COMO | September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 | T HE EDU CAT I ON ISSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIM E S COM PAN Y

Emma Gysbers studies at Dancearts of Columbia, page 48

Dance

An Education in

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Letter from the Publisher

We're all in school

A

s a mother of five and a COMO geek, the topic of education is core to nearly everything I do. Our job here at the magazine is to educate the community about what great things are available and what amazing people to meet. My job as a mother is to make sure that my children are exposed to a quality education even if it looks different for each of them. My role as a leader in this community is to promote and protect our culture that is largely influenced by the behemoth industry of education, being home to the University of Missouri’s flagship campus as well as Columbia College, Stephens College, MACC, and satellite campuses for Central Methodist University and William Woods University. The city’s No. 1 (University of Missouri) and No. 3 (Columbia Public Schools) largest employers are both in education. Many of the leaders of these organizations are bright, engaging visionary leaders whom I admire greatly.

I’ll never forget the time I was sitting on a bus next to Marshall Stewart, vice chancellor for extension and engagement at the University of Missouri and the chief engagement officer for the University of Missouri System, during a Leadership Visit with the Chamber of Commerce. (Leadership Visit is a trip taken to another city to learn about how they address issues that Columbia is also facing and is composed of 70ish civic and business leaders. I’ve been to six of them, and I’ll never miss one in the future!) We talked about how we have the best minds at MU and wondered how we could put all the right people in engineering, finance, social services, and business together to solve our public transportation issue. Additionally and for the first time, I really gained an understanding of what the MU Extension program provides to our state and insight into the man that leads that charge. Marshall Stewart is an engaging

ART DIRECTOR'S PICKS

man who sees possibility and connections wherever he looks.

Then there's Dr. Jeff Lashley, president of Moberly Area Community College. Jeff, along with Peter Stiepleman as the former superintendent of Columbia Public Schools, created a partnership after witnessing a similar program on a Leadership Visit for all CPS students to have access to the ability to do a dual credit program and graduate with an associate degree. Additionally, he is personally engaged with many CEOs of local companies regularly determining what the needs of our city are as it relates to preparing our workforce and then directly implements programs at MACC to address those needs. Jeff is currently chairing the Chamber of Commerce’s task force on workforce development and is committed to ensuring that MACC provides a solution and a supply of students to the workforce that is so desperately needed.

Lastly, I want to publicly thank Peter Stiepleman for all he did for the community during the time he served here. Many will never truly know of all the amazing work he did as our CPS superintendent. Deep feelings over COVID-19 restrictions during the last year and a half clouded the very much pre-planned retirement of an amazing man who loves kids and the chances given to them through a solid public education. I know his heart, I have known his battles, and he is a man I’m proud to call a dear friend and mentor.

Columbia, we are blessed with opportunities. I hope you enjoy reading of many that are available to you in the following pages. As usual, I invite you to connect with me if you have feedback about the issue or know of a story that should be told.

My favorite thing to learn about right now is cooking. What is good for your body? What is delicious? What do they eat on the other side of the world? These are the cookbooks I've had to renew several times from the library this month.

The Food Babe Kitchen Chef Kimber Dean at Nourish Cafe and Market (pg. 43) is a wealth of information when it comes to how our food is made.

She recommended blogger Vani Hari, AKA "The Food Babe." Hari's Creamy Kale and Artichoke Dip is a keeper!

Made in India: Recipes from an Indian Family Kitchen I absolutely judged this book by the cover — the graphics are so fun! I know literally nothing about Indian food, and it seems like author Meera Sodha is just the guide I need.

The Blue Zones Kitchen While on a photo shoot with La Toya Stevens (you'll see her in an upcoming issue), she told me about her time spent living in Okinawa, Japan. Did you know that people in Okinawa are some of the longest-living in the world?

There's a study about places like this called "Blue Zones." This photo-heavy cookbook takes you to these beautiful communities where longevity reigns.

ON THE COVER Emma Gysbers laces up to show us her love for dance at Dancearts of Columbia. Pg. 48.

Photo by Keith Borgmeyer

S E PT E M B E R 202 1 | T H E E D U CAT I O N 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

All my best, Emma Gysbers studies at Dancearts of Columbia, page 48

Dance

An Education in

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My favorite teacher growing up was Mr. Seidel. He always treated us like adults, which was unusual in my high school. He taught us about things in the world that really mattered. I’ll never forget the sign in his room that read, “It takes a big heart and a large, extra-strong coffee to shape young minds.”

Mr. Keeley was one of my English teachers in junior high. He was always so kind and got me excited about dissecting sentences.

I guess I was a strange kid. Now that I’m a mother, I’m able to pass along many of the things he taught me to my son.

Mr. Gurley! I will never forget the day, 33 years ago, that he predicted the ability for a tiny device that would have the computing power of NASA and make phone calls. He basically predicted the Apple Watch before pagers and cell phones were even a thing.

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SEPTEMBER 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

87 PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Get to know Columbia Public Schools new superintendent, Dr. Brian Yearwood.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | The Education Issue

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43

78

Publisher’s Letter

GOURMET Nourish Cafe & Market

FEATURES

CELEBRATIONS

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LIVING

48

21

STYLE Let’s Dance

ART & CULTURE Preserving Missouri’s Folk Art

23 PET FRIENDLY Snakes Aren’t Scary

25 WELLNESS The Magic of Music

27 TARA TALKS

29 GUEST VOICES Alex George- Skylarking

31 HOMES Northern Luxury

55 FRIENDS & FAMILY What’s on the shelf at Daniel Boone Regional Library?

69 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Mike and Tina Woods

WORKING 73 CLOSER LOOK

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Art for All

80 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT Artwork, Artists, and Philanthropy

83 BUSINESS UPDATE

LEADERSHIP IN HARD TIMES Columbia Public School board members are regular members of the community who answer a call to serve in an extraordinary way.

64 FOR ALL TO KNOW The MU Extension program provides an accessible education resource for all Missourians.

From Startup to Success

87 PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Dr. Brian Yearwood

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91 PRIVATE SCHOOL ADVANTAGE The new normal brings new enrollment to Columbia private schools.

97 PLAYING THE SCHOOL LOTTERY Giving Columbia residents a choice in their child’s education.

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Living

31 NORTHERN LUXURY Timberwood Homes and Outdoor Solutions partner up on custom luxury homes.

55 WHAT’S ON THE SHELF? From virtual activity bundles for children and candidate forums for adults, Daniel Boone Regional Library offers a lot more than books.

43 NOURISH CAFE AND MARKET Organic, high-quality food with a side of love and gratitude (and hummus!)

Living

ART & CULTURE

Preserving Missouri’s Folk Arts

BY JESSICA JAINC HI L L

A

s Missourians celebrate the state’s bicentennial, they’re enjoying a time to celebrate their heritage. Helping to preserve that heritage, the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program in the Missouri Folk Arts Department at MU works to encourage and bring together artists that preserve Missouri’s many folk arts.

Started in 1984, the Traditional Arts and Apprenticeship Program, or TAAP, is a program that was established as a way to maintain and protect Missouri folk arts and traditions.

Deborah Bailey, the current program coordinator for TAAP, says that when the program started, “There was a renewed interest . . . in preserving our multiple heritages.”

One of the ways the organizers of TAAP wanted to preserve heritage was through preserving folk arts. TAAP does this by encouraging and helping connect folk artists across Missouri to apprentices who can be taught to carry on the traditions of the past to future generations.

Deborah explains: “The TAAP, at its core, is really a teaching program in a lot of ways. . . . The basic unit is our people — people who practice traditional art forms that exist within their communities, no matter how you define that. It can be regional, traditional, an immigrant tradition, just everything in Missouri as we know it.”

Above left: The late old-time fiddler Cliff Bryan performing at Roaring River State Park with his apprentice, Joel Hinds, in 2016. Cliff was an Ozark “short bow” fiddler, a bowing style that is found more often in the southern Ozarks. Cliff also had a distinctive repertoire of tunes that he picked up through his mentor, Charlie Hiler, and others

To accomplish this mission, TAAP organizers However, the ability for apprentices to join work hard to discover and collect these folk artthe program is limited by how much funding the ists as teachers for the program. Sometimes, the program receives every year. The funding can best way to discover a folk artist vary from year to year, which is simply by word of mouth. means they can only support a “We take a master artist and certain number of pupils and encourage them to take on an artists every year. Fortunately, apprentice,” Deborah explains.

TAAP always manages to turn “We want intermediate apprenout a variety of diverse folk arts tices with a desire to learn more that range from dancing and with someone who is really music to home crafts and ironpracticed in the art. So every works. For the students that get year we have an annual applito join the program, TAAP has cation process for these artists, set up a learning system that and I assist them in every way makes it possible for anyone possible with their work whethof almost any background to er they be audio, audio-visual, learn and carry a traditional art or material artists.” to the next generation.

“These are art forms learned In this program, the teachers by observation, imitation, and and apprentices can come from one-on-one interaction,” Deboany number of backgrounds, — Deborah Bailey rah explains. and the art is not necessarily The organizers of TAAP are taught conventionally. proud of the fact that they have, Deborah says, “Artists vary as Deborah puts it, “fostered hundreds of apprenin educational level a great deal. These are ticeships between master traditional artists and arts really practiced within localities and are their apprentices.” As TAAP’s organizers look to not really taught in school.”

TAAP also makes sure the apprentices the future, they expect their apprenticeship prohave supplies and that the art teachers are gram to encourage many more artist relationcompensated so that they can teach stuships that will preserve the traditional arts Misdents adequately. souri has been home to for the past 200 years.

“These are art forms learned by observation, imitation, and one on one interaction.”

through the years. Joel was Cliff’s last apprentice and had the opportunity to learn many of Cliff’s tunes.

Above middle: Carmen Dance (center), master artist in Colombian Dance, fine tuning one of the dances she taught her apprentices, Ana Sofia Remolina (left) and Sophia Frances (right), at Carmen’s home studio in Saint Louis, June 2020. Photo credit: Darcy Holtgrave.

Above right: Master African American storyteller Gladys Coggswell (right) and her past apprentices Angela Williams (center) and Loretta Williams (left) perform at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site in St. Louis at a TAAP 30th anniversary event. Both Loretta and Angela went on to become master artists themselves.

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Living

PET FRIENDLY

Snakes Aren’t Scary Get to know reptile enthusiast Mindi Wooley and her scaly companions.

BY JULES N. GRAEBNER

S

nakes give people the heebie-jeebies more than any other animal. In fact, polls have shown that the fear of snakes is one of the most common phobias, second only to the fear of spiders. This fear is so deeply ingrained that many rental properties don’t allow tenants to keep snakes.

However, for Mindi Wooley, snakes aren’t anything to be afraid of. Instead, they serve as scaly companions and inspiration for her artwork.

Growing up in a small town in north central Texas, Mindi spent the majority of her childhood outside, searching the surrounding landscape for all sorts of creatures and creepy crawlies. “I think I developed an interest in reptiles and amphibians because they were a type of animal I could hold in my hand or observe very closely,” Mindi says. “I couldn’t really do that with mammals, fish, or birds!”

At 9 years old, Mindi caught her first serpent, a rough green snake, sparking a lifelong love for the animals. Mindi says she wasn’t allowed to keep reptiles as pets while growing up, so when she finally moved into her own place, she bought her first snake and has been keeping them ever since.

“My favorite thing about snakes is probably how afraid of them a lot of people are. I’m fascinated by all wildlife, but I definitely have a soft spot for animals most people find creepy or ugly or gross,” Mindi says.

Currently, Mindi has two ball pythons named Mr. Squiggles and Professor JellyBean. The snakes have their own room in her apartment where they can come out of their enclosures and explore (under supervision, of course). “I intentionally try to incorporate cuteness into my photos of my pets,” Mindi says, “because I hope that the bright and happy colors will help others to see them in a more positive light!”

Squiggles and Jelly, as they are lovingly called, make frequent appearances on Mindi’s Instagram page, as Mindi is an active member of the online reptile community. “I’ve met some really great people, and some of them have become close friends,” Mindi says of the online community. “When I first started keeping snakes, I felt a little bit isolated because most of the people I knew in person just weren’t interested in reptiles the way I was.

The online community has really grown and is so inclusive and helpful! I love that I get to connect with and learn from so many others in the hobby!”

Alongside photos of her pets, Mindi posts the artwork she creates on her Instagram page.

“Currently, I’m focused on drawing and painting reptile and amphibian species of the United States,” she explains. “Not only is it helping me to grow as an artist, [but it’s also] expand-

ing my knowledge of native species, which is something I’m also passionate about!”

Though Mindi is not afraid of snakes, she recognizes that many people are. However, she wants people to understand that there is no reason to be afraid — snakes are scared of people, too!

“I think the most common misconception people tend to have about snakes is that they’re naturally aggressive animals. In my experience, that just hasn’t been the case,” Mindi says. “All animals exhibit defensive behaviors if they feel threatened. Snakes want as little to do with humans as most humans want to do with them. If you do come across a snake in the wild, my best advice would be to observe it from a distance and wait for it to move along.”

Follow Mindi and her pets on Instagram: @MindiWooley

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Living

The Magic of Music The Missouri Symphony is connecting with kids through the power of music and nostalgia.

BY QUINCY SINEK | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MONICA PALMER

F

or most adults, there’s one clear image that pops in their heads when they think of a soft-spoken man in colorful cardigans teaching life lessons from his living room.

Mr. Rogers was a staple for kids growing up from the ’70s to the ’90s, and, early last year, The Missouri Symphony realized that kids today might need a similar figure to deal with growing up and handling the pandemic.

Monica Palmer, a former Missouri Symphony employee, came up with the idea for “Mister MOSY” in May of 2020, after the pandemic shut everything down. The symphony was thinking of ways to continue providing music in a safe way, since they couldn’t bring the musicians together. Monica says they were looking at a summer with no concerts and knew they had to find a way to bring music to the community.

“During this time, I had my two kids at home with me and we were doing a lot of talking about COVID, and they had really lost all the non-family, important adults in their life, like teachers, coaches and mentors,” Monica says. “I thought, you know, what we need is a Mr. Rogers.”

From there, Mister MOSY was born. The web series, featuring Mister MOSY himself, is all about teaching children how to use music to process all of their feelings and tackle new ideas. Each episode features a segment called “Mister MOSY Has a Magical TV,” where the viewer is transported to the Missouri Symphony and gets to hear a piece of music that connects to the feeling or idea being explored.

Starring as Mister MOSY is Trent Rash, executive director of The Missouri Symphony. In each episode he dons a colorful knit cardigan, a bowtie, and glasses before talking to kids about everything from anger and imagination to the importance of relaxing and recharging their minds and bodies.

“My main goal was that I wanted children to watch this and feel joyful and feel safe and comforted,” Trent says. “That's really what I kept in the forefront of my mind as we shot this series.”

Trent was the host of the series because Monica felt he had the right presence to interact with children in a kind, engaging way.

While filming the series, they put a photo of

WELLNESS

Monica’s daughter on the camera so Trent could always remember he wasn’t just talking to a lens; he was talking to kids.

“I knew that he had this ability to capture that essence and make kids feel heard and cared about, and I felt like that’s what we can give to the community as an organization — like we could give them this person and this kind of emotional care, but also introduce them to music and how music can be a tool to process your emotions,” Monica says.

The entire series was filmed in Trent’s living room last spring with just Trent, Monica, and a two-person film crew from Peace Frame Productions. The episodes were released a week at a time from June through August 2020. There is currently one season, with ten episodes total, which are all still available to view for free on The Missouri Symphony’s YouTube page.

Trent says they are hoping to make a second season and just need to find the funding for the project.

The Mister MOSY series connects children and parents to the symphony in a way they may have never experienced before. Trent says their goal was to reach the community in a new way and introduce a group that likely didn’t have much connection to the symphony to their organization and their music.

“We believe very strongly that the future of symphonic music in this community, and really all communities in America, depends on exposing young people to symphonic music and making it accessible to them,” Trent says. “And this is a way we can do that while also educating them on various topics as well.”

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SEPTEMBER 2021

Fran Patrick

Senior Vice President & Co-Owner

Is it okay to cut out toxic people in your life if it’s family?

There are so many sayings out there like, “blood is thicker than water.” If certain relatives only bring toxicity to your life, how do you set boundaries while also doing things like enjoying holidays with your family?

L

et’s start with brevity. If you’re asking a cut and dry, broad question about whether it’s OK to cut out toxic people, including family, then my answer is yes. It is absolutely OK to cut out toxic people from your life, even if they’re family. There is way more to say, but I want to be clear from the outset that toxic people can be cut out of one’s life. It’s messier than that, of course. Even when a situation seems straightforward, it’s not generally as simple when we’re in that situation.

Th is second question — how you can cut those people out while also keeping them in your life for certain things like holidays — can also be simple to answer. In short, you can’t do both. If I’m reading this correctly, and you’re wondering whether you can maintain your boundaries while not creating any waves or rocking the boat within your family, then I can tell you it’s not doable.

Here’s the deal. The vast majority of people don’t like change. It’s unsettling and uncer-

tain, and folks tend to stay away from uncertainty as much as possible. People like change even less when it’s not their idea, it directly impacts them, and they’re happy with the status quo. Further still, people are so entrenched in their systems and ways of being that they’ll do any number of things to keep other people (like you) right where you are. In most cases, the intention behind this isn’t inherently bad or evil or malicious or anything of that sort.

It’s just part of how most humans operate.

To get specific to you right now: You’ve got a “role” within your family system, and that system wants you to stay within that role because, well, even a dysfunctional system is functioning in a way. Just not very well. And for most people, functioning feels better than uncertainty, even if a new functioning would actually feel better than the current functioning.

So if you’re asking me whether you can keep your boundary with a toxic family member, maintain the family system, and walk away unscathed, my answer is no. You cannot have those three things at one time. Definitely not at first. There’s always a possibility that people will change over time, but if you’re the first of your family and the only one advocating for different actions or behaviors, then no, there is a very high likelihood that all three will not happen.

Stay with me, though. There are things you can try, although I can’t guarantee that they’ll make a significant difference.

Let’s start with some questions that will hopefully help you to gain some insight. Honestly, you might even grab a journal or pull up a doc and start writing out your answers just to see where your thoughts take you. Really spend some time with these.

For starters, I would ask myself: What am I trying to maintain by keeping my “family together?” What is it that I’m after? A feeling?

A physical space? Nostalgia? Do I have a fear of unveiling underlying tension in the family?

Am I after the illusion of family or do I have

an actual loving and warm felt experience of being surrounded by them all?

Secondly, I’d ask myself: What would make the experience of this toxic person worth it, if anything? If I continued to try to keep my “family together,” what would it cost me? What about in one month? Six months? One year?

Three years? Follow those thoughts through to their logical conclusion. And again, write out your answers.

Don’t think about what’s aspirational with these questions; think about what is. Answer these questions as if nothing were going to change with what exists right now.

Th ird, I would ask myself: What’s the worst possible scenario when I set a boundary with this family member? How will I feel? How will I feel when the rest of the family tries to get me to change back? What will I need to maintain the boundary I’ve drawn? When I feel doubt or guilt about drawing the boundary, what will I need in order to remind myself that I did the right thing?

See, the real question — the main one at the core of it all — is about your own limits. It’s simple, really. At what point have you had enough? Enough of the toxicity, enough of the discomfort, and enough of trying to play nice to keep a system together that is only hurting you. By cutting out a toxic person in your life, even if they’re family, you’re directly and indirectly saying that you’ve chosen health and functionality, and that you’re done with the nonsense. It is hard, period. It will be hard for longer than you want it to be. But I can guarantee you that when you break free and have had enough space, you’re going to look back and only wish you had done it sooner.

By cutting out a toxic person in your life, even if they’re family, you’re directly and indirectly saying that you’ve chosen health and functionality, and that you’re done with the nonsense.

Tara Vossenkemper is the founder and owner of The Counseling Hub. She practices Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

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LET’S MEET UP. Offering 3,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space to create a perfect location for any event or party!

Reserve a space today!

(573) 875-7000 • 1111 E. Broadway, Columbia TheBroadwayColumbia.com

SHORT FILMS

POSTERS

FILM PITCHES

CoMo shorts is an annual film showcase for Missouri filmmakers and artists.

September 23-25 2021 • Columbia, MO North Village Studios Patio (by Fretboard Coffee)

Tickets available:

comos hor t s . com 28

SEPTEMBER 2021

comoshorts@gmail.com

BOOKS, ETC.

Skylarking Skylarking (n.): wildly playful or mischievous behavior.

BY ALEX GEORGE, SKYLARK BOOKSHOP OWNER

W

hen Carrie Koepke and I began thinking about opening an independent bookstore in downtown Columbia, the word that we kept returning to was “community.” Yes, we wanted to sell books, but we wanted much more than that. We wanted to create a place where like-minded people could congregate to talk about books and other interesting things. That’s why, since we opened in August 2018, we have held regular events featuring authors and poets, in addition to open-mic nights, weekly storytimes for kids, teacher appreciation evenings, poetry slams, concerts, fundraisers, and much more.

Needless to say, all that came to an abrupt halt last year when the pandemic struck. Even when our doors were closed to the public for several months, we still put on author events — only now they were online. Events in the virtual world had some advantages. For example, we were able to introduce authors to our customers who might otherwise not have made it to Mid-Missouri, including writers from England and Canada. But it was not the same as being there in person, for the audience or for the authors.

The re-opening process has gone through several (cautious) stages: first by appointment, then with limited numbers, and so on, and always with masks and gallons of hand sanitizer. We quarantined books that customers had touched and did everything we could to reduce the risks of infection while still doing our best to preserve the browsing experience that is so central to any trip to a bookstore. And all the time, we were dreaming about putting on events again. And now, just maybe, we are getting close.

One of the things we had been discussing before COVID hit was the idea of a Skylark book club. Reading is, by definition, a solitary activity, but that makes the opportunity to get together with other people to talk about a particular book all the sweeter. Now, even as we continue to monitor the public health situation, we have cautiously started to put those plans into motion. Starting in September, we will be holding an in-house book club on the last Thursday of each month. We will select a new book that we love — both fiction and nonfiction, big titles and books that you might otherwise miss — and then we will gather in the shop to talk about them.

(It goes without saying that this assumes that this will be possible in a safe and healthy way.)

Attendance will be free; the only condition will be that participants will have to buy their copy of the book from Skylark to join in the fun.

There’d be no commitment, and people can pick and choose whether or not to attend, depending on whether or not that month’s chosen book appeals to them.

Our first title, which we will gather to talk about at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 30, is a timely and electrifying debut novel, “Of Women and Salt,” by Gabriela Garcia.

This is a beautiful book which traces a lineage of mothers and daughters across the Cuban diaspora. Spanning five generations and four countries — from 19th century Cuba to contemporary Miami and Mexico — Garcia’s prismatic debut follows Latinas of fierce pride and longing, all irrevocably linked by the inheritance of trauma and by the writings and stories passed between them. It is an exquisite read, beautifully written and full of heart, and it has earned

remarkable early praise. O, The Oprah Magazine raves, “A meditation on motherhood, displacement, and cultural identity . . . this stunningly accomplished first novel is both epic and intimate.” Elle chimes in, “A vast account of family, culture, politics, and the traumas inflicted by all, this gorgeous debut heralds the arrival of a literary star.” Ms. magazine states, “This remarkable debut shines a brilliant light on the broken immigration system and legacy of trauma for the people who endure it.” The Washington Post deems Garcia’s debut “a mesmerizing patchwork of determination, courage, and survival.”

We are pleased to report that Gabriela Garcia will be joining us via Zoom to talk about the book, so people will be able to put their questions directly to the author.

Our chosen title for October is "Harlem Shuffle," the brilliant new novel by Colson Whitehead.

It is published on September 14, and we will be talking about it on Thursday, October 28.

The pandemic has been hard on small businesses everywhere, and we know that we could not have survived without the support of our community. We are so grateful to still be here and are looking forward to welcoming our friends back to Skylark to say thanks in person. There’s no talk quite like book talk, and there’s no talk quite like book talk with wine. And you know the motto: What happens in Book Club stays in Book Club.

Hope to see you there!

Alex George is the founder and director of the Unbound Book Festival and the owner of Skylark Bookshop in downtown Columbia.

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LET US CLEAN,

SO YOU CAN

attain.

LILLIAN DIRIENZO, OWNER INSURED • BONDED • LICENSED

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SEPTEMBER 2021

573-484-6022 DEEP CLEANING | RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL

MIDMOCLEANING.COM

NORTHERN

Luxury Timberwood Homes and Outdoor Solutions partner up on custom luxury homes.

BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER

Living

HOMES

“Cookie cutter” is the antithesis of the luxury custom homes Jason Sutherland and Jerrod Thompson build together. They call their design style, inspired by their love of the outdoors, “rustic modern.” It mixes stone, timber, and steel in a way that feels as much like a cozy cabin as it does a luxury Alaskan resort.

They say what sets them apart is all the custom detail work they do.

“We do a lot of the detail work [ourselves]. We frame the house, set all the beams, do all our own stonework,” Jerrod says.

“We’re highly competitive and refuse to be outdone.”

“We like to think outside the box,” Jason adds. “We both like the outdoorsy, lodge or cabin feel. We like being up north, being in the mountains, and see a lot of different designs in those areas that we bring here.”

LAYING THE FOUNDATION Jerrod, 43, a Mexico, Missouri, native who came to Columbia in 2001 to play basketball for Columbia College, had a job with Pleasant View Landscaping as a college student. There, he fell in love with working outside with his hands.

After college, he went into business for himself, opening Outdoor Solutions of Missouri in 2006, which specializes in landscape design, restoration, and irrigation systems. He and Jason, 47, became friends around 15 years ago.

Jason came to Columbia in 1993 to play basketball for Mizzou, and he stayed in Columbia after college and got into construction. He was building homes around 2006 when Jerrod went into business. He and Jerrod met playing rec league basketball.

“We started bouncing work off each other, back and forth, and after the ’08 crash, we were both scurrying for work, so we started

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partnering up on a couple of projects, and it just sort of took off from there,” Jerrod says. Their personalities seem to complement each other’s — Jerrod is outgoing and enthusiastic while Jason is more of a rugged, quiet type whose South Dakota roots can be felt in their designs. They’ve been in business together since 2010, with Timberwood and Outdoor Solutions remaining as separate businesses but partnering together to create luxury homes that are as beautiful outside as they are inside. Just this year, they added swimming pool installation to their line of services.

BRECKENRIDGE PARK A developing subdivision in West Columbia, Breckenridge Park is located off South Scott Boulevard, accessible by West Smith Road (which

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is Rollins Road east of Scott). Jerrod and Jason have purchased seven lots here, and so far, they’ve built four homes. The most recent is at 506 Tomahawk Dr. The 2,880-square-foot home has four bedrooms and two and a half baths and took about nine months to build. It sits atop a hill, with the driveway leading to a three-car garage with modern black doors against a wood facade, above which is one end of a large second-story balcony adorned with large wood beams and a pitched roof line with metal roof.

Living

“We pick lots,” Jason says about choosing land in Breckenridge Park. “We found a couple of really nice lots in Breckenridge Park that overlooked some bluffs. The lots we choose are unique and fit the types of houses we build,” Jason says.

Inside, the spacious entry makes getting in with groceries and strollers easy, with wood benches and a nook with cubbies adding storage. The wood staircase in the entryway is anchored by a stone wall and accented with a modern, black iron railing and a rustic chandelier. Extensive storage under the stairs takes advantage of dead space. The upstairs leads to an enormous open-concept kitchen-living-dining room fi lled with modern windows that let in the beauty of the wooded lot. The kitchen’s modern look includes matte black upper cabinets and subway tile, natural wood lower cabinets, black counters, soft-close drawers, a pot fi ller, and a large island with a black waterfall counter that accommodates bar seating on one side. A walk-in pantry features adjustable black shelving. Above the kitchen, massive wood and black steel beams accent the 17foot ceilings. The focal point of the living room is a large industrial two-way fi replace with a floor-to-ceiling steel facade. The other side can be accessed from the balcony off the living room. Black walls accent the huge wall of windows in the living room.

Laminate wood flooring runs throughout.

The master bedroom features several windows and black doors; a black sliding door with frosted glass panels that mimics the garage

HOMES

doors leads to a large, custom walk-in closet. The master bath has dual vanities with counters and cabinets that match the kitchen, and a large, walk-in shower.

The balcony off the living room is partially covered by a slanting roof that features a beadboard ceiling and canned lights, an outdoor kitchen, and an amazing view of the bluffs.

Jason and Jerrod aren’t afraid of making bold design choices at the spur of the moment. The stonework in the staircase was not a part of the original plans for the house, but once things started coming together, they decided the stonework offered a chance for an additional wow-factor and they went for it.

Jason says that, over time, they have gotten braver in making those bold design choices and they aren’t afraid to take risks.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Jason and Jerrod look forward to building more houses like those in Breckenridge Park together. And building homes that include amazing outdoor spaces is a priority.

“For Outdoor Solutions, we’d like to get more into residential remodels or that backyard addition with fi repits, outdoor kitchens, [and] swimming pools,” Jerrod says. “What I see with Timberwood is us building more Breckenridge Park-style homes, to become a custom home builder in this town, doing a lot of that extra detail work for people.”

And if HGTV called and offered them their own show, they both say they would take it, laughing that it’s something they’ve joked about for a long time.

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Join us for a fun evening that includes food, art, and other wonderful items.

September 14, 2021 5:30 PM Holiday Day Inn Event Center 2200 I-70 Drive Southwest BUY ONE TICKET OR A TABLE! Tables of 10 receive a logo on marketing materials and in the event program as well as access to the dinner and auction. Two complimentary drink tickets per person will be provided for beer or wine at the event.

A live and silent auction will be hosted along with opportunities to support each participating non-profit individually!

t Ge

Tickets Here

If you’d like to purchase tickets offline or have questions please contact Cheryl Unterschutz at cherylu@cmca.us or 573.443.8706

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WHAT THE

HOME

PROS KNOW

JACOB PORTER

ROST LANDSCAPING

ANNE TUCKLEY

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

JULIE WESLEY & JULIEANNE MATTSON TIGER HOME TEAM

JAKE BAUMGARTNER

BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE

SHAUN HENRY ATKINS

SPONSORED CONTENT

WHAT THE

DRY CREEKS — A DECORATIVE WAY TO COMBAT EROSION Find more at rostlandscaping.com

ne of the biggest issues some homeowners can face is erosion of their lawn or landscape. Over time, water flowing from uphill sources such as irrigation, rain water, or a neighbor’s drain pipes can start to wear away the soil in its path. This eroding of these areas can start to cause maintenance issues and safety hazards, and it can make your lawn unappealing to look at. There are a few ways to help minimize this problem. The best solution is to try to redirect the water further uphill so it’s not a problem in your yard. However, most of the time, this location is on other neighbor’s’ properties that you have no control over, so you have to figure out how to solve this problem in your own yard. One of the most decorative solutions are dry creek beds.

Dry creek beds are drainage channels that are made to mimic a natural creek and work with the problem area. Simply put, a dry creek is a swale or cut in the ground that is covered with some type of gravel to help slow the flow of the water and reduce the erosion that has occurred. The design of them can be as simple as a swale with

PROS KNOW

ROST LANDSCAPING

Jacob comes from the small town of California, Missouri. With his plant science degree from MU and six years with Rost, he enjoys creating exciting outdoor spaces for his clients. Watching these creations come to life is only one highlight of being a designer for Rost. When he is not designing, he loves spending time with his wife and kids, tournament bass fishing, and doing a little bit of woodworking.

(573) 445-4465 ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM

By Jacob Porter

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HOME

decorative gravel, or they can become a feature of your landscape. By adding boulders, trees, shrubs, and planting beds in and along the dry creek, they can be a very decorative solution to an aggravating problem. Dry creeks can have a very rustic and natural look. However, they can also be designed to work with a modern style of landscape and house by adjusting the selection in materials.

When considering installing a dry creek, there a couple of important factors to take into account to make sure that it is the best solution to the erosion problem. First is to make sure there is enough room to create the swale needed to handle the amount of water that is flowing through. Second is ensuring there is an outlet or a way for water to exit the creek at the end of your property. You want the water to be able to leave the property and continue flowing away.

Dry creeks are a great solution an erosion problem. When done correctly, they can solve a problem and become a functional and aesthetically pleasing feature in your landscape.

SPONSORED CONTENT

WHAT THE

TAILGATING CREATIVITY

By Anne Tuckley Find more at AnneTuckleyhome.com

I

t may still be warm out, but you know what’s coming? Fall. And fall means football.

When I ask someone what they love about fall I tend to receive the same three answers – cooler weather, pumpkin everything, and football.

Football is a beloved American pastime, and what goes better with football than tailgating? I know a lot of people who either are not football fans or simply lack tickets to the game and will not sacrifice participating in the energizing pre-game ritual.

Now, I recognize the fact that many people that attend tailgates are primarily interested in playing lawn games while over-consuming booze and greasy food, but people that host tailgates tend to take a lot of pride in it. They want to offer their guests amazing food, beverages, company, and entertainment.

Simply, they want their tailgate to stand out and be memorable.

The following are some simple design tips that can make a dramatic impact at your next tailgate: 1. Add a rug and hanging lamps or chandeliers in your tent.

2. Incorporate decorative napkins throughout the table display.

3. Add candles, flowers, picture frames, and other decorative accessories.

4. Incorporate small, elegant tables from home (adding furniture from home creates a luxurious feel).

5. Create a snack station by filling clear jars with candy in your team’s colors.

A little design creativity can go a long way.

ANNE TUCKLEY

HOME

PROS KNOW

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

108 CORPORATE LAKE PL. COLUMBIA, MO, 65203 (573) 639-1989 ANNETUCKLEYHOME.COM

SPONSORED CONTENT

WHAT THE

SLEEP RIGHT EVERY NIGHT

JAKE BAUMGARTNER

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PROS KNOW

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

By Jake Baumgartner Find more at baumgartners.com

(573) 256-6288 BAUMGARTNERS.COM

D

id you know that most people spend one third of their life in bed? Since sleeping takes up so much of our time, it’s important to have the right fit. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm may hurt your joints.

While sleeping on a mattress that is too soft may not provide the best support. Selecting the right pillow and mattress match for you can alleviate neck and back pains - allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed. Which mattress and pillow combo is the best for your preferred sleep style?

BACK SLEEPERS Sleeping on your back is the best position for proper spine alignment. Generally, a mediumfirm to firm mattress is great for people who like to sleep on their backs. A supportive pillow, on the more firm side, is a good match because it will provide better neck support. For extra

comfort, sleeping with a pillow under the knees can help keep the body in an ideal position.

STOMACH SLEEPERS Sleeping on your stomach may not be the best position if you suffer from back pain, but with the proper pillow and mattress, you can help keep your spine aligned. A medium to mediumfirm mattress is a great choice.

If you like a softer bed, adding a mattress topper can help give that comfort without compromising support. Choosing a flat pillow will help keep your neck in an optimal position. Stomach sleepers can add an additional pillow under their pelvis to maximize support.

SIDE SLEEPERS Side sleepers typically need a softer mattress than back and stomach sleepers do. They should choose a mattress with a soft-medium to medium firmness. Softer mattresses

can reduce pressure on the hips and shoulders. Side sleepers have better luck with pillows that have medium firmness and a bit of thickness to them. Adding a pillow between the knees helps the pelvis align with the spine.

Say goodbye to your uncomfortable bed! Stop by our showrooms in Auxvasse or Columbia and let our furniture experts help you find the perfect mattress and pillow that is tailored to you and your sleep style.

WHAT THE

HOME

BACK TO SCHOOL

PROS KNOW JULIE WESLEY & JULIEANNE MATTSON TIGER HOME TEAM

By Julie Wesley & JulieAnne Mattson Find more at tigerhometeam.com

I

t’s that time again, folks!

Time to break out the backpacks, sharpen those #2s, and wrangle the kiddos out of bed and out the door at the crack of dawn. To celebrate or commiserate—you pick—We’re taking YOU “back to school” to teach different real estate “subjects!” So, sit up straight, put your thinking cap on, and let’s get started!

ENGLISH: What does the language “AS IS” mean in a real estate contract? According to the law, when a house is purchased “as is,” a buyer agrees to accept the property in the condition reasonably observable by them.

The seller, however, remains liable for any failure, whether negligent or intentional, to reveal known concealed defects. An “as is” clause does not shield the seller from the common law duty to disclose known defects.

MATH: Don’t worry, it’s none of that algebraic mumbo jumbo.

We’re getting street-level practical

Born and raised in Missouri, Julie Wesley graduated from MU with a degree in housing and interior design. She began her career as an architectural home designer before getting her real estate license in 1982.

JulieAnne grew up in South Florida, graduated from the University of South Florida in 1992 with a degree in elementary education, and moved here to marry her Columbia-native husband. She began her real estate career in 2012 with Tiger Home Team.

573-289-4440 TIGERHOMETEAM.COM

with one of real estate’s most asked questions: How much home can I afford? Lenders recommend spending no more than 28% of your monthly gross income on your mortgage payment, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

SCIENCE: Check out these databacked stats/facts: 80% of buyers know if they want a home within a matter of seconds. Translation: Spice up your entryway but keep your foyer clean and clear of clutter. One study shows 32% of shoppers stayed in stores with simple smells longer than stores with complex smells. Translation:

Stop it already with all the air fresheners. Instead, choose one “soft” fragrance to fill your home before a showing.

HISTORY: Time to turn back the pages and peek at what it used to look like to buy a home in the U.S. We think you’ll find this info from J.D. Roth of the blog, Get Rich Slowly, fascinating—just like we did!

Mortgages didn’t become commonplace until the U.S. banking system stabilized, following the National Bank Acts of the 1860s. But a mortgage in the early 1900s looked way different than a mortgage today. It

might have had a 5-year term and required a 50% down payment!

The G.I. Bill of 1944 ushered in an era of escalated demand for housing and the development of the suburbs. As the housing market boomed during the 1940s and 1950s, increased home prices and ownership rates brought increased mortgages.

Homeownership in the U.S. has had a wild and bumpy history. The good news today is that owning a home is within reach of many more Americans than it used to be. If you’re thinking of buying or selling and curious about what the process looks like in today’s market, we’d love to “school” you.

SPONSORED CONTENT

WHAT THE

GET SMART

SHAUN HENRY

A Columbia native, Shaun Henry found a home at Atkins in 2000 when he started his career as a turf technician.

Shaun holds a commercial applicator’s license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Mid-America Green Industry Council, and the Missouri Green Industry Alliance. Shaun strongly believes in the importance of a great customer experience, where the Atkins staff knows the clients and anticipates their needs accordingly.

Shaun is an MU alumnus and has a degree in plant science.

Find more at AtkinsInc.com

T

MOW TALL AND MOW OFTEN For the 95% of us that try to grow predominantly fescue lawns, this holds true. You typically don’t have to change your frequency, just mow taller when the weather dictates (June – August). Sometimes I ask customers to mow as tall as you can stand it. Taller grass shades the soil keeping it cooler, thus reducing weed pressure and stress on the turf.

If grass doesn’t want to grow there, you may just have to accept it.

PROS KNOW

ATKINS

By Shaun Henry

hat’s the point, right? We go through life seeing, doing and experiencing different things. We expect to learn, grow, develop skills and become more effective in whatever it is we do. If we’re lucky, we have people in our lives that help speed up this process. They’ve been there, done that and shared their wisdom. Hopefully we listened!

For me, I have had a lot of people in my life who have shared and helped me along the way. I tried to listen. I often wish I had listened more intently and asked more questions, too. Some of these mentors aren’t around as much or are gone now and their knowledge and experiences have gone with them. So, with this article, I wanted to share a few key takeaways that I have learned over the years in the Turf and Tree business and often share with our customers and anyone else that will listen:

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573-874-5100 ATKINSINC.COM

I’ve found that you have to really be committed to growing grass where it doesn’t want to. Lawn areas in full shade, for example.

Sometimes giving in and “naturalizing” an area like this makes more sense in the long run. There are a lot of plants better suited for shade and require a lot less maintenance.

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE. If you know your property and its issues, you will better be able to select landscape plants that will do well there. Example – Don’t plant a shade-loving plant on the southwest facing side of your house. It’s going to be too hot! Many plants call for a “well drained soil,” which we often do not have with our heavy clay soils, so you have to plant them a bit higher in a raised bed.

BERMUDAGRASS IS A BUGGER! Although we try to manage and control Bermudagrass that has found its way into many Columbia lawns, it nearly seems impossible. Controlling one type of grass within another type is tough and require multiple treatments and/or methods of

control. Even when you think you’ve got it under control, it often comes back a couple of years later. Very frustrating!

PAY ATTENTION! Watch the weather and work around the rain, snow, frost, drought and wind as needed. Watch for pests and their impact on the lawn and landscape. Know what’s going on in your environment so you can plan and react accordingly.

If your soil isn’t healthy, your plants won’t be either.

Soil testing can serve as a guide to improve upon soil health. Often times we already know the issue. You’re trying to grow plants in some good ‘ol Boone County clay and it’s a lot harder than you think.

Now is the time to make improvements on your lawn and landscape. September presents the best chance for filling in those thin and bare areas and the weather is usually more manageable when trying to replace landscape plants. So, get out there and take advantage. And as usual, don’t hesitate to ask for help or simply for advice. We’re here to help. It’s what we do.

NOU R I SH

Café & Market:

LOVE, GRATITUDE, AND THE PURSUIT OF HUMMUS

The word “nourish” is derived from the Latin word nutrire, meaning, “to provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.”

In 2014, when local Columbia residents Kalle LeMone and Kimber Dean teamed up to open a restaurant focusing on a menu promising organic, high-quality, unprocessed, made-from-scratch food, the name came naturally.

BY AMANDA LONG | PHOTOS BY CHARLES BRUCE III

Living

GOURMET

N

“Nourish Café & Market is a really unique thing for Columbia,” says Kalle. “Our goal was to provide a place where people could trust that the food is pure — nothing inflammatory or disruptive. In fact, we list every ingredient on the website for transparency. Many people don’t realize how harmful additives can be to their body and their health.”

Originally from St. Joseph, Missouri, Kalle moved to Columbia to attend MU, where she received her MBA and met her husband. After nine years in pharmaceutical sales, she felt it was time for a change. “My job stopped feeling good to me,” she says. “As I became more passionate about health and wellness, I knew I wanted to open a business in the industry.”

Kalle met Kimber Dean, the chef at Nourish, at a yoga class. Born and raised in California, Kimber had recently moved to Columbia after her husband retired from the military. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy, where she was professionally trained as a chef, Kimber had also recently written “Happy Food Cookbook,” a collection of tasty, easyto-make, plant-based recipes spanning all meals of the day. Additionally, Kimber was a graduate of Yax Yoga Concepts and had a diploma in personal nutrition from Shaw Academy.

When they met, Kalle was unaware that Kimber was a chef and was amazed by the chocolate truffles that she brought to yoga class. They were completely vegan and free of gluten, soy, corn, dairy, eggs, processed sugar, peanuts, and hydrogenated oils. “I had seen this sort of healthy food in bigger cities and wanted that for Columbia, and she was actually doing it!” remembers Kalle.

“She Facebook messaged me, and I was like, no, I don’t want to open a restaurant. And who are you?” laughs Kimber.

That message sparked a meeting where the two realized their personal missions in terms of wellness and healthy eating were very similar. The idea for Nourish Café was born. The next step was deciding what to offer on the menu.

“Healthy eating means a lot of things to a lot of different people. Everyone is different, so we didn’t want to tell people what diet to follow. But we

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Living

knew we wanted to offer high-quality, organic, madefrom-scratch, preservative-free dishes,” says Kimber.

The two soon discovered that finding mainstream food products and ingredients that fit their standards proved harder than they had anticipated. “We are being poisoned by our food. There are hundreds of additives that are legal in the United States that are not legal in other countries,” says Kimber, referencing processed food labels with a long, unpronounceable list of ingredients. “When you’re using high-quality ingredients, it's simple, and you don’t need a lot.”

To solve their food-sourcing issue, they quickly realized they would need to keep the menu small, make almost everything in-house, and source locally while utilizing sustainable practices such as composting all waste products. Kimber takes the scraps to her farm, where she feeds them to her donkeys. “They’ll pretty much eat anything but citrus peels,” she says.

“All of our to-go containers are compostable, and we have more than 30 local providers we support, including Three Creeks Produce, Happy Hollow Farms, Goatsbeard Farms, and Ozark Mountain Creamery, to name a few,” Kalle says. “Plus, Kimber is a master at finding ways to utilize every ingredient, so nothing goes to waste.”

When they added smoothies to the menu, finding an almond milk on the market that had no preservatives proved impossible. So, they started making their own. Kimber uses the leftover almond pulp to make the almond flour used in their bread, desserts, and granola.

The entire menu is 100% free of gluten, soy, corn, and refined sugars. They offer breakfast and lunch options, including a variety of hearty bowls, fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, and des-

GOURMET

“Plus, Kimber is a master at finding ways to utilize every ingredient, so nothing goes to waste.” Kalle LeMone Ready to make a pizza? : First gather your ingredients

Crust • • • • • • • • • • •

n' Sadie!

Nice choppi

Sauce

Toppings

Any veggies that you enjoy on a pizza!

Just remember to cut all the veggies around the same size so they cook evenly.

some Nourish faves:

Bell peppers Broccoli crowns Mushrooms Leeks or onions Spinach

1 ½ cups water 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 tablespoons active dry yeast 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 ½ cups brown rice flour 1 cups arrowroot starch ⅛ cup flax meal ½ tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoons guar gum ½ teaspoon sea salt

Marinated kale Cauliflower crowns Black olives Peaches Pineapple

• • • • • • • •

14 ounces Pomi crushed tomatoes ⅓ cup nutritional yeast 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon maple syrup ¼ teaspoon dried oregano (optional) ¼ teaspoon dried basil (optional)

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Living

GOURMET

“Food is tied to everything — hormones, fatigue, skin, joints.

It really is the best form of medicine,” Kimber Dean

serts. “I was really worried at first that people in Missouri were not going to eat this much kale. But we go through 40 to 80 pounds of kale each week!” says Kimber.

In 2018, Kimber started offering cooking classes at Nourish Café and was surprised at how quickly they would sell out. “Offering these classes taught me a lot about what people are looking for and what questions they have,” she shares. “People don’t want fancy food. They want comforting food — the food they can’t eat because of a medical condition.

But I can teach them to make those foods in a clean way.”

Over two years, the cooking classes, which were paused during the pandemic, have included holiday baking, bread and bagel making, Halloween treats, and even cooking classes for kids. Additionally, Nourish Café offers a three-day reset and a three-day juice cleanse

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where ready-made organic, nutrient-rich meals are available for purchase.

“People can really start to notice a difference in how the food makes them feel in only three days. It's amazing,” says Kalle. “Sometimes changing their diet is a last resort when it should really be the first step.”

In addition to running the kitchen at Nourish, Kimber provides personal meal planning for people with autoimmune diseases, food allergies, celiac disease, cancer, diabetes, and infertility. “Food is tied to everything — hormones, fatigue, skin, joints. It really is the best form of medicine,” she says. “I’ve seen people get off their cancer medications by changing their diet. I can take their food allergy lists and symptoms and help get them started. But I always tell people you have to educate yourself.”

Kalle manages the non-cooking side of the business, including marketing, finances, and

the blog, which includes posts on current food and health trends, Kalle and Kimber’s favorite recipes and products, and what it’s like to be business owners and mothers. Kimber oversees the employees and kitchen operations, and she hosts a cooking show called Nourish, which can be seen on The Plant-Based Network or on her website, www.chefkimberdean. com. She has a second cookbook available titled, “Happy Baking and Desserts.”

“People are becoming more aware of the effect of food on their body, and Columbia has been surprisingly receptive and welcoming to our mission,” says Kalle. “When you focus on produce and eating seasonally, it doesn’t have to be expensive. But wellness is layered and complex — it isn’t just about what you eat. It’s about creating healthy habits and thriving in our environment."

Living

GOURMET

! ill, Erica Don't sp

Pizza Directions Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 24-27 minutes Yield: 1 large pizza 1.

Preheat the oven to 425˚.

2. Warm the water and maple syrup to 100 degrees. Add yeast to the warm water and maple syrup and stir gently for 10 seconds. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. If the yeast is foaming, it is activating.

3. Place oil and apple cider vinegar in a separate small bowl.

4. In a standing mixer bowl, add brown rice flour, arrowroot, flax meal, baking powder*, guar gum, and sea salt. Mix together for 30 seconds.

5. Add the water mixture, oil, and vinegar to the standing mixer bowl and mix on speed 1 for 3 minutes. It should be the consistency of soft serve ice cream.

6. Scoop batter onto a greased pizza pan. Smooth the surface with an offset spatula. Try to make the rim for the crust thicker than the center.

7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

8. Prepare the sauce: Place all the ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Set aside until needed.

yum!

9. Take out of the oven and place sauce and toppings on pizza.

10. Bake again until the cheese sauce is hot and the toppings are cooked, around 12 to 15 minutes. *Baking powder is made out of arrowroot starch, cream of tartar, and baking soda. Recipe is in the "Happy Baking and Desserts Cookbook."

dy, Fran!

Hold stea

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Living

ST YLE

Columbia dance classes provide fun for a wide range of ages and experience levels.

PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER

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Living

ST YLE

Classes in Columbia Dancearts of Columbia 110 N. Tenth St. (573) 875-1569 danceartsofcolumbia.com

Columbia Dance Academy 4250 E. Broadway #1031 (573) 489-4809 columbiadanceacademy.com

School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet 110 Orr St. #102 (573) 825-0095 missouricontemporaryballet.org/school

The Dance Academy 3211 S. Providence Rd. (573) 864-1880 thedanceacademycomo.com

Comotion Dance 2900 Falling Leaf Ln., Ste. 101 (573) 607-2266 comodance.com

Jabberwocky Studios 1308 Grand Ave. (573) 239-9899 jabberwockystudios.org

Columbia Performing Arts Center (CPAC) 100 N. Cedar Lake Dr. E. (573) 441-1818 cpac-dance.com

The Clark Academy of Irish Dance - Central MO 2300 Bernadette Dr. (314) 324-6886 caidcomo.com

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SEPTEMBER 2021

Living

ST YLE

COMOMAG.COM

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Living

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SEPTEMBER 2021

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SEPTEMBER 2021

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

WHAT’S ON THE SHELF AT

Daniel Boone Regional Library?

From virtual activity bundles for children and candidate forums for adults, Daniel Boone Regional Library offers a lot more than books.

BY K A I T LY N B A IL E Y PH OTO S BY K EI T H B O R G M E Y ER

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O

ne of the myths that Margaret Conroy, executive director of Daniel Boone Regional Library, hopes to debunk is that public libraries are only quiet places full of bookshelves.

Instead, the DBRL system — which comprises Callaway County and most of Boone County, with branch libraries in Columbia, Ashland, Fulton, and Holts Summit — offers a full spectrum of services and programs beyond books, most of which are available at no cost. “Libraries are evolving as the times change,” Margaret explains. “We’re not getting away from the book business by expanding our services and programs, but we are providing new ways for people to access information.”

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

The COVID-19 pandemic upended almost every aspect of the children’s programming at DBRL. The library shut down in March 2020. When it reopened in June, the children’s computers and play area were closed, and an array of children’s programs moved online, including story time videos.

Throughout the pandemic, DBRL has worked hard to ensure its children’s programming is as robust as ever. The library developed their virtual activity bundles, an all-in-one guide on age-appropriate books, music, videos, and activities on a topic; Music and Movement videos; and Recipes for Fun videos. It also shifted a portion of funds to invest in online resources, such as Brainfuse HelpNow, LearningExpress Library, LOTE Online, TumbleBook Library, Explora, MAS Ultra School Edition, and World Book.

DBRL’s impact on children — during a pandemic or not — is monumental. “We’re connecting children with books, words, and language and getting them excited about lifelong learning,” Margaret says.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM

Last month, DBRL wrapped up this year’s summer reading program, “Tails and Tales.”

DBRL began offering a summer reading program in the 1980s to prevent the ‘summer slide,’ when children lose reading and literacy skills over the summer when they’re out of class.

While the program’s main purpose has remained the same — to encourage children to read during the summer — Margaret says there have been some changes throughout the years. This year, individuals were able to participate in the summer reading program virtually. DBRL also sent books by mail to children in communities where there isn’t a library branch.

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SEPTEMBER 2021

ADULT PROGRAMMING DBRL’s adult programming focuses on lifelong learning, encouraging civil engagement, and furthering professional development.

“We do our best to work with local government agencies to try and bring government to the people,” Margaret explains, mentioning that DBRL currently provides space for the Columbia/Boone County Health Department to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics and has previously held legislative forums. The Columbia Public Library, the headquarters of DBRL, is also a polling place.

Online services include Brainfuse JobNow, a career tool to connect users with experienced career coaches and vast resources to assist them during all

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

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“Public libraries are fundamental to our democracy, and we believe that everyone has a right to seek information for themselves.”

— Margaret Conroy, Executive Director of Daniel Boone Regional Library

stages of their job search; Job and Career Accelerator, which allows users to explore different occupations, search local and national job postings, create resumes and cover letters, improve interviewing skills, and organize and track their job-search progress; and LinkedIn Learning, a learning platform with online courses on various subject areas to help improve professional development.

ACCESS FOR ALL

Margaret landed at DBRL three years ago, after decades of experience in the field. “Public libraries are fundamental to our democracy,” Margaret says, “and we believe that everyone has a right to seek information for themselves.”

A library card, free to residents of Boone and Callaway counties, is required to check out materials, renew, place holds, or use a library computer. DBRL’s four library systems also boast meeting rooms, study rooms, printers, photocopiers, and more. But Margaret acknowledges that accessing these services and programs can come with its own set of barriers. “Demands on families, health issues, or other inequities can make getting to a library challenging,” she says.

DBRL delivers or mails library materials to people who can’t visit their buildings because of age, illness, or disability. The library’s Big Bookmobile, which has regular stops to community centers, offers a full range of library materials for all ages, and its Library-To-Go-Lockers in Hallsville and Holts Summit let people pick up requested library materials. “Our library’s digital branch also allows patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, music, TV shows, and movies,” Margaret explains.

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SEPTEMBER 2021

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leadership in hard times Columbia public school board members are regular members of the community who answer a call to serve in an extraordinary way.

BY M I C H EL L E T ER H U N E

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SEPTEMBER 2021

Leadership has never been tougher.

Few want to assume the responsibility of leading a tee ball team, let alone a school district as complex as Columbia Public Schools. Anyone who dares to lead is subject to intense scrutiny and multitudes of second guesses.

Nonetheless, the seven intrepid members of the CPS board placed their names on the ballot, asking voters for permission to serve.

“Our school board members were elected by the community, and they represent the voice of the community. So, as they’re speaking, they’re actually speaking for the community, for the individuals out there that elected them,” says Dr. Brian Yearwood, the newly appointed CPS superintendent. “Their role is to ensure that those community voices are heard in their decisions, in their actions, while also balancing those voices with what’s in the best interests of our scholars on a dayto-day basis.”

If children are our future, some people must be willing to take leadership roles to make sure kids are prepared for that future.

Many Speakers, One Voice The eligibility requirements for the CPS board are broad. Candidates must be U.S. citizens at least 24 years old, a voter in the district, and a Missouri resident for at least one year. They must have their taxes paid and file all campaign disclosures required by the Missouri Ethics Commission for any previous elections.

They can have no felony convictions and cannot be registered or be required to register as a sex offender.

According to the Missouri School Boards’ Association, boards of education largely oversee district policy, financing, and long-range planning. Each member has an obligation to express their own opinions while respecting those of other members of the board. In the end, the board should arrive at a collective decision and speak with a singular voice. In these times of extreme division at all levels of governance, crystallizing that united vision may be the most challenging job of all.

“I don’t think one individual’s goals should ever direct how the board or the district operates,” says Blake Willoughby, a board member who has spent 50 hours engaging with students, parents, and teachers in discussions on a range of topics. “We need to have a collective set of goals in order to work together as a strong collective. “ “Trusting communicative effort is a work in progress,” says board member Della Streaty-Wilhoit. “While individuals will not always agree, having the opportunity to voice your opinion is always a positive. I believe the board is advancing in open dialogue with CPS stakeholders to understand better the issues facing educators, scholars, and administrators.”

Decision-making in the Time of COVID School boards routinely make decisions on polarizing issues. In a school district that serves more than 18,000 students, employs nearly 3,000, and has a 2021-2022 operating budget of $348.5 million, dealing with community divisions is part of the job. But the COVID-19 pandemic brought differing opinions to a whole new level, and the need to protect students, faculty, staff, and community health and safety was front and center.

“The last time public schools were not conducting in-seat education for such an extended period due to an illness was likely 1918. That means the manual on how to navigate such an event was slightly outdated,” says board member David Seamon. “Developing, executing, and supporting mitigations and education plans in a rapidly changing environment continues to consume a large portion of our time.”

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A Snapshot of the CPS Board The CPS Board of Education features diversity in gender, race, age, and personal and professional backgrounds. Two members have no children enrolled in CPS. The other five have, had, or will have a combined total of 11 kids enrolled. Members report anywhere from two to 12 hours spent on board activities weekly, with many weeks in the eight to 10 hour range. They are not paid for their service on the board.

Board president Helen Wade was first elected to serve in 2011 and is now in her fourth term. She is a partner with the Columbia law firm Harper Evans Wade & Netemeyer.

The other six members were elected in 2019, 2020, and 2021 — two members per year, each for three-year terms.

H EL EN WA D E

D EL L A S T R E AT Y-W I L H O I T

The Class of 2019

Della Streaty-Wilhoit and Blake Willoughby were elected in April 2019. Della, retired from the National Park Service and owner of an employee training and consulting firm, has a special interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, or STEAM, education.

Blake, a doctoral student, was working as a graduate assistant at MU, an account specialist at a law firm, and a personal shopper at Hy-Vee during his first year on the board. He has a particular interest in special education in Columbia schools.

BL AKE W I L LO U G H B Y

The Class of 2020

Chris Horn and David Seamon were chosen by voters in a delayed election in June 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to ramp up. You might say their initiation was trial by fire.

Chris recognizes the impact the schools have on the entire community and wanted to serve Columbia by sitting on the board. He manages account executives responsible for reinsurance portfolios in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

David and his wife, Nicole, were high school students at Rock Bridge High School when they had their first child. He says the support they received from faculty and staff then was critical to their success and he wants to give back. David is an operations manager for Scholastic.

CHRIS HORN

D AV I D SEAMON

The Class of 2021

The pandemic was in its early stages when Chris and David put their names on the ballot, but Katherine Sasser and Jeanne Snodgrass, elected in April 2021, knew exactly what they were getting into when they ran for election.

Katherine is a former CPS middle and high school teacher who believes serving is an ideal way to invest in the community. She is partnership director with Equal Opportunity Schools, whose mission is to ensure that students of color and low-income students have access to the country’s best schools.

Jeanne placed her name on the ballot because she’s passionate about public education.

Building equity in the district and bridges between CPS and the community are of her two key goals. She serves as the executive director of the Jewish Campus Center, Mizzou Hillel.

Both Katherine and Jeanne each have three kids enrolled in CPS. 62

SEPTEMBER 2021

K AT H ER I N E S A S S ER

JE ANNE SNODGR ASS

Hopes for a return to normal this fall were thwarted by a resurgence in cases spurred by the highly transmissible Delta variant. Opinions regarding public health measures designed to slow the virus are virulently divided.

Masking, social distancing, and quarantine recommendations change as more is learned about transmission. Although vaccination rates among the eligible population in Boone County are the highest in the state, infections rage among the unvaccinated population, putting everyone at greater risk.

For the board and superintendent, physical and mental health and safety drive decisions.

One of the board’s newest members, Jeanne Snodgrass, understands the gravity of the board’s pandemic policies.

“With three school-age children, we have had to deal with all the ups and downs of virtual and hybrid schooling as well as the concerns for safety, for us and for the community,” she says. “In my job, I also dealt with the challenges around how we provide support and programming to students while taking care to balance mental and physical health needs.”

After pivoting on the fly to address student learning during the 2020-2021 school year, CPS leadership hopes to improve student access to remote learning if the need arises again. CPS serves students in a district that is urban, suburban, and rural. In some rural areas, cell phone reception is sketchy and highspeed internet is nonexistent. It’s an issue the board wants to address but can’t solve on its own. It will work with government, business, and the community to find solutions.

“The bottom line is that there should be no scholar anywhere in Columbia Public Schools that does not have access to our educational process,” Brian says.

“Our school board members were elected by the community, and they represent the voice of the community.” ‒ Dr. Brian Yearwood

Superintendent, Columbia Public Schools

Awakenings The pandemic hasn’t been the only event in the country that shined a harsh light on equity. Some CPS students carried that torch to district leadership, asking that equity become part of the CPS mission. In October 2020, the board adopted an equity statement. The commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will be woven into the strategic goals and objectives the board will include in the new five-year plan required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“I firmly believe that we are uniquely positioned to be a model of an equitable school community where all students can thrive, particularly those who have been historically excluded from a fair and just education,” says board member Katherine Sasser.

That sentiment is echoed by board member Chris Horn, who believes every school in the district should be equally excellent.

“For Columbia Public Schools, I envision the elimination of the notion that any school in this district is better than another,” he says.

Perhaps the energy of a relatively young board of education and a new superintendent is precisely what will carry CPS through unprecedented challenges.

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For All to Know

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SEPTEMBER 2021

A

The MU Extension program provides an accessible education resource for all Missourians.

BY J ON H A D U S E K

college education promises abundant knowledge and experience, but for many, a degree is not accessible or affordable. Even the process of applying and obtaining fi nancial aid takes a certain level of time and support that some simply don’t have access to. How can one learn the tools of a trade if they don’t have the privilege of being in a degree program?

That’s where the MU Extension program comes in. Set in motion when MU was established as a land-grant university in 1862 and following provisions outlined by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, the MU Extension program’s mission is to bring the secondary education found in the classroom to the community: “a partnership among federal, state, and county governments allowing universities to extend their programs to all people — not just students,” according to MU Extension’s official history.

In a basic sense, the university was meant to be a well of knowledge for not just those attending the school, but for all Missourians.

And the program casts a wide net: There is an MU Extension representative in every county across the state, and each is in charge of mobilizing various courses and outreach in their respective community. If you live in a rural area, there is an MU Extension staffer in your county who can be contacted regarding area-specific events and info.

Th is is particularly relevant to Missouri’s farming and agriculture community, which makes up a major portion of the MU Extension program’s offerings. Considering the fertile and farmable land across the state, the demand for information regarding farming, crops, and general land maintenance is high. But, thanks to MU Extension, any Missourian can learn much of what the MU Agriculture Department knows.

A Vital Resource The pandemic has affected daily life across the board, but it has especially changed the secondary education sector. Colleges and universities have been hit hard and forced to adapt their practices to accommodate increased safety measures and restrictions.

MU Extension wasn’t spared, having to switch many of its resources to online-only.

For example, a certain course that may have been hosted in a community setting before the pandemic started taking place over Zoom. For a program that already dabbled in online instruction, that’s an easy pivot, but what about the many Missourians who lack internet?

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Upcoming Extension Program Events Looking to learn something new? This list highlights some of the upcoming event offerings for the MU Extension program in October and beyond:

Fall Gardening Series (Virtual)

initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use challenge and help connect them to the appropriate care.

to create a business plan but have little or no knowledge of how to get started. Learn the key elements of a basic plan and how it can be a useful management tool.

Introduction to Undoing Racism 2021 (Virtual)

Soils 101 for Gardeners and Homeowners (Virtual)

• September 9, 16, and 23 • 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

This three-session series will focus on what needs to occur in the garden in the fall. The three topics include Soils 101, Lasagna Gardening, and Season Extension.

• September 18, September 25, October 2 • 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Low Stress Cattle Herding Workshop • September 14 • 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• Arcola, Missouri Hand N' Hand Livestock Solutions will demonstrate low stress cattle handling techniques with hands-on experience for participants.

Mental Health First Aid for Adults (Virtual)

In this six hour workshop hosted by the Mel King Institute, participants will experience a humanistic process for laying a foundation to explore how we have been socialized and conditioned to think about race and racism by first analyzing class, power, and institutional and individual relationships to and within communities.

The Basics of Writing a Business Plan (Virtual) • September 21

• September 17 • 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide

66

SEPTEMBER 2021

• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Designed for current and aspiring business owners, this class is perfect for entrepreneurs who need

• October 6 • 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Join MU horticulturalist Justin Keay for a soils class designed for gardeners and homeowners. You will learn the fundamentals of soils and soil management and learn how to understand soil test reports so you can appropriately fertilize and manage your garden, landscape, or lawn soil.

Cooking Matters at Home (Virtual) • October 12 through 26 Cooking Matters at Home is a culinary education course during which participants learn how to prepare healthy, delicious meals and stretch their food dollars by using foods they have available.

From top left, clockwise: 1. More than 20 participants used Thunder River at Six Flags St. Louis to learn techniques for rescuing victims of flooding. In 2010, the National Weather Service reported 103 deaths related to flooding. 2. Rescuers learn how to handle victims adrift in a flooded waterway. Through proper use of rope, they can tether themselves to rescuers on shore and retrieve a victim. 3. Swiftwater rescue training teaches emergency response personnel how to use the hydraulic properties of fast-moving water to their advantage. 4. Students participate in several hands-on learning scenarios, including the “live bait” drill where a rescuer jumps in to secure a victim being swept downriver by swift currents.

That’s how the MU Extension Program became even more vital during the pandemic. During a time when many new questions like this were raised, new courses and educational resources were implemented to help those in need.

Sanitation became a major point of emphasis for anyone in a shared work environment, so MU Extension offered resources on how to decontaminate your tractor between uses when you’re sharing it with other workers. In remote areas, MU Extension also aided families who had children in virtual learning by helping them find resources and tools to connect to the internet.

These are just a few examples of the highly specific education that MU Extension offers. Classes and Zoom courses are geared toward Missourians’ fundamental needs, going deep to offer expert knowledge for free or for minimal costs.

Many decided to plant gardens during their downtime last year, but that introduced plenty of curious questions for rookies. A search result as simple as “When to pick your spinach” can be found in the MU Extension resources, tailored for accessible learning. Maybe you’ve picked some fresh vegetables and want to can them for posterity. Well, there’s a “How to Can Vegetables” article, as well.

The program also curates and promotes outside events, like the Soybean Field Day in St. Joseph back in July. The field day offered hands-on, in-field experience, teaching attendees how to scout for soybean diseases. These types of hands-on activities are balanced with more private training events, ongoing multiday or multiweek courses, and online or Zoom instruction on the MU Extension calendar. Educational programs in fi re and rescue training, law enforcement, and many other topics are also available.

Getting Involved The MU Extension website is an ultimate textbook of sorts, providing online versions of many past courses and resources. For example, the article about canning vegetables can be found through a search on the site.

A massive list of upcoming courses and seminars is also updated constantly, with a few upcoming events noted on the previous page. Information on in-person events and registration for Zoom classes is also available on the MU Extension events listing.

MU Extension has a presence in every county in the state, so you can also get in touch with your local MU Extension staffer for more information using the list at www.extension.missouri.edu/locations.

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Growth can begin within.

Start your journey today.

EM A IL contact@thecounselinghub.com WEB SITE thecounselinghub.com | PHO N E 573-586-3204 ADDRESS 601 W Nifong Blvd, Bldg 1A Columbia, MO 65203 68

SEPTEMBER 2021

Living

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Mike & Tina Woods Mike Woods, Home School Communicator at Rock Bridge High School, and Tina Woods, Director of the Center of Responsive Education (CORE), share how their relationship thrives beyond Columbia Public Schools.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOW DID YOU MEET?

FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES?

We fi rst met on the job. We worked at the same facility many years ago.

We love going for walks, having barbecues, sitting next to our fi repits making s’mores, and family gatherings!

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE?

Our fi rst date was at Tony’s Pizza.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ART/CULTURE ACTIVITY IN COLUMBIA?

WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY DURING THE WEEK?

Mike: During the school year, work keeps me busy. I’m a home school communicator at Rock Bridge High School.

Tina: Same — work keeps me busy. I’m the director of CORE through Columbia Public Schools.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER?

We have had several jobs together throughout the years and it was great! We currently work for Columbia Public Schools, but at different buildings.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU BOTH TO COLUMBIA?

T: We are both natives of Illinois, and in both cases, family brought us here. The difference is we came at different times.

Mike was here many years before I arrived.

M: I love Roots N Blues, though I haven’t attended in a few years.

T: I love movies, and I’ll sometimes go alone because that’s what I enjoy doing. I have also visited some art galleries here in Columbia.

WHAT IS THE KEY TO A LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?

Laughter is the key, as well as putting God fi rst! Anyone who knows us knows that we love to laugh. You also have to understand that no one is perfect and we are all a work in progress. We have learned to not fight all battles. We also enjoy peace of mind, so we do what’s necessary to preserve that. Another thing is surrounding ourselves with likeminded people. It’s important to know how to uplift one another and build each other up! We know how true it is that “a family that prays together stays together!”

WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO

OF YOUR PARTNER?

IN YOUR FREE TIME?

M: She is very strong! She is a rational thinker who is very patient. She is the calm part of me. She is good at analyzing situations and talking things through.

M: Whenever I have free time, I love looking at DIY projects and house fl ipping shows. I also love to travel, cook, and spend time with my family.

T: Whenever I have free time, I love to travel, cook, and spend time with my family.

T: He makes me laugh all the time! He has always made sure our family comes fi rst. If there is a need, he will do whatever it takes to

meet that need! He is a people person and is well liked by many!

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

We have been together a total of 28 years, and many people we know don’t have longevity in their relationship. We are best friends, and being married is a plus!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN COLUMBIA?

We have a few favorites in Columbia, but if we must name one, it would be D Rowe’s! (We also love Las Margs.)

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT TO WORK ON TOGETHER?

Our favorite project is doing yard work around our house. We hate weeds and a messy lawn.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

As we both move forward in our lives, we look forward to growing professionally and living life to the fullest together. We look forward to spending more time with our children and grandchildren!

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Joe Machens Dealerships are honored to give back to our community by investing in education.

Every month of the school year a Mid-Missouri high school senior is awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

High school seniors can apply at

MachensDrivesEducation.com Congrats to our recent scholarship recipients!

Terrell Williams Mexico High School Major: Engineering Technology

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Alexis Johnson

Harrisburg High School Major: Business

Brady Whelihan

Douglass High School College: Westminster

Beeler Lile

Hickman High School College: Washington State Major: Interior Design

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80 ARTWORK, ARTISTS, AND PHILANTHROPY Tigers on the Prowl brings Columbia artists together to raise awareness and funds for local charities.

78 ART FOR ALL Celebrating 50 years, Access Arts provides a welcoming, creative environment for artists of all ages and experience levels.

83 FROM STARTUP TO SUCCESS Since 2014, EquipmentShare has innovated new digital solutions in the construction industry.

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CLOSER LOOK

SEPTEMBER 2021

opened last November. It serves Asian-style wings and sides such as fried rice, egg rolls, crab rangoons, and fries. Wicked Asian Wings has 12 sauces, including Asian garlic parmesan, spicy Korean, honey teriyaki, honey garlic sriracha, and mango habanero.

Sam Sophal got the idea for a new kind of wing place after frequenting a wing restaurant close to the nail salon. Sam felt he could do a better job and set out to try his hand developing a new flair for wings.

Looking toward the future, Sam hopes Wicked Asian Wings will become a franchise. For now, though, Sam looks to continue impressing locals with his Asian-style wings and a taste of Cambodian cuisine.

807 E. WALNUT ST. (573) 442-8359 WICKEDASIANWINGS.BUSINESS.SITE

Gina’s Vegan A Go Go

Golden Nutrition

Eating on the go just got healthier. Golden Nutrition’s menu boasts more than 30 meal replacement shakes, 20 energizing teas, high-protein iced coffee, protein bars, and a number of nutritional supplements, like collagen and aloe. The new shop also offers one-on-one coaching.

MU student Colby Crabtree opened Golden Nutrition in June after noticing a sort of absence in Columbia. “I recognize the importance of good nutrition and the lack of healthy food options in our community and country,” she says.

Golden Nutrition’s newly renovated space is located in The Broadway Shops. “We have

aimed to create a space where people can choose to hang out for a while and relax,” Colby says. “We also recognize the fast-paced lives of many people, so we offer curbside pickup and carryout options as well.”

2703 E. BROADWAY, STE. 139 (660) 232-0164 FACEBOOK.COM/GOLDENNUTRITIONCOMO

Wicked Asian Wings

From the mind behind Florida Nails comes Wicked Asian Wings, a late-night joint that

After starting her plant-based eating journey in 2014, Gina Overshiner decided to take her experience and open a business for herself. Gina’s Vegan A Go Go is serving up what Gina says are “vegan comfort foods made from scratch — like what your mom would make if she knew what vegan was and was really cool.”

The food truck, based in Columbia, aims to elevate plant-based cuisine. “Our brunch-fast menu includes our B&G burrito, chorizo burrito, Esther’s Power Breakfast, and KC greens – that’s kale and collards,” Gina explains.

“Our lunch and dinner menu includes our Beetnik Burger, VBQ sandwich, and veggie-boom and tuna sandwich, as well as Tim’s Tasty Tater Salad.”

Gina is focused on getting the word out about their new business. “I’m working with local venues to set up our fall schedule,” she says. One day, she hopes Gina’s Vegan A Go Go can be her full-time job.

609 N GARTH AVE, COLUMBIA, MO INSTAGRAM.COM/GINASVEGANAGOGO

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Briefly in the News

S E PT EMB ER 2021

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C ELEBR ATIONS

Missouri Women’s Business Center Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary The Missouri Women’s Business Center celebrated five years of helping female entrepreneurs and businesses in Mid-Missouri. More than 50 businesses that the Missouri Women’s Business Center supports participated in a ribbon-cutting celebration at The Atrium on Tenth. The nonprofit is dedicated to providing small business development assistance to women in the counties of Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, and Osage. The Missouri Women’s Business Center has worked with over 1,500 entrepreneurs and helped launch more than 70 businesses.

Working G IVI N G B AC K

EDU CATION

Veterans United Foundation Grants Voluntary Action Center $50,000

Columbia College Launches Expanded MilitaryAffiliated Benefit Program

The Veterans United Foundation granted the Voluntary Action Center $50,000 to help clients who need assistance with health care needs like copays for medical, dental, and eye care. The grant will allow VAC to assist clients who have already reached their limit on funding for the year.

Columbia College is expanding its reduced military tuition rate to spouses and dependents of currently serving military members starting this fall. A new reduced tuition for installation employees, their spouses, and dependents at Columbia College-affiliated military installations across the United States will also be available. Columbia College was one of the first colleges in the country with extended venues on military bases. Today, it continues to educate current service members, veterans, and military families online and at more than 30 locations across the nation, 19 of which are on military installations.

“We are so happy to be able to provide this donation to VAC to help them serve the basic needs of the families, children, and individuals that they see on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this is a growing need in our community right now, so it feels good to help in this manner. ” — A MEMBER OF THE VETERANS UNITED TEAM G IVI N G B AC K

Columbia Public Schools Foundation Announces Largest Donation in History The Columbia Public Schools Foundation announced a $1 million donation from the estate of Kathryn “Kay” McLeod, a former CPS teacher. The CPSF is a private foundation established by community volunteers and dedicated to the enrichment of public education. The foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million to support teachers and students since it started in 1996. With this donation, the foundation will double its efforts. Kay, who died in 2019, was a CPS teacher along with her husband, James “Mac” McLeod. She taught physical education at both Jefferson Junior High School and West Junior High School for 24 years. Mac was a successful boys’ basketball coach at Hickman High School, winning a state championship in 1962. The $1 million donation is the largest gift in the foundation’s 25-year history.

HEA LTH

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Launches Vaccine Ambassador Program Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services has put together a team to enhance ongoing outreach and education efforts about the COVID-19 vaccine. The new

BRIEFLY

ambassador program comprises volunteers who will reach out to family and friends, share information on social media, post flyers, and participate in outreach activities to let people know about neighborhood clinics. The program’s goal is to help build vaccine confidence so that as many people get vaccinated as possible.

ED UCATION

Nursing Scholarship Honors Nadria Wright Columbia College announced a new scholarship that will be offered to honor the life of a student who died from gunfi re in September 2019. The Nadria Leeann Wright Memorial Nursing Scholarship is focused on helping future nursing students earn their degrees. Shaunda Hamilton, Nadria’s mother and founder of Boone County Community Against Violence, has partnered with Stacey Button, president of REDI; Jessie Yankee, director of the Missouri Women’s Business Center; and Suzanne, vice president for advancement with Columbia College, to launch the scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded for the fi rst time in April 2022. It is focused on assisting students majoring in nursing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who may be facing fi nancial hardships.

Photo by Sadie Thibodeaux

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SEPTEMBER 2021

BURRELL B E H A V I O R A L H E A LT H

Burrell’s central region has named Megan Steen vice president. Megan is a recent graduate of the MBA program at MU and previously served as Burrell’s director of outpatient services in the region. Her personal time is divided between spending time with her husband and daughter and serving the community. Megan serves with organizations like Heart of Missouri CASA, the Greater Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Network.

Kristyn Lyon was promoted to system director for human resources. Kristyn joined Burrell a year and a half ago when she moved to Columbia from San Diego. In her new role, Kristyn will lead the HR business partner teams as they serve the behavioral health organization by driving HR initiatives to continue recognizing, supporting, and expanding Burrell’s growing workforce.

Carol Hunt, previously community support specialist II on the adult services team, has been promoted to school-based supervisor. Carol has worked at Burrell for about 30 years.

DIXIE WILLIAMS

Columbia College announced that Dixie Williams will serve as the college’s vice president for enrollment management

and marketing. Dixie joined the college on August 16. She will oversee the marketing, enrollment services, student success, financial aid, and recruiting and admissions departments. Dixie brings more than 18 years of experience to the position. She earned a master’s degree in college student affairs from Eastern Illinois University in 2003 and received a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Missouri Western University in 2001.

SUSAN FRECK

Kia of Columbia has announced that Susan Freck has accepted the position of product specialist. Susan was previously with Shelter Insurance for 12 years. She has deep roots in Central Missouri. As a mother of three and a successful business professional, she understands the importance of kindness, inclusiveness, and transparency in the car buying experience.

ELIZABETH HERRERA EICHENBERGER

Elizabeth, executive director of True North of Columbia, recently passed the Society for Human Resource Management's Senior Certified Professional Examination. As a SHRM-SCP, she now holds an elite senior level of SHRM certification.

Elizabeth joined True North of Columbia in 2016. Elizabeth is responsible for managing vision, community engagement

and involvement, program operations, fundraising, and fiscal management. Elizabeth has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a focus on women and gender from Auburn University. She earned her master’s degree in nonprofit management at Florida Atlantic University.

STEEN

R AG TAG F I L M S O C I E TY

The Ragtag Film Society announced the hiring of Chloe Trayner as artistic director. Chloe was previously the festival director of Open City Documentary Festival, in London, United Kingdom.

Eric Allen Hatch also joined the team as music director and fi lm programmer. Eric was previously director of programming for the Maryland Film Festival, in Baltimore.

LY O N

WILLIAMS

WENDY MOORE

Wendy Moore has spent the past two years as COO of Healium, an award-winning local tech startup. Wendy is now making the move to join Mavik Ventures, a leading recruitment fi rm that specializes in connecting the world’s most innovative companies with talent. She'll be an executive recruiter working with top venture capital-backed startups and companies in tech hubs around the country. Wendy is passionate about supporting startups and the entrepreneurial ecosystem and is a board member for the Columbiabased Women Investment Network for Entrepreneurs.

FRECK

HERRERA EICHENBERGER

MOORE

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Working

CELEBRATIONS

Art for All Access Arts celebrates 50 years of creative experiences.

BY KATIE PERRY HARRIS PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

T

here’s something soothing about working with clay, which may be why pottery classes are among the most popular at Access Arts — and also what they’re most known for in the community. From classes on pottery to fiber arts, Access Arts provides a welcoming environment for anyone interested in exploring art.

“We meet you where you’re at,” says Shawna Johnson, executive director of Access Arts.

“Most people who come to us are beginners.

If you’re interested in pottery and have never touched clay, you’re not alone in that.”

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The philosophy of working with all ages, levels, and abilities is central to Access Arts’ mission and commitment to providing creative learning experiences for everyone. The nonprofit is celebrating 50 years of offering art classes and workshops for all in the community. It’s a mission the organization takes very seriously. “Everything we do is creative — a learning experience,” says Shawna. “We try to accommodate everyone.”

A HISTORY OF SERVICE THROUGH ART Known as the School of Service when it was founded in 1971 by Hurst John, an accomplished architect and visionary, the organization fi rst began as an integrated learning program. Hurst was inspired to start the program after watching his son, who had cerebral palsy, interact with others.

In 1979, after Hurst’s death, Naoma Powell became the next director. Naoma was known throughout the local art community for her dedication and passion for the arts, and it was during her tenure that the organization became known as Access Arts.

Shawna says that, while the program still serves people with disabilities, they also offer programs for everyone in the community. “We definitely still offer adaptive programs, but we want people to know there’s something here for them,” she says.

Currently, Access Arts offers adult and youth classes in six-week sessions for a variety of fine art and traditional crafts media, including clay, fiber arts, painting, and drawing. Summer camps for kids ages 5 and up are also popular, offering creative learning for school-age children outside of normal school activities.

In addition to the regular classes for all ages and levels, advanced learners can take advantage of Access Arts’ studio spaces, which allow them to work independently year-round.

Other programs include the teaching-intensive artist in residence program and outreach to provide art education at local schools, festivals, and organizations.

GROWING AND CELEBRATING 50 YEARS In a typical year, Access Arts reaches about 4,500 people through its different offerings,

1971

Hurst John founds the School of Service.

1979

After Hurst's death, Naoma Powell became the next director.

1982

Focus shifts to providing art lessons in an inclusive environment.

The organization adopts the name Access Arts and phases out residential services.

1994

New, customdesigned studio at 800 Moss Street built from funding.

2013

Access Arts adds Summer Camp and School's Out programs.

2021

Access Arts celebrates 50 years! Cottle Drive studio opened in July, adding more opportunities for growing programs.

from in-house classes to outreach efforts. Like many other organizations, they had to pivot their plans during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had a lot more inquiries during the pandemic because people were learning how to deal with the stress in their own lives, and art has always been a way to do that,” says Shawna. “We saw an increase in requests for services when, at the same time, we were not able to expand physically.”

The organization was forced to think about how they could help more people in a new way, and one result was art kits with supplies and instructions for both adults and kids. They assembled several hundred kits to distribute throughout the city and made them available for order online. “People would send the kits to friends or family in other parts of the country and do the project together,” Shawna says. “Overall it enabled us to connect with a lot of people in new ways.

A lot of silver linings came out of it that we’re really grateful for now.”

Celebrating a 50th anniversary also looks different during a pandemic, so once again Access Arts found creative ways to celebrate all year. “Access Arts has so many different facets, it was impossible to come up with one thing,” Shawna says. Each month, they’re celebrating with a different theme to explore and high-

light some of the exciting things they’ve done. July’s theme was the ever-popular clay, with a featured clay scavenger hunt for ceramics students.

With their “50 in the 50th” campaign, Access Arts is asking supporters to give $50 each month of 2021; of those funds, $10 will go toward operating expenses and the remaining $40 will go into a building fund.

With three buildings currently part of its campus and a fourth building recently being rented, they would like to develop revenue to purchase another building.

As they look toward the next 50 years and beyond, Access Arts wants to grow not only its facilities, but also the people and organizations they serve. “Our classes and programs give people common ground,” says Shawna. “By doing art together, we grow as individuals and as a community. That’s what Access Arts does best — we create the environment to provide those conversations and opportunities to bring people together.”

ACCESS ARTS 1724 MCALESTER ST (573) 875-0275 SCHOOLOFSERVICE.ORG

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Tigers on the Prowl Tigers on the Prowl is a volunteer-run organization that showcases the work of artists in a unique way that provides a platform for local charities to raise awareness and funds. TOTP has raised over $700,000 for local charities to date.

2021 Event:

September 14, 2021 5:30 PM Holiday Inn Event Center Rachel Choma

Artwork, Artists, and Philanthropy Tigers on the Prowl artists create artwork for a cause.

2021 Charities:

• Central Missouri Community Action • Grant Us Grace • Love Coffee • MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital • Rally for Rhyan • Safe Families for Children

BY KAITLYN BAILEY | PHOTOS BY SADIE THIBODEAUX

R

achel Choma’s artwork is the culmination of thousands of lines made using a simple ballpoint pen.

The Columbia native has been working with ballpoint pens since she was in high school. She studied fine art at MU and is pursuing a master’s degree in education.

Rachel was among the 12 artists who participated in this year’s Tigers on the Prowl Art Unveiling event, which revealed the artwork at the Columbia Mall. Tigers on the Prowl partners with sponsors and artists to raise money for local charities. The majority of the funds are raised through selling sponsorships, tickets, and artwork at the organization’s annual dinner and art auction.

This year’s 12 artists are Dana Hartgrove, Jeremy Bevins, Justin Le Tourneau, David Spear, Marie

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SEPTEMBER 2021

Josée Thiffault, Emmett Russell, Jenny McGee, Carrie Johnson, Philip Peters, Richelle Douglas, Rachel Choma, and Kate Gray.

Titled “What You Unexpect,” and inspired by Columbia’s slogan, Rachel’s tiger features a ballpoint drawing that features two bluebirds and three dogwood flowers. “I thought that our town’s slogan fits so well for this weird, quirky, and awesome town that is a combination of everything — it is like this awesome duality of nature and city,” Rachel says. “My parents are empty nesters now, and they’re at a place where they have made their house an Eden, and there is so much nature around. This year, the dogwood tree at my family’s house bloomed in the most beautiful way. My parents also watch bluebirds from their house, which is our state bird.”

2021 Sponsors:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Joe Machens Veterans United Naught Naught Agency Level Up Entertainment Silverball Lakeside Ashland, MO EquipmentShare Convergence Companies KT Diamond Jewelers Gastrointestinal Associates COMO Magazine The Giving Branch Classic Buildings

Working

Most participating artists are local professionals. David Spear, the founder of Alleyway Arts, unveiled his work, titled “Silver Moon.”

In it, the moon is casting a glow revealing the gaze of a tiger. Silhouettes of Columbia’s architectural landmarks surround the circular border. Local graphic designer and artist Kate Gray also unveiled her painting of the eye of a tiger. During a narrative offered at the Tigers on the Prowl Art Unveiling event, Kate explained, “When I started to break down the eye of the tiger, I saw this gemstone, multifaceted aspect of something or someone inside the eye of the soul,” she says. “From there, I started breaking apart all the elements to it and made little parts that represented all sort of aspects of our lives, and I layered those with ink, water-

color, and pencil and took the lines to bring the viewer down into the eye of the tiger.”

The artwork will be auctioned off on September 14. The money is split between the six participating charities — Central Missouri Community Action, MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Grant Us Grace, Love Coffee, Safe Families for Children, and Rally for Rhyan — and the artists.

Bill Costello, president of the MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital Advisory Board, says the funds raised for the hospital will improve their music therapy program. The program has been around for about eight years. “We utilize music and music therapy to bring about healing in the lives of the children we are taking care of,” he explains.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Grant Us Grace, a nonprofit created by Tonya Goodin, will use the funds it receives to further research for multiple sulfatase deficiency, a terminal disease that makes the body unable to get rid of cellular waste, contributing to a progressive loss of mental abilities and movement. Tonya’s children, Grace and Grant, were diagnosed with MSD in 2019.

As for Rachel, she says she is already looking forward to next year’s Tigers on the Prowl event.

“I think it’s amazing that this organization supports local charities and artists,” she says.

TIGERS ON THE PROWL 400 S BROOKLINE DRIVE TIGERSONTHEPROWL.ORG

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SEPTEMBER 2021

NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

A BRAND-NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

Outdoor spaces to relax

Designed with healing and comfort in mind, our new hospital will go above and beyond to address patient comfort and well-being.

Easy navigation and a streamlined experience INTERACTIVE WAITING AREA

PEDIATRIC ICU

A spa-like environment for births

TJ’S CAMPING NOOK

Shuttle service to and from parking lot

Interactive, inclusive waiting areas and rooms All design details are subject to change.

See the benefits, details and more at muhealth.org/reimagine.

All design details are subject to change.

REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL At the heart of MU Health Care is our mission to save and improve lives so that our patients can live the healthiest, most fulfilling lives possible. Opening in 2024, our brand-new Children’s Hospital and Birthing Center will help us reimagine the way we deliver care to create the best environment for kids, moms-to-be and families.

Open the page to see a sneak peek of the design.

COMING 2024: A NEW HOME FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL The impact our Women’s and Children’s Hospital has had on mid-Missouri is something we’re very proud of and excited to expand on in our new home.

Rest assured — the building may change, but our commitment to providing the highest level of care for women, children and their families will not.

muhealth.org/reimagine

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BUSINESS UPDATE

FROM STARTUP TO SUCCESS Since 2014, EquipmentShare has innovated new digital solutions to increase productivity and eff iciency in the construction industry

BY KAITLYN BAILEY | PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER Brothers Jabbok and Willy Schlacks were working in the construction industry when they realized how difficult it was to acquire equipment.

Many contractors had loads of equipment not in use and sitting around while others had to pay hefty costs to lease equipment from rental companies or buy the equipment outright.

Willy recalls one time when Jabbok “was about 15 feet underground in the middle of a sewer pipeline.” With their own drill miles away, the brothers rented the equipment they needed for the project. When they went to return the drill three days later, they discovered the rental rate, $300, was the going rate for a new drill. “The rental shouldn’t have cost us that much,” Willy explains, “because every contractor has one of those tools.”

Recognizing a more innovative way to approach these issues to make jobs easier for contractors, the pair entered an untapped market in 2014.

“EquipmentShare is not another rental company,” Willy explains. “Our goal is to digitize the three verticals of construction — assets, people, and materials — to increase utilization, productivity, and efficiency.”

To do this, the company has an online platform where contractors can lend and rent equipment from other contractors for less than rental companies charge. Th is rental equipment is connected with fleet management technology that gives contractors and fleet managers the ability to analyze data points pulled from the construction site. The technology provides information on equipment usage, operating hours, down time, idle time, under-usage, and more so that a contractor can sell or rent out underutilized equipment. Maintenance alerts tell a contractor and fleet managers when a vehicle or machine needs maintenance, and geofenced alerts warn them when a fleet leaves the job site.

Willy explains that EquipmentShare's technology means that all integral parts of construction — assets, people, and materials — are connected in one platform. “These historically invisible parts of construction are now highly visible and trackable among all parties of a construction company,” he says. “When they're able to measure a fleet's data, a construction company is more empowered to make better business decisions and increase their efficiency and productivity.”

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“We're in a large industry that's ripe for a solution, but at the end of the day, the No. 1 factor in our company's growth and success is our employees.”

— Willy Schlacks, Co-Founder

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BUSINESS UPDATE

STARTUP BEGINNINGS In 2014, Willy and Jabbok entered Startup Weekend, a multiday entrepreneurial competition, with an idea for EquipmentShare's digital solutions. The pair took home first place and $2,000 in capital. The brothers incorporated EquipmentShare in Columbia a year later. Now in its seventh year, the 3,000-employee company has more than 90 locations coast to coast.

EquipmentShare's headquarters, located on Columbia's far east side, boast a state-of-theart employee gym facility, a rock climbing wall, a café stocked with snacks and beverages, and a chef who prepares meals for breakfast and lunch as part of the company's nationwide employee wellness initiatives. The wellness offerings also include a Team Together Fund, which managers may use toward team events, meals, and outings, and a monthly family night bonus that covers the cost of a family dinner. “We believe when you're healthier, you're happier — and not just at work,” Danielle Schlacks, a member of the EquipmentShare executive leadership team, said in a press release.

In addition, to make sure workers are healthy and happy, EquipmentShare uses its resources to give back to the local community through different philanthropic efforts. The company's No Child Hungry program, which celebrated its first anniversary in March, has provided food resources, school supplies, and more to children and families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effort has provided more than 140,000 meals since March 2020. EquipmentShare also sponsored the Heart of Missouri United Way’s Literacy Program, providing 2,000 books to second graders in Columbia Public Schools to help them improve their reading skills and learn to love books.

Willy credits his employees for the company's success. “We're in a large industry that's ripe for a solution, but at the end of the day, the No. 1 factor in our company’s growth and success is our employees,” he says.

EquipmentShare looks to continue innovating to find and create solutions for the construction industry. “As we grow and evolve, we’ll start to understand our customers even better so that we can give them the tools to work more productively,” Willy says.

EQUIPMENTSHARE 8430 I-70 DRIVE SE 573-299-5222 EQUIPMENTSHARE.COM

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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

Dr. Brian Yearwood Superintendent, Columbia Public Schools PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON

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JOB DESCRIPTION

The superintendent is responsible for implementing the school board’s vision by making day-to-day decisions about various programs, spending, staff, and facilities.

The superintendent must be able to use the financial and human resources of the district to achieve the best results for student outcomes.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

I have served in education for over 30 years. I started my career as a high school tennis coach and science teacher.

During the course of my career, I have been an assistant principal, elementary principal, secondary principal, assistant superintendent for academics and human resources, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and chief operations officer.

HOMETOWN

Trinidad & Tobago.

YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA

3 weeks.

QUOTE YOU LIVE BY

“Scholars first.”

FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/ COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

Volunteering to serve those less fortunate in various activities.

FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT

In my previous district, I led projects resulting in construction of a performing arts center and elementary, middle, and high school buildings.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB

I thrive in the success of my scholars — being able to bring about change by taking scholars from seeing impossibilities to achieving their dreams.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY

Columbia Public Schools is a place where staff care about scholars and each other. The word “family” means a lot in CPS. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD

I would be positively impacting the lives of scholars somewhere.

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SEPTEMBER 2021

I thrive in the success of my scholars — being able to bring about change by taking scholars from seeing

A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

Dr. Peter Stiepleman. He was an outstanding superintendent with lots of passion and commitment for the success of all scholars.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION

I am a servant-leader who is passionate about scholar outcomes and accomplishments.

THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY

Building a strong post-COVID environment where scholars will flourish.

YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL

To continue to grow a school culture that puts scholars first.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN BUSINESS

People will always remember how you made them feel.

HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY

I want to build strong community relationships in the Columbia community with scholars graduating and contributing to a strong workforce.

GREATEST STRENGTH

Building bridges with people and always being able to bring out the best in others.

GREATEST WEAKNESS

Not accepting mediocrity when it comes to our scholars. We must always give our best.

WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN

Reading and watching sporting events.

FAMILY

impossibilities to achieving their dreams.

A beautiful wife, Tina, who is a registered nurse with two amazing children.

FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA

Murry’s.

ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF

Being able to lead my previous school district from an F to a B in three years while serving as the assistant superintendent for academics and accountability.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU

Enjoy flying single engine planes.

Put fun back in the driver’s seat.

T H E A L L- N E W V O L K S W A G E N TA O S

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Life insurance can be life changing Life won’t always go as planned. That’s why there’s life insurance. It can help you protect your family’s future, no matter what happens. Call me today.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Phyllis Nichols, Agent

1006 West Boulevard N | Columbia, MO 65203 573-443-8727 | phyllis.nichols.g15k@statefarm.com State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Bloomington, IL 2001574

OUR TEAM IS YOUR TEAM ESTATE PLANNING

PROBATE & TRUST

FAMILY LAW

Emily Camden

Katie Jackson

Nathan Jones Attorney

Rob Temple Attorney

Alyysha Cox

Ernie Ueligger Attorney

Here to provide excellent service.

WORKER’S COMP

2412 Forum Blvd, Suite 101, Columbia | 573-874-1122 | Fax: 573-340-1465 | JandULaw.com The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

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PERSONAL INJURY

ADVANTAGE

The new normal brings new enrollment to Columbia private schools.

BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN

Ph oto by A nt h ony Ji ns on

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W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to quickly pivot and reimagine the 2020-2021 school year, Columbia’s private schools, like private schools around the country, rose to the occasion, balancing new concepts like social distancing and quarantining with in-person schooling and virtual events. And, with so much uncertainty about the ability to return to the classroom, Columbia’s private schools saw a marked increase in enrollment as last summer drew to a close.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY “Private schools, because of our size, were able to turn on a dime a little quicker and adjust to the requirements of the pandemic,” says Kari Stockwell, director of admissions and marketing for Columbia Independent School. “With 400 students, 70 staff, and one building, it was far different than a public school district with thousands of students.

Redesigning how school was going to work was possible for schools that were smaller and able to make decisions in an independent way.”

From the time school ended in June, administrators at Christian Fellowship School began preparing for fall, visiting with the health department and developing strategies and protocols for a return to in-person schooling. The school began communicating with families, letting them know that the ultimate goal would be a return to school. In order to achieve that goal, masks would be required, and any activities that could put the school at risk for an outbreak would be restricted. While the average enrollment had been around 290 students before the pandemic, enrollment increased more than 25 percent between July 2020 and January 2021.

“The decision-making we were having to make for 300 students was exhausting, but to think about that globally, for multiple buildings around town and thousands of students, is intense,” says Mike Acock, school board president and executive pastor at Christian Fellowship. “It’s a really delicate thing. As an administrator, I have a great respect for Columbia Public Schools.”

THE PUSH THEY NEEDED Although their reasons for enrolling in private school during the pandemic varied, Kari says that many of their new families had previously shown interest in CIS. “It wasn’t just the pandemic that caused them to reach out, but the pandemic pushed them over that hump,” she says.

The same was true at Christian Fellowship, where Mike says he saw families who had previously considered a Christian education shift their priorities in order to provide that opportunity for their children.

The Children's School at Stephens College is a lab school that trains students, known as pre-service teachers, to be teachers. Director Beth Watson says the pandemic encouraged and empowered families who had been curious about CSSC to ask questions and learn more about a CSSC education.

“We are very different in that we are part of a college, and a lot of people in our community don’t understand our school,” Beth says.

“Once they visited and met with the teachers, that was a draw.”

MAKING PRIVATE SCHOOLS ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL While the price tag of private schools means that it might not be a good fit for every family, Columbia’s private schools work to en-

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"Private schools, because of our size, were able to turn on a dime a little quicker and adjust to the requirements of the pandemic."

Kari Stockwell director of admissions and marketing for Columbia Independent School

sure that education is accessible to a wide range of students. Tuition assistance and scholarship programs help diversify student populations so students across all socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnicities can learn together.

“We work hard to make sure we have a diverse population so we aren’t just an affluent private Christian school, and we work really hard to make sure that anyone who wants to come can come,” Mike says. “We give away between $300,000 and $350,000 in tuition assistance to make sure we have diversity in our school because we believe students learn better in that setting.”

About 40 percent of CIS’s students receive some amount of tuition assistance, which amounts to $1.2 million in tuition assistance annually, Kari says.

“If we are a good fit for a family, we’d like them to be able to attend,” she says.

Beth says CSSC also offers tuition assistance, regardless of income. The school is also working to grow a scholarship program that would cover tuition for students.

“If you request assistance, you can usually get it,” she says. “We also offer a sibling discount, employee discount, student discount, and a range of other offerings.”

THE PRIVATE SCHOOL DIFFERENCE While CSSC, CIS, and Christian Fellowship School all have tight-knit communities, a high level of parent involvement, and small class sizes, each approaches education from a slightly different angle.

At CIS, Kari says it’s about more than just academics, as the school also shines a spotlight on athletics, the arts, and building social-emotional skills.

“We want our students to be positioned for success in adulthood.

It’s not just about meeting requirements to graduate,” she says. “It’s more about preparing them for the challenges they’ll meet when they reach adulthood. We are introducing executive functioning skills and building social-emotional skills. We want students to be intrinsically motivated so they develop a love of learning, a growth mindset, and the skills to be resilient.”

CIS students from junior kindergarten through high school also explore a global perspectives curriculum, getting exposure to French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Latin languages and exploring issues from a local, national, and global perspective. There is also an emphasis on college counseling, and Kari says students as young as ninth grade are encouraged and supported through the college exploration and preparation process.

As a lab school, CSSC is able to harness the robust resources of a college campus. Beth says that students are able to tap into the knowledge and resources of departments across campus, from the business department to the fashion department to the horse stables.

With a focus on the whole child, rather than on teaching a rigid curriculum, CSSC students and teachers have the flexibility to explore and learn based on student interest.

“We offer teachers an alternative way of teaching, and they get to navigate the curriculum with the students in mind,” she says. “We think of the child as the center, and we call them the ‘small teachers,’ while our pre-service teachers are the ‘big teachers.’ They understand that they’re teaching these teachers how to teach, and they teach us as well. We show that these kids can

CHRISTIAN F E L LOWS H I P

"The decisionmaking we were having to make for 300 students was exhausting, but to think about that globally, for multiple buildings around town and thousands of students, is intense."

Mike Acock school board president and executive pastor at Christian Fellowship

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learn in a different way and do just fine on standardized testing.”

Because of its small size and its unique multi-age classroom structure, CSSC is also able to meet the needs of gifted students.

“We have the ability to adjust a child’s grouping, so we shift our lens to focus on what they are doing rather than looking at them on a continuum of what they should be doing,” Beth says. “Because we are small, we have the time and space to do that, and that’s challenging when you have so many kids.”

Christian Fellowship School provides an education focused on the central idea that God has created everything. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, students have the opportunity to lead worship and talk about faith.

“The Christian side of it helps us embrace the whole human being in front of us,” Mike says. “How do we help them think as a whole human being, what’s it like to live in the world in a way that you can feel like you’ve made a difference? That’s an advantage we have.”

In its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) labs, Christian Fellowship prepares students for the future by encouraging them to think about the fact that they might be preparing for jobs that don’t yet exist. And though more limited during the past year, Christian Fellowship integrates the youngest and oldest students with a buddy system and other traditions throughout the year.

C H I L D R E N ' S S C H O O L AT S T E P H E N S CO L L E G E

LOOKING FORWARD Because so many new families had already been exploring a private education at CIS, Kari says its 85 percent retention rate going into the 2021-2022 school year is on par with previous years.

“The fact that they showed interest before the pandemic is one of the reasons we are seeing a strong retention of students,” she says. “It wasn’t just students seeking a oneyear refuge from public school.”

While some students left when Columbia Public Schools returned to in-person learning, Beth says CSSC has retained new students, and preschool parents who were reluctant to enroll in case of a shutdown have chosen to opt in for the upcoming year.

Though some families were initially drawn to Christian Fellowship School because of their plans to begin the year in-person, Mike says that many families were convinced to stay by the faith-based educational program, small class sizes, and emphasis on community.

“New parents told me they were not anticipating that a small independent school would have the ability to accommodate students with [different] academic needs, provide access to a multitude of enrichment and elective programs, and offer financial assistance if it’s needed,” he says.

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"We are very different in that we are part of a college, and a lot of people in our community don’t understand our school. Once they visited and met with the teachers, that was a draw."

Beth Watson,

director at Children's School at Stephens College

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EVERY CHILD DESERVES A VOICE. L E N D YO U RS .

In 2020 Our next volunteer training begins October 5, 2021. Start your application today!

94%

of our volunteers’ recommendations were ordered or accepted by the judge.

97%

Heart of Missouri CASA has reached record-breaking milestones in 2021. We are serving more than 350 children with 172 advocates, and counting. 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. www.homecasa.org 96

SEPTEMBER 2021

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.

BY MARY CAITLYN POLOVICH | PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

L O O H C S E H T G N PLAYI

SCRATCH AND

WIN! GIVING COLUMBIA RESIDENTS A CHOICE IN THEIR CHILD’S EDUCATION. COMOMAG.COM

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L

ottery schools give Columbia residents options where they originally might not have had one.

Which school your child attends is typically determined by the attendance area you fall into, but Columbia residents are also presented with the option to submit an application for their child to be placed in one of three elementary lottery schools (Benton Elementary, Ridgeway Elementary, and Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary) as well as one middle school (Jefferson Middle School).

“Lottery schools in the Columbia Public Schools system draw students from throughout the district whose families desire an education with a special emphasis,” CPS chief communications officer Michelle Baumstark says. “Benton Elementary specializes in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math], Ridgeway Elementary is an IGE [independent guided education] school, Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary focuses on the arts, and Jefferson Middle School offers STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts and math].”

The Process The structure of lottery schools is similar to the magnet school concept, with the exception of the requirements to attend — applications to attend a lottery school are not merit based.

“We don’t do that in CPS,” Michelle explains. “Anyone can attend by living in the attendance area or getting picked in the open lottery. However, Ridgeway Elementary School does not have an attendance area and their enrollment is 100 percent lottery.”

Lottery school applications happen every April, and those selected are typically announced at the beginning of

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MOTTO

Challenging, caring, stimulating.

May. The number of students accepted is determined by the total enrollment for the specific school’s attendance area. Those who are not immediately chosen will be put on a waiting list until a spot becomes available. The waitlist process is different from school to school — families on the waitlist for Benton Elementary and Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary that do not get accepted during the school year have to reapply in April to reenter the lottery, whereas families on Ridgeway Elementary’s waitlist remain on the list from year to year and do not

need to reapply to be considered for enrollment.

Jefferson Middle School is a transition pathway for lottery elementary schools to a lottery middle school.

“Students accepted to Benton Elementary, Locust Street Elementary, and Ridgeway Elementary through the lottery are automatically accepted into Jefferson Middle School as sixth graders,” Michelle says. “The only requirement is that they submit a transfer request during the lottery application window. The school also accepts rising sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students

Applications to attend a lottery school are not merit based.

each year through a general lottery process.”

Once students are accepted as a Jefferson Middle School student either through the elementary lottery transfer process or the general lottery process, they can remain at Jefferson Middle School for the duration of their middle school experience. However, those that reside within the attendance area and move outside of the attendance area would need to complete the lottery process in order to remain at the school.

Redistricting will not affect those accepted into the schools through the lottery process.

However, students that are enrolled in the respective schools based on the attendance area may be affected, though it is unlikely because the attendance areas are typically close to the school buildings.

MOTTO

We believe learning through the arts best prepares children for life.

MOTTO

Learning through discovery. Leading with character.

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MOTTO

Success teaches success. Failure teaches failure.

Breakdown of the Schools Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary ARTS EMPHASIS

The mission of Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School is to promote learning through the arts. Students, teachers, and parents work together as a diverse community to support high expectations and achievement for all students. Their current enrollment is 198 students with an additional 55 students on the waitlist from the lottery.

Ridgeway Elementary INDIVIDUALLY GUIDED EDUCATION

Ridgeway Elementary is an in-

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dividually guided education school. Their mission is to help each student become a self-directed, self-motivated lifelong learner capable of meeting the challenges faced during a lifetime. Their enrollment is solely from the lottery applicants and is currently at approximately 245 students with an additional 162 on the waitlist.

real world experiences through guest speakers and field studies.

Their current enrollment is 220 students, with an additional 41 students on the waitlist from the lottery applications. On average, 60 percent of their students come from the attendance area boundary and 40 percent of students are chosen from the lottery.

Benton Elementary

STEAM EMPHASIS

Jefferson Middle School STEM EMPHASIS

Benton Elementary’s STEM curriculum is for kids who enjoy challenges and investigating the world around them. They focus on hands-on learning experiences as well as providing a connection to

Jefferson Middle School strives to provide a challenging, caring, and stimulating environment where children can achieve their fullest potential.

They believe a school community that provides this type of

environment will create the greatest opportunity for students to succeed academically, technologically, and socially.

Their current enrollment is approximately 669 with an additional 65 students on the lottery waitlist.

No matter what curriculum or teaching style — STEM, STEAM, arts, or IGE — Columbia has options for you. There are currently no plans for additional lottery schools with CPS. However, CPS has partnered with the Missouri Department of Conversation to build a nature school, which will be open to fifth graders across Boone County.

GROW

Supplier Diversity Program The City of Columbia Supplier Diversity Program works with local businesses in Columbia, Rocheport, Centralia, Hallsville, Ashland, and surrounding areas near Boone County, MO to assist Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) including minority and women-owned businesses in order to compete in government and private sector economic development and business entrepreneurship opportunities. The Supplier Diversity Program provides business resources and also manages the City of Columbia’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Directory.

For more information, visit our website or give us a call!

(573) 442-8303 • REDI@CoMo.gov • columbiaredi.com

Providing basic resources for families in need, because we can all use a little help sometimes.

Donate diapers to those in need.

Visit fc4c.org to help.

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WHY KIA? WHY NOW? Here at Kia of Columbia, we are creating an exceptional team to engineer our services to the same standards as our vehicles. As general manager, it is important to me and my staff that we have an open dialogue with the community that has been, will be, and is part of our journey. Our goal is to answer all your questions about buying vehicles, service, insurance, and current trends.

So, the big question: Why Kia? Simple. Our all-new innovative brand is firing on all cylinders (pun intended). The reimagined logo displayed throughout our dealership is modern, sleek, and luxurious — all of which are characteristics of our seven new and redesigned models.

Each vehicle is equipped with: • A modern body style • Top of the line technology and safety features • The best warranty on the road • Tremendous value proposition

Matt McMahon General Manager

To connect or learn more about the automotive experience at Kia of Columbia start by scanning the QR code.

Feel free to stop by our store anytime.

710 Business Loop 70 W • Columbia, MO 65203

kiaofcolumbia.com

20 UNDER 40 | CLASS OF 2022

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

20 Under 40 honors a group of outstanding professionals under the age of 40 who excel in their industry, are company leaders, and are engaged community citizens.

In other words, each 20 Under 40 class represents the best of the best in Columbia. Past recipients are business owners, leaders of nonprofits, artists, police officers, firefighters, teachers, even tattoo artists.

Who do you know that belongs on the list?

NOMINATIONS OPEN SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 Visit comomag.com to nominate!

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Working

THIS OR THAT

Mac Details Cursive Early Bird Cinema Michael Jackson Firefox 9-5 Learn At Your Desk Soda

The Beatles Chrome Flexibility Teach In a Meeting Pop

Modern

Traditional

Skeptical

Certain Country

Save

Spend

Summer

Winter

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Dog Sit down Plane Mountains Realistic Casual

Solo

Team

For Here

To Go

Books Reading

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Netflix

Planner

Car

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Night Owl

Improviser

Take out

1. I’m a mix.

Print

Vanilla

Cat

Health Educator, Columbia/Boone County Public Health & Human Services

Big Picture

Chocolate

City

Verna Laboy

PC

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Creative

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Podcast

Playlist

Cluttered Card Game Concept Fiction Text Soup

Minimalist Board Game Execute Nonf iction Call Sandwich

18 S. 9th St. Ste 201 Columbia, MO 65201