All posts of flourish

Presence in Sound: Zoe Willott shines light on women in audio industry

By Jasmine Jones Look at the statistics, and it’s clear: Women are extremely underrepresented in the music and audio industry. According to the “Women in the Mix Study,” women account for only 21.6% of musical artists, 12.6% of songwriters and 2.6% of producers in the industry, based on 2019 data. In the same study, 77% […]
1 year ago

Focus in the Moment: Self-defense with black belt Veronique Bayer

By Karey Schaitel When Veronique Bayer was 8 years old, she begged her parents to take her to the martial arts studio near their house. Her dad agreed to take her to taekwondo classes if she agreed not to quit until she received her black belt. “Eight-year-old me did not really understand what I was […]
1 year ago

A time of reflection

Curated by: Kayla Thompson, Adult Services, Cape Girardeau Public Library November is always a time of reflection for me. Whether that be about myself, the past, or our nation’s history – I find toward the end of the year I begin to look back (I’m sure I am not the only one). Here are a […]
1 year ago

meet along the way: Dr. Sheila Long

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Dr. Sheila Long” in the November 2023 issue of The Best Years. “Think outside the box.” It’s a phrase Dr. Sheila Long says she tells her students constantly, a phrase that embodies her own teaching methods and daily life. Long is an […]
1 year ago

meet along the way: Rosemary Berry

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published as “Community Cookbook: Cooked Cheese, by Rosemary Berry from Fruitland” in the October 2023 issue of The Best Years. Rosemary Berry says it’s been an “interesting life.” She was raised in Sedgewickville, Mo., but as the wife of an Air Force pilot, she lived all over the […]
1 year ago

Modern gothic tales for Halloween

Curated by: Kayla Thompson, Adult Services, Cape Girardeau Public Library Here are some modern gothic tales to give you the right amount of thrills and chills this Halloween season. Weyward by Emilia Hart: This story follows three strong women (Kate, Altha, and Violet) during three different time periods: 2019, 1619, and 1942. Each has their […]
1 year ago

meet along the way: Pat Schaaf

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published as “Community Cookbook: Pat’s Pastries recreates nostalgic small-town bakery experience in the August 2023 issue of The Best Years. Pat Schaaf says when you make pastries from scratch, they will never be perfect. She says you could roll the dough out precisely, measure everything and use a […]
1 year ago

meet along the way: Gracie Aguirre

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published in the September 2023 issue of The Best Years. Gracie Aguirre grew up in Durango, Mexico, where she says everyone knew everyone. As a child, Aguirre enjoyed “rolling all over town” on her bicycle and playing volleyball, but she spent most of her after-school hours working at […]
1 year ago

September reading recommendations

Curated by: Kayla Thompson, Adult Services, Cape Girardeau Public Library Where has the year gone? Here we are in September already. Looking back at some of the recommendations I have done so far, it seems that I haven’t done much in the way of nonfiction. So, to try and make up for it, here are […]
1 year ago

Parents and Kids: Let’s Make Something Together

It’s fun to spend time with your little person, and they love receiving your attention, too. Here’s a fun activity you can do with the child(ren) in your life to cultivate conversation, critical thinking, movement, artistry and imagination.  Found Object Wreath Materials needed:  Paper plate Scissors Hot glue sticks Hot glue gun Yarn Found objects […]
1 year ago