A rose to all of our dear mothers as we approach Mother’s Day on Sunday. Down through the ages, people have tried to define the special qualities that make a mother unique. Here are a few: “A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” – Tenneva Jordan; “God could not be everywhere, therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling; “Becoming a mom means you have accepted that for the next 16 years of your life, you will have a sticky purse.” – Nia Vardalos; “It’s not easy being a mom. If it were easy, fathers would do it.” – Betty White; “Burnt toast is actually fairly symbolic of motherhood. If you are the one who burned the toast, you scrape it off and eat it yourself. If they burn it, you eat it because they burned it specially for you.” – Emily Watts. So, no matter how you define motherhood, we wish all the moms the kind of Mother’s Day they so richly deserve.

A rose to Vince Rapisarda and his business partner Scott Wagner, who received permission from the Columbus city council to proceed with their ambitious plans for the continued redevelopment of the former First Baptist Church on Seventh Street North. In the three years since the purchase, the sprawling church complex has served primarily as an event venue. Beginning soon, the redevelopment will include a 15-apartment complex complete with a gym and outdoor recreation area, additional classrooms and office space and perhaps even a restaurant. The apartments will be furnished and marketed as corporate housing. It’s an ambitious plan that, if achieved, will represent a milestone renovation project in the history of downtown Columbus, transforming the historic property from an afterthought to a vibrant addition to our downtown. We eagerly await the work on this project to begin.

A rose to our largest farmers’ markets who are now open for business. The Starkville Community Market opened on May 3 at Fire Station Park, featuring not only locally grown fruits and vegetables but also crafts and entertainment. The Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market in Columbus opens today with a special appearance by Felder Rushing, horticulturist and host of the popular “The Gestalt Gardener” radio show on Mississippi Public Radio. Every year we look forward with great anticipation to the arrival of fresh, local foodstuffs as well as the special events that have become an important part of both farmers’ markets. We encourage everyone to come out to support our local farmers and craftsmen while enjoying time together.

A rose to Chuck Yarborough’s history students at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science who, with the support of the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, have honored one of Columbus’ leading citizens and preeminent civil rights advocates with a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker. The marker honors the memory and legacy of Dr. Emmett J. Stringer, a dentist by profession and a key figure in the Civil Rights movement. Fittingly, the marker was unveiled on Thursday, May 8, which was the day in 1865 the city’s Black residents were informed of their freedom after the end of the Civil War. A close associate of slain NAACP field secretary and Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers, Stringer founded the NAACP Columbus branch in 1953 and served as president before later being elected as the NAACP’s statewide president. He petitioned school boards to demand desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. Stringer also organized the Lowndes County Voters’ League and worked to register Black community members to vote. The marker will ensure that he will not be forgotten by subsequent generations.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

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