Inside Columbia's February Prime 2016 by Inside Columbia Magazine

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Prime Magazine

February 2016

Contents

Volume 7, Issue 11

6 Cooking With Brook Try This Hearty Clam Chowder 10

Sam And Donna Atkinson: Side-By-Side For 30 Years

15 Prime Time Can’t Miss Events For February

Poverty And Polygamy Author’s Memoir Gives Insight Into Living In A Polygamous Community

Tinseltown Talks Doris Day Uses Her Celebrity Status For Good

26 Tell Me About It Get Angel’s Relationship Advice

Fun & Games Sudoku, Tiger Vision & More

Nostalgia Knowledge The Story Behind Memorable Vinyls

Clyde Ruffin: A Man Of Many Hats

Reader Submission A Life-long Resident Describes Columbia

Recipe Box Techniques For Cutting Out Salt

Columbia Confidential Publisher Fred Parry Takes On The Issues Columbians Are Talking About Prime Magazine February 2016

Welcome

The Month Of Love It’s February. The month that women seem to love and the month that makes men squirm. Don’t know what to get for Valentine’s Day? Chances are that you’ve likely bought chocolates at The Candy Factory where the chocolate-covered strawberries are an essential gift on many people’s list. Inside this issue you’ll read about Sam and Donna Atkinson, owners of The Candy Factory, who have loved working side-by-side in their downtown business. For the past three decades, the Atkinsons’ life has revolved around candy making. Now they are transitioning ownership to their son and his spouse who are excited to follow in the sweet career of Sam and Donna. Another well-loved member of the Columbia community, you’ll enjoy reading about community servant Rev. Clyde Ruffin. A man of several hats, Ruffin has been a professor, politician, activist, father, husband and pastor. His favorite role, however, is that of a teacher. His grit and quiet manner has helped him survive and thrive in many different areas. Inside this issue of Prime you’ll discover the story of growing up in Boone County by Columbia resident Beverly Northup. She was born in the front bedroom on a house on Tandy Avenue and has witnessed several changes to our community. You’ll undoubtedly feel her connection to several downtown businesses and her love of growing up in Columbia. We want to hear about your loves! What is more interesting to read about than love stories? Consider entering our February writing contest for a chance to win gift certificates at local restaurants. Please see the rules and regulations on page 41 of this issue and submit your own love story. You may see your name in an upcoming issue of this magazine. I hope you adore this issue of Prime. Enjoy the month of February and don’t forget to write!

Melody Parry Associate Publisher Email me at prime@insidecolumbia.net Prime Magazine is published by OutFront Communications, 47 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO 65203, 573-442-1430. Copyright OutFront Communications, 2013. The magazine is published 12 times a year on the first day of every month. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

February 2016 Prime Magazine

staff Publisher Fred Parry Associate Publisher & Managing Editor Melody Garnett Parry Chief Executive Officer Cathy Atkins Associate Publisher & Executive Editor Sandy Selby Editorial Assistant Peg Gill Graphic Designer Trever Griswold Joe Waner Photo Editor L.G. Patterson Marketing Representatives Rosemarie Peck Digital Marketing Coordinator Sean Zullo Director Of Customer Retention Gerri Shelton Operations Manager Kalie Clennin Operations Assistant Lilly Smith Finance Manager Brenda Brooks Distribution Manager John Lapsley Contributing Writers Kathy Casteel, Peg Gill, Brook Harlan, Pam Ingram, Katherine Foran, Beverly Northup, Angel Donnette Robertson, Rebecca Smith, Nick Thomas

SERVING THE BOOMER & SENIOR MARKETS

Prime Magazine February 2016

Cooking With Brook

Happy As A Clam

This Hearty Chowder Will Warm Your Soul

T BY BROOK HARLAN

This time of year, you need a hearty soup, like chowder, to keep you warm. There are many varieties, but New England clam chowder is my favorite. Once you learn the method, you can substitute the clams with corn, or replace the dairy with tomato (Manhattan clam chowder) or adjust the ingredients and seasonings to make other types of chowders. The name “chowder” is thought to come from the original cauldronlike vessel the soup was prepared in, called a chaudière in French. Originally, chowders had just three ingredients: salt pork, hard tack (also known as ship biscuit) and fish. Other ingredients would change regionally, depending on what was available.

Salt Pork

Salt pork (pork that has been salted for preservation) was a staple of chowders because it was an easy way to add calories as well as flavoring. Bacon is the easiest modern substitute. Start with a dry pan and diced bacon. The bacon will produce enough fat to cook the vegetables and help make the roux. Whatever type of salted pork you use, freeze it first for 10 to 15 minutes. The pork will dice much easier if partially frozen.

Hard Tack

The rock-hard biscuit known as hard tack stored and traveled well. It would have to be reconstituted in water or other liquid to be eaten. This worked well with chowder, as the hard tack would soak up the liquid and thicken the soup. Many modern chowders use a roux (mixture of fat and flour) to thicken the soup. Add flour to the excess fat left from sautéing the vegetables to create a flavorful roux.

Fish

Fresh seafood was easy to find along the coast, adding a different dimension to the dish. Canned minced clams are an easy addition, or use about 2 to 3 pounds of fresh clams for a single recipe. Wash 6

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Columbia Chef Brook Harlan describes how to make a mouth-watering clam chowder. and steam the clams for a few minutes to open. If you want to add just a few clams, open with a paring knife and cut them into smaller pieces before adding to the chowder. Save the liquid! The juice from clams or other fresh seafood is a flavorful addition. Add the seafood at the end, as it takes only a few minutes to cook.

Liquid

Clam juice is the heart of the dish. You can find it canned or bottled in the seafood aisle, or make your own by steaming fresh clams. Just strain the liquid before using. Dairy products are the other liquid added to chowder. I prefer a mixture of milk and cream, or use all milk or all cream, depending on

your desired outcome. I prefer cream that has not been ultra-pasteurized. Though ultra pasteurization gives cream a longer shelf life, it lacks the flavor of regular pasteurized cream.

Filler

Onions, potatoes and celery are the mainstays of chowder. Onion adds flavor; celery adds texture, and potato adds starch to thicken the base and add filler. I like red potatoes, as they don’t fall apart after they are cooked. There are many other variations and ingredients: Bell peppers, jalapeños, mushrooms, carrots, herbs, corn and other seasonal and regional vegetables are other options to add. PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON

Prime Magazine February 2016

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Yields about 1Â˝ quarts (4 to 5 servings) 5 to 7 slices of bacon, diced (about 5 ounces) 1 small onion, diced 2 stalks celery, small diced 4 tablespoons flour 10-ounce bottle of clam juice 3 small red potatoes, small diced 2 cloves garlic, minced or paste 1 bay leaf 1 cup whole milk (more if needed to thin soup at end) 1 cup heavy cream 2 8-ounce cans minced clams Parsley for garnish, if desired Cook bacon in a 2-quart or larger saucepan over medium-low heat until bacon is crisp; remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Add onions and celery to pan; sautĂŠ in drippings for 2 to 3 minutes, then add flour and stir until incorporated. Add clam juice, diced potatoes, garlic and bay leaf; stir in milk and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender (about 15 to 20 minutes). Add minced clams and the juice from the can. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf and top with rendered bacon and minced parsley, if desired.

February 2016 Prime Magazine

VARIATIONS Manhattan Clam Chowder: Replace the milk and cream with equal parts diced tomatoes and tomato juice. Seafood Chowder: Replace the clams with your favorite seafood, typically cod, but other fish can be used as well. v

Brook Harlan is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. He is a culinary arts instructor at the Columbia Area Career Center. Prime Magazine February 2016

LG PATTERSON

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Success and

Strawberries Sam And Donna Atkinson’s Job Well Done by Rebecca French Smith

Jill Atkinson stands in front of The Candy Factory’s Broadway location in 1988.

alentine’s Day, it’s all hands on deck at The Candy Factory. Friends and family converge on the sweets shop from as far away as Texas for the annual chocolate-covered strawberry production line. They are the workforce that aids Sam and Donna Atkinson in providing a holiday favorite and play a large part during the Valentine’s season. Without them, the Atkinsons admit they would find it difficult to fill orders for the holiday. Since their children, John, Mike and Jill, were young they’ve helped, too, and by the time they went to college, Donna says, it wasn’t even a question. They came and brought friends. They understood the one simple rule: Everybody helps. For nearly 30 years, Sam and Donna have been tending Columbia’s sweet tooth not only on Valentine’s Day, but year-round, and it’s hard to separate them from The Candy Factory as most of their lives have revolved around building the business and raising a family in it. These days, though, they are preparing for what comes next.

Prime Magazine February 2016

Sam (left) and Mike Atkinson (right). Mike and his wife will be taking over as the second generation owners of The Candy Factory.

inherited when they bought the business, was with them for more than 20 years. “They’re very humble, both of them are,” says their son, Mike Atkinson, who along with his wife Amy, have worked alongside his parents for the last decade. “They always wanted to focus on doing a good job and putting out a product that they were proud of, but I don’t think that they ever really think about how many people have been affected, whether it’s during the holidays or family traditions that other people start that revolve around The Candy Factory.” But Sam and Donna don’t miss the effect their customers have on them. “For our particular business, you really do have happy customers,” Donna says. “You are working with a happy public. That’s huge. That is so gratifying, so helpful when you’re working so hard. No doubt about it.”

Even with the positive atmosphere of their workplace, Donna acknowledges it was at times rigorous and “terribly hard.” She is thankful their children have fond memories of growing up there. It tells her that Sam and she must have done something right. It will soon be the next generation’s turn as Mike and Amy’s three children are about the same ages as Sam and Donna’s were when they started. “We have [the kids] help out a couple hours a month so they also feel like they contribute,” Mike says. “People ask them, and they say, ‘We work at The Candy Factory,’ and there’s a sense of pride in their voices. “That’s one of the traits my dad passed on to me that he got passed on to him growing up on a dairy farm,” he says. “When he was old enough to start working, he did. That’s just the way things were. That’s kind of how it happened in my family. When we were old enough to help out at the store, that’s what we did, and that kind of helped us get a very strong work ethic.”

Earned Success Both raised on central-Missouri farms and educated in accounting — Sam with a degree from the University of Missouri and Donna from Southwest Missouri State University, now Missouri State University — they have a lot in common. But when they bought The Candy Factory from Georgia Lundgren in 1986, they discovered they had different aptitudes for the business. “In operating the business, we found that as a husband and wife team…we needed to each have our own areas of specialties,” Sam says. “So Donna managed the retail area and I managed the production side of it as well as accounting.” They are quick to acknowledge that they could not have accomplished anything without the hands of others in the mix. “We give Georgia a lot of credit, seriously, for starting a business, all that that takes,” Donna says, to promote it, sample it and build a reputation for quality. They also give credit to their employees. “We learned pretty quickly that you don’t do this yourself,” Donna says. “I know that’s with any business, but still. You need other people who are good, who like people, who have good attitudes and will buy into our philosophy.” “We’re really thankful we’ve been blessed with good people,” Sam adds, noting Marjorie Riddles, the candy maker they

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Marjorie Riddles (left) spent more than 20 years working at The Candy Factory.

A Purposeful Transition

For the last 10 years, the Atkinsons have been transitioning ownership to their son, Mike and his wife, Amy, allowing them to buy the business in increments. This transition will be complete mid-2016, July 1, to be exact. They chose that date purposefully as it will be 30 years to the day that Sam and Donna bought the business. “We’re very fortunate to have a child and his spouse who wanted to take it over,” Donna says. “We’ve had three children, plus, you could say a fourth with The Candy Factory being the fourth child, and we sent all of our kids off to college and now it’s time to send our business off to …,” Sam says, searching for the right word. “We entrusted our kids to college. Now we’re entrusting our business to our kids.” Before Mike and Amy came on board, they were seldom able to be away from the store for very long, Donna says. Their presence has given Sam and her the freedom to enjoy travel without worrying about the business back home, which come July they plan on doing even more of. But beyond that and spending time with their nine grandchildren, they don’t have a long list of hobbies or interests they have active plans to pursue. Donna likes photography and Sam is learning to play the guitar. Exercise is important, and they spend time at a second home in Naples, Fla., traveling back and forth often. “We’re ‘snowflakes,’ “ Sam says, as opposed to snowbirds. The difference? Snowbirds go down and stay. The Atkinsons come back. “We’ll be consultants for a while,” he says with a grin, in between the trips they’re anxious to take. For the last three decades, the Atkinsons’ life has revolved around candy, and though it’s almost time for a new focus, come next Valentine’s Day, some things won’t change. Along with friends and family, Sam and Donna will be there to help with the strawberries. It’s the rule.

Sam and Donna’s youngest daughter, Jill, is caught reaching into the candy jar.

(Top) Making chocolate covered strawberries is a family affair. (Left to right) Mike, Sam and John prepare for Valentine’s Day. (Middle) Sam and Jill Atkinson in the kitchen at The Candy Factory in 1995. (Bottom) Mike Atkinson (in plaid) works with family friend Matt Baurichter to produce enough strawberries to meet the demand for Valentine’s Day. Prime Magazine February 2016 l 13

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Prime Time

February 2016 FEBRUARY 3 Don’t miss the shooting showdown when the Mizzou men take on Ole Miss at Mizzou Arena. Come cheer on the team! From $25; 8 p.m.; 1 Champions Drive; 800-CAT-PAWS (228-7297); www.mutigers.com

FEBRUARY 3 The University Concert Series presents “Million Dollar Quartet,” a Broadway musical inspired by the recording session where Sam Phillips brought together icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for one unforgettable night. From $43; 7 p.m.; 203 S. Ninth Street; 573882-3781; www.concertseries.org

FEBRUARY 4 Catch Mizzou women’s basketball in an SEC match vs. Georgia at Mizzou Arena. $5 adults, $3 seniors & youth; 1 Champions Drive; 800-CAT-PAWS (2287297); www.mutigers.com

FEBRUARY 8 See all 60 Sherlock Holmes stories retold in 80 elementary minutes when the University Concert Series presents “Potted Sherlock” at the Missouri Theatre. This rollicking romp through the canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is fabulous fun for the whole family. From $32; 7 p.m.; 203 S. Ninth St.; 573-8823781; www.concertseries.org

FEBRUARY 10 Clifford the Big Red Dog comes to life on stage in this interactive musical, “Clifford the Big Red Dog Live!” Join Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and all their friends from Birdwell Island as they embark on an adventure filled with singing and dancing. It’s a musical experience the whole family will love. From $15; 7 p.m.; 203 S. Ninth St.; 573-882-3781; www.concertseries.org

FEBRUARY 9 The University Concert Series presents award-winning young violinist Ray Chen at the Missouri Theatre. With performances all ages can enjoy, Chen looks to expand the classical music audience by increasing its appeal to younger generations through social media platforms. From $16; 7 p.m.; 203 S. Ninth St.; 573-882-3781; www.concertseries.org Prime Magazine February 2016

FEBRUARY 9–14 Be in the front row of the Corner Playhouse for the Mizzou New Play Series. Each spring brings a festival of exciting new plays to the stage, developed during MU’s nationally recognized Missouri Playwrights Workshop. $5 at the door; 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinee; University Avenue at Hitt Street; 573-882-2021; www. theatremissouri.edu

FEBRUARY 11 Catch the infectious fiddle-infused music of the Turnpike Troubadours when they return to The Blue Note for an all-ages show. Last year, Playboy picked the band as one of three acts to watch in 2015 — and watched they’ve been. Thousands have seen them play all over the country, including performances in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. $18 in advance, $20 day of show; 8 p.m.; 17 N. Ninth St.; 573-874-1944; www.thebluenote.com

FEBRUARY 11 It’s a crosstown battle when the Columbia College Cougars host the Stephens College Stars in women’s basketball. Catch all the CoMo action in Southwell Arena. $5, free for students; 7 p.m.; Pannell Street; 573-8757454; www.columbiacougars.com 16

February 2016 Prime Magazine

FEBRUARY 11–14, 18–21, 25–28 The Columbia Entertainment Company begins its run of “A Chorus Line.” The musical examines, with hilarity and heartbreak, the grueling life of dancers always auditioning for a chance to be part of a chorus line. The show opens in the midst of an audition for an upcoming Broadway production and features the popular song, “One.” $10 opening night, all other shows $12 adults, $10 students/ children/ seniors; 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinee; 1800 Nelwood Drive; 573-474-3699; www.cectheatre.org

FEBRUARY 13 Experimenting with Color: Explore the spectrum of colors in the MU Art and Archaeology Museum galleries at Mizzou North, then experiment with some techniques to create your own colorful works of art. Preregistration required; limit two children per accompanying adult. Free; 1 to 3 p.m.; 115 Business Loop 70 W.; 573-8823591; maa.missouri.edu

FEBRUARY 13 Be in the stands when Mizzou men’s basketball meets the Tennessee Volunteers at Mizzou Arena. Mizzourah! From $25; 2 p.m.; 1 Champions Drive; 800-CAT-PAWS (228-7297); www.mutigers.com

FEBRUARY 14 Catch a sweetheart of a game when the Mizzou Tigers host the Arkansas Razorbacks in women’s basketball in an afternoon matchup at Mizzou Arena. $3 seniors & youth; 1 Champions Drive; 800-CAT-PAWS (228-7297); www.mutigers.com Prime Magazine February 2016

FEBRUARY 18 Attend the Women’s Network February Luncheon at Peachtree Catering & Banquet Center. Will Wooten and Paul Larimore with Shelter Insurance Cos. will present an interactive program highlighting four generations. The ticket price includes a buffet lunch. Preregistration $15 for Women’s Network members/$18 for guests, at the door $18 for members/$21 for guests; 11:30 a.m.; 120 E. Nifong Blvd.; 573-817-9119

into a tragedy they can’t comprehend. Presented by the MU theatre department at Rhynsburger Theatre. $12; 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinee; University Avenue at Hitt Street; 573-882-2021; www.theatremissouri.edu

FEBRUARY 18

FEBRUARY 18 The Red Shoe Gala, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri, takes place at the University Club of MU in Reynolds Alumni Center. The evening features a formal dinner, a robust silent and live auction, and fabulous entertainment. More than 350 participants typically attend, and even more participate in the auction via smartphone or computer. Table for 10/$1000, individual ticket/$150; silent auction begins at 6 p.m.; 704 Conley Ave.; www.rmhc.com

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Come out and enjoy a Black History Month Talent Show at Douglass High School. See some great local talent as they sing, play music, dance and recite the spoken word. Free; 7 p.m.; 310 N. Providence Road; www. gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec

FEBRUARY 24–28 What does the world of Hamlet look like from the viewpoint of two minor characters? Tom Stoppard’s existential comedy, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” attempts to answer that question. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are just trying to live their simple lives when they are thrust

FEBRUARY 24 Folk icon Arlo Guthrie brings the “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre” to the Missouri Theatre. From $39; 7 p.m.; 203 S. Ninth St.; 573-882-3781; www.concertseries.org

FEBRUARY 25 It’s Cougars vs. Pirates when Columbia College hosts Park University in men’s basketball. Check out the American Midwest Conference game in Southwell Arena. $8 adults, $5 students; 7:30 p.m.; Pannell Street (Columbia College campus); 573-875-7454; www.columbiacougars.com

FEBRUARY 25 Come to the Columbia Public Library and hear local historian Deborah Thompson tell more about the buildings that once stood where Columbia’s iconic columns are now and the events set in motion when fire destroyed Academic Hall. Thompson is a former executive director of the Boone County Historical Society Museum & Galleries and is the co-author of a forthcoming book, Boone County, Missouri: Our First Century 1804-1904. Free; 7 to 8 p.m.; 100 W. Broadway; 573-443-3161; www. dbrl.org/columbia-public-library

FEBRUARY 25–28 The Stephens College theatre department presents “The Effect of Gamma Rays

on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds” in the Warehouse Theatre. Don’t miss this Pulitzer Prize-winning play that focuses on a dysfunctional family in 1978, taking an intimate look at the lives of Beatrice and her two daughters, Tillie and Ruth. $8 adults, $6 students & seniors; 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinee; 104 Willis Ave.; 573-8767199; www.stephensedu/events

FEBRUARY 27 Head out to the Expo Center at the Holiday Inn Executive Center for the 11th annual MFA Oil Rootin’ Tootin’ Chili Cookoff, where you can sample chili from more than 50 teams while listening to live music. $10/$12 at the door; 3 to 7 p.m.; 2200 I-70 Drive S.W.; www.rtchilicookoffcom

FEBRUARY 28 Come out to St. Luke United Methodist Church for a Gospel Explosion & Soul Food Dinner Musical Celebration. Enjoy lots of great gospel music from local and regional acts. Afterward, there will be a soul food feast for all who attend. Enjoy the food, the fellowship and the music. Free; 3 p.m.; 204 E. Ash St.; www.gocolumbiamo.com/ ParksandRec

SAVE THE DATE MARCH 3–6 Pass the popcorn; it’s True/False Film Fest time! Movie lovers from all over the world descend on CoMo the first weekend of March to snag premier views of the hottest documentaries of the year. The four-day festival includes films (of course), concerts, art rambles, filmmaker talks, parties, a 5K run and more. Get your tickets before the hordes descend! $30 to $800 for passes, from $10 single tickets, $7 students; various downtown venues; 573-442-TRUE (8783); www.truefalse.org

MARCH 26 Bring your children (ages 12 and younger) to a free, fun, candy-filled Egg Hunt in Douglass Park. Three separate hunts in different areas will be designated by age. Kids will also enjoy other activities such as coloring, face painting and games. Free; noon, hunt begins at 12:45 p.m.; 400 N. Providence Road; www.gocolumbiamo.com/ ParksandRec ❖

Prime Magazine February 2016

Book Club

The 39th Child

Memoir Recounts A Childhood Lost In Polygamy BY KATHERINE FORAN

“I am my mother’s fourth child and my father’s thirty-ninth.” So begins The Sound of Gravel, a riveting coming-ofage memoir by Ruth Wariner. Equal parts harrowing and heart-wrenching, Wariner offers an unsparing account of her childhood in Colonia LeBaron, a polygamous Mormon community in northern Mexico. A rival murders Wariner’s father, the colony’s founding “prophet,” when she is just 3 months old. Her mother, Kathy, remarries, becoming the second wife of Lane, the man whom Wariner and her siblings come to abhor as a neglectful, ruthlessly abusive stepfather. Their life of bleak poverty is further scarred by jealousy among competing wives and the prevalence of abuse. Men are often absent, rotating among wives or scrounging for odd jobs in the United States. The women and children are left to scrape by. At age 6, Wariner glimpses “normal life” when her mother brings the children to stay with their grandparents in California, only to be lured back to Lane and the colony’s radically fundamentalist beliefs with devastating consequences. Despite often despairing circumstances, Wariner finds strength and beauty in her love for her siblings and mother — and the courage to chart a course out of the remnants of one unforgettable night. At age 15, Wariner flees with three younger sisters to California, eventually earns a GED, puts herself through college and graduate school, and becomes a high school Spanish teacher. Now happily married and living in Portland, Ore., Wariner shares her remarkable journey of resilience and healing in her first book, The Sound of Gravel. In a recent conversation, Wariner offers a deeper look into the life that led to her memoir.

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Author Ruth Wariner PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES REYNOLDS

Can you tell us about the title? Without giving away a key scene, the title refers to that pivotal point at age 14 when I realized my life was going to totally change. Though I couldn’t articulate what that was going to be, I knew from that moment on that everything would change and that it was within me to change it.

It hurts to read about your relationship with your mother. She was responsible for so much of your pain, yet your love never wavers. To this day, I don’t understand the choices she made. When my mom went back to my stepfather, it was my first real broken heart. I started to doubt myself as a human being and my own sense of value in the world. It was crushing. But in that kind of polygamous community, the mother is everything. My mother didn’t have a lot to work with, but she was able to create a lot with little. Despite her bad choices, she was a loving mother, a really kind and generous and fun person.

How did you — even as a very young child — come to question the LeBaron belief system? When I first came to the States to live with my grandmother and grandfather, I was 6 and in first grade, and I could see there were kind people all around me. I loved my teacher, the other students and my grandparents, and I saw a better way of life. It was hard to go back to that lifestyle [in LeBaron] and to see my mom suffer so much. Because I now had something to compare it to, I knew I did not want that life.

What prompted you to start writing the book and share it publicly? I was in my early 20s, raising my sisters who were 8, 10 and 12 at the time, and they were asking about our mom. Because I had been in survival mode, trying to do the best I could in a very tough situation, I hadn’t realized that they didn’t know their mother. I knew that I needed to write down our history for my family— my brothers, too — so they would have a better understanding of why we had to leave LeBaron. As I started writing, I realized that I was finding my own understanding of what happened and learning to be more at peace with that. Prime Magazine February 2016

What do your siblings think of the book and your decision? All of my siblings have felt that the book is very healing and that they have gotten to understand my mother better. I realized [the story] could be healing for others, too. I’ve always been so inspired by other people’s stories and their own journeys; so after I got the green light from [my siblings], it was time to share mine.

What has helped you make such a successful journey of healing? Years of therapy … have helped me reflect on myself and understand what other people have suffered in their own lives, and that’s really helped me let go of the resentment and to forgive. I’ve spent a lot of time in meditation and in prayers that inspire me. Getting an education was so important, too. Ruth Wariner’s mother, Kathy, poses with her children in Colonia LeBaron, Mexico, in 1977. Ruth is standing second from left.

Can you tell us more about that? I was taken out of school when I was 14. After leaving the colony and as I got older, I knew I wanted something better for our lives. I loved going to [my sisters’] classrooms and seeing the light go on in children’s eyes as they learned, so I went back to school to become a teacher. I didn’t want to be imprisoned by the oppressive thinking that I grew up with. I wanted to be free of that, and my education lit that flame. I realized that I had a choice in what I believed, in how I lived my life.

What do you hope readers take away from The Sound of Gravel? I hope my story will help readers, especially those who’ve been through similar situations of abuse and neglect, recognize their own resiliency — that the part of me that was strong exists in all of us. [Psychologist] Brené Brown says shame grows in silence, but if you talk about your abuse and acknowledge how it affected you, you give yourself the chance to heal. I hope my story inspires readers to reflect on their own ability to succeed, to thrive and to survive, to have gratitude for their life, and to start the process of healing. v

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Ruth Wariner with her sisters. Left to right: Elena, Holly, Ruth and Leah. PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES REYNOLDS

The Sound of Gravel By Ruth Wariner (Flatiron Books, 2016) Available at Barnes & Noble ($18.51 hardcover) Inside Columbia magazine will host The Sound of Gravel Book Club discussions in March. Stay tuned for your chance to meet Ruth Wariner in Columbia this spring! Check our website at www.InsideColumbia.net for updates and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Prime Magazine February 2016

Tinseltown Talks

Doris Day Is Still An Animal’s Best Friend

A BY NICK THOMAS

A hugely popular singer and actress throughout the 50s and 60s, Doris Day first became interested in animal issues on the set of a 1956 Alfred Hitchcock film. “One of my first profound experiences working with animals in my films was in Morocco on the set of ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much,’” recalled Day from her long-time Carmel, Calif., home. “I was never one to make waves when working on my films, but was appalled at the condition of the local animals used in this film and refused to continue until we made sure they were all well-fed, well-treated and happy,” she says. It was a moment, she recalls, when she realized her fame could help improve animals’ lives. “Someone once said that you can use your celebrity status either to get a good table at a restaurant or to do something meaningful to help improve the world. I believe we all – not just celebrities – have a responsibility to do the latter, however that may be.” So in 1978, she founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation (DDAF), initially a small grassroots organization. “Since evolving into a grant-giving charity, we’ve been able to have a much greater impact on both a local and national level, supporting programs and other non-profit organizations that share our vision. It’s all there on our website, www.ddaf.org.” The foundation, however, isn’t restricted to helping pets and came to the aid of stranded baby sea lions along the California coast early last year. “Marine rescue organizations were scrambling to rescue, house, feed and rehabilitate them until they were strong

February 2016 Prime Magazine

The Doris Day Animal Foundation began as a small, grassroots organization but has since grown to support other non-profit organizations. enough to be released back into the ocean,” she recalls. “It was a dire situation, but DDAF was able to provide the necessary funding to these organizations and help save those precious babies.” Day, who turns 94 in April, still takes an active role in the foundation. “I make it a priority to stay on top of all DDAF activities. We have a very small, caring staff and board of direc-

tors so that donations go directly to help the animals instead of administrative expenses. My wonderful group keeps me apprised of all the grants we are considering, the donations we receive and the ‘happy endings’ reports from our grantees.” While her big screen presence declined after the 60s, Day had no regrets bidding farewell to Hollywood.

Doris Day and James Stewart in the 1965 Alfred Hitchcock film “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” “I enjoyed my career and had a great time working in Hollywood,” she recalls. “But after decades of non-stop films, recordings and television, the time seemed right to start a new chapter – concentrating on my animal welfare work.”

But fans from her Hollywood days still keep in touch. “I’ve been blessed with good health and keep busy with the foundation and going through all the mail that comes in, especially around the holidays. I get such

lovely letters from all over the world, including from young people whose parents and grandparents introduced them to my films and music. I’m floored when they tell me how much my work has meant to them – let alone that they even know who I am!” Over the years, many animals have passed through the Day household and several still call it home. “I currently have several cats and three dogs, fewer than I’m used to. I can’t even think about all of the sweet four-leggers I’ve lost over the years. But I always say, although they can never be replaced, the best way to honor their memory is to save another life from the shelter. My current crew is keeping me on my toes and laughing at their antics – I don’t know what I’d do without them.” v Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University in Montgomery, Ala. His features and columns have appeared in more than 600 newspapers and magazines. Follow him on Twitter @TinseltownTalks.

Prime Magazine February 2016

Prime Advice

Tell Me About It WITH ANGEL DONNETTE ROBERTSON

Every month we have a relationship expert who answers questions from our readers.

You may not have done anything wrong. She may be hurt, as you seem to assume. She could also simply be pouting, manipulating you. Have you known her long enough to know the difference? If you haven’t asked to speak with her one-on-one, then you should do so. During the conversation, you need to listen and actually hear her. Be willing to apologize, if you recognize that you have somehow hurt her, even though you would have done so unintentionally. She may simply have expected you to support her on an issue and is hurt that you did not. Or she may have expected you to blindly follow her and is angry that you did not. Her answer could affect whether you will want to maintain the friendship. If you do, and you can sincerely apologize, then do so. But do not apologize for simply having a different opinion. If she refuses to talk to you, then you have to accept her choice. I know many of us want closure at the end of a relationship, but you may never receive any from her. Any friend who cannot offer at least an attempt to work through a disagreement is probably not much of a friend. So, offer your best at reconciliation but always remember you are only responsible for your part of the relationship, not hers.

I am bored in my marriage. I want new, different, exciting. My friend recently divorced and she’s been dating different men, enjoying her freedom. I am jealous of her new, better life. In the last few months, I’ve been flirting with a man, at first just for fun. He doesn’t know I’m married and I’ve been joining him for drinks after work. My husband is getting suspicious. I don’t know that I’m ready to leave him, but I don’t want to give up the new relationship either. What do I do?

You get honest — with your husband, with the other man, and, most importantly, with yourself. Often, when we feel dissatisfied in our lives, we focus on external reasons. We blame a spouse, a job, finances, whatever we can find outside of ourselves. In reality, we usually need to focus inward. Why do you need new? Different? Exciting? What void do you believe those emotions will fill in you? Why do you believe your friend is living a better life than you? The other man deserves to know that you are not single. He may have no interest in being the third person in a marriage. He may have no interest in sharing a woman, married or single, with another man. I am rather certain your husband has no interest in sharing his wife. Why are you taking their choices away from them? Why do you believe you deserve to keep either man as the backup plan? Why are you taking advantage of the trust these men have extended to you? Why are you choosing lies over honesty? New and different only lasts for a short time. You may spend a lot of time chasing momentary emotions. Of course, you have the right to live your life as you choose. But honor these two men by giving them the chance to live their lives as they choose as well.

I have worked with a charity for years and in the last few months, I formed what I thought was a good friendship with another volunteer. But when planning the last fundraiser, a group of us disagreed over some of the details. I thought we worked through the problems with some compromises, but she now avoids conversations with me and only returns texts that relate directly to the charity. How do I figure out what I did wrong, if she won’t even speak to me?

Angel Donnette Robertson is not a professional counselor, but she has a lifelong appreciation for the beauty and complications of relationships.

Have a relationship question for Angel? Contact her through her blog at www.angeldonnette.wordpress.com. She will select reader questions to answer, along with questions she finds, in upcoming issues of Inside Columbia’s Prime. 26

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Prime Magazine February 2016

Fun & Games

THEME: HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS 40. CHRISTMAS SEASON 41. BOSTON HOCKEY PLAYER 43. PETRI DISH FILLER 44. HOLIDAY ACTIVITY?

12. OLD-FASHIONED “BEFORE”

47. EGG HOLDER

15. OLD FAITHFUL

48. *1979 SEAN CONNERY AND NATALIE WOOD CLUNKER

20. EDWARD TELLER’S CREATION

52. “____ NO EVIL,...” 53. SPEW PROFANITIES 55. ROMAN ROAD 57. *SCARLETT O’HARA OR BLANCHE DUBOIS

13. BIG DIPPER SHAPE 14. REJUVENATING SPOT 15. SUCCEED 16. HELPED

23. *1950S TEEN IDOL, ___ HUNTER 24. NOT THAT

February 2016 Prime Magazine

34. TYPE OF DESSERT

68. MOUNTAIN RIDGE

36. *”AN AMERICAN IN PARIS”

69. #37 ACROSS, E.G.

38. POTTER’S OVEN

70. ENGLISH COUNTY

42. LACKING GUILE

71. TRAINING SPOTS

45. EASILY HANDLED

72. ATM EXTRA

49. POE’S “THE MURDERS IN THE ___ MORGUE”

4. ALASKA NATIVE

21. *FAMOUSLY PLAYED TITLE ROLE IN “CLEOPATRA”

29. *”SPARTACUS” STAR

33. THIS AND DESIST

3. EDIBLE ROOT OF TARO PLANTS

19. *MARX BROTHER

27. COASTAL FEATURE

65. SPRINGSTEEN’S “BORN IN THE ____”

2. AGE OF AQUARIUS FLICK

9. BACK OF THE NECK

26. JEWELER’S GLASS

32. RULER SIDES, E.G.

1. SMELTERY REFUSE

6. DUNCE

25. DEEP CAVITY

31. *”MOMMIE DEAREST”

DOWN

18. *LIKE CHARACTERS PLAYED BY LON CHANEY

24. LACKING SUBSTANCE

64. ASIAN CHEW

73. DOLED OUT CARDS

1. BUZZ OFF

22. LUNG NECESSITY

60. *KATHARINE OR AUDREY

67. MAKE BABY FOOD?

17. WAIKIKI GARB

DOWN CONTINUED

46. CAFFEINE TREE

50. NEWTON, E.G.

ACROSS

11. *LAUREL AND HARDY OR ABBOTT AND COSTELLO

25. THRILLA IN MANILA BOXER

5. TRAIN STATION PORTER’S HEAD GEAR

28. FRIENDLY JAB ON FACEBOOK

6. NORTHERN EUROPEAN CAPITAL

30. SET ASIDE AS INFERIOR

7. *KONG, E.G.

35. MARIJUANA USER’S HOOKAH

8. COUNTRY SINGER ____ HILL

37. STOLE MATERIAL

9. SEASON TO BE JOLLY

39. COWBOY SPORT

10. 1970S HAIRDO

51. LEFT GRATUITY 54. PINCH IN THE NOSE 56. BULLYING, E.G. 57. EXTREMELY 58. ANY THING 59. DOCS FOR DACHSHUNDS 60. AESOP’S RACE COMPETITOR 61. CELESTIAL BEAR 62. *WHERE ALL HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS’ WORK WINDS UP 63. SALES CLERK’S CALL 64. PAPER OR PLASTIC? 66. SEEK DAMAGES

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

Prime Magazine February 2016

Fun & Games Sudoku

Do You Have Tiger Vision? We’ve hidden this tiger face somewhere in the magazine. Find it, and send an email to prime@insidecolumbia.net telling us the page number where the tiger is hiding. Readers with a correct answer by Jan. 31 will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card to Smokin’ Chicks BBQ.

WINNER! Congratulations to Barbara Bulanda, winner of our January Tiger Vision contest and a $25 gift card to Smokin’ Chicks BBQ!

Cryptogram Decipher this quote by unraveling the secret code. Each letter stands for another letter. We’ve given you a few hints to get you started.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Prime Magazine February 2016

Fun & Games

Nostalgia Knowledge Here’s The Story Behind Three Albums In Your Record Cabinet Every month we like to highlight memorable records and give you the story behind three albums you might have in your record cabinet. Submit a photo of you with your favorite vinyl and we’ll highlight it in an upcoming issue of Prime magazine.

“Raw Power” Iggy & The Stooges (1973) The third, and final, Stooges album (produced in London by David Bowie) is most certainly Iggy Pop’s crowning achievement. Coming across as “Head Cheerleader Of The Apocalypse,” and with his strongest set of original material, this record is an exhilarating, if oftentimes times harrowing, investigation into Ig’s Id. It also rocks like an absolute monster.

“The Slider” T. Rex (1972) Released against a backdrop of nearly universal mass anticipation (in the U.K., at least), “The Slider” was Marc Bolan’s triumphant follow up to the previous year’s “Electric Warrior,” the album that kick started the glam rock craze. Chock full of sly wordplay, crushing riffage and cosmic balladry, this LP may well be the perfect place to begin your Bolan collection.

“Vincebus Eruptum” Blue Cheer (1968) Featuring their one and only big hit, with a psychedelicized cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” this LP offers more, and more, and more of the same. Featuring guitars cranked to “11,” a Neanderthal-ic rhythm section, and lyrics aimed squarely at the lower end of the academic achievement scale, this record represents ground zero of the Heavy Metal explosion. This is a classic for the ages.

Staff Pick: “Square Dances” Carson Robison and his Pleasant Valley Boys Staff Member: Melody Parry My sisters and I were recently helping my father clean out a neglected corner of the basement and we came across this album. While my parents had a wide variety of vinyl records, this one made us laugh. We remember playing this album at the 4-H center and learning the basics of square dancing: Allemande right and left, Promenade and Swing your Partner. This one features Carson Robison, who is known for his “clutch-boom” guitar picking. The day livened up as we Do-si-do’ed around each other and kept on cleaning.

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Prime PrimeMagazine MagazineFebruary January 2016 2016

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LG PATTERSON

February 2016 Prime Magazine

Clyde Ruffin:

Making A Difference

In Columbia f

f by Pam Ingram

lyde Ruffin describes himself as “classic overachiever.” And, if you push the rewind button of this quiet man’s life, you’ll probably agree. He graduated ahead of schedule three times and was an assistant professor at age 23. He preached his first sermon as a fiveyear-old boy. At an age when most people are planning to retire, he ran for public office and won a seat to represent the First Ward on the Columbia City Council. Sixty-three-year-old Clyde Ruffin has donned more hats than most people ever dream of: professor, actor, husband, politician, world traveler, activist, pastor, father, designer, mentor and grandfather. But from Ruffin’s perspective, every role intersects at one point -- “teacher.” For him, each role gives him a unique opportunity to share, not only knowledge and information, but also passion.

“Clyde Ruffin is my professional and my spiritual father. He’s a real source of grounding for me,” Evan says. “He and his wife, Sheila, have poured so much into me and my wife and he’s at the very footing of my foundation.” “Other people go crazy over the things Professor Ruffin has accomplished. There were always people calling from other cities asking him to do costumes for them. He qualifies to be full of himself,” Evans continues. “But that’s never been so with him. He’s the epitome of authority under control.”

On His Teaching Role After 40 years in the classroom, Ruffin retired from the University of Missouri Theatre Department where he served as chair of the department for many years. Former MU student and Ruffin’s protege, Robert Evans, first met the man he still addresses as “Professor Ruffin” in 1982 when he partnered with a friend to dance in Ruffin’s Black Theater Workshop production, “Rituals.” “I had a lot of insecurities and he had a way of working with people and bringing out their best to make them comfortable with the giftings they had inside,” Evans explains. After leaving Columbia, he and his wife founded a dance company in New Rochelle, N.Y. His company, Dance Ministry Institute, produces an annual Christmas play with a cast of 100. “It’s safe to say that Professor Ruffin stamped me with a skill set, and his attention to detail is still with me,” Evans says. Once when Evans struggled to figure out exactly what he wanted to do for a scene in one of Ruffin’s plays, he said, “Professor Ruffin encouraged me to simply close my eyes and visualize what I wanted to do. He said, ‘If what you see is not what you want, then change it.’ No one had ever told me to close my eyes to see before.” Ruffin wanted his students to draw from their own wells of creativity, not his. “He’d always explain the process, show you a few examples, and then let the students pick what was best for them. He’d say, ‘If I show you, you’d just be imitating my version.’”

Rev. Clyde Ruffin preached his first sermon at the age of five. Prime Magazine February 2016

Steve Twitchell, owner of the local video production studio Steve Twitchell Production, sees that strength first-hand whenever he and Ruffin collaborate on projects. Whether Twitchell is using Ruffin as voice talent for studio projects or helping him with Second Missionary Baptist Church’s annual Christmas play, creative excellence is a given. When the two recently collaborated to produce “The Prodigy,” an Amazon documentary about local Columbia musician, Blind Boone, he realized, once again, that Ruffin is “the definition of an artist – someone who can connect the real to what ought to be,” Twitchell asserts. “He does it, not just on stage, but in his daily life. Like when he reaches out on the city council, he’s not doing it for his own benefit. He’s doing it because he feels that it’s the right thing to do – using his talent to communicate with the public.”

On His Family

LG PATTERSON

(Above) Ruffin was an assistant professor at age 23. He retired from the University of Missouri Theatre Department after 40 years in the classroom. (Below) Clyde’s mother, Dr. Melvina Ruffin, earned her doctorate degree in her 60s. 36

February 2016 Prime Magazine

When reviewing the script of Clyde Ruffin’s life, one has to wonder where such a quiet, unassuming man got all that drive and grit to succeed in so many different areas. When asked, he quickly points to his mother, Dr. Melvina Ruffin, who grew up in a small southern town where black kids were not allowed to go further than the eighth grade. The only high school they were allowed to attend was in another town but her father vetoed that idea. “No! That’s enough education for a girl!” Ruffin recalls. She had to put her dream of finishing school on hold, but not forever. She did eventually graduate years later in Kansas City. In fact, she graduated from high school the same year that her son, Clyde Ruffin, earned his high school diploma. She later earned several college degrees. “When she finally finished her doctorate,” he says, “she was in her 60s. It was a 20-year process.” It’s likely overachieving is a family trait. His four daughters are among the first to agree that their father is an amazing man and an incredible father. “Growing up in what some people call a ‘small town,’ I had such a unique experience here,” says daughter, Mikisha Ruffin, who lives in Chicago and sells upscale children’s clothing through her online store. “I just really had so much pride in my last name because of his accomplishments,” she beams. “I looked up to him because of the example he set for us. He was able to expose us to a world outside of Columbia where we grew up; there was always a wealth of books around us… things like anthologies of fashion. Whatever we were interested in, we could reach and find something about it on the shelf.” An additional perk of being the daughter of an actor/director was getting to play dress-up with her sisters in their dad’s “deject costumes – the ones he’d finished experimenting with.” Most would think being a full-time pastor, a full-time university professor and department chair is a recipe for stress… everyone except Clyde Ruffin. He believes pastoring the historic Second Missionary Baptist Church is a “blessing and a challenge, but never a burden. I get so much love here at the church and people seem to be so grateful and appreciative that I’m here. They’re very bold in their prayers for me. They gather and circle around me and pray before I preach on Sunday,” he says. They do the same before and after every play practice. To him, pastoring a church that’s been politically engaged since the turn of the century is a perfect fit. “Ever since college,” he says, “I’ve been involved in some sort of social activism.” “Before I became a pastor, I compartmentalized my life. My work on campus, my church work and family work were all in separate boxes and I’d just go from one to another. And now, my disjointed life makes sense to me,” he says. He brings the same en-

LG PATTERSON

(Above) Ruffin loves serving as the pastor at the historic Second Missionary Baptist Church on Broadway. (Below) Ruffin represents the First Ward on the Columbia City Council, which includes the downtown area. thusiasm into the pulpit that he brought into the classroom. That kind of passion is what led him to spearhead a citywide effort to heal an ugly scar in Columbia’s history. “In 1923, James T. Scott was accused of accosting [and raping] a 14-year-old girl on her way home from her music lesson,” Ruffin shares. Scott was lynched by a mob before he even had a chance to stand trial. “Back then, Second Baptist Church was in the forefront of trying to stop the lynching,” he recalls.

On Community Involvement While visiting the grave of Blind Boone, Ruffin asked to be shown Scott’s grave too, and noticed that it only had a nondescript marker, a small concrete slab with a crudely drawn arrow pointing to where his body lay. He learned that this simple marker was only added after many had visited his grave to do research on this tragic story. “At that moment, I felt the Lord was saying ‘Speak for me.’ And, I thought, ‘He [James T. Scott] worked for the university and I work for the university. He was a member of Second Baptist and I am the

(Above) Recently Ruffin was presented with James Scott’s American flag because of his efforts to raise money for a proper headstone for Scott. (Below) Clyde and Sheila Ruffin’s four daughters believe he set an amazing example for them to follow.

pastor of Second Baptist.” That was the moment that catapulted him into action to spearhead the campaign to bring healing and closure to the community’s wound. What began during a quiet moment at the cemetery culminated in a memorial ceremony to unveil a “proper headstone” for Scott that was purchased with the $15,000 Ruffin was instrumental in raising. “We did not want it to be a sad affair, but a celebration to honor his life. It was a moment when all the streams of my life came together,” Ruffin muses. In addition to politicians and some of Scott’s ancestors, Charles Nutter, the Columbia Missourian reporter who covered the 1923 story attended the ceremony that featured a full military salute, marching bands, gospel choirs and speeches from local dignitaries. The most poignant moment, however, happened when Ruffin was presented a precious token of Scott’s life. “When it was time to present the American flag, they gave it to me because there was no one to give it to,” he says. The flag, stored in the familiar triangular glass case, still sits proudly on a table in Ruffin’s church office.

After hundreds of sermons and theater performances, dozens of awards and tributes, Sheila Ruffin, his wife of 39 years best sums up the story of Clyde Ruffin. “When I first met Clyde, I thought he was amazing. He was directing, he was the main actor in a play and leading a choir. I was impressed!” she beams. “I couldn’t do what he does. He honors all of his commitments and once he makes the decision to do something, He’s going to be 100 percent!” And what lies ahead for Ruffin after he’s given that final percent to Columbia? “I’d like to go back and reclaim some of my hobbies that I had to lay down along the way,” he admits. Things like painting, carpentry, reading,working out and playing the piano. And, there’s also that homeless shelter he’d like to see in Columbia. “Something that goes beyond just housing someone who needs a room for the night; something comprehensive to help transform lives and help people move away from homelessness,” he explains. v

Prime Magazine February 2016

Reader Submission

Fond Recollections Of Growing Up In Columbia

BY BEVERLY NORTHUP

Beverly is a life-long Columbia resident and recently submitted this essay on her memories of Columbia. I have many fond memories of my childhood while growing up in Columbia where I was born and raised. I was born in the front bedroom in a house that remains standing on what used to be known at that time as 722 Tandy Ave. It has now been changed to College Avenue. When I was much younger, the street was gravel and much narrower than it is today. I can vaguely remember when Providence Road was also a narrow gravel road called Third Street. I was born shortly after the Great Depressions and while it was pretty much over, the economy was still suffering. My dad, who was a carpenter, managed to find work to feed his family when it was necessary. He packed us all up in the old Plymouth or Dodge and headed West where he and my mother worked in the shipyards. We were fortunate because we always had our home to come back to.

Outdoor Play During my early years, we did not have television. We did not have the robot or remote controlled toys and certainly no computer. Therefore, I think we were fortunate because we had to use our imaginations. And rather than staying indoors like so many children do today, we were usually outside playing in all seasons. We played baseball across the street in the vacant lot that is no longer there. At the front of our home stood a street light where our friends who lived up and down the street played Hide and seek and Kick the Can way after the sun went down. In those days we were not afraid to run behind our neighborsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes to hide in total darkness. In the winter, the bigger kids would pull their sleds to the top of the Tandy Street 38

February 2016 Prime Magazine

PHOTO FROM BOONE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Crown Drugs was a favorite downtown Columbia store. hill and ride down to the bottom to Hwy. 40. Then the street was mostly gravel and had little traffic. At that time there was no Interstate 70 and the Business Loop, as we know it today, was called Hwy. 40. This was the main thoroughfare through town.

City Limits At that time and well into my teen years, Columbia city limits ended about where the I-70 ramp goes to Highway 63 N. To the west, Hulen Lake was definitely out of the city limits where my friends and I would sometimes go to play in the water.

Beverly Northup attended grade school at Field School. (I say play because I couldn’t swim.) City limits east of Columbia pretty much ended after leaving Paris Road to get on Clark Lane, which was then a gravel road, and which became quite muddy after a rain. South of Columbia city limits ended by the time one went a short way on Route K. I remember when the KOMU television station began. I was working for my Aunt Ruby at a drive-in restaurant called Welcome Inn. Actually I think the city limits in that direction quit after crossing the bridge close to Grindstone Park. There was the Sky Hi drive-in theater in the area, which was quite popular at the time. The house where we lived was built before I was born by a preacher name Mr. Tate who my dad, Charlie, hired for $600. Material for the home was taken from the torn-down home of President Lincoln’s wife’s family, which used to be part log cabin. That home used to stand somewhere around the area of present day Providence and Broadway. I have many happy memories of being raised in that home until around the age of 13.

Movies I also spent many hours playing in the backyard in the vacant chicken coop and pretending I was a cook in a restaurant. Prime Magazine February 2016

My menu was dirt, mixed with water and sometimes some grass. Using our imaginations we could do and be whatever we wanted. I would also like to ride my stick horse and be one of heroines I had seen in one of the western movies we would go to each week. We would sometimes walk to the movie and so that meant having to walk home at night afterwards. How nice it is to think back at how relaxed time was then and not being concerned about evil lurking in the dark. It was there, but nothing like it is today. Back then, on the movie screen, we were able to see some actual views of the news that was happening in foreign countries. Now we can turn on the TV and watch the actual happenings as a war rages. One of my fond memories concerning the movies was the popcorn that was sold by a woman who had a little popcorn store next to Varsity Theater, which was on Ninth Street. I think that was the most delicious popcorn I have ever eaten, but there was nothing to drink, and oh my one can only imagine the thirst and eagerness to get home and get a glass of water after eating all that salt.

PHOTO FROM BOONE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Neghborhood Groceries During that time we had three neighborhood grocery stores in the area, which all stood on Wilkes Blvd. The closest one was situated on what I remember as a small hill with concrete stairs that went to the door. I can still almost remember the smell of that store when I walked into it. It had a good smell of lots of candy, which showed through the glass counters. The second store was called Ealy’s. It was okay but I personally didn’t like it as well as the first one, or the third one, which was called Heibels. Actually, that was a drug store and a grocery store was attached next door. The Heibels, who owned the drug store, had a nice two-story, brick home across the street. I went to school at Eugene Field with Gloria, the daughter of the Heibel family. Today when I think about this store, I am reminded of Double Bubble gum and what a treat it was! During those times bubble gum was a rare commodity. When we learned that bubble gum was in the store, the kids would rush to get their pennies to get some of this delicacy. We were allowed only to buy a few pieces at a time due to the scarcity of it. I am also reminded of the soda fountain in the drug store where one could sit at the counter and get a scrumptious ice cream soda or just a fountain soda. After 40

February 2016 Prime Magazine

(Top) A 1940 photo of winners in a promotional giveaway standing in front of Crown Drugs. (Left) Beverly and her mother in front of their home at 722 Tandy Ave. (Right) Neighborhood friends playing baseball in the vacant lot on Tandy. Beverly is holding the bat. Heibels sold their store, it became known as March Drug Store. Although the name I attended Field School and I can still had changed, the same goodies remained. I remember how the aroma of the school remember on Sunday mornings as I walked lunches managed to seep into the to Sunday School. If I had some money that classroom of sixth grade. Sixth grade was wasn’t to be used for a donation to church, I located directly above the lunchroom. That would go in and buy candy. is where I learned about mashed potatoes

Elementary School

and hamburger gravy, which I still fix today. Miss Finley was the principal and although she had planned to retire the year I was to go to sixth grade (the class she taught half of the day), I do believe she stayed in order to be my teacher at my mother’s wish since she had taught the rest of my siblings. I can still remember how stern, yet jovial she was. She had white hair pulled back in a bun. She ate school lunch with the children and before we ate, she gave thanks for our food. Whenever someone would spill milk, rather than scold, she would always say, “Accidents happen to the best of people.”

Downtown Stores Downtown then consisted of two 5 and 10 cent stores: JJ Newberry and FW Woolworths. Crown Drugs stood in between the two. Down from Central Dairy at the corner of Broadway and Tenth Street was the Uptown Theater and directly across the street was the old Stephens Publishing Co., which still stands today. My mother worked there and I would often go up the stairs to where she sat sewing the books together. The Hall Theater was located where Panara Bread recently was located. Then there was the Missouri Theater and the Varsity and Boone Theaters. Later there was the Sky Hi Drive-in on Hwy. 63 and then later the Parkade Drive-in theater where the Parkade Plaza is now located. I might add that while I don’t remember many of the old businesses remaining still today on Broadway, I do remember that Buchroeder Jewelers was in business back then at the same location where it remains today. And the banks still remain where they were then. Sometimes on Saturdays I would go to town with my dad to Roberts and Green Hardware Store located on Walnut. Saturday was the day the farmers came to town and it was always fun to see them sitting together along the wall next to the courthouse. I reasoned that they got caught up on all the news while the women went about their shopping. There are many more fond memories of life in Columbia back then; too many to include in this writing. I am very grateful that I was allowed the privilege of living during that time and able to experience how nice it was then. v

Do you have memories of living in Columbia that you’d like to share? Email your story to prime@insidecolumbia.net

Enter Our Next Essay Contest! Share Your Love Story With Readers Submit your story using the prompt below for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of Inside Columbia’s Prime.

ebruary is known as the month of love and we want to hear your love stories! How did you meet that special person and what was it about him or her that attracted you? Was it love at first sight or a feeling that grew over time? While some of you might write about your lifelong partner, there are many people who win our heart. You could write about a good friend, relative, child or neighbor, for example. How has your love remained unshaken? Please share your love story in an original nonfiction essay that is no more than 1,000 words. Essays will be judged on their creativity, clarity and emotional power. Make us laugh or make us cry; we’re up for either. And while it’s OK if your essay does not cover every question in the prompt, it must connect to the given theme of love. If your essay wins, you will receive $100 in gift certificates to Columbia restaurants, along with a chance to have your essay published in Inside Columbia’s Prime. One runner-up will receive $50 in gift certificates. Email your submissions to prime@insidecolumbia.net

Rules & Requirements:

• We will accept submissions from Feb. 1 through March 31, 2016. • Essays should be no longer than 1,000 words. Essays exceeding this length may not be considered. • Eligible writers must be at least 50 years old by January 31, 2016. • Use “Prime Essay Contest” as the email subject line when making your submission. • We prefer essays attached as a Microsoft Word document; however, we will consider essays that are pasted into the body of the email. • Be sure to include your name, age, email address and phone number both in the body of the email and on all attached documents. • If selected, we will ask for photos to accompany your article. • This contest is for original nonfiction work that has not been previously published. By entering, entrants warrant that the piece (1) is original and does not infringe the intellectual-property rights of any third party and (2) has not been published in any medium.

Prime Magazine February 2016

Recipe Box

Swap Salt For Herbs And Spices For Low-Sodium Meals In 2016

Trying to stay on your New Year’s resolution? Don’t forget about cutting salt. Most Americans consume about a 1,000 milligrams of sodium over the amount recommended by nutrition and health experts. New research shows cooking with spices and herbs could help you ditch the salt shaker and meet sodium recommendations. Keeping a resolution to cut salt from your diet is easy. Use simple spice swaps to create tasty, low-sodium meals. From seasoning eggs with basil

TUSCAN PASTA

1 1 1 2 2 2 1/2 1 1 1 1 6

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Serves: 6

can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained can (8 ounces) no-salt added tomato sauce tablespoon sugar (optional) tablespoons packed brown sugar, divided teaspoons McCormick Garlic Powder teaspoons McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, ground tablespoon olive oil pound zucchini, sliced package (8 ounces) sliced mushrooms small onion, chopped ounces pasta, such as spaghetti or linguine

In medium saucepan, mix tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar and seasonings. Bring to boil on medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes. In large skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms and onion; cook and stir 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir tomato sauce into vegetables. Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package. Drain well. Place pasta in serving bowl. Add vegetable mixture; toss well.

February 2016 Prime Magazine

instead of salt to adding spices and herbs to no-salt tomato sauce, the McCormick Kitchens offer these easy tips and recipes to make low-sodium meals full of flavor: • Beat 1/8 teaspoon herb instead of salt into 2 eggs before scrambling. • Add oregano, garlic powder and red pepper to no-salt added tomato sauce for a tasty, low-sodium pasta dinner. • Try making Citrus Herbed Chicken with Asparagus, Fiesta Citrus Salmon or Tuscan Pasta. These dishes don’t

call for any salt. Instead, they swap in basil, garlic powder and oregano. For more low-sodium tips and recipes – such as shaved vegetable salad with Italian herb vinaigrette – visit McCormick.com/recipes/low-sodium to keep your New Year’s resolutions on track. To see the full Anderson study, which examined the effects of a behavioral intervention that emphasized spice and herbs, and how it impacts sodium intake, visit McCormickScienceInstitute.com. v

fun & games solved Challenge your brain with this month’s puzzles found on Page 28-30. Cryptogram Answer “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” -John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Crossword Puzzle

Sudoku Puzzle

Prime Magazine February 2016

Faces And Places 4

Boone Hospital Foundation Gala Nearly 450 supporters of Boone Hospital Foundation gathered at the Holiday Inn Executive Center last November to honor “partners in health” Charlie and Kathy Digges, a Columbia couple dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefited the foundation’s Building On Excellence Fund for in-patient and outreach programs at Boone Hospital Center.

1. Bob Wagner, Nancy Allison and Jan Beckett 2. Patrick and Melinda Henry 3. Sandra VanTrease and Kim Moriarity 4. Brian Neuner and Norm Stewart with Jean and Charlie Gibbens 5. Joe Henderson, Kathy Digges and Barbara Henderson 6. Dave Danuser and Randy Morrow 7. Betty Beasley and Libby Reid with Eric and Sarah Beckett Ference and Lynnanne Baumgardner 8. Rich and Gayla Miller with John and Heidi Miles

February 2016 Prime Magazine

PHOTOS BY TIM MORIARITY

Support Our Locally Owned Restaurants When you dine at local restaurants, you help support small-business owners who spend their dollars in the community. These dollars help keep our neighbors gainfully employed; the cycle continues as employees spend their wages on local arts, culture and other areas of the economy. Eating local pays BIG dividends for Columbia!

R E S T A U R A N T S

Prime Magazine February 2016

Columbia Confidential: Publisher Fred Parry On The Issues Columbia Is Talking About

Goodwill Abounds In Columbia

If you’re brave enough to watch nightly newscasts or read a daily newspaper, it’s likely you believe that our world and our community have changed for the worse in profound ways. The constant flow of news of unrest, criminal activity, poverty and social injustice in our world could slowly chip away at your faith in mankind. Beyond the doom and gloom, though, is a much brighter side of life. I’ve recently been reminded how blessed we are to live in a community where people truly care about their neighbors. More than just caring, they take action, stepping forward to make a difference. The most compelling proof of our caring community occurred in December during Inside Columbia’s annual One For One Holiday Food Drive benefiting the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. With our partners from the Zimmer Radio Group and the Columbia Professional Firefighters, we witnessed an outpouring of support that literally took our breath away. Our 12-hour food drive exposed us to the brightest side of humanity one can imagine. For many of us, it’s hard to conceive that 1 in 5 children in our community don’t have access to adequate food. The need is significant, as evidenced by the growing number of free and reduced-price lunches in our public schools. But beyond the tragedy of perpetual hunger, there’s also a phenomenon known as “situational poverty” — when families unexpectedly hit hard times and find themselves choosing between paying utility bills and putting food on the table. You might be surprised at how frequently this happens to your neighbors, co-workers and the people you encounter in everyday life. Situational poverty is especially common during the holidays, when financial pressures take an added toll on many families. During the course of this year’s food drive, we were moved by the young children and college students who brought in jars of coins that had been accumulating for months and years. We couldn’t help but be overjoyed at seeing the local electrician who — for the sixth consecutive year — brought a pickup truck piled high with cases of food. It was humbling to meet a young mother and her three children as they brought in a generous cash donation — her way of saying “thank you” to the food bank for being there to feed her children two years ago when her world fell apart. In just one day, we raised $87,235 in cash donations. That’s enough to allow the food bank to purchase more than 1.3 million pounds of food for our neighbors in need. Thank

February 2016 Prime Magazine

you, Columbia. Your generosity seems to know no bounds. Of course, our community’s big heart doesn’t hide in the shadows waiting to reveal itself just once a year. Expressions of generosity and goodwill pop up frequently. Another great example is the CoMoGives campaign, powered by the Community Foundation of Central Missouri. In just its third annual effort, the group raised a record-breaking $324,596.32 over the span of one month to support 71 local charities. Consider this year’s Score Against Hunger campaign, which broke the million-dollar mark for the first time in its 20-year history. Even though it was a lackluster year on the scoreboard for Mizzou football, food bank fans showed up to the game and gave in record numbers. These high-profile fundraisers are shining examples of our community’s benevolent spirit, but don’t forget the many random acts of kindness taking place every day here — actions that, on the surface, may seem small but have a profound impact on the lives they touch. Myriad folks choose to give anonymously, seeking no recognition or praise for their gifts. Their reward comes from the satisfaction of knowing that they’re making a difference in the life of a complete stranger. The next time you become discouraged by news of a “shots fired” incident or frustrated that your property taxes are going up once again, remember that we live in a pretty special place. Beyond our growing pains, traffic congestion and political gridlock, there are Columbians who will compassionately step up to the plate when the chips are down. The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Given that, there must be an awful lot of Columbians finding good favor these days with the highest of all powers. We are blessed to live in such a caring community. v

Fred Parry, fred@insidecolumbia.net

Prime Magazine February 2016

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