Vox Magazine December 2022 Issue

TIME IN A BOTTLE

Our relationship with the passage of time rules so much of what we do. We count the hours, reflect on days passed and anticipate the years to come, sometimes with worry and sometimes with excitement. I am in a transitional, migratory period in my life, and often, it feels as though the past, present and future are colliding. My family is preparing to move cross-country, and with each childhood artifact I say goodbye to, I feel like a person out of time for a moment.

Reflection is a powerful tool, in the way it contextualizes what has been and what’s to come. So in our December issue, we’re taking Vox readers on a trip down the timeline.

We followed the scent of bourbon back over 200 years in the Show-Me State (p. 22). The history of spirits in the state has been brewing for quite some time. Distilleries such as SixMile Ordinary and Holladay Distillery — the oldest in the state — are dripping with Missouri history. From Prohibition fights to modern-day

oak barrels, we explore how past convictions shape today’s bourbon industry.

Examining our past often brings the present into focus. When faced with a painful pattern in our history, activism is one way of shaping a different, brighter future. Columbians are stepping up to stop harmful cycles, and how they approach this activism is inspirational regardless of the medium.

The Columbia members of gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action is taking on a national epidemic at a local level (p. 16). The group’s fight began 10 years ago after the Sandy Hook tragedy and continues today as it provides legislative testimony and outreach. Meanwhile, local band Estrella brings a new sound to youth advocacy, supporting climate change awareness with its music (p. 14).

What will you, dear reader, do with your time? Let these Columbia stories be the start of your reflection. How will your history shape your future?

TELL

Janae McKenzie Editor-in-Chief

Behind the issue

As someone who’s only had bourbon from her grandpa, I started this story with fairly fresh eyes. We began by focusing on Six-Mile Ordinary here in town, and then we discovered the robust history of spirits production in Missouri as a whole. We brought in Holladay Distillery in Weston to paint a fuller picture of the history of distilling in the state. Both businesses bring the past into the present, creating Missouri bourbon — a newer designation — for the first time. The expert distillers shared so much bourbon knowledge, and I hope our readers are able to learn as much as I did while working on this story.

—Amilee Nuzzo

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JANAE MCKENZIE MANAGING EDITOR ABBEY TAUCHEN DEPUTY EDITOR REBECCA

NOEL

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR MARISA WHITAKER

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR KATELYNN MCILWAIN

ART DIRECTORS HEERAL PATEL, MOY ZHONG

PHOTO DIRECTOR MADI WINFIELD

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR HALLE JACKSON ASSOCIATE EDITORS

CULTURE SOPHIE STEPHENS, AUSTIN WOODS

EAT + DRINK JULIA EASTHAM, GRACE LEYDEN

CITY LIFE KARLY BALSLEW, JORDAN THORNSBERRY

STAFF WRITERS JESSE BERLIN, LAUREN BLUE, KARA ELLIS, ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL, TATEN JANES, JACEY JOHNSON, EMMA LINGO, CHLOE LYKKEN, JOE MILLER, GRACE ANN NATANAWAN, MARJAI NEAL, AMILEE NUZZO, PETRA RIVERA, SYDNEY SCALIA, KHALIA SMITH, JANE STEINBRECHER, ABBY STETINA

SOCIAL & AUDIENCE ANNA TIERNEY LEGGAT, MELANIE OLIVA, DAVID LYNN TALLANT, MADI WINFIELD

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SOPHIA DONIS, OLIVIA MAILLET, ALYSE PFEIL, NATALIE-ELIZABETH TAN, LUCY VALESKI

ART ASSISTANTS SIREEN ABAYAZID, CAMPBELL BIEMILLER, GRACE LEYDEN

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER ISHERWOOD EXECUTIVE EDITOR LAURA HECK

SENIOR EDITORS CARY LITTLEJOHN, JENNIFER ROWE OFFICE MANAGER KIM TOWNLAIN

Vox Magazine @VoxMag @VoxMagazine @VoxMagazine

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ADVERTISING 882-5714 | CIRCULATION 882-5700 | EDITORIAL 884-6432

DECEMBER 2022

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 10

PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN LEE HILLS HALL, COLUMBIA MO 65211

Cover design: Heeral Patel with photography by Madi Winfield

Photography by Madi Winfield and courtesy of Six-Mile Ordinary VOX MAGAZINE •

27

We’re sweet on bitters

Create stunning cocktails with popular Italian bitters Campari or Aperol.

From pop-up to brick and mortar, Irene’s BBQ plans its opening for 2023.

29

The squish squad

Immerse yourself in Columbia’s comforting community of Squishmallows.

31 A beary cozy winter

Bunker down and prepare your home with these weatherization tips. 32 TikTok

Follow local teachers who use TikTok as a creative platform.

Get to know the wife-and-wife duo who create wooden art together.

Photography by Sam Koeppel, Nicole Gutierrez, Maria Schnieder and Kennedy McGilvery and illustrations by Heeral Patel

Stop, hop and thrift shop

Where can you find the best second-hand finds? Business Loop 70 is CoMo’s thrift destination.

BY ABBY STETINA

Thrifting has gained popularity as Generation Z indulges in money-saving and environmentally friendly items. According to a 2021 NPR article on Generation Z and thrifting, what was once called second-hand is now considered vintage. The younger generation accounts for over 40% of global consumers and has boosted beloved resale shops. These retro styles offer shoppers pre-loved, diverse and unique statement pieces. Bright colors, costume jewelry and flare jeans are making a strong comeback. The hunt for good thrift finds is tantalizing and usually easy on the wallet. To narrow the field, Vox created a guide to the thrift stores on or near Columbia’s Business Loop 70. Start at one end and work your way down the Loop for a thrift-happy day.

REFRESH YOUR STYLE

Deco to Retro and Vintage Clothing

Types of finds: clothing and accessories

Address: 212 Business Loop 70 East

Hours: Noon–5 p.m. daily

Contact: 268-8819

Every available hook, rack and wall is covered in Alinge Laursen’s flea market finds. Wigs, wedding dresses, posters and pants pack the store. For nearly 18 years, Laursen has curated racks of clothing and accessories for all occasions, including formal events and costume parties.

Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the farthest Laursen has traveled in the art of thrifting, but the Brimfield Flea Market in Massachusetts stands out for its size and endurance.

Collage by Campbell Biemiller and photography courtesy of Unsplash and Simon & Schuster

Find fun wigs at Deco to Retro and Vintage Clothing, colored furniture at Hawks Nest Used Furniture and fashionable jewelry at Tiger Town Treasures.

“Some people would set up (stalls) for the whole week,” Laursen says. “Shoppers come running in for 45 minutes and ask for prices, and then you mark it sold and move to the next thing. It was crazy but fun.”

When customers come in with a certain vision, Laursen is happy to help make it a reality. “Something vintage is always coming back in style,” she says.

UPDATE YOUR FURNITURE

Hawks Nest Used Furniture

Types of finds: furniture and collectibles

Address: 1010-12 Highway Loop 63 North

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., closed on Sundays

Contact: 881-0961

Hawks Nest Used Furniture store is a dizzying maze of quirky sectionals, sturdy tables and, oddly enough, a Barack Obama bobblehead from a speech he gave in 2016 in Miami, Florida, on the Affordable Care Act. Owner Mark Hawkins says the store is about half furniture and half, well, everything else. Hawkins frequents local estate sales and auctions for his finds, keeping his eyes peeled for hidden gems.

His favorite store item? “The hand couch, definitely,” Hawkins says. The furniture in question is a plush, low-seated, mustard-yellow couch in the shape of two cupped hands — with thumb armrests to match.

Hawkins points out another brightly colored couch in his store. “That is reminiscent of the ’90s,” he says. “They’re ugly, they’re plaid, but it’s a good, durable piece. Everything now is made to just fall apart five years down the road.”

Since his store opened in October 2019, Hawkins has made it his mission to discover unique finds but also the practical couch or chair for everyday use.

ENDLESS OPTIONS

Itchy’s Flea Market

Types of finds: furniture, decor and clothing

Address: 1907 Providence Road

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.–Sat., noon–6 p.m. on Sundays

Contact: 443-8275

According to one employee at Itchy’s Flea Market, it can take up to four

SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP RESTORE AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Used furniture, building materials and cookware

1305 Business Loop 70 East; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tues.–Sat.; 499-1202

PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS

Sports equipment

1218 Business Loop 70 West; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat., noon–5 p.m. Sun.; 442-9291

hours just to see every item in the store. With a variety of independent stalls, the market has a selection that feels endless. Once you think you’ve found the end, there’s more.

The market has a large collection of crystal glassware and Corningware. All sorts of old cooking gadgets and gizmos line the shelves for those looking for dependable utensils. Many collector’s items are also on display, including baseball cards and comic book figurines.

FIND BURIED GOLD

Tiger Town Treasures

Types of finds: clothing, jewelry and house appliances

Address: 802 Business Loop 70 East

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., closed on Sundays

Contact: 442-8567

Don’t let the size of Tiger Town Treasures fool you: Racks of clothing, costumes and household appliances await inside. For parents with growing children, the store has a large collection of baby clothes on display. While perusing the store, don’t forget to look up. Retro lamps in good condition sit on the top shelves.

Vox Picks for DECEMBER

Each month, Vox curates a list of can’t-miss shops, eats, reads and experiences. We find the new, trending or underrated to help you enjoy the best our city has to offer.

BY JACEY JOHNSON

Look...

Forward to a shaded patio that’s in the works on Fay Street. Logboat Brewing Co. has started renovations, which include a 12,000-square-foot packaging hall, an upstairs bar and an updated beer garden space with an awning for shade and temperature control. Its estimated grand reopening is spring 2023, says co-founder Tyson Hunt. The taproom will be temporarily closed for January and part of February. Logboat Brewing Co., 3–10 p.m., Mon.–Thurs., 1–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat., 1–7 p.m., Sunday, 504 Fay St.

Run...

At the annual Cheese and Sauerkraut 10 Miler hosted by the Columbia Track Club since 1974. With no watches allowed, the runner who finishes closest to their predicted time wins the cheese, and the runner who is farthest from their predicted time 8:30 a.m., Dec. 3, free, McBaine

Raise...

A glass (or fork) to celebrate National Pear Month this December. Peak harvest season might have passed on this fruit, but several local businesses still spotlight some creative pear creations. For drinks, Pressed uses St. George spiced pear liqueur in its French Cabin cocktail, and Glenn’s Cafe makes a basil and pear martini. For something a bit more substantial, Room 38 tops its prosciutto flatbread with pear, and Crushed Red features a “This Pear is on Fire” salad (a nod to Alicia Keys’ hit song) with pear coated in chili dust. Pressed, $9 cocktail, 803 E. Walnut St.; Glenn’s Cafe, $12 martini, 29 S. Eighth St.; Room 38, $13.50 flatbread, 38 N. Eighth St.; Crushed Red, $14.99 salad, 2540 Broadway Bluffs Drive

tosh apple from Shel Sil verstein’s The Giving Tree, now you can. Skylark Bookshop manager Carrie Koepke ordered an array of book-themed candles from woman-owned North Ave Candles, a company based in Pittsburgh. Each candle sells for $7 through the holidays or until they run out. Some other scents include maple sugar candy from Little House on the Prairie, smoked pine and parchment from Fahrenheit 451 and pickled limes from Little Women Skylark Bookshop, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 22 S. Ninth St.

Photography by Jacey Johnson and courtesy of Unsplash

Everybody knows their names

Cheers to Megan and Cameron Orscheln, who bought McNally’s Irish Pub, where they worked, met and even took their wedding photos.

In 1998, John Crum opened McNally’s Irish Pub on Sixth Street near Broadway. In June of this year, after two decades, he sold the bar to two former employees, Megan and Cameron Orscheln. “It was time to sell,” Crum says. “I feel confident in (Megan and Cameron). They’re doing great.” The Orschelns began working at the pub in 2010 — Megan as a server and Cameron as a delivery driver. Their friendship grew into a relationship, and they got married in 2018.

The bar and restaurant, described on its Facebook page as “a friendly neighborhood Irish Pub that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” means a lot to these new owners. Vox talked with Megan and Cameron about business, romance and the importance of keeping downtown staples alive.

Why did you buy McNally’s?

Megan: We had both worked here for over a decade, and we had always joked around with the previous owner, like, “When you’re ready to sell, we’ll buy it.” And one day, his kid graduated high school, and he was ready to sell the bar. He asked if we were seriously interested, and we told him we were. We love this place. We met here, we got married, and we had our wedding photos taken here. We didn’t want someone who wasn’t familiar with McNally’s, our regulars and what McNally’s means to people to buy it and change it.

What do you love about McNally’s?

Megan: Definitely our regulars. It’s like

BY JANE STEINBRECHER

a big family. It’s really the people that make McNally’s “McNally’s.”

Cameron: We have teachers who hang out, city workers, public defenders, grad students — just a mix of people. You’re sitting there, having a conversation with four people and none of them are remotely the same.

Megan: We get different age groups, income brackets and nationalities. It’s a melting pot of downtown Columbia.

Do you remember when you first met?

Cameron: I remember one of the first times I met Megan, she came into the kitchen and asked me to make her a sandwich, so I told her where the stuff was and told her, “Make it yourself.” I was just a delivery driver, and she was just a server back then. I was giving her a hard time because I was a kitchen worker and she

worked in front of house, so everyone kind of messed with each other a little bit. Megan: We hung out with all the same people, a lot of the bar regulars. After the bar would close, we would all hang out.

What is it like running a business with your partner?

Megan: We’re mostly on the same page. Obviously, we’ll have disagreements, since we’ve both been here so long. We’re really passionate about our ideas, so that can be difficult, but we do have the same vision in mind. It’s great being able to work with your partner to make that vision a reality.

What is your vision for McNally’s?

Megan: Just keeping a small, downtown business alive. Keeping it relevant and making it fun for people, and making it a place people want to come to.

Megan and Cameron Orscheln are dedicated to keeping McNally’s a downtown staple.

Photography by Clayton Steward

Rock of ages

Compass’

BY TATEN JANES

Imagine a band with 21 members who represent six different generations, ages 7 to 79. This is the Intergenerational Rock Band Choir, a group of singers hosted by Compass Inc., a Columbia-based non-profit organization founded in 2007 to support local musicians through education, concert series and networking. Choir practices are Sundays at the Compass facility, which opened earlier this year. These practices are a place for people of all ages to come together and celebrate their shared love of music by performing rock and pop songs. The group provides its members with a far richer experience than straightforward lessons in key, time and meter — rather, it gives them a space for bonding and learning from other age groups.

For Carol Schultz, 79 (representing the Silent Generation), the choir presents a unique opportunity for her age group to connect with those younger than her.

“I don’t have children of my own, so my opportunities to interact with young people are rather limited,” she says. “I’m really happy to be around positive young people who are happy.”

Bridging the generation gap isn’t without challenges. One such difficulty is finding things to talk about during practices other than the music. The singers are encouraged to mingle during breaks; they’re asked not only to meet someone new, but someone of a differing age. Schultz says these experiences

Photography by Bradford Siwak and Valeryia Zakharyk and courtesy of Sheila Omer

Intergenerational Rock Band Choir celebrates the power of music for all ages.

The Compass Intergenerational Rock Band Choir rehearses at its music center in Columbia. Rehearsals allow members to bond over their love of music.

help combat many of the stereotypes surrounding age.

“(The younger members) can look back and say, ‘Everybody’s not just an old fuddy-duddy, just sitting in a rocking chair; there are some cool people that are older,’” she says. “I think they’re getting a positive experience by seeing that we’re friendly, and we are interested in them.”

At 11 years old (representing Generation Alpha), Declan Craig is one of the choir’s younger members. Craig took vocal lessons with Compass before joining the choir. He says he loves the opportunity to meet people older than him and see what each member brings to the music.

“It just makes you feel happy,” he says. “I feel like music is the part that makes Columbia what it is. Just to experience it is really meaningful to me.”

The choir was brought to Compass by Logan Garner, a music therapy student at Drury University in Springfield, which has an intergenerational choir of

its own, albeit with college-aged students and older adults. Garner is the director of Compass’ choir, and he had the idea to include younger children.

Garner says his main goal is bringing people together to celebrate their love of music, no matter their age.

“Regardless of anything, music is for everyone — that is the central purpose of this choir,” he says. “It’s about using music as that bridge to connect us because music is one of the very few things that everyone loves.”

the start of the afternoon rehearsal,

in

Violet Vonder Haar, the program director for Compass and founding member of the band Violet and the Undercurrents, says the Intergenerational Rock Band Choir has been successful in giving its members a casual, low-pressure space for bonding. A crucial reason for this is the members’ devotion to music.

“Music connects us and it helps to heal,” Vonder Haar says. “It helps to cultivate community, and this particular program, with it being intergenerational, is really helping to bridge the gap between generations. It’s easy for us to get stuck in our boxes and the things that fit within our age group. I like stripping away all that and saying, ‘Hey, let’s all just get together, and it can be fun,’ ” Haar says.

The choir runs on a semester system, culminating with a showcase. The first showcase was Nov. 13. The group will resume next fall. Learn more about Compass and its upcoming events at compasscolumbia.org.

Photography by Bradford Siwak VOX

The Compass Intergenerational Rock Band Choir is directed by Logan Garner (top). At

the younger members moved to stand

the front row so they could see. Liam Herico (above) plays the guitar beneath the tablet that displays his sheet music.

Larry Young keeps celebrating bronze

The Columbia-based artist channels Olympic gymnast history in his newest sculpture, on display in the North Village Arts District.

BY CHLOE LYKKEN

It took Larry Young a career in the U.S. Navy and two Olympic bronze medals to become an artist. But once he found sculpting, he knew there was no other option.

Young took a few detours on his journey to becoming an artist, all of which he uses to inspire his work. “The Gymnast,” his most recent piece, was inspired by Young’s Olympic experience and is a part of the ongoing North Village Arts Walk to support local, public art.

Young learned how to sand-cast metal in molding school after boot camp. When he left the Navy, Young wanted to use the skills he had learned but didn’t consider art until he returned to Missouri in 1969.

“(Art) gets inside you, and you’re just thinking all the time about stuff that you

can make,” Young says. “I get an idea in my head, I see something in nature, and next thing I know, I’m at the drawing pad or building an armature out of aluminum wire that I can then attach clay to,” he says. “It gets in your blood.”

Young attended his first Olympic Games in 1968 for race walking, a competitive power walking sport. Later, Young received a scholarship to Columbia College for race walking, which he says is the only scholarship given for the sport in the U.S. While at school, he enrolled in art classes. His art mentors immersed him in the world of art as he learned sculpting. Young attended the Olympics again in 1972, earning a second bronze medal. His two medals make him the only American to earn bronze in the sport.

Larry Young’s sculpture “The Gymnast” evokes the movements of Russian gymnast Olga Korbut when she competed in the 1972 Olympic Games. It is displayed outside Love Columbia on Walnut Street.

ART ABOUT TOWN

Larry Young has nearly 50 public sculptures around the U.S. Here are six in Columbia.

“Nexus” at Boone Hospital Center

“Marathoners” at the Katy Trail Flat Branch trailhead

“Synergism” at Boone Hospital

Barbra Weaver Healing Garden

“Gnome” at Columbia College

Brouder Science Center

“Infinitude” at University Hospital

“Pegasus & Bellerophon” at Columbia College

Delaney Hall

Young learned how to cast metal in the Navy and scored two bronze medals in the Olympics before turning to the material for art.

“The Gymnast,” a 7-foot bronze sculpture, depicts a significant time in Young’s life that helped cultivated the artist he is today. At the 1972 Olympics, Young witnessed Russian gymnast Olga Korbut perform. Korbut’s movements on the beam impressed and inspired Young to make “The Gymnast” 50 years later. “I’ll never forget watching her do a back walkover on the beam,” Young says. “And so what I did is I abstracted her in her back walkover. I mean, the girl had incredible flexibility. She could stand with her hands on the beam and then touch her pointed toe on the beam on the other side.”

Local artist Lisa Bartlett recognizes the power demonstrated in the abstract sculpture. “It is such a beautiful, figurative sculpture that is pretty formidable just because bronze is one solid mass,” Bartlett says. “His (sculpture) just personifies strength and grace and beauty.”

Bartlett has known about Young and his work since the late ’80s and has enjoyed watching him evolve as an artist. “We are so lucky to have such an amazing sculptor in our midst,” Bartlett says.

Scott Braudis, former co-owner of the now Sager Reeves Gallery, worked with Young through race walking as a child. Braudis says the sculptor’s art is just one of his many notable qualities. “He just tries to put his best into everything he has, and I’ve always respected him for that,” Braudis says.

Braudis says Young continues to inspire the community and highlight art’s great impact. Throughout his journey as an individual and an artist, Young has utilized his life experiences to express his love for the art of sculpting. “That was it for me,” Young says. “I knew I was going to be doing this the rest of my life.”

Photography by Valeryia Zakharyk

Bringing Kenya to CoMo through jewelry

The Omer sisters keep close familial ties across continents and bring African traditions to Columbia through the jewelry Sheila creates and Anne sells via Sheila’s Boutique.

BY SOPHIA DONIS

If Anne Omer had a dollar for every time someone asked “Are you Sheila?” she says she would be rich. Anne, a Columbia resident, runs the business side of Sheila’s Boutique, a small business that sells Kenyan jewelry and accessories.

When customers approach her table at flea markets and jewelry shows, Anne can’t help but laugh and smile when she hears that infamous question.

So, who’s Sheila?

Sheila Omer, Anne’s older sister, lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and is the wizard

behind the curtain for Sheila’s Boutique. Sheila has been making jewelry for 22 years and carefully makes each item by hand. “It takes me one day to make a pair of earrings,” Sheila says. “But I enjoy and love all of it.”

Not all items take that long to make, just the complicated pieces with many different beads and detailed designs.

Anne says it takes Sheila a couple hours to make more basic earrings, and necklaces depend on the individual piece.

Shelia’s Boutique also features hand-

— Sheila Omer

woven baskets made with sisal fibers, raffia and banana stems. The African jewelry is handmade using materials such as cowrie shells, rainbow glass beads and vegan leather.

Where it began

The small business began after Anne was a vendor at Africa Fest, an annual celebration of African culture in Columbia, and sold every item from her table. The sisters were shocked at the success and decided to go into business together at the end of 2018.

Four years later, Anne runs the dayto-day operations by fulfilling orders and promoting products on social media. Sheila continues to make items by hand with supplies from Kenyan stores and ships inventory to Missouri as needed. Both sisters have full-time jobs in addition to running Sheila’s Boutique.

Anne usually visits Kenya once a year and brings an extra suitcase to fill with jewelry. If she needs inventory be-

Photography by Cora Mitchell and courtesy of Sheila Omer

IT TAKES ME ONE DAY TO MAKE A PAIR OF EARRINGS. BUT I ENJOY AND LOVE ALL OF IT.”

“

Anne (right) gets jewelry shipped from Sheila (left), who lives in Kenya.

fore her next trip to Kenya, Sheila ships items in large boxes. The boxes typically take one week to cross the Atlantic Ocean and reach Columbia.

“To bring an extra bag on the plane and keep it under the 50-pound limit, it costs an extra $30,” Anne says. “But if I have Sheila send me large boxes of jewelry, it’s way easier and cheaper.”

Local connections

Sabrina Garcia-Rubio, owner of Maude Vintage Clothing, has noticed the sisters’ hard work and describes them as a prolific team. “(Anne) has created a niche, and she can fully keep up with the demand,” Garcia-Rubio says. “It’s just nice to have such a reliable and consistent maker.”

Garcia-Rubio sells Sheila’s Boutique jewelry and clothing in her store and loves getting to share the story behind the items with customers. “There’s this elevated level of ownership and the way it makes you feel when you know you participated in supporting someone and,

therefore, supporting something that you believe in,” Garcia-Rubio says.

The duo hopes to expand the business to hire employees.

“It would be great to give people a job so they can put food on the table and so we can give back to the community,” Sheila says. “We’re not just looking at it from me and my sister expanding the business and making money, but also to help people in our community as well.”

Anne says the secret to working with family stems from love. “You want to be your sister’s keeper,” she says. “You want to see her succeed.” Sheila adds that the support and encouragement she gets from her sister makes her want to work even harder.

The sisters’ work ethic comes from seeing how hard their mother worked her entire life. “She would go buy her products and then sell them to people in offices, in hospitals, things like that.” Anne says. “We want to live a legacy that will make her proud. She worked extra, extra hard for us to be where we are right now.”

FIND THEIR JEWELRY

Connect with Sheila’s Boutique via its website, sheilass.com, or its Instagram, @sheilass_ boutique. Find wares at Maude Vintage Clothing, 9 N. Tenth St., or Midway Antique Mall, 6401 US 40.

In 2018, Anne found herself starting her business partnership with her sister. She first came to Columbia as an international student in 2009.

Photography courtesy of Sheila Omer

Rising stars

Teenage indie-rock band Estrella creates music and supports advocacy efforts in mid-Missouri.

BY GRACE ANN NATANAWAN

Estrella is Columbia’s newest indie-rock darling. Formed less than a year ago, the band has already established itself as a musical force. The young band is balancing newfound success with the pressures of high school while using its platform to support local advocacy efforts.

In January, bass and guitar player Matilda McKenzie reached out to lead singer Mackenzie Cortés over Instagram to start a band. Cortés and McKenzie both attend Hickman High School. Now, Estrella has grown into a four-person band with members Luke Sabath on guitar and bass; Sam Jones, who also attends Hickman, on drums; McKenzie on guitar and bass and Cortés as lead singer.

Since then, the indie-rock quartet has performed at local venues including Café

Berlin, Hitt Records and, most recently, Rose Music Hall. The band is enjoying the ride. “We haven’t even been a band for a full year yet — that’s crazy,” Cortés says.

In Spanish, estrella means star. Cortés always wanted a parakeet named Estrella as a child. Even though she never got the parakeet, she’s bringing another dream to life with the formation of the band. Cortés says naming a band is better than naming a bird, anyway.

Estrella’s musical style reflects an eclectic bunch of artists, including Smashing Pumpkins, Mitski and My Chemical Romance.

“It really changes drastically, but we have written riot grrrl music; we’ve written shoegaze music; we’ve written generic indie alternative music,” McKenzie says. “It really just changes (depending)

Photography by Nicole Gutierrez

Tom Jones, from left, Mackenzie Cortés and Matilda McKenzie are three of the members who make up Estrella. The young band uses music to support local advocacy efforts such as climate change awareness.

on the day and how we’re feeling.”

As the primary songwriter, Cortés draws inspiration from the world around her, the instrumentals of her bandmates and pieces of writing she sees on social media. She wants her lyricism to mirror the cadence of poetry.

“Seeing how people use certain words together inspires me a lot to make my lyrics more poetic,” Cortés says. “Not everything has to rhyme.”

As the band continues its journey, its members look forward to playing more shows and venturing into recorded music as well. “Right now, I think our focus is on recording songs,” says Jones, the band’s drummer. However, Cortés says the members want to record on their own, which means learning how to mix and edit music in order to make their own album.

Striving to cultivate its sound independently, the band is recording its music at Jones’ home studio with the help of Jones’ brother, who has provided the necessary equipment.

“It’s going to be really satisfying that not only is it our music, but it’s our sound completely,” Sabath says. “Everything you’re hearing is Estrella — blood, sweat and tears.”

With three of Estrella’s members attending Hickman, the band has to

balance schoolwork with the demands of growing musically.

“I feel like because we’re younger, we kind of don’t get the same respect that older musicians do, which is valid,” Cortés says. “It’s kind of difficult to be taken seriously when we’re just high school students.”

The members also juggle outside commitments. “Me and Sam (were) both in marching band,” McKenzie says. “That was extremely difficult.”

Estrella’s first performance was in May at Sick Jams, a Hickman club that promotes art and music. The acoustic set helped raise money for The Food

Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Cortés says that Estrella strives to use its musical platform to advocate for “anything that will purely help benefit the planet and people that live on it.”

“We love playing music for something that isn’t about us,” McKenzie says.

The group performed at a climate change awareness rally in August and is planning future performances that align with the members’ beliefs and local advocacy measures.

As the band approaches its first anniversary, it remains committed to bringing activism to the forefront while refining its sound and influences.

Estrella guitarist and bassist Luke Sabath writes a set list with instrument changes before performing at Hitt Records. Estrella members hope to release music and play at more venues and benefit shows in the future.

Photography by Nicole Gutierrez

Luke Sabath (above) rehearses with Mackenzie Cortés, who is the primary songwriter for Estrella, and Matilda McKenzie (right) before a show. McKenzie started Estrella with lead singer Cortés in January.

IT’S OUR SOUND COMPLETELY. EVERYTHING YOU’RE HEARING IS ESTRELLA –BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.”

— Luke Sabath

THE LOCAL BATTLE FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

STORY BY VALERIE NAVA EDITING BY JORDAN THORNSBERRY DESIGN BY CAMPBELL BIEMILLER

n the last week of October, a shooting at a south St. Louis high school took over national and local headlines.

A 15-year-old student and a teacher were shot to death, and several others were wounded.

Other mass shootings this year also gained national attention, including ones in Buffalo, New York, Highland Park, Illinois, and Uvalde, Texas.

In 2012, activist and MU alumna Shannon Watts founded the national movement Moms Demand Action under the Everytown for Gun Safety organization. She founded it the day after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, the fourth-deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history, where 26 people were shot and killed. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 4,000 mass shootings in the U.S. from 2013 to November 2022.

Kristin Bowen founded the Columbia group of Moms Demand Action

(or Moms for short) in the summer of 2015. Together, she and other volunteers work locally to reduce gun violence through gun safety education, outreach initiatives and community testimony. She is also the deputy leader of the Missouri chapter.

Before moving to Columbia, Bowen, a mother of two, grew up in New York. Newtown, Connecticut, where Sandy Hook is located, was 20 minutes away. Bowen was terrified that the next shooting might be at her sons’ school. As a member of the Parent Teacher Association, she organized a fundraiser to support the shooting’s victims.

However, her catalyst to do more was the on-air murders of CBS affiliate reporters Alison Parker and Adam Ward in August 2015. “That was the thing that made me stop thinking about it and really roll up my sleeves,” she says.

Missouri currently ranks 47th in gun safety strength — meaning it has

From legislative testimonies to outreach initiatives, Columbia’s leaders of Moms Demand Action have advocated for gun safety since 2015.

some of the weakest gun laws — in the annual scorecard from the Giffords Law Center, a national group that promotes gun safety regulations.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Gun safety and gun ownership can coexist. Moms Demand Action has

BY SUSAN WALSH/ASSOCIATED PRESS

received push back and negative criticism since its creation, but a frequent misconception is that the group is anti-Second Amendment. Many of the leaders and members are gun owners.

“The Second Amendment was written when we were talking about muskets. I don’t think it covers an AK-47 and

other dangerous weapons,” says Catey Terry, who joined Moms in 2015 and is now the spokesperson. “But Moms does support the people’s right to bear arms.”

Although the Moms group supports these rights, Terry says that more guns don’t make the country safer. “If this were the case, we would be the safest country

In June, many gathered near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to demand Congress act on gun safety issues.

Hundreds of attendees release balloons during a vigil outside Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. The vigil was held for victims and survivors of the October shooting at the school.

in the world, and we’re one of the most dangerous in the industrialized world for guns, homicides and suicides,” she says.

Terry says the Moms’ movement and ideas are backed by research done by Everytown for Gun Safety to address the issues of gun violence. “We’re well-researched, calm people who want to talk about facts with you so we can come to an understanding of the high cost of gun violence in this country, and work together to do something about it,” Terry says.

Like many of her fellow Moms volunteers, Rose Metro, leader of the Columbia group’s gun violence prevention team, also believes that gun violence should be primarily addressed as a public health issue instead of a criminal justice or political one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths by firearms continue to be a growing public health problem in the U.S., with 79% of all homicides and 53% of all suicides involving firearms in 2020.

GUN SAFETY AT HOME

Moms Demand Action calls for gun owners to be responsible and store their weapons safely, especially when living with kids, teenagers and family members with mental illness. “(Taking guns away) is not the intention of Moms at all,” Terry says. “What I do want, if you have guns in your home, is, I want you to be responsible with them.”

A program called Be SMART educates families about ways to make gun ownership safer. The acronym stands for a list of actions that parents can take — secure weapons, model safe storage, ask others about whether they have guns and if they are stored safely, recognize the role guns play in suicide and tell your peers about safe storage of weapons — says Noël Kopriva, the Be SMART lead of Moms’ Columbia group.

The words secure and model refer to safely storing weapons and setting an example of behavior to children. “The other thing you can do is ask, this is the hardest thing to do,” Kopriva says. “If (your kids) are having a playdate, for example, you have to make yourself say, ‘Hey, I’m just wondering if you have guns, are they safely stored?’ ”

The last steps call for gun owners to recognize the role of guns in suicide and tell peers to be smart about safe gun storage to create a cycle of protection.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

Moms volunteers can often be seen at the state Capitol in their bright red shirts advocating for gun violence prevention. While Moms has taken decisive steps to reinforce gun violence prevention programs and push against gun lobbyists, Terry says she is sad that gun violence is still a serious problem. “There still isn’t national legislation about protecting female victims of domestic violence or about training

MISSOURI RANKS 47TH AS ONE OF THE STATES WITH THE WEAKEST GUN LAWS IN THE ANNUAL SCORECARD FROM THE GIFFORDS LAW CENTER.

Central Visual and Performing Arts High School senior Veronica Russell (top) leads a march with students, faculty, family and friends during the Family Undivided event Nov. 6 in St. Louis. A photo of Alexandria Bell (above) sits among floral arrangements and memorials for the victims of the school shooting in October. Bell and teacher Jean Kuczka were killed.

and registering to buy a gun,” she says. “In some ways, instead of making progress, we’re moving backward.”

A strong pro-gun lobby in Missouri has proven to be effective at stripping gun regulations. When it comes to balancing victories and moments of defeat, Terry says the group also likes to use the phrase “failing forward.”

“We get to celebrate when a bad bill doesn’t pass in Missouri,” Terry says, referring to bills that loosen already weak gun laws. She says laws labeled “stand your ground” are an example. Such laws allow citizens to use deadly force to defend themselves if they justly believe force is necessary without the duty to retreat.

As far as Moms’ work and presence in the upcoming 2023 legislative session, Terry says it “depends on what bills are introduced.” In Missouri, the group mostly fights against bills that several legislators introduce under the label Guns Everywhere, she says. “We don’t want guns in churches, bars, college campuses, schools and daycares,” she says.

Terry also says the group is hoping to get traction to solve the “boyfriend loophole” in Missouri. She explained that under the current Missouri law, weapons are kept from the hands of husbands who have committed domestic abuse or are charged with a felony, but this does not address boyfriends or domestic partners. “We are trying to close that loophole to keep women safe,” she says.

Additionally, the Moms group supports universal background checks. Investigations are still ongoing for the St. Louis high school shooting in October, but authorities have confirmed that the suspect, who was killed in a confrontation with police, bought his weapon from a

MO LAW DOES NOT:

Prohibit individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition, unlike federal law

Prohibit individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders from possessing firearms or ammunition, unlike federal law Require courts to notify people when they become prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under state or federal law due to domestic violence

Require the surrender of firearms or ammunition by people who have become prohibited from possessing them under state or federal law due to domestic violence

Explicitly authorize or require the removal of firearms or ammunition at the scene of a domestic violence incident.

Catey Terry (left) and Kristin Bowen are leaders in Columbia’s Moms Demand Action.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM KOEPPEL

ACCORDING TO THE CDC,

DEATHS BY FIREARM CONTINUE TO BE A GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM

79% of all homicides involved firearms in 2020

53% of all suicides involved firearms in 2020

From 2019 to 2020, the rate for firearm homicide increased about 35%, and the firearm suicide rate remained high. The firearm homicide rate in 2020 was the highest recorded in over 25 years.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EVAN COBB/ARCHIVE AND DANIELLE DUCLOS

private seller as his federal background check blocked him from purchasing it from a licensed vendor.

Terry also says that these confirmed facts about the suspect’s weapon “prove a lot of Moms’ points,” specifically about implementing universal background checks for all gun sales. “That is 100 percent what we mean when we say ‘common sense gun legislation,’” she says. “What happened in St. Louis hits close to home; it’s in our backyard and what it reminds us is that gun violence is everywhere.”

Terry emphasized the need to continue advocating against gun violence. “When terrible things happen you have to grieve, process that, and you have to be so sad for everybody impacted. I don’t want to say it gets us going because we are going all the time, but a lot of us get back to work,” Terry says. “Ready to keep working and stop this from happening.”

MOVING FORWARD

Despite the name, the volunteers in this group are not just moms. “There are over 5 million of us in this country, not just moms, but dads, uncles, aunts, grandparents, child-free, childless,” Terry says. “Anyone who cares about common sense gun legislation.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the local group took steps to increase the diversity of its volunteers. Metro says because the national organization of Moms was founded by a white woman, the movement originally attracted a lot of middle-class white women.

Metro pointed out how Moms Demand Action has grown in acknowledging the different kinds of gun vio-

lence and how structural racism affects minority communities, which suffer disproportionately from this issue. She says this was critical to her decision to stay in the group.

“I remember when Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms, for the first time said we can’t talk about gun violence without talking about racism,” Metro says. “And I think if she hadn’t made that move, I probably would have left the organization.”

Metro says there is always room for Moms to improve, and one of the group’s priorities moving forward is to have the local group’s leadership and supporters reflect the diversity of the people who are affected by gun violence. She says they also want to focus on building relationships, supporting their community partners and figuring out how they can be most helpful.

Bowen says that it’s no longer a question of whether a gun violence incident will happen, but when it will happen again. “(Right after a shooting) we seem to have a sense of urgency, and all of a sudden, it dissipates, and we’re back to square one. Our leaders need to get over that cycle. Are you going to get involved and take action? Or are you going to keep kicking the can down the road? That’s the question,” she says. Despite the obstacles, the volunteers say they haven’t lost motivation to continue serving their cause. “I always try to think of what would happen if we didn’t do this work. How much worse would it be? That’s what motivates me to keep going,” Metro says.

Additional reporting by Danielle DuClos, Julia Eastham and Matthew Hill

In September 2016, Moms Demand Action volunteers filled the fourth floor gallery during a Missouri Senate veto session.

Kristin Bowen and Scott Randolf wait to testify at a hearing about HB 2118, a bill that would ease self-defense laws.

According to the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFFH), 6 out of every 10 suicides involve a firearm.

Women work the production line in 1953 at Holladay Distillery, the oldest distillery in the state. It released its own Missouri bourbon for the first time in May.

Throughout Missouri’s history, we have agreed on one thing: We love our alcohol.

Since the mid-1800s, when Dutch immigrants brought their brewing knowledge to St. Louis, the state has found its industrial stride in alcohol. Limestone caves lended cool interiors for beer and spirit storage. The small brewery that eventually grew into the industry giant Anheuser-Busch was founded in 1852 by George Schneider, a German immigrant. As settlers made homes in the Ozarks during this time, they brewed moonshine from corn in stills and fought off tax collectors.

Nathan Boone, the son of Daniel Boone, took writer Gottfried Duden, another German immigrant, on a tour of fledgling Missouri. Duden wrote of Missouri’s “wild grapevines … heavy with sweet fruit.” Inspired by Duden’s glowing review, German settlers staked out plots of land to use for vineyards and wineries, and Stone Hill Winery was founded in 1847.

Over 1,000 barrels of bourbon are aged on the first floor of a rickhouse at Holladay Distillery. A rickhouse is the structure used for storing barrels of aging whiskey.

When Prohibition was sweeping the nation in the early 1900s, Missouri voters rejected three different attempts to make alcohol illegal.

g History of bourbon in Missouri f

Missouri bourbon is made at Holladay Distillery in Weston. Holladay Distillery started selling bourbon again in 2015 after focusing on clear spirits since 1985.

Missouri continues to make a name for itself in the alcohol industry. In 2019, the Missouri General Assembly declared Missouri bourbon an official whiskey category. This follows in the footsteps of Kentucky and Tennessee, two states that also have specific criteria for their spirits. The Missouri Craft Distillers Guild, which formed in 2018, was the largest advocate for the bill.

Missouri bourbon requires the contents to be mashed, fermented, distilled, aged and bottled in Missouri. Additionally, the corn used must be from Missouri and the aging happen in oak barrels manufactured in the state. There are many different whiskey categories in the world, but Missouri bourbon is the only type to put restrictions on the origin of the barrels.

All whiskey must be aged in barrels, except for moonshine or white dog. Since Missouri has a large population of white oak trees, the state is one of the top suppliers of oak for the bourbon industry.

Federal standards define what can be called bourbon. The initial fermented mash of grains must be at least 51% corn and must be stored in charred new oak containers for aging.

Missouri bourbon might be newly defined, but from Holladay Distillery in Weston to Six-Mile Ordinary here in Columbia, spirits have a storied history in the Show-Me State.

A century ago, while neighboring Kansas had strict temperance laws and went dry in 1881, Missouri rejected prohibition three times. One block in Kansas City was known as the “wettest block in the world,” when many crossed state lines to drink there. This block was home to the largest mail-order whiskey house in the country, J. Rieger & Co.

Missouri’s distaste for prohibition ran so deep that, after the 18th Amendment passed and sale of alcohol was banned federally, citizens could still be given prescriptions for distilled spirits — a dose of one pint every 10 days, given they paid the $3 or $4 to refill that prescription.

Bourbon was first brought from Kentucky to Missouri in 1838 by Ben Holladay, a transportation tycoon known as the “stagecoach king,” due to the stagecoach lines he owned that ran to California.

Holladay purchased 160 acres atop a limestone spring in 1849 that was charted by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark 45 years prior. Coming from the birthplace of bourbon, Holladay knew the importance of limestone spring water in the drink’s production. In 1856, he and his brother David opened up the Blue Springs Distillery in Weston. Now known as Holladay Distillery, it’s the oldest in Missouri and currently part of the McCormick Distilling Company.

Photography by MaKayla Hart

g

Keeping the spirit alive f

The distillery released its first bottling of its own Missouri bourbon, Ben Holladay Bourbon, in May of this year after almost 30 years.

The Ben Holladay Bourbon was bottled-in-bond, which is another legal condition that came about in 1897 for whiskeys. Though not every bottle has to follow it, the Bottled-in-Bond Act ensures consumers are truly drinking whiskey and not another spirit that is falsely labeled.

In 1985, Holladay Distillery stopped making bourbon and focused on clear spirits until 2015. Jordan Germano, the marketing and communications manager at Holladay Distillery, says people weren’t drinking as many brown spirits in the ’80s, preferring vodka and gin.

“Bourbon was just not a (popular) thing. For about 30 years, we focused on those clear spirits,” Germano says. “In 2015 we decided that, with the bourbon boom coming back, craft cocktails and the industry shifting, that we wanted to bring that process back.”

Once it was decided, the original stillhouse that Holladay used in 1856 was renovated with all new equipment, and the distillery is using Holladay’s original recipe. They have traditional aging warehouses, with more than

21,000 barrels and seven floors in the rickhouses, the structure used for storing barrels of aging whiskey.

Kyle Merklein is the master distiller at Holladay Distillery, a title he says he never thought he’d have, and one that’s hard to get used to saying. Merklein joined the Holladay team in 2016, one year after they decided to distill bourbon again.

“For me, it was kind of the background plus luck to get here,” Merklein says. Growing up on a farm in northwest Kansas, he always wanted to be part of the agricultural industry, but his dad warned him against farming because it’s hard relying on the weather. Merklein earned bachelor’s and master’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering from Kansas State University, and his master’s research was fermentation.

Although he technically had some experience with distilling (prior to his masters, his first job was making biodiesel where they distilled glycerin on-site) he learned the Holladay process from Dennis Cohorst, who worked at the distillery in the ‘80s before they stopped making bourbon.

While Holladay Distillery is the oldest in the state, the history of Missouri bourbon doesn’t start and end here. Columbia has its own place in this boozesoaked tradition, tracing all the way back to the 1770s.

HOW BOURBON IS MADE

i A mash is created out of grains. For a spirit to be considered bourbon, 51% of the mash must be corn.

ii. Grains are cooked with enzymes and yeast for three or four days, bringing it to around 10% alcohol.

iii. Next, it’s moved to the still for distillation, which takes about 8 hours. The still turns the mixture into vapor, which needs to reach a certain temperature before getting moved to colder temperatures.

Photography by MaKayla Hart

Sweet on bitters

Curious about Italian bitters? Follow this guide for a fruity, spiced, bitter or sweet cocktail.

BY GRACE ANN NATANAWAN

Italian bitters have taken social media by storm. From House of the Dragon’s Emma D’Arcy declaring the negroni sbagliato as their drink of choice to Florence Pugh’s iconic saunter with an Aperol spritz in hand at the Venice Film Festival, Italian bitters are the liqueurs everyone is talking about.

Aperol and Campari are the most popular Italian bitters. Bursting with orange and citrus flavors, Aperol has a vibrant orange hue. The Aperol spritz is a popular and refreshing summer cocktail with a well-balanced edge of bitterness. The cocktail is made of Aperol, prosecco and a splash of soda water.

Campari is commonly found in cocktails such as negronis and boulevardiers. It is made of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit. Frances Harvey, the bar manager at Barred Owl Butcher & Table, discourages beginners from starting with

Campari. “It is definitely on the end of the spectrum, being incredibly bitter,” Harvey says. Instead, she suggests Cappelletti, a wine-based aperitif and her personal favorite. “It has a much rounder and sweeter quality to it and has a lot more orange notes,” she says.

For those looking for a bitter cocktail, Harvey recommends the classic negroni, which is Campari, sweet vermouth and gin. But there are plenty of variations. “I’m a whiskey girl, so my go-to is always going to be a boulevardier,” Harvey says. A boulevardier replaces the gin with rye. And now you’re ready to have your own stunning Italian bitters moment.

Campari and Aperol originated in Italy. Until 2006, Campari’s vibrant red color was derived from a natural dye made with cochineal beetles.

Photography by Maria Schneider and courtesy of Tim Eisenhauer

VOX MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2022

Fire up the food

The owners turn former pop-up Barbacoas del Norte into new eatery Irene’s BBQ.

BY PETRA RIVERA

As soon as you walk in the front door, the 10-foot fire hearth is on display. It’s a perfect embodiment of what Irene’s BBQ is all about: mixing food and fire to create crowd-pleasing, tasty dishes.

“Everything is touching fire at some point,” says Tim Eisenhauer, co-owner of Irene’s BBQ and the head baker at Barred Owl Butcher & Table. He says the best flavor comes from smoking the food, which adds another challenge while cooking. “You have to be able to control the fire in barbecue, keeping it low and steady,” Eisenhauer says. “It’s like driving a manual car versus an automatic. There’s just something extra to it.”

Formerly a pop-up eatery called Barbacoas del Norte, Irene’s BBQ is currently under construction to become a small restaurant located in the Arcade District on College Avenue, just north of Beet Box and Logboat Brewing Co.

Co-owners Eisenhauer and Josh Smith have been working on this idea for three years. They were inspired to start experimenting with the concept of Mexican-style BBQ in the Barred Owl kitchen and with a grill out back.

owners

Irene’s BBQ aim to bring events, good food and fun with its opening in early 2023. South American-style BBQ was among the pop-up’s offerings.

IRENE’S BBQ

711 N. College Ave. @irenesbbq irenesbbq.com Opening early 2023

Barbacoas del Norte’s September 2019 debut included events such as whiskey tasting dinners and serving breakfast tacos at the Columbia Farmers Market. To give them a bit more freedom with the food they make, Eisenhauer and Smith rebranded Barbacoas del Norte to Irene’s BBQ in April.

Testing out the waters

The new restaurant will combine the owners’ love of wood-fired cooking with their fascination for international cuisines to expand the menu beyond their beloved Mexican-style BBQ. “We’re just naturally curious and always wanted to try new things,” Eisenhauer says.

Staff and customers are their main inspiration for these experiments in the kitchen. “We’ve had some people see us, try our food and then come ask to work with us,” Eisenhauer says. “When Waves (Cider Co.) introduced the new pineapple cider, we did a Cuban popup there.” The owners hope the restaurant can second as an event space. “We worked with several people from Central America, and we would like to give them the space to do their own pop-ups or their own nights and bring in flavors from their countries,” Eisenhauer says.

Beet Box is a longtime collaborator with Irene’s BBQ. Co-owner of Beet Box Ben Hamarah has only great things to say about the new restaurant. “We’ve been eating their food since the very first pop-

up, and experiencing the evolution of their food has been incredible,” Hamarah says. “Columbia isn’t ready for how good their food is and how much depth goes into the inspiration behind it.”

To celebrate being neighbors, Beet Box and Irene’s BBQ threw a block party in June with live music and a delectable menu. Hamarah is excited to welcome Irene’s to the Arcade District community as neighbors and friends.

A new location

With a recent delay in construction, Eisenhauer estimates that Irene’s BBQ will open in early 2023. Eisenhauer’s vision for the restaurant is to have a bright and airy space with big windows and high ceilings.

Regulars of the pop-up can anticipate an extended menu with a new sandwich section to go with its usual tacos, tortas, different meats and desserts. Eisenhauer says the restaurant plans to use corn imported from Mexico to make homemade tortillas and other additions such as dumplings.

Once settled in the new restaurant, Eisenhauer is excited to continue hosting unique food events and working with the Columbia Farmers Market.

“Irene’s is a chance to play and try something new,” Eisenhauer says. “The same way that Barred Owl gave us the space to do that, we would like to continue that and offer other people the chance.”

Photography courtesy of Tim Eisenhauer

The

of

Collecting the squish squad

Squishmallows provide the hug your inner child has been craving. A local group embraces the collectibles.

BY EMMA LINGO

Aria Garcia will never forget Simon the Sloth. He was their first.

Garcia’s grandpa picked up Simon at a Rainforest Cafe on a vacation in Texas as a gift back in 2019. The first time Garcia, who uses they/them pronouns, clutched the sloth to their chest, they felt a sense of calmness — and they were hooked. The plush was round, soft to the touch and true to the Squishmallow brand. Simon made an excellent emotional support stuffie.

Every day for the last two years, since they started attending MU, Garcia has carried one of their squishy pals. Whether they’re in line at Starbucks or in class taking notes, one of their 70 plushies sits by their side, providing comfort.

With nearly 70 Squishmallows in their collection, Aria Garcia is a certified Squish fanatic. The first Squishmallow Garcia got was a Sloth named Simon (on the left), and he has

The contagious craze

Since Squishmallows hit the shelves in 2017, they have grown from a set of eight plushies to an army of over 1,000, each with its own distinct personality. The Beanie Baby-esque toys skyrocketed in popularity when COVID-19 hit in 2020. Now, squish collectors can even check the value of their purchases by reading the tag, which includes a rarity indicator. For many collectors, including Garcia, rarity is a nice touch. But that isn’t the main reason they seek out the huggables.

“Every person has a different reason, but mine is just the satisfaction that comes from being a collector,” Garcia says. “The reason I do this is to be happy.”

Photography by Valeryia Zakharyk and Kennedy McGilvery and illustrations by Grace Leyden and Heeral Patel

Cam the Cat is a rare Squishmallow

fans felt the commodity called for an event. Squish fanatics in cities all over the world began to host squish meets, where collectors could come together to celebrate, trade and show off their collections.

Elise Vahle, an MU junior, hosted the one and only squish meet that took place at the Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary Pavilion on Aug. 2. Five people attended. The fans brought their collections ready to barter, and Vahle got to take home two new friends — Ludwig the Frog and Dexter the Dragon. The general rule at the meet was that Squishmallows would be exchanged based on size. For example, an 18-inch for an 18-inch or a Squishville mini for another

Squishville mini. A medium-sized Squishmallow costs between $10 and $16 while larger plushies range from $20 to $80.

“It’s a really positive, welcoming and fun community,” Vahle says. “We’re here to make our lives more joyful. It may seem weird, but everyone has a hobby and collects something in one way or another. Why not collect something cute?”

Vahle runs the “Columbia MO Squishmallow Fans” Facebook group. The 64 squish-enthusiast members can update their community when local stores restock their Squishmallows, post trade offers and keep up with squish meet details. After two years of intense collecting, Vahle says Cracker Barrel and Gerbes are the two best locations in Columbia to go hunting for Squishmallows.

Finding comfort in commodities

Garcia and Vahle both began collecting Squishmallows during their transition from high school to college during COVID-19’s peak. Taylor Geneux also started her collection mid-2020.

“I was Ash from Pokémon,” Geneux says. “I needed them all.”

Geneux, a Columbia native, says her Squishmallow obsession has dwindled.

SQUISHMALLOW RARITY SCALE

RARE

Rare means 75,000 exist. These have a silver foil.

CHECK-IN SERIES

Squishmallows rest on Elise Vahle’s bed arranged by color. The most popular Squishmallows are cows, axolotls and cats, and special holiday designs are a hot commodity.

The Check-in Series is available only at certain destinations. Collectors travel and hunt for them.

She keeps her favorite ’mallows in her room and puts the rest of her collection in storage. She jokingly calls herself “a Squishmallow veteran.”

Geneux scoured the r/Squishmallows subreddit during the height of the pandemic. In the infamous subreddit, some people would talk about how they spent a whole paycheck on just one of these stuffed animals.

ULTRA RARE

Only 50,000 ultra rare ‘mallows exist among select retailers.

SELECT SERIES

Only 10,000 exist of those with a black tag. They are only available on Squishmallow. com. A new plush drops each month in this series.

“Nourishing your inner child can feel kind of like a rush; it can feel very liberating, very freeing,” Geneux says. “But it’s a slippery slope, and there’s a fine line between consumerism and self-care.”

SPECIAL EDITION

This holographic tag means only 20,000 exist.

FOUNDER’S EDITION

A Founder’s Redemption Card can be found in trading card packs, with a code to redeem online.

Geneux still loves her Squishmallows. Even though she has lost some interest, she still feels a sense of nostalgia when checking in with the online community. Vahle, who is active with squish friends online, makes sure the Columbia Squishmallow community stays positive in her corner of the internet.

“I’ve gone through phases as a collector,” Vahle says. “Each of them has its own joys and its own stresses. It’s good to remember that sometimes it’s nice just to enjoy what you already have.”

Photography by Olivia Anderson and illustrations by Heeral Patel

Aldea the Axolotl is in the Select Series

Have a beary cozy winter

Learn how to winterize different parts of your home so you can hibernate safely as winter approaches.

BY ABBY STETINA

Winterizing a home might seem daunting, but there are simple steps to keep a home safe, warm and firefree. By properly maintaining chimneys, furnaces, downspouts and drafty windows, homeowners can stay snug all winter long and save some big bucks in the long run.

Households can expect to pay up to 28% more to heat their homes this winter due to surging fuel costs and colder weather, according to Reuters. The average cost for a household that relies on natural gas is expected to rise to $931 compared to last year’s average of $724. Not only can winterization decrease heating

EXPOSED PIPES

Exposed piping in crawl spaces or under mobile homes can lead to water loss, pipe breaks and property damage. Bill Simpson at Westlake Ace Hardware recommends fitting styrofoam protectors onto outside faucets as soon as possible, as supplies are harder to find later in the winter. Foam or tape pipe wraps can be left on all year long and replaced when weathered.

“The dirtier the furnace filter, the more it starves for air,” says Dennis Griffin, general manager of Albright Heating and Air Conditioning. The filter should be changed about twice a year, and if the homeowner has pets or small children, then it needs to be changed every few months.

SMOKE DETECTORS

According to the Columbia Fire Department, now is a good time to check the batteries on all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Batteries need to be changed at least twice per year. Changing batteries at the start and end of daylight savings time is a good rule of thumb. The fire department provides one free smoke detector for homeowners. To participate, call 874-7391.

costs, but it can keep everyone safe in the house as well. According to the National Fire Protection Association, local fire departments responded to an estimated 24,300 house fires from 2014 to 2018 in which smoke alarms failed to operate.

Here is some helpful advice from local service providers on how to get winter-ready.

CHIMNEY

A wood-burning fireplace can add festive cheer, but routine maintenance is recommended. Mark Unterreiner, a certified chimney inspector, says it’s important that fireplaces be cleaned by a professional every year. Signs that a fireplace needs to be checked include black smoke spilling into the house or if the fireplace is blackened and clogged.

WINDOWS AND DOORS

To save on energy costs, Simpson suggests using foam seals around doors and windows. The seals, made from sponge or rubber, help stop the flow of warm air escaping outside. Remove the paper backing and stick the tacky side to the bottom of a window or door.

GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS

A buildup of leaves and debris from the fall can clog gutters and downspouts. Jeff Thurmond of Thurmond’s Lawn & Tree Service says the clogs can lead to water buildup and mold issues. Homeowners should clear leaves and debris from their gutters.

Illustrations by Grace Leyden

FURNACE

A new teaching tool: TeacherTok

Columbia teachers share how TikTok has given them a creative outlet to celebrate their students and educate online.

BY SOPHIA DONIS

Art teacher Ashley Alexander and sixth grade science teacher Jenny Payne laugh at each other as they stack different objects on the conference room table at John Warner Middle School. The TikTok duo is trying to film a video in a room with few supplies and no tripod.

In between giggles and snapping along to The Addams Family theme song, other staff members stop in the doorway to watch five adults fit themselves into a camera frame. After multiple takes, perfecting transitions and editing clips, the

light-hearted TikTok video is all set to go viral. “That’s exactly what we say every time we make a TikTok,” Alexander says.

For John Warner Middle School, teachers and administrators were trying to find creative ways to connect with students virtually and agreed TikTok was the easiest and most effective way.

“We knew that kids were going through social media a lot more than they would if they were here at school, and we wanted to put some positive, school-appropriate content into these kids’ feeds,” Payne says.

Chemistry teacher Stephanie Coyle made a TikTok account after she noticed her students flocking to the app. She uses her account to inform her students through short videos.

BEHIND THE HYPE

TeacherTok, the teacher corner of TikTok, has grown in popularity since the start of COVID-19. The hashtag TeacherTok has more than 5 billion views.

Since John Warner opened in August 2020, the staff has been creative in starting traditions and forming a community. Principal Taylor Drennan says it is important for the school to put itself out there and write its own story. “If we don’t show the message of what we’re about, it gets made for you,” Drennan says.

Illustrations by Moy Zhong with photo courtesy of Stephanie Coyle

Now, the school’s TikTok account, which can be found under the username @johnwarnerms, is used as an incentive for students, a platform to promote spirit days and an integral part of the school environment.

“They’re all about it,” Alexander says. “They talk about it all the time and how other schools talk about our TikTok, too. They’re funny about it because it’s like a competition to them to see who can get the most views.”

In his role as principal, Drennan says he downloaded TikTok to see his students’ interests. “If you scroll back on my first couple of videos, it’s just me and my daughter trying to figure out how to use the app and learn the lingo to communicate with the kids,” Drennan says.

For years, Battle High School chemistry teacher Stephanie Coyle, known as @chemistrywithcoyle on TikTok has used rap as a teaching tool for her students. Videos of her classroom performances made it onto TikTok. “I’m a really bad rapper, so they thought it was hilarious,” Coyle says.

TikTok allows her to condense information into short videos for her students and to help stop the spread of misinformation. “At least if they have one person they trust every now and then, they can see my TikTok and get actual information instead of random

John Warner principal Taylor Drennan utilizes TikTok to connect with the community and to stay up-todate on the latest viral trends.

information about when the world is going to end,” Coyle says.

TeacherTok is allowing educators a new way to reach out to their students, whether it’s dancing in an inflatable bear costume or conducting 30 second science experiments.

A VERY HOLIDAY

December 2-4

Showcasing the remarkable holiday decorations of Columbia homes since 1984. FOR

December 11 | 2 PM

Missouri Theater

PRESENTED BY SHELTER INSURANCE®

A Columbia holiday tradition supporting the Marine Toys for Tots program.

Illustrations by Moy Zhong with photo courtesy of Taylor Drennan

Carving out a life together

Local wife-and-wife duo run Estrapala Woodworking while juggling parenting and day jobs.

BY AMILEE NUZZO

Eleven years ago, Marika Estrada and Sara Pipala started dating after they met online. Five years ago, they became the Estrapalas. In the last two years, they became Estrapala Woodworking and the only two female members of the Midwest Woodworkers Association.

The couple’s last name was originally a joke from a friend who addressed a Christmas card to “The Estrapalas.” Knowing they wanted children, they figured adopt-

ing this last name would be easier than hyphenating Estrada-Pipala. At their wedding, Sara and Marika pushed two pieces of wood together with the different sections of their names, locked the pieces together and threw the key in a lake.

Branching out

Neither of them had woodworking experience prior to living in Columbia. Marika went to the University of Iowa to earn her

Sara, left, and Marika Estrapala created their own last name by combining Estrada and Pipala.

degree in psychology, and Sara earned her undergraduate degree from Illinois State University. Once Sara had an art degree and a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Iowa, she wanted to invest in a nicer desk as a post-grad treat for herself. They didn’t have the funds for it, so instead, she decided to make it.

“For my graduation gift, (Marika’s) mom got me this insanely beautiful, huge, live edge piece of walnut,” Sara

Photography by Kennedy McGilvery

says. “My gift to myself was the time to turn it into a really beautiful desk.”

Living with a new baby amid the process of moving, and having no power tools, Sara would go outside and sand the massive piece of wood by hand to take a break from the stress.

A new home

After Sara got a job at MU, she and Marika moved to Columbia in 2020 and discovered Sawdust Studios. The shop has beginner classes, 24-hour access with a membership and professional-grade tools. Sara wanted to learn more about her new hobby, but Marika had no interest in the craft and was annoyed when she would catch Sara researching wood before bed.

“She was jealous,” Sara says.

“I was jealous,” Marika confirms.

Eventually, Marika went to a class to make a Pikler triangle, an indoor climbing frame for children that comes in a variety of sizes, usually at least 31 inches tall. Although she wasn’t confident in the art right away, she offered to clean the shop and be around the machines, and eventually her curiosity and interest took off.

Cruz Chavez, the owner of Sawdust Studios, 2207 Nelwood Drive, says the pair was eager to learn and able to go through a few steps independently before asking for more help.

The Estrapalas also help Chavez and the studio by providing ideas for events and classes. “They want me to succeed,”

SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME

To browse Estrapala’s current inventory of boxes, charcuterie boards, wall art and more, visit estrapalawood working.com

For custom pieces, email the couple at estrapala woodworking@ gmail.com

Chavez says. Last year, Sara had the idea for the studio to host a toy drive. Chavez says this was successful largely because of them.

Business takes root

After Sara and Marika started posting their finished products on social media, friends expressed interest in purchasing them. The duo originally didn’t intend to start a business, but since wood is so expensive, it would be hard to afford the hobby without finding a way to make money from it. Sara and Marika each have individual interests. Sara focuses on elaborate boxes, while Marika enjoys making cutting boards and wooden jewelry.

Most recently, Estrapala Woodworking was featured at Art in the Park and the Fall into Art show in October. While the couple has been woodworking for a relatively short time, they agree they’ve both come a long way. “The more you do it, it just becomes so natural,” Marika says.

When they’re not busy working, the Estrapalas can be found at Sawdust Studios. Sara and Marika each have their own woodworking styles that complement each other.

Photography by Kennedy McGilvery

Estrapala Woodworking offers knives (above), clocks, wood art and more, as well as custom pieces. It runs in the family — the duo’s daughter, Hazel (right), plays with tools at Sawdust Studios. The studio provides classes for woodworkers of all skill levels, as well as 24-hour access with a membership.

Sara and Marika Estrapala prepare to transform an ordinary wooden board into a work of art.

TO-DO LIST

Your curated guide of what to do in Columbia this month.

ART

Columbia Art League Winter Members’ Show

See and appreciate Columbia Art League members’ art that has been on display since Nov. 15. The art will be sold before the holidays. Members can enter any artwork throughout the exhibition as their pieces sell. Through Jan. 5, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tues.–Fri.; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, Columbia Art League, columbiaartleague.org

Steel Magnolias

This classic comedy-drama will tickle your funny bone one minute and tug at your heartstrings the next. Come enjoy this story about the regulars at a Louisiana beauty salon and their tumultuous personal lives. The Columbia Entertainment Company brings these characters to life in all their poignant, touching glory. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 13, 8–10 and 15–17; 2 p.m., Dec. 4, 11 and 18, Columbia Entertainment Company, $20, adults; $12, seniors, children 12 and under and students; 474-3699, cectheatre.org

The Thanksgiving Play

This satirical play centers on a group of artists tasked with writing a politically correct Thanksgiving play featuring a Native American voice. Directed by DeeDee Farris and local filmmaker Mark Baumgartner and written by renowned Indigenous playwright Larissa FastHorse, this comedy explores the complexities and challenges of representation. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 2–3, and 8–10; 2 p.m., Dec. 4 and 11, Talking Horse Productions, $17, general admission; $15, seniors and students; 6071740, talkinghorse.com

White Christmas

Sing in the holidays with the musical adaptation of the Paramount Pictures film White Christmas. The Conservatory

CIVIC

Columbia Christmas Parade

Come one, come all, to the cheerful Columbia Christmas Parade presented by The Salvation Army. Catch a glimpse of Santa, and enjoy the downtown CoMo parade as an attendee or as a sponsor. All donations can be made on The Salvation Army website and go towards helping the community. 3–5 p.m., Nov. 27, Downtown Columbia, stlsalvationarmy.org

Pawject Runway

The holidays just got a bit furrier with this canine fashion show hosted by Lizzi and Rocco’s Natural Pet Market. The 10th annual show will be held at Bur Oak Brewing Company and benefits Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue. There will also be a Maker’s Mart for holiday shopping. 6–9 p.m., Dec. 1, Bur Oak Brewery, $50, unchainedmelodies.org

TRYPS Princess Party

for the Performing Arts at Stephens College will put on this uplifting musical about a duo of singing sisters on their way to a Christmas show, featuring a host of well-known holiday tunes. 2 p.m., Dec. 11, Macklanburg Playhouse, $20, stephens.edu

A Christmas Carol

Come celebrate this Arrow Rock holiday tradition. Now in its eighth year, the Lyceum Theatre will put on its annual production of A Christmas Carol, adapted for the stage by Quin Gresham. This story, originally by Charles Dickens, follows Ebeneezer Scrooge as he’s taken through his past, present and future on Christmas Eve. The play’s music and classic story are sure to put you in the holiday spirit. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14–17 and 20–23; 2 p.m., Dec. 16–18 and 22–23, $20–46, 660-837-3311

Family and community are at the heart of the Kwanzaa celebration and Black business expo. “The essence of Kwanzaa is in the home,” Kunama Mtendaji said at last year’s expo.

Dress up or dress down, and unite with some of the classic Disney characters for a magical afternoon of story times, princess lessons, singing, dancing and more. Live out your childhood dreams with a chance to take photos and spend time with each of the royal characters. 1–2:30 p.m. and 3–4:30 p.m., Dec. 4, TRYPS Children’s Theater, $20, 449-4536, trypskids.com

Holiday Floral Competition

Come together with the community to see beautiful holiday floral arrangements from designers around Missouri. Each arrangement will be judged and a silent auction will be held for the gorgeous designs to be taken home. The festive, floral fun will be held at the Nifong Hy-Vee location, and all proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec. 10, Hy-Vee on Nifong Boulevard, 442-8615

Photography by Ben Koelkebeck/Archive

City Kwanzaa Celebration and Black-Owned Business Expo

Commemorate traditions this year with the Columbia celebration of the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa. Enjoy free food, entertainment and an expo of local Black-owned businesses while developing positive families and communities per the traditions of the holiday. 2–5 p.m., Dec. 10, Armory Sports and Recreation Center, 817-5077, como.gov

FOOD Breakfast with Santa

Round up the kiddos to have breakfast with Santa at The Atrium on Tenth. Help yourself to freshly served breakfast, Christmas cookie decorating and, of course, tons of photo opportunities with the big guy. 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec. 4, The Atrium on Tenth, $20, adults; $12, children 3–12; free, children 2 and under, theatriumontenth.com

MUSIC Kody West

Country singer-songwriter Kody West will be making a stop in Columbia during his 16-show tour. With his guitar in hand, West will be performing his latest EP “Falling.” Since the release of his debut album Green in 2017, this Texas-born artist has been growing at a rapid pace. He’s an act you won’t want to miss. 8 p.m., Nov. 29, Rose Music Hall, 875-0588, rosemusichall.com

American Aquarium

This alternative country band from Raleigh, North Carolina, is bringing its tour to The Blue Note. With numerous records under its belt, including one produced by country star Jason Isbell, these musicians are veterans of the alternative country scene. Fans can also hear Americana musician Davis Ramirez as the opening act. 8 p.m. show, Nov. 30, The Blue Note, $20-100, 874-1944, thebluenote.com

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENTS

Winter Bluegrass Bash

The Winter Bluegrass Bash is being held this holiday season at The Blue Note. Add a bit of blues to your holiday playlist with Arkansauce, Armchair Boogie, Fireside Collective and One Way Traffic. All bands are known for their bluegrass sound but draw inspiration from funk and blues music. 8 p.m. show, Dec. 3, The Blue Note, $15, general admission, $25 tables, 874-1944, thebluenote.com

From Ashes to New

This Pennsylvania-based metal band will be making a stop at The Blue Note on its Until We Break Tour. Concertgoers can choose the VIP package and receive early entry, a signed poster with a personalized picture with the band and other merch. Despite lineup changes over the years, the band has stayed true to its metal roots. The band’s latest album, Panic, was released in 2020. 7 p.m., Dec. 7, The Blue Note, $36—62, 874-1944, thebluenote.com

December 15-17, 2022

Dumky Holiday and Scott Yoo’s Notable Encounter

CALENDAR Voctave

See a cappella group Voctave as they perform from their latest holiday album The Spirit of the Season. The 11-member group is rooted in musical theater, contemporary Christian, barbershop, pop and choral music. 7 p.m., Dec. 8, Missouri Theatre, $48–55, concertseries. missouri.edu

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The American rock band will grace the stage for the Christmas Eve and Other Stories event presented by the Hallmark Channel. Their live shows are known for visual splendor. This performance will largely feature Christmasthemed songs. 7 p.m., Dec. 13, Jesse Auditorium, 882-3781, concertseries.missouri.edu

OUTDOORS Shelter Gardens Holiday Lights

www.OdysseyMissouri.org

It isn’t the holidays without festive lights, and Shelter Gardens is delivering this year. The Winter Wonderland Garden of Lights has multiple dates throughout December, and the opening weekend will have a special visit from Santa. 6-8 p.m., Dec. 1–3, 9–10,16–17 and 19–21, Shelter Gardens, 445-8441

Living Windows

Liven up your evening with downtown Columbia’s holiday tradition of the Living Windows. On the first Friday each December, downtown shop owners put up their best holiday-themed animated displays for locals to watch while shopping for the holiday season. 5–6 p.m., Dec. 2, downtown Columbia, discoverthedistrict.com

Lights and Sights Tour

Bring on the holiday glow with Columbia’s Lights and Sights Tour brought to you by Columbia’s Parks and Recreation minibusses. Take in the beautiful holiday lights after departing from the Activity and Recreation thrift store. There are two separate departure times, and the event is family friendly. 6:15 and 7:45 p.m., Dec. 9. , ARC, como.gov

MU vs. KU Men’s Basketball

There’s no game like a rivalry game. There aren’t many chances to see these two battle it out, so don’t miss what promises to be a high-energy game. They might even play Mr. Brightside. 4:15 p.m., Dec. 10, Mizzou Arena, 800-228-7297, ticketmaster.com

*ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED* for these special House Concerts.

with Alice Dade, flute Scott Yoo, violin

Bion Tsang, cello Peter Miyamoto, piano Ayako Tsuruta, piano

Villa-Lobos Jet Whistle Beethoven “Spring” Violin Sonata Dvorak “Dumky” Piano Trio t t

TAKING THE LEAD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE TRABALKA

Katherine Schneller works with horses at Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center in Columbia, where she is the assistant director. Cedar Creek provides mid-Missouri with equine therapy services. She enjoys the hard-labor aspect of working at Cedar Creek and says the work there is rewarding. Schneller finds her creative outlet through dance, which she’s been doing since age 11. She is the head coach of the Stephens College Dance Team and says she enjoys staying busy and making an impact. “I’m passionate about helping people and making people feel special about themselves,” Schneller says. “And that’s what being a coach is, and that’s what working at Cedar Creek is, and that’s what being a teacher is. In a way, I do the same thing. I just do it in different ways.” Learn more about Schneller and her coaching experience at voxmagazine.com

photo finish