AY About You January 2025

ARKANSAS’ LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2025 | AYMAG.COM

Arkansas’ own Dave and Jenny Marrs dish on fame, faith and Season 6

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WHAT’S INSIDE 10 Publisher’s Letter 12 Connect 14 Top Events 130 Murder Mystery 131 Arkansas Backstories

HOME

16 Household Names

FOOD 22 Fresh Start 26 Kitchen Aid 30 Family Style 34 Recipe: Chicken Chowder 36 Diggin’ It

TRAVEL 39 The Elements of Style

AESTHETICS 61 More Than Skin Deep 62 Seeking Balance 65 Surgical Artistry 66 Turning Back the Clock 70 The Natural State 73 A Business Built on Beauty

ORTHOPEDICS 75 The Knees and Hips Have It 76 Where Science and Technology Meet 80 An Ounce of Prevention 82 Part of the Team 84 A Higher Purpose 86 Get Your Kicks

HEALTH 90 Feel the Burn 94 Botox 105 More Z’s Please 108 Do You Mind?

112 Smart Money 114 The Gift of Education 133 Mental Health Guide

ARTS & CULTURE 116 Overnight Sensation 118 Prophet from the Past 120 Here to Stay 122 Midnight South’s Stardon Dawns in Arkansas 124 Sylamore Special

ABOUT YOU 46

Brave New Restaurant page 30

ON THE COVER Dave and Jenny Marrs have impacted families across the state through their show Fixer to Fabulous.

Learn more on Page 16 Photo courtesy of HGTV.

AY’s Ask the Experts

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The Pulaski County Special School District is committed to providing equitable and excellent education for all students with a consistent focus on college and career readiness. District educators work year-round to encourage all students to achieve their highest potential. The collaborative and innovative efforts of all stakeholders, including teachers, staff, and community members, make PCSSD an outstanding option for Pulaski County families.

Families zoned for a PCSSD school can mark their calendars for important registration windows for the 2025-2026 school year.

Registration for new Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 students opens on January 13. For kindergarten through 12th grade families who are zoned for but not currently enrolled in a PCSSD school, registration will open March 10, 2025. Current PCSSD families who are interested in moving to a different school within the district can submit an intradistrict permit to Equity and Pupil Services beginning May 12, 2025. Students who currently attend a PCSSD school will be automatically re-enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year.

If you live in Pulaski County, you can verify your zoned school on the District website at pcssd.org/register. However, school choice opens our schools to families outside district lines allowing students to be a part of our school family, no matter their neighborhood.

For families who do not live within the PCSSD school zone but wish to attend one of the schools, the Arkansas Public School Choice Act is an option. School Choice enables a student in kindergarten through grade 12 to attend a school in a nonresident district. No transportation is provided by the District for students who attend a PCSSD school via school choice.

PCSSD serves 25 schools in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, and Sherwood. Those 25 schools include 16 elementary schools, four middle school campuses, one junior high campus, and four high school campuses.

If you have specific questions related to registration and school choice within PCSSD, please contact the Office of Equity and Pupil Services at 501-234-2021. Families can access the registration portal on the PCSSD website at www.pcssd.org/register.

About PCSSD

“We hope you will consider sending your children to PCSSD. We take your child’s education personally,” said Assistant Superintendent for Equity and Pupil Services, Dr. Janice Warren.

“PCSSD is committed to providing all students with learning experiences that prepare them for college or career readiness.”

Families can apply for school choice in one of three ways. They can reach out by email at schoolchoice@pcssd.org, in person at the PCSSD Central Office or mail in their application c/o Equity and Pupil Services to 925 E. Dixon Rd., Little Rock, AR, 72206.

SAVE THE DATE for PCSSD

2025-2026 Registration

JANUARY 13, 2025 New Pre-K Registration

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 25 schools.

Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since 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.

MARCH 10, 2025 K-12 Student Enrollment

MAY 12, 2025 Intradistrict Transfers

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Joe David Rice, born in Paragould and reared in Jonesboro, probably knows Arkansas as well as anyone alive. The former owner of an outfitting business on the Buffalo National River and the state’s former tourism director, his Arkansas Backstories is published by the Butler Center.

Amy Gramlich is a wife, mom, blogger and public school educator proudly planted in Arkansas. She loves to celebrate all occasions big and small with fun outfits, creative recipes and fresh home decor (which must always include plants). She enjoys all the details that go into planning the next trip or party.

Kelli Reep is a writer and public relations practitioner in central Arkansas. When she is not looking for the best pie in the state, she is being ordered around by three cats. She likes to read, cook, sleep and help out when she can.

Mark Carter is senior editor for Arkansas Money & Politics. He has more than 30 years of experience working for newspapers and publications across the state and in corporate communications.

Steve Lewis is a proud Lori Sparkman, owner graduate of Central of Lori Sparkman High who moved away Photography, has trava long time ago. His eled the globe to work accomplishments include extensively with beautijumping freight trains ful brides and grooms, through the Canadian fierce fitness clients, Rockies back in the and growing families, as summer of ’97, finally well as high-profile and getting a bachelor’s corporate clients. She degree after taking prides herself in capturFOREVER (man!), and ing their personalities surviving 10+ years as a with a sophisticated photojournalist before and lighthearted style. returning home to contribute to AY Media.

Jamie Lee is a freelance photographer originally from southwest Louisiana who now resides in Little Rock.

With a strong focus on portrait, branding and food photography, she loves capturing people’s stories and cultures through the lens, helping businesses build their brands visually, and showcasing the local food scene and small businesses.

Chris Davis was born and raised in Sherwood but now resides in North Little Rock with his wife and 7-year-old son. When his son was born, his wife asked for a new camera to take pictures of their little one.

From there, his love of photography grew, and he is proud to be one of the contributing photographers at AY magazine.

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OUR PRESENT IS IN HER

FUTURE It’s decided. We’re in love and we’ll do everything we can to help support our grandbaby’s future. That starts with contributing to the 529 plan her parents already started, or even starting one of our own.

The Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan helps education savings grow tax-deferred. And friends and family who contribute to the plan also get tax benefits.

Supporting her education is one of the best gifts we can give her.

Talk to your kids about planning for your grandchild’s future.

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publisher's letter

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2025! Here’s hoping your holidays were bright and the dawn of a new year fills you with hope and energy to make it the best one yet.

Here at AY About You, we are celebrating the changing of the calendar with an issue chock-full of tips and advice on getting 2025 off on the right foot. Our “New Year, New You” section has all the details about rejuvenating your look, from aesthetic injectables and fillers to plastic surgery and more.

We also feature our section on orthopedic medicine, knowing many of our readers have set ambitious fitness goals that can sometimes lead people to overdo it. We talk to some of Arkansas’ leading authorities on how to avoid injury, stay in the game and meet one’s fitness goals sensibly.

We also learn about the newest in replacement knees, hips and other artificial joints for those considering such surgery.

Resolving to experience more Arkansas food and drink this year?

Let us get you started with a visit to Brave New Restaurant, a Little Rock favorite in fine dining for decades, and the funky Fossil Cove Brewing Co., one of Fayetteville’s best craft breweries.

Last but not least, find in this issue the 2025 Arkansas Mental Health Guide Magazine, which is full of interesting and useful information on various aspects of mental health in Arkansas. Our writing and design staff have been hard at work putting this edition together, and we are very proud of the result.

The turning over of the calendar always brings out something in me, a fresh dose of hope for the future, a long list of things I want to accomplish professionally and personally, and, most of all, anticipation for all the promise and possibilities the next 12 months hold.

As you begin to make 2025 your best year, we thank you for bringing AY About You along for the ride.

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com / heatherbaker_ar

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READER FEEDBACK AY ABOUT YOU DECEMBER 2024 COVER The picture tells the story.

Veronica G Love

AYMAGAZINE |

ARKANSAS’ LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024 | AYMAG.COM

Awesome cover.

Jeremy McCutcheon $5.00 U.S.

This cover is so beautiful and reminds us all what Christmas is truly about.

Melissa Chance GETTING TO KNOW YOU 2024: RŌBER :: COCKTAILS + CULINARY, REVIVAL :: RESTAURANT + BEER GARDEN, BAJA GRILL Our favorite place!

Michelle Mitchell A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER: GAYLORD TEXAN RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER UPS THE ANTE ON HOLIDAY MAGIC It’s gorgeous.

April Pollard

Twenty-seven-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss will bring the Arcadia 2025 Tour to the Walmart AMP in Rogers May 16.

TOY STORY: INDEPENDENT TOY STORES STILL EXIST, THRIVE IN ARKANSAS This is very well written and I really enjoyed reading this. We love the toy store in our town and also love all toy stores around! It’s hard for a lot of people to take a step back and realize, shop local means keeping traditions alive and keeping places like toy stores open and around! There is just something about walking into a toy store as a kid, that is a feeling you can’t get from a big box retailer. I hope all these businesses stay in business for years and years to come!

Carroll’s Candies AY’S BEST WOMEN IN HEALTH CARE: REBECCA JONES, ARKANSAS SURGICAL HOSPITAL Great story .....well-deserved recognition Rebecca!

Kae Wissler

ZERO: Origami Sake creates first Nonalcoholic sake in the U.S.

AY’S FACES OF ARKANSAS: FACE OF PLASTIC SURGERY, WRIGHT PLASTIC SURGERY & MED SPA The best!

Amy Dedmon Martin

TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM Renaissance in the works for Sir Loin’s Inn in North Little Rock Cousins Maine Lobster makes its way around central Arkansas Lake Hamilton band performs in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Keo Arkansas Pecan Festival Country musician Tracy Lawrence will stop in El Dorado May 23 for a concert at the First Financial Music Hall.

Top Weekend Events

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agenda

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Top

you just can't miss!

JUSTIN MOORE WITH SPECIAL GUEST WYATT PUTMAN Jan. 18 The Theater @ Simmons Bank Arena — North Little Rock

Arkansas’ own Justin Moore will take the stage for a hometown concert that’s sure to please. The pride of Poyen will play all fan favorites from his illustrious career. Opening for Moore is special guest Wyatt Putnam.

BIG BUCK CLASSIC

Jan. 24-26 Arkansas State Fairgrounds — Little Rock The bucks are back, bigger and better than ever. Make plans now to check out all the fun at the Big Buck Classic, which will return to the Arkansas State Fairgrounds for great family-friendly entertainment that celebrates the deer hunting culture of the Natural State.

NEWSBOYS LIVE

Jan. 25 Murphy Arts District — El Dorado Have you heard the news? The long-running musical sensation Newsboys are playing El Dorado this month. Formed in 1985, the group’s musical talent and uplifting messages make for one entertaining evening. Appearing for one night only at the Murphy Arts District.

JOHN CRIST: JOKES FOR HUMANS Jan. 30 The Crown Complex — Fayetteville

Serving up his own signature helping of family, faith and observations on society, John Crist is one of the most popular comics working today. Catch him at the Crown Complex in Fayetteville for a great evening of side-splitting comedy.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 2025 WORLD TOUR Jan. 25 Simmons Bank Arena — North Little Rock

You know them, you love them, and you probably grew up with them. The world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters return to Simmons Bank Arena this month. Blending family-friendly entertainment, gags and incredible athletic ability, the Globetrotters are an American institution.

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events

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1 First Day Hikes Lake Catherine State Park Hot Springs

Persistence of Vision Film Festival Hot Springs

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Antique Alley Arkansas Antique Show Conway Expo Center Conway

Saturday Morning Cartoons RØDE House at The Momentary Bentonville

10 Arkansas Duck Derby UCA HPER Center Conway

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Taj Farrant Rev Room Little Rock

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11 Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay TheatreSquared Fayetteville

2025 Arkansas Marine Expo

Statehouse Convention Center Little Rock

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Kanton Teen & NWA Comic Con 2025 the Penny Pickers Rogers Convention Center Rogers George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville

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9-26 ESSE Purse Museum presents “555 Compacts” ESSE Museum & Store Little Rock

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Zakk Sabbath: King of the Monstours The Hall Little Rock

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Ozark Mountain Music Festival Basin Park Hotel Eureka Springs

Yellow Brick Road Tour Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack Little Rock

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2nd Annual Beloved Community Festival Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Walton Arts Center Bentonville Fayetteville

Insidious: The Further You Fear Walton Arts Center Fayetteville

3rd Sunday Blues Jam The Bakery District Fort Smith

Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations Walton Arts Center Fayetteville

Tyler Halverson – Back to School Tour George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville

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Bayker Blankenship Rev Room Little Rock

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical Donald W Reynolds Performance Hall Conway

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra presents: Zee Zee Plays Liszt Robinson Center Little Rock

Oaklawn Southwest Day Oaklawn Hot Springs

Ozark Mountain Daredevils Charts at UA-Pulaski Technical College Little Rock

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Phantogram – Running Through Colors Tour The Hall Little Rock

Randall King George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville

Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations Robinson Center Little Rock

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Matt Mathews Walton Arts Center Fayetteville

aymag.com

cover

Photo courtesy of HGTV 16

Household Names

HGTV Fixer to Fabulous stars reflect on fame, family and Season 6

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by MIKE DAVELLO

E

verything one needs to know about the “glamorous” life led by Home and Garden TV/Discovery+ stars Dave and Jenny Marrs, the Bentonville creative couple behind Fixer to Fabulous and Rock the Block, can be summed up in the context of answering the phone for this interview.

The married couple and parents of five children fielded the call from the jobsite of a project, desperately trying to steal some time for lunch. They took turns answering questions, allowing the other to take a quick bite, as they reflected on the growth of their media and retail empire.

“I think ‘tired’ is the appropriate word,” joked Dave when asked how he felt about returning for the show’s sixth season.

“No, it’s good. We’ve been very blessed that after five seasons and coming on now to Season 6 that people still feel like we’re relevant and still watch us.”

The couple announced the new season this summer but did not have a date for the premiere at that time. In early December, the Marrs and HGTV jointly announced the new season would debut January 7 at 8 p.m. eastern, 7 p.m. central standard time.

Jenny echoed Dave’s joke about the exhausting nature of pulling a new season’s worth of shows together, which is a lot harder than most viewers realize. She said the couple’s desire to take people through new experiences and not just play the same formula week after week requires extra thought and effort but has made the couple and the show the success that they are.

“Every year, it’s a challenge to try to top the year before in some ways and do new things and stay creative,” she said.

“I think that’s the biggest challenge, you know? We’ve been doing 16 homes a year pretty quickly, and it’s just a matter of keeping on top of being creative and coming up with new things. This year, we did some different projects than we’ve ever done before, and I think that was fun. You can’t keep doing the same thing every time; we’re always wanting new challenges.”

On that measure, Season 6 likely will not disappoint. The

The Marrs have some surprises dialed up for viewers this season as they transform homeowners’ properties.

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couple kept many things about the forthcoming shows close to the vest but did share that some of the episodes are built around some very special projects, starting with rebuilds of homes damaged in the deadly spate of tornadoes that roared through northwest Arkansas in May. In all, eight people lost their lives as 15 twisters devastated the area.

“We were able to do not just one but three houses this year that were affected immensely by the tornadoes,” Dave said. “One of them was for a firefighter and his family who was out helping others during the storms and afterward. I really feel like that’s one of the greatest things about our shows is that we get to shift the focus onto people who we’re able to bring in and let them tell their story. This season is just full of them.”

Another special episode the couple has teased is a first-

and stayed until it was completed. I feel like we could use a lot more stories like that on television.”

“We’re super excited about all of the projects, but particularly the 24-hour build,” Jenny added. “It was all a surprise.

Everyone was working so hard for 24 hours straight. It was a really special, really great experience all around.”

The episode was memorable in another respect because it was one the couple had to go to bat for to convince the network to include it in the new season’s lineup.

“That is probably the one that we were most passionate about this season, and we really had to fight for this one,” Jenny said. “It’s a very different format than what we normally do, and our production company and the network were kind of hesitant, to be honest, because it was a big undertaking in terms of making it happen.”

In an increasingly crowded space of home improvement, design and lifestyle programming, the Marrses have managed to stand out simply by staying true to themselves and their values of family, faith and community. Well before they became household names — in this sense, literally — through their television shows, Dave was a sought-after homebuilder, master craftsman and part-time family acreage tender.

Over the course of the show, the couple and their brood of five have become better known to viewers, but only as far as the family lets it go, especially when it comes to the kids. The Marrs family includes 14-year-old twin boys, a 12-yearold daughter, a 10-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son.

“We actually started this seven years ago because we had a year off in between filming the first seaThe Marrs returned for Season 6 of Fixer to Fabulous in part due son, so it’s been seven years now,” to their belief the show has become a ministry to others.

Jenny said. “This show’s been part of their life, so it’s just normal for them, just like for us, you know? of-its kind project for the Fixer to Fabulous crew. The episode This is just where we go to work. That’s all they’ve kind of traces a project that remodeled a home in the span of 24 ever known. hours, benefiting a family where several members have dealt “As the kids get older, they actually don’t really want to be with and beaten cancer. a part of the show. They don’t want to be on camera as much.

“We just were really affected by the story of this family,” I would say over the past couple years, the bigger kids are Jenny said. “We found out that the daughter fought leukelike, ‘Nope, we’re out.’ We never, ever want them to feel like mia and is now in remission, and then her mom actually also they have to do anything and be a part of the show.” was diagnosed with cancer, and she is now also in remission.

Keeping a relatively normal home life in between filming They’re just so amazing and happy and joyful and appreciaand appearances at conventions, promotional and fan events tive of everything. We were like, ‘We have to do something can be challenging at times, so much so that each subsequent bigger for both of them.’” season of Fixer to Fabulous was not a given. In fact, Jenny is The Marrses seized upon a 24-hour time window while quick to admit that she did not ever have a goal for it to last the family was away from home to leverage their regular as long as it has. crew, as well as hundreds of volunteers, working around the “I would’ve been done five years ago,” she said. “I did not clock to renovate the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, extewant anything to do with this, personally. Dave was defirior and a big backyard renovation. nitely more camera ready. He likes this. He likes being the “It was a challenge, you know, as a builder and a designer, center of attention. I do not — not at all. We really do feel, to see if we could do that much work in one day,” Dave said. though, like this has become kind of a ministry for us. We’ve “Everything was donated. Everyone worked their butts off

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“We were able to do not just one but three houses this year that were affected immensely by the tornadoes.

One of them was for a firefighter and his family who was out helping others during the storms and afterward.

— Dave Marrs However many more seasons the show has left in it remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain — the couple will not be wanting for anything to fill their time. The Marrs brand includes several projects, including Marrs Developing, a residential construction and renovation company in Bentonville, and the Berry Farm in Bentonville, which consists of youpick blueberries and an event space.

The couple, who are also deeply involved with the issues of orphan care, The new season features a 24-hour build and renovating family preservation and adoption, several Arkansas homes damaged by tornadoes. launched the berry farm as a way to provide educational and skills opportunities for orphaned and at-risk teenage really seen that the show has impacted other people in ways boys in Zimbabwe. that we hadn’t anticipated. We’ve prayed a lot about it and feel In 2023, the pair opened Marrs Mercantile in a renovated like, for whatever reason, God was asking us to do this, and storefront in Centerton offering apparel, gifts and home deso we did it.” cor, among other items, all of which carried Jenny’s signature “At the end of every season we’re like, ‘Are we starting touch. The success of that location quickly inspired a sister another season?’ I don’t know. We have to wait until ratings store, Marrs on Main, which is set for a springtime opening come in because our show is ratings based,” Dave said. “By in Bentonville. the grace of God, people still want to watch us. I don’t know.

“I’ve been working on designing furniture, just on my own I feel like there’s a responsibility in that, so we have no time for projects,” Jenny said. “We’re working through a company frame on when it ends. Just like Jenny said, that’s kind of up called Zuma Imports, out of Charleston, [South Carolina]. to God’s timing.”

We carry a lot of their stuff now in the mercantile, and now

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Viewers have come to love the Marrs’ blend of faith and family as well as their skill in renovation and decorating.

we’re making some stuff together. We’re going to be bringing in a lot of that kind of furniture and lighting.

“It’s a bigger store, and we have more space for bigger pieces. This will have more furniture that will be the unique, one-of-a-kind stuff, not a furniture store where you come in and you order things. It’s sort of like a treasure hunt every time.”

As lunchtime wound down, the two started to talk about what lay ahead of them that afternoon. Listening to them, it is easy to see why they resonate with audiences, especially in places as unpretentious as Arkansas. What one sees of the Marrses, be it on TV or at the grocery store, is what one gets, which can be a refreshing departure from the contrived and over-produced personas of some reality TV shows.

“I complain a lot more than Dave because I have to do my hair. Dave just throws a hat on. I have to do my hair, put on makeup. It’s a whole thing when the cameras are rolling, which is exhausting,” Jenny said, feigning exasperation.

“I really think I’m kind of the sideshow,” Dave added with a laugh. “Jenny’s the real reason people are watching.”

Despite the work and the hectic schedule the show brings, it is easy to discern how enamored the couple is with the people that surround it, from the crew to the many people with whom they get to interact.

“I think people are watching for a variety of reasons,” Dave said. “If you looked at our following, the majority is women that watch. I get a ton of questions like, ‘How did you build that? How do you recreate that? Can you submit plans on what you did?’ so I’ve started to do more of that.

“I get those occasional guys out there that are, maybe, wanting to build a few things here and there. I do hope we’re going back to a day where people want to learn and create with their own hands because I think we’re missing that here in the U.S., by and large.”

For Jenny, the joy of what the couple has become lies in the personal relationships of her family, the co-workers who are like family, and the viewers, many of whom the couple will never even meet but who feel a connection just the same.

“We really do love our crew that we work with. We’ve worked with pretty much the same group of people from day one, and they’re wonderful,” she said. “If we were to say, ‘Yep, this is it, the end,’ we’d walk away from it without any

Every year, it’s a challenge to try to top the year before in some ways and do new things and stay creative. I think that’s the biggest challenge, you know?

— Jenny Marrs concerns about anything other than we’d miss working with our team every day.

“We’ve also met so many people through the show, not only just the families that we get to work with and tell their stories, which are always really beautiful stories and wonderful people, but we’ve got to meet so many people who say they watch the show and it brings them joy for whatever reason.

We’ve always prayed that whenever the time is done for this simple little show about renovating homes, that God just closes the door. Until he tells us to stop, we’ll keep doing it.”

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h s e Fr t r a St

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ti g n ti a e y lth a e h ith w r a e y Take a bite out of the new

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By LANCE BROWNFIELD // Photos courtesy of Kate Jenkins

olks are what they eat, or so they say, so those looking for a “new you” in the new year may find no better place to start than with a new diet plan.

Besides the task of getting oneself to enjoy salads and fruit cups, there is so much disinformation and propaganda out there working against consumers.

One restaurant is getting to the root of the problem.

Jack Sundell owns the Root Cafe in Little Rock with his wife, Corri Bristow-Sundell. The couple is dedicated to serving fresh, locally sourced ingredients in dishes that a dietician would approve of.

“Healthy eating is about healthy habits and is most likely to stick when it’s part of a healthy lifestyle,” Sundell said. “When people commit to habits like exercising regularly, drinking less or quitting smoking, it’s much easier to eat healthy, as well.”

He said diners do not have to sacrifice quality when eating out, but for those who care about things like organic options, vegan and vegetarian entrees, or locally and sustainably grown foods, it is important to be intentional about eating out “because not every place prioritizes these types of choices,” Sundell said.

“Also, it’s a great idea to ask restaurants specifically about the things you’re looking for,” he added. “If they have it, they’ll be happy to accommodate you, and if they don’t have it, then hearing people request something is the best way to motivate them to start offering it.”

The Root Cafe offers three menus, one each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sundell recommended an omelette with a

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side salad or the mushroom Benny for breakfast and the curry chicken Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service racked up more than 13,000 salad salad or sandwich, the vegetarian banh mi sandwich, or the vegeducational classes, about 17,500 landowner visits, nearly 38,000 indietarian mushroom burger for lunch. vidual consultations and nearly 400,000 total volunteer hours.

For dinner, his suggested appetizers are deviled eggs, green tomato “We should think about what we grow in our gardens from the cracklings, or smoked carrot hummus served with house-made crosstandpoint of what we enjoy eating and what foods grow well in the tini and local veggies followed by entree options such as Lion’s Mane climate and soil where we live,” Roofe said. “The same goes for raising Country Captain, the spicy tofu bowl, or vegetarian purple hull pea chili animals. Where we live and what property zoning laws we are under will served with grilled cornbread and a side salad. dictate some of these decisions, as well as access to the water and feed “Local food isn’t automatically more healthy, but whenneeded to support the animals.” ever you’re making everything from scratch like we do, “Raising crops and livestock can be a large investthen you’re using whole ingredients like fresh eggs, ment in time and resources,” Barber said. “It is smart fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains, and to learn what works for you and start small.” this means that you’re avoiding processed and He suggested starting with a few chickens ultra-processed foods, which is a very healthy before attempting to raise cattle and starting choice,” Sundell said. with a small container garden or raised bed The same principle applies when cookbefore dedicating a large plot of land for a ing at home. Opting for produce from the garden. local farmers market can help increase the “Working through a couple of seasons amount of whole foods in one’s cooking, of gardening or raising livestock will give as opposed to canned and packaged foods you a good idea of the financial responsithat often come with unwanted preservabilities involved,” he said. tives and a higher daily value of sodium The experts agreed that the quality of and added sugars. the food people eat “directly impacts our Better yet, there is no more direct way of health,” but just as crops need sunlight, nutri— Nina Roofe, University sourcing produce than growing it in one’s own ent-rich soil and clean water to yield, human of Arkansas Cooperative backyard. bodies need exercise, good sleep and healthy Extension Service “To focus on eating well in the new year, constress levels to maximize the impact of a diet. sider a three-pronged approach of nutrient density, “I can’t say it enough, but healthy eating is a lifegardening and mindful eating,” said Nina Roofe, assistant style choice as much as it is a dietary choice,” Sundell said. vice president for family and consumer sciences at the University Abby Tipton, a dietician at Baptist Health Weight & Nutriof Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. tion Center in Little Rock, said health is more important than what The Cooperative Extension Services offers lots of resources about shows up on the scale. nutrition, wellness, gardening and farming, exercise and other topics. “‘Healthy’ looks different on every individual because no one person There are also county extension offices in all 75 counties that provide is the same,” she said. “Do not compare your health journey to those classes (most of them free), conduct soil tests and more. Extension weed around you. Surround yourself with friends and family members who scientist Tom Barber said local county agents are the best resource and are going to encourage your journey and push you to reach your goals. contact for one-on-one guidance, and local offices can be found on the Slipups are very common when it comes to changing your lifestyle, but extension’s website, uaex.uada.edu. According to the site, last year, the don’t let this inhibit you from reaching where you want to be. Going

Focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats to increase the density of nutrients you consume.

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into the new year, stay confident and motivated to achieve your goals” Over the past 100 years, American culture has created almost unattainable standards of beauty, especially for women. Hollywood actresses and models in magazines have been replaced by the almighty Snapchat filter and photo editing software, now with artificial intelligence. Victims of beauty have only increased since the beginning of the Internet Age, and 40 percent of teenage girls reported that social media has caused them to worry about body image, a survey by Mental Health Foundation found. Plus, there is no lack of “toxic beauty advice” on sites like Instagram and YouTube.

“You should receive the majority of your health information from health care professionals who have the expertise and education to back up claims,” Tipton said. “If you do use the internet, consider websites ending in .org, .gov or .edu. If you come across information that you are curious about, ask your doctor, dietitian or other health care professional to verify.”

While fad diets were invented long before the first social network, the internet has a funny way of getting people to swallow tapeworms.

“The most important thing to remember is to do what works for you and focus on what you can control,” Roofe said. “This means starting with small changes you can maintain for the rest of your life.”

Tipton said fad diets offer a quick fix for people looking to lose weight in a timely manner but are often unsustainable for a lifetime.

Research shows adherents often gain back as much weight as they lose plus more than they started with after giving up such diets.

“If you’re looking to lose weight via a fad diet, the only sustainable way of keeping the weight off is to follow that diet for the rest of your life,” she said.

The Baptist Health Weight & Nutrition Center offers registered dietician nutritionists for patients in need of medical nutrition therapy for a variety of disease states, including pre-op and post-op bariatric surgery, nonsurgical weight loss, oncology, gastroparesis, food allergies and intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, among others. The center also has a nurse practitioner on staff to provide additional education for nutritional needs and provide medicinal approaches through prescriptions for various disease states.

Other Baptist Health resources include a healing ministry, which provides many outlets for a healthy lifestyle, including the BHeart Healthy program, bariatric surgery, Baptist Health Community Outreach health fairs, community wellness centers, the Healthy Children’s Initiative, a Diabetes Health Management Center and more.

In the end, it is all about wading into the water slowly and adjusting to the temperature. After all, if the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, it is not wise to start in a full sprint. Rather, it is better to slowly turn a walk into a jog and then into a run.

Some of the key changes to start out with are cooking from scratch or eating out at places that cook from scratch, knowing where food comes from and how it was raised or grown, and sharing meals with loved ones to help slow down and appreciate “not just the flavor, but the farmers that worked to produce the food, traditional flavors and recipes, and the wonderful people in our lives that take the time to join us around the table,” Sundell said.

It can be difficult for restaurants such as the Root Cafe to include full nutrition guides the way corporate chains do because, he added, “gathering and reporting that information is super expensive and tough for small independent establishments.”

“In general, if you know what foods are healthy, then that will be true at a restaurant, just like it would at home,” Sundell said. “Grilled chicken is going to be a healthier choice than fried chicken, a side salad will be better for you than french fries or onion rings, and a fruit sorbet is healthier than banana pudding with whipped cream for dessert. Another idea is to use meals at restaurants to eat things that you never cook for yourself at home that might add some nutritional variety to your diet. For example, if you never cook fish or eggplant or mushrooms at

Nina Roofe

Tom Barber

Abby Tipton

home, ordering them at a restaurant will give your body nutrients that you normally don’t get.”

Sundell and his wife are on the verge of opening a second location in Little Rock’s Breckenridge Village shopping center, which Sundell plans to open in early January. There, the restaurant will offer all the same breakfast, lunch and dinner items, as well as weekend brunch, as the original SoMa location. The new location will have a bit more emphasis on dinner than the downtown location and will include a full bar and, like the original, an outdoor dining area.

When it all boils down, put good in, get good out.

“Focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats to increase the density of nutrients you consume,” Roofe said, “limiting your intake of processed foods, foods high in sugar, and unhealthy fats to decrease empty calorie intake.”

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF EATING BETTER • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and feel fuller longer, since thirst is often mistaken for hunger.

• Do not do it alone. Tell people about the resolutions so they provide support and accountability, possibly taking on the resolution too.

• Read nutrition labels to make informed decisions about products and their possible drawbacks.

• Portion control helps stop overeating. Learn proper portion sizes for each age to understand how much to eat and serve family members.

• Do not increase bad habits before making a change for the new year, which can undermine the efforts.

Instead, incorporate gradual changes.

• Slow down and savor meals. Eating slowly helps people learn their hunger cues and how to distinguish hunger from satiety and boredom.

• Planning meals decreases impulsive eating and allows consumers to create grocery shopping lists, which can save time and money.

• Set clear and attainable goals.

• Reframe the journey. Instead of something one “has” to do or “should” do, make the change something one “gets” to do for a brighter perspective.

• Create a detailed food journal.

• Do not be too rigid. Allow for some mistakes.

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ALWAYS MADE FROM

SCRATCH

8 Locations in Arkansas tazikis.com

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4 Locations in Arkansas waldoschicken.com

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food

Kitchen Aid Home cooking brings health in the new year

By MAK MILLARD // Photos courtsey of UAMS

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any people still might think of healthy eating as a realm of meager meal-replacement shakes and endless successions of flavorless chicken and rice.

Meanwhile, the nominally “healthy” selections found on menus and store shelves can pose more obstacles than solutions. As the time comes to set one’s health and wellness intentions for the year ahead, perhaps it is time to take a look closer to home instead. Often Chef Robert Hall overlooked, the humble home-cooked meal now contends with DoorDash and the drive-thru for a seat at the table, since home cooking can be an ideal way to make long-term improvements to one’s diet and health.

“When you eat at home, food that you prepare from scratch, you are in total control of the type and amount of fat that you use and salt and sugar,” said Robert Hall, lead associate teaching professor of culinary at the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute in Little Rock. “If you use the frozen food section to get healthy options in an already-made frozen meal that you just pop in the microwave or pop in the oven, maybe — and I’ll call it a stretch — the one benefit you get from that is portion control if you eat just one portion. Many of those are filled with so many preservatives and chemicals and things like that.”

Learning to cook from scratch also gives the home chef total freedom to experiment with different flavors and ingredients. While UA-PTC hosts regular community cooking classes, few of them explicitly focus on healthy cooking as such. Still, much like the culinarians working toward their degrees, one can develop kitchen skills that apply regardless of the dish in question. With the proper techniques nailed down, all that remains is to swap in healthier ingredients. “[Students] take a healthy foods and nutrition class, but the entire curriculum focuses on cooking methods, not so much cooking healthy food, but you’re prepared to do anything,” Hall said. “If I teach you how to grill properly, it doesn’t matter what you’re grilling, so I can grill a steak. I can grill a slab of cauliflower. I can grill pieces of eggplant and give you a delicious experience. It doesn’t have to be a rib eye.”

Taking charge of one’s diet through home cooking can be especially important for those managing chronic conditions, as well as being a crucial component in the prevention of some ailments. At the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, the culinary medicine program is working at the intersection of the kitchen and the doctor’s office, promoting a “food as medicine” approach that benefits both patients and providers alike.

“We know that there’s a link between diet and chronic diseases, especially things like diabetes, heart disease and obesity,” said Alyssa Frisby, a registered and licensed dietitian at UAMS. “A lot of these chronic conditions can be prevented through preventative medicine and through these lifestyle changes, like having a healthier diet [and] getting more physical activity.”

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The culinary medicine program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hosts cooking classes for students. (Photo by Bryan Clifton)

The culinary medicine program provides valuable nutrition-related experiences for UAMS students, faculty and staff. Fourth-year medical students and third-year pharmacy students can take an elective that not only teaches them about different nutrition topics and chronic disease states but how to cook recipes that are specifically recommended for individuals living with a chronic condition. Students from all five colleges at UAMS can also participate in hands-on activities and discuss case studies in the teaching kitchen.

“It definitely gives them more confidence not only in their own nutrition capabilities but in talking to their patients,” Frisby said. “If they’re making a recommendation that their patient should meal prep, they actually have the hands-on experience in our teaching kitchen where they see how long that might actually take to prepare the components of the healthy dish or to batch cook. They can relate a little bit better to the busy lifestyles that their patients might have.”

While the culinary medicine program is largely not patient-facing, 2025 will see the team’s outreach expand more in that direction. Having a larger presence at the university’s clinics will give patients a casual opportunity to gain nutrition education and basic culinary skills. The team has also put on demonstrations at the patient support pavilion at the university’s cancer institute, in addition to hosting different organizations in the teaching kitchen and partnering with local nonprofits to bring the kitchen to people outside of the hospital.

“We are excited about the opportunity to get to work in a more patient-facing setting like the clinics,” Frisby said. “We are very active on social media, and we put teaching Alyssa Frisby kitchen demonstration videos on our website so that anyone that has access to our social media accounts [or] our website can get the culinary medicine experience from home.

“We are really just excited about finding different ways that we can reach a broader audience and present this idea of culinary medicine and food as medicine to our community members and really just help demystify healthy eating and make it approachable and fun.”

The main thrust of the team’s teaching revolves around the Mediterranean diet and its proven health benefits with an emphasis on plantbased foods. Encouraging small changes such as opting for whole grains instead of refined and incorporating more nuts, seeds, beans and legumes into one’s diet makes improving one’s eating habits a more sustainable endeavor, Frisby said.

One also does not have to start out making a whole dinner from scratch, she added. Instead, focus on one component to make healthier, such as a vegetable side dish. That is where the frozen aisle can come in handy, since frozen vegetables are both nutritious and convenient.

Another useful component of the Mediterranean approach is its adaptability. The diet incorporates entire regions with different cultures and cuisines, Frisby said. The idea is not so much to cook exactly the same dishes but to incorporate those types of foods into one’s existing diet wherever they fit best. It is possible to have an Arkansan spin on the Mediterranean diet by utilizing locally grown produce, for example.

“Our tagline is, ‘We AR cooking for a better state of health,’” Frisby said. “Our goal overall in culinary medicine, our mission is to impact every Arkansan in some way. Whether that is through the education of our health care professionals [or] whether it’s through our direct

community outreach, we think there’s a lot of value in providing nutrition education in this really practical and casual, thoughtful kind of way.”

One of the biggest barriers to implementing the changes is one that plagues most health and fitness resolutions shortly after the new year turns over — a lack of time. Schedules do not get less busy just because one has decided to start cooking more from home. While there are ways to shave time off of the process, such as preparing certain elements beforehand and plain old practice with the recipes in question, there is a certain level of stick-to-it-iveness that cannot be hacked, tipped or shortcut into.

“I live an hour away from here,” Hall said. “I’m from Morrilton, and I still cook every night when I get home. Like anything else in life, if it’s really a priority, you’ll make it happen.”

One strategy for passing the time while cooking is to make it a family or community event. Healthy eating and healthy cooking, after all, are part of an overall lifestyle of wellness, so bringing loved ones into the mix can not only make the experience more enjoyable but build healthy habits that are easier to sustain in the long run.

“Food is often used in celebration, and we want people to eat healthy foods because it makes them feel good,” Frisby said. “We know that that community building, that socialization, spending time with loved ones is super important. … It can be exciting to share new foods, new cooking techniques

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The university hopes to move the classes in a more public-facing direction. (Photos by Evan Lewis)

and healthy experiences with other people, and we definitely don’t want to put limitations on how people can use food in their own lifestyle when we’re providing that education.”

Even if one is not cooking with a health condition in mind, expanding one’s expertise in the kitchen plays a key part in a larger movement that cultivates health from the soil up. As far as Hall is concerned, people should be cooking from home and from scratch as often as they can, even finding ways to grow their own produce when possible.

“If someone wants to make a goal in 2025 to do better than they are right now, that’s progress, first of all,” he said. “Celebrate any progress. I would suggest at least one New Year’s goal or New Year’s resolution, and that would be if households — that could be a single person, that could be a whole family — prepare from scratch one meal a week more than you do now, and that’s taking a step forward.”

“One of the things that we’ve learned and we definitely like sharing with people is that, yes, it does take time to cook healthy meals or make these healthy diet-related lifestyle changes,” Frisby said, “but the great thing about getting started is it gets easier. As you develop those basic skills in the kitchen, you’ll find that it takes less time to prepare a healthy recipe or to prepare foods to be eaten later throughout the week. We encourage people to start small and try to find things that they can confidently change in their diet and lifestyle and just start with those to have a more positive experience with making those changes.”

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I would suggest at least one new year’s goal or new year’s resolution, and that would be if households — that could be a single person, that could be a whole family — prepare from scratch one meal a week more than you do now, and that’s taking a step forward.

— Chef Robert Hall

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Family Style Brave new directions for Brave New Restaurant

By LANCE BROWNFIELD // Photos provided by Brave New Restaurant

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ne of Little Rock’s most well-known and beloved establishments, Brave New Restaurant has for decades retained its spot as one of the best casual fine dining restaurants in the state.

The catchy name was taken from the 1932 dystopian novel by Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, but is also a play on the name of founder and owner, Peter Brave. For the record, despite being described by his son, Gordy, as a “voracious reader” who completes a book a week, Peter mostly reads nonfiction and does not care much for the work that gave his establishment its name.

An Arkansas native, Peter began his food career by dropping out of high school and moving to San Francisco, where he cut his teeth in the fine dining scene, later moving to Tampa to continue his career. Returning to Little Rock, he worked for a time at the Capital Hotel, where he met his wife, Marie. The duo opened Brave New Restaurant in the late 1980s, pioneering locally the farm-to-table ethos he had experienced in high-end eateries elsewhere.

Brave New Restaurant originally opened at 3701 Cantrell Road, now Red Door, to fill a hole in the local dining market. The original was cozy to say the least and was serviced by a small staff of Peter, Marie, three servers and a dishwasher.

“It took off like a rocket ship,” Gordy said. “It was the hottest thing in town, and we’ve expanded from there.”

By the early 1990s, the couple welcomed children who would grow up to now serve in leadership roles at Brave New Restaurant.

“It’s been very ingrained in us,” Gordy said. “I tell people when I’m pouring wine, ‘I was taught to pour wine at a very young age, even taught to open a bottle of wine at a very young age.’”

Outside of the immediate family, the sense of found family is a very strong aspect that Peter has doubled down on in recent years. Now boasting 45 employees, the atmosphere is still very familial. Multiple members of the crew have been there for over two decades, almost unheard of in the industry today.

“I think a big thing that sets us apart is the tenure of a good majority of our staff,” said General Manager Randal Beck.

One employee has been with the restaurant since the original location, and there is a dishwasher who has not missed a day of work in more than 20 years. Beck, who has been a part of the team since 2010, attributed the lack of turnover to the family-like environment, which includes such personal touches and perks as hosting a special Thanksgiving dinner for the staff.

“That just kind of goes to the atmosphere that Peter Brave set when he created this place,” Beck said. “When you get to Brave New, you don’t really want to leave Brave New.” The most recent family addition is Miles Erwin, banquet manager and Peter and Marie’s son-in-law. He has been on the team about a year and a half and came from the corporate world with little restaurant industry experience. During his short time, he has made it his mission to soak up everything he can about fine dining and cooking.

“We all bring something really different to the table,” said Cicely Brave, Miles’ wife and Peter and Marie’s daughter, who serves as a manager at Brave New. “We all have very different strengths, and since we do know each other so well, it’s really easy to kind of lean on each other where we need to.”

With an emphasis on freshness and quality, Brave New Restaurant helped pioneer the farm-to-table movement in Little Rock.

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I think our quality of food, our attention to detail, our creativity and our sourcing of our products sets us apart.

— Stephen Seals, head chef The family vibe the restaurant has come to be known for does not end with its cooks and waiters; it also extends to the countless loyal customers they’ve served over the years.

“We’re all very personal with our guests, and we’re invested in them too,” Beck said.

When the restaurant relocated in about 2000, Marie stepped away to focus more on raising the children. The kids’ education was supplemented by frequent trips to restaurants, where they learned and observed the ins and outs of front-ofhouse service from a very early age.

Brave New Restaurant stood the test of time and changing tastes thanks to delicious meals and generous portions. According to Head Chef Stephen Seals, the restaurant is known for its walleye. The “No. 1 most loved dish,” he said, is often ordered with a scallop on the side.

“The walleye, I think, is synonymous with our restaurant down here,” Gordy said. “[My dad] jokes the walleye is going to be put on his epitaph.”

The fish is commonly associated with northern states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as Canada, and there are many commercial fisheries in the Great Lakes and upper Midwest. However, Arkansas also has a large population of walleye, which Brave New Restaurant lovingly prepares using traditional French techniques of broiling the fish with beurre blanc, a classic butter sauce.

Freshness is also key to the restaurant’s formula; the aforementioned scallops are sourced chemical-free from Bedford, Massachusetts, deliveries from Chicago arrive twice a week, and tuna is delivered once a week from Hawaii.

“I think our quality of food, our attention to detail, our creativity and our sourcing of our products sets us apart,” Seals said. “A lot of places right now will just get whatever they can get, however cheap they can get it, and try to doctor it up and put it on a plate. Everything starts with the quality of the product.”

For landlubbers, Brave New offers a delectable selection of steaks culminating with the showstopper tomahawk cut, which weighs in at about 40 ounces.

“We wanted the menu to be welcoming and accommodating to anybody who walks in the door,” Beck said.

The crew at Brave New Restaurant prides itself on providing large portions for reasonable casual fine dining prices.

Cicely said the casual fine dining her father set out to create provides an upscale experience that’s not snooty “but the food definitely tastes like it.”

“It’s good food without any pretention,” Gordy said.

Looking past the plate to the windows along the north-facing wall yields a view of the Arkansas River flanked on either side by a beautiful dichotomy of city and nature. To the east is the downtown skyline, and to the west is pure nature. Newly added heaters have extended the deck season so patrons can enjoy outdoor dining at the stunning locale without sacrificing comfort.

“It could not have been a better view,” Gordy said.

“It’s a selling point for a lot of folks when they’re coming down here. We get used for recruitment dinners a lot of times.”

The restaurant leaders said they were courted to come to the building almost 25 years ago, when it was first built. Gordy and Cicely remember riding their scooters in the empty spaces before offices were finished.

“Coming over here in this little sequestered part of the city has been good for us, but it’s also been isolating a little bit. We haven’t been as active of a participant in the Little Rock culture as I think we could have been or should have been,” Gordy said, adding that the company has launched new efforts to remind people it is still there.

In 2025, ownership plans to grow the restaurant in other ways, including opening for brunch at least one Saturday per month. Erwin has also introduced catering services, and the business recently sold sides for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the first time ever. Brave New Restaurant has also ramped up its involvement in community events, for which the restaurant donates its proceeds to charitable causes.

All that is in hopes of giving back and becoming more at the forefront among new diners and those patrons who have not been back in a while.

“For a restaurant to be open for 34 years and still be considered a destination location, I think that speaks for itself,” Beck said. “We want it to become a household name again.”

Brave New Restaurant is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and for dinner 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information or to make reservations, visit bravenewrestaurant.com or call 501-663-2677.

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A casual, warm environment, delicious food and excellent service at a reasonable cost. It is our goal to have every meal be a celebration of food and to always keep an edge of new in our work.

HOURS: M - F 11:00 am - 2:00 pm M - S 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Little Rock’s only restaurant on the river!

501-663-2677 | 2300 Cottondale Ln #105, Little Rock, AR | bravenewrestaurant.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Do you have a favorite place to eat a burger, a go-to getaway place for the weekend, a great shop to buy a new dress or a fun place to grab a beer?

Nominate them for AY’s “Best of 2025.”

Nominations start Jan. 8

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recipe

Winter Warmup

With the holidays behind us, it is time to enjoy a cozy yet simple way of life for the next few months. For a warm soup option suitable for any night of the week, whip up a batch of this tasty chicken Florentine chowder. Ready in about 45 minutes, this winter-worthy soup meets both the simplicity and comfort factor folks crave this time of year.

By AMY GRAMLICH // Photos by AMY GRAMLICH 34

WINNER, WINNER Originating from French cuisine, simple chicken Florentine soups are cream-based concoctions that feature spinach, chicken and seasonings. The base of the dish often includes heavy cream, butter, Parmesan cheese, spinach and seasonings. Some varieties include white wine, while others include potato gnocchi.

This chowder builds upon the basic ingredients and features diced potatoes, celery and bacon garnish for a loaded version. This chicken Florentine chowder is a wonderful way to warm up on a cold winter night.

SOUP VERSUS CHOWDER — WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Technically, soup and chowder are in the same family. Chowder is considered a type of soup. However, chowder stands out from its thinner, lighter-bodied cousins thanks to its characteristically thick and chunky texture. A chowder’s thickening ingredients of flour, cream, and a mix of hearty vegetables and meats make it a hearty, satisfying dish for cold weather.

Many people are familiar with clam chowder, but there are other types of chowder hailing from various regions of the world. For example, corn chowder and ham chowder are popular choices for many people.

INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil, divided 1 pound chicken breast, cubed 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 celery stalks, diced 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 4 cups chicken broth 2 cups potatoes, peeled and diced 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup heavy cream 1 1/2 cups milk 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated and divided Zest of one lemon (optional) 2 cups fresh spinach 1 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

VERSATILE MEAL OPTIONS Serve this chowder with the same side items one would serve with many soups. Slice some crusty bread, or make a batch of buttermilk biscuits. Crackers are another easy option and offer another way to soak up the delicious cream broth of the chowder.

Sides of rice and pasta are always a safe bet to serve alongside liquid-heavy dishes, and a simple green salad is another nice pairing with this soup.

Be sure to save leftovers for a quick and satisfying dinner option.

The soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

INSTRUCTIONS • Heat one tablespoon of butter in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until both sides are browned and chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from the pot and set aside.

• In the same pot, add the remaining butter. Saute garlic and celery about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

• Sprinkle in the flour and stir continuously for 1 to 2 minutes.

Gradually add the chicken broth, stirring to prevent lumps.

• Add potatoes, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

• Return the cooked chicken to the pot. Add the heavy cream, milk, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and lemon zest (if using). Continue stirring well until the cheese completely melts into the chowder.

• Add the fresh spinach and stir until wilted.

• Garnish chowder with additional parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon, if desired.

Y ield: 4 to 6 servings

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SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS If necessary or desired, cooks can easily make some modifications to this chicken Florentine chowder. Aside from some taste variations, the basic construct of the dish will remain the same so long as the basic ingredients of chicken, spinach and the cream base are maintained.

For example, potato gnocchi or small-sized pasta such as orzo or shells are a good stand-in for diced potatoes.

Try shredding a rotisserie chicken in place of the cubed chicken for a more rustic bite.

Also, feel free to experiment with different types of broth.

This recipe calls for chicken broth, but virtually any variety will work here.

Another good option is to add bell peppers and onions to the chowder for a different flavor kick, since the bell peppers add a touch of sweetness, or toss in some mushrooms for an earthy flavor addition.

The lemon zest listed is optional, but try it at least once to discover how it brings a bright flavor note to the other ingredients in the dish.

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beverage

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Diggin’ It

Fossil Cove Brewing Co. a hub for northwest Arkansas community

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos provided by Fossil Cove Brewing Co.

I

has 13 to 16 beers on tap at any given time, all but five of which are only available on location, Blann said.

The tasting room includes a coffee shop, as well, and for those who enjoy the classic pairing of pizza and beer, the brewery partners with Wicked Wood Fired Pizza to offer on-site grub.

Espresso-based drinks and other non-beer options help make the tasting room even more of a community space, Blann added “You don’t have to be a craft beer lover to come down to our taproom and have a good time,” he said.

Down the street is the 20-barrel production facility, which produces Fossil Cove’s more widely distributed beers, including IPA #3, La Brea Brown, Birch Ave Blonde and the brewery’s lager.

The colorful cans, which stand out for their

f it seems like the craft beer scene across Arkansas has snowballed over the past decade, that is because it has. At only 13 years old, Fossil Cove Brewing Co., the oldest brewery in Fayetteville, is one of the most established breweries in northwest Arkansas. Offering a full selection of beers both on draft at the tap room and in kooky, dino-themed six-packs at local stores, Fossil Cove has something most any suds lover can dig.

“We make some great beer,” said Andrew Blann, marketing director. “All of our team here is super friendly and loves to talk beer and loves welcoming people into our space.”

Owner Ben Mills started homebrewing beer as a student at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. After graduating, he worked at small breweries in Colorado and attended the master brewers certificate program at University of California, Davis, before opening Fossil Cove in 2012.

“He was a biology major, and it just kind of made sense.

The homebrewing side of things fit with his interest in science, and it just kind of grew from there to brewing at the professional level. He got some education and then came back,” Blann said. “The stars just kind of aligned to open up a small brewery here in Fayetteville at that time.”

Fossil Cove was named after a cove on Beaver Lake where Mills enjoyed spending time.

The lake also supplies the water for northwest Arkansas, including the water used to brew Fossil Cove beer.

Blann estimated there were about five breweries operating in the state when Fossil Cove started up as the first production brewery in Fayetteville.

These days, there are more than 50 craft breweries in Arkansas, the Brewers Association states.

The heart of Fossil Cove’s operation is the tasting room at 1946 N. Birch Ave., which

Fayetteville’s oldest brewery, Fossil Cove Brewing Co., has both a distribution operation and a tasting room.

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The brand is known for its funky can art and wide range of quality brews.

humorous art, were illustrated by local artists Nick Shoulders and Chad Maupin. Shoulders created the original can art, while Maupin has worked on the majority of the can art since 2019, Blann said.

“We’ve always made a point to work with local artists in all of our creative projects,” he added. “We’ve always strived to create fun, vibrant and unique can art that fits our slightly funky aesthetic and love of bright, bold colors.

We’re fortunate to work with artists who take our ideas, blend it with their style and produce what we think is some of the most fun beer art on the shelves.”

The tasting room itself has a five-barrel system, which was Fossil Cove’s original brewing system before the company expanded to include the production facility.

“We use that for limited-release beers and one-offs and experimental things,” Blann said, “If we’re thinking about maybe doing a beer on a wider release, we brew it at the taproom and get feedback from the customers and just try some fun stuff down here that helps us always have something new.”

One of the most popular experiments has been T-Rex on Peaches, a variation of the TRex Tripel, an original release. Fossil Cove ages the Belgian-style tripel in bourbon and red wine barrels, then adds peaches and peach puree to provide a fun, fruity take on the brew.

Another limited-release offering is the Hatchling, a cream ale brewed with roasted hatch chilies to create a unique, spicy beer.

Tastes have changed over the years, Blann said, and while India pale ales remain a top pick among craft beer lovers, Fossil Cove now brews more light lagers than it has in the past.

“Five years ago, it was rare to find a light lager at most small breweries,” he said. “These days, the majority of them have at least one available.”

Pours for a good cause can also be found at the tasting room, where $1 from each pint of the Rat pale ale sold supports a nonprofit that rotates quarterly. The charities are usually related to conservation or the outdoors, Blann said, and recent beneficiaries have included the Arkansas Climbers Coalition and the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society, which is working to rebuild the Mul-

All of our team here is super friendly and loves to talk beer and loves welcoming people into our space.

— Andrew Blann, marketing director hollan Blind at Lake Fayetteville that burned down last summer.

“We’re always supporting different local businesses. We support different community events that they’re putting on or the local nonprofits are putting on,” Blann said. “If there’s a cause that we can help with during an event that we can get behind, we try and, at the very least, get there and support them the best way we know how, which, a lot of the time, is with craft beer.”

The brewery recently collaborated with Ozark Beer Co. in Rogers to create Elkasaurus Hef, a German hefeweizen benefitting Apple Seeds, a Fayetteville organization that provides garden-based education to the northwest Arkansas area.

Each year, Fossil Cove organizes Frost Fest, a beer festival that started in 2016 and brings in about 60 breweries, many of which do not distribute in Arkansas.

“There’s a lot of unique beers and breweries that craft beer lovers are not going to get a chance to sample other than at Frost Fest,” Blann said. “We have live music. We have some artists there. We just try to make it a really fun day celebrating craft beer and community and winter in the Ozarks.”

The next Frost Fest is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville.

As brewery culture has grown in Arkansas, craft breweries add economic value to the communities they serve, Blann said. According to the Brewers Association, craft breweries in Arkansas had an economic impact of more than $500 million in 2023.

Breweries also contribute to tourism in Arkansas as beer lovers travel to visit new breweries or stop at breweries they have never tried before, he added. Perhaps most importantly, breweries such as Fossil Cove provide a space where the community can gather over a great draught.

Blann said breweries serve as a “third place” where people can socialize outside of their homes and workplaces.

“These days, your local brewery kind of serves as the neighborhood pub,” he said. “It’s a great example of a third place. You can come in, and for the cost of a pint or a coffee, you can spend your afternoon or your evening, hang out, and meet people that you might not cross paths with in your daily life. I think that’s really an important aspect of craft beer and the taproom anywhere that one is located.”

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best places to stay

W

hen traveling, there are three primary considerations that separate the ordinary weekend from an extraordinary adventure. One is the local dining, the second are local attractions and entertainment, and the third, arguably the most foundational of all, is where one stays. In an era of cookie-cutter big brands, it is nice to find properties of elegance and taste with an attitude all their own.

Across the country, independent and boutique hotels have quickly established themselves as the preferred lodging for an everexpanding slice of the hospitality market. The phenomenon was already in full swing when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and has come roaring back since in both capacity and profitability.

“The hospitality industry is witnessing a significant shift with the rising popularity of independent and boutique hotels,” reads a 2024 web article by Phoenix-based hospitality property broker NewGen. “These establishments offer a unique blend of personalized service, distinct character and immersive local experiences.

“Independent and boutique hotels stand out for their ability to offer bespoke experiences, often reflecting local culture and ethos.

These hotels are not just about lodging but about creating memorable stories and experiences. They often feature unique design elements, personalized attention and a cozy ambience, making them attractive to travelers seeking authenticity and a departure from the generic offerings of larger chains.”

According to statistical information by CoStar, boutique hotels generated 2022 room revenue nearly 21 percent greater than 2019, nearly three times larger than that generated by all lodging categories taken as a whole.

Statista reported total market size for the cat-

egory further grew year over year, from $29.2 billion in 2022 to $33.3 billion in 2023.

Capacity also exploded as boutique supply grew 19 percent in 2022 compared to 2019 levels.

As most boutique hotels fall into the upscale and upper-midscale categories, the appeal of these properties lies in value, not price.

The Hospitality Daily listed ways the boutique space has set itself apart from other lodging options, to which guests have responded in kind. Among the draws are design and aesthetics, location and setting, personalized experiences, connectivity and technology, cultural immersion, and sustainability.

Even among amenities available at chain locations, boutiques have carved out their own space, offering restaurants that focus on local ingredients and creative menus reflecting local culture. At many locations, wellness and self-care are addressed in ways that go beyond

the

Elements of Style

Independent and boutique hotels showcase the best of Arkansas hospitality

the standard mini gym to include spa services, guided meditation and yoga classes.

Finally, the most successful proprietors have mastered the art and science of social media marketing, leveraging various platforms to create a buzz about a property.

As with many trends, boutique and independent hotels were slower to reach Arkan-

By AY STAFF

sas than other places, but the Natural State has more than made up for lost time. Today, there are a number of such unique properties dotting the state, offering guests a stay as satisfying as the lush outdoors that surround them. AY About You takes a look at three notable hotels that are changing the way visitors experience Arkansas.

best places to stay

In The

Trees

O

ne would be hard-pressed to find a property in Arkansas — or in the mid-South for that matter — that rivals In the Trees for uniqueness. The elegant accommodations make the most of the dazzling natural elements surrounding Spa City to provide the ultimate in comfort and relaxation without sacrificing services or amenities.

In the Trees provides cabins and tree houses with luxurious features, breathtaking views and creature comforts that provide a sumptuous home base for most any traveler’s itinerary. Accommodations include all the perks of a luxury resort, from hot tubs and outdoor fire pits to electric fireplaces and heated bathroom floors.

Seemingly no detail is too small to escape the owners’ precise curation. Caraway cookware, Kassatex bedding and fluffy bathrobes all show this attention to detail, ensuring everything one touches or uses reflects a luxury experience. Guests are even treated to shampoo and conditioner that is scented to match the woodland environment that surrounds them.

Nature is prevalent in every aspect of In the Trees’ understated design. Each of the modern tree houses and cabins reflect elements of the grandeur outside with windows that provide ample natural light and accentuate the floating-in-the-treetops feel. Wood tones, rough-cut benches, barn doors and granite the color of river bottoms continue the theme

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throughout. Evenings spent on the deck watching the sun set over the picturesque forests of the Ouachita Mountains caps the relaxing surroundings in a way that seamlessly blends the natural and the man-made.

Arguably the most endearing feature of a stay at In the Trees is the many ways guests can customize their stay with a bevy of addons and extras. As Heather Baker wrote in a review for AY About You in September 2023, “A charcuterie board was waiting for us upon arrival. Chef Alex Zumwalt, owner of Your Culinary Solution in Hot Springs, cooked us a private, in-room meal of pan-seared salmon, followed by his signature lemon pound cake with blueberry compote. It was incredible.

“People who know me know how much I love Arkansas adventures, and we found them while zipping along the mountain bike trails in nearby Northwoods and Cedar Glades.

The only thing better than these two nationally recognized biking areas was the in-room couple’s massage we got afterward.”

Other add-ons include a bee keeping experience led by professional guides, which provides guests of all ages an immersive experience and beekeeper’s view of the property’s hives. E-bike rentals are available on-property, as is a sip-and-pour candle-making experience, or simply take to the property’s hiking trails for a serene walk in the woods, keeping eye out for the native wildlife that frequently make appearances along the way.

Those wanting to stay in can cook to their heart’s content in the custom appointed kitchen or take advantage of the available private

chef experience, a four-course culinary journey by Zumwalt that offers a choice of fare that includes elevated Southern, Italian, chef ’s choice or brunch. Cap off the meal with drinks on the deck and the add-on s’mores board kit for an elevated outdoor experience.

Those wanting more social diversions will appreciate In the Trees’ close proximity to Hot Springs’ Central Avenue, which features activities and entertainment to suit any taste or mood. The ribbon of Spa City delivers endless dining, libations and entertainment attractions running down the heart of the city’s historic district. Enjoy dinner and a show, tempt Lady Luck at Oaklawn’s casino, or dance to live music at spots throughout the district before making the short trip back to relax and unwind, nestled in the boughs of the woodland retreat.

With a dozen one- and two-bedroom cabins and tree houses to choose from (and more on the way) and an extensive list of optional perks and activities, no two stays at In the Trees are exactly alike — that is, except for the luxury experience, unparalleled attention to detail and an all-around elevated level of customer service that comes standard with every visit.

IN THE TREES 121 Blowout Mountain Road, Hot Springs 501-430-4199 inthetrees.com

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best places to stay

A

t first glance, Oaklawn Hotel does not fit the classic definition and most people’s impression of a boutique hotel.

At eight stories and 198 rooms, the property is much bigger than is typical of hotels in its category.

However expansive the property’s footprint may be, the philosophy of the gorgeous, amenity-laden destination more than lives up to the boutique mentality of providing a luxurious, curated stay, while its size enables features offerings that many smaller hotels cannot match.

oaklawn

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In other words, a stay at Oaklawn indulges in the best of all possible worlds, from dining and entertainment to rejuvenation.

Opened in 2021 after 28 months of development and construction, all of the hotel’s guest rooms — from the deluxe double queen to the king suite — offer the same tasteful design and sumptuous appointments, including plush bathrobes, Matouk towels, 65-inch televisions with Chromecast capability and 100 percent cotton Frette bed linens made from the finest fibers.

Trackside rooms offer the additional excitement of taking in the thoroughbreds during workouts and racing in season right outside one’s window, as well as the scenic views of beautiful Hot Springs.

On-property amenities are second to none, starting with the Astral Spa. Rated four stars by the 2024 Forbes Travel Guide, the 8,000-square-foot spa provides an experience unlike anything to be had in the region and on par with anything in the United States.

freshest cuisine augmented by top-shelf service and unparalleled ambiance.

Oaklawn describes the OAK room & bar as “modern fine dining,” balanced with a profound sense of place via the sublime gumbo, the Duroc chop, and the Oak Room Wedge topped with crispy crawfish and cayenne-buttermilk dressing. The Provence chicken and sake sea bass also come highly recommended and contributed to the OAK room & bar’s OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award for 2023.

The highly regarded sister spot, The Bugler, ups the ante setting a new standard for fine dining in Arkansas. Patrons from across the country come for the incomparable sea bass and lamb chops, not to mention USDA Prime Iowa steaks custom butchered to Oaklawn’s exact specifications and wet aged for at least 21 days. An incomparable wine list and sumptuous dessert tray round out the amazing experience.

Entertainment options are a given year-round at Oaklawn, from the running of the ponies December to May to the all-star lineup of national touring entertainment and the excitement of casino gaming. All of that adds up to a memorable stay at the resort, time after time.

From the moment guests arrive, they enter a world of pure tranquility surrounded by stunning architecture and a serene ambiance of utter relaxation augmented by the friendly, professional staff. Even seasoned spa-goers can know instinctively that the world-class treatments that lie ahead represent no ordinary spa experience but a relaxing sanctuary and a cacophony for the senses.

“Once a favorite haunt of celebrities and notorious outlaws like gangsters Al Capone and Bugs Moran, Hot Springs, Arkansas, has added a luxurious new wellness retreat to its roster of holistic hideaways with the Astral Spa,” raved Forbes Travel Guide. “The first new fullservice spa to be built in the historic resort town in more than a century, Astral faces some big expectations, but based on appearances alone, the facility is more than up to the task.

“A contemporary Roaring ’20s-inspired interior evokes the glamor of Hot Springs’ heyday with art deco design details and framed black-and-white photos of glitterati from days gone by. While the touches may be vintage, the facilities are anything but.”

As amazing as the Astral Spa experience is, the dining experiences at Oaklawn are equally luxe. Led by the fine dining at The Bugler and the OAK room & bar, guests are treated to the finest in steaks, seafood and sides, expertly prepared by an all-star cadre of talented and creative chefs. Each restaurant maintains its own unique identity while sharing a common goal of delivering the finest,

OAKLAWN HOTEL 2705 Central Ave, Hot Springs 1-800-625-5296 oaklawn.com

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best places to stay

The Stonebreaker Hotel

Fayetteville

O

ne of the more recent — and stunning — examples of the boutique hotel category is Fayetteville’s The Stonebreaker Hotel, a 78-room property built in partnership with New York-based Hay Creek Hotels and Restaurants. The new structure features an upscale restaurant and is accentuated by a gorgeous reimagining of the Pratt Place Inn & Barn as an event space.

Early press by developers of The Stonebreaker promised a stylish urban retreat, and the finished property does not disappoint. The Knot, a leading wedding resource, described the venue as “a fresh concept; a rustic soul with the heart of an unconventional boutique. Situated on acres of meadows and woodland, this hidden gem offers a countryside aesthetic

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while still being close to modern amenities and attractions.”

The handcrafted guest rooms and common areas of the hotel reflect the same sumptuous mix of urban chic and estate living as the event space. Designed by FÖDA in Austin, Texas, the hotel features double queen and king rooms, along with several sizes of suites. Done in an enthralling mix of clean minimalist lines softened by upholstery and leather and punctuated by shots of soothing color, the aesthetic evokes a rustic elegance that is at once simple yet warm.

Axios described the property as “the place to be seen” and particularly raved about the on-premises Stonebreaker Restaurant, which is under the culinary expertise of Chef Tyler Rogers. As the site reported in November 2024, “Markham

Hill may not be the highest point in Fayetteville … but one of the city's most elevated dining spots now sits atop it.”

The menu skillfully weaves modern touches into familiar fare with cooking techniques that showcase the vibrant flavors of what is in season. The restaurant sources as much locally as possible to ensure the freshest ingredients, supporting local farmers while creating an unforgettable dining experience.

The artful menu of small and large plates weaves proteins and produce in ways that deliver captivating flavors and textures. Dishes include wagyu beef, West Coast oysters, lamb, fowl and seafood. The staple dishes are augmented seasonally according to local farming schedules.

On-site amenities carry the same attention to detail and understated luxury, providing guests the opportunity to be as engaged as they wish. A variety of semiprivate outdoor lounge areas and the sprawling main lawn, which hosts entertainment and yoga, provide social outlets, while more personal features, such as access to nearby biking and hiking trails, allow for solitude.

A private member program, known simply as The Club, provides exclusive access to additional amenities for socializing or attending to work obligations. Members gain access to two bars, multiple lounges, coworking areas, and a private dining room that doubles as a conference space, in addition to priority reservations for dining at the full-service restaurant, among other perks.

More than merely a hotel property, Hay Creek has invested considerable thought and expense to making The Stonebreaker the center of a new community aesthetic, one that seeks to blend amenities with the natural surroundings in a minimally disruptive manner that shows sensitivity to the native ecosystem that surrounds it.

In The Stonebreaker’s case, that takes the form of agreements the developers signed with the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust and the city to create conservation easements encompassing more than 50 acres and a pledge to permanently conserve the property, including forest land on the west side of the mountain and a 62acre hillside parcel acquired specifically for preservation.

Whatever brings the discerning traveler to the Boston Mountains surrounding Fayetteville, The Stonebreaker Hotel provides the ideal combination of style, amenities, location and service to make the most of it.

THE STONEBREAKER HOTEL 163 N. Cabin Ridge, Fayetteville The Stonebreaker Restaurant 2231 W. Markham Road, Fayetteville 479-350-1000 stonebreakerhotel.com

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ASK THE

E X P E R T

A

merican culture is built largely upon specialized knowledge in various crucial disciplines. When people’s bodies hurt, they see a doctor. When they have a water leak, they call a plumber. One of the best ways to gain knowledge in a particular field is to ask someone who is already an expert

in that arena.

That’s exactly what AY About You did with our “Ask the Experts” section. The section covers a wide range of topics, from keeping ones data safe to keeping leaves out of the gutters. Also included are topics related to health, wellness, beauty, recreation and more. No matter what one’s new year’s resolutions might be, these trusted voices can provide the information needed to smash goals and make 2025 the year to finally achieve one’s dreams.

Halfway through the 2020s, there’s no better time to get the advice of AY’s experts.

Some advice found in the section includes how to pick the right car, recruit the right employees, and build the right pool or spa for a home.

Experts include doctors at Conway Regional Health System, Arkansas Urology and Advanced Physical Therapy and beauty experts at LC Aesthetics & Wellness. Denman Hamilton & Associates answer accounting questions, LeafGuard helps with gutters, Network Services Group addresses information technology, Arkansas Talent Group speaks on recruiting, Luxury Pool & Spa shares insight on water activities, Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol highlights Medicare fraud prevention and awareness, MercedesBenz of Little Rock discusses the ins and outs of buying a dependable car, and Hammer & Stain Hot Springs shares the joys of DIY art.

“The key to success lies in careful planning,” said Chris Chunn, co-owner of Arkansas Talent Group in Little Rock. “A well-crafted job description and competitive compensation package are crucial, as are realistic expectations about the ideal candidate. Partnering with a local executive search firm, such as Arkansas Talent Group, can be a game changer.”

“Senior citizens are one of the most vulnerable and valuable populations in our society,” said Kathleen Pursell, program director at the Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol. “SMP outreach and education efforts empower individuals to understand, recognize and report health care fraud, errors and scams targeting seniors.”

That is just a taste of the wisdom offered in the following section. For more gems like these, read on.

ASK THE

E X P E R T

Montana Chapman, DPT Co-owner • Advanced Physical Therapy

DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST? No. The state of Arkansas is a direct access state, which means most insurance policies do not require a referral from a medical provider to see a physical therapist first. Our company will verify your benefits ahead of time and will determine if your policy will require a referral.

IS DRY NEEDLING NOT JUST A KIND OF ACUPUNCTURE? Although dry needling and acupuncture both involve the use of thin needles inserted into the skin, they are distinct techniques with different purposes, philosophies and approaches. Dry needling is grounded in Western medical principles, particularly in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and myofascial trigger points (tight knots in muscles). It focuses on relieving pain, improving muscle function and restoring movement rather than balancing energy. It is often used to treat conditions like back pain, neck pain, headaches and sports injuries.

WHAT IS A SERVICE THAT MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? We offer pelvic health physical therapy, which is a specialized area of physical therapy that focuses on the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of conditions related to the pelvic floor — the group of muscles, ligaments and tissues that support the bladder, bowel and reproductive organs. This type of physical therapy helps address issues that can affect pelvic function, like urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, constipation, pre- and postnatal care, sexual dysfunction, painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis and postsurgical recovery.

It is used to treat men, women and pediatrics.

501-232-4266 • aptlr.com

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E X P E R T

Mollie Meek, M.D.

Interventional Radiologist • Arkansas Urology WHAT IS PROSTATE ARTERY EMBOLIZATION? Prostate artery embolization is a minimally invasive treatment to shrink the prostate and decrease lower urinary tract symptoms in men with enlarged prostates — known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. It can also be used to shrink a large prostate with cancer prior to radiation treatments and stop bleeding or hematuria.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PAE? It is an outpatient procedure and requires minimal recovery time. PAE has lower risks of sexual side effects compared to some other minimally invasive or surgical procedures for BPH. WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Infection and bleeding are risks of almost any procedure.

Specific risks include a temporary inability to urinate, which occurs in less than 5 percent of cases, and blockage of vessels outside of the prostate gland due to the shared arteries between the rectum, bladder and penis. Major complications are estimated to occur less than 0.5 percent of the time, or in 1 out of 200 procedures. Other risks may be specific to you based on your medical history.

877-321-8452 • arkansasurology.com 47

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E X P E R T

Kathleen Pursell

Program Director • Arkansas Insurance Department, Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol WHAT IS SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL? Senior Medicare Patrol projects are federally funded grant programs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living.

The Arkansas SMP program is administered through the Arkansas Insurance Department in Little Rock. The goal of the SMP program is twofold: • To educate and protect Medicare recipients, their caregivers and families, as well as professionals in the aging industry, from fraud and scams.

• To protect the Medicare trust fund, which is made up of taxpayer money and loses approximately $90 billion annually to fraud, waste and abuse.

The SMP message is simple: “protect, detect and report.”

These three steps work together to combat fraud and errors.

WHY IS SMP’S WORK IMPORTANT FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES? Senior citizens are one of the most vulnerable and valuable populations in our society. SMP outreach and education efforts empower individuals to understand, recognize and report health care fraud, errors and scams targeting seniors. Repeatedly hearing the SMP message helps in protecting and preventing fraud and scams. Our statewide toll-free helpline (866-726-2916) is available for easy communication with our office. We are a local, unbiased and empathetic group ready to listen, consult, support and assist those who contact us by phone or email aid.insurance.smp@arkansas.gov.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF HEALTH CARE FRAUD? Some examples of Medicare fraud include: • A Medicare number is stolen or obtained deceptively and used to submit fraudulent claims, usually claims for services or supplies that were never provided, not ordered by a provider, or not medically necessary, such as durable medical equipment, glucose monitors, diabetic supplies and genetic testing.

• Double billing: A provider charges Medicare twice for the same service or item that was either not received or only received once.

• Upcoding: filing a Medicare claim for a more expensive product or procedure than was provided.

• Hospice fraud: Someone is signed up on hospice despite no terminal diagnosis or consent, offering medically unnecessary hospice care in exchange for a Medicare number.

In 2023, SMPs nationwide reported expected Medicare recoveries of more than $111,277,683. The national SMP program also provided OIG with 26 reports of new fraud trends, including those involving COVID-19, remote patient monitoring, urinary catheters, continuous glucose monitors, internal employee complaints, unsolicited annual wellness visits, fraudulent disenrollment and other concerning trends.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY LOVED ONE ON MEDICARE IS BEING DEFRAUDED? The only way to detect suspected fraud or errors is by reviewing the Medicare Summary Notice. If you are a Medicare recipient, caregiver or loved one, it is crucial to review the MSN regularly. A good way to quickly know if your loved one has been defrauded is to sign up for an account at medicare.gov, allowing for easier and more readily available monitoring of your loved one’s Medicare account online.

This is 100% federally funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of grant #90MPPG0088. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

866-726-2916 • insurance.arkansas.gov/SMP

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E X P E R T

Stephanie Shine and Chris Chunn Owners • Arkansas Talent Group

WHY SHOULD MY COMPANY USE A RECRUITING FIRM INSTEAD OF JUST POSTING JOBS ON LINKEDIN? Shine: You can do both! Recruiters often connect you with passive candidates — those not actively applying to jobs on platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed. This means they can present a unique pool of talent that you might not find on your own. Additionally, working with a recruiter is risk free; you only pay the fee if they successfully place a candidate.

Embracing both strategies will maximize your chances of making an excellent hire.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PITFALLS COMPANIES FACE WHEN HIRING FOR C-SUITE ROLES? Chunn: The key to success lies in careful planning. A well-crafted job description and competitive compensation package are crucial, as are realistic expectations about the ideal candidate. Partnering with a local executive search firm, such as Arkansas Talent Group, can be a game changer. Our extensive network within the state’s C-suite ecosystem can uncover hidden gems and the right fit. By leveraging ATG’s expertise, you’ll maximize your chances of finding the perfect executive who’s not just qualified but also has deep roots in our great state.

WHAT SHOULD BUSINESSES CONSIDER WHEN HIRING FOR ROLES IN FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND HUMAN RESOURCES? Shine: Finance and accounting positions typically require specific degrees and often favor candidates with certified public accountant certifications or Master of Business Administration degrees, as well progressive experience. In contrast, HR roles focus more on areas of expertise. Smaller companies may seek generalists with broad experience, while larger organizations often prefer specialists in areas like benefits, recruitment or compensation. Businesses also value HR certifications, sometimes even over the degree, like the Professional in Human Resources or Society for Human Resource Management-Certified Professional. Regardless of the field, a candidate’s past experience, learning ability, cultural fit and personal drive are crucial factors in making a successful hire.

WHAT KINDS OF POSITIONS ARE SEEING THE MOST DEMAND/GROWTH RIGHT NOW? Chunn: Accounting positions at all levels are in high demand, with many companies creating new roles to support organizational growth or as part of succession planning. There is also a notable increase in executive hires, including chief financial officers, CEOs, chief operating officers and other C-suite positions. This surge in high-level recruitment suggests that companies are actively planning and strategizing for growth in 2025. By securing critical leadership talent now, businesses are positioning themselves to capitalize on opportunities and drive expansion in the coming year or to plan for retirements.

501-301-0655 • arkansastalentgroup.com

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E X P E R T

Hooman Motahari, M.D.

Endocrinologist • Conway Regional Endocrinology and Diabetes Center WHAT ARE THE MAIN TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MANAGING DIABETES? Managing diabetes involves meal planning, regular exercise, and medications tailored to your needs. For Type 1 diabetes, insulin is essential to control blood sugar. If you have Type 2 diabetes, treatment may include lifestyle changes, oral medications, non-insulin injectables, or insulin, if necessary.

A diabetes educator can guide you on practical skills like carb counting and medication use. Regular blood sugar checks help track progress, and partnering with your health care team ensures your care remains effective over time.

HOW DO I MONITOR MY BLOOD SUGAR, AND WHAT ARE NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS? Blood sugar monitoring depends on your doctor’s guidance and your individual needs. This may include traditional fingerstick checks or a continuous glucose monitor for realtime insights, especially if you require frequent monitoring.

Typical times to check include in the morning, one to two hours after meals, and before bed. Your target range will be set by your doctor, but an A1C test — reflecting average blood sugar over three months — should ideally align with your personalized goal, often under 6.5 percent.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY BLOOD SUGAR IS LOW? If your blood sugar drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter, follow the 15:15 rule: eat or drink 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, such as 4 ounces of juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, or three to four glucose tablets. These are quickly absorbed to raise blood sugar. Wait 15 minutes, recheck your blood sugar, and repeat if it’s still low. Once levels are above 70 mg/dL, eat a snack with carbohydrates and protein to prevent further drops.

HOW CAN I MANAGE MY DIET TO CONTROL MY BLOOD SUGAR? Maintain steady blood sugar by eating smaller, balanced meals throughout the day, with three main meals and snacks as needed. Prioritize non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats to slow sugar absorption and provide sustained energy. Limit sweets like candy, soda and baked goods, and focus on whole, unprocessed foods. Staying hydrated with water is also essential for overall health.

HOW DOES EXERCISE HELP MANAGE DIABETES? Exercise helps manage diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, lowering blood sugar levels in most cases, and supporting heart health and weight control. It also reduces stress, which can affect blood sugar. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity, like walking, swimming or cycling, most days, or shorter sessions if needed. Consult your health care provider before starting a new routine, especially if you have other health concerns or complications.

501-506-2747 • conwayregional.org

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Courtney Sick, M.D.

OB-GYN • Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER, AND HOW DOES IT DEVELOP? Cervical cancer begins in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. The most common cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus, or HPV, a virus that can cause abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. These changes may take years, even decades, to develop into cancer, but with regular screenings and preventive measures, cervical cancer is largely preventable.

WHY IS CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IMPORTANT? January is recognized as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about prevention, early detection and treatment. Over the years, research has developed in understanding how cervical cancer begins, how to treat it, and, most importantly, how to prevent it, particularly with the HPV vaccine. The focus is on educating the public about the importance of regular screenings and vaccination.

HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HPV VACCINE IMPACTED CERVICAL CANCER RATES? The HPV vaccine has dramatically reduced the number of cervical cancer cases. Since its introduction, it has helped protect against the most common strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer, significantly lowering the risk of women developing this disease. Vaccination has become a key tool in cervical cancer prevention.

WHAT ROLE DO PAP SMEARS PLAY IN DETECTING CERVICAL CANCER? Pap smears are crucial for detecting early changes in the cervix that could lead to cancer. For women over the age of 30, the test includes screening for HPV with every Pap smear. For women under 30, HPV testing is only done if the Pap smear results are abnormal. Regular Pap smears help catch these changes early, allowing for treatment or monitoring before cervical cancer develops.

IS THE HPV VACCINE ONLY FOR TEENAGERS? The HPV vaccine is now extended to women up to age 45.

Research has shown that the vaccine can still offer protection even for adults who haven’t been exposed to all HPV strains, making it an important preventive measure at any stage of life.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR CERVICAL CANCER TO DEVELOP? It typically takes 10 to 20 years for abnormal cells to develop into cervical cancer. This long progression time is why regular screenings, like Pap smears, are so important. They allow providers to catch potential issues early, long before cancer can develop.

501-506-2747 • conwayregional.org

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Neil Denman and Deron Hamilton

Certified Public Accountants, Owners • Denman Hamilton & Associates HOW DOES DENMAN HAMILTON & ASSOCIATES ADD VALUE FOR ITS CLIENTS? • Commitment to excellent communication and being available to serve when needed.

• Providing proven business strategies that work to improve performance.

• Providing proven tax planning solutions geared to lower your tax liability.

• Providing accurate and reliable financial statements that allow business owners to make effective decisions.

WHY DO I NEED A TRUSTED BUSINESS ADVISOR? • To help design effective strategies to improve operational performance and put more money to your bottom line.

• To help design strategies to improve the quality of life while increasing cash flow.

• To help ensure business owners are in compliance with federal and state guidelines as new regulations are established.

• To help improve key performance indicators that impact the business while adding value to the business.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TAX PLANNING STRATEGIES DENMAN HAMILTON & ASSOCIATES USES? • Excellent retirement strategies designed to lower tax liabilities while creating more retirement dollars for the business owner.

• Helping business owners calculate reasonable compensation strategies designed to lower taxes while keeping them in compliance with the IRS.

501-312-9491 • dhacpa.com

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Cynthia Hall

Owner • Hammer & Stain Hot Springs DO I HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS OR PRIVATE PARTY, OR CAN I JUST SHOW UP AND START CRAFTING? We offer walk-in hours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., unless a private party is in session. You can also book a table or the entire studio, depending on your group size. Whether you visit during walk-in hours or book a session, we’ll guide you through the entire process to ensure you’re thrilled with your project.

I AM TRYING TO PICK A BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM GIFT. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES? Some of my favorite custom gifts are our engraved items and our layered signs. Popular choices include cutting boards, coasters, cups, knives and glasses. All engraving is done instudio, ensuring your gifts are completed quickly and with great care. We can even take care of the shipping for you, if needed.

CAN HAMMER AND STAIN COME TO US INSTEAD? Absolutely! You just need to supply the space, tables and chairs. Whether your group is 15 or over 200, we’ll come to you, with a reasonable travel fee if outside a 20-mile radius.

We’ve even traveled up to 3.5 hours one way to make it happen. Don’t worry – we’ll still handle all the cleanup.

501-547-9411 • hammerandstainhotsprings.com 53

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LeafGuard of Arkansas WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE PROPERLY FUNCTIONING GUTTERS? The reason to install gutters on your home is to move water away from your foundation and direct it to safe drainage spots. If water constantly collects around the home, it can cause costly damage to the foundation over time. Gutters also prevent water from pouring down over doorways or garages, as well as helping to alleviate erosion to the natural ground covering around your home.

WHAT SHOULD HOMEOWNERS LOOK FOR WHEN REPLACING GUTTERS? For gutters to effectively move water, they need to be specifically designed for the home and clear of debris. This makes custom gutters essential. Custom gutters are made on-site, so there are not several pieces with multiple seams that can cause problems.You want gutters that are the right size to handle the water coming off of your specific roof, and you need the right amount of downspouts in the right places to ensure adequate drainage.

WHAT SOLUTIONS DOES LEAFGUARD OFFER? The LeafGuard Gutter System is the only one-piece, seamless, clog-free gutter system available. It is customdesigned for your home and comes with a lifetime clog-free warranty, and the baked enamel paint finish is guaranteed not to crack or peel for 20 years. LeafGuard gutters work year-round, in every season, without continual maintenance.

This saves you time that would otherwise be spent climbing wet ladders in the fall and spring to scrape out plant matter, sticks and debris.

HOW DOES INSTALLATION WORK? Our installation team will disassemble your old gutters and dispose of them. LeafGuard’s aluminum gutters are then custom formed at your home by our special roll-forming machine inside our trucks. The professional installer will insert LeafGuard’s patented hangers two feet apart to maximize stability, and then the gutters are then connected to the preexisting fascia board. Lastly, our installer will precisely measure each gutter’s pitch and level it as necessary to ensure an efficient flow of water. Once we’re confident we’ve met the standard for the highest quality gutter installation in Arkansas, we promptly remove all equipment and debris from your property.

WHY DO CUSTOMERS TRUST LEAFGUARD? LeafGuard of Arkansas is a local, family-owned company.

LeafGuard of Arkansas uses only employee installers that have been trained on the LeafGuard Gutter System to ensure the best install for your home. As the exclusive authorized dealer for the LeafGuard Gutter System in Arkansas, we have been helping Arkansans protect their homes for over two decades.

501-664-5400 • leafguardandmore.com

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Hannah Davenport, APRN Owner • LC Aesthetics & Wellness

CAN (OR SHOULD) I COMBINE AESTHETIC AND WELLNESS SERVICES TO ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS? Absolutely! Combining aesthetic and wellness services can lead to some truly amazing outcomes. When beauty treatments are paired with wellness practices, they not only enhance physical appearance but also contribute to overall health and well-being. This holistic approach can result in a radiant glow that comes from the inside out, boosting both confidence and vitality.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF A VITALITY SHOT — CAN’T I JUST TAKE A VITAMIN? A vitality shot is a concentrated dose of vitamins. These are designed to provide a quick and powerful boost to your immune system and energy levels. The main benefits of vitality shots include boosting immunity, enhancing energy, improving digestion and supporting overall wellness. Vitality shots are a convenient way to get a concentrated dose of nutrients and can be a great addition to a healthy lifestyle. At LCA Wellness, we offer a variety of injections to focus on these issues.

501-232-0009 • lcawellness.com

Our Services

Experience a transformative journey toward a balanced, revitalized, and confident self!

• Boxtox/Dysport • Dermal Fillers • Chemical Peels • Facials • Micodermabrasion • Direct Primary Care • Weight Loss • IV Therapy • Hormone Replacement • Peptide Therapy

We are dedicated to enhancing your natural beauty and wellbeing through a comprehensive range of services. Our expert team specializes in advanced aesthetic treatments, providing personalized solutions to address your unique needs.

501-232-0009 | lcawellness.com 9228 Maumelle Blvd. North Little Rock, AR

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Andrea Lawson

General Manager • Luxury Pool & Spa I AM INTERESTED IN A POOL BUT WORRIED ABOUT THE UPKEEP AND CHEMICALS. HOW CAN LUXURY POOL & SPA HELP? We offer water testing in both of our retail locations — Conway and Russellville — where you can bring a sample of your water, and we can tell you which chemicals and how much of each you need to keep your pool balanced. We sell a full line of pool and spa chemicals, as well as pool accessories, toys and floats. Our retail staff attends frequent training classes by our vendors so they can give you expert advice on chemicals and cleaning. We also sell automatic pool cleaners that can help keep your pool free of debris with minimal effort.

HOW DO WE BEGIN DESIGNING A POOL? The style of the pool is very personal and based upon the style of the property. Some clients prefer rustic and free form, while others prefer a more formal, modern look with a straight-line pool. We highly recommend envisioning how you will use your pool and determining what type of activities, such as water sports or relaxing, you will do.

WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A MANUFACTURED HOT TUB? You need to consider the number of people you want to seat in the hot tub, the size of the space where you plan to set the hot tub and any electrical requirements. You want to ensure the company who you buy the hot tub from will provide service after the sale. Be sure to ask about the warranty offered by the manufacturer and whether you will be charged for labor during the warranty time. We highly recommend dry-testing the hot tub, where you sit in each of the seats to ensure they are comfortable and fit your build. You could also consider taking a test soak in the hot tub.

HOW CAN I EXTEND MY SWIM SEASON? A heater/chiller is a great option if you want to extend your pool season by about a month or so in the spring and the fall.

You can also chill your pool in the summer if the water gets too warm. A high-efficiency titanium exchange gas heater allows you to heat your pool throughout the year. Our family swam on Christmas Day one year when we decided to heat the pool with a gas heater. A low-cost alternative to extend your swim season is a liquid solar blanket.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN THE COMPANY I CHOOSE TO BUILD MY POOL? The company should have their Arkansas contractors license and all applicable insurance. Find out the number of years they have been in business, and ask for references/referrals.

Ask if you can see some of the pools the company built in person. Be sure that they will provide service after the sale and inquire about the warranties. The pool company should provide a written contract that both parties sign, which protects both the homeowner and the contractor.

501-327-1772 • luxurypoolarkansas.com

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Mark Lee

General Manager • Mercedes-Benz of Little Rock WHAT DO BUYERS HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2025?

Mercedes-Benz is increasing production of hybrid units to meet overwhelming demand over the past couple of years.

It’ll be allocated to us and available for customers to have the ability to custom build to specifications. Mercedes-Benz will also be introducing electric options within the core vehicle lineup.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO BUY? It has changed dramatically over the years, but manufacturers are more aggressive the second half of the year to make room for the incoming units. In today’s post-COVID-19 market, Mercedes-Benz has done an excellent job in providing incentives to purchase throughout the entire year. By doing this, customers who purchase in January do not have to worry about receiving a less beneficial deal than someone who purchases later in the year.

ONLINE CAR BUYING IS GETTING MORE AND MORE POPULAR — WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BUYING IN PERSON AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP? At Mercedes-Benz of Little Rock, we really value the opportunity to be able to connect with our clients face to face. It allows us to offer a more bespoke experience for our client when the buying experience is conducted at the dealership. With that being said, we still encourage clients who are more comfortable conducting business online to continue utilizing that avenue if it’s more convenient for them. We are constantly learning from our online and inperson visits to improve our client relations.

WHAT KIND OF SERVICE CAN I EXPECT AFTER BUYING MY NEW CAR? We have made large monetary investments into our employees’ Mercedes-Benz client satisfaction training. Our team understands that exceptional service is the only service that is acceptable. No matter if your visit with us is for sales or service, you will be taken care of by a member of our team who will ensure your utmost satisfaction with the products and services delivered to you. We want to foster a long-term relationship outside of car buying or service.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MERCEDES-BENZ OF LITTLE ROCK? Our reaffirmed new vision for exceptional customer experience. We are excited to be expanding our loaner fleet in 2025 to accommodate clients who are visiting for one-day maintenance services. We are continuing to put time and resources into our employees to ensure the client is receiving the best possible service experience that a luxury automaker can provide.

501-666-9457 • mercedesbenzoflittlerock.com

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Ryan Flynn

President • Network Services Group HOW CAN BUSINESSES IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES BENEFIT FROM NETWORK SERVICES GROUP? NSG has a rich history of partnering with clients across various sectors, including health care, finance, automotive, municipalities, education and nonprofits. Our industry-specific solutions ensure that your technology aligns with your operational goals: • Health care: We provide dependable and secure IT infrastructures that support patient care and comply with regulations.

• Financial services: Our services help financial institutions comply with regulatory guidelines and maintain top-notch security measures to protect sensitive financial data.

• Nonprofits: We support nonprofits with cost-effective, secure IT infrastructures that allow them to focus on their missions.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST NEW THREATS IN CYBERSECURITY? Cybersecurity threats are continually evolving, with cybercriminals employing increasingly sophisticated methods. Some of the most pressing threats include: • Ransomware attacks: malicious software encrypts data, demanding payment for its release.

• Phishing scams: deceptive communications designed to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information.

• Zero-day Exploits: attacks targeting previously unknown vulnerabilities in software or hardware.

At NSG, we proactively detect and identify vulnerabilities before cybercriminals can exploit them, effectively removing potential attack vectors.

HOW CAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELP ME OR MY BUSINESS? Artificial intelligence can revolutionize your business by: • Automating routine tasks: freeing up your team to focus on strategic initiatives.

• Enhancing decision making: providing data-driven insights for more informed choices.

• Improving customer service: enabling personalized experiences through interactions driven by artificial intelligence.

NSG integrates AI technologies to streamline your processes and drive innovation within your organization.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR TECHNOLOGY? One of the most significant mistakes is neglecting backups and disaster recovery. Many businesses overlook the importance of verifying and maintaining their backups until a disaster occurs.

NSG’s comprehensive approach includes: • Implementation: backup solutions with local hardware, software and offsite locations managed by a dedicated team.

• Verification: regular real-time monitoring and quarterly manual checks to ensure backups are reliable.

• Disaster Recovery: A specialized team focuses on swift, efficient recovery while prioritizing communication and organizational needs.

With these measures, NSG ensures clients are prepared for unforeseen challenges, minimizing downtime and data loss.

501-758-6058 • nsgdv.com

Unique, One-of-a-Kind Pieces.

Laura opened her salon in 2017. A 3rd generation jeweler, she had spent almost three decades at the family fine jewelry store, Stanley Jewelers Gemologist. Stanley’s had a history of 80 years of legendary service in Arkansas, and Laura wanted to shake things up a little.

Her passion is finding unique diamonds and diamond jewelry, quality pieces and designs that fit your style. Jewelry holds special memories like no other item, and Laura understands that well.

Her 30+ years of experience, gemological training, and expertise can be yours. Contact her today. She works by appointment only.

“Beauty is who you are. Jewelry is simply the icing on the cake.”

Services: Custom Jewelry Design | Jewelry Repairs | Pearl Restringing & Redesign | Jewelry Appraisals

Call or Text 501-951-0578 Little Rock, AR

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

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aesthetics

New Year, New You Aesthetics industry offers injectables, surgical procedures and everything in between

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By AMP STAFF

s people enter the new year, many are looking for a fresh start, be it on fitness, career or some other aspect of everyday life. Many will look in the mirror and decide the best place to start is through aesthetic and surgical procedures to get the look and appearance they want.

Aesthetic treatments and cosmetic surgery is a booming business as people continue to defy Mother Nature and the march of time.

New techniques, new fillers and new technology have all provided patients with more options than ever before.

The numbers say it all: About 1.6 million cosmetic procedures were done nationwide in 2023, procedural statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons state, representing a 5 percent increase over 2022. Minimally invasive procedures, such as injections, rose 7 percent to 4.7 million procedures and dermal fillers numbered 3.4 million procedures, up 4 percent.

Looked at another way, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery states that nearly 1 percent of the world population was treated with Botox in 2021 for a total of more than 7 million documented procedures, most of which were performed on women, who make up 85.5 percent of patients. Botox, along with other injectables, has become one of the most common treatments out there.

Joining injectables in the array of cosmetic procedures are lasers, chemical peels, facials, skin care products and, of course, surgery that helps nip, tuck and lift the things people want to change about themselves.

Riding alongside that are new therapies that are designed to help the body function well while looking good. Hormone treatments and other alternative and nutrition-based medicines have taken the local market by storm, helping people to find balance and redefining wellness from the inside out.

In this section, AY About You showcases the latest in traditional and nontraditional treatments alike. We talked to aestheticians, physicians, cosmetic surgeons and advanced practice registered nurses to separate hype from fact about treatments and procedures available throughout Arkansas. We also shine a light on some leading practitioners in the local market to get their thoughts on trends in aesthetics, both current and forthcoming.

No matter what meets the eye that needs to be improved, shaped or addressed in 2025, this section has it covered.

aesthetics

More Than Skin Deep Dr. Andrea Mabry

W

hen many people hear the word “dermatologist,” their thoughts may go directly to acne treatment or other cosmetic procedures involving the skin. However, as Dr. Andrea Mabry’s career attests, there is a lot more to the broad medical field of the skin and hair, ranging from aesthetic procedures to life-and-death treatment of certain cancers.

“Dermatology offers the unique ability to impact patients’ lives in visible, tangible ways,” she said. “Whether it’s helping someone manage a chronic condition like psoriasis, addressing cosmetic concerns to boost confidence or catching skin cancer early, I love the diversity and the opportunity to truly make a difference.”

In her practice at Pinnacle Dermatology, which has locations in Little Rock, Clinton and Russellville, Mabry utilizes a diverse set of tools that helps her diagnose and address issues of the skin.

“We offer a full range of adult general dermatology, medical, surgical, pediatric and cosmetic dermatology,” she said. “This approach allows us to meet the diverse needs of our patients and, early on in our company’s history, establish ourselves as a comprehensive dermatology practice in the community.

“Over time, we’ve expanded our offerings to include more advanced laser treatments to meet the growing demand for state-of-the-art skin rejuvenation options. Additionally, we offer Mohs surgery as a treatment option for patients with skin cancers, providing them with highly effective care for one of the most critical aspects of dermatology.”

A native of Booneville, Mississippi, Mabry graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical sciences and as a member of Rho Chi Pharmacy Honors Society. She then earned her medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, graduating magna cum laude and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honors medical society.

A medical internship and dermatology residency followed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where she served as chief resident during her final year of training.

Pinnacle Dermatology opened in 2016.

Mabry said the biggest change during her time in practice has been the sheer number of patients the clinics see daily.

“On our very first day, I saw just four patients,” she said. “Our practice has grown tremendously, and we’re able to serve a significantly larger number of patients every day. This growth is a testament to the trust our community has placed in us and the strong relationships we’ve built over time.”

What has not changed, she said, is the emphasis on compassionate, expert medical care for patients regardless of the reason for their visit. For that, she credits the training and professionalism of the company’s 38 employees.

“The fundamental need for trust and empathy in the patient-physician relationship has remained unchanged,” she said. “Patients still value being heard and cared for, which has always been a cornerstone of our practice. Our team is truly the heart of Pinnacle Dermatology, as every member of our team is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for our patients.

“Good customer service in dermatology is about being attentive, approachable and responsive. It means listening to patients’ concerns, explaining treatment options clearly, and ensuring every interaction leaves them feeling valued and confident in their care. Finding the right mix of expertise and attitude requires prioritizing both clinical excellence and a genuine passion for patient care.”

Mabry said the company’s growth has come as a result of these attributes, which have been solidified by the company’s reputation among medical professionals and the public at large.

“We continue to have great relationships with colleagues and receive many referrals from other providers, but we now also see a significant number of patients who find us through word of mouth,” she said. “Families and friends of our existing patients often come to us after hearing about the positive experiences others have had, which is a testament to the trust and satisfaction we’ve built over time. As a result, our clientele is diverse, with patients from all age groups and backgrounds.

“Our practice is also deeply rooted in serving

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the local community. We’re committed to helping the people of Little Rock and the surrounding areas not just by providing expert dermatologic care but by actively participating in community events and initiatives. Building these connections strengthens our ability to make a positive impact on the lives of our patients and their families.”

Pinnacle Dermatology is not content to rest on its laurels, and Mabry said the practice is in the process of expanding.

“One of the biggest developments is our new location in west Little Rock,” she said. “We’re building a larger clinic on Rahling Road, which will allow us to expand our services and provide even greater care to our patients. This growth reflects our commitment to meeting the needs of our community, and we look forward to welcoming patients to this new space soon. The future is very exciting.” aymag.com

aesthetics

Seeking

Balance

Hormone and other treatments push wellness clinics front and center

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By DWAIN HEBDA

here is arguably no more powerful force that humans share than to arrest the march of time and turn back the clock on aging. History is replete with tales of famous explorers lured by the promise of discovering mystical places that would arrest the march of mortality. Alexander the Great supposedly came across a healing River of Paradise during his conquests in the fourth century B.C., just one legend among many of wellsprings that allegedly existed in the Canary Islands, Japan, Polynesia and England.

Perhaps the most famous of all, the fantastical Fountain of Youth sought

by Juan Ponce de León in the 1500s in Florida, was not only itself a myth, but historians say his pursuit of it probably was too. Gold, trade and land were likely more potent draws, and in these, he succeeded in achieving immortality, having discovered the Gulf Stream current and claimed and settled for Spain what is now Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, as well as what would become the Sunshine State.

The fact that de León is still known for his historically dubious chase of the magical spring more than 500 years after his death shows just how obsessed the human race appears to be with finding a way to grow older without the aches, pain, decline and appearance of aging.

The latest weapons in that battle have

more to do with science than superstition, doled out in the growing number of health spas and wellness clinics that are proliferating across the country.

Fueled by the public’s growing rejection of institutional medicine, reputable practices are owned and staffed by medically trained individuals who walk patients through medically sound therapies to address a range of wellness needs, from improving sleep and alertness, energy and cognitive function to weight, sexual function and even hair loss.

Kristy Jones “I would describe it as precision medicine,” said Kristi Jones, nurse practitioner and founder of Synolo Wellness in Little Rock. “It’s taking a person who has X, Y, Z symptoms and really digging in to figure out why the person has the symptoms to begin with. Why they’re not sleeping, for example, could be genetics, lifestyle, environmental, diet, stress. Those all play a role.

“There could also be hormonal reasons too. We’re all aging, and with that, hormones are declining — for some more rapidly than others. We deliver the most appropriate, most accurate way to test hormones, restore hormones, balance nutrient deficiencies, supplement when needed and then create a wellness program that gets a person to where they want to be.”

Jones said her therapies exist not because she is anti-pharmaceuticals but because she believes in looking at every potential option for restoring wellness and functionality without automatically defaulting to prescription medicines.

“My approach is, hey, pharmaceuticals are not my first goto if there’s other things that we can do, but if someone still needs a medicine, they should take that,” she said.

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ing to talk about lifestyle, activity level, diet, social relationships. We’re going to really get to know each other and get to know you as a whole person, not just someone coming in. That, combined with an extensive lab panel, gives us a place to start.”

Jackson said while age is a major factor in hormone deficiency or imbalance, it is far from the only factor throwing people’s wellness off-kilter.

“With people around the age of 45 to 55, there is a natural decline in hormones due to age. That is naturally occurring,” she said. “People don’t have to settle for that, as lack of hormones disrupt our activities of daily living. We can optimize those hormones back up to a healthy level, and as those symptoms subside, they age well and age gracefully, doing the things they enjoy and having sharper cognition and focus and just performing better altogether.

“These days, we’re also seeing hormone imbalances and hormone deficiencies earlier than menopause or andropause age. When we see that happening prematurely, typically there’s something going wrong in the environment or lifestyle — for example, a high-processed diet, high sugar, high carbs, poor sleep or stress, which is a big one.

All of those can affect our hormone levels.”

One of the emerging applications for hormone therapy is in addressing thinning hair and hair loss.

Dr. Missy Clifton, whose practice, Premier Dermatology & Aesthetics in Bentonville, dates back 20 years and who founded MD Hair Labs in 2020, said such issues can be among the most traumatic for patients because hair loss is external.

“Our practice is definitely not exclusively women. There’s a ton of men who are coming to us, but I would say women are generally much more concerned about it in a lot of cases,” she said. “It is somewhat normalDr. Missy Clifton ized for a guy to be bald. A guy can shave his head and still look pretty cool, so men can get away with that. For a woman, it is super traumatic, especially if they’ve had wonderful hair their whole life and then it really starts to fall out. Women generally come to us much more in a panic when it happens and are much more willing to do something sooner than men.”

Clifton said treating hair loss is nothing new in the field of dermatology, and recent scientific advancements have given her more tools to address patients’ conditions, including applying hormone treatment.

“The most common type of hair loss, I would say, is probably a genetic type called androgenetic alopecia, which both men and women can suffer from. Men usually start having issues with that in their 20s or 30s, whereas women tend to start having more issues with it as they get closer toward menopause. It is hormonally driven, but really more about having a receptor in the scalp

We’re all aging, and with that, hormones are declining — for some more rapidly than others.

We deliver the most appropriate, most accurate way to test hormones, restore hormones, balance nutrient deficiencies, supplement when needed and then create a wellness program that gets a person to where they want to be.

— Kristy Jones, founder of Synolo Wellness

Jones said one of the biggest misconceptions people have about hormone therapy is that it is only used for a narrow range of conditions, such as with women experiencing menopause or men and women experiencing a lack of sex drive or performance.

“We’re not just talking about sex hormones; melatonin is a hormone, insulin’s a hormone, thyroid is a hormone, and every patient is very, very individualized,” she said. “If you take 10 patients who have insomnia, traditional medicine says they are all going to get the same dosage of X. We say, ‘OK, these patients all have the same symptoms, but all 10 are different in their genetic makeup,’ so where two may require the same dosage, the other eight are individuals who require something very different.”

This approach has struck a chord with consumers, as evidenced by the nationwide growth of the wellness industry, particularly in the areas of health, sleep, nutrition, fitness, appearance and mindfulness. McKinsey & Co. reported in 2024 that the market for such services had reached to $480 billion in the United States alone on the strength of 5 to 10 percent growth annually.

Contributing to this is the customization factor such clinics provide and which a growing number of consumers crave in their wellness regimens. McKinsey & Co. reported 1 in 5 consumers and 1 in 3 millennials prefer personalized products and services, meaning those that use biometric data to provide recommendations. That is precisely the strategy employed by Beyond Wellness, one of the faster-growing practices in Arkansas.

“When we think about hormone therapy, what I like to do is look at the person as a whole and optimize their health from the inside out,” said Christa Jackson, nurse practitioner at the practice’s west Little Rock location. “When we have hormone deficiencies or hormone imbalances, that can be counterproductive to how we feel and how our body operates. It really is all encompassing; it’s not a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach.

“That first visit, we’re going to spend a lot of time talking about medical history. We’re going to look at current medications or the surgeries a patient has had. We’re going to get into details about family history, some genetic questions. We’re go-

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“

These days, we’re also seeing hormone imbalances and hormone deficiencies earlier than menopause or andropause age. When we see that happening prematurely, typically there’s something going wrong in the environment or lifestyle — for example, a highprocessed diet, high sugar, high carbs, poor sleep or stress, which is a big one. All of those can affect our hormone levels.

that enzyme to stop that hair loss.”

Clifton said many other alternative treatments are available today, including several platelet-rich treatments, growth factor injections and exosomes.

“We now have an infusion device where we can actually infuse the growth factors and the platelet-rich plasma into the scalp without injections, which is nice for patients,” she said. “That’s a brand-new technology that we’re offering over at MD Hair Labs.”

Clifton advised people seeking a hair loss specialist for the first time to do their homework and ask a lot of questions before starting treatment.

“You want to look for a clinic that has pretty much all the treatment options,” she said. “You don’t want a clinic that, maybe, offers just platelet-rich plasma or just offers medication. You want a clinic that’s going to be able to provide treatment options in order to provide comprehensive treatment because depending on what type of hair loss you have, you might need more than one modality.

“For some hair loss disorders, you don’t even need medications; you just need treatments to stimulate hair growth. Sometimes hair loss is due to a systemic issue.

Maybe your thyroid is low, or maybe you’re anemic and things like that. If you don’t have an experienced clinic that knows what to look for, they’ll never be able to get you where you need to go.”

— Christa Jackson, nurse practitioner at Beyond Wellness

and in the hair follicles that people who don’t lose their hair don’t have.”

That receptor, Clifton explained, is an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase that converts normal testosterone in the body to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which makes the hair thin and then fall out.

“With hormone fluctuations, that hair loss can really start to happen,” she said. “That enzyme gets activated, and people start losing their hair, and so they generally take medications or do treatments to block

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aesthetics

Surgical Artistry Dr. Kris Shewmake

O

ver several decades of private practice, Dr. Kris Shewmake has built a solid reputation for expertise and artistry in the field of plastic surgery. Along the way, he has seen changes in the industry itself, from surgical techniques to materials to technology, as well as patient expectations for the finished results.

“Just as an analogy, it’s sort of like a pendulum,” he said. “Plastic surgery, aesthetics surgery, started out doing very conservative things — for example, breast lifts or face lifts or tummy tucks. The more comfortable surgeons got, the better anesthesia got and the more knowledge we had about all those procedures, the more extensive and complicated these procedures became.

“We were getting to a certain point where we were getting better results, but the results weren’t always very natural looking. There were a lot of unnatural, overdone results.”

Shewmake said his consistent focus on getting more natural results held benefits that went beyond cosmetic appearance. Taking a

more conservative approach also presented fewer complications, less downtime, and less bruising and swelling, making for a more comfortable experience for the patient.

“I think about the time that I trained is when the pendulum started swinging the other way,” he said. “We toned things down a little bit, and operations became much less extensive, not as deep. We got much, much, much better results as a result.”

After receiving his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he was president of his class and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society, Shewmake spent eight years in surgical training, which included a general surgery residency at UAMS and a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

He spent an additional year at the University of California, Los Angeles, working with children and adults affected by facial birth deformities. Upon completion of his fellowship in 1992, Shewmake returned to his native state and served as chief of plastic surgery at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Performing restorative work to correct facial abnormalities was not only rewarding but a key element in honing and perfecting the skills he uses daily today.

“In some of these cases, we’re dealing with kids, babies, you know, with these really severe birth defects and birth deformities,” he said.

“Operating on kids with these horrible deformities, you really have to know facial anatomy in order to perform this work and not hurt nerves or blood vessels as much.

“I think that being a cranial surgeon, having done that for the first seven or eight years, made me a better aesthetic surgeon because there’s nothing really about the head and neck that I don’t know, anatomically speaking.”

Since opening Shewmake Plastic Surgery in Little Rock in 1996, he has steadily built a reputation for excellence that ranks with any surgeon in the industry. He said one of the great perks of longevity is repetition as

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with repetition comes efficiency, as well as expertise.

“I pretty much just do everything face now, although I still do some abdominal stuff,” he said. “When I do the same operation three or four days a week, it becomes second nature. You get efficient at it. What used to take me six or seven hours, now it’s three or four hours just because I’ve been there so many times over the last 32 years.

“The patient benefits from that because the less time an operation takes, the fewer the complications and the fewer the anesthesia complications. It basically makes everything better from a patient-experience standpoint, from a patient-recovery standpoint and from a risk standpoint.”

Shewmake said the vast majority of the work he does now centers on facelift surgery, eyelid surgery and other aesthetic work on faces. He is so well known for such procedures that there is a six month waiting list for his services.

He also enjoys body contouring surgery, particularly dealing with women who are looking to reclaim their bodies after childbirth.

“I love the impact these procedures have on women who have had three or four babies, and they’ve had [cesarean sections], and their kids get old enough to go to the pool, and they’re self-conscious about putting on a bathing suit,” he said. “I do a lot of abdominal tightening procedures, and I still love that. I saw two patients today, and they’re so happy. They’re able to feel good about how they look again.”

Away from work, Dr. Shewmake is a loving husband and father of five who is active in his church. He served as cofounder of the mission team Operation New Life and has led surgical teams to serve the poor in Honduras and to teach in medical schools there. He is also an avid airplane and helicopter pilot and enjoys shooting, woodworking and restoring cars when he can find a bit of spare time.

aymag.com

aesthetics

Turning Back the Clock

Injectables continue their hot streak in the beauty world

By DWAIN HEBDA

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NEUROTOXIN FAST FACTS • More than 3.6 million men and women had cosmetic Botox in 2021.

• Results typically last three to six months.

• Patients can return to daily activities immediately after treatment.

• In addition to wrinkles, Botulinum injectables can treat excessive sweating, neck bands and more.

SOURCE: ABCS

W

ith the new year, many people are looking for a new start and fresh look. For the past few years, many such resolutions have included aesthetic injectables such as Botox and fillers to help erase signs of aging and maintain a healthy, youthful appearance.

According to industry figures, those strategies are showing no signs of slowing down as younger and younger patients give injectables a try and products and techniques continue to be refined by reputable practices.

“Toxins, such as Botox, remain the most requested service,” said Jennifer Gabbard, registered nurse and director and founder of the Skin Retreat in Little Rock. “Most patients are trying to achieve a natural look, not ‘frozen.’ The younger generations, patients in their 20s and 30s, are looking for a preventative aging treatment, what we call prejuvenation, which trends toward customization to reflect natural results.”

Gabbard said there have been advancements and a proliferation in the number of toxins and fillers, giving injectors much more latitude to customize the finished results. At the same time, the trend stresses the importance of expertise and experience on the part of the injector to assess the underlying facial structure and use products accordingly.

Jennifer Gabbard // Photo By “Facial symmetry is key and Jamison Mosley combining multiple products can get the patient an overall better, subtle result,” she said. “Advances in understanding facial anatomy have had a huge effect on outcomes of treatments.

“While some of the first fillers introduced are still my ‘go-tos,’ there are newer fillers that can produce a longer duration and integrate better with the tissue for a natural expression.”

For the uninitiated, aesthetic injectables are a form of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures designed to improve the appearance of the face. According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, there are two primary categories. Neurotoxins, notably Botulinum toxin Type A, block nerve impulses to facial muscles, causing them to relax. This softens expressions, and dynamic wrinkles are greatly reduced. These are by far the most popular cosmetic treatment, ABCS states.

Injectable dermal fillers are a different class of product. The gel-like substances restore fullness of face and lips lost to aging, smoothing out wrinkles and softening creases. Fillers can also be used to enhance certain facial features beyond what a person was born with, such as in the lips. Fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid and polymethylmethacrylate. Autologous fat injection, also known as facial fat grafting, is a more involved procedure whereby fat cells harvested from the patient’s own body, purified and then injected into the face to restore fullness.

Gabbard said over 21 years in the industry, she has seen various cosmetic trends come and go, not unlike tastes in fashion or music. The predominant trend currently among most clients is to come away with a natural look where no one part of the face is overly exaggerated.

“Highly skilled providers focus on creating a natural beauty with very little product. This being said, a product in one provider’s hand can be significantly different than that from another,” she said. “Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon or someone who is under the direction and supervision of a plastic surgeon. Seek an injector with extensive experience in the treatment you are wanting to have done because experience matters.

“I make it a priority to spend time and do a thorough consult, going over all the options, from conservative to aggressive treatments, so they can have all the options available. Then I assist them with their decision based on their concerns regarding expectations and downtime.”

Sidney Bennett, aesthetic injector at Beyond Wellness in Little Rock, said one of the biggest stumbling blocks for people new to injectables is the fear of coming out looking unnatural. She said every new patient that she sees is subject to a full facial assessment that lays out a full range of options beyond just pushing injections.

“During that full facial assessment, we ask what they’re coming in for, what their main concerns are,” she said. “Nine times out of 10, they say, ‘I just look like I’m getting older. I feel like things are changing. I feel like I’m noticing more wrinkles,’ so in addition to talking about the injections, we also talk about how a quality skin care routine should be a priority.

“I tell everyone what you do at home is more important than anything we do in the office. A really good skin care routine, done consistently, is a great place to start.”

Bennett also helps patients ease into the world

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of aesthetic injectables by consulting patients to address one or two areas at first and then work their way up as needed or desired. Again, having trust in an experienced injector is of paramount importance.

“So many people get advice from Instagram or TikTok, and that isn’t typically coming from medical professionals,” she said. “One of the things I stress, even with beginners, Sidney Bennett is taking a full-face approach even if you’re just starting with a little dab in the forehead or around the crow’s feet. We want the entire face to look really balanced and harmonious and match the lower face.

“Especially once patients get into their upper 30s, 40s, 50s, we really want to address everything together. We don’t want this super-smooth forehead and this saggy, wrinkled lower face and neck. That’s really, really important.”

Another avenue for patients is the use of biostimulators that, unlike traditional fillers, not only add volume at the time of injection but stimulate the body to create more natural filler substances such as collagen and elastin. The regenerative process does not happen overnight but does represent a more sustainable method of skin renewal, and the before-and-after results can be striking.

The continued improvements in neurotoxins and filler has kept the aesthetic injectable market growing at a brisk pace. Grand View Research reported recently that the industry reached $3.4 billion in 2022 and projected continued growth through the end of the decade, a robust 11 percent between 2024 and 2030.

To meet such demand, new practices are popping up throughout Arkansas and across the country.

Revolution Med Spa in Cabot is one of the relative newcomers, having opened a little more than two years ago, but as co-owner Amber Moody attests, being new and being located in a small town does not necessarily mean a drop-off in expertise or service.

In addition to her training as a nurse practitioner, Moody has completed extensive advanced training in the field of aesthetics.

“There is not currently a required standard of education,” she said. “Of course, you have to be a medically licensed person, but the advanced training is something that an injector has to seek out on their own. I’ve gone as far as to go train in Switzerland with world leaders in aesthetics on my own to advance not only my skill set and the technical things that we do but preparing for things like potential complications and learning what’s on the horizon for the aesthetics industry.”

Moody said one of the big changes she has noticed in the field has been the number of men who come in for aesthetic treatment. While still well behind the number of female patients, far more men are bucking past trends to pamper themselves.

“My clientele is predominantly women, and I think it will likely stay predominantly women, but what I’ve seen over the last few years is

DERMAL FILLER FAST FACTS • More than 1 million men and women annually choose this facial rejuvenation treatment.

• Instant results, quick treatment and little to no downtime contribute to filler treatments’ popularity.

• Results last six months to two years or longer, depending on the product and treatment.

• Autologous fat injection, or facial fat grafting, is a more involved procedure due to the additional step of harvesting of the patient’s fat cells.

SOURCE: ABCS 68

Although some of the first injectables developed are still go-to treatments, new products are constantly being developed.

“

(Photo provided by Beyond Wellness)

People are seeking out more of an improvement in the way that we age from within. We are seeing this blow up in other countries as research is coming out showing us the little keys to unlock our cellular regeneration from the inside out.

— Amber Moody, co-owner of Revolution Med Spa

that it is becoming more and more common for men to seek out treatment,” she said. “It used to be seemingly very taboo, but our male clientele has grown significantly just over the past year and a half. I think that says we’re starting to break the stigma of aesthetics being just overdone lips and these Hollywood stars.

“We’re starting to see men enjoy getting facial treatments and even a little Botox, a little filler, platelet-rich filler and things like that. I do see a huge shift in the way the industry is viewed by men over the last couple years, and I think that’s going to continue.”

Moody said the future holds exciting new developments for her industry, but not in the categories that people might expect. She said her international training has exposed her to many things that are available abroad that have the potential to completely change the game in antiaging.

“I see a shift happening worldwide,” she said. “People are seeking out more of an improvement in the way that we age from within. We are seeing this blow up in other countries as research is coming out showing us the little keys to unlock our cellular regeneration from the inside out.”

By way of example, Moody said she met and learned from a British researcher during a conference in Switzerland who addressed the benefits of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme that is essential to regulating metabolism, longevity, DNA repair and the immune system.

Proponents of NAD+ call it a miracle cure to reverse the

aging process, but many experts agree that more research is needed to fully understand the positive impact. That, plus the U.S.’ lengthy approval processes, means a miracle pill hitting the market is still a ways off.

“There will be a medication that can be prescribed eventually.

We probably won’t see it here 10 to 15 years, though,” she said. “In the meantime, they have already found naturally Amber Moody occurring things we can do to supplement and boost our body’s own NAD production for cellular repair.

“There will always be room for injectables, fillers and laser treatment. That part of the industry is going to continue to grow.

However, Botox lasts three months and filler, maybe a couple of years. I think the future of aesthetic medicine is not just doing the things that cover up a problem or temporarily fix a problem.

The future is going to focus on antiaging from within.”

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The

Natural

State

Surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic options abound, say docs

By AY STAFF

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H

eading into 2025, Americans are still showing a healthy appetite for cosmetic surgical procedures, but there are signs that tastes may be changing a bit.

According to the 2023 Procedural Statistics Release published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, procedures in every category of the breast, body and face showed year-over-year increases from 1 percent to 9 percent. Liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, breast lifts and eyelid surgery represented the top five procedures done, respectively, in 2023.

What the numbers do not necessarily show is the public moving toward smaller, less aggressive surgeries, said Dr. Suzanne Yee, owner of Dr. Suzanne Yee Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center in Little Rock.

“More and more people want less obvious incisions, and also, they want a natural look,” she said. “One of the things that more and more people are doing surgically would be endoscopic procedures like endoscopic brow lift and endoscopic cheek lifts. They’re small; they’re four to five small incisions in the forehead, and we just basically lift all the soft tissues off the bone and the forehead and midface.”

Yee also said she has noticed her clientele trending younger as more and more patients are looking for preventative procedures, be they surgical or through various injections and other nonsurgical options.

“We have younger patients coming in, trying to prevent aging or prevent that worn look. They want to look refreshed,” she said.

“Patients of all ages are wanting more natural results without that operated-on look.”

It is not mere vanity that is driving people to the surgical clinic door, Yee said, since many consider cosmetic procedures to be a function of staying competitive and measuring up in the workplace, as well.

“Many people are staying in the workforce longer, and they want to keep up with their younger counterparts, including in appearance,” she said. “This has been especially true ever since COVID-19, now that everybody’s been watching themselves on Zoom and FaceTime, doing all these meetings. They want to look as good as they feel.”

Yee said this process is not always to slim down as with liposuctions or tummy tucks but also includes a growing number of patients seeking to actually fill out certain areas of the body.

“There’s some patients that want a little bit of fat where they don’t have any, like for filling the face,” she said. “There is a new filler out there called Renova where when we inject that into the area, it provides a frame-

“We have younger patients coming in, trying to prevent aging or prevent that worn look.

They want to look refreshed. Patients of all ages are wanting more natural results without that operated-on look.”

— Dr. Suzanne Yee, owner of Dr. Suzanne Yee Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center work for the body to start building fat cells.

It’s really new.”

Dr. Eric Wright owner of Wright Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Little Rock, said his practice has seen an uptick in patients due to the substantial weight loss many have been experiencing due to taking semaglutide medications, which have been recently approved for weight loss.

“Once we start getting into patients who have lost 50, 75 pounds, which is common these days, we’re doing a lot of skin-removal procedures and work to the face,” he said. “There’s a limit to how much your body can rebound back. The elasticity is just not there, especially considering how fast they’re losing all this weight.

“I think the biggest thing, from the surgical perspective, is these weight loss medications have opened the door for really young patients to do surgical procedures that were historically reserved for older patients.”

Wright said this has led to a new generation of patients who are looking for ways to tighten up the skin, be it surgically, through fillers or using a combination of surgical and nonsurgical procedures. He also sees more men seeking services as a result.

“Men are exploring their options today,” he said. “We had clinic today, and two of my consults were men. I used to get two a month. Now I’m having two — Dr. Eric Wright, owner of Wright in the same day, and it’s usuPlastic Surgery and Med Spa ally for reasons related to weight loss where they’ve lost 75 or 100 pounds.”

One thing that has not appeared to have impacted Wright’s business has been the economic conditions of the past few years. He said despite higher costs and inflation,

“Men are exploring their options today. We had clinic today, and two of my consults were men. I used to get two a month. Now I’m having two in the same day, and it’s usually for reasons related to weight loss where they’ve lost 75 or 100 pounds.”

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One of Dr. Suzanne Yee's patients shows before-andafter results from a facelift.

business has remained steady to brisk, allowing a bounce back from the shutdowns and restrictions of the pandemic.

He said patients may have had to prioritize their procedures due to cost, but that has not stopped them from coming.

“Patients may have had to focus on what’s the most important to them, focusing on areas that they consider to be a priority,” he said. “Instead of coming in and doing multiple Botox fillers and laser resurfacing, they might just do Botox. That might have something to do with the economy.

“One thing that we really try to do is consult with our clients and come up with a kind of a game plan, a procedure guideline to help them make decisions based on their goals and what’s most important to them. We’ve continued to stay very busy, and I think that has something to do with it.”

The combination of cost and the advancement of technology and materials is leading some patients away from surgical options altogether. Dr. Anne Trussell, founder of Sei Bella Med Spa in Little Rock, said today’s nonsurgical treatments deliver tremendous results without costly surgery and downtime.

“The newest things that we have are treatments for body contouring, addressing cellulite, noninvasive facelifts, vaginal rejuvenation and urinary incontinence,” she said. “We use a technology called high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy. These are noninvasive, painless procedures, and that’s what has made them so popular with patients.”

Trussell said medical research has led to other options for those seeking to avoid surgery, as well. For women of menopause age or older, bioidentical hormones have emerged as an effective and popular options for restoring balance. Sei Bella has been offering the option for nearly 15 years and is recognized as a leading authority in that form of treatment.

The relative affordability of med spa treatments means people are looking to address multiple issues at once, she added.

“What we’re seeing are people who are interested in more complete rejuvenation,” she said. “Instead of, ‘Oh, I just don’t like these frown lines,’ it’s more like, ‘What can I do for my whole face?’ or, ‘What can I do for my whole body?’ As recently as a few years ago, we often didn’t sell stuff as a package, but today we may offer body sculpting and cellulite treatment as a package together. We’ve got a lot of positive response from that.”

Trussell said new patients should take their time and do their homework before having any work done, surgically or nonsurgically. Getting referrals from trusted friends or family members is always a good idea, and never be afraid

“We use a technology called highintensity focused electromagnetic energy. These are noninvasive, painless procedures, and that’s what has made them so popular with patients.”

— Dr. Anne Trussell, founder of Sei Bella Med Spa

to ask questions of a potential provider to determine their qualifications and experience, questions that Trussell welcomes.

“I did internal medicine for 20 years, and when it comes to something like bioidentical hormones, patients really respond to that in my background. The same goes for other procedures,” she said. “Look at the before-and-after photos, and make sure they’re getting a natural look. It’s like I always tell people, ‘If you meet one of my patients for the first time and you can immediately tell they had some work done, then I didn't do a very good job.”

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A Business Built on

Beauty Kristi Sims

A

nyone who thinks being an aesthetician is easy never met Kristi Sims, owner of Skin Bar & Med Spa. Over more than a decade, she has grown her business from a sole practitioner in Bryant to a second location in Hot Springs Village and 16 employees split between the two practices.

The growth of her company has come thanks to hard work, nextlevel customer service, and a commitment to staying on top of a dynamic and ever-changing field. She has also remained very humble in the face of her success.

“I don’t feel like my story is something that exciting,” she said.

“It’s really more of a credit to the team we’ve assembled. I just basically did facials and skin care stuff for years, and I’ve brought on nurses, nurse practitioners and massage therapists, some of whom have more expertise than myself. I also don’t have a business background, except for what I just figured out for myself.”

She laughed, saying, “Maybe it’s just the favor of the Lord. I don’t know. God definitely helped me.”

Whatever she chooses to credit it to, Sims’ success speaks for itself.

Her two locations offer a range of services and a variety of demographics are reflected in her clientele. That is particularly impressive given the competition in the local market, which has stepped up considerably since she started.

“There’s so much competition, especially after COVID-19,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many clients that I have had over the years who are now aestheticians, and shops [are] popping up everywhere. The same with nurses; so many people got out of bedside during COVID and started doing injections.

It’s just changed a whole lot.”

“We try to have a one-stop shop to get various services done. Technology has just advanced so much. There are so many more things we can do, things that deliver results with no downtime, like the microneedling, lasers [and] skin resurfacing, in addition to injections.”

Sims said another one of the things that has always set her business apart is the lengths to which she and her staff go to educate clients and provide guidance on how to achieve a desired look. As her business has begun to see younger customers, that element has become even more critical to creating a satisfied, loyal clientele.

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“The consultation side is very important.

Sometimes a person might have a goal that is somewhat unrealistic, and you have to be able to speak to that,” she said. “We’re also seeing a lot more younger people starting to do more. We’re seeing customers in their 20s doing preventative Botox and stuff now, things that when I started, people didn’t even think about doing until they were almost 50. It’s different now, and so we really take it seriously to help younger clients understand their options.”

Outside of work, Sims tries to find time to indulge her love of nature, enjoys various do-it-yourself projects and is the mother of three boys. Family obligations and the hectic pace of owning and overseeing two locations mean there is not a third location on the immediate horizon, but she is keeping an open mind for the future should the opportunity present itself. She said the increased demand for aesthetic services has not diluted the satisfaction she still gets from seeing individual clients pleased with their treatments.

“I’ve worked at places before where the clients felt worse when they left than when they came in because they felt judged,” she said. “I set out to create a space where everyone could feel at ease from the moment they walk in. I wanted to ensure that every client felt heard and valued, and I hope that I have achieved this goal. I am immensely grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years.

“I feel like we just have such a good crew, and we love what we do. We want people to feel better about themselves as a result of coming to us. A lot of our clients have become really good friends with us because of that. I love what I do just because we like to make people feel better about themselves. When you feel better about what’s on the outside, it helps with the health and self-esteem you feel on the inside.” aymag.com

orthopedics

Staying Hip: Trends and Topics in Orthopedics

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ot everyone will need to undergo a joint replacement in their later years, but there is no denying the prevalence of the procedures is only increasing as the nation’s population ages. According to the American College of Rheumatology, the United States sees about 790,000 total knee replacements and 544,000 hip replacements every year. Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic cited a report that the need for knee replacements is projected to grow a whopping 673 percent by 2030, reaching approximately 3.48 million procedures.

While it is advisable to avoid surgery when possible, orthopedic procedures are life changing for many people, giving them back a sense of freedom and a chance to return to the activities and hobbies that pain may have taken away. What is more, a silver lining to that uptick in operations is constant advancements in the field. With the help of innovative techniques, procedures and tech, surgeons and other orthopedic professionals are able to provide patients with the most up-to-date care possible.

Breakthroughs in recent years have not only improved outcomes for patients but given providers new ways to approach various conditions and injuries. Many will be familiar with the growing use of robotic-assisted surgery, which allows for smaller incisions, minimal tissue damage and faster recovery times.

A recent article in the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology also highlighted “the use of regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections, to accelerate healing and promote tissue regeneration.” Other developments revolve around the materials used. 3D printing allows surgeons to create perfectly matched custom implants, and new lightweight and breathable cast materials make for a more comfortable healing process.

Total joint replacements are not nearly the only procedures available to patients on this front, either. There are a bevy of treatment modalities, from minimally invasive options all the way to full-on surgeries, designed to get individuals back to moving as pain-free as possible, for as long as possible. AY About You caught up with the experts at Martin Orthopedics in Cabot, OrthoArkansas, Conway Regional Health System and Arkansas Bone & Joint in Benton to hear about the latest and greatest in orthopedic procedures and treatments. While every new development might not be immediately available to every patient, rest assured the Natural State’s providers will be ready to implement them in the most effective ways possible as they come.

We would be remiss not to highlight a few of the standout providers at the forefront of the orthopedics field, those whose tireless efforts get Arkansans back on their feet in every corner of the state. This year, we shine a spotlight on the work of Dr. James Head at the Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center; Dr. Adam Norwood at Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic-Little Rock; and Dr. Lowry Barnes at UAMS Health.

Finally, no discussion of this nature would be complete without giving a nod to the familiar adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are many ways to keep one’s bones and joints healthy for longer, whether through certain movements, jointsaving precautions or even the shoes one chooses to wear. In addition to getting joint health advice from sources at Baptist Health, UAMS, Pain Care Associates and Advanced Physical Therapy, AY About You also inquired with an array of outfitters to find out what running and hiking shoes are at the tops of their lists for 2025. Read on to learn from the footwear folks at Rock City Running in Little Rock, the Sporty Runner in Conway, northwest Arkansas’ Rush Running Co., Fleet Feet Little Rock and Gearhead Outfitters.

The new year is a time of hope and turning on to new healthier habits, fitness and exercise among them. In doing so, pay attention to joint health and proper form so as to stay on track and off of injured reserve.

orthopedics DR. LOWRY BARNES

The KNEES and HIPS Have It T

here are places throughout the country and around the world that have become synonymous for a product or service. Arkansas is known far and wide for a few things — Walmart, ducks and a one-of-a-kind collegiate mascot to name three. Add to that list joint replacement surgery, and for that, one can thank Dr. Lowry Barnes.

Barnes, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint reconstruction and replacement surgery of the hip and knee, is one of the preeminent physicians in his field.

Following more than two decades in private practice, he joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, his medical school alma mater, in 2014 as professor and chair of the department of orthopaedic surgery and, in 2017, was invested in the Carl L. Nelson, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery. He also serves as director of the musculoskeletal service line at UAMS Health.

All of that is a way of saying Barnes is a pretty big deal, although it would not be said by the man himself. When asked about his motivation to go into medicine, Barnes was quick to point out his humble beginnings and the help of others.

“At a young age, I knew I wanted to be a doctor, literally by the time I was 5 or 6 years old,” he said. “I was very fortunate. I worked in the hospital in high school, I worked in the pharmacy, had some exposure, and then I worked on the floor. I worked as an orderly at Jefferson Regional [Medical Center] in Pine Bluff.”

While there, Barnes crossed paths with Dr. Banks Blackwell, the premiere orthopedic surgeon in Pine Bluff, who mentored the youngster, even picking up the tab on his medical school training.

“I was the first person to go to college in my family,” Banks said. “I got introduced to orthopedics early and liked it and never changed my approach.”

Throughout a long and distinguished career in medicine, Barnes has had a chance to witness a lot of change, from the materials used in implants to surgical protocols that have greatly reduced recuperative periods. Despite that, he said the basic components of the medical field really have not changed all that much.

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“I tell residents all the time that orthopedics shouldn’t be that hard to learn. Nothing’s really changed in bones, joints or muscles in the last 100 years,” he said. “We may name a few little structures differently, but the body of information is the same whether you started 30 years ago or you start today when you’re talking about the human body.

“The things that are different is we have better understanding of kinematics and how joints work now, and we have better technology to get patients better faster.”

Lowery has not just ridden shotgun to these changes; as one of the foremost authorities in the world in his specialty, he has been out front, educating peer and student alike on the latest advancements in orthopaedic surgery. During his career, he has made substantial contributions to research focused on the hip and knee, having published more than 350 peer-reviewed articles. He also lectures nationally and internationally on total joint-replacement surgery and has seven patents for orthopedic surgery devices and implants.

“Things have changed so much, and because of what we’ve learned about joint replacement, we know that they’re actually a lot more durable than we thought they were when we first started doing them,” he said. “In the knee particularly, we now use implants that are much more stable and more like a normal knee. Patients can be more active on them and do activities that require more pivoting than we thought possible early on.”

Barnes’ long list of accolades and stellar reputation has also attracted some celebrity clients, notably NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. While calling Bradshaw “a close friend,” Barnes said he is the farthest thing from a Doc Hollywood when it comes to the expertise and care he shows patients.

“Terry and I are very good friends now, but other patients are just as rewarding,” he said. “Patients don’t have to be a high-profile person to get good results from hip or knee replacement or to be happy with their surgeon and send other patients to them.”

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orthopedics

Orthopedics field sees major advancements in joint replacement

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Where SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY MEET

By DWAIN HEBDA

T

The modern devices are not only more durable but are crafted to provide a better match to a joint’s natural kinesiology, especially in the case of knee replacements, said Dr. Adam Smith at OrthoArkansas in Little Rock.

“The shape of [modern implants] matches the knee a little bit better, so it should feel a little bit more like a real knee,” he said. “A knee is not a hinge, like a door hinge, that just goes one way. It pivots and it rotates a little bit. It’s not exactly just a 90-degree bend.”

Smith said surgical techniques, including robotic surgical devices, have also changed the process of knee and hip replacement dramatically. That not only speeds healing but allows physicians to be more aggressive in requiring patients to get back on their feet and into physical therapy quickly.

“Twenty years ago, a hip or knee replacement patient would stay in the hospital for several days,” he said. "Ten years ago, they were staying in the hospital for, maybe, one or two days. Now we’re working toward doing the majority of them where you are home the same day.

“One of the reasons that’s beneficial is the whole goal of surgery is to get the patient up and get them moving, and the quicker we get them up and moving, the better the outcome. If you’re laying around in a hospital for a couple of days, those are days that you could be working on your therapy and getting back to mobilizing.”

According to the American Joint Replacement Registry's 2024 Annual Report, an entity of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, primary knee and primary hip Dr. Jerry Lorio

he profile of aging in America is changing and changing fast. Individuals 50 and older are more active and more informed than ever, and, with that, has come an accelerated rate of joint replacements, as much to keep people in the game as to simply relieve pain.

Once they do decide to undergo surgery, patients are finding that the health care industry has not stood still on developing better materials and surgical procedures that have radically changed that area of medicine.

“Going back 26 years ago, when I saw a patient and they needed a hip or knee replacement, we typically told them to expect that this is going to last them about 10 years,” said Dr. Jerry Lorio at Arkansas Bone & Joint in Benton. “Since then, the materials have gotten better. I’m pretty comfortable now to expect 20 years out of them 95 percent of the time. It’s really come a long way.”

Banner Health listed some advancements in a recent web story, including better polyethylene, a plastic used in artificial joints, that does not break down as quickly; advanced ceramics that resist fracture under stress and provide less friction than metal-on-plastic devices; and titanium alloys, to name a few.

Customization is another big step forward for joint replacement, Lorio said.

“Back then, some of the knee components, you could use the same tibial on a left knee that you use on a right knee. Now it’s left-right specific,” he said. “Every knee that comes into my office that needs a replacement has a unique design. A lot of patients are bow-legged, some knock-kneed.

Some have flexion contractures. Some have recur bottom, where their knee goes backward. The surgical planning is totally different for each of them, and over the years, different approaches have been developed to do that.”

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procedures constituted the majority of the 3.7 million cases submitted for the report between 2012 and 2023 at 51.1 percent and 32.4 percent, respectively.

Female patients continue to outnumber men 59 percent to 41 percent in the procedures, and the average age for both sexes is 66 years for total hip arthroplasty and 68 years for total knee arthroplasty.

Dr. Austin Cole, an orthopedic surgeon at Conway Regional Health System, said the industry trends toward customization in Dr. Adam Smith the ways men and women are fitted for their new artificial joints according to natural differences in their physiology.

“There’s a lot of individualized nature, for sure, on our anatomy or our muscle function and activation, and we definitely have some research looking at factors that are gender based,” he said. “For instance, shoulder instability or shoulder injuries with joints kind of popping in and out is higher in males, and sometimes that’s the type of sports they play or the acDr. Ken Martin tivities they do.

“For females, things like kneecap dislocations or patellar instability, as well as ACL injuries, are higher because of wider hips and some of the changes in the knee as far as the space in the knee where the ACL sits. Some of the mechanics are different, and so they are at a higher risk for these injuries.”

Cole said sports medicine has become much more attuned to preventing injury versus just treating them after the fact, which has resulted in far more sophisticated warmup and Dr. Austin Cole cooldown activities specifically targeting joints. He also pointed out some orthopedic advancements that can better treat certain conditions without replacing the joint entirely.

“There’s a focus on getting people by until they’re older with newer, up-to-date techniques, what I would call joint preservation,” he said.

“Some of the options we’re offering here is when you have cartilage loss, which is arthritis, or let’s say your meniscus is worn out, we’re doing meniscus transplants more and more frequently.

Through the MACI procedure, we can take your cartilage and grow it now and reimplant that or perform osteotomies where we cut the bone and

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“The shape of [modern implants] matches the knee a little bit better, so it should feel a little bit more like a real knee.”

— Dr. Adam Smith, OrthoArkansas realign it if you’re kind of wearing more on the inside or outside of the knee.

“We also do a lot of hip scopes for tears and early wear of cartilage and impingement, trying to prevent total hip replacement for a longer period of time.”

Current trends have also given surgeons a glimpse as to what is to come in the industry, be it dealing with technology, surgical procedures or patient profile.

“There is some technology now around the use of implants and how to implant those without the use of cement. The implants have a coating and bone actually grows into the implants,” said Dr. Ken Martin at Little Rock-based Martin Orthopedics. “We used it more than 20 years ago, and it fell out of favor, and now it’s coming back with some newer technology.

“Another thing that’s improved is our preoperative care, and that includes some preoperative injections around the knee and also the drug delivery systems that can be placed inside the knee to help accelerate recovery and decrease pain. Those can be quite helpful too.”

From a patient perspective, Martin echoed the other medical professionals interviewed in saying that body weight is a primary factor for joint replacement in a growing percentage of cases.

“I’m seeing heavier patients,” he said. “I don’t intend to insult anybody by that, but as a population, we are getting larger, and I think that may have some impact on arthritis.”

After 40 years as a practitioner in the field, Martin said his work is every bit as gratifying today, and the future is, perhaps, even more promising than at any point in his long career.

“I think we’re going to see is the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning that can be integrated into presurgical planning and, also, intraoperative decision making,” he said. “I think at some point we’re going to have images we take of a patient’s knee preoperatively, and then with machine learning, over time, it will assist in placement of the implants in the proper rotation and proper alignment and the proper cuts to be made. That, I think, is coming, and that’ll be exciting to see.”

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orthopedics

AN OUNCE OF

Prevention

Take steps now to avoid joint damage later

By AY STAFF

T

he story is a familiar one: People reach the end of the old year and make resolutions for improvement during the new one. In many cases, that promise to oneself is in the form of getting in shape, and for the first few weeks at least, the fires of motivation burn brightly, lighting the sedentary masses’ way into the gym or out on the road or track.

Invariably, those well-worn, well-intentioned attempts to turn over a new leaf merely turn ankles instead, as well as twisting knees, straining backs and wrenching shoulders.

The scenario has become so predictable, area orthopedists, chiropractors and physical therapists work overtime to caution people about the right and wrong ways to get back on the road to fitness without breaking down just a few miles in.

“In our 20s, we’re all pretty much bulletproof,” said Dr. Richard Alan Nix at the Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic in Little Rock. “A real turning point comes for

most of us when we get out of high school or college where we no longer have a coach or someone whose job it is to keep us in shape.”

Nix’s best advice for patients to avoid joint pain and injury later in life is to stay active throughout, especially to maintain a healthy weight.

“People who let their weight get out of hand, there’s no question it wears joints faster,” he said. “Weight management throughout life is paramount.”

Of course, people who make a new year’s resolution to get in shape generally have not followed that advice for part or most of their history.

For them, Nix said to take to their personal comebacks slowly to avoid injury. He said even under the best circumstances, joints show wear and tear, some more than others due to increased loads or even genetics.

“When we get into our 40s, most every knee that I look at, I see some evidence of scuffing or early wear. Some have a little. Some have a lot,” he said. “By about age 40, that also raises the issue of family history. A lot of people can look back in their family, and their mother, dad, both grandparents had plenty of arthritis. That can be passed on. There are a few lucky families that have very durable joints, but most of us do not.

Nix said starting slowly and staying consistent is a preferable strategy to taking on too much and then quitting due to excessive soreness or injury.

“I definitely encourge baby steps, just getting started doing something gentle, like walking a few blocks,” he said.

“Explore things you can do with consistency, and stick with it. I also recommend exercising first thing in the morning, before anything else gets in the way.

“Don’t think you’re going to run a few miles to start with and then beat yourself up when you can’t. If you achieve con— Dr. Richard Alan Nix, sistency, then intensity and endurance will follow that.”

Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic Beginning fitness level is just one element that goes into

“People who let their weight get out of hand, there’s no question it wears joints faster. Weight management throughout life is paramount.”

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Stewart said another advantage of regular chiropractic care, besides effectiveness, is that it has a variety of tools that are appropriate for treating all age groups. He said his practice sees people in their prime athletic years up to his oldest current patient, who is 90.

“I would say the majority of patients like and do well with the traditional, manual-type manipulation,” he said. “We also have many other — ­Dr. Dwight Stewart, chiropractor tools and instruments that are comPain Care Associates puter assisted that are also very effective, depending on the patient’s indichoosing an exercise, said Dr. Ben Stronach at the vidual situation.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in “Our latest equipment purchase, which was Little Rock. designed in Japan, is called floating manipulative “If someone is developing arthritis, we really therapy. You’re literally able to do mobilizations recommend low- to moderate-impact activities, and manipulations without having the resistance of especially as people age,” he said. “You want to gravity. Last I heard, there were only about 3,500 of avoid really, really high-impact activities and focus these machines in the world, and we’re one of only more on just general joint movement and aerobic two chiropractic offices in the state that have this exercise for general health. piece of equipment that I am aware of.”

“We are finding the needle moving as people One of the most valuable medical professions get older and remain much more active where for athletes at any level — whether beginners, we’re finding people that are still competing in trireturners, elite or weekend warriors — is physiathletes and competitive events into their 50s and cal therapy. While many people associate physical 60s, but in general, we typically recommend movtherapy with recovery from an injury or surgery, it ing more toward activities such as running, swimalso offers numerous proactive benefits especially ming and biking.” for those seeking to prevent injuries and improve Joints do not behave like muscles, and thereoverall performance. fore, many people do not realize that there are cerMelissa Holland, president and CEO of Adtain stretches and other techniques for pre- and vanced Physical Therapy, emphasized the impost-workout that can help ward off injury and portance of proactive care, particularly during keep people in the game at any age. times when athletes are ramping up activity. She “If you’re going on a walk with your dog, I suggested “waiting for nagging pain, swelling or think that’s a moderate-level activity you can jump injury to appear before seeking help is a missed right into,” he said. “Once you’re doing more highopportunity. level activity, especially as we age, it is typically “We recommend physical wellness screens recommended to do some stretching and even a which, in many cases, don’t even require a referral,” kind of a cooldown phase so you don’t go from Holland said. really high level activity immediately to sitting on A wellness screen is a comprehensive assessthe couch. There is something to be said for that ment that evaluates an athlete’s overall physical ramp-up and ramp-down phase.” health and potential risk for injury. It includes Both Nix and Stronach said by the time they looking at gait and balance, checking body alignget involved as orthopedists, something is either ment and assessing previous injuries or chronic iswearing out or has gone wrong with a joint and sues. By checking range of motion and strength, that regular checkups usually do not include prophysical therapists can determine if the athlete is active scans and X-rays of joints as a matter of at risk for injuries before they even happen. The course without the patient reporting discomfort or screen also considers mental factors such as stress some other problem. Fortunately, there are other and cognitive issues, which can impact performedical professionals that can provide assistance mance, allowing therapists to make necessary recand guidance before knees or ankles become damommendations to other health care professionals. aged to the point of needing surgery.

“Our team takes a look at the patient as a “A lot of people don’t realize that most prowhole human,” Holland said, “taking into account fessional teams, whether it’s football, baseball or their medical history, lifestyle and other factors to whatever, utilize chiropractors and physical theraguide them toward better overall health.” pists, as well as orthopedic surgeons,” said Dr. By using proactive assessments like the screens, Dwight Stewart, chiropractor at Pain Care Asphysical therapists can help athletes maintain sociates in Little Rock. “Among the things that consistent exercise and achieve peak performance we chiropractors bring to the table are range of while reducing the risk of injuries. This holistic apmotion function and alignment, which are essenproach to physical wellness ensures that athletes tial for proper function. You’re at a higher risk of are not just recovering from injury but also actively injury if you don’t have good range of motion or working toward optimal health and well-being, proper alignment, and these can also help with inwhether they are starting their fitness journeys or jury recovery.” pushing the limits in elite sports.

“A lot of people don’t realize that most professional teams, whether it’s football, baseball or whatever, utilize chiropractors and physical therapists, as well as orthopedic surgeons.”

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Dr. Richard Alan Nix

Dr. Ben Stronach

Dr. Dwight Stewart

Melissa Holland aymag.com

orthopedics

DR. JAMES HEAD

Part of the

TEAM

By AY STAFF

that help a surgeon get a precise implant position,” he said. “We face the same general challenges as robotic knee replacement, even though we’re technically not using a robot yet in ankle replacement.

“Probably the newest, coolest thing that no one ever talks about is percutaneous surgery. One of the more common surgeries I’m doing now is percutaneous bunion surgery where it’s this high-torque, lowspeed bur that can cut bone safely through a little bitty incision.

“There’s the indications for that expanding beyond bunion surgery to include any kind of osteotomy around the foot. Where you’re cutting the bone, realigning things, you can use this spur, cut the bone through a little bitty incision, just poke holes, and it just heals faster with less complications. It’s pretty amazing.”

The technology is new, no more than about 4 or 5 years old, Head said, which puts the practice well out in front of other health systems. Investing in such technology is just one of the advantages he enjoys as part of the Conway Regional medical family.

“Having a relationship that’s close knit with lots of different doctors and specialties and administrators like what I have working here at Conway Regional is a real advantage,” he said. “Having those tight relationships is advantageous in a lot of ways compared to being in your own little building off in the corner, just doing your own thing and showing up to the hospital once in a while to do a case.

“I appreciate being able to collaborate with other doctors; for instance, I have the cell phone numbers for an infectious disease doctor, a vascular surgeon or whatever it is, and we all align on what to do to best treat a given patient. Having that strong community of physicians to text or call about patients back and forth efficiently is a big plus for the patients and the doctors. I think that’s the biggest advantage over, say, a giant university where nobody knows anybody or even being isolated in a small place with a few resources available.”

As complicated as cases sometimes get and for all the new and evolving technology that is constantly being introduced, Head’s affinity for his chosen profession still boils down to some very simple elements.

“What I still like about it is the role you get to play to assist someone who has a bad problem that limits their quality of life,” he said.

“Whether you fuse it or replace it or straighten it out or even inject it, their quality of life improves, and you’ve given them a happier, less painful life. That’s a pretty rewarding thing to get to do every day. Truly helping somebody never gets old.”

W

hen it comes to his choice of medical careers, Heber Springsborn Dr. James Head described himself as a late bloomer.

“I decided [on orthopedics], like, last minute, third year of medical school,” he said. “We only got a one-week rotation in orthopedics, and we went and saw a shoulder replacement and a knee replacement surgery. Just watching the surgery was a hook for me to see that done. I knew that’s what I wanted to do after seeing it done just one time.”

Head earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway before enrolling in medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. After completing his residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, he served a foot and ankle fellowship at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute in Tampa.

For the past eight years, he has been in practice at the Conway Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, which is affiliated with Conway Regional Health System. In that time, Head has routinely been ranked a top surgeon in various polls, most notably as Best Surgeon for Lower Extremities (2021, 2023-2024) and Best Foot & Ankle Surgeon (2022-2024) by AY About You magazine.

Coming back to Arkansas to practice was always the plan, he said, and he enjoys the variety and diversity of patients he gets to treat.

“I see everything from little bitty kids who break their leg and need a cast to elderly people,” he said.

Pressed to describe a “typical” patient, Head said the most numerous cases tend to be women in their 60s who have some type of ankle pain.

He said technology allows him to offer those patients more advanced solutions than past generations had at their disposal.

“The total ankle replacement field, as most things are, is advancing a lot using software with computers. This helps generate cutting guides

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When Pain Ends, Your Adventure Begins

Eric Boe, MD

David Gilliam, MD

Adam Kessler, DO

Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic-Little Rock is a unique and comprehensive facility that provides the most advanced treatment options, outstanding patient care, and a full range of ortho-related trauma services.

Our mission is to get you back to enjoying whatever new adventures await.

Philip Johnson, MD

Richard Nix, MD*

Adam Norwood, DO

Christopher Stewart, MD

John Yocum, MD

Kaitlyn Griffin, APRN

The Baptist Health Orthopedics team of providers has advanced training and expertise in complete orthopedic care, including joint replacement and sports medicine. Whether it’s pain from an accident, acute injury or playing sports, Baptist Health is here to provide the expert care you need. Utilizing the newest technology, such as Mako Robotic-Assisted Surgery for hip and knee replacements, our patients have less pain and improved outcomes.

With a satellite clinic in Benton Baptist Health is here for you, for life.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (501) 217-3533.

Sarah Scott, APRN

9500 Baptist Health Dr, Suite 210 Little Rock AR 72205

baptist-health.com FOR YOU. FOR LIFE

orthopedics DR. ADAM NORWOOD

A Higher Purpose A

lthough he made his career decision comparatively late — while completing his studies at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia to be precise — orthopedic surgeon Dr. Adam Norwood has never regretted his choosing to follow a career in medicine. A man of deep faith, he believes his medical specialty was shown to him for a reason, and he has never looked back.

“I was probably 21 when I finally decided I wanted to pursue the sciences and go into medicine,” he said. “I decided on orthopedic surgery when I saw my first knee replacement in my third year of medical school. The surgeon took this broken, painful joint and essentially did carpentry on the bone to give the patient a new joint that would allow them to have better function in life and get them out of pain.

“I just thought that was so cool, you know? I grew up around woodworking with my granddad and my dad, and all the [surgical tools] there looked very familiar and similar to what I had grown up around. I thought, ‘I can use power tools, big hammers and be a doctor all at the same time? I can’t believe how this is all coming together.’”

After graduating from Ouachita Baptist, Norwood completed medical school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. After completing his residency at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, he served a fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Prior to coming to Arkansas, he practiced in Arizona until joining Baptist Health in Little Rock about a year and half ago.

“We were looking for a new opportunity for our kids as far as school goes and as far as community goes,” he said. “I saw a listing for Little Rock, Arkansas, and with our connection here from family and all that, I thought I needed to at least inquire about it.

“It also just so happened that Dr. [Richard Alan] Nix here at Baptist actually did my uncle’s hip replacement, and as I got to know Dr. Nix and then got to know others here, it just really felt like the Lord had brought all of the details together and made it very clear that this was where we were supposed to be.”

Norwood brings with him a firm grounding in cutting-edge surgical technology, having come through his medical training and residency as the tools were being developed and honed. As a result, he is invested with a high degree of proficiency and confidence in the use of such tools

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to help produce superior outcomes in knee and hip replacement surgery.

“I actually started training on the Mako robot back when it was a small little medical technology company targeting partial knee replacements, before it was bought by Stryker,” he said. “I was able to kind of grow up around that, and then during my chief year of residency, the hip application came out. That was kind of cool to kind of see that evolution. As a result, some of the things I’m doing now are like everyday routine for me.

“When I was in residency, the anterior approach to the hip was something that wasn’t really popular or common, but I happened to have two surgeons that I worked with who decided that that was going to be their preferred approach to hip surgery. By the time I left residency, the learning curve that other surgeons were just starting to go through was already gone for me.”

Norwood is similarly progressive minded when it comes to other aspects surrounding orthopedic surgery protocols and treatment modalities.

“As far as pain-management protocols, I’m bringing a multimodal approach to where we’re trying to be narcotic sparing,” he said. “We want to get people out of pain but not necessarily have the heavy narcotic prescriptions. We still prescribe those when needed, but it’s not our automatic go-to.

We can’t change that in every instance, but we can change things one step at a time in order to make things better for patients and their experience.”

At the same time, Norwood said he has appreciated being able to tap into the collective expertise of the more experienced surgeons and the rest of the medical professionals who make up the Baptist orthopedics team.

“I think we’ve got a pretty collegial environment here both with the surgical team and then also the trauma team,” he said. “We’ve got a really busy trauma team that when they have a problem with a joint replacement, we have a really good relationship to just talk about how we’re all going work together to take care of the patient. I’m pretty appreciative of that.”

When he is not working his magic in the operating room, Norwood enjoys spending time with his wife, Hayden, and attending to the couple’s four children and their activities. Whenever possible, he also likes to indulge his love of sports, triathlon, traveling and attending Fellowship Bible Church with his family.

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Expert Pediatric

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Learn more about the expert care provided by the Arkansas Children’s orthopedic team.

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2023

Melissa Holland – President/CEO Advanced Physical Therapy of Central Arkansas (901)-409-6701 // mholland@aptlr.com www.aptlr.com

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orthopedics

GET

YOUR

KICKS

By AY STAFF

Find the right footwear in the new year

C

hoosing the right shoe is a big part of any fitness program, especially when it comes to running on the road or the trail. AY About You reached out to experts at some of Arkansas’ best-known retailers to get their recommendations for the best foot gear for the new year.

HOKA Clifton 9 With the introduction of its funky running shoes in 2009, HOKA has led the maximalist design category it created. The Clifton 9 for men and women is great for everyday runs and walking and the latest in that proud line. $145-155

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HOKA Bondi 8 HOKA’s designs have earned fans the world over for stability and cushioning that does not come at the expense of responsiveness or smooth heel-to-toe transitions.

Bondi 8 for men and women offers an incredibly cushy ride thanks to softer foams and extended heel geometry.

$138.99

Brooks Ghost 16 The first name in shoes for serious runners, Brooks delivers excellent performance on training runs or pounding out races on the pavement.

The Ghost is a well known and well loved model that delivers excellent cushioning and a steady underfoot platform. $140

Brooks Glycerin GTS 21 For the best softness and support in the Brooks line, check out the Glycerin GTS 21. Building on the highly decorated Glycerin platform, designers added 2 millimeters more DNA LOFT v3 cushioning for a comfortable run mile after mile, while the GuideRails support system keeps things stable. $160

Altra Olympus 6 Get up and down the mountain fast with these topof-the-line trail runners. The Vibram Megagrip outsole offers an updated lug pattern for increased durability, stability and traction over technical terrain, while breathable mesh upper allows for all-day wear. $175

Torin Altra (Men’s) When the shoe nerds at Altra get rolling it is hard to get them to stop, but that is OK when the result is the Torin 7. Zero drop, an expanded toe box to let the toes move, and a sole that strikes the right balance between plush and stable make this a new favorite on the road. $150

On Cloudsurfer Trail (Men’s) For something completely different, take a spin in On’s rugged Cloudsurfer Trail running shoes. Built like a tank but nimble as a sports car, the waterproof shoes can take just about anything the trail can dish out — comfortably.

$180

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New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6 (Men’s) There is a reason why all the OGs are sporting New Balance as they crush the local 5K — the company ditches flash and focuses on what serious runners want most. The Vongo is one such beast, expertly constructed for the long haul using superior materials and design and available in any color one wishes, as long as it is black. $164.99

HOKA Challenger 7 (Women’s)

Oboz Sawtooth X Mid Hiking Boots (Men’s)

Inspired by gravel tires, HOKA’s flagship off-road shoe for women offers smaller, tightly spaced lugs in the center and larger, more aggressive lugs at the perimeter for improved traction on uneven terrain. Soft, stacked foam and a simplified mesh upper add up to a comfortable ride.

OK, so maybe running is not in the game plan, but getting to the top of the ridge is. Lace up a pair of Oboz’ Sawtooth X mid and take on any trail (or lack thereof ).

Continuing the winning tradition of its low-cut cousin, the mid model offers additional support and stability. $165

$145

Saucony Guide 17 (Women’s) Ideal for both running and walking, Saucony’s Guide 17 delivers allday comfort whether running the roads or running errands. Offering a plush, comfortable interior balanced by a broader platform and higher sidewalls, the shoe delivers unparalleled cushioning and support.

Danner Mountain 600 (Women’s) Inspired by decades of legendary hiking boots, Danner combines vintage looks with new generation performance in its line of premium hiking books.

With Vibram SPE midsole and Fuga outsole providing unparalleled grip on wet and dry surfaces, these waterproof hikers deliver style and performance without the weight.

$104.95

$190-$210

AY About You extends its thanks to our panel of experts, who carry these shoes. Please shop local first.

Bill Bulloch, Rock City Running in Little Rock Linda Starr, Sporty Runner in Conway Allie Kaminski, Rush Running in Bentonville and Fayetteville Sean Coughlan, Fleet Feet Little Rock Brent Simmons, Gearhead Outfitters in Jonesboro and Little Rock Prices listed taken from manufacturers’ websites; actual prices may vary with retailer.

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health

Feel the Whether for health or looks, personal trainers deliver results

BURN

By MARK CARTER

P

eople hire personal trainers for many reasons. They may want to improve their health or appearance or may be rehabilitating from an injury or medical procedure. Their reasons could entail some combination of all three.

These days, trainers can apply specific techniques and, in some cases, technology to address clients’ specific needs and help them achieve hyper-individualized goals.

The stigma of trainers as old-school drill sergeants has given way to trainers as life coaches and personal motivators. That does not mean there is not still work required, though.

Three central Arkansas trainers visited with AY About You about their clients’ motivations, goals and how their approaches set them apart. Clients may “hate” these trainers when being pushed but love them for the results they deliver.

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Allen Maxenberger, AmaxFitness

O

ver almost 40 years of personal training, Allen Maxenberger has found that clients generally are motivated by two factors — the desire to look good and the desire to feel good.

“What I have learned through the years is that clients under 40 are generally looking to change their appearance through training and exercise, and that desire to improve their physique is what pushes them toward their goals,” he said. “As we get older, the biggest factor is overall physical health, building basic strength, increasing mobility [and] improving flexibility, as well as increasing stability and balance, reducing the need for certain medications, lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.”

Maxenberger, who owns AmaxFitness in west Little Rock, started training in 1981. He competed for the first time in 1984 and began training clients in 1986. In 2017, after decades of splitting his time between training and his restaurant business, Maxenberger shifted to training full time.

“Personal training was something that just came natural to me, and with my bodybuilding background and my desire to help others change their lives, personal training was inevitable,” he said.

For Maxenberger, connecting with clients on a personal level is a focus. He said he starts by building relationships, meeting people where they are in their fitness journey, and listening to and understanding what their goals are.

“I try not to push my fitness goals on someone else,” he said. “As a trainer, I have to realize that very few clients are trying to reach the level of fitness that I’m at, and my responsibility is to help them reach their goals, not mine.”

Maxenberger said there is a correlation in both a physical and mental approach to living healthy and being fit.

“Obviously, you have to put in the physical work to achieve your

“

goals, but in order to do that, you have to be ready mentally to make the necessary changes to achieve your goals,” he said. “You have to be mentally prepared to make the commitment that it takes to show up for yourself every day, to stay focused and disciplined enough for long enough to make changes over a long period of time. It’s not that some people have more motivation or desire to make changes. It’s more so that some are truly ready to make a change, and others are not.”

Seeing clients reap the rewards of all their hard work is what motivates Maxenberger.

“It’s an incredible feeling for me, knowing that I played a life-changing role in their journey. Just seeing the difference health and fitness can make in someone else’s life is an incredible feeling,” he said.

You have to be mentally prepared to make the commitment that it takes to show up for yourself every day, to stay focused and disciplined enough for long enough to make changes over a long period of time.

— Allen Maxenberger

Johanna Paine, Train with Paine

J

ohanna Paine’s journey to Little Rock resembles the Pig Trail, the famous stretch of state highway in the Arkansas Ozarks known for its twisting, roundabout path. The Boston native took a similar route to central Arkansas, where she trains clients at Little Rock Athletic Club and Country Club of Little Rock through her business, Train with Paine.

Paine moved often as a kid due to her father’s work in shoe and apparel manufacturing, which took the family to Thailand and Mexico. During her early 20s, Paine lived in the Dominican Republic and Lebanon before meeting her future husband in New York. The couple moved to New Orleans for his medical school training at Tulane University and then to Little Rock for his residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Like many who discover Arkansas through UAMS or, maybe, as a Walmart vendor, Paine and her husband liked what they found in the Natural State and decided to stay.

Once in Arkansas, Paine shifted her career toward competitive powerlifting and, ultimately, training.

“Fitness has become a huge part of my life and my identity, and I consider it a valuable piece of my life,” she said. “I would often get asked by others about my workouts and how to learn to love fitness, so I felt I had something to offer. On a whim, I decided to register

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for a certified personal trainer exam through the American Council on Exercise, and I surprised myself by how well I did. That was the nudge I needed to start training clients officially.”

Paine said she focuses most of her coaching on those areas in which she has expertise — weightlifting, powerlifting and powerbuilding (a hybrid-style workout that pulls from powerlifting and bodybuilding).

“No matter the experience level, I believe everyone can benefit from weightlifting and that it’s fundamental to feeling healthy and confident throughout life,” she said. “Ninety percent of my sessions are one on one, meaning my clients get a personalized program each time we meet.

I track all my clients’ progress in a spreadsheet, which ensures they progressively overload and get stronger.”

Like it is in almost anything, discipline is the most important component of long-term success in fitness, Paine said.

“Although motivation ebbs and flows, discipline is the backstop that pushes us to do something, even if we don’t feel like it,” she said. “I also hear from so many people how important weightlifting is to their mental health.”

Most of Paine’s clients are looking to get stronger and grow more

muscle definition with an emphasis on both health and appearance.

“In fitness, improving one usually positively impacts the other,” she said. “Whatever it is that first motivates a client, what keeps them coming back is often how much better, stronger and more confident they feel once they start weightlifting. I love seeing my female clients dispel to themselves the myth they used to believe, that lifting weights will make them ‘bulky.’”

For Paine, training is more than a career choice. It fulfills her, and she said she loves seeing it do the same for clients.

“It is so rewarding being by someone’s side as they make progress in the gym,” she said. “That is the piece that makes me love my job the most, and I am personally invested in my clients’ success and achievements along the way. Many of my clients start out hesitant and without much background in lifting weights, and it’s incredible to see them transform into someone who enjoys the gym or at least enjoys the progress they are making in the gym. I have so many stories about how weightlifting has changed my clients’ lives, even in small ways. Consistent exercise has a way of positively impacting so many areas of our lives.”

Jean-Paul Francoeur, JP Fitness + Recovery

J

ean-Paul Francoeur is a mainstay in the Little Rock fitness community. He has been a personal trainer, licensed massage therapist, gym owner and rehabilitation specialist for going on 40 years.

Francoeur said he and his team at JP Fitness + Recovery in midtown Little Rock are much more than personal trainers.

“We are neuromuscular specialists with heavy backgrounds in biomechanics and bioenergetic nutrition,” he said. “We can address pain, as well as fitness. We use a proprietary technology, along with many other tools, to accelerate recovery. We move the needle fast, whether it is getting you out of pain and into a space where you can perform at an optimal level or just sculpting your body faster than you would think possible.”

The proprietary tech is called Neufit, which entails devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat muscle atrophy.

“That basically means we can take a broken down, weak muscle and make it strong again,” Francoeur said. “It works really great for people over 40 who are naturally afraid of lifting heavy weights, as there is a massive risk-to-benefit ratio when it comes to heavy loads on our connective tissue. Using Neufit, we can safely give the body all of the benefits of heavy lifting without the risks.”

In addition to Neufit, Francoeur said “consistent and absolute world-class service” sets his services apart.

“I have been in this industry a long time, and I have learned a few things,” he said. “At JP Fitness + Recovery, you will never see a coach phone it in. We are present and engaged, paying attention to the slightest detail in movement patterns. We are aware of the emotional barriers many people have when it comes to entering into a workout facility, and I have very carefully curated an atmosphere that fosters comfort and confidence for all.”

Francoeur said he is “keenly aware” that his services come at a steeper price when compared to most local trainers but added that those services are worth it.

“My entire training philosophy and method is centered on making every session the best session,” he said. “When our clients walk out the door at the end of a session, I want them to say to themselves, ‘This is the best money I spend on myself,’ every single time.”

Francoeur said he has seen many people sacrifice their health to achieve a certain aesthetic appearance, and they often end up miserable as a result.

“When someone really truly feels good, you’re not measuring their biceps when they walk in a room. Your head just naturally turns because you’re attracted to their energy and their confidence,” he said.

“Truly achieving a strong, healthy body and discovering the joy of movement is so much more powerful. We pay attention to all those intangibles. Movement is the greatest antidepressant in existence.”

Other clients find Francoeur, he said, because they are recuperating from an injury and just want to achieve a full range of motion again.

“Most often, people find their way to my door because they have given up hope,” he said. “They have tried everything else and failed.

Often, that is involving pain somewhere in their body, whether it’s a torn rotator or [complex regional pain syndrome] or [temporomandibular joint] disorder. We address the whole body, and we start by meeting the client where they are.”

Francoeur said seeing clients achieve their goals “gets to the heart of what drives us.” Money may be necessary to pay the bills, but for his team, the real currency is watching people achieve what they did not believe possible, he added.

“One of my clients came in paralyzed on his right side from a stroke. His doctors stopped treating him at 10 months, saying he would never regain use of his right arm and leg,” he said. “We were able to get him moving on day one and have steadily improved his movement quality with every single session until now you would not even know he had a stroke if you met him for the first time. You cannot begin to express with words the unmitigated joy I feel when I see someone’s face light up because they realize something they had given up on was actually possible. That is our real currency.”

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Move More. Live Better.

As we celebrate 30 years of serving our community, we’ve got surprises in store. Stay tuned—we can’t wait to share what’s next!

As the area’s largest and most comprehensive health and fitness facility, Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center offers something for everyone! Enjoy amenities such as an expansive fitness floor, functional training area, indoor track, pool, sauna, group classes, and more!

Visit ConwayRegionalHFC.org, call 501-450-9292, or stop by to learn more!

Putting Your

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he aesthetics industry continues to grow and expand all over the world, serving millions of people and generating billions of dollars every year. Here in Arkansas, both men and women are finding their way to med spas, wellness centers and their neighborhood plastic surgeons, seeking ways to reduce the wear and tear time has put on their features.

Of the many options awaiting these patients, Botox remains the gold standard for the industry but is not the only injectable available. Finding the right beauty professional is key to getting the right combination of treatments at the correct intervals to turn back the clock on one’s appearance.

To that purpose, AY About You is pleased to once again print our annual “Guide to Botox” section highlighting some of the top practitioners in the state. These experienced beauty experts have the training and tools to help anyone look their best, be it through Botox or one of a number of other procedures, from chemical peels, dermal fillers and laser hair removal to microdermabrasion, collagen induction therapy and facials — all backed up by excellent customer service in a warm, nonjudgmental environment.

Resolving to make a change in the new year? Get 2025 off to a fast start by visiting one of these qualified businesses and putting your best face forward.

Guide to Botox, Fillers & More

AGELESS AESTHETICS OF ARKANSAS T he team at Ageless Aesthetics of Arkansas believes that everyone should have access to top-quality procedures and treatments.

Our providers are highly trained, with over 20 years experience, and committed to delivering your services using the most advanced technology in the industry.

How often do you do giveaways or promotions, and how can I find out about them?

We have flash sales or special promotions every one to two months, usually around holidays. To stay updated, follow us on social media — Facebook, Instagram and TikTok — join our email list or sign up for text alerts. We are also launching a membership in 2025 that will help loyal clients save money on their regular maintenance treatments.

How does Ultherapy work?

Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound waves, which generate heat, to penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating collagen production for a gradual tightening and lifting effect. The results can last up to a year or more.

It’s a popular, noninvasive option for those seeking a youthful appearance without downtime.

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Ageless Aesthetics offers a variety of facials to address specific skin concerns, including relaxation, antiaging, acne treatment and hydration. Customizable facials are also available for a skincare experience tailored to one’s individual needs.

What should I consider when getting a tattoo removed?

The tattoo’s size, color and location can all affect the number of sessions and even the technology used. We have PicoSure at our clinic. Proper aftercare is essential to avoid side effects like scarring or pigmentation changes, and it’s crucial to choose a qualified professional. Ronda Klatt, our registered nurse, has over 20 years of experience with our lasers. She helps set realistic expectations and prepares you for the journey ahead.

— Brande Daniels, CEO

Ageless Aesthetics of Arkansas With more than 20 years experience, we provide cost effective skincare treatments and procedures designed to help you look and feel your best.

A few of the procedures we offer: • Laser treatments • Botox/Dysport injectables • Dermal fillers • Sculptra • Threadlifts • Body contouring • Coolsculpt Elite • Cooltone • Morpheus • Radio frequency • Chemical peels • DiamondGlow • Ultherapy • And More!

Ageless_Aesthetics_Arkansas

From left: Ronda Klatt, RN; Tammy Hughes; Jennifer Shafto, RN; Brande Daniels, RN; Laney Scroggins; Bristen Babb; Ashton Toland, RN; Kandi Garrison, Esthetician; Walter the Mascot

CEO, Brande Daniels, RN, BSN Medical Director, Jeffrey Herrold, M.D.

501.623.2500 135 Medical Park Pl Hot Springs, AR 71901 info@agelessaestheticsar.com

“Our team of experienced professionals at Ageless understands the unique needs and concerns of each individual. We take pride in providing personalized care and creating a warm and welcoming environment where you can feel completely at ease.”

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Call 501-476-7171 to schedule an appointment

HORMONE THERAPY | JOINT INJECTIONS | WEIGHTLOSS | LONGEVITY | TOTAL HEALTH FUNCTIONAL WELLNESS | SKIN HEALTH | AESTHETIC SERVICES | MEMBERSHIPS

Sidney Bennett, RN & Aesthetic Injector

Christa Jackson, APRN Reagan Cody, RN & Aesthetic Injector

Jordan Davidson, APRN

A New Year Aesthetic Exclusive Offer!

Show us this ad and enjoy 25% OFF your first aesthetic service at any Beyond Wellness location! Offer cannot be combined and expires 2/3/25.

Not valid on Memberships or medical appointments.

West Little Rock

Hot Springs

Hillcrest

23816 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, AR. 72223

25255 AR-5 K Lonsdale, AR 72087

623 Beechwood St. Little Rock, AR. 72205 Coming Soon!

*just outside of HSV east gate

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Redefine beauty on your own terms with Dr. Danielle Atwood, MD, PhD, a trusted female plastic surgeon specializing in both surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Known for her artistry and precision, Dr. Atwood creates customized solutions to enhance your natural beauty while prioritizing your comfort and confidence.

An Arkansas native with postgraduate plastic surgery training at the University of Missouri and an additional fellowship in aesthetic plastic surgery at LSU New Orleans, she joined Shewmake Plastic Surgery and the Skin Retreat in August 2024. In joining Dr. Kris Shewmake, MD, Little Rock’s top plastic surgeon, they now work collaboratively providing exceptional care to patients. While extensively trained in all areas of plastic surgery, Dr. Atwood specializes in aesthetic and cosmetic procedures including breast, body, face, fat transfer, as well as injectables and lasers.

Danielle N. Atwood, MD, PhD Plastic Surgeon 11220 Executive Center Dr, Suite 201 Little Rock, AR 72211 Office: 501-492-8970 Fax: 501-492-8859

Call for your free consultation with Dr. Atwood at Shewmake Plastic Surgery today, at 501-492-8970. Watch for our open house event coming February 2025 with meet and greets and giveaways!”

Beauty Begins Here.

Whether you’re looking to treat acne, dry skin, aging skin, or just want a little TLC, we’ve got you covered.

Our Services • Facials-Chemical Peels • Juvéderm • Candela Exceed • PRP - PRF Miconeedling • IV Drips - B-12 Shots • Laser Hair Removal • Tattoo Removal • Rebium Skin • Massage - Lymph Resurfacing Drainage • Botox - DYsport • Infrared Sauna

Bryant 3301 Main Street Bryant, AR 72022

Hot Springs Village 110 Cordoba Center Dr Hot Springs, AR 71909

theskinbarandmedspa.com | (501) 303-6000 97

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Guide to Botox, Fillers & More

BEAUTY BOSS CO. B eauty Boss Co. believes beauty starts from within. The company’s holistic approach to aesthetics and wellness focuses on treating the whole person so clients look and feel their best. With locations in Cabot and a brand-new space in North Little Rock near Sherwood, Beauty Boss Co. helps people rediscover what it feels like to thrive.

What can I do about my lack of energy?

Hormone imbalances such as high cortisol, low estrogen or low testosterone can leave you feeling exhausted. Most people have gotten so used to being tired, they’ve forgotten what it’s like to feel energized.

Our hormone optimization and weight-loss management programs are designed to help you regain balance, energy and confidence.

What solutions do you have for improving my skin?

Our services range from less invasive options, like medical-grade skincare protocols and chemical peels, to advanced treatments, such as injectable bio-stimulators like Sculptra; RF microneedling with Morpheus8; and PRF for regenerative skin improvement. Morpheus8 tightens skin and improves texture on the face, chin and neck, while on the body it can melt fat and firm the skin. We also offer laser hair removal and non-ablative skin resurfacing. Both are safe for all skin tones and highly effective.

jawline. EZ PRF gel goes further by regenerating tissue and restoring lost volume, especially under the eyes.

What else should I know about Beauty Boss Co.?

We emphasize facial harmonization, focusing on creating balance and natural enhancements that align with your unique features. Our fullface rejuvenation techniques deliver refreshed, confident results while ensuring you still look like you — just your best version.

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Whether you’re looking for renewed energy, smoother skin or natural-looking enhancements, our personalized, whole-body approach is designed just for you.

What should I know about Botox and other injectables?

Botox and Dysport smooth wrinkles and provide subtle lifts, while dermal fillers restore volume and contour to areas such as the cheeks, lips and

— Kayla Sanders, APRN, Owner

Services that can change your life: BOTOX/DYSPORT DERMAL FILLERS SCULPTRA

PRF EZ GEL MORPHEUS8 LIQUID LIPO

Beauty Boss Co. Cabot

Beauty Boss Co. North Little Rock

501.628.8642 1604 S Pine St. Suite C, Cabot, AR @beautybossco_cabot www.beautyboss.co

501.831.6100 7339 N Hills Blvd Suite 100, North Little Rock, AR @beautybossco_nlr www.beautyboss.co

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WEIGHT LOSS MGMT HORMONE OPTIMIZATION LASER HAIR REDUCTION FOLLOW US!

Dr. Mimi Lee stands apart from other cosmetic specialists in Arkansas. She personally performs all procedures. Her approach and experience provide her patients with the reassurance that they will get the natural results they want with little, if any, discomfort and downtime.

“My knowledge and compassion allows me to connect and provide my patients trusted care.”

Botox/Dysport | Dermal Filler | Spider Vein Treatment |

By Board-Certified Surgeon

SO, YOU ALWAYS LOOK LIKE YOU.

8315 Cantrell Rd, Suite 130, Little Rock 501-224-0880 // www.DrMimiLee.com

A next-generation dermal filler designed to help support your skin while keeping you looking like you.

NEW Restylane® Refyne and Defyne are HORMONE THERAPY

with XpresHAn Technology™ to - designed Male Testosterone help soften laugh lines, rebuild your cheeks - Female Hormone Replacement and plump your lips.

This can help you - Bioidentical Hormone restore a more natural look to your face As a medical spamaintaining we offer more your facial expressions. while advanced treatments with Botox, Dysport, fillers, lasers and noninvasive body contouring devices. Dr. Trussell’s background in internal medicine makes her uniquely qualified to provide bioidentical hormone pellets for women and men as well. At Sei Bella Med Spa we will give you a natural, refreshed, youthful look and feel.

Physician Owned and Operated Anne R. Trussell, M.D. 10310 W. Markham, Ste. 202 Little Rock 501.228.6237

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Guide to Botox, Fillers & More

BODY BALANCE B ody Balance is committed to helping people feel their best from the inside out by offering a combination of wellness and aesthetics services. For example, the practice’s InBody scanner allows practitioners to monitor weight, muscle loss, hydration and more during weight loss, while the laser hair removal machine provides the fastest treatments on the market. Whether they come for hormone therapy or microneedling, photofacials, lunch-break lasering or another service, Body Balance has what clients need to enhance both their health and their natural beauty.

Why would I need to come in for treatment — aren’t skincare products enough?

Facial treatments can provide benefits beyond what the products can achieve at home. Treatments like lasers, microneedling, peels and facials can give you deeper, more targeted results. The technology in professional-grade devices such as BBL, ultrasound and LED light therapy deliver results that cannot be achieved with over-the-counter products. These more advanced treatments can also create long-term benefits such as slowing the signs of aging and reducing severe skin issues over time.

What are your skin rejuvenation options?

• VI peels: This medium-depth chemical peel uses a blend of ingredients to exfoliate skin, promote cellular turnover and address a variety of concerns.

VI peels are designed to improve skin tone, texture, hyperpigmentation, acne and scarring.

• Microneedling: Also known as collagen induction therapy, this procedure involves using a device with fine needles to create tiny controlled punctures in your skin and trigger the body’s natural healing response. This results in more collagen and elastin, as well as improvement in texture, tone and overall appearance. We have the newest, latest and greatest SkinPen that was just released in mid-December.

• BBL: BroadBand Light therapy is a cutting-edge light-based therapy that is used to target signs of aging, pigmentation and scarring. It works by heating targeted areas, which then stimulates collagen production, reduces redness and dark spots, and promotes cell regeneration.

“

The best thing to do is to come in for a consultation with one of our practitioners or our laser technician to talk through options.

Every patient has such different skin care needs, so a detailed consultation ensures that you and your provider can come up with a custom plan for your treatments.”

What should I consider before getting dermal filler?

Filler can help restore volume, enhance lips and cheeks, or contour facial features, but it won’t completely transform your entire appearance.

It also takes quite a large volume of filler to achieve certain goals.

Three to seven full syringes of filler to balance the entire face is very common.

— Lindsey Sabatini, APRN, Owner

Can your wellness services improve my aesthetic results too?

Yes, hormone therapy and other wellness services, such as NAD+ injections, B12 injections or functional medicine can enhance the overall results of aesthetic treatments. These services can help to address the root cause of certain skin and aging concerns. For example, as we age, hormone levels naturally decline, which can impact skin, hair and overall vitality.

479-315-6229 nwabodybalance.com 124 W. Sunbridge Drive, Suite 1, Fayetteville

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Guide to Botox, Fillers & More

WRIGHT PLASTIC Surgery & Med Spa A t Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Little Rock, staff members are known for their expertise, premier patient experiences and the delivery of refined, natural-looking results. From injectables to advanced skin rejuvenation and IV therapy, the business’ measured, customized approach is delivered with kindness, compassion and care.

Each treatment is customized to address patients’ unique facial structures and concerns. Available injectables include: • Neurotoxins: Botox cosmetic, Dysport • Dermal fillers: Juvéderm, Restylane, RHA Collection • Biostimulatory fillers: Sculptra • All-natural fillers: platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin Wright Plastic Surgery’s licensed esthetician provides results-driven treatments and helps develop medical-grade skin care plans so patients can achieve and maintain vibrant, healthy skin. Facial services include: • Vectra skin analysis • Microdermabrasion • Hydrafacial • LED light therapy • Glo2Facial • Chemical peels • Dermaplane facial • Brows and lashes • Customized facials • Waxing

The med spa also carries a comprehensive suite of resultsdriven laser, light and energy-based technologies to address a multitude of skin concerns. These technologies include:

• SkinPen microneedling • Ellacor Micro-Coring • RF microneedling • BBL HEROic • MOXI, HALO lasers

“

“Your Beauty, Our Expertise” is our motto, because we want patients to look and feel their best while applying our knowledge and skills. Our team of aesthetic experts utilize cuttingedge treatments to enhance your beauty, wellness and confidence.

— Dr. Eric Wright, board-certified plastic surgeon

1811 Rahling Road, Suite 100 • Little Rock • 501-575-0088 • drwrightplasticsurgery.com

FLOATING LOTUS ESTHETICS

No judgement, just a safe space where you can feel confident in your own skin!

ased in Rogers, Floating Lotus Esthetics offers an array B of facial and body treatments. The day spa’s experienced beauty professionals pair a comfortable atmosphere with expertly delivered services to help clients look and feel their best. From facials, waxing and acne treatment to lashes and brows, the all-woman team makes it easy for clients to feel confident and beautiful in their skin.

What are your most popular services or treatments?

Our most popular services are definitely Brazilian waxes and dermaplane facials.

Come check out our most popular services, brazilian waxes and dermaplane facials!

What is a product or service you offer that you wish more people knew about?

More people should know about our antiaging facial, which features the incredible firming peptide mask from Circadia. It’s a powerful antioxidant treatment that stimulates new cell growth and rejuvenates all skin types using potent anti-aging peptides, stem cells and botanicals.

We are a women and veteran owned business in Northwest Arkansas that prides itself on quality services, close relationships with our clientele, and an inclusive and welcoming environment for anyone who steps through our door.

What else should AY readers know about Floating Lotus Esthetics?

We are a women- and veteran-owned business in northwest Arkansas that prides itself on quality services, close relationships with our clientele, and an inclusive and welcoming environment for anyone who steps through our door.

201 South 20th Street, Suite 12, Rogers, AR 101

aymag.com

Guide to Botox, Fillers & More

DR. SUZANNE YEE D r. Suzanne Yee is one of the Natural State’s most accomplished cosmetic surgeons, and the professionals that make up her med spa team are no less impressive. Yee’s practice is committed to providing personalized care and using the latest, most effective treatments to help patients achieve their aesthetic goals. Her highly skilled team is dedicated to creating a comfortable, welcoming environment, and the ability to offer both surgical and nonsurgical procedures means they can recommend the ideal options for each patient’s individual needs and desired outcomes.

What can be done for thinning hair or hair loss in men and women?

We have the new Get Hair MD suite of services including Hair Metrix Imaging, clinical hair growth laser and genetic swab testing to prescribe specific medications targeting the medications that will actually be effective for the patient rather than prescribing a medication and waiting to see if it will be effective. We have a very effective PRP program we have used this for more than seven years to treat hair loss and thinning. We have patented laser caps that will harness the sun’s energy to red light for hair health. We also provide Neograft, an effective, minimally invasive hair transplant procedure for hair restoration in men and women that produces natural-looking results and fast recovery.

When might someone consider a more invasive procedure or surgery?

If significant, long-lasting improvement is the goal, surgery is the best option.

As aging becomes more advanced, surgery is often the most effective choice.

However, if the goal is to maintain a refreshed, natural appearance over time, surgery followed by maintenance with nonsurgical treatments like Botox, fillers and in-office lasers is ideal. While there are risks, the benefits can outweigh the risks in the long term. Choose a surgeon you can communicate with easily and who also has years of experience, is caring, compassionate and passionate about what they do.

Are the weight loss shots (semiglutide and tirzepatide) safe and effective?

Yes, the weight loss shots are safe and effective. We have introduced the medications in our clinic, and everyone that we have started on the program has experienced weight loss. We look at a patient’s comprehensive medical history, then consider weight and desired weight loss before discussing lifestyle habits to enhance weight loss while on the medications. We are ecstatic about our patient results. There are other benefits, as well, such as decreased cardiovascular disease and better overall health. We also offer ancillary services, such as Emsculpt or truSculpt, that can enhance a weight loss journey, as well as vitamins to prevent possible hair loss and B12 shots.

How do I know what kind of treatment is right for me?

To determine the right treatment for you, Dr. Yee and her staff will consider your specific goals, concerns and skin condition. We’ll also take into account factors like your age, skin type, lifestyle and any previous treatments to create a personalized treatment plan. We’ll guide you through all available options to ensure the best choice for your unique situation.

What kind of specials or promotions do you offer, and how can I find out about them?

We offer monthly promotions on nonsurgical treatments, which are posted on our social media and website on the first of every month. Be sure to check our platforms regularly to stay updated on the latest offers.

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Whether you’re looking for nonsurgical maintenance or more dramatic, long-lasting results, we offer a wide range of options tailored to your needs. We prioritize your safety, satisfaction and well-being throughout every step of your journey.

— Suzanne Yee, M.D., board-certified plastic surgeon

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PRACTICAL WELLNESS CLINIC T he team at Practical Wellness Clinic in Bryant is always looking for new and innovative ways to meet clients’ wellness and aesthetic needs while remaining affordable. The clinic also practices what it teaches, since staff members are on their own individualized health and wellness journeys, as well. They are not only passionate about helping clients, but committed to meeting them where they are as they pursue health and wellness from the inside out.

What kinds of hair restoration services do you offer?

We offer hair restoration services for any budget, the most affordable being vitamin D injections, biotin and other vitamin combinations. Our favorite treatment is DE|RIVE Hair Restoration, which comes in a series of four treatments and includes a daily regimen, as well. Set up a consultation with our nurse practitioner to get started.

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This really depends on your individual goals. I always recommend a little preventative treatment in your mid to late 20’s, making sure to rotate the type of toxin you use to prevent tolerance. Cosmetic injectables are a great choice for anyone who desires a smoother complexion and less wrinkles.

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SkinPen is the only FDA-approved microneedling device currently available. It creates thousands of microchannels that help encourage your skin’s natural healing properties by stimulating a release of growth factors including collagen and elastin. Our clients seek out Skinpen to address skin texture, tone and appearance issues. They come in a bundle of three and are recommended yearly.

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health

More Z’s, Please Start the new year right with better sleep

By SARAH DECLERK

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hose for whom getting adequate sleep seems like a dream are not alone. According to the Sleep Foundation, nearly 40 percent of adults in Arkansas get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep a night.

Among Arkansas high schoolers, who need eight hours of sleep, the number is Dr. Dimitry Fomin even worse, at nearly 78 percent.

“Everything that, biologically, is supposed to work in our body together and in balance depends on a proper amount of good sleep, good-quality sleep,” said Dr. Dimitry Fomin, medical director at the Mercy Northeast Arkansas Sleep Center. “If sleep is not functioning properly, that’s going to affect just about every biological process in our body.”

He added that sleep is a biological necessity, just like eating, drinking or breathing, and should come just as naturally.

“Breathing shouldn’t be work. It shouldn’t be conscious effort,” he said. “If it is, then it’s not right, yet we treat sleep like it is something we have to work at, so what I tell the patients is listen to your body.”

There are many kinds of sleep disorders, but he said most patients visit him for insomnia, which is defined as being dissatisfied with one’s sleep on a chronic basis. The reasons why patients have trouble sleeping could range from a poor environment or poor sleep habits to health problems such as poor nutrition, stress and disease.

“Sleep is, in essence, as a physiological process, a reflection of our whole wellbeing and daytime activity,” he added, “so the reasons why somebody would have trouble sleeping at night are just as diverse as any other health problem or situational problem.”

Dr. Tim Freyaldenhoven, neurologist at the Conway Regional Neuroscience Center and medical director Dr. Tim Freyaldenhoven at Sleep Management Services, also

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Most patients visit the Mercy Northeast Arkansas Sleep Center for insomnia, but the center deals with a wide range of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.

(Photos provided by Mercy Northeast Arkansas Sleep Center) doctor by their bed partners, and it may be time to consult a sleep doctor if sleep problems start to disrupt one’s day or pose risks such as falling asleep while driving or taking care of small children.

named insomnia as his top patient complaint, noting that at least 30 percent of the U.S. population has insomnia.

He added that sleep disorders are associated with insulin resistance, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes and various other health problems.

“That has an impact on things as far reaching as peripheral neuropathy in your feet and Alzheimer’s dementia in your head, so it covers everything in between, really,” he said.

Another common sleep disorder, sleep apnea, which occurs when someone does not breathe properly at night, is marked by heavy snoring, daytime sleepiness, bags under the eyes or droopy eyelids, and nocturia, the urge to urinate at night, he said. While obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a physical blockage in the airway, central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not signal the body to breathe during sleep.

Sleep apnea can cause a number of health problems, from cancer, heart disease and diabetes to mental health problems and increased chance of death in a car wreck, Freyaldenhoven said.

The condition is commonly treated with CPAP, which stands for continuous Corey Whisenhunt positive airway pressure, and implanted devices such as Inspire and Remedy have been developed in recent years. There are also surgical and pharmaceutical approaches to treating sleep apnea, Freyaldenhoven said, but he recommended weight loss as one of the most effective ways to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Although the decision to consult a sleep professional varies from person to person, Freyaldenhoven said a large number of his patients are referred by primary Casey Flippo care physicians or asked to consult a sleep

SUPPLEMENTS From chamomile tea to valerian root and magnesium, there is no shortage of supplements that promise a better night’s rest. Neither doctor felt that herbal remedies are especially effective.

Fomin cautioned against using melatonin for sleep, saying that melatonin is a hormone that tells mammals it is nighttime, rather than telling them it is time to sleep, as evidenced by nocturnal animals that become more active after being given melatonin.

“It’s not a sleep aid at all, and just like with any hormone, you have to be very careful how you use it,” he said. “Most people mistakenly think of melatonin as a sleep aid, and they say, ‘At night, I don’t feel like I’m able to sleep well. I’ll take melatonin, and it helps me sleep.’ No, all that causes is dysregulation of your normal hormonal bases.”

In recent years, consumers have begun turning to supplements that include CBD and other legal cannabinoids derived from the marijuana plant for relief from sleep disorders and other ailments.

Corey Whisenhunt, CEO at Wildfire Farms in Ozan, said his customers have had good results from the farm’s hemp-derived products, which bind to receptors in the brain, telling the body to relax.

While CBD is often used as a catchall term for legal cannabis products, other cannabinoids are included in the products. Cannabinol, or CBN, is particularly known for causing drowsiness, Whisenhunt said, and cannabigerol, or CBG, can help promote clarity of mind, leading to more restful sleep. Some products also have a legal amount of delta-9 THC. He added that although he has sold CBD-based sleep aids that incorporated melatonin, he stopped because too many customers experienced side effects such as next-day drowsiness.

Casey Flippo, CEO at Dark Horse Medicinals, which is headquartered in Rogers, added that the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids can promote regenerative sleep.

“That anti-inflammatory agent, alongside the euphoria and the narcoleptic effects of cannabis products, are going to help not just get you to sleep but to sleep well, sleep rested and to recover during sleep, which is ultimately, what people are seeking whenever they talk about sleep,” he said.

He added that the mantra “low and slow” often applied to medical marijuana is equally relevant when it comes to CBD-based supplements, and it is best to start with the lowest available dose.

While cannabis products have yet to be studied completely, they can assist in sleep by relieving chronic pain and inflammatory conditions, Fomin said. However, he cautioned against relying on cannabis-based sleep aids.

Freyaldenhoven also noted mixed data about cannabis and sleep, and while cannabis and cannabinoids can help people fall asleep by relieving

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CBD-based supplements can reduce inflammation, pain and anxiety, which can lead to better sleep, but there has yet to be conclusive evidence that the products are effective sleep aids.

(Photo provided by Wildfire Farms) anxiety, some studies have shown that long-term marijuana use can disrupt sleep.

THE KEYS TO Z’S Neither supplements nor prescription medications are a substitute for good sleep hygiene, said Freyaldenhoven, who noted that 15 clinical trials have shown the chronic use of sleep aids is associated with a shortened lifespan, while untreated insomnia is not.

He added that insomnia has a genetic component and is often brought on by an event such as a death or a bad relationship, which leads to bad sleep habits that are difficult to break.

“A lot of times, people think if they are not sleeping well, they need to try harder and spend more time in bed, which just trains your brain to want to lay in bed and toss and turn,” he said. “You need to try to minimize your time in bed to the time that you’re actually sleeping.”

Reading, watching TV or playing video games in bed causes the brain to associate the bed with those activities, rather than sleep, and so he recommended dedicating bedrooms solely to sleep as much as possible.

Avoiding blue light emitted by screens, exercising during the day and avoiding eating late at night can also help improve sleep, he said.

Fomin said that for anyone having trouble sleeping, good sleep hygiene starts with a strict wake-up time.

“Once you decide this is the time that’s most appropriate for me to wake up, you have to stick to that. That has to be written in stone,” he said. “No matter what, no matter how poorly you slept the night before, no matter what your demands might have been during the night, when the alarm goes off, you have to wake up.”

If sleep is a problem, avoid taking naps during the day, create a dedicated place for sleep that is cool, quiet and dark, and create a buffer zone that indicates that it is time to sleep, he said.

That buffer zone can be anything from the 15 minutes it takes to complete one’s nighttime routine to a couple hours spent doing dedicated nighttime activities such as reading, meditation or stretching.

If it takes more than 15 or 20 minutes to fall asleep, get out

of bed and continue the nighttime activities, but do not stress too much about an actual bedtime.

“The clock’s only important [for] telling me when to get up. It shouldn’t tell you when to go to sleep,” he said. “Your body needs to be telling you when to sleep. Don’t approach sleep as a job. You’re not supposed to clock in and clock out like you do going to work and coming home. You go to sleep when your body tells you to.”

Freyaldenhoven encouraged waking up naturally.

“If you wake up in any manner other than just because you’re through sleeping, then you are sleep deprived … so you should try to adjust your schedule and lifestyle and all those things so that you’re able to be in bed at an hour and sleep through the night and wake up without your alarm,” he said. “You know that you’re really getting enough sleep when you wake up refreshed without your alarm.”

Reading, watching TV or playing video games in bed causes the brain to associate the bed with those activities, rather than sleep, and so [Freyaldenhoven] recommended dedicating bedrooms solely to sleep as much as possible.

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Do You

health

Holistic health starts at the top,

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un fact: The brain takes up just 2 percent of the body’s weight but 20 percent of its energy. Unfortunately, many people’s fitness routines focus 100 percent of their efforts on the neck down. If, as the saying goes, “You can’t outrun a bad diet,” then surely the idea of outworking one’s worries, stresses and other mental loads is all but dead on arrival.

The start of a new year is the ideal time to reset, refocus and refresh, and whether one does that on the yoga mat or the massage table, there is hardly a wrong place to start.

STRETCH TO SWEAT OR JUST DE-STRESS: YOGA

Yoga confers several scientifically backed benefits. According to a list compiled by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the American College of Physicians even recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain, while a review of studies showed that gentle yoga can help ease arthritis symptoms. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health hold that yoga can support stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep.

“A common misconception is that yoga is purely about flexibility or that you need to already ‘be good at it’ to begin,” said Diana Esanu, owner of Tula Yoga Studio in Hot Springs. “The reality is that yoga is a

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Mind?

making mindfulness a must

By MAK MILLARD

Diana Esanu, owner of Tula Yoga Studio in Hot Springs, said yoga promotes harmony between the mind, body and breath.

(Photo provided by Tula Yoga Studio)

Customized massages like those offered at Oaklawn's Astral Spa in Hot Springs can soothe the body and mind.

(Photo provided by Oaklawn's Astral Spa)

practice for everyone, regardless of flexibility or experience. … It’s about creating harmony between the body, mind and breath. Yoga is a tool for self-discovery and homeostasis within, not just an exercise.”

Esanu works to make yoga accessible to practitioners at every level while “empowering students to explore their potential,” she said. The studio offers both fitness-focused classes and more relaxation-forward sessions. The former utilizes moves that help build endurance while improving muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness, while the latter takes a slower approach with deep stretches and mindfulness practice.

“Candlelit yin is beloved for its calming ambiance and deep, restorative benefits, while hot yoga appeals to those looking to detox, energize and challenge their endurance,” she said. “Both classes create an inviting, transformative experience that keeps students coming back.”

Yoga is also a great way to round out the rest of one’s fitness routine.

There is no need to throw out the weights or cut out cardio — just weave yoga sessions into the week’s workout schedule to reap benefits from each type of exercise. Yoga can be a useful recovery practice for those other forms of exertion, as well.

“Yoga is the perfect complement to any fitness routine,” Esanu said.

“It enhances mobility, prevents injuries and promotes faster recovery by stretching and strengthening muscles in a balanced way. Additionally, yoga improves posture, reduces stress and builds functional strength, all of which enhance performance in other activities, like weightlifting, biking and running.”

Esanu recommended starting with a gentle class, such as one designed specifically for beginners. There, newbies learn the foundational poses, breathing techniques and mindfulness tips that will allow them to flourish as they explore more advanced moves.

Whether just starting out or looking to push one’s limits, Esanu added that private sessions are also an excellent choice. The important thing, in any case, is to roll up one’s sleeves, roll out one’s mat and jump in.

“Yoga is for every ‘body,’” Esanu said. “It’s more than just the poses but the connection you build with yourself and the community around you.”

BRAINPOWER: MEDITATION

When contemplating ways to improve one’s health, the focus is most easily placed on what to add, such as more days in the gym, more supplements, or the latest shot or hormone. However, there is something to be said for the utility of taking a moment to strip back some of those layers and start from square one — that is, oneself.

“A lot of people identify with their mind,” said Paul Carreras, board member and mindfulness practice leader at the Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock. “What you are is the awareness that sees these thoughts come into the mind. You can sit back with your awareness and

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watch your mind go through these thoughts and emotions and just observe them. Repeated practice of that makes fearful thoughts about the future [or] anxious thoughts about the past lose their energy. You realize that they’re just thoughts.”

Located across from the State Capitol, the EBS offers classes throughout the month, both virtually and in person, in different meditation traditions, as well as weekly yoga classes. Open to all faiths, backgrounds and characters, the center offers a space for everyone from complete beginners to veteran practitioners. Skills learned through meditation apply well beyond the sessions themselves, however.

“I’ve been teaching people to do mindful moments throughout the day,” said Roger Hawkins, wellness educator and vice president of the board of EBS. “It might be before you go into that meeting or before you hear some bad news or hear some good news, just stop and take some deep breaths from the belly. … It’s an emotional regulation that is really, really important in today’s world especially.”

Meditation has volumes of anecdotal Roger Hawkins evidence promoting its effectiveness, and the scientific literature has, likewise, been able to confirm it. Within the brain itself, meditation seems to have a positive effect on neuroplasticity and brain regions associated with memory, in addition to improving cognitive function and one’s resilience against mental health issues.

From regulating the body’s stress response to improving focus and concentration, Paul Carreras lowering blood pressure and even possibly boosting the immune system, it seems to contribute to the health of the rest of the body, as well.

Beyond individual wellness, however, is meditation’s ability to enhance compassion. Seriously contending with one’s own mind on a regular basis and seeing the fear and anxieties that come with it allows one to realize that others are dealing with similar problems, opening up a sense of empathy — and, as all manner of health practitioners will note, healthy relationships can contribute to one’s overall health and wellness.

“Once you realize everybody else is the same way, you’ve meditated for a while and now you understand it, but maybe they haven’t,” Carreras said. “Maybe they’re still identifying with their mind. When you’re getting into an argument with somebody that’s angry or threatening you, it helps you to understand their mindset and that they have something inside of them that’s causing that. It may not even be you.”

In addition to attending the center’s introduction to Buddhism class, Carreras recommended beginners start with Pema Chödrön’s book How to Meditate.

“We encourage people that are new to meditation to start small,” he said. “Start just five or 10 minutes a day, and as you get used to it, you can increase your time.”

SOAK IT UP: SPA

While it is important to have stress relief baked into the ebb and flow of one’s regular routine, the mental and physical break afforded by a spa day is a great way to hit reset and come back to the real world rejuvenated. Amenities such as massage therapy, for example, have been proven to decrease cortisol levels while increasing serotonin and dopamine.

The Astral Spa at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas offers wellness classes and fitness equipment in addition to its spa services, allowing spa visitors to revitalize themselves on multiple

Top: A statue of the Buddha at the Ecumenical Buddhist Society in Little Rock. (Photo by Mak Millard) Bottom: The relaxing atmosphere at the Astral Spa encourages restoration.

(Photo provided by Oaklawn's Astral Spa) fronts. Starting off the day with a morning wellness class, which focuses on stretching, mobility and meditation, helps prepare guests to more fully enjoy the benefits of their subsequent treatments, said Gigi Guiette, spa director.

“Improved mobility allows for deeper relaxation during massages, while the calming exercises help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s natural state of rest and repair,” Guiette said. “This synergy elevates the spa experience, leaving you not only pampered but truly restored from within. By fostering a connection between movement, breath and relaxation, we help guests cultivate a sense of presence and well-being that lasts far beyond their visit.”

The fitness center, she added, allows travelers to indulge in restorative spa treatments without missing a beat on their regular exercise routines. Still, there is no substitute for a good old-fashioned rest day, and the Astral Spa offers a range of skin care, massage and body treatments designed to make that time as truly restful as possible. Guests can also embark on one of three “spa journeys,” such as the namesake Astral Journey, for a comprehensive wellness experience.

“The Astral Journey begins with a transformative chakra-balancing session, aligning the body’s energy centers to restore harmony and promote inner peace,” Guiette said. “This practice not only eases physical tension and improves circulation but also calms the mind by addressing emotional imbalances, fostering clarity and mental focus. Following this, a customized massage relieves stress and soothes the body, seamlessly transitioning into an indulgent scalp ritual for deep relaxation.

Rounding out the journey is an Ayurvedic foot ritual and rose quartz facial that utilizes locally sourced quartz. The holistic experience, Guiette said, nurtures both body and spirit, leaving travelers “balanced, revitalized and deeply connected to Arkansas’s natural energy.”

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financial

Smart Money

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hether they are feeling bullish or bearish about the new year, there are key financial principles that can help Americans flourish in 2025 and beyond.

Some core areas of focus, said Dawn Powell, founder of Paramount Financial in Little Rock, include budgeting, debt management, investing, credit scores, retirement planning, taxes and insurance.

“To start the year right, set clear financial goals, automate savings and investments, increase financial literacy, reduce unnecessary expenses, and seek professional advice, if needed,” she said. “Regularly review your budget, and stay disciplined in your spending habits.”

For those just starting out, she suggested narrowing the focus to budgeting; establishing an emergency fund that can cover three to six months of living expenses; paying down debt with a priority on high-interest debt such credit cards; saving and low-risk investing; and building or maintaining a good credit score by paying bills on time and managing credit wisely.

“Financial success starts with spending less money than you make,” said Marshall Moon, senior investment advisor and chief equity strategist at Meridian Investment Advisors in Little Rock.

“Once good habits are established and the appropriate level of savings are built, learning about investing and retirement planning is a great next step.”

Of course, simple arithmetic shows that there have to be more pluses than minuses to get ahead, but Moon said the process of going in-depth with finances can be time consuming and difficult at first.

“Having a firm grasp on annual expenses versus income is one of the first steps to becoming financially secure,” he said. “The end of the year is a great

By LANCE BROWNFIELD

time to review expenses you’ve incurred throughout the year and make the adjustments needed for the year ahead. For those who are married or in a relationship with someone who has a common financial interest, it’s a great time to start having conversations with your partner so common goals can be set and accountability can be established.”

No matter where one is in one’s financial journey, it may be wise to have an expert involved. After all, in the global marketplace, individual consumers are going up against billionaires and multinational corporations with teams of financial pros. However, in the age of YouTube finance bros and Robin Hood day traders, finding trustworthy experts is more difficult than ever.

“As with all financial topics, seek the advice and opinions of people you trust and people who put your best interest ahead of their own,” Moon said. “Work with people who are experts in their domain and who can introduce you to the appropriate person when they’re not best suited to provide expert guidance on a particular topic. Lastly, understand the compensation incentives of the people working on your behalf, and ensure it’s properly aligned with your goals.”

It is best to study up and ask questions to build one’s knowledge of finances while talking with advisors, he added.

“To navigate conflicting advice, stick to foundational principles, find trusted sources, focus on long-term goals and take gradual steps.”

Powell said. “Stay patient, track your progress and avoid getting overwhelmed by complex strategies.”

Just about everyone has heard the old adage, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” While most folks do not stop to pick up pennies on the sidewalks these days, the sentiment still holds true. Keep or find enough pennies, and there is a dollar. Keep or find enough dollars, and there is a fortune. With advantageous interest rates, the process can be faster than imagined.

Savings are an area that can feel daunting. There is so much information that often leaves more questions than answers. How do certificates of deposit compare to savings accounts? Is it better to save in an online account or through a traditional bank? How does a traditional individual retirement account compare to a Roth IRA?

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Have a clear goal in mind at the onset, and do the homework beforehand. Being informed about financial decisions sometimes takes longer, but it pays dividends in the long run (literally). A new type of savings account is gaining popularity across the country, Wyoming being the only state remaining without one. Those accounts, 529 plans, are “the most common and beneficial way for someone to save for educational expenses, primarily college tuition, fees and other related costs,” Moon said. Arkansas is a tax parity state, meaning investors can invest their taxable income on contributions made to any plan, including 529s.

“College is very expensive, and saving for it can’t start too soon,” said Scott Daniel, managing partner and investment advisor at WealthPath Advisors in Little Rock. “529s give an easy way to save money that is earmarked for the benefit of helping pay for college in the future.

When you open an account, you have some options of investing, and any returns, if used for college tuition expenses and a few others included, are currently tax free.”

While the plans have traditionally been used for college savings, they can also be used for K-12 education, up to $10,000 per year for private school tuition, and certain apprenticeship programs. Moon said the funds can cover tuition, room and board, textbooks and supplies.

The plans offer three main benefits: Contributions to certain plan providers such as Arkansas Brighter Future 529 are state-tax deductible; contributions can be invested in a variety of investment vehicles for which earnings grow tax-deferred; and withdrawals can be taken tax-free for qualifying education expenses.

Another important feature, Moon said, is that account owners, typically parents or grandparents, retain control of the funds even after the beneficiary, typically a child or grandchild, reaches adulthood.

“This allows the account owner to decide how and when the funds are used,” he said. “Many people worry that the young child they are saving money for won’t end up going to college. The great thing about 529 plans is that the account owner can change beneficiaries to another family member without penalty.”

Putting a plan in place is just the beginning. Then it is time to put one’s money where one’s mouth is, and that is where discipline comes into play.

Daniel said it can help to “pay yourself first.” Those who do not have the money to buy something, should not, and like all good things, keep working at it, and it will pay off.

“The excitement you will have watching your cash grow will be much better than those now six-month-old shoes,” he said.

There is a framework to setting and sticking to financial goals, Powell said, and it is pretty SMART — goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

“Break large goals into smaller milestones, automate savings and payments, and track progress regularly,” she said. “Stay flexible, and adjust if life changes. Keep your goals visible for motivation. Find accountability through a friend, financial coach or support group, and reward yourself for reaching milestones. Always remind yourself of the deeper ‘why’ behind your goals to stay motivated long term.”

One word kept coming up — automate, automate, automate.

“This is the main reason company retirement plans are such a successful savings vehicle,” Moon said. “The money is auto-swept into the retirement plan, and it feels as if the money was never even ours to begin with. Before you know it, you’ve saved more money than almost anyone could manually.”

Savings accounts can be set up in a similar fashion, depositing money on a regular basis without action by the investor. Reducing the number of decisions to be made can reduce the risk of making emotional mistakes.

Perhaps nothing gets as emotional in finances as debt. That fourletter word has a grip on 77 percent of American households at an average of $66,772 in debt per American. One of the leading causes of divorce is financial strain at about 40 percent. Half of that, 20 percent of divorces, stem from debt issues.

“Fact is, most Americans are dealing with heavy debt that not only

cripples their weekly cash flow but greatly dampens retirement goals,” Daniel said.

To vanquish the beast that is debt, Daniel said to answer one of the first basic questions of understanding finance: controlling expenses. Those in debt should take time to thoroughly review all expenses and see what they can minimize, what they can live without and what they must have but can find at a lower cost without losing value.

“At this point, you will know if Marshall Moon you should just put the item back on the shelf or take it out of your online cart,” he said. “Once you turn this action into a habit, you will begin to see your cash grow, and with more cash comes more opportunities.”

“We all pretty much want our cake and icing, right?” Daniel said. “In order to have this, we have to take in more (make money) than we put out (spend money). It comes down to expenses versus revenue. It’s like age-old mythical warriors fighting as good versus evil.”

When battling the forces of evil, it Scott Daniel can help to have a seasoned veteran on one’s side who knows the dangers and the strategies for victory. Looking ahead to the new year, the experts will keep their eyes on trends such as trade tensions and tariffs, interest rates and inflation, artificial intelligence and technology, the housing market, health care costs, cybersecurity risks, environmental regulations, and, naturally, stock market volatility.

“While these changes require awareness, staying informed and adjusting your financial strategy is key to navigating them successfully,” Powell said.

Still, some things are best left to the professionals.

“People are better off focusing on the things they have some control over, such as advancing their career and saving and investing any excess money that they can,” Moon said. “We tend to overcomplicate things when we’re better off keeping it simple. The economy is a complex animal that has a way of sorting itself out over time. I believe this will be true in the future too.”

However, investors in cryptocurrency may be best served by constantly checking their coins, which according to Daniel, “have been on a wonderful pace lately.”

One final area that often goes overlooked is estate planning. No matter how much wealth one has accrued over a lifetime, it is prudent to have a will in place, a durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney and beneficiaries designated for all relevant assets.

“The purpose of having an estate plan is to make sure your assets are handled exactly as you wish during life and after death,” Moon said. “A properly crafted estate plan can help you avoid probate and ensure your assets are passed on in accordance with your wishes. Estate plans can be very simple or very complex, and everyone needs one, no matter their level of wealth.”

Financial independence is possible. For some, it may not be a one-year goal, but with perseverance and thoughtfulness, most anyone can get their financial house in order.

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The

Gift of Education

Make a lasting impact on a loved one’s life by providing the gift of education Article provided by ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE 529

W

hen her son was in high school, Susan Kissire, superintendent of Poyen School District, set up an Arkansas Brighter Future 529 account, not realizing the profound impact it would have on his future financial stability.

“I set it up and never thought about it,” she recalled. Years later, the support from that 529 account allowed her son to graduate college completely debt free.

“I cannot even begin to tell you how many times my son has thanked me for what I have done,” Kissire said.

In addition to scholarships, her contributions to his 529 plan not only helped cover tuition but also eased the financial burden of living expenses and other educational costs. He was able to start his life and career after college without the worry of educational debt.

The cost of education continues to rise — Arkansans can expect to pay more than $10,000 per year on average for higher education, according to the Education Data Initiative. Those pursuing a trade career can anticipate spending between $5,000 and $15,000 for their education. With the increasing demand for advanced education in job roles, technical skills and vocational pathways, now is the time to prepare for the costs of a loved one’s scholastic pursuits. Scholarship or lottery funds, while helpful, rarely cover the full cost of a student’s education when considering room and board, books and other expenses associated with post-secondary education.

By establishing a savings plan for a child’s future, parents and loved ones demonstrate their belief in the child’s potential to achieve his or her dreams while guiding him or her toward a path of success. The Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan offers an accessible and effective way for anyone to set up or contribute to a loved one’s future aspirations. A 529 account makes it easy and affordable to plan for the cost of higher education at universities, technical and community colleges, trade schools and other post-secondary programs. Investing in a 529 account not only helps individuals plan for the future but also provides immediate tax advantages to anyone who contributes.

“It is so important to start putting that money aside for your children or grandchildren. We know that education is getting more and more expensive,” Kissire said. “The Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan is an amazing way to start preparing for college.”

Kissire encouraged parents and guardians to start thinking about saving for their children’s education as early as possible.

“As a parent, grandparent and educator, I feel it’s imperative to show our children that we are so confident in them, that we’ve already put something in place for the future,” Kissire said. “That instills pride and a sense of success in them.”

With the dawning of a new year, Brighter Future 529 plans make the gift of education accessible to everyone. Contributing to an existing 529 account is easier than ever, allowing anyone to play a role in securing a child’s educational future. Through the Ugift feature, each 529 account includes a unique link that can be easily shared via text message, social media or email, enabling loved ones to make secure

one-time or recurring contributions.

“The beginning of the year offers a great opportunity to set financial goals and plan for the future,” said Fran Jansen, director of the Arkansas Brighter Future 529 program. “Brighter Future 529 Plans are a simple way to start saving for your loved one’s education. Through Ugift, grandparents, family members and friends can contribute directly to a loved one’s account, providing meaningful support toward their future goals.”

ADVANTAGES OF THE ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE 529 PLAN Brighter Future 529 plans are a practical, flexible and tax-advantaged way to save for education. Setting up a Brighter Future 529 account accelerates a savings plan for children, grandchildren or loved ones. Investment plans can be set up with as little as $25, and contributions can be made at any time or set up on a recurring basis. A Brighter Future 529 account has the potential to grow at a faster rate than investment in a comparable taxable account.

Managed by the Arkansas Treasurer of State's office, Brighter Future 529 accounts offer significant tax advantages: • Arkansas taxpayer deduction: Taxpayers may be eligible to annually deduct up to $5,000 individually or up to $10,000 for married couples from their adjusted gross income. Arkansas taxpayers can choose to deduct more, carrying the difference forward to the next four tax years.

• Qualified tax-free withdrawals: Withdrawals for qualified expenses are exempt from federal and state taxes.

• Rollover contribution benefits: Arkansas offers 529 plan contributors a one-time state tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer, $15,000 total per married couple, when they roll their out-of-state 529 plan into an Arkansas Brighter Future 529 account.

By starting early, small contributions — combined with Ugift support — can increase funds substantially over time. Planning ahead can help alleviate the financial burden of higher education for a loved one.

“As an educator, I want to see our kids succeed well into the future,” Kissire said. “This account is a way to help your children see the path toward success.”

For Kissire, the Brighter Future 529 plan was a game changer for her family. As she looks forward to welcoming her son’s first child in February, she is already planning to open another account.

“Whichever route he chooses, I don’t want him to stress about expenses. I want to help set him up for success,” she said.

Kissire said she plans to continue with each future grandchild because of the impact it made on her son.

Whether planning for a newborn’s future, helping a high schooler prepare for college or contributing to a loved one’s account, the Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan can make saving for education easy, flexible and rewarding.

To learn more or open an account, visit brighterfuturedirect529.com or call 800-587-7301.

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arts & culture

OVERNIGHT

Sensation

David Adam Byrnes pays his dues, comes out grinnin’

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By DWAIN HEBDA // Photo provided by DAVID ADAM BYRNES

he well-worn family story about David Adam Byrnes’ epiphany about following a career in music involves a legendary performer at a storied Arkansas venue.

“As far as I remember back, all I wanted to do was sing,” he said. “Mom and Dad took me to see George Strait at Barton Coliseum when I was, I think, 3 years old, and it’s weird because you don’t think you’d remember anything at 3. I vaguely remember that there was a concert, although I couldn’t tell you details about it or anything. I know I left that concert saying, ‘I wanna be George Strait.’”

Toddler Byrnes’ proclamation was initially met with amusement by the grown-ups around him, but it soon became apparent the kid was not joking around. His father played in a band called the Pioneers that gigged locally around Sherwood, and it was not long before he started toting his kindergartner son along.

“The Pioneers would go to nursing homes on Monday nights around central Arkansas and play, and [Dad] started taking me,” Byrnes said. “I was what, I guess, 5 years old. If I wanna say where I got my start, it was going around in nursing homes, singing George Strait songs.

“I also remember we’d go to eat catfish every Friday night at the Crooked Hook out there in Jacksonville. Man, the owner would walk me around table to table and have me sing at the tables, and they’d pass the hat. I remember one time I left with, like, 30 bucks.”

By the time he graduated high school, Byrnes was more committed than ever to making it big in country music. He reluctantly agreed to give college a try, but after half a semester, he was off for Nashville.

At 19, he was talented, determined and very green, but as the saying goes, two out of three ain’t bad, and he started getting noticed for his throwback sound.

“Not many 19-year-olds at that time were moving to town, singing Merle Haggard and old-school country stuff,” he said. “I think I was too naive, too young and too dumb to even be nervous or scared. I just knew I was a badass and Nashville’s gonna figure that out. It’s just a matter of time until they do.”

For whatever reason, Nashville initially seemed to bend the knee to the brash Arkansan. He found gigs to play and got signed within his first year of hitting town. Soon, he was circulating among the best songwriters there were, learning his songwriting style and playing dates all over the country. Eventually, though, reality set in.

“They call it ‘the music business,’ and I knew the love of music but not so much of the business,” he said. “I had a Billboard chart single back in 2012, and I got to see the world for the first time, but you find out fast that when you don’t have a good record deal, all the people you think are in your corner are only there as long as they think there’s something to benefit from it. A lot of the vultures that could get at a bright-eyed kid who doesn’t know the business side got a hold of me.”

While the growing pains were sharp, Byrnes looks at getting burned on his first deal as a blessing because it made him seriously

reevaluate what he knew and what he did not know.

“The reality is it’s the fans that matter. You’ve got to go out and get the fans,” he said. “My situation forced me to just go out and start touring, man. I’d hop on a bus with any artist that would let me come out.

I might sell merch, I might just be on there writing, or maybe they’d throw me on stage for 20 minutes and let me play before they went on.”

On the downside, Byrnes developed a habit for chasing fads in an attempt to fit in with what was hot. Today, he cringes at the styles he adopted and the music he was putting out to get noticed. One day, the late recording artist Daryle Singletary pulled him aside to deliver some tough love.

“I had a big heart to heart with Daryle one night, and he just kind of point blank put me in my place about music,” he said. “He flat out said, ‘You’re one of the last few that gave me hope for real country music. Get back to your roots.’ That stuck with me.”

Byrnes took the advice to heart and his career to Texas, figuring he could reclaim himself in the land of his icon, George Strait. Space does not allow a retelling of every twist and turn — including two more bad record deals, money-losing mini tours and countless beer-soaked honky tonks — except to say that every time he was laid low, he rose by the redeeming power of music and one-to-one connection with audiences.

Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, his music started to find a footing, and when he hit the road in 2020, people came out starved for the live music experience. Since then, he has steadily built a strong following, as well as a cache of accolades from his home state, including 2022 Entertainer of the Year, three-time Country Artist of the Year, two-time Male Vocalist of the Year and 2021 Album of the Year for “Neon Town,” all awarded by the Arkansas Country Music Association.

Now, recently married and newly unleashed from the record company entanglements of the past, he has never sounded better on classicsounding singles like “Country Gonna be Alright,” “Keep Up With a Cowgirl,” and the outstanding “More Afraid of Living.”

When a lot of the industry is looking for ways to rewrite the rules of country music, Byrnes’ embrace of its traditions in theme, instrumentation and heart is perhaps the most countercultural thing going right now.

“We’ve got a new single coming. I’m not gonna say the name of it, but it’s already in the chamber, and I truly think it might be the biggest single we’ve ever released,” he said. “It’s one of them songs you spend your entire career trying to write, man, and we did it. We’re gearing up to put that out here sometime in Quarter 1.”

At that, Byrnes gave his head a shake, pondering just how many miles and years it took to be on the brink of overnight success.

“There’s definitely days I scratch my head with this, but you know, it’s like I tell everybody — ‘I’m getting to do what I love, and I pay the bills.’ There’s not everybody that can say that,” he said. “I’m definitely blessed.”

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arts & culture

Prophet from the Past

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by JESSE DEFLORIO

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Arkansan JD Clayton does his musical heroes proud

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he first line of A Long Way From Home, a short film about musician and Fort Smith native JD Clayton, an off-camera voice asks the singer-songwriter “How would you describe yourself ?”

Clayton stares off the right of the frame as if the question has gone off in his head and not from the lips of an unseen interviewer.

“I don’t even know how to answer that question,” he said without the hint of a smile.

A better description may not yet have been penned for Clayton. A quick listen to some of his songs, hoping to yield some commonality among the tracks, is an exercise in futility.

One does not listen to JD Clayton music so much as feel it, and feelings unfold in their own time.

“There’s a large amount of bewilderment that exists when you sit down and look at this. It’s just like, ‘How the heck did this even happen?’” he said of his musical journey. “I hate to say it, but the answer to all of these questions is really just funny when you start sitting down and thinking about it all.

I don’t know how I sing like this. I don’t know how I wrote this album.”

Clayton’s magnetic appeal lies in his uncontrived originality and the manner in which he and his band inhabit various eras and genres like musical squatters, making a space their own. Shades of country, rock and blues are prominent, all run through the AM radio influences the band wears on their sleeves.

The jaunty “American Millionaire” hearkens Steve Miller’s “The Joker” but cooler; “Arkansas Kid” delivers a slithering blues groove that more than honors Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Mississippi Kid” from which it was taken. “Let You Down” is an entirely original stew of 1970s influences, a hint of James Taylor here, a taste of the Commodores-sans-horns there, and with a Joe Walsh-worthy solo thrown in the middle just for the hell of it.

It is widely considered a put-down to throw such comparisons at newer artists, as if they are not allowed to sound like the first of themselves as opposed to the second coming of someone else. Clayton does not necessarily see it that way.

“I was raised on that music, so that’s the biggest compliment I could ever get,” he said. “As a music lover, that’s all I ever wanted was to try to make records like those guys did or at least try to get close to making somebody like that proud.

“I’ve got a song that’s really become one of my biggest songs called ‘Brown Haired Blue Eyed Baby,’ and it’s not a very long song. We’ve tried to brainstorm how we could make it longer, so we decided to make it like a medley song and take a bunch of songs that are in the same key. We do ‘The Joker’ by Steve Miller Band, we also do ‘The Weight’ by the Band. It’s a big moment in the show where we pay homage to the bands that we love.”

If all art comes from having something to say, Clayton

admits his Arkansas upbringing left him largely speechless. A happily ordinary life generally does not give one much in the way of hard times and heartbreak, but what his vanilla childhood might have spared him, his experience upon moving to Nashville stained into the core of his being.

“Right as my wife and I moved to Nashville, COVID[-19] hit, and I took a job at a landscape company because there was just nobody hiring,” he said. “That was basically almost two years of me working on a truck with three guys, Nico, Jose and Alfredo, just driving around Nashville. I basically went real internal and had to take a look at myself, what I was doing with my life, who I was. It was the first time that I was given an outside perspective on the town and the people that raised me.”

Clayton hated the landscaping gig except that it paid the bills and for the opportunity it gave him to listen to music as he worked. Over that time, he studied the structure of songs, lyrical composition, vocal phrasing and anything else he could derive from what he heard.

“I just kind of taught myself a lot of things and tried to emulate those things in my own writing and with my band,” he said. “My mom was an interior decorator and painter, and from her, I guess, I got my focus on aesthetic. Even when choosing members to join the band, you know, we were always looking at what that brings to the table that can fit this certain aesthetic.

— JD Clayton You know, No. 1, they have to be a good hang, but two, it’s like we’re looking for something here. We’re trying to make something that fits this certain mold.”

Nowhere do the pieces come together better than on “Long Way From Home,” the title track on his 2023 debut full-length album. An overtly country number that Clayton wrote to express his winsome feelings of being trapped in the Nashville machine, it could easily be a letter of apology from someone swept away by addiction or simple wanderlust.

Clayton’s writing is incomparable, the music evocative and atmospheric to someone lost but still moving, desperately clinging to the last remaining tether back to someplace familiar.

Repeated listening whets the appetite for the next project from the back-to-back Arkansas Country Music Americana Artist of the Year.

That effort, said Clayton, who has since moved back to Fort Smith, is a new album to be announced this month.

“The music industry is constantly changing, and it’s in a big change phase right now, I believe,” he said. “Consumers are spending money differently, and so you have to be really smart in how you tour. As a team, we’re being really strategic about how we prepare this album and how we go out and share it. At the end of the day, grassroots still exists, and word of mouth is still the best form of marketing.

“My plan is to just put this album out, share it with the people that love my songs, and hopefully, they share it with their friends, and then we’ll get in a van and go to their hometown and play a few of those songs for them. That’s kind of all you can do, and if I just make somebody’s day a little bit better, then that’s the job at hand.”

I just kind of taught myself a lot of things and tried to emulate those things in my own writing and with my band.

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aymag.com

Here to Stay

arts & culture

Pamela Hopkins lives her musical dreams one tune at a time

By DWAIN HEBDA Photo by ERIN MCCAFFREY

O

n any given day, Pamela Hopkins wears a lot of Born in Little Rock, Hopkins discovered her talent behats. In addition to being one of the stalwarts tween fourth and fifth grade when, in elementary school, she on the local music scene in central Arkansas, she is a wife, was administered a hearing test that revealed her ear for mumother and, recently, the owner of The Angry Possum, a sic. This landed her in orchestral programs throughout middle restaurant in Newport, along with her husband. school and high school, for which she played cello and piano, All that after a career as a teacher, for which she went and landed her a scholarship after graduating from Parkview to school and for which she has a masters degree, and as Arts & Science Magnet High School in Little Rock. a cop, which just kind of found its way in there.

She took a detour to Nashville to cut an album at age 19 but “I do have a lot of irons in the fire, and sometimes did not like the place much. She came home to study music as that is to my detriment, between owning a business and a minor at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway for being a musician” she said. “I’m a musician full time on two years before dropping it due to how long it would prolong the weekends. Thursday, Friday and Saturdays, I’m usuher time in college. ally playing somewhere. It’s my main bread and butter.”

From that point on, music was something reserved for karaHopkins shared these details without a hint of exasoke nights until one evening she and her husband had a date at peration or fatigue. By the sound of her original music, Ernie Biggs. Convinced she could do what she saw happening centered as it is on the joys of simple living and smallon stage, she approached management and was told to come town problems, being around people is where she gets back when she had 25 songs down cold. the best of her ideas, as well as finding the bulk of her “I went home, and I had a piano,” she said. “My kids probably audience. are still scarred from some of the songs that I was learning beIn other words, anyone looking for somecause they had to hear them over and over and over. I thing other than the truth can look elselooked up every two- and three-chord song that’s where than a Pamela Hopkins song. popular that I knew I could play and I started “I had one song that I wrote in hammering these things out. I learned ‘Me 2005, 2006, when my husband and Bobby McGee,’ ‘Jolene,’ easy songs came back from Iraq called ‘Give that I already knew how to sing.”

Him Back to Us’ and decided that In time, music would not only beI was going to record that one,” come her livelihood but a ticket to critishe said. “Never really thought cal acclaim, as well. Her single “Walk I would record it, but I was like, of Honor,” which she co-wrote and ‘OK, I need to.’ It literally was a recorded, won Song of the Year at the story of being a wife and a mom 2024 Arkansas Country Music Awards while my husband was gone, and it — not bad as calling cards go, even as she was just me getting the lyrics out. describes herself by her single “Little Rock “It talks about each one of my chilFamous.”

— Pamela Hopkins dren. It talks about my husband going “I wrote ‘Little Rock Famous’ because it over to war and coming back different, which used to be a joke, a hashtag,” she said. “I would we still deal with today. I guess for that very first walk out of the club downtown, and people who were one, it was the attitude of, ‘This is what’s in my heart, and down there all the time would go, ‘Oh my God, you’re Pamela.

I have to get it out on paper.’”

You’re the one that plays over there.’ I was like, you know, I ain’t Hopkins’ brash and bald-faced honesty continued on known anywhere else but this little town of Little Rock, and I her acclaimed 2021effort Givin’ a Damn (Don’t Go With would make jokes about it.

My Outfit).

“Writing that song, you know, I started to look at things “The things on that album were just things I observed with more maturity. I’m still gigging every week, which I never or how I felt like I was treated,” she said. “It doesn’t matthought I would. I’m happy with where I am, and I take every ter what you do, people are judgy.” opportunity that I can that allows me to get up and perform.

The title track to the album is a mix of sass and bite I enjoy it.” on themes that hit very close to home. Hopkins had beWhat she may lack in national name recognition, she more gun playing at Little Rock dueling piano bar Ernie Biggs than makes up for in joy onstage. Hopkins said the great irony while living in Vilonia at the time. She approached the of her career is that she gets the chance to inspire people, probchoir director at her church inquiring about joining the ably more people than she would have had the choir director group only to be told there was no place for someone not rejected her years ago. who worked in a bar.

“I talk to a lot of people, and my music brings smiles to Hopkins turned on her heel and left, saying she people hearing their favorite songs, having an emotion that is would never be back, but she was not through with the tied to a specific song,” she said. “I had a guy tell me one time, holier-than-thou. When writing Givin’ a Damn, she not ‘I met you at Ernie Biggs, it was a Tuesday night and you were only made the encounter the subject of the second verse, playing. You got off the stage, and you sat with me and asked but the video for the song featured her behind the wheel me how I was doing. I didn’t tell you I was going through a speeding past the actual church that shunned her. divorce and I was ready to kill myself. Listening to you brought “That’s why people don’t come to church because of me out of that mood.’ being judged,” she said. “It’s just like I said in the lyrics, “You never know if a song might be what makes someone’s you know, ‘Y’all don’t see me on Sundays/ And you don’t day and peps them up, so I might not be on tour with somethink that’s right/ I see most of you wasted/ Where I body big or blowing up on social media or whatever, but I am played on Saturday night.’” the person I know I should be. Other than that, who cares?”

I talk to a lot of people, and my music brings smiles to people hearing their favorite songs, having an emotion that is tied to a specific song.

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arts & culture

Midnight South

Stardom dawns in Arkansas

By KELLI REEP / Photos provided by AUTUMN DOZIER PHOTOGRAPHY

W

hen they think of country music’s enduring legacy, some might picture Nashville honky-tonks or Texas dancehalls, but the heart of this genre beats just as vibrantly in central Arkansas. Midnight South, a dynamic country band formed in 2021, is putting the Natural State on the country music map with its rich harmonies, nostalgic sound and undeniable passion.

With its roots in Arkansas, Midnight South’s journey began when Matt Sammons and a few friends found themselves writing songs and jamming late into the night. Their connection grew organically, fueled by a shared love of music and storytelling.

“We didn’t plan to become a band,” Sammons said, “but those late-night sessions

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turned into something we couldn’t ignore.”

The band’s debut single, “Better Than A Country Song,” set the tone for what Midnight South embodies: heartfelt lyrics celebrating Southern living and love. With influences ranging from Merle Haggard and Alabama to modern acts like Zac Brown Band and Chris Stapleton, the group blends classic country sensibilities with a contemporary edge.

Harmony is at the core of Midnight South’s sound. All the founding members grew up singing gospel music in church, a tradition that now shapes the band’s signature three-part harmonies.

“Big harmonies are in our DNA,” said Sammons. “It’s what we grew up with, and it’s what connects us to our audience.”

Band members’ inspiration draws heavily from 1980s and 1990s country groups like the Oak Ridge Boys and Shenandoah, resulting in a sound that feels both familiar and fresh.

Though the band’s professional journey is young, its trajectory has been nothing short of impressive.

In less than two years, Midnight South was named Vocal Group of the Year by the Arkansas Country Music Awards Association not once but twice.

Reflecting on that accomplishment, Sammons said, “Winning those awards felt like validation for all the hours we’ve poured into this dream.”

The band’s breakout moment —Darin Davis came in April 2022 when it opened for Easton Corbin at TempleLive in Fort Smith. That show catapulted the band into an ambitious tour schedule and lineup changes, including drummer Darin Davis and lead guitarist Billy Lowe III joining the group. Today, the band includes Sammons, Lowe, Davis and J.L. Jones.

One of the band’s biggest milestones arrived in May 2023, when Midnight South performed at the Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida, as part of the Jim Beam Welcome Sessions. Competing against seven other bands for the opportunity to open for Kenny Chesney, Midnight South emerged victorious, playing for an audience of 25,000.

“That night was surreal,” Davis said. “Sharing the stage with artists like Bailey Zimmerman and Kenny Chesney was a dream come true.”

Midnight South’s latest single, “Girl From Mississippi,” represents another step forward in the band’s evolution. Produced by Aaron Gillespie, the song blends their trademark harmonies with polished production and a modern flair.

“We’re always striving to grow while staying true to who we are,” Sammons said. “You can hear that in our next single, 'If You Let Me,' which drops on all streaming outlets on Jan. 17.”

The band’s forthcoming album, slated for release this year, promises to showcase the band’s diversity and depth. Among the anticipated tracks is “Kid With the Radio,” an homage to the band’s

We’re just a group of guys who love music, and we’re lucky that people want to hear it.

musical heroes and a reflection on chasing neon dreams.

Meanwhile, “Best Bar in Town” paints a vivid picture of the backwoods dive bars that hold a special charm for the band.

While Midnight South’s success is impressive, its goals remain grounded.

“For us, success isn’t about being rock stars,” Sammons said. “It’s about playing music full time, connecting with fans and making a living doing what we love.”

His modesty belies the determination that has propelled the band forward. From playing in a van without air conditioning during a sweltering summer tour to packing out venues across multiple states, Midnight South is proof that hard work, talent and authenticity can break barriers.

“We’re just a group of guys who love music,” Davis said, “and we’re lucky that people want to hear it.”

Midnight South’s trajectory shows no signs of slowing. Its busy tour schedule continues to expand, reaching audiences in Arkansas, Missouri, New York and beyond. The band has even secured dates supporting Sister Hazel on the Kid With the Radio Tour. Yet for all its accomplishments, the band’s heart remains in Arkansas.

“This state made us who we are,” Sammons said. “We want to carry that spirit with us wherever we go.”

With an album on the horizon, accolades under its belt and a growing fan base, Midnight South is poised to become a mainstay in country music. Its blend of old-school charm and modern ingenuity is a testament to its roots and a beacon for the genre’s future.

As Sammons put it, “We’re just getting started.”

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Special

arts & culture

Sylamore

Up-and-comers a staple of Ozarks bluegrass legacy

By KELLI REEP // Photos provided by SYLAMORE SPECIAL

Sylamore Special are, from left, Mary Parker, Turner Atwell, Crystal McCool, Gordon Parker and Lillyanne McCool.

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I

n the heart of the Ozark Mountains, nestled in the vibrant folk music capital of Mountain View, a group of talented young musicians has carved out a special niche in the bluegrass scene.

Sylamore Special, named after the serene Sylamore Creek that winds through their hometown, is taking audiences by storm with their electrifying performances, heartfelt storytelling and deep reverence for the musical traditions of their region.

“We didn’t think we’d actually become a band,” said Mary Parker, the band’s fiddle player and vocalist.

It all started in 2021, when Parker assembled a group of friends to compete in the KSMU Youth in Bluegrass Band Contest at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. What began as a casual jam session quickly turned into something extraordinary as the group’s chemistry and talent propelled them to a first-place win, opening doors to gigs at prestigious venues and “We want people to remember us as a very festivals. energetic, young bluegrass band,” he said. “We’re Mary and her brother, here to touch people through our music and the mandolin player Gordon stories we tell.”

Parker, teamed up with Mountain View, which bills itself as Folk Mubanjo player Lillyanne sic Capital of the World, provides a fertile ground McCool, guitarist Turner for Sylamore Special’s growth. The rich musical Atwell and upright bassculture, from picking circles to local festivals, has ist Crystal McCool to shaped the band’s sound and identity. form what is now Sylamore Mary credited much of her development to the Special. Since their serensupportive community and her early lessons in Moundipitous start, the band has tain View. Mary, who comes from a family of bluegrass played at everything from local — Mary Parker musicians, honed her skills through the Music Roots profestivals like Bean Fest in Moungram in Stone County, which provides free instruments and lestain View to the Smithsonian Folklife sons to young students.

Festival in Washington, D.C., where it played Despite their increasing recognition, Sylamore Special remains twice. The band is quickly becoming a staple of the Arkansas deeply connected to their roots. Their name is a tribute to Sylamore bluegrass scene.

While firmly rooted in bluegrass, Sylamore Special’s music Creek, a beloved gathering spot where the band spent time as friends is anything but one-dimensional. The performances weave to- before officially coming together.

“We wanted our name to reflect something special from home,” gether gospel, old-time and even reimagined songs from other Mary said. “Sylamore Creek is a beautiful place and holds so many good genres, always with a distinctive bluegrass twist.

“We love taking old songs and choreographing new ar- memories for us.”

Sylamore Special’s rise has been rapid, yet its goals remain grounded. rangements,” Mary said. “It’s one of our favorite ways to give The band recently announced a self-titled debut album set to be released the audience something fresh to hear.”

For Mary and her bandmates, creativity is at the heart of on all streaming platforms. The album features a mix of original songs their craft. Songwriting is a passion for several members, who and traditional tunes, showcasing the band’s versatility and dedication draw inspiration from their surroundings, emotions and life ex- to bluegrass music.

As for the future, the members dream of going on the road full time, periences. Mary described it as needing “a moment of inspirabut the band is taking things one step at a time. With some members tion — something I see, feel or a place I’ve been.”

The group’s recently released single, “This Old Barn,” ex- pursuing college and careers, balancing schedules can be a challenge, but emplifies this artistry, blending vivid imagery with traditional the members’ commitment to the music keeps them moving forward.

“We’re just having a wonderful time playing together,” Mary said. bluegrass instrumentation.

Audiences are often surprised to learn how young the mem- “If it’s the Lord’s will, we’ll make this a career. We want people to feel bers of Sylamore Special are. Mary Parker, who’s just 19, has touched by our music, whether it’s through the stories in our songs or been playing the fiddle for nearly 15 years and is currently pur- the energy we bring to the stage, and we want them to remember that suing a degree in music production at Bethel University in Ten- bluegrass is alive and thriving, especially here in the Ozarks.”

For fans of bluegrass and those new to the genre, Sylamore Special nessee. She performs with the school’s Renaissance Bluegrass offers an unforgettable experience. Their youthful enthusiasm, rich harBand on scholarship. monies and genuine love for the music make them a shining example of “Music is in my blood,” she said. “I can’t live without it.”

The band’s youth is matched by its infectious energy on why bluegrass continues to resonate across generations. Whether playstage. Gordon Parker not only plays the mandolin but also ing at a small-town festival or on a national stage, Sylamore Special is a incorporates dancing into their live shows, captivating crowds band to watch, bringing the traditions of the past into the present with a vibrant spirit that is impossible to ignore. with his charisma.

We’re just having a wonderful time playing together. If it’s the Lord’s will, we’ll make this a career.

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At Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER at

GOOD SHEPHERD Jennifer Siems, Administrator 3001 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock AR 72205 • Phone 501-217-9774 • Fax 501-217-9781 www.goodshepherdnr.com

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NURSING & REHABILITATION LIVING PROFILE

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Murder Mystery

Anyone’s CHILD T

he bright lights of the Little League field carved out a pocket of light from the surrounding darkness. Balls cracked against the bats, cheers punctuated catch-up conversations, and fireflies danced around children’s laughter.

Lurking on the edges of the light was a man, watching and waiting. He had come there for a child — anyone’s child — and in the midst of this peaceful scene, he would find her, with unspeakable intent.

Her name was Morgan Nick. On June 9, 1995, the 6-year-old was abducted from Wofford Field in Alma. Morgan and two other children had been playing by the bleachers as her mother, Colleen Nick, kept a watchful eye. Then, a burst of on-field activity at the end of the game gave her abductor the moment of distraction he had waited for.

When Nick glanced over again, she saw the other children but not Morgan. She was right over there by her mother’s car, they said, getting the sand out of her shoes, but she was not. She was gone.

Coaches called the Alma Police Department, the station for which was located barely a home-run distance away. A creepy man in a red truck, the children said, had been talking to Morgan. They described him as a tall white man of medium build with a mustache and a close beard. He was possibly 23 to 38 years old, according to description.

A video from the scene that night captured a red Ford pickup sporting a white camper shell that was 4 to 5 inches shorter than the truck bed. Some people remembered noticing it as the mystery man’s, but no one was sure if it had an Arkansas license plate, much less recalled the number.

Ten law enforcement agencies joined the search that night. The ball field’s proximity to the interstate as well as to the state line added urgency to an already frantic situation. During the subsequent investigation, hundreds of red pickup trucks in Arkansas and neighboring Oklahoma were tracked down.

The community also responded. More than 10,000 tips poured in to investigators, resulting in more than 8,300 leads. Did all of that ever lead to the guy? Well, yes and no.

Part One

By SARAH RUSSELL

By 2019, progress had reached a flat line. Morgan had not been found, the man remained unidentified, and frankly, no one was certain he was the owner of the truck in the video. The Alma Police Department’s resolve had not dimmed, however, and the department decided to double back over the entire case file, thinking maybe there was an ember somewhere in those ashes.

In 1995, 6-year-old Morgan Nick was abducted from Wofford Field in Alma.

Colleen had become every predator’s worst nightmare. Within a year of the abduction, she established the Morgan Nick Foundation, an organization that combats child abduction in a multitude of ways.

A number of age-appropriate programs were developed to provide children and their parents methods of staying safe against stranger danger, and the foundation also arms law enforcement with training to teach the skills that best serve this type of case.

Another element of the Morgan Nick Foundation’s work led Colleen to the statehouse, where she lobbied legislators to do more. Her efforts resulted in the creation and implementation of Amber Alert, which today is a crucial tool for providing a quick response to abducted children.

She also directs the foundation’s work to serve families going through the same hellish experience she did. When a family member goes missing — child or adult — the foundation team provides hands-on assistance, serving as a liaison between the family, law enforcement and the media. Keeping the latter’s focus on a case is crucial,

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and Nick has proven to be very effective at mobilizing media to help bring awareness to cases. Through her efforts, Morgan’s story went national on shows such as Dateline, Unsolved Mysteries and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Thanks to her efforts, interest in the case continues to run high even as the investigation hit one dead end after another. In 2023, Still Missing Morgan, a docuseries directed by Arkansas native Devon Parks with executive producer Ridley Scott, made its Hulu debut.

The dogged diligence paid off last fall, when the Alma Police Department announced the possible identity of Morgan’s abductor having found a 1995 tip in the case file. Therein, a Van Buren man had indicated that his neighbor not only had a red pickup but that its camper shell was missing.

Billy Jack Lincks was questioned about the disappearance The case files showed that early in the investigation, but nothing came of it. the man in question, Billy Jack Lincks, had indeed been interviewed in the initial investigation but was officially declared “truthful.” Whether that was based on a passed polygraph, a substantiated alibi or just a hunch is not publicly known, but to the review team, Lincks’ background seemed intriguing.

They decided to pull that thread and earned an incredible break in the process. Upon Lincks’ arrest in August 1995 on other charges, his 1986 red Chevrolet Scottsdale pickup had been impounded and was, ultimately, auctioned. In 2020, a quarter century after Morgan disappeared, the APD, incredibly, had tracked down the red truck.

Furthermore, the current owner was willing to be cooperative in allowing it to be searched.

The FBI Evidence Response Team did not disappoint. The vehicle gave up what was described as “vacuum cannisters” of evidence — blood, blonde hair similar in color to Morgan’s and green fibers — from the side of a seat, underneath a floor mat and lodged in interior metal.

However, the promising discovery stalled as it became apparent to the FBI that the forensics needed to pull an answer from this evidence was still in the incubation stage.

Fast forward to 2023, and APD detective Shawn Taylor, who learned that Texas-based Othram Labs had newly advanced DNA analysis.

The technology, when combined with genetics, was proving quite effective at slamming case files closed. In a team effort, the Arkansas State Police Aged-progressed photo of Morgan funded the cost of the testing, costs that would have been prohibitive for a small-town police department budget.

What came next would shock those who had followed the case ever since that fateful evening under the small-town ball field lights, bringing law enforcement and a resolute mother one step closer to the truth.

Next month: The search for justice continues.

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Subiaco

By Joe David Rice

N

ext time you have a hankering for a touch of Europe but don’t have the time or cash to make that long trip over the Atlantic, consider a visit to Subiaco, a quaint community in Logan County. Located about 120 miles west of Little Rock and 45 miles east of Fort Smith, the town virtually sits in the shadow of Mount Magazine, Arkansas’s highest point.

conducted his first service in a log hut with one door and a single sixpaned window. He held his initial Mass on the feast of St. Benedict a few days later under the open skies, noting in a chatty letter to his superior that Brother Hilarin “sang to his heart’s content in every possible key.” When 1878 came to a close, nearly 150 German-Catholic families had settled in St. Benedict’s Colony.

Father Schlumpf, his colleagues, and their parishioners faced a wide range of difficulties in those early days. Within hours of his arrival a raging forest fire threatened the primitive buildings. Getting materials to the site for the planned church was an ordeal, requiring freight to be transported by mule teams over a 15-mile route described as nothing short of “Dante’s Inferno.” High water on the Arkansas River often delayed delivery of supplies, including the church’s new 590-pound bell. Then, in the summer of 1881, a terrible drought occurred, wiping out the crops and resulting in actual cases of starvation. Although the settlement continued to grow, some began to doubt its future. When new priests appeared, most asked for transfers Subiaco Abbey Courtyard within months, finding the living conditions What you’ll be seeking is Subiaco Abbey, a rich spiritual and historitoo difficult and demanding. Appeals were sent to Einsiedeln Abbey cal complex dating back to 1877. In that year, the Little Rock & Fort in Switzerland, original home of the Swiss Benedictine monks, asking Smith Railroad Company worked out a deal with Abbot Martin Marty for help. of St. Meinrad’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in southern Indiana.

The outlook changed in October 1887 with the arrival, straight from The railroad line needed to place settlers along its route and Abbot Switzerland, of Father Gall and eight young men known as the “Eight Marty wanted to establish a new Benedictine mission on the country’s Beatitudes.” This new blood ensured the survival of St. Benedict’s. When Western frontier. The ensuing contract had several basic stipulations: Pope Leo XIII elevated St. Benedict’s to the status of abbey in 1891, it 1) The railroad agreed to sell its Logan County properties was renamed Subiaco Abbey. exclusively to Catholic settlers.

In 1898 work began on the new abbey built of “Subiaco” sandstone.

2) The railroad would grant 640 acres to the Benedictine The massive, four-story building with its twin medieval-style towers, Fathers and pledge 100 acres to the Benedictine Sisters. suffered serious fire damage in 1927 but was rebuilt and now dominates 3) The railroad promised $2500 in cash for the surrounding countryside. Construction of the Abbey Church of construction of buildings.

Saint Benedict, one of the most impressive sanctuaries in the state with 4) St. Meinrad’s Abbey would supply priests for 182 brilliant stained-glass windows produced by German artisans, was the new settlements. completed in 1959. The sanctuary alone contains over 50 tons of marble 5) St. Meinrad’s would erect the required buildings. from Italy and Spain.

6) The land would always remain in the hands of Subiaco Academy, a college prep school for young men, has earned the Benedictine Order. an international reputation for its academic and athletic successes.

The Reverend Wolfgang Schlumpf and two associates were selected Among its nearly 200 students are 30 young men from other countries. to make the move from Indiana to Arkansas and establish the new order Visitors are welcome at Subiaco, either for short tours or group reknown as St. Benedict’s Colony. They left St. Meinrad’s on March 6, treats. It’s easily one of my favorite destinations in Arkansas. Serious 1878, and arrived after a 700-mile journey on March 15, traveling the “foodies” will want to buy a bottle of the habanero-based Monk Sauce last 15 miles by horse-drawn wagon. On Sunday, March 17, Schlumpf at the gift shop.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, wrote Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state’s lesser-known aspects.

Rice’s goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people — a story to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give readers a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase on Amazon and at the University of Arkansas Press.

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SHERWOOD

NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER, INC

We are devoted to providing high quality care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every person who enters our facility.

At Sherwood Nursing and Rehab we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services.

SHERWOOD

NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER, INC

245 Indian Bay Drive Sherwood, AR 72120 Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644

Conway Regional has been the community’s hospital for more than 100 years, providing high-quality, compassionate care. As our

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communities grow, we are growing alongside you to ensure all of your healthcare needs are met right here in Conway. When your family needs medical care, you can trust our

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board-certified providers to provide you with the comprehensive care

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you deserve when you need it most.