberry

At Heartland Veterinary Surgery our purpose is to provide the best surgical experience possible. Dr. Luther brings over 15 years of expertise as a boarded surgeon into your trusted local veterinary clinic where you and your pet are known and loved.

Steamed Mussels

BY HOSS KOETTING

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, or rather it has been for some time now. But we’re getting to the serious phase, when all the holiday parties and other such gatherings are happening. Some will be fully catered a airs; some potlucks, where each guest brings an item to share; and others will fall somewhere on the spectrum.

If you’re going to a potluck or are hosting, you are probably in a quandary over what to provide as your contribution. It should be unique, relatively easy, and — obviously — very tasty. And if you’re like me, you want it to be one of the most talked-about o erings at the soiree.

One option that ts that bill is mussels. is recipe has been a Hoss’s tradition for quite some time, going back to when our boys were young. It happened totally by chance on a trip to St. Louis, at a place called the Broadway Oyster Bar. We were meeting some friends there before a ball game, and Patrick, our friend’s 9-year-old, ordered mussels. Our boys looked at them with some trepidation, but between peer pressure and a double dog dare, they hesitantly tried a couple, after which we had to order more. A Koetting family favorite was born.

e drawback to this dish is that they need to be prepared “a la minute,” or right before serving, to ensure optimal avor and texture. at means if you’re going to someone else’s home, you’ll need to haul your dog and pony show (ingredients, cooking vessel, iced mussels) along with you. e bene t here is that you’ll be the center of attention for a little while!

Also, although mussels are generally available, you’ll want to place an order to guarantee that you will have them on hand. Specify Prince Edward Island, New Zealand green-lipped, or blue mussels when ordering. When purchasing fresh mussels, look for those that are closed tightly. If they have a “beard” attached to the shell, it needs to be removed.

Always discard any mussels that are cracked, don’t close when raw, or don’t open when cooked, as these are bad. Another option is to buy frozen mussels, either whole or on the half shell, which eliminates the guesswork.

Here’s our recipe for basic steamed mussels. It serves approximately six people. Our boys still ght over the last mussel, so be careful of the forks!

Jim “Hoss” Koetting is a retired restaurateur/ chef who enjoys gardening, good food, good bourbon, and good friends.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lb. mussels, in the shell

• 1 medium onion, sliced

• 1 large clove garlic, minced

• 4 Tbsp. butter

• 1 Tbsp. Hoss’s Italian seasoning

• ⅔ cup seafood stock or clam juice

• ⅔ cup dry white wine

• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

• 1 large lemon, sliced

• Crusty bread, for sopping up the extra broth

DIRECTIONS

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the butter, add the Italian seasoning.

2. Add the mussels, toss, then add wine and stock.

3. Cover and steam 3-5 minutes.

4. Add parsley and lemon.

5. Remove mussels with slotted spoon. Discard any that don’t open.

6. Reduce the broth by half.

7. Serve mussels and broth with bread for dipping.

Inside JoJo’s Biscuit Company and Bud’s Classic BBQ.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY SUNITHA BOSECKER

On a cozy Saturday morning, JoJo’s Biscuit Company is already a packed house, suggesting the food is worth the hype. Every mustard-yellow booth is full, and the smell of fresh co ee and warm cinnamon rolls is satisfying. e vibe is “college brunch with style”: a little industrial, a little cozy, a lot of personality. Colorful pop-esque art is displayed on the walls. It seems as if every table is covered with plates — the menu o ers such a plethora of dishes that it’s hard to pick just one. After squeezing into a small table near the window, the perfect people-watching spot, I order what I’ve been told is the house favorite: the cinnamon roll, plus a Cookie Butter Latte (because “cookie butter” is a signature avor).

Our waitress, Avery, beams as she drops o our drinks. e sta members are clad in logoed gray shirts and blue jeans, and there’s a kind of cheerful rhythm among them that is e cient and playful. Behind the counter, the griddle is sizzling, and another order for pancake ights has been placed.

Yes, pancake ights. ere are multiple avors, and you can substitute among them. Our waitress recommends the lemon blueberry pancake with the house-made sweet cream.

When asking around the room “What’s your favorite order?” I hear the Sierra Blanca Burrito, a hearty wrap stu ed with eggs, chorizo, and hashbrowns that hits every comfort-food note imaginable. We end up ordering the JoJo’s Special, which comes with eggs, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast potatoes, and the Coca-Cola Carnitas Breakfast Tacos. Both dishes are ful lling, and we have to get to-go boxes. Another customer says, “Order the Couch Potato if you really want to eat a hearty meal.”

FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY MEALS

Later that week, I interview Jason Paetzold, the owner behind JoJo’s Biscuit Company and its smoky sibling across town, Bud’s Classic BBQ.

When I ask what inspired the names, he tells me both involve family stories. “Bud’s is named after my grandfather. Some of my best memories as a kid were family get-togethers — we’d all work hard during the week, then sit down together on Sundays for a meal,” Paetzold says. “We didn’t go out much, so when my grandpa took me to the ‘coffee shop,’ it stuck with me.”

Bud’s is the restaurant he built in that memory’s honor — a blend of Texas and Kansas City BBQ, opened in August 2021. But JoJo’s, he tells me, is even more personal.

“My dad’s name was Joe,” Paetzold explains. “He died in a plane crash on Christmas Day when I was in high school. My son was born on Christmas Eve — we named him Joey after my dad. When he was little, I called him ‘JoJo.’ So JoJo’s is both of them — my dad and my son.”

He pauses, then adds, “Every Saturday, I’d take my boy out for pancakes. It became our thing. I wanted JoJo’s to feel like that, like a place you go to share a meal, make memories, and start a tradition.”

FROM BISCUITS TO BBQ

If JoJo’s is the bright, biscuit- lled morning, Bud’s Classic BBQ is the smoke-tinged evening dinner. e interior is dark and industrial — think Edison bulbs, metal barstools, and a menu scrawled in marker on brown kraft paper.

e vibe is straightforward and unpretentious, the kind of place where people belly up to the bar, trade stories, and stay for one more beer.

My order: the Sloppy Swine, a specialty sandwich stacked with pulled pork, fried onion straws, and chipotle BBQ sauce, with a side of creamy mac and cheese. It’s everything barbecue should be — smoky, tangy, and unapologetically messy.

Paetzold says his go-to at Bud’s is the brisket, “Or honestly, the smash burger — people don’t expect a BBQ place to have one that good.”

Bud’s o ers a full range of delicious options: smoked meats by the tray, smash burgers, “smoke-fried” wings, and sides that taste like they came straight out of a family reunion. It’s clear this menu wasn’t built in a test kitchen; it was built around the grill, with avor and comfort as the top priorities.

THE HEART OF COLUMBIA

What surprised Paetzold most about launching both spots, he notes, is the community’s response.

“We opened Bud’s with zero advertising,” he says. “None. And the Columbia community just showed up for us. We’ve been especially lucky to work with the university — hosting student athletes, recruiting meals, and events. When we opened JoJo’s, we tried to do it quietly, but the same thing happened — people just came.”

He adds, “We’re really thankful. You can’t plan that kind of support.”

NEXT ON THE MENU

And Paetzold’s not done yet. Along with his business partner, Jim Yankee, he’s working on two new Columbia concepts — both, of course, inspired by family.

Ciabattoni’s, an Italian restaurant bearing Yankee’s grandmother’s maiden name, will serve handmade pasta and prime steaks. After that, Rosie’s Tortilla

Company, named after Paetzold’s grandmother Rose, will bring a family-friendly Tex-Mex spot to town in early 2026.

“Every one of our concepts connects back to family and shared meals,” Paetzold says. “It’s all about experiences — that’s what people remember.”

COMFORT FOOD

It’s easy to see why both JoJo’s and Bud’s have become fast favorites in Columbia. Both are built on the same foundation: great food, heartfelt stories, and a commitment to making every guest feel like part of the family.

(Re)Discover COMO

Cooper’s Landing

Just a few miles south of Columbia o Route K at 11505 Smith Hatchery Road, Cooper’s Landing Riverside Resort & Marina is the go-to place for outdoor concerts, pop-ups and food trucks, camping (or glamping), and getting out and under the stars. e popular destination is now undergoing an eye-popping transformation with the construction of a new general store and music venue.

True/False 2026

e takedown and construction began the week of October 6 and will be ongoing through the winter and early spring. e Cooper’s Landing team asks for patience as the site is under construction, adding that campers and visitors are “still very welcome” during that time. Cooper’s Landing will provide updates on construction, coming pop-ups, food trucks, and music on its website and social media pages. ere is a temporary general store on-site in a shipping container.

Cooper’s Landing is a year-round, full-service marina, campground, store, and live music venue on the banks of the Missouri River right o the Katy Trail.

Columbia has two signature events in the spring: e Unbound Book Festival and True/False Film Fest. T/F, which will run March 5-8, is an annual festival that unfolds and blossoms throughout downtown Columbia, celebrating the best of international documentary lmmaking. T/F brings together lmmakers, artists, and musicians to create an immersive and communal experience focused on cinema constructed from reality.

As the T/F website describes it, the festival remakes Columbia’s college town “into a one-of-a-kind utopia with screenings, live music and art installations,” creating a “cathartic journey that invites participants to do nothing less than to re-imagine reality.”

Creative placemaking means the festival develops the talents and focuses

the energy of the region, seeking out the most creative, energetic people and giving them the tools to transform the downtown core of Columbia, both indoors and out.

According to the fest’s site, “ is is an extraordinarily vital time for non ction lmmaking as an artistic form. Our goal is to forge a supportive, celebratory refuge for lmmakers and amplify the possibilities of creative non ction.” True/ False Film Fest and Ragtag Cinema are projects of the Ragtag Film Society, a 501c3 nonpro t organization.

Ice Skating at … The Kitchen?

Good manners dictate no elbows on the table for mealtime. But what about ice skating in the kitchen? Read that again. at’s right. ere’s wintertime ice skating at e Kitchen Grill & Games at 3711 Discovery Parkway. As e Kitchen’s website says, “Come for the food, stay for the fun.” e Kitchen brings food and games together. Whether you're playing yard games or downing a plate of their Loaded Nachos with your besties, you’ll nd the venue is built for memorable experiences. anks to seasonal ice skating, e Kitchen just might be the coolest spot in Columbia. You can make gure 8s under the winter sky while still catching all the sports action on the mammoth 30-feet-tall television. Stay tuned to e Kitchen’s social media for details about ice skating and all the other amenities available.

(Re)Discover COMO is a monthly feature sponsored by the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting places, events, and historical connections that new residents and visitors can discover, and not-so-newcomers and long-time residents can ... rediscover.

Photo by Kelsey Winkeljohn

VU Holiday Light Show Shines

Annual display will go dark after 2025.

One million LED lights and thousands of combined hours will bring the Veterans United Holiday Bright Lights/Holiday Nights drive-through light display to life for the sixth consecutive year at 550 Veterans United Drive in south Columbia.

e free community event runs December 10 through December 21.

In a news release announcing the 2025 lightshow, VU spokesman Chad Moller also said that the company’s annual light display, which has hosted some 80,000 visitors since the event began in 2020, will be discontinued after this year’s exhibit.

AT A GLANCE

• The one mile driving route welcomes roughly 1,000 cars per evening.

• Approximately 80,000 visitors have driven through the display in the first five years of the event.

• The 2025 display will feature more than one million LED lights across dozens of themed installations.

• Updates and community photos will be shared at facebook.com/ VULights.

TRAFFIC AND ENTRY

The Columbia Police Department will assist with traffic flow. Vehicles should enter from the easternmost Veterans United Drive campus entrance (accessible only from Grindstone Boulevard/State Farm Parkway during event hours) and exit from the westernmost drive. A traffic map is available on the VULights Facebook page.

VU started the light display during the pandemic “as a way to safely bring cheer and connection” to the community, the news release stated.

“Bright Lights/Holiday Nights began as a way to lift spirits during an incredibly di cult time, and it’s grown into something really special,” said Ian Franz, director of culture for VU. “ e event holds a special place in the hearts of our employees, who have loved sharing it with the community.”

Company leaders said the decision to discontinue the light display after 2025 comes as VU continues to experience strong business growth and community involvement. With new developments in the vicinity and the increase in tra c that follows, “it is no longer feasible for the lightshow to continue and still be good neighbors to those in the area,” the news release said.

VU o cials emphasized that the transition re ects both logistical considerations — including nearby

new housing and community facilities — and “a natural evolution toward new opportunities for celebration and giving back.” Company o cials have not speci ed what those “new opportunities” might be.

Meanwhile, motorists can experience the 2025 display Monday through Friday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. To avoid tra c backups, motorists are encouraged to drive through during less crowded times, which typically are after 8:30 pm each night.

No reservations are required, and admission is free. Updates will be posted on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VULights.

VU’s news release added, “Veterans United extends its heartfelt thanks to the community for embracing Bright Lights/Holiday Nights year after year and looks forward to celebrating one last dazzling holiday season together.”

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

ROST LANDSCAPING

MIKE MESSER SHELTER INSURANCE

PERSONALIZED CARE FOR EVERY LANDSCAPE

By Kelly McBride

Find more at rostlandscaping.com

Keeping your landscape happy and healthy requires a hefty addition to your to-do list. Ensuring that you stay on top of yard maintenance before it gets out of control and that you are doing these tasks within the proper timing can be a chore. Luckily, there are services in place that take both the guess work and the real work out of your hands.

Custom Maintenance for Every Client

With a customized maintenance service plan, you can choose between weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly visits, and receive a plan tailored to fit your lifestyle and property goals. Maintenance services available include:

• Spring and Fall cleanups

• custom seasonal container and color plantings

• mulching and edging

• weeding

• deadheading

• pruning and trimming

• bed fertilization

• pre-emergent application

• watering

• seasonal color plantings in containers and beds

Based on the needs articulated, this client uses our maintenance division for Fall and Spring cleanup, monthly maintenance, irrigation services, and tree care. Every month, our team visits this client’s property for weeding, deadheading, pruning, and fertilization, each of which is dependent on the time of year and what is needed.

“We interviewed local landscapers and determined that Rost had the most knowledge in creative yard design,

KELLY M c BRIDE

ROST LANDSCAPING

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

Kelly McBride grew up in Columbia just down the road from Rost Inc., and she's happy to still call Columbia home. She has a degree in plant science and landscape design from MU and was hired as Rost’s landscape maintenance manager after graduation. Her love for plants makes this job very enjoyable when assisting clients with their outdoor tasks. Outside of work, you can find her cooking, gardening, sewing, or doing other outdoor activities.

irrigation, complex tree health problems, a plant’s suitability for pollinators, and waterefficient landscaping techniques”

At Rost, we strive to build relationships with our clients and believe this is the key to achieving customer satisfaction from year to year. As a homeowner, we know it is important that you have someone that can understand your property’s unique needs and how to keep it healthy through every season.

When you take advantage of these services, it ensures quality care and proven results time after time. You no longer have to stress over how to prepare for the next season or find the time to maintain your landscape, there is a team of committed professionals who do that for you.

“For 10 years, the Rost team continues to demonstrate proven professional landscaping skills and is reliable, responsible, and effective in their work.”

When asked about benefits of using Rost’s Maintenance Division, this client specified the immediate response when they had concerns about a plant’s health, deer on the property, or when they wanted yard maintenance prior to hosting events. Regular care and proactivity are vital to the upkeep of your yard and help address problems when they arise.

(573) 445-4465 ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM

“Excellent communication skills and professional, efficient work,” the client added.

In addition to maintaining the health of your landscape ensuring that it thrives for years to come, a maintenance team can also help bring more color, life, and excitement to your landscape with enhanced curb appeal. Taking advantage of seasonal plants tailored to your taste means each season there can be surprises in store whether planted in your beds or in containers on your porches and patios.

“They always creative ideas that always transform my gardens into magical places of beauty.” The client added “The result is always a show stopper,”

The combination of horticultural expertise, dependable scheduling, and proactive care means you can enjoy your outdoor spaces with confidence and pride, season after season.

HOLIDAY MISHAPS AND HOW INSURANCE CAN HELP

By Mike Messer MMesser@ShelterInsurance.com

The holidays are a time for joy, celebration and making memories with loved ones, and keeping your home and family safe adds peace of mind to the festivities. While we all hope the season goes off without a hitch, it's reassuring to know that your auto and home insurance can be a lifeline if unexpected mishaps occur. From theft to parking lot accidents and even hitting a deer—holiday accidents and surprises are more common than you might think. With the right coverage, you can focus on enjoying the holidays instead of worrying about what you’ll do if the unexpected happens.

Decorations or Fire Hazards? Candles and menorahs, Christmas trees and lights all add to the beauty of the holiday season, but they can also be fire hazards if you aren't careful. To avoid fires started by candles:

• Keep them out of reach of children, pets or anything flammable.

• Don’t let your clothing touch the candle's flame.

• Extinguish all the candles in your house completely before you go to bed.

To avoid fires when you put up your tree, keep it away from heat, check its water daily, use GFCI outlets for lights and avoid overloading circuits.

Hopefully you won’t have a fire, but if you do, homeowners insurance can help you rebuild your home. Ask your insurance agent if you have actual cash value, market value, restoration cost or expanded restoration cost coverage.

Theft: Theft is on the rise this time of year. Whether you are out shopping, going out to a party or going out of town, remember these tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Keep your purse tucked tightly in front of you. If you keep it in your cart, a thief can grab it.

• Stay alert in parking lots and park in well-lit areas, preferably close to an entrance—especially at night.

• Don't unlock your car doors until you’re at your car and never leave packages or valuables in sight in your car.

• Lock all your doors, windows and garage doors.

• For online orders, have packages sent to a trusted address or require a signature.

• Use timers for indoor and outdoor lights to make your home look occupied if you’re away.

• If you’re traveling during the holidays don’t post about your trip on social media.

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

MIKE MESSER AIC, LUTCFSHELTER INSURANCE ® ®

With over two decades in the insurance industry, Mike Messer has served as a claims adjuster, supervisor, and underwriter, giving him a well-rounded understanding of how policies work when it matters most — before and after a loss. He prioritizes building relationships based on trust and personalized service, recognizing that every client’s needs are unique. Through annual policy reviews, he helps ensure clients stay informed, confident, and properly covered, providing them with peace of mind and financial security.

Some theft may be covered by your homeowners insurance. Check with your agent so you know what’s covered and what’s not.

Holiday Shopping: You can expect more traffic at stores and malls during the holidays, which can lead to car accidents and parking lot mishaps. In a parking lot, a rogue shopping cart could damage your car or you could hit another vehicle. Wildlife like deer can also be a hazard if you’re traveling to rural areas. Comprehensive and collision coverage may help you fix the damage, but they are optional coverages that must be purchased ahead of time, so check with your insurance agent to make sure you have it in time for the holiday season.

Mizzou’s world-renowned dance squad celebrates 60 years of parades, pomp, and pageantry.

BY MARCUS WILKINS

As autumn sets mid-Missouri ablaze beneath crystal-blue skies, wisps of cirrus clouds oat by, and savory smoke plumes from tailgate grills, few would dispute that it’s the region’s truest time of year.

It’s a cornucopia for the senses during peak football season — especially when the University of Missouri is enjoying gridiron success. Marching Mizzou lls Memorial Stadium with the strains of “Fight Tiger/ Every True Son.” Echoes of “M-I-Z, Z-O-U!” rattle the bleachers. Cannon explosions punctuate each blackand-gold touchdown.

For six decades, the Golden Girls — whose sequined uniforms shine

GOOD AS

almost as brightly as their thousandkilowatt smiles — have twirled, kicked, and pom-pommed at the center of it all. And although the iconic squad might seem as synonymous with Ol’ Mizzou as the ionic Columns on Francis Quadrangle, there was a time when the concept was novel.

e 1960s were a golden era for Mizzou football, when Coach Dan Devine led the Tigers to seventy-seven wins and ve bowl games. MU bands director Charles Emmons, ever the mastermind, knew only innovation would keep his musical marchers in championship form.

e moment of inspiration arrived via Sandy Davidson, a now retired professor from the MU School of Journalism, who in 1964 was a baton-twirling majorette wearing a silver-sequined leotard to band tryouts.

“He said, ‘I’d like to see that in gold,’” Patty Kespohl, former Golden Girls coach for thirty-three years, told MIZZOU alumni magazine in 2015. “We weren’t o cially announced as the Golden Girls — maybe a reporter gave us that name — but we were always looking for twirlers until [Emmons’ successor Alex] Pickard got tired of watching the girls pick up dropped batons.”

Pickard and Kespohl eventually phased out the batons, transitioning to more elaborate halftime dance routines and attracting more experienced dancers. Early choreography included the Charleston and a performance set to the song “Kids” from the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

“ e Golden Girls were still just newbies when I tried out in 1969, but a lot of them had dancing experience being from big cities, so I had to work extra hard,” said Linda Russell, squad member from 1969 to 1971. “Tryouts were in the basement of Jesse Hall, and I practiced for hours in front of a mirror at my sorority. By golly, I was determined to be good.”

e troupe was virtually an overnight success, leading the Homecoming parade and catching the eye of executives at the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals. Kespohl and crew were bused to the Gateway City for ve seasons in the 1970s, trading Saturday gold for

Sunday red and white and sashaying on the Busch Stadium turf as part of “ e Big Red Line.” But the gig proved too much to ask of college students, whose grades su ered, and leadership eventually abandoned the side hustle.

In 1987, former MU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione invited the Golden Girls to perform during halftime and timeouts of men’s basketball games. e thirty-girl team was trimmed to fourteen dancers to accommodate the sport’s smaller environs, which inadvertently tightened the routines and might have led to the squad’s back-to-back championships (1990 and 1991) at the National Cheerleaders Association competition in Dallas. ( e Golden Girls also won the 2003 United Spirit Association Collegiate Nationals competition in Las Vegas.)

“Mizzou basketball was really good in the ’90s, and the Hearnes Center was rocking,” said Chrissy Meyer. “After we won the dance championship, we got to go to Japan and cheer during NBA exhibition games.”

ese days, it’s no exaggeration to say the Golden Girls are internationally known. In addition to the exposure that accompanies Mizzou athletics’ prominence, the squad has performed with Marching Mizzou during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland; has appeared in the Macy’s anksgiving Day Parade in New York; and is slated to attend London Band Week in June 2026.

e Golden Girls also participate in countless annual events supporting a variety of causes, including ALS Walk, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lizzy’s Walk of Faith, Playing 4 Hope, and the SuperFinn Autism Foundation.

“Being a Golden Girl is about so much more than wearing the gold sequins and white boots,” said Cayla Timberlake, a Golden Girl from 2008 to 2012 and current head coach. “It’s about being the face of the University of Missouri and being ambassadors, not only for this community but for the state of Missouri.”

Read on as Golden Girls alumnae share their experiences from the past sixty years.

Linda Russell

* 1969-72, BS Ed ’72, M Ed ’87

Growing up in tiny Craig, Missouri, Linda Russell learned early that stepping outside one’s comfort zone meant growth — especially when you’re 5-foot-3.

“I did a variety of things I never would have tried because everyone had to participate,” Russell said. “It didn’t matter if you were any good, so I joined the basketball team.”

e trend continued when Russell followed her older brother to Mizzou in 1969 and a friend suggested she try out for the Golden Girls. e fearless freshman’s tenacity and work ethic landed her a spot.

“I remember collapsing from heat exhaustion during practice one hot August day,” Russell said. “ ey gave us salt pills back then because they thought they helped, and the next day I was right back out there.”

Russell’s highlight as a Golden Girl was performing in the 1970 Orange Bowl in Miami, where Mizzou lost to Penn State 10-3. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and taught social studies for thirty-one years at Columbia Public Schools.

“I’ve always been comfortable being in front of lots of people in all kinds of situations, and I attribute that to being a Golden Girl,” Russell said. “ e experience opened up so many doors for me.”

Livie Causey

* 2022-present, health sciences major

For current squad member Livie Causey, the memory of making the cut is still vivid.

Her mom, a Mizzou alum (as is her dad), joined her on the long drive from Dallas to Columbia. Before entering Mizzou Arena — packed with hundreds of hopefuls — they paused to pray.

“After making it through the rst day, I thought, ‘OK, it’s getting real now,’” said Causey, who has danced competitively since age 5. “ ey posted the results on Instagram, and I was shaking. My mom and I counted to three and opened it. I just remember screaming, crying — and then Facetiming my dad. He was crying, too.”

Now a veteran Golden Girl, Causey treasures the team’s trips to e Big Apple and e Emerald Isle.

“Waking up at 2 a.m. to rehearse on the New York streets made for a crazy long day, but it was the experience of a lifetime,” she said. “When we travel, we get so silly and goofy — the laughs are the best. We’re a sisterhood, and it’s really shaped who I am today.”

Chrissy Stanard Meyer

* 1989-93, BS ’93

Although she didn’t realize it at the time, Chrissy Meyer came to Mizzou as a throwback to a bygone era — an enthusiastic baton twirler hoping to lead the band.

“I sent in my video and application, and they told me they weren’t holding tryouts, but they sent me an application for the Golden Girls,” Meyer said. “I absolutely fell in love with it — and I ended up twirling at some of the football and basketball games as well.”

Meyer’s tenure overlapped with some lean years for Mizzou football, but she was there for the infamous Fifth Down Game — when referees lost track of the downs, allowing the eventual NCAA champion Colorado Bu aloes an extra play as time expired to defeat the Tigers 33-31.

“I highly recommend dance classes, no matter where life takes you,” said Meyer, who is a pharmaceutical auditor and an Orangetheory instructor. “It teaches you dedication, coordination, and body control, valuable tools regardless of your path.”

PHOTO BY DAVID OWENS

Julie Yoakum Durham

* 2000-04, BA ’04

Julie Yoakum Durham’s career highlight as a Golden Girl occurred 1,400 miles west of Faurot Field, in Las Vegas, where she and her teammates competed in the 2003 United Spirit Association Collegiate Nationals.

As the ten squads were announced in reverse order, from last place to rst, the excitement among the Mizzou girls grew with each revealed name.

“Talk about a build-up,” Durham said. “Announcing ten teams takes a while, and the celebration basically starts when they announce second place — because then you know you’ve won. I’ve never seen so much instant shock and joy in my life.”

Former coach Shannon Fry spotted Durham’s leadership potential early and made her a squad captain as a sophomore. She held the spot for three years and continued to handle choreography after graduating.

“ ey couldn’t get rid of me,” said Durham, laughing. “It takes a lot of patience to lead a dance group, from reading band charts to choreographing for a football eld, basketball court, or stage.”

ese days Durham is the real-world learning coordinator for Lindbergh Schools in St. Louis, where she facilitates mentorships and programming that connects students to various career paths.

“Anything besides an in uencer or professional athlete,” Durham said. “Not that those aren’t great careers, but many kids think that’s all there is. I help them with internships, apprenticeships, and job-shadow experiences to gure out what they want to be when they grow up.”

Amy Trader Bradley

* 2009-13, BS ’13

e list of sports dance teams with a more prominent pro le than the Golden Girls isn’t long, but the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders certainly top it.

A trailblazer in more ways than one, Amy Trader Bradley joined the group after the grueling tryout process — and the corresponding CMT show Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team — in 2015 to become the rst Mizzou alumna on the famed NFL troupe.

“On a whim, I went down to Dallas and didn’t tell anyone because I thought there was no way I would make the team,” Bradley said. “I had nothing to lose, so I decided I was just going to have fun with it.”

Another thing that might have helped was her previous experience on the New York Knicks dance team, where Bradley performed under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

A biomedical engineering major with a minor in computational neuroscience, Bradley was on a team of students that developed a patented, minimally invasive spinal implant for herniated disc repair. She also recently welcomed a baby boy to her family.

“Being a Golden Girl helped me make those other dance teams because of the standard of excellence we were held to,” Bradley said. “Nothing surprised me or intimidated me thanks to my experience at Mizzou.”

na Keller Budzinski

* 1997-2000, BS ’02

Tina Keller Budzinski was fortunate to experience Mizzou football’s reemergence when the Tigers traveled to San Diego for the 1997 Holiday Bowl — the program’s rst bowl game in fourteen years at the time. She was also there for another moment that lives in Mizzou infamy: the “Kicked Ball” game, in which Nebraska scored a last-second touchdown to tie Missouri after a de ected pass was booted into the air and caught.

But her favorite moment happened every Saturday — win or lose — standing mid eld at Faurot, bedazzled in gold sequins and bathed in sunlight during the national anthem.

“ ere are so many things that you get to do and experience as a Golden Girl, but that’s right at the top for me,” said Budzinski, who coached dance at William Jewell College and now serves as varsity head coach of the dance team at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri. “I tell all of my dance students, ‘Find your moment like that and make it last a lifetime.’”

A Celebration of Community and Harvest

The 2025 Farm to Pavilion dinner.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY

SUNITHA BOSECKER

On a warm September evening, roughly 200 guests lled the MU Health Care Pavilion, sitting at long communal tables lined with farm-fresh owers and enjoying the music of Zamboni Funk playing nearby. e sold-out Farm to Pavilion Dinner was an update of a beloved local tradition — the Farm to Table Fundraiser Dinner — held by the Columbia Farmers Market for the past eleven years.

Now in its forty- fth year, the Columbia Farmers Market has long been a cornerstone of the community, connecting local growers with families, chefs, and food enthusiasts who care about where their food comes from. e annual dinner is its biggest celebration.

A FEAST ROOTED IN LOCAL LOVE

is year’s event carried the same down-to-earth charm that began more than a decade ago at Blue Bell Farm. e meal, served bu et-style, featured a bounty of proteins, vegetables, and desserts, all grown, raised, and prepared by market vendors.

e menu was a collaboration among thirty-two local vendors, each donating their time or ingredients. Producers like Sullivan Farms, Happy Hollow Farm, Battle eld Lavender, and Victory Garden Farms contributed to the feast, while others donated drinks, owers, or items for the event’s rst-ever silent auction.

“ is is my second year donating and volunteering,” said Jannah Sanchez, pastry chef, chocolatier, and owner of

Tsokolate. “I love the market — it’s such a great way to connect with other vendors and really feel part of the community.”

For this year’s dinner, Sanchez crafted a decadent peach cobbler using fruit from Peach Tree Farm, along with delicate lavender-rosemary chocolate mendiants made with locally sourced herbs and owers. “For me, it’s the farmers,” she said. “ ey work so hard every single day and still show up with a smile to serve their community. ey really are the unsung heroes of our community.”

FLAVOR MEETS CULTURE

Among the chefs preparing dishes that evening was Abbey Mitchell, owner and founder of Abbey’s Swahili Delights, a Swahili-inspired food business.

“ e Farm to Pavilion Dinner highlights the deep connection between local farmers, food producers, and our community,” Mitchell said. “It allows me to showcase avors that are meaningful to me while celebrating the people who grow the ingredients.”

Mitchell prepared butter chicken with triple coconut rice, a dish that blended her East African roots with the freshness of Missouri-grown produce. “ e chicken was marinated with spices, cooked on a griddle, and folded into a buttery tomato-cream sauce,” she explained. “ e rice, made with coconut oil, milk, and shredded coconut, brought a fragrant, slightly sweet complement to the savory chicken.”

Her goal, she said, was not just to feed people, but to tell a story. “Most people don’t know what Swahili food is; it’s in uenced by African, Arab, Indian, and Portuguese avors. rough my food, I want to connect people and celebrate culture.”

NEW TRADITIONS, SAME HEART

is year’s silent auction was a new addition to the event, featuring prizes donated by local businesses across central Missouri. e bids supported the Columbia Farmers Market’s mission to keep locally grown food accessible and to sustain small farms and makers.

Yet the Farm to Pavilion Dinner is more than a fundraiser; it’s a meal that fosters connections. It’s the farmers who donate their harvest, the chefs who transform it with care, the volunteers who decorate tables with wild owers, and the community that shows up year after year to celebrate them all.

For TJ Sweet, who traveled from outside Columbia to attend, “the energy was inspiring.” He added, “ e conversations amongst strangers were life-giving. Everyone was there in gratitude for the local farmers market and everyone who helps make it such an impactful resource for the community.”

Cottage cheese ranch dip with chili lime rolled corn chips. Delish.

— ASHLEY MINOR

What are your must-buy products at Trader Joe’s?

After years of wishful thinking — and countless road trips to stock up — Columbians finally have their own Trader Joe’s. The store opened October 30 to plenty of buzz and a long line of eager customers. To celebrate the long-awaited arrival, we asked our Facebook followers whether they’ve braved the crowds yet — and, more importantly, which products they say are worth the hype.

Lynn Miller and his daughter, Makayla, were first in line. Lynn is a Columbia construction firm owner. Makayla, a product strategist for Veterans United, was eager to get inside and snatch up some lentil curls. The Millers arrived outside the new store at 2:30 p.m. the day before, though they stayed in their car most of the time. Technically, the line didn't actually begin forming until around 5:30 a.m.

Frozen broccoli. Seriously. It’s the best. Pair that with the pot stickers? Dinner.

— ELLEN DUNCAN

Chunky guacamole made with Greek yogurt. Also, my pantry has a minimum of two bottles of Everyday Seasoning (not to be confused with everything bagel) at all times. So happy to nally have one within minutes, not hours, from home.

— KARLAN MASSEY SEVILLE

— STACY SNOW WE ASKED OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS . . .

Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers, Squiggly Knife Cut Noodles (the spicy ones), and Organic Maple Butter (ridiculously good). It is a fun, and crowded, grocery adventure.

— STEPHANIE BROWNING

Chocolate croissant that rises over night to bake in the morning.

— SUZANNE CLAUS ROTHWELL

Unexpected Cheddar Cheese!

I buy the Taiwanese green onion pancakes from the frozen aisle in bulk. My favorite way to enjoy them is to use them like a tortilla and add in some scrambled eggs, top with chili oil and cilantro – or the spicy and herby Zhoug sauce, another favorite of mine. As for seasonal items, I patiently wait every year for the return of their blue cheese and roasted pecan dip. It pairs perfectly with any of their crackers, but I especially love it with the pumpkin cranberry crisps.

— JORDAN WATTS

Gluten free chocolate mu ns.

— RENEE FEITELBERG

Yes! I have been hauling the dark chocolate frozen strawberries and dark chocolate frozen bananas from the KC Trader Joe’s for too long! So excited I can buy them locally. Also all the dark chocolate they sell is amazing! I was disappointed there wasn’t a feature painted mural of what Columbia is known for on a wall inside. All the Trader Joe’s I’ve been to have one.

— DENISE MCGONIGLE

Ketchup, Kansas style bbq sauce, pork pot stickers, olive oil, coconut oil, chocolate chip chunks, and unsalted caramel squares. Now that we live closer, I’ll pick up more everyday items and snacks.

— NORA DROWN

e PB&J snack duos are a fun twist on a beloved classic. When I took a trip to Seattle, I bought a pack, loved them, then went back and purchased several to take home ... It’s nice to have a TJ’s in town where I can grab them now!

— KELSEY WINKELJOHN

By design, parking is horrible, perhaps not fatal, but so annoying you will feel a brief moment of safety once you enter the curated experience. As with other purveyors, stick to the outside perimeter. You may nd some fresh things, perhaps a step away from any “club” but not as good as your local farmers market or family-owned grocer. e owers are good. It is somewhat fun in the frozen aisle, especially dumplings and curry. Some inexpensive and forgettable wines. Go forth and nd your joy.

— ANN RYAN SOLOMON

e gluten free baguette is amazing!

— ERIN JONES

e Apple + (strawberry, banana, mango, coconut) fruit bars are a total dupe for at’s It! bars and 1/2 the price! So tasty!

— EMILY SEVEREID GEISS

I’ve gone back multiple times for the S’mores Bars, Mushroom Tartlets, and Paneer Tikka Masala.

— SERENA DAVIS

Co ee, chicken breasts ($3.99/ lb!), the cheese selection!, frozen Indian food, ve cheese Greek spiral, ruby port, this seasoning , and the everything but the bagel seasoning.

— ANDREA WANER

e owers are always phenomenal but I’m such a sucker for the dark chocolate-covered pistachios!

— ASHLEY LASITER

Dark chocolate-covered cherries. Stocked up when I visited my daughter in MN. Will be looking into all other favorites listed here.

— KIM GREEN CAIN

Mini Chocolate Chip Croissants and Kung Pao Chicken … both great!

— KAREN CONSALUS PRICE

21 Seasonings Salute has been in my cabinet for 10+ years. It has all the following spices EXCEPT salt! e 21+ spices are onion, garlic, carrot, orange peel, tomato granules, lemon juice powder, oil of lemon, and citric acid, plus a blend of 13 spices: black pepper, celery seed, cayenne pepper, parsley, basil, marjoram, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, savory, rosemary, cumin, mustard, and coriander.

— MURIEL JEAN BROWDER

Everything is great there. Flowers are beautiful. My favorite is chocolate covered pistachios.

— ANNA M c DANIEL

Butter chicken, the beer bread mix, and Everything Bagel dip are MUSTS! But pretty much everything is worth it.

— CARRIE LYNN

Cranberry clementine whole milk yogurt!

— MARGRACE EWING BUCKLER

Joe Joe’s peanut butter and chocolate sandwich cookies. I also bought the beef and broccoli for a fast meal and even my husband (who doesn’t typically like that dish) enjoyed it!

— FRANCINE SAMUEL ROLING

ese are so great! I pan seared in avocado oil and it fed two adults with leftovers. $8.99 for the pack. e avor was great, and I didn’t need to add any extra seasoning. So tender and cooked nicely in 10 minutes. Will be purchasing weekly!

— JADE POE

Dark chocolate peanut butter cups and sparkling lemonade!

— TONI WHITE

e lasagna was scrumptious.

— LINDSAY ROSE JAMES

Dark chocolate-covered pretzels, frozen roasted olive ball, anksgiving stu ng avored kettle chips.

— ELAINE HASSEMER

Ok … more than two, but these are so good! Chicken Soup Dumplings, Mushroom Raviolis, Orange Chicken, frozen green beans, Raisin Rosemary Crisps and Ginger Snaps!

— ADA GALLUP

Mushroom tartlets and dark chocolate peanut butter cups!

— JANET DAVIS

I’ve been twice and I’m not telling ‘cause I don’t want them to sell out.

— WENDE WAGNER