On May 28, thousands of cyclists will descend upon Flat Branch Park in downtown Columbia to embark on a soiree on wheels along the MKT and Katy Trails. Cyclists participating in the annual Pedaler’s Jamboree will make the 35 mile trek to Boonville’s Kemper Park on Saturday morning. Riders will be greeted with a celebration at the terminus of the journey complete with food, beverages and a plethora of live music, including (among many others) Flint Eastwood, The Royal Furs, Hounds, The Kay Brothers and Violet and The Undercurrents, fronted by Columbia’s own Violet Vonder Haar.

Bike decor, good times and costumes are enthusiastically encouraged. The Pedaler’s Jamboree Rider Pass is $50 and includes the transport of all bags to Boonville so that participants are free to ride at their own pace, unburdened by heavy gear. Non-Riders are also welcome and can purchase a pass for the celebration at Kemper Park for $15. For $6, cyclists can enjoy a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning, during which riders can refuel before the return ride to Columbia. Shuttles are available to whisk cyclists and their bikes back to town, should they need a lift. Continue reading “Pedaler’s Jamboree: A Festival of Bicycles and Music”

From May 16 to May 22, the city of Columbia will host activities aimed at promoting non-automotive transportation. The 15th annual Bike, Walk and Wheel Week will feature festivals, group bike rides, free city bus rides and more. As always, your library can provide resources for inspiration and information.

In the first category, I suggest Ben Montgomery’s book, “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk.” In 1955, 67-year-old Emma “Grandma” Gatewood left her Ohio home, telling her children and grandchildren she was going on a walk. Several months later, she’d earned the distinction of becoming the first woman to hike the entire 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. Continue reading “Bike, Walk and Wheel Week”

Volunteer: a person who willingly does work without getting paid to do it.

Where I came from (Moscow, Russia), we never volunteered, at least not in the American way. The thing was that we didn’t have to – authorities “volunteered” us when and where they desired. The “without getting paid” part (see definition above) worked the same way as it does in America. As for the willingness, nobody ever cared to ask. Continue reading “National Volunteer Week: April 10-16”

“Ahora soy: Sólo hoy tenemos y creamos.
Now I am: Only today do we have and create.”

These are the words of Nancy Morejón, one of the most distinguished poets of Cuba after the Revolution. They come from her poem “Mujer Negra,” or “Black Woman.” Born in 1944, Nancy Morejón grew up and developed her talent as a writer during the tumultuous Cold War era. Her work draws from her African heritage and her life in modern Cuba. Continue reading “Columbia Public Library Welcomes Poet Nancy Morejón”

According to NASA and NOAA, 2015 was the hottest year on record. While some still argue about whether climate change is real, most scientists agree that it is and are studying its effects and ways to slow or reverse the damage.

MU’s 12th Annual Life Sciences & Society Symposium, held March 12 and 17-19, 2016, addresses the complex and controversial topic of how we should confront climate change by gathering seven expert speakers in search of answers to a few key questions. How and why is climate change happening? What are its consequences likely to be for weather, agriculture, health and society? And what can and should be done – in terms of energy, technology and policy – to mitigate it? All events are free and open to the public. See the full schedule and event locations at the symposium’s website. Continue reading “Confronting Climate Change: Free MU Life Sciences & Society Symposium”