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Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley OCTOBER 2017
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WELCOME TO THE NEW RSD WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP
Russellville School District is pleased to present our new website and mobile app to our parents, students and community. Features include • a new modern website for each school with a responsive design, which means our website looks great on your computer, tablet, or phone; • a LiveFeed: take a look into your child’s classroom with photos and announcements; • school events that you can add to your personal calendar; • athletic scores and driving directions to events; • and MUCH MORE! Check out our new website by clicking on “EXPLORE RSD” and download the mobile app today!
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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OCTOBER 2017 EDITION
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Pg8 ABOUT THIS MONTH’S COVER This month’s cover was created by Sara Daily as she and managing editor Johnny Carrol Sain collaborated on a story about an interesting character and an interesting relationship with a pumpkin. Thanks to model Aaron Janus for his stand in as Jack.
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8 Jack
What is it that makes me nervous you ask? It’s just this pumpkin. I bought it yesterday from some roadside stand along Highway 64. There was something about the stand that called to me.
14 Taming the beast 16 A life sculpted by art
Vibrant oil paintings decorate the interior of the Lemley House Art Guild, one of the many art studios in the historic downtown district of Russellville. Within these canvas covered walls Sara Cole Daily found her “safe haven.”
26 Authentically appetizing 32 A taste of the Old World
You don’t have to travel abroad to find a taste of European cuisine. A trip down state Highway 186 in Altus wine country will lead you to the family-owned Wiederkehr Restaurant.
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
36 Días de los Muertos 42 Connected to a web 44 Oh deer
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A PAGE FROM
The Editor’s Notebook
Prosaic yet poetic October
October is the month of cliche. Leaves, pumpkins, jackets, trick or treat, football — it’s tough to find a creative and unique angle on anything that has to do with 31 days draped in so much of the cozy, creepy, and familiar. So we choose to embrace it. In this year’s version, we’ve again tapped a local artist for a cover and illustrations to accompany a story that would be tough to photograph. Huge thanks to Sara Daily for her work. Photography editor Liz Chrisman and I knew we’d found our artist for October 2017 during the summer Art Walk when all four of our eyeballs were independently drawn to two of Sara’s pieces on display. I mean our eyeballs were drawn to the art in pairs, of course. Both of Liz’s eyes together and both of my eyes together. Our eyeballs don’t operate independently, like a chameleon’s… that would be super creepy… and it gives me an idea… but I digress. The story itself is an attempted modest homage to one of the darkest writers in the American canon. He was a man haunted by lost loves and dreary outcomes. He wrote eloquently about the eerie, about the thin veil between life and the other side, and the faintest border between sanity and madness. He wrote about the startled ear of night and foreboding omens. And as I tried my best emulate his work in a somewhat softer version of one of his classics, I discovered that crafting a story as some sort of tribute to legend is hard, and it’s almost impossible for it to not come off as derivative. But I reckon that by it’s very nature, it is. Anyway, we hope you enjoy it, and I surely hope you recognize where the inspiration came from. Besides the cover story, we’ve got an in-depth look at Sara, who has been a creative in one form or another since her first memories with painting as only the latest. Inside you’ll also find other obligatory Halloween/autumn/Días de los Muertos stuff as we eagerly await the cooler temps, the campfires, the candy corn and all the other same old, same old we celebrate every year. And you’ll receive no apologies for it. Johnny Carrol Sain, Editor johnny@aboutrvmag.com
Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley since 2006 A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. XII, Issue 9 – October 2017
DIANNE EDWARDS | founding editor JOHNNY CARROL SAIN | managing editor johnny@aboutrvmag.com LIZ CHRISMAN | photography editor lizchrismanphoto@gmail.com BENITA DREW | advertising benita@aboutrvmag.com CHRISTINE SAIN | advertising christine@aboutrvmag.com MIKE QUAIN | creative content producer mike@aboutrvmag.com MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS | freelance meredith@aboutrvmag.com JILL MCSHEEHY | freelance jill@aboutrvmag.com SARAH CHENAULT | freelance sarah@aboutrvmag.com LYDIA ZIMMERMAN | columnist lydia@aboutrvmag.com CHRIS ZIMMERMAN | layout/design chris@aboutrvmag.com CLIFF THOMAS | illustrator maddsigntist@aboutrvmag.com
ABOUT… the River Valley is locally owned and published for distribution by direct mail and targeted delivery to those interested in the Arkansas River Valley. Material contained in this issue may not be copied or reproduced without written consent. Inquiries may be made by calling (479) 219-5031. Office: 220 East 4th Street Email: info@aboutrvmag.com Postmaster: Please send address changes to: One14 Productions 220 East 4th Street Russellville, AR 72801
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS: OCTOBER 2017 October 3-5 — National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the Society of Wilderness Stewardship, in partnership with AIM for Wilderness Stewardship, Arkansas Tech University, the Buffalo National River, and the US Forest Service presents the National Wilderness Workshop at Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville. The workshop will offer sessions in wilderness science, stewardship and volunteer engagement, wilderness performance scoring, traditional tool training and competencies, wilderness character monitoring strategies, fire management, prescribed fire, and trails.Visit http://wildernessalliance.org for more information. October 6 — Sunset Cinema at Lake Dardanelle State Park: Hocus Pocus. Sunset Cinema is an outdoor movie theater which operates on the lawn of the Lake Dardanelle Visitor’s Center. The cost is $1 per person, children under 12 are free. These family-friendly events brought over 1000 attendees last year. The fall feature film is Hocus Pocus. The movie will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. Activities will take place prior to starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information contact 968-2530. October 14 — The Renaissance - Front Street Restoration Group from 4-7 p.m. This event is $5 per person, which allows for “tasting” at each table. This is an opportunity for the businesses and organizations in our community to showcase who they are and what services they offer. There is no charge for the business or organization to set-up a table. The only requirement is that the business provides
some type of refreshment at your table. For more information, or to sign up for the BBQ cookoff, artwalk, or for a booth space contact 886-0817, 477-0349 or 229-3567. Or email angiesims@centrytel.net. October 15 — Owl Prowl at Petit Jean State Park from 6:30 7:15 p.m. Meet Park Interpreter Matt at the amphitheater to discover more about the nocturnal birds of prey that make Petit Jean State Park their home. Before the evening is over, we will invite a few owls to come in for a visit. Please bring a flashlight and wear closetoed shoes. Admission is free. For more information contact (501) 727-5441. October 19 – Ross-Pendergraft Library at ATU at 7 p.m. Dr. Stanley Lombardo presents a reading from WWI and America: Told by the Americans Who Lived It. October 26 — Pink Out Volleyball Game 6 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum. The Zeta Tau Alpha sorority will be hosting the Pink Out Volleyball game along with the Athletic Department at Arkansas Tech University. The volleyball game will be held in Tucker Coliseum. All donations received will go toward the non-profit Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation for Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. The first 200 students to enter the game will receive a free t-shirt. October 28 — Autumn in Arkansas at Lake Dardanelle State Park. Come celebrate the changing seasons as we explore what makes this time of year special. There will be programs and activities throughout the day. Admission is free. For more information contact 967-5516.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 *Unless otherwise indicated, all area codes are 479. To have your event included in the ABOUT Calendar of Events, email: editor@aboutrvmag.com or fax to (479) 219-5031. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.
October 28 — Downtown Fall Fest & Chili Cook-off in Downtown Russellville. A day-long celebration harkens back to the “good ole days” when carnivals set up on the streets of Downtown Russellville. Start the day off right by joining us in the morning for our breakfast buffet presented by the Knights of Columbus from 7-11 a.m. Throughout the day, you’ll enjoy more great food with from our vendors, chili cookoff samples and pie & cake contest entries. Other annual events include the “Tour de Pumpkin” bike ride, a 5k race & 1 mile fun run, car and truck show, arts and crafts, exhibit booths, children’s costume contest, games and live entertainment. Admission is free. For more information contact 967-1437. October 31 — Happy Halloween!
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Jack
hat is it that makes me nervous you ask? It’s just this pumpkin. I bought it yesterday from some roadside stand along Highway 64. There was something about the stand that called to me. In fact, I heard a voice plain as day tell me to stop as a black and white banner stretched above the old pickup flapped in the breeze. Weirdly, the farmer knew my name even before I introduced myself. “Why hello, Jack,” he said as bony elongated fingers extended toward my hand. I hesitated reciprocation in puzzlement, certain we had not previously been introduced. He was incredibly gaunt with stabbing coal-black eyes. Shoulder-length silver strands spilled from under an enormous straw hat. A buzzard nose extended beyond the brim. I said I couldn’t recall ever meeting before, but he said that didn’t matter. He said all that mattered was that I was here to buy a pumpkin and I’d chosen the right farmer to buy it from. A dozen or so orange orbs rested on the rusted tailgate of what was once a black pickup. And then I heard my name again in the brisk October air. I turned toward the farmer. “Beg your pardon?” I asked. His response was only silence and one raised brow, so after a brief exchange of eye contact I set once more to choosing a pumpkin. They were all identical even down to cuts from the vine. The neat slices were peculiar and still oozing pumpkin sap. But one stood out with a hideous bluish-gray spot like an eye in shape and placement, adorning its shell. My blood ran cold as the eye that was not an eye seemed to peer through me, yet, I could not look away. It was like the dull eye of a vulture scanning the horizon for death. The sinister implications both frightened and intrigued me. I must have it if perhaps only to destroy it. A quick shiver quaked through me as I gave the farmer money. With a courteous nod toward him, I stride to the car carrying the pumpkin by the neatly severed and still dripping stump that once connected it to earth. >>
Story by JOHNNY SAIN | Artwork by SARA DAILY
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At home, I place the pumpkin on the porch. The terrible eye I face toward the wall. It’s gaze had tormented me all the way home, leering at me from the passenger seat. As I walk through the front door, the thoughts of cutting it out caused a jolt of giddiness to surge through my body escaping with an involuntary chortle. Smiling, I rummaged through kitchen drawers and found the heavy-bladed butcher knife and whetstone. The hiss of cold steel on rock was relaxing. But now I hear a gentle tapping… or more like a rhythmic thumping from the front porch. Thump thump… thump thump… thump thump… I pause and listen with earnest Thump thump… thump thump… A finger of dread traces a line up my spine. Cautiously, with knife in hand, I return to the porch and am met by the piercing focus of the pumpkin’s eye! But how? A red rage courses through my soul but it quickly subsides into chilling unease. I must rid myself of this dread — I would carve the pumpkin immediately! My first tentative stab barely pierced its hide. But my next attempt — oh, it’s an impressive thrust — slices through the husk with vigor! I set upon the poor pumpkin with abandon, sawing through and pulling free its crown, exposing its innards to the brisk fall air! Piles of pumpkin guts are everywhere. The seeds and fleshy, slimy filaments inside a pumpkin strewn hither and yon, from the front steps to the front door. I’ve been working on it for while, elbow deep in excavation, and it feels like I’m getting nowhere. The heap looks bigger than what could fit inside the pumpkin, and yet, there’s still more inside. I spin the pumpkin on its axis and pause, grinning at the cloudy eye, my hands buried in the cold fibrous strings and hay-colored seeds, savoring the soon-coming moment when I would hack the gray oval into oblivion. But first, I shall scrape the hull. Turning the eye again toward the porch wall, I rise and stride back to the kitchen for a table spoon when from the porch came the soft sounds of movement. Thump thump… thump thump… thump thump… I rush back to the porch with spoon in hand to find the eye, again, trained on me! How could this be! Where was the devilish trickster taking joy in my distress? “Who is there? Show yourself,” I yelp. A sighing breeze and clattering oak leaves are the only response. The situation grows more vexing by the second, my nervousness rising with the racing thoughts. Turning my attention once more to the pumpkin, I feverishly scrape the remnants of life from its interior, rendering it nothing more than a husk. Then focusing my ire on the terrible eye, plunging the blade into it over and over before carving my own ocular openings, a nose and mouth! Shadows lengthen and velvet twilight envelopes the fading day as I finish. My tension dissipates with the light as the stupid expression — made by my hand — adorning the pumpkin urges a deep guttural chuckle. The chunk of pumpkin eye, its gray gaze unsetting even now, I cut into slivers then toss to the compost pile. The eye would haunt me no more. Hours later, the dim glow of candlelight shimmers in the thick blackness of a moonless night as I peer the front door glass. The pumpkin, illuminated by a waxy blaze within, sits on the porch in silent vigil of the steps. I sigh with contentment and turn toward the kitchen for late night refreshments when a soft thudding stops me mid-step. >>
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Whirling to the door, anxiety clutching at my throat, I frantically scan the porch through the pane. Nothing moves save the flicker of lighted wick. But something is different… something is askew, though, I cannot determine for the life of me what it is. Perhaps it is simply my nightly worriment, my gently creeping angst as the clock ticks onward toward the depths of darkness. Perhaps it is best if I go to bed and try to sleep. All shall be well in the glorious light of dawn. I turn. Thump thump… I wheel to the glass once more and find that the pumpkin’s face so carefully carved by my hands is gone and the dull cesious eye leering at me yet again! Its pupil the yellow fire of a candle flame and that same fire dancing in the hollowed cavern of the pumpkin’s corpse casts ghastly shadows on the wall and pillars of my porch! I scream and run to retrieve the knife freshly cleaned after my first mutilations of the pumpkin that were now gone as if the pumpkin was never touched by hands! Back to the threshold, I fling open the heavy wooden door and it’s screened mate making hurried strides toward the pumpkin with raised knife and grim determination in my heart. The pumpkin’s soul is reduced to a tapering blackened smolder as I set upon it with fury, plunging the blade into it’s cold and fearsome eye! How did it reassemble? Did the pumpkin regenerate? Surely some person did this! Who stood out there in the chill October night snickering at my foolishness? “Coward, show yourself!” I screech into the moaning breeze over and over. But no answer comes forth. No instigator emerges from the gloom. Satisfied with only cutting out the eye, I replace the pumpkin to its post and return to the lighted warmth of my living room with a relaxing beverage. Slowly, the anxiety drains from my vessels and the weight of drowse pulls heavy on my lids when that soft yet heavy trepidation causing sound resonates in my ears. Thump thump… thump thump… Dare I look through the glass again? Dare I check the pumpkin? Dare I? But I must, and so I do, and from the stairs the pumpkin’s eye stares at me yet again! Terror clutches my intestines in a clammy grip! Gasping through my shock, I hyperventilate! I turn away from the door and anger replaces fear! Brandishing the knife, I step with boldness onto the porch and call out for my tormenters again! “Do you dare attempt to frighten me!” I roar into the night. I roam through the yard calling aloud for my antagonist. My search carries me onto the street and throughout the neighborhood. I knock on every door. Porch lights flick on and I stand, knife at the ready, howling for the guilty to come forth. “I know it was you!” Fearful darting eyes watch me from every window, but I don’t care! This will end now! The flashing of blue lights jars me back to some semblance of sanity. I ask the officers what is going on as they attach handcuffs and lead me to the car. And then, from the corner of my eye, I catch a shadowed globular form, it’s orange dulled in the darkness, but glowing with an evil dull glimmer I catch the reflecting light of something sinister focused on that blue-gray spot. As I plead with the officers, the eye looks through me in stoic silence. It peers through to my soul. And then, as I try to calm myself in the backseat, I hear a dull metallic thump from the car’s roof. Thump thump… THUMP on the trunk lid. I dare not turn around, but in the rearview mirror I catch the reflection of a blue gray eye boring into my mind.
The End OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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EVERY DAY LIFE
ABOUT...the River Valley
Taming the Beast Story by SARAH CHENAULT | Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS
W
hen the morning’s temperature starts to slowly drop, and the leaves are falling in everyone’s front yards, and you can’t even order a pizza without being offered the “pumpkin spice” flavor option, you know fall is on its way in. And coming right along behind fall is Halloween. My son loves Halloween. It’s the perfect combination of candy corn and popcorn balls, corn mazes and costumes and, of course, trick-or-treating. Every year he requests a costume that is quite frightful in appearance, and every year I veto it. The only thing I don’t enjoy about this holiday is the scary and sinister costumes and decorations that tend to give him (and me) nightmares. For this reason, I never allow him to get a costume that would frighten him or other children. One October afternoon, after picking Raff up from school, he asked if we could go pick out his costume. I agreed, as it was only a couple of weeks left until Halloween. We arrived at the store and headed straight to the costume section. Raff began to sift through the costumes for boys of his size and age. He would lift up the costume by its side, run his gaze up and down the outfit, and then shake his head in refusal and let it fall back into its place with the other rejected getups. For the next hour, we continued our perusal of every costume that would even remotely fit him. “How about this one Raff?” “No.” “This one?” “No.” “THIS one?” “No.” “Ohhh, look at this one! It’s awesome!” “Hmm… No.” I was becoming exasperated, my patience wearing thin. I told Raff we could go to another store another day or look for a costume online, but that it was time to go. He was reluctant but finally agreed to check out a different place. On the way out of the store, we passed an aisle that had only Halloween masks on it. He asked to look at them and I agreed. Surprisingly, he found a werewolf mask almost immediately. “Mom, can I have it? Please? It’s not too scary!” He begged. I looked the mask over and gave in. It wasn’t too scary, he was right. “Yes! Thanks mom!” Raff exclaimed. He immediately put the mask on and refused to remove it even as we went through the check out line. The cashier chuckled and was a good sport about digging around in the fur on the top of Raff’s head to find the price tag. 14
ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
He even refused to take it off while we were walking out to my vehicle, getting a few surprised looks and giggles on the way. As we pulled out of the parking lot, Raff asked if he could roll his window down. “Sure thing, it’s beautiful weather today!” I said, and went ahead and rolled all of the windows down in the car, basking in what felt like the perfect fall day. I got caught up enjoying the fresh autumn breeze in my hair and imagining all sorts of yummy fall treats to make, and wasn’t paying attention to what Raff was doing in the back seat. However, a quick flash of movement caught my attention in the rear view mirror. Raff was leaning down below the line of his open window. When he heard a car driving beside ours he would pop up suddenly in his werewolf mask and undoubtedly give the driver beside me quite the fright! “Raff!” I shouted, looking into the back seat. “Don’t do that! You’re going to make someone have a wreck!” I said as I jerked my car back into my own lane after I realized I had drifted into the adjacent lane momentarily while I was scolding him. I saw blue lights. My face paled and my heart raced. Apparently, I had failed to notice a cop behind me in the rear view mirror as well. I pulled into the nearest parking lot and waited for the officer to come to my window. “Mom…” Raff asked in a shaky voice. “Are we going to jail?” The police officer appeared at my window before I had a chance to answer him. Continued on page 41...
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A life sculpted by art Story by TAYLOR BLEAKLEY Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
Vibrant oil paintings decorate the interior of the Lemley House Art Guild, one of the many art studios in the historic downtown district of Russellville. The musty scent of fresh oil paint stains the air. Shelves overflow with tubes and brushes. There is little surface that hasn’t been graced with paint. Within these canvas covered walls Sara Cole Daily found her “safe haven.”
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For Sara, a local artist originally from Little Rock, being surrounded by the arts is simply a part of life. Stained glass, basket weaving, painting, and sewing are just a few of the artistic crafts that Sara was introduced to at a young age. “I have a lot of artists in my family,” Sara said. “At our kitchen table growing up, there was always some sort of art project going on.” Sara grew up with her parents, Betty and Marshal Cole, supporting and encouraging the arts. “My mother was an artist, took classes, and still dabbles in it today,” Sara said. “She can do anything. She can look at something, design it and make it.” By the age of six, Sara began training as a dancer under well-known choreography, Joel Ruminer, at Joel’s House of Dance in Little Rock. She traveled with Ruminer as a child and through high school as he taught all over the country. During this time she and her sisters were also taking painting lessons from her aunt who directed an art school in her backyard. Sara and her sisters 18
ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
attended seamstress school as well. “We learned how to sew at an early age,” said Sara. After graduating from Little Rock Central in 1981, Sara enrolled at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and majored in dance and theatre. Sara said she went from dancing four to five nights a week to dancing roughly 12 hours a day. “We started dancing from 8 o'clock in the morning, we’d take class then go to college class, go back to dance and totally submerge in it.” Sara said. “Then, I would go and teach dance until about 9 o'clock at night, and then 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock I would rehearse for some sort of concert, show, you name it.” During this time, Sara struggled to support herself with what little income she did receive, and often relied on her parents to assist her. “I would always say that I was on scholarship from Betty and Marshal Cole arts funding,” Sara said, laughing. After working for a while in Little Rock at Murry’s Dinner Play-
house and other theaters in the area, Sara transferred to Oklahoma City University for a short time to study dance with American Spirit Dance under Jo Rowan. “Jo Rowan was my mentor. I had studied with her for short periods of time over the years of me traveling and being able to take from teachers all around the country,” Sara said. “So I knew I wanted to go there.” By 1984 the rights for A Chorus Line, one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, came off of Broadway, and Sara auditioned and was cast in the University of Arkansas Little Rock’s production of the musical. After dancing in A Chorus Line, Sara focused on making an income by working at two different FOX stations. She became the assistant to the general manager while still teaching dance at night. During her time in broadcast, she was involved in many commercials and also produced a show for FOX 16 called Arkansas in Action. In 1991, Sara made her way back to Russellville, and by 2002 she opened up her dance studio, All That Dance with the help of her parents and her daughter, Lara Wells Brinker. “I opened up All That Dance here in Russellville, and we just made it kind of like a safe haven.” Sara said. “We had a little van that we would go around in and pick children up after school. We would feed them a snack and then we would have dance class.” All That Dance allowed Sara to focus her teaching on basic ballet techniques as well as introducing her students to other art forms. “I had children from all walks of life, and we would just start at the beginning, and we tried to teach good basic dance,” Sara said. “We also did musical theatre, we did art, we painted our own backdrops for the school, and we all participated. So we incorporated all of the arts we could.” Soon after she had the studio up and running, Sara’s health began to take a toll on her ability to perform and teach. Sara says that all of the years of strain and pressure from dance caused her joints to become overworked and more susceptible to fractures or breaks. “I thought I was invincible when I was young. Really I’m like an old pro football player, but we played without pads.” Sara said, jokingly. >> OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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“I kept breaking my right foot. I was in a cast for five years. I saw a lot of specialists, and they said it was just from overuse. They compared it to someone who jumps out of airplanes, a parachute jumper.” Doctors told Sara that she would no longer be able to dance. “It was like taking a part of me, my heart, and I lost it,” Sara said. Sara sold the dance school to one of the teachers at All That Dance so it could continue in her absence. During her time of healing, she began to get back to her artistic roots with the encouragement and support of her husband, Dr. Richard Daily. “That’s when painting came into play again,” Sara said, smiling. “I dabbled, and I always had an easel set up and drawing. But I sat down and said ‘what do I need to do to mentally and physically bring myself back to where I am happy.’ So, painting was that. Painting was that art that I was missing from dance.”
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Sara’s inspiration and desire to get back into art was intensified by the Russellville area, a place that she claims is one of the most beautiful locations in the state to live, and by surrounding herself with a community of artists. “There are so many artists concentrated in the area, and a lot of people don’t realize that, but there are tons of artists who are here working every day on their art,” Sara explained. “I hang out with all of these people that are just like me. We’re all doing something. We’re creating something physical with our own hands, and that’s satisfying in many ways.” Creativity is a matter of survival for artists like Sara. She says it is a process where she can let her mind flow freely without thoughts of criticism or restraint. Although a difficult skill to master, it is a technique that she credits with helping her im-
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prove as an artist. “You have to be fearless,” Sara said. “The more fearless you are, the better artist you are. You have to let go of all of those things that are holding you back, and you have to not worry about it.” Her time at Lemley House Art Guild under mentor Sarah Keathley has given Sara the skills and confidence to keep creating and growing as an artist. “She has created this place, this environment. It’s another safe haven for all of us to come to,” Sara said. “I’m evolving, but I’m kind of turning a corner now where it’s finally clicking.” Although she considers herself lucky when she sells a painting, Sara still loves to share her work. Her primary concentration is her happiness, creativity and positivity. “I’m to the point where I’m painting for myself for the most part,” Sara
said. “I want to celebrate who I am as a woman through art. I feel like art and painting help me to be me, and I want to share that with everyone.” Sara focuses on refining her craft and learning everything there is to know about art, specifically color theory and how to properly apply it. She is also taking classes from other local artists like Daniel Freeman and attending art classes at the University of Little Rock. “I think everyone can be an artist,” Sara said. “Take as many classes as you can, take as many workshops, and just produce every day. Just practice your craft every day. You’ll get better, you just do.” More information on how to commission or purchase a painting by Sara Daily can be found online at lemleyhouseartguild. blogspot.com or on Facebook at Sara Cole Daily Art. l
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Now Taking Reservations @ 479-886-2481 or 479-857-6100
Follow us on Facebook at Meadow on the Mountain OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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COMMUNITY PAGES
ABOUT...the River Valley
Celebrate German Culture at Augsburg Fall Fest
On Saturday, October 14, Zion Lutheran Church will hold its 10th Annual Augsburg Fall Fest from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The church is located at the intersection of Highway 333 and Augsburg Road, north of London and northwest of Dover. Beginning in 2008 as an outreach to the community to celebrate Zion’s 125th anniversary, the festival has grown every year, bringing in people from all over the River Valley, from the larger metropolitan areas, and from other states as far away as California. There are activities for everyone at this year’s Augsburg Fall Fest. Since 2017 is the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the festival will begin at 9 a.m. with a Reformation Bike Ride (28 mile full reformation and 13 mile mini-reformation). A $20 entry fee includes lunch at the festival and a T-shirt. Entry forms may be obtained by emailing chuckecampbell@hotmail.com .
During the festival, folks can take a Fall Fest Reformation Walk, stopping at different booths to snack on pretzels, learn about Luther’s 95 Theses and a daring escape in fish barrels, meet Frederick the Wise, and take a crash course in German. In addition to these Reformation activities, kids can participate in all kinds of free children’s games. They can play on bump and jumps, visit a petting zoo, improve their sharp-shooting skills at the Daisy BB gun booth, or challenge each other on a climbing wall. They can go for a pony ride, learn to milk a large mechanical cow supplied by Arkansas Farm Bureau, play on the playground equipment, or just enjoy running and jumping on the church’s 40-acre property. All children’s
activities are free. Everyone can enjoy visiting arts, crafts, and educational booths, a midday cakewalk, an antique farm equipment display, Dutch-oven cooking demonstrations, allday musical entertainment, and bingo as well as a silent auction inside. In the afternoon, there will be a cow patty drop. A well-fed cow is turned loose in an enclosed area marked off with numbered squares. Folks gather around and attempt to cajole or persuade the cow to deposit its cow patty on the numbered square that they’ve purchased. The winner receives a large cash prize. Throughout the day, visitors can purchase delicious German food—handmade bratwursts on homemade buns,
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600 E. 16TH STREET, RUSSELLVILLE L.V. WILLIAMSON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB RUSSELLVILLE 600 E. 16TH STREET, RUSSELLVILLE L.V. WILLIAMSON BOYS & GIRLSorCLUB For more information to reserve your booth space, conatact the Boys & Girls Club at 479.968.7819 or visit us on “ Mistletoe Market. more information to the Boys & Girls Club at visit us on Market. more information to reserve your booth conatact the Boys & usGirls at reserve 479.968.7819 or us on conatact “orMistletoe Market. For moreFor information or to reserve youror booth space, conatact Boys &space, Girls Club at For 479.968.7819 or visit on Club “ or Mistletoe Market. your booth Forvisit morespace, information to reserve your booth space, conatact the479.968.7819 Boys & Girls Club or at 479.968.7819 or visit “us Mistletoe on “ Mistletoe Market. 600 the E. 16TH STREET, RUSSELLVILLE L.V. WILLIAMSON BOYS & GIRLS 600 E. 16THCLUB STREET, 600 E. 16TH STREET, RUSSELLVILLE
A one-stop Christmas shopping experience featuring a 6:oo - 8:00pm more information or to reserve your booth space, conatact the Boys & Girls Club at 479.968.7819 or visit us on “ Mistletoe Market. abulous assortmentForof gifts, clothing, Christmas decor, heavy horsd’oeuvres, 22 ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017 hand-made items, jewelry, and food items. first chance shopping &
served with sauerkraut or grilled peppers and onions, hot German potato salad, and homemade desserts. Besides providing a family fun day on the second Saturday of October each year, Augsburg Fall Fest is a fund-raising activity for two area mission efforts — the River Valley Christian Clinic in Dardanelle and the Augsburg Food Pantry, sponsored by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Zion Lutheran Church. All proceeds generated by Augsburg Fall Fest are equally divided between these two organizations. The River Valley Christian Clinic offers free medical dental and eye services to residents who cannot afford them. The Augsburg Food Pantry, which has been in continuous existence since 1995, provides food to 500-600 people each month. Last year, the festival raised almost $19,000. Come and see what this little congregation atop Augsburg Mountain has done to reach out with Christian love and compassion to its neighbors in need. Admission to the festival is free.
SECOND ANNUAL FOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Foodstock Music Festival is coming back to Russellville on October 14 from 5 - 9 p.m. at the Depot Stage in downtown Russellville. This year’s music lineup includes: The Tone Kats, The Acoustic Refugees, and The Couch Jackets. There will also be a shrimp and crawfish boil in addition to games, vendors, and a silent auction. The event is free to the public but dona-
tions are welcome with all proceeds going to the River Valley Food 4 Kids Weekend Backpack Program, which feeds over 1,000 children in Pope County every weekend. River Valley Food 4 Kids is a local organization focused on feeding children any time school is not in session. In 2016, Food 4 Kids provided over 200,000 meals to local children. For more information about River Valley Food 4 Kids or Foodstock Music Festival, visit www.rivervalleyfood4kids.org. >>
There’s a lot to love here.
For more information, call
(479) 890-6709
Brookdale Russellville Independent Living | Assisted Living 240 South Inglewood Avenue Russellville, AR 72801
brookdale.com ©2017 Brookdale Senior Living Inc. All rights reserved. BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING and BRINGING NEW LIFE TO SENIOR LIVING are the registered trademarks of Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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FIRST STATE BANK WINS TOP PRIZE IN PAINT THE TOWN GREEN AND GOLD
First State Bank captured its second consecutive Paint the Town Green and Gold window decorating contest overall championship when the winner was announced during a pep rally at Arkansas Tech University’s Hindsman Tower on Thursday, Sept. 14. In 2016, it was First State Bank’s main office location on East Main Street that took the title. This year, the traveling trophy went to the bank’s location in Russellville Downtown. Now in its second year, Paint the Town Green and Gold is a cooperative project between the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas Tech that seeks to spotlight local support for the institution. Additional prizes were bestowed upon the following businesses during the pep rally: *Most Original: Steak ‘n Shake *Most Creative: Copper Pig *Jerry the Bulldog Award: Sudy’s *ATU/Business Connection Award: Formal Affairs
WELCOME
Home
R I D E & CA R E AMCARE understands the need for personal assistance after a hospital stay, or surgical procedure. Let AMCARE take the worry out of who will take care of you upon discharge from the hospital or rehab and get you home with our Welcome Home “Ride and Care” service. Welcome Home “Ride & Care” includes 4-6 hours of exceptional care beginning at discharge. AMCARE will provide transportation, picking up prescriptions and groceries, running errands, and light housekeeping including laundry, changing bed linens, preparing meals, and other tasks to help you get settled back at home, safe and comfortable.
Call us at 479-880-1112 for more details or to Schedule your Ride & Care Home. Licensed by Arkansas Department of Labor and Arkansas Department of Health. Bonded and Insured.
www.youramcare.com 24
ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
In all, 41 businesses and organizations participated in the 2017 Paint the Town Green and Gold window decorating contest. Additional participants included: *A Perfect Image *Arkansas VIP Awards *Bank of the Ozarks *BOST Inc. *C&D Drugstore *City Hall *Coldwell Banker, James R. Ford and Associates
*CSI Insurance *Dog Ear Books *East Arkansas Broadcasters/River Valley Radio *Edward Jones *Feltner’s Athlete’s Corner *First Security Bank *French Noodles Boutique *Holiday Inn Express and Suites *JBS Live Pork *Joshua’s Fine Jewelry *Kroger Pharmacy
*Kurt Jones Photography – Gallery B *Lake Dardanelle State Park *Lee Ann’s Fine Jewelry *Nationwide Insurance – Anderson *Newton’s Pharmacy *Old Bank Sports Grill *Pope County Library *Quiznos *Rideout Lumber *River Valley Title and Closing *River Valley Vacuums *Russellville Fire Department (Station 3 and Central) *Russellville Tourism and Visitors Center *Shelter Mutual Insurance *Shortcuts *Sorrells Body Shop *St. John’s Catholic Church and School *Stoby’s of Russellville
CASA HOSTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING
CASA of the 5th Judicial district is hosting an informational meet and greet for prospective volunteers at the Russellville Chamber of Commerce on September 28t from 5-7 p.m. Light snacks will be provided. This year we are excited to share our need with the local community, outlining our desire to help children living in the foster care system. Every month, more than 25 abused and neglected children in Pope County are still in need of a Court Appointed Special Advocate. As trained advocates, CASA volunteers are appointed by the Honorable Ken Coker to be “guardian angels” and a voice for these children in court. “CASA volunteers make a world of difference to me as a judge hearing child abuse cases” said Judge Coker, “I wish I had a CASA volunteer for every child in the system.” Please come join us to find out how you can make a lasting difference in a child’s life. We currently have 348 children living in foster care within our tri-county area and seek to provide an advocate for every child by 2020. We cannot allow our children to become just another statistic. We further invite the community to learn more about CASA by visiting arcasa5. org. CASA of the 5th Judicial District is a River Valley United Way Agency. For more information, contact Chadwick T. Foster, teen specialist coordinator at 880-1195. l
Kirt Mosley
Interior Design
YELL COUNTY GIN COMPANY 709 South 2nd St. • Dardanelle, AR 72834
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OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
VALLEY VITTLES
ABOUT...the River Valley
Authentically appetizing Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN | Story by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN
EL NOA NOA | 1605 S Knoxville Ave., Russellville
Genuine is hard to define. What makes anything bona fide? Is authenticity a whim of subjectivity? In the case of food, is it dependent on a strict adherence to a specific ingredients and preparation? Sure, you’ve got to have the right ingredients to make a dish. You’ve got to cook it at the appropriate temperatures and of course presentation is important as well, but the title of “genuine” requires more than a recipe. Folks argue about this far more than they should, but when we’re talking about food I think it comes down to something else, something you can’t quite put your finger on. Genuine food is more than the sum of its ingredients. All that being said, I know where you can find genuine Mexican food. It’s
tucked away in a yellow food truck at El Noa Noa on S. Knoxville, or as us oldtimer’s call it, it’s on the truck route. We had a torta, which is a Mexican sandwich that I’d never even heard of before. It’s a sandwich amped up with the spice and flair that Mexican street food is known for. At El Noa Noa you can get your choice of meat piled onto crusty white bread and topped off with melted cheese, beans, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, onion, and mayonnaise or sour cream. Get a side of sliced jalapenos and garnish with super-spicy red, sneak-up-on-you green, or avocado sauce. Wash it down with a cold Jarritos. Then you’ll realize that authenticity is defined by the experience. l OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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COUNTERTOP CREATIONS
ABOUT...the River Valley
SOFT TOFFEE COOKIE RECIPE 1 1/2 sticks softened, room temperature (not melted, not cold) butter 1 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 tsp vanilla 3 egg 3 1/2 c all purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 c toffee chips Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and egg and combine. Add flour, baking powder and salt combine until incorporated. Add toffee chips and stir until well distributed. Refrigerate for 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes. I used a 1 tablespoon spring release scoop to scoop out cookies. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 9 minutes. Centers will still be mushy, but they’ll set as they cool. If you like more crispy cookies, bake for 1 or 2 minutes longer, but keep a close watch on them. Recipe courtesy of callmepmc.com
The aromas and tastes of autumn Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor
I
f you know me at all, you know my favorite thing to do is to bake. It’s what I do when I’m stressed or just plain bored. I’ll often put on some tunes by Frank, Louis, or Ella while spending hours in the kitchen making bread, pies, cakes, or cookies. This time of year, you can catch the scent of pumpkin, cinnamon, apples and molasses coming from the kitchen when I’m in one of my moods. More often than not, I take my baked goods to friends and neighbors as my family are not big “sweets” eaters. I’ve already started my autumn baking, and I’ve found some wonderful recipes. Many of these are cookie recipes that make me think of this season because of the ingredients and aromas while baking them. Hope you enjoy making them as much as I did. As always, enjoy!
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
BAKLAVA COOKIES ¼ c butter ½ c powdered sugar 3 T . honey ¾ c walnuts, finely chopped ¼ tsp. cinnamon 18 oz. package refrigerated sugar cookie dough In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt butter; stir in the powdered sugar and honey. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in walnuts and cinnamon. Let it cool for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, divide cookie dough into 24 pieces and roll each into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet that’s been greased or lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Remove cookies and place a small dollup of nut mixture in the center of each cookie. Bake another 2-3 minutes until done. Transfer to wire rack to cool Recipe courtesy of mandyrecipebox.com
BROWN BUTTER BOURBON SPICE COOKIES 12 T (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, browned (see note below) & cooled* 2 1/2 c flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. allspice 1/2 c dark brown sugar 1/2 c light brown sugar 1/2 c granulated sugar 1 egg 1 egg yolk 3 tsp. vanilla 2 T Bourbon
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with a Silpat liner or parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice together until blended. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add all of the sugars, along with the cooled brown butter and, using a paddle attachment, mix until well-blended. It won’t be creamy like a normal cookie batter. Add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla and mix until combined. With the mixer on low sweet, add the bourbon and mix until it is distributed. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Using a 2 3/4-ounce ice cream scoop, scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are just done on the edges. Cool for about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack. *To brown the butter: place butter pieces in a small sauce pan over medium heat. When the butter begins to foam, stir with a wire whisk and continue to whisk constantly. The color will begin to change and you’ll see some brown flakes on the bottom of the pan. Continue to stir until the butter has a nutty fragrance and is golden brown. Remove from the heat and stir until the foam subsides. The whole process will take 8-10 minutes. Be patient! Recipe courtesy of bakeyourday.com
EASY GINGERBREAD COOKIES 1 box (6 serving size) butterscotch pudding and pie filling, not instant 3/4 c butter 3/4 c brown sugar, packed 1 egg 2 1/4 c all purpose flour, sifted 1 tsp baking soda 3 tsp ground ginger 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon Cream pudding mix with butter and sugar. Add egg and blend well. Combine flour, soda and spices; blend into pudding mixture. Chill dough until firm, about 5-10 minutes. Roll onto floured surface until about 1/4 in thick and cut with a cookie cutter. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Decorate as desired. Makes 16-18 cookies. >>
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(479) 968-1157 • 715 W. Main, Russellville, AR Serving the River Valley Since 1970 OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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MAPLE-GLAZED APPLE CRISP COOKIES COOKIES 2 golden cake mixes (about 16.5 oz each) 4 eggs 1/4 c oil 1 medium apple, diced very finely STREUSEL 1/4 c butter, cold 1/4 c brown sugar 1/4 c granulated sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 c flour 1/3 c large oats GLAZE 1 T icing (powdered) sugar 1 tsp maple syrup Combine all the cookie ingredients until well mixed. Set in the refrigerator for 1530 minutes while you make your streusel. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and make your streusel.
Combine all streusel ingredients until crumbly -- if you squeeze some between your fingers, it should be moist enough to hold together. Using a 1” cookie scoop or spoon, drop cookie dough about 1.5-2” apart on a baking sheet (I do 12 to a sheet). Using your fingers, press some of the streusel into the top of the cookie. Bake for 9-10 minutes, until just slightly golden at the edges and slightly puffed and dry in the center. They will sink down a bit as they cool, as long as they aren’t overbaked. Combine glaze ingredients if desired -the 1tbsp to 1 tsp ratio will do about 3-4 cookies. I’ve given you a small enough ratio to work with so that you can double, triple or quadruple as desired if you wish! Drizzle over cooled cookies and let set (or stuff in your face immediately). Recipe courtesy of thereciperebel.com CARAMEL PECAN BARS Crust 1 c butter 1/2 c brown sugar, packed 3 c flour 1 egg Filling 3 c pecan halves 3/4 c butter 1/2 c honey 3/4 c brown sugar, packed 1/4 c whipping cream To make the crust, combine all ingredients until blended, using electric mixer or food processor. Press evenly into a 15 x 10
x 3/4 in jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. To make filling, spread pecans evenly over the baked crust. In a large, heavy saucepan, melt butter and honey. Add brown sugar. Boil 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly, until it’s a rich caramel color. Remove from heat. Stir in cream. Mix well, pour over pecans. Bake 15 minutes longer. Cool; cut into bars. Freezes well. MOLASSES OATMEAL SPICED COOKIES 1/2 c unsalted butter 1/2 c granulated sugar 1/2 c brown sugar 1/2 c molasses 1 egg 1 T vanilla 1 1/4 c all purpose flour, sifted 2 tsp cinnamon 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger 3/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp baking soda 2 c old fashioned rolled oats Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Use a large bowl and an electric mixer at high speed to beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. In a medium size bowl combine flour, spices and soda. Add to the bowl with the butter mixture and stir until well blended. Stir in oats. Drop by the rounded tsp full, approx 2-in apart on the greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Makes 4 dz.
Football is back! Catch your favorite college or NFL team at... F OR YO UR CATER I NG NEED S Ray Black OWNER P: (479) 968-2421 • C: (501) 470-6830 407 S. Arkansas, Russellville rblack204@gmail.com | oldpostbbq.com 30
ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
220 W Main Street, Russellville | (479) 219-5181
Hours: 11am to 10pm Sun-Thurs • 11am to Midnight Friday & Saturday
CARAMEL STUFFED APPLE CIDER COOKIES 1 c softened butter 3/4 c granulated sugar 1/4 c brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 7.4 oz. box Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original DrinkMix 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 3 c all-purpose flour 1 14 oz. bagKraft Caramels In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and all ten packs of apple cider mix until fluffy. About three minutes. Beateggs, one at a time, andaddwith thevanillato the butter mixture. Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour
mixture in three portions, mixing each just until incorporated. To make forming your cookie a bit easier, refrigerate for about an hour. Thisstepis notrequired, but recommended. When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels. Preheat yourovento 350 degrees F. Line your cookie sheets withparchmentpaper (not waxed paper!). Begin by rolling about 1 1/2 T of dough into a ball. I foundthata little more dough is better than less as the caramel will seep out the sides during baking. Then, flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely. Place two inches apart on parchment-covered cookie sheets. Bake 12-14 minutes, or untilvery lightlybrowned around the edges. (As I learned, these are easy tooverbake, and the caramel will burn on the bottom. As soon as you notice thecookiesare starting to lightly brown, removethemfrom the oven. Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off the baking sheet right onto the counter. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twistthemofftheparchment and allow to finish cooling upside down. Recipe courtesy of inspiredbychmarm. com l
Get your Hot Thai at
313 W. B Street Russellville, AR 72801 Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am - 8pm
Gumbo Zydeco Fresh & authentic New Orleans cuisine
2405 East Parkway, Russellville Hours: 10:30am~2pm / 5pm-10pm, Mon-Fri 10:30am~10pm Sat facebook.com/gumbozydecoar (479) 219-5146 www.gumbozydeco.com Order Online : MyOrderOut.com (479) 970-7699
of the 2017 People's Choice Winner OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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A taste of the Old World
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
You don’t have to travel abroad to find a taste of European cuisine. A trip down state Highway 186 in Altus wine country will lead you to the family-owned Wiederkehr Restaurant. The Wiederkehr family has deep historical roots in the area, and have been in the wine business for generations. The restaurant today was once the original wine cellar built by Dennis Wiederkehr’s great-grandfather Johann Adreas Wiederkehr 137 years ago. “My family came here from Switzerland in 1880 on their way to Argentina,” Dennis said. “The area reminded them of the foothills of the Alps. Subiaco, across the river, had Swiss monks and they would send letters back home to the different parishes. They let the rest of the family know that the land was very inexpensive, that the railroad was selling and families were able to buy for a really good price, so they decided to come here instead of Argentina.” Wiederkehr Vineyards is the longest standing commercial vineyard east of the Rocky Mountains. Dennis explained that is due to his family’s opportunity to con-
tinue to make wine through the Prohibition in the 1930’s. “One of the things that helped my great-grandfather be in that position was having an Ecclesiastes permit with the St. Mary’s Catholic church,” Dennis said. “My family wasn’t going to charge the church for the wine, so it wasn’t a profit situation, it was given to the church. They had permits that kept from having their equipment removed or destroyed. By not having to do that, they were able to start right back up after the prohibition was lifted.” Dennis added that the Wiederkehr Wine Cellars are number eight of the federal bonded wine cellars out of all the wineries in the United States.“Those numbers started after prohibition,” Dennis said. “My grandfather Herman Wiederkehr was issued the eighth permit.” Where dining tables now stand, Dennis described how barrels were once stacked in parallel rows for aging before being sold to folks in the area. “They used steel hoops with leather straps and would put ramps down on the stairwell to roll the barrels up the steps to be put on the wagon headed for town to sell,” he said.
Story by KAREN RICKETTS | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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The idea for the restaurant came from Dennis’s uncle Al Wiederkehr, who studied commerce at the University of Notre Dame and then law school at the University of Arkansas. Later, Al would attend the University of California, Davis — the premiere wine school in the US. “Then after that he got a Fulbright sponsorship to go to Europe where he studied wine making,” Dennis said. “He lived in Bordeaux, France for a year and a half working in vineyards and wineries learning European wine making first hand. It made a big difference in his skills and abilities to go that extra step. So basically, the restaurant is his plans that were drawn on napkins somewhere in France.” Wiederkehr Restaurant opened in 1967 with the first permit in Arkansas for beer and wine. “Uncle Al helped pass the legisla-
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
tion to serve beer and wine in restaurants as part of the meal,” Dennis added. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Wiederkehr Restaurant. “I was 11 years old when it opened,” Dennis said laughing. “I had plenty of trouble to get into around here.” Since its inception, the Wiederkehr Restaurant has been a family affair. “My grandmother worked in the restaurant and so did my uncles and aunts, Dennis said. “They would work over in the winery and then come over here in the evening to work here as well. My wife Charlotte has been working there for 43 years. Charlotte’s mom, my Aunt Dolores Wiederkehr, and two or three other ladies were the original staff that started working here in 1967.” Back then Dennis said it was normal for the quaint dining space to have 300 patrons just for lunch. “The employees couldn’t come here to eat because it was so busy,” he said. “At that time there were no other restaurants that you could go to that served beer and wine with the meal, especially one with this kind of atmosphere.” Upstairs is the original log cabin where his grandfather and father grew up. Later, a Victorian house was built around the log cabin. Eventually the house was torn down and the cabin
was made into a gift shop. “My grandfather ran the gift shop here, selling the gifts and talking to people in German, French and Italian when they came in,” he said. “For us grandkids, if you had the chance to hangout with grandpa that was pretty cool.” The Wiederkehr’s brought in Swiss chefs to develop the menu and train others in Swiss cuisine, which incorporates German, French, Austrian, and Italian dishes. Though the menu has changed through the years, some traditional favorites such as the Swiss onion soup and the quiche Lorraine have remained. There is no doubt that patrons don’t leave hungry and are always made to feel like a part of the family. “When
people from Europe see our name, it’s a familiar thing because it means one who has returned,” he said. “It has a welcoming ring to it.” Dining by candlelight makes for a charming setting with a loved one, so it’s no surprise that Wiederkehr Restaurant as been voted most romantic by the Arkansas Times. “You know, when you have the red table cloths and napkins out it is just a romantic setting,” Dennis said. “Sometimes we will get calls from people who want to set up special flowers and a bottle of champagne on the table because they plan on popping the question that night. You are in on scheming things sometimes. You go back 50 years and that’s quite a history of people coming through. It’s something special.” When asked how he thought his family had left an impact on the community Dennis said, “We have always tried to stay proud of our heritage and proud of our community, and tried to do everything we can to make the place better than it was when we started. You go through peaks and valleys in business, in life and in generations. We have our share of work to do right now, but I think people think of us favorably. Fifty years is a lot of history and we’re still here giving it our all.” l Wiederkehr’s invite you to join them in celebrating the 54th Annual Weinfest on Saturday, October 21. No tickets required. Entertainment and admission to the grounds are free.
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Días de los Muertos Story and photos by MIKE QUAIN
Every year beginning on October 31 and ending on November 2, millions of people around the world celebrate the Days of The Dead, or Días de los Muertos. It’s primarily a Mexican holiday, although it is now celebrated in most latin countries and areas with large hispanic populations. It has been a long held belief that once a year starting on October 31 at midnight, the heavens open up, allowing the deceased spirits to intermingle with their loved ones for 24 hours. Traditional activities include sharing meals with the deceased, decorating and cleaning gravesites, parades, and festivals.
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
lived in a layer ruled by the rain deity. Warriors who died were brought to the realm of the sun deity. Human sacrifices were thought to live on in the highest level of heaven with the creators. Their deaths were the god’s way of choosing them for service. Each of the layers of the underworld and overworld were linked to the world of the living. Those same drowned ancestors would help bring rain, and the warriors would help the sun transit the sky. Everyone was expected to work in the afterlife as they kept the living world running behind the scenes. In this way, the lines between life and death were blurred. While onlookers may see the painted faces, skulls, and fancy dress as morbid, the tradition is really a celebration of life. It’s a day when life and death are at their closest, and death is just part of a broader cycle of life. In Mexico, it was, and still is, tradition to keep the deceased close to your heart. >> Many of those who grew up isolated from Mexican culture consider the day to be just a “Mexican Halloween” of sorts, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. While Halloween and Días de los Muertos have similar origins, their modern interpretations are very different. The tradition of Días de los Muertos dates back 3,000 years, to the Aztec civilization in present-day Mexico. The Mesoamerican cultures and people there had a strong belief in the afterlife, understanding that life and death were closely intertwined. They considered life to be a dream. Only upon death would you come fully awake. After death you would continue to live in one of the thirteen overworlds, layers of heaven, or in one of the nine underworlds. Because of this belief, the early Mesoamericans had very little fear of death. Unlike many other cultures, which layer you belonged in was dependent entirely on your cause of death, not your actions while alive. For instance, drowning victims
OCTOBER 2017 ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY
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On the Days of the Dead, families and friends will visit gravesites and often bring the deceased favorite foods. They’ll have a picnic right there as a way of sharing the meal. Parades throughout the cities celebrate death as a part of life with dancers dressed as spirits and live music. Altars, or ofrendas, are constructed by family to help guide souls on their journey back to earth. These altars are decorated beautifully with bright flowers and a special kind of bread called pan de muerto that is said to provide souls with the sustenance they need. Originally, Días de los Muertos was celebrated at the end of summer in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, and the cele-
bration lasted the entire month. Through time, and a Spanish invasion, the holiday became a three-day event. Catholic traditions like All-Hallows Eve, All-Saints Day, and All-Souls day merged with the native traditions and the result was a mixed celebration of the dead. Lore has it that on October 31, the heavens are opened up. November 1 is the time that the children and those who died young are given the chance to visit with family. On November 2 adult spirits are allowed to come back and mingle. Russellville is now poised to celebrate its second Días de los Muertos on October 28, as a close to the Downtown Fall Festival. Events will include dancing, music, a latinx art show, and grave
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
talks at the Oakland Cemetery. These festivities are put on by a nonprofit called the Traveling Arts Fiesta, founded by Jeannie Fowler Rodriguez-Stone, McElroy House Organization for Community Resources, and the Oakland Cemetery. Jeannie’s goal is to bring people together. As a young Puerto Rican immigrant to Arkansas in the 1960s, she found it difficult to meet other hispanic folks or be accepted into southern culture. “In 1964, it was hard to be an other,” she says. “The treatment of immigrants I experienced didn’t jive with the southern practice of extending hospitality and neighborliness.” Now that the area has had a big increase in the hispanic population, Jeannie is trying to build a landscape that is more conducive to integrating other cultures. The celebration will begin with a fine art show featuring some of Arkansas’s best latinx artists and an Arkansas Tech professor will give a lecture about her home country of Chile. Later, a local mariachi band will play and dancers will perform to traditional music. Finally, at 4:30, a procession led by the dancers, Chinelos Morelenses Unidos en Arkansas, will make its way to the Oakland Cemetery. Once there, Jeannie will lead a grave tour complete with
historic reenactments honoring our dead and honoring the spirit of Días de los Muertos. She will tell stories, recite interesting facts, and help people get to know their ancestors. All in all, this year’s Day of the Dead celebration is sure to be a diverse and exciting event for our diverse community. Traveling Arts Fiesta will be accepting donations to benefit Arkansas United Community Coalition, which is working on behalf of DACA recipients. l
FREE ADMISSION
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COMMUNITY COMMERCE
ABOUT...the River Valley
Lisa Gibson - Independent Consultant
Story by KAREN RICKETTS
F
or Lisa Gibson, skincare is just as important as maintaining spent a lot of money on products that never worked for me until I any other aspect of your health. After teaching for 33 years found these products, and I think that is the case for a lot of peoat Atkins Middle School, Lisa said she wanted to keep busy and ple,” Lisa said. found her second calling as an independent consultant with Rodan Lisa said teenagers can find Rodan & Fields products for acne & Fields skin care. “I decided to start my skin care business beprevention that are also affordable. “It not only saves them a trip cause I still wanted to be around people and keep busy,” Lisa said. to the dermatologist, our products are reasonably priced too,” Lisa “I was getting a lot of compliments about my skin and I thought I said. would sell the products to help others with their skin care needs.” Of course, to see results consistency is a must. “You have to Rodan & Fields, named number one skin care brand in the Unitbe real consistent with your use,” Lisa said. “Your skin concerns ed States, is an online company that focuses on anti-aging skin happen over time. In two months you might not see a change, but care products for women and men of all ages. It was founded in six months later you can see a difference. It’s amazing once you 2002 by dermatologists, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, see the change.” the same dermatologists who created Proactiv Solution. As a business, Lisa said there is a lot of flexibility to make it Customers can choose from a variety of your own. “You can make the business as anti-aging and skin care regimens for their large or as small as you want it, and you can Rodan + Fields ~ Lisa Gibson skin concerns. “We have products for anwork from home,” Lisa said. (479) 970-7503 ti-wrinkle, acne, sensitive skin and even reg For those looking to address their skin lisaggibson1@gmail.com imens for dark spots that you might get later care concerns, Lisa can direct you to a prodwww.lisagibson.myrandf.com in life,” Lisa said. “We have different product that best fits your needs. “If someone is ucts for many different skin concerns.” interested in a product I would be happy to Lisa has been using Rodan & Fields products for over two years visit with them,” Lisa said. “They can call me, email me or they and is going on her second year as a consultant. “I wanted to use can look on my product website.” the products before selling it to customers,” Lisa said. As a Rodan & Fields consultant, the biggest joy for Lisa is Her go-to products are the Redefine regimen, Lash Boost, and helping people find the right product so they can have happy, the Hydration Serum. “The Lash Boost nourishes your lashes to healthy skin. “When I help teenagers and their face clears up it make them look thicker and fuller,” Lisa added. makes them feel better about themselves,” Lisa said. “Their skin But finding the right product can take some time to find. “I’ve is healthy, and that’s a big thing.” l
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...cont. from page 14 “Hello ma’am,” The officer greeted me. “I noticed you crossed into the other lane, but I was going to stop you anyway because of what appears to be a werewolf in the back seat.” The officer said slyly. I saw Raff’s eyes grow wide in the eye holes of his mask. “While he looks like he is enjoying himself, I’m going to have to insist that he stop scaring other drivers, as this could cause an accident.” “Yes sir,” I said sheepishly. “I had actually just realized what he was doing and was getting on to him. That’s what caused me to swerve.” “Mom!” Raff exclaimed from the backseat, apparently upset that I had ratted him out. “I promise it won’t happen again, officer.” I said politely. “Ok, well y’all just be careful from now on. You look pretty scary back there young man, just save that for trick-or-treating, OK?” The cop said to Raff. “Um, sir?” Raff asked. “Yes?” Replied the officer. “I’m sorry that I scared people, but I hope you aren’t going to take me jail. Because my mom is a really bad driver, AND she said the F word once.” Raff said, waiting on that to sink in. I looked at him in the backseat with a shocked look on my face. “Raff!” I hissed. The officer started laughing. “So you’re saying that if I were to take someone to jail, it ought to be your mom and not you?” he asked Raff, with an amused smile on his face. “Yes. That’s right.” Raff answered firmly. The officer chuckled again. “Well don’t worry little man, no one is going to jail today, I just want to make sure y’all are being safe from now on.” He then turned back to face me. “You’ve got quite a character in that backseat ma’am. I can’t even imagine all the mischief he gets in to.” The officer turned away with a smile on his face and got back in his car, turned off the blue lights and drove away. I let out a huge sigh of relief. “Mom?” Raff said cautiously from the backseat. “I’m really glad you didn’t go to jail… because then who would take me trick-or-treating?!” I just rolled my eyes and said a little prayer for my sanity. l
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BACKYARD LIVING
ABOUT...the River Valley
Connected to a web Story by MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS
W
The Boiled Down Juice Read more from Meredith at www.boileddownjuice.com
e recently moved to rural Yell County, a place I’ve dreamed of living since I was a child. We started a fall garden, created a compost bin, are building a portable chicken coop, and plan to get the clothesline up this weekend. I can’t wait to build a root cellar, get some goats and mules and donkeys, and put in some fruit trees and muscadine vines. I do miss Little Rock (especially the people), and someday after I’ve had more time to find the words, I’ll write about the transition from living next to an interstate to living down a dirt road. But until then, suffice it to say, I love my new home. Though we dream of goats and sheep and all manner of equine, we’re a pretty practical family living on a shoestring budget. So we started our new life by putting in some simple hummingbird feeders along the porch’s roof line. My mother always enjoyed hummingbirds, but I never really paid that much attention to them until we all started sharing a front porch. As my close friends know, I’m an anxious person, quick to worry. My brain is a huge hamster wheel of nervous energy, and I’m always a little on edge. I’m working on that. The first few days with the hummingbirds I found naively peaceful. Sure, I noticed their nervous energy, but only cerebrally. I looked up at Springs Mountain in the distance, I saw the fluttering wings up above me, and I was generally enamored with the whole situation. What magic, I thought. Maybe it was that second feeder we
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
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put in that sent the whole situation over the edge, but after only a few days I began to feel how much hummingbirds move. They routinely fight over the sugar water, running each other off, and flying so close to our heads as to create a whirlwind kind of breeze. Their wings sound like little lawnmowers or tiny airplanes coming in for a landing, and some of them let off these high pitched chirps as they whiz by. The fly into our front window and then propel backward, as if to say, “again?” I laughed at myself as I started to realize that here I was sitting on a porch, staring at a mountain, trying to hang out with birds in some effort to encourage a more calm state of mind, only to realize that these little creatures gave off a nervous energy that totally surpassed mine. So I decided it was time I got to know them a little better. One Sunday morning we pulled out a book on hummingbirds we’d recently picked up from the Dardanelle Library. Our reading led to lots of numerical details: hummingbirds beat their wings up to 70 times per second and their heart rates can reach over a 1,000 beats per minute. They typically fly at about 30 miles an hour. But they can fly up to 60 miles an hour when they’re sailing around trying to impress. Buried deep in one of the paragraphs about their tiny eggs, I found the single most fascinating bit of information I’ve heard in years: hummingbirds bind their tiny little nests with spider webs. I’m not exactly sure what triggered it, but I’ve been thinking a lot about spider webs for at least a year now. My last column for ABOUT was about their proliferation in the late summer, and in recent months I’ve been trying to put spider names to web designs. But truth be told, I’m not nearly as interested in spiders as I am in their housing. We soon learned it’s the silk the hummingbirds are after. It’s sticky, stronger than steel, and has a gentle give to it. It helps bind the nest to the tree, but it also gives the nest an elastic quality that helps the tiny nest expand to fit the growing chicks. Hummingbirds are also partial to lichen, plant fibers, and fur. I’d like to tell you I’ve found several nests around our place, but no luck so far. Apparently they build them anywhere from 10 to 90 feet off the ground, and they’re only about the size of a quarter. Like the webs I have recently come to love, I suspect the whole place is teeming with tiny nests. I just haven’t learned to see them yet. In case you are wondering, most of the time hummingbirds go for recently vacated webs. But every so often they wind up getting trapped in a recent one and don’t make it out. Back in my twenties, I used to spend a lot of time thinking about anthropomorphism. It’s basically a big word that refers to the way we humans ascribe human feelings and emotions onto animals. I guess I still do think about it a little, but I’m okay with the gray areas. And after I found out about their whole spiderweb collecting ventures I decided I was totally happy to share my porch with these tiny little anxiety flappers, even if we are all a little bit too wound up. So I see the hummingbirds darting back and forth and I laugh at myself, and I smile at them, and I just go on about my reading and my mountain watching, knowing that we’re both fixated on — we both grew up connected to — a web. l
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OUTDOORS
ABOUT...the River Valley
Oh Deer Story by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN | Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS
I
’d never killed a September deer before, but at 7:57 a.m. on September 27 a mature whitetail doe lay expired at the end of short blood trail in the Ozark Mountains of Newton County. Yep, the same Newton County that’s nested a Chronic Wasting Disease outbreak in Arkansas. The specter of eating an infected whitetail was, I guess, in the back of my mind, but I wasn’t consciously worried about CWD. The morning’s hunt had unfolded on a rugged ridge several miles away from the CWD epicenter, and the doe appeared to be a healthy gal of more than two years of age. Also, there has never been a documented case of interspecies CWD transfer. There’s lots of science behind this reaching into biological concepts that stretch beyond my comprehension, but I trust the scientists. We ate our first meal of venison three days after the kill. It was deer burgers, and they were delectable. They were seasoned with garlic, cumin, a little red pepper, and red vinegar then topped with feta cheese, spinach and mayonnaise. Gawd…
Read more from Johnny at www.aviewfromthebackroads.com
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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
I love venison. Beef just doesn’t stack up even close to venison. And so I went to bed and fell into slumber under the warm blanket of satisfaction. And I dreamt. Most of my dreams are broken shards of weird images with no discernible storyline. Or maybe there is a storyline but in the soft morning hours, as a I try to recollect nocturnal neuron firings, I can never make sense of them. However, that was not the case on this particular morning and the narrative came creeping back into my brain along with waves of uneasiness and a latent interest in our master bathroom door. I remembered that the bathroom door was central to the dream and then the dream came rushing back. In the dream, grunts and bleats emanating from the bathroom woke me as the silhouette of a deer’s head slowly materialized with hazy bathroom light in the background and a hand that looked an awful lot like a hoof grasped the partially closed door. I jumped from the bed and grabbed the door knob, pulling with all I had as a steady force behind the door pulled against me. The grunting became louder. I called for help and apparently the only other soul in the house was my daughter Mackenzie. She came running into the bedroom with terror in her eyes. “Find a weapon!,” I screamed. “We’ve got to kill this thing!” She pleaded with me to not kill whatever was behind the door, as it was likely the final remnants of her mother or sister after they had eaten tainted venison and been transformed into an undead deer/human hybrid. “Just get a weapon!” I roared. “We don’t have a choice!” So she ran from the bedroom streaming tears and quickly returned with nearly every firearm I own. But the mass of guns she struggled to hold on to only brought me a deeper sense of despair as I struggled against the unrelenting tenacity of the whitetail deer/human zombie steadily opening the door wider and wider. “Dangit, Kenzie! These won’t work!” I cried, “It’s bow season!” l
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On a Personal Note Fearscape: Phobias – Library Haunted House Returns for Its Fifth Year Guest Written by Elizabeth Lilley Teen & Adult Programmer, Pope County Library System
The haunted house has always been a teen-driven event; they literally conceive, design, build, and run the haunted house each year. This provides a great opportunity for students to earn much-needed volunteer hours while still having fun.
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This year, the Pope County Library will host its 5th annual Haunted House. Since 2013 this event has provided an opportunity for teens to work together, reach out to the community, and get hands-on experience with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) concepts. The haunted house has always been a teen-driven event; they literally conceive, design, build, and run the haunted house each year. This provides a great opportunity for students to earn much-needed volunteer hours while still having fun. Each year, the haunted house has a different theme. This theme is chosen by the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.) at one of their monthly meetings. The T.A.B. is instrumental in all phases of the Haunted house, from planning to tear-down. They are the go-getters and the idea generators that make sure the haunted house is a spine-chilling experience year after year. In 2013, evil librarians cackled in The Library of the Dead. The inmates ran the mad-house in the 2014 Asylum Haunted House. The scope broadened in 2015 with the introduction of Fearscape, a haunted house fueled by nightmares and all the worst parts of a carnival, from killer clowns to a frightening freak-show. Last year, in 2016, favorite fables and fairy tales took on shocking twists in Once Upon a Nightmare. In 2017, the Fearscape theme returns, this time focusing on phobias. There will be a devilish doctor, demonic dolls, and, of course, creepy clowns. However, it is hard to say exactly what will happen. As the haunted house is built, plans change to best suit the space, available resources, and skills of the volunteers. The theme works as a guide, providing direction, but no one knows exactly how the Haunted House will play out until days before it opens. This dynamic aspect ensures that the haunted house is always flexible, current, and engaging. Each year, the haunted house grows and evolves into something bigger and better. Last
ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ OCTOBER 2017
year, over 1,000 people were involved over the course of the 14 days of building and performance either by helping behind the scenes as performers or as participants going through the haunted house. Donations from attendees helped to raise over $200 for teen programming at the Pope County Library. In 2015, 38 Arkansas Tech students volunteered to be a part of the haunted house by building and performing all while earning required volunteer hours. Each year the haunted house helps to draw new people in and continues to engage veteran volunteers. The construction of the haunted house starts with a planning meeting at the end of September to pin down as many details as possible before the actual building begins on October 15. In October, two weeks are dedicated to building the haunted house, collecting props, finalizing makeup and costume design, and recruiting volunteers to perform. This year, the haunted house will be open for two nights. It’s non-stop scares from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. on both Saturday, October 28 and Halloween, Tuesday, October 31. Admission is free but a minimum donation of $1 per person is encouraged, though, more is always welcome. If you would like to help make this year’s haunted house a success, there are many ways to contribute. While the Haunted House is teen-driven, volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate. Volunteers are needed to build, paint, make props, assist with makeup and effects, and perform as characters in the haunted house. None of our haunted houses would have been possible without donations. Items we need this year include cardboard (refrigerator boxes and the like), paint, dolls (the creepier the better), plastic bugs and snakes, and other Halloween décor. For more information, email teenprograms@popelibrary.org or call the Pope County Library at 968-4368.
Look for more interesting features and tidbits in "On a Personal Note" each month in future issues of ABOUT...the River Valley. You'll find short stories, interesting pieces and other great reads from people you know, or would like to know from around the River Valley.
ENGAGEMENTS
ABOUT...the River Valley
Save the Date!
Calendar listings of engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements on the pages of each issue of ABOUT…the River Valley are available at no charge. They may be mailed to: ABOUT Magazine, P.O. Box 10176, Russellville AR 72812 or sent via email to: editor@aboutrvmag.com. (A phone number must be included for verification.)
October 7
November 11
Lauren Erickson & John Fite
Libby Croom & Chris Pledger
Victoria Huie & Braden Langford
Amanda Rodgers & Ethan Standridge
October 14
November 18
Kaitlin Short & Jonathon Spikes
Scott Arnold & Ben Stevens
Mary Carol Davis & Morne Nel
Anna Marie Deschenes & Cody Dennis
October 20
December 1
Lauren Perry & Logan Purtle
October 21 Christopher Herrera & Cortney Ham Rachel Pickens & Morgan Yates
October 28
Audrey Rye & Karson Lee
December 9 Jessica Mabry & Michael Elrod
December 16 Leighton Babb & Hunter Gately
Kirbi Allen & Kyle Carter
December 17
Baylee Morgan & Zac Hill
Moira Murdoch & Judd Moore
November 4
December 30
Allison Duke & Patrick Long
Photo by Benita's Photography
Rachel Campbell & Cesar Abreu
Stacia Martin & Kenneth Mazzia
January 5
Kelsi Todd & Robert Gardner
January 2018
Emily Cowell & Jared Wesselhoft
Miranda Possage & Wade Ivy
To have your engagement or wedding published in a future issue of ABOUT Magazine, send your information, photo* and a check for $57.50 to: ABOUT Magazine, PO Box 10176, Russellville AR 72812, or visit www.aboutrvmag.com/forms.html. Word count is limited to 225 words. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. For additional information, call (479) 857-6791. *Digital files are accepted and will be published upon receipt of payment.
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