New Princible at Lang Middle School

Today is the last day for Shelli Adams as principal for Lange Middle School. Shelli is leaving to finish her dissertation for her doctorate and she is being replaced by Dr. C. Bernard Solomon. Dr. Solomon is moving over from his position as assistant principal at Oakland Junior High

Photo of C. Bernard Solomon and Shelli Adams taken on 29 June 2009 in the administrative office of the John B. Lane Middle School, Columbia, MO
I would like to wish Dr. Solomon the best of luck at his new school and the soon to be Dr. Adams the best of luck as she completes her doctorate. As principal Adams was accessible, efficient, and ran a large organization with grace and good humor. You need all of those qualities in a middle school.

When our daughter transitioned from Shephard Elementary to Lange we were concerned about the move to a much larger school. Fortunately we have been pleasantly surprised at how wonderful the faculty are and how good of a princible Shelli Adams was.

Rocky Fork Primitive Baptist Church and the Mordecai (Mordica) Family

Located North of Columbia is the historic Rocky Fork Primitive Baptist Church. I have many relatives, from the Mordica side of the family, buried there. These relatives are descendants of Moses Mordecai, before the name became anglicized, and before most of the family had unfortunately become assimilated.

The Mordecai family has been in Missouri for over 150 years and is mentioned in the book Missouri Pioneers Volume I, by Audrey Woodruff and Nadine Hodges, the History of Boone County, Missouri published by the Boone County Historical Society and which is currently out of print but available online, at least in parts, from Google Books. Also, the Daniel Boone Regional Library has two copies in Columbia and one in Ashland.

This is an excerpt about Moses Mordecai from the Jewish Encyclopedia online:

American trader; founder of the Mordecai family in America; born in Bonn, Germany, in 1707; died in Philadelphia May 28, 1781. He went to America about 1750 and settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in the brokerage business. On Oct. 25, 1765, Mordecai signed the celebrated Non-Importation Agreement, by which the merchants refused to import goods until the repeal of the Stamp Act. In 1777, after the outbreak of the Revolution, he signed an agreement to take the colonial paper currency sanctioned by the king, instead of gold and silver.

The family is also mentioned in Ways of Wisdom: Moral Education in the Early National Period by Ruth H. Block; Journal of Southern History, Vol 69, 2003 and the book Ways of Wisdom: Moral Education in the Early National Period by Jean E. Friedman published in 2001 by the University of Georgia Press (ISBN-13: 9780820322520) and here is a synopsis of that book from the Barnes & Noble web site:

In Ways of Wisdom, Jean Friedman traces how Jacob Mordecai and his family, German American Orthodox Jews*, adopted the Anglo-Irish enlightened pedagogical system developed by Richard Lovell Edgeworth and his daughter Maria. In 1808 Mordecai founded the Warrenton Female Academy on the enlightened principles described in the Edgeworths' guide, Practical Education, and he enlisted family members to teach and manage the school. Rachel Mordecai, inspired by her father's progressive methods, initiated an Edgeworthian experiment in home education on her young stepsister, Eliza. Rachel's diary, reproduced in full in Ways of Wisdom, chronicles the moral instruction of Eliza. While retaining the traditional didacticism of wisdom literature, the diary also describes Eliza's resistance to enlightened discipline and method.

Our family history is indeed the age old history of assimilation of the Jewish people witnessed by the fact that my relatives are buried in church cemeteries rather than a Jewish burial ground.









Some Mordecai/Mordica graves:







This is at the very back of the cometary on the western border:


Located at the back of the cometary are many stones, or markers, which have been removed but not discarded. My father tells me that these are foot markers that were put at the foot of the grave in addition to the more familiar headstone.

More footmarkers with initials?
Standing at the western end of the cemetary looking east.

Our disrespect for the dead manifests itself in many ways. The most recent event was when St. Mary's Church in Wimbledon, the one in England of tennis fame, sold parking on grave sites for 20 pounds in the annual money grab that occurs during the famous Wimbledon tennis match. When pictures of cars parked in a cemetary on graves were released along with the story (I first heard of it on the BBC) this statement was released which is basically an after-the-fact-we-got- caught "apology:"

Reverend Mary Bide said that although the cars look ‘odd’, they were only parked in the oldest part of the graveyard and funds raised would make a ‘valuable contribution to the Church and the Diocese’.

But the church has since apologised for the car parking arrangement and has stopped the use of the churchyard.

‘Over many years, during the Wimbledon Championships, the parish of St Mary Wimbledon has offered this service to the public,’ a church spokesman said.

In other words this was not a money making scheme but rather a public service and it was okay since it was an old part of the cometary.

I was also appalled years ago when a cometary was moved, including the digging up of thirty graves and the remains for re internment, to accommodate the expansion and development along Smiley Lane in the North part of Columbia which continues unabated:

The next two pictures are of those graves that were moved:

The rest are just some miscelanous photographs:








-----------------------------
*
The reference to Orthodox Jews in the book is an odd one since the division into formal branches I think is a slightly more modern distinction which, although emerging at the time period under discussion, was not yet formally a term in common usage. There were just Jews at various levels of observance. This is my understanding from that fascinating historic period when Judaism in America succumbed to the schism aliment so common in American Christian denominations. My understanding is that the term orthodox was used disparagingly by progressive elements in Judaism (which the author correctly identifies as coming largely from Germany) but that it was latter adapted by the traditional "Orthodox" movement as a convenient shorthand.

See:
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history/Modern_History/1700-1914/Denominationalism/Orthodox.shtml

http://www.religionlink.com/tip_070827.php

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/orthostate.html

Pinnacles Youth Park in Northern Boone County

Heading north on Highway 63 about eleven miles outside of Columbia, located about a mile east on a well marked access road, is the 27 acre Pinnacles Youth Park. The Missouri Department of Conservation has a compact but extremely informative page on this natural area which is highly recommended.

It was the site of a recent family outing. After realizing I had been neglectful by not taking my two youngest children to this very attractive area I decided to do so last Sunday afternoon. When we were making plans my oldest daughter informed me she did not remember having ever visited either so she came along with us. It may be well over twenty years since I visited it myself. I also decided to do a photographic survey of the grounds as well as the more scenic vistas.





The Bluffs

These are the bluffs which have been the scene of much mischief (foolishly alcohol related) as well as injuries and if the rumors are true even two deaths. Missouri rock is not good for climbing. I know my own brother broke his ankle here and when I worked at a group home one of the residents badly hurt her ankle at an outing climbing the bluffs pictured below.









Not all of the area is bounded with the scenic bluffs.



There are several well maintained lanes for hiking along the bank on the west side of the creek with various paths leading down to the water. Bring bug spray. The bluffs are all on the other side and you have to cross the creek to get to them.




This is what is known as switch cane (Arundinaria gigantea tecta see: http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2002/10/30.htm)

The Overhang

I do not know what else to call it. This is the most interesting feature. It is an overhang created by the water during heavy rains when the area becomes flooded. This is about a quarter mile, maybe less, from the main area and I do not recall having visited this part of the nature area before. I think many people overlook it but it is well worth the walk. There were no bats, at least none that I saw, under the overhang but there were plenty of swallows.







Amenities

There is a bathroom and a large main shelter at the entryway where the parking lot is located.



There are also several smaller shelters.



Links

http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/natareas/p29-1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_Missouri

http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/web/things_to_do/gardens.php

Daniel Boone Regional Library - The Parking Issue

There are two things that make me optimistic regarding humankind. The first are institutions of hiring learning although the commodification of higher learning is very worrisome, and the second is the institution of the public library.

The first indication that I had of library usage increasing generally was over a year ago. It was during the holiday season and I was, unfortunately, at a mall (this is when cousin Emily become separated from the herd precipitating a crisis which eventually earned her a cell phone - but that is another story). Walking around the mall that day I noticed that a lot of young people were reading and they were reading library books. This was before the economic meltdown become formal but not before there were clear indications that the economy was contracting including such indicators as a decrease in book sales and an increase in library patronage.

This is the main parking lot on the south side of the library taken from the steps at the main entrence. Business is good at the Columbia Public Library branch of the Daniel Boone Regional Library.

As far as the Daniel Boone Regional Library goes I am only knowledgeable about the facility here in Columbia having never visited any of the other locations. I am very proud to say that here in Columbia we are privileged to have a very fine public library despite an outside architecture which I can not make up my mind about although I most definitely like the interior. Columbia has had some interesting experiments with public art with mixed results.

My first introduction to the institution of the public library was during my tenure as an inmate in the elementary school block of Harrisburg R-VIII when a bookmobile from the Columbia branch would visit. I always looked forward to those visits and was pleased at the care and thought that seemed to go into making the selection that was made available to us in that limited space. By the way, the idea of the bookmobile was the brainchild of one Mary Titcomb with the first one outfitted for reaching remote locations in coming into service during 1905.

Through the years I have regularly frequented the library throughout its moves and renovations including the edifice we now enjoy. Regarding the present situation I have good and bad news. The good news is that the library is more popular than ever and full of patrons young and old. The bad news is that the library is more popular than ever and full of patrons young and old who unfortunately do not teleport to the facility but come mostly in motor vehicles that require parking. By the way, I do not recommend the alternative of parking on the street having had my vans driver side rear view mirror knocked off (a white Dodge Caravan if the culprit would like to make amends even at this late date - you know who you are). Presently there are many times when the main parking lot is full and then you have to contend with the parking vultures who circle round and round so they don't have to walk an extra fifty yards. Since I don't want to be one of those people, and I want to avoid getting side swiped again, I park across the street on the North side of Broadway to avoid the aggravation.

Overflow parking lot across from the library on the North side of Broadway


So far the overflow parking across the street from the library has not failed me although sometimes it has been close. The biggest issue with the overflow parking is crossing a very busy intersection with a cranky crossing light that seems to sometimes randomly skip a cycle when you are trying to cross the street in either direction. My advice for now is that if you have a lot of books go to the main lot and put them in the outside receptacles and then go across the street to park. Then you have to go to the crosswalk and push the button and then wait your turn to cross.

The infamous walking button. Pushing it multiple times does not speed things up. Trust me on this.


Having pressed the button I am now acing South waiting for the light to change at the busy intersection of East Broadway and North Garth

I love the Daniel Boone Regional Library. I have read thousands of books from that institution and have had four children and a spouse who also continue to benefit from it. The idea of a public library is a noble thing and whatever we spend on the Daniel Boone Regional Library is one of the best investments that we could possible make and I daresay we receive a better return on it than almost any other public expenditure.

I will live with the crowded parking but I do wish they would expand their hours.


Stories about libary useage increasing during a recession:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/10/16/library_use_rises_as_economy_falls/

http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2008/oct/05/hard-economic-times-increase-usage-libraries-natio/

http://article.wn.com/view/2008/10/28/Poor_economy_leads_to_increase_in_library_use/

Tiny Miss Columbia

You don't see a kid with a tierra and a sash everyday on the streets of Columbia. Especially on a weekday, in the early afternoon, and when it is not even close to Halloween. I had literally finished a story across the street and was loading my equipment into my van when I spotted Evelyn Harrison and her mother Chrystal.

I had to get the picture and the story.

Evelyn and her mother were downtown looking for sponsors for the Missouri Dream Girls State Pageant to be held on March 27th- 29th in Saint Louis.

The Hot Dog Cart

Hot dogs are big business. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes there is such a thing):

“During Hot Dog Season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs or 818 hot dogs consumed every second during that period.”

Not all those hot dogs are consumed at home since ballparks, and other venues, are hugely popular locations for consumption. One of those other venues is the hot dog pushcart, a hot dog stand on wheels, that do their fair share of selling hot dogs to a hungry public. Pushcarts of all kinds are a time honored, and economical, entry into entreapenourship with many being becoming the foundation of much larger businesses. The late Carl Karcher Jr., the founder of Carl's Jr hamburger chain, started out with a $325 hot dog push cart and ended up with a chain of over a hundred restaurants that was latter purchased by CKE Restourants (also the owner of Hardee's).

Business Week even ran an article about a “former elementary school teacher and guidance counselor” they dubbed The Hot Dog Professor. Mark Reitman, the Hot Dog Professor himself, runs a school for aspiring hot dog cart entrepreneurs’ in Milwaukee charging each person in a class of six to eight students $300 each. At least back in 2008, when the story ran, business was good and he planned on expanding.

I have always been attracted to hot dog carts. Whenever I go to New York the trip is not complete without eating a hot dog from a cart and buying a fake Rolex. I know that neither activity is politically correct but I get a kick out of them.

Unlike Chicago with over 2000 carts and New York, with even more than that, Columbia has sporadically been home to one cart at a time. At this point that stand is ran by Tim Mallory who I caught up with at the corner of 9^th and Broadway the sort of epicenter for downtown Columbia.

Back in Columbia since August of 2008 Mr. Mallory is no stranger to either Columbia or the hot dog cart business. The former native and his wife lived in Florida for 16 years before they returned. In Florida he managed a Jeep dealership until the car business started to go sour several years ago. When I talked to him he said that there were signs even then that the American car industry and its network of dealerships was already in trouble. Among the work he did in Florida after leaving the dealership was running a hot dog cart in. For family and business reasons, like many former natives, he decided to return. After he had been here for awhile he learned about a cart for sale, and reentered the hot dog cart business again. This time in Columbia.

Mr. Mallory sells the Hebrew National brand, a rather famous kosher hot dog, at the rate of $2.50 for a regular and $3.50 for a jumbo. He also includes a varying menu of condiments “adding whatever people seem to ask for.”

Mr. Mallory noted that it sometimes makes for long days starting as early as 8 a.m. and ending after the bars close at 2..m. that night. Besides running the hotdog cart he is a day trader, and sells hot dog carts as well as other miscellaneous items, on eBay.

Campus Eastern Foods

Located at 408 Locust Street , close to our community's mosque, is Campus Eastern Foods which has been open since 1983.



It was purchased by the current proprieter, Dr. Youssef Eltayash, in 1987.





Youssef is originally from Libya. He has five sons ranging in age from 16 - 34 years of age with one grandson. Per tradition that first grandson is named after his paternal grandfather.

When he came to America, to our community, he needed a way to earn a living for him and his family while he pursued his studies. He purchased the store to provide an income and ran it while attending Mizzou. He eventually not only earned his masters degree but also a PhD in civil engineering. He was a father, graduate student, and operated the store all at the same time.

In 1994 he and his family expanded their business enterprises opening Casablanca restaurant which is located at 3907 Peachtree Dr. Columbia, MO.

Besides being involved in business Dr. Yousef is currently an assistant professor at Lincoln University in their pre-engineering program.

The pictures below are a virtual tour of his store and the different goods you can find there:






I have shopped at Campus Eastern Foods for years. It is relatively convenient to where I live and where I work. I go there for Middle Eastern food specialties that are either not available where I normally shop, are not of the highest quality, or which are fantastically overpriced. Among the items I shop for at Campus Eastern Foods are olive oil, red lentils, condiments, rice, couscous, and various spices. For example, couscous which is so overpriced at the supermarkets is purchased by Campus Eastern Foods in bulk and repackaged at a reasonable price with great quality. The store also sells Indian and Eastern European goods. Want to make an Indian dish using ghee but don't want to clarify the butter yourself? Campus Eastern Foods sells ghee. Below are some detailed pictures of what you can find on the shelves:






Not only do I like shopping here for hard to find or specialty items I like doing business with a locally owned and operated family business. I also like going there and seeing the same faces of people who know me, and the fun stuff on the shelves. I also like something else. Campus Eastern Foods, along with Youssef Eltayash and his family, is in many ways the quintessential American story of the accomplishments of hard work, vision, and optimism.