The Hosmers - Community Free Press

Transcription

DECEMBER 10 - 23, 2014
FreePress
Community
Getting
Creative
Local artists
open art school.
Page 12
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER OF THE SPRINGFIELD AREA | www.cfpmidweek.com
QUICK TAKES
Upfront
No shortage of problems for the City and County
■
Artifacts for everyone
30,000 square foot
“Passages” exhibit soon
leaves Springfield.
p.2
............................................
Take heed in traffic
Safety tips and results of
new fender bender policy.
p.3
............................................
Health
Christmas spirit in sight
After 15 years of blindness, Bobbi Savage can
see snowflakes.
p.15
............................................
Helping the little ones
Task force report calls attention to funding issues, jail overcrowding and crumbling stormwater pipes
By Jana Bounds
A plethora of problems
confronts the City of
Springfield and Greene
County. City Council and
the
Greene
County
Commission were recent-
ly greeted with findings
from an 18 month study
by City and County staff.
“It was a lot to take in, it
was kind of a fire hose kind
of a session,” Councilman
Doug Burlison said.“I had-
n’t been involved with any
of these task force meetings prior to this and hearing the depth of the issue
as good as you can in one
presentation like this…
There’s a lot to think
The Hosmers
of HOSMER HILL
about.”
The report discusses
issues with the law
enforcement and the
criminal justice system,
unfunded state and federal mandates, and the City
Big family – big dreams
The Hosmer brothers’ idyllic
childhood and inspiration
p.16
By Jana Bounds
opposite of what they knew.And
they succeeded.
“I wanted more than one or
two and ended-up with 13 –
which is fine… It could have been
a mess, but they’re all lovely children,” Melba said with a smile.
And the children gave Melba
grandchildren – 32 of them.
Melba worked at the Webster
County Courthouse and John
was a Magistrate Judge for
Webster County. They were
involved politically and in social
issues and wanted their seven
boys and six girls to be well educated on all fronts. In fact, the
Questions about parking
issues within the city surfaced at a recent committee
meeting. The discussion
stemmed from approved
development on east Cherry
Street in the Rountree
Neighborhood. Council had
raised concerns and City
staff looked into parking
requirements.
City staff is looking into
four different questions as a
result of the meeting.
Was there any change in
citations by the Springfield
Police Department (SPD) in
the areas around the campuses and was the enforcement level the same?
Second, are there any
changes to traffic count near
recent developments? Third,
is SPD enforcing the parking
permits in the Phelps and
Rountree Neighborhoods
and if so, to what degree?
Fourth, can the city appoint
one or more residents as
conservators of the peace to
enforce the parking permit
requirements in those neighborhoods?
Citing a comparison to 15
benchmark and three local
cities,
Planning
and
Development
Director
Ralph Rongstad said that
staff does not recommend
see HOSMER CLAN, 6
see PARKING PROBLEMS, 5
A&E
Springfield Music jammin’
Acoustic jam sessions
bring musicians together.
p.17
............................................
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INDEX
A&E ............................17
Business....................12
Events ......................17
Health ........................15
Upfront ......................2
Photo by Jana Bounds
Viewpoints ..............10
Craig, Andy and Bob Hosmer play important roles in shaping Springfield’s future. Craig is a city councilman, Andy is
currently the vice president of Springfield Public Schools Board of Education, and Bob is a senior planner with the City.
By Jana Bounds
Catering
& Banquet Rooms
Policing
parking
Should neighborhood
associations be able to
issue parking tickets?
............................................
Wed. Dec. 24
see CITY / COUNTY, 8
■
Mercy opens new
Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit.
Look for our
next issue:
and County’s financial stability.
Members of the task
force suggest immediate
attention be given to
insufficient jail space and
the strained criminal jus-
At 89 years old, Melba Hosmer,
matriarch of the clan, held her
one-year-old granddaughter nicknamed,“Zuzu,” amidst the charming chaos that is her family. It was
Thanksgiving on Hosmer Hill –
an 80 acre farm in Marshfield.
The kitchen was full of people –
a long oak table with benches
was in the center –packed with
adults in animated conversation
with children bouncing on some
knees. Bistro tables were nicely
arranged at the side of the large
kitchen – a few people sat quietly at the tables, observing the
scene which was both comfortable and chaotic.
”
Mealtimes were
always a raucous
affair and you learned
to eat quickly or else
you would miss out.
– Andy Hosmer
Melba’s story began with a
somewhat lonely childhood – a
twin brother who would rather
be outdoors than play with his
sister – a home void of rambunctious play and contagious laughter. She wanted what one of her
childhood friends had – a large
family. Her husband, John, was an
only child and they both decided
to create a family life that was the
Merry Christmas from All of Us…
1722 S Glenstone 823-9972
To
You
and
Yours!
(Lamplighter Inn)
OPEN: CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY
OPEN 24 HRS
2 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com
Upfront
| Community Free Press
Passion to help
The inspiration and drive
behind BCFO. » Page 4
e-mail [email protected]
Explore Passages - a journey like no other
This early
rendition of
the Holy
Bible is one
of several
that can be
seen inside
the Passages
Exhibit,
which is still
in Springfield
through the
first week of
2015.
Large collection just a
piece of future The Museum
of the Bible in D.C.
■
By James Hanson
Holograms, animatronics, historical figures, replicas of ancient
settings, and pages from the first
form of writing to the birth of
the Bible and its journey to
becoming the modern day King
James Bible are just a fraction of
what visitors can see when visiting the “Passages” exhibit.
The 30,000 square-foot museum is filled with relics, replicas
and even official documents
and artifacts.
Highlights include First-century
B.C. Dead Sea Scrolls fragments,
first editions of the King James
Bible,Bibles owned and signed by
numerous famous people, Codex
Climaci Resriptus in Palestinian
Aramaic, similar to Jesus’s household language, Torah scrolls that
survived the Nazi Holocaust,
Cuneiform tablets dating to the
time of Abraham, a working replica of the Gutenberg printing
press, as well as “The Wilde World
of the Bible” kids’ adventure,
which features a special Noah’s
Ark experience and multimedia
developed by “Veggie Tales” creator, Phil Vischer.
Passages is on a national tour,
with Springfield being the fifth
city to host the exhibit as it prepares to make its way to The
Photos by James Hanson
“The Wide World of the Bible” kids’ adventure inside the Passages
Exhibit in Springfield features a special Noah’s Ark experience and multimedia, which was developed by Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer.
Museum of the Bible, where it
will take up permanent residency sometime in 2017 in
Washington D.C. This large collection, referred to as The Green
Collection, belongs to The
Green Family, founders and
owners of Hobby Lobby, Inc.
Jon Peterson Community
Relations Specialist with The
Museum of the Bible, said the
exhibit’s journey started in 2011
to celebrate the 400th Anniversary
of the King James Bible.
It has appeared in Oklahoma
City, Okla., Atlanta, Ga.,
Charlotte, North Carolina and
Colorado
Springs,
Colo.
Peterson said several factors
play into what city hosts the
exhibit; such as security issues,
space and building availability,
strategic connections in the
cities, and so forth.
“We would like to take it
around as much of the United
States as we can before it takes
up permanent residence in
D.C.,” he said.“We want as many
people as possible to have the
opportunity to see this one-of-akind exhibit.”
He added Springfield was a
good fit because of the
Assembly of God Headquarters
and its centennial celebration
that took place earlier this year.
Passages may seem like a
large exhibit but Peterson said
The Museum of the Bible will
An animatronic replica of St. Jerome inside his cave transcribing early biblical texts, is one of the many fun and
unique aspects of the Passages Exhibit that visitors can see in Springfield through the first of the year.
be almost ten times its size
when all is said and done.
The exhibit has been in
Springfield since late April and
will leave the first weekend of
January.
Some of The Museum of the
Bible board members and leaders, like Cary Summers and Dr.
David Trobisch, also helped the
exhibit come to town.
Summers headed up Bass Pro
Shop’s retail, catalog and wholesale business and served as former
president and CEO of Herschend
Family Entertainment/Silver Dollar
Corporation.
He now serves at the C.O.O.
of The Greene Collection.
Trobisch once served as a visiting scholar and adjunct faculty
member
with
Southwest
Missouri State University from
1995-1996. He also has a home
in
Springfield
and
in
Heidelberg, Germany, where he
obtained most of his education.
He is the current Director of
The Green Collection.
Peterson said one of the passions for the Green Family is sharing these manuscripts and artifacts
that only experts could ever come
face-to-face with for many years.
“What they have done is
allow the general public to
engage with the Bible,” he said.
“People can engage with these
artifacts of enormous magnitude. It is an opportunity for the
public to decide and take another look at a book they may have
dismissed.”
Peterson said the reaction
Want to go?
“Passages” is only in town
until January 3.
Address: 3534 E. Sunshine
Street, in the Furlander
Plaza, behind Mama Jean’s
Market Admission Prices:
Adults, $15.95, Seniors
(62+), $13.95, Military (with
ID): $11.95, College Students
(with ID), $11.95, youth ages
6-17, $11.95 and children 5
and under, free. Group rates
available.
Phone: 1-888-297-8011
Website:
explorepassages.com
from those visiting the
Springfield exhibit—whether it
be local churches, tour groups,
schools or individuals—has
been very positive.
“A lot of people are truly
blown away by the amount of
space and information available,” he said. “Folks plan to
walk through in an hour or so,
like a typical museum visit; then
they are shocked after they
have been there two to three
hours and wonder where time
has gone.”
He added “Passages” is a celebration of the English Bible and
that no one has a monopoly on
the Bible.
“You get to see a lot of labor
that individuals have done
throughout history so this
could be preserved for future
generations,” Peterson said.
“This book is for everyone.”
Community Free Press
Upfront
| www.cfpmidweek.com
Women’s safety – When
in doubt, call 911
By Jana Bounds
The Springfield Police
Department’s (SPD) controversial new fender bender policy has been in
place for about three
months. In order to save
the SPD man hours and to
allow officers to focus on
other issues, officers no
longer respond to noninjury accidents when
certain criteria are met.
The common practice
after a fender bender is
that both parties exit the
vehicles and exchange
insurance information.
But, what if the accident
happens at night or in an
area with little traffic?
Women are often encouraged to think like prey. But,
the predator is not always
easy to spot. The isolated,
yet highly terrifying incidents of the “Three Missing
Women” and the case of
Amanda Morton, for example, have become solidified
in the minds of many
women of the Ozarks.
In 2001, Morton, a 19
year-old college student
from Strafford, was driving on I-44 in the early
morning when her vehicle was struck from
behind. She called the
highway patrol after she
exited her vehicle to
exchange insurance information. Officers arrived to
discover an abandoned
vehicle. In that short time,
David Zink had taken her.
He later raped and killed
Safety tips from
Lieutenant Dan
Bracker of the
Missouri State
Highway Patrol
Think – safety first; a
claim second.
You do not have to get
out of your vehicle.
If somebody
approaches, lock your
doors and crack the
window a little bit.
If the other party
becomes aggressive or
abusive, pull into a
public area.
Keep your phone
activated.
If concerned for your
safety, call 911.
Stay calm and make
sure you always know
your location so you
can tell 911 dispatchers.
Whenever possible,
provide a license number, a description of
the person and vehicle.
her. Zink is currently on
death row.
So far, the new policy
has produced nothing but
positive
results, but
women or anyone who is
leery of a particular situation should call 911.
Police Chief Paul Williams
said the SPD will respond.
In-fact, he stated that
there are dozens of calls
for non-injury accidents
that fit the criteria for
non-response each month
in which SPD responds
because someone is
uncomfortable or the parties have a disagreement.
Williams recently provided a three month review of
the policy at a City Council
lunch meeting.
“This is specifically related
to those minor fender benders,” Williams said. “Some
data on how it’s going after
three months… Injury crashes are down 11 percent,noninjury crashes are down 59
percent.Total crashes overall
are down 10 percent.”
The police department
has been notoriously
understaffed. Williams
said that SPD is responding to 44 percent less
non-injury crashes, only 3
percent shy of their initial
estimate. Citizens have
also increased their selfreporting by 227 percent.
“We had estimated back
in July that each of these
non-injury minor fender
benders take approximately 67 minutes for an officer
to respond to and investigate… we have saved
about 896 – almost 900
officer hours in the last
three months. And then a
collateral effect… our PSRs
– our records clerks, it
actually takes less time to
enter information from a
citizen crash report than it
does a police report. So,
we’ve actually saved 134
hours of records time in
data entry.”
Councilwoman Cindy
Rushefsky, asked how the
insurance industry was
responding to the new
policy. Williams said that
he hadn’t heard a word
from the insurance companies
since August
regarding the policy.
State Farm Insurance
Agent Rob Akers said that
the policy really has not
had any bearing on his
business because insurance companies do their
All criteria that must
be met in order to
self report an accident and to not call
the police:
No injuries
Vehicles are operable
– no towing is needed
There is no other
property damage
No DWI is suspected
Both drivers have
insurance
Drivers agree to
exchange basic insurance, driver and vehicle information
If criteria is met, crash
reports can found by
clicking on “forms” at
http://www.springfieldmo.gov/171/Police
Citizens can also walk
into the police station
to fill-out the form.
own investigations and
always have.
“I personally don’t
think it’s a big deal, but I
do think when there’s a
police report filed, there’s
peace of mind to the driver that is not at fault,”
Akers said.
The policy does increase
responsibility on the part
of the drivers involved.
“I also think that if
there’s not going to be
any police response then
I think there is more onus
on the driver to collect
the other driver’s information,” Akers said. “If they
get frazzled and don’t get
license plate numbers and
don’t swap information
and then an hour later,
calm down, it’s going to
be pretty hard to remember who they got into an
accident with. [The new
policy] will become a
problem in that scenario.”
Akers said this policy
has been in place on private property and in parking lots for years.
“The reality of what they
have done is just extended
their policy from parking
lots and private property out
to city streets,” Akers said.“I
mean, if you got in an accident in a parking lot two
years ago… the police didn’t respond to that either.”
But,Akers pointed out,this
new policy could make
some people uncomfortable.
“There
are
some
younger people that
aren’t very comfortable
getting out of their cars to
have to deal with the
other person,”Akers said.
December 10 - 23, 2014
|
3
Upfront
4 | December 10 - 23, 2014
Webster in brief
Name: Crystal
Webster
Hometown:
Springfield since 1989
Profession: Executive
Director BCFO
What makes her
interesting: I’m a raging Vin Diesel fan.
15 MINUTES
WITH…
A heart for
helping
women
By Jana Bounds
Crystal Webster began
steering the ship for Breast
Cancer Foundation of the
Ozarks (BCFO) seven years
ago. It has become one of
the most helpful organizations in the area – helping
women diagnosed with
breast cancer afford daily
living expenses while
receiving medical treatment.And Webster doesn’t
take her responsibility as
executive director for the
organization lightly. In fact,
family ties to the disease
have made helping these
women a quest. Luckily for
Webster, her selfless nature
and occupation is coupled
with a consciousness
toward living the most balanced life possible.
Please tell readers the
story of how this organization was started.
BCFO was founded in
2000 by Mary Beth
O’Reilly after she lost a
young friend of hers to
breast cancer. What she
realized was that young
women facing the disease
have a very different battle than those that are typically thought to have the
disease. Those folks are
raising
families
and
they’re still trying to work
and when a breast cancer
diagnosis comes and they
start missing work, it
becomes very difficult to
pay their bills.
What do you think
people should know
about BCFO?
Breast
Cancer
Foundation of the Ozarks
focuses on a solution for
those who are currently
diagnosed with breast
cancer. We don’t do
research, but we help
people pay their household bills while they’re in
treatment for breast cancer.That help can come in
the form of mortgage payments, utility bills, car
repairs, assistance with
whatever the needs of the
children in the home. So
Crystal Webster, executive director for Breast Cancer
Foundation of the Ozarks, is leading the charge in reaching
for a 20 million dollar endowment for the foundation; something she says is a tall order. “Once that is accomplished, I will
sleep a little better at night in knowing that our work will
carry on for generations,” Webster said.
many times during Breast
Cancer Awareness Month,
there is a big focus on
research and research is
important, but there are
so many people with so
many needs right here in
our community that still
Oh, that’s an important year for a cancer
survivor, correct?
You know, every year is
important. The challenge
with breast cancer is that
it is so prone to return. So,
”
BCFO has never turned anyone
down. However, our opportunities
exist in community education – letting
the communities that we serve know
that we exist so that those patients
who have need find us during that time.
– Crystal Webster
need to be addressed.
What made you want
to work for this organization? Do you have a
personal story?
I do have a personal
story, but it’s not what
made me want to work for
this organization. About
seven years ago, a mutual
friend introduced Mary
Beth O’Reilly and I and we
hit it off. About that time
she was looking for a professional operator to run
her charity and I am a
career person so it worked
out on those terms.
The week I came to
work for BCFO, my little
sister, at age 29 was diagnosed with breast cancer.
So, this career choice very
quickly turned into an
absolute passion. And,
while Naomi’s situation
was one where we had
everything we needed to
find success, what I see is
that there are so many
women who do not.
My sister is doing well.
We have no family history
other than Naomi and she
is now coming up on
seven years.
there’s really never a
point in which you fully
let your breath out and
relax about it. But, she’s
doing well and I am so
thankful for that.
How many women
and families have you
helped so far?
BCFO has helped about
1500 families since inception in 2000 and last
month alone, we had 44
application for financial
assistance for those right
here in the community
who are going through
treatment for breast cancer. Every month we will
pledge – I’ve seen the
range from $40-80 thousand dollars to help those
women. And then on top
of that, we provide free
screening mammograms.
We will provide about
700 approvals for screening mammography this
year – where we pay for
the
mammograms
through contracts with
area hospitals.
How
would
you
describe your approach
to this job?
One of the challenges
of running a charitable
organization is that the
need almost always surpasses an organization’s
capacity to handle it.
BCFO has never turned
anyone down. However,
our opportunities exist in
community education –
letting the communities
that we serve know that
we exist so that those
patients who have need
find us during that time…
And, no matter what you
do, there is always more
to be done. Certainly in a
charitable environment
more so than even a forprofit entity. That burden
can weigh on someone.
But, I find my balance and
satisfaction in knowing
that we do all we can for
everyone we can and that
on any given day, that has
to be adequate.
After working here,
what is the greatest bit
of wisdom you can
pass on to our readers?
Take care of your body.
It’s the only one you have.
Without your health, you
have nothing. I recommend a book. It’s called,
“Younger Next Year: for
Women.” It’s by Harry
Lodge and Chris Crowly.
It’s really about taking
charge of the manageable
risk factors for aging. It
applies as much to breast
cancer as to heart disease
and diabetes and it is a terrific
–
phenomenal
book... It’s also about
community engagement.
You can’t live alone in
your little isolated tower
and find contentment and
happiness.You need to be
getting out there and
doing something for others or finding a group that
you’re connected to that
you’re participating with.
And the older we get the
more important that
becomes. Because, our
friends die… You’ve got
to find passion somewhere. Get your bite into
something that you wake
up, roll out of bed and
look forward to.
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SpringNet Underground becomes
part of Bluebird Network, LLC
On Dec. 4, the Board of Public Utilities approved a formal surplus process that made SpringNet Underground—a secure data
center facility and a division of City Utilities SpringNet broadband services—part of the Columbia, MO. based Bluebird
Network, LLC. It will now be called Bluebird Underground, LLC.
The $8.4 million sale of SpringNet Underground will not impact
any of the broadband services provided by SpringNet to the
community and individual customers. SpringNet Underground,
which has 84 customers, was established as a secure data center in 2002. SpringNet Broadband will continue to offer broadband services over its fiber optic network throughout the
Springfield business community. Bluebird Network, LLC provides 6,000 route miles of high-speed broadband and fiber
optic connections to Midwest communities and a data center in
Springfield, Missouri. Its fiber network has more than 100 Points
of Presence (POP) sites spanning the Midwest, including major
cities of Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa, Omaha, Des
Moines and Memphis. To learn more visit bluebirdnetwork.com.
Public comment requested on several major
transportation projects in the Ozarks
The Ozarks Transportation Organization (OTO), is seeking input on seven new proposed projects during a public
comment period, which ends Dec. 17. The largest project
PARKING PROBLEMS, from 1
any change to the current
requirements.
“There are very few
communities that require
more spaces than the city
does,” Rongstad said.
Rongstad said that parking congestion near
Missouri State University
is often the result of commuters and not residents
of developments.
“There’s no doubt parking is an issue, but to what
degree and to what
degree can it just be
solved by enforcing current laws – I think that
maybe the bigger issue…
How do we enable the
folks that want to take
care of the neighborhoods best,” Seifried said.
The big question mark
that Councilwoman Cindy
Rushefsky pointed out was
the issue of parking for
micro efficiency dwellings.
Each unit, which is 300
square feet or less,is required
to have one parking space.
“When we’re talking
about micro efficiencies,
those are fairly new, and
they’re popping up in
areas right along the
edges of residential neighborhoods and they’re…
kind of sliding them into
small spaces where there
is no parking or very little
parking,” Rushefsky said,
“If we keep building them
and that’s the question…
The impact, by the time
we get a handle on it, it
may be bigger than we
can
really
manager
because the buildings are
already there.”
City staff discovered
research that suggested a
change
in
behavior
regarding transportation.
Their report cited a survey by KRC Research and
Zipcar, which said that 44
percent of young people
ages 18 to 34 that were
polled said they consciously made steps to
replace driving with other
transportation options.
Rongstad said there has
been an overall decrease
in car ownership.
Councilman
Doug
Burlison sought to find a
reasonable middle ground.
“[With] every three to
four units – create one visitor space requirement,”
Burlison said. He also
requested that City Manager
Greg Burris get information
from Police Chief Paul
Williams regarding issues
and citations.
Micro efficiency apartments aside, Rushefsky
still said that front yard
parking is an issue as well
as unpermitted parking
within the Rountree and
other neighborhoods.
The discussion surfaced
allowing for members of
Community Associations
to be deputized to enforce
parking requirements for
their neighborhoods.
“If they’ve got problems… if we can write tickets for handicapped [parking] and [Rountree] has
been doing that for years…
why couldn’t you do that?
It’s not a burden on police
officers,” Councilman Craig
Hosmer said.
Seifried agreed that it
could be a solution.
“That would be an immediate action item that is
very tangible,” Seifried said.
Burlison said we have a
current model in place and
said he didn’t think council
would be prohibited from
expanding the policy.
Upfront
is the new east-west arterial on Riverbluff Blvd. extending
from Farm Road (F.R.) 141 to Campbell Avenue. The project is to cost $1,200,000. Also included is a new bridge
replacement on F.R. 167 just south of Lake Springfield, a
new para-transit bus replacement, new projects to assist
people with disabilities and to increase the mobility of
seniors, as well as other projects. For more information
call 865-3042 or visit ozarkstransportation.org.
Another week, another bomb scare
Springfield Fire Marshals are investigating a hazardous device
found on Park Central Square Saturday, Dec. 6. Passersby
noticed a suspicious looking object lying on the square
Saturday evening around 9:00 pm. They notified a police officer who then contacted the Springfield Fire Department Bomb
Squad. Bomb technicians evaluated the object and determined
it was a hazardous device. It was taken away from the square
using the EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) robot. The
device was taken to a vacant area and rendered safe. The case
is open and under investigation. Fire marshals will look at surveillance camera footage to determine the identity of the person responsible. To submit a confidential tip, call 869-8477 or
text 417SPD plus the message; or photo to 274637. No additional information has been released at this time.
December 10 - 23, 2014
|
5
Springfield’s “Batman” to receive key to City
At 6 p.m., on Dec. 12, Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Seifried will present a key to the city at Park Central Square, to a
Springfieldian who has gone “above and beyond the call of
duty” to spread good will in the community. Derek Smith,
AKA Springfield Batman, has donated hundreds of hours to
appear at local hospitals and at special events dressed as
the caped crusader. Representatives from the Springfield
Police Officers Association and IAFF are expected to attend
the ceremony at Park Central Square, which will include the
debut of Springfield Batman’s “bat signal.”
Monastery Street shut down for next six months
Monastery Street closed south of Republic Road and east of
Kimbrough Avenue on Dec. 4 due to the widening of Republic
Road. There is no access to and from Republic Road from
Monastery Street for approximately six months.The work is
part of the Republic Road Widening project from the
entrance to Chase to Fremont Avenue. This project is funded
by the one-quarter-cent Capital Improvement Sales tax and
the one-eighth-cent Transportation Sales Tax. For more information, call 864-1946.
Springfield
862-4378
2310 W. Kearney
Monett
Carthage
235-7739
358-3529
210 S. Hwy 37 2309 Fairlawn Dr.
Upfront
6 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com
Photos by Jana Bounds
Kids and grandkids swap stories after enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the Hosmer home on Hosmer Hill while Melba entertains her one-year-old granddaughter, “Zuzu.”
Hosmer Clan: 13 children, 32 grandchildren; some shaping the future of Springfield
HOSMER CLAN, from 1
couple would gather the
children and tote them to
the courthouse to await
election results.
Their father asked questions at mealtimes and
often spurred debate. He
liked to engage his children in critical thinking –
while Melba, with her
own quiet opinions,
sought to placate the
madness
that
often
ensued after the heated
debates began.
“There was never a
shortage of [debates] and
most of them would more
accurately be described as
arguments. Many, if not
most, of the arguments
would be political in
nature, for example – what
was the best way to pro-
vide health care, how do
you create good paying
jobs, what is the best way
to protect the environment,” the fourth youngest
son, Andy, said, “As we
would all go to college
(most to the University of
Missouri-Columbia)
we
would come back home
with new ideas about all of
these issues and those
would be debated/argued.”
It was unwise to be late
to meals in the Hosmer
household.
“Mealtimes were always
a raucous affair and you
learned to eat quickly or
else you would miss out,”
Andy said.
According to Mary, the
6th oldest daughter, she
was greeted every morning by “congealed Malt-OMeal” because she arrived
”
“I wanted
more than
one or two and
ended-up with 13
– which is fine… It
could have been
a mess, but
they’re all lovely
children.”
— Melba Hosmer
at the breakfast table significantly later than when
breakfast was served.
“It was fun. I always
thought they had a good
childhood, but they probably think it was kind of
Melba Hosmer relaxes after a busy day of cooking Thanksgiving dinner with her grand-daughter, Caitlyn Mitchell, Sarah Hosmer Mitchell (Caitlyn’s mom), and Julia Hosmer.
Columbia, MO. Bob is a
senior planner with the
City of Springfield’s
Planning and Zoning
department. Andy just
difficult at times. With so Kent was an activist and received an appointment
many, sometimes, every- regarded as the family as Greene County Circuit
body had to help wash clown until his death in Court Judge and will be
dishes, everybody had to December 1999. Stephen leaving his position as
help clean, everybody had is a teacher in New York vice president of the
to help cook,” Melba said. City. Jane, a former Springfield School Board,
And when they grew, teacher, lives in Reno, NV. and is an attorney with
they sought to change the Joe is an attorney with Hosmer, King and Royce.
world. Four went on to Hosmer & Wise. Mary is a Sarah is a nurse in
serve in the Peace Corps. Securities Enforcement Chicago. Julia is an attorTheir careers vary from Attorney with Secretary ney. And John David lives
medicine and teaching, to of State’s Office in in New York City.
homemaking to
A handful of the
law – with many
children remain in
For several consecutive years, the
serving the pubSpringfield. Julia
Hosmer family received the award for
“largest group” at the Turkey Trot 5k.
lic in some way.
works advocating
This was until, according to Melba, they
Like
their
for kids in the
became embarrassed from winning
mother said, they
area. Joe is an
every year and quit putting their names
all have their
attorney specializin the hat for the award.
causes – causes
ing in Workman’s
they believe pasCompensation
sionately in, and debate Jefferson City. Craig is a cases.
ardently for – concerns City Councilman, former
And Craig, Andy and
they actually strive to State Representative and Bob have all been directly
resolve.
attorney with Hosmer, linked to guiding the City
Ann, the oldest, is a King and Royce. Ellen, a of Springfield into a
Doctor in Ashland, MO. former journalist, lives in brighter future.
Upfront
Craig, Melba, Andy, Bob and Joe Hosmer after a busy day on Hosmer Hill. One of their
Thanksgiving traditions is that the Hosmer men play football in the afternoon, before dinner.
Craig is an attorney who spent years
“What I did was I went into the United
in the State Legislature as State States Peace Corps for about 2 years and
Representative for the 138th District, is did community development and that
former chairman of the Missouri kind of stuff,” Bob said.“I got interested
Democratic Party and is now a member and came back and went to grad school.”
of City Council – someSince Andy is leaving the
thing he enjoys very
school board, that leaves
“There was
much.
Craig and Bob directly
“You have a chance to
involved in the controversial
never a
modify and sort-of direct
issue of blighted designashortage of
policy,” Craig said.
tions for properties and the
[debates] and
Andy was recently
resulting availability of tax
most of them
appointed
Associate
abatements for companies.
would more
Circuit Judge for the
This is something Craig is
accurately be
Thirty-first Circuit in
vocal about on City Council.
Greene County. With this
“Most people think that I
described as
appointment he will step
am necessarily against
arguments.”
down from his position as
development, but I’m not. I
— Andy Hosmer
vice president of the
don’t think Andy is either.
board for Springfield
But I think you want smart
Public Schools. He has also served as an development that works for everybody
assistant attorney general, an assistant rather than just development that’s
prosecuting attorney in the Greene going to work for a person that
County Prosecutor’s office, and as an schmoozed council and schmoozed the
assistant public defender.
Economic Development Department to
“It’s a way to have an impact on some- get them a tax incentive,” Craig said.
thing that it really important to me, which
Before Andy’s appointment as Associate
is my daughter’s education,” Andy said Circuit Judge, Craig and Andy had hoped
regarding his tenure on the school board. to create more collaboration between the
“And then, as I got in, it was an interesting entities regarding this issue.
job:There’s a lot of complex moving parts
“We’ve talked about it. I think, hopefulin how you go about providing a good ly,Andy is going to be working with the
education for 25 thousand students.”
school board and I’m hopefully going to
Even though serving on the school be working with the City Council,” Craig
board was entirely a volunteer effort, said,“And maybe we can get both bodies
Andy is going to miss it.
to be a little more sensitive to what
“I think it will be tough leaving school blight and abatement is.”
board, especially as we start to hear
Craig is happy that his brother
about Dr. Jungmann’s plans for moving received the appointment as Associate
us forward as a district,”Andy said.
Circuit Court Judge.
And Bob is senior planner with the
“It is something that he wanted to do
City. He determined his career path and he will do very well,” Craig said,“I’m
halfway across the world.
sure that there are others on the board to
”
The Hosmer family calls this room the dormitory. Melba said proudly that her children (boys
and girls) worked building it to accommodate the influx of guests during the holidays.
December 10 - 23, 2014
|
7
work with on the tax abatement issues.”
the quickest way to ruin Springfield is to
Craig’s concern is not just the loss of have the Springfield Public Schools
funding to important programs likes become not high performing. Because
schools, libraries and for helping people then realtors don’t show people in, and
with developmental disabilities, but also then companies don’t want to move in,”
the issue of fairness to the
Andy said. “And so then
average taxpayer.
you have a situation
A Hosmer story
“Another thing is just
where you… have a
“Often when a brother
the fundamental fairness –
doughnut hole where you
or a sister would come
if you have fewer and
kind of have this middle
home from college they
fewer people paying propthat nobody wants to live
would also bring a stuerty tax, the burden goes
in and schools are poor.”
dent… From a foreign
country with them.
more and more on the
Bob said that, yes, it is set
These students would
average home owner,”
on the state level, but it is
stay with us over
Craig said. “I think that’s
something that must be
Christmas and Spring
something people really
addressed by local citizens.
Break… Every time it
don’t realize… The other
“Professionally, we have
seems my mother
would force them (or
thing is that the abatement
state laws and state regulaask them) to prepare a
really is a tool that the peotions that are in place,[but]
dish or meal from their
ple in the know – those
are there opportunities for
country,” Andy Hosmer
developers that know
us to have guidelines and
said. “We learned so
what they can get are the
some kind of refinement
much from these visits
and certainly develones asking for it. So, the
about how we apply this? I
oped an appreciation
wealthiest people in the
think that’s something we
for other countries and
City of Springfield are getneed to consider looking
other cultures. We also
ting tax abatements.”
at,” Bob said.“Where is our
hosted a number of
Craig acknowledges the
priority … But from my
foreign exchange students and even a fornecessity of debate in this
standpoint as a City official,
eign exchange teacher
situation in order to find a
it’s going to have to come
from Poland.”
middle ground.
from the community to
“The truth is somewhere
make those changes to fine
in the middle, there is a reasonable posi- tune how we apply it.”
tion to be in on abatements. But, if you
And so the nature of debate inspired
don’t have that debate, you never find long ago in the Hosmer household conthat middle,” Craig said.“What you really tinues. They aren’t afraid of different
need to do is have that debate, have that opinions. They aren’t even afraid of
argument… There are certain circum- strangers. Many of the soft-hearted
stances you don’t want abatement, you Hosmer kids brought home visitors durwant to be a little more judicious when ing the holidays – from foreign exchange
you give those.”
students to hitchhikers from the highHe added he thinks debates is vital to way. And according to Melba, they discreating good public policy.
covered that one hitchhiker had just
“Some people… don’t like to see peo- been released from the insane asylum.
ple argue in City Council meetings,” They had a kid stay from Liberia who
Craig said. “I think it’s good. If you just robbed them blind and it was their good
fortune to retrieve all the stolen articles.
Melba said that anyone who stayed with
“The wealthiest people in
them for the holidays seemed to want to
the City of Springfield are
stay indefinitely – and this created some
getting tax abatements.”
uncomfortable situations. But, she took it
in stride.
— Craig Hosmer
The matriarch of the Hosmer family
looked proudly around the room and
vote, you don’t solve problems. If you observed, “What memories! All because
just push the button, nothing gets fixed. of my kids,” Melba said,“A lot of people
You’ve got to debate.You’ve got to work I’ve met I would not have met had it not
out those issues and work out those been for my kids.”
solutions.”
And the family grows – more young
And Andy retains his opinion regarding minds are greeted with the family’s love
tax abatement considering his involve- of knowledge and debate.A few in-laws
ment with the School Board and the result- admitted at the gathering that marrying
ing loss of immediate revenue for a system into the family was “overwhelming” at
that is already struggling financially.
first. And one son-in-law confided that
“There is always a balance of how you he still had trouble remembering
do these things. But when you continual- names. He and Melba smiled after this
ly take money out of the pockets of your confession as children played the piano
school district and give it to developers in the background and filled the home
to develop projects, you’ve got to make with contagious laughter.
sure that there’s a good
balance there,” Andy said,
“If there’s not then what
you’re doing is you are
negatively impacting your
schools – which everybody will tell you is the
worst thing you can do
economically.”
Funding is important for
the school district and if it
continually declines, the
district could suffer.
Photo courtesy the Hosmer family
“Anybody will tell you
”
Upfront
8 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com
More candidates come
forward in City Council races
Courtesy City of Springfield
CITY / COUNTY, from 1
tice system, lack of
stormwater funding for
mandated improvements
and the County’s dire
financial situation.
“Jail crowding continues to be the most obvious symptom of an under
resourced criminal justice
system negatively impacting the community’s public safety,” Greene County
Prosecuting Attorney Dan
Patterson said. “If these
systemic issues are not
addressed, one potential
outcome is a federal court
order placing a cap on the
number
of
inmates
housed in the jail. Such a
cap would require the
release of dangerous or
repeat offenders, the
housing of inmates in
other jails at additional
expense, or fines for failing to abide by the cap.”
According to a press
release, disturbing crime
statistics,
inadequate
court
facilities
and
staffing shortages in the
prosecuting attorney and
public defenders’ office
are worrisome to officials.
The report explains that
the jail is not a prison and
individuals are detained
until they can be
processed by the court
system – which is overwhelmed.This is a part of
the problem with jail
overcrowding.
More stringent regulations
from the Environ-mental
Protection Agency (EPA) and
an aging stormwater and
wastewater infrastructure
mean steps must be made to
replace and repair pipes.
Waste
water
and
stormwater go to separate
pipes, however a torrential rain can cause an overabundance of stormwater
which in turn flows into
waste water pipes and
causes sanitary sewer
overflows – which are not
permitted by the 1972
Clean Water Act – which
means that Springfield is
currently in violation of
an EPA regulation.
According
to
the
report, the EPA has mandated that sewer overflows be controlled. In
2012, the
City
of
Springfield, entered into a
“consent
decree”, a
court—ordered
agreement that requires the
City take certain actions
to control overflows. This
month, the City will submit to the Missouri
Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) “Long—
term Sanitary Sewer
Overflow Control Plan”
estimated to cost $200
million over the next 10
years. The plan is to
increase sewer rates at 6
percent per year for the
next 10 years to provide
necessary funding for the
project.
“Wastewater infrastructure has prevented more
disease than any hospital
ever built. It allows us to
build in the density that
we build. It is probably
the most critical piece of
infrastructure in our community,” Aaron Kemper,
Assistant Director of
Environmental Services
said at a recent council
meeting. He said that the
moment our sanitary
sewer structure goes
down, life as we know it
will end.
According to Kemper
the 1.6 million feet of pipes
in the public system that
are over 50 years old and
the 315,000 feet of pipes
that are over 100 years old
and crumbling will be
addressed with the plan.
“I’m not a fan of federal
mandates… I understand
the point of these, they’re
to ensure that we have a
clean,pristine environment
which I think we all want,”
Councilman Doug Burlison
said.“It’s tough to avoid the
mountain of regulations,
you can’t. What it leaves
you to do is to soften the
blow as much as you can…
We’re the first city to have
taken this approach.”
Over half the solutions
offered by the task force
regarding funding issues
facing the government
entities discuss taxes in
some capacity and that’s
This graphic outlines
issues with the taxed
criminal justice system.
The task force report
states that currently
Greene County has purchased all available jail
bed space within 150
miles of Springfield.
something Burlison doesn’t want to see because
he thinks citizens are
already struggling with
the current economy.
“You think about this as
far as what’s the solution
as far as resolving some of
these issues. I think the
easy, knee-jerk reaction is
to just raise taxes,”
Burlison said. “That may
solve some problems, but
it creates other ones… I
think there are better
approaches and we have
to be more creative and
think about our priorities
given the resources that
we have.”
The conclusion of the
report contains an appeal
to action.
“We must recognize the
reality that is human
nature not to recognize a
problem until it affects us
personally,” the report
states. “Please consider
this report a “warning
flag” highlighting the
issues that, if left unaddressed, will begin to negatively affect our City and
County citizens directly as
well as our community’s
economic vitality.”
By James Hanson
Five of nine council seats are on the ballot in the
April 7, 2015 election.
Since October several people have announced their
candidacy for those seats.
The seats that are up for election include Mayor,
General Seat C and D, Zone 2 and Zone 3.
Incumbents, Mayor Bob Stephens and Councilman
Jerry Compton of zone 3 are seeking re-election.
Stephens has served as mayor since 2012 after taking
over for Jim O’Neal when O’Neal resigned. Compton
has served on council since 2009.
Mike Schilling and Danny Lee Henderson are the
other mayoral candidates.
Cindy Rushefsky, who has served as zone 2 councilwoman since April 2007 will not seek re-election. Buck
Van Hooser, Justin Burnett and Jeff Paul are running
for Zone 2.
Doug Burlison, General Seat C Councilman since
2007 and Mike Carroll, General Seat D Councilman
since 2013, are also not seeking re-election.
Andrew McPherson, Kristi Fulnecky, Len Eagleburger
and Gary D. Fine are running for General Seat C.
The General Seat D race so far is between Ken
McClure and Steve Boswell.
According to the petition log from the City Clerk’s
office, Schilling has also indicated his interest in running
for Zone 3, as well as General Seat C and General Seat D.
Anyone interested running for an open City Council
seat or for Springfield mayor, may officially file an
application with the City Clerk’s office until 5 p.m.,
January 20, 2015. Regular office hours are Mon.-Fri. 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those wishing to file petitions must meet the following criteria: qualified voter of the city; Resident of the
city for at least two years immediately prior to their
election; and additionally, if filing for one of the Zone
seats, must be a resident of their respective zone for
at least one year prior to election. To be valid, the petitions must meet the following criteria: 100 registered
voters who reside in the particular zone and 200 registered voters who reside within the city limits.
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News
Upfront
Digest
December 10 - 23, 2014
Security Income benefits. Each eligible person receives a
monthly cash grant of $718, as well as state-funded health
care coverage through Missouri’s Blind Healthcare
Program.
State Releases November 2014 General Revenue Report
McCaskill, Blunt asks Postal Service to postpone planned closings
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering announced on
December 2, that the 2015 fiscal year-to-date net general
revenue collections increased 3.7 percent compared to
2014, from $3.11 billion last year to $3.22 billion this year.
Net general revenue collections for November 2014
increased by 1.3 percent compared to those for November
2013, from $625.1 million to $633.2 million.
This months, Missouri U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and
Roy Blunt, along with a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues, demanded a delay in the planned consolidation
of up to 82 U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail processing
facilities after the USPS Inspector General found the
Postal Service failed to fulfil its obligations to adequately
study the impact of the consolidations, and failed to
inform the public of those impacts.
Attorney General Chris Koster appeals federal marriage decision
On Dec. 5, Attorney General Chris Koster appealed the
federal marriage decision made by U.S. District Court
Judge Ortrie D. Smith on Nov. 7, stating that Missouri’s
marriage ban is unconstitutional. According to a press
release from PROMO—a statewide organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality—
hundreds of Missourians have received their marriage
licenses in Jackson County, St. Louis City and St. Louis
County since Judge Ortrie D. Smith’s decision. The release
said that more than 3,000 Missourians signed a petition
that was delivered to Koster, urging him not to appeal
Smith’s decision, which ruled that Missouri’s marriage ban
unconstitutional. PROMO is calling on Koster to expedite
the appeal so that county clerks across Missouri can start
issuing marriage licenses in other places besides St. Louis
County, St. Louis City and Jackson County.
Nixon protects Blind Pension program
On Dec. 1, Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the Missouri
Department of Social Services to reverse its plan to
reduce benefits for Missourians who qualify for the state’s
Blind Pension program. The governor said he will request
a supplemental budget appropriation from the Missouri
General Assembly to make up for the reduction in available blind pension funds. Missouri’s Blind Pension program is funded with a dedicated property tax of three
cents on each one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
The annual revenue into that Blind Pension fund declined
during the national recession and the resulting balance
was spent down to maintain the pensions at the required
level. This program provides assistance for blind persons
who do not qualify under the Supplemental Aid to the
Blind law and who are not eligible for Supplemental
A Salute to Legislators
Springfield Metro Partnership, a group of organizations
working together to present a united front on legislative
issues affecting Springfield and Southwest Missouri, are in
the process of planning the 30th Annual Salute to
Missouri Legislators, which is set for 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.,
January 28, at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. The
group will also host a breakfast for legislators from 7
a.m.-8:30 a.m. on February 25 and April 22, also at the
Capitol Plaza Hotel.
The events are opportunities for face-to-face interaction
with legislators in a comfortable, casual setting.
Representatives of the tourism industry are encouraged
to attend the reception and breakfasts. Cost is $40 per
person for the Salute to Legislators and $25 per person
for each breakfast. For more information, call Susan Wade
at 799-0401 or e-mail her [email protected]. Or
call Emily Denniston at 862-5567 or e-mail [email protected].
Special Olympics received new car from MADA
The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association donated a
new car to Special Olympics Missouri this month. The
Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and Special
Olympics Missouri “Drive it Home” partnership raised a
grand total of $500,000.
Long to serve on energy and commerce subcommittees
U.S. Rep. Billy Long announced earlier this month that
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman, Fred
Upton, has named him to three leading subcommittees
for the 114th Congress that begins in January. Long will
|
9
serve on the Communications and Technology
Subcommittee, the Energy and Power Subcommittee, and
the Health Subcommittee. The House Energy and
Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over the nation’s
telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug
safety, public health research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce.
Haahr files legislation to protect Constitution
On Dec. 2, Representative Elijah Haahr (134-R), filed legislation aimed at protecting Missouri’s Constitution. His
legislation would require 60 percent voter approval to
make changes to the Missouri Constitution. The change
would leave in place current requirements for petition
gathering and legislative approval of initiatives, but would
raise the threshold for a statewide vote from a simple
majority to 60 percent. In a press release, Haahr said the
Constitution has been amended more than 60 times, and
with increasing regularity and polarizing topics over the
past decade, since it was approved by voters in 1945.
“Our Constitution is now over 100 pages in length and
has become little more than a glorified statute code. It is
time to provide further protection to our state Constitution
by ensuring it is only amended by the overwhelming will of
the Missouri voters,” Haahr said in the release.
Blunt urges EPA to withdraw costly proposal
The debate over clean and renewable energy versus costs
continues to remain in the spotlight. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)’s proposed Clean Power Plan
(CPP) for existing power plants, has drawn criticism from
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who on Dec. 2, urged the
agency to withdraw the CPP, calling it “an unprecedented,
sweeting action to regulate the entire U.S. electric power
sector under Section 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act.”
Blunt wrote, “Missouri electric service providers have
warned that the CPP would increase energy costs for
Missourians and reduce our state’s economic competitiveness. The most vulnerable families and individuals among
us are hit the hardest by bad energy policies resulting in
high utility bills, because these are the consumers who
already spend a significant amount of their disposable
income on energy. I ask that you withdraw the Clean
Power Plan and conduct a full analysis of the effects of
new power plant regulations on all ratepayers, especially
lower-income communities, before moving forward.”
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Upfront
10 | December 10 - 23, 2014
Viewpoints
THINK
About It!
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“One of the most glorious messes in the world is
the mess created in the living room on Christmas
Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.”
– Andy Rooney
FreePress
Local Voice
Community
Breck Langsford,
President/Publisher
Amanda Langsford,
Associate Publisher
Interviews by Jana Bounds
What do you think is most important
about the holidays?
EDITORIAL
Nicole Barnett
Jana Bounds
James Hanson
Family – I feel like
that’s a very key
point in the holidays. – Karlie
Koenemann,
Willard
CONTRIBUTORS
Kelsey Garman
Phil Morrissey
Bob Mace
DESIGN
Amanda Langsford
ADVERTISING
Amanda Langsford
Greg Hansen
CIRCULATION /
DISTRIBUTION
Marylee York, Manager
Tim Rose, Courier
Jordan Woods, Courier
ADMINISTRATION
Muriel Lincoln,
Senior Accountant
Dudley Brown,
IT Systems & Web
CONTACT
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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435-K S. Union /
Springfield, MO 65802
Mailing address: PO Box 2418
Phone: (417) 447-2130
(417) 268-9177
866-577-3946
Fax: (417) 447-2140
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Vol. 12 Issue 25
The thoughts and
opinions of columnists in
the Viewpoints section do
not reflect those of the
Community Free Press.
If you wish to respond
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Illustration by Phil Morrissey
Christmas Creep
E-mail Bob Mace: [email protected].
Christmas is about
... the birth of
Christ. I think it
should be about
family – having your
family with you. You
never know when
you’re not going to
be able to have all
of them. Both my
folks are gone now, and I look back on
that and what we had at Christmas
time.– Corine Gross, Willard
H
ere we are with the year waning
tooned with fake snowflakes before
and the promise of the holidays
the first leaves have fallen from the
fresh before us. There’s an atheist
trees. That said, how many families
group that’s started an ad campaign
celebrate on the 19th with his parbuilt around the “Christmas is a fairyents, on the 20th with hers and on
tale” theme. The Edge believes that
the 21st with the kids birth grandno matter what costume Ebenezer
parents? Figure in those divorces and
wears, he’s best ignored until after
remarriages and its not just stores
the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
pushing the holiday season ever earhas scared the daylights from him.
lier!
Bob Mace
Atheists point out there are any
Furthermore, there is at least some
number of mid-winter traditions now
religious precedent for such
THE EDGE
associated with Christmas that had
Christmas Creep. Edge research finds
their start in pagan societies. The tradition of that the fourth-century Roman Catholic
hanging greenery (wreaths and the tree) Church of Spain -likely eyeing their collection
comes indirectly from Europe’s pre-Christian plates- celebrated Advent to commemorate
religious celebrations. The idea of Santa and prophecies and events leading up to the birth
sleigh is a reworking of pagan myth that of Jesus now celebrated on December 25th. In
believed spirits traveled through the sky dur- 1969 The Roman Catholic Church went so far
ing the period of winter solstice.
as to move the feast of St. Thomas from it’s
In the grand tradition of capitalistic over- Winter Solstice date of December 21st to July
reach, Black Friday now starts on Thanksgiving 3rd so as not to detract from the Advent seaThursday -sometime between the second and son. American bishops likely hope that St.
third televised NFL contest. For those pining Thomas liked firecrackers.
away for the Thanksgiving of the Pilgrims or
The Edge opposes any effort to move
the ones on which families spent Thanksgiving Thanksgiving to the Thursday before the Bowl
together, one must point out that those memo- Championship just so the retail season won’t
ries came before nine hours of pro football need to be paused for an inconvenient nationprogramming and the distraction of a bunch of al feast.
chirping phones carrying text messages,
Finally, The Edge wonders if the Christian
tweets and Facebook postings.
denominations aren’t somewhat covetous of
The Edge believes categorically that their Jewish brethren who celebrate Hanukah
Thanksgiving should be a day of rest and for eight days. Not to be outdone, the
reflection for everybody in this society who Orthodox Church (and to a lesser extent other
isn’t providing hospital care or first responder denominations) celebrates the 12 days of
services.The same is true for the national holi- Christmas.This celebration is the basis for the
day of Christmas whether one chooses to cel- traditional,“partridge in a pear tree,” song that
ebrate the religious significance, the secular The Edge considers the liturgical adaptation of
traditions of decorations and gifts or prefers to the 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall cantata.
count it as just another day when the office is
Enough of the cynical discussion of whether
closed.
it is the religious establishment, extended famThere are many expressing their displeasure ilies, the merchant-class retailer or the military
with what is denominated as “the Christmas industrial complex that bears responsibility for
Creep” -the offering of retail promotions start- Christmas Creep. Regardless, we hope the holing earlier and earlier each year.There is some- idays you celebrate will be filled with family,
thing noticeably amiss when stores are fes- friends and joy.
To be with your
family. – Adrian
Murray, Ash Grove
I guess families
getting together
and having a good
time. I’m not big on
shopping or anything so that’s not
a big thing with
me. But, it is with
my wife. So, it’s a
good thing she’s a
shopper. – Mike
Palmer, Willard
The reason for
Christmas is to celebrate Jesus Christ
and to spend time
with family. –
Janice Chastain,
Ash Grove
[Christmas is special] Because it’s
Jesus’ birthday.
What I like about
Christmas is presents, the Christmas
tree, playing in the
snow; all that kind
of stuff. At school
my teacher took a
paper plate and cut
a hole in the middle, and we made a
wreath… and decorated it. I want to
hang my wreath on the front door. –
Joe Langsford, 5 years old
Letters
What you think is important
E-mail: [email protected].
How Can We Help? I Offer a Solution
We are very blessed at Sammy’s Window with great folks
who just want to help. They want to help kids touched by
foster care and adoption right here in Southwest Missouri.
In the 29 counties we have been asked to assist, there are
thousands of kids needing our help. They have a wide
range of needs, such as; clothing, shoes, underwear, diapers, wipes, hygiene items, food, baby cribs, twin beds and
bunk beds. We deal with everyone from premature babies
to full grown young ladies and young men. It is impossible
to stock it all. I know, I’ve tried.
We never know who we will see from week to week at
Sammy’s Window. That’s the ever-changing nature of foster
care. You plan with prayer. Your hope is that the right things
are in place at the right moment. From diapers and beds, to
food on the plate and everything in between, you pray and
hope and expect it to be there. We have gone from assisting
600 last year to nearly 2,000 this year! How do you ever
plan for that? We often have gaps. How can we fill them? If I
can ask the question, then it’s a great idea to offer a solution.
Gift Cards. Affordable, versatile, gap-filling, gift cards. We
can apply them to about any need. Whatever the problem,
a gift card can be a solution.
What kind of gift cards work best? About any type and
amount will be great. If I had to settle on one, it would be a
ten dollar gift card from Wal Mart. The reasons I say that are
as follows; in the 29 counties we are asked to help, they all
have a Wal Mart in their area, ten dollar increments are
amounts that are easy to work with and are affordable for
most any budget. If you have an extra ten bucks in your budget when you are at the register, add a gift card. If your lottery
ticket brought you extra wealth, buy a bunch of cards for kids
in care. If Uncle Wally doesn’t need another robe that he
won’t wear or keep tied, buy a card or four in his name, and I
bet he would be honored that you helped some kids! Teach
your kids a lesson in helping others and have them buy one
for another kid who would love to get to live in a situation like
theirs.
We can all do it! Be a part of the solution. It will make you
Upfront
December 10 - 23, 2014
feel great!
We would love to see a ton of them dropped off at
Sammy’s Window, or at our office at Midwest Foster Care
and Adoption. If you would like to mail them instead,
please send to: MFCAA, 1774 1/2 S. Grant St., Springfield,
Missouri, 65807.
Note that it is a gift for the kids of Sammy’s Window so we
will know how to apply them. Think about it, and if you can,
spring into action. You just may be a big part of the solution!
Mark Hay, Springfield
Beware of the Trojan horse
All eyes turn as the giant painted horse rolls down mainstreet America. It is shiny white, painted with deception by
Fox News. Light reflects off flagpoles and stained-glass
church windows onto the sparkling false promises on the
horse’s back. Clowns in red, white and blue run alongside
shouting, “No more taxation; down with government; starve
the worthless poor,” while patriotic music pours from the
horse’s mouth. “All power to the rich,” these political billionaire proxies scream!
The streets are covered with waste, want and hunger following
the horse’s passage. Like a dog returning to its own vomit, the
blinded masses continue to worship at the feet of the horse
though they have been shown and shown, and shown again.
There is none as blind as those who will not see.
A sparrow on the horse’s back warns, “Those who cheat
workers out of their wages will be judged.” Per Isaiah 31-7,
“A stupid person is evil and does evil things; he plots to
ruin the poor with lies and to keep them from getting their
rights.” The sparrow’s name is TRUTH.
Billionaires spent $4 billion on this election to keep the
Trojan horse rolling (RealKochFacts.com). Soon its dark
underbelly will open, revealing their true motives. Elections
will be called “costly and unnecessary” as billionaires use
conscripted armies to enforce their will. There will be no
Medicare, Social Security, public education or minimum
wage (OpenSecrets.org.) The rich will pay NO taxes.
An ancient proverb says, “A snake’s egg produces a
winged dragon”–the evil you do is returned tenfold. A
winged dragon will swoop down and destroy the Trojan
horse. Stand clear–-or suffer the same fate as the clowns
when they are no longer needed. ALL eyes will be red then!
Jan Lancaster, Springfield
|
11
Sponsor a boy at Good Samaritan Boys Ranch
The Good Samaritan Boys Ranch has partnered with
KADI and 99 hit FM to make Christmas a little brighter
for the 84 boys who live on the ranch. The facility has
been helping boys, ages 10 to 18 who are victims of
abuse and neglect, for over 50 years. Wish lists for the
boys can be seen at www.99hitfm.com. Follow instructions on the website after selecting a boy. Gifts do not
need to be giftwrapped, but must include a name and
the number assigned to the boy. Items can be dropped off
at both Community Financial Credit Union locations in
Springfield – 815 West Tampa and 1220 East Walnut Lawn.
Please deliver the gifts by Dec. 19. Cash donations are also
accepted. For more information on Christmas sponsorships,
contact the Ranch at 376-2238.
Coat drive provides 372 coats to area children
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools provided
$13,020 in coats to students in need through the Coats
for Kids program. An anonymous donor provided funding
to begin the program 13 years ago. Vouchers are provided by school nurses to children in need of warm coats.
These vouchers are then redeemable at several area WalMarts. There was a 68 percent increase in vouchers provided this year, partly thanks to sponsors like the Gate of
the Temple Lodge 422 and Queen City Free Runners. To
learn more about the coat drive or to make a gift to the
Coats for Kids program, visit www.supportSPS.org/news
or call 417-523-0144.
Help Habitat give a “Hand Up”
The cold weather of winter months serves as a
reminder of the importance of decent and affordable
housing. That is why Habitat for Humanity is seeking
more volunteers to help finish weekday projects for families in need of decent and affordable housing. Projects
include and are not limited to: new siding, basic exterior
repairs, new windows and doors, basic interior repairs.
The Habitat for Humanity construction staff has planned
for mostly indoor work to finish these homes, making it
much easier on volunteers to assist during the cold
weather. Individual and group volunteers with skill levels
ranging from novice to expert are welcome to join.
Volunteers must be 16 years old, and willing to work half
or full days, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday on the designated work sites. For more information call Tommy
Hawkins at 829-4001 ext. 112 or e-mail him at [email protected].
12 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com
Business
Fixing the glitches of stitches
The journey from divorce cases to
sewing machine repair » Page 13
FYI
Springfield area unemployment rate improves
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the unemployment rate dropped
from 5.1 percent in September to 3.9 percent in October. Columbia, St. Joseph and
Jefferson City all fared slightly better. St.
Louis and Kansas City maintain the highest
unemployment rates in the state – with St.
Louis at 5.4 percent and Kansas City with a
4.8 percent jobless rate. The statewide
unemployment rate averages out at 4.8
percent. The unemployment rate for the
United States remained at 5.8 percent for
October and November.
Pizza House featured in the Associated Press
Associated Press editor, Beth Harpaz,
ate at Pizza House and Andy’s Frozen
Custard when she visited Springfield for
vacation. She wrote a story of her experience with a glowing review for both businesses. The Springfield Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau assisted Harpaz with
information and photographs of the popular eatery. Harpaz’s article has appeared in
30 media outlets around the country and
in Canada. In October, a freelance writer
on assignment for Wichita Magazine also
came to town for a story about things to
do during the winter holiday season. That
story should appear sometime this month.
A writer for a book titled “Moon Route 66
Road Trip” to be published by Avalon
Travel was also in the city in October.
Pizza House is located at 312 E.
Commercial Street. She also visited Andy’s
Frozen Custard at 2119 N. Glenstone
Avenue. Harpaz’s article can be found by
searching for Springfield, MO at
bigstory.ap.org.
Computer Recycling Center teams
up with Ozarks Food Harvest
Computer Recycling Center has joined
forces with Ozarks Food Harvest this holiday season to help feed those in need.
Throughout December, Computer
Recycling Center will donate $1 to Ozarks
Food Harvest for every strand of
Christmas lights dropped off to be recycled. Every strand of lights collected will
translate to five meals for area families
through Ozarks Food Harvest. Computer
Recycling Center will accept Christmas
lights during normal business hours, Mon.
through Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located
at 528 N. Prince Lane in Springfield. For
more information, call 866-2588.
Affiniti Management 2014 Award Winners
Affiniti Management Services once again
walked away with three of the top awards
at the recent Springfield Apartment and
Housing Association (SAHA) Annual
Awards Banquet held at Highland Springs
Country Club. SAHA presented Affiniti
with the Community of the Year award for
Beacon Student Housing. Beacon Student
Housing offers three properties near MSU
and recently opened Beacon Suites. The
company was also bestowed the Large
Owner of the Year award. Les Butterfield of
Affiniti also received the honor of being
named Leasing Person of the Year. The
honor of being named Maintenance Person
of the Year was given to Ted Shelton.
Affiniti manages Beacon Suites and Beacon
Commons, The Jefferson, Deep Elm, The
Villages at Nathanael Greene and Tall Grass.
For more information call 865-5447.
Mentors for creativity open Creava art school
Expanded space and
classes to add to rich arts
community in 2015
■
By James Hanson
M
arla and Hue Parnell
have been artistic
nearly their entire
lives.
Now, the couple will be
opening their privately
owned Creava School For the
Arts – an outlet where they
can share their expertise,
knowledge and passion for
the arts with youth in the
area. Creava will host 8-week
sessions of art classes for
both adults and children
beginning January 6.
A grand opening is scheduled for January 5, 2015.
Hue holds a BFA in
Ceramics from Missouri State
University and is a former
Springfield Public Schools K12 art teacher. Marla earned
her BFA in Art from Missouri
State University, which is
where the two met.
Marla and Hue will teach
what they love. Marla specializes in painting, drawing and
other two dimensional media.
Hue’s specialty is ceramics
and wheel thrown and hand
built pottery.
Both are award-winning
artists and juried members of
Best of Missouri Hands and
active members of numerous
other national and local arts
organizations, including the
Springfield Regional Arts
Council.
Hue said the couple has
had the opportunity to be
full-time professional artists
for the last 10 years.
“And for about 4 or 5 of
Photo by James Hanson
Hue and Marla Parnell opened Creava School for the Arts, which will offer art and pottery classes beginning Jan. 6, 2015.
those, we have been teaching
a few students through our
business [Parnell Studios],”
he said.“However, doing our
business from out of our
home studio, meant we
could only teach one or two
students at a time.We felt like
this was the next step for us
to reach even more kids and
teach them the arts.”
Creava will offer a variety of
classes, for both children and
adults. Marla said their emphasis will be on providing a rich
fine art education curriculum
for home-schooled students,
ages 7 and older.
Besides classes, there will
be special workshops presented by the Parnell’s and
special events like outdoor
raku pottery firings.
Hue is also a United
Methodist pastor and for
years has sold faith related
works to churches and other
New mortgage guidelines now in effect
New mortgage guidelines took effect
Photo courtesy of Marla Parnell
Hue Parnell demonstrates hand built pottery at a Teacher’s Workshop.
see FYI, 14
religious affiliations through
their business Faith Vessels,
which he intends to still provide.
“One of the classes we will
offer is is ‘Re-Ignite Your
Marriage,’” he said. “This is a
class for Christian couples
based on the Scriptures with
an emphasis on helping couples build better relationships with God and each
other.”
He added that he and
Marla felt it was the right
time to move into a larger
space to accommodate the
number of students seeking
art instruction.
Marla said they wish to
focus
on
personalized
instruction for the students.
“We believe it is enjoyable
and meaningful,” she said.
Hue said they hope to help
people of all ages realize that
the ability to create art is a
beautiful thing.
“God gives us the ability to
create—art, music and relationships,” he said. “That is
what inspired our name for
the school.”
He added that he and
Marla wish to become mentors and help students take
their art a step further.
“We hope to help them
establish art as a lifestyle for
them,” Hue said. “It gives
them control and focus in
their lives.”
The Parnell’s said the classes are meant to be a part of
the social process.
“People love to be together
God gives us
the ability to
create—art, music
and relationships.
That is what
inspired our name
for the school.
”
Hue Parnell, co-owner
of Creava School
for the Arts
and make friends,” Hue said.
Marla said they want
Creava School For The Arts to
become part of a rich arts
community.
“We want to compliment
the programs available
through the Springfield Art
Museum and other programs
already in existence in the
community,” she said.
Hue said they also wish to
offer free studio time for
artists seeking space.
“We are excited and very
happy with this location as
well,” he said. “We wanted
something close for people in
the Springfield metro area to
get to easily and somewhere,
where they could feel safe
and enjoy themselves. We are
excited to get started!”
Marla added that Creava
hopes to eventually offer
classes for kids with special
needs as well.
For more information
call 864-7874 or visit
creavaarts.com.
Creava School for the
Arts is located at 1667 E.
St. Louis Street.
Business
December 10 - 23, 2014
EXAM
for YOUR
DOG or CAT.
The switch
to the stitch
www.htvet.com
Hometown Veterinary Hospital
By Jana Bounds
I love what I
do! It’s fun.
”
Shawn Willliams,
owner of Shawn’s
Sewing Center
“So, I went up to a
Judge’s office one day and I
was like, Judge, you’re a pillar of the community. Find
me another job… He sat
me down and said the first
thing I’m going to tell l you
is to go to school,”Williams
said, “And then we talked
around it a little bit.”
Two days later, Williams
had a job offer – from the
judge. His wife needed a
technician to work on
sewing machines at her
quilt shop.
13
FREE
LOCALLY
OWNED
Shawn Williams grew
up working on farm
equipment and ATVs in
Richland, MO. He really
didn’t dream he would
ever work on sewing
machines. In fact, when
the opportunity presented itself, his initial reaction was to laugh out
loud. Still, he had worked
for the state for years
recording divorce cases –
something he referred to
as “sad business” of which
“no one is a winner,” and
had grown increasingly
tired of the lack of raises
and the bureaucracy.
Change was needed.
|
“Where Mercy and Medicine Meet”
2215-A W. Republic Rd.
To schedule an exam call 883-7297
Expires: 12/26/14. Offer good Tue, Wed & Thurs only.
New customers only, one dog or cat per customer
Excludes rehabilitation services. Please mention coupon when scheduling appointment.
Photos by Jana Bounds
Sharon Lansing, from El Dorado Springs, visits with Shawn Williams about Serger sewing
machines. Williams said it’s typical for him to have customers from Kansas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Iowa, Jefferson City and Columbia.
They offered to send him
to
school.
Williams
researched it, accepted the
position and soon found
himself traveling the nation
studying the machines.
“I’m certified in all the big
brands so, I went to Aurora,
Illinois,Westlake,OH,Dallas,
TX, St. Louis, Kansas City
and just pretty much all
over,”Williams said.
Along with the travel,
Williams also found something that never became
redundant. Each issue with
each machine was a puzzle
to him – one he thoroughly enjoyed solving.
“I had the opportunity
either to make a job out
of it or make a career and
I liked what I learned
because the machines
change frequently so it
wasn’t just learning a
sewing machine – there
are so many different
makes and models, years
and eras of machines,”
Williams said, “There’s a
lot into this. For my first
job when I went to work,
I would just stay after for
about the first three
months off the clock and
just study these machines.
And the owner just said,
you need to go home.And
I was like yeah, but I had
to learn it. That’s the only
way you learn it is the
hands-on experience.”
Williams
said
that
sewing is not a dying art,
it’s a growing art. And he
spoke of the bygone era
when things were built to
last – machines and clothing.And he said those days
are long gone. Nearly
everything we touch these
days is built to disintegrate
or break. He is pleased he
can fix the machines that
fix the clothing.
“People are starting to do
more
[sewing]
now,
because what you buy off
the shelf now won’t last.
Either some stitch pulls out,
or a zipper malfunctions
and you’ve got to know
how to fix it,”Williams said,
“People are sewing more
now than 10 years ago.”
Donathon Johanning, two years old, interacts with canine employee, Buster. He was in
Shawn’s Sewing Center with his mother, Christine, getting the zipper to his brother’s coat fixed.
Shawn’s Sewing
Center, LLC
Owner: Shawn
Williams
Started: 2012
Services: Sewing
machine
repair/Sewing lessons
Address: 1500 S.
Glenstone Ave.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Mon-Sat.
Phone: 885-1242
Williams said he works
six days and nights a week
and forces himself to leave
town most Sundays or he’d
work then too.
“I come in at 8 or 8:30
am, I go home at 5:30, take
the dog out, feed and
water him, come back and
I’m here until 10,”Williams
said.“I’ve got all these customers to work with and
they need their machines
back in a proper time so
I’ve got to get in here and
get it done so they’re
happy. If the customer is
happy, I’m happy.”
Williams has been repairing sewing machines for
over a decade now and his
reputation means he stays
busy – without having to
use traditional tools that
many businesses use.
“I’ve done zero advertising – none – from the
very beginning. It’s all
been word of mouth. The
customers that I had have
followed me from different locations to right
now… which is why I’m
so busy,” Williams said, “I
love it. It’s great. Last year
I serviced over 1200
machines and this year is
going to break [that
record] considerably…
don’t get me wrong, rent
is high here, but I love
what I do so it evens out.”
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Business
14 | December 10 - 23, 2014
Why Most Retirement
Planning Doesn’t Work
R
etirement is a modern idea.It’s
not mentioned in the Bible or
in any books published before
1900. Before then the word
“retire” meant to turn in for the
night or withdraw from battle.
The idea of retiring from the
workforce at age 65 was introduced by the government during
the Great Depression in the 1930s
Kelsey Garman
as a way to get older folks off the
FINANCIAL INSIGHTS
employment rolls to make room
for younger workers.
Since Social Security benefits were not enough to
fund retirement, the concept gave rise to the financial planning industry. Financial planners devised
plans to help people save and invest to supplement
their Social Security benefits during retirement.
The plans are based on certain assumptions about
a person’s future which are never true because
everyone’s circumstances are always changing.
Therefore the plans always miss the mark.
I attended the College of Financial Planning in
Denver and spent 20 years helping people develop
financial plans. Such plans may help give direction
and develop discipline for things like buying a
house and paying for kid’s education but they are
unreliable for retirement planning.
So, even after more than 50 years of being urged
to plan for retirement, running out of money during
retirement still ranks as the number one fear of most
Americans over age 50.
Let’s look at a specific example to show why retirement planning doesn’t work very well. Let’s say you
are age 35 and want to retire at 65.You earn $50,000
a year now but figure you could live on $40,000 in
retirement.The current reported inflation rate is less
than 2 percent.The average historical rate is 3.2 percent.The actual rate today is more like 6 percent, but
we’ll use 3.2 percent for this example.
Assuming a 3.2 rate for 30 years, you would need
about $103,000 a year to live by the time you retire.
If Social Security continues in its current form for
the next 30 years, it would pay you about $36,000 a
year. So you would have to save and invest enough
to earn $67,000 a year, or about $5,800 a month
after taxes when you retire.And that amount would
need to continue to grow by 3.2 percent a year to
keep up with inflation. Assuming an annual payout
of 5 percent, you would need $1.3 million to fund
your retirement at age 65.
You could just put your $1.3 million in the bank
and live off of it, but with a $103,000 annual cost of
living increased by inflation every year, you would
stand a good chance of outliving your money.
You can see from this why retirement planning doesn’t work.There are too many assumptions.You have to
make assumptions about your ability to earn and save,
the inflation rate, the return on your investments, your
financial needs during retirement, your tax rate, about
the reliability of Social Security and about how long you
will live.All of these assumptions are likely to be wrong.
What then should we do about retirement planning? Maybe we should ditch the whole idea. We
were created to work. Age 65 is an arbitrary line
drawn in the sand which we should ignore. It has
nothing to do with our productivity or well being.
It’s a waste of valuable resources and may be detrimental to both happiness and health. Publisher
Malcolm Forbes said,“Retirement kills more people
than hard work ever did.”
Betty White, the 92-year-old actress, who stars in
the sitcom, “Hot in Cleveland,” said, “Retirement is
not in my vocabulary.They aren’t going to get rid of
me that way.”
Kelsey Garman is a former financial consultant. E-mail him at [email protected].
IN BUSINESS
www.cfpmidweek.com
By James Hanson
Dandylions a dandy little retail store
When Gabby Lampe was pregnant with her first
son in 2010 she fell in love with sewing her own
baby products.
She enjoyed working at a director of marketing for a
local clinic but always wanted to be an entrepreneur.
“I had a hard time finding cute boy stuff so I
though why not just make my own,” Lampe said.
Her desire to be with family more grew and she
wrote a business plan.
She put the plan on hold until after the birth of her
second son, which rekindled the desire to open her
own business, which came to fruition on August 12
with the opening of Dandylions “a boutique for littles”.
“There are so many unique things out there that I
wanted to share with other moms,” Lampe said.
Dandylions carries a variety of children’s clothing,
accessories and toys and features a lot of locally
Gabby Lampe, owner of Dandylions “a boutique for littles”, gets
made products, as well as brands Lampe said she
ready for another steady day of business. The new shop focuses on
loves.
clothing and accessories for newborns as well as other select products.
She said business has gone great.
“I enjoy getting to know my customers and being able to offer them products I love,” Lampe said.
Dandylions “a boutique for littles” is located at 1907 S. Glenstone Avenue Suite C.
They are open 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday.
For more information call 890-4667 or visit shopdandylions.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Finding their place
Graham Automotive
moves out, Complete
Automotive moves in
■
By James Hanson
Graham Automotive, a
full auto repair shop, in
business since 1974,
recently moved to 706 S.
Glenstone Avenue from
their old location at 2238
E. Chestnut Expressway.
Complete
Automotive
moved into their former
location.
Kevin Haik, owner of
Graham Automotive for
the last eight years, said
he believed a new location would be beneficial.
“It is much easier access
for our customers and we
can provide better service
to our customers,” he said.
“We are already getting a
lot more walk-ins.”
Graham
Automotive
employs four full-time ASE
certified technicians.
They also operate as a
state approved inspection
station.
Haik said he is looking
forward to working with
many new customers.
“And many of our old
customers have followed
us here,” he said.
Maureen Hutchinson,
co-owner of Complete
Automotive, said their former shop at 2808 E.
Kearney was busting at
the seams and lacked the
space needed to keep up
with demand.
“We had the opportunity to buy this building and
land and took it,” she said.
Her husband, Carl and
their team of seven full-
More information
■ Open house for
Complete Automotive is
Dec. 12 from 11 a.m.to 1
p.m. which will feature
free giveaways and
hamburgers.
Complete Automotive is
open 7 a.m.-6 p.m.,
Monday-Friday.
call 866-6957 or visit
them online at completeautomotive417.com.
■
Graham
Automotive is open
7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.,
Monday-Friday.
call 866-1155.
time and two part-time
employees are already loving the new E. Chestnut
Expressway location.
“It’s going pretty good,”
she said.“We are still trying
to find a few things but the
guys have made the transition very well. We are
excited to welcome our
old customers that have
followed us here and our
new customers.”
She added the new
shop allows for better
access and better parking
for their customers.
“It is just a better place
for all of our clients,”
Hutchinson said.
Complete Automotive
does full repairs and maintenance.
“We do everything but
auto
body
work,”
Hutchinson said. “We
don’t paint vehicles.”
Hutchinson said they
are excited about the
opportunities and the
ability to grow in their
new home.
FYI, from 12
Submit Events:
events@
this month, including a reduccfpmidweek.com
tion of the minimum down payment from five percent to three
percent. WalletHub released its
2014 Mortgage Insurance Report in order to help lowdown-payment home buyers save up to $12,000 on
their decision between an FHA loan and private mortgage insurance. According to WalletHub, FHA mortgage premiums have nearly doubled since 2008—
$17,398 in premiums during the first five years on a
median-priced home—compared to just $9,210 in
2008. Consumers with down payments below 20 percent can save $2,251-$12,026 in five years by choosing
private mortgage insurance instead of an FHA loan.
The higher their credit score and down payment, the
more potential savings. For a full list of the advantages of private mortgages versus FHA loans as well
as “6 Tips for Shopping for a Low Down Payment
Mortgage”, visit wallethub.com.
Local KOA Campground honored for 10 Years of Service
The Springfield/Route 66, Missouri KOA
Campground, owned and operated by Scott and Diane
King, was recently honored for 10 years of service to
the Kampgrounds of America system of 486 campgrounds throughout North America. The campground
was recognized recently during KOA’s Annual
International Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.
Kampgrounds of America is celebrating its 52nd
Anniversary in 2014. KOA, the world’s largest network
of family-friendly campgrounds with 485 locations in
North America, was born on the banks of the
Yellowstone River in Billings, Montana in 1962. For
more information, visit KOA.com.
Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply supports BCFO
Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply raised $1,050 at
their annual Ladies Night Breast Cancer Foundation of
the Ozarks (BCFO) Auction – with all proceeds benefiting BCFO. Race Brothers has locations in
Springfield, Monett and Carthage, and offers a complete line of high-performance outdoor power equipment, full service, and expert advice. For more information call 862-4378 or visit racebrothers.com. For
more information regarding BCFO call 862-3838 or
visit bcfo.org.
Ashley Furniture HomeStore supports Salvation Army
Customers of Ashley Furniture HomeStore received
20 percent off their entire purchase on Dec. 5 for making $20 donations to benefit The Salvation Army. Ashly
Furniture matched those donations with an additional
$20. The 20 percent off for a $20 donation deal will
continue Dec. 16-24. Donations should be taken to
Ashley Furniture’s HomeStore at 1715 E. Independence
Street. For more information call 862-5509.
E-mail local news and information to:
[email protected]
December 10 - 23, 2014
Health & Wellness
A Gift of Sight
■
I
magine being in the
dark for almost 15
years—and then one
day the light returns.
Bobbi Savage, an 83year-old Springfield resident who suffered from
age-related
macular
degeneration (AMD), was
the first local patient to
undergo a CentraSight telescope procedure.
Savage had a tiny telescope implanted into the
eye by Mercy ophthalmologist Dr. Shachar Tauber in
Nov. 2013. She volunteered for the procedure
because she was willing
to do anything to regain
her sight.
Savage said she saw her
first snowflake when the
first snow fell this winter.
“It was my first time to
see snow in 15 years,” she
said. “It was really something to me. I can write
my own checks and do so
many things. It is just
wonderful. I have a big
Christmas village and I
put it up this year for the
first time in ages.
Everything is just wonderful and I’m very blessed!”
For 15 years prior to the
surgery, Savage’s sight deteriorated as a result of AMD.
”
“It was my first time to see snow in
15 years,” she said. “It was really
something to me. I can write my own
checks and do so many things. It is just
wonderful. I have a big Christmas village
and I put it up this year for the first time in
ages. Everything is just wonderful and I’m
very blessed,”
Bobbi Savage, local patient who can now see
thanks to a CentraSight telecope procedure.
83-year-old Springfield resident Bobbi Savage writes out a
check—one of the many things she can do now to enjoy her
independence thanks to a new CentraSight telescope procedure she had done in November 2013.
Dr.Tauber said that patients
with AMD have damage to
their macula—the part of
the eye needed for sharp
vision when looking at
objects straight ahead.
It can’t be corrected by
glasses or medication.
But when Savage heard
on the national news
about a tiny, implantable
eye telescope that could
give patients with AMD
their first chance at seeing again, she told Mercy
ophthalmologist
Dr.
15
Dr. Shachar
Tauber, the
surgeon
responsible for
implanting a
telescopic lens
in Bobbi
Savage in
2013, in order
to help her
regain her eyesight, poses
for a photo
with Savage.
Savage thrilled to be one of the first patients to undergo newest procedure
By James Hanson
|
Photos submitted by Mercy
Thomas Essman she wanted to volunteer to be the
first local case.
Essman then referred
her to Tauber, who had
first-hand
experience
with the device and procedure.
“I learned about the
CentraSight
telescope
from the physician who
invented it,” Tauber said.
“He introduced me to the
theory and I got to see
several generations of the
prototype. I was excited
to actually bring it to a
patient who was so willing to try it.”
CentraSight works by
magnifying images that
are straight ahead, bouncing those onto the healthy
part of the retina.
The telescope itself is
smaller than a pea and
surgical precision is necessary.
Tauber said the surgery
was just the first step.
Savage underwent a
second surgery to remove
a cataract from her other
eye and then has spent
the last year doing rehabilitation.
According to Tauber,
this new procedure
should serve a population
that has been neglected.
He said beating macular
degeneration can be
tough as there are two
types—wet and dry.
“Wet
degeneration’s
respond well to medications, although not perfect,” Tauber said. “But
there really wasn’t a treatment for patients suffering from dry macular
degeneration. This really
changes things and can
help aid individuals’
vision as they age. It will
give them a degree of
independence. As we get
older, we fear that loss of
independence.”
Tauber said Dr. Essman
and Dr. Debbie Williams,
with Vision Rehabilitation
Center of the Ozarks
played vital roles in the
success of this surgery and
rehabilitation for Savage.
“It is a team effort,” he
said.“It is a marvel to see
how happy she can be
when having something
in her hand and being
able to see it, to be able to
read and more.”
Tauber added that
Bobbi is playing cards
now.
“I think she may be
cheating, by the way,” he
laughed.
Tauber said the procedure is markedly expensive—however, two good
pieces of news recently
came of the procedure.
He said the age requirement to receive the procedure has been lowered
from 75 to the age of 65
and that Medicare will
pay for it now.
Tauber said there are
two other patients in the
process of receiving this
procedure.
“It demonstrates the
improvement and acceptance of this in optics,” he
said.
Tauber serves as the
section chair for Mercy
Ophthalmology, M.D.
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Health & Wellness
16 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com
Mercy completes NICU
Improved space should
mean more health benefits
for Mercy’s tiniest patients
■
By James Hanson
Babies born prematurely or
with any number of defective
conditions need the best possible care available. The completion of Phase II of Mercy Health’s
new Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) makes this possible.
A blessing is performed in
conjunction with traditional
ribbon cutting ceremonies anytime Mercy Health Systems
opens a new space.
Bishop James Johnston,from the
local Diocese, blessed the newly
opened unit. He and Father Alex
Inke, a pastor in Mercy’s Pastoral
Services Department, both spoke
before several Mercy co-workers.
Phase I of the project was
done in Dec. 2012 bringing 27
new beds into the unit.This second phase increases that number of beds to 46.
Mercy will close its former
NICU,which was one large room
to being at home as
possible within a
hospital.”
Dr. Melinda Slack,
medical director for
the nursery at Mercy
Kids in Springfield,
said that studies have
shown private rooms
matter to babies.
In the release, Slack
said, “Studies have
shown that premature babies in individual rooms stay in the
hospital for less time,
they gain weight
faster, and they have Bishop James Johnston blesses the new Betty and Bobby Allison Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit at Mercy Hospital.
less risk of infection.”
Dr. Slack and the nurse man- including $2 million from and Investment Company,
agement team worked for more Bobby Allison. Other significant Arvest Bank, Dr. Elizabeth J.
than 10 years on improving the donors with gifts totaling Andrews, Dr. John M. Burson,
NICU.The team traveled to mul- $630,000 are Beth and John The Rick’s Automotive Family,
tiple hospitals to learn what Raidel, Dr. Walter and Martha William T. Kemper Foundation
worked and what didn’t. Ideas Gaska, Dr. K. Fon and Kimberly and Commerce Bank.
The new space is named the
Medical
for the design of the new NICU Huang, Pediatrix
Smile Betty and Bobby Allison
also came from families who’d Group, Inc., The
Foundation, Dr. Eric and Kristi Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
experienced the old space.
The entire project cost $17.5
The redesigned NICU was Fulnecky and Children, Dr.
made possible by generous Alexander and Barbara Hover, million.
donations from the community, Empire Bank and Central Trust
where infants shared space with
family members, scrub areas and
the nurses’ station.
Sonya Kullmann, senior media
relations specialists, with Mercy,
said nothing official has been
determined thus far, but the old
room could become part of the
Labor and Delivery expansion.
“We are evaluating the best
use for that space,” she said.
In a press release issued the
morning of the blessing and dedication, Kullmann states that families’ suggestions and a decade of
research led to the design concepts for the new space, which
allows for private family rooms
where babies get high-tech care
and can experience the loving
presence of friends and family.
The press release shared a
story of Danielle Wagner, who
gave birth to quadruplets on
May 8, 2013.
Wagner stated the new set-up
in phase 1 of NICU gave her
comfort and peace of mind, and
allowed her and her family to
make it their own.
Wagner said, “It was as close
HEALTH NOTES
CoxHealth recognized for high quality, patient-centered care
CoxHealth has been recognized as ranking top 100 in the
nation, top 10% in the state and number one in the local market for Medical Excellence in Overall Medical Care by
CareChex® - a division of Comparion®. CareChex is an innovative medical quality rating system designed to assist hospitals and health systems in improving the quality of inpatient
care and promoting medical excellence to consumers, payers
and employers. Cox Medical Center South is top 100 in the
nation in Medical Excellence for overall medical care, cancer
care, gastrointestinal care, general surgery, heart failure treatment, major bowel procedures, neurological care, major
neuro-surgery, pneumonia care, pulmonary care, spinal
fusion, spinal surgery. It is also top 100 in the nation for
Patient Safety for overall medical care, cancer care, heart
attack treatment, major neuro-surgery, major orthopedic surgery, pneumonia care, pulmonary care, spinal fusion, spinal
surgery, trauma care and women’s health. A complete list of
2015 Quality Awards presented to CoxHealth by CareChex®
is available at www.CareChex.com.
CDC scores Mercy 98 out of 100 for maternity care practices
Every two years the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CD) administers a national survey of maternity care practices and policies related to breastfeeding,
known as the Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and
Care (mPINC) Survey. Since 2007, it has been adminis-
tered biannually to examine a facility’s strengths over
time, as well as areas that need improvement. Higher
scores denote better practices and policies. With the
highest score possible being 100, Mercy’s 2013 composite
score was 98. They also received a percentile ranking of
99 when compared with similar sized facilities across the
nation with similar births per year. In 2011, their score was
67. Change made since 2011 that contributed to the
improved score include initiated skin-to-skin contact after
a baby’s birth, stopped separating healthy babies and
mothers and provided 20 hours of training for
mother/baby nurses on breastfeeding assistance.
CoxHealth Auxiliary named an Auxiliary of the Year
CoxHealth Auxiliary in Springfield was honored by the
Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for their volunteer services to the health care community. They were
one of four auxiliaries to receive the honor. The awards
were presented on Thursday, November 6 at a luncheon
during the Missouri Hospital Association’s 92nd Annual
Convention and Trade Show in Osage Beach, Mo.
CoxHealth Auxiliary in Springfield received recognition for
its exceptional efforts as an auxiliary with more than 301
members. The hospital’s 1,122 auxilians performed 155,810
hours of service in the hospital and community from June
2013 to May 2014. Since the group’s inception 65 years
ago, they have contributed $8,461,123 to improve the
health of the communities served by the hospital. The
auxiliary provided $76,500 to students seeking associates
and bachelor’s degrees in nursing, as well as to high
school seniors pursuing a profession in health care.
Springfield Nurse named March of Dimes Nurse of the Year
Rhonda Donnelly, BSN, RNC-OB, CoxHealth, was named a
March of Dimes Nurse of the Year during an event in St.
Louis, Oct. 25. Donnelly, a nurse manager with Cox Medical
Center South’s Family Beginnings, is the only Springfield
nurse to be honored this year. Twenty Missouri and Metro
East nurses representing 16 health care institutions in
Missouri and six counties in Illinois were named Nurse of
the Year. The nurses were recognized for their extraordinary
level of patient care, compassion, professionalism, integrity
and leadership in the nursing profession.
Cancer patients “knot” forgotten at CoxHealth
The CoxHealth Foundation honors and memorializes the
courage and strength of cancer patients with Knot
Forgotten holiday trees. Trees are displayed at Cox
Medical Center South in the north lobby and West
Pavilion, and in the Hulston Cancer Center. To support a
cancer patient, individuals can buy bows for $5, $7 or $10
at the Allenbrand Resource Center inside the Hulston
Care Center, in the north lobby and West Pavilion of Cox
Medical Center South or at coxhealthfoundation.com.
Proceeds benefit the Glauser Oncology Fund’s Patient
Advocacy Program, which helps patients with free medications, travel assistance, nutritional supplements and
supportive medical care in the hospital and at home.
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December 10 - 23, 2014
A&E
IN BRIEF
Springfield Regional Arts Council
awards grants to nonprofits
The Springfield Regional Arts Council
(SRAC) awarded 15,000 in grants to 11
area nonprofit organizations on Dec. 5,
during a presentation to kick off a First
Friday Art Walk (FFAW) exhibition –
named Pop Art Remix 2 – which will
remain open to the public until Dec. 29
at The Creamery Arts Center. According
to a press release from SRAC, “The
grants are generously made possible by
donor funds designated to support arts
and culture at the Community
Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). The
CFO transitioned this grant cycle to the
SRAC in 2013. The grants are intended
to support the goals of the Springfield
Cultural Plan and the issues identified in
the Community Focus Report for
Springfield-Greene County such as audience development, sustainable funding,
and capacity building.” The grants were
awarded to Boys Choir of Springfield,
Springfield Public Schools, Drury
University, Springfield Art Museum,
Urban Districts Alliance, SRO Lyric
Theatre, Unite of Southwest Missouri,
Eminence Area Arts Council, Moxie
Cinema and Springfield Little Theatre.
For more information on SRAC, call 8622787 or visit springfieldarts.org.
Silver Dollar City recognized by USA Today
USA Today recently named Silver
Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas as a
Top 10 Spot for Holiday Lights in the
nation. Silver Dollar City is also part of a
poll in which people may vote for their
favorite destination for lights. The voting
will conclude on Dec. 15. Other contestants include Austin Trail of Lights,
Denver Botanical Gardens, Festival of
Lights at Mission Inn Hotel and Spa,
Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and the
Night of Lights in downtown St.
Augustine, among others. In a press
release, Silver Dollar City General
Manager Brad Thomas said, “We are
excited to be named among the rock
stars of holiday lighting on the editorial
side of USA Weekend, with a circulation
of 18 million. Now, additionally, those
readers and people all over the world
have a chance to cast their votes… It’s so
important to note our employees are
essential to making us who we are, as it
their ongoing and undying passion for
excellence that leads to accolades such
as these.” To cast your vote for Silver
Dollar City, visit
www.10best.com/awards/travel/bestpublic-lights-display.
Artists announced for Thunder
on the Mountain Festival
The Zac Brown Band, The Band Perry,
Eli Young Band and Chris Young were
recently announced as artists scheduled
to make an appearance in the Thunder
on the Mountain Festival, slated for June
26-28, 2015. The festival will take place
on Mulberry Mountain near Ozark,
Arkansas. The Zac Brown Band has won
three Grammy Awards and have performed for over 1.1 million fans in the
year 2014. The group recently concluded
their ‘Great American Road Trip’ tour.
According to a press release from
Pipeline Productions, “The picturesque
landscape of Mulberry Mountain will
provide the backdrop for the muchanticipated return of the rowdiest
see IN BRIEF, 18
|
17
Luxury Christmas tours
Tour Branson’s finest light displays in style. » Page 18
A music destination for all
Music
enthusiasts
Jamie,
Jared and
Jason participate in
an acoustic
jam session
in the performance
area of
Springfield
Music.
Springfield Music to offer
twice monthly jam session
By Nicole Barnett
S
pringfield Music – which
has been in business
since 1961 – recently
started another free program
open to the public, dubbed
straightforwardly, Acoustic
Jam.
Austin Handley, operations
manager of Springfield
Music, says he will be excited
to watch the Acoustic Jam
grow and become larger, in
the same fashion as the
Ukulele Club, another free
music program which has
been
very
successful.
Currently the Acoustic Jam
takes place every second and
fourth Tuesday of the month.
“We were approached
about the idea of doing an
acoustic jam after the success of our Uke club.The jam
sessions are open to anyone
who wants to join. You can
even use one of our guitars
or ukulele’s if needed. The
format is lightly structured,
but does have something to
offer all ages,” Handley said.
Handley, a native of
Springfield, says he has been
involved with music since he
was seven years old.
“I studied Architecture at
Drury, but found that music
was my true passion. I play all
kinds of instruments. I tend
to focus on guitar, drums, and
vocals. I play all styles of
music, but specialize in
honky-tonk.”
Handley has toured with
the band Hurry Sundown,
performing in Nashville and
in Branson at the Andy
Williams Theatre. Handley
has been with Springfield
Music for six years.
“The most rewarding thing
Photo courtesy
Springfield Music
”
‘The biggest impact
[music] has on people is the
simply joy it brings.’
— Austin Handley, operations
manager of Springfield Music
about my job is helping people to make music, especially
when they feel they aren’t
able. Anyone can play an
instrument… Our lesson program is one of the biggest in
the area, and is probably
what we are most passionate
about,” he said.
Springfield Music sells an
instrument for every experience level and budget,
including guitars, ukuleles,
band and orchestra instruments, keyboards, drums and
Pro Audio gear and accessories. The music store also
does instrument repair,
instrument rentals and lessons.
“We feel we keep up with
the times by staying ahead of
the trends in our industry,
and by our use of technology… We attend the National
Association
of
Music
Merchants (NAMM) trade
show bi-annually, making
sure that we are on top of the
latest products and services
in the industry,” Handley
explained.
NAMM is the biggest tradeonly show for music products
in the world. The shows take
place in Anaheim, California
and Nashville, Kentucky.
Handley says Springfield
Music is where many musicians in the area venture for
all of their music needs.
“We have had many wellknown artists shop with us
over the years. We deal a lot
with the Branson artists, and
have regular clinics featuring
artists such as Victor Wooten,
Jim Riley and other professionals at the top of their
game,” Hadley said.
In addition to the programs
that will continue year
round, Handley says there are
holiday events going on
throughout December.
“We are doing our 12 days
of Christmas give away right
now. Any item over 10 dollars
purchased will qualify you to
enter for our weekly giveaways through December.
Some examples of prizes
include a year’s supply of guitar strings, a ukulele, a Fender
Stratocaster and many more
killer prizes,” he said.
Handley is pleased to offer
the free programs and events
to people in the community
and says participation in
music can benefit people of
all ages and walks of life.
“Music has been scientifically proven to improve
health both physically and
emotionally. The biggest
impact it has on people is the
simply joy it brings.”
COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR
Dec. 5 – Jan. 30: “The
Creative World of Synthia
Saint James” exhibit at Pool
Art Center at Drury University,
940 N. Clay St. Times vary. Info:
873-7203; drury.edu
Dec. 12: Live Nativity
Scene at Marshfield United
Methodist Church, 220 S. Elm,
6 p.m. Free. Info: marshfieldumc.org
Dec. 12: Jane Austen
Christmas Ball at the Library
Center Auditorium, 4653 S.
Campbell Ave. 7 p.m. For
grades 6 – 12. Free. Info: 8820714; thelibrary.org
Dec. 12: Kids Night Out at
Pat Jones YMCA Family Center,
1901 E Republic Rd. 6 p.m.
Cost: $12 per child for members, $17 per child for nonmembers. Meal included.
Registration required. Info:
orymca.org/joneskids.html
Dec. 13: Free Carriage
Rides at Park Central Square,
6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Info: 8316200; itsalldowntown.com
Dec. 13: Second Saturday,
various locations in downtown
Springfield, noon to 5 p.m. Free.
All ages welcome. Info: ffaw.org
Dec. 13: Free Art Day at the
Creamery Arts Center, the
Creamery Arts Centers, 411 N.
Sherman Pkwy. 10 a.m. Info:
862-2787; springfieldarts.org
Dec. 13: Winter Outdoor
Safety & Preparedness at
the Library Center, 4653 S.
Campbell Ave. 9:30 a.m. – 11
a.m. in the auditorium for
adults. Sponsored by the Park
Board. Free. Info: 882-0714;
thelibrary.org
Dec. 13: Natural Holiday
Crafts at the Springfield
Conservation Nature Center,
4601 S. Nature Center Way. 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. For all ages.
No registration required. Info:
888-4237; mdc.mo.gov
Dec. 13: Happy Holiday
Hustle, Springfield Christmas
Parade route. 1 p.m. Benefits
Care to Learn and the Urban
Districts Alliance. Cost:
Children 5 and under are free,
$15 when pre-registered, or $20
the day of event. Info: caretolearnfund.org
Dec. 13: Pictures with
Santa at Park Central Square,
see CALENDAR, 19
A&E
18 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com
IN BRIEF, from 17
CHECK IT OUT
Kids’ Holiday Movie Marathon
Stop by the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St., 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. on Dec. 20 for an afternoon of classic Christmas movies appropriate
for all ages. Movies will include The Polar Express, rated G, at 10 a.m.; The
Smurfs: A Christmas Carol, rated G, at noon; Beethoven’s Christmas
Adventure, rated PG, at 12:40 p.m.; Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole
Christmas, not rated, 1966 version, at 2:15 p.m.; “The Nightmare Before
Christmas,” rated PG, at 2:45 p.m. Popcorn will be provided. This event is free
and open to the public. For more information, call 862-0135 or visit thelibrary.org
Springfield-Drury Girls Choir concert
Photo courtesy Mark Lawley
Christmas in Branson
Celebrate the season in Branson this December
with events appropriate for all ages. The Polar
Express train ride at Branson Scenic Railway, 206 E.
Main St., will offer rides now through Dec. 21. Fri.,
Sat., and Sun. train rides leave the station at 4:45,
6:30 and 8:15 p.m. Weekday trains leave the station
at 4:45 and 6:30 p.m. Coach tickets are $34 for
adults and children’s tickets are $24, not including
tax. For more information or to check availability, call
800-287-2462 or visit bransontrain.com. Ozark
Mountain Christmas Light Tours in Branson will be
available courtesy Branson Limousine and Executive
Charter. Tours are two hours and include refreshments and Christmas music while touring the
Branson strip, the historic downtown area and the
Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce’s
Festival of Lights display. Tour times are 6 – 8 p.m. or
8:30 – 10:30 p.m. The cost is $130 - $290 dollars, not
including gratuity. To check availability or schedule a
tour, call 331-1316. Branson Landing, 100 Branson
Landing Blvd., is a winter wonderland, now through
Dec. 31. A Christmas tree in the square, holiday
lights, music and parades will keep shoppers entertained. Admission to Branson Landing is free. For
more information, visit bransonlanding.com.
The Springfield-Drury Girls’ Choir (SDGC), composed of children in grades
2 – 4, will perform 3 p.m., Dec. 14 at Stone Chapel, located on the Drury campus. SDGC was founded in the fall of 2012. The ensemble was recently invited
to perform in the statewide Missouri Music Educators Association’s annual
conference in Jan. of next year. The concert is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit drury.edu.
Robert Burns Supper
The Scottish Saint Andrew’s Society of
Springfield’s annual Robert Burns Night
Supper will take place 6 p.m., Jan. 24 at The
White River Conference Center, 600 W.
Sunshine St. The Scottish Saint Andrew’s
Society was formed in 2004 when the Celtic
Society of the Ozarks disbanded. Scottish
heritage is not required to join the group,
only an interest in the culture. Tickets for the
supper are now on sale and are $45 per person. Tickets must be purchased via regular
mail. For more information, visit springfieldmissouriscots.org.
Photo courtesy Todd Wilkinson
Society member Dan Philbrick reciting “The
Address to a Haggis”, a poem by Burns.
First Night
Photo courtesy Branson Limousine and Executive C harter
Celebrate a family friendly and alcohol free New
Years Eve at First Night Springfield, which will be
held at several downtown destinations in
Springfield, including 1984 Arcade, Arts & Letters,
Discovery Center, Fox Theatre, Gillioz Theatre,
ideaXfactory, Jordan Valley Park, South Street
Christian Church, Mediacom Ice Park, Ozarks
Regional YMCA and Park Central Library.
Festivities include a wall painting at Arts & Letters,
a magic show, and performances by Kayleigh
Rose, Jin J. X, Hamburger Cows, Lyal Strickland,
Smokey Folk band, and Springfield Little Theatre’s
youth troupe. Tickets become available Dec. 15 and
will be for sale at Kum & Go Convenience Stores,
The Library Center, The Library Station, Park
Central Library and The Creamery Arts Center.
Tickets are $8 per person or $30 for four when
purchased in advance. Tickets purchased at the
event are $10 per person or $35 per four. Children
3 and under are free. For more information, visit
firstnightspringfield.org
Photo courtesy Katie Steinhoff
Wreath Making Marathon
Stop by the Botanical Center at
Nathanel Greene Park, 2400 S. Scenic
Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 17 to make a
wreath for your home, office, or to use as
a unique gift. All materials will be supplied, and the cost is $25 per wreath.
Fresh greenery, dried seedpods and nuts
will be available. For more information,
call 891-1515.
Submit Events:
events@
cfpmidweek.com
honky-tonk party on this
side of the Mason-Dixon
Line. The inaugural
Thunder on the
Mountain was held June
6-8, 2013. The event
made a big splash on
the regional music
scene.” Other musicians
listed on the roster for
next year’s festival are
Chris Cagle, Frankie
Ballard, Keith Anderson,
Reckless Kelly, Frank
Foster, Moonshine
Bandits, JB & the
Moonshine Band, JJ
Lawhorn, Big Smo,
Megan & Liz, Robbie
Fulks, Outshyne, Mike
Ryan, Jacob Powell,
Lance Carpenter,
Brandon Jenkins, Lower
40 and the Trey
Hawkins Band. Three
day passes to the event
will go on sale Dec. 9 at
midnight. For more
information or to purchase passes, visit thunderonthemountain.com.
Elvis Costello, Neutral
Milk Hotel coming to
Gillioz
Elvis Costello will be
performing in a solo
concert at 7 p.m. on
March 5, 2015. Tickets
are now available and
are $35.50 - $150.
Costello, a London born
singer and songwriter,
won a Grammy Award in
1999 for the song “I Still
Have That Other Girl”.
Costello has also produced for an array of
other musicians.
Neutral Milk Hotel, an
American indie band
from Rustin, Louisiana,
will also perform in
Springfield at 8 p.m. on
April 29. Tickets are $1
per person and will benefit charity. For more
information or to purchase tickets, call 8639491 or visit gillioz.org.
A&E
door. Info: 863-7843; gillioz.org
CALENDAR, from 17
Dec. 27: Marshfield Community
Theatre presents, “Mile High
Murder” at Marshfield Community
Theatre Building, 420 S. Marshall. 7
p.m. Tickets: $25. Info: marshfieldtheatre.org
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Free. Info: 8316200; itsalldowntown.com
Dec. 13: Conservatory of the
Ozarks Christmas Show at Drury
University, Clara Thompson Hall,
900 N. Benton Ave. 6 p.m. Free. Info:
592-1756; cotomusicartdrama.com
Photo courtesy Drury University
Dec. 14: Springfield Little Theatre
presents “The Littlest Angel”,
311 E. Walnut St., 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12 - $15. Info: 869-1334;
springfieldlittletheatre.org
Dec. 14: The Springfield-Drury
Girls’ Choir performance at
Stone Chapel, 900 N. Benton Ave.
3 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Info: 873-7879; drury.edu
Dec. 14: Santa and Friends at
the Springfield-Greene County
Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic
Ave. Noon to 4 p.m. Admission is
free, some activities have a fee. Info:
891-1515; parkboard.org
Dec. 14: Legendary Shack
Shakers at the Outland Ballroom,
326 South Ave. 6 p.m. Tickets: $10.
Info: 869-7625
Dec. 14: Christmas Festival
Concert at Central Assembly of
God, 1301 N. Boonville Ave. 6 p.m.
Cost: free. Info: 866-5013; centralassembly.org
Dec. 14: Springfield Chamber
Chorus presents, “Make We
Joy” at St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, 1115 N. Campbell Ave. 7
p.m. Cost: donations only. Info:
Springfield Chamber Chorus on
Facebook.
Dec. 15: Mushroom Head at the
Outland Ballroom, 326 South Ave. 6:30
p.m. Tickets: $20. Info: 869-7625
This work of art by Synthia Saint James will be featured in an art exhibit at Drury University.
Dec. 15: Jingle Bells, Batman
Smells at Juanita K. Hammons Hall
for the Performing Arts, 525 S. John
Q Hammons Pkwy. 7 p.m. Tickets:
$15. Info: 836-6776;
hammonshall.com
Dec. 20: Festival of Lights Ice
Skating Show at Mediacom Ice
Park, 635 E. Trafficway. 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5, children 3 and under
are free. Info: 866-7444;
parkboard.org
Dec. 16: Fun With Paper Crafts:
Deck the Halls with Ornaments
and Garland, 397 E. Central St. 6
p.m. Free. For all ages. Registration
is required. Info: 862-0135; thelibrary.org
Dec. 20: Saturday Afternoon at
the Movies: Classic Musicals at
the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell
Ave. 2 – 4 p.m. Free. Info: 8820714; thelibrary.org
Dec. 17: Quizzical Trivia Nite
at Q Enoteca, 308 W. Commercial St.
7 p.m. For adults. Cover charge
applies. Info: 865-9911;
qenoteca.com
Dec. 18: The Nutcracker at the
Landers Theatre, 311 E. Walnut St.
7:30 p.m. Tickets: $17 - $25. Info:
869-1334; springfieldballet.org
Dec. 18: Library Game Night at
Mother’s Brewing Company, 215 S.
Grant Ave. Free admission, regular
menu prices apply. For ages 21 and
over only. Info: 862-0423; thelibrary.org
Dec. 18, 19, 20: The Great
Walmart Christmas Eve
Robbery and Other Christmas
Stories at A Class Act Productions,
319 W. Walnut St. Tickets: $10 $12. Info: 766-3139
Dec. 19: John D. Hale Band at
the Outland Ballroom, 326 South
Ave. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $10. Info:
869-7625
Dec. 20: Free Ice Skating at
Mediacom Ice Park, 635 E.
Trafficway. Skate rental is $2.50. All
ages are welcome. Info: 866-7444;
parkboard.org
Dec. 20: Book Signings at the
Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell
Ave. 9:30 – 3 p.m. All ages welcome. Info: 616-0566; thelibrary.org
Dec. 20: Canvas and Cocktails
at Keen Bean Coffee, 1031 S.
Market St. 6 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $40.
For ages 21 and up only. Info: 4617101; springfieldarts.org
Dec. 20: Contra Dance at Doling
Park, 301 E. Talmage St., 6 p.m.
Cost: $4 for members and students,
$6 for adults. For ages 10 and up.
Info: 862-8681; springfieldcontra.org
Dec. 21: Heart to Heart & Doug
Thornton at Gateway Christian
Church, 3600 S. Republic Road. 10
a.m. Free. Info: hearttoheartmusic
group.com
Dec. 20: Crosslines Christmas
Event at the Ozark Empire
Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant. 10 a.m.
Free. Info: 869-0563; ccozarks.org
Dec. 21: A Service of Comfort
and Hope First at Calvary
Presbyterian Church, 820 E. Cherry
St. 5 p.m. Free. Info: 862-5068; firstandcalvary.org
Dec. 20: Christmas Benefit
Concert at Charity Baptist Church,
2603 S. Westwood Ave. 6 p.m.
Donations accepted. Info: Charity
Baptist Church on Facebook.
Dec. 26: Mother’s Brewing and
Moxie Cinema present: When
Harry Met Sally at the Gillioz
Theatre, 325 Park Central E. 8 p.m.
Tickets: $4 in advance, $5 at the
Mexican Villa
Legendary Food Since 1951
7 Convenient Locations
# Carry-Out Available
on All Menu Items
# Home of the Burrito
Enchilada Style!
# OPEN 7 DAYS
11am – 10pm
# Visit our website
19
E-mail local news and information to:
[email protected]
Dec. 29: Racing to Read Tiny
Tots Storytime at the Library
Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expy. 10
a.m. Free. For infants – age 36
months. Info: 865-1340;
thelibrary.org
Dec. 13: Holly Jolly Family
Festival at the Republic Branch
Library, 921 N. Lindsey Ave. 11 a.m.
Free. All ages are welcome. Info:
732-7284; thelibrary.org
Dec. 13: Springfield Improv
Presents: 88mph at the Downtown
Artist Collective, 308 South Ave.
Cost: $5. Info: 872-2658; springfieldimprov.com
|
Dec. 27: Springfield Writer’s
Guild Meeting at Heritage
Cafeteria, 1364 East Battlefield Road.
11 a.m. Free. Info: springfieldwritersguild.org
Dec. 13: Eli Young Band at the
Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central E. 8
p.m. Tickets: $15 - $35. Info: 8637843; gillioz.org
Dec. 13: The Blues Society of
the Ozarks’ Jingle the Blues
Away Fundraiser at American
Legion Post 639, 2660 S. Scenic
Ave. 6 – 9 p.m. Benefits the Boy’s &
Girl’s Town of Springfield. A potluck
dinner will be served. Info: bluessocietyoftheozarks.com
December 10 - 23, 2014
www.mexicanvilla.net.
Dec. 31: Cosmic Boogie at the
Shrine Mosque Auditorium, 601
Street Louis St. 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Tickets: $20. For ages 21 and up
only, must have valid ID to enter.
Info: futuresound417.com
Jan. 3: How to Write Your
Memoir or Life Story at the
Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell
Ave., 10 – 11:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Adults only. Info:
883-4532; thelibrary.org
Jan. 13: Halestorm at the Gillioz
Theatre, 325 Park Central E. 7:30
p.m. Tickets: $25. Info: 863-7843;
gillioz.org
Regional
Dec. 13: Christmas in New York
Figure Skating Show, Jones
Center for Families, 922 E. Emma,
Springdale, Ark. Shows at 1 p.m. or
5 p.m. Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for
children. Info: ozarkfsc.org
Dec. 13: Garden Land Express
at Botanical Garden of the Ozarks,
4703 N. Crossover Road,
Fayetteville, Ark. 1 p.m. Cost: $3 for
children 5 – 12, $5 for adults, children 3 and under are free. Info: 479750-2620; bgozarks.org
Dec. 13: Holiday Open House
at George Washington Carver
National Monument, 5646 Carver
Road, Diamond. 1 p.m. Free and
open to the public. All ages are welcome. Info: 325-4151; nps.gov/gwca
Dec. 13: A Little Princess Play
at Willard Middle School, 205 Miller
Road. 7 p.m. Admission: $5. Info:
742-2588
Dec. 14: The Symphony of
Northwest Arkansas presents
“The Snowman: A Family
Concert” at Walton Arts Center,
Baum Walker Hall, 495 W. Dickson St.,
Fayetteville, Ark. Tickets: $25 - $45.
Info: 479-521-4166; sonamusic.org
TAYLOR’S
“Springﬁeld’s Oldest Restaurant”
Fresh Ground Daily Since 1947
Cash
Only!
Open 11 AM – 2PM MON-FRI
Trafficway at Kimbrough 862-3278
20 | December 10 - 23, 2014
www.cfpmidweek.com

The Hosmers - Community Free Press

Transcription

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