Inside Columbia magazine December/January 2021

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ARE YOU A PASSIVE PARTICIPANT?

have cancer,” it totally implodes their world and shakes them to their core. They’re terrified and just want it GONE/FIXED. Out of fear, they may feel panicked and

It’s important to ask yourself, “Who’s in control of my health?” When was the last time you saw an MD and left your appointment feeling understood and listened to and confident about the plan of care you were given? Were you even given a plan, or anything beyond "try this

of urgency.

WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT You’d call the fire department, right? Because they have the

that’s not really a plan. Well, it sort of is a plan — to wait

experience and the right resources and tools to put out the

until disease shows up.

blaze. But when you’re ready to repair and rebuild after the

DO YOU PROCRASTINATE TILL THERE’S PAIN? Only about 10% of the nerves in our body perceive pain, whereas the other 90% are allowing the organs to function.

You don’t have to have pain for something to be going on.

So, a lot of the time pain is actually the worst indicator that

HAVE YOU BEEN TOO FEAR-FOCUSED?

agree to drastic procedures or treatments out of a sense

Here’s a helpful analogy. Say your house catches on fire.

prescription?" When your doctor says, “Watch and wait,”

your body is in a state of dysfunction.

way

fire, you’d call a carpentry crew, right? Because they have the experience and the tools to rebuild the structure. Both professions are valuable and needed but do different things.

In the current medical system, most doctors — even most holistic ones — approach health and healing as manipulating your physiology instead of restoring it to its natural state, much like the fire department manipulating the flames with water. Unfortunately, many patients keep calling on the conventional medical system, the fire department, when what they really need is us, the carpentry crew, to restore and rebuild.

When most people hear a dire diagnosis, such as “You

WE DON’T GUESS … WE TEST We have each patient fill out a Functional Assessment Questionnaire, or FAQ, to assess what’s going on in each system of their body. Then we do testing based on the answers to uncover where you are having the most stress and what may be triggering that stress. Oftentimes food allergies can interrupt normal immune responses and chronic inflammation can interrupt normal hormone production metabolism. We then recommend a plan to reduce inflammation, start repair, and move toward restoration. Proper stress reduction, supplementation, and chiropractic care are vital to great clinical results.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY. 2401 Bernadette Dr. Suite 209 | Columbia, MO 65202 (573)443-6828

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to rebuild OUR COLUMBIA “CREW” At The Wellness Way, Columbia, Owner Dr. Jeremy Maxwell and his co-practitioners Dr. James Hamilton and Dr. Jessica Smith, have more than 30 years of collective clinical experience.

OUR APPROACH TO INFLAMMATION Dr. Jeremy says most people misunderstand inflammation.

It isn’t all bad, he says. Some inflammation is necessary. For instance, if you sprain your ankle, the resulting inflammation

helps trigger your body to start the process of healing.

But chronic inflammation is a whole different story. Dr. Jeremy explains that there is a silent, proven link between long-term chronic inflammation and many health issues including cancer, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

RESTORATION SUCCESS

Here are two of our Columbia patient success stories

Tonia

Harry

Tonia was a single mom in her early ‘40s; healthy and

Harry was an older blue-collar working man looking

an avid runner who was into marathons. She

forward to retiring and spending time with his

developed pain in her left leg but pressed on, hoping maybe it’d

grandkids. He enjoyed working out and growing his own

just go away. It didn’t. It grew worse. Countless consultations

garden. Despite his efforts, his blood pressure began creeping

followed. She was plagued by severe diarrhea which reduced her

up and he started gaining weight. He came to us and we

down to barely 100 pounds. She ended up unable to walk and in

tested, finding infections in his gut and multiple food allergies

a wheelchair. Doctors said their best guess was Multiple

— well over 30 of them. It turned out he was allergic to almost

Sclerosis, and recommended drugs and chemotherapy. But

all the vegetables he was growing in his garden! Today, Harry’s

Tonia felt the urge to do things differently and came to us. She’s

back on track and his BP and weight are heading in the right

now gaining ground and strength and restoring her health.

direction.

What both Tonia and Harry have in common is that they decided they were the ones in control of their health.

We certainly can't inject and manipulate our way back to health or avoid our way back to health so who would you rather have leading you and your family back to normal? The Wellness Way is a network of restoration clinics that think and act differently, solving health problems where others can't.

It’s the holidays and your water or sewer line needs to be fixed.

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Dear Santa When we take Christmas pictures, I always sit on his lap. I make cookies on Christmas eve and he eats them all. He wakes me up early every Christmas morning. I am not talking about Santa, I am talking about my daddy.

If it wasn’t for Missouri Heart Center, mommy and I couldn’t laugh at daddy putting up the Christmas lights.

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features

Inside Columbia

features

C O N T E N T S

87 SPIRIT(S) OF THE SEASON LOCAL SPOTS OFFER TASTY COCKTAILS TO GO.

94 LEARNING CURVE COVID FORCES FAMILIES TO MAKE TOUGH CALLS.

100 JAM-BOREE FUN FAMILY JAMMIES TO COZY UP IN

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 11

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Dec/Jan 2021 In every issue 14 16

ONLINE FROM THE EDITOR

Life 21

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24

27

48

ENCOUNTERS Home to roost: Julie Plax’s historic house 5 THINGS Libation liberation: 5 things to make with leftover eggnog.

HOME TOUR Sunroom addition serves as source of solace.

32

HEALTH & FITNESS Moving indoors: Make the most of your workouts.

35

ROBINSON’S RAMBLINGS John “Springs” a delightful detour on his family.

DINING GUIDE A sampling of local favorites.

BOOM! 50

Insider 109

111

SPOTLIGHT If the (gum)shoe fits: a fun virtual whodunit.

27

112 CALENDAR 116 BOOKSHELF Jill Orr’s latest book is one for the ages. Literally.

Views 119

120 123 125 128 130

ON THE TOWN DUELING DJS A NEW VIEW DARKOW DRAWS THE FINAL WORD

Flavor

41

39 DASH A decadent and Ritz®-y take on caramel brittle.

42

DINING OUT Batch to the future: Crumbl Cookies debuts.

44

COOKING WITH BROOK Bird Boost: Chicken and dumplings gains a delicious depth of flavor.

On the cover Rilyn Ellison models festive family jammies.

Photo by L.G. Patterson.

44 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 13

what’s online...

Enjoy additional digital content on our website and social media.

Inside Columbia Staff CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carla Leible cleible@zrgmail.com FOUNDER & PUBLISHER EMERITUS Fred Parry fred@insidecolumbia.net

SIP, SIP HOORAY

Warm up your winter with a batch of easy-as-can-be cocoa created in your slow cooker.

Don’t forget the extras, including whipped cream, chocolate jimmies and peppermint candy cane swizzle sticks! Visit insidecolumbia.net and search Slow Cooker Cocoa for the recipe.

PUBLISHER Melody Parry melody@insidecolumbia.net MANAGING EDITOR Olivia DeSmit odesmit@insidecolumbia.net ASSOCIATE EDITOR Peg Gill peg@insidecolumbia.net CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Brook Harlan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amanda Elliott, Mason Stevens, John Robinson, John Darkow, Phoebe Kofman, Lauren Puckett

WING WARRIORS

Visit our Facebook page for some behind-the-scenes silliness from the photoshoot for our new feature, “Dueling DJs,” debuting in this issue on page 123. No bones about it: You’ll get a kick out of seeing two of our Zimmer Communications’ radio talents face off on a topic du jour.

ART DIRECTOR Tim Flanner tflanner@zrgmail.com PHOTO EDITOR L.G. Patterson lg@insidecolumbia.net GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joy Griffin jgriffin@insidecolumbia.net

MERRY & BRIGHT

Meet the man behind Columbia’s original Magic Tree, which debuted in 1995 in the Village of Cherry Hill. Just visit our website and search The Magic Tree Movement.

/InsideColumbia.net

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InsideColumbiaMagazine

For the sixth year in a row, Boone Hospital Center was ranked the #1 hospital in Mid-Missouri by U.S. News & World Report. We were also ranked #4 in the state of Missouri. U.S. News ranks hospitals based on 12 specialties utilizing a mathematical model combining reputation, mortality rate, patient safety and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 15

from the editor

OLIVIA DESMIT

Jammies, Jams and Just Rewards REFLECTING ON A UNIQUE HOLDAY SEASON.

A

Olivia DeSmit Managing Editor | odesmit@insidecolumbia.net Inside Columbia magazine

16 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

lthough definitely cheesy, matching pajamas have stolen the hearts — and wallets — of families for a couple years now. I haven’t dipped my toe in the pool of matching holiday jammies yet, but I definitely have had my fair share of winter-themed sleepwear over the years. Perhaps my favorite so far has been a pink and white sloth set that I received in college.

There is little else a college student appreciates more than comfortable clothing.

And while college students in Columbia have been at least partially inseat all semester, rotating somewhere between pajamas all day and normal class-wear, elementary, middle and high school students haven’t had the same options. A lot of parents found themselves in a jam, left with extremely difficult choices as the semester started — stuck between giving their child a normal school experience, when available, and concerns over the health and safety of their family.

Writer Lauren Puckett spoke with several Columbia families about the choice they made regarding school this year, and why it was the best choice for their needs at the time. With the recent school board decision of sending elementary kids back to virtual until next year, even more difficult times spent trying to help educate your child at the kitchen table await.

After helping your child with virtual learning during the day, you’ll probably need something to help you unwind. Check out six local bar and restaurants’ winter-themed to-go cocktails on page 100 and order one, or two, for some athome luxury. You earned it.

If you aren’t a parent, the scrumptious spirits will still hit the spot; and enable you to support local businesses while also staying warm and cozy at home.

Perhaps you should enjoy that warm mulled wine in some holiday jammies?

ADVERTISING COORDINATORS Jeff Ausmus jausmus@zrgmail.com

WINTER IS HERE

Kalie Kramel kkramel@zrgmail.com

ARE YOUR TIRES READY?

Inside Columbia Staff

Stefanie Joseph sjoseph@zrgmail.com MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Cathy Atkins catkins@insidecolumbia.net Lindsey Baxter lbaxter@insidecolumbia.net Josh Arnold jarnold@insidecolumbia.net Laura Fuchs lfuchs@insidecolumbia.net Blake Dunlap bdunlap@insidecolumbia.net

IF IT'S ROUND AND RUBBER, LEE'S SELLS IT! — COLUMBIA—

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INSIDE COLUMBIA MAGAZINE Zimmer Strategic Communications 3215 Lemone Industrial Blvd., Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201 www.InsideColumbia.net Office: 573-875-1099

Don’t let your injury or illness make you miss out on the holidays You Have a Choice.

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Inside Columbia is published by Zimmer

Strategic Communications, 3215 Lemone Industrial Blvd., Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201, 573-875-1099.

Copyright Zimmer Communications, 2020.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Postage paid at Columbia, Mo. The annual subscription rate is $15 for 1 year.

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Details SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription rate is $15 for 1 year.

Call 573-875-1099 to place an order or to inform us of a change of address, or subscribe at www.InsideColumbia.net.

For bulk subscription rates, contact Becky James at 573-875-1099.

ADVERTISING Inside Columbia is the best way to reach Columbia’s upscale consumers. Information about advertising is available online at www.InsideColumbia.net or by calling 573-875-1099.

NEWS RELEASES & EVENT NOTICES Contact editor at 573-875-1099, or email to editor@insidecolumbia.net.

ON THE TOWN Send your photos with the event description and subject names for captions to editor@insidecolumbia.net, or mail to 3215 Lemone Industrial Blvd., Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201. Not all photos received will be published.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to 3215 Lemone Industrial Blvd., Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201 or email to editor@ insidecolumbia.net. Inside Columbia reserves the right to publish any letter to the editor.

CUSTOM PUBLISHING Let us publish a specialty magazine exclusively for your company or organization.

Call Melody Parry at 573-875-1099 or email melody@insidecolumbia.net

REPRINTS Want to reproduce an article you’ve seen in Inside Columbia? We can provide reprints and customize them on glossy stock for your promotional needs. Minimum quantity is 500 copies. Call Cathy Atkins at 573-875-1099 or email catkins@insidecolumbia.net.

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INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 19

Unless You’re in the Business Of Printing Money, You’re Probably Spending Too Much On Your Printing.

A Few Facts Printing is expensive. It requires tons of paper, different colors of ink and toner, the printer itself, and service when something breaks down. Some companies are spending as much as 3% of their annual revenue on printing.

Next to rent and payroll, printing is ranked as a business’ third largest expense.

Unseen and Unexamined The costs of printing often go unanalyzed since they’re hard to track and manage. With help from a Managed Print Services provider your business can gain increased transparency and specialized print services that can significantly cut costs.

The Hard Truth About Hardware Businesses may overspend on print hardware because they overestimate how many devices they actually need and may use more paper and toner than necessary.

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Downtime Can Cut Down On Profits When print devices breakdown, it can interrupt your workflow and cause unproductive - and unprofitable - downtime. This is exacerbated when your business is forced to search for a service technician.

With a Managed Print Service provider, there’s no time wasted on searching: One call will initiate a rapid response that leads to resolution of the issue.

Shine a light on your printing cost blind spots.

Contact Sumner One to learn more about our free managed print services assessment.

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Inside Columbia

PINESOLVE Pinecones add a pretty, natural touch to seasonal centerpieces — and are easy to collect. But they can harbor unwanted insects.

To prevent potential pests, soak them in a bucket of water with a ½ cup of vinegar for 30 minutes.

Remove and let dry overnight on newspaper. Then bake in the oven at 250°F for several hours.

life C O N T E N T S

22

A Place In History

24

5 Uses For A Leftover Seasonal Sip

27

Room For Hope

32

Ideal Indoor Workouts

35

Visit A Pickle Sure To Tickle

22 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

Unique Antique AN HISTORIC HOME CONNECTS PEOPLE ACROSS CENTURIES.

BY PHOEBE KOFMAN · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

A

s a former art history professor, and now adjunct at the University, Julie Plax has a great appreciation for the ancient and the antiquated. It was this love that led her after many years to purchase one of Columbia’s oldest homes — and discover the personal connections the home seems to weave together throughout time.

Plax purchased the historic Greenwood home, built sometime in the 1830s by Walter Raleigh Lenoir, two years ago, but her fascination with it actually began in the 1970s during a visit to an antique shop.

Melissa Williams and her father owned the property, and Williams ran an antique shop called “Greenwood Heights” at the property. “I went to the antique store and was friendly with Melissa and loved the house,” Plax says. “I remember thinking I’d like to live there someday.”

Fast forward almost 40 years and Plax, now a retiree, was living in Arizona casually perusing real estate listings in her spare time when she stumbled across a listing for the Greenwood home. “I like to look at real estate from places I have lived in, so I looked at Columbia and there it was.” Plax says. She checked the listing religiously until one day, it had suddenly gone off the market. Determined to find out what happened to this home that seemed to strangely speak to her somehow, she contacted the realtor and eventually purchased the home a year

later, making sure to connect once again with her friend Melissa Williams, who now owns an antique and painting gallery downtown, when she moved back to Columbia.

While doing minor repairs to the home, Plax began discovering the home’s ability to connect people. She decided to repair the greenhouse on the property, which had succumbed to weather and wood rot, and began asking around for a handyman. A friend offered someone he knew, Greg Hooker, and Plax soon discovered that Hooker had actually been one of the original builders of the greenhouse, and had done repair work on the home many years ago.

“There are a lot of coincidences like that surrounding the house,” Plax says. Perhaps the most odd event happened on a Sunday afternoon about a year ago. “A woman I didn’t know knocked on the door and said, ‘My husband and I are on a genealogical vacation and my grandfather was born in this house.’ She wanted to take some pictures, so I showed her around and she showed me some pictures of the home back when her ancestors, the Kurtzes, lived here.”

One day, antique aficionado Williams came to visit, and Plax mentioned the couple who had stopped in to see her. Williams showed her an etching in a window in the parlor that says ‘DWB Kurtz Jr.’ with the date ‘1-2-11.’” It seems that previous owners of the Greenwood home knew that it would stand for centuries, and that perhaps one day their grandchildren might discover a small piece of their history.

But Plax doesn’t just love her Greenwood home for its ability to relay history. She loves the hand-carved fireplace mantles, the antiques her parents had collected that now furnish the home, her ability to teach part-time at the University from her home and the fact that after four decades, she was able to fulfill her wish of “living there someday.”

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 23

life

5 THINGS

Using Your Noggin 5 THINGS TO DO WITH LEFTOVER EGGNOG.

BY PEG GILL

S

o, you were too tempted by the thought of enjoying some seasonal sipping that you caved on a carton of eggnog. Or maybe you whipped up a big batch of your own. Either way, if you still find you have an ample amount of the festive favorite left after Santa’s split, fret not. There are plenty of good ways to use it up. Here are five:

1

Lattes.

No fancy frother? No prob. You can still make a coffeeshopquality quaff. Simply shake some eggnog in a lidded jar or blend with an immersion blender till frothy. Warm in the microwave and pour in a mug of espresso. Top with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

2 In mashed sweet potatoes.

Swap out the milk you’d normally use for eggnog. It’ll make your spuds subtly sweet and super creamy.

3 For French toast.

Amp up your a.m. by putting a twist on the traditional toast, using challah bread and eggnog in place of milk. A pinch of cinnamon and bit of vanilla will also elevate the delicious dipped dish.

4 Make eggnog ice cream.

This may sound strange, even counter intuitive — after all, it’s cold outside! — but flipping the classic creamy concoction into a frozen form changes it in a surprising and pleasant way.

5 Turn it into frosting.

Beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 4 ounces softened cream cheese till smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low; gradually add 1 (2-pound) bag + 1 cup powdered sugar and ½ cup + 2 tablespoons eggnog. Beat until blended, occasionally scraping sides of bowl. Great on red velvet or carrot cupcakes.

24 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

COLUMBIA

SHOWCASE KITCHENS & BATHS

TOP KITCHEN REMODELING TIPS FOR A SHOWCASE KITCHEN When looking to design your new dream kitchen, prioritize functionality along with aesthetics. For instance, keep your flatware by your dishwasher for easy unloading to save time. Find ways to make your kitchen work better for you.

In thinking about your new kitchen, keep a functional floor plan in mind. Placing the right size of island and cabinets in a space to keep proper sizes of walkways is critical to a functional plan.

Don't forget the small details. While cabinet and countertop colors are the first things guests will see, the little details are what will bring an ordinary kitchen to a showcase kitchen.

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26 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

Tom and Robin May, along with their children, Matt and Madison, enjoy their home’s new sunroom addition – and the gifts of life and family. Matt received a bone marrow transplant this summer in Kansas City while it was being built.

Making Old Things New SUNROOM ADDITION BRINGS JOY DURING DIFFICULT TIMES.

BY ROBIN MAY · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

HOMES TELL STORIES ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM — their struggles and their triumphs. They tell of quiet moments and loud celebrations, of dreams that come to life and others that are lost without warning.

OUR HOUSE — specifically our new addition — tells all this and more. Its story is one of beauty and tragedy, woven into a narrative of cancer and COVID that no one could have predicted.

DREAM BIG For years I had dreamed of adding a sunroom to our home. Although our house was built in 2007, the large deck that expanded across the back of the

home already needed repairs when we purchased it in 2013. After a couple of failed attempts to power wash and restore the worn-down deck, it was clear it needed to go.

Shocked at the price to replace the existing deck with maintenance-free materials, I began to explore other options. I figured if we were going to spend a significant amount of money for a new deck, now was the time to make my

dream come true.

Our home is happiest when it is filled with people. Whether it’s 100 cross — country runners from Rock Bridge High School or 20 young marrieds from our church, we love having it full of activity and laughter. But we also love the quiet of our home and I covet moments spent journaling and writing. I wanted a new space that would create opportunities to fill my soul — both by entertaining and by

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 27

Jeff Herigon’s team from Hercon Construction built the addition. He said good spaces draw people to them and he enjoys seeing the family be drawn to this open and bright one — even the family dog.

being still and productive. Thankfully, my husband, Tom, agreed.

“The room evolved from being a screened-in porch to a three seasons room, to ultimately being a four seasons room because we wanted to be able to use it yearround,” he says.

After meeting with several builders over the span of two years, we were excited to choose Hercon Construction to help further refine our dream space and bring it to life. Like me, Hercon Owner Jeff Herigon attended a small, rural school and many years ago, our schools competed against each other in sports. Even though we hadn’t spoken in decades, our familiarity with one another immediately helped build trust and made communicating with one another easy.

“Jeff helped us figure out what we really wanted versus what we thought we wanted by discussing how we would use the room and how we envisioned living in it,” Tom says.

By the end of February, we were

28 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

finalizing the plans and ready to move forward building a 19-foot by 18-foot four seasons room and attached deck. But none of us saw what was coming next.

HEARTACHE & HAPPINESS March brought the beginning of the pandemic and with it, we began to question our sanity in moving forward with the addition. The potential far-reaching and long-enduring impacts of COVID were just beginning to come to light and prompted us to evaluate the implications to our financial security. But eventually, we decided that we had already spent

Before

BEFORE: Before the addition, twin windows facing the north flanked the fireplace.

AFTER: To keep the height between the existing window and new door level, the Mays added a transom above the door leading to the sunroom. It mimics a similar transom above the front entry door to create design consistency throughout the home.

After

Friends of the family helped keep the project going while they were living in Kansas City. Scott Fritz from J Louis Crum helped with the heating and cooling system and Jaira Grathwohl, of Grathwohl Homes and Berkshire Hathaway made design decisions.

BOOM MAGAZINE 29

The attached, maintenance-free deck completes the space that is perfect for entertaining. The nook in the corner is ideal for quiet reading and writing.

a significant amount of time energy getting a plan and financing in place, and we weren’t turning back from here.

In April, we were challenged to reevaluate this decision when we received the devastating news that our son, Matt, had once again been diagnosed with leukemia. Originally diagnosed when he was 18 years old in 2017, we knew that if his cancer ever relapsed, he would need a stem cell transplant.

Now faced with this reality, we quickly packed up the car and dropped Matt at the front door of the University of Kansas Medical Center. Because of COVID, there was no going with him.

No visiting him. No holding his hand to cry and process the news.

Instead, the best we could do is sit in a parking lot across the street from his hospital room. There we would Facetime and wave at one another’s silhouettes.

Although we couldn’t be with Matt during those first 15 days of hospitalization, Tom and I immediately decided we weren’t leaving Kansas City.

We wanted to be close to Matt and were determined to have a “home” for him to

30 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

come to once he was discharged. With the help and generosity of our Columbia community, we found that home and remained committed to living there until Matt could return to Columbia after his recovery from his stem cell transplant.

Meanwhile, as Matt’s treatments continued in Kansas City, so did building the addition in Columbia. Just as Matt’s body was being made new, so was our home.

“Given Matt’s cancer treatments and your family’s situation, there was an added element of responsibility and ensuring all phases progressed smoothly,” Herigon says. “Everyone is busy in the residential construction market right now but as soon as the project’s objective and its unique situation was explained, everyone jumped on board without hesitation and did what was required to meet the project goals.”

HOMECOMING After five months in Kansas City, we returned home and realized the space was even more beautiful in person

than it was in the photos we had been receiving. Maximizing natural light and clean lines, the large windows, shiplap walls and beadboard ceiling tie in perfectly with the 12- by 24-inch porcelain tile flooring. The 14-foot ceiling opens the entire space, making it feel spacious and connected to the outdoors. The casual décor creates a comfortable space where we can be relaxed and feel at home.

Yet the most beautiful thing about this new space is the hope that lives in it. It is a physical reminder that we are blessed with a lovely home and the gift of today in which to enjoy it. It is a symbol of old things being made new; of tears turning to laughter and of mourning giving way to joy.

Robin May is a former editor of Inside Columbia. To read more of her writings, listen to her podcast or learn more about Matt’s transplant journey, go to www.

RobinMayMinistries.com or find her on Facebook.

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INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 31

life

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Winter is Coming

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR INDOOR WORKOUT.

BY MASON STEVENS · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

F

or outdoor exercisers, the concern isn’t White Walkers.

Instead, hikers, bikers, runners and the like need to watch out for freezing temps and slick surfaces. If you’re one of the many folks who has spent the last several months staying fit outside, you may be struggling to keep up your routine. This could be the perfect time to move your fitness indoors. But what does that look like?

When creating an indoor training plan, try to focus on a smarter, stronger and healthier approach. A smarter training plan is evidence-based and specific to your needs. If you’re a runner

32 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

that may mean incorporating single leg exercises since you’ve only ever been on one leg at a time when you run. Cyclists might want to train those explosive muscle fibers to help them with hill climbs and sprints. Hikers would do well to incorporate step-ups and lunges to prepare for steep terrain on unstable ground. As long as your plan is purposeful and relevant to your goals, then you’re setting yourself up for success.

Now, whether the goal of your winter routine is to simply maintain your fitness or to feel even stronger pounding the pavement in the spring, resistance

training is the answer. Strength training can look very different depending on your situation. For some, this might mean spending hours in the squat rack.

For others, a lot can be accomplished with body weight alone. As long as your muscles are being challenged enough to break down and rebuild stronger, then you’re making progress.

A lot of training plans can make you stronger, but smart routines will also make you healthier. A fitness program focused on health can help improve the immune system, something especially helpful during winter months. Healthier fitness routines also strengthen the heart

life

and lungs, along with the muscles and joints. Healthy exercise plans incorporate a dynamic warm up, where both muscles and the cardiovascular system

HEALTH & WELLNESS

STRENGTH TRAINING While power movements are fast and explosive, strength training is performed slower and usually with more

When creating an indoor training plan, try to focus on a smarter, stronger and healthier approach. A smarter training plan is evidence-based and specific to your needs. are prepped for tougher movements to come. Power, strength and cardio conditioning make up the majority of a safe and healthy routine. The cool down is a great time to slowly bring heart rate down and work on mobility. Three to five days of a routine such as the one described here can go a long way toward improving both health and fitness.

DYNAMIC WARM UP A proper warm up only needs to take about 3-5 minutes. The goal is to gradually increase breathing, heart rate, body temp and range of motion.

Calisthenic exercises such as jumping jacks, body weight squats, high knees and heel kicks are a great place to start.

An ideal warm up will have you breaking a sweat without tiring you for the more challenging exercises to come.

POWER AND EXPLOSIVENESS Often lumped in with strength training, power development is a specific form of resistance training. It’s focused on quick explosive movements, typically with lighter weights or no weight at all.

This can include plyometrics such as rebounding squat jumps, or weighted exercises such as kettlebell swings. A good place to begin your power training is to choose two to four exercises, and complete three sets of five reps per exercise.

repetitions. A good rule of thumb is to try to complete eight to ten strength exercises per workout. Depending on the exercise, completing three sets of between eight and twelve repetitions is ideal. It’s best to complete exercises for a variety of muscle groups and movements. Exercises such as pushups, rows and dips don’t require much equipment and are great for upper body pushing and pulling. Likewise, step ups, lunges and stiff leg deadlifts are great lower body strengtheners. Core exercises such as planks, swimmers and side bridges will help improve the strength and stability of abs, back, waist and hips.

FLEXIBILITY AND MOBILITY Lastly, a great way to end a training session is with a gradual cool down.

Stationary and dynamic stretches are both great for improving flexibility at the joints, as well as full body mobility. The goal is to focus on stretching all of the major muscle groups that you challenged during the workout. That includes the chest, back, waist, front and back of the thighs, and lower leg. You can maintain each stretch and movement for 1-2 sets of 15-30 seconds each.

Mason Stevens is owner and exercise physiologist at MET-Fitness in Columbia. He has his bachelor’s in nutrition and fitness and has more than 10 years of experience in sports conditioning, coaching and fitness.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 33

34 BOOM MAGAZINE

life

ROBINSON’S RAMBLINGS

PICKLE SPRINGS MISSOURI’S HIDDEN GEM WRITTEN AND PHOTO BY JOHN DRAKE ROBINSON

O

ur family needed a break. We loved our holiday vacation along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. But we were headed back home to Columbia. Our crowded van, packed to the limit with baggage and water toys and restless dogs and people, was making good time up I-55. By the time we hit Missouri’s Bootheel we were looking for a break, somewhere besides a gas station to stretch our legs, somewhere the kids had never been.

On earlier trips we had detoured through the Arcadia Valley to reach the boulderous adventures of Elephant Rocks

State Park, a guaranteed kid pleaser. But that would take a half day. Was there a quicker jog off the interstate to give the family a manageable, memorable hike? I searched my mental rolodex, and remembered a spot just 20 minutes off I-55 along Highway 32 between Sainte Genevieve and Farmington, where a small brown sign points to Pickle Springs Natural Area, a designated National Natural Landmark.

It’s a hidden gem worthy of a visit by John Muir or National Geographic, with its collection of weather-beaten sandstone shapes, creations that Bryce Canyon

would be proud to display: Dome Rock.

Owl’s Den Bluff. Mossy Falls. And without the heavy forest canopy the winter views are spectacular.

We parked next to the only other vehicle in the lot and walked a few yards toward the trail, bending an ear toward the woods, listening for the owners of the pickup parked next to our van. In the crisp winter air, there was no sound. Immediately we reached a loop trail and took the path to the right, stopping every few yards to peer into the wilderness. Within seconds, steep walls of a box canyon enveloped us. Sandstone

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 35

boulders the age of Pluto towered over our heads, spring water seeped beneath.

Intrigued, our family caravan walked single file down the path, powered by this unfolding carnival for the eye. With perfect theatrical timing, mother nature arranged her priceless sculptures before us: Headwall Falls. Rockpile Canyon.

Pickle Springs.

A part of me wants to keep these charms secret. They’re rewards for observant visitors who’ve done their research. Another part of me points with awe to this undiscovered spot in these

remote mountains, among the oldest exposed rocks on the continent.

We greeted two backpackers as they approached. These were the guys from the pickup truck, parked in the lot. Father and son, by the looks of them. They told us they were hiking this trail and adjacent Hawn State Park, which many people consider Missouri’s most beautiful state park with its vistas of virgin pines.

The backpackers foreshadowed what would unfold on the rest of our twomile trek along the Pickle Springs trail.

We marveled at the stunning beauty of

this place: Terrapin Rock. The Keyhole.

Cauliflower Rocks.

The discord of world events seemed a billion miles away. Far away, too, seemed the violent Civil War death of William Pickles, for whom this spot is named.

And even though home was calling, we completed this tranquil trail in the time it takes to watch an episode of Ozark.

John Drake Robinson is a former director of the Missouri Division of Tourism and has driven every mile of highway in the state.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 37

One for you ...one for me!

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local retailers or stonehillwinery.com

38 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

Inside Columbia

flavor C O N T E N T S

41 A Decadent Dessert That’ll Melt In Your Mouth

42

New Shop Offers Colossal Cookie Cache

EGGCELLENT IDEA Ever forget to take the eggs out of the fridge before you begin baking? Try this tip: Place them in a bowl of warm tap water for 5-10 minutes while you start measuring/mixing your other ingredients. You’ll be back on track and ready to crack in no time!

44 Divine Duo: Chicken And Dumplings

48

Dining Guide

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flavor

DASH

Holiday Chocolate Treats SALTY MEETS SWEET.

BY AMANDA ELLIOTT • PHOTO BY L.G. PATTERSON This is a delightful holiday treat that hits all the sweet spots from the buttery caramel and dark chocolate to the chewy dates and cranberries. It makes a wonderful gift as well as the perfect ending to all your festive celebrations.

Salted Caramel Brittle

(Serves 6-8)

Ingredients

Directions

2 sleeves of Ritz® crackers (you can use saltines but I like the extra buttery texture).

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup butter 1 cup dark chocolate chips 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips ½ cup chopped skin on roasted peanuts ½ cup chopped dates ½ cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 10x15 pan with parchment paper and then lay out the Ritz® crackers and overlap them. In a small saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to a simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over the crackers and place in the oven for 7 minutes. Remove and place chocolate chips over the caramel crackers and place back in oven for 3 more minutes. Remove from the oven and with an offset spatula, smooth chocolate over the surface of the crackers and then sprinkle the dates, cranberries and peanuts over the chocolate. Place in the refrigerator and cool completely — 6 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator, break into pieces and serve.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 41

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DINING OUT

42 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

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DINING OUT

Crumb One, Crumb All CRUMBL COOKIES COMES TO COLUMBIA.

BY PHOEBE KOFMAN · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

F

irst-time franchisees Beverly and Chad Davis have brought a taste of Utah sweetness to Columbia.

Crumbl Cookies opened in the Broadway Market Place in November. The Columbia location will offer more than 120 specialty cookies, staple favorites and a recent new venture for the brand: Crumbl (ice) Cream.

While many of Crumbls’ cookies are served warm, some can also be served chilled, such as frosted sugar cookies.

The best part is that these cookies are not typical average cookie size. “The size of the cookies is about the size of your whole hand,” Beverly says. “We have a family of six and it takes us a while to go through 4 cookies.”

The Davises have their staple favorites: the chocolate chip cookie and the sugar cookie, but Crumbl is always experimenting with different flavors so their menu changes weekly with four different flavors. That way, customers can always have new cookies to try.

“My favorite is the Molten Lava cookie because of the gooey center when you break it open,” Beverly says.

So how did a couple living in Columbia end up involved in a Utah cookie franchise? “Our friends in Utah started a Crumbl store so that’s how we heard about it,” Beverly says. “And before we made it official, we used the nationwide delivery to try some of the cookies before we got into the business.”

Although the husband and wife team do not have any professional baking experience, their top priority will be making sure people are happy with their cookies. Chad even learned how to bake his very first batch of cookies during his

training. “He realized that if he owns a cookie business, he’s got to be able to at least make a batch of cookies on his own,” Beverly says.

Even though this is the Davis’s first time owning a store, Beverly says she’s excited about being able to bring joy into people’s lives, “Because who doesn’t love cookies?” she asks. “When we did our training in Utah, we saw everyone who came in and saw the expressions on their faces, bringing smiles to people’s faces especially with all the chaos going on in the world.”

Besides bringing customers cookie contentment, Beverly’s also happy to give them a peek behind the curtain — or apron — via the store’s unique layout.

“You can see bakers mixing the dough

through the glass; you can see that it’s made fresh every day, the kitchen is in the middle so when you come in the wonderful scent of cookies hits you when you walk through the door,” Beverly says.

The brand’s newest offering, Crumbl Cream, has ice cream flavors modeled after their signature cookies with a new flavor every month. But beyond offering a wide range of cookie and ice cream flavors, this cookie unique store is serving another purpose for the Davises: “I love helping and working with people and also it’s something to pass on to our children,” Beverly says. Of their four kids, the couple hired their 16-year-old daughter as a part-time employee — after she passed her interview, of course.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 43

Brook Harlan is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He is a culinary arts instructor at the Columbia Area Career Center.

Cold-weather Comfort CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS SOOTHES THE SOUL.

BY FOOD EDITOR BROOK HARLAN • PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

T

his time of year, probably more than ever, you need something warm and comforting for dinner.

Chicken and dumplings hits the spot.

Depending on where you grew up, it may be more of the epitome of comfort food, passing up even mac and cheese

44 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

and pot pies. There are several variations using a whole chicken, just breasts or just legs or thighs. Some keep it traditional with just the chicken and dumplings — others add vegetables. The biggest contention involves the dumplings. They may be lumps of dough or thick noodles.

Luckily, there is no right answer; it can be whatever you want it to be.

CHICKEN I prefer using a whole chicken, not because it is easier (it’s not), but because it develops a much better stock than just

flavor

COOKING WITH BROOK

using a single part of the chicken such as only breasts or thighs. It may take a little longer, but the finished product is worth it. There is more viscosity to the stock and there is a much stronger chicken flavor throughout the dish. The chicken could also be cooked the day before and saved in the refrigerator. Heavily salt your chicken (let sit for 15 minutes to an hour to soak in), add it to your pot along with your aromatics (garlic and herbs) and water. The chicken should be mostly covered with the water.

It will take about an hour to an hour and a half to cook it. You want the chicken tender enough that the leg can be pulled off easily but doesn’t fall off in the pot on its own. Once the chicken is cooked, you can remove it and let it cool until it’s cold enough to pull the meat off. As you pull off the skin, bones and other parts that are not meat you want to eat, put them back into the liquid to extract more flavor.

Once the chicken is all pulled, you can refrigerate and save for the next day or reserve on the counter until you are ready to add the same day.

VEGETABLES I like to add vegetables; they add great color to the dish and you can be a little more healthy. I prefer to sweat them, then make the roux with the vegetables.

Others add them whole and simmer them with the chicken to help flavor the stock, then cut them after and add them back with the chicken. Onions, carrots and celery are common, but mushrooms, corn, peppers, or even some greens are also great options.

DUMPLINGS The key to the dumplings no matter if you are making flat or round is to not overwork them. The more they get worked, the more gluten is developed and they will become tough. You want to work the dough until it just comes together; this will help keep them fluffy and light. The baking powder and egg will also help the dumpling puff as it cooks in the liquid.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 45

flavor

COOKING WITH BROOK

CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS R

CHICKEN SOUP BASE 1 whole 4-5-pound chicken, heavily salted (a larger chicken will work, you may need to increase other amounts slightly) 6 cups water or chicken stock (stock will give a richer flavor) 4 to 6 cloves of garlic 2 sprigs of thyme 1 or 2 bay leaves

VEGETABLES AND ROUX 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, small diced 2 medium carrots, small diced 2 to 3 stalks celery, small diced 3 tablespoons flour ½ cup milk ½ cup cream Chicken stock made from the whole chicken at the beginning Salt and pepper as needed (may need less salt if using pre-made stock)

DUMPLINGS 1½ cups flour 1 tablespoon chives 3 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley 1½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt ( or ½ teaspoon sea or table salt) 1 egg ½ cup milk 2 tablespoons melted butter ½ cup chicken stock, more as needed (extra can be added back to the pot)

GARNISH 2 tablespoons chives, sliced 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, minced

46 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

E

C

I

P

E

DIRECTIONS Put the whole chicken into a 4- to 6-quart pot. Salt heavily, gather your other ingredients, then cover with water and bring to a simmer for an hour over low heat. Carefully remove the chicken and place onto a tray or casserole pan to cool for five to 10 minutes. Pull off all of the skin and place it back into the pot. Pull off all of the meat and shred into bite-sized — or other size as desired — pieces and reserve in a separate plate or bowl. Put any leftover bones, skin or other parts back into the pot, return the heat to low, and simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes to extract some extra flavor while you prep the rest of the ingredients.

Once all the ingredients are ready, strain the chicken stock, save the garlic to add later, and discard the rest. Rinse the pot and clean if necessary. Add the butter and oil to the pot over medium heat and sweat the onion, carrots and celery. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook while frequently stirring until fragrant and there is a slight brown on the edges of the onions. Add the flour and stir until it has absorbed all of the fat. Keep on medium heat and stir in milk, cream and about ¾ of the chicken stock. Make sure to hold back at least 1 cup of stock to make dumplings. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes while you make the dumpling dough/batter.

DIRECTIONS Mix flour, chives, parsley, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix egg, milk and melted butter. Slowly mix the liquid into the dry mixture. The mixture should be sticky, but not overmixed. If it seems a little dry, add a little more chicken stock. Slowly spoon balls or disks between the size of a nickel to a quarter as you prefer into the simmering pot. Cover with the lid and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the chicken, and smashed garlic reserved from making the stock, cover and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes. The dumplings should be plump and a little bouncy when pressed down. Turn the heat off and let sit for a few minutes.

Top each bowl with a minced parsley and chives, serve and enjoy.

T H E

B A N K

O F

From family traditions to cozy couch read-alouds, the holidays bring us all together. 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.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 47

This section offers a rotating selection of restaurants in Columbia drawn from our extensive online dining guide. The restaurants featured in thisDINER section are picked by our magazine editors and are not chosen with any consideration to advertising. To include your restaurant in our extensive online dining guide, email peg@insidecolumbia.net.

ERNIE’S CAFÉ & STEAKHOUSE BREAKFAST & DINERS

no-go due to social distancing, but fortunately

If you’ve never felt called inside by the

the food hasn’t changed. That includes Ernie’s

twinkle lights lining this corner spot

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famous “chopped cow.” Ernie’s tends to fill up

downtown, this is your sign to go in.

Eating at Ernie’s has been a quintessen-

fast at breakfast, especially on the weekends,

Make sure you start off with either the

tially Columbian thing to do for years.

and during the warmer months, the outside

fried artichoke hearts with chipotle aioli

There’s nothing fancy, just your most

tables are prized perches for people watching.

or the house-made sweet potato chips.

popular diner delights such as an egg and bacon breakfast. Part of the fun — sharing a table or a counter spot with strangers and striking up a conversation — is now a

48 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

The spicy black bean quesadilla and salad

TELLERS GALLERY AND BAR AMERICAN

of mixed field greens are our editors’

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rosemary cream, sweet mashed potatoes

picks, but the Patchwork pork chop with

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BROADWAY BREWERY BAR & GRILL

GLENN’S CAFÉ FINE DINING

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Whether you’re going for brunch, dinner

Many people associate Glenn’s Café, adjacent

or just after-work drinks, Broadway

to The Tiger Hotel, with classic Cajun fare

Brewery is the perfect cozy spot during

such as Jambalaya and blackened redfish.

the winter months. Start with Hemme

And yes, Glenn’s has got Cajun covered, but it

Brothers cheese curds that are hand-

serves a whole lot more — all of it consistent-

breaded, deep fried and served with

ly good. The fried pickles and deviled eggs are

marinara or the short rib sliders, made

both great starters, and the cornbread’s the

with Thresher Porter, caramelized onion,

stuff of legend. The cocktails, including the

muenster cheese and tomato aioli. True to

Dirty Money and The Unicorn, are inven-

its pub-like feel, the food is on the heavier

tive and topnotch. Glenn’s atmosphere hits a

side, but definitely satisfying. Order the

sweet spot, too — upscale enough to qualify

Chicken Fried Chicken or the Catfish

as “a nice restaurant” but not stuffy.

Sauce Piquant, with a catfish filet served Obviously with brewery in its name, this

INTERNATIONAL CAFÉ INTERNATIONAL

establishment’s well-known for its beers.

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A few of our favorites are the 11 Point

This casual, convivial spot for authentic

IPA, named after a Missouri river, and the

Greek and Mediterranean food doesn’t

Bonne Femme Honey Wheat, made with

disappoint with its fresh ingredients and

local honey.

flavors. The café offers all the classics: Perfect

in a spicy tomato sauce over a bed of rice.

pitas, taboule, salad Greek salad, falafel,

HOSS’S MARKET & ROTISSERIE DELI

babaganush, hummus and falafel. The gyro is

/"/"1$2345$6733*89$:(7;9

are perfectly seasoned and shaved and served

and vegetables will hit any home-cooked

The perfect lunch spot or catering/to-go

with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and onions

meal craving you may have. Wash it all down

option, Hoss’s always delivers perfect deli

on pita bread with your choice of either hum-

with a glass of local beer, or try one of their

dishes every time. The Memphis Pulled

mus or tzanziki sauce.

specialty cocktails.

Pork Sandwich with slow smoked pulled

particularly tasty — with beef and lamb that

CHIM’S THAI KITCHEN ASIAN

pickles is a must-try, as well as the Yardbird

EL OSO MEXICAN

with smoked pulled chicken, onion, moz-

B<<$%&$'()*+,*-

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zarella cheese, tomato and pesto mayo

What recently became a brick-and-mortar

Long a mainstay at Cooper’s Landing, Chim’s

on an herb focaccia. As a market, you can

location for a food truck has been wowing

downtown location is a more recent addi-

purchase local groceries from Hoss’s, such

Columbians already. The chips and salsa,

tion to CoMo’s downtown dining scene. It

as steaks, porkchops and bacon to cook at

a staple of any Mexican restaurant, are

features a quiet setting perfect for a dinner

home, sliced deli meats, salads and des-

excellent. Try the chicken taquitos or the

out with family or friends. Munch on the egg

serts. They also recently partnered with

Molcajete, with your choice of meat, cactus,

rolls as an appetizer and try the Pad Thai or

Camacho Coffee to serve the local coffee

onion, fried jalapeños, spicy sauce, cheese

Kang Massa Man Curry with sticky rice for

shop’s bagged coffee out of the market;

and served in a traditional molcajete bowl.

your meal. For dessert, the Kao Neaw Sang

other drink options out of the market

They offer four flavors of margarita: peach,

Ka Yha, or sticky rice with egg custard, is

include On The Rocks cocktails, beer and

mango, strawberry and jalapeño, as well as

silky and delightful.

bottles of wine.

various beers. BILLIARD HALL BOOCHES

pork, tangy BBQ sauce, coleslaw and

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 49

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Heart Health BEAT THE HOLIDAY BULGE

‘Tis the season for company parties and holiday gatherings with friends and family. But with its traditional treats and festive foods, the season can bring unwanted pounds, especially around your waistline. According to the American Heart Association, the average holiday weight gain is up to 3 pounds. But there are steps you can take to help beat the holiday bulge.

Try A Mental Maneuver. Know what flavors are your favorites and plan accordingly. Enjoy what you really want to enjoy in a small amount, then move on and don’t feel guilty. Try splitting that piece of pumpkin pie with someone else.

Be Pro-protein. Not only will protein keep you full longer, it will also help maintain your metabolism, lose weight easily and maintain muscle. Before heading out to that holiday party or family get-together, snack on high protein foods such as raw nuts, Greek yogurt, eggs, low-fat cheese, and beans or fish.

Don’t Miss Meals. Skipping meals not only affects your metabolism, leading you to store additional fat especially around the midsection, but it can also result in greater cravings for high sugar and fatty foods. Always consume a snack, especially one high in proteins and good fats before heading out to celebrate.

Don’t Imbibe On Empty. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is the easiest way to

gain added weight during the holidays. Alcohol stimulates your appetite, while at the same time it dehydrates. Consume some high protein foods 30-45 minutes before drinking, and drink plenty of water.

Fit In Fitness. Scheduling exercise in the middle of a busy holiday season (in addition to everything else!) may not seem doable, but you’re likely already good at the art of balancing.

Exercising just 20-30 minutes a day, two to three times a week, will result in your beating the holiday bulge.

Your best bet for heart health —and overall health — is to incorporate healthy habits year-round.

Making healthier dietary choices and sticking with an exercise routine will not only prevent unnecessary weight gain, it’ll also minimize stress, regulate blood pressure and keep Type 2 diabetes at bay.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION TODAY Visit moheartcenter.com or call us at (573) 256-7700 2 BOOM BOOMMAGAZINE MAGAZINE 54

BOOM MAGAZINE 3

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

WINTER 2020 - 21

publisher’s note

W

elcome to the December/January issue of Inside Columbia’s Boom! magazine. We know the cold weather and holidays are coming, so we’ve filled this edition with articles to help you through these winter months. Once the

time is right, we’ve included a list of activities for you to do with your grandchildren during the winter months. Staying in touch can be more difficult during colder days but we’ve created winter indoor and outdoor ideas to keep you and your grandchild having fun.

Of course, deciding and finding the perfect Christmas present for your grandkids can be overwhelming. In this issue we’ve offered some suggestions for holiday gift giving.

Whether your loved one is an infant or teenager, we’ve included some great locally found gift ideas for them all.

If beautiful artwork is on your list to purchase, you’ll want to read about the new art gallery and studio in Rocheport. Many of you may know local artist Gloria Gaus from years in the landscaping business. She’s now taken her love of nature and gone a different direction: owning and operating an art gallery and studio. There she puts the finishing touches on her paintings — typically focused on landscapes, flowers and still life. She paints in nature and then finesses her works from the comfort of her studio.

If you feel like you’ve been in the comfort of your own home too long, we’ve also included a travel article on Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. Boom travel writer Donna Hull describes where to stay and go to see the wildlife and get the best experience in the winter months of Yellowstone Park.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a holiday edition without articles on food. One of the features this month is on Pasta La Fata, a local business that you can find on Saturdays at the Farmers Market. Owner Shelly La Fata’s business is built on a love of her Italian heritage and memories of her grandmother. You’ll want to sample one of her delicious six types of Italian cookies, as well as pastas, meatballs, lasagnas and soups.

You’ll find all this and more in this edition of Boom! magazine. I’d love to hear from you on how you’re staying active during these winter months.

Please stay safe. Until we can meet again, please curl up with the magazine and keep learning!

staff Chief Executive Officer Carla Leible Founder & Publisher Emeritus Fred Parry Publisher & Managing Editor Melody Garnett Parry Associate Editors Peg Gill Olvia DeSmit Art Director Tim Flanner Graphic Designers Joy Griffin Photo Editor L.G. Patterson Advertising Coordinators Jeff Ausmus Kalie Kramel Stefanie Joseph Marketing Representatives Cathy Atkins Lindsey Baxter Laura Fuchs Josh Arnold Blake Dunlap Office Manager Becky James Distribution Associate Steve Leible

Melody Parry Publisher

Email me at melody@insidecolumbia.net

56 BOOM MAGAZINE

Contributing Writers Jack Wax Kimberly Blaker Donna Hull

Because you have a choice.

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BOOM MAGAZINE 57

in this issue WINTER 2020-21

good stuff 60 Grandkids

You’ll love this list of activities you can do with you grandchildren to get you into the winter spirit.

feature 64 Brush Up on Nature

Rocheport resident Gloria Gaus opens her new studio and art gallery.

68 Baking & Making Memories

Shelly La Fata was inspired by her grandmother to create delicious Italian cookies and handmade pastas.

71 Holiday Gift Ideas

64

Looking for ideas on what to give your grandchildren this holiday season that are practical and won’t break the bank?

good life 74 Wellness

Enjoy this list of powerhouse vegetables.

77 Travel

For those interested in seeing winter wildlife, consider this trip to Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.

on the cover Shelly La Fata makes six different types of Italian cookies, using her grandmother’s handeddown recipes.

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68

PROMOTION

Are You Still Planning to Retire Early?

H

Have your retirement plans changed because of COVID-19? If so, you have plenty of company. Nearly 40 percent of those planning to retire say the pandemic has disrupted their intentions, according to the Edward Jones/Age Wave Four Pillars of the New Retirement study. You might have been thinking about retiring early – can you still do so?

Even without a crisis, it’s not a bad idea to review your important life goals from time to time. So, in thinking about the possibility of early retirement, consider these factors: Your Retirement Lifestyle – Your ability to retire early depends somewhat on what sort of lifestyle you’re anticipating during your retirement years. If you think you’ll be traveling extensively or pursuing expensive activities, you might not be able to afford to retire as early as someone with more modest ambitions. Of course, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way of living in retirement – we all have our own dreams and preferences. But be aware that different lifestyles do carry different price tags – and have different effects on when you can retire securely.

Sources of Retirement Income Obviously, a key factor in knowing whether you can retire early is the amount of retirement income you can rely on. So, you’ll have to assess all your sources: Social Security, any other pensions you might receive, and your investment portfolio, including your 401(k) and IRA. The amounts you receive from these sources will depend on a variety of factors.

For Social Security, the longer you wait until collecting, the larger your monthly payments (although they will “top out” when you reach 70, excluding cost-ofliving adjustments). In regard to your investments and retirement accounts,

you’ll need to establish a withdrawal rate that’s appropriate for the length of time you expect to be retired. So, by adjusting these variables – taking Social Security earlier or later, taking more or less money from your retirement accounts – you can help determine if the retirement date you had in mind is viable.

Your Feeling About Work – Your goals are not static – they can change in response to any number of reasons, both external and personal. When you first decided you wanted to retire early, you might have been motivated by, among other things, a weariness of your current job. But has that changed over time? Have you found new challenges that interest you at work?

Or, if you were forced by the pandemic to work remotely, did you actually enjoy the arrangement and want to continue it?

After all, many employers have found that their workers can be just as productive working at home, so, even when we’ve gotten past COVID-19, we might see a sizable shift in the geography of the workplace. In any case, if your feelings about work have changed in some way, leading you to think you could work longer than originally planned, you’d likely gain some financial advantages.

You’d make more money, for starters, but you’d also keep building your 401(k) and IRA, and you could even possibly delay taking Social Security.

The pandemic may lead to a reevaluation of many financial goals – and taking early retirement might be one of them. By thinking carefully about your situation and your options, you can come up with a course of action that’s right for you.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Gina N Mauller-Crane, Member SIPC

Financial Advisor 2509 Bernadette Drive Columbia, MO 573.445.7671 | EdwardJones.com | bd INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 59

GOOD STUFF

GRANDPARENTS

A Winter Frolic with Grandkids

Blizzard Blast and Cold Weather Fun

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER

Are you looking for activities to do with your grandchildren during the winter months? The long winter months may have you — and your grandchildren — feeling down and lethargic. Get into the winter spirit with some of these fun outdoor activities. After you’ve expended your energy outdoors, there's plenty of fun to be had indoors as well.

OUTDOOR WINTER FROLIC TAKE A HIKE. Grab your boots or borrow snowshoes for

the family, and go on a trek through the woods or a field. Take your compass. But also tie brightly colored strips of fabric to tree branches to mark your path. Dress warm and keep track of time to prevent overtiring and frostbite. Look for animal tracks and burrows; identify trees by the bark and shape of their trunks; learn how to tell the time or direction by the position of the sun; and other nature and survival activities.

VISIT A ZOO. During the winter months, zoos often bring guest animals and offer special exhibits. Arctic and cold climate animals may be more active, and indoor exhibits are easier to view because of smaller crowds. Kansas City and St. Louis both have exceptional zoos. Reservations are now required so reserve tickets online.

BUILD AN IGLOO OR SNOW FORT. Choose a day when the snow is suitable for packing. Use a square or rectangular container for building snow forts, which are often found in toy departments. Be sure to stagger the blocks for support.

TAKE A WINTER CARRIAGE RIDE. Look for horsedrawn carriages in nearby cities. Bundle up and take warm blankets and hot beverages. Then enjoy a cozy ride through a snowy, festive town.

HAVE A SNOW-SCULPTING CONTEST and invite your neighbors to participate. Roll a snowball as large as you can. Then fill buckets with snow and carefully dump them on top. Gently pack the snow and smooth it with your mittens.

Sculpt and shape your creation using small shovels and gardening tools. When your sculpture is complete, gently pack and smooth it with your hands again.

60 BOOM MAGAZINE

MAKE AN ICE TREE. Instead of throwing out your holiday tree, turn it into a winter display. Stand it in your yard, turn the water hose on low, and spray upward and toward the trunk of the tree. As ice forms, continue spraying until you achieve your desired effect.

GO SLEDDING. If you have small hills in your backyard,

use a trash bag for sliding down them. Better yet, head to some real hills with your toboggan or sled. Be sure to keep safety rules in mind for your wintery fun.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES HEAD TO A MUSEUM. Columbia has a number of museums to visit. The state and local historical society are both in Columbia, as well as the University of Missouri’s Museum of Art and Archaeology.

GRAB YOUR ICE SKATES (or rent them) and head to the indoor rink in Jefferson City, the Washington Park Ice Arena. These arenas are a blast for kids and grandparents alike. There are drop-in public skate times and sessions on their website.

CREATE AN INDOOR SNOW FAMILY. Buy black and white clay from an arts and crafts supply. Roll snow people out of the white clay, and shape hats with the black.

Make arms with tiny twigs, scarves from narrow fabric strips, eyes and buttons from whole pepper, and noses from broken orange-colored toothpicks.

HOLD A WINTER MOVIE FEST. Invite friends over, rent a selection of movies and have everyone bring their

BOOM MAGAZINE 61

GOOD LIFE

GRANDPARENTS

pillows or beanbag chairs. Don't forget the buttery popcorn and hot chocolate. If you've had enough of winter, hold a Hawaiian luau instead. Choose summery or vacation themed movies. Serve cold drinks with little umbrellas and fruit on top. And don't forget the beach towels.

MAKE UP FUNNY SKITS with your grandchildren and invite parents and neighbors. Choose household products and create silly advertisements. Make up goofy songs or poems about each product and dress up for the part. Be sure to videotape the skits for hilarious family memories.

PUT TOGETHER A WINTER EMERGENCY KIT. Include spare hats, mittens, scarves, boots, a flashlight

and other items in case you or your grandkids get stranded.

Your home kit should include items for a snow-in or power loss. Have everyone work together to create a list and gather items for the kits.

STRING A SNOWFLAKE STREAMER. Make

snowflakes together by folding white paper several times and then trimming different shapes around the edges. Open the snowflakes, then string them on a piece of yarn and hang it across the room.

VISIT THE LIBRARY to snuggle up for a relaxing read. When you arrive, learn how and where to find books on your grandchildren’s interests such as sports, science or a hobby. Then let them choose several books to bring home. Don't forget to check out music CDs, audiobooks, videos, computer games and magazines for plenty of indoor entertainment.

GETAWAY AT A WEEKEND RESORT. Check your

travel agency for one of the many winter resorts for outdoor enthusiasts that offer activities and accommodations for the whole family. Try downhill or cross-country skiing, snowshoe excursions and more.

MAKE A WINTER SAFETY TRIVIA GAME. Buy

a pack of small index cards. Then write a question on each card related to winter safety with the answers written below.

To play the game, take turns reading the questions while other players shout their answers. The first person with the correct answer scores a point.

ATTEND A SPORTING EVENT. If your

grandchildren like sports, get tickets to a football, hockey or basketball game at one of the local colleges or university.

Call first to find out admissions requirements with COVID-19. If your grandchildren enjoy watching sports on television, try a game date by watching together with snacks next to a warm fire.

62 BOOM MAGAZINE

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Inspiring in Nature Gloria Gaus Draws on a Lifelong Love to Launch Her Second Act

BY JACK WAX • PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

A

rt Off the Trail, Gloria Gaus’ new studio and art gallery, is — as the name implies — only a few blocks from the Katy Trail in Rocheport. She can be found there on Fridays and Saturdays, when she opens her studio to the public. But on other days, she’s not as easy to locate.

She could be anywhere outside with her canvas and paints, immersed in Missouri’s woods and fields. For Gaus, a plein air artist, nature is inspiration. She loves painting landscapes, flowers and still lifes, working mostly outdoors but putting finishing touches on her work in the comfort of her studio. Although she tried retirement for three years, she opened her new gallery this past May, and is as enthusiastic about her business venture as she is about her life.

“I feel like I’m living the life I should have lived all along, and I now have a zest for life I never had in the corporate world,” Gaus says.

It took a while for Gaus to discover

64 BOOM MAGAZINE

that life. For 34 years, she owned a landscape and plant maintenance company in Columbia. Nature had always been a passion, whether she was studying plants in school or exploring the great outdoors. Her own nature is that of a thoughtful, observant artist who has anchored her life in small-town practicality.

Her course through life has never been straight or narrow. She had started her college career taking nursing courses. “It was a time when a woman could either become a nurse, a teacher or a housewife,” she says. She soon realized that nursing wasn’t for her, so she transferred to the University of Missouri and started taking art courses. Giving into her more practical side, she switched to horticulture, a field with more job possibilities.

After graduating, it wasn’t long before she started her own business.

Before she knew it, three decades had passed. She thought she’d own her

company forever, “and die at my desk,” but she received an offer to buy the business and took it.

Through all those years, business responsibilities filled her days, but she still made time to paint in the evenings and on weekends. Although she was satisfied with the success of her business, she wasn’t satisfied with her development as an artist. Then, she was introduced to Billyo O’Donnell and the world of plein air artists. Taking a few days away from

her company, she took part in one of O’Donnell’s Artists Along the Katy Trail events.

“We started painting in Clinton and progressed each day to a different stop on the Katy Trail until we ended up in St. Charles,” Gaus says. The experience changed the way she approached painting, brought her new friends and has led to travel adventures throughout the U.S. in her search for beautiful settings to capture on canvas.

Some of those scenes can be found on the walls of Gaus’ studio or on her website (www.gloriagaus.com). Her gallery also includes the work of fellow artists, such as Stephen Rust, Liz Schlup, Vince Houston, Lisa Hirlinger and her good friend, Julie Wiegand.

Gaus and Wiegand, who lives in Berger, Missouri, meet occasionally at plein air events or along the Missouri River to paint together. “We pick some of the most wonderful places to go to,” Gaus

says. They’ve travelled together to the Flint Hills of Kansas several times, to New Harmony, Indiana, to Door County, Wisconsin, and to Augusta, Missouri.

Noting the similarities between Gaus and her art, Wiegand says, “Both are sensitive, full of depth and spiritual.”

The pandemic has limited Gaus’ travels, but hasn’t limited her ability to appreciate the world around her. “Staying closer to home, there’s still so much beauty to be found in tiny moments or

BOOM MAGAZINE 65

tiny scenes that I think you can find a painting in just about anything — the way a vase looks with light on it, the color, the texture of things,” she explains.

with personal trainer Nate Kesterson.

She still keeps up with her online sessions where Billyo O’Donnell serves as a mentor, critiquing her works.

But don’t ask her if she’s reached her

Staying closer to home, there’s still so much beauty to be found in tiny moments or tiny scenes that I think you can find a painting in just about anything..."

Gaus is committed to both her art and her lifestyle as an artist. When she realized that toting her canvas and painting gear through the woods was getting difficult, she started workouts

66 BOOM MAGAZINE

prime. “I hope not,” she says with conviction. “I hope I’m going to get better.

I’m just starting to click.”

Anyone strolling down Central Street in Rocheport, can’t miss Art Off the

Trail. It’s housed in a brick storefront that is more than 100 years old. Two windows face the street, and a welcoming turquoise bench is positioned next to the front door. Walking through that door, whether to browse or in search of art, visitors can watch Gaus at work and enjoy spending some time in the presence of beautiful paintings and sculptures. When asked what she hopes to achieve through her art, Gaus considers the question awhile then answers, “I really want people to just connect with my art — to find joy in it.

And if they take it home and it brings them joy continuously, then I think my job is done.”

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BOOM MAGAZINE 67

68 BOOM MAGAZINE

La Fata Serves Up

G

s ’ r e h t o m rand

s e p i c e R n a i l a t I

BY JACK WAX PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

O

n Saturdays, the line of shoppers forms early and extends throughout the morning at the Pasta La Fata booth in the Columbia Farmers Market. And for good reason. The delicious Italian cookies and handmade pastas that Shelly La Fata and her crew of five women have prepared during the week have gained an appreciative and growing following. La Fata’s success relies on more than her culinary skills, her entrepreneur’s drive and her long days in the kitchen. Her business is built on a love of her Italian heritage and memories of her grandmother. If there were no Grandma Josie, there would be no Pasta La Fata cookies to eat.

Josephine La Fata, a second-generation Italian whose family emigrated from Sicily, was born in 1913 and grew up in St. Louis in an Italian neighborhood. Although Grandma Josie (as Shelly refers to her) is no longer alive, her cookie recipes have come to life at Pasta La Fata. Josephine’s cookies were always Shelly’s favorite treat, and by staying true to her grandmother’s recipes, they have become Shelly’s best-selling creations. Shelly’s memories of the cookies are as sweet as the cookies themselves. “We’d go over to Grandma Josie’s house every Sunday, and she had a gallon mason jar. She would start at the bottom and pack it with an assortment of her cookies. We

would pass it around, and everybody would turn the jar and tilt it, shaking it to get to their favorite cookie before passing it on,” she says.

Shelly makes six different types of Italian cookies. There’s a chocolate dipped butter cookie, a strawberry thumbprint (which sometimes has apricot or triple berry), a butterscotch pecan shortbread, a luxordo cherry cookie and an amaretti. During the Christmas season, she’ll also have cannoli. She displays the cookies on her farmers market stall in a vintage wooden cabinet. The cookies sit on the cabinet shelves, tempting every shop-

BOOM MAGAZINE 69

per who walks by.

Just mentioning the cookies to one of her customers can bring an appreciative sigh. Helen Washburn is an unabashed fan. “I love them all,” she says. Her husband, George, notes that “She loves them so much, she starts eating them on her way home from the farmers market.”

The cookies are direct descendants from Josephine’s stockpile of recipes, which is safely stored in St. Louis. The pastas and sauces are indirect descendants, also based on Italian culture, but developed by Shelly. “The cookie recipes are handwritten in a journal, and I’m not allowed to ever take it from my father’s house,” says Shelly. “I’ll call him and say I need a recipe, and he’ll flip through and take a picture.”

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In addition to the love of cooking that goes into Shelly’s recipes, there is also a strong dash of support for mid-Missouri farmers and Missourians who are in need. Shelly does not buy ingredients from the giant restaurant supply companies. “We have a community of farmers to work with, and they’re my friends,” she says.

For authentic Italian flours and other ethnic ingredients, she makes a monthly trip to St. Louis to an Italian-American supplier. When the pandemic started she created her Pasta La Fata Scrappy Meal program, which turns her scraps into free meals for anyone who needs one. The program has been nominated for a “2020 Kindness in Business Award.”

Although Pasta La Fata is a business, it’s also a way of continuing and celebrating Shelly’s Italian heritage. She regrets that so many past Italian recipes have disappeared over the years. “Some things

are just lost, but I think we’re doing a good job of honoring Grandma Josie’s cookie making legacy,” she says. “There’s so much pride in Italian food being passed down generation to generation.”

Shelly makes and sells a wide variety of Italian food. Among her and her customers’ favorites are toasted raviolis, which, like all her menu items are not just handmade but scratch-made.

All her pastas feature local, in-season ingredients combined with quality imports from Italy. Pastas, meatballs, lasagnas and soups are all frozen and ready to be heated up for tasty, authentic Italian meals. In addition to being available at the Columbia Farmers Market, her meals and cookies can be ordered online at www.PastaLaFata.net, for pickup or even delivery.

Grandma Josie would be surprised to know that her recipes are now being sampled throughout Columbia. “My aunt and mother tell me all the time how proud she’d be of me,” says Shelly. “I just wish I knew what she thinks of how everything tastes. It’s not that I want her approval — I want her opinion.”

Gift ideas

It’s easy for grandparents to feel overwhelmed about what to give their grandchildren for the holidays. So often the kids already have an excess of toys, electronics and clothing. Our editors looked for gifts that were practical, thoughtful and educational, yet didn’t break the bank.

A

GIFTS FOR THE BABIES & TODDLERS IN YOUR LIFE

FOR THE GRANDKIDS

Who doesn’t like to shop for this age group? Keep an eye out for educational items — such as this book that explains why grandparents can’t hug during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consider giving interactive toys, books and even flash cards for learning a second language.

G

F

A. C.C. Baby gray pom hat.

Rosebuds Baby & Kids. $15

B

B. Crimson long-sleeve romper.

Rosebuds Baby & Kids. $38 C. While We Can’t Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.

Skylark Bookshop. $15.95

E

D. Spanish ring flash cards.

Rosebuds Baby & Kids. $12.99

D

C

E. Poke-A-Dot button book.

Rosebuds Baby & Kids. $12.99 F. MiniSpinny toy.

Rosebuds Baby & Kids. $12.99 G. Silicone and wood teething ring.

Rosebuds Baby & Kids. $15

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 71

GIFTS FOR THE TWEENS IN YOUR LIFE

This age group can be difficult, but think about experiences you might share with middle schoolers. Wrap up items to bake cookies or make hot chocolate together. This promises not only a fun gift but another reason to get together after the holidays.

A. Holiday apron.

Tallulahs. $19.50

D. Vietri Santa cookie plate.

Tallulahs. $72

G. Bookshelf face mask.

Skylark Bookshop. $12

B. Class Act by Newbery Medal winner Jerry Craft.

Skylark Bookshop. $22.99

E. Embossed rolling pin.

Tallulahs. $53

H. Sugar cookie baking mix.

Tallulahs. $9.50

C. Vietri Santa mug.

Tallulahs. $54

F. Double chocolate cocoa.

Tallulahs. $12.50

F

A

G

F B

C

E

72 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

D

GIFTS FOR THE TEENAGERS IN YOUR LIFE

Personalize your gift for your loved teenagers to make it extra special. Or look for useful items such as fun socks and hair ties and keepsakes such as a leather wallet or trendy bracelet.

A. Teleties hair elastic.

Southern Rose. $9.99 B. Born Just Right by local authors Jordan & Jen Reeves.

Skylark Bookshop. $7.99

C. Secrid leather wallet and card protector from Holland.

Binghams. $94.95 D. Pig & Hen ship rope bracelet from Amsterdam.

Binghams. $99

E. Monogrammed gold makeup bag.

Southern Rose. $18 F. Pink peony socks.

Southern Rose. $9.99

A

F

B

C

E

D

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 73

Winter Nutrition 12 Powerhouse Veggies

and easy ways to incorporate them into your diet

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER

W

e know how vital veggies are to our health, whether we like them or not. But not all vegetables are created equal. Each one has

a unique combination of nutrients and benefits — some, in particular, though, are a powerhouse source of nutrition.

If you're not a vegetable fan, that's all the more reason to try a wider variety. There are bound to be a couple of veggies you'll dig if they're prepared just right for you. If those vegetables happen to be some of these all-stars, it's all the better.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH.

This winter squash is loaded with vitamin A, in fact, four times the recommended daily allowance (RDA). It also contains double the RDA of vitamin C and packs more potassium than a banana.

To become a butternut squash fan, first, cut it in half, and remove all the seeds. Then fill a glass baking dish about 3/4" high with water, place the pieces of squash with the skin facing up, and bake at 400 degrees for one hour. Allow the squash to cool enough to handle it, then scoop all the squash out of the peel, and top it with butter. If that doesn't suffice, try adding a touch of brown sugar.

KALE. This dark green leaf packs a whopping 684% of the RDA of vitamin K, and well over the RDA of both vitamins A and B6.

If you like salad, add a mix of kale to the lettuce. If you're not a salad eater, kale makes a great addition to smoothies.

SWEET POTATOES.

Vitamins A, B5 and B6, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin and carotenoids are their nutritional makeup.

The good news is, Thanksgiving isn't the only time of year you can eat them. Sweet potatoes make yummy french fries, which can even be baked rather than fried. Just look for one of oodles of baked sweet potato fry recipes out there.

PEAS. These contain a long list of nutrients. Of particular note, peas are very high in vitamins B1, C

and K, manganese, copper, phosphorus and folate.

Fortunately, peas are one vegetable most kids and adults will eat. Add peas to a variety of soups, stews and casseroles. Another tasty option is to add them to macaroni and cheese.

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GOOD LIFE

WELLNESS

BELL PEPPERS. Red, orange, yellow or green bell peppers are nutritious whatever the color. All are high in vitamin C, with red bell peppers containing 169% of the RDA. Also, bell peppers are high in vitamin A and carry a good dose of other nutrients as well.

Do you live by the motto, "Everything tastes better with ranch?" If so, try bell pepper slices for dipping. Bell peppers are also great on pizza and sauteed to top hot sandwiches.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

This veggie is noted for its vitamins K and C. But brussels sprouts provide numerous other nutrients in decent amounts as well.

Still, you may be wondering how to acquire a taste for brussels sprouts. If you're not a big vegetable eater, it may be a challenge. But try what one mom Monica Kass Rogers did, as she revealed in, How I Got My Kid to Eat Brussels Sprouts. Cut them in half, then stir-fry them in sesame oil with other vegetables. Another trick she recommends is to roast them with olive oil and salt. If kids can learn to love them, so can you.

ASPARAGUS. Folic acid is what asparagus is especially noted for because it contains 60% of the

RDA. But asparagus also includes a healthy amount of vitamins K and C, as well as several other essential nutrients.

Grilled asparagus is a tasty side. Before grilling, brush the asparagus lightly with olive oil then add salt and pepper. Place the spears on the grill for 10 minutes, turn them, then give them a few more minutes until they're lightly blackened.

SPINACH.

Now here's an impressive number. Spinach contains 987% of the RDA of vitamin K. Spinach is also an excellent source of vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper and several other nutrients.

You can add spinach to both smoothies and pizza. Spinach quiche and spinach pie are also dishes many people love.

BROCCOLI.

Here's another vegetable that's a rich source of vitamin K, packing 245% of the RDA. Broccoli also exceeds the RDA for vitamin C and is an excellent source of chromium, folate and fiber.

Mix broccoli into most any cheesy dish, and it's easy to gobble up. Broccoli cheese soup, broccoli smothered in cheese, and other cheesy pasta dishes with broccoli added are good options.

AVOCADO. Although not a powerhouse of any particular vitamin or mineral, avocado still

carries an adequate amount. But particularly notable is that avocado is an excellent source of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, which are the healthy fats. So, it's an excellent replacement for unhealthy fats.

Guacamole is an all-time favorite. Avocado is also yummy mixed with egg salad or a tossed salad.

PUMPKIN (canned). This is an outstanding source of vitamin A, containing 2 ½ times the RDA,

not to mention a fair amount of a host of other vitamins and minerals.

Numerous desserts can be made from pumpkin. So, the next time you're in the mood to bake, make something with a little added nutritional value. Try making pumpkin pie, bread, cookies or cheesecake.

SCALLIONS.

Also known as spring onions, these pack 172% of the RDA of vitamin K. They're also known for their antioxidants and are a good source of vitamin A. Scallions can be grilled just like asparagus. Brush them with oil, add salt and pepper, then toss them on the grill until they're lightly browned. If that doesn't work for you, try wrapping them in bacon.

BOOM MAGAZINE 75

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GOOD LIFE

Winter Blues?

Visit Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley For Spectacular Wildlife WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY DONNA HULL

F

or years, I’ve wanted to visit Lamar Valley in the winter, especially to see wolves. Located in the remote northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, the Lamar Valley is America’s version of the Serengeti. Or so I’ve read. And Montana Highway 212, the only road that’s open to vehicular traffic during Yellowstone’s winter season, just happens to travel through the valley.

After obsessively watching weather forecasts during a particularly stormy winter season in the Bitterroot Valley, my husband Alan and I finally saw a window of opportunity in mid-February. Road reports were good, there was little snow forecasted and Yellowstone National Park’s brutal winter temperatures have moderated to above 0 F. It was time to roll.

We’re lucky that Gardiner, Montana, northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, is only a five-hour drive from our home — a little more if we take the scenic route through the Big Hole Valley, which of course we do.

If you’re flying to Montana to visit the Lamar Valley, fly into Bozeman, then rent a four-wheel-drive car for your adventure.

Where to stay on a Lamar Valley winter visit If you’re looking for Lamar Valley lodging, I’m sorry to tell you there isn’t any. So, Alan and I made Gardiner, Montana, our headquarters for this brief Yellowstone winter vacation.

We arrived in Gardiner in the late afternoon for a onenight stay at the Best Western Plus Mammoth Hot Springs.

We spent the next day exploring the Lamar Valley before driving to Grey Cliffs Lodge for a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway. Next time, we’d like to try the newest luxury property in the area, Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana.

Yellowstone National Park lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins would have been our preferred choice, but the hotel has been closed for renovations during the past three winter seasons.

If you’re planning a visit to Gardiner in the winter, it’s a good idea to confirm reservations before arriving. Several restaurants and hotels are closed for the season. We found dinner at the Yellowstone Mine Restaurant located next door to the hotel.

BOOM MAGAZINE 77

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The next morning, we fueled up at the free hot buffet there provided by Best Western. And then it was a short drive through Gardiner to the park.

Driving through Yellowstone in the winter If you’ve ever wondered about driving in Yellowstone in the winter, the simple answer is yes, you can. But the more complicated reply is, you can only drive through the Montana portion of the park from Gardiner to Cooke City. Otherwise, Yellowstone National Park winter access is off limits to vehicular traffic.

But you can book Yellowstone National Park winter tours for access to other parts of Yellowstone. Choices abound, from cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, wildlife watching to touring the geysers as they spray a frosty shimmer over the landscape. The Yellowstone Old Faithful Snowcoach Tour is a popular option.

Watching for wildlife After driving through the iconic Teddy Roosevelt Arch, it’s as if Yellowstone is trying to prove to us that it is indeed America’s Serengeti. We had not even entered through the park’s guard gate and already large numbers of buffalo, elk and pronghorns were visible as they grazed on the hillside below Electric Peak.

After a friendly chat with the park ranger, we were on our way up the road to Mammoth Hot Springs. Since we only had one day to visit Lamar Valley, Alan and I agreed that this trip was a reconnaissance mission for future adventures. We drove to Cooke City for lunch, taking it slowly and stopping at all the turnoffs, before retracing the drive back to Gardiner.

We had to save any snowshoeing, winter hiking or prolonged wildlife watching for another time. Unfortunately, this also meant a walk on the boardwalk of the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces had to wait for our next visit.

Driving Grand Loop Road to Tower-Rosevelt At Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Loop Road, Highway 212, turns east. Although there’s lots of snow on the ground, the road is mostly in good shape. Because this is the only winter road access for Cooke City citizens, plows clear the road during daylight hours.

There’s plenty to see along the road before reaching Lamar Valley. The pavement climbs and weaves its way through the Gallatin Range with views of the Yellowstone River to the north and Blacktail Deer Plateau to the south. Bison are everywhere, including along the road, so it pays to adhere to Yellowstone’s 35-mile-per-hour speed limit.

When we see groups of wildlife watchers set up with scopes in a turnout, we always pull in, if there’s room to park.

Although spotters have the reputation for being friendly, we don’t find that to be the case.

The plowing for Grand Loop Road ends at TowerRoosevelt. In the summer, the road loops around to Tower Fall, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Norris and back to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Following Highway 212 into the Lamar Valley Our route continues east to the Northeast Entrance Road, Highway 212. After Slough Creek, Lamar Valley opens up in a large U-shape, thanks to the carving action of ancient glaciers. This is the heart of America’s Serengeti and the

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beginning of our self-guided Lamar Valley wildlife tour. It’s a wildlife watcher’s heaven!

A couple of cars stopped in front of us to watch big horn sheep on a rocky hillside. After maneuvering past them, Alan stopped at the closest pullout, and then we walked back to photograph the sheep. Park guidelines request that visitors do not stop their vehicles in the road. Where the road hugs Soda Butte Creek, we came across another pullout with cars. Three buffalo struggling through deep snow had attracted photographers and wildlife watchers.

Don’t startle wildlife by talking loudly or slamming car doors. Remember you are a visitor in their habitat.

the remote northeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. Although we didn’t see any wolves — you really need to stake out a spot and stay in one place to see wolves — we lost count of the number of bison that crossed the road in front of us. To really spot wolves, I recommend booking a Lamar Valley wolf watching tour.

After about two hours of driving, we’re back at Gardiner.

There’s just enough time to drive on to Grey Cliffs for our gourmet dinner and three-night Valentine’s getaway. But the northeastern corner of Yellowstone — and Cooke City — is calling our names. We’ll definitely return for another Boomer travel adventure.

Taking a coffee break in Cooke City

Lamar Valley winter travel tips

The road climbs again as it leaves the Lamar Valley and Yellowstone National Park. After Cooke City, Highway 212 becomes the Beartooth Highway, one of America’s most scenic drives. But in the winter, plowing stops at Cooke City meaning the only access to the outside world for town residents is the journey back through Yellowstone National Park to Gardiner.

Although we had planned to stop for lunch, the drive to Cooke City had gone quicker than expected. So, we enjoyed a cup of coffee and mid-morning snack while watching snowmobiles buzz up and down the street.

Miles of trails make Cooke City a prime snowmobiling destination. Now we’re tempted to return for a guided snowmobile tour. There are plenty of vacation rentals available.

Wouldn’t that be a fun week in the Montana snow?

Avoid a winter drive to Lamar Valley on Friday, Saturday or Sunday when cars and trucks pulling snowmobiles are traveling to and from Cooke City for a weekend of fun.

Traveling to the Lamar Valley in the winter requires planning ahead. Here are some websites and tips to help you prepare for a cold weather trip:

Waiting at a bison traffic jam

Keep track of Montana road conditions with the Montana Department of Transportation.

Monitor the weather through the National Weather Service. To get more specific, use the Gardiner, Montana zipcode: 59030.

Check park road conditions, weather and travel alerts at the official Yellowstone National Park website.

Don’t let cold weather discourage you from traveling to Yellowstone National Park. Which winter month is best for visiting Yellowstone? January tends to be brutally cold with winter temperatures moderating a bit in mid-February to mid-March. You won’t be disappointed with the views and wildlife during the winter months.

The views were just as stunning on our return back through

BOOM MAGAZINE 81

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By Olivia DeSmit Photos by L.G. Patterson

Taste locally made cocktails

at home.

Since March, bars and restaurants have been scrambling to pivot their food and drink offerings into pandemic-friendly options. One such “invention” is the to-go cocktail.

You can go to your favorite restaurant or bar and pick up a delicious drink — and perhaps something to snack on — and sip and enjoy at home with family, friends or just a fluffy blanket, crackling fire and good read.

As the weather gets colder, many local spots are rotating winter or holiday-themed drinks into their to-go menu, including mulled wine, spiked hot chocolate and cranberry Negronis. We got the scoop from the inventors of these cozy concoctions on how to best serve these to-go cocktails at home.

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Liquor Tasting Kit Top Ten Wines

While this cocktail kit might take you a little more time to build a drink, it does something the other to-go cocktails don’t: It can teach you a few things. Owner Paul Vernon came up with the idea for these tasting kits after seeing many customers come in looking for hard-to-find liquors that aren’t typically available for purchase locally, such as Blanton’s Bourbon.

“The idea was to create tasting kits with five different bourbons, or mezcals or gins so people can know if they’re worth spending the energy to find them,” he says. “It’s sort of a cocktail kit, but also an educational tool.”

Winter Sangria

Barred Owl Butcher & Table This festive favorite should come as no surprise to cocktail lovers. “Sangria is something we offer regularly,” Andrew Ruth, bar manager and spiritual advisor, says. “It made sense to make it a winter drink by mulling spices to keep up with the changing of the season.”

Ruth’s winter sangria is made with a mixture of red and white wines, cognac, dry curacao, orange juice and spiced apple cider.

Customers can then know if they should go looking for cocktails at bars and restaurants in Columbia with that brand in them, Vernon says, creating a win-win for local businesses.

The tasting kit from Top Ten includes five either 1- or 2-ounce bottles of spirits or liquors, depending on the offering (bourbons are 1-ounce portions while vermouths are 2-ounce portions), and customers bring the engraved tasting kit back after. Vernon is currently offering three tasting kits: rare bourbons, red vermouths and first edition single barrel malt scotches. The kits will be available year-round, but certain spirits have limited availability.

The secret is in the marinating time — Ruth soaks the cocktail with fruit and spices for several days before straining and serving.

To recreate the look of this drink at home, pour the cocktail over ice into your favorite glass. “We prefer a pretty, bulbous glass like a snifter or wine glass, but using your favorite glass is the correct answer,” he says. “Garnish it with citrus, herbs and warm spices like a cinnamon stick or whole star anise.” Ruth’s features orange and lemon wedges, a cherry, rosemary and a cinnamon stick.

The winter sangria will be offered at Barred Owl Butcher & Table until this spring, when Ruth will tailor the drink to be warm-weather friendly.

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CranberryBourbon Negroni

Room 38

A holiday take on a classic cocktail, this Negroni, created by Owner Billy Giordano, features bourbon, Campari, Amaro Montenegro, bitters and cranberry soda. “We wanted to do a twist on a classic cocktail that had a little holiday flair,” Giordano says. “I experimented with a few different concoctions before we landed on this recipe.”

To re-create this cheery cocktail at home, start with a rocks or

whiskey glass and use a carrot peeler to make the orange peel garnish. Next, use the juice of the orange or oil from the peel to rub the rim of your glass, and dip in sugar. Pour about 2 ounces of the cocktail into the glass, top with ice, stir, twist the orange peel over the drink to release the oils and set on top.

The Cranberry Bourbon Negroni will be available at Room 38 until spring.

Latin Hot Cocoa Park Restaurant & Bar

While Park Restaurant & Bar’s Bartender Aaron Abernathy is the creator of this spiked hot chocolate, the entire staff helped to perfect the recipe.

Aaron took a simple hot chocolate and elevated it a with little bit of smoke and heat,” Joshua Anderson, manager, says. “It’s warm, spiced and inviting.”

90 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

The hot chocolate is made with Godiva chocolate base, Sombra mezcal and house-made Fresno chili simple syrup. To create the presentation at home, use your favorite coffee or hot tea mug and top with whipped cream and a dusting of hot cocoa powder.

The Latin Hot Cocoa (and Winter Park, shown on the right) will be available at Park Restaurant & Bar throughout December.

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Purple Haze

Coley’s American Bistro Colder weather for most people means a transition from light and refreshing drinks to darker, heartier options. Brian Coley, owner of Coley’s American Bistro, says this was one of the reasons behind their new Purple Haze cocktail.

“We see more requests for darker spirits in the colder months,”

Warm Mulled Wine Cherry Street Cellar

Co-owner Daniel Bauer’s mulled wine smells almost as good as it tastes. He creates this cozy quaff with rich red wine, orange, a variety of spices including cloves, cinnamon, anise and peppercorns, dried cherries, raisins, prunes and demerara sugar.

“Nothing lifts the spirits quite like sipping some warm spiced wine, and it’s a great way to utilize leftover wine,” Bauer says. “We

he says. “And blackberry is a fitting winter flavor that really lends itself to pairing with bourbon.”

The Purple Haze includes bourbon, blackberry syrup and lemonade, which are both made in-house. To serve this cocktail at home, simply pour over ice in your favorite glass — Coley uses a rocks or whiskey glass — and garnish with fresh blackberries and a lemon wheel.

Coley’s will offer this house-made seasonal spirit throughout this winter.

blend our remaining open bottles of red wine at the end of the week, heating gently with sugar, citrus and spices and spike the final product with a little cognac.”

To serve this drink at home, re-heat the mulled wine slowly on the stovetop, add ¾ ounce of cognac, pour into your favorite warm-drink friendly glass and garnish with a large swath of orange peel or orange slice, and a cinnamon stick or star anise pod.

Bauer also recommends serving the drink chilled over ice, with fresh grated nutmeg on top.

Cherry Street’s Warm Mulled Wine will be served throughout the holiday season.

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H me School

How Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents have responded to a school system scrambled by Coronavirus.

By Lauren Puckett

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By Lauren Puckett | Photos by L.G. Patterson

There was no perfect choice.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was finalized prior to the Nov. 9 decision by the Columbia Public School Board to send elementary students back to all-virtual learning until January of 2021.

This summer, when parents were forced to realize that the coronavirus pandemic would derail Columbia Public Schools’ status quo well into the fall semester — if not well into 2021 — they were faced with a practically impossible task: Get their children educated without the everyday infrastructure and built-in resources of a classroom. Any parent will tell you parenting is a challenge. Parenting, teaching and working from home — in tandem — is a whole other beast.

Some opted to homeschool their kids. Others waited out the roller coaster of announcements from Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Peter Stiepleman until a part-time return to classrooms was first announced for elementaryschool students in October.

Still others have stuck resolutely with CPS Virtual, the all-online schooling system most Columbia students are using to stay connected with their teachers. And then there were those who formed socalled “pods,” pint-sized groups of students who could learn

together each day in safety.

For Kate Slusher, the choice was obvious, if not easy. She was pregnant with her fourth child this summer, and nothing was worth putting a newborn at risk. Her work for the federal government was doable from home, and her husband is self-employed. So, they opted to enroll their kids in full-time CPS Virtual; that way, they could keep themselves in a bubble while the baby took its first breaths. It was a personal decision, but also a morally challenging one, Slusher says.

“It weighed a lot on us, the idea of sending the kids to school

Any parent will tell you parenting is a challenge. Parenting,

teaching and working from home — in tandem — is a whole other beast. and potentially spreading [coronavirus] to teachers and administrators and staff at the

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 95

Tommy, 9, and Charlie, 11, Slusher work on CPS virtual lessons. schools,” she says. “That just seemed like, we could do our part and stay home.”

But she also recognizes her decision was a luxury. Two of her sons are old enough to be independent; they can handle themselves most of the day.

Her younger daughter has lots of questions, but even she stays engaged with her teacher over video. Slusher is able to work from her home office, as is her husband. Not all parents have the same autonomy. Earlier this spring, when students were sent home with worksheets, Slusher found herself at a bit of a loss. Even with a flexible job, she didn’t have the time nor the training to parent and teach. She remembers that chaos all too well, and she doesn’t blame parents who made a different choice than

96 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

she did.

“I know that there was so much controversy and so much angst and anger [from parents over CPS’s choices this year],” she says. “But to [eventually] be put in a position where we

talking with our friends helped us understand what an incredibly personal decision this really was for every family, because my friends made decisions to send their kids in-person for

“You got to kind of go with what works for you, And trial and error is really the only way to do that.”

- Tiffany Goran didn't have to send our kids in-person if we didn't want to, or we didn't have to be at home if we didn't want to — I feel really fortunate that that was a choice that we had. Actually,

reasons that make so much sense for their family.”

Trial by fire Tiffany Goran works part-time at Element Cryotherapy, but

when the pandemic forced her two young kids indoors, she cut back and rearranged her hours to homeschool her children. She felt the small sacrifice was better than dealing with the inconsistency of going through CPS. “A lot of the policies that CPS was toying with [this summer] for in-seat classes, as far as like wearing masks and not having field trips, not as much playground time and not being able to eat in the cafeteria ... and just the general so much unknown as to how it was gonna go,” Goran says. “They talked about so many options: we may do hybrid; we may do in-seat. I didn't love the way that school ended in March.

We actually didn't do any of the sent-home [worksheets]; we just did our own thing. I found that kind of consistency was a little bit better for my kids.”

Goran bought traditional school desks off of Facebook Marketplace and set them up in the basement with a whiteboard and posters to mimic a real classroom. But eventually homeschool sessions drifted back upstairs and onto the couch, which was fine with Goran, so long as the work got done. She liked allowing the kids the flexibility of working in their PJs if they needed a more soothing environment.

Still, she admits it was often “hard to differentiate between teacher and mom ... I definitely did not expect to struggle with teaching third grade math as much as I did.”

So when the Columbia School Board announced

in October that elementary students would be welcomed back for in-person classes four days a week, the Goran family signed up. Her kids wanted back inside Fairview Elementary; they missed their friends and teachers.

On Oct.19, around 6,000 elementary students returned to their classrooms, according to the Columbia Missourian. CPS made the re-enrollment seamless, Goran says, and she doesn’t fear for her children’s safety.

“You got to kind of go with what works for you,” she says.

“And trial and error is really the only way to do that.”

Trial and error has been the name of the game for CPS and the Columbia School Board this fall, which has come under fire from groups including the very active CoMo Parents For

The Gorans' homeschool set up. Photo provided by Tiffany Goran.

Cari Slusher, 6, works on her iPad.

In-Seat School, boasting more than 1,000 members on Facebook and counting. Parents have posted complaints over hundreds of issues: glitches and technical difficulties; lack of social interaction for their children; poor academic performance; mental health issues; lack of access to career counselors and mentors; slow internet broadband and Wi-Fi access; impacts on parent work schedules; students with disabilities not receiving proper accommodations; the list goes on.

Board members and educators have fielded the concerns with varying degrees of success. In an email copied and pasted onto the CoMo Parents For In-Seat School Facebook page, Columbia School Board member David Seamon shared fears that in-seat schooling remained unsafe, given that social distancing would be impossible indoors. “If social distancing is impossible in a

school setting then we as a community need to lower our transmission rates to an acceptable baseline, so that when we do return to school we do not immediately go from a warning level to a shutdown,” he wrote. “...We are doing a disservice to our most vulnerable minds if we continue to change their learning routines without properly forecasting whether it is a sustainable change.”

But many parents were unsatisfied with the explanation; to them, the lack of a transparent, cohesive return-to-school plan for all students was unacceptable and damaging. Some shared stories about their elementary-aged youngsters who’d returned to in-person schooling and were thriving after months of boredom and frustration.

In late October, the district added a student case tab to its online COVID-19 tracker, boosting transparency around the number of students quar-

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 97

One member of Myra Galloway’s pod, Rosalyn Spear, watches a school lesson on her iPad.

antined and/or testing positive for coronavirus. Hospitalizations from coronavirus were rising around the same time in October that students started returning to school, according to the Missourian, and some

Sophia, 8, and Jeffrey, 5, Goran work on assignments at home.

“The people that are conPhoto provided by Tiffany Goran. cerned with social distancing and wearing masks, and following CDC guidelines, aren’t likely to pack into a room without masks,” Kate Canterbury, a parent who attended the

I'm just seeing that the teachers have a lot more confidence in what they're doing now. They were given time to get themselves ready - Jamie Smith Columbians fretted over parents not taking COVID-19 seriously enough. That concern was accentuated when some residents and committee members showed up to an October Joint Committee on Education hearing without masks.

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hearing, told the Missourian, expressing worry that not all voices were being heard in the return-to-school argument.

Even parents who weren’t vocally for or against in-person schooling grew weary of the ups-and-downs this year. Myra

Galloway, a mother of two young boys who decided to do virtual learning, says, “I completely respect Dr. Stiepleman.

And all the schools, I think they did a great job. They really tried their best, I think. But at the same time, it was still a roller coaster, whether they intended it to be or not, and I think we just decided to get off the roller coaster.”

She added, “We've got a lot of people that are older around us or have pre-existing conditions around us who we didn't want to lose touch with over this time.”

Myra Galloway and son Gregor hard at work.

A new way of connecting In an effort to make the best out of a challenging situation, Galloway has created a mini pod at her house. Her friend’s older daughter walks over to the Galloway home every morning, and she and Galloway’s sons study together throughout the day. Whenever they have breaks, the neighborhood children get together for playtime and art projects outdoors.

Galloway, who is earning her master’s in public health from MU, says, “The only reason why we did it this way is because we knew we could make it work. If we were living in a neighborhood that didn't have any kids around us or anything like that, my kids would probably be in-seat.”

Jamie Smith, a neighbor of Galloway’s who sometimes oversees informal art projects with the children, told Inside Columbia that the small group

gathering is a perfect opportunity to get the kids off devices without putting them at risk.

His two children are doing virtual school, and though he finds himself having to work

“And they weren’t getting better. So it was easy to say, we’re just going to keep them home.

And we’ll make decisions down the road when we have to.”

Smith says one of the biggest

Neighborhood children play during a pod school break. later nights, earlier mornings and some weekends to keep up with his job as a data analyst, he still feels the decision to keep his kids home was an easy one. “I mean, we watched the numbers of COVID,” he says.

benefits of having the children home is an increased emphasis on quality time. His kids get to see their parents at work, and the parents get to share in the wonder of early education.

Slusher feels a similar benefit:

Her sons feel less peer pressure when away from the insulated environment of a classroom, and they’ve opened up at home in new and fascinating ways.

As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on any semblance of normality, parents remain wary of any short-term solutions. Instead, they’re turning to relationships to get them through — relationships between other parents and neighbors, and relationships between their kids and their teachers. “[My daughter’s] teacher is fabulous,” Slusher says. “I don't understand how she's keeping a classroom full of first graders going all day long. But I have to say that the difference between spring and fall has been tremendous. I'm just seeing that the teachers have a lot more confidence in what they're doing now. They were given time to get themselves ready.”

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Jaunty Jammies A Columbia family continues a toasty tradition.

While you may think it took some convincing for us to get Battle High School Head Football Coach — and former Mizzou Defensive End — Atiyyah Ellison to model holiday jammies for us, rest assured there was no bribery, blackmail or bartering involved.

Ellison and his wife Jessica, sons Tyson and Braylon and daughters Alexandria and Rilyn have been ordering and showcasing matching pjs for nine years now. So, when we decided to jump on the festive fashion train, we knew exactly who to call.

Matching family pajamas, a relatively new concept, have surged in popularity around the holiday season in recent years; in 2019 many stores were sold out by Thanksgiving. Whether yours is more of a red plaid or a cool blue patterned pajama family, be sure to order before it’s too late to get a photo — and if you have a family pet, don’t forget to order matching pjs for them too!

Unisex Adult Matching Family Bear Buffalo Plaid Fleece One Piece Pajamas The Children’s Place $44.95 Unisex Adult Matching Family Bear Buffalo Plaid Pajamas The Children’s Place $49.95 Unisex Baby And Toddler Matching Family Bear Buffalo Plaid Fleece One Piece Pajamas The Children’s Place $19.95 Women’s Matching Family Bear Buffalo Plaid Fleece Nightgown The Children’s Place $44.95 Girls Matching Family Bear Buffalo Plaid Fleece Nightgown The Children’s Place $19.95

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 101

Toddler Jammies For Your Families® Sleigh All Day Top & Bottoms Pajama Set Kohl’s $26 Boys 4-20 Jammies For Your Families® Sleigh All Day Top & Bottoms Pajama Set Kohl’s $34 Men's Jammies For Your Families® Sleigh All Day Print Top & Bottoms Pajama Set Kohl’s $42 Women's Jammies For Your Families® Sleigh All Day Top & Bottoms Pajama Set Kohl’s $42 Girls 7-16 Jammies For Your Families® Sleigh All Day Top & Pants Pajama Set Kohl’s $34

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Sleuth Sayers: Enjoy A Virtual Whodunit

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SPOTLIGHT

EVENT DETAILS WHEN Jan. 12–16, 19–23 at 7 p.m.

WHERE Zoom lyceumtheatre.org/occasion/ mystery-in-a-box-manhunt/

Box Seats

INTERACTIVE ZOOM MYSTERY COMING IN JANUARY.

BY PEG GILL • PHOTO PROVIDED BY ARROW ROCK LYCEUM THEATRE

T

his year has been challenging for all of us — in many ways and on many levels. It’s definitely led to some inventive “out-of-the-box” thinking. For the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, that thinking has involved an actual box — three of them, to be exact.

Producing Artistic Director Quin Gresham says the theatre’s upcoming “Mystery in a Box/Manhunt” series in January will be the third “In a Box” production they’ve offered. It follows “Magic in a Box” and “Cruise in a Box” which occurred earlier this year.

He says the “In a Box” productions came about after Chad Rabinovitz, with the Adirondack Theatre Festival, reached out to him and the leaders of many other theaters to join an “In a Box” partnership this summer.

“Many of us had wanted to create some virtual programming but didn’t trust our full understanding of the tools,” Gresham says. “Chad and his team had done the work and were ready to jump so

we were very happy to join them in this partnership.” He adds that although there have been mail order mystery boxes for a while, he isn’t sure there has ever been a live online production in conjunction with clues that arrive in the mail.

Here’s how it works: You buy a ticket for one of the 10 available dates (at 7 p.m. each night) for $50 per household, and a box will be delivered to your house.

Inside, you’ll find a variety of objects, along with an invitation to help solve a mysterious puzzle. When you accept, you’re connected online to a detective who needs your clues to start connecting the pieces. All participants will need to have internet access and need to have downloaded the Zoom software, Gresham says. Participants who order by Dec. 28 will receive their box in plenty of time for their chosen show.

Mysteries have long been a part of Lyceum programming “whether that be a stylish production of an Agatha Christie classic or one of our interactive Murder

Mystery Weekends, so this seemed like a natural fit,” he says. “Audiences love mysteries because they feel so active — there is a mystery to solve and, though they typically would do so silently and passively, they get to play detective. In this online production they get to be a little more active.”

Since The Lyceum is presenting the productions, rather than actually creating them, Gresham says many of the details will — fittingly enough — remain a mystery to him until the dates draw closer. A portion of the ticket sales will support the work of the Lyceum Theatre.

He’s thrilled that the Theatre’s able to bring this fun entertainment option to those living in the mid-Missouri area.

“I hope that this production is an entertaining adventure that will keep audiences entertained in their homes. And I hope that feeling encourages audience members into the Theatre when the time is right!”

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112 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

What’s Going On THE EVENTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS WINTER As of press time, these events were scheduled to occur. Please check with the organizer to confirm whether details have changed.

December 1-17

Build A House for the House Gingerbread Competition VIRTUAL Celebrate the holiday season with Ronald McDonald Charities® of Mid-Missouri. Have fun with family and friends while also giving back to families far from home during the holidays. This year’s event will be virtual.

Registration 12/1; $25 per entry; creation due 12/7; online voting 12/11–12/17; winners announced 12/18; houseforthehouse.com December 4

Filmmaker Happy Hour VIRTUAL Join world-renowned filmmakers and True/False Film Fest alums, Bill and Turner Ross (aka the Ross Brothers), for a virtual storytelling and cocktail workshop.

7 to 8:30 p.m.; $140; facebook.com/ events/391793278492559/ December 4

Living Windows THE DISTRICT Each year as December begins, local shopkeepers transform their front windows into vibrant holiday displays. This year’s event will be largely virtual, giving residents a chance to view videos of the windows and vote for their favorites.

TBA; free; discoverthedistrict.com

Drive-thru Holiday Lights WARM SPRINGS RANCH | Dec. 3–6, 10–13, 17–24, 26–30 Enjoy an incredible display of holiday spirit at this enchanting annual event featuring thousands of twinkling lights and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. This year’s event will be drive-thru only.

6 or 8 p.m.; reservations required; $20 per car; warmspringsranch.com

December 16

December 22-23

One for One Holiday Food Drive

“A Christmas Carol”

COLUMBIA MALL

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is presenting its much-loved traditional holiday production in a digital version this year.

The performance is a fundraiser for the Theatre and will feature several of the high-caliber actors who’ve previously performed the show in person in Arrow Rock, including Don Richard as miserly Scrooge. The Lyceum’s Producing Artistic Director Quinn Gresham wrote a special adaptation of the classic Dickens’ tale just for this digital production.

7 p.m.; $10 and up suggested donation; eventbrite. com/e/arrow-rock-lyceum-theatrepresents-charles-dickens-a-christmas-carolregistration-126609619781

Join volunteers from area businesses including Inside Columbia magazine and Zimmer Radio as they “freeze for food” at this outdoor drive benefiting the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri.

6 a.m.-6 p.m.; donations welcome; sharefoodbringhope.org December 18-20

Trans-Siberian Orchestra LIVESTREAM EVENT For the first time in more than 20 years, the group will not be able to tour during the holiday season. Instead, the multi-platinum, critically acclaimed, progressive rock group is livestreaming an all-new staging of its beloved album, “Christmas Eve and Other Stories Live in Concert.”

8 p.m. EST on 11/18; available on demand through midnight 12/20 $30 ; family-friendly all-in ticket; trans-siberian.com/

DIGITAL PERFORMANCE

January 12-16,19-23

“Mystery In A Box/ Manhunt” VIRTUAL EVENT The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a presenting sponsor of this fun whodunit event. You buy a ticket, and a box is delivered to your home. Inside, you find a variety of objects, along with an invitation to help solve a mysterious puzzle.

You accept, and are connected online to a detective who needs your clues to start connecting the pieces … but the pieces to what? Read more on page 111.

7 p.m.; Zoom; $50 ticket per household; lyceumtheatre.org/occasion/mystery-in-a-boxmanhunt/

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 113

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TIPS TO ENSURE YOUR BEST FRIEND IS HEALTHY AND HAPPY

Winter Worries

6 THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF AS WINTER WEATHER SETS IN

1. Deny the Dry.

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2. Protect the Paws.

Your dog’s paws can pick up all kinds of toxic chemicals on winter walks from icemelt and anti-freeze, and it can make them pretty sick if they lick their paws and ingest it. Make sure you either pick up a set of dog boots or paw wax, or wipe off those paws after walks. They can also easily injure their paws on ice, so make sure to check for cracked or bleeding paws while you’re at it.

3. Address Their Dress. If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for them. Most of our house pets aren’t properly suited for long periods outside during inclement weather, particularly pets who are elderly or very young, who are thin, or who have short coats. Limit their time outside or prep them with a jacket or sweater.

4. Feed Their Need. Okay, okay. You have a dog

who LOVES being outside in the cold - some breeds are built for it. But those cold-loving creatures burn a lot of extra energy trying to keep warm, so make sure you increase the amount of food and protein they’re fed to make up for it.

5. Avoid a Cat-astrophe. Outdoor cats often seek warmth under the car hood and can be injured by the fan belt when you start your engine. Knock loudly on the hood of your vehicle before starting it to give cats a chance to run off and be safe.

6. Make Spot Easy to Spot.

Chances are, a lot of your daily walks with your dog are in the dark this time of year, so make sure you both stand out by wearing reflective or light up gear. There are all kinds of collars, leashes and pet clothing that help increase visibility.

Keeping Spot on a shorter leash during walks also makes it easier for drivers to see the two of you when it’s dark.

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116 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

insider

BOOKSHELF

Finding Humor in Aging JILL ORR’S NEWEST RELEASE EXAMINES INTERGENERATIONAL ALCHEMY.

BY OLIVIA DeSMIT • PHOTO BY L. G. PATTERSON

J

ill Orr, formerly solely a mystery-genre

people, but rather about the interplay

so it was awkward at times. You can

writer, decided to step out of her

between the different generations — how

spend a week crafting a single sentence,

comfort zone this fall and launch a new

Millennials relate to Generation X and

and they were watching me do that; we

humor non-fiction gift book, How Not to

Boomers and Generation Z and vice

were doing it together in real time. Over-

Be Old (Even if You Are).

versa. There’s this interesting alchemy

all it took me about eight weeks from

that takes place between generations and

start to finish for this book, and a novel I

morous books explores how those across

most of the time it’s pretty darn funny.

could easily spend eight to 12 months on.”

different generations interact with each

We also wanted to make sure it is relat-

other and pokes a little lighthearted fun

able to younger people, including those

IC: Looking ahead to 2021, do you have

at some commonalities and differences

in their 20s, so that you’re laughing with

anything already in the works?

that most of us know far too well.

your mom or your grandma.”

Orr: “I’d love to do another gift humor

Orr’s first foray into the world of hu-

book, and I do have another idea: It

We met with her to get the scoop on her new release, as well as what she’s got

IC: This is your first time writing an

would be a follow-up called How Not

up her (book) sleeve for 2021.

illustration-based book. What did that

to Be an A-hole. I feel like there’s a lot of

process look like?

inspiration out there for that one.

Inside Columbia: Tell me a little bit about

Orr: “My publisher hired an illustra-

your newest release.

tor, Kate Wong, who is based out of the

on another novel that’s still in the pretty

Jill Orr: “I had talked with my publisher

Pacific northwest. Actually, my editor art

early stages — most likely a romantic

about doing a humor book together, but

directed the book, so the illustrator and

comedy. It will likely be a standalone

we never found the right topic. Then, I

I had a little bit of contact, like when we

book since the hallmark of any kind of

started realizing 90% of my conversations

were deciding what to do for the step

romance or romantic comedy is that hap-

with friends were all about getting older,

about rolling your eyes when people talk

pily ever after that the book has to have

whether we were complaining about it or

about the environment. It was a super

or point toward. But, having not com-

just commenting on the fact that we feel

interesting process, and her illustra-

pleted it yet, who knows? If I hit upon a

like we’re still 25 but don’t look or move

tions elevate the book in a way I couldn’t

character that I’m not finished with, you

like we are. And I thought maybe this is

have even imagined. The other thing is

never know where it will go.”

the idea we have been looking for, so I

because it was illustrated, I wrote it in

threw it out to my publishers, and they

Google Documents. When you write a

How Not to Be Old (Even if You Are) was

were super into it.”

novel, you write and edit, edit, edit and

released Nov. 10 and is available at Skylark

no one sees it until it’s as close to good

Bookshop in Columbia, as well as online at various retailers.

IC: What was your goal with this book?

and perfect as you can get it. But, because

Orr: “We decided we didn’t want it to just

we needed to get going on illustrations,

be a book making fun of middle-aged

everyone could see my draft in real time,

“Otherwise I am writing and working

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 117

118 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

Inside Columbia

views C O N T E N T S

120 On the Town

123 Dueling DJs

125 A New View

128

Darkow Draws

FIR OR FAUX? When Christmastime rolls around each year, are you a tree traditionalist with a deep-rooted routine of getting a real tree?

Maybe even axing your own at a local tree farm? Or are you a big fan of faux instead, perfectly content to reassemble your boxed balsam each year?

130

The Final Word

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ON THE TOWN

RAMS Golf Tournament The second annual Rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Against Multiple Sclerosis Golf Tournament was held at the Lake of the Woods Golf Course on Oct. 25. The event helped raise $12,800 for the organization.

Andrew "Thor" Herbert

Date Oct. 25 Location Lake of the Woods Golf Course

Photos by Anna Callis

Andrew Tedder, Madison Jones, Elizabeth Roe, Michael Allen

Maddie Kaiser, Anna Davis, Regan Ragsdale

Keaton Mateja, Boyd Callis, Karson Weymuth, Carson Hunolt

Olivia Wilson, Kevin Einig

120 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

Merritt Gibbs, Allie Glascock

views

ON THE TOWN

Civic Appreciation Breakfast Each year, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce recognizes and thanks elected public officials and public Dan Hanneken, Fred Parry, Janet Thompson, Matt Moore

servants for all of their hard work and dedication. The Broadway Diner and In2Action each received $500 from gift sponsors to continue their efforts in the community.

Date Nov. 3 Location Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center Matt Moore & Matt Williams

Eric Wilson & Steven Ramsey

Susan Hart & Mike Grellner

Dan Hanneken & De’Carlon Seewood

Janet Thompson

De’Carlon Seewood, Eric Wilson, Pat Fowler, John Glascock and Wally Pfeffer

Photos by Wally Pfeffer mizzouwally@compuserve.com and Mary Kate Hafner

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 121

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Dueling DJs

DUELING DJS

Two local radio personalities square off on a topic du jour.

Each issue, two on-air talents from two different Zimmer Radio stations will voice their opinions on what you might call a controversial topic. This issue, check out Shags’ and Scotty’s take on what they think are the “best wings in Columbia.”

Shags, 96.7 KCMQ CJ’s in Tiger Country When it comes to a traditional buffalo style wing there is no other option in Missouri than CJ’s hot wings in downtown Columbia. If you don't think they have the best wings in CoMo than one has never touched your lips. Once you’ve had CJ’s, no other wings will do.

Each wing is lathered in a healthy portion of their famous sauce and has no need for any other dipping options.

Ranch and blue cheese are for wings that can’t be tolerated on their own. The only side needed is an ice-cold beer to wash down all the delicious glory.

Drum or flat is never an argument while eating CJ’s hot wings the only debate is who gets the last one in the basket.

Man, this is making me hungry ... see you at CJ’s.

Scotty, 99.3 Clear Country D. Rowe’s Restaurant & Bar The best wings in Columbia are the smoked wings at D. Rowe’s.

Simple and spectacular.

First of all, I like a meat that doesn’t need to be covered up with sauce. That goes for all three major meat categories: beef, pork and chicken wings. Sauce covers flaws, and the wings at D. Rowe’s don’t need it.

They start with good, meaty wings and drummies. Then a simple and secret rub. Then they slowly cook them with hickory smoke, which makes ANYTHING taste better. I’d eat a stapler if you let D. Rowes cook it in their smoker.

Plus, in my non-scientific opinion these wings are “diet wings.” They’re chicken, they’re not fried, and they’re not slathered in some nonsense sauce named after a circus. Meat, spice, smoke. Just give me a couple of napkins and a plate to stack the dead soldiers.

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 123

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Boost Immunity Along with current concerns about COVID-19, we’re also entering peak flu season. Even healthy patients can experience benefits from using our hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chamber. It may improve energy levels, sleep, focus, tissue functions, stem cell mobilization and immune health, among other things.

HOW IT WORKS: When you’re immersed in and breathe up to 100% pure oxygen at increased pressures, oxygen tension in your lungs rises. Great amounts of oxygen are dissolved in all your tissues and fluids, and oxygen levels remain increased for up to several hours after treatment. During this time: ● White cells are better able to kill bacteria in infected tissues. ● Healing is accelerated. ● New blood vessel formation is sped up. ● Brain cells stunned by stroke or other neurological injuries can be revived.

WHAT TO EXPECT The chamber’s clear windows allow you to readily see out and allow trained us to closely monitor you.

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Call for a Free consultation Dr. Brooks Travis, D.C. Dr. Sudhir Batchu, M.D., M.S.

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124 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

views A NEW VIEW

A New View

BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER, I HAVE ACCESS TO SOME UNIQUE POINTS OF VIEW IN THE COMMUNITY.

Assignment: Fall Colors The Location: The Old Southwest Neighborhood he fall season in mid-Missouri is by far my favorite season. We are truly blessed with the variety of colors our trees show off as the temperatures drop.

The sugar maples flaunt their bright reds and the mighty oaks cover the town

T

with a deep orange color.

My favorite fall tree is the ginkgo.

The unique fan-shaped leaves turn a brilliant yellow, which contrasts nicely against the deep blue sky on a fall afternoon. The tree seems to refuse to release the leaves long after they turn.

When the leaves do fall, they tend to fall in one day creating a yellow rain that’s incredible to experience. The result is a yellow blanket that covers the grass below

and is soft and cool to the touch.

The leaves aren’t brittle like most fall leaves, which means they’re the perfect for a late afternoon nap.

I speak from experience.

L.G. Patterson

INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 125

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128 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

Advertising Index INSIDE CO LU M B I A

Lordex Spine Center 124

Treats Unleashed 84

Bank of Missouri 47

Makes Scents 85

Zimmer Communications 108

BMW of Columbia 5

Martha Rose Gifts & Home Décor 85

Zimmer Communications - Meet the Team 18

Boone Hospital Center 15

Menard Inc. 31

Buchroeders Jewelers 7

Mercedes-Benz of Columbia 9

BO O M!

Bush & Patchett LLC 38

Missouri Vein Care 10

CC’s City Broiler 78

CC’s City Broiler 106-107

MO Heart Center 8, 34

Cedarhurst 67

CenterPointe Hospital 105

Mutual of Omaha 110

Columbia Post Acute 57, 63

Columbia Post Acute 17

N.H. Scheppers Distributing Company 6

Commerce Bank 53

Columbia Showcase Kitchens 25

Northwestern Mutual Life-Ashli Eaves 19

Edward Jones-Fulton 57

Commerce Bank 131

NW Industries, LLC 4

Edward Jones-Gina Mauller-Crane 59

Convergence Financial 36

Peak Sport & Spine 40

Fuze32 82

Downtown Appliance 132

Pink Poppy Boutique 84

Lenoir Woods 52

Flooring America 26

Rost Landscaping & Superior Gardens 31

MO Heart Center 54-55

Genesis Company 12

Rusk Rehabilitation Center 122

MO Stairway Lift 63

House of Brokers-Spieler Winn 117

Stone Hill Winery 38

Rusk Rehabilitation Center 76

Inside Columbia 105

SumnerOne 20, 118, 126-127

SumnerOne 60-61

Joe Gilbert 86

Tallulahs 86

The Terrace Retirement Community 67

Lee’s Tires 17

The Broadway, A Doubletree by Hilton 129

Zimmer Communications 80

Lizzi & Rocco’s Natural Pet Market 114-115

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views THE FINAL WORD

The Satisfaction of Serving REFLECTING ON THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

BY FRED PARRY

A

t the end of this month, my

to be winners and losers on either side. My

community is losing one of its few

four-year term as a Boone County

decision to vote in favor of the relocation of

advocates in local government. As a small

Commissioner will come to an

the Midway USA campus to the intersection

business owner for 25 years, I brought a

end. While I had the intention of serving at

of Highways 40 and J undoubtedly cost me

unique perspective to the job. My wife and

least two terms on the County Commission,

a lot of votes. In the end, the potential loss

I understood the sacrifice that goes into

the voters of Boone County had a different

of an employer that supports the livelihood

owning a small business and providing a

plan. When the final votes were counted, I

of more than 800 Boone County families

livelihood for so many families. When local

fell short by 2,531 votes out of the total 48,191

was a significant consideration. It was also

health officials decided to close businesses,

cast. My advisors told me it would have been

hard to risk the $4 million windfall in new

restrict commerce and place burdens on

difficult to overcome the more than 8,870

property taxes that will now directly benefit

establishments that would eventually force

new Democrats who voted in this local

of Columbia Public Schools. I’ll admit that I

them to close, there was only one elected

election for the first time. It must be said

also felt my fair share of internal conflict on

official standing up and challenging their

that Commissioner-elect Justin Aldred won

this issue, just as I did in approving a handful

actions. That voice, at least temporarily, has

the election fair and square and I wish him

of new subdivisions that were ultimately

been silenced.

the very best as he endeavors to serve the

going to jeopardize someone’s scenic view of

citizens of Boone County. I’m confident he’ll

property they didn’t own.

do a great job.

In the final analysis, a County

The moral of the story is that all of us need to be more active in the democratic process on the local level. When a school

Commissioner not only represents the

board decides to keep your children from

as a County Commissioner has been my

90,000 constituents living in his/her district

being able to attend school or a city council

highest professional honor. I learned so

but also faces times when you have to make

decides to raise your property taxes to help

much over the past four years and I now

a decision that is in the larger interest of the

the homeless, it doesn’t do much good to

have a broadened perspective of the many

county’s 183,000+ citizens. Very rarely do

complain unless you’ve chosen to participate

challenges and rewards derived from setting

you get to vote on an issue that is a win/win

in the process. The bottom line is that we

public policy for a diverse and thriving

for everyone involved. You hope that history

need more people to run for elected office.

community such as Boone County. The

will reflect that you did the right thing, but

biggest rewards came from the satisfaction

only time will tell.

Serving the citizens of Boone County

I am so grateful for my four years on the County Commission. It was an absolute

I’m proud that during my single term we

honor to serve. My hope is that there will be

wanted to express concerns with the dust

found a good solution to the Boone County

more people stepping forward in the coming

coming from a gravel road or register a

Fairgrounds issue that had plagued the

months and years to experience life as an

complaint about a neighbor’s failing sewage

county for more than 20 years. In the near

elected official. The rewards always outweigh

lagoon, more than anything, they just

future, the citizens of Boone County will

the challenges and the places we live are

wanted to be heard. I was often surprised by

be able to enjoy a world-class recreational

always better ones when we get involved.

the number of citizens who were absolutely

complex and the Boone County Fair will

shocked that an elected official would

return to Columbia as its new permanent

actually return their phone call or just take

home. I’m also proud that we closed the

the time to listen.

divide that existed between the governments

of simply serving. Whether a constituent

The biggest challenges came with the controversial issues where it was clear that, whatever the outcome, there were going

130 INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

of the City of Columbia and Boone County.

Perhaps my biggest concern as I leave office is that Columbia’s business

Fred Parry Founder & Publisher Emeritus fred@insidecolumbia.net

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573.886.5626 commercebank.com/HereToHelp

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