Special election and candidates set; Trader Joe’s inches closer to opening.
June 3 was the deadline to file for the open Second Ward seat on the Columbia City Council. Two candidates will be on the August special election ballot to fill the seat. The candidates are Vera Elwood, the youth program coordinator for The Center Project, an LGBTQ+ community center in Columbia, and Ken Rice, the chief operating officer for Pickleman’s Franchising.
Rice waged an unsuccessful spring campaign for a seat on the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education.
The filing period opened May 13 as the result of councilperson Lisa Meyer’s resignation. The Columbia Missourian reported that Meyer gave a tearful farewell address at the June 2 council meeting, where she was recognized for her service.
Fayette Art Show Call for Artists
It’s one county over, northwest of Columbia, but Fayette is calling all artists. As the Fayette Festival of the Arts prepares for the 24th annual Fayette Art Show on Saturday, August 2, artists have until July 28 and July 29 to submit works in six categories for first, second, and third place and cash prizes.
The show will take place at the Ashby/Hodge Gallery in Classic Hall on the campus of Central Methodist University.
The Fayette Festival of the Arts is the town’s premier event and features a juried adult and children’s art show as well as live music at the bandstand, The Peacemakers Quilt Show, food trucks, vendors, The Mary Jarboe Memorial cake show, The 3rd Annual Classic car show, and other events. For more information about the festival or to learn how to submit artwork, check the festival’s website at www.fayettefestival.org
On Your Marks!
The best NCAA Division 1 runners in the country are coming to Columbia. This fall, all eyes will be on Columbia as it hosts the 2025 NCAA Cross Country National Championship at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course (3100 E. Gans Rd.) The big date is set for Saturday, November 22.
Gans Creek is the home of the Mizzou men’s and women’s cross country teams. The Gans Creek Cross Country Course opened on September 27, 2019, with the Gans Creek Classic. The 320-acre park is a state-of-the-art facility that has attracted state, regional, and national meets, helping boost the local economy and shining a spotlight on Columbia.
Como CraftCycle Grand Opening
The Columbia Daily Tribune reported June 5 that Como CraftCycle celebrated its grand opening May 28 inside the Habitat for Humanity ReStore building at 1305 E. Business Loop 70. Organizers said the new shop has had a steady stream of interest and visitors to its corner of the ReStore.
Como CraftCycle is a new resource for crafters to get materials and supplies at a low cost, thanks to supplies that are provided via donations.
“Coming Soon”
Trader Joe’s announced on May 22 its status for Columbia is “Coming Soon.” Work continues to restructure the former Macy’s building at 201 N. Stadium — in the complex known as the Shoppes at Stadium — for a large Trader Joe’s footprint.
The “Coming Soon” announcement did not come with a firm opening date, but it will likely be this year, according to media reports.
That’s a LOT of Students
More than half of Columbia Public Schools students — around 9,800 in all — arrived for the first day of summer school on June 2, the school district announced in a news release.
CPS has operated summer school as an enrichment and advancement opportunity for the past twenty years. The district’s two largest programs are Summer Sunsations for students in grades K-8 and credit advancement at the high school level. The CPS news release said popular summer high school courses are health, personal finance, and physical education. This summer’s course offerings for high schoolers also includes the return of the district’s driver’s education course.
