March is the most hopeful month of the year for me. After months of brown landscape and leafless trees, green shoots begin growing and we see daffodils, crocus, tulips and flowering bushes and trees dotting the lonely landscape. The thought always strikes me: I have survived another winter!
My hopeful attitude led me to marry in early March. Each year when the world begins to turn green again, I begin mentally planning what I’ll plant in containers and flower beds around my home — after the final freeze associated with Easter, of course! I also look through home and garden books, walk through my home and plan cleaning, painting and décor updating projects. You can imagine how much this annual to-do list excites my dear husband!
Planning this issue is timely because it includes inspirational articles. Our “Home and Garden” issue is one of the most beautiful magazines we publish annually. Whether you want to add furnishings, repaint rooms, add a fence or buy your first home, you’ll find expert advice in this issue. Warmer weather is an optimal time for people to move to smaller or larger spaces, and our advertisers share the benefits of their respective housing options. Spring also marks many celebratory events, from weddings to proms to graduations, and our writers will steer you toward current trends.
A few years ago, many Arkansans became interested in growing and/or raising their food. A wonderful resource for us all is the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service. Writer Judy Riley shares an article about two women who teach online and in-person classes, one of which is titled “Growing Your Own Groceries.” Through online classes and teaching gardens directed by Master Gardeners throughout the 501, learning to grow veggies is within your reach at a nominal cost.
We also explore some beautiful homes and vacation rentals that will inspire you to freshen up spaces in your home or apartment, or even to repurpose an area for a new use. I encourage you to sit down, relax and turn (or click through) the informative articles and lovely images our expert team has assembled. Within these pages you can daydream and find hope, inspiration and a to-do list!
PUBLISHER
Jeremy L. Higginbotham
EDITOR
Stefanie W. Brazile
FOUNDERS
Donna Spears, Sonja Keith and Tracy Ferrell
ADVERTISING SALES
Donna Spears and Donald Brazile
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Levi Gilbert
PHOTOGRAPHER
Makenzie
COPY
Andrea
FINANCE
Debbie
BRAND
Lisa
SOCIAL
Morgan
March
4 Letter from the Editor
On the Cover:
Rory, a seasoned couch surfer, and Bentley love the home renovation by WaterHouse Market which includes dog-friendly performance fabrics.
8 Upcoming Events
9 Daffodil Daze Art Contest
10 Loving LIFE Photos
12 Five-Oh-Ones IN FOCUS
14 25 Years of UCA Artists in Residence
16 Couple of the Month: Becca and Kal Swarna
20 Entertaining: Bingham’s Buono Bistro
Restaurant-Style Italian at Home By Chef Don Bingham
24 Vanity Fur: Home Design with Pets in Mind By Donna Benton
30 Pawsitively Perfect By Rory
32 A Life of Imagination: Pat Larsen By KD Reep
38 SPECIAL SECTION: 501 EXPERTS
40 It’s Hip to Homestead By Judy Riley
44 Natural Gas, Natural Choice By Jose Laboy
45 First Home Help By Kendyl Lopez
46 A Gift for Registry By Cara Porcelli
48 The Grass is Greener with Quality Fencing By Jay Counts
50 501 LIFE Savers - Home Generators By Jake Winchell
52 Retreat in the Rock By Stefanie Brazile
56 Growing Together: A Hendrix Odyssey Program
58 Kid & Pet of the Month: Nickalas and the Bearded Dragons By Lori Dunn and Donna Lampkin Stephens
62 Arkansas Farm to School Contest
64 PCSSD and Extraordinary Extracurriculars By Jessica Duff
66 Rotary and the Readers
68 Conway Corp to Invest $75 Million in Water Projects By Beth Jimmerson
70 A Fond So Long to Uncle Wong By Rita Halter Thomas
73 AARP Arkansas Andrus Award Winner
74 Author of the Month: Susan Polk Van Dusen By Susan L. Peterson
76 501 Hometown Hall of Famers: Alonzo Clayton By David Grimes
80 The Home of My Yesterdays By Vivian Lawson Hogue
82 Person of the Month: Cole Schaefers
Photo by Makenzie Evans
Ace Hardware, 41
American Made General Store, 43
Arkansas Renaissance Festival, 53
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship, 59
Barksdale Federal Credit Union, 8, 51
________________________________________________
Centennial Bank, 45
City of Greenbrier, 78-79
Conway Corp, 69
Conway Regional Health System, 83
Conway Regional Rehab, 71
Conway Symphony Orchestra, 23
Farm Bureau Arkansas, 40
First Community Bank, 37, 82
First Security Bank, 84
Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling, 13
Harps, 23
Hartman Animal Hospital, 61
Harwood, Ott & Fisher, PA, 66
Heritage Living Center, 5
Karen Ferguson Team, 16, 31
Kilwins Little Rock, 23
KVNE 93.3 Radio, 74
Legacy Fencing, 49
Methodist Family Health, 34
MSC Eye Associates, 57
Oaklawn Hot Springs, 19
Ott Insurance, 73
PCSSD, 65
Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric, 50
Quitman Schools, 67
Salem Place, 35
Shelter Insurance, 57
Sissy’s Log Cabin, 47
South Conway County Schools, 63
Summit Utilities, 44
Superior Health & Rehab, 2
Tipton & Hurst, 46
Trinity Development, 31
UACCM, 64
UCA, 15
Unity Health, 3
Velda Lueders - Coldwell Banker, 76
Yours Truly Consignment, 26
Coming Home to Good News !
Susan L. Peterson holds a Ph.D. in secondary education and taught at UCA and Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. This former reading and language arts teacher loves sharing information about local authors, hoping their stories will inspire others. Now retired, she spends her time painting, making pottery and playing pickleball. Love
Donna Benton owns Waterhouse Market, a Central Arkansas interior design company. She helps builders and homeowners create timeless and beautiful spaces. But her true passion is working in her workshop, where she creates unique, upholstered pieces and revives vintage furniture with new paint finishes for clients’ homes.
Rita Halter Thomas is a Conway native and a pastor’s wife. She attended the University of Central Arkansas and is an award-winning writer, author, editor, writing coach and speaker. She is married to Jimmy and has one daughter, Marinna. Rita enjoys horseback riding and singing with the worship team at Mountain Top Cowboy Church in Heber Springs.
WYE MOUNTAIN DAFFODIL FESTIVAL
March 1-9 • Bigelow
Hosted annually by the Wye Mountain Community Church, visitors can walk among thousands of blooming daffodils. No entrance fee. Experience food, crafts, and plant bulbs for sale and trade.
WORLD'S SHORTEST
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
March 17 • Hot Springs
The parade welcomes celebrity Grand Marshal Valerie Bertinelli and Official Parade Starter and hip-hop legend Flavor Flav! The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will return to pump up the crowd.
CONWAY ART WALK - LIFE IN 3D
March 7 • Conway
The first of eight monthly Art Walks launches with a focus on all things 3D — sculpting, building, multimedia and more! Enjoy a fun-filled evening with artists, musicians, food trucks and demonstrations.
SCREENING OF “UNVEILED”
March 19 • Little Rock
Experience an advance screening at Robinson Center of the Arkansas PBS original “Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash.” See the selection, creation and installation of these new works for National Statuary Hall.
“BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL”
March 12-16 • Little Rock
Directed by a Tony Award® winner, the musical version of this cinematic classic features Marty McFly, who is transported back to 1955 in a race against time to send himself ... back to the future.
MUNCHIN ON MAIN STREET
March 22 • Morrilton
Get ready for a day full of fun, flavor and community! Stroll through downtown filled with food trucks while local artisans and businesses showcase unique goods at the pop-up city market.
On the back of the entry, please list the student’s name, school, grade, teacher, phone number and email address.
Entries may be submitted to the 501 LIFE Magazine office in Conway at 920 Locust St. Suite 104 at 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on March 26 - April 1.
Winners will be announced in 501 LIFE and will also be honored at a Daffodil Daze reception.
CONTACT PAULETTE HIGGINBOTHAM AT paulette@501lifemag.com 501.314.2062
The Daffodil Daze Art Contest is open to all Faulkner County kindergarten through 12th grade students.
“It’s time to invite your students to draw, paint or even photograph the beautiful daffodils that grace us with their presence every spring for the annual Daffodil Daze art contest. I am excited for this contest, to see young artists’ creativity and to celebrate the Daffodil Daze Committee’s beautification efforts on Faulkner County’s parks and trails,” says Daffodil Daze Art Contest Chairman Paulette Higginbotham.
• Entries must be submitted on papers no smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches and no larger than 11 by 17 inches in any art medium, including photos. The subject can be any variety of daffodil flower(s). This can be still life, landscape or narrative in nature. Encourage students to think creatively.
• Entries will be judged in three school divisions: ELEMENTARY (kindergarten through fourth grade), MIDDLE SCHOOL (fifth through eighth grade), and JUNIOR HIGH/HIGH SCHOOL (ninth through 12th grade). FOR MORE INFORMATION
WANT TO SEE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON THESE PAGES??
As the weather warms up, if a big trip is in your plans, bring along a copy of 501 LIFE, snap a photo with your group and send it to us for publication in a future issue! Photos can be submitted by email to info@501lifemag.com.
The Arkansas Chamber Singers were “Loving LIFE” at a rehearsal in Little Rock.
The Natural Slides were “Loving LIFE” when they traveled to La Serena, Chile, with Dr. Justin Cook, the group’s conductor. The students are the top trombone ensemble at the University of Central Arkansas. The sign is the city's most famous landmark. UCA staff member Liz Taylor-McMullen holds the magazine.
Boy Scout Troop 534 members from Conway were “Loving LIFE” when they spent Christmas Day 2024 at the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in Islamorada.
Collin Partney (from left), Kyle Tyiska, Alex Vaught, Robert Sadowski (in back), Greggory Shumaker, Max Yoder, Joshua Hopper and Dakota Woole.
John and Mary Loe from Vilonia were “Loving LIFE” last month when they visited Stockholm Sweden and traveled to the Arctic Circle. The couple enjoyed snowmobiling, dogsledding and the Ice Hotel!
Erick McCarthy and his daughter Cecilia McCarthyGalvan, from Conway, were "Loving LIFE" while skiing at Snow Creek in Weston, Mont. It was her first skiing experience, and her dad had not skied in 25 years!
Youlonda Chappell (from left), Tiphani Ramirez and Pastor Tevin Ramirez were “Loving LIFE” at the 2nd Annual Adult Prom in Morrilton.
A group from St. Joseph Catholic Church Missions Outreach was “Loving LIFE” after a trip to Belize, where they built house #526 in cooperation with Hand in Hand Ministries. Three others from Chicago joined them to build a a 16 by 20 foot house for a family.
Tyler Murray of Morrilton was “Loving LIFE” at his Navy training graduation in Great Lakes, Ill.
Broly James was “Loving LIFE” when he built a snowman in North Little Rock.
Conway County Fair Board members Debby Duffle (from left), Courtney Martin, Morgan Zimmerman, David Duffle, Jennifer Pettry and Robert Pettry were “Loving LIFE” at the Arkansas Fair Managers Association Conference.
The Ghostbusters of Central Arkansas were “Loving LIFE” before the Feb. 8 “Ghostbusters” movie shown at Reynolds Performance Hall with music performed by the Conway Symphony Orchestra. Charles Johnson (from left), Jay Paul, Brandon DeWayne Sims and young Ghostbuster, Davis Gainor.
Madden Keaton (from left), Bruce D. Bear, Miles Keaton and Sugar Bear were "Loving LIFE" at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Off the Clock Event followed by a UCA men’s basketball game in January.
Guests and participants were “Loving LIFE” and making fun memories at the Arkansas Renaissance Festival’s ‘The Viking Thing’ on Feb. 22-23 at Dragonstone Springs in Mount Vernon. They experienced Viking Lore, Axe/Knife Throwing, Warrior Challenge, a Community Ship Burning Memorial, four stages of entertainers, and handcrafted and artisan vendors. TOP: Villsvin the boar troll and Ursa the bog goblin. BOTTOM: Misti and Dennis Malanca.
The cast of “Social Security” was “Loving LIFE” at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock. Heather Dupree (from left), Mark Hanson, Laurie Pascal, Roger Eaves, Paige Reynolds and Jeff Bailey.
City of Conway Parks and Recreation team members were “Loving LIFE” at the ribbon cutting for the opening of the Conway Soccer Complex which features 10 fields, a splash pad, a pavilion, concessions and restrooms. Andrew Thames (from left), Noah Simmons, Trey Price, Skylor Swope and Brian McClain. More than 600 kids are already signed up for the recreational league.
Representatives of The Ride were “Loving LIFE” at their new location at 911 Chestnut in downtown Conway.
THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE AiR
UCA celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Artists in Residence Program
The University of Central Arkansas celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Artist in Residence (AiR) program in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences this year with an immersive program featuring artwork from past residencies. An event is planned for 3:30 p.m. on March 3 at the Baum Gallery and is open to the public.
Meanwhile, the public may visit the Baum Gallery through March 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to experience an interactive labyrinth designed by Jay Stailey and Sue Schroeder; a 3-D mapped video “Imagine If Buildings Could Talk” celebrating the rich history of Little Rock Central High School by Scott Meador and Blake Tyson; “United: The Acorn Project”, a Suffrage Centennial ceramic installation by Liz Smith; and a retrospective exhibit showcasing the past 25 years of the AiR program.
“We are excited to celebrate the many successes of the Artists in Residence program’s last 25 years with the UCA community and others who join us,” said associate dean and program coordinator Gayle Seymour.
“Since its inception, the program, funded by arts fees, has brought hundreds of actors, creative writers, dancers, filmmakers, journalists, musicians, visual artists and others from around the world to campus,” Seymour said. “These artists give public performances, exhibits and studentfocused presentations. Residencies have become an integral and vibrant part of the curriculum, benefiting students across all disciplines. AiR is unique in our state and region.”
Two AiR alums exhibited their work: film producer Tara Sheffer, whose film “A Lien” is nominated for a 2025 Academy Award, and choreographer Sue Schroeder. whose latest work will be seen at the 2025
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 202425, the UCA AiR program is funded by UCA arts fees with additional support from Engage Management and Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing.
FROM TOP: Todd Solondz, filmmaker. Cameron Carpenter, organist. Tiffany Jackson, writer and filmmaker. Werner Herzog, filmmaker and actor. Fabiola Jean-Louis, multimedia artist.
The Interactive Labyrinth Experience by Sue Schroeder and Jay Stailey is displayed in the Baum Gallery on the UCA campus through March 6. The labyrinth is constructed from cans of soup that will be donated to UCA's Bear Essentials Food Pantry. The UCA College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences invites readers to use the QR code on this page to donate and help those with food insecurity.
Schroeder and Stailey were on campus Feb. 17-20 as part of the Artists in Residence program. Schroeder is known for her immersive creations for Berlin’s Martin Gropius Bau Museum, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Varmlands Museum, Karlstad and more. Stailey is an author, storyteller, and certified labyrinth facilitator. He has collaborated to create numerous labyrinths in the greater Houston Area and other temporary and permanent installations in nine countries, across four continents.
COUPLE OF THE MONTH
BECCA AND KAL SWARNA
LITTLE ROCK
Photos by Makenzie Evans
HER STORY:
I’m naturally the type of person who will pour my whole self into what I do. Over the years, I’ve learned to exist within my limitations and find joy in the simple things. Beauty, originality, sincerity and quality are values that I do my best to live out. I love my family fiercely and think they are the coolest people on the planet.
NATIVE OF: Floyd (White County).
CHILDREN: We have three children: Ethan (8), Haven (6) and Harvest (4).
EDUCATION: I have a master’s degree.
EMPLOYMENT: Together, Kal and I started Simplified Hosting, LLC, a short-term rental management company that provides stylish, welcoming places for those visiting Little Rock and the surrounding areas. While we meet clients at any stage of their property’s readiness to host, we love taking on a project that needs renovation and getting to put our creative touch to it. Once the house is all setup, the rest is just icing!
I have one more honest confession about my vocation. I used to work for a church, and even though I felt my soul come uniquely alive when I painted a room or arranged furniture, it never felt as important as my full-time job. Until one day I reread that in the beginning, God created. That I knew. But what did He create? A place for people — to live, to feel safe, to find beauty, companionship and rest. In essence, He created a home! In our work now, that is EXACTLY what I get to do — create a welcoming, temporary home for those traveling to Little Rock. And when I do, I feel the divine pleasure of God. My advice is to find the thing that makes your heart sing and when you have found it, don’t hold back. The world really does need who you were made to be.
SPECIAL INTERESTS: I love to travel, especially with people I love. I’ll look for any “good enough” reason to pack my bags and go exploring! I’m also a big fan of reading, good food and spending time with Kal and our three amazing, energy-packed kids!
CHURCH ACTIVITIES: Our family is a part of St. Andrew’s Church in Little Rock. We love the way they are so committed to authentically living like Jesus through serving one another and the people of this city.
HIS STORY:
I am a passionate husband, fun dad and a constant innovator who thinks out of the box to get better at everything I do. I am very outgoing and friendly and have never met a stranger. My faith in Christ fuels every aspect of my life and work.
NATIVE OF: India
EDUCATION: I have a Bachelor of Arts.
WORK: We own Simplified Hosting, LLC.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU
TO GET INTO RENOVATIONS? I was always intrigued about construction even from a very young age. As a kid, I was constantly curious about how things came together in a building. My firsthand experience with this curiosity was fulfilled when I got to volunteer at a teen missions camp that built churches for rural communities in India. After I moved to the U.S., I started to develop a passion for construction and home renovation. The tools, resources and opportunities that were readily available in this country became the perfect sail for my journey into construction. The abundance of time during COVID-19 brought together the perfect marriage of Becca's gift for design and my passion for construction, and that's how our business was born.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
I am a passionate husband, fun dad and a constant innovator who thinks out of the box to get better at everything I do. I am very outgoing and friendly and have never met a stranger. My faith in Christ fuels every aspect of my life and work.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES: We are members of St. Andrews Anglican church. We love hospitality and supporting missions both locally and globally.
SPECIAL INTERESTS: I like to travel and explore new places, foods, music and culture.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT
LIVING IN THE 501? I wasn't sure what to expect when I came to the U.S. I was nervous about finding my place in this culture and society. After living in Arkansas for more than 12 years, I can say with confidence that there is no better place to live and raise my family. People are genuinely kind and loving, and I have never felt like an outsider.
Continued on page 18
Kal, Ethan, Haven, Harvest and Becca Swarna.
THEIR STORY:
We met in India in 2010 while we were working for nonprofits. In India, young girls ask if your marriage is a “love” or an “arranged” one. We didn’t fall in love (at least at first) but had a very deep peace that God had brought us together. We spent the next year getting to know each other over the internet. We were married in India in 2012 and lived there another 18 months. During that time we lived out of our suitcases and traveled around the country. A heart for hospitality was born and continued to grow over the years. As a family, we are committed to living with open hearts, open hands and open doors.
Working together has its challenges, as does being a cross-cultural couple! Becca has a great eye for seeing what a space can become, while Kal is fantastic at taking an idea and implementing a plan. But there are moments where we have to stop and ask, “OK, who is the decision maker here?”
Sometimes, it’s Becca’s area of expertise; other times, it’s Kal’s. As we commit to hearing each other out, we eventually find the path forward. Respect for each other goes a very long way. So does a genuine apology. But overall, we’ve found that working together is a dream come true. Our work highlights both of our natural and developed skills and when combined, we’re able to create a beautiful space, and then open it up for others to enjoy.
Bingham’s Buono Bistro
Resaturant-style Italian dishes are tastier when made at home
By Chef Don Bingham • Photos by Makenzie Evans
Who doesn't love perusing a cookbook? Admittedly, it is time to purge the hundreds of cookbooks that Nancy and I have — and yet, we are constantly on the lookout for the old, the new, the forgotten, and the cherished recipes from bygone cooks and chefs. While we tend to favor traditional Southern and American cuisines, we are more and more amazed at the diversity of foods available in cookbooks and prepared within blocks of our house!
We can easily dine on Mexican and Tex-Mex, or numerous Chinese and Thai foods, Greek, German, and last, but not least — Italian! Cookbooks are readily available for almost any cultural cuisine you might desire.
On a recent trip to a conference in Dallas, we observed the multitudinous offerings of BBQ, fried chicken, burgers and fries galore, sandwich shops, and of course, Buc-ee’s! For decades, the local grocery stores have offered aisles dedicated to food and ingredients that offer the tastes of Mexico, Asia and Italy.
There are those dishes that make weekly appearances on our dining table — mostly varieties of grilled meats, rice, beans, potatoes, and salads, and one of our favorites will always be pasta. My wife makes a simple marinara sauce that is adaptable for
most Italian dishes that call for a red sauce. Even homemade pizza at our home will find this marinara sauce as the foundation for the Italian wonder — delicious pizza!
The top of the list would have to be an Italian meal with eggplant parmesan and marinara sauce, a salad with homemade vinaigrette, pasta, and crusty bread as one of the featured utensils! The recipes found on the next page are simple, and with just a short amount of prep time, they will make a delicious dinner!
As these recipes are simply seasoned, cooks may want to add extra spices and seasonings of their choice to bring their unique personality to the menu. Some “extra” flavor-adding ingredients that would work well with these recipes are red wine, bay leaves, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic, and/or generous drizzles of olive oil. Isn't it great that when there is no time to cook, Italian cuisine, and more, is just down the street?
What pleasure there is in the variety of cultural dishes available for our home cooking as well as for dining out!
Mangiare e bere bene! (Eat and drink well!)
See Chef Bingham's Italian recipes on page 22
Fr Ied eggplant
w Ith mar Inara sauCe
1 large eggplant
Cold water and salt
Peel eggplants, then cut them into 1/4" to 3/8" thick slices. Place slices in a deep pan, then cover with cold, lightly salted water and store in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to one hour. Drain and pat dry before coating and frying.
In a shallow pan, mix:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 pinch oregano
1 pinch basil
2 whole eggs, beaten
Vegetable oil for frying
Remove eggplant from the refrigerator, drain off the water and pat dry. Dip each slice completely in beaten eggs, then press into breadcrumbs mixture. Coat both sides well. Fry in a deep fryer or in a half inch of vegetable oil, turning at least once, until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce.
Fresh m ar Inara sauCe
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/3 cup red or white wine
4 cups chopped tomatoes
3-4 fresh basil leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat the butter and oil. Add the onions and garlic. Cook 1-2 minutes. Add wine and reduce a bit. Add tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for 30 minutes. Blend to a puree in a blender, food processor or emulsifier.
pasta
Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a boil, add salt, then add the pasta and stir occasionally until it reaches "al dente" texture. Then drain the water and serve with your desired sauce; specific cooking times depend on the pasta type, so consult the package for directions.
Caesar salad
1 head romaine lettuce Italian dressing Croutons
Romaine Lettuce: Wash lettuce 24 hours ahead. Pat leaves dry. Wrap and refrigerate to crisp for serving. To serve: Toss salad until greens are coated with dressing, add croutons, toss lightly. Serve on chilled plates. Serves 6-8.
ItalI an dressIng
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup salad oil
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1 clove garlic, pressed 1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Mix all ingredients except Parmesan cheese in a blender or processor, or by hand, for 15-20 seconds. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, then mix for an additional 10 seconds. Makes 1 1/4 cups.
Croutons
Hot dog buns, ciabatta or sourdough bread
Butter
Olive oil
Parsley or poppy seeds (optional)
Slice and cube one package of hot dog buns, Ciabatta or sourdough bread. Spread cubes on a shallow baking sheet and lightly coat with butter and olive oil. If desired, sprinkle with parsley or poppy seeds. Bake at 300 degrees, brown until golden, dry and crisp. Makes approximately two dozen.
VAnity FUR
Creating a sleek home design while keeping the pets in mind
By Donna Benton • Photos by Makenzie Evans
Let me tell you about Rory and Bentley’s extraordinary doghouse renovation.
As an interior designer, not unlike the postman, I get the unique opportunity to meet lots of dogs on their own turf. It usually goes something like this: Ding-dong … bark, bark, bark … door cracks open. The owner does a little shuffle with their feet to let me in while also keeping the pup from a break-and-run situation. Then the owner tries a leg sweep to take out the pup while the pup jumps and wags and sticks their nose in all the places. Embarrassed, the owner apologizes while I collapse to the floor for puppy kisses because there is nothing better than front-door puppy love. It’s not the most professional and dignified way to meet a client, but hey, it’s not like I’m running for office.
There is just something heartwarming about Rory and Bentley curled up on their dog beds by the fireplace, feeling loyal and dignified. I could design a whole room around that! Designing for dogs takes special consideration, from accessibility concerns to the shed factor. Pro tip: When choosing a flooring color, my first question is always, “What color is your dog?” (Also notice how Rory matches the new leather sofa!) All the upholstered pieces have dog-friendly performance fabrics so the owners can bring those pups in for worry-free Netflix and napping.
Continued on page 26
Bentley oversees the final details made by designer Donna Benton.
Of course, we did a few updates for the humans, too! In the first order of business, we lightened up the red oak hardwood floor with a bleaching process. A new monochromatic paint highlights the texture of the newly paneled walls and adds focus to the fabulous paintings that the homeowners have collected over the years. I pulled out my favorite tricks to give the two-story great room a proper makeover.
Tall rooms have a tendency to look like a halffull drywall box. Here, we added a paneled wall look that draws the eye all the way to the ceiling, and the same panels extend the fireplace to the ceiling, making the great room look … well … great! And all these trim upgrades were very budget-friendly for the huge impact that they make. While the floor space of the room is not all that big, visually the room appears huge, and standard size furniture is just out of place. We scaled up the furniture with an oversized sofa, an 8-footlong TV cabinet, a giant coffee table, and of course the biggest TV we could find for Rory.
We refreshed the kitchen with new paint and cabinet hardware and a new countertop. We kept the gorgeous antique dining table and took it up a notch with some painted dining chairs upholstered in a striking floral print. The study got a total overhaul with a new painted bookshelf and wooden desk, and of course, lots of hunting-dog art and statues.
Overall, this was a very budget-friendly renovation: mostly cosmetic with some hardware and lighting updates and just a few big-ticket items like countertops whenever the impact was worth it. That left enough room in the budget for some great lifetime furniture pieces. Bentley has settled right in, and Rory is working on a new pup-sized indentation in the new leather sofa.
The fine folks at 501 LIFE not only allowed me to share my thoughts on the new design, but on page 30, you’ll hear directly from Rory himself. What the pup says is true – I didn’t actually ask the two of them for input on the new design, but they were definitely not overlooked!
For the great room renovation, the stark, two-story walls were paneled from floor to ceiling to add architectural interest and detail to the room. The tall room is large, so it needed the oversized leather sofa and big coffee table to achieve the right visual scale. Even the eight-foot-long TV console looks modest against this big wall.
The study underwent a complete makeover, with a new built-in bookshelf wall with plenty of storage and workspace and a big wooden desk that anchors the space. Vintage hunting dog prints give a nod to the pups.
The antique dining table was amazing. All it needed was a new set of custom-painted dining chairs, upholstered in a gorgeous floral design. Rugs in the dining room, breakfast area, living area and entry are complementary, creating continuity from one room to the next.
The kitchen got a light overhaul, with fresh paint and new cabinet hardware. The new countertop was a splurge but solidifies the timeless look.
Pawstively Perfect
By: Rory
It’s a dog’s life over here on the front nine at Centennial Valley Golf Course in Conway. My doghouse backs right up to the fairway on the eighth. In the early days, the perpetual parade of ladies and gents whacking their balls from west to east was a downright exasperation. Being a bird dog by vocation and heredity, all those “un-chasable” flying objects aft of the fence taunted one whose sole purpose is to retrieve. Eventually though, moderated by time and repetition, the flying balls became a novel distraction and today the commotion is barely discernible.
The course squirrels, however, can still raise my ire. Technically, my doghouse belongs to my owners, but dogs have a way of claiming ownership that has nothing to do with the laws of man, and I make myself at home wherever I like. I’m Rory, a full-blooded Irish setter and Upland bird hunter by trade, but also a seasoned couch surfer. I’ve been around the block, or the cul-de-sac, I should say. My dog years are starting to add up and my bird hunting days are slowing down. I have a relatively new understudy, Bentley, a Llewellin setter. I’ve been showing Bentley the ropes in the field and also making sure to instill respect for the art of lounging about — work-life balance and all.
This summer, our Owners decided it was time to renovate our doghouse. I was just getting that perfect pup-shaped indentation in my favorite chair when Bentley had to go and chew up some antiques. Next thing I know, Owners are packing stuff in boxes, rolling up the rugs and they even moved my chair where I can’t see the TV! Then, get this: Some strangers with the conspicuous scent of turpentine and sawdust showed up early one morning and started tearing up my house! “Demo day,” Owners called it, like that was a good thing. Bentley went in to get a better whiff of that sawdust aroma, but I had a bit more defensive response, and we were both banished to the backyard.
Bentley and I weren’t even consulted in the design process, although we did get a talking-to about performance fabrics and upholstery. I guess in the end, the doghouse renovation was a good thing. Owners seem happy, which always leads to more pets and cuddles. We got a way bigger TV out of the deal, which is perfecto! I still can’t find my chair, but I hear that Mr. Owner can’t find his either so at least we are mourning in solidarity. Owners have instructed that I should not take ownership of the new furniture or rugs. Can you imagine? Despite that, I’m making myself at home and every so often I will catch a fleeting whiff of the old place and for a moment I reminisce about the good old days.
Pat Larsen, of Conway, earned his master’s in fine arts in painting and taught at the University of Central Arkansas for years.
Cultivating a Legacy
Pat Larsen has turned his life AND his garden into art
By KD Reep • Photos by Makenzie Evans and Stefanie Brazile
Tucked away in the heart of Conway lies a hidden gem: nearly two acres of vibrant daylilies, flourishing flowers and artistic treasures all lovingly tended by retired University of Central Arkansas art professor Pat Larsen. A labor of love cultivated over decades, Larsen’s garden is not only a sanctuary of color and creativity but also a living tribute to his wife, Patricia, who has been the inspiration that shaped his life.
“I was raised around gardening,” Larsen said. He grew up in Port Arthur, Texas, a Gulf Coast town about 90 miles east of Houston. “My parents had a small yard, but they raised daylilies. When I met my wife, she was blown away by what they had done, and that really inspired me. She always loves a beautiful garden.”
That passion not only led to a 56-year marriage but also blossomed into a stunning yard that boasts thousands of daylilies, and some of them are the result of Larsen’s meticulous hybridization efforts. “Hybridization is fascinating,” he said. “You cross-pollinate flowers to create a seed that carries characteristics from different plants, always hoping to discover something new and exciting.” Over the years, his efforts have led to 38 official registrations with the American Daylily Society, and most of them are named for an Arkansas theme or for some of their grandchildren. Larsen said he has had as many as 5,000 daylilies one year and as few as 1,000 in others.
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The garden is more than just rows of daylilies. Hostas, impatiens and Lamium thrive in the shaded areas, offering a cool contrast to the sun-drenched brilliance of his prized daylilies. But flowers aren’t the only form of art flourishing in Larsen’s garden. As a lifelong artist, he has created and incorporated sculptural pieces, stained glass and repurposed objects into the landscape, transforming the space into a living canvas.
“I still paint in my studio, but my garden is an extension of my art,” Larsen said. “Some people refer to it as painting with flowers.” His artistic instincts led him to create and collect unique pieces that dot the landscape, including a welded sculpture salvaged from a fellow UCA professor and an array of found-object installations. “A woman once asked me what my wife’s favorite color was. I told her red. Next thing I knew, she brought over a bicycle wheel with red plates in it,” Larsen recalled with a chuckle. “I still have it today.”
Another creative endeavor he and his wife pursued was publishing a children’s book on raising daylilies. He said his love for his wife motivates him, and he has even created a walking path through the garden for her to stroll and enjoy the flowers.
“My wife is my inspiration for being outside,” Larsen explained. “She enjoys the garden, even though she's not able to physically work in it, and she enjoys being out there so much that I wanted it to look good for her, and it's kind of a family thing.”
Larsen’s garden even has a guardian — a partially completed sculpture he named “Gorgeous George the Garden Guard.” “It wasn’t finished, not even close,” Larsen laughed. “But we put it out there, and now it’s a part of the space.”
His journey to becoming a gardener and artist was an evolution. Born and raised in south Texas, he initially pursued a degree in industrial management at Lamar University. But after marrying Patricia, he found himself drawn to the world of art. “She was teaching, and I loved watching the interaction with students. That’s when I decided to go back to school for art,” he said. He went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in painting, eventually making his way to UCA, where he taught for years before retiring.
Retirement, however, has been anything but idle. Larsen continues to work in his garden daily, caring for his thousands of flowers, selecting hybrids for further cultivation, and finding creative ways to keep the space alive with color and texture. Despite the physical labor involved, he finds joy in every aspect of the process. “Being outside, working with my hands, it’s just what I love to do,” he said. And through it all, his wife remains his guiding light.
For Larsen, his garden is more than a passion project; it is a legacy of love, a tribute to his wife, and a masterpiece ever in bloom. “I’ve always enjoyed things that were beautiful,” he said. “And my wife is my encouragement.”
Pat Larsen has created sculptural pieces with stained glass that transform his gardens into a living canvas.
‘My wife is my inspiration for being outside. She enjoys the garden ... and she enjoys being out there so much that I wanted it to look good for her.’
— Pat Larsen
When you’re ready to invest time and money to improve your home and property, it’s important to turn to local companies that you trust for solutions. In this section, several experts guide you in ways that will improve the beauty, security and functionality of your favorite place — home.
Homestead It’s hip to
Discover all new ways to watch your garden grow.
By Judy Riley
Sometimes what appears to be a great calamity yields great benefits, particularly when knowledgeable and passionate folks are involved. Such was the case for residents in the 501 area during the COVID-19 pandemic, because County Extension Agents Krista Quinn and Mary Beth Groce started helping others in a new way. These two University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture (UADA) Faulkner County agents collaborated to design Zoom sessions entitled "Grow Your Own Groceries” (GYOG). Five years ago, Quinn, who is armed with degrees in horticulture, and Groce, with degrees in Family Consumer Sciences (FCS), decided to take their message directly to people where they were.
Was there interest immediately? Yes, but was there a template already designed for such an endeavor? No, but they would tackle it themselves. Their goal was to
provide virtual horticulture and family and consumer sciences (FCS) education to the public at a time when they needed it most. “With people spending more time at home and grocery supply chain issues growing, there was an increased interest in, and a need for, programs on home gardening, cooking and food preservation,” Quinn said. It boiled down to this: Teach the public how to grow, cook and preserve edible crops right at home.
Quinn and Groce started small with no idea how rapidly interest would grow. The agents publicized their plans, sharing information about logging into the Zoom sessions through their regular clientele lists. They started with a handful of participants, hosting the first sessions during the lunch hour. That handful grew to 1,300 virtual attendees, not only from across the state, but from several states, and even some people from other countries.
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The Faulkner County Master Gardeners Teaching Garden has opportunities for the public to learn about gardening and ask questions in person. March workdays are from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. each Saturday at 1305 E. Siebenmorgan Rd., Conway, at the former site of Freyaldenhoven’s Greenhouse. There will also be workdays at the same time on April 5 and 26, and on April 12 an Arkansas Children’s Week Event is planned.
Visit your county’s Master Gardeners’ online presence to learn about similar opportunities this spring.
“It grew at lightning speed,” Groce said. Each “Grow Your Own Garden” presentation features a different crop or gardening topic. An agriculture presenter and an FCS presenter are generally paired for each session. “Whatever vegetable is featured, Krista takes the front-end information, including variety selection, planting, growing and harvesting, and I take the back end, discussing nutrient content, proper cooking techniques and preserving methods.”
The Zoom sessions begin with a discussion of planting techniques, plant care and even pest control followed by hands-on demonstrations. Those include cooking procedures for the food, even steps in freezing or canning the additional product. They walk the virtual audience through the process from planting a seed or plant, to harvesting the produce and using it in recipes. The presentations are designed for home gardeners with an emphasis on container gardens and small plots, showing viewers that a small space can produce an abundance of groceries.
When COVID-19 restrictions were lowered and people began to attend classes in person, the duo settled on GYOG programs once a month. Quinn has remained the host, but other resource specialists are called on to present topics on their relative expertise.
The original live Zoom format remains. Programs are promoted on a GYOG webpage uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/vegetables/growgroceries-presentations.aspx. All participants, whether accessing upcoming or previous sessions, must preregister through the GYOG portal. Each will receive a followup email with a link to watch the recording. Copies of any publications and/or recipes shared in each program are included.
Another outgrowth of the pandemic was an interest in living selfsufficiently, referred to as homesteading. Families are increasingly interested in producing and preserving their own food, and even producing their own textiles, clothing, crafts and basic supplies for household use. That gave rise to another statewide offering called “Homesteading.” Quinn and Groce offer in-person classes as well as web resources. GYOG has become an integral part. Homesteading events can be found at uaex.uada.edu/life-skillswellness/homesteading/default.aspx.
“The GYOG series has become an excellent tool for demonstrating the breadth of extension work and our impact across the state. By including presenters from all parts of the state, attendees have learned that we have knowledgeable agriculture and FCS personnel in every county. We’ve introduced attendees to many different extension programs, including the Master Gardener program, 4-H school gardens, plant breeding research, produce safety, soil health, food safety and preservation, cooking and nutrition,” Quinn said.
The results are impressive. As with all UADA efforts, evaluating success is important. The numbers tell the story: thousands reached who might otherwise never be able to go to an extension office much less attend several in-person meetings. Untold numbers are growing their own groceries, cooking them in new and different ways, even adding essential nutrients to their diet, all at lower cost. “Even after the pandemic, I feel like many people are still gardening, a welcome break from all the technology we deal with daily. It is hands-on and stimulates the senses. It’s also good exercise for those of us who sit a lot at work. And it is productive. We can feel good about providing fresh produce for our family,” Quinn said.
What began as their answer to helping Faulkner County residents during the pandemic has grown into a statewide program. Anyone anywhere can access this and other programs provided by UADA. As with many virtual programs, the reach continues to expand. Two people, right here in the 501, with complementary skill sets saw an opportunity, acted and we all benefit.
NATURAL GAS... THE NATURAL CHOICE
Sustainable ways to save energy and money
By Jose Laboy, Manager of Conservation Improvement Programs for Summit Utilities
1. Why should I install high-efficiency natural gas appliances in my home?
Installing high-efficiency natural gas appliances in your home can help lower energy use, reduce your carbon footprint, and even extend the lifespan of your appliances. They are designed to use less natural gas while still delivering the performance you need. Features like variable-speed fans adjust to provide the right amount of heat, keeping you comfortable during cold months while using energy more efficiently.
2. What are some tips that can help make my home more comfortable and save energy?
To improve home comfort and save energy, start by sealing gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping or insulation. This helps keep warm air inside and cold air out during winter. Installing a smart thermostat is another great step because it automatically adjusts temperature settings based on your schedule, lowering energy use when you’re away and ensuring a warm home when you return
3. What can I do if I have a high natural gas bill?
Participating in Summit’s energy efficiency programs is a good first step to reducing your natural gas bill. If you need help managing payments, call our customer service team at 800.992.7552 to discuss payment plans and assistance options. Visit summitutilities.com/winter for more details.
4. What type of rebate programs does Summit Utilities currently offer?
Summit offers rebates on energy-efficient natural gas appliances, including water heaters, furnaces and thermostats. To save even more, customers can receive free water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators. Learn more about available rebates at summitutilities.com/rebates.
FIRST HOME HELP
The grant that assists with down payments and closing costs.
By Kendyl Lopez, Mortgage Loan Originator for Centennial Mortgage
1. What is the FHLB HELP Grant for first-time home buyers?
The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) offers a grant through its Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) program to assist income-qualified individuals and families with down payments and closing costs.
2. What to know when it comes to getting this grant?
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas starts accepting applications for the grant in January. Funds are available until they have been exhausted or until December 31, 2025, whichever comes first.
3. What can these funds be used for in the mortgage process? These funds can be used for down payment and closing costs.
4. Is this something that you have to pay back in the future? You are not required to pay back the grant if you occupy the home for at least 5 years.
5. Are there any other requirements for the grant? You must contribute $500 of your funds toward the required down payment or closing costs. Some household income requirements vary from county to county, such as being at or below 80 percent of the area median income as defined by HUD. You must also complete a homebuyer counseling program.
6. What is the first step?
Give me a call at 501.328.4633. I'm here to guide you through the process from start to finish. I can help first-time home buyers apply for a grant to assist with down payments and closing costs.
A GIFT FOR REGISTRY
Expert tips for your special occasion
By Cara Porcelli, Bridal and Gift Registry Manager at Tipton & Hurst
1. When and why did Tipton & Hurst create a bridal and gift registry?
Tipton & Hurst carried an assortment of fine china, silver and crystal decades ago, but discontinued them to focus on floral, plants and gifts. When Shepherd’s in Pine Bluff was acquired, the company reinvested in tabletop. Today, we offer the largest bridal and gift registry in the state, and we are thrilled to announce an enhanced collection of products at our Conway location including Herend which has produced handmade and handpainted porcelain pieces in Hungary since 1826.
2. How does the registry process work?
It’s best to call and make an appointment. A registry consultant will work to understand your goals and style preferences and provide options. Fiancés and mothers are welcome! Our team will create an online registry through our user-friendly software. Clients can make changes or additions from home and it’s easy for friends and relatives to make purchases.
3. What tabletop lines does Tipton & Hurst carry?
I recommend visiting tiptonhurst.com to see our selections. We proudly offer popular lines like Juliska, Vietri and Costa Nova, Herend, Anna Weatherly and Ginori 1735. We have a vast collection of linens, cute and elegant dinnerware and popular serving pieces like Beatriz Ball. We carry, exclusively in Arkansas, Simon Pearce and William Yeoward.
4. Do you have any favorites?
I have so many favorites which change from time to time. I recommend our registrants sign up for items they love. Getting married is the perfect time to pick out favorites so your friends and relatives can celebrate you! We would love to help.
Ann O’Neal Carroll registered for china at Tipton & Hurst in the Heights.. She chose the Herend golden elegance pattern for her dinner and bread and butter plates and the Herend Princess Victoria Green dessert and soup plates.
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER
When you surround it with quality fencing
By Jay Counts, Owner of Legacy Fencing, Inc.
In the past, fences were primarily considered for security or privacy reasons. As we like to joke in the fencing business, most of our actual customers are pets. Nowadays, fences elevate the attractiveness and value of property, reduce noise, and create a sense of seclusion and a peaceful atmosphere.
1. What is the first thing a homeowner should consider when building a fence?
It is important to invest in a high-quality fence built by experienced installers. The type of material chosen will determine if it adds a touch of elegance or rustic charm to the property. Materials offered are wood, ornamental steel, railing and chain-link materials. Entry gates are also popular.
2. Can a fence increase a home’s value?
A fence can increase the home’s value either financially, decoratively or by adding peace of mind. Having your property secured is a financial benefit to not only the owner but also to insurance companies.
3. What are the most popular materials that privacy fences are made of?
We try to help each customer figure out the best fence material for them based on their reason for wanting one. With longevity in mind, we try to help figure out what is the best fit and most cost-effective, long-term solution for them.
4. Do fences protect young children while they play?
A lot of the time, you just need a safe place for your child to play in a controlled environment. When you put up a fence, your child’s play area grows exponentially, and the best part is that it’s outdoors.
5. What are the most popular materials that privacy fences are made of?
The most common privacy fence would be constructed of wood. At Legacy Fencing, we provide the best materials available by
only purchasing No. 1 graded lumber from the local mill. We also have red pine shipped in from the North. This makes our lumber the least likely to warp on the market. Wood is a natural fiber, and we can’t ever make that chance zero, like you would get out of a vinyl privacy fence, but we cut that down greatly by only installing the best materials available.
6. In the past, most fences were vertical, but now you see horizontal styles and even interwoven wood. Why are they more artistic or decorative than in the past? Because people didn’t typically see the fence as something that could add décor to the property. Now you see a lot of horizontal and basketweave fencing which can add an amazing flare to the landscape.
7. How long will a typical fence last before repairs are needed?
It comes down to how well it is installed. We pride ourselves in having the most knowledgeable and experienced installers who care about what they put up. Most wood fences, with the right materials and care, can last for several decades. Staining is a huge part of that. Keeping wood sealed so the wood fibers don’t have a chance to rapidly change lowers the chance of warped boards exponentially.
8. What are the benefits of hiring a professional fence company?
We are familiar with the permits that are required in different areas. Legacy Fencing gives free estimates, hires expert installers and assigns one salesperson to carry the client through the project from start to completion.
501 LIFE SAVERS
Protect your home with Paschal
By Jake Winchell, Director of Sales and Marketing for Paschal Air, Plumbing and Electric
1. What is a whole-home generator, and why is it important for Central Arkansas homeowners?
A whole-home generator is a standby power system designed to automatically kick in during an outage, keeping an entire house — from essential appliances to critical systems — operational without interruption. When severe storms and unexpected outages occur, having a reliable power source is not just a luxury, but a safeguard for your family's comfort and security.
2. What would you say to an Arkansas homeowner who is still on the fence about investing in a whole-home generator?
It's not just about keeping the lights on — the generator will protect your family, preserve your home's functionality and secure peace of mind during unpredictable events. With Paschal's unmatched local expertise, a commitment to quality, and a process that is entirely managed by our team, you're making a decision that ensures reliability and personalized service for years to come. Choosing Paschal means choosing a hassle-free, expertly managed experience that puts your home's safety and convenience first.
3. What does this installation process look like?
The process begins with a detailed consultation where our experts assess your home’s energy needs. We then design a
customized plan that addresses both current demands as well as future growth, all while keeping your budget in mind. We handle all permitting and regulatory requirements, ensuring that every aspect meets local standards. Our in-house, trained technicians use only the best equipment and practices during installation and keep you informed every step of the way.
4. What specific benefits do homeowners enjoy when choosing a Paschal whole-home generator?
The key benefits include uninterrupted power; increased property value and market appeal; customized service from an in-house team that will handle every detail and offer personalized recommendations to meet your family's specific needs; and local expertise by a company based in Arkansas that understands the weather and regulatory landscape. Paschal has provided quality HVAC, plumbing and electrical services for over 50 years.
A Paschal-licensed Electrician provides startup service for a newly installed whole-home generator.
Retreat Rock in the
By Stefanie Brazile • Photos by Makenzie Evans
Just beyond a field of horses, the Retreat at the Olive Grove sits nestled into the woods on the edge of Little Rock. Boasting 4,200 square feet, it sleeps 12 and offers sweeping views of seven acres from large windows and decks around the home.
The three-story house with five bedrooms, four full baths, a great room with a fireplace, library, and a den was purchased two years ago by Kal and Becca Swarna, our March “Couple of the Month” (meet them on page 16). During the pandemic, they decided to combine her gift for design with his passion for construction, and that's how their business, Simplified Hosting, was born.
“We love exploring the freedom to get away from a cookie-cutter style to create something original,” Becca said. “Now, when I walk into a new room or home, I immediately begin thinking about what it could be — how we can work with its current features and
bring in new elements and furnishings to make it a truly stand-out space.”
What Becca thought would be a three-month renovation grew into one year because of unexpected challenges, including Kal falling through a rotten deck board and injuring himself, and because they chose to slow down and do the future vacation rental justice. The first concern started with a front door that seemed out-ofplace and was not welcoming to guests, given that the door opened into something of a mudroom. The Swarnas removed the existing front door and replaced it with 8-foot French doors, so it feels like a true entrance. Being mindful that their guests may arrive well after dark, they added lighting and lamps throughout the house to warm the space. “When someone enters this home, or my residence, I want them to breathe a sigh of relief. Light is one thing that makes an area feel more inviting,” Becca said.
Once inside the home, which features 20-foot-tall ceilings, they removed some walls but left others to create separate spaces where people can retreat for some downtime. One tip that Becca follows in every room is to choose one item as the inspiration piece and to match the décor to it. “For this specific home,” Becca added, “the entire renovation was inspired by the beauty and sustaining qualities — even the color — of the olive tree.”
Knowing the home would be rented by large groups, they were mindful of the appliances needed in the kitchen. They installed a FiveStar stove with six gas burners, a griddle, a grill, and dual fuel ovens. The outdoor view was made accessible to the cook with the addition of a huge window over the sink. They chose SherwinWilliams’ Greek Villa paint for the walls to balance the modern look with a warm, inviting shade.
In the primary bedroom, the back side of the living room fireplace was enhanced with a modern Ambe corner fireplace. Then, they added comfortable seating and luxe bedding. “I’ve always had a thing for color and texture. If something looked soft, I had to walk over and touch it to feel how soft it really was,” Becca said. “When we lived in India, we spent a lot of time sourcing fabric, down to the craftsmen who carved the blocks used to print designs on the fabric.”
In looking at their budget, one of the biggest splurges on the home was bamboo flooring throughout. “We wanted something super durable and timeless looking,” Becca said.
Another investment was gutting the primary bath, adding dramatic tile and making an entire wall a huge double shower. “It started out as a 60-inch shower, but when we struggled to work in a cabinet build that felt right for the rest of the wall, we finally thought, ‘Why not go even bigger?’ Thankfully, you can find a 98 inch glass shower door online, so we didn’t have to order something custom! When I first pitched the shiny black herringbone tile pattern for the back wall to my husband, I knew it was a risk,” Becca said. “There’s
a good reason tile pros charge a lot more for this kind of work! But Kal didn’t shy away from it. He measured and laid the entire pattern out in the living room and then measured some more and began. It was a labor of love, but the look is pure perfection.”
Because the wall tile is a mixed white, which is more neutral, they felt the freedom to go bold with the floor tile. All tiles were purchased from Bedrosians.
Moving outside to the seven acres, which is partially wooded, the couple focused on developing attractive outdoor seating areas, which add to a home’s value. At the Retreat at Olive Grove, new decking and several balconies beckon guests to step outside. A fire pit and patio lights encourage them to remain outside after the sun sets.
“My mom loves to build fire pits, but I didn’t realize how cheap and doable it was,” Becca said. “You can buy a kit [to build] or an assembled fire pit, but I bought the brick edgers for around $120 and assembled it in about an hour. We added small river rock around it, and at some point, we’ll upgrade to large landscaping rocks to elevate the area.”
Whether you are refreshing one room, creating an outdoor seating area or renovating an entire home, she encourages you to choose a focal point in each room, add lighting, let the room speak to you when choosing paint colors and allow the space to reflect your personality. Also, save a bit of the budget for unexpected things. “Then, add pops of color like mustard yellow, navy blues, and my current favorite green — Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams.”
Kal and Becca have merged their talents and abilities to bring new life to older spaces. Whether you’re looking for a place to visit or want your home to give you a sigh of relief when you walk in the door, follow her tips to create your own retreat.
To learn more about this and other properties around the 501, visit heretostayrentals.com.
Take a tour of the Retreat on pages 54 & 55
GROWING TOGETHER
Hendrix program shows an entire odyssey can begin with a single seed
The Hendrix College Odyssey Program is all about engaged learning: finding out more about something that brings out your natural curiosity and seeing where it leads. One Hendrix College duo has found so much meaning in their project that they have continued helping with it after earning their credit.
Juniors Adia Stone and Kailey Thurman were inspired to take over the Odyssey project “Growing Happiness Through Gardening with Low-Income Older Adults,” which had been supervised by Noura Musallam, a 2022 graduate who was a senior running the project when the two were first-year students. The project was initiated by Dr. Anne Goldberg and Dr. Jennifer Peszka with funding from UAMS, inspired by their work with residents of Blue Zones around the world. Dozens of Hendrix students have received Service to the World Odyssey credit through the program over the last four years.
“We know that this program has had a positive impact on both seniors in our local community and on Hendrix students. I’ve been especially impressed with Adia and Kailey as they have moved from being participants to taking responsibility for every aspect
of the program – from recruiting to meeting with the managers of senior living communities,” Goldberg said.
“It began with a grant from the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative as a way to combat loneliness in senior living facilities,” Thurman said. “The idea is to pair up a Hendrix student with a resident at a senior living facility. Through weekly meetings, the pair get to know one another and start planting a garden. They start planting seeds indoors and move them outside later in the spring. The outdoor garden beds are raised so that they are more accessible to people with mobility issues.”
The students mention initial challenges they faced when filling the silence between their gardening tasks. When initially planting the seeds and then transporting them outdoors, they found that there was lots of time to talk about things outside of gardening. As more time went on, connecting with their “buddies” became a larger focus of the project. Often, they found they had more in common with the older adults than they thought and were able to facilitate meaningful communication.
“I feel that gardening breaks down the barriers between us,” Stone said. “I will never forget helping my buddy freshman year, who was mostly blind and deaf, plant his first seeds in the spring. We learned how to communicate with each other over the next few months, and by the end of the project, I was able to help him move his hand over the soil and feel his ‘pretty flowers’ he had been excited about for months. We planted bright yellow marigolds so he could appreciate his work with what little vision he had left. The older adults we worked with had a lot of wisdom to share, so gardening together felt like we got just as much out of the experience as they did.”
Both Stone and Thurman believe that the relationships started during this project flourish right alongside the garden as it is planted and grows throughout the year.
“Older adults are just that, older adults. Once you turn a certain age you don’t suddenly begin to like stereotypical older adult things,” Thurman said. “People enjoy the things that they enjoyed whenever they were young, though it may be more difficult for them to do those things now. I discovered that I enjoy many of the same hobbies that my buddy enjoys.”
Toward the end of the project, participants have a final planting and reflection on the work done throughout the year.
“The last spring planting day where we get to move our seedlings outdoors before we leave for the summer always melts my heart, and then I feel like I need to do the project again and again,” Stone said.
Hendrix College juniors Kaiah Johnson (from left) and Kailey Thurman plant seeds with older adults. The project began to fulfill credit requirements, and they have continued meeting because it is meaningful and fun.
By Lori Dunn • Photos by Makenzie Evans
Nickalas Page of Searcy is a typical teen who enjoys being outdoors and doesn’t mind getting a little dirt on his hands. One of his main hobbies, however, is one he shares with older generations. Now 14, he has been an avid gardener since he was 10.
“It sort of started with my mom; she would grow flowers. And my neighbor Pat, a really nice lady, always had gardens. She gave me some books about it,” Nickalas said.
He started his first garden in the backyard of the home that he shares with his parents, Amber and Damon Page, and older brother, Damon Jr. The first thing Nickalas ever planted was tomatoes. “I would start from seeds, a damp paper towel and a Ziplock bag. I would let them germinate and then let them spread,” Nickalas said.
Tomato seeds usually germinate in five to 10 days, but the exact time depends on the temperature and the age of the seeds. Tomato seeds also need warmth, moisture and darkness. The best time to start tomato plants from seeds is about six to eight weeks before they are planted.
Many adults began gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic when they found themselves at home with more time on their hands. Nickalas also discovered gardening during the pandemic. “It was something to help get in touch with nature, something to look forward to,” he said. He said gardening helped break up the daily routine of virtual school.
Since that first garden, Nickalas has planted sweet peppers and jalapeños, watermelons and even pumpkins. He enjoys working with his plants but realizes gardens have practical benefits also. The food is healthy, and it helps save money. You don’t have to buy vegetables when you can grow your own. Nickalas usually has enough tomatoes for the family to eat and also has enough for his grandparents. He wants to plant a larger garden this year. “I have been reading up on it and learning things over the winter,” he said.
Both sets of grandparents have influenced his hobby. He even borrows a tiller from his grandfather. “I have everything I need for my garden at home except a tiller,” he said. His grandpa is happy to help out.
Spring is just around the corner. Nickalas advises to wait about a week before the official start of the season to till the garden. “It’s best to let the ground settle some after you till it. You don’t want the ground to be too fine or too hard,” he said.
One of the hardest things Nickalas has grown has been jalapeños. “It’s been really hot in the summers recently, and they need a lot of water,” he said. A typical watering schedule usually depends on a lot of factors. “It kind of depends on what you are growing. For the most part, I water every other day. You can water too much and they get waterlogged.”
The eighth-grader’s favorite subject at Ahlf Junior High School is science, and that goes hand-in-hand with gardening. Someday, he would like to combine those two interests. “I like space and I would like to research how plants do in space,” he said.
His mother said she was surprised at first that a young boy would be interested in gardening. But her son’s green thumb has been very helpful when it comes to her own plants and flowers. “I have a black thumb,” she laughed. “So now if I get a plant, I can guarantee that Nickalas will keep it alive.”
He plans to keep gardening, and the sky’s the limit on what he will grow in the future. He might even have plants in space someday. When he’s not working on his garden, Nickalas enjoys playing video games with his friends and is interested in robotics. Gardening may be a little different than what other kids his age do, but his friends know it’s just part of who he is. “It’s just a thing I do,” he said.
By Donna Lampkin Stephens
Nickalas and his older brother Damon had wanted a bearded dragon for some time, but their mother, Amber Page, said no.
Then circumstances changed her mind.
“I’ve always been interested in bearded dragons, but my mom always thought they were dangerous or aggressive,” said Nickalas, an eighthgrader at Ahlf Junior High in Searcy. “Then she found out about a lady who couldn’t take care of one and was giving him away for free with tank and all. Mom did some research and learned they were pretty nice.”
Armed with that knowledge, Amber relented. “Touching him was scary because they look so poisonous,” she remembered. “But the moment I held him, he nestled into me, and I fell in love. Any anxiety about him went away. He’s been my best friend ever since.”
Gilly, now 7, joined the family two years ago. Harper, 1, is the Pages’ new dragon. “My mom wanted a baby one,” Nickalas said. “She went down to The Fish Bowl in Searcy, and one little one ran up the glass looking at her. When they got her out, she immediately crawls up to my mom and lays on her. So she got her.”
The two dragons have their own tanks in the family’s living room. Gilly doesn’t seem to care about Harper, but she has a strong reaction to him. “Harper does not like him,” Nickalas said. “When he’s near, she puffs up her beard. Gilly wants to walk up to her to see her, but she’s scared of him.”
The two don’t mind the family’s dogs, but the feeling isn’t mutual. “The dogs are terrified of them,” Nickalas said. “They’ll run off when they come around. The dragons try to get on top of them.”
He has learned the details of caring for the exotic pets. For example, babies like Harper need 70 percent of their diet to be protein — Dubia roaches and super worms — with 30 percent greens, such as cabbage, mustard and turnip greens. For adults like Gilly, the ratio is reversed.
While the dragons live in their tanks, they also get plenty of time with their people in the house. “Gilly loves to sit on our chests,” Nickalas said. “He nestles up and falls asleep. Harper will run around the entire house. Gilly likes to go on top of couches, but Harper will follow you around the house.”
Surprisingly, at least to this reporter, Nickalas said bearded dragons love to cuddle. “You wouldn’t expect that with their spines, but Gilly will nestle up to your neck where it’s warm and fall asleep,” he said. “Harper loves to get in nooks and crannies, like right next to your leg. She loves to hide and sleep.”
He and his mother agreed the cuddling makes bearded dragons good emotional support animals.
“For some reason, it just takes anxiety away,” Amber said.
Nickalas Page has fun recreating his pet Harper's photo where she where she strutted her stuff with a flower on her head.
GROWING FOR GOOD
Arkansas Department of Agriculture celebrates winners of Farm to School contest
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proclaimed October 2024 as Arkansas Farm to School Month and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture celebrated by announcing the winners of the Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School in Pulaski County.
“School gardens provide hands-on learning, teach kids where food comes from, and encourage healthy eating,” said Jessica Chapman, the Farm to School and early childhood education program coordinator for the Department. “They serve as outdoor classrooms for science, nutrition, and agriculture while fostering teamwork and responsibility. Gardening helps students build a deeper connection to food, farming, and their community.”
The winning schools located in Central Arkansas are:
Best Overall School Garden: Conway High School (Conway –Faulkner County), a $1,000 award.
Best Education-Based School Garden: The honor was shared by Ellen Smith Elementary School (in Conway – Faulkner County), a $500 award, and Shirley Elementary School (in Shirley – Van Buren County), a $500 award.
Best Harvest Partnership School Garden: The honor was shared by Maumelle High School (Maumelle – Pulaski County), a
$500 award, and Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School (Jacksonville), a $500 award.
Best Community Collaboration School Garden: Ward Central Elementary School (Ward – Lonoke County), a $500 award, and a school in northeast Arkansas.
School gardens are integral to farm-to-school efforts, providing hands-on learning opportunities focused on agriculture and nutrition. There are currently 354 school gardens across the state. “Farm-to-school initiatives offer access to fresh food and connect students statewide to agriculture through gardens, educational programs, and local food procurement,” Chapman said.
The contest was initiated by the Department and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas in 2014 to reward existing efforts and to encourage the implementation of school gardens across the state. The Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas generously provides the funding for the contest.
“Since 2014, this contest has recognized and supported school gardens across the state,” Chapman said. “It helps schools start or expand gardens, purchase supplies, and integrate garden-based learning into education. By engaging thousands of students, the contest promotes agriculture, nutrition and healthier eating habits.”
Secretary Wes Ward (from left), Arkansas Department of Agriculture; Dr. Sarper Turker, superintendent at Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools (ALCS); Vonysha Goodwin, board member at ALCS; Dr. Richard Moss, board chairman at ALCS; Dr. Amanda McWhirt, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture; LaShawnDa Noel, CEO at ALCS; and Secretary Jacob Oliva, Arkansas Department of Education.
Farm Credit hopes to ensure that the next generation has green thumbs. “As a proud partner of the Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest, the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are committed to supporting agricultural education and sustainability initiatives across our state,” said Greg Cole, president and CEO of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services. “These programs not only teach students the importance of agriculture in their daily lives but also cultivate a deeper connection to the land and their communities. At Farm Credit, we believe in fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders and stewards of the land, ensuring that agriculture continues to thrive for years to come.”
The contest was open to public and private K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities, and alternative learning environments. Applicants must have a school garden, or plans to start one in the following school year, to be considered for the contest. Applications are judged on the presence of clear goals, effective integration of school gardens into the classroom curriculum, active community involvement, plans for utilizing harvested produce, and long-term maintenance strategies for the gardens.
“We are thankful for this partnership with Farm Credit,” Chapman said. “Details for the next contest are still being finalized, but updates will be posted at agriculture. arkansas.gov. We encourage schools to apply and continue growing opportunities for students through gardening!” Chapman said.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture, forestry, and natural resources conservation to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while sustaining natural resources and ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation.
Griffin Golleher (from left), AgHeritage Farm Credit Services; Amanda Krell, Maumelle High School; and Secretary Wes Ward, Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Griffin Golleher (from left), Leslee Tell, Conway High School; Ryan Raup, Ellen Smith Elementary School; and Secretary Wes Ward,
Extraordinary EXTRACURRICULARS
By Jessica Duff
For families new to Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD), registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open on March 10. Beyond advanced academics and competitive athletics, PCSSD offers many extracurricular opportunities for its students. These clubs and activities allow students to make their mark through developing a hobby, honing a skill or trying something new. Across the Maumelle feeder, there are a wide variety of extracurricular activities and clubs, and each school has different opportunities for its students based on the interests of students and staff.
At Maumelle Middle, teacher librarian Traci Matthews and sixth-grade English language arts teacher Rebecca Kirtland co-sponsor a Book Club for interested students. Students meet every other Tuesday to discuss books of their choice, make crafts and work on puzzles. Matthews has high hopes for her students’ time in the club. “I hope they learn about different genres that may be new to them, I hope they make new friends,
and most importantly, I hope they feel welcomed and know they are always in a safe environment in the library,” she said.
Dylan Thompson, an advanced placement world history teacher at Maumelle High, sponsors the school’s Quiz Bowl team. In Quiz Bowl, students compete in teams against students from other schools to answer academic-focused trivia questions as fast as possible. Question subjects include math, literature, science, history, sports, the arts and more. Thompson shared what makes Quiz Bowl a great opportunity for students. “Quiz Bowl is important for students because many of our extracurricular competitions are athletic in nature, and not all of our students are athletes,” he said. “I think Quiz Bowl helps normalize this and gives another group of students an outlet for their competitive natures. It is also another place for students to truly be themselves. Kids get to express themselves, and I think that is amazing.”
The Technology Student Association (TSA) at Maumelle High allows students to compete in more than 50 competitions, lead as chapter, state and national officers and serve their local communities through service projects. Club adviser Sherri Keesee, engineering teacher and Career and Technical Education Department chair, shares the value of extracurricular options like TSA. “TSA allows students to apply what they've learned in class to a novel project that they have interest in, which often leads to them doing their own research and learning, giving them a leg up in their chosen career fields,” she said. Students develop projects in fields like architectural design, board game design and technology problem solving.
A group of TSA students is currently working on a unique community service project to help a foster dog who was hit by a car and no longer has the use of her back legs. Weighing in at only 3 pounds 2 ounces, doggy wheelchairs on the market are too heavy for her to maneuver. To help, these students are designing and printing a 3D model doggy wheelchair.
PCSSD is proud to offer a number of unique extracurricular activities and clubs for students across the feeder. You can find a full list of extracurricular opportunities on each school's website.
About PCSSD
Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in Central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 26 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.
PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.
ROTARY AND THE READERS
Conway Noon Rotary learns about important children’s literacy program
At a recent Conway Noon Rotary Club meeting, Kathy French of AR Kids Read shared the organization's goal to help struggling students reach their grade-level reading benchmarks. Currently, 64 percent of students in Arkansas are reading below grade level, highlighting the urgent need for early intervention and literacy support, according to Sarah Shaw, president of Conway Noon Rotary.
AR Kids Read ensures young learners have access to high-quality books, engaging literacy programs, tutoring, and the support needed to build strong reading skills. The nonprofit partners with the Faulkner County Library on a summer program called AKR @ the Library. It is designed to prevent the "summer slide" which often occurs when school is out. AR Kids Read also offers this program at other libraries in central Arkansas.
Last year the program was held at the main Faulkner County Library, and this summer it is expanding to serve students at the Mayflower branch. Children will participate in group classes led by a certified teacher and intern, engaging in interactive lessons and practicing foundational literacy skills. "By working with schools, libraries, and local organizations like Rotary, AR Kids Read empowers young readers and gives them academic confidence for lifelong success," Shaw said.
Learn more at arkidsread.org.
TOP: Conway Noon Rotary Program Chair Jennifer Boyett (from left) and Executive Director of AR Kids Read Kathy French.
BOTTOM: Volunteers spent time with children during the Faulkner County Library AKR program last summer.
CONWAY CORP TO INVEST $75 MILLION IN WATER PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
By Beth Jimmerson
For more than 95 years, Conway Corp has operated the city-owned utility system and now provides electric, water, wastewater, video, internet, voice and security services for the Conway community.
We are dedicated to exceeding our customers' expectations in producing and delivering safe, affordable, reliable, innovative and environmentally sound utility and telecommunication services, while enhancing the quality of life in our community. Part of our mission is ensuring a clean, safe and reliable water supply for the 70,000 residents who rely on us daily.
Our employees are on the job 24/7/365, managing the many steps involved in collecting, cleaning and delivering water to you, our neighbors. Here is just some of what’s involved in managing our system.
COLLECTION
Conway’s primary source of water is Brewer Lake, a 28,900 acrefeet lake located near Plumerville. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the lake in 1983 by damming Cypress Creek. Operation and maintenance of the lake was turned over to Conway Corp later that year.
We have on-site employees who oversee the operation of the lake, and our crews focus on helping the watershed stay healthy by looking at timber management and stabilization of the lake banks. We recently planted more than 3,000 bald cypress trees around the lake banks to help protect the lake and maintain a high quality of water for our community.
We have Cadron Creek as a backup water source, and we also have an agreement with Central Arkansas Water to collect water from Greers Ferry Lake in case of a water shortage due to severe drought conditions or emergencies.
TREATMENT
Water from Brewer Lake is treated at the Roger Q. Mills Water Treatment Plant to purify the water before it’s delivered to our customers. Filters remove debris and particles, and disinfectant is added to protect against any bacteria, viruses or other microbes that might remain. The treatment plant can treat more than 24 million gallons of water daily for the community.
Our teams also follow drinking water regulations established by state and federal health officials designed to stop waterborne pathogens from contaminating drinking water, including a virus like COVID-19. We conduct multiple daily tests to ensure the water we send to your home or business is safe. In addition to the daily tests,
we gather bacteriological samples that the Arkansas Department of Health tests each month.
Recently, we entered into an agreement with the UCA College of Natural Science and Mathematics for continued testing for the natural constituents in water that impact taste and odor. The Biology Department is taking a leadership role in providing undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to be a part of water quality monitoring tests. This proactive testing will help us better understand taste and odor issues from natural algal activity in the lake and is in addition to our regular daily tests.
DISTRIBUTION
Our water distribution system has more than 400 miles of pipe buried underground. That’s enough pipe to stretch from Conway to the Gulf of Mexico if laid end-to-end. Our system also boasts approximately 7,000 valves, 2,500 hydrants and more than 25,000 meters. Our crews work 24/7/365 repairing and upgrading infrastructure to ensure a seamless distribution.
FUTURE NEEDS
A major part of our mission is to ensure that the large, complex system that treats and delivers clean drinking water is ready for future challenges and growth. We expect to invest $75 million in projects over the next five years that will maintain, repair, protect and upgrade our water system to better prepare for the future.
These projects include expanding the current water treatment plant, constructing a second raw water line from Brewer Lake to Conway and planning for an additional water source – all of which will boost our water system's resilience, reliability and sustainability now and in the future.
We’re dedicated to providing an excellent water product at the lowest possible cost to our customers. From the lake to the water quality lab to your faucet, we’re at work every day delivering a safe, reliable water supply for the residents of Conway. You can drink, wash and cook comfortably knowing we have a 30-year plan to prepare for Conway’s future water needs so our community has ample water for years to come.
A culinary and compassionate legend is leaving the 501
By Rita Halter Thomas • Photos by Najeé Fletcher
He who lives well, and leaves a positive lasting impression on everyone he encounters, has truly lived. That may not be an ancient proverb, but restaurant owner and chef Kangloong Wong has left his own lasting impression on the Conway community. After 32 years in Conway, he will move home to Malaysia in mid-March.
This two-booth restaurant, specializing in take-home orders, is located on the north end of a gas station on the corner of Prince Street and Morningside Drive. Entering the Oriental Kitchen, mouthwatering aromas hint at the amazing flavors to come. However, food isn’t the only reason it’s a favorite stop for Chinese takeout. It’s not even the ambiance. Nope. It’s Wong. He takes time to befriend his customers. Once friends, they soon become family to Wong.
“He’s so personable,” said Mike Hughes, a frequent patron. “He remembers your name, how you like [your food] cooked, and he just has an amazing memory. He’s so kind, always giving you extra. And he’s always smiling,” Hughes said.
It's more than Wong recognizing the faces of his patrons or learning their names. It’s more than remembering their favorite entrée, or that they want white sauce instead of brown on their almond chicken.
“Wong has such empathy and love for all humankind. We’re all different races and ethnicities, and cultures, and he doesn’t see any of that. Our world needs more [people] like that, especially right now,” said Carla Gilbreath, a customer of Wong’s for many years.
“That’s just the way I was raised. Be kind to people no matter our differences,” Wong said.
Five minutes with Wong and one feels wrapped in the warmfuzzy blanket of his personality, drawn in by his smile, lifted by his laughter, and engaged in captivating conversation. Warm, compassionate, genuine and generous are just a few words some have used to describe him. He’s even been referred to as “Uncle Wong” in comments on the restaurant’s social media page.
Continued on page 72
After 32 years, Wong says it’s time to return home and spend time with his dad. “I only have one Daddy and he needs me,” he said of his 82-year-old father. “And I need him. He’s my hero. It’s my time to be there for him.”
Wong was 27 when his mom passed in 2000, losing her battle with brain cancer. “It was hard, but what choice do you have but to go on?” he said. Wise words, and a positive perspective.
Praising his parents, Wong expressed his gratitude for their blessing, support and the financial provision that afforded him the opportunity to come to the United States in 1993 to attend the University of Central Arkansas. “I had good parents. I love my parents. They were so good to me,” he said, patting his heart.
After graduating from UCA in 1996, Wong began working at China Town restaurant under Joseph Young. “I loved working with him. We get along good. Never a fight. He was my mentor, and like a father to me,” Wong said. In 2018, Young retired and sold the restaurant to Wong. Two short years later, the pandemic hit, negatively impacting business. In July 2020, after the lingering effects of COVID-19 put Wong in the hospital, he made the hard choice to close the restaurant. He eventually sold it in November 2020 and bought the Oriental Kitchen from his friend Diane Lee and her husband Dereck, owners from 1985-1999. Now a new, younger chef from Fort Smith will try to fill Wong’s shoes, in the kitchen anyway.
Many will miss Wong’s enthusiastic greetings, or those moments when he comes to the window to personally hand over an order, pausing briefly to chat despite the demands of rush hour takeout. Some will miss his encouraging touch on the shoulder, or the way he places his hand over his heart when he speaks about things or people particularly dear to him. Others will miss those endearing hugs and the way he calls out as they exit, “I love you. Be safe. I pray for you!”
While someone else may twirl the tongs or rock the wok at Oriental Kitchen, it’s Wong’s genuine love of people that has left a lasting impression on this community. Perhaps we can aspire to his example and share the same kindness he has so freely given, Wong’s way.
LEFT:
My kids and grandkids grew up knowing Uncle Wong. He is like family. We are sad he is leaving but happy he is able to fulfill his dream of experiencing America and then returning home to take care of his aging dad.”
– Melinda Chisum
RIGHT:
“I’m so sad. Our dear “Uncle” is leaving us to go back home and take care of his father. I went for my last trip [to Oriental Kitchen] and I’m not ashamed to say that it was like saying goodbye to a dear friend that my gluttonous heart will miss.”
– Chef Blogger
Ben Has Too Much Time on his Hands.
EMPOWERED TO SERVE
Community
volunteer receives highest award from AARP Arkansas
AARP Arkansas presented their 25th Andrus Award in front of a full house during a luncheon honoring volunteerism on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The annual event allows the organization to recognize community members and AARP Arkansas volunteers who embody the principles of AARP founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus.
Karen Walker, a well-known public speaker, community volunteer and advocate for people 50 years and older, received the 2024 Andrus Award for Community Service. She was nominated for her work with Arkansas Aging Wiser.
“Karen has shown remarkable courage in advocating for the needs and rights of seniors,” read the nomination application for AARP’s highest volunteer honor. “She often addresses sensitive and challenging topics, such as financial stability, health management, and legal rights, with a fearless determination to ensure seniors receive the support they deserve.”
Other Andrus Award finalists include nominees Joe Kirby of Ozark Mission Project, Joan Diehl of Age-Friendly Little Rock and Tonya
Bell of the City of Sherwood.
AARP Arkansas also gave out their Distinguished Service Award to an AARP Arkansas volunteer who has contributed significant time to the organization and taken on leadership responsibilities during the year. Phyllis Peters, Hub 7 (Arkansas Delta region) leader, was selected as the winner by a panel of her peers.
Additional Distinguished Service Award nominees include AARP Arkansas Speakers Bureau Chair Sally Fittsizer, Volunteer Portal Champion Rita Qualls, Hub 2 Co-Lead Lisa Jones, and Brenda Jackson, an AARP Arkansas volunteer.
“Broadway” Joe Booker of Cumulus Radio served as the event emcee, and Pamela Smith, communications director of the Little Rock School District, gave the keynote presentation. State Director Ashley McBride shared an overview of the State Office’s 2024 accomplishments and its 2025 plans. Attendees enjoyed a reception, live music and a beautiful program at The Venue at Oakdale.
WE INSURE CONWAY!
Ashley McBride (from left), state director; Joe Kirby, volunteer for Ozark Mission Project; 2024 Andrus Award winner Karen Walker, nominated by Arkansas Aging Wiser; Joan Diehl, co-chair of Age-Friendly Little Rock; Tonya Bell, with the city of Sherwood. Photo by Marcus Eubanks.
AUTHOR OF THE MONTH
SUSAN POLK VAN DUSEN
By Susan L. Peterson • Photos by Makenzie Evans
The children’s picture book “What’s so Special About a Tree?” was written by Susan Polk Van Dusen. What makes this book special is the story behind this father/daughter collaborative work. The book's illustrations feature original art by Van Dusen’s father, the late John S. Polk.
Since its publication in March of 2024, the book has been wellreceived. “Together, the poetry and artistry of ‘What's so Special About a Tree’ create a harmonious narrative that resonates with readers of all ages,” commented one online reviewer.
Van Dusen grew up an only child in Hot Springs, where her father was a U.S. history and geography teacher. After retiring from teaching, he took a second career as a United Methodist minister. He always enjoyed drawing and painting as a hobby, and when he retired, he became more serious about his work, taking classes and workshops. After becoming homebound with pulmonary fibrosis, he spent his days painting until he passed in 2020. He loved doing themes of landscapes, portraits, westerns, animals and still lifes, all of which fell to his daughter following her mother’s death in 2023.
Even as a child, Van Dusen loved books and writing. She earned her degree in communication arts at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Soon after graduating, she and her husband relocated to Little Rock to be closer to family. She excelled in her career, serving as a writer and editor for Arkansas Business Publishing Group, producing and editing numerous publications, then directing communications for the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. She earned a master’s degree in professional and technical writing and a graduate certificate in online writing instruction from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, where she also taught online business writing and public relations courses. Early in her career, one of her dreams was to write a children’s book. When her two daughters were young, she gave it a go by writing “Noah Zark,” a story about a boy and his many pets. But none of the publishers she contacted showed interest. When the book resurfaced while doing a deep cleaning following COVID-19,
she took a second look at it and decided it was worth trying to selfpublish.
She chose Scott Mattson of Conway to illustrate the book. Van Dusen had attended high school with Mattson and knew he was an artist. The final editing, illustrating and exacting detail work that self-publishing required was much more involved than she first imagined. She was thrilled with the results, but it was a timeconsuming process, taking more than a year.
While working on publishing “Noah Zark,” Van Dusen inherited more than 400 pieces of her father’s work. She tackled the daunting project of photographing, cataloging and creating a web page. His extensive portfolio inspired her, and one day while looking at his illustrations of trees, she described them using a simple rhyme scheme. The words came quickly and effortlessly.
From there, “What’s So Special About a Tree?” was born. Written for ages 3-7, the book introduces children to the beauty of original art, which many kids may not have the chance to experience firsthand, and honors her father’s artistic talent.
“Noah Zark,” the theme of which is compromise and friendship, finally was published in September 2024 and has received numerous positive reviews.
Van Dusen now works part-time doing freelance work and proofreading. As the owner of Van Dusen Books, she plans to use her father’s work as illustrations in future books, calling it the Art and Verse picture book series. Coming out this month is “Our Friend the Cowboy: A Wild West Hero.” She aims to “bring joy to children and the grownups who love them.”
In her spare time, she and her husband, Tim, enjoy traveling, and she is an avid yoga practitioner. They live in Sherwood with their dog, a dachshund named Bones.
Her books are available in hardcover, paperback and digital formats at VanDusenBooks.com. Her father’s work may be viewed at PolkFineArt.Pixels.com.
ALONZO CLAYTON
By David Grimes
Alonzo “Lonnie” Clayton may no longer be a household name, but way back in 1892, he gained national acclaim at the age of 15 when he became the youngest jockey to ever win the Kentucky Derby.
Clayton was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) in 2012 as part of the 54th class, along with Raymond Bright, Margaret Downing, Bob Ford, Harry Jones, Pat Jones, Bill Keedy, Elmer “B” Lindsey, Lee Mayberry, U.S. Reed, Terry Wallace and the 1994 University of Arkansas NCAA national championship basketball team.
I have served on the ASHOF Board of Directors for more than two decades, along with quite a few very knowledgeable sports people. Since 1959, the ASHOF has enshrined several hundred inductees and keeps lists and information on hundreds of other worthy potential honorees. However, Clayton was nowhere on our radar.
That changed when some folks from North Little Rock brought him to our attention in 2011. After learning more about his story, he was an easy selection.
Clayton was born in 1876. Many records from that far back are often scarce and incomplete. Some accounts say he was born in Mississippi, while others claim he was born in Kansas City, Mo. His family moved to North Little Rock when he was 10 years old. His father was a carpenter, and his mother stayed at home to care for their nine children. Clayton attended school and worked as a shoeshine boy and ran errands for a hotel.
At the age of 12, he left home, some reports say he ran away, to join his older brother in Chicago to learn how to be a jockey at the Washington Park Race Track. He started out as a stable hand and an exercise rider, but in just a couple of years, he was riding as a jockey. His first victory came in 1890.
In those days, thoroughbred racing was one of the top sports in America, and the epicenter was the East Coast. It was there that Clayton would establish himself as one of the best jockeys of the decade. At the age of 14, he raced in New York City at Morris Park and in the Jerome Stakes, where he recorded his first win in a major race. On May 11, 1892, Clayton won the 18th running of the Kentucky Derby aboard Azra. Only 15 years of age, he is still the youngest jockey to ever win “The Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs. He and Azra continued their winning ways that year, taking first place at the Clark Handicap and the Travers Stakes.
Clayton almost went back-to-back at the Kentucky Derby, finishing second in 1893. He also finished in the money
twice more, coming in third in 1895 and second in 1897. His most successful year was 1895 when he won 144 races and finished in the money 60 percent of the time. In 1896, he finished third in the Preakness Stakes aboard Intermission.
Throughout Clayton’s remarkable career, he won other major races, including the Champagne Stakes and the Jerome Handicap in 1891, the Monmouth Handicap in 1893, the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 and 1895, the Saratoga Stakes in 1895, the St. Louis Derby in 1897 and the California Derby in 1898.
He also won the Arkansas Derby in 1895. The Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs did not run their first race until 1905, but thoroughbred racing was happening in various parts of Arkansas long before that. The now-defunct Arkansas Jockey Club operated a racetrack in Little Rock at Clinton Park in the latter part of the 19th century. In 1895, Clayton won their version of the Arkansas Derby aboard Laureate.
As the decade ended, his career began to decline. By the start of the 20th century, opportunities for AfricanAmerican riders like Clayton vanished as stable owners switched to using White jockeys only. He attempted to continue his career, racing in smaller venues in Tennessee and Montana, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Clayton’s early successes had afforded him the opportunity to purchase property in Little Rock and build a home, and he retired there in 1904. He lived out his last few years in California, where he worked as a hotel bellhop. He died in 1917 at the age of 41 of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.
TOP RIGHT PHOTO: During the 1880s, a tiny suburb north of Oakland, California, called Emeryville, emerged as a tourist attraction. A decade before, two large parks had opened, one of which was a horse racing track. According to an article by Donald Hausler on emeryvillehistorical.org, Oakland Trotting Park featured a one-mile racetrack that stabled over 300 horses.
From 1890 to 1910, Hausler reported that the horse racetrack became the largest employer of Blacks in early Emeryville, with the 1910 census identifying approximately 40 people who worked in the following capacities: stablemen (6), grooms (20), horse trainers (3), cooks (5), and jockeys (4). Racetrack workers lived in dormitories located on the grounds. The decades from 1890 to 1911 is considered the golden age of Emeryville's Black jockeys.
Greenbrier is a family-oriented community with more than 5,700 residents. Located a few miles north of Conway, our fast-growing community is known for its top-ranked school district and many quality businesses. Housing developments are growing, welcoming new people to this safe and supportive community.
We are home to many businesses, stores, boutiques and antique shops that draw shoppers from across the state. We are home to Lake Bennett at Woolly Hollow State Park as well as Matthews Park. which offers 55 acres of fun for visitors and residents. Several youth sports leagues provide kids the chance to learn teamwork and good sportsmanship and build their athleticism.
Visit Greenbrier this spring to meet our friendly business owners, who stand behind their products and services. Mark your calendar for several exciting events this spring, including the Miss Greenbrier Pageant on March 15, Art Jam at Matthews Park on April 26, and Junk and Drive on 65 on May 9 and 10.
SHOP, DINE AND PLAY IN GREENBRIER
the home of my Yesterdays
Every corner of our house takes me on a stroll down memory lane
By Vivian Lawson Hogue
As a ten-year-old, I was sitting on our oak piano bench, practicing for my next piano lesson. My piano teacher, Clela Kane, lived across the street in the former 1895, 2-½-story white brick house once owned by Col. George Washington Bruce. I tried to play loudly in case she could sense my diligence. I was playing “The Spinning Wheel,” knowing I was surely her protégée.
The glass front door of our 1910 home in Conway was open, allowing the scent of rain to waft into the house through the screen door. Focusing on the sheet music, I was suddenly jarred to consciousness by thunder and lightning. I turned to look out the screen door, and my eyes met a thin, jagged ribbon of lightning that had come through the door, wiggled over to the piano and began passing in front of my face. I then watched it head for the window curtain, climbing to the top where it fortunately fizzled out. Grabbing an old shape-note hymnal, I began flipping pages until I got to “Standing in the Need of Prayer.”
When comparing old homes to new ones, there is no comparison. If you want a bit of history, then an older home is where you want to be. As our old homes are being torn down to build new ones, there are some neglected, such as the old but beautiful and historic Ruben Robins house on Locust Avenue. How many other homes do you know with an entire exterior of stucco? Other homes are modernized out of their vintage appearance, which prevents inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
When my parents purchased our home in 1946, our streets were concrete except side streets, which were most often gravel and dirt topped with oil to lessen dust. Now and then, especially if heavily traveled, those streets were closed down to have oil reapplied. I always enjoyed the scent of gasoline and oil, so I sat on the porch steps and watched. I’m not sure what those scents did to my breathing functions, but in everyone’s ignorance at the time, it was not a concern.
At full-service gas stations, of which we had thirty-one, men would come out and clean car windows, check tire pressures and fill gas tanks. I would hang my head out of our car window to sniff fumes, and my mother’s long arm
Let’s
of HER law would swivel around, grab my pigtails and pull me back in.
After several S&H Green Stamps per purchase, she would get a free dish or piece of silverware. My job was to lick the stamps and put them in a booklet. The same was true of Gold Bond stamps earned at one of our 28 grocery stores. In the 1950s, my mother bought a lot of oatmeal for cooked cereal dressed up with butter and milk. She occasionally bought Shredded Wheat, Cheerios, Grape Nuts, Wheaties and Corn Flakes. No sugar-coating, no dyes.
A gallon of milk was every bit of 50 cents, as were a dozen eggs. Bread topped out at sixteen cents, bacon at sixty cents and ten pounds of sugar at ninety cents. The Korean War ended in 1953, and grocery and other prices zoomed by a penny or two the next couple of years. By that time, a 3-bedroom house was about $8200, a Ford auto was between $1500 and $2400, gasoline was 22 cents a gallon, and postage stamps were 3 cents. The same dollar spent in that year would currently be $11.45 if allowing for inflation. That’s why we called them the “good ol’ days!” Most people still “made do or did without,” something we might find helpful today.
My kitchen is comfortable and I have some wonderful appliances, although not the fanciest. My food steamer and egg steamer are probably the most used. I still use a toaster my mother was gifted in 1954. The dishwasher and mixer are over 30 years old. I won’t mention brand names, but we’ve rarely had a repairman out to attend to the washer and dryer. My German-made vacuum cleaner is nice, but I keep my still-working 1960 Swedish-made Electrolux canister vacuum for when the “nice” one is in the shop.
I’m privileged to remember when my mother had a mint green, 1940s cook stove with four legs that came with the house. We know it replaced a wood-burning cookstove. We had a large Dearborn heater in the living room, where previously a wood-burning stove had stood. Every Sunday morning I lay on Mother’s braided rug in front of the heater and read local news and cartoons from the large, local Log Cabin Democrat.
agree that poet Oliver Wendell Holmes was right.
“Where we love is home –home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
PROUDLY PRESENTS
PERSON OF THE MONTH
COLE SCHAEFERS
Photo by Makenzie Evans
HOMETOWN: I have lived in Conway for 29 years.
FAMILY: Katie and I have been married for six years and we have three children: Charlotte, Clyde and Annie, who is 7 months old.
EDUCATION: I am a 2014 graduate of St. Joseph School and I earned a degree in finance from the University of Central Arkansas.
CAREER: I am the New Construction Manager for Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling. I have worked for the company for eight years.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: When I started at Freyaldenhoven, I started at the very bottom. Over the past eight years, I have worked my way into the position I am in now and it just goes to show that hard work and dedication pay off.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: We are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Clyde and Charlotte attend St. Joseph Preschool and School.
HOBBIES: I like spending time with the family, golfing, keeping up with all things St. Louis Cardinals and anything Arkansas-sports related. I also like spending time on my cattle farm where I run a small beef cattle operation. My grandfather started the family farm in 1970 in the Lollie Bottoms and I was raised working on it. I had the opportunity to learn from my grandfather, dad and uncle how it was to be successful and the day-to-day work it took to accomplish that goal in the agriculture sector. It is where I learned my core values of “accountability, honesty, compassion, dependability, respect, determination and leadership.” I apply these values in everyday life to be successful and accomplish the goals I set in place for myself and my family.
WHY DO YOU LOVE LIVING IN CENTRAL
ARKANSAS:
Conway is the place where I was born and raised and met my beautiful wife, and now we have the opportunity to raise our kids in a growing, loving community. One of the things I love about Conway is that it has the feeling of a small town with all the largetown amenities. The friendships and relationships I have built through networking over the years truly show how it is a special town and will always be near to my heart.
“Freyaldenhoven has had longstanding ties with the Central Arkansas community and surrounding areas since 1970. I was taught that our customers are the No. 1 priority and to always provide excellent service. John and Scott Freyaldenhoven and Matt Lea have taught me about leadership, and their wisdom spreads from the top to the bottom of the company. Our motto is ‘Quality is our specialty,’ and all of us hold that standard high so we can best meet the needs of our customers. Our core values and integrity are what truly make us who we are as a business.”
