You’ve just finished installing a beautiful new pool, complete with an outdoor kitchen and luxurious patio area. You’ve added a room onto your home, or remodeled a bathroom. Or maybe you’ve traded in your old, beat up car for a brand new model. Who will you call first to share the exciting news? If Phyllis […]
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was enacted to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental entities. It earmarked $65 billion for jurisdictions entitled to receive Community Development Block Grants, which includes the City of Columbia. According to the Government Finance Officers Association, the federal funding is
If this issue taught me anything, it’s that I’m doing everything financially wrong. HA! Around 15 years ago, my soon-to-be-20-year-old son lost his first tooth. As I was in the middle of fulfilling my tooth fairy duties, with my hand under his pillow to retrieve the tooth, he sits up from a dead sleep and
Alex & Ellie Boutique Alex & Ellie Boutique opened to the public in October 2021 after successfully selling online for more than four years, gaining over 40,000 combined followers on Poshmark, Mercari, and Marketplace. Alex & Ellie is a designer resale boutique specializing in higher-end brands selling at affordable prices, with both new and preowned
Education CIS Celebrates Record-High Enrollment Columbia Independent School recently enrolled its 400th student, which is record-high enrollment for the 24-year-old school. CIS, which serves students in junior kindergarten through 12th grade, marked the occasion on Sept. 9, with cupcakes for all students, a cake for faculty and staff, and photos with school mascot, Leo the
Since 1845, Commerce Bank has prided itself on safe lending practices and compassionate customer service. As the country transitioned into The Reconstruction Era following The Civil War, future mayor Francis Reid Long came to Kansas City with $10,000 and founded Commerce Bancshares, eventually renamed Commerce Bank. When the stock market crashed in 1929, Commerce took
The exterior of Accounting Plus looks like that of any other accounting firm. But upon stepping inside, you’re greeted with a bright, welcoming space. On the west side of Columbia, they have settled into a nice-sized office building which has allowed them to grow throughout the years. Come 2023, they are taking over another space
The Loop began its street art project back in 2021. “I went back to my hometown, and I was walking downtown, and they had big art billboards,” said Carrie Gartner, executive director of The Loop. “They had lined them up all along this one particular alley and I thought, well, that looks like a great
Originally from Baja, California, George Nickols, the proprietor and chef de cuisine for Lilly’s Cantina, grew up in a big family with a distinct heritage — Mexican American and English-German. “Southern California is a treasure trove of ethnic diversity when it comes to people and cuisine, including in my own family. It is a special
