Columbia

Here’s how two dads etched out a plan for a tattoo shop with a play area for kids

Artists Devin Stacey and David Tombu run a tattoo shop that allows them to be dads first. This is obvious both from their business name — Dad’s Tattoo Company, and their studio space that has a sizable nook filled with video games, books and drawing supplies for kids.

Stacey, a dad to nine-year-old and five-year-old girls, and Tombu, who has a 12-year-old daughter, bonded over being dads when they first met seven years ago, at Stacey’s tattoo shop in Gastown, Vancouver. New West resident Tombu, who was living in Montreal at that time, used to work as a guest artist at Stacey’s. 

“He (Tombu) had a five year old, and I had just had my first daughter. So we kind of hit it off really well because I was trying to get dad advice from him at that point as I was a new dad,” recollected Stacey.

Somewhere between all the dad talks, the duo discussed the possibility of starting a business together sometime in the future — “Something a little bit bigger … something that aligned with our family ethics,” said Tombu. 

Fast forward to 2022: Dad’s Tattoo Company opened its doors on New West’s Columbia Street in March, offering a large space for customers to get inked and a small “nice chill spot” for kids to hang out — just the way the dads had dreamt it up.  

“My daughter is often down at the shop hanging out and pushing a broom around,” said Tombu. “Devin’s kids are constantly asking to come hang out at the shop to watch movies at night. They love seeing the city all lit up in the old downtown.”  

On rainy nights, the dads and their daughters sometimes sit in the soft lighting of the studio staring at the “glowing” Columbia Street, playing a video game or getting fake tattoos, said Stacey. 

The kids’ zone was a hit. 

So, in just over a few months of launching the business, the dads decided to expand it in size. 

They took over another unit, knocked out the wall in between and put up a big TV in the space.

Now, the room, besides being their kids’ fave, also serves clients who may not be able to have their kiddos looked after while getting a tattoo, said Tombu.

While a kids’ room in a tattoo shop is a clear giveaway that the business puts family first, there’s more that suggests it’s run by a team of responsible dads. 

As Tombu said in an Instagram chat, “We keep the music at a reasonable volume and no one is allowed to touch the thermostat.” 

“We believe in openness in conversation, and everything is funny as long as it’s not rooted in hate. Our shop talks nonsense and health all day, and throws shade at those that don’t return their shopping carts, don’t use turn signals, etc. Snack runs to the Shawarma Corner downstairs are a constant.”  

And while all that adds to the dad-vibe of the shop, what nails it is a little message from Tombu right at the end of the chat. 

“In true dad fashion, all this was written in the bathroom while drinking coffee,” he said. 

At this confession, we reminded ourselves of an old American sitcom, Father Knows Best. 

But even if they don’t, here’s wishing all pops a happy Father’s Day!

 

Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 18. Dad’s Tattoo Company (627 Columbia St.) is open between 12 noon and 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Follow Dad’s Tattoo Company on Instagram to know more.

 

Originally Appeared Here

Ameren Missouri’s nearly 1.3 million electric power customers will be paying more in the near future but exactly how much more, and when the rates will take effect, has yet to be determined, the Missouri Public Service Commission said in a news release Thursday.

The commission approved a plan for the utility to increase revenues by $140 million annually. Each rate class will see the same percentage increase, but Ameren Missouri must file a particular rate schedule before the exact increase is available, the release stated. The proposal for rates will also include an effective date.

The $9 monthly charge for service will not increase, the news release stated.

The rate hike is about 44% of the total sought by the utility when it filed for a $316 million rate increase in August 2022. The company cited increased investments, higher cost for borrowing and higher depreciation costs as reasons for the rate increase.

The initial rate request was opposed by several groups representing environmental groups and utility customers. The rate increase approved Thursday is a consent agreement between Ameren and those intervening parties.

The order protects customers by requiring the utility to report avoided costs if it shuts down its coal-fired Sioux Energy Center in St. Charles County or the Labadie Energy Center in Franklin County before their scheduled retirement, the Sierra Club stated in a news release after the decision.

The plan also sets a goal for reducing disconnections in zip codes with high rates of utility shutoffs.

The decision keeps in place Ameren’s time-of-use program, which offers residential customers the opportunity to pay lower rates for using power in off-peak times. Customers with advanced metering are eligible for the program and if they do not enroll, they will pay a default rate for all power.

The default rate will also be the residential rate for new customers and those without advanced metering, the release stated.

The rate-increase plan also commits Ameren to increasing its customer assistance programs for senior citizens and low-income weatherization efforts, allowing 50% of the cost of those programs to be included in customer rates.

“Today’s outcome was made possible by the thousands of customers who spoke out on the unnecessary rate increases in the face of mounting utility disconnections and record stock prices for Ameren shareholders,” Jenn DeRose, Missouri campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign said in the release.

In February, Ameren announced that its profits on Missouri operations increased 8.1% in 2022, to $562 million. The company also has an electric power utility in Illinois and natural gas utilities in Missouri and Illinois.

For all operations, the company reported profits of almost $1.1 billion, an increase of 8.5% over 2021 results.

Ameren provides electricity to approximately 1.29 million customers in Missouri, mainly in cities in the eastern half of the state.

This was first published by the Missouri Independent, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering state government, politics and policy, and is reprinted with permission.

Originally Appeared Here

The usual quips about Missouri weather — if you don’t like it, wait 5 minutes, et al. — sometimes fall flat with dog lovers.

Summer swelter, the coldest days of winter, and the unpredictable elements between, can leave pups with pent-up energy, and their humans feeling a bit stranded for both their sakes.

The owner of two pit bulls, River and Forest, Rebecca Welly knows the feeling. During the pandemic’s earliest, most isolating moments, Welly spent time beside the dogs daydreaming about being anywhere else. Questions of where to take them became questions about where Welly wanted to go in life.

Those daydreams became a tangible vision for Dog Wild, an indoor-outdoor, membership-driven dog park with a bar. Cultivating the idea at every step with her partner and co-owner Lesley Harris, Welly is gathering momentum to move the project forward and Dog Wild will host a first fundraiser the evening of June 27 at Cafe Berlin.

“It sounds like this monumental picture and vision to bring to Columbia, but you know what? I think I can do it,” Welly said of the way the thought process unfolded.

Improving Columbia’s dog park culture

Columbia is home to a number of dog parks, which are good for the free options they are, Welly said. But fellow dog owners sometimes express concern over upkeep and safety. Keeping the parks litter-free and stocked with clean water is a challenge. As is the weather, which can turn free room to roam into fields of mud.

And these dog parks operate on a sort of “honor system” in the way human visitors interact, Welly said.

Welly envisions a space that is temperate and clean, encouraging the comfort of both dogs and people. The ideal venue for Dog Wild would be a 10,000-square-foot, warehouse-style building, she said. The indoor portion would offer plenty of wide-open space as well as a bar and other amenities for dog owners and their friends.

Outside, a turfed lawn would represent a major investment but a lasting one, Welly said. The ability to keep the surface clean and dry would be a major plus.

Sealing the whole space: a sense of community and common buy-in. Dog Wild would not only cater to dog owners. The park could welcome a number of populations, Welly said, like people hanging out with their dog-owning friends or college students who miss their dogs back home and simply want to watch other canines run free.

Welly arrived in Columbia after graduating high school and never felt the desire to leave. She wants Dog Wild to harness what makes our community special.

“It feels like a small town, but you have the amenities of a fairly large town,” Welly said. “I want that to be reflected when you walk in. We know who you are. You walk in, and you feel like this is your backyard almost.”

The Columbia community deserves a space like this, Welly added.

A future Columbia success story

Similar spaces are cropping up — and thriving — around Missouri and the lower Midwest. Welly pointed to the success of Bar K, which began in Kansas City before expanding to St. Louis and Oklahoma City.

The Kansas City location now encompasses a two-acre dog park with a bar, restaurant and full staff including trained dog handlers. That space became an anchor on Kansas City’s riverfront, encouraging the city to revitalize the area, Welly said.

Welly believes Dog Wild can be a similar success story in Columbia. In March, the idea earned third place and a $3,000 prize at Missouri Startup Weekend, an entrepreneurship event that has boosted the signal of significant Columbia businesses like EquipmentShare.

“That gave me my own little boost of confidence to be like, ‘Alright, quit sitting on this thing. And quit talking about it with your dogs at home. … It’s not going to start unless you talk to people,’ ” Welly said with a laugh.

Stretching herself to make Dog Wild a reality, Welly returns to River, Forest and what they share. She identifies with their pit bull breed, which is so commonly misunderstood, she said. The Dog Wild website describes Welly as “stubborn” and her story reveals a quick learner too.

The majority of Welly’s career has been spent in labs and on campuses, dedicated to research. Navigating the pandemic, she took a job in the kitchen at Cafe Berlin. Learning the pace — and constant re-calibrating — of a small business, and picking the brain of co-owner Sam Johnson, Welly learns something every day that applies to Dog Wild.

“I’m one of those people, you show me once I’ll never forget it. … And I love it over there,” Welly said.

The June 27 Petite Patio Pup Social takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. and will include food, beverages, Dog Wild merch, a raffle and more. The event is listed online as “Perfect for: Breeds 30 lbs or smaller, Leash required.”

Welly wants to connect with potential investors and donors, of course, but also with other dog lovers willing to apply their ideas and skills to move Dog Wild ahead.

“Be honest,” she said, of what she wants from people at this stage. Knowing it’s impossible to see every aspect of a project with just two eyes, Welly values other perspectives.

Welly also will speak at the next meeting of Columbia’s 1 Million Cups chapter, which takes place at the REDI hub on Walnut Street at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Visit https://dogwildcomo.com/ for more information or email godogwild@gmail.com.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He’s on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

Originally Appeared Here

A Cole County judge on Thursday ruled the state board that regulates accountants has no oversight over the Missouri auditor’s office.

The ruling came as result of a lawsuit filed in 2021 by then-Auditor Nicole Galloway after she faced sanctions from the Missouri Board of Accountancy over audits criticizing Sen. Josh Hawley’s use of public funds while he was state attorney general.

Among Galloway’s findings were that Hawley may have misused state resources to boost his successful campaign for the U.S. Senate. But whether Hawley ultimately broke the law was unclear, the audit concluded, because the attorney general’s office conducted business off government servers through use of private email and text messaging.

Hawley responded by demanding the board of accountancy investigate Galloway, and it eventually sanctioned her for including full transcripts of interviews in her final audit report.

The board claimed Galloway violated a state law against publicly releasing working papers relating to audit reports.

Galloway sued, arguing that the board was misapplying a state statute in a way that could bar the auditor’s office from publicly disclosing facts and findings about government inefficiencies, waste, fraud and abuse.

According to the lawsuit, the board’s interpretation would give government entities veto power over information included in audits as well as endanger the CPA licenses of people working in the auditor’s office.

Cole County Judge Jon Beetem agreed.

If a person or agency is required to give consent for information to be included in a public report, “some investigations would come to a halt as the certified public accountants would need to choose between reporting on the matters before them or risk discipline against their license,” Beetem wrote in an 18-page ruling Thursday.

Beetem wrote that the board of accountancy “has no jurisdiction over the performance of the constitutional or statutory duties of the state auditor’s office.”

In addition to concluding that Hawley may have used state resources to boost his 2018 Senate campaign, Galloway’s audit also found Hawley used a state vehicle, driven by a state employee, on trips where the purpose was not documented in travel itineraries or vehicle mileage logs. The Kansas City Star had previously reported Hawley used a state car for political events.

To support the underlying findings, Galloway’s 450 page report included transcripts of depositions with former staff, emails, financial records and other documents.

Hawley cried foul, denying any wrongdoing and filing a complaint with the board of accountancy.

Eight months later — and just one month before the November election in which Galloway was challenging Republican Gov. Mike Parson —the board launched its formal investigation.Galloway went on to lose the election to Parson. She chose not to run for another term as auditor last year and was replaced in January by Republican Scott Fitzpatrick.

“I appreciate the decision of the court to preserve the constitutional and statutory authority of the state auditor’s Office to serve as the independent watchdog for Missouri taxpayers,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement to The Independent. “This ruling affirms my position, and that of the former administration, that government entities subject to a state audit do not have veto power over the state auditor’s decisions about what information will be included in public reports pursuant to the audits we conduct.”

Last November, the use of private emails by Hawley’s staff once again garnered headlines when the same Cole County judge determined the practice constituted a knowing violation of the Sunshine Law.The motivation for breaking the law, the judge concluded, was concern that releasing the records could harm Hawley’s Senate campaign.

This was first published by the Missouri Independent, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering state government, politics and policy, and is reprinted with permission.

Originally Appeared Here

During World War I, Missouri proudly revealed it had produced two distinguished U.S. Army generals whose efforts helped turn the tide of the conflict in Europe.

The careers of Gen. John J. Pershing, who achieved the esteemed rank equivalent to six-star general, and that of Maj. Gen. Enoch Crowder revealed a focus on education and resulted in their receiving an esteemed bestowment from a state university.

“It should be noted … that these famous generals grew to manhood in Missouri; Pershing in Linn County, Crowder in Grundy — in the same congressional district — and that Pershing was Crowder’s immediate successor at West Point Military Academy,” explained the Missouri Rural (Topeka, Kansas) on May 20, 1920.

Growing up nearly 30 miles apart, these future leaders came from hardscrabble beginnings and were raised on small farms. Crowder, who was 17 months older than Pershing, once served as the professor of military science and tactics at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned his law degree in 1886.

“Pershing was reassigned to the University of Nebraska in 1891,” explained an article by Bernard McCoy written for the University of Nebraska website. “He led the cadet training program, taught classes and studied law.”

Like his contemporary, Pershing used his time at Nebraska to earn his law degree.

Years earlier, their careers exhibited similarities with Crowder’s service on America’s western frontier in the 1880s in support of the Apache and Sioux campaigns. Likewise, Pershing later served in a similar capacity with the cavalry and was recognized for his bravery in battle.

Though sharing many comparable characteristics in their remarkable careers, the direction taken by the future generals briefly diverged beginning with the explosion of the USS Maine off the coast of Cuba in 1898.

“When the Spanish-American War broke out, Pershing commanded the 10th Cavalry … and led his men in Cuba at the Battle of San Juan Hill,” described an article by the Missouri State Historical Society. “The bravery and courage shown by the men of the 10th Cavalry earned them Pershing’s respect and admiration.”

The 10th Cavalry, a component of the “Buffalo Soldiers,” was an all-black regiment, whose command thereof earned Pershing the moniker of “Black Jack.” Pershing was later sent to the Philippines and commanded occupational troops battling against native tribes in the region.

Crowder, as a recently promoted lieutenant colonel, also served in the Philippines, but as a judge advocate. In this capacity, he embraced his experiences and education as a lawyer when drafting a Philippines criminal code while exhibiting his competence through other legal advisement roles.

Their duties would again intersect a few years later during a conflict known as the Russo-Japanese War. For several months, Col. Crowder fulfilled the role of senior military observer with the Japanese army in their campaigns against Russian forces and was later joined by Capt. Pershing.

In 1916, following border raids into American territory largely attributed to Mexican revolutionary Francisco (Pancho) Villa, “(i)mmediate steps were taken to organize a punitive expedition of about 10,000 men under Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing to capture Villa,” shared the U.S. Army’s Center of Military History.

Despite skirmishing with small bands of Mexican soldiers and bandits, Villa was never captured. However, relations were soon restored with the Mexican government and troops withdrawn from the country in 1917, only weeks prior to the biggest moment in the careers of both Crowder and Pershing.

“On April 4, 1917, the U.S. Senate voted in support of the measure to declare war on Germany,” explained the U.S. State Department website. “The House concurred two days later. The United States later declared war on German ally Austria-Hungary on Dec. 7, 1917.”

Hurdling toward a major conflict with the Central Powers, President Wilson bypassed five other major-generals and appointed Pershing as commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). With a standing army of less than 128,000, a mechanism was needed to build a viable fighting force for the United States.

As the judge advocate, Crowder became known as the father of the Selective Service. During the war, he oversaw the development and implementation of the military draft that registered approximately 25 million men and grew the nation’s Army to more than 4 million in 1918.

In a private letter to his fellow Missourian serving in France, Crowder assured Pershing, “I am completely absorbed in the work of the draft … so as to give you assurances that the flow of manpower to the cantonments and thence to the battlefield shall not be interrupted.”

History demonstrates that the U.S. helped turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. After returning to the states, Pershing was hailed a national hero and, along with Crowder, honored in his home state.

“Almost all of Columbia and Boone County stood on its toes in an effort to see Generals John J. Pershing and Enoch Crowder as they came into Columbia this afternoon,” reported the Evening Missourian on April 21, 1920. “Missouri’s foremost sons were coming, and the people were out to see them.”

On April 22, 1920, the well-educated generals were conferred honorary doctor of law degrees during commencement ceremonies at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Revered as the class valedictorian, Gen. Pershing used his moment on stage to embrace his experiences as a teacher and stress the importance of an education.

“Among those who were drafted, 24 percent were illiterate,” Pershing told the audience in attendance. “But not one returned to his home who could not read or write.”

He added, “It is the duty and obligation of every Missourian to give to those men and women who are born in this state, or who live in this state, the opportunity to place themselves in a better class.”

Jeremy P. Amick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.

    Born near Laclede, Missouri, in 1860, John J. Pershing achieved the pinnacle of fame as commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. He was committed to education, earning his law degree from the University of Nebraska. (Courtesy/Jeremy Amick)  

Originally Appeared Here

When: Columbia Borough council meeting, May 23.

What happened: Council members voted 4-2 to sell 400 Locust St. to Cimarron Investments for $60,000, preempting a $60,500 offer from Habitat for Humanity. Several council members and Mayor Leo Lutz said they thought Cimarron was a better fit for downtown Columbia.

Details: Both entities presented plans to build a multiuse development with commercial tenants on the first floor and residences slated for the second and third floors of what is now a vacant lot.

Differences: Cimarron will build two retail establishments and between four and six market-rate apartments at the site. The development would be worth about $1.5 million when completed. Habitat for Humanity offered one retail space and two 1,200-square-foot condominiums that would have been valued between $1.2 and $1.3 million.

For: Vice President Eric Kauffman and members Barbara Fisher, Todd Burgard, Peter Stahl and Joanne Price voted in favor of selling the land to Cimarron.

Quotables: “I’ve seen the effect that Cimarron has done in the last 10 years in the borough,” Burgard said. “It’s incredible.” Fisher pointed to Columbia’s commitment to support businesses as a reason to sell to Cimarron. “We need to focus on Locust Street,” she said.

More: “This is in the heart of downtown,” Lutz said. “Putting two homes there doesn’t do what we want in our business district.”

Against: President Heather Zink and member Sharon Lintner voted against the motion, because they want to increase home ownership in the borough.

Quotable: “The comp plan said encourage different housing opportunities for all people and all incomes,” Zink said, referring to the borough’s comprehensive growth plan. “I love the fact that this (Habitat for Humanity’s offer) would encourage home ownership.”

More: “I believe Habitat presented a better plan for the property, and they actually offered slightly more,” Lintner said in a text message after the meeting. “Habitat said their homes would be 1,200-square-feet each, which to me sounds pretty good.”

Question: Brad Chambers, a Democratic borough council candidate, asked council to require Cimarron to offer apartments with lower-rate rents. The borough is unable to put any deed restrictions on the property, Zink said.

Public works moving: Council voted 6-1 to pay $1.35 million for 9.4 acres off Ridge Avenue to relocate the borough’s public works department.

More: Zink and Mark Stivers, borough manager, said the cost to buy the land and renovate a building on the property will be less than the amount Columbia will receive from selling the wastewater treatment plant, which currently houses public works.

Dissent: Kauffman voted against the measure, because the borough would need to gain access to the new property. The real estate deal will not close, though, unless the borough receives access.

What’s next: Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6. The meeting will be streamed on the borough’s Facebook page.

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HUDSON — The Shared Streets Program will not be returning.

Common Council President Tom DePietro said the Hudson Business Coalition hasn’t approached the city about another year of the program.

“To the best of my knowledge, the business coalition hasn’t approached the city about renewing Shared Streets again for the summer,” DePietro said Thursday. “Apparently, the COVID-19-related origins of Shared Streets are no longer required for the city of Hudson’s restaurants.”

Mayor Kamal Johnson said the city passed the Shared Streets baton to the Hudson Business Coalition in 2022.

“We ran it the first two years — 2020 and 2021 — and then we elected not to do it the third year because the Hudson Business Coalition took it on,” Johnson said. “We felt like we needed someone to manage it. This year we haven’t heard anything from them about taking it all, so I’m guessing they’re not interested. They volunteered to take it on, and it fit well with them because they have direct relationships with business.”

The absence of Shared Streets should not have an adverse effect on Warren Street businesses this summer, Johnson said.

“I think that Hudson is in a good place right now,” he said. “We’re moving past the pandemic, and I see that it can be a bonus for some of the businesses, but it’s not a necessity anymore like it was during the height of the pandemic.”

The program was launched in 2020 in the beginning stages of the pandemic to help businesses attract and keep customers when social distancing was the norm. Businesses took over parking spaces and sidewalks in front of their establishments and blocked out areas for outdoor dining or sidewalk sales. The Hudson Department of Public Works bordered the spaces with cement blocks to protect diners.

Critics said the cement barriers narrowed Warren Street, making vehicular traffic dangerous to pedestrians, eliminated valuable parking spaces. Safety became an issue when the speed limit on Warren Street was slowed to 5 mph to keep diners and shoppers safe and allowed pedestrians to practice social distancing by walking in the streets, and drivers were expected to yield to them.

But businesses such as the Mexican restaurant La Mision on Warren Street thrived under the program.

“The Shared Street program helped us a lot over the years,” La Mision manager Joslyn Stone said. “It provided us with more space so people could sit a safe distance from each other. It really drew a crowd when people walked by and saw good food on the street.”

Stone said that since the program is not returning, it could have a negative effect on the business.

“It’s going to be fewer people that we can sit, less tables that we have, less people that we can serve, and less room for our guests,” Stone said. “So having the Shared Streets program helped.”

Word that the program isn’t returning garnered mixed reactions.

Joan Palmer of Columbiaville thinks the program has run its course.

“In a way, I’m glad it’s not returning,” Palmer said. “For the most part, COVID is over, and it’s time that the world returns to what it once was pre-2020.” Daniel Thomas-Rivera of Hudson is conflicted about the program. He recognized the positives that the program provided while acknowledging some of the things that he disliked about it.

“I’m 50-50 on the idea of the Shared Streets returning to the area; on the one hand, it gave us the opportunity to eat and enjoy the weather and to take advantage of extra seating if a restaurant had a long wait or it was full,” he said. “In 2020, the pedestrian traffic on Warren Street was too much. I’m sure the businesses didn’t mind, but it was just too many people.”

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Originally Appeared Here

Unique Veterans Urban Farm is safe and welcoming 

Lace up your work boots and put on your gardening gloves as we explore a place you might have overlooked. Once you know a little bit more about this distinctive veteran’s project, you will likely see this as a unique approach to support our local veteran population.  

There is a bountiful garden with a wide variety of plants, wildlife, and nature tucked away near the heart of the Columbia. The agricultural wonder—the Veterans Urban Farm—is located at the intersection of College Avenue and Smith Street. This project falls under the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, a larger non-profit organization. 

The gardens at the Smith Street location are not new as they were formerly the CCUA farm for a decade, prior to the construction of the Columbia Agriculture Park next to the Activity and Recreation Center at 1679 W. Ash St. The Veterans Urban Farm got its start in 2020. 

“This space is specifically by veterans for veterans,” says Dustin Cook, veterans program manager at CCUA. “I am a veteran and the program participants who help me with this program on a routine basis—we all share this idea that any veteran should be able to come here. They should feel at home, feel safe, feel welcome.” 

More than a sanctuary

At first glance, the tiny farm seems ideal for veterans to come and connect with fellow veterans in a quiet and peaceful setting. But the farm is much more than a sanctuary. Dustin says local veterans are involved with the Veterans Urban Farm in a variety of ways.  

First, the program provides agricultural-based vocational training through a partnership with the Veterans Administration transitional work program, and therapeutic gardening activities through partnership with VA recreational therapy and whole health programs.  

Next, the program brings in veteran volunteers through the growing season.  

Army veteran Erich Wilson at the Columbia Veterans Urban Farm.

The farm also hosts several veteran-oriented, family friendly public events each year including a resource fair and a Veterans Day meal. 

The diminutive farm’s proximity to the Harry S. Truman VA Hospital is fitting because the program is tied to the VA via a memorandum of understanding, making it possible for the farm to host veterans in both inpatient and outpatient programs. The agreement primarily centers around three programs: transitional work, recreational, and whole health. 

Therapeutic benefits

Finally, an unintended consequence Dustin says he has found with the farm’s work with veterans is that veterans open up about their needs (in some cases) and he is able to connect with other resources to assist veterans. 

“It is something about being outside and being in this place that makes people comfortable,” Dustin explains. “Sometimes they tell me things that they may not have shared with anybody, and I do my best to help them out by picking up the phone and making a few calls.” 

In the short time that the program has been in place, Dustin notes that hundreds of local veterans have been supported through the program’s efforts. Perhaps not surprisingly, as Columbia has so often done in the past in pioneering community and civic services, the program is piquing interest among groups in other areas. ram located right here–you are not alone. 

Dustin is currently working with three other cities that are striving to provide similar urban farm programs for their veterans in their communities to recreate the veterans farm model: Memphis, Tenn., Leavenworth, Kan., and Poplar Bluff, Mo.  

“So far, it looks like we have other sites in the region who are going to stand-up programs like this,” Dustin adds. 

In addition to providing a program model for other communities, the Smith Street site continues to grow and expand. A new construction project on-site is in its final phases. After completion the site will provide an ADA accessible location for disabled veterans to get fully engaged with the program. A large arbor structure has been built with raised garden beds at the perfect height for veterans who might be in wheelchairs. The project, known as the Warrior’s Garden, provides a shady, flat, yet open space, to accommodate veterans with disabilities. 

Dustin noted that he is a 10-year veteran of the Missouri Army National Guard. After leaving the military, he became an educator for several years in public education. He said that CCUA and the Veterans Urban Garden have now captured his passion, which is continually inspired by the feedback he receives from veterans. 

Common connections

In addition to helping veterans develop and sharpen vocational skills, the farm provides a healthy space for veterans to work and share their experiences among comrades. Dustin said that, in his opinion, the best way to solve issues that veterans might be experiencing is through community support. 

“This organization is a part of the community, and we are working to improve the lives of veterans,” he adds. “If communities don’t support the veterans in those communities, then the problems will never get better. Veterans can’t get better all on their own.” 

Army veteran Erich Wilson, who has worked at the Veterans Urban Farm for over two years, said he thinks that the program provides an excellent environment for him to work with his fellow veterans. He made that comment recently while he was walking the grounds at the farm with his fellow Army buddy, Teddy Locastro, on a warm, sunny afternoon. 

“This is just a positive place for veterans to come who are starting over,” Erich continued. “It’s a good place to hang out. Everybody here is nice and positive.” 

As Erich walked the grounds, he smiled as he talked about his experiences working with the trees, crops, and the people. He said that in his time at the Veterans Urban Farm he has not only helped nurture the crops, but he also has built some strong bonds with his fellow veterans who are also drawn to the unique place.  

“It’s an awesome place,” he said. “It’s a safe place. We welcome anybody and everybody.” 

Jamie Melchert is a long-time Columbia resident who enjoys the arts, entertainment, and the outdoors. Among his work experiences, he is most proud of his military service with the Missouri Army National Guard. He now enjoys traveling with his wife and family to destinations near and far. Jamie is exploring old and new places to help residents like him, as well as newcomers, (re)discover COMO. 

Originally Appeared Here

All four Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) presidential candidate finalists will be attending public forums in The Dalles and Hood River in June as the board nears a decision on the institution’s next president, according to a press release.

Public forums are scheduled June 5, 8-9 and 12 in The Dalles and Hood River. Internal forums with students, staff and faculty are also scheduled.

Public forums on The Dalles Campus will be held in Room 3.301, Building 3 (“Health Sciences”). Public forums on the Hood River Campus will be in Room 1.310 on the third floor.

Members of the public who attend the forums will be invited to provide their feedback through written forms which will be reviewed by the college board.

Public forums Monday, June 5, 10:30 a.m. at The Dalles Campus / 3:30 p.m. at the Hood River Campus.

Howsare Boyens is provost of Des Moines Area Community College in Des Moines, Iowa. Her urban campus serves more than 4,200 students in credit classes, workforce training, adult education and literacy. This is part of a district has six campuses and six centers, serving more than 32,000 students. Howsare Boyens oversees Urban Campus, Southridge Center, DMACC Capitol Center and Evelyn K Davis Center for Working Families.

For the past 19 years, Boyens has served the diverse needs of DMACC’s students, staff and faculty in various capacities. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Masters of Arts in School Counseling from the University of Iowa, she began her career as a counselor at DMACC Urban Campus. In this role, she also taught numerous student development courses. In 2008, she transitioned into administration as associate provost for student services and then as associate provost for academic services. As chief executive officer of the Urban campus, Boyens serves more than 3,000 credit students in Arts & Sciences and Career & Technical programs. She oversees the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families to provide community services to more than 7,000 clients per year. Boyens also leads the Southridge Center and Career Academy, serving high schools in Warren County and Des Moines Public Schools. She leads district-wide non-credit high school completion and English Language programs, serving more than 1,200 non-credit students.

Boyens leads the district’s newly developed post-secondary programs at two corrections facilities. She launched the UNI@DMACC program, serving place-bound students. Boyens also serves on various nonprofit and economic development boards.

Thursday, June 8, 10:30 a.m. at The Dalles Campus / 4:30 p.m. at the Hood River Campus.

Lawson is vice president of instruction, Skagit Valley College, Mt. Vernon, Wash. His community college experience began as an adjunct faculty in basic education. From that experience, he gained an appreciation for the power of community colleges to make a transformative difference in students’ lives. Lawson’s career — which includes serving as a full-time faculty and dean of the Social Sciences/Equity and Social Justice division at Shoreline Community College, and dean for the Humanities and Social Sciences at Seattle Central College — has focused on ensuring equitable access, achievement, and outcomes for all students. He is deeply committed to the role higher education plays as an agent of positive social change.

Since 2013, Lawson has served as the vice president for instruction at Skagit Valley College. In that role, he works with faculty and staff to create equitable learning environments, programs responsive to local economic and social needs, and educational pathways for diverse communities. Lawson has a doctorate in political science from the University of Washington, and a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Utah.

Friday, June 9, 10:30 a.m. The Dalles Campus / 3:30 p.m. Hood River Campus.

A first-generation college student, Fliger is vice president of instruction, Texas City, Texas. He is passionate about the role education plays in transforming lives. Through his student-centered lens and engaging approach to instruction, Fliger encourages students to chase their dreams with the help of supportive and engaged faculty, staff, and administrators. Fliger has served in higher education full-time for 20 years as a faculty, department chair, associate dean, dean and vice president for instruction at four institutions. His work at Hispanic and minority-serving community colleges focuses on increasing access and student success. One of his accomplishments includes leading a college’s ability to offer its first bachelor’s degree. In 2020, he led the transition to fully online instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the transition back to in-person instruction.

Fliger is committed to exposing students to a global perspective through education. He has created, led, and supervised study abroad programs at multiple institutions and recently focused on a social justice program with Ireland. Fliger has led extensive efforts to forge strong partnerships between industry and higher education. Through his work with faculty, advisory boards, chambers of commerce, and economic partnerships, he led the creation of more than a dozen programs since 2019. Emphasizing opportunities for students to achieve gainful, lasting employment, he has incorporated continuing education into program development, making it possible to quickly respond to workforce needs.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Public Communication from Purdue University-Fort Wayne, a master’s degree in Speech Communication from Miami University and a doctorate in communication from Bowling Green State University with an emphasis in culture and rhetoric. Fliger currently serves on the boards of a local chamber of commerce and economic development partnership.

Monday, June 12, 10:30 a.m. The Dalles Campus / 3:30 p.m. Hood River Campus.

Solemsaas is chancellor, Hawai‘i Community College, Hilo, Hawaii. She brings three decades of progressive public service experience, including 18 years in leadership and administration at community colleges. She takes pride in serving institutions that align with her passion and purpose as an anti-poverty activist. She was appointed chancellor of Hawai‘i Community College in 2016. Hawai’i Community College is part of the University of Hawai’i, a 10 campus system; her college serves the Hawai’i (Big) Island. She previously served as chief financial officer and chief business officer at Truckee Meadows Community College in Nevada, Bellevue College and Edmonds College, both in Washington State.

Prior to joining the Community and Technical College system, Solemsaas served Snohomish County and King County in various capacities in finance related to public government, health and human services. Solemsaas’s educational background brings three distinct skillsets: Business acumen, administration and community college leadership. She earned a doctorate of education with an emphasis on community college leadership from Washington State University, a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor of science in accounting from De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines.

Solemsaas considers the Pacific Northwest her home. Her humble beginnings as an immigrant started in Everett, Wash., in 1986, where her family moved from the Philippines due to opportunities with Boeing. She met her husband, Ron, in Renton and raised their family, settling in Lake Stevens, Wash. Today, they enjoy being grandparents. Solemsaas is a board director for the American Association of Community Colleges, the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. She has served as a commissioner for the Northwest Commission for College and Universities since 2020, as board director and past president of the National Asian Pacific Islander Council, and as a member of the Hawai’i Leadership Fellows.

As a Collective Impact Movement practitioner, Solemsaas led the establishment of Vibrant Hawai’i and served as its board chair during its formation. Vibrant Hawai’i evolved beyond an antipoverty movement. Today, it is a catalyst for creating opportunities to build abundance for the Hawai’i Island community.

The presidential search attracted 33 candidates. Thirteen search committee members, from the college and community at large, reviewed all initial applications before arriving at the four finalists. The college board contracted with American Community College Trustees (ACCT), a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., to conduct the search. ACCT’s consultant was Luke Robins.

Originally Appeared Here