🌱 How Columbia’s oldest lottery school turns fifth graders into daily role models.

Cheers Columbia! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Columbia’s oldest lottery school turns fifth graders into daily role models.
• Columbia reflects on Main Squeeze founder Leigh Anne Lockhart’s lasting impact
• What makes North Village Arts District Columbia’s most vibrant creative hotspot?

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a nicely dressed man on a tricycle and a poorly dressed man on a bicycle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 79 and low of 53 degrees.
• Sunday: Cloudy, temps: high: 77, low: 63.
• Monday: Heavy t-storms; windy, humid, with a high of 81 and low of 46 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. Columbia's oldest lottery school creating role models one student at a time (columbiamissourian.com) — Ridgeway Elementary, Columbia’s oldest lottery school, is spotlighted for its multi-age classrooms where older students mentor younger ones and build leadership skills. Through small-group instruction, arts, and even folk dancing, Columbia Public Schools families see how Ridgeway’s collaborative model aims to create strong role models and a tight-knit school community.
   

2. 'Main Squeeze was Columbia's version of Cheers' (kbia.org) — Columbia is remembering Leigh Anne Lockhart, the longtime Main Squeeze owner who helped introduce plant-based food and fresh juice to Ninth Street and championed diversity, sustainability and women’s rights. Friends, former employees and Centro Latino leaders share how her restaurant, refill shop and quiet generosity built community and fed countless Columbians in body and spirit.
   

3. City as canvas (missouri.edu) — Columbia’s North Village Arts District is emerging as a must-visit hub, from Orr Street Studios’ open galleries and residencies to packed First Fridays art crawls that draw hundreds downtown. The story highlights how Mizzou-rooted artists, community support after a 2024 fire, and a planned North Village Park are reshaping everyday cultural life for Columbians.
   

4. Columbia apartments ​for rent saw price increases since last March (columbiatribune.com) — Columbia renters are facing higher costs, with median apartment listings up 8% since last March to about $1,400, roughly 10% above Missouri’s statewide median. One- and two-bedroom units have climbed even faster year-over-year, though local prices still sit well below national averages.
   

5. Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Columbia, Missouri metro area (kmzu.com) — Home values across the Columbia metro area are charted here, showing how prices have shifted over the past year and five years in each community. While some cities are seeing slight declines, others still post strong gains, giving Columbia-area buyers and homeowners a clear snapshot of current market pressures and affordability trends.
   

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📸 Around Columbia

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday April 27

• Baby Story Time
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Program Room
  10:00 am
• Digital Organization 101
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  12:00 pm
• Star Wars Retro Crafts
  Columbia Public Library - Friends Room
  6:00 pm
• How to Discord
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  6:00 pm

Tuesday April 28

• Discovery Time
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Program Room
  9:30 am
• RIBBON CUTTING: United Community Builders
  United Community Builders , 1801 Towne Drive , Columbia
  10:00 am
• Device Advice and Tech Help Drop-in
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  2:00 pm
• Silent Book Club
  Columbia Public Library - Quiet Reading Room
  6:00 pm

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📣 Columbia Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday April 25

• Listening Sessions
  Columbia 93 , 909 S Fairview Rd , Columbia
  10:00 am
• Mizzou PAL-OOZA Story Time
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Program Room
  11:00 am
• Friends of the Columbia Public Library Lobby Book Sale
  Columbia Public Library - Lobby
  12:00 pm
• Natural Garden Pest Management
  Columbia Public Library - Friends Room
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• There isn’t any clear data, but it appears that cats, feral and domestic, kill 1.
  3 to 4 billion birds a year in the U.S. A study in England in which cameras were put on cats demonstrated that for every prey object brought home to… (Nextdoor Valley View)
• Looking for a suggestion for someone who might be interested in putting down a bit of mulch in my yard.
  Reasonably priced and reliable. I would appreciate any recommendations. (Nextdoor Belmont Village)

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Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A tire. (Thank you Joan B. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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