September 2026

What the Hill? I’ve Been Riding for Six Years

3 September 2026
Connie Whitlock
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Categories: All News, Issues, September 2026

By Connie Whitlock
Publishing Editor

Last week, I was driving home from church music practice at around 8:30 in the evening when I came upon three kids in the middle of a country road. I was out near Boardman, heading toward 175th and had just turned the corner at the Katy Trail parking lot.  You might know what I’m talking about if you live in that area. 

One kid was on what looked like some kind of motorized bike, and the other two were on scooters or bikes; I can’t really remember. The interaction went so fast.

They looked like they were having a great time dominating the roadway, kind of like a scene out of a movie. I would have thought it was a sweet sight, but instead it almost gave me a heart attack. I mean, if they were nearer the corner I just turned, even at the 20 to 25 MPH I was going, I probably would have hit them.  

So, I did what apparently happens when you reach a certain age and become the random lady yelling things out her car window. I slowed down and rolled down my window.| “Where are your helmets?” I yelled, knowing that it probably wouldn’t have any effect, but you never know. 

One of the boys, who looked about 10ish, answered with the confidence of a man who had carefully reviewed the statistics. “I’ve been riding for six years, and nothing has happened.” Well. Six years. I didn’t realize I was dealing with a veteran. 

I told him, “It only takes one time, and you are seriously hurt, and it affects the rest of your life. And there I was, officially becoming one of those adults I probably rolled my eyes at when I was a kid.

But I’ve thought about that conversation several times since. Because technically, the kid had a point. Nothing had happened.

That’s one of the great things about being 10. Your personal historical record is fairly short, and six years without incident seems like compelling evidence that you’ve got this whole thing figured out.

Then something happened that made his comment stick with me. I have CrimeRadar on my phone, and on Aug. 31, I saw that emergency crews were called to McDonald’s on State Route 7 for a reported vehicle-versus-child incident. According to publicly available dispatch information, the child had been riding a bicycle. I don’t know if it was an e-bike, but there is a rumor that it was. But that isn’t the point, so I will continue. The child was reported alert and conscious and was transported to Cass Regional Medical Center. I think there was a nosebleed involved, but I would have to go back and read the report.

That alone probably wouldn’t have kept the event whirling around in my head, but on Aug. 8, a 7-year-old Pleasant Hill boy was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on Locust Street just east of Armstrong Street. 

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the boy entered the path of an eastbound vehicle and was struck. The Highway Patrol classified his injuries as serious, and he was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital. Pleasant Hill police later told KMBC his injuries were non-life-threatening.

Two kids on bikes struck by vehicles in 23 days. That doesn’t mean Pleasant Hill suddenly has a bicycle problem. Two accidents don’t make a trend, and the circumstances surrounding the two incidents were different. But it did make me think about those kids again.

“I’ve been riding for six years, and nothing has happened.” The funny thing is, I’m not sure we ever completely outgrow that logic. We just get better at disguising it.

We drive a little faster than we probably should because we’ve driven that road a thousand times. We glance down at our phones because it’ll only take a second. Maybe we don’t quite come to a complete stop because nobody is ever at that intersection anyway. We back out of a parking space assuming we saw everything the first time we looked.

Nothing happened yesterday. Nothing happened the day before. Nothing has happened in six years. Maybe the difference between being 10 and being an adult isn’t that we’ve stopped believing we’re invincible. We’ve just accumulated a lot more evidence to support our case.

Until we don’t. And maybe that’s why my little roadside conversation has stayed with me. I don’t want kids to be afraid to ride their bikes. Quite the opposite.

Some of the best parts of being a kid happen on bicycles and scooters, roaming around on a summer evening with your friends, believing you have absolutely nowhere you need to be and all night to get there. I hope kids still get to have that.

There was something almost wonderful about the absolute certainty in that boy’s answer to me. Six years. Nothing has happened. Case closed.

But there’s something a 10-year-old can’t possibly know yet that those of us who have been around a little longer do. Sometimes nothing happening doesn’t mean what we think it means.

Sometimes we were careful. Sometimes somebody else was careful. And sometimes we just got lucky. I hope that boy someday tells somebody: “I’ve been riding for 66 years, and nothing has happened.” And I hope he’s still just as confident.

Although I wouldn’t mind if, somewhere along the way, he decided that crazy lady yelling out her car window might have had a point. It only takes one time. Wear the helmet, or at least ride where cars can see you. And drivers, drive slowly past the curb by the Katy Trail Parking lot; kids on bikes think nothing will happen. 

Things to Do: Splash Pads, Auditions, Bubbles and More

3 September 2026
Connie Whitlock
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Categories: Issues, September 2026

September is here, but Pleasant Hill isn’t quite ready to say goodbye to summer.

Several things are happening around town over the next few days, including one last splash at a splash pad, a chance to get on stage with Pleasant Hill Theatre Group, and a night involving some pretty impressive bubbles. And, as always, there are plenty of things that happen around town every week or every month.

One More Splash Before Summer Is Gone

First Friday falls on Sept. 4, and this month it comes with a little water.

The First Friday End of Summer Splash Pad Event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Depot, where Downtown Pleasant Hill Inc. will bring its Splash Pad for fun and games.

It’s pretty simple: bring the kids, bring some towels, and let them get wet. With summer winding down and school back in session, it’s a chance to squeeze in a little more summertime fun before fall officially takes over.

Want to Be in a Christmas Play?

Christmas may still seem a ways off, but rehearsals have to start sometime.

Pleasant Hill Theatre Group will hold auditions for its upcoming production of Grandpa’s Holly-Jolly Christmas from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church.

So, if you’ve ever thought about getting on stage or you’re one of those people who starts thinking about Christmas before the rest of us have even put away the lawn chairs—this might be your chance.

The Bubble Guy Is Coming to Town

On Thursday, Sept. 10, Cub Scouts are hosting An Amazing Night with The Bubble Guy at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, 1300 Lexington.

The event runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families.

Kids can expect an evening of bubbles, laughter, and fun. Families are encouraged to come early and bring a friend.

And really, sometimes you don’t need much more explanation than “The Bubble Guy is coming.”

And These Things Are Always Happening

If none of those fit your schedule, several regular events around Pleasant Hill are worth remembering. As with all events, please check the host for any cancellations.

Wing Hill Wine Co. offers a free wine tasting every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at 115 Wyoming Street.

VFW Post 3118 hosts its Community Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. Everyone is welcome, and donations go directly to Veteran & Community Support thanks to sponsor Yennie & Jones Insurance Agency.

If cars are more your thing, Pleasant Hill Cruise Nights take over downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. on the third Friday of each month from May through October.

Grace Place Diaper Day is held from 9 to 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, 1300 Lexington. The program provides monthly diaper assistance to families in need.

The Pleasant Hill Farmers Market is still going, too. The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through September at the corner of Second Street and Highway 58.

That means there are only a few Saturdays left to visit the growers, makers, bakers, and vendors before another Farmers Market season comes to an end.

For those 55 and older, Super Seniors meets at 11 a.m. on the first Friday of each month at Big Creek Baptist Church. The gathering begins with a brief devotional led by area pastors, followed by a 30-minute mini concert featuring Midwest musicians. A potluck luncheon begins at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Admission is free, and no reservation is required. Just bring a favorite dish to share.

And Saturday nights mean live music at People’s Theater in downtown Pleasant Hill. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. each Saturday, with tickets available online in advance or at the door, subject to availability. Please check www.peoplestheatermo.com⁠ for more info.

Have Something Going On?

A lot is happening around Pleasant Hill, and we know we don’t always hear about everything.

If your church, organization, business, club, or group has something coming up, PHMOmag wants to know.

You can find the complete list of events and information on how to submit your own event at phmomag.com/thingstodo. The full year calendar is on the website www.phmomage.com/thingstodo.

And if you’re sitting at home this weekend saying there’s nothing to do, well, now you can’t say we didn’t tell you.

A Little Nook, a Little Needle and a Big Idea

2 September 2026
Connie Whitlock
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Categories: All News, Issues, September 2026

By Connie Whitlock
Publishing Editor

Historic downtown Pleasant Hill is taking on a new shape. And part of the shape it taking off at 132 First Street.

There was a time when downtown was simply where you went to buy what you needed. Today, its’ old storefronts are filling with boutiques, services, and small businesses that are giving people new reasons to come downtown. But one of the newer shops on First Street came together a little differently.

More than 20 area makers have their work inside Nook & Needle. Most are from Pleasant Hill. Individually, many probably wouldn’t have enough merchandise or time to run an entire downtown store. Together, they do. And that is really the story of Nook & Needle.

“It’s very much a small-town store,” said Kathy Alexander, one of the people behind the shop. “It’s always going to be a small-town store, but that’s what makes it fun.”

It Started With Some Yarn

Kathy Alexander at the shop (photo/Connie Whitlock)

Long before there was a storefront, Alexander had a crochet hook. She had always been crafty. Her grandmother did hand cross-stitch, and her mother taught her to knit when she was young. But when Alexander moved to Pleasant Hill about 15 years ago, she was looking for a way to meet people. She found a way and it was at the Pleasant Hill library.

“I could learn how to crochet,” she remembered thinking. So she did. She took a crochet class at the library and it stuck. These days, people who know Alexander are accustomed to seeing her with a yarn bag at football games, volleyball games and other activities involving her children. “I spend 10 to 20 hours a week sitting at kid activities,” she said. “I can bring my yarn bag.” Eventually, some of what came out of that yarn bag made its way to the farmers market.

Last summer, Alexander sold her creations there when she began talking about something bigger: “The dream would be to have something like a brick-and-mortar downtown,” she said. It was a nice idea. But opening an entire store to sell one person’s crochet work didn’t make much sense. Then an opportunity came along that would eventually change the question from How could I open a store? to What if a bunch of us did it together?

A store shelf filled with creations (photo/Connie Whitlock)

A Pop-Up Becomes Something More

Building owner Jennifer Sexton-Rugh was renting the front portion of her First Street building for pop-up shops. Alexander decided to try it. But she didn’t do it alone. She recruited two women she knew through the farmers market: Stephanie Rourke, who makes candles and other scented products, and Andrea Andrews of A Pleasant Bakery, known for her cookies and cinnamon rolls. “And the three of us just went for it,” Alexander said.

They opened a temporary shop during November and December and returned for another pop-up around Valentine’s Day. It worked. Then Sexton-Rugh presented them with a much bigger opportunity. The back portion of the building went unused. Instead of continuing to operate from the small front room, what if they took over the entire space and turned it into a boutique?

Nook and Needle store front (photo/Connie Whitlock)

It was the kind of opportunity Alexander had dreamed about. There was just one problem. Three makers wouldn’t fill an entire store. And Alexander, Rourke, and the others didn’t have endless time to devote to running one. They had jobs, children, families and responsibilities outside the shop. Taking over the larger space would mean finding more merchandise, more help and more people willing to take a chance on the idea. So they went looking for other makers. And they found them.

Their answer to Sexton-Rugh’s offer eventually came down to a simple question. “Why not?” Walls came down after Easter. Furniture went in. New makers began filling the expanded space. By Mother’s Day, Nook & Needle had grown from a temporary pop-up into something much closer to the dream Alexander had talked about at the farmers market. Except now, it wasn’t just her dream.

One Store, More Than 20 Makers

Walk into Nook & Needle today, and you’ll find the work of more than 20 creators, most of them from Pleasant Hill. But you won’t find 20 individual booths. That is intentional. “We’re not a vendor mart,” Alexander said.

Instead, the merchandise is mixed throughout the store to create one cohesive shop. One maker isn’t confined to a five-foot section with their name above it. Products can move around the store, makers can bring in new creations, and they can take inventory with them to markets and other events. What they make is just as varied.

Nook and Needle store (photo/Connie Whitlock)

Some sew, some crochet, some paint and others work with leather, beads or clay. They make candles, soaps, jewelry, food products, coffee, local farm goods, and creations that don’t fit neatly into any particular category. Even the three crocheters represented in the store don’t necessarily make the same things. Alexander pointed to the work of Sarah Davis Henson, who specializes in detailed flower and lace crochet.

KJ and Co. brings clay work, cups and other creations. Local farm businesses, including Redeemed Acres and Hanner House, bring products such as tallow, jams and dry baking goods. The store carries painted pieces and bookmarks by Laura Long, leather goods from Haven Hides, sewn creations, jewelry and bead work, local honey, coffee, candles, soaps, and an assortment that keeps changing as makers come up with something new.

Alexander had once wondered whether they would find enough creators to fill the larger store. That isn’t much of a concern anymore.

Meet the Person Who Made It

Perhaps the best explanation of what Alexander wants Nook & Needle to be is on little signs scattered throughout the store. They’re called “Meet the Maker.” Rather than only telling shoppers how much something costs, the signs introduce them to the person who made it. They tell a little about the maker, what he or she creates, and the connection to Pleasant Hill. “The goal is to spotlight the makers,” Alexander said. “It’s all about the makers and the creations that they make.”

Meet the Maker signs that are all over the store (photo/Connie Whitlock)

Many of those makers also accept custom orders, so the signs include information about how customers can reach them. It changes the experience of picking something up from a shelf. That crocheted piece didn’t arrive in a warehouse shipment. Neither did the painting, wallet, or candle sitting beside it. Someone made it. And there’s a good chance that someone lives nearby.

Some of the entrepreneurs are especially nearby; they still live with their parents. Alexander’s son, entering fifth grade, runs Chunky Monkey and uses a 3D printer to make his creations. Rourke’s daughter, also entering fifth grade, has her own slime business. Their work sits alongside the adults’. For Alexander, that’s part of the point.

Fun creation (photo/Connie Whitlock)

The Makers Also Run the Store

Another piece of the Nook & Needle model is something shoppers might never realize. The makers don’t just supply what’s on the shelves. They help keep the doors open. Because many of them have full-time jobs and families, the makers volunteer to take turns working in the shop. Once again, something that would be difficult for one person becomes possible when the work is shared.

Alexander particularly credits Rourke with helping turn the original idea into a functioning business. “Stephanie is my partner in crime.” The store carries “If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t be here.” And collaboration doesn’t stop with the Alexander, her husband and children make furniture, build shelving and move everything into the store. “It’s very much a team effort and a family affair,” she said. “I couldn’t do it without my husband, without my kids.” The family atmosphere has found its way into the shop itself.

There is merchandise for children and babies, young makers have a place alongside the adults, and there’s even a small “duck hunt” to occupy children while their parents shop. Nook & Needle is also becoming a place where people can learn to make things themselves. The store hosts monthly maker classes. Previous offerings have included a coffee class and a paint-your-pet event, with candle making and hand-knitted scarves among the classes planned.

A place to learn to create (photo/Connie Whitlock)

Building Something Downtown

After all the work it took to open the doors, Alexander knows another challenge remains: getting people to discover the store. Building a customer base takes time. But she said one surprise of opening downtown has been the support they’ve received from the businesses already there.

Rather than simply viewing a new shop as another competitor, established downtown business owners have offered advice and shared what they’ve learned. “They all want the same thing,” Alexander said. “We all want downtown Pleasant Hill to be successful.” Maybe that is why Nook & Needle fits so naturally into the changing face of downtown Pleasant Hill. Its story is really one of people doing together what would have been difficult to do alone.

Looking down First Street shops from Nook and Needle (photo/Connie Whitlock)

A building owner provided an opportunity. Three makers tried a pop-up. When a larger space became available, they found more makers. Families built shelves and moved furniture. Creators filled those shelves and now take turns keeping the store open.

Individually, most of the makers inside Nook & Needle probably wouldn’t have opened a storefront on First Street. Together, they’ve filled one. And for Alexander, what began 15 years ago with a trip to the Pleasant Hill library to learn how to crochet eventually led to a yarn bag, a farmers market table, a pop-up shop and, finally, that downtown storefront she once wondered about. Only it turned out to be bigger than one maker’s dream. It took a whole group of them to make it happen.