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 Jason
Hoffman and Marcia Cook took over the art gallery after the passing
of Toby Prang, aka Moses Pinkerton, and have since invested a great
deal of love and energy into refurbishing the downstairs as well as
the second and third floors of the building which were not in use by
Prang.
The third floor was opened earlier this year as the Moses Pinkerton
Gallery and is where the monthly exhibits are displayed during the
official art show season at the LAI.
The second floor has been for a while the Moksha Center, which is
where Marsha leads wellness programs.
Now, two more ventures have come in that complement the Moksha
Center. The Metaphysical Store and Ems Gems are open in a small shop
at the top of the stairs as one arrives on the second floor. The two
businesses are a collaboration between Cook, sister Mandy Cordray
and niece Emma Cordray.
On Saturday afternoon a large group gathered outside the LAI to
witness the ribbon cutting ceremony for the two new businesses, as
well as a belated celebration of the opening of the Moksha Center.
Among those invited to join the three behind the ribbon were Lincoln
Alderpersons Sam Downs, Rhonda O’Donoghue, Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Mayor
Pro Tem Kevin Bateman, and City Clerk Peggy Bateman. Andrea Runge
with the Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development joined the
line up along with Logan County Tourism Director Alice Roate, Karen
Castelein with Lincoln Daily News, and husband and father of Mandy
and Emma, Chris Cordray.
Nila Smith with Lincoln Daily News served as emcee
for the ribbon cut, and began by talking about the reason for the
cut, and the history of holistic healing and use of stones, gems and
other natural products to promote healing and wellness. The practice
of natural healing goes back centuries and was for many generations
the most practical method of healing. It was noted that modern
science and medicine pushed natural healing into the background for
a while, but now, science and technology are supporting the natural
practices and effective and beneficial to health and wellness.
Mayor Pro Tem Bateman was invited to speak. He noted
it was good to see new businesses developing in the downtown area.
He said that he knew Cook and her partner Jason Hoffman had worked
hard to restore the building and to build successful businesses in
the downtown area.
Alderman Downs also spoke and said that the city of
Lincoln “thinks the world of Marcia and Jason” and he wished them
well in all their ventures and thanked them for being a part of the
downtown landscape.
Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs recalled that the
historic building, which was originally build by the Order of the
Odd Fellows has been a variety of things including in the past few
decades, an insurance office, and an antique furniture store. She
said that when Moses Pinkerton came on the scene he wanted a true
art gallery in town. She said that in many ways, that too is a
source of healing. She said that the arts help us “get out of our
mind” and relax and enjoy. She said the arts institute was valuable
as were the new businesses that also promote healing and wellbeing.
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Next to speak were Mandy and Emma Cordray. Mandy
began, “thank you all for being here, your support means a lot to
us. Thank you to Marcia and Jason for supporting us and make us a
part of their business.” She also thanked Alan Carder who taught her
the rock polishing process. Mandy ended saying how proud she was of
Emma for what she is accomplishing.
Emma echoed much of what her mother had said,
thanking Cook and Hoffman for their support and for allowing her and
her mom the opportunity to start a business. She also thanked her
parents and other family for their support and encouragement.
Before Marcia spoke, Smith prefaced her with a personal observation,
saying Cook has dedicated her life to helping people through tough
situations, first through her work with hospice, then her work at
Castle Manor, and now through the holistic healing and wellness
programs.
Cook responded with a thank you and said she has
never really thought of herself in that way. She thinks about other
people and how they can be better through better health practices.
She noted that holistic healing was age old, and how that it all
started, with natural medicine and love and community. She said it
was amazing to be in a small town like Lincoln and to see the
community. She thanked her life partner, “Jason, my incredible
partner said do it. He believed in me, so thank you for believing in
me babe. Also, the Moksha Center opened in 2020 and we didn’t get to
have a ribbon cut at that time, so this is a ribbon cut for the
Moksha Center as well as the two new businesses.”
Then the group closed in for a group photo and soon
after everyone assisted with the countdown to snipping the ribbon.
When the crowd called snip the three ladies clipped the ribbon as
guests cheered.
Afterward everyone was invited to visit the
upstairs store and the adjacent lounge area. There were drawing and
prizes, free and discounted services and a well-stocked store to
shop. Refreshments were also offered, and everyone had the chance to
just relax, mingle and get to visit with the business owners and
their families.
[Nila Smith]
See slideshow -
Moksha Center, The Metaphysical Store & Ems
Gems celebrate grand opening
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