COMO | April 2021 by The COMO Companies Magazines | COMO Magazine

A PRIL 2021 | T HE MUS I C & FI LM ISSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIM E S COM PAN Y

WI L R EE V E S

The Music & Film Issue

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Rewards & Adventure Await With the Missouri Winery Visitors Program

Missouri wine country offers stunning sights and award-winning wines perfect for savoring. What could be better than taking in scenic views with a glass of your favorite vino in hand? How about the opportunity to earn exciting rewards and participate in exclusive experiences, just by visiting new wineries and frequenting your favorites? It’s possible with the Missouri Winery Visitors Program (MVP). MVP is a free program that encourages members to get out and explore all that Missouri wine country has to offer. From the northwest corner to the southeastern bootheel of the Show-Me State, more than 100 MVP-participating wineries offer up opportunities for members to get rewarded for their patronage. Thousands of members from across Missouri and Kansas have joined MVP to make the most out of their visits to wine country, however frequent they may be. Whether you make the occasional trip to a Missouri winery with friends, or have a goal to visit every winery in the state, MVP rewards you. This unique program was designed to benefit seasoned Missouri winery patrons and new wine enthusiasts alike. From the moment you receive your welcome kit, complete with information about Missouri wine country and your trusty membership card, your MVP experience is completely customizable to your goals and preferences. Participating in the pro-

gram is as simple as collecting MVP tickets during your visits to wineries. These tickets, each with their own unique alphanumeric code, are your “ticket” to rewards, sweepstakes and more. The process of entering these codes and earning points from your visits is made simple with your online MVP account. For each first-time visit to a participating winery, members earn 500 points, and subsequent visits are awarded point values based upon visit frequency; these points don’t expire until after the program ends. As ticket codes are entered and points rack up, members have the opportunity to redeem those points for exciting rewards. From functional items and wine accessories, to glassware and wine-centric experiences, MVP offers a range of rewards attainable for any member. For MVP and Missouri wines’ most loyal enthusiasts, exclusive access to events like the Cellar Master Celebration can be redeemed at higher point levels. Points can also be redeemed for entries into quarterly sweepstakes drawings, where wine-themed bundles, getaways and event tickets are up for grabs. As if these awesome rewards aren’t already enough of an incentive for MVP members, select wineries offer members-only perks that include discounts on merchandise and complimentary glassware.

Beyond the variety of rewards that can be earned for exploring Missouri wine country, MVP offers members unparalleled camaraderie with other wine enthusiasts and the opportunity to interact with winery industry professionals. Members reflect fondly on the friendships they’ve developed with fellow participants and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that have made their Missouri wine adventures even more memorable. Members have also stated that they’ve deepened their knowledge of wine and discovered the uniqueness of Missouri’s wine industry and history through their exploration of the state’s wineries. Besides racking up points and rewards, members accumulate unforgettable memories and invaluable connections with MVP.

Ready to take advantage of all that MVP has to offer? Find participating wineries near you using our interactive map and prepare for your next Missouri wine adventure by signing up for MVP today at www.missouriwinemvp.com.

We’ll see you in wine country!

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APRIL 2021

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Letter from the Publisher

The COMO Recipe

ome of you may wonder how we choose what goes in our magazine, or how it all comes together. Sometimes, I do too! At the end of a planning meeting, I often sit back in my chair and am awed by how we just did it again. Every month, we put 108 pages together of all new content that is unique to our community. We discuss and decide on story ideas centered around our theme, sources, photographers, and the types of images we want to use. This issue in your hands was no different. We ended up with a magazine full of people I didn’t know! And I loved it. The process begins with our advisory board. The advisory board came into existence years ago, when we realized we needed more than just the people on our staff or in our direct circle of influence to make a fully representational magazine about Columbia. We pick people from a diverse range of industries, genders, and ethnicities and ask them to serve with us for a year. Our goal is to change this group out every year to help bring new eyes and perspectives to COMO Magazine. The advisory board meets with us every quarter to throw out ideas for the next three issues that we are planning. They also help us select our 20 Under 40, our Women of Excellence, and our Impact COMO recipients. This is an amazing group of people for which we are very grateful. Our new advisory board members for 2021 are: • Kelly Hill, Heart of Missouri CASA

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY'S PICKS

• Ernie Ueligger, Jones and Ueligger Law • Angie Olson, Iron Gate Real Estate • Alex George, Skylark Book Shop • Jason Ramsey, Callaway Bank • Denise Nelson, Accounting Plus, Inc. • Tina Workman, Shelter Insurance • Beth Bramstedt, Christian Fellowship • Kris Husted, KBIA and Missouri School of Journalism • Megan Steen, Burrell Behavioral Health Apart from meeting with our advisory board, we meet once a month as a staff to finalize the ideas for our features and departments. Around the table, you'll find myself plus our editorial team; our design team, including our art director and director of photography; and our sales staff, as they are often out with businesses in town. We pull ideas from the advisory board meeting. We hear from the sales staff about who is new in town or celebrating big things. And then we do a lot of googling. Our end goal is to have bright, new content that hasn’t been done before and is delivered with our special sauce added to it. And that, my friends, is how you make a magazine. I hope you enjoy reading this, and as usual, if you have any feedback, I’d love to hear from you.

• Mike Ireland, Bank of Missouri

“I’m right on top of that, Rose!” Classic movie reference. To some, the reference is lost. “Who’s Rose?” Awkward laughter, move on. But to “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” lovers — they get it. They follow you into movie quoting mayhem. Me, “Damn the man.” Them, “SAVE THE EMPIRE!” Instant friends. But it’s not just those lingering movie quotes that we connect over. It’s the experience of hunkering down and going on a journey together. It’s the love of those actors who can always make you laugh. It’s a first date. It’s being so scared that you watch your friend watch a movie because you can’t bear to look at the screen. Or perhaps it’s watching a documentary so true to your own life you find yourself sobbing, grateful your best friend is there next to you. (Thank you, True/False.) There are movies so close to your heart that you pepper your life with their memorabilia or even a special tattoo. That one film you know completely, the one from which no one ever gets your references. (But you keep saying them anyway.) Life gets busy, time slips by. But sometimes all it takes is a movie reference to let someone know you love ’em more than your luggage.

ON THE COVER Wil Reeves, owner and operator of Centro Cellar Studio, shares his passion for his own music as well as other local artists. Read more on page 85.W Photo by Anthony Jinson

A PR I L 202 1 | T H E M U S I C & F I L M I S S U E | A PU B L I CATI O N O F TH E B U S I N E S S TI M E S CO M PA N Y

W I L R EE V E S

• Barbra Horrell, Retired • Chris Horn, Shelter Insurance, Columbia Public Schools Board of Directors • Nick Allen, Manor Roofing and Restoration Services • Heather Brown, Harry S. Truman Veteran’s Hospital

ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER

The Music & Film Issue

COMOMAG.COM

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MEET ALEX

“My classes and experiences with Woodhaven through their EnCircle Technologies program has allowed me to develop more confidence and focus on my strengths.” —Alex H.

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APRIL 2021

Recipient Henry J Aydt Award & Scholarship for Standards and Ethics in Real Estate Practice

Kris Ballage REALTOR®, GRI, ePro, CNE

kballage@remax.net • O: (573) 876-2820 C: (573) 690-7300 33 E Broadway, Suite 200 • Columbia, MO 65203

President Erica Pefferman

Erica@comomag.com

Senior Vice President Fran Patrick Fran@comomag.com

EDITORIAL

Director of Operations Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES

Publisher | Erica Pefferman

Account Executive | Charles Bruce

Editor | Fran Patrick

Account Executive | Kendall Lappe

Erica@comomag.com

Fran@comomag.com

Managing Editor | Kim Ambra Kim@comomag.com

Copy Editor | Matt Patston

DESIGN Art Director | Cassidy Shearrer

Cassidy@comomag.com

Senior Graphic Designer | Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com

Director of Photography | Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com

Graphic Designer | Kate Morrow Kate@comomag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Keith Borgmeyer, Kristen Bowen, Charles Bruce, Fin Crowder, Anthony Jinson, Amber Nichole Thiessen

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lauren Sable Freiman, Liz Goodwin, Julienne Graebner, Jon Hadusek, Katie Perry Harris, Jodie Jackson, Jessica Jainchill, Hannah Kueck, Amanda Long, Matt McCormick, Kermit Miller, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale, Aurola Wedman

Charles@comomag.com

Kendall@comomag.com

OUR MISSION

To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reﬂects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.

CONTACT

Business Times Holdings, LLC 18 S. Ninth St. Ste 201 Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 499-1830 • comomag.com /wearecomomag @wearecomomag

ADJUSTING

Your Health

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $39 for 12 issues for one year or $69 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag. com or by phone. COMO is published every month by Business Times Holdings, LLC. Copyright Business Times Holdings, LLC 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

CONTRIBUTING INTERNS

Kaitlyn Bailey, Leslie Douglas, Vivian Kolks Photo by Carly Buntin Photography

ON T HEM E

If your life had a theme song, what would it be and why?

Dr. Ashley Emel DC, CACCP, Webster Certified

Jennifer Truesdale Writer

Keith Borgmeyer Photographer

Julienne Graebner Writer

Michelle Terhune Writer

Brandi Carlile’s “Pride and Joy.” The themes of wanting to be understood, recognizing that you’re still scared, and looking for acceptance from those you love resonate with me no matter where I am in life.

Alan Jackson’s “Remember When” would be my theme song. I selected this tune because I’m currently living out verse four. I appreciate the songwriting and storytelling created within this track.

It’s hard to sum up all of my experiences in a song! Maybe something classical like “The Lark” by Mikhail Glinka. It can be interpreted as happy, sad, and anything in between.

I’m single, have no kids, and love to travel. My pre-pandemic songs were “Born to be Wild” and “It’s My Life.” Now, it’s more Kravitz and “Fly Away.”

Dr. Jennifer Sutherland DC, FASA

2516 Forum Blvd. #102 (573) 445-4444 compass-chiropractic.com

FEATURES

54 TAKE ME TO THE RIVER Cooper’s Landing tempts an almost-retired Columbia music and entertainment entrepreneur to take on a fresh challenge.

APRIL 2021 | The Music & Film Issue

13 Publisher’s Letter

LIVING 21 ART & CULTURE For the Love of the Harp

23 PET FRIENDLY Rescuing the Wigglebutts

27 WELLNESS

STYLE We're with the (Local) Bands

77 GUEST VOICES Advocating Today for a Stronger Tomorrow

FRIENDS & FAMILY Rocking Out

JPS Productions

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Josh and Chelsea Wright

WORKING 69

CELEBRATIONS

82 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT Columbia Access Television

85 BUSINESS UPDATE

Soothing with Music

CLOSER LOOK

Centro Cellar Studio

HOMES

BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Party Like It’s 1962

35 GOURMET A Tiny Kitchen with Big Flavor

PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Aarik Danielsen

106

LOCAL GOVERNMENT A Power Vacuum in Missouri

THIS OR THAT Richard King

59 KEEPING THE MUSIC ALIVE Audio recording program Darkroom Records encourages musical creativity in Columbia’s schools.

92 WE SHOULD START A BAND! Starring A Many Colored Death, Violet And The Undercurrents, and The Sweaters.

99 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Columbia's filmmakers shoot for creative collaboration.

Machens Dealerships is honored to give back to our community by investing in education. Every month, we award a deserving high school senior with a $2,500 scholarship.

BRADY WHELIHAN of Douglass High School is the scholarships’ April recipient. He hopes to attend Westminster, but is currently undecided on his area of study.

“Thank you so much Joe Machens for the amazing scholarship to help pay for my tuition. What you are doing for area seniors is wonderful. I’m truly grateful for the $2,500. Not having as much debt to worry about after college will be incredible so I can continue to focus on my future. Thank you again for giving me a jump start to college!” - Brady

Do you know a Mid-Missouri high school senior preparing for their future?

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Living

FOR THE LOVE OF THE HARP

A TINY KITCHEN WITH BIG FLAVOR

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1962

Maria Trevor shares her love of the fairy tale instrument.

Rose Music Hall’s food legacy brings the past and future together.

Step into the Graces’ remodeled basement and get transported back to 1960s glam.

APRIL 2021

Living

ART & CULTURE

For the Love of the Harp Maria Trevor shares her love of the fairy tale instrument. BY KATIE PERRY HARRIS

ow Maria Trevor brought her love of the harp to Columbia, Missouri, is a love story. As a child growing up in Slovakia, Maria played the piano, but she was fascinated by the harp from an early age. “It seemed to be such a fairy tale instrument,” Maria recalls. She began taking harp lessons at age 12, fell in love with the instrument, and by age 14, she was studying harp at the Conservatory of Music in Zilina, a city in northwestern Slovakia. While serving as the principal harpist at the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, in the Czech Republic, Maria met Kirk Trevor, then the conductor. “We fell in love and married a few years later,” Maria says. “We had a commuting marriage for four years, and when I was expecting our first child, we decided to move to one place to raise a family. I still miss my family and friends overseas, but we visit every summer.” That’s what brought Maria to Columbia, where Kirk has served as the conductor of the Missouri Symphony since 2000. (He recently announced he will step down on July 31.) For Maria, being a part of Columbia’s musical community has given her the opportunity to continue sharing her love of the harp. Being centrally located in Columbia affords Maria the chance to travel across the state to perform in places like Springfield, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Here in town, she is the principal harpist for the Missouri Symphony, performs with the Odyssey Series, and collaborates with MU’s ensembles when a harpist is needed. “In my career as an orchestra harpist, I have been fortunate to share the stage with artists such as Johnny Mathis, Art Garfunkel,

Ben Vereen, Ben E. King, Eileen Ivers, and the Texas Tenors,” Maria says. In addition to orchestra music, Maria brings the magic of the harp to special events and wedding ceremonies. She estimates she’s played at more than 200 wedding ceremonies. “Brides often describe to me how hearing their music being played for the first time suddenly made all these distant wedding plans feel so real,” she says. “Live music has a certain kind of magic to it and can create an unforgettable ambiance, especially during these once-in-a-lifetime occasions.” Teaching the harp to students of all ages is also important to Maria. “I love teaching my students. It’s as simple as that,” she says.

“Harp chooses people rather than the other way around. What usually happens is that students — adults or children — come to me saying, ‘I’ve always wanted to play harp.’”

“Harp chooses people rather than the other way around. What usually happens is that students — adults or children — come to me saying, ‘I’ve always wanted to play harp.’” Maria started working on an initiative called “Harp and Healing” after the unexpected loss of her mother in 2011. “Naturally, turning to my instrument — playing slow and soothing music — helped me through my grief, so I explored therapeutic music and the effects of it on the healing process,” she says. The service started at Broadway Christian Church as a monthly way to share healing music for those who needed it in an environment that would be conducive to physical and emotional renewal. Since the pandemic started, the services are virtual and can be found on the church’s YouTube channel. Like many artists, Maria has had to shift the way she performs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The silence and the lack of creative outlets have been very hard on artists, not only emotionally and mentally speaking, but also financially,” she says. There can be a silver living, though. Maria says she has enjoyed virtual concerts and surprise performances on birthday Zoom parties. For anyone who is considering taking up the harp or any a new instrument, Maria says not to be afraid or intimidated. “Everything can be learned at any age,” she says. “So if you ever dreamed of playing a harp, borrow one of my smaller harps and give it a try!”

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APRIL 2021

Living

PET FRIENDLY

Reese’s, an Unchained Melodies rescue, snoozing comfortably in her forever home.

Rescuing the Wigglebutts Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue gives dogs — and people — a much needed f resh start. BY JU LES N. GRAEBN ER

or Melody Whitworth, director of Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue, it all started with one dog. “When I moved here from out of state, I saw a dog chained to a tree and I didn’t know how to help it,” she says. “I reached out to everyone that I could to get help, but there were no laws regarding chaining dogs or having a dog out in the blazing sun with no food or water.” Melody vividly remembers this moment that led to a lifelong passion for animals. “There was just no one to protect that dog, so

I decided that I would be the one that spearheaded the anti-chaining movement in our area,” she recalls. “It really did stem from this one husky that just broke my heart.” After moving to Columbia from a small island where not many people owned dogs, Melody was shocked to see such blatant cases of dog abuse and neglect in the area. “I had never seen dogs treated like this, but I now realize it’s an epidemic,” she says. “It’s a problem in every state, every county, and almost every town.”

ON A MISSION After volunteering for an organization in Virginia fighting against the chaining of dogs, Melody realized that more needed to be done closer to home. “I realized that being in Missouri and volunteering in an organization that far away wasn’t very beneficial to the dogs here,” she says. “I started doing some outreach on my own to bring awareness to these dogs, but it didn’t really explode until I started my own rescue, Unchained Melodies.”

COMOMAG.COM

Living

PET FRIENDLY

From there, it snowballed, and Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue quickly gained support in the Columbia community. Melody says: “Once we became our own entity, I think people felt more comfortable about donating and supporting. We could write our own manuals, decide our own protocols, and fi gure out what worked for where we are, here in Mid-Missouri, which doesn’t always work if you’re in a cosmopolitan city.” Melody says that Unchained Melodies has their work cut out for them, especially in the rural areas surrounding Columbia, where there are fewer ordinances or laws surrounding animal welfare. Additionally, much of the area is outside of animal control’s jurisdiction, so the burden of helping dogs there falls on the shoulders of independent rescues, like Unchained Melodies. “If the dog looks like a healthy weight, even if they only have a shack to sleep in, even if the water is frozen in the winter, the authorities say [the dog’s owner] is meeting the basics of the law,” Melody says. She explains that, although this is frustrating, Unchained Melodies has established a kind, empathetic approach to these dog owners. “Even though there’s nothing we can legally do about it, we reach out to these people as friendly, helpful volunteers offering free services, food, vet care — we’re just a helpful hand.” Th is softhearted approach is strange to some, but the Unchained Melodies staff tries to see the good in people, understanding that very few people set out to abuse or neglect their dogs. “People say to me, ‘Oh, I don’t know how you do this, I don’t know why you don’t get so upset at the people who are treating their animals this way,’” Melody says. “My response is that, a lot of times, things just get out of control. People are truly ignorant and they don’t realize the mental and physical needs of a dog. People think so poorly of these owners, but sometimes the owners are just in a bad way. They might have to choose between feeding the dog that’s out in the backyard and feeding their kids.”

Melody says that Unchained Melodies finds success with their thoughtful method. “I can usually reach them and educate them on why the dog deserves more. Sometimes, they realize this, and they’re happy that an organization like ours steps in and tells them we can help them re-home the dog. We get a lot further with this type of outreach than we ever do by calling animal control, the sheriff, or the police.”

NO PLACE LIKE HOME When dogs arrive at the Unchained Melodies facility, they are immediately vetted. Dewormed, vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered — these are just the basics, and it isn’t cheap. Melody says, “The majority of the dogs we get haven’t had vet care and have a lot of health problems, even if they’re young, so the majority of money goes to vet bills.” At the facility, staff members take the time to get to know the rescued dogs, working on behavioral and basic training before placing them with volunteer foster homes until the dogs are adopted. With a mere six kennels at the facility, Melody says that “foster homes are so, so important. If we didn’t have foster homes, the dogs would have no place to go. Without them, we can sometimes reach a standstill [when the facility is full] and be unable to bring more dogs in.” Since Unchained Melodies is a charitable organization, it relies on volunteers to keep its day-to-day operations running smoothly. There are all kinds of ways to get involved, from becoming a foster home, walking dogs, or cleaning to handing out flyers or spending time in the nursery caring for puppies. There are plenty of dogs rescued by Unchained Melodies waiting to find their forever homes. Melody urges people to consider adopting a rescue, saying, “If they just realized how rewarding it is to see a dog that you know had such a bad start in life make those slow, small progressions — to watch a dog come out of its shell and become a wigglebutt, a tail-wagging, happy best friend — it’s just the absolute best feeling in the world.”

Photos, top to bottom, left to right: Volunteer comforting a dog that had been living in a home its owners abandoned; padlock securing a heavy chain that held a dog to a tree day in and day out; abandoned dog, found in a dilapidated barn, being offered food and water before taken to safety; Melody rescuing puppies who had been confined to a ﬂatbed trailer; educating children about responsible pet ownership.

APRIL 2021

APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH.

Every child deserves a voice. LEND YOURS. Join our community of volunteers and be a voice for a child in foster care.

94%

of our volunteers’ recommendations were ordered or accepted by a judge

www.homcasa.org

IN 2020

97%

of the cases we helped close ended in permanent homes, either reunited with family, or adopted by relatives or non-relatives

100% of children with a CASA remained free from re-abuse while in foster care

In 2021, Heart of Missouri CASA’s goal is to serve 350 children with 170 volunteer advocates, which are both record-breaking milestones. Although the number of children in the system continues to grow, our vision remains the same: To serve 100% of the children who need us. COMOMAG.COM

1 in 3 SENIORS

dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer

COMBINED. Get the 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report at alz.org/facts.

M I S SO U R I A L Z H E I M E R ’ S S TAT I S T I C S

153.8% 2,782

increase in Alzheimer’s deaths since 2000

6th

leading cause of death

DEATHS FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN 2019

IN 2020 there were 120,000 people 65+ with Alzheimers. IN 2025 there will be an estimated 130,000 people 65+ with Alzheimers.

Need help? Reach out anytime.

24/7 HELPLINE 1-800-272-3900 More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $355 billion in 2021, increasing to more than $1.1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century. Dementia caregivers today are providing 20% more care than in 2009.

APRIL 2021

Living

Soothing with Music MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital uses music therapy to help improve patients’ health. BY JESSICA JAINCHILL

“MUSIC HATH CHARMS to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak,” William Congreve penned in 1697. In modern times, doctors at Columbia’s MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital have also found that music works as therapy for patients. Music therapy is a young field, and the music therapy program at MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital has only been in practice for about eight years. Still, doctors have already seen this therapy improve hospital patients’ health. Emily Pivovarnik, a licensed music therapist at the hospital, says: “Music therapy can reach anyone, from a premature infant all the way up to someone in hospice care. The appropriateness depends on the needs.” Emily says that music therapy has helped patients with nausea relief, relaxation, pain management, and reduced trauma during hospitalization.

Though music therapy helps patients of various ages, it’s most often used to help children. Emily says, for kids, this is “really great because [music therapy] is non-invasive. We’re not making them do anything that hurts or is hard for them to do.” During music therapy sessions, patients are encouraged to sing, play an instrument, or write lyrics. When unwillingness to participate is a problem, Emily works to make her patients feel more comfortable or to abate their fears. Th is means a music therapy session may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. The individuality, personality, and medical issues of the patient are also considered when Emily approaches a music therapy session. “We’re always using patient-preferred music,” Emily says. “If the goal of the patient is to decrease stress or relax, I’m not going to push them. But if I’m teaching them a song on how

WELLNESS

to tie their shoe, I may push them. It really depends on the situation.” In addition to destressing, one of the goals in music therapy is to teach the patients skills that help them deal with their current situation, whatever that might be. In the hospital, “kids are fearful — this is a different environment for them, [and] parents may not be with them,” Emily says. “They’ve lost control, they don’t know what’s going on, and they can’t go to school.” However, through music therapy, patients can regain a significant form of control and stability. “We’re teaching them a coping skill they can use throughout hospitalization and use outside of the hospital,” Emily says. Sometimes, Emily’s dedication to helping her patients even leads to a patient discovering a newfound talent. She has already seen patients who are motivated enough to continue learning music once they leave the hospital. Though patients in music therapy have seen some wonderful improvements, Emily emphasizes that music therapy is not a perfect cure. Sad experiences can happen in a hospital, but by being there to help her patients with music therapy, she’s improving their lives.

“Music therapy can reach anyone, from a premature infant all the way up to someone in hospice care.” —Emily Pivovarnik “I would never walk into a patient’s room and say I have the magic cure, but we have seen positive influences in patients,” she says. “Even the soothing [music] is great for our kids or babies who are here and are really stressed out. We [work] to get kids up and moving.” Emily believes that the foundational goal behind the hospital’s music therapy program is “to help out the kids and to make their hospital experiences are as good as possible, despite the circumstances.”

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APRIL 2021

Party Like It’s 1962

Living

HOMES

Step into the Graces’ remodeled basement and get transported back to 1960s glam. BY H ANNAH KUEC K PH OTOS BY KEITH BO R G MEYER

hen you walk into the Graces’ home, you’re transported back to the charm and glamour of the 1960s. When Christine and Brian Grace moved their family to the home in 2016, they enlisted the help of Spillman Homes to remodel and refresh, beginning with the main level and then moving to the basement. Thanks to the help of both Spillman Homes and Studio Home Inc., the basement is now the space that’s used the most by family and friends. As the remodeling began, Christine knew she wanted to make the home feel modern while maintaining the original charm of a house that was built in 1962. “We tried to choose finishes that would go along with what the original builders would’ve picked,” she explains. They carried this through to the basement, leaving

Check out the before photos on comomag.com!

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the brick fireplace intact and installing a statement wood-paneled wall. “We really wanted to keep the original feel of the house,” Christine says. “We wanted it to feel like it had always been this way but was still feel fresh and new.” Now, the basement has a space for everyone — from a bar to enjoy a drink in cushioned, green velvet chairs to an arts room for the Graces’ three girls.

Old Hollywood Glam Featuring Dark and Moody “We wanted [the basement] to kind of feel dark and moody,” Christine explains. But even with the dark-toned chairs, black marble bar station, and wood paneled wall, the space still provides a warm and inviting atmosphere with its brass and metallic accents and white geometric chandelier. “It just has a little more of a glam feel to it,” Christine adds. In the main level of the Graces’ home, the windows bring in a lot of natural light to give a bright and airy feel, so Christine wanted to mix it up with the basement. She explains that she didn’t want the space to feel closed in and suffocating, but rather like a space that the family would enjoy spending time with friends and family. “We wanted it to feel more cozy,” Christine says, adding that the basement actually does see more natural light than most basements do. “With the natural light, it helps us have the basement not feel too stuffy, and it also allows us to have the design elements to be more cozy and more like a den.” One of the features Christine was adamant about keeping in the basement was the wood

APRIL 2021

paneling. “A lot of people paint over their wood paneling or get rid of it,” Christine says. (In fact, the home had wood paneling on the main level when the family moved in, but it was removed during the remodel.) “For a basement, I just really wanted that wood element, and we achieved that with some natural walnut wood paneling. It’s in a design that doesn’t feel like it’s from the ’80s.” Instead, the paneling looks modern, but it also wouldn’t have been out of place in a home from the ’60s or ’70s.

Spaces for Everyone The basement in the Graces' home has a space for everyone in the family to enjoy, and even some spaces for guests. There is a full bar and a half-kitchen (think dishwasher, sink, and refrigerator) and two seating areas, one close to the bar for the adults and one across the basement that’s dedicated to the kids. “We have what we call a ‘game table’ where we have four big, comfy chairs sitting around to play games, and then we have a cozy seating area next to our fireplace,” Christine says. The fireplace seating area is a more intimate area for two people to relax. The space also has two full bathrooms, a gym and sauna room, a bedroom, and a bunk room with four beds for the girls and their friends. With three little girls, it’s only logical to have spaces designated for the kids, especially to contain the messes that their arts, crafts, and games might bring. “On the kids’ side of the basement, we also have an art area,” Christine says. “We made sure it was all surfaces that were easy to clean, because our kids can get pretty into their art.”

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Designing the Right Space When the Graces’ bought the home, the basement was finished in a “cool ’70s vibe,” complete with a shuffleboard game built into the linoleum floor, a vintage wall mural, and an orange shag carpet near a DIY shower — but with water pooling under the floor tile and asbestos in the ceiling, the space was unusable until it was torn out during the remodeling of the main level. Then, it was a blank, concrete canvas for the family to dream up. And while the family knew what pieces they wanted to include in the basement, they had no idea where to put everything to make them fit perfectly. “We hired the Studio Home design team, and one of the design team members helped us measure out where every room should go, and another design member helped us with finishes and achieving the dark and moody feel,” Christine explains. Spillman Homes was brought on to the project to provide services that would help build a perfect space to fit the family’s needs. But it wasn’t complete without some problems. Tearing out the staircase to install floating stairs created the challenge of dust control, and with the Grace’s choice of parquet wood floors, the Spillman team had to bore holes in the concrete floor to do moisture testing, which can prevent expensive flooring issues in the future. “The other curveball that we had on this renovation was asbestos abatement. As we quickly noticed, the downstairs had black mastic that, for the veterans in the business, is a strong indicator that asbestos is present,” Jeremy explains. The team worked to eliminate hazardous materials that could be harmful to the family. “In fact, we took measures to ensure that all known carcinogens were eliminated by using low VOC paints and all wool carpeting,” he says. Even with all of the curveballs thrown at the team, the hard work was worth it for the family to have a great space to spend time together. The basement has been a nice space to have, especially during the pandemic. “We can spread out and have family nights down here,” Christine says. “I’d say we spend more time down [in the basement] than we do upstairs now. When we’re watching TV or just hanging out, we do most of it down here.”

APRIL 2021

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A Tiny Kitchen With

Big Flavor Rose Music Hall’s food legacy. BY AMANDA LONG | PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

Photo by Sadie Thibodeaux

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THEN & NOW

Pizza Tree A

Columbia native since 1999, John Gilbreth gained experience in a variety of Columbia kitchens, building his culinary skills as he went. While working at The Blue Note in 2013, John became acquainted with Richard King, then the owner of The Blue Note and Mojo’s, now known as Rose Music Hall. John approached Richard when he heard Mojo’s food vendor, Sunflower Waffle Co., was departing. “I went up to Richard and said, ‘I’m doing this pizza thing — what do you think?’’ John remembers. “He gave me a handshake deal and let me get my start.” Once the deal was done, John set out to open in Mojo’s in seven days — which he did, serving his wares from the small space’s split window for the next year. John gives credit to both Richard King and Josh Bowles, general manager, for letting him

APRIL 2021

test the waters. One of John’s greatest moments was making pizza for a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. “It was a pretty monumental night,” he says. The Pizza Tree shop — or “pizza house,” as John calls it — is now located in downtown Columbia on Cherry Street. It offers both classic and “adventurous” pies for takeout, delivery (the largest delivery range in Columbia, claims John), and a walk-up window for late-night customers. A new addition, Goldie’s Bagels, is operated by John’s wife, Amanda Rainey. The two actually met at Mojo’s. He recalls: “There was this hot girl coming around eating pizza all the time. She’s been eating Pizza Tree since June 2013.”

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Ozark Mountain Biscuit Company D

espite getting a degree in history from MU, Bryan Maness fell in love with food and the restaurant industry during his time spent in Columbia. He cut his teeth in an array of kitchens, including Broadway Brewery, where he climbed from manager to executive chef to general manager. As he watched the food truck scene begin to explode, Bryan itched to join the craze. Realizing the financial advantages to a restaurant on wheels, Bryan opened his truck, Ozark Mountain Biscuit Company, for business at Pride Fest in August 2013. Having worked as a sound man at Mojo’s “back in the day,” he was approached by Richard King and moved into Mojo’s in February 2014. There, he continued to serve food inspired by his Ozark family roots — southern food, including Cajun catfish and chicken-fried chicken biscuits. “It was a great fit. But after a year, I realized I had maximized the space and needed more room,” Bryan says. After leaving Mojo’s, Bryan continued working with Richard King and served his biscuits from his food truck at Mojo’s, The Blue Note, and the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. Finding success at the festival scene, he took his truck on the road for the summer. With a staff of 40, Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. served its delicious biscuits at music festivals from New York to California, including Bonnaroo and Electric Forest. “At the bigger festivals, sometimes we would have three stations set up around the grounds,” Bryan remembers. Still serving Columbia from a number of locations, Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. is ready to take the next step forward by opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant this summer. Their new space will be located in the newly renovated 9,500-square-foot Diggs Meat Packing Co. building on Rogers Street, near Logboat Brewing Co. and Walt’s Bike Shop. “I hopped around trying to find the right location and fit for our restaurant, but it all worked out pretty well,” Bryan says. He plans to keep the truck operating and have more availability for weddings and catering. “We’ll keep doing mobile operations, but we really want to have a place where people can come and sit down and enjoy the food with us, not always take it away,” he says.

THEN & NOW

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South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs O

riginally from South Florida’s Boynton Beach, the Nathan family followed their son, a newly signed Mizzou football player, and transplanted to Columbia in 2018. It was then that Gerald, his wife, Kim, and their children started serving their delectable southern-style dishes from a food tent at various locations around Columbia. Gerald was invited to move the operation — South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs — into Rose Music Hall in June 2020. While concertgoers loved his food, the pandemic kept his stint brief. But, as Gerald is known to say, “God is good,” and the Nathans found the perfect spot to open their first brickand-mortar location on December 5. Since then, Gerald says, business has been booming. “The space, the décor — it’s awesome,” he says. When asked if he had done the decorating, Gerald replies, “Yes, ma’am, of course I did.” The bigger space made room for a bigger menu, including Cuban and pastrami sandwiches, a variety of wraps, fried squash, oxtails, and turkey wings. “We do it all,” says Gerald, who still maintains his food tent at Cooper’s Landing and Veterans United Home Loans. To add to the list of recent successes, Gerald and South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs recently became CoMo Chopped champions. A Heart of Missouri United Way fundraiser, CoMo Chopped brought together six Columbia restaurants and six celebrity chefs who created a unique dish to compete for one of three awards: judges’ choice, most dishes sold in their restaurants, and most money raised for United Way. Gerald says he not only made a new friend when they teamed him up with Veterans United Home Loans celebrity chef Barby Wulff, but they also won! The Nathan family continues to aim to please each and every customer who comes through the door of South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs, standing by their company policy of “try it before you buy it.” Gerald says, “I tell everybody, ‘We’ll find something that you like.’”

APRIL 2021

THEN & NOW

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APRIL 2021

WHAT THE

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ANNE TUCKLEY

SHAUN HENRY

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

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AMBER WOOTEN TIGER HOME TEAM

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SOUNDS OF SPRING

A Columbia native, Shaun Henry found a home at Atkins in 2000 when he started his career as a turf technician. Shaun holds a commercial applicators license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Mid-America Green Industry Council, and the Missouri Green Industry Alliance. Shaun strongly believes in the importance of a great customer experience, where the Atkins staff knows the clients and anticipates their needs accordingly. Shaun is an MU alumnus and has a degree in plant science.

By Shaun Henry Find more at AtkinsInc.com

573-874-5100 ATKINSINC.COM

pring is upon us, and Mother Nature’s music has begun: claps of thunder from afar as a storm passes by, birds singing their song early in the morning, spring peepers calling in chorus at dusk, squirrels rustling about all day, and, of course, mowers, trimmers and blowers buzzing across the neighborhood! Do you know what it means to “open it up?” Have you mowed your lawn yet? For many, the first mow, or “opening it up,” often marks the official start to spring. There’s nothing like that sense of gratification you get from completing your first lap around your lawn on the ol’ mower. Creating “new lines” or “striping” is always fun, but once you start, you can’t stop! If you’ve already opened up your lawn for the season, there are still a few things you can do: 1.

Clean up the mess: sticks, leaves, acorns and other debris. This frees up space for your turf and reduces the chances of causing damage to your mower. If you have a lot of dead weeds, rake them up and seed to fill any voids. This can reduce weed pressure over the summer. Oh, and for all you dog lovers out there, although dog droppings may be

considered a source of “natural” fertilizer, it often concentrates a lot of fertility in one spot and can burn your turf. Might want to clean it up or at least spread it out. 2.

Assess your soil. Pull a soil sample and send it off to the lab. The MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory at 23 Mumford Hall, (573) 882-0623, can provide you with valuable information to help you manage your lawn and landscape this season. They can also make recommendations for lime, organic matter, and macro and micro nutrients for fertility. It’s a great resource right here in COMO! Spring seeding. Fill in bare spots with a bit of new topsoil as needed. Scarify, score, or rough up the surface, and seed and cover with mulch or straw as needed. Be careful though! If you disturb the soil too much, you might make your lawn more

susceptible to weeds this summer by bringing weed seed to the surface. 4.

Fertilize and apply preemergent weed control. Crabgrass begins to germinate once soil temperatures hold at 50 to 55 degrees for a few days in a row. Proper fertility now can provide your lawn with good color and modest growth. Don’t over apply — you may wind up mowing every other day!

Service your lawn mower. Check the oil, refresh and top off the gas tank, and clean or replace the air filter. If it’s still difficult to start, it may be due for a tune up or even replacement. Don’t forget to sharpen the blades. A dull mower blade shreds the tips of your grass, giving it a dull, tattered appearance.

We hope you have a wonderful spring and enjoy all of nature’s music. Remember, no matter what you decide to do with your lawn and landscape this season, we’re here to answer any questions you might have about your property. That’s what friends and neighbors do. Thank you for your continued trust in our team.

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ARE YOU LOOKING TO REDECORATE? INCLUDE THE KIDS. By Anne Tuckley Find more at AnneTuckleyHome.com

ncluding children in your redecorating projects is a great way to encourage their creativity, work on a project together, and give your children a chance to directly contribute something meaningful to the household. So how can you include your kiddos? Here are a few options: 1. Color Let your children help you pick out paint or accent colors. Yes, you may not want hot pink walls, but you can pick a palette of colors you like, show them to your

children, and let them decide which direction you go. Let your older kids help you paint, too. 2. Artwork Create art together. Find a fun project or two online and display your masterpieces. 3. Accent Pieces Go shopping together. Let your children explore the options at the store and see what they like. Of course, the price will come into play, but see what you can find together to complete your project. Happy decorating!

ANNE TUCKLEY

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ANNE TUCKLEY HOME Anne has been in the interior design industry for over 20 years and has resided in metropolitan cities from NYC to Houston while honing her skills. Her specialties are interior design and home staging, with a focus on unique perception. Anne graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine art with a concentration in design and illustration. She has extensive experience in designing new construction as well as remodeling and conceptualizing out-ofthe-box ideas. She ensures cutting-edge design and superb customer service. 108 CORPORATE LAKE PL., COLUMBIA, MO, 65203 (573) 639-1989 ANNETUCKLEYHOME.COM

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SHINE A LIGHT ON YOUR HOME By Amber Wooten Find more at tigerhometeam.com

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Amber joined Tiger Home Team in 2020 with 10 years of experience helping Columbia area buyers and sellers with their real estate needs. Amber and her husband, Will, moved to Columbia in 2004 with their two sons, Whitten and Jett. Their family was completed with the addition of their daughter, Ovella, in 2011. She always strives to make your priorities her own because when you’re buying or selling your home, the experience matters.

e all want people to love our home as much as we do — especially when trying to sell it! While it’s impossible to please every buyer’s taste, there are several easy things you can do to make your home more appealing without spending a fortune. Try some of these tricks and see if your showings cause those buyers to swoon! 1. Check your curb appeal. Take an honest look from the curbside. What are buyers seeing first? If your home needs to be painted or pressure washed, consider making that investment. Clean up the landscaping, plant some fresh annuals, and lay new mulch. Clean windows, repair sagging soffit or porch railings, and repair any trip hazards on your driveway or front walk. Finally, consider some attractive, yet subtle, decorations for your front porch.

2. Create an inviting entryway. When buyers step inside your front door, you want them to feel welcomed. Clear the area of clutter that tends to pile up at the front door — find homes for things such as backpacks, dog leashes, and shoes. Place a small table or bench beside the door with plants, candles, or

573-999-3062 TIGERHOMETEAM.COM

another simple decorative item. A small area rug can also help define the space as the entryway. 3. Let the light shine in! Take advantage of natural light as much as you possibly can. Wash your windows inside and out and replace or remove any worn screens. Don’t forget to make sure to open blinds or curtains before all showings. 4. Add some fresh color inside! Painting is an easy and inexpensive way to make an older home look new and is especially important if your current wall color is dark or outdated. Choose a light neutral color like a warm gray or light beige and use the same color throughout the house. Neutral tones also appeal to the widest range of potential buyers. 5. Let storage spaces speak for themselves. Many sellers make

the mistake of waiting until they have a contract to start cleaning out closets. Cleaning out clutter is part of getting ready to show, not just getting ready to move! You want buyers to see that there is ample storage in the home. 6. Eliminate distractions. Streamline your decorating so your buyers see the house rather than your personal belongings. When showcasing your home, remember that less is more when it comes to decorative touches. Too many plants, magazines, or toys will distract the buyers from seeing the home as their own. 7. Entice them with outdoor space. The back yard shouldn’t be an empty space of infinite possibility, nor should it be a storage area for neglected toys. Get rid of any eyesores you’ve been avoiding dealing with, spruce up your landscaping, and

be sure to repair fence, irrigation, pool issues. Create an entertaining space with a patio set, or a backyard oasis with some potted plants and a hammock! 8. Make it easy for them. Taking care of minor repairs is another step you can take to help buyers see your home as an easy and comfortable move. You want them to be mentally arranging their furniture as they walk through the home. The less work involved, the easier it is to fall in love. Most of these things are easy, positive changes — even if you decide you’re not ready to stick the For Sale sign in your yard! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Tiger Home Team if you would like to talk about home projects you’re considering or about selling your home. We would love to chat with you about your plans!

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REFRESHING FURNITURE FOR SPRING

JAKE BAUMGARTNER

Jake essentially grew up in the furniture industry, as he is the fourth generation involved in Baumgartner’s Furniture. Working very closely with his father, Alan, Jake has been devoted to the stores full-time since 2004. His greatest enjoyment, however, still comes from working closely with customers. He and his wife, Sarah, have two active boys, Noah and Laine. Jake received his degree in finance from Saint Louis University.

573-256-6288 BAUMGARTNERS.COM

Find more at baumgartners.com

he best way to welcome the spring season is by inviting new pieces to give your home a warm-weather refresh. Here are four spring decorating ideas that will make your home pop, blossom, and bloom.

bright colors of spring are a welcome change. Keep your spring home decor color palette airy and sunny by replacing blacks and deep browns with pale, soft hues. Add a pop of color by adding throw pillows, blankets, and vases.

LIVEN THINGS UP WITH PLANTS AND FLOWERS Plants are the epitome of springtime vitality — they bring a room to life in ways other decor and home furnishing can’t. Fill your home with vases of popular spring flowers as you head towards the warmer seasons and watch your space transform to a springtime haven in no time.

LIVEN THINGS UP WITH LIGHTER WOOD PIECES Wood is essential in creating warmth and organic beauty in a home. Find lighter wood pieces in the form of a side table, wall art, bench, or desk, and channel your inner creativity by decorating the space with a multitude of colors. As a bonus, incorporating lighter woods into your home aligns with this year’s decor trends. Therefore, these

LIVEN THINGS UP WITH BRIGHT, BOLDER COLORS After a cold winter, the

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pieces are appropriate for the whole year LIVEN THINGS UP WITH SPRING CLEANING Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows you to freshen your home for the spring and summer. Revive your home by swapping gingerbread and pumpkinscented candles with something more springfriendly, such as candles with floral or citrus scents. You can also switch your bed comforter to one with more playful patterns. If you’re looking to give your home a refresh for the spring season, we’re here to help. Visit our showrooms in Columbia and Auxvasse and let our staff help you find everything you need to make your home airy and bright.

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THE ADVANTAGES OF COLUMNAR PLANTS

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ROST LANDSCAPING

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

By Nate Anderson Find more at rostlandscaping.com

573-445-4465 ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM

hen designing a landscape planting plan, I first think about the sizes and shapes of plants I want to use before picking which specific plant goes where. One of the options I often consider is the use of columnar plants. A columnar plant is characterized by its upright shape — they will be taller than they are wide. Columnar plants are a great way to add color and beauty to your landscape. Their natural slenderness makes them appear tidy and well pruned, even if they may not have been pruned in a while. For this reason, in many instances, columnar plants can lend themselves to a formal design aesthetic. But they’re a versatile option when considering what plant materials to incorporate into your project. They have a unique shape that offers variety next to your wide-spreading plants, and when placed in the right spot, they’ll highlight the architecture of your house. Plant them on either side of a doorway or walkway to help draw the eye and interest of the viewer. Columnar plants truly are like adding an exclamation point to your garden. Columnar plants come in many colors and sizes, both evergreen and deciduous. From the burgundy colors of a barberry to the white blooms of a crabapple, many of the garden plants you already know and love have

columnar options. There are very large options such as crimson spire oak, which can reach upwards of 40 feet tall, and there are shorter options, such as Newport Blue boxwood, which only reach 6 feet tall. One of the most important things for me, as a landscape designer, is the ability to add vertical interest in a space with little horizontal space. Narrow and upright growth habits allow them to be planted in tight spaces. It’s the perfect way to add height in an area where the spread of other plantings would encroach on the house or other features.

Columnar evergreens can be used as a way to block sight lines and create privacy in spaces where wider evergreens are not an option. When thinking about your next landscape project, remember to start by thinking of the size and shapes of the plants you would like to use first. Because of their versatility, a columnar shaped plant may be the perfect fit for your project. If you’re feeling in over your head, come talk to the employees of Superior Garden Center or hire one of our qualified designers from the Rost Inc. design team to get help.

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e h t h t i We’re w

[Local]

Our COMO crew showing local bands some merch love. Photo by Keith Borgmeyer 48

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Living

ST YLE

Band shirts from le to right:

Bands

The Last American Cowboy Trotter Water The Burney Sisters Data Fashion Amberol Amethyst Dark Below

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FRIENDS & FAMILY

ROcKInG OUt YAAL Rock offers a transformative summer experience for girls, gender-expansive, and transgender teens. BY L AUR EN S A BL E FR E I M A N | PHOTO S PR OVI D E D BY YA A L R O C K

ach summer, a group of 25 teenagers from around Columbia comes together for a seven-day camp experience fi lled with music lessons, planning, songwriting, rehearsals, and creativity, fueled by the promise of taking the stage at the end of the week as a bona fide rock star. The week is intense — emotional and exhausting, empowering and transformative — and the creators of YAAL Rock say they wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’ve never known anyone who has done it who hasn’t said they love it and would do it again in a heartbeat,” says Sarah Catlin, a YAAL Rock board member who also volunteers as a drum instructor at the camp. “We pull them in promising fame and a performance at The Blue Note, but [the camp] is half music and half personal development.” Open to girls, gender-expansive, and transgender teens ages 12 to 17, YAAL Rock fi rst came to Columbia as Girls Rock in 2013. As a member of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, which originated from Seattle’s grunge scene, YAAL Rock is part of a worldwide network

of youth-centered arts and social justice organizations. After much hard work by its five board members, YAAL Rock recently received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

The Unexpected Methods of Camp

Though last year’s camp was canceled due to COVID-19, Sarah says planning for the summer of 2021 is underway. When campers show up for the week-long day camp on Monday, they are split into four- or five-piece bands, and each camper is assigned an instrument, typically one they have never played before. Each band includes drums, guitar, bass guitar, vocals, and often a keyboard. “They don’t know what they’re going to play until they show up to camp on Monday,” Sarah says. “They have to be ready by Sunday afternoon to perform an original song they’ve written as a band on stage at The Blue Note. It’s pretty crazy. You wouldn’t think they could get that done, but they always come through somehow, magically.”

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In order to transform teenagers, many of whom have no previous music experience, into rock musicians in seven days, there is a one-to-one ratio of campers to adult volunteers. Each band has a pair of band mentors, and each camper has an instrument instructor. But Sarah says volunteers don’t have to have any musical experience, as camp relies on volunteers to move equipment, make name tags, set up snacks throughout the day, or help with accounting and other dayto-day necessities. In addition to writing a song and learning their instruments, each band has to decide on a band name, create a logo, and make their own T-shirts and posters to represent their band. They also have an official band photoshoot. “The bands make stamps so they can create their T-shirts and posters,” Sarah says. “We have a very DIY feeling.”

Empowerment First

While the initial draw for some campers might be the promise of the big stage and bright lights, each morning at camp includes a workshop focused on empowerment. Volunteer speakers present on topics ranging from marketing as it relates to body image in our society to the history of the feminist movement. “It’s about empowerment, fi rst and foremost,” Sarah says. “The camp is a vehicle for empowering kids. It has a fairly progressive, feminist perspective.” The lunch hour is another opportunity for learning and growth, as campers have a front-row seat to a daily concert by a different female-led band each day, followed by a period of Q&A. Sarah says they bring in bands from the area, but they have also brought in bands from St. Louis and Kansas City. Although camp volunteers aren’t paid, Sarah says YAAL Rock likes to offer an honorarium to show appreciation for the bands and workshop instructors who take time out of their lives to make a difference. Fin Bickelbottom, 19, attended camp for two years and has worked for one summer as a camp volunteer. Fin was especially intrigued by the fact that anyone could get up on stage and have a moment in the spotlight, no matter who they are. “What fi rst drew me to YAAL Rock was the openness to anyone,” Fin says. “The best thing about camp is the open and friendly

APRIL 2021

environment. Anyone can make a music camp, but YAAL Rock has made a safe and empowering environment. [Its goal is to] make everyone feel safe and empowered, and every camper I know has felt that way at the end of the camp. The camp allows everyone to be their truest self and rock out.”

Leading the Way

According to Sarah, YAAL Rock is a labor of love for the volunteers who make it happen. There is a cost for campers to attend, but she says no camper has ever been turned away for inability to pay. One of the ways the organization raises money is through the Grownup Rock Retreat, or GRR! Formerly known as Ladies Rock Camp, GRR! is a hardcore weekend crash course where female, gender-expansive, and transgender adults can have a miniature camp experience. Though it is a fundraiser, Sarah says admission is on a sliding scale, and nobody is ever excluded for inability to pay. During the weekend, a silent auction raises funds that are integral to providing the YAAL Rock experience for campers.

fir t, en m er w o p m e t ou “It’s ab camp is a he T . o m e or f and .” s id k g in er w o p m e vehicle for IN — S A R A H C AT L

Although YAAL Rock is one of the smaller camps in the GRCA, it is one of the forerunners in the movement — it’s the fi rst camp to change its name from Girls Rock to something that’s more inclusive. “We changed our bylaws and our name to reflect that it isn’t just girls,” Sarah says. “We are a baby camp compared to places like Denver that have five full-time employees, but we led the way, and they were looking to us about our name change. The entire organization will eventually have a new name that is more inclusive, but we are proud that we have led the way in inclusion. We’ve been the test case.”

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Because camp is run solely by volunteers, Sarah says it is important for any growth to be slow and steady. But she says YAAL Rock has dreams of expansion. Some programs around the country have sleep-away camps, and some, like Denver’s camp, have year-round employees and programming. While Stephens College has been generous enough to provide a home base for YAAL Rock, future plans could include permanent space and more frequent programming. “We had the goal of doing something social once a month in a low-key, safe space, but the pandemic shut that down completely,” Sarah says. “The campers do say they would like to do more during the year to keep the camaraderie, so we would like to build up to having little things throughout the year where campers can get together and learn something.” As the mother of two sons and a 7-year-old daughter, Sarah says she is committed to camp because she wants it to be around five years from now, when her daughter is old enough to attend. And she’s proud of the open, accepting, and vibrant community of rockers that has taken Columbia by storm each summer. “We’re the Austin, Texas, of Missouri,” she says. “We are way more progressive than anything around us.”

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The Kids Are Alright Audio recording program Darkroom Records encourages musical creativity in Columbia’s schools. BY JO N H AD U S E K

or the musically inclined student, Darkroom Records is the ultimate extracurricular activity. Launched in the fall of 2014, it has grown from humble beginnings into a dedicated, fully operational audio recording studio. Darkroom is an invaluable resource for students seeking a future in the creative side of the music industry. Whether you’re trying to lay down your fi rst song in a proper studio or looking to pursue a career in audio engineering, the program offers fi rst-hand experience in both, as well as internships that can lead to future opportunities. And it’s all free. Maddie Harmon, a former COMO Magazine 20 under 20 select, discovered Darkroom while attending Tolton Catholic High School, which lacked a music program. Maddie has since gone on to study audio engineering at Belmont University, in Nashville, where she currently lives. Maddie credits Darkroom with giving her the knowledge to excel even at an early stage in her career. Before she went to college, she’d already logged many in-studio hours, recording projects by fellow students for Darkroom’s compilation albums. Flash-forward to 2021 and she’s just fi nished recording the new record by thrash metal legends Megadeth — an A-list album credit. “I had always read about it books, seen it in movies and documentary series,” Maddie said of being in a professional studio. “But actually getting to sit down in a studio and be like, ‘Th is is real, this is something I can actually do’ — that was awesome.”

APRIL 2021

The Origins of Darkroom Before Darkroom, there was no formal audio recording program at CPS. For those interested in music, the Academy of Rock club fi lled the void. The program encouraged scholarly interest in rock and pop music, bringing in touring musicians for unplugged shows in the schools and showing music fi lms. It laid the groundwork for Darkroom, which took the next step by encouraging students to create. The name originates from the original studio at Hickman High School, a dingy basement storage room that used to be the photography darkroom in the 1970s. The small, windowless rooms that were needed to develop fi lm made for perfect isolation booths, where a musician records vocals or overdubs without sound leaking in or out. As Darkroom coordinator Jordan Smith recalls, the initial spark for opening the studio came from a donation of battered audio equipment that had been handed down from another school district. Th ings weren’t at a professional level quite yet — Jordan describes a decades-old soundboard and trashed microphones — but the rudimentary gear was enough to open a rugged but functioning recording studio. “Twenty-year-old soundboard, some really bad speakers, a few microphones that were beat up and nasty — that’s it,” Jordan says. “At that point, we could have been like, ‘Th is isn’t enough, let’s scrap

the idea.’ But we were intrigued to see how far we could go with it.” From there, the program sought to fundraise and obtain grants to upgrade gear and eventually bring Darkroom to the various high schools in the district. Hickman’s studio, coordinated by David Aulgur, came fi rst because of the school’s centrality, with Battle and Rock Bridge high schools eventually getting studios coordinated by Smith and William Rosen, respectively. The expansion made Darkroom more accessible to students across the district, and even to those outside it, like Maddie, who was also able to intern at Darkroom while attending Tolton. “High school especially is a time when kids are trying to fi gure out what to do with their lives,” Maddie reflects. “And giving them one more option, a creative option, and showing them that that is a viable choice where you can actually make money and do this as a career is invaluable.” Darkroom has even coordinated with The Boys & Girls Club to expand the program outside of the schools. Considering the expenses of professional audio gear and studio time,

what Darkroom offers is a unique opportunity for many, lowering one of the steepest barriers that often keeps young artists from recording their music: money and accessibility.

Tools of the Trade Eventually, the battered equipment was replaced by industry-standard gear and digital interfaces. The result was better sounding recordings and a more accurate sense of what students can expect from professional studios. Maddie says this allowed her to have a leg up when she went to Belmont, as she was already familiar with digital audio workstations like Studio One and ProTools, software widely used in the industry. “I had always had the idea of [becoming an audio engineer] even before Darkroom, but it was that experience that solidified it,” Maddie said. “‘Th is is what I want to do, and I can do it.’ . . . I did engineering, producing, and mixing on a quarter to a third of the songs on each of the [Darkroom compilations] that were released during the years I was there. That really helped for college, having that foundation to build on.”

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On the other end of production, young musicians can get their feet wet in a no-pressure studio environment. Jordan recalls local grungy indie rockers The Adaptation, whose vocalist and guitarist Kyren Penrose discovered the band’s musical voice while recording in Darkroom as a student at Hickman. “I remember him coming in and trying out different things,” Jordan said. “If something didn’t work, he’d try it again until he fi gured it out. He didn’t even have an actual drummer at fi rst, but he kept working at it.” The Adaptation have gone on to be an active group in the Columbia music scene, releasing their self-titled debut on local record label Tell ‘Em Tapes and playing numerous shows at venues like Rose Music Hall and Cafe Berlin. Jordan said Penrose has now recorded at Columbia’s Centro Cellar Studios — another example of Darkroom leading directly to professional recording experience.

What Lies Ahead The pandemic has sadly put Darkroom on indefi nite hiatus — “singing in an enclosed space is one of the worst things you can do,” Jordan says — but there’s hope for the future.

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Jordan says that if the studio can’t open properly, it’s possible that Darkroom could explore home recording. Hypothetically, students would be able to check out recording gear like they do tablets or computer equipment. They could record at home and then send the raw tracks to a Darkroom engineer for mixing. “The basic concepts of home recording apply to the studio,” Jordan said. “If we can’t be open, it’s an option.” Long term, the possibility of Darkroom becoming an actual elective course — rather than an extracurricular activity — seems plausible. In fact, Jordan said it was discussed as a lofty goal when the program was formed, following the model of a broadcast journalism class, for example, where the curriculum is driven by hands-on projects. Until then, Darkroom Records remains a vital resource for student musicians and engineers as an extracurricular, comparable to sports teams or theater for the aspiring athlete or performer. Either way, it’s safe to say more young local artists are recording music than ever before thanks to Darkroom.

2021 Joe Machens Toyota

Community Cares

This Spring, Joe Machens Toyota is bringing the sunshine. Joe Machens Toyota’s heart lies with amazing organizations who help our Mid-Missouri communities by offering programs to those in need. During March we supported...

Kidz Investing N Knowledge is a nonprofit organization that give kids the tools to start sculpting the lives they want for themselves. We want to provide a place where kids are safe, they can be themselves, and most importantly learn how powerful they are.

Help this great organization by donating today at: kidz-ink.org

During 2020, we shared over $50,000 to Columbia nonprofit organizations. This year, we’ll be surprising non profits around town with EVEN MORE! We are so grateful for our thriving Columbia community and cannot wait to see what 2021 brings.

Together, let’s continue to make 2021 our best year yet!

To learn how to contribute, visit: joemachens.com/community

APRIL 2021

STARRING The Many Colored Death Violet and the Undercurrents The Sweaters

BY AUROLA WEDMAN ALFARO

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the moment the words “we should start a band” were uttered, a series of events followed suit. Countless rehearsals, shows, and connections that led to bigger stages and recording sessions. We spoke with three Columbia bands — The Sweaters, Violet and the Undercurrents, and The Many Colored Death — to find out how they started and what their life is like behind the scenes.

violet and the undercurrents

Violet Vonder Haar has fond memories of her early musical journey. She remembers the talented professors who taught her guitar and voice lessons. She remembers the life-changing experience of attending a fine arts academy during her junior year of high school. But beyond that, she has no memories of a consistent space where she could collaborate with other young musicians during her teenage years. Determined to change that for Mid-Missouri’s youth, Violet and her wife, Phylshawn Johnson, have created a life shaped by music, community, and a commitment to education. Among many other responsibilities, Violet and Phylshawn are music instructors and camp and board directors at Compass Music Camp, a program focused on giving young, aspiring musicians the opportunity to learn, network, and perform. “We’ve been teaching private lessons for more than 10 years. During COVID, we’ve continued to teach online, which has been a huge blessing. We both love to teach,” Violet says. They first recorded together in 2010, when Violet invited Phylshawn to play drums on her EP “V-Sides and Rarities.” A year later, they formed Violet and the Undercurrents, with Violet as the lead vocalist and guitarist and Phylshawn as the drummer. The band has gone through different iterations over the years, but the quartet is now completed by bassist Linda Bott and guitarist Lizzy Weiland. Together, the band released the “Nashville Sessions” EP in 2016 and “The Captain” album in 2019. They joined David Wax Museum

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on a national tour and have appeared at music festivals across the country. However, in what is now an all-too-familiar story, everything changed in 2020. “It’s been almost a year since we played together, which is really sad. But we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel and trying to get an idea of where to go next,” Violet says. Violet says recording is the band’s next goal. When and if touring becomes safe again, she wants to explore more sustainable options. She talks about Rising Appalachia and the Slow Music Movement, which encourages artists to bond with the communities they visit, consider alternative methods of transportation, and support local businesses. Violet correlates the need for change in the music industry to a global call for transformation.

"how can we build these systems back sustainably so that they involve more voices and offer opportunities for real connection?"

– violet vonder haar

“All of these systems that have been crumbling, that we have no choice but to build back, how can we make them better?” She asks. “How can we build them sustainably so that they involve more voices and offer opportunities for real connection?” Albums and merchandise available at thecaptainalbum.com and violetandtheundercurrents.com

the sweaters

The band needed a name. It was a cold February night in 2017 and Ben Cohen, Henry Cohen, and Anders Harms were about to step onto Café Berlin’s stage for their public debut as a band. After the Cohen brothers and Anders attended Compass Music Camp in 2016, they decided to start a band and had been rehearsing for a few months. Two of them were wearing sweaters that night, so they decided that should be the band’s name. What would’ve happened if they were wearing overalls or trench coats? “I think The Trench Coats would still be a good name for a band,” Ben replies after a pensive smile. When they attended camp, Henry was 10, Anders was 12, and Ben was 13. They bonded over their shared interest in Green Day, Pixies, and Nirvana. After Violet Vonder Haar and Phylshawn Johnson, musicians and leaders at Compass Music Camp, invited them to play at that first Open Mic Showcase, The Sweaters started playing at happenings all around town. With Anders on the bass, Ben on lead vocals and acoustics, and Henry on the guitar, the indie band made it to stages at Roots N Blues and the True/False Film Festival. Anders says that sharing the stage with bands like It’s Me: Ross and Sissy Paycheck was a turning point for him, “It was our introduction into the Columbia music scene,” he says. Darkroom Records, a free recording studio available to students in Columbia Public Schools, planted the first seed. “When we wanted to start recording music, it was really easy to sign up for Darkroom. They helped us out and it went pretty smoothly. It’s a great resource,” Henry says. Later, The Sweaters started recording at Centro Cellar Studio, and in 2020, they re-

The Many Colored Death Violet and the Undercurrents

The Sweaters

nts

Undercurre leased their album “The Sweaters,” which they recorded with Wil Reeves. “When we got in the studio with Wil, we really started making decisions about how we would sound as a band and how we would think of ourselves as a band. We were consciously making music, and that was a big change for me,” Ben says. The Sweaters’ members are young, but their talent is extraordinary by any age measure. With admirable ease, their rich sounds and raw lyrics convey vulnerability, an imaginative worldview, and an ability to live life to the fullest. The group’s cooperative dynamic makes all that possible. Ben puts his arm over his brother’s shoulder as he reminiscences of when they began writing songs together, long before the band existed. “Henry was into Greek mythology and writing about Greek Gods,” he says. Then, he looks over at Anders as he talks about their current creative process. “It’s a dialogue. Anders is very compatible with how we do things. He’s a really smart musician and has opinions that we respect a lot,” Ben says. Their admiration for each other and their collaborative approach is refreshing — a rarely represented showcase of brotherhood, talent, and infinite potential.

The Sweaters

Albums and merchandise available at thesweaterscomo.bandcamp.com

the many colored death

A college town’s music scene can either be defined by its transient talent base or by the bands that stand the test of time. For more than 10 years, Brent Moore, Preston Rodgers, and Shea Spence have been rocking together as The Many Colored Death. Named after a character from “The Neverending Story,” the band’s spirited sounds are worthy of a foot-tapping, head-bobbing, music-induced trance. When Brent moved back to Columbia with his family, he knew he wanted to start a band. “I wanted to prioritize that because I’m a happier person when I’m playing music,” he says. With Brent on guitar

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and vocals, Preston on bass, and Shea on drums, the trio found a sound that was uniquely them. “Our styles gelled so well,” Brent recalls. The decade-long journey began. In between shows and album releases, the members’ lives changed. They started jobs, had

kids, developed new hobbies. Shea works in human resources and is growing her audience as a Twitch streamer. Preston works with developmentally disabled adults and welcomed a baby to his family this year. Brent owns his own guitar repair shop and, alongside his wife, is seeing his daughter and son grow.

The Many Colored Death While working demanding jobs and managing numerous responsibilities, they’ve remained committed to their music. “This is a part of our life. We practice twice a week for 2 to 3 hours each time. It’s a big chunk of our week, but it’s something we’ve dedicated ourselves to over the years,” Shea says. In 2020, a radio mix of their record “Drown” climbed to the first spot on the Most Added list of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Indicator Chart, bringing the group a new measure of success. “Whenever we take long breaks and are not able to perform, like the last year, I have to throw myself into the recording and writing aspect of things,” Brent says, “Performing is definitely fulfilling, just to be able to go up on stage and get all of that energy out in a positive way that allows you to connect with people.”

Violet and the Undercurrents

The Sweaters

"performing

is definitely fulfilling."

—brent moore

During a year of halted concerts, MCD found new ways of connecting with their audience. They launched a series of cooking videos titled “Recipes that Rock,” where they teach fans to make dishes like creamy nachos and peach cobbler. “We love food and call ourselves a food band. I don’t know how it became our thing, but it did,” Shea says. Cooking videos might seem like a marketing gimmick for any other band, but they feel true to the essence of MCD. Watch the band rock under bed sheets on their music video for “Dummy,” or watch Preston take the title of Taco King on “The Sieve” and it becomes clear. MCD shares more than their dedication for music — they share a sense of humor, authentic camaraderie, and a craving for food that rocks. Albums and merchandise available at themany-colored-death.square.site

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APRIL 2021

Living

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Josh & Chelsea Wright Josh and Chelsea Wright discuss their f irst date, favorite projects, what the future holds for the duo, and more. HOW DID YOU MEET?

Josh: We met at The Bridge, which used to be one of the best places to see live music in Columbia. They had a great patio. In between acts, everyone would gather outside to chat. After meeting one night, we just started gravitating toward one another professionally and socially. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE?

Chelsea: It was at another favorite local establishment — Logboat. We were supposed to talk about upcoming work projects, but we ended up talking about everything else. WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY DURING THE WEEK?

J: I work as an executive producer at Bucket Media for multimedia projects. I also try to keep in touch with my bandmates and help out with Tiny Attic projects. C: I run Tiny Attic Productions, which creates fi lms and animations, among other things. Josh and I are both dedicated to our work and have multiple creative collaborations outside of that.

potentially mishandle a situation. Those are the moments when we lean on each other the most. C: We love filming together. Josh is amazing in the field. He is always grounded and authentically passionate about everyone and anything we film. He also weighs in on the editing process, which is wonderful. His thoughtful advice and creative problem solving has gotten me through a lot of late nights and tough projects. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ART OR CULTURE ACTIVITY IN COLUMBIA?

J: Live music. Columbia is filled with talented artists, especially musicians. There was a time when I would perform once or twice a week and go to live shows almost every other day. I love the tribe of folks in Columbia that appreciate the live performance experience. WHAT IS THE KEY TO A LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?

C: We support each other in everything we do. We are each other’s sounding board. There’s no experience I don’t want to share with him.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER?

J: I consistently learn from Chelsea about fi lm, design, editing, etc. She has an impressive bank of creative skills and artistic influences. We’re always helping each other in the critical moments. When you spend so much time invested in a project, you can lose focus, get disheartened, start doubting your ability, or

WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY OF YOUR PARTNER?

J: There are so many to choose from! I love Chelsea’s empathy and energy toward others. C: Josh’s smile and unrelenting desire to learn reminds me that there’s something exciting in every moment.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

C: Since we started dating, we’ve always enjoyed helping each other with our respective side projects. Even after he has a long day at work, Josh shows up to run an extra camera and make sure the performances get shared. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

J: Most of our work is client-driven, but we have been able to work on a few projects under our own direction. Carving out more time for our own stuff is the next big push. C: Hopefully, more collaborative projects. We started writing an animated TV show based on our love of local music in small towns, and I’ve been searching for grants and opportunities to get that off the ground. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES?

J: I like cooking at campfires, hiking, kayaking, and seeing more stars out in dark sky areas. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT TO WORK ON TOGETHER?

C: It’s a tie between professional and personal work. With Tiny Attic, we made a feature documentary called “Living Soil.” We’re both passionate about environmental sustainability, and we learned so much speaking with some of the most innovative farmers and food producers in the country. I also love making videos and art for Josh’s bands, The Royal Furs and The Ridgerunners.

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J&S Lawn and Landscape has done a fantastic job maintaining our lawn over the past 2 years. I normally enjoy handling my own lawn care, but had a deployment, a baby, and a new job the last 2 summers. I’ve trusted Tommy and his team

Take back your weekend!

with my lawn when I can’t do it, and they have always done the work reliably and with integrity!” – Taylor B.

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Working

80 THE MUSIC MAKER St. Louis rocker Jason Schrick promotes local musicians with his production company, JPS Productions.

FROM THE BASEMENT TO THE SOUND BOOTH

REINVENTING PUBLIC ACCESS TV

Wil Reeves and Centro Cellar Studio continue to nurture Columbia’s music scene.

After 17 years in service, Columbia Access Television finds itself evolving for a new chapter.

Thank you to our sponsors of the 17th Annual Chamber Classic Golf Tournament!

Sponsor List Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsor Veterans United Home Loans Golf Course Sponsor Columbia Country Club Lunch Catering Sponsor Columbia Hy-Vee Stores Golf Cart Sponsor Midwest Computech Men’s & Women’s Longest Drive Contest Sponsor Manor Roofing & Restoration Services Men’s Closest to the Pin Contest Sponsor Fortified Roofing and Siding, LLC Women’s Closest to the Pin Contest Sponsor Miller; Bales & Company, P.C. Driving Range Sponsor American Outdoor Brands Putting Greens Sponsor Delta Systems Group Flag and Cup Sponsor First Midwest Bank Beverage Cart Sponsor Monarch Title Company, Inc. Video Production Sponsor The Networks of MidMissouri - ABC17/FOX22/MeTV/MyZOUTV Media Sponsors Columbia Daily Tribune/Tribune Publishing Co.; Cumulus Media; COMO Magazine; The Networks of Mid-Missouri - ABC17/FOX22/MeTV/ MyZOUTV Photography Sponsor Casey Buckman Photography Gator Sponsor Sydenstricker Implement Company Signage Sponsor Columbia Printing and Sign Face Mask Sponsor Minuteman Press Hand Sanitizer Sponsor DogMaster Distillery Beer Sponsors Macadoodles; N.H. Scheppers Distributing Company Soft Drink Sponsor Pepsi Beverages Company Water Sponsor Culligan Water of Mid Missouri Swag Bag Sponsor Visionworks Marketing Group Door Prize Sponsors Hampton Inn & Suites - Columbia at the University of Missouri; MAAD Creative, LLC; Scott Electric; Serenity Valley Winery

300 S Providence Rd • PO Box 1016 Columbia, Mo 65205 573.874.1132 columbiamochamber.com

APRIL 2021

Hole Sponsors Culligan Water of Mid Missouri; Columbia LandCare; First Midwest Bank; J.S. Computek, LLC; Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy; KOMU 8 & Mid Missouri’s CW; Macadoodles; Naught-Naught Insurance Agency; PWArchitects, Inc.; ServPro of Columbia

Working

CLOSER LOOK

APRIL 2021

“Our product is more traditional, which is why I think we can compete with the other tea shops in town,” Yioi says. Hitea is his first ever restaurant, which came about after nearly a year of planning. Hitea offers a variety of different drinks, from boba to more traditional tea to smoothies. Many customers seem to prefer the brown sugar boba, according to Yioi but his favorite remains the passion fruit oolong tea. (573) 507-6380 16 N 10TH 101 COLUMBIA, MO 65203

Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina

Ellianna’s Donut Shop

Business is sweet for Columbia’s newest breakfast go-to, Ellianna's Donut Shop. Located off of Grindstone Parkway since early October, they’ve been known to sell out on the weekends. “We’ve had a lot of good reviews, a lot of positive things from our customers,” says Tola Mam, owner of the shop. “We hope that they love our donuts.” Ellianna’s offers both a drive-thru and an open lobby so customers can get their sugar fix in the most convenient way possible. The drive-thru, according to Mam, is extremely popular. Indecisive? That’s no problem. Just get an assorted box and try every type that catches your eye. They offer more than a dozen types of donuts, and the selection changes from day to day. Try their strawberry split donut with cream and jam layered between pastry and sprinkled with powdered sugar, or their unicorn donut topped with a gold fondant horn and sprinkles.

There’s also nothing wrong with getting a plain glazed donut at Ellianna's. In fact, it’s their most popular donut. Just make sure to wake up early on the weekends! (573) 777-0442 1105 GRINDSTONE PKWY. FACEBOOK: ELLIANNA’S DONUT SHOP

Hitea

The craze for boba has been taking Columbia by storm, and Hitea, the newest tea shop in town, is ready to join in. Located downtown just steps away from Stephens College, Hitea and owner Yioi Cheng have been dedicated to making a more traditional type of boba for customers ever since the business opened up early last fall. Boba, or bubble tea, is milk tea with tapioca pearls that comes in almost any flavor and temperature you can think of. More traditional boba, like the kind Yioi offers, comes with a black tea base.

Born of self-proclaimed "foodies," Casa Maria's Mexican Cantina is a passion project for owner Crystal Umfress and her boyfriend, head chef Jesus Mendoza. After years in the Columbia food scene, they’ve opened a restaurant devoted to good food and excellent flavor just off of Grindstone Parkway. After opening in late February, the restaurant has boasted incredible turnout. Customers can order on most food delivery apps or call ahead to be placed on a waitlist if they’d prefer to dine in. “We just want to provide a unique dining experience, set apart from all of the other Mexican restaurants in town,” Umfress says. “Jesus really wanted to create a menu that was truly his, and he wanted to get creative with spices and colors.” The menu’s most popular options include a seafood stuffed poblano pepper or their fiesta bowl, which features shredded barbacoa, cilantro lime rice, and pico de gallo. Of course, a meal at Casa Maria’s wouldn’t be complete without a margarita. Umfress has a personal favorite, the blueberry margarita made with fresh fruit puree. “The food is amazing,” Umfress says. “It’s handcrafted with a special touch.” (573) 777-5505 305 GRINDSTONE PKWY. #115 CASAMARIAMEXICAN.COM

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Briefly in the News

APRIL 2021

MUSIC

The Blue Note Opens Doors for First Live Show Since November The Blue Note is back in business. The popular music venue welcomed a small crowd into its venue to hear MK Ultra in February. The Blue Note, which has events scheduled for the rest of the year, is taking precautions amid the COVID19 pandemic. Some of the new rules include following six-feet social distancing guidelines, asking customers who buy their tickets with cash for their name for contact tracing purposes, and encouraging people to wear their masks while moving about the venue.

Working MUSIC

Missouri Symphony Music Director Steps Down Kirk Trevor, the Missouri Symphony’s music director, is stepping down from the organization after 21 years. Trevor, who is from England and came to the United States in 1975, became the music director in 2000. During his time at the Columbia-based MOSY, Trevor founded the Missouri Symphony Conservatory. The program trains, educates, and inspires young musicians. Trevor will step down from the organization on July 31, 2021. MEDICAL

MU Health Care Chief Nursing Officer to Be Inducted into American Organization for Nursing Leadership MU Health Care Chief Nursing Officer Mary Beck will be inducted into the 2021 American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s fellow designation program. The fellow designation recognizes sustained contributions to nursing, leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping health care. AONL will honor Beck and the other nine inductees at its annual conference in July.

“Dr. Beck is the embodiment of how nurses play a leadership role in our health care culture. She is committed to ensuring that our nurses are placed in positions of responsibility from the patient care unit to the executive suite.”

can receive notifications of specific events, chat with a service representative during business hours, and report issues. MyCOMO will provide users with information on city government, utility services, outage maps and directories, and more. G IVI N G BAC K

PedNet Coalition Receives Two-Year Grant for Policy Campaign PedNet Coalition has received a twoyear policy campaign grant through the Missouri Foundation for Health to build transportation equity. The grant will allow the nonprofit to lead a two-year advocacy campaign to develop and promote a new gold standard “Complete Streets” policy in Columbia. PedNet led Columbia to be one of the fi rst cities in the U.S. to adopt a Complete Streets policy, in which street development must be accessible for people regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation, in 2004. However, the policy has not been revised since and now lacks modern street design best practices that create safe and convenient streets. The grant will support the nonprofit in ensuring roads are safe and convenient for everyone, including those walking, biking, and riding public transit. G IVI N G BAC K

Monarch Title Company partners with GP M.A.D.E. in 2021 While winter weather might have cast a cold spell over the Mid-Missouri region, it didn’t stop Monarch Title Company Inc. from joining the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation to

BRIEFLY

help change lives. Monarch Title Company pledged $5 to the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation for each loan closing and presented a check for more than $2,500 to foundation leaders Gary and Missy Pinkel. The partnership between Monarch Title Company and GP M.A.D.E. will continue throughout 2021. ED UCATION

CIS Acquires Land Adjacent to Campus Columbia Independent School is expanding their campus. The CIS Board of Trustees closed on nearly 2.5 acres of land adjacent to the school. The expansion is part of the board’s commitment to growing the school without compromising education quality. The acquisition was made possible by a donation from Sara Potterfield, the president of Midway Farms. CIS enrollment currently stands at 380 students in junior kindergarten through 12th grade. COMMUNITY

Stephens College to Host 77th Annual The Collections Presentation via Film With the constraints of the ongoing pandemic, Stephens College’s fashion department will host a fashion exhibition and create short films in place of a runway show for the 77th annual presentation of The Collections, the school’s student designer fashion showcase. The exhibition will take place in the costume gallery located on the mezzanine level of Lela Raney Wood Hall. It will be available for public viewing from April 24 through May 8. The department’s fashion show production class will also create short films available for viewing on The Collections website.

— RICHARD BAROHN, MU EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS TEC H N O LO GY

City of Columbia Introduces New App for Residents The City of Columbia announced a new app called MyCOMO that will connect residents to a wide array of city information. Residents

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APRIL 2021

JOHN JONES

Simmons Banks announced its selection of John Jones as vice president and trust advisor for Columbia. John has close to 30 years of industry experience and has previously served as executive vice president and senior trust officer at Independent Trust Company of America. At Simmons, he will oversee wealth and estate planning needs in the Columbia market. John also serves as a board member for many nonprofits that focus on youth, health services, and education.

C RYSTA L A N D E R S O N

Crystal Anderson has joined SOA Architecture as business manager, focusing on accounting and HR management. Crystal brings with her six years of experience at a local nonprofit, where she served as operations manager. There, her approach to financial management led to six straight years of clean external financial audits. Crystal enjoys the challenge of identifying and solving problems and has a passion for numbers that will translate into managing the business functions of SOA.

resources. As vice president, she will oversee organizational development, employee relations, and benefit analysis, among other duties. Julie joined the company in 2014 as an employee development specialist, with previous human resources experience in higher education. Rinehart also serves on the board of the Missouri Society of Human Resource Management and is a previous president of the Human Resources Association of Central Missouri. Shannon Smithburg has been promoted to application services manager for Columbia Insurance Group. Shannon has been employed with CIG for 27 years and has also served as a senior programmer and analyst. In her new role, she will be responsible for the planning, design, and management of CIG’s corporate application systems. Brette Boley will become the personal lines manager for Columbia Insurance Group. Brette has been with CIG for 15 years. In this role, she will be responsible for directing company-wide personal lines underwriting operations and activities to achieve profitable growth. Previously, she had served as a personal lines underwriter and quality control specialist.

DE’CARLON SEEWOOD COLUMBIA INSURANCE GROUP

Columbia Marketing Group named Julie Rinehart their new vice president of human

Deputy City Manager De’Carlon Seewood was recently named the liaison of the Building Inclusive Communities

team. De’Carlon has over 13 years of experience in executive leadership in local government. Previously, he served as the city manager for Ferguson, Missouri. De’Carlon is also the first person of color to hold the position of deputy city manager in Columbia.

JONES

MISSOURI P R O PA N E CO U N C I L

The Missouri Propane Council has recognized several local propane professionals as new directors and officers of the Missouri Propane Education and Research Council. These new additions were approved at the organization’s annual winter meeting, and each director serves a three-year term. The new incoming directors are Steve Clayton, Gas Equipment Company, and Ray Phillips, Growmark Energy. Reappointed Directors include: Luke Fitzpatrick, MFA Oil; Samantha Reed Johnson, Reed Oil; and Wayne Terpstra, Thompson Gas. Mark Porth, CHS, will chair with James Greer, MFA Oil, while John Baucom, Prairieland FS, will serve as treasurer. MOPERC is a nonprofit organization consisting of 15 volunteer directors and administered by executive staff. It is authorized by the Missouri legislature for a statewide check-off program, and its proceeds go towards industry training, consumer safety, and market development programs.

ANDERSON

RINEHART

SMITHBURG

BOLEY

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A Power Vacuum in Missouri An early look at the race to fill Roy Blunt’s Senate seat. BY KRCG 13’S KERMIT MILLER

taff people had been saying for weeks that Roy Blunt fully intended to stand for re-election. While they might have done so simply to minimize the telephone calls, Blunt's March 8 video announcement that he would not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate came as a surprise to most people within the borders of the Show-Me State. It certainly adds to the concerns of Mitch McConnell and anyone else in the GOP power structure in Washington who look to put Donald Trump in the rearview mirror. Blunt was the fifth Republican senator to announce he would not be coming back. At this writing, the jury is still out on Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin — although a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found more than half of Iowa residents hope Grassley decides not to run, and Johnson has come under new criticism for saying he never really felt threatened by the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and would have been more concerned if the pro-Trump rioters had been Black Lives Matter supporters. All these senators, including Blunt, were named in a tweet from journalist Carl Bernstein about 21 GOP senators who privately had expressed disdain for Trump, but would not do so publicly. In January, though, all voted against Trump's second impeachment. Roy Blunt was circumspect, at least enough to win Trump's praise. "I very much appreciate and respect the career of Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri," Trump said in a statement released March 9. "He was one of the first people who came to my defense against the Impeachment Hoax #2, and it was greatly appreciated by me." But would that have been enough to protect Roy Blunt from a right-wing backlash in a state Trump had carried by 15 points?

"If you had decided to seek re-election, do you think you would have won?" KRCG 13 reporter Mark Slavit asked Blunt in a one-on-one interview following the retirement announcement. "I think it would have been a great year for me, if I would have run again," Blunt responded in a confident tone. "I think Democrats are going to overreach in Washington in a way that will be very helpful to our party nationally, but will be particularly helpful in Missouri." That last sentence speaks to the Republican Party's chances for continued political success, not necessarily to Roy Blunt's. And his pending departure creates a vacuum that almost certainly will suck in candidates across the moderate-to-conservative spectrum in a primary race that Politico described as "messy." As to potential successors, Blunt is careful to neither elevate nor denigrate. He did tell reporters that potential candidates should not spend any time "talking about what they will never do" if elected and should instead figure out how to compromise. "Democracy's not for sissies," Blunt observed, ". . . and you don't get everything you want every time you want it." Within hours of his announcement, most of the big names in the Missouri GOP put out statements about their own political intentions. "[My wife] Claudia and I intend to spend some time talking with family, friends, and supporters about how I can best contribute to the future of our great state," Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe said in his best commit-to-nothing-but-leave-the-door-wideopen posture. Attorney General Eric Schmitt said he'd been receiving "significant encouragement from supporters across the state" and would consider a run. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft bowed out, saying, “After intense, prayerful consideration, we [Ashcroft and his wife, Katie] have decided to remain devoted to the work Missouri voters have entrusted me as secretary of state." Among the Washington crowd, Republican House members Ann Wagner and Jason Smith indicated they are taking serious looks. Thus far, northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves has been silent. Among the Democrats, former Senator Claire McCaskill was quick to tweet it was not going to happen. "I will never run for office again. Nope. Not gonna happen. Never," McCaskill asserted. Likewise, former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, who came within 78,000 votes of defeating Blunt in 2016 and who now builds homes for homeless veterans, said no. "I don't

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

want a new job," Kander tweeted. Other Democrats have stepped up, including 46-year-old former State Senator Scott Sifton, of Affton, who already had declared when he still thought he would have to defeat Roy Blunt. State Auditor Nicole Galloway, who last year lost the race for governor to Mike Parson, endorsed Sifton. Political unknowns Lucas Kunce and Tim Shepard are in. St. Louis State Senator Brian Williams and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas are reported to be taking a look. So . . . what about the (GOP) elephant in the room? All eyes will remain focused on Eric Greitens. Yes, that Eric Greitens. The former governor of Missouri all but dropped off the planet after being forced to resign in 2018 amid scandal and investigation over his personal behavior, his alleged misappropriation of a charity donor list to raise money his political campaign, and increasing interest in the dark money behind him. That would seem more than enough to end the political careers of most men. But apparently not for this machine gun-pounding former Navy SEAL. Greitens resurfaced last summer, distributing coronavirus personal protective equipment to first responders. He even turned up in the news for getting involved to attend to the victims in a street shooting in St. Louis. More recently, however, there have been appearances on Fox News programs and print and electronic media statements critical of Roy Blunt for not doing more to help Donald Trump, and of Governor Mike Parson for not doing more to help cops who were, in Greitens’ view, under siege during the unrest following the death of George Floyd. Since the Blunt announcement, his enthusiasm for going after that senate seat has grown. He told the Marc Cox Morning Show on St. Louis radio station KFTK the support was pouring in and he's "looking at it much harder now." And while, at this writing, he has not expressed a final decision, "I'm very motivated," Greitens said. So don't be surprised if you see that machine gun again in a new campaign ad. Democracy's not for sissies. Editor's Note: After the writing of this article, Eric Greitens declared his oﬃcial candidacy for U.S. Senate.

Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com

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GUEST VOICE

Advocating Today for a Stronger Tomorrow Columbia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matt McCormick reflects on the past year and what the chamber is focusing on moving forward. CONTENT PROVIDED BY COLUMBIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

he COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on everyone’s lives in one way or another. One of the groups that has shouldered many hardships has been our business community. With capacity restrictions and other health guidelines in place to keep our community safe, doing business has become more complicated. Fortunately, the recent vaccine rollouts have brought hope that normalcy might be on the horizon. In fact, the business community’s outlook is bright. At the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Economic Outlook Conference, Governor Mike Parson even praised Columbia as being one of the few growing metro areas in the state. “The state of business in Columbia is optimistic,” says Matt McCormick, president and CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. “While there have been and will be undeniable struggles within our business community, our region has withstood the pandemic crisis better than many. We are seeing businesses open in Columbia.”

THE ROADMAP TO REOPENING At its core, the chamber works to serve as a champion for business, a convener of inclusive collaboration, and a catalyst for a thriving community.

“Throughout the pandemic, our mission has been to intensely advocate for our businesses while ensuring that they were informed,” says Matt. The chamber has always acted as the voice of business when collaborating with the City and other community partners. With around 80% of members being smaller businesses with fewer than 25 employees, the chamber has an immense responsibility to ensure small business’ voices are heard. During the height of the pandemic crisis, the chamber staff surveyed and called its almost 1,000 members twice to do wellness checks, ensure members knew about financial relief opportunities, and directly hear the needs of the business community. To communicate those needs, the chamber has been collaborating with stakeholder groups representing a number of industries, including construction and hospitality, when advocating to the city. In mid-February, the chamber was grateful to see its collaboration result in a meaningful step forward on the Roadmap to Reopening when the city rolled back the operating hours restrictions placed on bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. (The previous restriction forced such businesses to close at 10:30 p.m., and the rollboack permitted them to stay open until midnight.) This decision was made based on data showing that the number of positive COVID-19 cases had decreased and that the weekly percent increase in total cases has been on the decline

“We’re going to make it out of this trying season, and we’re going to come out of it stronger, but only with the continued support of the business community and community as a whole.” for four straight weeks. The move also showed confidence in the business community to maintain safety measurements. “We have spent a number of years building partnerships, relationships, and coalitions to advocate for the business community,” says Matt. “During COVID, our goal has been to capitalize on those relationships and partnerships and not be divisive so we can represent and support the businesses of Columbia and their struggles. We must continue to push and move forward for the future and health of the business climate.”

NEXT STEPS “I will never stop being impressed by our community’s resilience and willingness to collaborate during the height of the pandemic and how that continues today,” says Matt. “We are channeling that energy of convening and collaboration into our new chamber initiatives.”

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The initiative Matt is talking about is ensuring a thriving business community today and tomorrow. The chamber’s new Workforce Development Division will be a big part of that. “The goal is not to duplicate what is being done already in workforce development, but to collaborate and capitalize on what’s being accomplished,” he says. “Columbia needs a convener to help push our community forward. We are proud to fill that role.” The chamber is also leading the charge to improve our community’s infrastructure and broadband. Both projects have taken a front focus for the chamber, and proponents have made major progress in the first few months of 2021 through regional support. While the future flickers with optimism and promise, the business community is still in need of support today and throughout the economic recovery process. “When people ask me, ‘How can I show support to local businesses?’ I say, ‘Shop locally,’” says Matt. “Buy gift cards and takeout, shop at stores that are located in Columbia. If you must shop online, you can still shop at our local stores online.” Matt emphasized the importance of thinking holistically when supporting local business. Shopping local can extend to your bank, lawyer, payroll companies, and dozens of other services. Supporting a local business gives back to your community threefold. A local business employs your neighbors; feeds your local tax revenue, which helps the city afford amenities such as parks and infrastructure; and fills a void of service to the community. “We’re going to make it out of this trying season,” says Matt, “and we’re going to come out of it stronger, but only with the continued support of the business community and community as a whole.”

Columbia Chamber of Commerce is five-star accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about the chamber by visiting comochamber.com

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The Music Maker St. Louis rocker Jason Schrick promotes local musicians with his production company, JPS Productions. BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE

APRIL 2021

hen St. Louis native Jason Schrick, 41, moved to Columbia 13 years ago, he didn’t know he’d be opening his own music production company. He had been the frontman for rock band Six by Silver, which toured regionally and experienced some success: They had a song, “Make Believe,” featured on the TV show One Tree Hill and played shows with well-known acts like Buckcherry, Collective Soul, and Saliva. The band even signed with sub-label Code 5 Records and released an album. Then, in 2008, the band split up. It was sudden and unexpected. “I had some friends who went to school here, so initially I came [to Columbia] to get away from the [St. Louis] bars and all the questions about what happened to the band,” Jason remembers. “I wanted to clear my head and start over, and I ended up staying here. And after I had my daughter [Avery, who is now 11], I just loved the city. I fell in love with the people. It just was a good fit for me.” After some time in Columbia that included playing in a band called Cost of Desire, later known as World Gone Mad, he noticed the rock scene here wasn’t as developed as it was in St. Louis. Jason saw an opportunity to change that. “I came up on the St. Louis scene with bands like Modern Day Zero, Greenwheel, The Urge, Stir — we were all in it together, and we looked out for each other and

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2014

JPS Productions opens in August.

2014

JPS Productions books its first live show, at Roxy’s, in October.

2014

JPS books its first national act, Kris Roe of The Ataris, in November.

2015

JPS signs its first artist management contract, with Dark Below, in March.

2016

In September, JPS develops and hosts the first Mid-MO Rock Awards Show, a red carpet event for artists.

2017

JPS develops the branded event “Metal Meltdown” at Rose Music Hall, an event devoted to showcasing local and regional metal bands.

2019

JPS releases the Mid-MO Music compilation CD in April.

2019

JPS has its first sold-out show, The Many Colored Death and Dark Below at Rose Music Hall.

2019

JPS has its five-year anniversary show at Rose Music Hall.

2020

JPS artist The Many Colored Death peaks at No. 16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator chart.

supported one another, and I wanted to pass that along, because rock wasn’t that big when I moved here. It was, and still kind of is, in the shadows.” Armed with his knowledge of the music industry and lots of connections made while touring, Jason started JPS Productions in August 2014. The business focuses on music production as well as booking acts, but the booking side came first. He is able to book bands in St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Memphis, Louisville, and more, all with the goal of getting acts in front of good crowds with lots of local support. But building the business took time. “The hardest thing was getting people to buy into what I was trying to do — I was new in this market, what do I know?” Jason says. “So I was consistently going out and meeting artists. I’d go to Mojo’s all the time, and I worked at The Blue Note and Mojo’s for a while too, so I embedded myself in the scene once I saw I was going to be here for the foreseeable future . . . Networking, networking, networking. That’s what it’s all about.” To date, the biggest acts he has booked include Saliva, Lullwater, The Veer Union, and Local H. But Jason says he always wanted to produce records and had a knack for songwriting, so he fleshed out the production side of JPS Productions, which includes helping bands with songwriting, music videos, image and brand development, and marketing. He has six staffers working with him. When he produces an album, he does it at Universal Music Group Studios in Nashville, where he works with producer Malcolm Springer. Springer, who produced Six by Silver’s first album, is a multi-platinum producer who has worked with Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul, and Fear Factory. “He’s a phenomenal producer,” Jason says about Malcolm. “He’s like my music dad. He’s one of the most influential people in my life. I give a lot of credit to him.” With the pandemic shutting down music venues and putting touring on hold, Jason says artists spent 2020 writing music and recording, so while the booking side of his business has been slow, the production side has stayed busy. “In 2020, I had two bands break into the Top 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator Charts, which was awesome. Many Colored Death got to No. 16, and a band from Green Bay called Jamie Fontaine and the Level [had a song] that I produced and co-wrote that went to No. 20.” In 2021, JPS Productions is working with six acts — five rock bands and one hip hop group — but he doesn’t like to call himself a record label. “I don’t really consider us a label because that term has gotten lost in the music industry,” he

CELEBRATIONS

“I embedded myself in the scene once I saw I was going to be here for the foreseeable future . . . Networking, networking, networking. That’s what it’s all about.” says. “Today, labels are basically banks that give you some money and a booking agent and wish you good luck in making their money back. I consider us to be more of an artist management company.” In the coming year, as he works with those six acts, he expects a lot of success. “A couple of them are recording down in Nashville, some of them are recording locally. After that, we plan to work on national radio campaigns again with Many Colored Death, Dark Below, and Amethyst, and hopefully get back to the Billboards with all three of those acts. Finally, if everything works out, we’ll get our artists back on tour.” With lots of vision and passion, Jason built a company from scratch that produces dreams for local artists. “When I started JPS Productions,” he says, “I really wanted to build the scene [in Columbia] and do anything I could to facilitate the growth and exposure of the bands.”

JPS PRODUCTIONS COLUMBIA , MO FACEBOOK: @JPSPRODUCTIONSANDBOOKING

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Columbia Access Television Mission: To advance

the art of cinematic storytelling in Missouri.

Founded: 2004

Vidwest Board members: • Matt Schacht, president • Robin Anderson, treasurer

Reinventing Public Access TV After 17 years in service, Columbia Access Television f inds itself evolving for a new chapter. BY HANNAH KUECK

or 17 years, Columbia Access Television has been a resource to help keep the public voice in mass media. Doing so hasn’t been a simple feat. CAT first went on air in 2004 as a public access station. “For several decades, [public access television] was a great thing,” explains Matt Schacht, president of Vidwest, the nonprofit that now operates CAT. Matt says that a lot of communities, especially in rural areas, needed public access television just to communicate with one another. There are some places in the country where it’s still vital, but larger communities have become a totally different landscape for public media. “In a place like Columbia, there are pressures that have forced public access television to evolve,” Matt says.

APRIL 2021

STAYING RELEVANT Vidwest is a second-generation film media nonprofit based right here in Columbia. For further clarification, Matt explains that “CAT refers to the cable channel, which we are restarting, while Vidwest Studios refers to the physical space. We are making that distinction so that the public is aware of the studio space.” These days, if someone wanted to make a show of their own or check in on the city council meetings — two staples of traditional public access TV — they could do so easily through the Internet. This has required CAT to reinvent itself to better serve the community and its content creators. Right now, Matt says, a lot of the people and creatives in

• Melissa Lewis, board member • Aimee Davenport, board member • Monica Palmer, board member

Key Volunteers: • Jon Asher, photography studio manager • Jordan Lundy, tech consultant • Greg Kinkeade, recording (audio) studio manager • Jackie Casteel, True/False building coordinator • Aaron Phillips, community volunteer and filmmaker • Kelly Betz, longtime CAT member and supporter • A.D. Hamilton Jr., new CAT member

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Columbia want studio space, and that’s what CAT is doing. “A lot of videographers, photographers, small business owners, and students just can’t afford to maintain a studio space,” Matt says. “So we’re providing that space for them at a very low cost.” And with an all-volunteer staff, the team works to manage it and ensure there are no scheduling conflicts. On top of providing space for these creatives, CAT is also providing live-streaming services for weddings, fundraisers, conferences, and more. Most recently, the organization helped the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture stream its annual Harvest Hootenanny, and it was overwhelmingly successful. The event racked up thousands of views on YouTube and raised $11,000 within just a few hours.

GIVING THE COMMUNITY SOME SPACE To help provide the community with the space that they want and need, CAT recently relocated to a larger space on the Business Loop. “We just did a photoshoot, and we had three photographers doing three separate shoots at the same time,” Matt says excitedly. The new space allowed the photographers and models to have enough space to safely work, relax, and even do an outfit change without being uncomfortably crammed together. Before the move, CAT was located closer to downtown, but rent prices became more expensive than the nonprofit needed to keep up with. “We were attracted to the Business Loop because there’s an initiative to create makerspaces all along the Loop,” Matt explains, referencing Cre[8] Columbia, an organization supporting independent creative and manufacturing work in the area. “We felt like relocating Columbia Access Television to an area of town that was trying to brand and develop itself as a thruway of makerspaces made a lot of sense for us. We felt like this was a good place to be.” The new space is a fixer-upper, but after a few coats of paint and some patches in the roof, the opportunities the space will provide the nonprofit are even greater than the gains they've already made.

THE SEARCH FOR NEW FUNDING Historically, all public access television stations are financed by cable franchise fees — taxes that cable companies pay to operate in

Photos by Charles Bruce III

specific jurisdictions. These fees can range between 3% to 5%. “The city of Columbia taxes Century Link, Charter, Mediacom . . . and that’s money that the city has discretionary use of,” Matt explains, adding that the city can put this money in their general fund, or they can use it to fund public, education, or government channels, commonly referred to as PEG channels. Since starting in 2004, Columbia Access Television has been funded through these cable franchise fees allocated by the city of Columbia, but that model has been fading away. The city has shifted money away from funding public access channels, Matt explains. “Without city support, CAT would not exist. As the new manager of CAT, Vidwest also hears a clear message coming from city leadership that CAT needs to seek greater financial independence,” Matt explains. Now, it’s just a matter of finding a new source of revenue to become independent from the city’s funding. “At the moment, we’re looking for those sources of revenue,” he says, “and I’ll be hon-

est, we don’t exactly know where we’re going to find them. There are no clear paths for us as a public access television [station].” This isn’t an uncommon problem for public access television stations around the country. Many are having to figure out new ways to stay relevant and survive on their own. The solution varies from channel to channel, depending on what’s right for the community. Some channels have found that airing high school sports games is something the community wants to pay for, while others are still getting support from their city’s cable franchise fees. “There’s a number of options available to us,” Matt says, “and we’re exploring as many options as we can with our dedicated volunteers.”

COLUMBIA ACCESS TELEVISION 1600 BUSINESS LOOP E. VIDWESTNONPROFIT@GMAIL.COM VIDWEST.ORG

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BUSINESS UPDATE

From the Basement to the Sound Booth Wil Reeves and the Centro Cellar Studio continue to nurture Columbia’s music scene. BY LIZ GOODWIN PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

uriosity may be lethal to cats, but not to the curious engineer with a passion for music. Wil Reeves, 43, is the owner and operator of local recording studio Centro Cellar Studio. He serendipitously discovered a passion for sound engineering and production back in the early 2000s and has never looked back. Now, he’s making his own music and helping other local artists share their work with the world.

GETTING STUCK ON THE SOUND Wil got into the recording business like many of those in the music world did — he was in a band in college. He and his friends were work-

ing on recording an album in between their academic commitments when they realized they were a little clueless on how the recording process actually worked. Wil, who was working his way to earning an engineering degree at the time, agreed to learn the basics of recording if his bandmates would chip in for the equipment. Once the gear was purchased, Wil was hooked. “I just kind of fell in love with the process,” Wil says. “I basically locked myself in my basement for the next few years to experiment and learn all the information I could.” The more he learned, the better he listened. He would retrace the sonic steps of

tracks to fi gure out how to get from point A to point B: raw sound to recorded music. Once he started recording albums for his own bands, his friends in the music community wanted to know if they could get in on the action. Wil was happy to oblige and began recording tracks for multiple artists and bands. The house he shared with his bandmates on El Centro Street soon became pulsing with musical activity. His kitchen and living room became his office — household spaces serving as makeshift sound booths. The basement, or “cellar,” was no exception, and the Centro Cellar Studio was born.

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“The people that I work with are making music for the art of it, not necessarily to be in the top 40. They have ideas in their head and want to bring them to life and they enjoy the act of making. ENJOYING THE ACT OF MAKING These days, Wil is in a new location on Austin Avenue in a studio that musicians built – literally — from the ground up. Wil and his friends turned what was once a discarded shed into the reputable recording studio it is today. Wil describes the space as casual and relaxed, a good fit for those at the beginning of their recording experience or veterans of the recording process, no matter their style of music. Wil wears many hats at the studio, but above all, he wants to make sure to capture a sound that the artist feels is true to their musical vision. Lately, CCS has continued to work with over 150 artists and bands, and even people looking to record voiceovers and audiobooks. Wil has even branched into some remote recording, which has come in handy during the pandemic. It isn’t the fi rst time Wil has gone outside the traditional sound booth — he also partners with the local production company Tiny Attic to do live recordings. Once they’ve completed the shoot, Wil goes in and makes a multitrack

APRIL 2021

edit of the recording for them to put out on the web. One of Wil’s favorite aspects of the Columbia music scene is that a lot of people are in it for the artistic guts rather than the glory. At the end of the day, they just want to create something, a notion Wil respects and relates to. “The people that I work with are making music for the art of it, not necessarily to be in the top 40,” Wil says. “They have ideas in their head and want to bring them to life, and they enjoy the act of making. A lot of musicians in Columbia want to be a part of that, and for me, that’s the joy.”

CAPTURING THE COLLABORATION Even though a huge part of Wil’s life is helping others produce their music, he still loves jamming out himself. He plays guitar and bass, and he has been in multiple bands, including the group Bockman. He has his own solo project, titled Penny Marvel. Once he started having kids, his schedule became fuller, leaving less time for live performances, but he has found a new way

A lot of musicians in Columbia want to be a part of that, and for me, that’s the joy.” — Wil Reeves to work on his musical projects through some solo time in the studio. He just put out a new single in December titled “Stony Rill,” which you can stream on Spotify or Apple Music. “I still love performing and playing out live, but I only do it a few times a year now,” Wil says. “I think I’m more of a studio projects kind of guy. I like using it as an instrument itself and creating songs that way.”

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Wil is dedicated to giving his all to every artist, whether it’s himself or one of his many friends in the Columbia area. It’s all about collaboration and a creative mindset — and wanting to work together to create something great. “I feel fortunate that people come in and feel comfortable here,” Wil says. “I built it all myself with the help of friends along the way. So, as a collaboration, it certainly has a sort of DIY element that puts people into a creative mode.”

CENTRO CELL AR STUDIO 15 AUSTIN AVE. (573) 424-6833 CENTROCELL ARSTUDIO.COM

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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

Aarik Danielsen Arts & Entertainment Editor, Columbia Daily Tribune PHOTO BY KEITH BORGMEYER JOB DESCRIPTION

I write, edit, and assign stories for the Tribune’s twice-weekly arts sections, which means covering everything from music and literature to visual art, theater, and dance. I also contribute the occasional non-arts feature and pitch in with editing duties when and where I’m needed. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

After graduating with two bachelor’s degrees in music, I wrote freelance album reviews for a time. Realizing my future actually pointed toward journalism, I came to the MU School of Journalism to receive my master’s degree. I started my job at the Tribune a month after graduation. After hours, I do a fair amount of freelance art and culture writing, with bylines at Image Journal, Entropy, Plough, and other publications. I also write a column, The (Dis) content, each week for Fathom magazine. Two years ago, I started teaching writing fundamentals to journalism majors at MU.

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HOMETOWN

Mesa, Arizona. YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA

Th irteen. QUOTE YOU LIVE BY

Samuel Johnson said that “A man writes better than he lives.” That doesn’t sound terribly inspirational at face value, but it reminds me that all writing is aspirational. I write pictures of what creativity, empathy, love, and connection look like — then learn what it means to live up to my own words. FAVORITE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

For about two years, two friends and I curated and co-hosted a house concert series. We’ve had to hit pause because of the pandemic, and I’m not sure when or if we’ll resume. But I had such a wonderful time working on this with friends and seeing each

concert come to life. I would grin like a fool throughout each show. FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT

Last fall, I wrote the story of a local Vietnam veteran who applied the PTSD coping skills he’d learned to caring for his now-late wife as she struggled with dementia. The amount of vulnerability and access he allowed in our conversations was such an honor. I was deeply humbled by the story of this man’s tested-but-true love for his wife and challenged to consider how my love for my own wife has expressed itself in times of difficulty and suffering. A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

I always like what David Elman is up to over at Fretboard Coffee. Not only has he found a way to seamlessly combine two of my favorite things — music and coffee — but, from the outside looking in, I get the sense he tries to treat people the right way. WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB

“I am asked on a daily basis to exercise my natural curiosity and to form deeper connections to my community. The chance to learn someone’s story and then share it with others is a privilege and responsibility I’ll never get over.” 90

APRIL 2021

I am asked on a daily basis to exercise my natural curiosity and to form deeper connections to my community. The chance to learn someone’s story and then share it with others is a privilege and responsibility I’ll never get over. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD

I would probably be teaching poetry or history in some other college town in the Midwest or Pacific Northwest. WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION

Journalists are people, too. Across this divide between audience and news-gatherers — which is real, but also based heavily on perception — this truth often gets lost. Every journalist I’ve ever met cares deeply about their community and wants to make it a better, more well-informed place. We want the same things our neighbors do and are here to encourage, not oppose, progress and a sense of community. THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY

Finding new, compelling ways to convey everything I said above. As we labor to help

people sift fact from fiction, information from misinformation, we have to harmonize our journalistic ethics with our sense of humanity. Th is should be natural, but for a variety of reasons, it presents its challenges. HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY

I want every source I come across to feel known and heard by me, and I want to help stretch that feeling across as many corners of our city as possible. GREATEST STRENGTH

Empathetic listening and earnest communication. GREATEST WEAKNESS

That same empathy I hope animates my work often weighs me down as I see various segments of the community talk past each other or fail to consider the common good. WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN

Read, run, and hike various portions of the MKT Trail. During baseball season, I watch as many San Francisco Giants games as I can. Before, during, and after baseball season, I nerd out over statistical analysis of the game. FAMILY

I have been married to Brooke for more than 16 years, and we have a 7-year-old son who is in fi rst grade. FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA

In addition to the MKT Trail, I talk about, write about, and visit the Columbia Public Library quite often. I love being surrounded by books and book people. ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF

Some dear friends of mine have written one or more books, and I’ve yet to start one (though I hope to someday). Sometimes I’ve fretted over what that says about me as a writer. For my birthday in December, my wife had something like 90 out of my 3,000-plus Tribune bylines printed and bound together in a hardback edition. “Th is is your book,” she said. I’m proud of her more than myself, but that wonderful gift reminded me that I’ve been able to sound out a consistent voice over the long haul here. That means more to me than any fleeting kind of recognition.

COMOMAG.COM

L i g h t s, C a m e r a, Act i o n ! Columbia’s f ilmmakers shoot for creative collaboration. BY JODIE JACKSON JR

att Schacht’s filmmaking career was sparked in ninth grade history class, before the digital age, back before the ubiquitous cell phone turned anyone with a hefty dose of creative energy into a possible cinematographer. Making an historical reenactment of an ancient Roman battle with his friends on the weekend was cool, no doubt. But what made it truly old-school? “I edited the video on two VHS players at home,” says Matt, 36, a native of Johnson City, Tennessee. Zoe Shedd is graduating from MU in May with a degree in documentary journalism. Zoe echoes the refrain from many of her filmmaking colleagues that Columbia’s smaller size — in comparison to L.A., Chicago, or even Kansas City — is ideally suited for close collaboration. “You’re able to build strong relationships and rely on one another,” she adds. A little over a year ago, Zoe connected with Matt Schacht’s Peace Frames Productions and started freelancing on commercials, music videos, and short films in a variety of production roles. Columbia native Chelsea Myers, who began Tiny Attic Productions in 2012, is listed as a “go-to resource” by many of her filmmaking colleagues. She headed video production for Ragtag Film Society and True/False Film Fest for 10 years and says filmmaking has been “a lifelong obsession,” pointing to her toddler years when she “constantly tried to grab the family camcorder out of my dad’s hands.” Chelsea also echoes what many others have said about the value of being self-taught or educated from working experience, which Columbia now offers in spades to those who take the initiative.

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Local filmmakers vary in their approach to voice or artistic style. Aaron Phillips, firmly entrenched in Columbia’s photo and film community though just five and a half years removed from life in Jackson, Mississippi, says the highest achievement he could ask for “is that people walk away from my work and feel they experienced empathy and saw something beautiful.” Jordan Lundy explains that his camera work often has “a little bit of quirkiness” — looking for ways to accentuate angles and “subtly motivated lights” to achieve balance. With directorial pieces, “I like getting laughs,” he says, using humor to help people relax and engage more. A recent project — working the timing of the Missouri Symphony Country Meets Classical commercial to fit in 30 seconds — was especially fun. Perhaps not surprisingly (these are gifted artists, after all) the most difficult challenges and most rewarding outcomes of making films in Columbia are often closely related, if not one and the same. For instance, when Michael Coleman is asked what the hardest part of filmmaking is, he says: “Everything. And I love it.” More specifically, making films in the heart of the Midwest, where local and state infrastructure for filmmaking is lacking, “is a leap of faith with no real guarantee of exposure or financial return.” When it comes to advice for aspiring filmmakers, Columbia’s community of craftspeople is especially generous. Lizzie Germann cautions both veterans and newcomers to heed the need for strong script writing. “The prettiest drone shots and best lenses won’t save a bad script, so start there and don’t rush to lock your script because you’ll be kicking yourself later if you do,” she says. And don’t take for granted the camaraderie and cohesiveness of the local filmmaking community, or the community’s support for the craft. Kevin

Duggin came to Columbia from L.A. 11 years ago, and one of his first projects here was an eye-opener. After unloading all their gear outside the house where they were shooting, a neighbor approached and asked what his team was up to. Later that day, she returned with homemade cookies for the crew. “I can say, having worked in Los Angeles for seven years, I never experienced that,” Kevin says. Now learn more about local filmmakers Matt Schacht, Zoe Shedd, Chelsea Myers, Aaron Phillips, Jordan Lundy, Michael Coleman, Lizzie Germann, and Kevin Duggin.

Describe the support and/or collaboration within the ﬁlmmaking

Matt Schacht

PRODUCER AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (Student at Mizzou, narrative films, commercials, music videos, documentary)

PRODUCER AND OWNER OF

community here. Filmmakers are communal. We survive in groups.

Our phone address book is one of our most precious commodities. It’s difficult to make a film by yourself (although not impossible). What advice do you have for aspiring ﬁlmmakers? Make films.

Make mistakes. Find people who are good at making films. Make films with them. Then make films with people you get along with. (Try not to go into debt to pay for film school unless you have a plan.)

Zoe Shedd

PEACE FRAME PRODUCTIONS

zoeshedd.visura.co

(Columbia COVID doc, Missouri Symphony [MOSY] doc, music videos, commercials, narrative films, weddings)

When and how did you get started in ﬁlmmaking? I got my start in

peaceframeproductions.com Other jobs/roles in Columbia: Adjunct

teacher at MU Journalism School, crew chief for the True/False Film Festival, and studio manager at Vidwest Studios and Columbia Access Television Describe some of your current projects.

Producing a documentary for MOSY celebrating their 50th anniversary (with surprise guest COVID-19). Feature release April 10, 2021. Organizing the 2021 CoMo Shorts Filmmakers Showcase being held September 23 to 25, 2021. I’m producing a buddy’s dream project called the “A Fox and a Squirrel.” The short film is about an overworked single mother telling her 7-year-old son a bedtime story about her work day. The concept is The Oﬃce meets “The Princess Bride.” We’re filming that July 2021 in Columbia. We will be sharing a casting call for local actors soon. What is the most challenging part of

MATT SCHACHT HOMETOWN: JOHNSON CITY, TN AGE: 36

“Columbia is a

How much of your craft is self-

filmmaker’s

taught? I would say most of my craft comes from hands-on experience, but the only reason I was able to be successful in this was because of my mentors in the Columbia film community.

haven. We have so much [in terms of] talent, equipment,

ﬁlmmaking? It depends on the shoot. If

and

you’re filming in freezing temperatures in the Missouri wilderness, then cold might be the challenge. If you’re filming on a tight schedule, then time might be the challenge. If you’re assembling a new film crew, then communication and finances might be the challenges. As film professor Chase Thompson likes to say, “Films don’t want to be made.”

locations. We lack an established industry and well-

How does our community show its

financed

support for your craft? Columbia is a

projects.”

filmmaker’s haven. We have so much [in terms of] talent, equipment, and locations. We lack an established industry and well-financed projects.

the filmmaking community through MU’s student organization Shot Reverse Shot, where I learned about production roles my freshman year. By my sophomore year, I was the president of the organization and an executive producer of their webseries Down the Rabbit Hole. My junior year, I started freelancing for Peace Frame Productions and Spectrum Studios on commercials, music videos, and short films in a large variety of production roles such assistant producing, production coordinating, script supervising, and assistant directing.

– MATT SCHACHT

Describe some of your current projects. Assistant directing the short film “A Fox and a Squirrel,” directed by Columbia filmmakZOE SHEDD er Jordan Lundy; directing a true HOMETOWN: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL crime documentary short (title AGE: 21 still in progress); directing a documentary on human trafficking (in pre-production). Recently I also had the opportunity to work as a production assistant for HGTV’s House Hunters and Travel Channel’s The Holzer Files. What is the most challenging part of ﬁlmmaking? Sometimes it’s

finding the perfect location, other times it’s making a schedule that works for everybody, and other times it’s dealing with a problem on set that you just could never have foreseen. Things happen in film, and you just have to always be prepared to come up with a creative solution to keep the project moving. What advice do you have for someone who wants to learn your craft? I would tell someone who wants to begin making films to just go for it. There is a whole community of people who are willing to guide and support you if you take the initiative.

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Chelsea Myers

duction stage of a documentary for the Missouri Symphony in honor of their 50th anniversary.

DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (documentaries, animation, narrative films, live music, shoots for Greenhouse Theater Productions, True/False Film Festival) tinyatticproductions.com Other jobs/roles in Columbia: Tiny Attic works with a handful of local

nonprofits. I’m a curator for the various Vidwest festivals — this year, that’s CoMo Shorts. I also collaborate with Wil Reeves of Centro Cellar Studio on a live music video series called Cellar Attic. Family/signiﬁcant other: I am married to the remarkable Josh Wright. When and how did you get started in ﬁlmmaking? Studying multimedia at the University of Westminster in London really sealed my fate. I was fortunate enough to have a circle of extremely passionate colleagues there. We all fueled each other to create then and still do now. Describe some of your current projects. One independent project

is a feature documentary about local celebrity and powerhouse Elizabeth Braaten Palmieri, co-founder of Greenhouse Theatre Project. How does our community show its support for your craft? There are

a number of business owners and individuals who generously share their time and space with filmmakers here. A lot of short films would never have been able to grow legs past the idea phase without these people. However, Columbia as a whole could be doing a lot more to aid locally produced films. Describe the support and/or collaboration within the ﬁlmmaking community here. Whether it’s

lending a hand or a camera, we all do whatever is in our means to help HOMETOWN: COLUMBIA, MO AGE: 30 each other realize our dream projects. A group of local filmmakers is launching the Vidwest Digital Storytelling Workshop this summer, which is specifically created for young people without access to camera gear. CHELSEA MYERS

How do you compare Columbia’s ﬁlmmaking community to other communities? Columbia’s filmmakers have to work against more

obstacles than larger cities. I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with teams in several international locations, and in this city, we don’t have as many grants or financial opportunities. It’s a real grassroots effort here.

Aaron Phillips DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (MOSY Children’s Series, documen-

taries, MOSY documentary, music videos, narrative films, art) aaronphillipsvisuals.com Other jobs/roles in Columbia: I’m involved with Vidwest and the re-

boot of Columbia Access TV. How much of your craft is self-taught? All is either self-taught or

learned from other filmmakers, directors, gaffers, and producers. Describe some of your current projects. I am deep in the post-pro-

APRIL 2021

AARON PHILLIPS HOMETOWN: JACKSON, MS AGE: 40

Plans for the future? I enjoy collaborating with the filmmaking community here in Columbia and love flexing my creative muscles on narrative and music video projects, but my heart is drawn to documentary, especially stories in the South. There is much beauty, light, and hope within the textures of the South, even though it is often caged in its struggle with its dark past. Describe the support and/or collaboration within the ﬁlmmaking

community here. It’s a smaller community and we often pick each other’s brains about our edits or ideas. My closest friends in Columbia are in this group. Moral support is sometimes just as important as knowing how to light something or move a camera. What advice do you have for aspiring ﬁlmmakers? Practice, practice, experiment, and practice some more. The best camera is the one that you have on you, even if it’s only a smart phone. I’ve shot a full short film on an iPhone, and it looked pretty great. Most of all, light is key. If you can understand light, you can make beautiful images nearly anywhere.

Megan Casady DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (Missouri abortion legislation documen-

tary, documentaries, music videos, commercials, narrative films, art) megancasadyphotography.com Other jobs/roles in Columbia: COMO Magazine and Columbia Mar-

keting Group staff videographer; marketing director for CoMo Shorts. When and how did you get started in ﬁlmmaking: Freelancing with

Peace Frame Productions. All of my craft is self-taught. What are some of your current projects? A documentary about Mis-

souri abortion legislation. Working title: “Going Dark.” What is the most challenging part of ﬁlmmaking? Recognizing my

MEGAN CASADY HOMETOWN::

own biases and how they frame my own work.

HOMETOWN: COLUMBIA, MO AGE: 26

The most rewarding aspect of ﬁlmmaking? Sharing others’ sto-

ries and feeling like I’m making an impact for things that are important in the world. How would you compare Columbia’s ﬁlm scene to other communities? I think the average person thinks the Columbia film community is small, or directly related to

True/False, but it’s actually quite broad in numbers, skill levels, and types of projects. It’s also pretty tight-knit, but fairly easy to tap into, unlike bigger cities. How does our community show its support for your craft? Showing

up to screenings and funding filmmaker’s projects.

What advice do you have for aspiring ﬁlmmakers? Ninety percent of it is showing up. It can be hard to find reliable crew, and those of us who look to hire others will always call the people who show up first. Also, ask questions. Most of us are happy to educate about our craft.

Describe the support and/or collaboration within the ﬁlmmaking community here. Filmmakers supporting each other’s films, having

film festivals, or creating opportunities to show our work. Oh, and funding projects. Does your work have a particular voice, a style or some feature that makes it uniquely you? Overall, my style is documentary, but

it’s also more than that, and I think that’s something I’m still trying to understand. I like to push my own boundaries to keep making progress in my career, and I want to keep my perspective open to whatever may come. What advice do you have for aspiring ﬁlmmakers? Meditate on

what compels you to tell stories. Whether it’s narrative or documentary or experimental, it’s important to understand ourselves first as people so we can better understand others.

Michael Coleman DIRECTOR (narrative films, teaches in film department at MU) noparkingpictures.com Other jobs/roles in Columbia: Columbia City Channel video pro-

ducer, Sycamore line cook, bartender, MU professor. Family/signiﬁcant other: Wife, Blair Coleman, and son, Holden Rhys. How much of your craft is selftaught? Everything. My entire

film production education was self-inflicted. I’m a firm believer in learning through watching and doing. Describe some of your current

Jordan Lundy

projects. Currently, I’m focus-

GAFFER AND DIRECTOR

Family/signiﬁcant other:

ing on being a father more than anything. I made two short films last year — “Walrus,” about a woman posing as a call girl in order to get revenge on a director who wronged her in the past, and “But, It’s My Life,” about a guy who finds a stranger outside his motel room and learns the motel might not be the place he thought it was.

Wife, Kacey, and two kids.

Plans for the future? My plans

How much of your craft is self-taught? Most of it. I tell my kids that “figuring it out” is a life skill. There’s a combination of keeping up the technology and getting it all to work together to get your project created. It’s just about keeping an eye on the trends in storytelling and how different people are approaching it.

and having people watch — specifically, hearing them laugh where you wanted them to.

for the future are to get one of my own feature films off the ground. I’ve produced a handful of features for friends and other collaborators over the past several years, and my hope now is to finally stake my claim as a feature filmmaker by finally getting the chance to take on my own story and bring it to life.

How does our community show its support for your craft? Many

What is your favorite part of

people around Columbia are so giving of their time and resources to make things happen. People will offer their house to shoot in, their time to perform, and anything else you could need.

ﬁlmmaking? Creating art with

OF PHOTOGRAPHY (com-

mercials, narrative films, Mizzou sports, music videos) jordanlundy.com Other jobs/roles in Columbia: Part-time work as a video engineer for Mizzou. Freelance mainly in camera and lighting.

JORDAN LUNDY HOMETOWN: ST. LOUIS, MO AGE: 40

Describe some of your current projects. Right now, I’m working on directing a short film script that I’ve had for a while. The script is about a single mother that turns her workday into a bedtime story for her son. The most rewarding part of ﬁlmmaking? Getting projects done

Describe the support and/or collaboration within the ﬁlmmaking community. The filmmaking community here is both a close-knit

group and larger than you’d expect. There are people around to fill any crew position you could list.

my friends. I really enjoy the process of being on set, having to use every inch of your brain to come up with creative solutions and bring personal stories to life.

MICHAEL COLEMAN HOMETOWN: CAPE CORAL, FL AGE: 31

“I really enjoy the process of being on set, having to use every inch of your brain to come up with creative solutions and bringing personal stories to life.” –MICHAEL COLEMAN

COMOMAG.COM

What advice do you have for someone who wants to learn your

Kevin Duggin

craft? If you can find a camera or have a phone, you can make a

DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

film. You can’t make a film until you decide to turn the camera on and take a creative leap of faith. It comes from a place of pure artistic creation — to get the stories in our heads first onto the page and then hopefully at some point onto the screen, whether big or small.

Randy Sinquefield.

Lizzie Germann

clan, and Lochlan.

(narrative films, horror short film) kevinduggin.com Other jobs/role in Columbia: I work at Spectrum Studios with owner Family or signiﬁcant others: Wife, Josie, and three sons, Stellan, De-

DIRECTOR (MOSY documentary, narrative short films, music videos) elizabethgermann.com When and how did you get started in ﬁlmmaking? The first set

I was ever on was part of my film production class at MU with Brian Maurer. In 2013, I studied abroad at the University of Manchester and I created, shot, and edited a short web series with some actors there, which ended up winning the Best Program Award at the Manchester Student Media Awards. Describe some of your current

projects. I’m currently helping Peace Frame Productions edit a documentary on the Missouri Symphony.

LIZZIE GERMANN HOMETOWN: COLUMBIA. MO AGE: 28

How does our community show its support for

your craft? I think partly because of the ubiquity of True/False, Columbia seems to feel very positively about filmmakers and films being made in the city. I won the pitch competition at the CoMo Shorts 2019 film festival and the awards included a $200 check from Shortwave Coffee, a membership to Ragtag, and the promise of a screening of my final product at Ragtag. Describe the support and/or collaboration within the ﬁlmmaking community here. Matt Schacht also heads Vidwest, which is a media nonprofit here in Columbia, and Aaron Phillips and I work on the doc in the Vidwest space. Almost every day we’re in there, there’s someone from the community coming in, meeting with Matt and learning about or how to use the gear (video and photography cameras, audio equipment, the space itself ) that’s there for them to use. What advice do you have for someone who wants to learn your craft or to begin making ﬁlms? A film is only as strong as the team behind it, and if you decide to be the leader of that team, you are taking on a huge commitment. In indie filmmaking, there’s no snobby auteurship: You have to be respectful and you have to listen. All those people on your crew will help you achieve your vision, but only if you make yourself someone they want to work with.

APRIL 2021

KEVIN DUGGIN HOMETOWN: SAN DIEGO, CA AGE: 36

“Just keep making things and eventually you will improve and work your way up.” –KEVIN DUGGIN

When and how did you get started in ﬁlmmaking? I started in middle school. My uncle was a cinematographer in Los Angeles in the 1980s. I loved movies growing up, and he was the bridge to me actually getting started around 13 years old. He gave me my first light meter and I was off to the races. Describe some of your current projects. I recently completed a fea-

ture film as director of photography during the pandemic at the end of 2020. We shot the entire thing remotely using Zoom, and it was a challenge. That film, “Untitled Horror Movie,” was featured in Vanity Fair and is currently being represented by CAA. What is the most challenging part of ﬁlmmaking? The vision versus the cost of production. Sometimes it can be difficult to have grand plans for a shot or a scene but be unable to afford the piece of gear or the perfect location. But on the flip side, dealing with the constraints and coming up with a new, more simplified plan for a scene can be very creatively rewarding. What advice do you have for someone who wants to learn your craft or to begin making ﬁlms? When I started doing this, you need-

ed to invest in equipment. Asking your parents for a $3,000 camera at 15 isn’t the easiest sell. But now everyone’s phones can blow that $3,000 camera completely out of the water. Young people have the ability to tell stories with their phones. Just keep making things and eventually you will improve and work your way up.

For direct links to websites and videos mentioned in the article, please visit comomag.com.

UNBOUND BOOK FESTIVAL APRIL SCHEDULE

All events are free and exclusively online at www.unboundbookfestival.com. Events begin at 7:00pm CST

TUES

Laura Munson, Julie Metz Two New York Times best-selling authors (and friends) take the virtual stage to ask each other four powerful questions about their newest books, their writing lives in the worlds of fiction and memoir, and the deep need for community, especially right now.

TUES

YOU DO THE MATH Catherine Chung, Karen Olson, Eugenia Cheng Some might think of literature and mathematics as diametrically opposed, pillars in some imagined battle between right-brain and left-brain thinking—of the fantastical versus the pragmatic or berets versus pocket-protectors. Others wax poetic about the beauty of math, its intricacies, mysteries and near-religious revelations. Three author/mathematicians help us to consider the field’s calculable and incalculable powers.

THUR

POETRY READING Kerrin McCadden, Janine Joseph, Cate Marvin Join us for our final poetry reading of the festival! Kerrin McCadden is the author of American Wake and Landscape with Plywood Silhouettes, winner of the Vermont Book Award and the New Issues Poetry Prize. Cate Marvin’s fourth book, Event Horizon, is forthcoming from Copper Canyon Press. Her previous collections include Oracle, Fragment of the Head of a Queen and World’s Tallest Disaster.

TUES

IN IT TOGETHER —WRITING, COMMUNITY, AND CRAFT

BICENTENNIAL PANEL Sarah Kendzior, Walter Johnson In our final event to mark Missouri's Bicentennial, we welcome two of the state's most astute and clear-eyed chroniclers. In their recent books bestselling authors Sarah Kendzior and Walter Johnson take Missouri's past and present as a lens through which to consider the country as a whole. This will be a thought-provoking discussion about Missouri, its legacy, and its place in the modern-day United States.

FRI

KEYNOTE EVENT Tracy K. Smith, Jericho Brown

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APRIL 2021

River

take me to the

Cooper’s Landing tempts an almost-retired Columbia music and entertainment entrepreneur to take on a f resh challenge. BY MICHELLE TERHUNE | PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER

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you ask Richard King what he was thinking when he was invited to buy Cooper’s Landing in 2018, he’ll tell you he wasn’t. His wife, Patty, thought he was crazy. He was in the process of retiring after a 40-year stint in music and entertainment, during which time he became one of the best-known names in Columbia’s cultural scene. It was supposed to be the ending of a chapter. Nonetheless, the sale closed in May 2019. Three days later, the Missouri River rose more than 12 feet above flood stage, engulfing the property. Richard thought his wife might be right.

A Glass Half Full of River Water For 30 years, Mike Cooper had owned the campground on the Missouri River at mile 163.5 of the Katy Trail, operating a small store, restaurant, and marina and hosting live music. After deciding he was ready for some-

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thing different, Mike talked to Richard about buying the property. “It’s an absolutely incredible place,” Richard says. “When I was trying to decide if I wanted to own it, I would just sit down there. There’s this certain kind of Zen, sitting next to that river.” Surveyor Ira P. Nash, who originally granted himself the property and founded a town named Nashville on the spot in 1820, felt the same way. Nash called it “The most beautiful spot in all creation.” Although the town disappeared in an 1844 flood, the location lives on. It takes about 15 minutes to get from Columbia limits to Cooper’s Landing, which sits on the bank of the Missouri River near the confluence of Little Perche Creek and Little Bonne Femme Creek. As waters rose in 2019, the Army Corps of Engineers contacted the brand new owner and gave him 24 hours to

evacuate. It took nearly three months for the water to recede enough to begin cleaning up the property. “Everything stopped with the flood.” Richard says. “All the revenue dried up and we were starting from scratch.” Th is wasn’t the fi rst time Richard would be building something from the ground up. He had spent his adult life building one new thing after another. For him, the glass was half full, even if it was river water. Richard says the flood gave him a “clean slate.” The unclaimed property of various squatters over the years washed away. Richard removed a couple of damaged temporary structures. Mike’s former living space, which sat right on the bank of the river, were uninhabitable, so they bulldozed it. Once it was gone, the landing was even more open and breathtaking than before.

Michael DeLeon and Richard King

“You know, the flood was, in a lot of ways, a silver lining in that cloud. It opened my eyes to seeing that this was a really cool piece of property — if you do all the right things on it,” Richard says.

First the Flood, Then the Pandemic Richard landed in Columbia in 1975. Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he headed to California at the age of 21. Along the way, he stopped in Columbia to visit a good friend, who was attending graduate school at MU, and never left. “When I moved to Columbia, there were a lot of musicians in my circle of friends, and we always supported the local music scene. After a few years, a venue became available to me and my original partner, Phil Costello. So, we decided that we were the smartest guys in the room,” Richard says

with a chuckle. “We took over the business, changed the name, changed the whole atmosphere of it, and we called it The Blue Note. We had no experience whatsoever other than having friends who are musicians and going to shows, so it was a build-it-up-fromthe-bottom kind of thing.” In addition to The Blue Note, Richard has owned what is now Rose Music Hall, and he founded the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. He sold the two venues in 2014 and sold the festival to his employees in 2019, completing that

deal two weeks before closing on the Cooper’s Landing purchase. Richard knows Columbia entertainment world inside and out, and he’s taking that experience and his connections to Cooper’s Landing. “I’ve met a lot of people and worked with a lot of people, like hiring food trucks for Roots N Blues,” says Richard. “Moving to Cooper’s and bringing in the food trucks or live music here is part of what I’ve always done. Music. Food. Of course, I know enough to make sure the beer is cold.”

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Richard hired Michael De Leon to manage his new enterprise. He knew about Michael’s management experience with some downtown Columbia establishments. When the pandemic hit, Michael was open to changing jobs. He started working at Cooper’s Landing in August 2020. The largely outdoor venue has fared relatively well during the pandemic. They closed the general store to customers but opened a walk-up window where guests could buy snacks and beverages. Guests can order from food trucks. People still come to camp and park RVs. Cyclists and hikers on the Katy Trail stop to rest, refresh, and enjoy the view. Boaters use the ramps and docks and fi ll up at the only marina with gas between Kansas City and St. Charles. Despite the flood and the pandemic, people continued to show up. “You’d be surprised at how many people come to Cooper’s Landing even in the winter,” Michael says. “They get snacks and drinks at the General Store and sit around the fi repits we’ve placed throughout the grounds. They camp or rent our heated glamping tent. Duck hunters put their boats in the river using our ramps.” Richard says people continued to come to Cooper’s Landing for three reasons. “First of all, they didn’t have to worry about some of the questionable people who used to hang out there. Secondly, we would invite food trucks. But most importantly, we have all our picnic tables separated easily 8 to 10 feet apart along the riverbank,” he says. “We didn’t allow people in the store and we insisted on people masking. I think people felt comfortable coming down here

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to sit with their friends and family along the river and not have to worry about COVID.” Although having customers was a welcome luxury that many other businesses have struggled with, the pandemic prevented Richard from doing some of the things he had planned, including live music on the new stage and putting up a giant screen to watch Chiefs games. For the first time in his entrepreneurial career, he wants to avoid attracting a crowd. “I think people really appreciate the approach that we’re taking. There will be no live music or sporting events until it’s safe,” Richard says.

Phenomenal Entertainment in a Spectacular Setting The biggest job at Cooper’s Landing right now is finishing an upgraded water and septic system and adding a bathroom and shower facility, both projects that Richard hopes to complete by fall. He also plans to put a tavern-like setting in the General Store and open up the

river-facing side of the building with windows to take advantage of the amazing views. Cooper’s Landing will continue to partner with food trucks and might offer breakfast on the weekends in the future. Live music, something near and dear to Richard’s heart, will return when it’s safe for crowds to gather again. And Richard is exploring other ways to connect his former business experiences with his new venture. “The True/False Film Festival and Ragtag Film Society began with showing fi lms at The Blue Note,” Richard says. “Although they both moved to other venues, I’ve had a relationship with those organizations and, in particular, [co-founder] David Wilson for a long time.” In fact, Richard and David have talked about setting up a community for the True/ False fi lmmakers and artists at Cooper’s Landing in May, perhaps using more glamping tents. (Cooper’s Landing partners with the Columbia company Backyards and Beyond to provide the tents.) And who knows? Visitors might be able to watch an occasional Ragtag

fi lm on a screen near the river’s edge in the not-so-distant future. Richard is also exploring the potential for renting out Cooper’s Landing for events like weddings. In fact, Michael and his fiancée have rented the entire campground for their September wedding, which will test the waters for private events. For Richard, Cooper’s Landing is another in a lifetime of business adventures, albeit a little off his usual path. “For me, this is a different undertaking altogether from what I’m used to doing,” he says. “Now that I have my feet kind of planted on the ground, I’m having a lot of fun with it. It’s a challenge, but I think there are so many rewards if you do it the right way. I think we’re on track to do it the right way.” The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” Th is time, as with every other time, it’s not the same business — and Richard’s not the same man.

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