The former enclosed porch was reopened and a stamped concrete floor was added. A custom blend from Sherwin Williams was used on the exterior.

Flipping homes is a popular pastime right now. Consider HGTV’s ratings hit “Fixer Uppers,” a renovation show featuring Chip and Joanna Gaines of Waco, Texas.

Here in Jefferson City, Kim Prenger, a real estate agent at RE/MAX, her husband, Mark, a Network Architect at WIPRO,  and Brett Shipley, also a realtor at RE/MAX, formed MKB Properties, LLC and their first project was a home on Moreland Ave., off of Moreau Drive.

MKP purchased the 1930, two-story home in June 15, 2015, and their renovation retained the hardwood floors and other charms and character of the older home while adding a completely modern kitchen and opening the front porch. Their attention to detail throughout the close to 2,000 square foot home is evident in the materials chosen and the quality of work done by local craftsmen.

Kyle Atkinson, an attorney, and his wife, Heather, who lived in St. Louis bought the home in September and moved in last November. Formerly with the general counsel’s office Kyle is now with the Department of Corrections and Heather, a former academic, is now a stay-at-home mom.

“We loved that we had two living spaces, the formal living room and the family room and that we didn’t have to do any updating in the kitchen,” said Heather.

Instead of two smaller rooms, a wall was knocked out to create the large kitchen, and new white Shaker cabinets were installed along with a 3D Formica® countertops to mimic Carrera marble and charcoal gray porcelain tiles.

With a new baby and a toddler, the convenience of having a half bathroom on the first floor in the dining room was also a huge benefit and the renovation adds value to the house. The main bath on the second floor featured new tiled flooring, shower and a new vanity.

The majority of the interior was painted with Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore, which Lowe’s matched. Craftsman doors were purchased to match the existing craftsman woodwork inside and a new front door stands out on the porch.

One major transformation of the house was the creation of the front porch. Originally completely enclosed it was reopened with a new front door and exterior concrete stamp porch. A new craftsman door was also used on the side porch, which was rotted and rebuilt.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kitchen

Before, the kitchen had a wall that divided the previous two rooms.

« ‹ 3 of 8 › »

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Vender List:

• Alternative Hardwood Flooring – Jim Shivers
• Gerald Holzer Cabinetry
• Hometown Lumber in Linn (doors, including front door)
• Dave Esken – plastering
• D&S Roofing – renovated front porch
• Speedy Landscaping

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Julie Smith

The post HER Home: Modern Flip appeared first on HER Magazine.

After

Kathy has one of those recognizable faces and that’s because she’s the helpful Sales and Service Associate that greets customers at the window at the Main Post Office on High Street. She has been with the post office for 32 years and when she’s not working she’s caring for others, whether it’s her family or helping out at her church, St. Francis Xavier.

The Taos native still lives on a portion of her parent’s original farm. She and her husband, Jim, a church deacon, have three children and three grandchildren. People who know her describe her as shy, humble, quiet and very hard working so being in the spotlight for the makeover was unusual for her, but she enjoyed being pampered.

“It was an adventure and I’m pleased with how it turned out,” Kathy said. “I met some wonderful people and everyone involved was so supportive and concerned with how I felt about it.”

Before

The Style:

Hair – Monica chose to stay with Kathy’s natural level of light blonde and added dimension with some caramel highlights and a few milk chocolate pieces. Kathy has always had her hair blonde and went out of her comfort zone to add the darker pieces to add depth and richness to her color. Monica wanted to give Kathy a cut that suited her lifestyle and effortless look. With a few inches off the back of her hair Kathy was able to stay with the shag look that is easier for her to re-create on her own.

Makeup – Alexxis created this effortlessly natural look for Kathy with Aveda Makeup. First she applied concealer in Balsa under the eyes, followed by mineral tinted moisture in Sweet Tea, and pressed powder in Aster to her face. She then added a pop color to her cheeks with blush in Rose Blossom and bronzer to her cheekbones in Amazonia to define them. For a natural, smokey eye Alexxis used a combination of Brown Earth  Rose and Aura Petal Essence™ Eye Color. She finished the look with a sweep of black mascara. To add color and create a soft, full lip, a combination of Butternut and Shear Moon Flower Nourish-Mint™ Smoothing Lip Color was used.

Clothing – Kathy is ready for fall in boyfriend jeans and a long sleeve button down shirt cut from soft twill and styled with plaid print and lace detail. Corky’s denim shoes, a canvas/leather bag add simplicity and comfort while a turkish cross necklace and a crystal studded snap on bracelet adds a touch of bling.

The post How to Style: Kathy Haaf appeared first on HER Magazine.

With a background in journalism and communications, Peggy Davis is entering a new chapter in her life as the owner of Shop Girl, a new store at 106 Boonville Road, in the lower level of Hair Expressions building off West Main Street. The store is an eclectic mix of vintage, new and antique furniture, antiques and other products from local artists and craftspeople.

After retiring last December from 23 years working in communications for the state, including in the office of then Attorney General Jay Nixon and for the office of insurance and professional registration, she planned to write a book, the dream for most writers. Instead, she opened up her store in June.

A visit to Shop Girl is a must but make sure and allow some time to peruse her plentiful wares as new items are added every day. The floors and walls are full of her “finds” and she’s confident they will also appeal to her customers who want to add just the right piece or ambiance to their own spaces. In addition to the store, they offer workshops and classes.

Shop Girl is a welcomed addition to the Jefferson City boutique landscape.

A SMALL TOWN GIRL, she grew up in Shelbina, Missouri with the values of family and hard work. “My mother grew up during the Great Depression and never wasted anything. We grew or raised almost everything we ate and we made things all the time. If we needed something we made it. I had three siblings close in age and I remember making tree houses and dollhouses. We were always crafty. My mom and dad encouraged that and we had a strong work ethic. I held jobs at a nursing home and my sister and I painted the exterior and interior of the building. I have always worked and even now when I am retired I still enjoy working.”

Lucy Engelbrecht of Tipton and Donna Potts of St. Charles carve letters out of Reader’s Digest magazines and sell them at Shop Girl

A JACK OF MANY TRADES. She worked as a writer, photographer and graphic designer at a small daily newspaper, the Macon Chronicle Herald. “When you work at a small newspaper people know you and tell you what they think, they held you accountable.” Davis received her masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Then she moved to Shreveport, Louisiana to work for a newspaper there owned by Gannet. The editor was gone one day and she was on her own to get the newspaper out and Ronald Reagan was shot that day by John Hinckley (March 30, 1981 at 1:24 p.m. CST).

SHE INTERNED AT THE CAPITOL working with a legislator during her senior year of college at Truman University, where she graduated with minors in mass communications and business administration. “When I later moved to Jefferson City it felt like returning home. I have lived in the same house on Hazelton near the store and I love this neighborhood. I thought I would be here two or three years but I liked it so I stayed.”

A CELEBRATION OF OLD SCHOOL. She co-owned a futon store in Kirkwood with her sister. “I used to cold call people from the phone directory to develop the business there. For Shop Girl I didn’t study and look at demographics, I just went with my gut feeling that it would be successful. I did it the old-fashioned way. I live just down the street and I love the neighborhood, so when I saw the space was available month after month I bought it and took possession of it in April. I did some remodeling. Michelle Distler was a godsend in helping me get the store up and running.”

“I REALLY DON’T LIKE TO SHOP…but I opened a shop. I am a communicator and when I was setting up the store I asked myself, ‘what do I want to get out of it?’ What do I want other people to get out of it?’ People walk in here and it’s really an experience rather than just to buy something. Our mission isn’t only to sell stuff. We like to know the history of the items we buy and many items have a story. We bought a shovel from someone who told us about its owner, Ben, who had passed away, and he loved growing tomatoes. So when someone else bought that shovel we told them about Ben.”

Shop Girl sells antiques and hosts different workshops throughout the year

THE QUEEN OF REPURPOSING AND REUSING, her finds come from garage sales, auctions and buying items from individuals. “I usually have big garage sales several times a year so the store is a homage to what we used to do. Only here when we sell something, we have to go find other things to replace them. Finding the items is the fun part of it. Almost 99 percent of what we sell in the store is made in America and we are buying from local individuals and people who make things so the money stays in the community.”

Shop Girl sells Sammysoap made by a woman in Kirkwood and Pat Barlett sells her photography books and postcards through her company B unique. They sell Mudpaint too for all the DIYers. We hold painting and creative journaling in the store and Michelle is going to give Mudpainting classes too, with other artists leading painting and creative journaling in the store.”

PEOPLE NEED TO WORK WITH THEIR HANDS. “It’s good to paint, dig in the soil and work with your hands. It takes your mind off things and puts you in a better place. It’s free therapy. If you’re having a stressful day, it’s good to create something and the workshops are fun and rewarding. We’ve lost a piece of ourselves by not working with our hands more. People want to learn something new like making jewelry or growing things.”

A MASTER GARDENER, she’s also been involved in the Bittersweet Garden Club. “If I could do anything else it would be a landscape architect. Right now the front of my store is my front yard. My creative endeavor is the store.”

HER GRAND OPENING WAS CALLED HAZEL DAY, after her mother. “I had some great mentors and teachers but my mother was the original great teacher. My mom moved in with me 14 years ago then had a stroke and ended up in a wheelchair, so my sister and I took care of her.” She passed last year.

BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS SECOND NATURE. She once bought and sold houses and handled the business, budget and marketing. “I am very detailed oriented. I am at the store every day. I enjoy seeing our regular customers who check in often to see what we’ve added since their last visit. We take photos of our customers with their purchases and we put that on Facebook and that has worked well for us. Most people comment about liking the atmosphere in the store and they’re not always looking at their phones. Sometimes they do use their phone to take a photo of something in the store and that’s what I had envisioned happening. I don’t think there is a store like us in Jefferson City and being in the shop seems to be uplifting for people. When people leave the store they seem to be in a better place.”

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Annie Rice

The post HER Profile: Shop Girl appeared first on HER Magazine.

Although they’re in the beginning stages of their efforts, the board members of the Brick District Playhouse have a plan for renovating the old Fulton Theatre, which has a rich history in the community but has sat empty for more than a decade.

The Callaway Arts Council, CAC, donated the theatre and its remaining resources to the group in January of 2015, and since then there have been several stages of construction underway on the historic theatre.

“We started with $6,000 dollars with no plan at all, but using volunteer labor we started cleaning out the building, tearing down dry wall and the drop ceilings,” said Tom Riley, president of the Brick District Playhouse board of directors. “When we applied for the state tax credits we had to define the project so we divided it up into exterior renovations, the front section of the building and the auditorium.”

The construction in the front lobby of the theater made way for the Playhouse Bistro, formerly Cafe Creme, to move into the space in October 2015. A new business in the neighborhood is always invigorating and draws more traffic, but the bistro will also provide concession services when the auditorium is up and running.

“We wanted to show the community that we were making some progress, that there was something going on inside so we needed a tenant in the front of the building that was visible,” said Phil Glenn, who grew up in the old Fulton Theater built by his grandfather at the turn of the century.

Today Glenn serves as secretary/treasurer on the Brick District Playhouse’s board of directors and is personally connected to the theatre as his parents owned and operated it for 18 years.

Walter Glenn

« ‹ 1 of 4 › »

The Glenn Realty Company, a partnership between Walter Glenn and R.N. Crews, built the theatre on Court Street in Fulton in 1927. Later the theatre was leased to Barney Dubinsky, a partner in the firm of Dubinsky Brothers Entertainment of Jefferson City, which eventually became AMC Theatres, the second largest theater chain in the country.

In the 50s, live acts performed at the old Fulton theater but it was later turned into a movie house. After Glenn’s grandfather died, in July of 1947, his parents, W. Monroe and Daphne, inherited the theater and took over the management.

As a youngster, he took tickets while standing on wooden crates filled with Coca-Cola glass bottles. He later worked at the concession stand and then learned how to be the projectionist.

During his family’s ownership, the Fulton theatre was redecorated and investments were made into a new screen, sound equipment and seating. His parents also purchased the Fulton Drive-In Theater. In 1966, they sold the theater and drive-in to Wehrenberg Theaters, Inc., of St. Louis, which operated it until the end of 1979 when they sold it to B&B Movie Company.

In 2005, B&B Movie Company decided to build a new 8-screen theater in Fulton and donated the old Fulton theater to the city,  with one contingent that there would be no first-run movies shown there. Almost immediately the city and county saw the potential of the theatre.

“The CAC took on several money making projects, including a haunted house during Halloween and put on a couple of plays there but we decided to take it further,” Glenn said.

Organized as a Missouri DREAM initiative in 2008, The Brick District was formed in 2011 as a nonprofit organization to encourage economic growth while helping to preserve the history and culture of the downtown. One of their first projects was renovating the building that’s now the nonprofit Art House Gallery on Court Street and then they brought a farmer’s market to the downtown area. Later the popular Morels and Microbrew event was organized.

“Those projects and events were successful and we always knew we were going to tackle the theatre,” Riley said.

Initially the primary objective was to seal the envelope of the entire building. The old marquee was torn off and the building was tuck pointed and some of the old windows were bricked in. The roof received a coating that could protect it for between 5 to 10 years.

The auditorium of the old Fulton Theatre

Architects Alliance in Jefferson City originally came up with conceptual drawings for the auditorium, but there have since been changes and adjustments made. The board members did receive a grant to install a heating and cooling system and plan to use the leftover funds for a new sprinkler system.

“With a flat floor and some type of lighting we can be open for business, but without a sprinkler system we are limited to how many people we can accommodate. We hope to be able to hold small events in the auditorium by Christmas,” Riley said.

“A year from now we hope the auditorium will be operational with platform seating for our capacity.  We’re moving on an aggressive time table and I believe we will get it done,” Riley said.

Eventually, they would like the Brick District Playhouse to be a place for plays, dinner theater and other events, and eventually a new sound system and theatrical lighting will need to be installed.

“Right now we want to make it functional, flexible and usable for as many people as possible,” Glenn said. “People have asked us why we decided to renovate rather than restore it but I just wanted to save the building. I have a place in my heart for this place and it means so much to me.”

Spring 2015 a group of Westminster College students came together to help with the project

As intertwined as the theatre is to his own personal history, many people in the community have stopped by as work is being done to share their stories, too. Some, like an old school teacher of Riley’s gave a donation.

“Rather than trying to build up money in the bank account or have people make pledges, we are putting every penny we get into the building,” he said. “This big vacant building could have been an albatross, but we believe that it will be a culture anchor and a jewel in the city’s Brick District.”

Visit their website to view the theatre’s upcoming performances or to purchase tickets.

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Adam Brake and submitted by the theatre

The post Reviving the Old Fulton Theatre appeared first on HER Magazine.

Reiana Barton with her mother, Angie

The annual Jefferson City street party known as Angiepalooza is a time for remembering those who have lost their battle with cancer, but for Reiana Barton the event holds a much deeper meaning. It’s named after her mother, Angie Capps-Tinnin, who was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer October 31, 2011 and passed away a year later. Searching for a way to honor her mother, her family and friends came up with this event. The first Angiepalooza was held in 2013 at the Jefferson City Jaycees Fair Grounds and then moved to downtown the following year. The benefit concert featuring several local bands supports the Angie Capps-Tinnin, ACT, project.

We sat down with Reiana to talk more about the event and her experience losing her mother.

HER: How was Angiepalooza founded?

Reiana Barton: This event was a collaborative effort between my step-father Tim Tinnin and my mother’s best friend, Lindsay Williams. They wanted to create an event that would memorialize my mom while also helping so many others who were suffering as our family had. They wanted a way to remember and honor those who have lost their battle with cancer while still creating a fun event that brings people together.

Because I was in high school when Angiepalooza first began, I was more of a supporter but as I have gotten older, I have taken on larger roles in helping with this event and I am currently the Event Staff Coordinator where I lead all volunteers who work the event.

HER:  What is the Angie Capps-Tinnin Project?

It’s the non-profit side of Angiepalooza. All of the proceeds of the evening go towards funding small projects at local cancer hospitals and eventually will help families struggling with cancer directly.

HER: What was going through your mind when you were told your mother had been diagnosed with cancer?

The initial feeling I got when we found out was mainly fear. She had been diagnosed on Halloween of 2011 and I was only 16 years old at the time. When you are told that the person closest to you has cancer your entire world flips upside down.
As my mom saw more doctors, we found out she was only being given 2-5 years to live. Fear immediately  turned into anger because I felt it wasn’t fair that this was happening to my family, to my mom. Angie was a hardworking, caring individual who loved her job and her children and could make anyone around her smile and laugh. I couldn’t believe that something like this would happen to a woman who, in my eyes, could do absolutely no wrong.
As time passed, my mom began chemotherapy but unfortunately things were not getting better. Being the oldest child, I had the feeling that I needed to be the one to take care of my family. Knowing that my mom wasn’t going to make it made me much more protective of my siblings and it made me grow up much faster than if she hadn’t died when I was still young. Ultimately my mother’s passing made me into who I am today but going through an experience like that as a teenager is definitely something that takes a toll on you.

HER:  What are some of your favorite memories of your mom?

My mom had a very loud and fun-loving personality. We were always extremely close and she was really the type of person I wanted to grow up into. One of my favorite memories of my mom was anytime we were in the car together we’d play “Name That Tune” and almost every car ride was a karaoke session. Singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Don’t Stop Believing” at the top of our lungs will always be one of my favorite things we did together. Another memory that I always hold close was just the endless amount of advice and love that she gave myself and my siblings.

If there was one thing I could say about my mom, it was that she loved her children with all she had and I feel incredibly lucky that I am her daughter.

HER:  What do you hope people take away from this event?

I think the main thing that I want people to take away from Angiepalooza is that you can turn any bad situation into something good. Losing my mom to cancer has been one of the hardest things I have had to go through but by working with my family and Angiepalooza I am able to focus on turning our loss into something good rather than focusing on the negative.

Angie’s parents, husband and children. Back Row: Kaitlin Tinnin, Tim Tinnin, Jimmy Capps, Reiana Barton, Connor Day, Madison Day. Front Row: Jolie and Brian Taylor, Kathy Capps

The 5th annual Angiepalooza will be held on September 24, 2016 in downtown Jefferson City. For more information check out the event’s Facebook page.

Story by Shelby Patterson | Photos Submitted

The post Angiepalooza: Celebrating and Remembering appeared first on HER Magazine.

In the “old” days the Welcome Wagon hostess stopped by a new homeowner to officially welcome them to the neighborhood, but the Newcomers & Neighbors Club of Jefferson City is a lot more fun.

This group of women aren’t tied together by the geography of a specific neighborhood, but through a shared connection of exploring and giving back to their community.

The group has walked at the Runge Nature Center and on the Katy Trail, made wind chimes at Village Art Studio and taken in a baseball game in St. Louis and a play at the Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock. They’ve also raised money for the Community Breast Care Project and The Healing House and New Beginnings, the first program for women recovering from substance abuse in Jefferson City.

Linda and Bruce Phelps, host of the Munch & Mingle event

“We introduce members to area businesses, volunteer opportunities and we also have educational events, too,” said Linda Phelps, who moved here five years ago from St. Louis when her husband, Bruce, took a job at Hawthorn Bank. “We do so much all rolled into this one group.”
Phelps had volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis, and wanted to be involved in Jefferson City, so she headed to Capital Region Medical Center.

“I met other volunteers like Roni Flood who moved here from San Diego, and she led me to the Newcomer’s group,” Phelps said. “It can be scary to come to a new town and your husband goes off to work and you don’t know anyone. This has been a good support group for myself and our members. We’re very active.”

As the current president, Phelps is joined by Barbara Brennamen, vice president, Deb Mealy, treasurer, and Debbie Boyce, secretary, who  writes the email newsletter and keeps the other members informed of activities. Judy Krueger is in charge of the book club and Boyce and Brennamen organize many of the outings for the group. The member dues are $20 annually.

They meet almost every Tuesday for coffee and planning meetings where they determine upcoming activities and fundraising events. They raised $1,400 during last year’s Christmas auction, where members brought items such as yard art and baked goods. The money went to The Healing House and New Beginnings.

“Debbie asked me to speak to their group and they decided to partner with us and they have been so supportive and done a magnificent job,” said Heather Gieck, founder and executive director of The Healing House. “If we have a need I get ahold of Debbie and they always try to help.”

“They bought new cushions for our lawn furniture, an umbrella for our table and money donations too,” she said.

The members also bring meals two Mondays a month to the women living in the house, which Boyce, who works part time at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics and Crafts, coordinates.

“I love to be involved and this group has been a godsend,” said Boyce, who moved here from Southern California in October of 2013 with her husband, Dave, who retired as a lineman for Verizon Telephone.

“I was up to five feet in boxes and a neighbor told me about the group,” she said.

Since she became a member, the Newcomers and Neighbors Group has evolved and the women have taken on more activities, some that are held at night so the members who work outside the home can attend.

“We used to do a Christmas dinner and then something in the spring but we keep adding activities, like a Valentine’s Day dinner and Cinco De Mayo party,” Boyce said.“That’s become my thing and I’ve hosted it three times.”

The women often meet for salad dinners where everyone brings a topping for the lettuce and they play Mexican train, a game played with dominoes.

The first Friday of every month is the Munch & Mingle event in the evening, where more than a couple dozen members, their husbands and significant others meet for cocktails and conversation. Tonight the Phelps are hosting and their kitchen is packed with finger foods, tasty dips and sandwiches. The men have gotten to know each other and go fishing, golf or play poker.

Flood, a former nurse, moved here from San Diego and her husband, Dave is an orthopedic surgeon. Angie and Scott Fenwick, who is on the Bio Diesel Board, came two and a half years ago from New Orleans.

The members who have lived in Jefferson City longer expose the newcomers to different places in the area, including and the Boone Olive Oil Company in Columbia or Dunn Brothers Coffee. The group recently met at the new Jefferson Deli that opened on Truman Boulevard.

“Some of the women have never been to the places we go, so they learn all kinds of new things, places to go, organizations that need volunteers” Phelps said.

They’ve invited Officer Kevin Kempker to speak on self defense, learned about planting herbs at Busch’s Florist, toured the Missouri Supreme Court Building and in October they’ve planned an outing at Ha Ha Tonka.

“This is a busy and great group of women who all have something to offer,” said Brennamen, who moved to Jefferson City from Syracuse, New York when her husband got a job at Central Trust Bank.

“We’ve moved several times and I always ask my realtor about opportunities, she said. “I have learned to put myself out there.”
Several years ago, they changed their bylaws and added Neighbors to the name to encompass their changing membership.

“Several ladies retired from state jobs or were school teachers and even though they have lived here for most of their lives, now their life opened up and they had more time,” Phelps said.

Right now, they’re fundraising for The Pregnancy Help Center, which offers free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling and other services to women. The group toured the facility with Director Leslie Kerns and this month will hold a baby shower to donate items to the women served there. In the past, they’ve made colorful, whimsical pillow cases for the children in the area served by the ConKerr Cancer Project. They recently met at Rosell’s house to make 210 pairs of shoes for Sole Hope, a non profit founded to provide shoes for African children.

Barbara Brennamen making shoes for Sole Hope

“You always hear that it’s important to make a difference in one person’s life that that’s all it takes and it’s true. We don’t know what’s going to happen to the young people in African that will wear these shoes,” she said.

The club also handles projects for some of the women’s children and grandchildren, like Christa Roehl’s daughter, Catherine, who needed help for a project to help the Special Learning Center.

Many of the members also volunteer for the garden club and Habitat for Humanity and other organizations and many are active in their church.
“The Newcomer’s group has come a long way baby, and has shaped itself into a catch all for all that’s good about clubs, friends and neighbors.”

“We all get along really well and our circle of friends have resulted from this group,” said Boyce. “It has really been a lifesaver for me, everyone needs a place where they feel they belong,” she said.

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Julie Smith & Kris Wilson

The post Newcomers & Neighbors appeared first on HER Magazine.

Sometimes a house just speaks to you. In Jenny Smith’s case, the porch of a rundown house at 612 E. McCarty Street caught her eye and ultimately led to a major renovation and restoration of the property that won a Golden Hammer Award from the Historic City of Jefferson.

“The wide steps leading up to the porch and front door are so welcoming,” Smith said. “The rounded porch itself is Queen Ann style and it prominently spans the entire front of the house. It is like this little working-class house is putting on airs!”

Smith, who retired as a trace evidence analyst with the Missouri Highway Patrol, is a long-time board member of the Historic City of Jefferson and passionate about revitalizing the Old Town area. Earlier this year, Smith was named the 2016 Gregory Stockard Distinguished Service Award recipient by the Historic Preservation Commission for Jefferson City, for her dedication to historic preservation.

She and her husband, Tony, have already renovated one historic home in this area on Baldhill Road so when the “for sale” sign was still in the front yard of the small house a year later, they purchased the 1907 home in 2011 for $25,000. They spent the next four plus years investing their time, money, blood, sweat and elbow grease into the renovation.

“We definitely wanted the home to offer practical amenities like a modern kitchen and new heating and cooling system, but we also wanted to retain the historical elements and blend the Gothic and Craftsman architectural styles,” she said. “We took great pains to preserve the integrity of both the exterior and interior of the home.”

The exterior walls were framed to make the house more energy efficient, but Smith is quick to add, “the greenest house is one that is already built.” For her, historic renovation is all about reduce, reuse, recycle and architectural salvage.

She bought the front door and other items from Habitat Restore and also utilized many finds from the abandoned home next door, which due to neglect and many structural issues had to be demolished.

« ‹ 1 of 5 › »

“I contacted the owners and was able to recover one set of pocket doors that were missing, a fireplace mantle and cast iron insert that all were restored. We also were missing woodwork in the living room and we pulled out some of that in the condemned house,” she said.

The original wood floors were sanded and refinished, and Smith removed a wall that previously divided the kitchen from the dining room, resulting in a much more open space.

“While Tony usually handles the more hardcore construction, I am the one who tore out that wall with a flat iron, crow bar and mallet,” said Smith, whose petite frame belies her strength. “I’m really proud of that.”

They tore down, rebuilt and reinforced the front porch themselves but used a company to rebuild the deck in the backyard, one of the few jobs they didn’t do themselves.

As they finish up the last details of the renovation, now there’s a wooden playground in the backyard, and other signs of life in the house.

« ‹ 1 of 5 › »

During the renovation, their daughter, Laura Cole, took a job as an assistant professor in the Department of Architectural Studies at the University of Missouri and moved here from North Carolina. She and her husband, James, a sustainability educator for the city of Columbia, and their 2-year-old son, Everett, spent five months living with her parents before moving into the house around Thanksgiving.

“We all worked together to make the house livable,” said Cole, whose background is in interior design. “We had a hand in shaping the look of the house, including the cabinets and we chose saturated, earthy colors that worked well with the light that comes into the house.”

Laura and her husband, who believe in making as small a footprint as possible on the environment, have put in a garden on the neighboring lot that the Smiths purchased from the Old Town Revitalization Company.

Two-year-old Everette Cole helps his mother, Laura Cole, pick cherry tomatoes in the family garden

“We’re growing buckwheat, sweet potatoes and having a lot of fun. We like that our backyard is a source of sustenance and that we have a connection to the land and nature,” she said. “We really feel at home and are literally rooted here.”

During the renovation process, people would stop by and share their memories of living in the house with Smith. The documented history of the house includes numerous owners and renters over the years, including a construction engineer for the highway department, an employee of Tribune Printing Company, a prison guard and pharmacist.

“We believe this is a really happy house,” Smith said. “Every house embodies energy and a history and when it goes into a landfill that’s destroyed forever. The homes in this area are such a treasure, full of stone, brick and the craftsmanship from our German ancestors and that is irreplaceable.”

Since they did so much of the labor themselves, the Smiths feel confident that they will be able to recoup most of their investment. For her, economic development and historic preservation go hand-in-hand.

“We saw the potential in this house and we hope it inspires other people to invest in this neighborhood,” Smith said. “The Old Town area is the core of Jefferson City and will revitalize only when families move back into these neighborhoods. To do that, people need to feel safe and feel a sense of community.”

These days her daughter enjoys drinking coffee on the same front porch that originally caught Smith’s attention, Everett likes to watch the cars and people go by on McCarty.

“We love living here,” Cole said. “We had lived in Chicago for a few years and liked the walking and biking lifestyle we had there. “We now walk our son to the library, the Capitol and downtown restaurants and it’s all just a walk up the hill.”

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Julie Smith & Annie Rice

The post Golden Gem in Old Town appeared first on HER Magazine.

History definitely has a way of repeating itself and for the small town of California, Missouri that’s a good thing. Letting the past be their guide, the community came together to save one of its treasured buildings and bring a historic theatre and the downtown area back to life.

The California Opera House opened on Friday, August 6, 1885 with a “grand musical concert” of local talent followed by a ball on the second floor of the building. In the following years, traveling road shows, vaudeville, musicals and other entertainers performed at the 600-seat auditorium just down the street from the courthouse, which was built in 1867 and remains the oldest existing courthouse west of the Mississippi River.

Later known as the Finke Opera House (1897-1922) and Finke Theatre (1922-1937), named after its sole owner and one of the town’s most prominent and pioneering citizens, the building became a movie theatre, The Ritz Theatre (1937-1978), until closing its doors. Empty for decades and set to be demolished, the community took action.

“We knew this was a historical building that was quite unique to our town,” said Gail Hughes, a long-time board member of Friends of the Finke and California Progress Inc., CPI. “It had also been such an important part of the community, a centerpiece really, and we believed it could be again.”

After a five-year painstaking process, the renovated and restored Finke Theatre reopened in September of 2009 at 315 N. High St., and continues to serve as a living testament to the town’s early growth and rich history.

A business pioneer, Henry C. Finke built the first brick business in town in 1857 and ran the Finke Mercantile. The one-time city treasurer and city council member along with other community leaders commissioned well-known St. Louis architect Jerome Bibb Legg, who had designed many Missouri courthouses and schools and remodeled the Missouri state capitol in 1887, to build the California Opera House.

William C. Finke purchased the California Opera House in 1897. His wife, Margaret Anderson Finke, and daughter continued to operate it after his death until 1937.

« ‹ 1 of 3 › »

After Henry died in 1895 his son, William, purchased the opera house in 1897. He would go on to serve two terms as mayor and had several buildings constructed, including what’s now the United Church of Christ, and the building adjacent to the opera house that still bears the Finke name.

William died in 1925 and his widow and daughter continued to operate the opera house until 1937. During this time, silent motion pictures were born and in 1919 “The Knickerbocker Buckaroo,” an American silent western starring and written by Douglas Fairbanks, was shown there. In 1937, M.J. Nash and Henry J. Halloway purchased it and remodeled in the art deco style and it became the Ritz Theatre.

Until the early 50’s, the Masons and Oddfellows each owned half of the upstairs. Later the Masons deeded their half to the Oddfellows, and the Rebekah Lodges’ club used the other half.

As one of the only places to go for entertainment, the theatre served as a social center for many young people, who still have memories of seeing movies there or just hanging around. At one time the theatre was segregated and black people had to sit in the balcony. Herschel and Amber Aldredge owned the theatre from 1961-1971 and later a group from St. Louis bought the theatre until it went dark in 1978; reportedly the last movie shown was “One on One” starring Robbie Benson and Anette O’Toole.

A salvage company purchased the building with the intent to demolish it for its historic materials. At this point the remaining members of the Oddfellows sold their interest to Tom Scheppers who wanted to save the building. When the salvage company became aware it had no right to demolish the building, because they owned only the lower floor, Scheppers, for the first time in more than 100 years, became the sole owner. In February of 2003, he donated the building to CPI, opening the way for its renovation and the theatre was listed on the National Register of Historical Places for its architectural significance.

Joe Scallorns, who then owned Farmers & Traders Bank (now Central Bank), was one of the original founders of CPI. He had already purchased the block of buildings across from the bank and renovated all the storefronts and apartments upstairs in the Finke building, now the site of newly opened businesses serving the town. He also made sure the Finke name at the top of the building, at the corner of Oak and Smith, was restored and it remains there today.

“Over the years CPI has helped raise money for the Moniteau County Historical Society and the Wood Place Library, but we would never take on a project if there wasn’t a group ready to take it over in the future,” Hughes said.

CPI began raising money through private donations and grants. Donors to the Finke received a 70 percent tax credit through the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Tax Assistance Fund. An anonymous donation of $50,000 was made that included the attached building that is now the concession area. In September of 2004, CPI turned over total ownership to the nonproft Friends of the Finke.

Early on, Patty Kay, an interior designer, served as the chairperson of the Downtown Architectural Review Committee and later the Design and Construction Committee. Greg Baer of Baer Brothers Woodworking also served as chair of that committee for three years.

The late Roger Verslues created the drawings that helped the contractors shore up the sagging floor of the main story and the balcony.

 “We used an architectural study done by the late architect Pon Chinn as our guide,” said Kay, who drew the initial theatre design to scale.

The late Roger Verslues, founder and owner of S & V consultants, created the drawings that helped the contractors shore up the sagging floor of the main story and the balcony. A beam was added to reinforce the roof trusses, too. Dan McGrath designed the heating and cooling system installed in the theatre. The stage was enlarged and the dressing rooms underneath were rehabbed. Baer Brothers Woodworking built all of the cabinetry in the new concession area, and the ticket booth at the entry of the theatre and stained and finished all of the woodwork and doors. Throughout the renovation, some companies donated all or part of their services to the project.

Prisoners on good behavior from the Tipton Correctional Center helped scrape all of the chewing gum off of the floor underneath, so the original floors could be refinished. Another big project was the rebuilding of the chairs, an effort spearheaded by Jim and Nancy Martin. The seats were taken out and cleaned, refurbished and the silver strips were polished and Ed Forsythe upholstered all 273 of them, including those in the balcony.

“It was very important to Jim that the theatre was restored as close to its historic roots as possible,” Baer said. “He was our resident historian plus he did everything he could to help out when we needed something and Nancy was there every step of the way.”

The four original wall sconces on either side of the theatre walls were restored and the same font used for the lettering of the old Finke Theatre sign, which was found under the 1937 Ritz marquee sign and used in the new marquee.

Many member of the community volunteered their time and spent countless hours doing whatever was needed, including painting the tiles of the murals on either side of the walls. Kay picked out four shades of green and numbered each one to guide volunteers who painted them on scaffolds.

Interior designer Patty Kay picked out four colors of green and numbered each one to guide volunteers who painted them on scaffolds.

During the renovation, the Finke was open for the public to see what was going on inside during the annual Ham and Turkey Festival, held the third Saturday of September. The Festival celebrates the family-owned Burgers’ Smokehouse that ships hams, bacon, sausage and a catalog full of products throughout the U.S., and the Cargill Turkey Plant, which packages several brands of bird, including Honeysuckle White.

Hay bales were brought in for seating during performances at the Finke held during the festival and slowly everything came together. The late Ray Rouse, who worked at ABC Radio Network and owned what is now the KRLL 1420 AM Radio Station, served as the sound consultant for a time and a new sound system was purchased and installed.

“Ray told us what we needed and who to get it from,” Baer said. “The sound system is like the one used at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Doug Hill worked with Ray and then became the main sound and light man and Casey Wassar is training under him.”

Finally the Finke’s grand opening was held with a performance by Kapital Kicks, a big band style musical group out of Jefferson City, who have performed several times.

Echoing its origins, today a different show takes the stage every month–magicians, musicians and comedians–and the theatre has become a gathering place for special events, too. Popular acts have included Bach to the Future, Rick Thomas, a magician who performed for years in Las Vegas and is now in Branson and Andrea LaRae, a hometown musician who graduated from Belmont University’s School of Music in Nashville and is pursuing a career in country music.

The Friends of the Finke working board run the theatre and serve on various committees, overseeing ticket sales, entertainment and fundraising. Current President Marj Friedmeyer, a member and director for 30 years of the Heart of Missouri Sweet Adelines, has been involved in the entertainment committee for six years.

The new 2016-2017 season kicked off in September with Gracie & Lacy – Swing St. Louis, a tribute to Judy Garland and upcoming acts feature Jefferson City magician and juggler Gerry Tritz, Ivory and Gold, a flautist, vocals and pianist duo return and the five-man a cappella group Cat’s Pajamas who perform in Branson and have been featured on “America’s Got Talent.”

Some of the performers, like Gracie and Lacy are Missouri Arts Council touring Artists.

“We receive a grant for up to $3,000 annually from the MO Arts Council Touring Program and that helps us book acts,” said Friedmeyer.
Hughes has written these grants for years. The board members can only serve two terms as president but rotate around serving other offices.

Pam Green is now treasurer and head of the fundraising committee and Carolyn Miller is vice president handles the newsletter and promotions. Mary Ann Pitstick Wasser is secretary. Long time board members Gail Hughes and Suzanne Taggart, who has served as vice president, were replaced with new board members, Kay and Christina Rose Tims McMillian. Charla Friedmeyer, Marj’s daughter-in-law has handled the web site but Nathan Donnelly is taking that over. Baer is a staffer in charge of building maintenance.

Finke Players: Dennis Donley, Nathaniel Donley, Emily Bilyeu, Kayla Barnard, Audie Cline (director), Pam Green, Jeff Shackleford, and in front, Christina McMillian and Fallon Muir. Photo by Carolyn Miller

Usually there are between 150 to 175 season ticket holders, with the remainder of seats for each performance open to the public.
The Finke Theatre is also home to the Community House Band and the Finke Players acting troupe, who put on a play every season. Most recently, Green and Miller co-wrote a play about finding the bees and honey combs when the plywood covering the windows on the north side of the theatre were removed. They performed the play with the five pints of honey at the fairground during the 150th celebration of the Moniteau County Fair.

In his day, W.C. Finke served several years as the director of the Moniteau County Fair so the Finke legacy is still alive and has come full circle. The Finke Theatre is once again an integral part of the cultural fabric of the community now and for generations to come.

Visit their website to view the theatre’s upcoming performances or to purchase tickets.

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Lloyd Grotjan

The post The Fabulous Finke Theatre appeared first on HER Magazine.

Standing on E. Capitol Avenue, the tip of the Capitol dome glistens in the western sky and to the east the towers of the Missouri State Penitentiary, MSP, are visible.

A significant east-west artery for the city, Capitol Avenue serves as a connector between these two historic landmarks and to the past itself. Like the deep roots of the plentiful trees that frame parts of the street, the grand two-story brick homes on E. Capitol reflect a unique area of the city at the turn of the century and the prominent citizens who served and shaped the community.

Nine homes in the Missouri State Capitol Avenue Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and they represent a variety of architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Spanish Revival, Second Empire and Craftsman, and were designed by famous architects such as Charles Opel and Fred Bell.

A shining symbol of historic preservation in action, several of the homes have been restored and renovated while others, including 19 owned by Barbara Buescher, have been abandoned and neglected. One of those untapped gems is Ivy Terrace. Once home to the 29th Missouri Governor Lawrence “Lon” Vest Stephens (1897-1901), the distinctive home sits empty and seemingly doomed as Buescher has hung on to the buildings even while regularly cited and fined by the city for numerous code violations.

While it’s often seemed like an uphill battle, and the neighborhood has been plagued by years of inaction on these eyesore properties, Mayor Carrie Tergin sees the fortunes of the area turning.

Steve Veile on the steps of Commuique of the Ephriam B. Ewing house at 512 E. Capitol Avenue.

“Capitol Avenue is the thread of the fabric of our community,” said Tergin, who realized her first year in office in April. “One by one these brave members of the community are bringing these homes back to life despite the blight that they see around them.”

The newly released blight study funded by the Housing Authority of the City of Jefferson will offer a legal precedent to reclaim the abandoned and boarded up properties, good news to many of the business owners and residents who invested in the area decades ago and have been waiting…and waiting to see progress in the area. While the property rights of Buescher are not taken lightly, the property values of the people who’ve invested in the neighborhood are being threatened.

Steve Veile moved his public relations agency Communique into the Ephriam B. Ewing house in 1983 and the company purchased it four years later. The Vernacular Victorian brick with Italianate features was built with prison labor in 1873 by W.C. Young, one of the original contractors of the State Capitol.

“I’ve been coming here to work everyday for the past 33 years and I love walking through the doors,” said Veile, who served three terms with the Jefferson City Council and was chairman of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission in 2000 and 2001.

He along with other property owners there have banded together to form the Capitol Avenue Landmark League to promote the area and communicate their concerns to the city.

“Our inspiration came from the Old Munichberg group that was created to deal with their issues,” Veile said. “We meet about four times a year with our elected officials, the mayor and city council to share our concerns with them and to find out what the city is planning for the infrastructure and dealing with other housing problems.”

“Those of us that own property here see what this area can and will be and we have the people, the vision and resources and are going to hang in there to help turn this area around,” said Veile. “It will be like turning the lights on in a dark building.”

Frank and Carol Burkhead bought the Dallmeyer home at 600 E. Capitol Ave., in 2004 from the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and renovated the building for their accounting and wealth management businesses. They were also instrumental in assisting Jane Beetum, a heritage development consultant, who submitted the paperwork for designating the Capitol Avenue Historic District, predominantly a residential area situated between Adams and Cherry Streets, and also comprising blocks of Jackson, Lafayette and Marshall Streets.

Carol and Frank Burkhead who run their businesses in the Dallmeyer home at 600 E. Capitol Avenue

“I call us the laid-back High Street,” Burkhead said. “I believe if you build it they will come and we definitely want to see this causeway from the Capitol to the prison become a live, work, eat and play district.”

Long a popular walking spot for state employees in the downtown area, Burkhead envisions coffee shops and other retail locating along the avenue that would also benefit the other businesses, home owners and renters.

Holly and Nathan Stitt of Stitt Barcony purchased and renovated the properties at 619-623 E. Capitol Ave., home of Avenue HQ. President Quentin Rice, a local businessman, musician and part of Murphy’s Ford and The Cherry Pistols,  has booked several well-attended comedy shows this year in the 3,000 square foot event space. Scene One, the black box theater company, moved into a the building and will benefit in terms of increased ticket sales and more visibility from a larger space for performances. The Bridge, an intimate music concert venue currently located in Columbia, is moving into the building this fall.

Holly Stitt and Quentin Rice of Avenue HQ on 621-623 E. Capitol Avenue. Scene One and the Bridge now operate from the building.

“Jefferson City is my hometown,” said Bridge owner Wes Wingate. “I feel like we are helping to fill a niche that the town needed and the progress and development in the Capital City is very encouraging.”

“It was nice to meet the people behind Avenue HQ who have a vested interest in developing the art and entertainment culture in the community,” he said.

Avenue HQ and Stitt’s software programming company, Argosity, moved their offices into the historic Dix Apartment building, which had been vacant for 15 years.

“We needed a building but we also felt like being so close to the capitol that this was a great location, and that something was going to happen here,” said Nathan. “We’re still working on painting, replacing plumbing and updating but we’re very excited about what’s going on in our buildings and for the community.”

The Mission and Prison Brews continue to draw traffic on E. High and Johnny Graham of Revel Catering on High Street in the Old Opera House building is expanding to the old Blackwell Garage building. O’Donoghue’s Steaks and Seafood was one of the first restaurants opened on the east side of High Street in the 1895 Kaullen Mercantile Company building on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Juanita and Sam Donehue were trailblazers,” said Cathy Bordner, who with her husband, Dave, own a home at 718 E. Capitol Ave. “Everyone told her it was a huge risk as it was definitely not the greatest area then, but she did it and they’re still in business.”

Dave and Cathy Bordner now live in their property at 718 E. Capitol Avenue that’s directly across from the Missouri State Prison.

The Bordners bought their 1920s home at an auction in 2001, when the prison was still open. In her research, Cathy found that past owners of the house included a Supreme Court librarian, a lawyer, publisher, a car salesman and factory foreman. The previous owner had made it into four apartments, but the couple gutted it and restored the original woodwork and hardwood floors and turned it into office spaces. Non-profits like the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Home Health operated from there over the years.

“We had four different tenants here during a nine year period, but then when the economy tanked we had trouble finding renters,” Bordner said.
The Bordners decided to sell their home on Fairmount Boulevard and earlier this year they moved into the house themselves and have added a kitchen downstairs and made other renovations.

The Bordners love living in the house and when they sit on their porch their view across the street is the prison walls, which remains top of mind for them. They sat on their porch and listened to Travis Tritt performing at the “Inside the Walls Outlaw Country Concert” on the upper yard of the MSP during the Salute to America event. Despite the heavy rains, more than 2,000 people attended the concert, probably the most activity there on one night since it closed in 2004.

As heritage tourism is hot right now, the MSP,  the oldest state prison west of the Mississippi, is definitely a major part of marketing Jefferson City. The history and paranormal tours offered by the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, CVB, have been popular attractions. Several television crews have shot episodes for various reality shows at the MSP, too.

According to CVB Executive Director, Diane Gillespie, by the end of this year the MSP tours are on track to record close to 28,000 to 30,000 visitors.

“With our variety of tours, the MSP has made us an overnight destination and once the visitors come into the community, whether by car, motor coach or train, they see how much we have to offer,” she said.”

“Jefferson City is unique in that we are a river town with a historic and beautiful Capitol and a decommissioned prison,” Gillespie said.
The CVB and the MSP Museum moved to the Marmaduke House, built in 1888 and named for the first prison warden to live there, in May, a move that seems destined.

Jeff Schaeperkoetter, who served in the General Assembly between 1981 to 1992 purchased the 8,800 square foot home in November of 2013 that had been the law offices of Andereck, Evans, Widger, Johnson and Lewis at one time. An investment for Schaeperkoetter, there’s a permanent covenant attached to the sale intended to preserve the building’s history and allow public access.

“One day I was tending to the yard and a couple came by taking photos. It was a teacher and her fiancé from Montreal, Canada doing a tour of American prisons and they wanted to see inside the house, too,” he said.

“When we bought the house we had no idea what was going to happen with the prison, which was a wild card really,” he said “We are encouraged by recent developments. My wife Jane and I see ourselves as caretakers of this house and I love being able to show this place off,” he said.

Gillespie walked through the house when it was up for auction. “I walked into the basement and thought this is exactly where the museum needs to be. It was all I could think about,” she said. “Now we’re here and looking at it from a visitor’s standpoint, it’s much more interesting to walk into a historic home versus an office building.”

She reports that in July alone museum attendance equaled 1,443 people, with 2,712 from May-July. Instead of buying tickets in the old location on High Street near the Capitol, now visitors benefit from the proximity of the MSP Museum in the basement across the street from the MSP,  a “living” museum of sorts that can be experienced simply by driving by, or certainly by stopping near it or taking the tour.

“The CVB has become another anchor in the redevelopment of this area that’s only 8/10ths of a mile from the Capitol,” said Gillespie. “Capitol Avenue is part of the history of Missouri and the entire country. We must preserve that history and share it with younger generations so it’s not lost.”

Capitol Avenue Historic District Map

“That’s what makes the tours so special because the majority of our guides have either worked at the prison or written books about it and have a lot of stories to share,” she said.

It’s hoped that further development of the MSP will also spur improvements on Capitol Avenue, on past the prison. Once, the neighborhood contained several factories but the state demolished most of them in recent years, except for the Tweedie Footwear Corporation.

Many of the city’s treasures have been torn down in the name of urban renewal. While the historic Jefferson City Community Center is still there and tennis courts were built later in the area known as the Historic Foot District, the segregation-era community of many black-owned business’s including restaurants, barber/beauty shops, grocery stores and social centers are gone. All that’s left of the rich history is a commemorative plaque.

Tearing down the city’s treasures is always the last resort for historic preservation and Jefferson City being the capitol of the state is more in the spotlight.

“We are the capitol of Missouri and we do have a responsibility to showcase Jefferson City and all of it’s strengths, to foster more attention on this area so all of us can be proud of it,” said Bordner.

“We make a first impression when people come to town to take the prison tours or visit the MSP museum,” she said. “When we were trying to sell our house a couple came by from Columbia and asked what was going on with all of the boarded up buildings. It makes the town look bad.”
“The decay is part of the ambiance of the neighborhood and it’s shameful to allow that to happen,” she said. “We can no longer sweep this issue under the rug.”

They believe they’ve found a champion in Tergin. She is optimistic and seems willing to lead the movement underway to take the area back and capitalize on the potential of the area. The Whitton Expressway interchange at Lafayette Street should be completed in the fall and will allow easy access to the MSP development site.

The Marmaduke House, now home to the CVB and MSP Museum on 700 E. Capitol Avenue, seven blocks from the Capitol.

The blight study has been present to the City Council and to the public and in the coming months a plan will be deeloped with options including condemnation, where the city would purchase the abandoned homes for fair market value and sell them to individuals who want to restore them.

“If you had told me that we’d have a concert at the prison a lot of people wouldn’t have believed it, Tergin said. “The progress we’ve made in just a year is so promising. We definitely have our foot in the door.”

“It is so important to preserve the last 180 years and change the face of our community for the next century,” she said. “We are all joining together to make this whole area come alive again.”

“For the first time in a long time we have the opportunity to re-energize the area and bring this area back to its former glory.”

The next Capitol Avenue Historic District Tour will be held on Sunday, September 25. Advance tickets are $12 and can be purchased at Samuel’s Tuxedos, Carrie’s Hallmark, Busch’s Florist, Schulte’s IGA and Hy-Vee. Tickets are $15 the day of and are available at 601 E Capitol Avenue. For more information contact Mary Ann Hall at (573) 635-8512 or Jenny Smith at (573) 230-8245.

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Kris Wilson, Shelby Patterson and Julie Smith

The post Capitol Avenue Connection appeared first on HER Magazine.

Empty Bowls Hosted by Salvation Army Center of Hope

photos by Julie Smith

3

The Salvation Army’s Lt. Rachel White holds her infant daughter, Aurelia.

« ‹ 3 of 5 › »

Divine Miss Destiny Pageant

photos by Julie Smith

Ten-year-old A’Marriah Lee dances to “Pretty Girl Rock” by Keri Hilson during the talent portion at the third annual Miss Divine Destiny Pageant at Lincoln University. Lee wants to become a professional singer and choreographer.

« ‹ 2 of 3 › »

Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Pageant

photos by Julie Smith

3

Last year’s queen, Wanda Campbell of Villa Marie in Jefferson City, watches the current crop of twelve contestants.

« ‹ 3 of 5 › »

Men of the Club Sponsored by the Capitol City Boys and Girl’s Club

photos by Annie Rice

3

Todd Luebbering waves an American flag during his talent act.

« ‹ 3 of 3 › »

Boost BBQ

photos by Annie Rice

Cindy Reeves, left, and Raonak Ekram serve BBQ to attendees at the 24th Annual Boost BBQ. Both Reeves and Ekram work at the Goldschmidt Cancer Center.

« ‹ 1 of 2 › »

Lincoln University Blue Tiger Fest

photos by Annie Rice

DeAndre Teamer, third drum major for the band during the Lincoln University Marching Musical Storm.

« ‹ 4 of 5 › »

Picadilly in white

photos by Kris Wilson

1

Chris Bell, #13, and dozens of other bidders raise their boards high as the final auction item of the night during the Piccadilly in White fundraiser for the Downtown Jefferson City Association.

« ‹ 1 of 4 › »

The post HER Community: September/October appeared first on HER Magazine.

Jill Bednar, owner of Southbank Gift Company, creates a fresh look for an outdated decorative wall hanging.

Before/After

No priming or sanding necessary. Prep your piece by cleaning it with Krud Kutter©. You may wipe down again with a clean damp cloth to remove any residual cleaner or debris.

Now you are ready to paint. Using the round Annie Sloan Pure Bristle brush begin applying the Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan in Old White over the entire piece.

In order to get down into the cracks and crevices of a piece like this, you may use a small stencil or artist brush to “pounce” the paint into every area.

Let dry and repeat where necessary to get the coverage desired.

In order to make the design look more dimensional, it’s time for Chalk Paint® Wax. We chose to mix a little CLEAR Chalk Paint® Wax and DARK Chalk Paint® Wax. Using a small brush, begin outlining the design with the mixed wax and continue into all the recessed areas. This will help make the design elements pop and give them dimension!

While the wax is still wet, apply the Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan in Old White over the wax, smudging the paint and the wax together to create a smoky, washed look.

Let dry and enjoy your finished piece!

Project by Jill Bednar | Photography by Laura Bennett Smith

The post HER DIY: Enjoy the Fruits! (without much labor) appeared first on HER Magazine.

As fall draws nearer, cool off with these autumn inspired drinks. We searched the web to bring you some of our favorite alcoholic – and nonalcoholic- treats. The kids will love the Apple Cider Floats and Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes and you’re sure to fall for the Caramel Apple Sangria and Salted Caramel Apple Martini. Enjoy!

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Apple Cider Floats

Ingredients:
Apple Cider
Ice Cream
Caramel Ice Cream Topping
Cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a glass, add 2 scoops of ice cream. Then drizzle a spoonful of caramel ice cream topping on and add a pinch of cinnamon on top.
2. Pour in the apple cider until the ice cream is covered. Then add another scoop of ice cream and repeat the drizzle of caramel and add a pinch of cinnamon.
3. Serve cold with a spoon or straw.

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.whatscookinglove.com

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Ingredients:
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 cup milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

Whipped cream and extra graham cracker crumbs for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a blender, combine ice cream, milk, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Blend until smooth.
2. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs with a spatula. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs.

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.craftaholicsanonymous.net

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Caramel Apple Sangria

Ingredients:
1 750 ml bottle of pinot grigio
1 cup caramel flavored vodka
6 cups apple cider
2 medium apples, cored and chopped

Instructions:

1. Stir in the wine, vodka, and apple cider together in a large pitcher.
2. Add the chopped apples to the pitcher or individual glasses.
3. Serve the sangria over ice.

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.thewholesomedish.com

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Salted Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients:
2 oz caramel flavored vodka
3 oz fresh apple cider
Salted caramel dessert topping
Kosher Salt

Instructions:

1. Fill each martini glass with cold water and ice cubes to chill. Spoon enough caramel topping onto a plate to rim your martini glass. Add enough kosher salt to another plate.
2. Dump the ice water from each martini glass and drizzle the inside of each glass with caramel sauce. Coat the rim of each glass into the caramel and then lightly into the kosher salt.
3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and mix together the cider and vodka by shaking well. Pour the cocktail into each glass and serve with a thin apple slice.

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.homeandplate.com

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Autumn Harvest Punch

Ingredients:
1 64 oz bottle of apple juice
1 frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 bottle of cranberry juice
1 cup of pear nectar
Ice
Sliced apples and pears for garnish

Instructions:

Dump the apple juice, orange juice concentrate, cranberry juice and pear nectar into a large pitcher or punch bowl. Stir to combine. Add the ice and fruit slices. Enjoy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.servedupwithlove.com

The post Festive Fall Drinks appeared first on HER Magazine.

After

One of Lori Massman’s favorite quotes is “The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.” – DeAnn Hollis

A community development manager who’s worked for Scholastic for more than 30 years, she’s also very involved in her hometown that she describes as a very giving community.

Born and raised in Jefferson City, she’s a proud alumni of the Jefferson City Public Schools, JCPS, and serves on the Public School Foundation Board of Directors and the JC Alive Alumni Board. A huge advocate of the United Way and its partner agencies, she’s currently serving on the United Way Executive Board and Board of Directors.

When she’s not working or volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She and her husband, Leroy, have been married for 15 years and have four children – three boys and one girl – and one grandson.

“Being a mom is one of my most proudest things in life,” Lori said. “We are so blessed and we have a terrific son-in-law and two daughter-in-laws, too. We are very blessed.”

Although Lori prefers to be behind the scenes, she enjoyed her day of pampering. “I met some great folks along the way and it was definitely a day to remember.” she said.

Before

The Style:

Hair – To bring some dimension to Lori’s color, Monica added some soft highlights with chocolatey pieces. Monica enjoyed styling her and said ‘Lori is a blast to work with!’ Lori wears her hair in pony tails often so she wanted to leave the same length for her to pull back when she needs to, but can also style it with waves for a
night out.

Makeup – Baily wanted to give Lori a natural look while still bringing out some of her beautiful features. She started with an Aveda powder foundation in Aster and applied Aveda Energizing eye cream under the eyes followed by some concealer. She then added a touch of pink to her cheeks in Rose Blossom and used a slightly darker power foundation to give her some dimension. To complete the look, she used the Twilight eye shadow pallet for her lids and brows and added a pop of color to her lips in Wild Fushia.

Clothing – Since Lori is a “jeans & T-shirt” kind of gal, we didn’t want to take her too far out of her comfort zone, so we tried to soften the look with a Simply Noelle thermal weave snap top underneath a soft knit Aztec print Kimono, trimmed with Venice Lace. A simple long necklace with coral colored beads was added for a tiny touch of bling.

The post How to Style: Lori Massman appeared first on HER Magazine.

Find the perfect gift for everyone in your family.

Rootworks® Wine Holder, River City Florist $14.95

« ‹ 1 of 16 › »

The post HER Picks: Fun and Festive Stocking Stuffers appeared first on HER Magazine.

Monica and Randy Rackers with their dog Oakley. Married for 37 years, the couple built this home on their 80 acres in Taos.

The rustic, wood-crafted log home of Monica and Randy Rackers could easily pass for a cozy, hunting lodge. A mounted turkey at eye level greets visitors in the foyer and there’s a chandelier of deer antlers too. Other wildlife throughout the home adds to the décor and reflects the outdoorsy lifestyle of the family. Touches of tooled leather made by Monica also grace the walls throughout their home.

The Hillview, a 3,200 square foot custom-designed log home in Taos blends modern amenities and conveniences and offers wonderful views of the countryside and the changing seasons. The vistas from the deck alone include parts of Callaway, Osage and Cole counties.

“We knew when we built this house that we wanted it to be very different so that is why we chose a log home,” said Rackers, a graphic designer at the News Tribune.

Rackers drew the detailed design plans and Expedition Log Homes and Mike Andrews Construction brought their vision to life. Made of 2×6 insulated walls with logs applied over them, the floor plan is open and airy. The home features 9-foot tall walls and different ceiling heights, including a 24-foot high cathedral ceiling in the great room that features a tie beam with a king and queen log post trusses.

“We wanted to design our dream home so that we could live there as we grow old.” she said.

Wider hallways, three-foot-wide doorways and an owner’s suite on the main-level are some of the aging-in-place features in the energy-efficient home.

The home won the National Association of Home Builders by capturing the Excellence in Home Design award for homes in the 3,000 square feet range. The home design and floor plan has been used as a model for other Expedition Log Homes built throughout the U.S., including Maine, New York and Pennsylvania.

Since building the home, Monica has become a field representative for Expedition Log Homes.

A turkey and a bobcat in the foyer set the tone for the variety of wildlife found in the home. The hand crafted stairway includes half-log treads and open riser and the recessed lighting warms the brown sycamore stain

« ‹ 1 of 9 › »

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Julie Smith and Monica Rackers

The post HER Home: A Timeless Natural Beauty appeared first on HER Magazine.

A sister of the biscuit, the more sophisticated scone enjoys a long tradition as part of afternoon or high tea across the pond. In Britain they’re shaped in the round, but here in America the scones are usually cut into triangular shapes. A stand out at tea rooms like the London Tea Room in St. Louis or the Shady Gables in Versailles, Missouri, scones are also often served with jam, lemon curd and clotted cream.

In recent years, scones have moved out of the “tea room” and to the masses served at bakeries and coffee shops. Savory or sweet they’ve become a popular treat for breakfast, brunch or an any time dessert.

With a little effort, scones can quickly be made at home and taste best right out of the oven, or can be frozen and baked one at a time with a cup of tea or coffee.

The recipe is simple – usually flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter and milk–but it’s the ratio of these ingredients, the add-ins, tweaks and adjustments from the chef or home-cook that make all the difference. Some swear by using only pastry flour and heavy cream to create moist and delicious scones. On the Rise Restaurant at Osage Beach makes them in the round, with sugar sprinkles galore. The scones at Starbucks are made at the corporate office and then shipped to each location throughout the country.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Hy-Vee of Jefferson City

The employee-owned grocery store on the west side of town added scones to their bakery offerings this year. According to Bakery Manager Guy Sheldon, Hy-Vee sells approximately 1,200 packages of 6 scones each every month. Apple cinnamon and blueberry are best sellers but there’s chocolate chunk, too.

Hy-Vee uses Pillsbury’s Place & Bake Freezer-to-Oven scone dough and pops four large pans into their oven at a time. Bursting with fresh blueberries, raspberries and cinnamon chips, the goodies are folded into the dough. Sheldon adds a glaze of powdered sugar and water with a splash of vanilla.

A great way to mix it up for those who usually choose muffins to bring to the office.

« ‹ 1 of 4 › »

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Three Story Coffee

Coffee may be the main attraction but the scones at the Millbottom location are a great compliment to the beverage at any time of day. Manager Justin Duren makes fresh scones every morning and they usually sell out. Since January he has sold more than 3,500 scones.

He uses the same base recipe and then adds flavors and ingredients like cranberries and nuts. He adds half and half and one egg to the flour mixture. Then he shapes the dough into a round with his hands.

“The more you knead the dough it can get tough,” he said. He then bakes them in a small confection oven and the smells filling the small space are heavenly.

« ‹ 4 of 8 › »

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Stover Country Market

When Connie Iman opened up her new store in Stover, nine miles from Versailles, she had no idea how popular her scones would become to her loyal customers.

Her blueberry or raspberry lemon scones fly out of her pastry case every morning. The savory bacon and sausage variety go over well and some customers prefer theirs covered with her homemade gravy.

Iman perfected her recipe at home and found success with a special flour blend and heavy whipping cream for her scrumptious scones. She also offers a gluten free variety.

While she bakes, she channels her grandmother Louise Bohlken by wearing her apron and using her pastry cutter. Iman also sells fair trade Branson Bean coffee by the cup or the bag.

« ‹ 1 of 5 › »

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Julie Smith, Asher Dale and Lloyd Grotjan

The post A Scone for All Seasons appeared first on HER Magazine.

Kelli Small didn’t think she would ever get THE CALL, the one that would change her life. Diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Small, 50, is one of the 600,000 Americans diagnosed with this life-threatening genetic condition where noncancerous cysts develop in the kidney. Medications and cyst removal are prescribed but many people with this hereditary disease will one day need a kidney transplant.

“I always knew there was a chance that I would have it, but for a long time I had no symptoms,” said Small, a native of California, Missouri.

A school counselor for 24 years, Small recently retired after seven years with the Jefferson City Public Schools. For most of her life she has watched her mother, Joyce Murphy, 73, deal with complications from the disease, along with her grandfather, uncle and cousins, too, some who died at 49. Murphy was diagnosed when she was 21 after Small’s brother was born.

“I was told not to have any more children but being one who doesn’t follow the doctor’s orders, I had two more children, two girls born a year apart,” Murphy said.

Kelli Small and her mother Joyce Murphy, share the same disease, the same doctor and the spirit of living life to the fullest.

An artist who owned Daisy Doodle in California, Murphy also worked as a legislative aid. She and her husband, Lee, now live in Jefferson City. Over the years her kidney function kept dropping, and in 1988 she had to go through peritoneal dialysis four to five times a day for a year and a half.

“It keeps you going but you’re tired all the time and you don’t feel good and your blood pressure is high, it’s a constant balancing act,” she said.

In 1990, Murphy had her first kidney transplant at the University of Missouri Hospital. That transplant lasted nine years but then her kidney got infected and she underwent hemo dialysis for 10 years. Even so, she and her husband have traveled extensively and she continued to lead an active life.

“My husband has been a saint and is a big part of my support system,” Murphy said. “I can remember dialyzing in the car and motel rooms and even in our boat at the Lake of the Ozarks. I would buy the solution and warm it by sitting the bag in the sun.”

She has had dialysis at clinics in Virginia, Texas, Washington D.C., Alberta and Ontario Canada and Ireland, where the entire family, their children and grandchildren, all visited together.

Murphy, who had a second kidney transplant in 2008, has been a role model for her daughter.
“My mom always had some kind of complication and she never let her PKD slow her down or stop her from living, that’s just who she is. She has always been a good example of how to handle things gracefully,” Small said.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kelli and Chris have been married for 27 years. They have two sons, Tyler and Jabcob, both in college. Photo by Christie Smith.

Before the Transplant
Small was 31 years old when she was officially diagnosed with PKD. She and her husband, Chris, both educators, had one son, Tyler, and were expecting their second. After Jacob was born, her blood pressure rose and wouldn’t go down so she was put on medication.

The family has lived in Appleton City, Warrensburg, Grain Valley and New Bloomfield and returned to her hometown in July 2012 to be closer to family.

During these years, her kidney function kept dropping and Small participated in HALT and CRISP studies led by the renowned nephrologist and researcher Jared Grantham, MD, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, KUMC. He founded the Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. She’s under the care of Ramesh Khanna, M.D., in Columbia, who also treats her mother.

In the Spring of 2013, Small put her name on the transplant waiting list at KUMC. On average 150 people are added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list each day—one every 10 minutes.

“You can get on a list when your kidney function is below 20 percent and hopefully before dialysis because that is hard on your kidneys,” she said.

In February of 2015, Small put her name on the list at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, too, hoping that being on two lists might expedite the process. Given her high antibodies, which can result from a blood transfusion or in her case having her two children, she was a “high priority” candidate.

Fighting major fatigue, by August of that year she started really dragging.

“I would work and come home and sleep for three hours, but when I woke up I wouldn’t feel that much better” she said. “I would eat dinner and be back on the couch.” During a family vacation to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Small slept an entire day during the trip.

Her kidney function continued to bottom out and by November she began undergoing daily dialysis. The pallet of supplies would be delivered monthly to her home and after some training at Dialysis Clinic Inc., a non profit organization in Jefferson City, she began a nighttime cycle. The entire process took 10 hours.

“My husband, sons, siblings and parents were so supportive and Jefferson City schools were wonderful, too.”
Small made it through the school year and retired in May of 2016. A co-worker and friend who had stayed at their lake house and saw what the dialysis process required, even was tested to be a live kidney donor for Small, but she was not a match.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Small family photographed in the Govenor’s Garden. Their support has helped Kelli keep a positive attitude in dealing with her PKD. Photo by Christie Smith.

The Call Finally Came

Although it can take two and a half years or longer, she received THE CALL about a kidney on Tuesday, August 17.

“I always figured the call would be from the hospital in Kansas but it ended up being from Barnes and I had only been on their list for eight months,” she said. “My cell phone rang when I was on the road to a Mennonite produce stand in Latham. If I had gone another mile I wouldn’t have had a signal.”

She learned the hospital had a possible kidney for her. “They ask you questions, such as if you’re ill, or have had any kind of infection,” she said.

She met the criterion, she didn’t have a cold or infection and was actively living with her disease. Soon she and Chris were headed to St. Louis as they needed to be checked in five hours after the call.

The United Network for Organ Sharing, UNOS, website describes the process as one where a patient on a list at the transplant hospital adds their medical information into their computer system. Then when a deceased organ donor is identified, UNOS generates a ranked list of transplant candidates or “matches,” based on blood type, tissue type, medical urgency, waiting time, expected benefit, geography and other medical criteria. Organ donation can come from a living donor, a cadaver donor or an anonymous donor.

“Even when you go in you don’t know if the kidney will be a match. All I was told was it’s a young lady’s kidney with a lot of life in it,” she said. “Like my mom during her first transplant, I was not the first candidate but the second person in line for the kidney.”

Within six hours Small was checked in and had gone through tests, including an EKG and a chest X-ray. The social worker, pharmacist and nutritionist stopped by to discuss what to do after the transplant, but all Small kept asking each one of them was, “is this my kidney?”

She received no answer but by 5 a.m. the next morning, a doctor came in for rounds with some news.

“I found out that I had been moved up to the primary candidate for the kidney,” Small said.

Elated, her visit from the surgeon kept her wondering.

“He told us that he could still reject the kidney once I was in the OR on the table, so we still didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said.

Around 11 a.m.,  she’s wheeled into the OR as they’re harvesting the kidney next door. Still uncertain, she remained calm and when her nurse introduced herself as Faith, Small told her “‘I love your name and she said ‘she’d tell her parents’.”

“I felt that was a sign that it was all going to work out,” she said. “I was on so many prayer lists and our First United Methodist church family has adopted my family and has been so supportive and I felt a lot of comfort from that and my own faith.”

Her whole family was there, too – mom and dad, her sister, Kristie Glenn, and brother, Kevin,  who lives at the Lake of the Ozarks. He brought his RV up in the parking lot for them to stay in.

Then the news came that she had received the kidney and the transplant was complete.

“My mom rubbed my hand, telling me, ‘I’m so happy for you.’ She was so surprised by the whole thing, even though she and our family have been through it twice before,” Small said.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kelli Small named her kidney “Faith” and she now wears a faith ring and a faith charm on her bracelet. A sign with the word faith sits in her dining room and she also has a kidney shaped stuffed animal.

Life After the Transplant

Home five days later, Small continues to heal and regain her strength. She checks in with her transplant coordinator at Barnes regularly and will have check ups ahead, but there’s a glow to her skin and her cheeks are rosy again. She recently completed a two and a half mile walk.

Life is good for her and her mother who recently went on a three-week trip to Canada and Nova Scotia. This time her parents traveled with only clothes in their suitcases.

Like her mother, who had been an advocate for various organizations, Small has already spoken at the Mid Missouri Kidney Institute and plans to be an advocate for transplant process.

“I want to clear up some of the unknowns and fears about kidney dialysis and the transplant process and help others as much as I can,” she said.

“I feel such an obligation to talk about the experience and I want to honor the young lady’s family who donated her kidney,” she said.

Even before she learned of her kidney donation, when she put her name on the transplant waiting lists she thought a lot about the family

“I prayed for the family that would ultimately donate a kidney for me. I’ve written the letter I would write to the donor family in my head so many times. Now, I’m so in debt to them.”

With the holidays approaching, she definitely counts her blessings and has much to be thankful for this year.
“There are altruistic organ donors who do this for the love of mankind and that’s just amazing,” she said. “This has been a miracle really and a gift to me and my entire family.”

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Julie Smith & Michelle Brooks

The post An Act of Faith appeared first on HER Magazine.

Using Wood Icing® and Chalk Paint®, Jill Bednar, owner of Southbank Gift Company, creates a textured, three-dimensional look on an outdated coffee table.  Don’t buy new! Just re-do, and tell your own story.

Before/After

No priming or sanding necessary. Prep your piece by cleaning it with Krud Kutter©. You may wipe down again with a clean damp cloth to remove any residual cleaner or debris.

Choose your stencil and position the stencil where you would like and tape down.

Spread Wood Icing® thinly over the stencil and then gently lift stencil up.

Let the Wood Icing® dry completely.  When dry, lightly sand over entire surface to take peaks or higher
edges off.

Paint over entire surface and your raised impression with the Chalk Paint® decorative paint color of your choice (we used Old Ochre).

When paint is dry, lay your stencil back over your raised design, matching exactly, and stencil your contrasting color on (we used French Linen & Graphite).  Lift stencil up and set aside.

When paint is dry, apply Chalk Paint® Wax. Buff the surface to smooth out wax and remove any excess.

Project by Jill Bednar | Photography by Laura Bennett Smith

The post HER DIY: Seeing Spots appeared first on HER Magazine.

The feather in the movie “Forest Gump” starring Tom Hanks symbolized a life that’s either blowing in the wind and landing seemingly by chance or that follows a preordained destiny.

A natural byproduct of the turkey that will be the star of 88 percent of American’s Thanksgiving table, the feather  served as the inspiration for what became the Arkansas Valley Feather Company and Zucker Feather products headquartered in California, Missouri.

“My grandparents started their business out of the basement of their home,” said Abby Arauz-Chase, the COO and third-generation owner of the compnay. “They would collect, wash and dye the feathers and then load their van and sell them to fly fisherman all over the country in Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Montana.”

Arauz-Chase and her brother and CEO, Anthony, traveled with her grandparents and spent summers counting feathers in bundles of one-hundred.

Arauz-Chase attended Helias High School and after graduating with a degree in dance and minors in business and Spanish at Stephens College, she moved to New York City and was chosen to be a prestigious Rockette at Radio City Music Hall.

While meeting celebrities who came to the shows–she danced with Liza Minnelli–she began brokering feather orders for her parent’s company and became known as “The Feather Lady,” and her clients expanded to fashion designers and other Broadway show costumers. She opened The Feather Place showroom in New York 19 years ago and it is still located in Manhattan’s Garment District.

Today Zucker Feather Products consists of a 77,0000 sq. foot of factory space on Hwy. 87 N. in California and two showrooms in Los Angeles and New York. The leading U.S. supplier of feathers – peacock, ostrich, pheasant, duck, goose, guinea, chicken and turkey– to the domestic and international wholesale and retail markets, Zucker Feather’s clients include Michael’s, JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and fashion houses such as Chanel and Ralph Lauren. Feathers go into the wings worn by Victoria’s Secret models and are used in film and television programs from Big Bird on “Sesame Street” to movies such as “Maleficent” and “The Hunger Games” as well as costumes for Beyonce’s latest concert tour.

Arauz-Chase expanded the company into finished products, online marketing and DIY craft ideas. The feathers are also made into ornaments, garlands, wreaths and tree collections that add a modern twist to holiday decorating.

The rooster hackle wreath with peacock flue can be a versatile decoration with a hurricane candle holder.

« ‹ 3 of 9 › »

Story by Shelley Gabert | Photography by Lloyd Grotjan

The post The Feather Place appeared first on HER Magazine.

Annual Jefferson City Council of Clubs Fashion Show

photos by Julie Smith

3

Models pose backstage before taking their turn on the runway. They are, from left: Dorothy Goodin, Theressa Ferguson, Mary Grace Warren, Dawn Nicklas, Tony Lutz, Erin Wiseman, Robert Boone and Lucy Best.

« ‹ 3 of 5 › »

Pretty In Pink Ladies Only Cocktail Party at Revel Catering

photos by Shelby Finch

2

Ashley Hale, community manager for the American Cancer Society local Relay for Life.

« ‹ 2 of 10 › »

Chamber Award Luncheon

photos by Shelby Kardell

3

News Tribune photographer Julie Smith is announced as the winner of the Exceptional Employee of the Year award.

« ‹ 3 of 3 › »

The post HER Community November/December appeared first on HER Magazine.