One of the highlights of being mayor was sharing the stage with Gov. Jay Nixon, Sen. Mike Kehoe and others at the Capitol Cornerstone 100th Anniversary Ceremony on July 3. I had the honor of leading the Pledge of Allegiance, the same honor granted to me in 1984 as a Girl Scout during the July 4 celebration. Talk about coming full circle! As I watched today’s scouts on stage, I wondered about what their amazing futures will hold.

During Bob Priddy’s engaging talk at the anniversary celebration, he noted that women were not permitted to vote on whether to build and keep the new Capitol in Jefferson City. In fact, it would be four election cycles before women would gain the right to vote.

What a shift, I thought, as I sat on stage as Jefferson City’s second woman mayor.

What else will change over the next 100 years? Which stories will wow us as we continue to progress? My personal hope is that Jefferson City will celebrate 100 years with a renovated Missouri State Penitentiary, enjoying the best view of our Capitol and river.

Indeed, it was an awesome experience to be a part of the Capitol Cornerstone 100th Anniversary Ceremony and to witness past capsule contents revealed and then contribute to contents for the future centennial capsule. My note, addressed to the mayor 100 years into the future, was a remarkable experience on many levels.

Shop Local

We’ve all heard it, but why is it so important that we make it a habit?

Take pride in your decision to spend your hard-earned dollars locally. Those dollars are bigger than merely your purchase. Every penny has an impact on our community.

In certain cases, there are things that cannot be purchased in Jefferson City, but when there is a chance to buy locally rather than online, I encourage you to make that choice.

In the graph to the right you can see the impact of local dollars. As a small-business owner, I appreciate your support.

Every customer who makes a choice to come through my door makes a specific impact. When you shop locally, your dollars help pay salaries. My store is a first job for many, and I love having that opportunity. It’s probably not hard for you to remember the person who first took a chance on you and what you learned from it.

Your well-spent local dollars pay for rent (which goes back into the building), local utilities, banks, accountants, insurance, college, houses and cars, to name just a few.

When I ran for mayor, I bought local for my campaign materials because I wanted to be a good example. Many of the products and services were available online, sometimes for less, but in the big picture it’s a worthy investment to support local businesses.

Having strong shopping areas draws customers and generates all of the benefits above. Shopping local = sales tax = roads, sidewalks and an even better community. Make that change, make it a habit and shop local whenever you can. The success of your city depends on it!