AY About You November 2023

ARKANSAS’ LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2023 | AYMAG.COM

Jennifer Maune | Women & Children First | Holiday Guide $5.00 U.S.

Happy Thanksgiving

from our family to yours.

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Experience the Ozarks after dark at Top of the Rock and join us for a 2.5-mile journey through Nature at Night! Enjoy this unique light tour experience with awe-inspiring displays resembling historic Native American scenes along with traditional holiday vignettes. Sip on hot beverages and be surrounded by twinkling lights and a festive spirit while connecting to the great outdoors.

Make this season one to remember and start a new family tradition at Nature at Night on the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail! a d va n c e d t i c k e t s r e c o m m e n d e d : t o p o f t h e r o c k . c o m

Step into the living history and legacy that began in 1850 with the creation of Marlsgate.

870-717-2789 • 2700 Bearskin Lake Road Scott, AR 72142 • info@marlsgate.com marlsgate

@marlsgateplantation 5

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WHAT’S INSIDE 10 Publisher’s Letter 12 Connect 14 Top Events 190 Murder Mystery 192 Arkansas Backstories

HOME & GARDEN

16 Windows on the World 22 Welcome Home

FOOD 26 AY's Bucket List:

Hot Springs Feast Month 36 Let's Eat: Hot Springs Feast Month 48 Recipe: Tout de Suite

TRAVEL

54 Great Scott 60 Pettaway Getaway 68 Fitting the Bill 182 A Hasty Decision

NONPROFIT

130 Arkansas Press Association 134 Promise of a New Day 144 Hats Off to Helping

ARTS & CULTURE 148 Something Major 42 The Magic Touch

HEALTH 160 Nothing to Sneeze At 168 Physical Fitness Through the Decades

ABOUT YOU 50 Yes, Chef!

74 AY's Guide to Holiday Season 83 AY's Faces Of 2023 140 New Face of Bowen 152 Battle of the Ravine 174 Children of God 186 This Side of Seven:

Experience Fayetteville, page 64

ON THE COVER That time is once again upon us to gather with family and friends and ponder how blessed we are. Happy Thanksgiving from AY About You!

Deleting the Deceased

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The Pulaski County Special School District boasts many dedicated educators and administrators from 26 schools across central Arkansas, which includes the DRIVEN Virtual Academy now starting its third year with the District. PCSSD also has hard working students who strive to succeed on and off the field.

Maumelle High senior and football and basketball player, Elijah Newell, says he grew up playing sports and has learned to balance his academics with his athletics.

“I grew up playing basketball and football since I was two years old. Through the years I’ve learned that you have to work hard and put in the work both in class and on the field. So during the day I focus on my school work to make sure everything is completed before practice or games.”

Joe T. Robinson High senior volleyball and soccer player Kathryn Mizell said that athletics are impactful during her high school experience.

“Athletics are important to me because they have taught me many life skills. I have learned time management, mental toughness, and how to be a part of a team. Aside from the practical life lessons, I have created a family within my school. I have formed a group of girls that I can depend on and run to when I need them. This is a unique opportunity that only sports provide to me.”

ABOUT PCSSD

REGISTER NOW www.pcssd.org/register

Mills University Studies High senior, Noah Chambers, plays basketball and track and field. He says he would encourage younger students to get involved in athletics.

“I would tell a younger student is that it will get harder as they get older, they will have roadblocks and distractions; but, keep on a good path to succeed they need to be around people that are serious about their life and people that will keep them out of trouble, also people that will help them improve.”

Sylvan Hills High senior baseball player, Mason Urena, said he has worked to find the right student-athlete balance for him.

“It’s sometimes difficult to balance, especially when the season begins because you are trying to think of ways to win and how to help your team but at the same time pay attention in school. What I usually do is get my school work done as soon as possible and get it turned in. Then I start watching film and trying to fix things and figure things out.”

The Pulaski County Special School District Athletic Department provides student-athletes the opportunity for involvement on a variety of athletic teams. While striving for excellence, the athletic programs serve as an extension of the school district’s academic goals, supporting success in the classroom as well as on the field. The Pulaski County Special School District Athletic programs aim to instill loyalty, teamwork and leadership while maintaining honesty and integrity in every student athlete.

Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 26 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dwain Hebda dwain@aymag.com

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Sarah Coleman scoleman@aymag.com Mak Millard mmillard@aymag.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Darlene Hebda darlene@aymag.com

STAFF WRITERS

John Callahan jcallahan@aymag.com Sarah DeClerk sdeclerk@aymag.com

MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR

Kellie McAnulty kmcanulty@aymag.com

ONLINE WRITER

Kilee Hall khall@aymag.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Mike Bedgood mbedgood@aymag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

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.

Heather Swayze is a mom of two boys and has been married to her high school sweetheart, Dakota, for 10 years.

She attended Arkansas State Three Rivers and Henderson State University. Since 2014, she has served the central Arkansas area providing photography for weddings, couples and families.

Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s Seven On Your Side reporter.

He is now deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son. They are longtime members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.

Angelita Faller is the news director for the office of communications and marketing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A native of Newton, Ill., Faller holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in digital storytelling from Ball State University.

Jamie Lee is a native of southwest Louisiana, now residing in Little Rock. She is a freelance photographer and writer, focusing on food and restaurants. Jamie has been a photographer for 15 years, shooting seniors, families, portraits, branding and food. She also has more than 25 years’ experience with marketing in the travel and tourism industry.

Genevieve Townley is the owner of Wonderlily Photography and resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas. She loves photography, her family (two teenagers ages 16 and 18), her dog Maggie and husband of 22 years. She also loves anything that involves going to the beach. Genevieve holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Lora Puls lpuls@aymag.com Jenna Kelley jkelley@aymag.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Linda Burlingame lindaaymag@aol.com Mary Funderburg mary@aymag.com Colleen Gillespie colleen@aymag.com Karen Holderfield kholderfield@aymag.com Jona Parker jona@aymag.com Dana Rodriguez dana@aymag.com

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Jessica Everson jeverson@aymag.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Bethany Yeager ads@aymag.com

CIRCULATION

circulationl@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Eileen Beard, Becca Bona, Chris Davis, DeWaine Duncan, Dustin Jayroe, Ryan Parker, Sara Reeves, Courtney Reynolds, Sarah Russell, Nichole Singleton, Lori Sparkman, Stephen Thetford

ADMINISTRATION

Billing billing@aymag.com Vicki Vowell, CEO

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501-244-9700 or hbaker@aymag.com

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501-244-9700 or aymag.com Please submit press releases & news to press@aymag.com

AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201.

Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2023, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY. Please recycle this magazine.

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publisher's letter

We Are Blessed In our hurry-up, get-it-now, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world, it is important to take time to slow down and truly reflect on all that we have. Our rush to get things done and live up to our many responsibilities makes it easy to forget to appreciate all that has been given to us by nothing more than sheer grace. Sometimes you have to just stop and look around to see all that you have to be thankful for.

That is the spirit in which we have created the November issue, which officially ushers in the holiday season. We like to think that AY About You plays a role in our readers’ me time all year, but especially this month. Consider this issue as permission to curl up, flip through these pages and just breathe.

We start by previewing Hot Springs Feast Month, a celebration of everything edible in the Spa City. Our Bucket List gives a closer look at some participating restaurants and a list of spots to check out during this tasty promotion. Go visit a favorite or check out something new — it is all delicious!

We also go a few miles up the road to Scott to visit the visionaries behind the majestic Marlsgate Plantation, cozy Curve Market, Scott Station restaurant and more. It is truly a hidden gem that is poised for big things, and we will tell you all about it.

November is also the month when many football rivalries clash on the field, and no game in the country rivals the Battle of Ravine between Arkadelphia’s Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State universities, who meet for the 96th time this month. We sit down with members of both sides to find out what makes this game so special.

In keeping with our theme of counting blessings, we take a look at organizations that are working to bless others in the community through needed services and charitable works. Groups like Women & Children First, which serves men, women and children in crisis due to domestic violence, and the Hat Club, which has raised thousands for multiple local charities, are angels in our midst. We visit with both of these wonderful organizations in this issue.

Finally, because it is never too early to start getting into the Christmas spirit, we feature a listing of upcoming holiday events and attractions to kindle your soul and delight your family.

Check it out and get ready to get jolly!

The only thing harder to get our heads around than where the year has gone is how many blessings 2023 has heaped upon us here at AY About You. From our families to yours, may you enjoy a fun-filled month in peace and gratitude with the people you love most.

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

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SELECT NIGHTS

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READER FEEDBACK THUNDER OVER THE ROCK TO RETURN AFTER FIVE YEARS “This is good to know. Nice to know that they are starting the Air Show again.”

Charlotte Fox-Gibson BLUE EMBER SMOKEHOUSE TO OPEN WLR LOCATION “Their barbecue is so so good!”

Brent Hendrix BIG BAD BREAKFAST HOLDS FRIENDS & FAMILY EVENT AT NEW LOCATION “The people are great! And, the food is awesome! I had the avocado toast! Highly recommend!

Can't wait to go back!”

Rachel Lee Tackett

HTeaO, America’s largest iced tea franchise, has officially opened its latest store in Benton.

‘GOOSEBUMPS’ AUTHOR R.L. STINE TO VISIT FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY “My middle school self is really freaking out about this!”

Jenn Humphrey LEGENDARY ‘THE MUNSTERS’ ACTORS TO UNITE AT ‘MUSALEUM’ IN CONWAY “Awesome. Gotta go.”

Keith Hubbard

Illinois-based fast-casual restaurant Beef-A-Roo recently held a grand opening for its new location in Little Rock.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR NEWS: ANSLEY WATSON “She is so fun. Love to watch her show.”

Sue Triplett BLEU MONKEY GRILL TO OPEN LITTLE ROCK RESTAURANT “So excited!!”

Tammi Roberts

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TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM

Follow heatherbaker_ar on IG for weekly Bucket List restaurant giveaways.

Award-Winning BBQ Joint to Open First Arkansas Location in Conway Thunder Over the Rock: Know Before You Go Thunder Over the Rock to Return After Five Years ‘Goosebumps‘ Author R.L. Stine to Visit Fayetteville Public Library Todd Yakoubian “I’m Not Going to Leave.”

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Beloved author R.L. Stine, creator of the international bestselling Goosebumps series, visited the Fayetteville Public Library Event Center on Thursday, Oct. 26 as part of the 10th annual True Lit Festival.

Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon is bringing his directorial debut, “Eric LaRue,” to Little Rock for a special screening during Filmland 2023.

agenda

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Top

you just can't miss!

GLOWILD: A LARGER-THANLIGHT LANTERN FESTIVAL Nov. 16-Jan. 7

Little Rock Zoo GloWILD, the larger-than-light lantern festival, will be returning this year to the Little Rock Zoo just in time to celebrate the holiday season. As Little Rock’s premier light festival, this event offers guests an immersive experience.

WORLD CHEESE DIP CHAMPIONSHIP & FOAM FEST CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Nov. 17

Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock North Little Rock, the birthplace of cheese dip, takes its annual World Cheese Dip Championship very seriously, and this year, the event has joined forces with the Foam Fest Craft Beer Festival to create an event unlike any other.

THE CHER SHOW Nov. 19 & 21

Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville Superstars come and go, but superstars like Cher live forever.

The Cher Show tells the story of the unstoppable force who has dominated pop culture for six decades straight. As a Tony Award-winning musical, this performance includes 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom and more.

88TH ANNUAL WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP DUCK CALLING CONTEST & WINGS OVER THE PRAIRIE FESTIVAL Nov. 24-25

Downtown Stuttgart Stuttgart has famously hosted the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest & Wings over the Prairie Festival each year. As the largest outdoor expo in the Mid-South, this event spans six city blocks in downtown Stuttgart and packs in fun for the entire family.

MARTINA MCBRIDE: THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS TOUR Nov. 30

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs Martina McBride will be bringing her annual The Joy of Christmas Tour back to Arkansas this year with a performance stop at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. This performance will feature several Christmas classics, as well as songs from her first holiday album, White Christmas.

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Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville

Joe Bonamassa

Robinson Center, Little Rock

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Teen Dad Clapp Auditorium at Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville

Buddy Guy: Damn Right Farewell Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Hot Springs

Holiday House General Shopping Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

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The Sneaker Travelers Arkansas Arkansas State Fairgrounds, Little Rock

The Black Legacy Project The Hall, Little Rock

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4 Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience Robinson Center, Little Rock

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events

Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

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Paul Cauthen: This Road I’m On Tour The Hall, Little Rock

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Presents: Conrad Tao Plays Rachmaninoff 3 Robinson Center, Little Rock

Gaelic Storm The Hall, Little Rock

16 The Cadillac Three Shiloh Square & Turnbow Park, Springdale

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The Head and the Heart JJ’s Live, Fayetteville

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Blues Traveler

Cliff Harris Stadium, Arkadelphia

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Hot Springs

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The Cadillac Three The Hall, Little Rock

CARTI Festival of Trees Wally Allen Ballroom, Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

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18 Amazon Exhibition Opening The Momentary, Bentonville

Bert Kreischer Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

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Nurse Blake: Shock Advised Tour Robinson Center, Little Rock

The Fabulous Freddie Mercury Tribute Show The Hall, Little Rock

Cirque Dreams Holidaze Robinson Center, Little Rock

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Dirty Dancing in Concert Robinson Center, Little Rock

16th Annual Oaklawn Kick-off Banquet Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock

Treaty Oak Revival JJ’s Live, Fayetteville

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home

Elite Entries' full line of stylish, energyefficient windows transform any space beautifully.

Windows on the World Elite Entries' Doors and Windows lends elegance to any home

By NICHOLE SINGLETON // Photos provided

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W

hen homeowners look to update their homes, the interior aesthetics of the house tend to be the go-to starting point — decluttering, adding a new piece of furniture or perhaps repainting a wall. In terms of curb appeal, landscaping, such as replanting the flower beds or trimming the hedges, often takes precedence over other exterior areas of a home. Extending a driveway or purchasing a new roof may even be on a homeowner’s radar before they consider the quality of their entryway, a simple feature that Matt Moudy, owner of Elite Entries Doors & Windows in Jacksonville, said can completely change the overall look of the house.

“You can take an old door that’s 20-plus years old and totally revive the front of a house just by changing the front door,” Moudy said.

As real estate development costs continue to trend upward, ac-

companied by high interest rates, Arkansans are looking for more ways to increase the value and quality of their current homes since renovation opportunities are more attainable than purchasing or building a new house.

“I think especially right now with the environment that we’re in, with building and interest rates being so high, we have a lot of people asking to do remodeled tear-outs for their front entry because they may not be at point where they can build a new house but are at a point they can put a little money into remodeling,” Moudy said. “Changing a front door can literally change everything.”

For the Benton-to-Cabot native, everything is exactly what front doors changed. After practicing dentistry for nearly two decades, Moudy longed for something new that offered him more freedom and time with

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aymag.com

Matt Moudy bought Elite Entries in 2021 after transitioning from a career in dentistry.

his family. As the day-to-day of the practice began to weigh on him, he finally expressed his desire for change to his wife. When Elite Entries’ previous owner sought out new ownership with the potential to sell, Moudy bought in.

“I just saw a lot of opportunity and felt we could grow it, so I jumped into the construction world,” Moudy said.

Moudy was first introduced to Elite Entries as a customer when he hired the company to replace the front door of his own home. Because of that, he understood the value the business offered him and the benefits of prioritizing the entryway of a home.

“Iron doors can be customized,” he said. “We have multiple dogs and were fearful of them scratching things up when we had our door replaced, but we were able to customize our door the way we wanted to and work through those things.”

In February 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moudy fully committed to his quest for change, and he and his wife became the new owners of Elite Entries Doors & Windows. While most of the company’s identity remained the same under the new ownership — including its location and offering a product line that included iron doors and a free-standing tub selection — Moudy sought to accelerate the company’s growth. Navigating a new business venture has its own set of hardships and obstacles, but to do so in the midst of a pandemic took that to an unprecedented level. Moudy said he experienced the struggles of supply chain issues early on, but they have since corrected themselves.

“Ultimately at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what business you’re in; there are going to be challenges. There were challenges every day in dentistry, but I think for me, failure’s not really an option, so

I think more than anything, people would rather go to a business that’s a small business where they feel people are actually listening to them and are there to help you.

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I didn’t have an option. I mean, you buy a business, and you either make it succeed, or you don’t,” Moudy said. “There were absolutely times where I was like, ‘What in the world was I thinking?’ because I had a practice where I was established for 16 years, but at the same time, I love change, and so for me, I looked at it more as a challenge than a problem.”

Two-and-a-half years into the new venture, the couple solidified a partnership with Sierra Pacific Windows, a leading window and door company based in the Pacific Northwest with more than 100 combined years in the business. A subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Industries, the company boasts installations in 30 countries and supports more than 600 dealers and distributors across the United States. At the time, the company was looking for further expansion into the southern and eastern portions of the country.

Even more impressive to the Moudys was the focus Sierra Pacific put on U.S. production and materials. The company manufactures domestically using wood from trees grown on the 2.4 million acres of U.S. timberland it manages. “[Sierra Pacific] just makes a really, really good product that we felt good about jumping on board with, and there was a lot of opportunity for us to grow that here [in Arkansas],” Moudy said.

The partnership expanded Elite Entries’ potential by diversifying the company’s portfolio beyond just iron doors, thereby reaching more customers. Elite Entries now offers a full selection of windows, as well as new door options.

Elite Entries’ Sierra Pacific line has already been incorporated into its showroom, and Moudy says the full collection should be live by October or November.

“Iron doors are not perfect in every situation, so I was looking for another option,” he said. “Sierra Pacific not only sells high-quality windows, but they also do doors that are not iron doors, so they fit in better in scenarios where our doors aren’t right for somebody.”

The new product line allows the company to offer more strategic solutions to its customers. Moudy explained no door is great in all environments, and while iron doors offer more customizable design options, Sierra Pacific produces doors that are powder-coated aluminum, which provide great durability for homeowners and may be a better option, depending on the situation. Elite Entries’ team expertise also helps ensure homeowners know how to properly care for purchases to ensure long-lasting beauty and peace of mind.

“We make sure customers understand the pros and cons of how to keep doors clean and taken care of,” Moudy said. “There’s definitely maintenance things you have to take care of when things are exposed to the elements every day.”

The Elite Entries team also makes the process of selecting and designing doors as pain-

less and straightforward as possible, an aspect Moudy said sets the company apart from the big box chains.

“We’re more like a boutique in that we’re not selling 50 different products,” Moudy said. “Our guys have the knowledge to help with both doors and windows instead of box stores that are spread pretty thin and may not be as skilled in some products.”

Elite Entries completes installations for both new builds and current home remodels all over the state, as well as Memphis, Tenn. As a rule, Moudy tries to keep his service areas within a two- to three-hour drive so they can be completed as day trips. The Jacksonville location is home to both a warehouse and a showroom that is open to the public. Customers can stop in and select a door stocked in-house or work with the team on a custom design.

Moudy said a lot of customers send in photos of what they want, and his team is able to put production in motion with their manufacturers. With new builds, doors are selected or designed during the opening stages of the build process, and Elite

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Elite Entries partnered with Sierra Pacific Windows to offer a wider range of products.

aymag.com

Elite Entries completes installations for new builds and remodels throughout Arkansas.

Entries will hold the finished product in its warehouse until its team can complete the installation.

With remodeling projects, Moudy sends his team to the location to take measurements and assess the entryway so the process of removing the old door and installing the new door requires very little painting or trim work and can be done within just a few hours.

Since taking over ownership, Moudy has stayed true to his original mission of creating a family-owned small business committed to customer service, something he thinks gives him another advantage over the competition.

“I think the No. 1 thing for us is the customer service of a small business,” he said. “I think more than anything, people would rather go to a business that’s a small business where they feel people are actually listening to them and are there to help you. All my guys who work for me are retired military from the Little Rock Air Force Base, and my office manager now was my assistant for 16 years in dentistry before leaving to come work for me here.”

Moudy also said the dental mindset of being very detailed and very customer service-oriented has provided a foundation for him to build on in this new venture with Elite Entries.

“In a dental office, there’s no room for error,

and so my wife and I have tried our best to bring that to this business,” he said. “That’s another reason we’re teaming up with Sierra Pacific is because they are very detailed, and I will have a ton of support on that side of things, customer-service-wise.”

Approaching his third year with Elite Entries, Moudy is soon to be joined in the business by his son after his final year of college. Moudy hopes to continue to grow over the coming years — within limits, that is.

“I don’t want to get so big we lose that smallbusiness feel,” Moudy said. “I just want to have a product where five years from now, when you look at buying doors and windows, we’re the company you think of.”

Moudy said he does not regret the decision to leave dentistry after 16 years because he knows God gave him the opportunity to pursue a new career path that has so far fulfilled his desire for more freedom and family time. Despite all the challenges, he said he would still jump into this business opportunity if given the chance to do it all over again.

“I’m a Christian, and at the end of the day, whether it was dentistry or this business, I want people to see a practice that is run in a Christian environment that is doing things right with honesty and integrity,” he said.

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We’re more like a boutique in that we’re not selling 50 different products.

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH YOUR new home or remodel! Our doors and windows can completely change the look of your house and add value to it at the same time! If you are in need of doors and windows - LOOK NO FURTHER!

1030 N Redmond Road • Jacksonville • Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm • eliteentries.com

designer

Welcome Home Statements for the Home moves into new digs

A

By AY STAFF // Photos by SARA REEVES

mong the many eclectic shops and bustling boutiques of Hot Springs sits the stylish new showroom and expanded design studio of Statements for the Home. The space houses well-known Hot Springs designer Julie Nichols, her business partners, Ashley Campbell and daughter Amy Porter, and their talented team of designers who turn out amazing creative interiors for residential and commercial clients alike.

AY About You sat down with Amy to get some insights into the new space and to discuss what has kept the design firm one of the most sought-after businesses of its kind in Arkansas and the region for so many years.

AY ABOUT YOU: Congratulations on your new store and studio! Tell me a little more about the new location.

AMY PORTER: We just moved in here last year. It’s 6,500 square feet, and it provides the space for a full design showroom with wallpaper, fabrics, rugs, tile — everything.

We sell a ton of Hunter Douglas window treatments, as well as throw pillows, drapery, upholstery. We have a master craftsman who works with us, and he’s also our warehouse manager and is a huge asset to our business, and then we have our sweet ladies who work in the retail area. We just try to cover all the bases.

AY: Has the retail component always been part of your business?

PORTER: Not always. We had a little bit of it at our old space. We had a very small area, but here we have an entire section dedicated to it. We’ve stocked the store with all kinds of really neat items, Hot-Springs-themed items. We carry Spode dishes, which are very traditional. It’s a whole different ball game for us.

AY: Your mother has been a driving force for many years in the design business. What have been some of the foundational elements she founded the company on that survive to this day?

PORTER: One of them, and I think this makes us successful as a firm, is that although each one of us designers has our own personal style, my mom always said, “At the end of the day, it’s the client’s home.” We can give our opinion, we can tell what we know, but we always have to be very mindful and not be that designer where it’s my way or the highway. You’ve got to make your client happy; you’ve got to do things in their style and then put your stamp on it here and there where you can.

It's part of being a professional; we may do a project that, for some reason, is not in our personal style as designers, but we adapt and we are happy to do it. We kind of take it as a challenge to do these different things.

AY: Let’s talk about the client mix you see these days and the design aesthetic they’re most often looking for.

PORTER: We see a lot of different things. Being over here on historic Ouachita Avenue, we’re right here by the Historic District, which is where I live, and so a lot of the Statements for the Home includes, from left, Amy Porter, Ashley Campbell and Julie Nichols.

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homes are more traditional. We do have that sort of vibe in the showroom, where we have some very traditional items, but we mix them with more modern items. I think that eclectic mix is really what people like today.

AY: The new space gives your designers a lot of room to create on behalf of their clients. As the business has grown and expanded, what has been the value of bringing in these different points of view and design approaches?

PORTER: We’ve always said it’s nice to have people from different generations on staff because you reach different markets. Having those different generations benefits the business because there are some clients who only want to work with somebody older and others who feel more comfortable with somebody closer to their same age.

I will say with my mom being the senior designer, there are some clients who just want her. Likewise, there are some that just want me or just want our third partner, Ashley Campbell, and that’s great.

You also learn from each other, and I think that’s really important. We have a 24-year-old who works here, and there’s things she can do that I’m not as good at. In business, I think it gives you a real advantage if you learn from and work with all generations.

AY: As you sit down with clients these days, what do you see as the thing that’s most often overlooked or misunderstood? How do you help them most?

PORTER: Where they struggle is usually about being consistent. I think people nowadays like too much, and I do too, by the way. I like it all. It’s all beautiful. Minimalist, maximalist — it’s all beautiful, and I love it all.

I would say a house looks the best when it has some sort of flow, a symmetry. Whether it’s some sort of green because that’s your favorite color, well, let’s carry that into every room. I don’t mean we have to paint every room the same shade of green; I mean being consistent in some way from room to room, and failing to do that creates a little bit of chaos. People need a home that’s restful and organized.

That said, many clients nowadays are a lot more educated than 30 years ago. We always tell them, “Bring us your inspiration pictures.

What are you thinking about?” Gathering their ideas together like that helps us more than anything because it gives them a way to say, “OK, this is the look I want. I like this. I don’t like this so much,” and demonstrate it visually.

I think that’s another advantage of the new location in that it gives our designers the space to spread out and help the client narrow things down into a cohesive vision. We also keep a lot of great design books, samples, swatches and many other resources in the store to help inspire people and ultimately find the style that speaks to them.

Statements for the Home's new expanded retail area offers beautiful items to suit any taste.

AY: Having grown up in the business, what has it been like to work with your mom all these years? As a team, what do you all enjoy most about what you do?

PORTER: My mother has been a designer for maybe 40 years, and that’s where I learned how to do what I do. Design is what I love and what I’m good at, and I really had the best teacher. I was very fortunate; not everybody gets to experience that and have that teacher relationship.

Personally, what I like most is meeting all the amazing people that we do in this business, clients who become friends. You learn about people. You learn about the family dynamic, and you learn how to talk to different people and relate to different people. You learn all of that from this line of work.

As a team, I think most designers will tell you their favorite part is always the reveal.

The reveal makes all the work worthwhile. Especially if the client is brought to tears, that’s, like, the ultimate for all of us here.

STATEMENTS FOR THE HOME 600 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs 501-620-4545 // statementsforthehome.com

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food

Chow Down!

Feast your eyes (and stomach) on Hot Springs

By BECCA BONA // Photos by GENEVIEVE TOWNLEY

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here is always a reason to visit Hot Springs. At the height of fall foliage, Hot Springs Mountain Tower offers beautiful views of the Ouachitas that stretch for miles. The brilliance of visiting during the colder months ensures visitors can soak up all Spa City has to offer, including a dip in one of the luxurious bath houses dappling Bathhouse Row. For those wanting to discover some history along the main strip downtown, Hot Springs’ famed Central Avenue is the place to be. Catch the many plaques denoting former mobster history and even have a drink inside a former brothel, Maxine’s. Just

being in the national park, one of the oldest in the entire United States of America, is witnessing living history.

With adventures a-plenty, Hot Springs is a true gem in central Arkansas. Locals know about all the best food and drink spots throughout the city, and increasingly, tourists are sniffing them out, as well. The best part — the dining scene is so diverse and delicious, the visitor can return again and again without trying the same thing twice.

AY About You has rounded up a sampling of some of the best places not to be missed on a visit to Spa City.

Taco Mama D

iana Bratton is a transplant from Texas who GO HERE FOR: revels in the funky details seen throughout An always-fresh take both of her Taco Mama locations. Each on Mexican food unlike one offers up a unique and vibrant yet elegantly anything else available in Hot laid-back interior that invites diners to stay awhile.

Springs or arguably central The menu is bursting with culinary creativity, relyArkansas at large. ing on fresh ingredients that never sacrifice flavor.

“I wanted to go for an Austin vibe in decor,” Bratton said. “I love listening to Willie and Tejano music, and I wanted to create something beyond the typical Mexican restaurant with painted chairs and food delivered in under five minutes after ordering it.”

A long-time food connoisseur, Bratton has spent more than 30 years in the industry, owning her own restaurant for more than two decades during that time. She went to culinary school but really made strides when she found a mentor who demonstrated the value of working with fresh ingredients and local farmers. Katie Schma was a feminine force in Dallas — operating the beloved City Cafe — who took the time to take Bratton under her wing.

“I became her sous chef while in cooking school,” Bratton said. “Katie and her mother were really driving forces in my style. It’s all about sourcing locally where you can and using fresh ingredients.”

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That is the key at Taco Mama. Everything from the flour tortillas to the enchilada sauce is made in house and from scratch. Even the cheese dip is more than melted, processed cheese, a wonderful concoction that delivers a delicious kick.

“We’re not opening cans,” Bratton said.

Bratton brought both her culinary upbringing and her childhood roots to the forefront at Taco Mama.

“Some people say the food we serve isn’t authentic Mexican,” she said, “but I grew up in a border town. I spent my childhood eating barbacoa, tripe and fajita meat. I wanted to make that more accessible to everyone.”

The Malvern Avenue location quickly became a destination for locals and visitors alike, who clamored to the unique space with its lovely spacious bar and ample seating both inside and out. The patio is dog-friendly, a plus for those visiting but also for those who swear by taking Fido along in their hometown.

The inviting and airy space feels as intriguing as stepping into a Frida Kahlo painting.

Staff are friendly and quick to answer questions about the expansive and eclectic menu.

Start with the familiar queso or perhaps the less-obvious waffle fries served with chipotle crema and cotija cheese.

From there, diners can choose from nachos, quesadillas, burritos and tortas, but locals and regulars know to make sure to get a taco or three. The puffy tacos are a house favorite and include two hand-pressed puffy tacos with a choice of filling. All the usual fillings are there, as well as some unexpected versions featuring crispy cauliflower or fried avocado. These beauties come with cabbage, pico, cilantro and onion and are topped with Jack cheese and chipotleavocado-crema drizzle.

The brisket is also definitely worth a try.

“I’m from Texas, so of course we smoke our brisket in house,” Bratton said.

Bratton is most proud of the sopes, and there is little wonder why: crisp outside and soft inside, it is almost impossible to eat just one.

“We make them with masa dough and pat them together into patties,” Bratton said. “Then we put them on the blacktop and cook them. We treat them almost like a pinch pot, and then we drop them in the fryer before adding beans and meat.”

For those looking for freshly delicious tacos and tasty Tex-Mex, come to Mama — Taco Mama.

"I wanted to create something beyond the typical Mexican restaurant," owner Diana Bratton said. Taco Mama's menus is as fresh and innovative as it is delicious.

Pro Tip:

Order the margarita.

Drink and enjoy. Repeat.

TACO MAMA 1209 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Friday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Closed Sundays 510 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Closed Saturday - Monday

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Superior Bathhouse Brewery

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here is always something brewin’ at Superior Bathhouse Brewery, an icon nestled on Bathhouse Row along Central Avenue. Superior is the only brewery located in a U.S. National Park, and as if that distinction was GO HERE FOR: not enough, Superior is also the only brewery in the entire world to utilize The novelty of exploring thermal spring water in its beer. The accolade-laden brews can be found on tap a craft beer menu that uses throughout Hot Springs and around the Natural State. thermal water from Hot Now 10 years old, Superior is continually celebrated as one of the premiere Springs National Park. locations to snag a craft beer in Spa City. Owner, brewer and founder Rose Schweikhart had her sights set on the location for years. She saw the historic bathhouse as an intriguing headquarters for a craft brewery.

“The crux of choosing Hot Springs as a location for a brewery is that we have thermal spring water you can drink here in the national park,” Schweikhart said. “I saw that as an opportunity. Plus, the historic bathhouse was available at the right time.”

The Superior Bathhouse operated as such until 1983, then sat empty for 30 years until Schweikhart breathed new life into it when she took over in 2013. The brewery offers a choice people-watching perch with large, old-school windows looking out over the strip. The brewery is dog-friendly both inside and on the relatively new patio.

“We built the patio over a year ago,” Schweikhart said. “When the weather is gorgeous, it offers the best view of the historic Arlington Hotel, which they’re currently renovating.”

Part of the fun for Schweikhart is the creative expression the brewery offers.

“My favorite part about craft beer is how diverse it all is,” she said. “From the colors to the flavors, it’s all such a creative process. We have 18 taps, and we love to experiment and produce whatever our whim at the time might happen to be.”

Pair a favorite beer selection The creativity does not stop at beer production but extends fully into the naming process. with one of the brewery's “Sometimes naming the beer is the hardest part,” Schweikhart said. “We love coming up with a good pun or a movie/cultural reference. If a patron comes in and notices it and cracks a smile, we consider that success.” signature pretzels or The brewery extends beyond beer, offering a culinary menu that boasts a delicious Bavarian pretzel with acclaimed sausages.

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beer cheese, plus bone-in wings and several dressed French fry options ranging from steak and buffalo chicken to reuben and veggie concoctions.

At some breweries, the food is merely an afterthought, but not at Superior, where as much thought and care go into such items as the popular sweet-potato salad and highly recommended brieLT. Vegetarian and gluten-free options abound, and there is even a mini-menu for four-legged diners.

“We’re a brewery, but we love being able to offer a robust menu for our patrons. We try to highlight and complement the beer in our menu,” Schweikhart said.

As far as the beer goes, there is something for everyone, even for those who do not know it yet.

“If you’ve not tried a lot of craft beer before, order a flight or one of our ‘beer baths,’” Schweikhart said. The flight offers an opportunity to try four different 4-ounce pours, whereas the beer bath splays out the entire 18 offerings on tap in 4-ounce increments.

“You probably won’t like all of them,” Schweikhart said, “but you’ll get a good introduction to what we have, from light to dark, hoppy and mild — there’s something in there for everyone.”

Pro Tip: Order the beer bath, pair with the latest food special, and share with a friend.

Enjoy.

SUPERIOR BATHHOUSE BREWERY 329 Central Ave., Hot Springs Monday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Tuesdays 29

aymag.com

Delicious Southern favorites elevated to high art is the calling card for DONS Southern Social.

Dons Southern Social

W

ell-known for his delicious breakfast/brunch work at Best Cafe and Bar on Ouachita Avenue, Chef Joshua Garland always wanted to open a dinner restaurant. Enter DONS Southern Social, so named after the “Doing Overtime No Sleeping” vibe that describes the schedule for those in the food industry, chefs and cooks especially.

Garland never doubted Hot Springs as a location for his next culinary venture.

“There’s a lot of potential here as far as the history and buildings,” he said. “I want to be part of revamping the area.”

So began Garland’s culinary journey that allowed him to create from his Southern food and Arkansas beginnings.

“Arkansas will always have my roots,” he said. “I’m from Arkansas, and my mother used to cook all the time. There was always a lot of Southern food.”

The menu at DONS, however, is an ode to the inspiration Garland has experienced throughout his lifetime.

“The menu at DONS came from traveling around the world and working with different chefs over the last 10, 11 years,” he said. “My mother used to cook GO HERE FOR: with more of a homestyle vibe. I’ve always wanted to bring my techniques to Ambience, mystique and Southern cuisine and elevate it a little bit. Just make it fun and creative and Southern-fusion fare unlike provide different takes on what people are used to as far as Southern dishes.” any other in the The restaurant’s much-anticipated opening took the city by storm last Natural State. summer. The former home of an architecture firm, the building underwent a major transformation to embrace the vision for DONS. The expansive restaurant is fully equipped with a main dining area, a bar and a private dining room

30

and features a speakeasy in the basement.

“It’s a beautiful two-story space,” Garland said. “The kitchen and dining room are about evenly split or nearly the same size. We planned it that way so that the kitchen is never overwhelmed. We can only seat 69 people at one time, but we did it that way to avoid complete and total chaos.”

The menu is expansive, offering up elevated Southern fare.

Deviled eggs arrive with steamed egg whites, yolk mouse, crispy alligator, truffles and hot sauce. Biscuits are served honeyglazed alongside a caramel butter candle, which can be burned to melt the butter before it meets the biscuit. The menu is everchanging as Garland and team continue to hatch creative takes on familiar favorites.

“We like to keep it fresh and updated. It ensures that we keep the creativity alive and well in the kitchen,” Garland said.

The DONS interior is cozy and intimate, a space where food and drinks are not just elements of the dining experience but pieces that complete the atmosphere.

“We built the space out the way we did to be able to control it and give out quality food. It’s a lot more intimate,” Garland said.

Nothing screams Hot Springs like a speakeasy, given the city’s gangster-addled history. Hot Springs was a favorite vacation haunt of the big names of the underworld, including Al Capone in the 1920s, when gambling, alcohol and debauchery

Pro Tip: Learn the updated password for the speakeasy.

Know it, star it, love it.

DONS delicious appetizers, main dishes and cocktails make for a memorable evening out.

were for the asking. Those who have made the trek to DONS not only rave about the food, but rave about the drinks and the hush-hush speakeasy.

“The speakeasy aspect came from a restaurant that I went to in Boston that inspired me,” Garland said. “You walk down the alley, and you feel like you’re in a salon, and there’s a lady at the front desk that greets you and lets you into the actual restaurant.”

The speakeasy is only accessible via password and hidden entrances. Without ruining the surprises entirely, look for a phone booth and keep sharp eyes open.

31

DONS SOUTHERN SOCIAL 901 Central Ave., Hot Springs Monday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday: 5 p.m. to 10 pm.

Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays aymag.com

J&S Italian Villa J

&S Italian Villa is a hidden gem tucked away in a strip mall and with an unassuming front.

However, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and when diners enter, they are met with a stylish atmosphere accompanied by delectable Italian fare.

Saddiq Mir and his wife, Jeannie, opened the place 18 months ago, convinced there was room in Hot Springs for an upscale, impeccable restaurant and were immediately proven right by an outpouring of guests who have quickly become raving fans of the spot.

“When we moved to Hot Springs, the local community welcomed us here, and when we opened the restaurant, they supported us tremendously,” Saddiq said, “and they come back and back again, and they bring their friends, including their friends from out of town — Mississippi, New Orleans, Dallas.

“My wife and I love serving people, and we’ve created a place that has a relaxing and fun atmosphere with staff who are friendly and welcoming.

We seek to create memorable experiences for our guests every time.”

The food is delicious, offering some of the best Italian eats in all of Hot Springs. While the destination is excellent for a date night, it is a GO HERE FOR: good place to bring the family, as well. This is the kind of place that The chef’s survives and thrives through the grandmother’s lasagna and tiramisu.

“We are elevating the game, the dining experience in Hot Springs,” said Saddiq Mir. He and his wife, Jeannie, are happy to welcome guests for elegant, refined fare.

32

grapevine via word-of-mouth recommendations.

J&S Italian Villa is nothing short of a foodie’s haven, offering impeccable service and even an audience with Saddiq himself when he makes the rounds in the dining room to check on diners’ experiences.

“I’ve been in the restaurant and hospitality business for 30 years, during which time I have lived and worked in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Dallas,” Saddiq said. “We came to Hot Springs about three years ago with Oaklawn’s report, and we helped open the Bugler and some of the bars there.

“The longer we were in Hot Springs, the more convinced my wife and I became that the city needed something upscale. We’d fallen in love with the city by that point, and we opened J&S Italian Villa.”

The menu hearkens to coastal Italy, and the pasta, sauces and desserts are made in house from scratch. Saddiq said some of the clientele’s favorites include a unique grilled Caesar salad for a starter and appetizers that include baked eggplant and crostini burrata. Recommended entrees include seafood pasta in a choice of red or white sauce and short rib braised for hours for meltin-the-mouth tenderness.

Other favorites include lasagna made from an 85-year-old recipe of the chef ’s grandmother; herb-encrusted lamb chops and Chilean sea bass, among other signature dishes.

Saddiq also urges people to save room for dessert.

“We make a limoncello bundt cake in house that is incredible,” he said.

“We also have a fantastic chocolate lava cake, and our tiramisu is to die for.

We recently had some people here who were from Florence, Italy, who said ours was the best tiramisu [compared to that] they’d had anywhere in Italy.”

J&S Italian Villa fills a tasty niche in the local dining scenes and does it exceptionally well at prices that allow

people to return for special occasions and regular nights out alike. Saddiq said while people might expect to find a white-tablecloth Italian restaurant in the state’s larger cities, he is happy to be part of the thriving food scene in Spa City.

“We are elevating the game, the dining experience in Hot Springs,” he said. “We strive to provide the best of the best experience for our guests. We love to compete with Little Rock or northwest Arkansas or even Dallas, and I think we do that very well.”

J&S transforms land and sea proteins into works of art featuring the finest, freshest ingredients.

Pro Tip:

While not required, reservations are always a good idea, especially during racing season.

J & S ITALIAN VILLA 4332 Central Ave. B, Hot Springs Monday and Tuesday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Closed Wednesdays and Sundays 33

aymag.com

AY’s ARKANSAS

Hot Springs Feast Mont h Bucket List

PRESENTED BY Visit Hot Springs

l 420eats Food Truck Court

l Grateful Head Pizza

l SQZBX

l 501 Prime

l J&S Italian Villa

l Stubby’s BBQ Restaurant

l AI Sushi & Grill

l Kilwins

l Superior Bathhouse Brewery

l Back Porch Grill

l Kollective Coffee + Tea

l Taco Mama

l Best Cafe and Bar

l Kringles and Kones

l Taco Mama Side Town

l Brick House Grill

l Lost Creek Grill

l The Avenue Restaurant

l Bubba Brew’s Sports

l Mainline Sports Bar at Oaklawn

l Cafe 1217

l Mama’s Little Italy

l The Bugler at Oaklawn

cClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant lM

he Hungry Greek lT

ed Light Roastery & lR

he OAK room & lT

Pub & Grill

l Cafe Kahlo l Capo’s Tacos l Colorado Grill

Racing Casino Resort Italian Restaurant

Coffee House

l Copper Penny Pub

l Rock ‘N’ Roll Hibachi

l CRAZY Samurai

l Rocky’s Corner

l Deluca’s Pizzeria

l Rolando’s Restaurante

l Destiny’s Bakeshop

l Salsa’s Authentic Mexican

l Diablos Tacos & Mezcal l DONS Southern Social l Eden Restaurant at Hotel Hale l Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake

Shoppe

isherman’s Wharf lF

Restaurant & Cantina

l Santorini Greek Restaurant l Silks Bar and Grill at Oaklawn

Racing Casino Resort

l Smokin’ In Style BBQ

at the Waters Hotel

l The Blitzed Pig Bar & Grill

Racing Casino Resort

bar at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

l The Ohio Club l The Pancake Shop l The Pho House l The Porterhouse l The Rooftop Bar

at the Waters Hotel

l Vault l Via Roma Italian Restaurant

l Splash Wine Bar

Steak & Seafood

3C heck off the Hot Springs Bucket List as you visit a small sample of our favorite comfort food places.

ALL NOVEMBER LONG!

FIND DELICIOUS DEALS FROM HOT SPRINGS EATERIES AT HOTSPRINGS.ORG/FEASTMONTH/

food

Let's Eat! Hot Springs Feast Month spotlights Spa City cuisine

By DWAIN HEBDA

N

ovember is the month for food, and no place sets a better table than Arkansas. Whether taking in the tailgating before a big football game, frequenting one of the state’s many wonderful restaurants that suit any taste or saying grace over a table laden with heirloom family delicacies, there is no month better for digging in and enjoying than the next-to-last month of the year.

As if all that were not enough, Visit Hot Springs adds an entire section to the state’s menu of great food options with Feast Month, the third annual celebration of all things edible in Spa City. What a celebration it is, featuring an entire month of Hot Springs delicacies, from plate lunches to fine dining, steaks to pizza and pancakes to desserts.

“Food is always about comfort, especially during November, when we’re all thinking about all those comfort food options,” said Bill Solleder, director of marketing at Visit Hot Springs. “Feast Month has all of those things you’re used to, no matter where you’re from, but I would ask everyone to dig a little further. Find those restaurants that are unique not only to Arkansas, but to Hot Springs, and try them. I think people will be surprised at how much we offer.”

36

To help whet foodies’ appetites, Solleder recommended people visit the Feast Month website, hotsprings.org/feastmonth, to learn all about the promotion and view short videos spotlighting the city’s eclectic dining options.

“When the visitor is planning a trip to Hot Springs, they’re looking for three things: where am I going to stay, what am I going to do and where am I going to eat?” he said. “There’s so many dining options in Hot Springs that are so fantastic, we have visitors that plan their entire trip to Hot Springs just based around food.”

Hot Springs’ Feast Month ups the ante on showcasing local dining options by providing a month-long online survey on the website that lets foodies vote on their favorites in a number of food categories, as well as “foodiegrams” and usergenerated pictures and videos of guests’ dining experiences.

Diners are asked to tag their social media posts with #FeastMonth and #VisitHotSprings to show where and what they are eating.

Restaurants get in on the act during the celebration, by providing special deals and discounts which are also accessible via the website. To top everything off, Visit Hot Springs posts

2022

Visitors’ Choice Award Winners

Hot Springs Feast Month is all about discovering new things, but with so many dining options to choose from, it is also good to start out with the tried-and-true. Below are the eateries that were voted best in their category by diners during last year’s Feast Month. To vote for favorites in the 2023 competition, visit hotsprings.org/feastmonth.

BEST TACOS

BEST BREAKFAST

Capo's Tacos 200 Higdon Ferry Road

The Pancake Shop 216 Central Ave.

BEST STEAK

BEST ASIAN CUISINE

501 Prime 215 E. Grand Ave.

BEST BBQ

Smokin' In Style BBQ 2278 Albert Pike Road, Suite F

BEST BURGER Ohio Club 336 Central Ave.

BEST PIZZA

SQZBX 236 Ouachita Ave. segments of Feast Mode, a short video series the organization commissioned to help pique diners’ interest in the city’s food scene.

“As the foodie scene continues to grow in Hot Springs, more restaurants continue to open successfully,” Solleder said. “Maybe four or five years ago, we started working on the video series. There are three of them: Checking In, focusing on lodging; Check It Out, featuring attractions; and Feast Mode, featuring dining.

“Once a month we go in, we bring in a video crew, and we do a feature on one of our restaurants. After doing that every month for four or five years now, we’ve about featured every restaurant there is in Hot Springs.”

Combining the various elements of promotion, participation and outstanding food has quickly grown Feast Month into a favorite event on the local events calendar.

“Anyone involved in tourism is always trying to figure out how to keep the momentum going during the ‘shoulder seasons’ — in other words, spring, winter and fall,” Solleder said. “Feast Month was born out of us really wanting to give our restaurant partners some love. It wasn’t exactly a unique idea, as many destinations were doing restaurant weeks or food-truck festivals.

We just expanded it to be the whole month of November, which usually is a quieter month for us. I have to say though, the last couple years have not been as quiet. It’s been a very success-

The Pho House 608 E. Grand Ave.

BEST SOUTHERN-STYLE FOOD

BEST ITALIAN CUISINE

Mama Vee's Southern Homestyle Cuisine 420 Malvern Ave.

Via Roma Italian Restaurant 1521 Malvern Ave.

BEST VEGETARIAN

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Cafe 1217 1217 Malvern Ave., Suite B

Rock 'N' Roll Hibachi 420 Malvern Ave.

BEST SWEETS

Fat Bottomed Girl's Cupcake Shoppe 502 Central Ave., Hot Springs

ful promotion.”

The biggest reasons for Feast Month’s success are the number and variety of restaurants to be had in Spa City. Solleder said unlike some communities which are primarily known for one thing and where all other genres play second fiddle, Hot Springs is more of a smorgasbord in which different food categories jostle for top billing every year.

sort of Mexican taco joint. We have so many great taco joints like Taco Mama and Diablo’s and Don Juan’s.

“Then suddenly pizza sort of took over, with great pizza places opening up in the last few years like Grateful Head and SQZBX and Deluca’s, which, of course, has garnered national recognition. In fact, we’ve really become quite a pizza town, but there’s also the fine dining scene that’s always huge, especially lately with Oaklawn’s recent expansion and the news of Coy’s Steakhouse being resurrected in Hot Springs. We have to remember Hot Springs is a meat and potatoes town too, a steak town.”

Solleder said using the Feast Month website is a great way for foodies to discover something new around every corner of the city, but he also offered one bit of local knowledge that’s a pro tip for locals and visitors alike: “One piece I should mention that’s only happened in the last few years is the food-truck boom in Hot Springs,” he said. “We’re seeing food trucks pop up all over the place and move around.

There’s also this great food-truck court called 420eats that’s on Malvern Avenue, literally one block away from the convention center. They do a high-end, professional presentation of food trucks and have done that consistently for a few years now, offering a great variety. That’s one spot, personally, that I just love.”

“The biggest reasons for Feast

Month’s success are the number and variety of restaurants to be had in Spa City. Hot Springs is

more of a smorgasbord in which different food categories jostle for top billing every year.”

“I think it’s gone in waves,” he said. “There was a time when barbecue seemed to be what everyone was talking about, with longstanding restaurants like Stubby’s and McClard’s. Then it seemed like every new restaurant was some

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aymag.com

“Where Artistry Meets Functionality - Your Perfect Cabinets Await.”

CMP Specialties is a custom cabinet shop specializing in custom cabinetry, wood countertops, and entry doors. From new home construction to remodels, or even refacing, CMP Specialties is your place for quality, beautiful cabinetry built exactly to your specifications.

(501) 318-3925 38

Cool things in

A

Hot Springs

s Arkansas' resort city, Hot Springs has always given the people what they want. That tradition continues today with Spa City's everexpanding collection of things for visitors and locals alike to see, do and experience. From New York to Newport and Phoenix, to Piggott, guests are drawn to the lush scenery, peaceful trails, delicious food and vibrant nightlife that only Hot Springs National Park delivers.

For retail therapy, check out the eclectic shops offering one-of-a-kind items for the discriminating eye. Entertainment abounds, from galleries and murals to music of all descriptions pouring out of various venues nightly. For the sporty, outdoorsy type, the golf, water sports, biking and hiking in and around Hot Springs are unmatched anywhere. And of course, the round-the-clock excitement of Oaklawn Racing and Gaming is something not to be missed.

In between adventures, relax at one of the many spas around town or enjoy refreshments at a watering hole, brewery or restaurant of choice. Wherever one's tastes run, there is a diner, bistro, pizza parlor, rib shack, food truck, taco hut or white-tablecloth dining room waiting to amaze the senses and delight the taste buds.

So whether traveling with the family, celebrating a girls weekend, experiencing a community festival or stealing some well-deserved time off for two, Hot Springs has the cure for what ails you. Plan the next visit around the following merchants, and we'll see you in Spa City.

CAPO’S TACOS

Capo's Tacos strives to fuse oldschool Mexican traditions with a modern setting, vibrant music and lively atmosphere. Capo's brings the streets of Mexico guests know and love from vacations to the beautiful town of Hot Springs. The staff takes pride in various awards for best tacos and best margaritas in Hot Springs. Stop by or call and see what has the Spa City buzzing!

BEST CAFE AND BAR

Nestled in the historic and recently renovated Best Court in Hot Springs, Best Cafe is proud to offer traditional breakfast options with a bold and new taste. Owned and operated by Chef Joshua Garland, Best Cafe welcomes its guests in a vintage and cozy atmosphere partnered with handcrafted cocktails. The menu at Best Cafe changes seasonally and has a recently released a fall/winter menu. For guests to best enjoy breakfast without long wait times, it is recommended to join Best Cafe for breakfast as early as possible.

632 Ouachita Ave. 870-474-6350 bestcafe@donsmanagement.com

Capos Tacos

DONS SOUTHERN SOCIAL

After months of waiting and much mystique, DONS Southern Social is now open to the public and open for reservations. Chef Joshua Garland is proud to offer a dinner dining option in Hot Springs that evokes traditional Southern charm and has an elevated dining concept. With passcodes and secret entrances, guests are highly encouraged to make reservations to enjoy the full experience of the speakeasy concept. Garland continues his custom of introducing well-known dishes in a new and exciting way, including an open kitchen concept with a glance in the kitchen not seen before in Hot Springs. DONS hopes to see readers soon for dinner.

901 Central Ave. 501-359-3781 SeeYouAtDONS@donsmanagement.com

@capos.tacos

200 Higdon Ferry Road 501-623-8226 capostacoshs.com

JACOB FLORES Former American Idol contestant and Hot Springs' own Jacob Flores is an award-winning one-man band. His music features innovative live looping and an extremely diverse repertoire that spans multiple genres, including both American and Latin American styles. Flores has been voted the Sentinel-Record Readers Choice "Best Local Performer" five years in a row. Visitors and locals of Hot Springs can find Flores performing throughout the city seven nights a week, including during Sunday brunch at the historic Arlington Hotel. Visit jacobfloresmusic.com for more information on future performances.

"I've got to say that I've never heard another artist from Arkansas that sounds quite like Jacob Flores..."

TACO MAMA Taco Mama takes pride in its freshly prepared, award-winning, fromscratch classic Mexican food. Chef Diana Bratton and her husband, Shane, opened Taco Mama in 2009, and the restaurant has been nothing but a success since.

Taco Mama is also vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. The restaurant also offers food-truck services for private events, as well as catering — and the menu is not just limited to Mexican food, thanks to Chef Bratton's 36 years in the industry.

Enjoy a margarita and delicious food indoors or out on the dog-friendly patio. Staff invite readers to come taste the difference.

1209 Malvern Ave. / 510 Ouachita Ave. 501-624-6262 tacomama.net

— Arkansas Roots, KASU 91.9 FM

J&S ITALIAN VILLA

Buona Sera!

Jeannie and Saddiq Mir are the new owners of the remodeled, fun and trendy J&S Italian Villa Restaurant in Hot Springs.

Dine with us and experience fine Italian cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, impeccable service and live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in the J&S Lounge.

The restaurant offers monthly wine-paring dinners, outside catering, a holiday menu-to-go and kitchen parties, as well as hosting special events in the restaurant's Red Room.

JandSItalian • 4332 Central Ave. B • 501-525-1121 • jandsitalian.com

TacoMamaHotSprings

BLACK RIBBON BOOKS Black Ribbon Books is a women-owned independent bookstore in downtown Hot Springs, located in the lower shopping level of the historic Arlington Hotel on Central Avenue. The shop carries both new and used adult, young adult and children's books, as well as locally made gift items. Come by and add some books to any to-be-read stack. Follow the shop on Instagram and Facebook at Black Ribbon Books, and shop on the website at blackribbonbooks.com.

239 Central Ave. 501-538-5797

THE OHIO CLUB:

ARKANSAS’ OLDEST BAR

Black-Ribbon-Books

For more than 100 years, the Ohio Club has been the place to be. It all started in 1905 as a bar and casino.

The Ohio Club has been a stop-off place for many gangsters, including Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Bugs Moran and Lucky Luciano, as well as many Major League Baseball players. Babe Ruth was the most famous to visit.

The Ohio Club was also a place of live music where Mae West performed in the mid-30s, and today, jazz and blues artists performing each week from Thursday to Sunday night. Each visitor helps keep the Ohio Club alive.

336 Central Ave. 501-627-0702 theohioclub.com

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ohio-club

OUACHITA BAR & GRILL Ouachita Bar & Grill is located on Central Avenue and is the gateway to downtown Hot Springs.

Serving up barbecue and burgers with flair, guests can try the award-winning brisket mac and cheese and locally famous banana pudding.

915 Central Ave. 501-359-3884

Ouachita Bar & Grill

COPPER PENNY PUB

SPLASH WINE BAR

Copper Penny Pub provides a traditional Irish pub experience in the heart of downtown Hot Springs. Here, guests can find a fun atmosphere, live music from Thursday to Saturday night, karaoke night every Wednesday and friendly locals. A love of Irish culture is evident in all aspects of the pub, which provides a fabulous place to have a couple of drinks, meet new people and relax with friends. Good food, cold beer and eight big screen TVs are highlights of the pub.

Located in a beautifully restored 1900's building in historic downtown Hot Springs, Splash Wine Bar provides a ritzy yet warm and inviting atmosphere.

With more than 100 wines and a full variety of cocktails, beer and appetizers to choose from, guests are sure to find what the "Splash" is all about. It is a fitting place to enjoy the nightlife in Spa City!

711 Central Ave. 501-622-2570 • copper-penny-pub.com

325 Ouachita Ave. 501-701-4544 splashwinebar.com

CopperPennyPub

@splashwinebar

SUPERIOR BATHHOUSE BREWERY

MAXWELL BLADE THEATRE OF MAGIC

Experience the only brewery in a U.S. National Park and the only brewery in the world that turns thermal spring water into beer at Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Guests can enjoy 18 craft beers on tap made in the historic bathhouse, along with dining inside or outside on the patio.

Experience the No. 1 show in Hot Springs, the Maxwell Blade Show. Illusions, close-up magic, comedy and music abound. Maxwell is back in the newly renovated Malco Theatre, where he offers 90 minutes of spellbinding, fast-paced and breathtaking magic.

Guests can enjoy a drink at the lounge before or after the show. No trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the historic Malco Theatre in downtown Hot Springs to see the magic and comedy of Maxwell Blade.

Book tickets in advance at maxwellblade.com.

817 Central Ave. • 501-623-6200 maxwellbladetheatre

Splash-Wine-Bar

329 Central Ave. 501-624-2337 superiorbathhouse.com

@maxwellblade

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arts & culture

The

Magic Touch

Maxwell Blade thrills Hot Springs audiences

By JOHN CALLAHAN // Photos provided of GABBY BLADE

Hot Springs magician Maxwell Blade has a trick or two up his sleeve when it comes to entertaining audiences.

M

axwell Blade is many things — an illusionist, a musician, an Elton John enthusiast, a collector of oddities. In all of these things, he is an entertainer and still more besides. Based in Hot Springs’ Historic Malco Theatre, which he himself owns and renovated, Blade has mystified and amazed audiences for decades through misdirection, sleight of hand and good old-fashioned showmanship.

A native of Fort Smith, Blade’s love for the art of illusion began around age 12 while watching Mark Wilson, the first major television magician. Blade remembers the multiplying billiard ball trick as the first trick he ever saw, and he still performs his own version.

“When I saw that, I thought, man, I have to learn how to do this stuff,” Blade said. “I was just very intrigued by the world of magic and the art of it all. So I began to learn, and I performed magic all through my young adult life, but I really pursued the music business first. As soon as I graduated, I hit the road. I played [keyboard and vocals] for nine years in the ’80s in a band called Shark Avenue.”

When the members of Shark Avenue decided to go their separate ways, Blade went full steam ahead into the magic business. He put together his first magic show in 1993 and made his debut in 1994 at the King Opera House in Van Buren. It was about this time that the name “Maxwell Blade” actually came into the picture.

According to the man himself, Max Blade was the imaginary spy who he would pretend to be while playing make-believe as a child. He took it as a stage name while putting together his first magic show, and his manager from the agency he worked with suggested the current iteration as the ideal name for a magician.

The Maxwell Blade one sees on stage is, in some ways, almost as much of a make-believe character as the original spy from his childhood.

“I think onstage, I become more of a confident character than in

everyday life,” Blade said. “I command the audience; this is my stage and you’re here to see me, so let’s go have some fun. I can be one thing off-stage, but people know once I get on that stage, I’m a little bit different.

You have to captivate an audience. You have to own the room, but I’m by no means arrogant, which is sometimes the consensus when people have never met me.

“I’m blessed to be able to do this, and I’ve been very fortunate in this deal, but I think anyone who’s a stage performer changes once they’re on stage and the lights and the sounds come on. It’s just a different feeling. You become this bold, confident character, this ‘super-you,’ and of course, the longer you’re in this business, the more confidence you get because doing the tricks is sort of second nature for me by now.”

Blade described his first show as a goodbye to his mother, who was dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease. The show sold out through the weekend, and his mother died a week later. Following that bittersweet success, the show traveled across the southwest, performing in clubs, restaurants and small theaters.

“I don’t do anything small,” Blade said. “I never really have done things on a small scale.

So as the show progressed, it became larger

The transformation of the Historic Malco Theatre has been one of Blade's greatest tricks to date.

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until we decided to start looking for a place to put a permanent show. We visited a few cities, and my wife at the time, her parents lived in Hot Springs. So we hung out for a few days and actually watched a film here in the Malco Theatre. I think it was part of the Documentary Film Festival. I thought, we’re going to have this theater right here — this is the one.

“How we made that happen is sort of a miracle in itself. We didn’t have a ton of money, but we sold our home and moved here. I had about $10,000, and we struck a deal with the film-festival folks and the owner of the building in 1996.”

Blade performed at the Historic Malco

Theatre for 12 years before he was forced to leave the building in 2008 and downsize, building a smaller theater further down Central Avenue. In hindsight, he said, this may have been a blessing in disguise.

Not only would maintaining the revenue needed for the theater have been unrealistic given the economic crisis, but a smaller, more intimate theater forced him to abandon some of the things Blade had previously relied on, such as live animals, large set pieces and assistants, to instead do a one-man show.

In their place, he had to further develop his character and lean into comedy, which has remained an essential part of his act.

Blade performed at the smaller theater for

You become this bold, confident character, this ‘superyou,’ and of course, the longer you’re in this business, the more confidence you get because doing the tricks is sort of second nature for me by now.

“

10 years before he was able to return to the Malco in 2018 and give it a significant renovation, making him one of just a handful of magicians in the world who owns his own theater.

The Malco itself deserves some background, being no less storied or interesting than the man who now owns it. Built on the foundation of the Princess Theatre, which was destroyed by a fire in 1935, the art-deco building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was frequented by future President Bill Clinton during his youth, and during the Cold War, the building’s 14-inchthick concrete walls and thick steel-beam construction led to the theater being declared a bomb shelter in case of nuclear attack.

Perhaps the structure’s most notable historic feature is that it has one of only two preserved black-only theater entrances in North America, left as a reminder and proof of the state’s segregated past.

Being not only a magician and a musician, but also having a background in construction, Blade handled much of the Malco’s renovations himself.

“The restoration took 14 months, which is four months longer than what I anticipated,” Blade said. “We actually started the construction without a full set of plans. We had enough planning where we knew what we needed, but a lot of decisions were made spur-of-the-moment on the spot. It was a big undertaking, and we received a couple of awards around the state for what we’ve done.

This will be here long, long after I’m gone, and I’m proud to have my name attached to it in some way.”

Seating 290, the main auditorium hosts audiences year-round and on all holidays.

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Blade is one of the few magicians in the world who owns his own theater.

Cutline: Et autas quae posam nulless The main theater area of the Malco seats 290, while a smaller parlor theater seats 50. The building also includes a lounge and bar area, and Blade’s personal collection of oddities. Some of his favorite items on display are mutated animals such as a two-snouted calf, which has two mouths, two noses and three eyes, and a two-headed pig with five legs.

The upper floors of the Malco, which were once home to a bordello hotel and a radio station, remain unused and have become a popular destination for ghost hunters.

During peak times in the summer, Blade performs shows four to six nights a week. Though he cuts back to weekends-only during the fall, the constant stream of tourists to Hot Springs makes it worthwhile to keep the show running year-round, and he performs on every holiday.

“There’s always something going on in Hot Springs, be it festivals or whatever else. There’s plenty of things to do that attract people, so we just go with the flow,” he said. “The theater’s not always full, I can tell you that. It’s not always 300 people. There’s many nights I may have 60 to 100 people, but it’s always fun. Sometimes they can be more lively than a sold-out crowd.”

The show itself is many different things, and music, comedy and audience participation are just as important to the experience as sleight of hand and misdirection. Blade’s fingers can play a piano just as well as they can draw a card from thin air, and audience members can expect to hear him perform songs by his greatest idol, Elton John.

“People claim I’m obsessed with Elton John. Maybe I am a little bit,” Blade said. “I’ve loved him since I was about 10, when I first heard ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ on the radio. I’ve made it on stage with him three times just by being in the right place at the right time. He’s a musical genius. When you hear a song from Elton John, you can go

back in time and remember that era. He’s a good human being and a great songwriter.”

All that being said, magic and illusion are the stars of the show, and Blade has plenty of tricks up his proverbial (and literal) sleeves.

With decades of experience in on-stage magic, a viewer can do their very best to see through the misdirection and still have no clue how the deed is done. At times, one might even think they’ve figured it out, only to have the next stage of the trick prove them wrong.

“I just love the art of magic,” Blade said. “I like what it does to your brain. It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 or 90, people of all ages come to enjoy the show, and I just love to perform it. I’ve never had a moment on stage where I wanted to be somewhere else. It’s never boring for me. There’s no barrier of language either; I’ve done shows in other countries where I don’t speak the language.

“It’s a very unique way of entertaining people. People know it’s not real, but I make it look real. That’s why they come to see me. There’s a cognitive disconnect in your brain when you see a trick. Some part of your mind says, ‘No way. This can’t be happening,’ because we’re conditioned to believe that if I put something here, it’s going to be there.

When it’s not there, that brings the impossible into being possible.”

The world of magic has changed a great deal since Blade learned his first tricks. Where major productions, television and Las Vegas shows by figures like David Copperfield were once the name of the game in magic, street magicians and the internet changed everything. Everyone has heard the old maxim that a good magician never reveals his secrets, but that is exactly what many of these new magicians did. Many thought it would be detrimental to the art, yet that has not been the case.

“With the use of the internet, we can promote. We can get ideas.

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The Malco Lounge was built by Blade using reclaimed materials from the renovation.

I just love the art of magic. I like what it does to your brain. It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 or 90, people of all ages come to enjoy the show, and I just love to perform it.

“

It’s brought people back into the theaters, and I think magic is meant to be seen live,” Blade said.

Though “Maxwell Blade” is the name on the marquee, he is eager to share the credit and give others their moment in the spotlight, ending his shows with a shout out to the cast and crew who make it all possible. The show has become something of a family business: his oldest daughter, Courtney, is vice president of the corporation and handles ticket sales, payroll and other essential operations. His middle daughter, Lexi, deals with inventory and auditing, and his youngest daughter, Gabby, does photography, printing and photos.

Blade also frequently welcomes guest performers, either as part of the main show or to perform on their own. One repeated guest is ROKAS, a Lithuanian magician that Blade brought to America at the age of 16. Now a professional magician in his own right, ROKAS holds multiple Guinness World Records for card throwing, has performed in numerous countries and is even the host of Lithuanian television singing competition, I Can See Your Voice.

“I’m very blessed and fortunate to be in this business and have people come year after year,” Blade said. “We appreciate every customer that ever comes to that door more than they probably know. I hope to keep doing this for a long, long time. We’re here, we’re happy, and we invite people to come over and bring their family. I promise you, you’ll have a good time.”

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recipe

Tout de Suite

Say "Oui" to this quick, simple and oh-so-satisfying French toast casserole.

T

he coziest season of the year has arrived, and what better way to enjoy this season than with a delicious breakfast dish that combines the hearty goodness of French toast with the unique taste of pumpkin? This pumpkin spice French toast casserole not only feeds a crowd, but it is sure to become a staple in any autumn breakfast lineup.

This tasty pumpkin spice French toast casserole is made with thick slices of bread that are soaked in a mixture of eggs, milk, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. The bread is layered in a baking dish and topped with a crunchy streusel made with brown sugar, flour and butter.

Whether one is hosting a fall-themed brunch or are planning a cozy family breakfast on a chilly morning, this casserole is a must-try recipe.

By AMY GRAMLICH // Photos by AMY GRAMLICH

A breakfast casserole fit for fall When the air turns crisp, fall is the season that brings a host of pumpkin-flavored treats to the table. From pumpkin spice lattes to creamy pumpkin pies and pumpkin soup, pumpkin has become synonymous with autumn.

Since pumpkins are harvested in the fall, they are a natural choice for autumn cooking. They are also rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, potassium and fiber, which makes the gourds a healthy addition to most any recipe. This pumpkin spice casserole evokes feelings of warmth and comfort befitting the season.

The ease of French toast casseroles While French toast is a classic breakfast dish that is beloved by many, individual French toast preparation can be a timeconsuming affair. French toast casseroles have risen in popularity in recent years. The beauty of the casserole form is that all the ingredients are combined into one baking dish. Rather than standing over the stove for a repetition of steps, one can prepare everything at once and simply pop the dish into the oven.

INGREDIENTS French Toast Layer 1 loaf white bread (stale) 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup pumpkin puree 5 eggs 1/4 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Streusel Crumble Topping 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS • Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Cut or tear the loaf of bread into small cubes.

Place the bread in a large mixing bowl.

• For the streusel topping, stir together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar and teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice in a clean mixing bowl. Then stir in the melted butter.

Toppings for pumpkin French toast casserole Perhaps one of the best things about pumpkin spice French toast casserole is the variety of possibilities when it comes to toppings. Whether one prefers something sweet or savory, there are plenty of directions to take this easy breakfast entree.

Sweet toppings For a classic breakfast experience, top the casserole with warm maple syrup and a scoop of whipped cream. A drizzle of melted chocolate or a dusting of powdered sugar will amp the sweetness. Additionally, one can also add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for the additional warmth of spices.

For a fruity twist, top the casserole with caramelized apples or pears for an interesting pumpkin-fruit explosion. Dried cranberries or raisins are also preferred fruit options for pumpkin.

Savory toppings For savory French toast casserole, add some crumbled bacon or browned sausage and a sprinkle of cheese. A more adventurous option is cayenne pepper or chilies, while a more traditional savory addition includes pecans or walnuts.

No additional toppings For a simple pumpkin spice French toast casserole, leave the casserole as it is with no additional toppings. This will allow for a true focus on the pumpkin and streusel flavors of the dish.

Expert tips 1. Use thick slices of bread, such as French, brioche or challah. One might even choose to use a thick raisin bread.

This will allow the casserole to hold its structure without becoming overly soggy.

2. To make the casserole ahead of time, prepare the breadand-pumpkin mixture and the streusel topping the night before and store them separately in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply top the casserole with the streusel topping and bake as directed.

3. I f preparing the casserole in the morning, allow 20 to 30 minutes for the bread to soak in the pumpkin mixture to ensure that the flavors are fully absorbed. To save time, prepare the streusel topping while the pumpkin and bread fuse together.

With its warm and comforting flavors and easy preparation, this pumpkin spice French toast casserole is a dish that is sure to delight any fall crowd.

• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, tablespoon of pumpkin spice and vanilla extract.

• Pour the pumpkin mixture over the bread and gently stir to make sure that the bread is evenly coated.

• Preheat the oven to 350 F while the pumpkin and bread mingle together.

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• Pour the mixture into the baking dish.

• Sprinkle and crumble the streusel topping all over top of the casserole. Cover the pan with tin foil, and place in the oven for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer.

• Serve with toppings of choice.

Serves 8. aymag.com

people

Yes,

!

Chef Jennifer Maune dishes on MasterChef, risotto and where she goes from here

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

“Hey, JENNIFER!”

The voice cut through the din of the dining room and settled over the open kitchen like a fog. The voice was hoarse and harsh and British, the unmistakable dinner-rush snarl of international food mogul Gordon Ramsay.

“Are you OK? How do you burn risotto in the first minute?” Ramsay roared in the direction of Little Rock’s Jennifer Maune, one of six chefs tasked with preparing dinner service in Ramsay’s swank Hell’s Kitchen restaurant in southern California.

“I need the risotto!” Ramsay roared. “I’m DYING HERE!” For months, Maune had been solid to stellar through Ramsay’s various challenges on FOX’s MasterChef: United Tastes of America, with only a couple of flirtations with weekly elimination. She had also avoided the drama typical of the show’s previous seasons, deftly skirting vendettas and one-on-one bickering by casting herself as the motherly Southerner: gracious and supportive, comforting to those bounced from the competition each week, yet with a steely resilience and resolve to win, a wolf in red velvet clothing.

Now, 17 episodes into Season 13 of the hit television cooking competition, Maune’s fate hung on a searing panful of Italian rice. Worse, she was getting verbally blasted by one of the most infamous tempers in the food world, before millions of people no less.

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“MasterChef was, like, the greatest joy and high in life professionally and the single hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

To be blunt, she didn't like it. Not. One. Bit. “I had two main emotions during the Hell’s Kitchen takeover,” she said. “One, it was exhilarating to me because that was the first time working on the line in a kitchen, and I loved it. I really did. I loved every minute of it. I want to open a restaurant. That’s the path I want to follow, so it was needed experience for me for my future.

“Secondly, Gordon was so brutal. I just have never experienced anything like that before and probably don’t care to again.

Out of all the challenges, that was probably the one where I got a little annoyed. Gordon certainly became a mentor to me, and I genuinely am very fond of him as a person, but that particular challenge was a little much for me because he was ruthless.”

As anyone who watched the series knows, Maune rallied to make it through the challenge and then some, advancing to the final three competing for a $250,000 first prize, a cookbook deal and the right to brand oneself after one of the most popular reality food programs on television.

Although she did not win — a decision that regular viewers will debate for some time — the conclusion of the show allowed her to finally speak at length about the experience, the toll it took and the opportunities it has brought since the style influencer and mother of six has returned home to Arkansas.

“Eight weeks; it was tough,” she said. “There were a couple times I almost threw in the towel and just said, ‘I need to be at home.’ My husband and the kids all rallied me and said, ‘Mom, we’re fine. You chase after your dreams. Don’t come home. We want you to win this thing.’ So every time I would feel like I needed to come home, they would encourage me to stay. Of course, it had a pretty happy ending.”

Maune granted AY About You a rare firsthand look behind the scenes of MasterChef: United Tastes of America, described what it was like to stare down Ramsay and the other judges — restaurateur Joe Bastianich and Chef Aarón Sánchez — and discussed what lay ahead for Little Rock’s newest star.

AY ABOUT YOU: This season was unique from previous ones in that the first part of the season featured regional teams battling before everything went head-to-head. Was it what you expected?

JENNIFER MAUNE: It didn’t really matter to me at all how it started, but we did not know ahead of time that they had divided [contestants] into regions. I don’t think it was clear until we walked onto the set and did the intro where the theme was United Tastes of America, so we didn’t realize until that day that 40 of us who’d been chosen would be fighting for five aprons just to make a regional team.

As we got into the competition, I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen the regional format. I’d much preferred to have gone against all of the other contestants. The South region was so strong that even when I was at the bottom for the chicken challenge, my dish was likely better than others across the kitchen, but because of the format, one dish had to be the top and one had to be the bottom for each region.

Another example is the cake challenge. My cake, hands down, was better than anyone else on that stage but my teammate Kolby Chandler, and had it been a top three out of the entire room, I would have been called up and everyone would have seen how I could build a perfect cake.

the one everyone hated, and he seemed to mellow over time. Was that building the character in a certain way? He started off insufferable, and people seemed to like him in the end.

MAUNE: He was definitely the villain of the season, and he carried that over behind the scenes of the show, especially toward the end, when he was really focused on trying to get to the finale. There were a few people that probably took on that attitude from the beginning — certainly not the majority of us because we all enjoyed each other.

What we’ve heard from wranglers — the staff that manages us outside of the filming and production staff — is that our cast got along so much better than they have in the past.

At first, they didn’t even want us clapping for the other regions, and I was just like, ‘That’s just not me. I love this person.

They’re doing well. I’m going to clap. I’m going to be happy for them.’

Kennedy [Grace] and Grant [Gillon], who were in the finale with me, we had a great relationship. I prayed with them before each challenge started. They respected me for my faith, and I had a lot of respect for them for that. It was sort of a beautiful thing that I think they weren’t used to.

AY: The whole premise of the show was to cross over from cook to chef, and it was hard to envision some of the contestants doing that. You yourself were in a gray area until you did that red pasta. Was that a particular turning point for you?

MAUNE: It was because most of the challenges we had prior to that were stadium food or state fair food or cooking with an MRE or cooking for firefighters or cooking for kids on a baseball field.

I never had full rein of this type of elevated food that I’m capable of and that I also enjoy making. I make pasta — not on a regular basis, and I’m certainly not an expert — but since I had the knowledge, this challenge gave me the opportunity to finally create something I felt represented me.

Talking about editing, I couldn’t believe they didn’t show this, but when I took the dish up there, Gordon said, ‘Let’s get the elephant out of the room.’ I thought, ‘That’s usually a bad sign,’ and he said, ‘This is absolutely gorgeous and belongs on the front of a food magazine,’ and they cut that part out! I’d been waiting all season for him to say something like that.

AY: When you were in the room, could you kind of gauge where your dish ranked, or were you really just on pins and needles over what the judges were thinking?

MAUNE: I certainly think there were hints along the way, just gauging their comments during the judging process, where you think, ‘This might be my day to either be up top or on bottom.’ Joe wasn’t aware that Arkansas is the rice state and we grow arborio rice here and there are dozens of Southern risotto recipes, so when he comes around, he’s like, ‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ I knew Jennifer Maune then that he was probably going to pick that apart. Sometimes it’s just too late to pivot. You’ve already gone down one path for too long.

AY: Every episode, they showed empty plates with five seconds left, and yet everything magically got plated. How much of the editing was spliced to create tension?

MAUNE: There is a ton that the viewers do not see that, really, I think would be so helpful if there was a way to showcase more of certain situations. It would give the viewer a better idea as to either who the cook is, who their character is, or the full picture of the dish and why it was at the top or bottom.

In the tag team challenge, my partner Charles [Calvino] actually had a panic attack. He stopped cooking, backed away from the stove. It was probably a five-minute ordeal where Gordon’s telling him to breathe and had his arm around him, and they didn’t show it. I’m sure it was a decision by the editors to not show a potentially embarrassing moment for Charles, which is fine, or it could be that they didn’t have time to show it, but had the viewers seen that, they might have understood more as to why the dishes looked like they did at the end.

AY: How have you grown as a chef through this experience?

MAUNE: I think overall the biggest thing I learned was I have this foundation, a cooking foundation. It was how to then take that knowledge and, especially on a whim, come up with a balanced, composed dish.

Being a baker and having started in pastry arts, that’s all science, and it matters how much flour. It matters how much baking soda. Those things matter. Well, in cooking, a lot of times it’s just based off of taste and building flavor and heat. That’s one of the best things that Gordon imparted to me. He would say, ‘Jennifer, you start at the beginning with your onions and your garlic. When you’re making your sauces or doing your marinades for your protein, you start at the very beginning building that flavor.’ That was one takeaway.

The second would just be how to put quality ingredients together that make sense, that kind of tickle all the senses. You’ve got your spice and your heat and your sweet and your savory and textures. All of that makes

AY: This season had less back-biting and fewer villains than previous seasons. Wayne Lewis from Ohio started like he was going to be

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a difference for when someone is going to really enjoy and experience a meal. That’s the thing that I’m excited about focusing on here at home when I open my restaurant.

Maune made it to the final three on one of America’s most popular televised cooking competitions, and her journey is still not over.

AY: About that — that is just one opportunity that has come along very quickly for you. Where do you go from here?

The other thing I would love to do is open kind of a homestead/farm MAUNE: I can’t even tell you how things have exploded. It’s really just event venue where you can come and do lunch tours, and you can host unmanageable. events, weddings, celebrations, corporate events where I’m able to cook I have a seasoning brand, and it’s called Heritage Taste. It will be and give people tours of the property. That’s the other thing. We’re lookavailable on my website to ship. I’m going to start preorders now. ing for real estate options and planning how to move forward.

My cookbook will come in the fall of 2024. I’m doing a holiday cookbook where we’ll show inspiration on how to decorate your dining AY: It doesn’t sound like coming in second cut into your future opportable for various holidays and also sample menus and the recipes that go tunities any. along with that for all the major holidays.

MAUNE: Something Gordon and Aarón often told me throughout the I’ve signed with a talent agency out of L.A., and I have a publicist process: They’d pull me aside and say, ‘Jennifer, I’ve seen you grow with and a team of people who are all working to help me develop a concept your confidence. I see it. We all see it. The culinary team sees it. You can for my own show. That’s in the very early stages and would be on a major just take this and do whatever you want with it.’ network. That’s something fun that is looking really good which I hope Then Gordon said something to me that I haven’t said publicly out comes to fruition. of being respectful to the other finalists, but he pulled me aside when it The biggest thing for me is wanting to open my farm-to-table breakwas all over and said, ‘You were second runner-up, and it was just by the fast, brunch, lunch restaurant. I am looking at Benton and west Little smallest detail, but we all just feel you don’t need this. You’re going to Rock for locations and have some investors on board to help with both be a star regardless.’ Having them breathe such positivity and life into projects. My overall hope is that I can perfect the model here and then me and offer mentorship, it really helped me with my confidence level. open locations across the South and maybe even beyond. That’s a 5, 10MasterChef was, like, the greatest joy and high in life professionally year goal. and the single hardest thing I’ve ever done.

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travel

Great Scott

Central Arkansas’ next big thing lies on a bend in the road

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos By LORI SPARKMAN

“Literally, God put us at Marlsgate, and thank goodness we didn’t know everything we know now. It would have scared us to death.”

- Beau Talbot Martha Ellen and Beau Talbot first fell in love in high school, right down to attending senior prom together, shortly after which they took divergent paths in life. It was a next step not entirely of their own choosing.

“I was a long-haired rock-and-roll drummer living with my grandparents, a janitor at the co-op, and that wasn’t what her daddy wanted for his daughter,” Beau said. “When she left for college, he said, ‘You will not stay in touch with the Talbot boy.’ Back in 1976, there weren’t any cell phones, so she did not stay in touch with me and we went separate directions, never forgetting each other.”

Nearly four decades would elapse before fate brought them back into each other’s orbit, a chance meeting at a greasy spoon in their hometown of Stuttgart. He was dumbstruck.

She was to the point: four years single, she was not interested in any relationship beyond her business, her charity work and her horses. Naturally, by the end of that week, he had secured a date and, as he tells it, “I have not let her out of my sight since.”

Her daddy? He had come to like what the former undesirable had turned into — a successful banker and businessman who had struck up a lasting friendship with Jesus. Recently, Beau completed an odd job for his father-in-law, and when the elder asked what he owed him, Beau simply said, “Just let me stay married to your daughter,” to which the patriarch replied, “Well, you sure can’t bring her back.”

Some things take a little more time to ripen into what they were always meant to be.

Take, for instance, Marlsgate Plantation outside of Scott, a stunning structure that has long been a venue for wedding receptions, parties and other social gatherings, which the couple bought back in 2017. Everything about the place — from the decision to buy it to its utilization through the COVID-19 pandemic to its full-steam momentum today to the companion businesses that have followed — have come along not according to the Talbot’s time and planning, but to a grand design they see as preordained.

“We didn’t have a great vision or grand plan. We were initially happy to just step into what it was and do what it did,” said Martha Ellen. “It took on a life of its own from the very begin-

Southern charm meets bygone elegance at Marlsgate Plantation.

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ning, and we were very busy, which we felt like was a reinforcement that we were doing what we were supposed to be doing, where and when we were supposed to be doing it.”

As seasoned entrepreneurs who had always taken a hands-on approach to their businesses, the Talbots were not used to a series of happy accidents leading them to a venture like Marlsgate Plantation, let alone their subsequent holdings, the Curve Market and Scott Station restaurant. As they have walked, again and again the road has been paved, as Beau likes to say, until finally he stopped trying to explain it except in terms of Providence.

“She’s the planner, level-headed. I’m ADD, OCD, ABC,” he said with a chuckle. “The first months of our dating, we had been to Natchez, [Miss.], Jackson, [Miss.], Vicksburg, [Miss.], New Orleans, multiple times, trying to find something that worked. She’s an event planner, and I’m a chef. I’m an Arkansas-licensed contractor. We knew we could handle something. Literally, God put us at Marlsgate, and thank goodness we didn’t know everything we know now. It would have scared us to death.”

The resplendent Marlsgate was the center jewel of the Dortch Plantation, which came into being as an 1,800-acre present from local landowner Thomas Steele to William P. Dortch and Steele’s daughter Nettie on their wedding day in 1885. The property abutted existing Dortch family holdings in Lonoke County, which the family had moved to from Tennessee. Thomas and Nettie welcomed five sons, there and their success in managing the property led to replacing an earlier home with the Charles L. Thompson-designed Marlsgate, completed in 1904.

Per the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the structure was not only the primary residence for three generations of the Dortch family, but the center of the farming operation, which would grow to 7,000 acres and become home to about 100 tenant families by the time of William Dortch’s death in 1913. Farming operations would continue throughout most of the 20th century under the management of Dortch’s sons and grandsons.

The Talbots purchased the property from David Garner, whose family had lived there for more than 30 years prior.

Among the architectural elements of the 32-room, threestory mansion are brick Doric columns more than 40 feet in height, beveled glass windows, Carrara marble fireplaces, sliding oak doors and handcrafted woodwork throughout.

While the history of the property was not in question, the profitability of it as an event venue was very much so, especially when COVID began canceling weddings and group gatherings altogether. At least, that is how it would appear from the outside looking in; Martha Ellen said in the center of the storm, rays of light continued to find their way through.

“Just like every other thing that we’ve talked about, there was provision during that time, and not because we outthought it or outsmarted it,” she said. “During that time, we had the 1888 Carriage House in Marlsgate, which had been a gift shop for many, many years. It was kind of on the bottom of our list of things to get around to, but we started having very small private luncheons in there during COVID for two to 12 people. We would have two or three or four luncheons a week of people who trusted being with each other. They would come out and have private lunch and enjoy two or three or four hours of companionship.

“That replaced a significant portion of our operating money in a category that we had not invested in before that time, and by the time we came out of COVID, it was good, solid. We picked back up on entertaining and weddings and things like that.

We also did a lot of physical projects that were not as high on our list, but we had time to do them. It just was provision; it worked out the way it needed to work out.”

As time has gone by, the couple has augmented the mansion with other amenities that support their business. They are putting finishing touches on the first of four Airbnbs dubbed Marlsgate Farmstead and are well along on unit No. 2, both of which have already been rented in April for the eclipse and in May for a wedding party. A 1,200-plant blueberry patch is slated to go into the development, as well. Other attractions that are currently in play or soon to be at Marlsgate include cooking classes and a forthcoming academy that will teach etiquette to people ranging from students in grade school to adult professionals.

If all of that investment seems like overkill for a community that is barely a speck on the map, the Talbots merely point to the numbers that prove the concept. Social media has been an apt accelerant.

“Everything that people said would take years to come back if it ever did, we brought back in weeks and months,” Beau said. “Marketing needed to come into the 21st century. Martha Ellen is proficient at Facebook, the internet, all that, and it shows. Before COVID, we hosted 10,000 people in 20-something months of business, and we already have bookings well into 2024 for weddings.”

Meanwhile, the couple got another tap on the shoulder when the owner of Scott Station restaurant, about the only dining option for miles that direction outside of Little Rock, approached them, looking to get out of the restaurant business. Having seen what the community could generate internally, as well as how the restaurant drew from nearby populations centers, the Talbots eventually

took another leap of faith in 2022. They bought both the eatery and a greenhouse next door that they turned into Curve Market, which specializes in Arkansas-made gourmet foods, local produce, meats, honey and other merchandise.

“It wasn’t on our radar. We didn’t pursue it. The opportunity was placed in front of us,” Martha Ellen said. “All we ever said to each other was they’re not making highway anymore, this is it. Stuff doesn’t change hands out here very often, so we probably should do it.”

Given the highway view of Scott as little more than an unincorporated bend in the road, home to just 200 souls, with its best days are behind it, building such a portfolio seems incredibly risky. It is an assessment to which the Talbots each offer the kind of grin that comes from knowing something about a place that most do not take the time to learn.

“We’re only 14 minutes from Little Rock,” Beau said. “For decades, people drove for lunch to Cotham’s Mercantile and Cotham’s was farther than we are, and it’s burned down now. So we’re less distance than what we know people will drive.

“When we moved here, we thought Scott was 200-and-something people, but you get to the Arkansas River with some of these nicer homes, one area called Old River

and others called Upper and Lower Steel Bend, there are four or five thousand people out here, and they all consider Scott home, even though it’s not incorporated.”

Beyond the local residents, the Talbots have also sensed the desire for professionals in larger communities to have a rural area to come home to, a demographic that goes well beyond the retirement set.

“It’s funny because the wedding part of what we do, we have younger couples that spend a lot of time with us and spend a lot of time out there,” Martha Ellen said. “I can’t tell you how many of those couples have said ‘We’d like to move out here.

Is there something out here that you know of ?’

This realization led the couple to its latest and arguably most ambitious project yet, Still Water, a 37-acre development that, in the near future, will feature 30 to 60 garden homes, 30 to 40 large, upscale homes and one multi-family structure, as well as riverfront, trails and easy access to the highway.

“North Little Rock only has one way to go, and its industrial growth is going down [U.S.] Highway 70, which would lead you to believe there may be more residential opportunities this way,” Beau said.

“This is the only way it can go.”

Offering local produce and gourmet food items, the Curve Market is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

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The Curve Market, far left, and Scott Station restaurant round out the Talbot’s holdings in Scott.

“We both feed off each other with ideas. A lot of them are outside the box, which has helped us in a lot of different ways, and we get energy from each other in that way.”

breadth of the couple’s ventures. “At each step we just asked, ‘Well, what is needed?’ and we went from there.”

The couple’s regard for the community they have adopted as their own is a reflection of the love they share for each other. Martha Ellen described their partnership in life and in business as one of balance with just the right mix of commonality and contrast.

“Grown-up love, maturity and experience are beautiful things,” she said.

“We don’t take anything for granted; we absolutely have gratitude for where we are, and that starts with us being together every day. That would be the start of that.

“From there, we both feed off each other with ideas. A lot of them are outside the box, which has helped us in a lot of different ways, and we get energy from each other in that way. Then the actual roadmap after the idea is a dance that we do together. He has incredible skills, experience and background. He can fix anything, build anything, make anything. I have skills that are practical, in marketing and connections with people. I’m more the people-person. He’s more the creator, the fabricator. I think we do that dance together very, very well. We laugh a lot, and we have a good time.”

One story that always brings the couple a particularly hearty laugh was about a visitor to Marlsgate who looked Beau dead in the eye and said, “What makes you think you can do this?”

“We’re standing there on the grand staircase, and I said, ‘Ma’am, when God put us here 60-something years ago, it was as Jefferson Beauregard Talbot IV, and she’s Martha Ellen Smith Talbot,” he said. “My God, we deserve to be on a stairway like this!’”

- Martha Ellen Talbot In the midst of working their various business holdings, the couple has also tried to provide a lift to other would-be entrepreneurs. When several small businesses lost their co-op space in nearby Keo, the Talbots negotiated with the small-business owners to relocate to Scott, taking up residency in Scott Shops, which the Talbots built from the ground up. The couple has also been a driving force in the formation of a local group to produce events that further raise Scott’s profile. Thus far, that has included a benefit poker run and a Halloween promotion, and there is more in the works.

“It’s funny what the Lord will lead you to,” Beau said, as if realizing for the first time the depth and

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aymag.com

travel/neighborhoods

The third phase of construction wil be at Rock and 21st streets.

(Renderings provided by Taggart Architects)

Pettaway Getaway

By SARAH COLEMAN // Photos by CHRIS DAVIS

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E

ast of Main Street in downtown Little Rock lies a quaint area known as the Pettaway neighborhood. This neighborhood has seen recent growth not only with the addition of new commercial businesses, but with new developments, new residential builds, a booming square and empty lots being filled at an impressive rate.

The Pettaway neighborhood is a hidden gem often depicted as an extension of downtown because it is just a few blocks east of SoMa. As such, Pettaway has quickly become another example of smart deployment of multi-use developments, one of the biggest tools to modern-day revitalization.

Nestled in the heart of the neighborhood, Pettaway Square is home to several entrepreneurial efforts with more possibilities to come in the near future.

Developer Mike Orndorff is the visionary behind the square, and his construction company, Michael Orndorff Construction, has been responsible for not only the commercial growth, but also the residential growth in the neighborhood.

Home to several unique businesses, Pettaway Square houses Pettaway Coffee, Paper Hearts Bookstore, Blue Water Barber + Supply, L’Etoile Nail Salon, office space and the permanent spot for Smashed N’ Stacked, a food truck. Moody Brews is also located within the square and, with much anticipation, is expected to open in the near future.

Ordorff, who has lived in the Pettaway neighborhood for more than nine years now, originally started to develop the neighborhood residentially, working on various empty lots and lots in need of refurbishment.

“We did probably 50 houses over eight years before starting on the square,” Orndorff said. “Then we really got to work on creating this square, which I really had a plan for.”

Outside of bringing in renters and brick-andmortars, Orndorff has stayed focused on creating a walkable neighborhood with eco-conscious touches and a community-focused space. In walking around the neighborhood, it is not uncommon to see buildings lined with solar panels or residents using skateboards and bicycles as a means of transportation.

This initiative is intentional, and the neighborhood has drawn its focus to being as accessible as possible while reducing the empty parking lots that tend to come with commercial development.

Orndorff got his start in the construction business in the residential sector and built several homes in Benton before 2014. Since becoming heavily involved in developing Pettaway, he has been learning and expanding into the commercial side of the industry.

“Developing Pettaway has been a slow grind,” Orndorff said, explaining that he dealt with a major learning curve when it comes to the commercialplanning process.

The business spaces within Pettaway Square have been attainable and attractive to new business owners, as well as entrepreneurs looking to expand their ideas into a physical location. The storefronts inside the square range from 300 to 550 square feet, making business owners’ ideas even more reachable.

As a child, Orndorff collected several memories tied to being near a town square, which has translated into his excitement for Pettaway Square. Walk-

Top, from left: Michael Orndorff, Ne'Nita Clayborn, Sarah Shera, Jessica Domino and Charmaine CookJohnson pose at Pettaway Coffee. Below:Dillon Holder, left, and Sean Stillon are barbers at Blue Water Barber + Supply. Bottom: Holder gives a client a trim..

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aymag.com

The third phase of construction wil be at Rock and 21st streets.

(Renderings provided

by Taggart Architects)

able for residents, the square serves as a meeting place for both work and fun. It takes Orndorff less than 10 minutes to get to the square from his house, a luxury that is oftentimes overlooked by a society so dependent on cars.

“I loved growing up on the square. We worked on the square, we went to church on the square, and we could go to the grocery store or stop by the barber shop or candy store, all in one place,” Orndorff said. “Everything was on the square, and I just have so many fond memories of going there for all kinds of different occasions.”

While the concept is not a new initiative, it is certainly an idea that has helped further the revitalization of Pettaway.

“We had interest in this project from the beginning, so I felt really comfortable branching out of the residential sphere and into planning Pettaway Square. We knew from the beginning that there would be a coffee shop and a microbrewery, among other things, and we knew we would be able to get eight renters,” Orndorff said.

One of the first businesses to open at Pettaway Square was Paper Hearts Bookstore, which offers a thoughtfully curated selection of books in every genre. Owned solely by Beth Quarles, the bookshop was founded by her and Adrienne Autin, who both shared a passion for books and the role of literature in community engagement.

Quarles is a second grade teacher in addition to owning Paper Hearts, and with her background in education, she opened up a shop with a lot of intention behind her inspiration. Originally, Quarles operated Paper Hearts via pop-up shops, thinking the plan of opening a brick-and-mortar was at least five years away.

With the development of Pettaway Square, Quarles' dream became a reality much quicker than originally expected, as she was drawn to the location and the environment surrounding it.

“When we found this place, it was a surprise. After I ran the numbers, I found that both the size of the shop and the rent would really work in our favor,” Quarles said. “This neighborhood is so accessible for all people, and that really made this decision to open a shop an easy one.”

Quarles is a huge advocate for offering the most thought-provoking books she can to any age group. She balances the inventory between the most popular and most-anticipated books of the year, as well as those volumes that create meaningful conversations, “I really want Paper Hearts to be a place where parents and children can come to pick out books. I want it to be a space where children don’t feel like they have to be quiet, but where they can explore and feel a sense of belonging,” Quarles said. “I also want it to be a location where parents can find something for themselves at the same time.”

Quarles said she has a lot planned for the upcoming year and beyond, adding that being on the square lets the shop take advantage of traffic generated by Pettaway Square’s many activities that can be enjoyed throughout the day. One of the most exciting events to take place this year will be an event with Chris Kennedy, better known as Little Rock’s Black Santa. Paper Hearts will also continue to collaborate with local businesses for book club meetings.

While local businesses have been important in bringing the square

Beth Quarles, owner of Paper Hearts Bookstore, stands inside of her brick-and-mortar.

Michael Orndorff of Mike Orndorff Construction developed Pettaway Square in Little Rock.

“This neighborhood is so accessible for all people, and that really made this decision to open a shop an easy one.”

— Beth Quarles 62

to life, the community itself has served the space well. The Commons @ Pettaway Square, which exists as a creative shared space and multi-purpose venue, is located directly above Pettaway Coffee and hosts a wide variety of programs and classes. In addition to workshops, yoga and other community classes, the Commons also serves as a space to help foster the growth of the neighborhood and add a greater sense of community.

Looking to the future, the neighborhood has ambitious plans to host neighborhood events such as an urban street market, family movie nights, cultural food festivals, block parties, health fairs and a variety of seasonal events.

Monthly markets have become a staple in the area and include various vendors and food and beverage options for shoppers to enjoy.

Many residents of Pettaway have demonstrated their excitement regarding the upward mobility of the neighborhood. Officials from the Pettaway Neighborhood Association have expressed their gratitude for the community they live in and the roles they get to play in creating a standard for success.

“I’m pretty new to living here, and one of the things that really attracted me to this neighborhood was the sense of community,” said Jessica Domino, PNA secretary. “It’s a relatively small neighborhood, but people are really invested in making it a good place to live.”

Domino said she believes that the development potential of this neighborhood is seemingly never-ending and has high expectations that the neighborhood will only continue to grow in occupancy and events.

“It feels really connected to the main part of downtown, which helps the city feel more connected in general,” Domino said.

While the neighborhood is smaller in size compared to other established neighborhoods in Little Rock, it has great potential for growth, especially with the creation and revitalization of affordable housing. As for the current residents, community-mindedness is a major perk to living in Pettaway.

“We’re not shy to get to know our neighbors. We understand that we all live here, so we try to make the best of it, and that means getting to know each other, connecting with each other, and then forming the best relationships possible with each other,” said Charmaine Cook-Johnson, PNA treasurer.

Ne'Nita Clayborn, PNA president, has resided in Pettaway since 2010 and has watched the neighborhood blossom for more than a decade.

“The progress has been tremendous. I really have seen everything develop, even through the pandemic,” Clayborn said. “Before Pettaway Coffee was finished, I drank Starbucks all the time, and now that I have a local coffee shop so close, I've found myself

Muriel Tarver, pictured, is the owner of L'Etoile Nail Salon.

supporting the community so much more.”

Clayborn also attributes the success of the neighborhood to the overall energy that has been developed alongside new builds.

“It seems like everywhere you go in Pettaway, people are happy to be there,” Clayborn said.

“Everyone is so welcoming, from the neighbors to the businesses that occupy space here.”

Outside of business, Clayborn described events that continued to grow in the area. With success in partnering with other neighborhoods and annual events such as SoMardi Gras and the Little Rock Marathon, Pettaway has been more visible throughout the past couple of years.

In September, the city of Little Rock approved the next steps for the third phase of construction in Pettaway. This phase will take shape at the corner lot of Rock and 21st streets, directly across from the square, and will include more residential spaces and commercial spaces.

“There will be five walk-ups that are consistent with what we have built in Pettaway Square and more affordable apartments built within the area,” Orndorff said.

The mixed-use development will be developed by Michael Orndorff Construction and has been designed by Taggart Architects.

“It seems like everywhere you go in Pettaway, people are happy to be there” — Ne'Nita Clayborn

Vacant Places Sneakers & Streetwear is another Pettaway gem.

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T

he phrase “Can’t miss” gets thrown around a lot when talking about northwest Arkansas, but when it comes to the best way to spend a beautiful fall weekend in the Ozarks, there really is no beating a college town like Fayetteville. Thanks to our friends at Experience Fayetteville, my husband, Ryan, and I were able to enjoy a few days of great food, drinks, shops and sights in this truly “can’t miss” destination.

When we rolled in on Friday, our first stop was the visitor’s center, where we picked up our itinerary and a few other goodies. The visitors center has a great selection of Fayetteville gear and all the information you need to explore the city. From there, we headed down to the newly revamped South Yard development for lunch at not one, but two tasty spots located right next door to each other: Central BBQ and Fayetteville Taco & Tamale Co. After all, there is no need to pick favorites between classic Southern barbecue and tasty taco plates when you can have the best of both worlds at the South Yard.

After lunch, it was time to check into our room at Graduate Fayetteville, conveniently located right off the downtown square and just moments away from the University of Arkansas campus. The hotel is full of unique touches that mix local history, Razorback traditions and the natural beauty of the Ozarks. From the rustic lobby and its reclaimed wood floors and furniture to the camouflage carpet and vintage touches in our room, the Graduate makes you want to kick up your boots and stay a while in a way that only Fayetteville can.

It is also a short walk from all the shops, restaurants and more that Dickson Street has to offer — what more could you ask for?

From the Graduate, we walked along Block Avenue to visit Rock House 205, a home built in 1916 that has been transformed into a storefront with vintage artwork, cookware, antiques

FABULOUS FAYETTEVILLE A trip to northwest Arkansas’ gem

By HEATHER BAKER with additional reporting by MAK MILLARD Photos by RYAN PARKER 64

There is no shortage of delicious grub and lavish lodgings in Fayetteville.

“

You can’t call it a trip to northwest Arkansas without taking some time to enjoy the stunning views, so we headed up to Mount Sequoyah to do just that.

and other home goods — it is a must stop when visiting Fayetteville. While perusing among the coasters and hand towels, we found some kitchen bowls that we just could not resist buying. Our next visit was to the Ramble, a natural getaway in the middle of town. The once-overgrown patch of shrubs has been reclaimed and turned into a park, providing ample access to nature and Tanglewood Branch Creek.

Running right through the Ramble is another crown jewel of northwest Arkansas, the Razorback Greenway. This multi-use trail is the paved backbone of the region, connecting seven cities and tons of popular community destinations. In Fayetteville, the connected trails link the Fayetteville Public Library to the Ramble’s tree canopy before curving downhill near a scenic creek and overlook bridge, with access to a stone amphitheater for live music and hands-on arts activities.

By the time we finished exploring and strolled back through downtown, we had more than worked up an appetite. For dinner, we made our way up to Leverett Lounge, a cute little restaurant with an elevated menu whose unofficial mascot is The Muppet Show’s own Swedish Chef — a mix of fun and fancy that reminds you what Fayetteville is all about. For a starter from the small plates, we went for the “Mel’s Diner,” and it did not disappoint: two slices of Leverett’s famous garlic cheese grits, breaded and deep fried, served with remoulade and garnished with scallion.

Our entrees raised the bar even further. I went for the special, “Howl’s Moving Castle,”

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with miso-marinated salmon, Japanese-inspired Gomaae green beans and mung bean salad, all drizzled with house-made togarashi hot honey and topped with scallions. Ryan had “K.F.C.” — Korean Fried Chicken (or Cauliflower) — that is tossed in sweet chili sauce and served with a side of jasmine rice and mung bean sprout salad.

Mouthwatering does not even come close.

To drink, Ryan paired his plate with “Yard Games,” a non-alcoholic mix of lime juice, orgeat, Peychaud’s and butterfly pea flower. The menu promised a drink that would look like a bubblegum sunset and taste like childhood, and Leverett more than delivered. I opted for the more adventurous “Burnin’ Down the House,” which consist

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One-of-a-kind fare pairs with unique attractions found only in Fayetteville. ed of house-infused habanero cimarron reposado paired with apricot liqueur, lime juice, pineapple juice and Chamoy and served with a Tajín Chamoy rim.

Our dessert, the “Dream of Coconut Cake,” was just as delicious as everything else we had had so far. Made

by Fayetteville’s Hip Cafe, the veganstyle Southern cream of coconut cake featured a cream filling and a light and fluffy buttercream topped with toasted coconut and strawberry coulis. Pieces of unique, nostalgic decor, reminiscent of something you would find at a parent’s house, only added to our five-star food experience.

From there, we made our way back in the direction of the Graduate, but it was not time to turn in just yet. Just a street over from the hotel, we stopped at Pinpoint, a pinball bar, for a bit of Friday night old-school gaming. Pinpoint was in the middle of their monthlong “Nightmare on Block Street,” so the place was all decked out for Halloween with games featuring Michael Myers, the Addams Family and more to match.

We started out Saturday bright and early with a morning stroll through the Fayetteville Farmers Market on the square. Our favorite store was City Supply, a “modern-day mercantile” running the gamut from game-day essentials to nostalgic home goods and more. It is an unforgettable experience, and I could have easily spent all day just checking out the Razorback t-shirts and tailgate serveware. Their hunting season collection is out now too, making fall an even better time to stop in.

After pulling myself away from all the one-ofa-kind Fayetteville gear, we jumped on a couple of e-bikes and cruised over to Little Bread Company for lattes and fresh-baked pastries. The

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artisan bakery, coffee and sandwich shop serves up all kinds of goodies for students and parents from all over town, so be prepared for a short wait at this popular spot. Of course, that means you will also have time to strike up a conversation or two with the locals, so what is the rush?

Sufficiently caffeinated, we made our way to each of the stores in the square before stopping by the visitor’s center again. There, we caught up with Jill Rohrbach, a freelance writer and staff writer for the Arkansas Tourism Department, who graciously signed a copy of her latest book, 100 Things To Do In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Before You Die. Rohrbach is a Fayetteville local, and this book is full of ideas and unexpected experiences for residents and visitors alike.

With books on the brain, we decided to drop in at Pearl’s Books, just off the square on East Center Street. Pearl’s believes that books make us better, and based on the standing-room-only crowd that showed up to celebrate the store’s second birthday, it looked like the patrons agreed. The store was running a BOGO sale, which we were eager to partake in. After adding a couple of titles to our “to be read” piles, we went up to Pink House Alchemy, a company housed in a 100-year-old pink house that produces farm-to-bottle simple syrups, bitters and shrubs. The mixologists at Pink House

Enjoying the outdoors was an essential part of the northwest Arkansas trip, but there were plenty of places to explore indoors, as well. whipped us up a couple of awe-inspiring drinks, and it was clear to see we were in the presence of the flavor experts.

You cannot call it a trip to northwest Arkansas without taking some time to enjoy the stunning views, so we headed up to Mount Sequoyah to do just that. Founded in 1922 by the South Central Jurisdiction of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mount Sequoyah today operates as an independent nonprofit and community gathering space. The lighted cross at Mount Sequoyah is a picturesque place to watch the sunset or sunrise, or to just take in a bit of peace and quiet overlooking the city.

Eventually, our hunger became too much to bear, so we decided to trek over to City Park, a new restaurant inspired by Fayetteville’s original city park and its mission to create an open space where people can gather “in a place of beauty.”

True to NWA’s bike-centric philosophy, City Park is located right off the Skull Creek Trail section of the Razorback Greenway. The menu is as diverse as the people City Park serves — we could smell the sweet aromas of barbecue as we approached, and that is not even to mention the tacos, smash burgers and rice bowls — so we did not have any trouble finding the perfect bite after another full day of exploring the city.

Since City Park is all about community and connection, the open yard and plentiful outdoor seating gives visitors plenty of excuse to play cornhole, catch a game on one of the big screens or just hang out for a while. It is a shame to miss out on Dickson Street during football season though, so in anticipation of Saturday’s game, we took a short scooter ride a few blocks over to visit Tin Roof.

Two levels, three patios and multiple stages and bars means you will not want for a place to settle in and enjoy the food, drinks and entertainment, whether you are there to catch the game or check out some live music.

With our perfect weekend coming to a close, we chose to brunch at Southern Food Co., where staff are serving up breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with a heaping side of Southern hospitality.

Local artwork — pieces featuring adorable farm animals that you can even take home to decorate your own walls with — gave the place a charming, homey feel that made the meal that much more delicious.

We decided on a breakfast hash, which included a ground sausage and pepper medley sauteed and topped with cheese and two sunny-side-up eggs alongside our choice of biscuit. The spinach avocado flatbread was an immediate favorite for Ryan, boasting scrambled eggs, avocado, spinach, cheddar and swiss cheese on a toasted flatbread.

He paired his meal with a vanilla latte from another NWA favorite, Onyx Coffee, which the Southern Food Co. also proudly serves.

Throughout every part of our weekend getaway, there was something about the visit that made it hard to say goodbye — but since there is always more to do and see every time we are in Fayetteville, it was more like “See you later.”

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C-ya later!

Located just off the Skull Creek Trail, Fayetteville’s City Park offers a diverse menu that appeals to most anyone.

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travel

Fittheting

Bill

The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is still ruffling feathers

By Mak Millard

“Ivory-billed Woodpecker, 1829,” Robert Havell after John James Audubon.

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington.)

ven in black-and-white photos and drawings, it is not hard to understand why the ivorybilled woodpecker was often known by another moniker: the Lord God Bird. So-called for the exclamation it elicited from observers, the words “majestic,” “magnificent” and “impressive” come up frequently in descriptions of the bird.

At 20 inches long, with a 30-inch wingspan, the ivorybill was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world and the largest north of Mexico. The males’ striking red crest, paired with black-and-white plumage and a lemon-yellow eye, made it an especially distinctive inhabitant of the bottomland hardwood forests that once covered large swaths of the southeastern United States.

Though long thought extinct in many corners, the persistent hope that a population of ivorybills might still reside somewhere deep in the Delta has made for the occasional controversy between believers and skeptics.

The latest chapter in the ongoing saga came in May of this year, when the journal Ecology and Evolution published a study claiming “multiple lines of evidence,” collected over a decade, pointing to the continued existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker in Louisiana.

This report comes in the midst of an especially uncertain moment for the ivorybill.

The bird’s official status is in a kind of bureaucratic limbo as far as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is concerned. After releasing a recovery plan for the species in 2010 following its alleged rediscovery in eastern Arkansas, in 2021, the agency proposed the removal of the ivorybill from the endangered species list due to extinction.

The uproar that followed convinced the FWS to delay that decision for another six months, starting in July 2022. Well past the updated deadline, the agency still has yet to make an official move one way or the other.

While the overall feeling among researchers and experts seems to be one of skepticism, some prominent ornithologists and conservation groups are doubling down on their efforts to locate any surviving birds and settle the ivorybill question once and for all.

I. Bye bye, birdie In the realm of conservation, a decline like that of the ivorybill is unfortunately an all-too-familiar story. On top of pressure from hunters looking to add an eye-catching specimen to their collections, the most damaging existential threat to the species was the loss of unbroken expanses of old-growth forest required to sustain it. Unchecked logging operations meant the decimation of much of the bird’s historical habitat, leading to severe population declines into the late 1800s and early 1900s.

In the late 1930s, conservation groups tried and failed to preserve the 81,000-acre Singer Tract in Louisiana – named for the Singer Sewing Machine Co., which owned the land – where the last remaining members of the species resided. Instead, Singer sold the logging rights to the Chicago Mill and Lumber Co. Shortly thereafter, the company took to felling what the American Bird Conservancy called “the largest piece of oldgrowth swamp forest left in the South.”

As most sources have it, the last “universally accepted” sighting of the ivory-billed woodpecker came in 1944, when a lone female was spotted at a roost hole for the last time in what remained of the Singer Tract. In the decades that followed, the bird was all but assumed extinct. But the search for survivors continued, and alleged sightings were reported regularly — some more widely believed than others — though none as conclusive as the Singer Tract appearance.

Then, in the early 2000s, reports out of Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, including a few-seconds long video of a large woodpecker taken in Bayou DeView, were enough to convince the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Fish and Wildlife Service and others that the bird had finally been rediscovered. Following an official announcement in 2005, researchers and birders of all stripes flocked to the state in a massive search effort.

Per the Cornell Lab, the entire search from 2006 to 2010 covered more than 523,000 acres in eight states while the search area in the Natural State included both the

For the untrained eye, it's easy to mistake the pileated woodpecker for an ivorybill.

(Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism.)

Cache River and White River National Wildlife Refuges. Though volunteers and researchers recorded a number of promising aural and visual “encounters,” Cornell eventually concluded that “no definitive evidence of a surviving Ivory-billed Woodpecker population was found.”

Trey Reid, assistant chief of communications with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, joined AGFC in November of 2006 and took part in some of those search efforts.

“I don’t want to inflate my sense of importance to anything that happened,” he said. “I was just one of many people who were brought in to do things like sit in duck blinds for four-hour sessions and see if you saw any woodpeckers fly by or heard anything.”

The multi-agency search also included aerial transect surveys by helicopter.

“It was not much above freezing the day I did my flight,” Reid said. “You’re strapped, tethered with a carabiner into the back seat of the helicopter, with the door off, and essentially holding a camera and watching the entire time. It was the coldest I’ve ever been in my life.”

Though it was thrilling to be a part of what AGFC was doing at the time, Reid said he never saw any ivorybills.

Instead, he found plenty of pileated woodpeckers, a much more common species that looks similar to the ivorybill and often misleads would-be rediscoverers.

Karen Rowe, certified wildlife biologist and nongame bird program coordinator at AGFC, has also encountered her fair share of false alarms, from the well-intentioned to the outright outlandish.

“Just recently, somewhere, somehow, there was some information put out that had my name, and ‘game and fish,’ and ‘ivorybill’ with it,” Rowe said. “I was getting calls from people in Connecticut – which never had ivory-billed woodpeckers – and all over the southeast. People were calling me to report that they had seen an ivorybill.”

Rowe pointed to species including the swallow-tailed kite, roseate

spoonbill and king rail as other case studies of birds bouncing back.

From only a handful of king rails found during a survey in the mid1990s, efforts from AGFC and other agencies to restore emerging wetland habitats have managed to foster a resurgence.

“It’s the old ‘[If you] build it, they will come,’” Rowe said. “Great things happen in the Arkansas Delta; great things happen in the wetlands. It’s neat to see something come back, whether it’s a bald eagle or, better yet, a king rail. And maybe the ivorybill will come back too.

Who knows?”

For those of a similar mind to Reid and Rowe, the interest in and passion for ivorybills has an optimistic ring to it, regardless of whether the search turns up any living birds.

“What I find is the most important thing that resulted from the questions about the existence of ivorybills is the habitat conservation that resulted from it,” Rowe said. “Bottomland hardwoods provide habitat for such an important suite of species, from wintering waterfowl to summer warblers that are in steep decline.

That provided us some funding, and federal funding, for conservation easements, for habitat conservation in bottomland hardwoods. That’s the bird’s legacy, is the fact that it highlighted its habitat.”

II. A bird (not quite) in the hand One of the people at the forefront of the continued search for the ivorybill is Matt Courtman, former lawyer and founder of Mission Ivorybill. The Louisiana-based organization focuses on outreach and education concerning the ivory-billed woodpecker and its potential whereabouts.

Courtman takes issue with the Fish and Wildlife Service — and many of the mainstream narratives about the ivorybill — on a few fronts, beginning with that “universally accepted” sighting in the Singer Tract.

“In ’71, Louisina State University ornithologist George Lowery

brought two photos of a male ivory-billed woodpecker to the American Ornithologists Union meeting, and those two photos were accepted ... in the October issue of American Birds, which was a publication of the Audubon Society,” Courtman said. “It was the authoritative record of bird distribution in the United States.”

Courtman also considers the 2010 recovery plan from the Fish and Wildlife Service to be an “unambiguous decision that the ivorybill still [exists].” Overall, though, his main contentions sort into two areas: obtaining unquestionable proof of the bird’s existence and correcting errors in reporting around the ivorybill.

For example, he stressed the importance of accuracy when it comes to the bird’s current status. Since the Fish and Wildlife Service has yet to make a move in either direction after delaying the removal of the bird from the endangered species list, the ivorybill is not, from a paperwork standpoint at least, “extinct,” as the American Bird Conservancy puts it, “The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is among 24 bird species in the Western Hemisphere considered to be ‘lost.’ ”

Matt Courtman Courtman has been involved in many a search effort of his own for the ivorybill over the years, primarily in Louisiana, but also in Arkansas and South Carolina.

“I’ve spent over 2,000 hours looking for the ivorybill,” he said. “So that’s about 7.2 million seconds, and of that time, of the five times I’ve seen the ivorybill, I’ve seen it, in the aggregate, about 20 seconds.”

His findings have ranged from “intriguing scaling” — consistent, he holds, with the markings an ivorybill was known to leave on trees — to sightings and audio recordings,

“We search all year round. We like to search about five days a week, but in July and August, we cut way back, just because it’s so quiet. The birds aren’t very active.”

though he admits the need for better proof.

As Courtman sees it, the importance of conducting as close to a comprehensive search as possible is vital to proving the bird’s existence.

“We search all year round,” he said. “We like to search about five days a week, but in July and August, we cut way back, just because it’s so quiet. The birds aren’t very active.”

On the heels of two 2019 sightings, in one of which he contends he saw not just one, but a pair of ivorybills, Courtman was confident that the bird “at least had a chance.” This hope was the catalyst for he and wife, Lau— Matt Courtman ren, to formalize the search into their life’s work; the pair founded Mission Ivorybill that year.

The group makes their presence known in official channels as staunch opposition to the bird’s delisting.

In response to the initial FWS proposal, Courtman requested and was granted a public hearing. In the slew of public commentary that followed, Courtman said, “I think we made it clear that you can’t declare the ivorybill extinct.”

While the official fate of the ivorybill might remain in question, Mission Ivorybill has an even more extensive project planned for this fall, with the hopes of locating the bird and convincing the skeptics. The group is kicking off its fiveyear effort in the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. Starting with a grid pattern of search areas, members spend three consecutive days in each designated spot. They arrive 20 minutes before first light and spend 90 minutes in stationary observation. After that, they make their way quietly through the woods in search of active woodpecker cavities.

“Our strategy is to be able to hear them first thing in the morning and then isolate where they are,” Courtman said.

“Unfortunately, while I have theories as to cavities that are more likely ivorybill than pileated, we don’t know yet, so all we do is we find large cavities and see if they’re active.”

Throughout the course of Mission Ivorybill’s work, the group has had people from 13 states, Canada and even the United Kingdom join in the efforts.

Mission Ivorybill team members Carla “You kind of have to be, not crazy, but DeMoss, right, and Ryan Pepper searching very, very committed,” Courtman said. in the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge.

“We have what’s called a special use per(Photos provided.)

mit, which was granted by the biologists at Tensas NWR, so we’ve put up our own automated recording units there. We have lots and lots of hours of recordings that we still haven’t gone through.

“I would think anybody who’s concerned about conservation would say, ‘If there’s a 10 percent chance that the world’s leading ornithologists think the ivorybill should not be declared extinct, then we ought to go with the world’s leading ornithologists.’ I don’t know why that doesn’t sweep the day. I don’t have an ax to grind; I just want the truth. We’re trying to give the ivorybill a better approach. We’ve really just begun, and we’re very excited about it.”

Than Boves has spent a lot of time in the bottomland hardwoods, but he has not come across an ivorybill.

III. A bird’s-eye view It can be easy to get bogged down in the endless minutia of government reports, contradictory claims and inconclusive audiovisual clips surrounding the ivorybill, but it is important not to miss the forest for the trees: in broad strokes, the feeling among ornithologists working in and around the bottomland hardwoods can be described as serious doubt with a pinch of, “I would love to be wrong.”

That is the opinion of Than Boves, professor of ecology at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and Alix Matthews, a doctoral candidate at A-State in Boves’ lab, who will begin teaching at Rhodes College in Memphis this fall. Over the course of their research, Boves and Matthews have both spent plenty of time in what would be prime ivorybill habitat, and neither is convinced of its continued existence.

“I’ve imagined hearing an ivorybill many times, and I’ve heard things in the woods that would excite me for a second,” said Boves, who has been studying birds for nearly two decades. “Then I’d realize it was a bluejay, or it was a pileated woodpecker. I have spent a decent amount of time chasing down things that I probably, deep down, knew wasn’t going to be an ivorybill.”

It is especially fitting for scientists to have that mix of hope tempered with skepticism, and as Boves said, “anything is possible.” Still, Matthews explained, her doubts come down not only to a lack of that elusive “unambiguous” evidence, but a numbers game as well.

“I think it’s really unlikely that there are enough breeding pairs occupying suitable habitat in the wild that could sustain those populations,” she said, "because it’s not just about an individual bird flying around for however long that it can live. It has to be a sustainable population that’s breeding and continuing on.”

Both researchers also raised concerns about the lack of unimpeachable photographic evidence, not least because of the technology available to capture images of rare birds nowadays.

“We have people that [photograph birds] for a living; we have thousands of people that do it as a hobby with incredible skill and equipment,” Boves said. “All I would want to see is the same evidence I would want for any bird: a decent photo that you can actually use to identify the field marks without closing your eyes and imagining those field marks.”

Boves also acknowledged the counterargument that decades of hunting may have driven the once-gregarious ivorybill into hiding.

“If they behaved in the way that they did when people did see them, we would have seen them by now. I don’t think there’s any doubt of that,” he said. “They were not birds that were secretive and skulky, in the grass or in the underbrush. They were up high in trees, making lots of noise, knocking bark off the trees and doing things that would be really obvious.

“The one hope is that they’ve either evolved their behavior because their populations went so low, and the only ones that survived were those that did these weird things, or they’ve somehow learned to avoid humans really well.”

While he might be more convinced by that line of reasoning in a tropical rainforest, Boves just does not buy it in a country like the United States. But neither he nor Matthews begrudge those who continue looking into the ivorybill, even if they refrain from placing any bets themselves. And at the end of the day, belief is a powerful thing.

“Working in those habitats, the historical habitat of the ivorybilled woodpecker, intensely for several years, I’ve met lots of people who really truly believe they’ve seen it in the last 20 years,” Matthews said. “They don’t have any evidence to support it, but they truly believe what they’ve seen, and you can’t really argue with somebody that’s passionate like that.”

In contrast to the heated positions of those on either side of the delisting debate, Boves has a more balanced view of the ivorybill’s official status.

One of Alix Matthews study species is the prothonotary warbler, right, which breeds in bottomland hardwood forests similar to what the ivorybill would have.

(Photos by Paige Walker.)

“I would say you might as well err on the side of caution and leave it on the endangered species list,” he said. “What harm does it do?

Other than clearing a line off of a spreadsheet somewhere at Fish and Wildlife, I don’t see how it really impacts them very much, or other species, for that matter.”

Similar to Reid and Rowe at AGFC, Matthews and Boves tend to consider the ivorybill in terms of the habitat it represents rather than a possible miracle-in-waiting.

“They’re not the only species that live in that habitat, so if we’re able to protect that space, we’re not just protecting the potential for ivorybills to be living there, but also all the currently living animals that do exist within that space,” Matthews said. “Especially being in Arkansas, the ivorybill is sort of a ‘close to home’ story, because this was one of the last places that it was seen, and one of its historical habitats. So I think people can make that connection really clearly.

We don’t want a whole bunch of ivory-billed woodpecker stories from species around us.”

Perhaps most telling is the fact that, in addition to the ivorybill, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s initial proposal to delist due to extinction

included no less than 22 other species. Regardless of the ivorybill’s fate in particular, there is a clear need for action in general when it comes to preventing birds and other wildlife from suffering a similar end.

“Conservation is a field that incorporates scientists, policy makers and economists, and the public has a stake in it. So it can get really complicated really quickly, with people having different ideas about what conservation is and what we should conserve,” Matthews added. “But the reality is that we as humans are only one species among millions in the world, so we have a big responsibility in terms of how we interact with the species around us.

“You don’t have to be a scientist to play a role in conservation, and everyone can do it. You don’t have to get stuck in the jargon of science. You can just go enjoy it and encourage other people to want to protect it. If you enjoy it, and you want other people to enjoy it, then there’s an incentive to protect it.”

YOUR GUIDE TO THE

2023

Holiday Season It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — and Thanksgiving and the New Year and all things in between — everywhere we’ve been going. The five and ten is glistening once again. Back in seasonal vogue are the candy canes, silver lanes, just as well as the plump turkeys and honey hams or tofurkey and candied yams.

One thing most can agree on is that the holiday season can be overwhelming at times. Presents here. Christmas lights there. A theater show here. Food over there. So, this year, we wanted to help you (and us) through it all with this resource guide to navigating the season in Arkansas.

It’s not exhaustive by any means, but it is at least a great jumping-off point for all to utilize. From shopping to shows and bakeries to bows, we’ve got a little bit of everything for you here.

! s y a d i l o H y pp

Ha

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LIGHT DISPLAYS The Heights and Hillcrest Neighborhoods Little Rock White River Wonderland Batesville Winter Nights and Magical Lights Camden Magical Lights Adventure Washington County Fairgrounds North Hills Neighborhood North Little Rock

Arkansas State Capitol Little Rock

Lights on Linker Dover

An Old Time Christmas Branson, Missouri

Listening Forest Exhibition Bentonville

Bathhouse Row Hot Springs

Nature at Night on The Lost Canyon Preserve Branson, Missouri

Christmas at the Park Jonesboro Creekmore Holiday Lights Fort Smith Downtown Eureka Springs Eureka Springs Edgewater Neighborhood Maumelle Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends Pine Bluff

Saline County Courthouse Benton Searcy Holiday of Lights Searcy Sherwood’s Enchanted Forest Trail of Lights Sherwood Stewart Family Christmas Lights Fayetteville

Pleasant Ridge Town Center Little Rock Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Little Rock Whimsical Christmas Light Show Barling

Finney’s Christmas Wonderland Crossett Garvan Woodland Gardens Hot Springs GloWILD! at the Little Rock Zoo Little Rock Historic Downtown Holiday Lights Display Hot Springs Lighting of the Square Bentonville Lights of the Delta Blytheville Lights of the Ozarks Fayetteville

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EVENTS A Fertle Holiday - The Main Thing The Joint Comedy Theater, North Little Rock Nov. 17- Dec. 30

“Cirque Dreams Holidaze” Robinson Center, Little Rock Nov. 25 Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas Tour Oaklawn Event Center, Hot Springs Nov. 30

A Magical Cirque Christmas A Magical Cirque Christmas Robinson Center, Little Rock Nov. 17 Piccolo Zoppe 2023 Winter Circus Parsons Stadium, Springdale Nov. 1-4

Argenta Arts District, North Little Rock Nov. 9-19, 23-26, 29-30 Dec. 1-10, 15-23, 26-31

Holiday Craft & Gift Sale Jacksonville Community Center, Jacksonville Nov. 17-18 Bringin’ The Heat Tom Daniel Holiday Chili Cookoff Downtown Hot Springs Nov. 20

Martina McBride “Elf The Musical” The Pocket Theatre, Hot Springs Nov. 30 - Dec. 10

Red Bears at Titanic Titanic Museum Attraction Branson, Missouri Nov. 4 - Dec. 31

Storytime with Scuba Claus Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Springfield, Missouri Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 12, Dec. 15, Dec. 19, Dec. 22

Lorrie Morgan’s Enchanted Christmas Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville Dec. 1

An Old Time Christmas Silver Dollar City Branson, Missouri Nov. 4- Dec. 30 Mrs. Garvan’s Fall Tea Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs Nov. 7 North Little Rock Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony 510 Main St., North Little Rock Nov. 7

“Cirque Dreams Holidaze”

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Lorrie Morgan

EVENTS Christmas Candlelight Dinner Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 8 Ballet Arkansas’ 45th Anniversary Nutcracker Spectacular Robinson Center, Little Rock Dec. 8-10 Holiday Art Market Citizens Bank Event Center at Arts on Main, Van Buren Dec. 8-9 “A Christmas Carol 2023” King Opera House, Van Buren Dec. 8-9

Silver Dollar City Lighting of the Christmas Tree & Candlelight Dinner Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 1

Hot Springs Christmas Parade 2023 Historic Downtown Hot Springs Dec. 4 Sounds of The Season 2023 Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock Dec. 4-8, 11-15 Christmas Afternoon Tea Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20 “Miracle on 34th Street” Argenta Community Theater, North Little Rock Dec. 6-17

The White Elephant 5k Downtown Fayetteville Dec. 9

Ice on Ice Hamp Williams Building, Hot Springs Dec. 7

Traditional Christmas Brunch Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 9

“A Christmas Carol: The Musical” The Royal Theatre, Benton Dec. 1-11 Santa Visits at Big Cypress Lodge Big Cypress Lodge, Memphis, Tennessee Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-10, Dec. 15-23, Dec. 25 Jacksonville Christmas Parade Main Street, Jacksonville Dec. 2 Children’s “Road To Bethlehem” Experience Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 2 North Little Rock Sertoma Christmas Parade 510 Main St., North Little Rock Dec. 3

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EVENTS “Polar Express” in the Marlsgate Party Tent Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 9 Christmas Comedy Dinner Show Vapors Live, Hot Springs Dec. 9

4th Annual Slay Ride Fossil Cove Brewing Company, Fayetteville Dec. 16 Breakfast with Santa 2023 Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock Dec. 16

The Snowman: A Family Concert Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville Dec. 10, Dec. 12

Ho! Ho! Ho! And Mistletoe in the Marlsgate Party Tent Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 22 “A Christmas Carol” TheatreSquared, Fayetteville Nov. 29 - Dec. 24 Elegant New Year’s Eve Marlsgate, Scott Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Party Dec. 31

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Presents: “Home for the Holidays” Robinson Center, Little Rock Dec. 15-17

A Very Mariachi Christmas Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville Dec. 21 Santa Comes to Marlsgate Marlsgate Plantation, Scott Dec. 22

Happy New Year!

CATERING ARKANSAS

HOLIDAY CATERING

501.765.2798 • CATERING@CATERINGARKANSAS.COM • @CATERINGARKANSAS • CATERINGARKANSAS.COM

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FOOD/CATERERS Big Bad Breakfast Little Rock

Good Eatin’ Arkansas Little Rock

Blue Cake/Honey Pies Little Rock

Gretchen Larkan Events Central/Northeast Arkansas

Bobbie D’s Southern Cuisine Little Rock, Benton

Heritage Catering Little Rock

Boulevard Bread Co. Little Rock

Homer’s East Restaurant / Homer’s Kitchen Table Little Rock

Burge’s Hickory Smoked Turkeys and Hams Little Rock, Lewisville

Honey Baked Ham Company Little Rock, North Little Rock, Bentonville, Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Fayetteville Lindsey’s BBQ and Hospitality House North Little Rock

Simply Divine Catering Rogers

Loca Luna Little Rock

Southern Food Company Fayetteville

Myrtie Mae’s Cafe Eureka Springs

Taylor’s Made Cafe Conway

Nexus Coffee and Creative Little Rock

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Little Rock, Conway, Fayetteville

PattiCakes Bakery Conway

Three Sams BBQ and Catering Mabelvale

Petit Jean Meats Morrilton

Trio’s Restaurant Little Rock

Petit & Keet Little Rock

Two Sisters Catering Sherwood, Little Rock

Catering Arkansas Little Rock

Postmasters Grill Camden

Vibrant Occasions Catering Benton

Capitol Smokehouse & Grill Little Rock

Rabbit Ridge Farms Bee Branch

Waldo’s Chicken & Beer North Little Rock

Community Bakery Little Rock Count Porkula Maumelle and North Little Rock Crave Catering Company Little Rock Cypress Social North Little Rock DownHome Catering Little Rock Etcetera Stuttgart Fire Dancer BBQ Benton Gina’s Catering Benton

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DECORATORS/DECORATIONS Affordable Interior Design North Little Rock

Design and Events By: Ari Little Rock

Alber’s Christmas Decor Fort Smith

Eve’s Interior Decorating North Little Rock

Noel Lighting, LLC Benton SheFlair Searcy Amy Baker Designs Hot Springs

Four Season Landscaping Springdale

Bethany Finch Interiors Cabot

Ground Crew, LLC Jonesboro

Tanarah Luxe Floral Little Rock The Details Fayetteville

Camden Flower Shop Camden

The Everyday Chef Jonesboro

Christina Gore Design Studio, LLC Little Rock

The Lighting Master Fayetteville

Christmas Decor of Northwest Arkansas Lowell

Tipton & Hurst Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff

Guess and Company Des Arc Handsome Holiday Heroes Rogers Ho Ho Ho Lights Fayetteville Curly Willow Designs Cabot

Silks A Bloom Little Rock

Lights By Sparky, LLC Benton

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GIFTS A.G. Russell Knives Rogers Aromatique Heber Springs Art Group Gallery Little Rock Box Turtle Little Rock Black Ribbon Books Hot Springs Cinnalightful Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls Little Rock City Supply Fayetteville

Freckled Hen Fayetteville

Midtown Vintage Market Little Rock

Fort Thompson Sporting Goods Sherwood

Ozark Outdoor Supply Little Rock

Gearhead Outfitters Jonesboro, Rogers, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Little Rock

Riffraff Fayetteville

Curly Willow Designs Cabot

Sissy’s Log Cabin Conway, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff

Eggshells Kitchen Co. Little Rock

The Vintage Mercantile Sherwood

Fayettechill Fayetteville

Tipton & Hurst Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff

Fischer’s Honey Co. North Little Rock Flowers & Home Benton

Rock City Outfitters Conway

Gifts of Arkansas Little Rock Guess and Company Des Arc High Cotton Decor Bryant House of Webster Rogers Kitchen Store & More Conway Laura Stanley Personal Jeweler Little Rock

Townsend Spice and Supply Melbourne

LIVSN Outdoor Apparel Bentonville

Whimsy Whoo Springdale

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aymag.com

Have family and friends in town this holiday season? Enjoy quality time together in North Little Rock!

Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony Nov. 7 Piccolo Zoppé Winter Circus Nov. 9 - Nov. 19 Northern Lights Holiday Festival - Nov. 18 North Little Rock Sertoma Christmas Parade - Dec. 3

! e v i t Fes Have you added

The Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation

SHOOTING SPORTS COMPLEX

to your fall bucket list?

WHERE WINNERS SHOOT & GOALS ARE ACHIEVED! www.JacksonvilleShootingComplex.com

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NorthLittleRock.org @exploreNLR

2023

By Mak Millard

Photography by Chris Davis, DeWaine Duncan, Jamie Lee, Courtney Reynolds, Lori Sparkman, Heather Swayze, Stephen Thetford, Genevieve Townley

AY About You is proud to present the 2023 Faces of Arkansas, some of the most influential leaders and businesses in the entire state. From banking and real estate to fitness and interior design, these men and women are at the top of their games, cementing lifetime legacies in their respective fields.

Flip through these pages to learn what makes this year’s class exceptional and deserving of such acclaim.

Sponsored content

THE FACE OF CANCER

CARTI

All of the medical professionals and staff that make up CARTI are unified around a singular vision: to be the destination for cancer treatment in Arkansas. An independent, not-for-profit organization, CARTI receives more than 90,000 patient visits each year from every county in the state, as well as from across the country.

CARTI is disrupting the traditional standards of care delivery in order to make trusted cancer care accessible to every patient. Instead of expecting patients to travel far out of their way to seek treatment, the medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, and additional medical providers at CARTI deliver the world’s most advanced techniques to patients in their own communities.

Everyone at CARTI knows how critical it is to lean into the latest and most effective methods of cancer treatment and to avoid getting bogged down in outdated standards of care. Just because something has always been done does not make it the only path to healing, especially in an ever-evolving field like cancer treatment.

Pictured above from left to right: Rhonda Gentry, M.D.; Matthew Hardee, M.D., Ph.D.; Sam Makhoul, M.D.; Donald B. Norwood, M.D.; Yara Robertson, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Scott Stern, M.D.

In June 2023, CARTI opened Arkansas’s first cancer-focused surgery center. CARTI Surgery Center, with its extended stay capabilities, offers a more convenient and comprehensive alternative for patients in order to enhance patient experiences and outcomes.

In addition to leading-edge, expert treatment, CARTI’s professionals always prioritize the human side of health care. To help deal with the myriad of fears and uncertainties that follow a cancer diagnosis, CARTI’s resource coordinators provide specialized services designed to facilitate treatment and improve quality of life for patients and their families. Areas of assistance for those who qualify include housing and transportation, as well as financial, emotional and nutritional counseling.

At CARTI, innovation goes hand in hand with compassion. Not everyone can handle such a strenuous field of work, but the team at CARTI is a special group, dedicated and called to serve Arkansans everywhere. No matter where, no matter how — people are CARTI’s purpose.

CARTI - 501-906-3000 - CARTI.com CARTIArkansas

cartiarkansas

CARTIArkansas

THE FACE OF TILE AND BRICK

ACME BRICK TILE & STONE CHAD BOWIE, DISTRICT MANAGER Acme Brick Tile & Stone strives to make products that outlast a mortgage, a roof and even a lifetime. When a customer sees the Acme name stamped on the end of a brick on their new home, they know that they are getting both Acme quality and a 100-year guarantee.

Many different jobs come together to ensure the satisfaction of Acme’s customers. From drivers to accounting and representatives to kiln-workers, all employees of Acme work together to create a positive experience to match the lifetime of its brick.

“What I most enjoy about my job is seeing the skills and knowledge of our staff come together to provide a great customer experience,” said Chad Bowie, district manager. “Our company is over a century old and built on a foundation of brick manufacturing, but we continue the pursuit to offer more than just the essentials to homebuyers, builders and architects.”

An Acme Brick home can deliver benefits that transcend curb appeal, including natural insulation, reduction in maintenance costs, lower insurance rates, a higher resale value and fire protection. Acme offers a vast selection of natural and manufactured stone, custom iron doors, outdoor living products, and one of Arkansas’ largest selections of designer tile.

10921 Maumelle Blvd., North Little Rock — 501.812.5574 — brick.com/littlerock

THE FACE OF HEALTH INSURANCE

ARKANSAS BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FROM LEFT: CURTIS BARNETT, MALLORY ROGERS, DETRICH WILEY, KAT ARDEMAGNI AND LEON WILLIAMS Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been taking care of Arkansans for 75 years, providing affordable, reliable health insurance, connecting members to resources and helping them navigate the health care system. As an independent, mutual, not-for-profit health insurance company, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield delivers the best value to its customers and to society.

The company believes in building and maintaining collaborative, long-term relationships with physicians, hospitals and other providers characterized by a mutual interest in members and a focus on improving the affordability, delivery and quality of care. A dedicated team of employees conducts operations with the highest degree of integrity, honesty and fairness, never losing sight of the humanity of members amid a fastpaced health care environment.

The company is also making significant community and business investments to help Arkansans live healthier lives. Over the past three years, the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas has invested more than $10 million in behavioral-health programs. This is the largest investment on a single health-related focus in the 20-year history of the foundation. The company has also expanded telehealth services and rolled out a new digital platform to make it easier for members to navigate the behavioral health care system. Additionally, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield supports programs and processes that better integrate behavioral health and primary care in order to provide whole-person health.

601 S Gaines St., Little Rock — 501.378.2000 — arkansasbluecross.com ArkansasBlueCross

THE FACE OF PLASTIC SURGERY

ARKANSAS PLASTIC SURGERY ZACHARY T. YOUNG, M.D. Whether through surgical or non-surgical treatment, Dr. Zachary T. Young’s mission at Arkansas Plastic Surgery is to help patients gain confidence and leave his care feeling like the best version of themselves.

“There is a common saying in plastic and reconstructive training about becoming a successful surgeon: ‘You need affability, availability and ability,’” Young said. “I take great pride in the bonds I create with my patients throughout their journey, and through that relationship, they know I am always there for them.”

Young’s compassion for his patients is outdone only by his technical expertise. He spent a decade in training to become the sought-after surgeon he is today, and he is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

“There is a common misconception that cosmetic surgeons have completed plastic and reconstructive surgery training, which is not true,” Young said. “When selecting the surgeon that is right for you, be sure to ask if they are board certified. If the answer is no, then you are not dealing with a real plastic surgeon.”

Young is also proud to provide breast reconstruction to women fighting breast cancer, especially since Arkansas has comparatively less access to the procedure than other states. No matter what his patients come in for, Young will continue to provide high-quality care to the people of Arkansas.

9500 Kanis Road, Suite 502, Little Rock — 501.219.8388 — arkansasplasticsurgery.com AkansasPlasticSurgery

arkansasplasticsurgery

ArkansasPlastic

THE FACE OF ORTHOPEDICS

ARKANSAS SURGICAL HOSPITAL Arkansas Surgical Hospital was founded by surgeons seeking a more direct and rewarding experience for their patients. Since opening its doors in 2005, ASH has remained committed to safety, efficiency, low costs and exceptional patient experiences. The hospital continues to be physicianowned, meaning surgeons are the decision-makers. This allows them to control their patients’ care at a greater level and have direct input over the best course of treatment.

The surgeons at Arkansas Surgical Hospital have extensive experience, and their specialties range from orthopedic and spine treatments to breast oncology and interventional pain management. Arkansas Surgical Hospital provides more orthopedic, spine and sports-injury treatments and total joint replacement procedures than any other facility in the state. No matter how involved a procedure is or what area of the body is affected, the goal of every surgeon is to help patients improve their quality of life so they can get back to doing the things they love.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital is one of the few five-star hospitals in the state, and for good reason. In addition to the expertise of staff and surgeons, patients consistently rate the hospital highly for its overall care experience. This includes 41 inpatient suites — each with a separate room for family members to rest in while patients recover — as well as an on-site chef and room service so patients can select meals prepared specifically for them.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital is proud to receive ongoing recognition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other national organizations for its overall level of quality and patient experience.

Each of the hospital’s services is meant to complement the outstanding level of surgical and nursing care that patients receive in the hospital’s state-of-the-art operating rooms because the team at ASH believes that people heal better when they are at ease.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital takes pride in its disciplined focus on safety and comfort, and every surgeon, nurse and staff member is committed to excellent outcomes for patients and their families.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital — 501.748.8000 — arksurgicalhospital.com ArkansasSurgicalHospital

THE FACE OF UROLOGY

ARKANSAS UROLOGY FROM LEFT: TIM GOODSON, M.D., GERALD “JAY” HEULITT, M.D., GAIL REEDE JONES, M.D., JEFF MAROTTE, M.D., CALEB BOZEMAN, M.D. When it comes to picking the best urology care in the state, the numbers do not lie: upward of 130,000 appointments annually make it clear that Arkansas Urology has the most experienced and respected urological practice in the region.

Since 1996, Arkansas Urology has provided comprehensive treatment services to people of all ages.

Headquartered in Little Rock, it has facilities in North Little Rock, Benton, Bentonville, Conway, El Dorado, Fayetteville, White Hall, Russellville and Stuttgart. Patients are never too far away to receive the care they need.

As a testament to its mission to provide quality care no matter what, Arkansas Urology provides free prostate screenings through the Arkansas Urology Foundation. The practice also constantly implements the latest and most effective technologies and techniques, so patients can rest assured they are getting the most up-to-date care available.

At Arkansas Urology, every physician and clinical and business staff member — a team that is currently 367 strong — works as one to improve patients’ lives. As it grows, the practice will continue adding to its highlytrained staff and expanding its health care offerings throughout the state. With cutting-edge techniques, attentive service and expert care guaranteed, the choice in care is clear.

1300 Centerview Drive, Little Rock — 877.321.8452 — arkansasurology.com Arkansas Urology

@ar_urology

@arurology

THE FACE OF ART

ARTS ON MAIN

Located in historic downtown Van Buren, Arts On Main is dedicated to promoting life lived through the arts. The nonprofit and gallery is focused on developing and delivering visual and performing arts programs for the River Valley region and eastern Oklahoma. Programs include art-education outreach, summer camps, in-school and after-school art-education programs, workshops and classes for adults, and senior programs.

Since opening in 1976 as the Crawford County Art Association, the nonprofit has served the community with dedication and creativity and seen its efforts repaid in the generations that have participated. In 2022, the group opened a newly renovated 20,000-square-foot facility that occupies two historic buildings in downtown Van Buren and officially reopened as Arts On Main.

As an artistic and community foothold in the River Valley, Arts On Main brings the kind of quality art experiences that one would expect to find in a major metropolitan area right here in Arkansas.

“The arts are an integral and vital component to our development, culture and society as a whole, no matter your socioeconomic status and geographical location,” said Coralee Young, director of development and community relations. “Our presence and scope of agenda instills in Arkansans and out-of-state visitors that we, as a state, place emphasis on the importance of the arts.”

Arts On Main strives to be a beacon of culture, art and entertainment for residents and visitors alike.

415 Main St., Van Buren — 479.474.7767 — artsonmainvb.com AOMVanBuren

@artsonmainvb

THE FACE OF AUCTIONS

BLACKMON AUCTIONS THOMAS BLACKMON JR., OWNER Blackmon Auctions has been around for 85 years and four generations, a feat that continues to amaze president, owner and auctioneer Thomas Blackmon Jr., who took over from his father in 2010.

“It’s not easy to make a business work for one year, but to string together over three quarters of a century is pretty amazing,” Blackmon said. “My grandfather and father were both incredible businessmen and believed in hard work and a lot of prayer. I am trying my best to honor their legacy and the foundation they laid.”

No matter how much the business grows, Blackmon remains committed to upholding the keys to his success: showing up to work and treating others how he would want to be treated.

“When you have an issue with a company, the one thing you want the most is to just have your problem heard — and heard by a human being, not a recording that plays when you press No. 5,” he said.

Blackmon is a “Face of Arkansas” in more ways than one. As a company that does business worldwide, Blackmon is able to put the spotlight on his home state wherever he goes.

“I was born here and have raised my family here. I have traveled all four corners of the state, and there aren’t many towns I have not driven through,” he said. “I brag about this state to everyone I see and tell them that they need to visit at least once.”

425 Blackmon Road, Lonoke — 501.664.4526 — blackmonauctions.com BlackmonAuctions

blackmonauctions

THE FACE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW

CALDWELL LAW FIRM ANDY L. CALDWELL, LAWYER

Andy L. Caldwell has practiced law since 1999. After entering the field of workers’ compensation, Caldwell saw that many individuals were not getting the benefits to which they were entitled, and he set out to change that. Ever since, the goal of Caldwell Law Firm has been to fight for the benefits of injured workers and help them return to work and provide for their families.

“When an injured worker is wrongfully denied workers’ compensation benefits, they cannot work and they cannot get the medical treatment to which they are entitled so they lose their ability to earn their income …

It is my mission to prevent insurance companies from wrongfully shifting liability from the insurance company to the taxpayers of this state.”

Workers’ compensation can be a confusing process, one made even more difficult when dealing with an injury and uncertain income. The Caldwell Law Firm team works to make that challenging time more manageable by providing clear communication and expert advice.

A detail-oriented problem solver, Caldwell has become a leader in workers’ compensation law. He has lectured to Fortune 500 companies, insurance carriers and members of the bar on topics such as workers’ compensation, Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and legal ethics.

25 Rahling Circle, Suite C, Little Rock — 501.500.5512 — caldwellfirm.org

THE FACE OF HEART INSTITUTE

CHI ST. VINCENT HEART INSTITUTE As a non-profit health care organization and healing ministry committed to improving lives, the CHI St Vincent Heart Institute is continually expanding access to cardiologists and heart care resources across the state. When it comes to heart disease and other conditions, having adequate access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home can make a world of difference.

The diverse team of cardiologists and heart surgeons at the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute believes in a coordinated and personalized approach to heart care. From routine checkups to detect early signs of heart disease to the latest surgical procedures and heart health education, CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute is committed to helping Arkansans enjoy longer, healthier lives.

Heart disease impacts Arkansans at a disproportionately high rate nationally and is the state's leading cause of death. With hospitals in Little Rock, Hot Springs, Sherwood and Morrilton, along with more than 25 community clinics around the state — including a new clinic in Pine Bluff — the Heart Institute is able to provide immediate specialist insights and improve outcomes from anywhere in the Natural State.

CHI St. Vincent has been widely recognized as the best hospital in Arkansas for cardiology, and for good reason. The dedicated physicians and staff at the Heart Institute make it their mission to put the “heart” in heart care and to continue providing that care sensitively and passionately.

CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute — CHIStVincent.com/heart CHIStVincent

CHIStVincent

THE FACE OF NEUROSURGERY CHI ST. VINCENT ARKANSAS NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE The Arkansas Neuroscience Institute believes that every patient deserves the opportunity to spend more quality years with their friends and loved ones. This belief is what inspires ANI to advance the field of neurosurgery from both a scientific and a personal perspective, combining innovative practices and a patient care experience that is sought by patients and surgeons the world over.

The institute provides Arkansans with access to the best available care in their own backyard, and the comprehensive program incorporates all aspects of neurosurgery and the spectrum of neurological disorders.

ANI is able to achieve this through a team of talented surgeons who are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and backed by the highly-skilled support staff at CHI St. Vincent North.

Patients from all 75 Arkansas counties, all 50 states and many other countries come to Arkansas to seek treatment, and neurosurgeons come from universities around the country and the world to train at the ANI. In many cases, patients come to the institute after being told elsewhere that their conditions are untreatable.

At its core, the goal of the Arkansas Neuroscience Institute is to redefine what is “untreatable” and to improve outcomes for patients in every community.

CHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute — 501.552.6400 — chistvincent.com/ani CHIStVincent

CHIStVincent

THE FACE OF BARIATRIC SURGERY

CONWAY REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM JOSHUA DICKINSON, D.O.; BROCK KING, M.D.; ANTHONY MANNING, M.D. At Conway Regional Surgical Associates, the mission of doctors Anthony Manning, Brock King and Joshua Dickinson revolves around an integrated approach to patients’ long-term health. The doctors' interdisciplinary team includes physicians, psychologists, dietitians and physical therapists to walk with patients through the bariatric surgery process and continued care after surgery.

The goal of the three surgeons, as well as their entire team, is to decrease the prevalence of obesity in central Arkansas. After bariatric surgery, patients can see a wide range of benefits, including improvements in blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, fertility and other health care conditions. As the first group to offer bariatric surgery on a robotic platform, the team hopes to expand their offerings even further.

It is important to celebrate weight loss with patients, but it is even more crucial to help them establish sustainable practices that make them healthier for years to come. Bariatric surgery is a big step and an important one, but it is only the beginning for patients. In addition, the process to get to surgery can be a long and arduous one. As part of their dedication to bettering patient health, the team at Conway Regional Surgical Associates prioritizes empathy and listening to patients and their families to make the surgical and post-surgical experience the best that it can possibly be.

525 Western Ave — 501.327.4828 — conwayregional.org ConwayRegional

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ConwayRegional

THE FACE OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE

CONWAY REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM WADE GREGORY, M.D. To Dr. Wade Gregory, the most important thing he can do for Arkansas is work to give back to the people of his home state. His mission at Conway Regional Medical Center is to enhance the emergency department's capabilities; create a framework of understanding and assistance for the socioeconomic constraints that affect health; promote a staffing model that protects patients and staff; and become a better educator to his patients and coworkers.

“In today's health care climate, the emergency room is often perceived to be the only place where some have access to medical care, no matter the urgency of their concern,” Gregory said. “This has a very real impact not only on our patient population, but also on emergency room staff, who are burning out at a record pace.”

Gregory wants the Conway Regional Emergency Department to be a model for the practice of emergency medicine in Arkansas, a place where patients and employees find a happy, competent team that is confident in the practice and its duty to the community. Driving him is a deep compassion for the people he serves, as well as the support of his family.

“I have a wonderful wife and three beautiful daughters who are the loves of my life,” he said. “If you see me in the ER, remember, I've already had to French braid hair today and might still have some blush or nail polish on. Please offer me a Kleenex.”

501.506.2747 — conwayregional.org ConwayRegional

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ConwayRegional

THE FACE OF HOSPITALS

CONWAY REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM MATT TROUP, CEO For Matt Troup, president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System, the worlds of family, faith and work are deeply intertwined. He is passionate about the organization’s promise to be “bold, exceptional and called.”

“That promise reflects our culture and my view of life as a father, husband and Christian,” Troup said. In fact, the entire Troup household is committed to this combination of service and faith. His youngest son passes out cookies during hospital rounds and his other children are working towards careers in health care.

Even the family pet is a certified therapy dog.

When it comes to the mission of Conway Regional, Troup emphasizes being accountable to the community and providing quality, compassionate health care services. Conway Regional aims to be the leader in health care excellence, which means engaging highly skilled team members who constantly raise the bar of what the organization has to offer.

“Today more than ever, we need a resilient, realistic, loyal and willing team to challenge the status quo,” Troup said. “We want team members who feel like they share a vision and values with us.”

With Troup at the helm — and a compassionate network of providers and staff at every level of the organization — ­ Conway Regional Health System is furthering its vision of providing excellent health care to every community they serve.

501.506.2747 — conwayregional.org ConwayRegional

conwayregional

ConwayRegional

THE FACE OF MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE

CONWAY REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM DAWN HUGHES, M.D.

Ultimately, the goal of Dr. Dawn Hughes and the team at Conway Regional is to keep women safe. “While pregnancy is beautiful and natural, it can also be a risky and volatile time,” Hughes said. Through her work in maternal fetal medicine, Hughes educates women so that they are empowered to make the best decisions for their health and their families.

A key mission for Hughes and Conway Regional is to lower the state’s maternal mortality rate, which is among the highest in the nation. Through comprehensive planning and the support of a multidisciplinary care team, patients are able to address comorbidities ahead of time to improve outcomes for both mother and baby.

“It is such an honor to be entrusted with the care of someone’s unborn child,” Hughes said. When it comes to her vision for the future as more women and families place their trust in her, the support provided by Conway Regional Health System will continue to play an integral part.

“Conway has given me an opportunity to create my ideal practice,” Hughes said, “which is one where I have time to focus on each patient.” Taking the time to get to know both patients — mother and child — is critical when creating a care plan that is unique to their needs and concerns.

In her line of work, Hughes emphasizes that empathy and meticulousness are the most important skills a provider must have. She and the team at Conway Regional continue to work to raise the bar for maternal fetal medicine across the region.

501.506.2747 — conwayregional.org ConwayRegional

conwayregional

ConwayRegional

THE FACE OF CATERING

CRAVE CATERING COMPANY BROOKE WILLIAMS, LEFT, AND GINA MARSHALL, OWNERS For owners Brooke Williams and Gina Marshall, Crave Catering Company is truly a labor of love. The pair were both working full-time while attending culinary school, and it was there that they bonded over similar cooking styles and a passion for perfection. Crave Catering officially came to be in 2017, but Williams and Marshall have been growing their satisfied clientele base for nearly a decade now.

At Crave Catering, every job is a welcome challenge and a blessing. The dynamic culinary duo puts the time, work and effort into crafting phenomenal food for all kinds of occasions, from small dinner parties to large weddings and more. Recently, the chefs have partnered with Sunset Lodge at Rusty Tractor Vineyards and VINO Distribution to create multi-course tasting menus made specifically for VINO Distribution’s hand-picked wines.

Crave Catering is also proud to give back to the community it serves. Williams and Marshall have paired with Arkansas Children’s and the American Heart Association to prepare dining experiences for silent auction winners, which provides the dual benefit of expanding their culinary range and raising money for a worthy cause.

Williams and Marshall are growing Crave Catering the right way by staying true to their mission: to provide extraordinary food, personal service and lasting memories for their clients’ special events.

501.319.5270 — Cravecateringlr.com cravecateringlr

@cravecateringlittlerock

THE FACE OF COSMETIC SURGERY

DEVLIN COSMETIC SURGERY MICHAEL A. DEVLIN, M.D.

Dr. Michael A. Devlin believes the key to providing excellent care is getting to know his patients on a deeper level. He and his aesthetic team take the time to get to know a patient’s lifestyle, personality and aesthetic goals in order to provide results that patients will love. He has helped thousands of people across Arkansas and beyond feel more beautiful and confident in their bodies through skillfully performed breast, body and facial cosmetic surgery.

Practicing cosmetic surgery since 2001 — and previously voted best cosmetic surgeon in Little Rock — Devlin has mastered the technique of blending science and art. His most common surgical procedures include breast augmentation, tummy tucks and liposuction for the body, as well as facelifts, browlifts and eyelid surgery. Devlin also offers nonsurgical options, injectables, lasers, peels and medical-grade skincare products.

“The most important thing with cosmetic surgery is that you make it look as natural as possible,” he said.

Devlin believes in treating every patient like family, and his highly trained staff of nurses, aestheticians, certified surgical technologists, surgical coordinators and patient care coordinators help make each patient’s experience as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

10801 Executive Center Drive, Suite 101, Little Rock — 501.227.8811 — drdevlin.com devlincosmeticsurgery devlincosmeticsurgery MichaelDevlinMD

THE FACE OF STEAK

DOE'S EAT PLACE

In 1988, restaurateur George Eldridge decided to bring his favorite steak place a little closer to home. After contracting with the Greenville, Miss., restaurant to bring the name and menu to Arkansas, Eldrige opened Doe’s Eat Place in Little Rock, and the rest is history.

Chef David Brown has manned the kitchen for nearly all of Doe’s 35 years in business, keeping the signature plates consistently delicious for scores of loyal patrons. The T-bones and porterhouses, served family style in the middle of the table, come in sizes that warrant sharing, alongside a hearty serving of house-cut fries.

Pair with the world-famous tamales, and it is no wonder the restaurant has been frequented by entertainers, celebrities and professionals throughout the years.

Since taking over in 2012, George’s daughter, Katherine, has made it her mission to keep up the restaurant’s reputation for no-frills good food. In addition to maintaining the high quality that keeps repeat customers happy, Eldridge has focused on bringing in new faces, ensuring that the next generation of Doe’s fans get well acquainted with its iconic red-and-white checkered tables.

Just moments from the state capitol, Doe’s is part time capsule, part Arkansas landmark and all good eats.

1023 W. Markham St., Little Rock — 501.376.1195 — doeseatplacelr.com Does Eat Place Little Rock

doeseatplacelr

doeseatplace

THE FACE OF ORTHODONTICS

DR. CARMELLA MONTEZ KNOERNSCHILD Dr. Carmella Knoernschild, fondly known as Dr. K, stands as a trailblazing figure in the field of orthodontics.

Her illustrious career, marked by groundbreaking achievements, reflects her unwavering commitment to excellence in dentistry.

Knoernschild embarked on her orthodontic journey by obtaining her certificate of advanced graduate study in orthodontics from Boston University in 1990, a feat that made her a pioneering female orthodontist in the state of Arkansas. Her exceptional dedication and academic prowess earned her a place in Boston University’s prestigious dental society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Her tireless efforts in the dental profession have been acknowledged through various accolades, including the “New Dentist of the Year” award from the Arkansas State Dental Association. Knoernschild's expertise extends beyond her practice, and she served as a technical advisor for the Arkansas Association of Orthodontists’ informative video, A Smile That’s Good for Life.

In 2003, Knoernschild attained the distinguished status of certified diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Her active involvement in professional organizations is a testament to her dedication, and she serves in roles such as the president of the Arkansas Association of Orthodontists. She is also a respected member of esteemed associations like the Southwestern Society of Orthodontists, the American Association of Orthodontists and the Arkansas Alumni Association.

Recently, Knoernschild was named a Leader in Health Care by AY About You. She has won the Best of the Best in her local newspaper and was recently announced as a top 1 percent Invisalign provider. Her constant training in orthodontics and new innovations makes her very hopeful in helping everyone have their most confident smile possible.

Knoernschild's exceptional journey as a board-certified orthodontist and her unwavering dedication to her profession and community makes her a true exemplar in the field of dentistry.

2015 W. Parkway Drive, Russellville — 479.968.2138 — clearlydrk.com DrKOrthodontist

dr.krussellville

THE FACE OF IN-HOME CARE

ELDER INDEPENDENCE HOME CARE For 25 years, Elder Independence Home Care has found strength and success in its intimate, personalized approach to in-home care. Elder Independence is not a franchise company, and that allows its caregivers to focus on what really matters: high quality, client-centered and affordable home care services that assist clients in leading dignified, independent lives in the comfort and safety of their own homes.

Every caregiver at Elder Independence understands the importance of meeting clients and loving them where they are — literally. Being locally based in the community allows Elder Independence to assist clients more efficiently in all facets related to their home health care, such as transportation to doctor’s visits or community programs. Staff members are selected for their quality, honesty and compassion. At the end of the day, keeping loved ones in their own homes for as long as possible is the mission, and caring is their calling.

No matter where a client is located, Elder Independence wants to show them that “your family is our family.” Being trusted with in-home care is not something Elder Independence takes lightly, and its promise is to show a family’s loved ones the same level of quality care and compassion staff members provide for their own.

5200 Arkansas 5 N., Suite 5, Bryant — 501.481.2442 — elderindependence.com ElderIndependenceHomeCare

elderindependencehomecare

elderindependencehomecare

THE FACE OF EVENT PLANNING

GEFER SIMS WEDDINGS AND EVENTS GEFER SIMS, OWNER Gefer Sims’ mission is to help every client have a stress-free event, and with more than 12 years of experience, suffice to say she more than meets that expectation. No matter the event, venue or where it is in the state, Sims takes care of all the details to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, leaving her clients with more time to enjoy their special occasion.

“I find joy in others' happiness, and if I can help make someone’s event absolutely stellar, then I want to be a part of that,” she said.

A creative at heart, Sims will always go above and beyond for her clients. Her event planning skills are unmatched, and she loves being in the people business. The key to her success, she said, is putting God first and never giving up.

Sims loves Hot Springs and is proud to be a part of the city’s continued growth. Sims is also involved in her community outside of the event planning space. In her spare time, she volunteers with Full Circle Missions, a local nonprofit. She also enjoys baking pies for the local Ambrosia Bakery and is known to regulars as the “pie princess.”

303 Broadway St., Hot Springs — 501.538.0399 — pamspartyrentals.com Gefer Sims Weddings and Events

THE FACE OF FAMILY DENTISTRY

HEATHMAN FAMILY DENTAL MONTY HEATHMAN, D.D.S.

Monty Heathman, D.D.S., is the founder and owner of Heathman Family Dental in Little Rock and the Dental Clinic of Stuttgart. Heathman has served families in Arkansas for more than 22 years, and his commitment to excellence keeps patients coming back.

His clinics offer the latest in cosmetic procedures and general dentistry, including tooth-colored fillings, ceramic crowns and veneers, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, TMJ therapies, implant restorations, allon-four implant dentures, smile makeovers, and full-mouth rehabilitation, as well as Botox and dermal fillers.

“The best part of my job is the relationships and friendships I’ve developed with my patients, employees and colleagues over the years,” he says. “Being a people-person, I value these relationships tremendously. I love the profession of dentistry, and it is very rewarding to help patients with their dental needs, creating and enhancing their smiles, as well as helping them to attain excellent oral health.”

Heathman and his team also believe that one of the most important things they can do is educate patients and guide them along the journey to attaining optimal oral health. From routine cleanings to total smile makeovers, patients can trust that their oral health is in good hands with Heathman Family Dental and the Dental Clinic of Stuttgart.

Heathman Family Dental — 12501 Cantrell Road, Little Rock — 501.223.3838 The Dental Clinic of Stuttgart — 2001 S. Buerkle St., Stuttgart — 870.673.2687 heathmanfamilydental.com

THE FACE OF FITNESS

JP FITNESS + RECOVERY JEAN-PAUL FRANCOEUR , OWNER Jean-Paul Francoeur has turned the pursuit of fitness into a lifelong career. After taking charge of his own health, Francoeur began honing his skills and developing the business that would become JP Fitness + Recovery. Pouring himself into continuing education and certifications, Francoeur has created a space where overall health and recovery are seamlessly integrated.

“My clients not only transform and look amazing, but they feel incredible,” he said. “We help people get out of pain and get lasting fitness results much faster than traditional methods, utilizing technology to assist and expedite the process.”

JP Fitness + Recovery is the culmination of more than 35 years experience in the personal training and rehabilitation space, and is one of the state’s most innovative studios. The results have been life changing for clients, from relieving pain where therapy falls short to breaking out of yearslong fitness plateaus.

Francoeur is committed to building the absolute best team possible to help the residents of Little Rock look, feel and move better, and he is proud of the “A-team” he has assembled to do just that.

“Our goal is to do what we’ve always done — operate from our service-oriented hearts — but now at a much larger scale,” he said. “Being able to serve more people in a space designed for their success will allow me to work with select clients while supporting a team of professionals dedicated to our mission.”

5604 R St., Little Rock — 501.916.2541 — jpfitness.com JP Fitness + Recovery

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THE FACE OF COFFEE

KOLLECTIVE COFFEE + TEA At Kollective Coffee + Tea, passion is the name of the game. Kollective offers only the highest quality products and equipment, as well as industry-leading barista training, to provide an unparalleled coffee-shop experience. At the helm is Hot Springs native Kevin Rogers, who is joined by his wife, Agnes Galecka-Rogers, and son, Konrad. Thanks to the shop’s popularity, the Rogers are working on adding a second location to serve even more of the community.

Kollective Coffee + Tea focuses on the promotion of local products, from northwest Arkansas’ own Onyx Coffee to Hot Springs Mountain Valley Spring Water. Ingredients are sourced through local cooperatives wherever possible, and the shop deploys a variety of recyclable and compostable packaging to lessen its environmental impact. Catering to the diverse visitors who make their way to Spa City every year, Kollective prides itself on having a big-city-coffee-shop feel without losing any of its small-town charm.

The shop is also a hub for the Hot Springs community. Wednesday Night Poetry, hosted by Hot Springs Poet Laureate Kai Coggin, is the country’s longest consecutive poetry open-mic event. History After Hours, a monthly podcast produced by history teachers from the Lakeside School District, is recorded live at the shop and gives students and the public the chance to engage in a variety of meaningful discussions. Kollective is also home to a whole host of music events and meetings, and the walls are adorned with art from local artists.

110 Central Ave., Hot Springs — 501.701.4000 — kollectivecoffeetea.com kollectivecoffeetea

THE FACE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

LAKE HAMILTON & HOT SPRINGS ANIMAL HOSPITALS BRIAN PETERS, D.V.M. The mission of Lake Hamilton & Hot Springs Animal Hospitals is to provide the highest quality service and veterinary health care to as many people and pets as possible. Veterinarian Brian Peters is passionate not just about providing exceptional care, but about educating people on the importance of preventative veterinary medicine, as well. By raising awareness and improving the way people approach the health of their pets, Dr. Brian and the experienced professionals at both hospitals are helping more animals live happy, healthy lives.

“Our end goal is to have clients who are completely satisfied with their service from us and, as a result, actively refer others to our office,” he said.

Both hospitals have provided compassionate and efficient care for nearly 40 years, with the Hot Springs location celebrating the milestone in 2024. The hospitals frequently host students from nearby National Park College who are finishing their clinical rotations, in addition to providing a number of internships and shadowing opportunities for local high school students.

Dr. Brian is also active in the community. He is in his sixth year of service on the Lake Hamilton School Board and is in his first year as Justice of the Peace for Garland County.

Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital — 1525 Airport Road, Hot Springs — 501.767.8503 — lakehamiltonanimalhospital.com Hot Springs Animal Hospital — 1533 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs — 501.623.2411 — hotspringsvet.com

THE FACE OF GUTTERS

LEAFGUARD OF ARKANSAS LeafGuard of Arkansas was established in 2001 as a local, family-owned contractor business to bring the LeafGuard gutter system to Arkansas. The LeafGuard gutter system is the only one-piece covered gutter system available on the market, providing the perfect solution for keeping leaves and debris out and eliminating the hassle of clearing out clogs. The patented one-piece aluminum system allows water to flow perfectly into the gutter while simultaneously shielding from leaves overhead.

At LeafGuard of Arkansas, the key to success lies in its experienced team of gutter experts. The average tenure of one of its estimators and installers is more than a decade, giving them a deep understanding of Arkansas homes and the LeafGuard system.

“Our mission is to help homeowners protect their homes,” said Bradley Wright, president of LeafGuard of Arkansas. “We do that by providing the best one-piece covered gutter system available in the market and using trained and experienced employees to assure the best installation for the home.”

An important aspect of gutter protection is a solid warranty, and LeafGuard’s lifetime clog-free warranty and excellent service ensure that a LeafGuard system will protect a customer’s home for years to come. Come bad weather and changing seasons, LeafGuard of Arkansas guarantees the satisfaction of a clog-free gutter.

7800 Counts Massie Road, North Little Rock — 501.664.5400 — LeafGuardandmore.com LeaafguardOfArkansas

THE FACE OF NWA REAL ESTATE

LINDSEY & ASSOCIATES

SOMER ADAMS, EXECUTIVE BROKER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Lindsey & Associates is consistently voted one of the best real estate companies in northwest Arkansas, and Somer Adams, executive broker and senior vice president, is one standout example of why. With more than 20 years of experience, Adams has facilitated more than $300 million in transactions and counting. She has also been ranked among the top 15 Realtors in northwest Arkansas for three years in a row, as well as being ranked 20th in the entire state in 2022.

“Lindsey & Associates is more than a company. It's a family,” Adams said. “Being a family-owned-andoperated business allows us to focus on building long-term relationships with our clients, going above and beyond and fulfilling the legacy that Mr. Lindsey began 50 years ago.”

Adams’ mission is to deliver exceptional service and guidance to help clients make informed decisions and achieve their goals. Whether they are buying or selling, Adams strives to find clients the right home, not just any house. She also helps clients take a long-term approach to each investment, and she will not let someone buy a house that they will not be able to resell in the future.

“My job doesn’t end at the closing table,” she said. “I aim to be there for my clients long after.”

Known for her honesty, hard work, persistence and diligence, Adams’ goal is to keep growing — both personally and professionally — and to continue to elevate the Lindsey & Associates legacy in northwest Arkansas.

Cell: 479.601.3732 — Office: 479.636.2200 — lindsey.com

THE FACE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS

LISA ACADEMY

LISA Academy is a tuition-free, K-12 public charter school system that empowers today’s learners by giving them the resources to become tomorrow’s leaders.

LISA’s STEM-focused, rigorous college prep courses prepare students for their academic and professional career, encouraging them to dream big. Currently, LISA Academy has nine public charter school campuses in Rogers-Bentonville, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Springdale and, as of October, Fayetteville.

An exceptional faculty and staff actively promote LISA’s mission to learn, innovate, support and achieve both inside the classroom and out. At LISA Academy, there is a pathway to success for every child, one that lets them lead in their own unique way.

By changing what classroom learning looks like for its scholars, LISA Academy is teaching students to create opportunities for themselves and the future of Arkansas.

10825 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 360, Little Rock — 501.916.9450 — lisaacademy.org LISAAcademy

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THE FACE OF BRIDAL

LOW'S BRIDAL

The Low’s Bridal experience is anything but one-size-fits-all, and that goes for more than just the gowns.

Since opening in 1977, the shop has been a labor of love, and owners Dorcas and Stan Prince have maintained a reputation for quality that sees brides-to-be travel from all over to visit the store.

Thanks to its close working relationships with designers and manufacturers, Low’s is able to provide one of the largest selections of wedding dresses in the nation. Low’s enjoys a variety of traditional and fashionforward styles in a wide range of sizes, and each bride works one on one with her own personal consultant. True to the store’s high standard of quality, Low’s consultants bring an unbeaten level of care and professionalism to every appointment.

The team at Low’s knows that finding the right wedding dress is a journey, and they are ready to help brides, no matter where they are in that process. Whether that special day is in one month or a year away, Low’s has a number of gowns that can be taken home on the same day.

Low’s has built a reputation through the decades for excellence and quality, and that keeps generations of women returning to the same place their mothers, grandmothers and sisters trusted to find the perfect dress.

127 W. Cedar St., Brinkley — 870.734.3244 — lowsbridal.com

THE FACE OF BAKERY

NONA BAKES NONA PRUITT, OWNER

Since 2017, Nexus Coffee & Creative has been a gathering place for all kinds of people to enjoy good company, good coffee and good times. At its core, Nexus depends on the power of people, and nowhere is that more evident than in the person of Nona Pruitt, the cafe’s business and bakery partner.

Pruitt has been baking since she was young. Her mother always wanted a bakery, but Pruitt initially opted for a different career path. A frequent visitor to Nexus from the beginning, Pruitt began making cake pops to sell in the coffee shop. They were such a hit with customers that Nexus co-founder Amy Counce asked her to make more. Now Pruitt produces a variety of delicious baked goods for the shop as the owner of Nona Bakes at Nexus, bringing her mother’s dream to fruition in her honor.

The only combination more perfect than coffee and pastries, it turns out, is the dynamic duo of Pruitt and Counce. After successfully working together since 2019, the pair made the business partnership official in 2021.

There is no shortage of ways to enjoy all of Nona Bakes’ offerings, whether by requesting catering, ordering a custom Nona Box of assorted pastries, cinnamon rolls and cookies, or just picking up a few favorites to go from the cafe.

301 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock — 501.295.7515 — nexuscoffeear.com nonabakesatnexus

THE FACE OF PARTY RENTALS

PARTY TIME RENTAL AND EVENTS RAY AND KRISTI IMBRO Since buying Party Time Rental and Events in 2005, Ray and Kristi Imbro have served the community by creating once-in-a-lifetime events of all kinds. Their mission with every event is to listen and understand the client’s vision in order to bring it to life in spectacular fashion.

Ray serves as president of Party Time, and Kristi runs the showroom. Their long-term leadership team also consists of Mark Sheard, warehouse manager, and Billy Rudley, field supervisor, who have both spent more than a decade with the company. They train and foster the sales, operations and field teams, all while keeping everyone committed to Party Time’s client-first vision.

The Imbros and their team have worked with individual, corporate, and municipal and government clients.

For nonprofit groups, Party Time not only puts events together, but sponsors, donates and makes in-kind contributions to the causes itself.

Planning a large event can be stressful, even for the most organized people. Party Time works with clients to relieve that stress and to think outside the box to find innovative solutions. Party Time can transform even the most intricate gatherings into a smooth experience, leaving clients to focus on what is important — party time!

11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite 32B, Little Rock — 501.224.3133 — partytimerentalandevents.com PartyTimeRentalandEvents

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THE FACE OF RETIREMENT LIVING

PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE

FROM LEFT: CHRIS MARSH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; STEVE LEWELLEN, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH CARE; DAWN YAKOUBIAN, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING Since 1965, Presbyterian Village has provided high-level quality of life for individuals 55 and older, creating a family-like community that nurtures residents’ minds, bodies and spirits. A nonprofit organization sponsored by 11 Presbyterian churches in the greater Little Rock metropolitan area, Presbyterian Village was one of the first continuing care retirement communities in Arkansas.

Well known for its home-like, caring atmosphere, Presbyterian Village has a number of long-term staff members, allowing residents the convenience of stable caretakers who truly get to know them. Skilled nursing and rehabilitation are also available, with a high staff-to-resident ratio and levels of care designed to meet residents’ individual needs. Residents benefit from a wide variety of services, from transportation and religious services to beauty salons and wellness activities.

The Presbyterian Village board of directors and administration is always looking towards the future and working to enhance the services the community provides. Just last year, Presbyterian Village responded to the growing need for dementia care by opening the Vista. Additionally, fees are calculated on a nonprofit basis designed to give the best care for the lowest cost. Through all its offerings, Presbyterian Village aims to create a living environment that fosters personal dignity and independence.

510 N. Brookside Drive, Little Rock — 501.225.1615 — presbyvillage.org Presbyterian Village Little Rock

THE FACE OF AUTO SALES

PUCKETT AUTO GROUP CHRIS PUCKETT, OWNER

Chris Puckett started Puckett Auto Group in 2021 with the help of his wife and father-in-law, and that family-owned ethos is central to what the business does best. Puckett’s mission is to be the auto dealer customers can send their own mothers and grandmothers to, fully trusting they will be taken care of before and after the sale.

Puckett’s goal with every transaction is to take care of customers, listen to their needs and make sure they are 100 percent satisfied. Puckett Auto Group offers a wide selection of certified and used cars, trucks and SUVs from leading brands, and Puckett will not settle for anything less than a high-quality product. The Air Force veteran is dedicated to growing the business through a focus on people and relationships, and that work has paid off through scores of repeat customers and referrals.

Looking to the future of Puckett Auto Sales, Puckett is hoping to add a vehicle service department. This will allow the auto dealer to be a one-stop shop, adding just one more way in which the Puckett team can provide top-notch service in Greenbrier and beyond.

623 Arkansas 65 N., Greenbrier — 501.513.9380 — puckettauto.com Puckett Auto Group

THE FACE OF HEATING - AC - PLUMBING - GEOTHERMAL

ROOD INC.

EDDIE ROOD, LEFT, AND PRESTON ROOD For nearly seven decades, Rood Inc. has served Arkansas and the River Valley. After being hired to dig plumbing ditches at Arkansas Tech University in 1955, founder Fred Rood incorporated the business and built a foundation that would last through four generations of the Rood family: Fred, Freddie, Eddie and Preston.

At least one of the family members oversees each job to be certain all jobs are performed to the highest standards possible.

Rood Inc. offers a wide range of products and services, from geothermal heating systems and plumbing to heating and air conditioning system sales and service, as well as installations and repairs. It has a full-service department of highly trained technicians and offers service seven days a week, as well as emergency service, on all brands of equipment.

“We do what we say, and we give our honest opinion when asked instead of trying to push a sale on to a customer,” Preston said. “This has brought many customers back to us. For example, there are many heating and air systems sold that are not proper for the home size. This results in inefficiency and higher monthly energy bills, and it affects the comfort of the entire family.”

Rood’s legacy hinges on providing “dependable service you can trust,” and the company prides itself on performing every job, large or small, with a consistency and integrity that cannot be beaten, creating more loyal customers for generations to come.

4810 W. Main St., Russellville — 479.223.5160 — roodarkansas.com roodarkansas

THE FACE OF BOTOX AND FILLERS

SEI BELLA MED SPA

ANNE R. TRUSSELL, M.D., ABAARM, FAARM Anne Trussell, physician and owner at Little Rock’s Sei Bella Med Spa, prides herself on providing cuttingedge, minimally invasive services to help people look and feel better. Whether it is body contouring, age management or hormone therapies, Sei Bella has a proven solution and a knowledgeable specialist who can help patients achieve their dream results.

“We treat people like family and strive to make people feel comfortable and welcome while they are at Sei Bella,” Trussell said.

Trussell’s 20 years of experience in internal medicine proves especially useful when treating patients using bioidentical hormone pellets, as well as managing patients' thyroids and B12 and vitamin D levels. The rest of the Sei Bella team is also highly trained and have been with the spa for many years. Previous careers range from internal medicine and intensive care unit nursing to sales and high school counseling.

Trussell is also passionate about giving back to the community. She commits herself to raising awareness and research dollars for the Children’s Tumor Foundation with the goal of finding a cure for neurofibromatosis.

An animal lover, Trussell is also an advocate for various rescues, and she hopes to see the Faulkner County Animal Shelter up and running soon.

10310 W. Markham St., Suite 202, Little Rock — 501.228.6237 — seibellamedspa.net SeiBellaMedSpaLR

THE FACE OF JEWELRY

SISSY’S LOG CABIN THE JONES FAMILY

Since 1970, Sissy Jones and her family have committed themselves to making Sissy’s Log Cabin the go-to destination in the mid-South for exceptional diamond jewelry. Every time a guest walks into a Sissy’s Log Cabin, they can expect four things: exceptional service, an expansive selection, an extraordinary experience and quality pieces.

For the past half-century, Sissy’s has worked with its loyal clients to celebrate all of life’s milestones, and the company remains committed to being its customers’ trusted jeweler for the next half-century and beyond.

Sissy’s guiding business principle — and a mantra near and dear to matriarch Sissy Jones’ heart — is that the customer is always right.

The Joneses also attribute their success to their unwavering commitment to Christian-based values. They owe everything to their faith, and they work to keep Christ at the center of the business by opening each store every morning with a prayer.

As the premier fine jewelry destination of the mid-South, the company’s goals include expanding across the region in both Arkansas and beyond. Sissy’s aims to bring its extraordinary service, selection, experience and quality to more and more dedicated customers over the next few years.

No matter what the future brings, the goal of Sissy’s Log Cabin is to be a humble servant in all of the communities it calls home. Sissy’s believes that it is extremely important to give back. The Jones family’s love for Arkansas is profound, and they want to help this great state thrive.

Locations in Pine Bluff, Jonesboro, Little Rock Heights, Little Rock Promenade, Conway and Memphis sissyslogcabin.com Sissy’s Log Cabin

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THE FACE OF CHIROPRACTIC

SKINNER CHIROPRACTIC

At Skinner Chiropractic, the key to success is patient-centered care that is as highly effective as it is affordable. The mission of doctors Kyle Skinner, Garrett Taylor and Zachary Williamson is to provide the best quality chiropractic care possible in a comfortable environment to help their patients reach their goals and live their fullest lives.

In addition to chiropractic care, the practice offers massage therapy, acupuncture, decompression therapy and spinal therapy. What really makes the difference and sets Skinner Chiropractic apart from the competition, however, is the unmatched compassion staff members bring to every interaction.

“Every person that works in our offices loves to help people,” Skinner said. “Listening and understanding why the person is in our office allows us to create a plan to help them achieve their goals.”

Skinner Chiropractic recently opened its newest office in Benton and serves patients in Maumelle and Mayflower, as well. At every location, the team at Skinner Chiropractic is there to welcome new and returning patients with a smile and exceptional service.

“Most people that come into our offices have experienced issues throughout their lives that have not been properly addressed,” Skinner said. “It is important to remind them — and ourselves — that proper healing takes time, but the payoff is always worth it in the end.”

103 Park Drive • Maumelle • 501.851.6685 — 663 Arkansas 365 • Mayflower • 501.470.9855 421 N. Market St. • Benton • 501.849.6685 skinnerchiropractic.com — 121

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THE FACE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

STACI MEDLOCK

With a proven track record of success in real estate and more than two decades of experience, it is clear why Staci Medlock continues to be recognized as one of the top real estate agents in central Arkansas. Medlock specializes in working with first-time home buyers as well as new construction, and she has extensive experience with both buyers and sellers.

Medlock was previously voted Realtor of the Year, served as president of the North Pulaski Board of Realtors and has been recognized as a multi-million dollar producer for the past 15 years. A central Arkansas native, she caters to a wide range of clients across Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy and Beebe. For sellers, she is highly adept at identifying changes to be made that ensure a faster and more lucrative selling process.

“There’s never a dull moment,” Medlock said. “There is a lot of extreme multitasking, but I love to take care of people.”

Medlock also continuously sharpens her skill sets, exploring new marketing strategies to ensure she is offering the best possible advice when it comes to selling a home. A cheerleader and an advocate for Arkansas in every facet of her life, Medlock loves showing people what the Natural State has to offer while working to give buyers and sellers the best deal possible.

2411 McCain Blvd., No. 4, North Little Rock — 501.944.8687 — stacimedlock.com stacimedlock

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THE FACE OF TRUCKING

STALLION TRANSPORTATION FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: GARLAND RICE, COLT RICE, ELIZABETH SKINNER BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: BUTCH RICE, DREW PARSONS, SETH CARRUTH, BRODY WELCHER, JEFF HOLT Stallion Transportation Group, headquartered in Beebe, was established in 1992 by founder Butch Rice. Having recently celebrated three decades in business as both an asset trucking company and third-party logistics division, Stallion has made a reputation for itself as a bar-setting contributor to the transportation industry.

Stallion’s leadership has spent decades investing in the youth of the company, and they are excited to pass the reins to the next generation of executive leadership that will continue to foster relationships with employees and customers.

Those relationships have allowed the company to stay in front of industry hardships and enjoy a commendably low driver turnover rate. By investing in advanced technology, employee success and leading customer experience, Stallion is ensuring a bright and successful future for the company.

At its core, the Stallion team is a close-knit community of talented people with Christian values. They enjoy the outdoors, sports, friendly competition and serving the great state of Arkansas. Built on a foundation of generosity, the company recently exceeded $1 million in charitable contributions and has supported a number of organizations vital to the Natural State, including the Arkansas Foodbank and Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Arkansas Special Olympics, Make-a-Wish Foundation, and local school and community organizations.

800.597.2425 — stalliontg.com stalliontg 123

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THE FACE OF DIGITAL

SYNERGETIC SOCIAL HAYDEN MEDLOCK, FOUNDER At Synergetic Social, founder Hayden Medlock’s recipe for success lies in her approach: down-to-earth, friendly and seriously committed to delivering results.

“What truly warms my heart about Synergetic Social are the meaningful relationships I cultivate with my clients,” Medlock said. “With each new client partnership, I not only gain a valuable business connection, but also a new best friend, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Synergetic Social’s mission is to empower businesses with the essential tools needed to leverage the incredible power of social media. With full belief in the idea that “people buy people, not brands,” Synergetic Social emphasizes the importance of human connection in the world of digital marketing.

Synergetic Social partners with Arkansas businesses large and small, across a variety of industries and services. From real estate brokerages to wedding venues, Synergetic Social can provide what companies need to succeed in the digital realm. Whether it is social media management, captivating content creation, persuasive copywriting or a tailor-made website, Medlock and her team provide a seamless blend of strategy and creativity.

“Our passion lies in witnessing businesses achieve their utmost potential while forging new and meaningful relationships along the way,” Medlock said. “We make your digital marketing our full-time job." hayden@synergeticsocial.com Synergetic Social

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THE FACE OF MUSEUMS

THE GANGSTER MUSEUM OF AMERICA ROBERT RAINES, OWNER Hot Springs is famous even beyond the borders of Arkansas for its storied past. At the Gangster Museum of America, visitors get a glimpse into some of the most intriguing chapters in its history. The museum’s mission, according to owner Robert Raines, is to educate and entertain guests through factual eyewitness accounts from individuals who lived through the “glory days” of illegal gambling and the birth of baseball spring training in the Spa City.

“I fell in love with Hot Springs in 2007 while helping a friend move his business into the historic district downtown,” Raines said. “That weekend, I heard some gangster stories from locals. I decided to research the history of Hot Springs. The more I learned, the more excited I got.”

Raines reached out to his connections in other cities notorious for being mob hotspots in their Prohibition days — New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Mo. That led him to get in touch with authors, historians and even gangster family members who corroborated some of the stories he heard from locals. After months of compiling what he had learned, Raines officially opened the museum in 2008.

Raines and the rest of the team behind the museum continue to look for new ways to get the city’s story out to the masses. They are currently in production of a documentary about famed Hot Springs resident Owen Vincent Madden, as well as in the developmental stages of a television series.

"Most of us in the tourism business here get caught up in our own world, but," Raines said, "we are careful not to lose sight of the fact that Hot Springs will always be the main attraction" 510 Central Ave., Hot Springs — 501.318.1717 — tgmoa.com TGMOA 125

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THE FACE OF INTERIOR DESIGN

TOM CHANDLER & ASSOCIATES Based in Little Rock, Tom Chandler & Associates serves clients from all across the country. The soughtafter design firm currently has projects in Tulsa, Okla.; Annapolis, Md.; and Upper Montclair, N.J.; and they have completed projects from Washington, D.C., to Hawaii.

“I couldn’t have the success that I do without my incredible team,” Chandler said. “I have a God-given ability to do design, but it’s important to surround myself with talented people.”

The Chandler team’s mission is to make other people’s lives better and for everyone to love being at home.

If individuals do not want to invite people over and their homes do not reflect who they are, then it is hard to find joy in a home. The Chandler team wants everyone to be proud of their homes and to share them.

Tom Chandler & Associates offers a wide range of services, from one-day home makeovers to complete home move-ins and holiday decorating. The team is also passionate about giving back to the community and helps decorate for events like the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena and donating gift certificates for the Chandler School of Interior Decorating.

“In our company, we are ethical to a fault sometimes,” Chandler said. “We totally stand behind everything we do to the degree that we sometimes lose money. If the client is unhappy, we find a way to make them happy. My team likes working for a company with that level of integrity, and that is why we have such longterm employees.”

501.372.4278 — tomchandlerandassociates.com tomchandlerandassociatesinteriors tchandler_assoc tchandler_assoc 126

THE FACE OF TITLE COMPANY

WACO TITLE CO.

FROM LEFT: DOUG CHILDRESS, DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED TITLE; MEREDITH LAFRENIERE, DIRECTOR OF TITLE OPERATIONS; SARA HECK, PRESIDENT AND CEO; BUCKLEY BRIDGES, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER; MARY PEDERSEN, DIRECTOR OF CLOSING OPERATIONS WACO Title Co. has been serving the abstract, title-insurance and closing needs of Arkansas and southwest Missouri since 1885, helping generations of customers through the closing process. Today, WACO has an exceptional team of more than 50 licensed title agents, many in-house attorneys and a dedicated commercial team of 20 associates across 24 locations throughout Arkansas and Missouri.

WACO’s mission is to be “people helping people,” and every member of the WACO team takes that charge seriously. The WACO family is made up of incredible leaders and highly skilled associates. The company’s goal is to be a great partner for its referral customers and to deliver a world-class experience. Moving forward, it will continue to lead changes in the delivery model of title and closing services to meet customer needs in new and innovative ways.

The company continues to be forward-thinking in the way it provides services, and it can handle transactions anywhere in the state thanks to its digital and concierge services. WACO Title takes pride in its ability to protect the real estate investments in the communities it serves and is constantly striving for excellence in everything it does.

2592 S. 48th St., Springdale — 479.770-6700 — wacotitle.com WACOTitleCompany 127

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THE FACE OF FINANCIAL PLANNING

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THE FACE OF WINDOWS AND SIDING

WILSON’S HOME IMPROVEMENT CO. PAUL AND SANDY WILSON, OWNERS Paul and Sandy Wilson founded Wilson’s Home Improvement Co. in 2002 on the principles of truth, honesty, fair and competitive pricing, and exceptional workmanship. The couple knew that in order to stand out, their company would need to be customer service-oriented first and foremost, and that is exactly what it has achieved.

“To be the best and continue to be the best, you have to strive to get better every single day,” Paul said.

As Wilson’s Home Improvement has grown, the Wilsons continue to recruit employees they know have those same values and will take care of customers. Wilson’s Home Improvement’s promise to each and every homeowner is “the best of the best for less.” Wilson’s provides the best products and workmanship for less money than the competition. In addition, the company’s “soft sell” approach means there is no hassling, haggling and definitely no pressure on customers. As Paul advises his employees, “The bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a low price.”

With more than 70 percent of new sales being referrals from previous customers, the Wilsons can be sure they are doing things the right way. Wilson’s Home Improvement strives to remain the No. 1 siding and window company in Arkansas.

“From the beginning, during the installation and right through to the end, we want our customers to not only see the difference in the work we do, but also feel the difference in who we are,” Paul said.

1964 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs — 866.262.9908 — wilsonssiding.com bwilsonhic 129

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Celebrating

150 years of shaping stories, communities, and lives

By ANGELITA FALLER // Photos provided

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Attendees are invited to browse APA member newspapers from around the state in this undated APA Summer Convention photo.

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here are many who would say that journalism is a dying art, but the Arkansas Press Association, which represents the majority of the state’s journalists, newspapers and affiliated industry partners, is still going strong after 150 years. The APA, which is the oldest known trade association in the state of Arkansas, is celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary this year. The APA remains active in the fight for the future of newspapers and journalism, advocating for the preservation of the state’s Freedom of Information Act, the need for fair and truthful reporting, transparency in government, and education for the next generation of journalists in a rapidly changing environment.

“I think our motto says it all: Free Press, Free People,” said Ashley Kemp Wimberley, executive director. “That’s the bottom line, why we do what we do. The ultimate goal is to keep our freedom free and make sure we do everything we can to maintain democracy in our nation. I am thankful and fortunate that I get to play a small role in that.”

The APA was founded in 1873, when Ashley Kemp Wimberley there were around 56 newspapers in the state. Today, the association is made up of more than 100 newspaper members and more than 110 associate members comprised of suppliers, manufacturers, educators, individuals and media organizations. The main goals of the APA are to provide information and training opportunities for its members to help them grow, develop and compete in the marketplace as well as to serve the public by helping protect the freedoms of press and speech, as well as the state’s FOIA law.

“We’re constantly growing and changing,” Wimberley said. “The press association holds information training and, more importantly recently, is our legislative work and lobbying efforts at the capital to protect FOIA. We have several different conferences, meetings and seminars that we base on the immediate needs of our members. We have seminars on photography, sales, investigative reporting, writing headlines and advertising — just about any subject that brings value to our members.”

The daughter of newspaper owners, Wimberley, who has worked at the APA for 18 years, said that the newspaper business is in her blood.

Her parents, Ron and Nancy Kemp, met while working at the Russellville Courier. The Kemps purchased the Clay County Democrat, and Wimberley grew up in Rector, watching journalism in action.

“We always laugh that the old saying is true: You get ink in your blood,” she said. “We spent many nights in the newsroom, sleeping under my dad’s desk, and we would sleep until my parents would put the newspaper to bed. We spent a lot of time going to city council meetings and quorum court and covering ball games. Me watching them is what gives me such passion for what I do.”

The nonprofit arm of the APA has two subsidiaries, the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation, its educational wing, and Arkansas Press Services, which offers numerous advertising services to the public and newspapers. The Arkansas Newspaper Foundation provides funds for scholarships, internships, educational programs and the Arkansas Newspaper Museum. The APA also produces a number of publications, including an annual directory of state media, the Freedom of Information Handbook, a legislative report, a job-bank listing, Public and Legal Notices Digest and a weekly newsletter.

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the APA held a public open house to celebrate the completion of the renovation of the APA headquarters at 411 S. Victory St. in Little Rock, just across from the Arkansas State Capitol Building. The renovation has spanned five years because the APA staff has been displaced from its headquarters three times: during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of broken windows during the 2020 protests of the death of George Floyd and after flooding from a nearby construction site.

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The Arkansas Press Association celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. The association was founded by a group of journalists and newspaper owners in October 1873 while covering the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock.

APA headquarters on Victory Street near the Arkansas State Capitol

The APA was also responsible for creating this year’s National Newspaper Week Campaign, sponsored by the board of the Newspaper Association Managers. The annual campaign, which ran Oct. 1 through 7, created materials that were used by newspapers across the country to remind people of the importance of reading newspapers. The APA is also releasing a commemorative magazine that features a comprehensive history of the association as well as profiles on newspaper members, past presidents and board members.

“It’s a celebration of where we are and where we are going,” Wimberley said. “It gives you chills when you look up at old photos and all the history. It just reminds you of the level of importance of journalism and how important it is that we keep our industry healthy so we can continue to do our work into the future.”

Celebrating freedom of the press and its heroes

In a grand celebration of a century and a half dedicated to the noble pursuit of truth, the Arkansas Press Association celebrated its 150th anniversary with its second Press Freedom Gala on Oct. 12 at the Chenal Country Club in Little Rock to honor a legacy that has tirelessly championed the public's right to know.

Wimberley described the gala as a “celebration of both a free press and of individuals who brought positive headlines to Arkansas and either work within or are strong supporters of the media industry and FOIA.” Funds raised from the Press Freedom Gala funded educational programming provided by the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation.

Justin Moore, multi-platinum musician and songwriter, was honored as this year’s APA Headliner of the Year. The award is presented to the person Arkansas’ newspapers believe has created the most positive headlines for the state. A native of Poyen, Moore has charted 21 times on the Billboard Country Hot 100 and Country Airplay charts, including his No. 1 hit with Priscilla Block, “You, Me, and Whiskey.” Moore won the Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist at the 2012 American Country Awards and New Artist of the Year at the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards. He released his seventh album, Stray Dog, in May. Rex Nelson, senior editor and columnist for the Arkansas DemocratGazette, and Rusty Turner, longtime journalist and retired editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, received the APA Distinguished Service Award. Mike Masterson, independent columnist and correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, received the Golden 50 Service Award, which celebrates those with more than 50 years in the newspaper industry.

Nelson called receiving his APA award “one of the greatest honors of my life.” He started his career as the sports editor of the Daily Siftings Herald in Arkadelphia as an 18-year-old college freshman. Though he spent a number of years away from the business, Nelson said he always considered himself a “newspaperman first and foremost.”

“That's why I made the decision in 2017 to return to full-time journalism and finish my career just as I started it,” he said. “This profession has allowed me to do things that a kid from Arkadelphia would never otherwise get to do. I've been fortunate to cover everything from the Super Bowl to the Kentucky Derby to national political conventions to State of the Union addresses. If there's one thing in which I take the most pride, it was probably being the person asked by our statewide newspaper to oversee the coverage of Bill Clinton's successful 1992 campaign for president. That was quite a time for our state to be in the national spotlight.”

Nelson has attended APA meetings for more than 40 years.

“These meetings allowed me to meet the giants in our business, and they were nice enough to befriend a young reporter,” he said. “Now that I am in my 60s, I'm the one trying to give back by encouraging young journalists.”

Protecting the Freedom of Information Act

Fighting to preserve the state’s FOIA law is one of the APA’s main goals. In a nod to FOIA history, the APA presented this year’s Freedom of Information Award posthumously to Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, the man who signed the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act into law in 1967. The law gave the public and the media the right to examine and copy public records and to be present when governmental bodies meet. When Rockefeller left office in 1971, the 37th governor of Arkansas called the passage of the Arkansas FOIA bill one of the crowning achievements of his administration. Rockefeller’s family members, including William Rockefeller and Winthrop P. Rockefeller Jr., accepted the award on the former governor’s behalf.

Eliza Gaines, publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, serves as president of the APA Board of Directors and is the 10th woman to serve in the role. The 145th president of the APA sees the role of the association as fundamental in protecting the state’s FOIA law as well as promoting transparency in government.

“I’ve seen firsthand the association’s commitment to government transparency and the Eliza Gaines

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Candidates Blanche Lincoln and Sen. Fay Boozman on stage at the United States Senate Debate at the 1998 APA Convention in Eureka Springs. Seated in the middle is moderator Jeanne Rollberg, UA Little Rock Journalism Department Chair.

barrassed by the performance of their agencies. The work produced positive changes in policy and, at least for a time, improved FOIA compliance across the state.”

Looking to the future

While we are at a time where many see readership in newspapers declining, Turner said there has never been a more important time to recognize the importance of the newspaper industry. sustainability of newspapers across the state,” Gaines said. “I’m honored to “We’ve never been very good in our industry at tooting our own represent an association that is still going strong after 150 years and whose horn, but it’s never been more important for news organizations to remotto is ‘Free Press, Free People.’” mind our readers of the critical role press freedom plays in maintaining With the rapidly changing environment of the newspaper industry, our republic,” Turner said. “Accurate, timely and objective news coverage the APA helps continue the industry by “sharing the success stories of how of our communities, state, nation and world is a cornerstone of democto remain sustainable” and by “being open with young people about the racy. What we do is vitally important. We can’t be shy about telling our challenges and opportunities in this ever-changing business,” Gaines said. story.”

She said she sees her main goals during her tenure as president as Nelson agreed that it is equally important to recognize and support to “strategize how to protect our FOIA and legal-notice laws and better hard-working journalists throughout the challenges they are facing. educate Arkansans, especially non-readers, on the importance of having “Newspaper people are my people,” he said. “I'll especially relish the a local, reliable news source in their community.” chance to tell those who are still working journalists to keep up the good Turner, an APA award-winning veteran journalist, has been acwork at a dangerous time politically in our state. Unfortunately, a large tive in the APA for more than 30 years, ever since he became editor number of our elected officials in Arkansas have contempt for the work of the Northwest Arkansas Morning News in Rogers in 1991. He served we do, but my fellow journalists will continue to cover those officeholdas president of the APA Board of Directors from 2019 to 2021 and ers honestly and fairly. Their work has never been more important to our has represented the APA while speaking on behalf of preserving FOIA state than it is right now.” during many legislative hearings. He said he is especially proud of his One of the things that has made the APA so successful, in Wimberwork with the FOIA Arkansas Project in 1999, which sent reporters ley’s opinion, is the longevity and dedication of its staff. and other volunteers to each of the state's 75 counties to make FOIA “Terri Cobb, director of operations, has been here for more than requests in each area possible.

35 years,” she said. “The longevity of the staff is incredible. When so “I was part of a team of newspaper editors across the state who many other things are changing in our industry, having a staff that planned and executed a one-day statewide survey of government comvalues what they do has been the key to staying relevant and successful pliance with FOIA,” Turner said. “The findings were reported to our as things move quickly.” readers and even got the attention of a number of public officials emThe nature of journalists, who are trained to assess information, ask questions and adapt to new situations, is what makes Wimberley sure that the APA will continue to go (Right) The registration desk at the 1962 APA strong for many Summer Convention in Fort Smith. Pictured years to come. with APA staff Lila Wooten, Jeanette Hall “Part of what has and Louise Bowker are Fred Wulfekuhler made us so successof the Paragould Daily Press, Porter Young ful is knowing that of the Helena World and Pat Murphy of no day is the same,” Southwestern Bell Telephone with his wife she said. “Working and their sons, Terry and Kevin. for the newspaper industry is much the same. We have our core goals. The success comes from being able to act quickly and be flexible and be solution-based. You have to be scrappy.

Flexibility and being progressive is more of a key to success than trying to have some long-term goal that may not even matter Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller signs the tomorrow.”

Arkansas Freedom of Information Act into law on Feb. 14, 1967, as Rep. Leon Holsted, Sen. Ben Allen and Bob McCord of the North Little Rock Times look on.

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Promise of a New Day Despite setbacks, Women & Children First approaches landmark accomplishment

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by LORI SPARKMAN

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"This is about passion. We’re making history," said Cathy Browne, board member at Women & Children First. Browne, left, and executive director Angela McGraw display an illustration of the new center.

The woman stands at the counter of the municipal building, a small notebook clutched in one hand and her fears in the other. As prompted, she repeats the why of her being here for what feels like the millionth time today. It seems like this stuff would get easier to say, but just standing there feels like being paraded in the town square, a crimson A stitched over the right breast of her garment — A for "abused."

She has been shuttled about the building for six hours, talking through what look like the same windows, only to wind up back here, the desk where she started. She has ridden elevators, climbed stairs, sat on benches and watched the second hand glide in circles again and again and again. Everywhere she goes, she finds the place cold, sterile, as is the level of service she gets. After all, staff here have seen 50 of her yesterday, 30 more of her today and honey, there is a line coming after you tomorrow. For the umpteenth time today, papers she does not understand slide towards her. ‘Upstairs,’ says the clerk, barely looking at her as she stands and walks toward the back.

The woman turns and sighs deeply. It is like being hit all over again, and God knows she knows how to take that by now. He had certainly given her enough practice. She shifts her purse higher on her shoulder and feels the remnant ache from last week. It still hurts, but the worst of the pain has receded from that electrifying, sparks-before-your-eyes jolt that came when he wrenched the joint — hard. She remembers how it sounded like a raw drumstick being twisted off a chicken carcass.

Her gaze comes to rest on her two children, an 8-yearold girl and a little boy, age 5, growing understandably more tired and cranky with each phase of the plodding rat race. They do not deserve this, both what they have seen and what she is putting them through to try to make it stop. They should be in school like the other kids or playing in the nice yard she had always imagined she would have for them instead sitting around this dump. The imaginary A sears a fresh hole through her clothes and her body, heavying her heart. She motions them over, but instead of heading back down the hallway, turns and leads them out the door.

The hell with this, she whispers.

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Angela McGraw, executive director of Women & Children First in Little Rock, is a numbers girl.

It typically takes 22 different locations, she said, to get domestic violence survivors the help they need to get out of a bad situation and get on with their lives. At each stop, there are multiple departments they must visit — six alone for an order of protection, for example — and that is if things go perfectly, which rarely happens.

“Now you take that situation times 22 places,” she said, “and put them on the bus system to get there besides, you see why so many just give up and go back home.”

There are other numbers on the tip of McGraw’s tongue. She said the victims Women & Children First serves every year number in the hundreds, thousands if counting the frightened and shell-shocked children that are often in tow.

She also noted the national average for times a victim will leave and return before leaving for good (seven) and what that average number drops to if that same victim goes through Women & Children First’s system (two).

McGraw knows all this not only from her career with the nonprofit, but personally. Two decades ago, she fled her native Kansas after leaving an abusive husband. It was her second time leaving a situation so personally embarrassing to her she did not even confide its goings-on with her family and came on the heels of what she calls her rock bottom. A lifelong friend of hers was murdered in her own home, along with her three daughters, all under age 5. They were killed by a shotgun blast from her husband as they slept. Then he turned the gun on himself.

To this day, McGraw does not know if her friend had planned to leave or if that night was just the last act of a twisted mind, but it was enough to move McGraw to leave for good, eventually landing in Arkansas and launching a career to help strangers she somehow intimately knows.

“A victim will go back to their abuser out of fear,” she said. “You know when I say that, people will say, ‘Oh I can understand that. I would be fearful,’ but they don’t know that I mean fearful of everything — the fear of going to a shelter, the fear of not having food, the fear of him finding you, the fear you won’t find a job, the fear of having to take kids out of school, and the biggest fear of all: that by making the decision to leave the relationship, you now have an 85 percent greater chance of becoming a homicide victim.

“Every person I’ve worked with who was shot or something like that had left the situation already, and they were either doing an exchange with a child or something like that when it happened.

That’s a legitimate fear when you think about it.”

Lately, McGraw has had other numbers on her mind, such as those having to do with fundrais­

ing. The organization’s annual Woman of the Year Gala raises about a quarter of Women & Children First’s roughly $2.3 million operating budget.

The 2024 gala, which will take place Feb. 3 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, will recognize Sharri Jones, owner and event coordinator of Sissy’s Log Cabin, as Woman of the Year because of the business’ long-standing partnership with Women & Children First.

Another quarter of the organization’s operating budget comes from private do­ nations, and the remaining half comes from grants. Wom­ en & Children First’s aging shelter is a 100-plus-yearold Little Rock mansion that is in constant and sore need of repairs and improvements, keep­ing the financial pressure at the top of McGraw’s mind.Finally, one number stands above all for the newest staffer up through leadership such as McGraw and Cathy Browne, a longtime board member and aggressively enthusiastic advocate for Women & Children First, its mission and the people it helps. That number — $18 million — is the cost to build and create a new facility and fundamentally change the way services are delivered to domestic abuse survivors and their families in Arkansas.

“We’re a statewide organization that receives and helps women from all over Arkansas,” Browne said. “Someone that lives in Garland County and can’t go to the sheriff, can’t go to the priest, they come here. That makes us the mothership, and as such we are being asked to serve way more people than we can in a 100-year-old building that’s falling apart. We need this new facility to meet those demands and meet those responsibilities.”

Women & Children First’s proposed new facility will employ the Family Peace Center Model, a programmatic framework created in 2002 in San Diego. Under that model, services are all integrated at one site, from sheltering to handling legal issues to providing access to law enforcement to connecting with different community resources related to housing, education and employment.

“This is a very successful model,” Browne said.

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Sharri Jones, owner and event coordinator of Sissy's Log Cabin, is Women & Children First's 2024 Woman of the Year.

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It is a sweltering June day, but the 30-something slips into a long sleeve top, the better to hide her arms.

She checks the concealer one more time, especially under her right eye, then heads out to meet the girls for lunch. Impeccably coiffed and clad in designer labels, right down to her $300 sunglasses and the gleaming Mercedes that sidles toward the through street, she passes lawns manicured by crews of six. It is the neighborhood she always wanted, if not the life she always expected.

The short ride to the bistro gives her time to think, as usual, about the volatility of her home life. It never used to be like this. In the beginning, back when she was a rising star in the company and her earnings matched his, he would as soon die as raise a hand to her. Everyone looked at them jealously — the couple who had it all — and that felt good.

The first time he hit her, the surprise of him crossing the line landed as hard as the blow itself. He had apologized, of course, saying it was an accident — the bourbon, his job, whatever sounded good enough for her brain to lock onto and keep her flight response in check — but she knew then, and he probably did too, that a door had cracked and would only swing wider in the months to come. Which it did.

How did she get here, her brain asked for the hundredth time. The master’s degree, the vice president’s corner office and the many events attended by all the right people were supposed to ensure the kind of happiness and security that separated them from the rest of society. Instead, she had been talked out of most of her accolades in exchange for a luxurious prison where the accounts were all in his name and the A-listers the couple fraternized with became less their friends as much as the veneer of societal respectability he cloaked himself in, all but guaranteeing no one would suspect, let alone believe, what was really happening.

Lunch is the same vapid chatter as always. She eats lightly, partly because he tells her no one can stand her fat body and partly because spending too much on lunch could trigger another rage. She talks even less than she eats, especially when the group starts sneering about a mutual acquaintance who left her spouse amid rumors of abuse.

“Well, she picked him,” one of them says as people nod their heads. The woman feels sick.

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“What’s going to happen when the doors open is it’s not going to be a confidential location. We want it to be visible because we want the person who’s thinking about leaving their abuser to know they have a place to go that’s secure and where everything is in one place.”

The new shelter will encompass 40,000 square feet, increasing the number of shelter rooms and offering amenities many people do not think of, such as a new and expanded play area for children and a kennel for the often-overlooked family pet caught in the midst of domestic abuse situations. The new structure is a dream the group has been working toward for nearly a decade.

“2015 is we brought it to the board,” Browne said. “I went around and had each board member say their piece, and we started getting together all the materials and everything for a capital campaign, mobilizing.”

COVID threw momentum into reverse, and following the pandemic, Women & Children First leadership discovered just how shifting the sands of politics could be. Although money flowed out of Washington in the form of recovery funds – some of which was specifically earmarked for victims fleeing domestic violence situations – Browne and McGraw were dismayed over not being able to adequately articulate their vision to lawmakers who held the purse strings.

“We simply couldn’t make the people in the legislature understand what we were proposing, even though we were applying for funds exactly as they were intended to be used,” Browne said. “We found that unfortunate because it was such a successful model in many places and one that can absolutely save lives here in Arkansas.”

“When I see some of the things that got money, and I compare that to a domestic violence shelter that was desperately needed, it’s really hard for somebody like me to be able to compare the two,” McGraw added.

The organization’s leaders came away smarting from the experience, unsure of what to do next.

Browne said it was a low point in the years-long march toward getting the new project underway.

“It disappointed the hell out of us because we had worked with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to create a capital projects fund, which was another bunch of [American Rescue Plan] money,” she said. “We’ve been working on this for years, and then to have this totally crater when we’ve been putting off fundraising with our donors because we were trying to build the war chest through the state was mystifying.

“It was very hard to take, because we knew this is such a good idea that has worked all over the country, mostly in capital cities because that’s where the services are located.”

Fortunately, the project had its proponents. The city of Little Rock leased the group four acres of land

at a rate of $1 a year for 99 years, the Windgate Foundation offered a matching grant, and Bank OZK made a generous donation to seed the effort.

However, raising the bulk of the money to build the building and pay for two years of operating expenses was going to take a new approach.

Ultimately, McGraw dug into the grants world, and at this writing, the group is waiting to hear back on applications that could finally greenlight the work.

While she said having to find and implement a plan B was instructive, the sting of being turned down for such a project by the state’s lawmakers still smarts.

“They just couldn’t see the bigger picture,” McGraw said. “They were looking at us as Women & Children First, the shelter. If this shelter is going to get money, why aren’t we giving all the shelters money? They weren’t looking at the fact that shelters all over the state send people to us all the time because we’re in Little Rock.

“At the end of the day, what they don’t realize is that our goal is that we have one of these up in northwest Arkansas and one in Jonesboro, not just us. My hope is that we’ll be the model and they’ll come and be like, we have to have one of these here.”

Back at the current shelter, the halls of Women & Children First creak and echo with the movement of traffic and beneath the weight of time. The old structure, which has been a port in a very fierce storm for decades, may soon be seeing its final days with the group, and given its condition, few will likely shed tears over that. That said, the spirit it engendered to help the hurt, protect the vulnerable and reestablish dignity and hope for all who passed through its doors is palpable.

Browne cannot wait to see how that spirit, which took root in this ancient space, takes flight in the next.

The 2024 Woman of the Year Gala will “People reading this article have got to understand take place Feb. 3 at the Statehouse that domestic violence and its Convention Center in Little Rock. aftermath are things that are lived by people in our state every day,” Browne said. “We help people move past that, people from right here in Little Rock, from across Arkansas and outside of Arkansas. Now it’s time for the new chapter, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to build that.

“The land is just waiting for us. We’ve got our contractor in place, our architect is in place. They’re just waiting for the word ‘Go.’ This is about passion. We’re making history.”

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New face of

BOWEN

Colin Crawford

Law school dean looks to foster relationship with community

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos provided

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ince assuming his position as dean of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in July, Colin Crawford has had no shortage of things to do. In addition to finding his way around the campus in the MacArthur Park Historic District, he has shaken hands with lawyers,

judges, entrepreneurs and just about anyone else who can aid him in his mission to help the Bowen School help Arkansas.

“I’m having a wonderful time,” he said. “I’m really feeling welcomed by the community, and I’m very excited to be here.”

Crawford was born and raised in Denver. He said he had a wonderful childhood governed by terrific parents who encouraged him to be independent.

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“Denver’s a very agreeable, livable city,” he said. “I was very involved in lots of activities both in school and in the community, and it really set my trajectory for the future.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Columbia University in New York, a master’s degree in history from the University of Cambridge in England and completed two years of doctoral study in history.

He received his juris doctor from Harvard Law School at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

Crawford said he takes a historical approach to legal study because it can be valuable to comprehend how and why laws have developed. For example, he uses history to explain the development of 400-year-old English law categories that pertain to transferring and inheriting property. Understanding that the purpose of those rules was to create a more equal society can make the text relatable to our society today, he said.

“By understanding or trying to understand what happened in the past, you can understand better our current motivations and challenges,” he said.

He added that a desire to directly impact society led him to pursue a legal career, rather than continue his work in history.

“I decided that I wanted to leave my doctoral program in history because I wanted a more active life where I felt I could make an immediate difference in the way society was developing,” he said. “Lawyers are the stewards of the rules by which we live, and so it was very attractive to me to have that kind of role where I could actively contribute.”

After earning his J.D., Crawford joined the New York State Bar Association before leaving his practice to become an instructor.

“While I was practicing law, I yearned for something more,” he said. “I was coming back full circle to history again in the sense that I wanted to understand not just how to apply legal principles in the moment, but also to understand the why of the legal principles, and then to suggest ways to change them. Legal teaching allowed me to integrate those two — both describing how things are, and then reflecting on why they are and whether that’s a good thing.”

Crawford spent eight years teaching at Georgia State University in Atlanta and another eight years teaching at Tulane University in New Orleans. Then he served as the dean of Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in Kentucky for four years. He completed a brief stint as dean of Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco before joining UA Little Rock.

“I ended up at Bowen because I was looking for a leadership position at a school that I thought I understood and where I thought I could make a difference,” he said.

While he was at Georgia State, Crawford founded and co-directed the Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth, which allows law students to explore how the legal decisions of today’s cities affect the future.

“The then-provost of Georgia State invited applications for new centers and programs in areas of interest to the university, and I taught in property, land-use and environmental areas,” he said. “With the explosive growth of Atlanta at that time, I thought that we could be a real laboratory for studying urban change, in part by learning from other places.”

His work at the center allowed him to teach and study throughout central and South America, where he and his students discussed topics such as the reasons it was possible for the sophisticated banking system of Brazil to quickly transfer money in a way that was not possible in the U.S. at that time or how Brazil’s detailed taxonomy of protected

biomes both benefits and negatively impacts endangered species.

“Because it was a comparative law center, it looked a lot at what other cities and other countries were doing. The idea is that we could learn from the best practices of other places and also learn where others have made mistakes and try to avoid them,” he said. “So that led to a lot of international work, and I started programs that included a lot of international features.”

He said that although he has not taught overseas since the COVID-19 pandemic, he hopes to one day be able to travel for his work again.

“You learn a lot about yourself by learning about other cultures and other people,” he said.

“You end up being taught quite a lot by your

Crawford kneels with Andrew Whall, assistant dean of admissions.

“People here are just off-the-charts welcoming — not just people in my profession, but everybody I meet. There’s a generosity that is really extraordinary here, so I just feel very welcomed.”

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Crawford speaks with Marie Boone, student achievement and intervention specialist at Little Rock Southwest High School.

Crawford speaks with Juliana Chapa, a first-year law student.

“I’m really proud to be a part of a school that is clearly doing a good job of educating people to pass the bar and to get a job as a lawyer in their chosen area of practice.” students, and it helps me think about my work and the law differently and about myself differently. It just really opens you up to new ways of thinking.”

He added that his time at the Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth laid the groundwork for much of his career.

“I discovered that I had an interest in and a talent in administration. Most people don’t go into academics to be an administrator, so that was important for what I do now,” he said. “I also learned the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary work. We started a lot of programs working not just with law students, but with students in other areas across the university.”

Crawford added that his previous experience

Crawford mingles with Aubrie Ford, a first-year law student. as a dean at the University of Louisville will also serve him well at the Bowen School.

“Louisville and Little Rock have many things in common, so I think I have the benefit of arriving here with a good sense of what matters, what to look out for, who to talk to, and I’ve tried to do that,” he said.

“I’ve been meeting everyone from legislators to judges to big corporate lawyers and people who’ve started companies, in addition to talking to lots of students and their families and our faculty.”

Having never stepped foot in Arkansas prior to interviewing for the Bowen School, Crawford said his time in Arkansas and elsewhere in the South has taught him that Southern hospitality is more than just a myth.

“People here are just off-the-charts welcoming — not just people in my profession, but everybody I meet,” he said. “There’s a generosity that is really extraordinary here, so I just feel very welcomed.”

He added that he came to the Bowen School with an impression of excellence that has not been nullified.

“I already knew before I came here — because I knew some people on the faculty here — that the school was in its way a powerhouse, and I’ve become even more convinced of that since I’ve been here,” he said.

“Given our resources as compared to other schools, we’re punching way above our weight. We have very good bar-pass rates. We have very good placement rates. We have a much wider range of experiential and clinic offerings than many schools that are bigger and much better resourced

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Crawford listens to Jacob Garrett, a first-year law student. Much of Crawford’s time as dean has been spent getting to know the school’s many stakeholders.

than we are. I’m really proud to be a part of a school that is clearly doing a good job of educating people to pass the bar and to get a job as a lawyer in their chosen area of practice.”

Crawford succeeded Theresa Beiner, who became the Bowen School’s first permanent female dean in 2018. When asked about his plans for the Bowen School, Crawford said his answer is always the same.

“I didn’t come here with particular goals,” he said. “This isn’t the Colin Crawford School of Law; it’s the William H. Bowen School of Law.” He said he has been spending his time learning the needs and wants of the school’s stakeholders — not only students, faculty, staff and alums, but also members of the community who have or could have a relationship with the school.

He has already identified a few objectives, such as updating the school’s facilities.

“We have a beautiful building, but it’s aging, and it has some infrastructure challenges, so I need to raise some money to address those,” he said.

He said increasing scholarship funds and salaries for faculty and staff are also on the agenda.

“We have a terrific faculty and staff — very talented — but our salaries are low, and even though Arkansas and Little Rock have a very reasonable cost of living, these salaries are lower than they need to be to retain good people, so I’m really focusing on trying to increase salaries, as well,” he said. “Then of course, any dean is always looking for money to support students, to increase scholarship funds to make the experience of going to law school less financially burdensome.”

He added that he is also looking into developing an immigration law clinic for the central Arkansas community and that he will have a clearer vision for the school after he has completed his assessment.

“This is a strong school, but I hope to leave it even stronger than I found it,” he said.

He added that his role as dean is both to manage the school and be its ambassador.

“As dean, you’re kind of the chief executive officer of the unit, so I

need to be responsive to student issues and concerns, and it’s the same with faculty and staff,” he said. “Also, [my job is] to be the most public face of the school to the community, and for that reason, I’m trying to be out in the community as much as I can to meet people and learn about them and what they want this law school to be, so it’s both being a problem solver internally and keeping the trains running internally, but also being the external face of the school.”

Crawford said he also plans to continue his research at the Bowen School. He wrote about the implications of online education on legal education last year and said he anticipates furthering that line of study. He said he is also interested in exploring how law can be used to overcome political polarization in the U.S. Personally, he said he plans to enjoy the scenic beauty of Arkansas, which should serve him well in his hobbies of bike riding and gardening.

He said he is also a film buff and “a pretty good home cook.”

As someone who has had a diverse career that has taken him places he never initially envisioned, Crawford said his advice to professionals in academia and beyond is to approach their careers with an open mind.

“Always be ready to take new opportunities.

You never know what opportunity is going to present itself and what following that road might lead to,” he said. “There are people that set out to be academics and set out to be deans. I never had that thought pulling me, but I’m delighted where I’ve ended up.”

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nonprofit

Hats Off to Helping

The Hat Club raises thousands to support local charities – and looks good doing it

By DUSTIN JAYROE // Photo by DWAIN HEBDA

W

hen the Arkansas Foodbank provides a meal for a family in need, a hat may have helped. When a parent is able to see their newborn through an AngelEye camera at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Little Rock, a hat may have helped. When Project Zero is able to connect a foster child with a forever family, a hat may have helped.

Those hats probably have day jobs, may have a family of their own and assuredly volunteered their time to help those organizations after hours, and like anything these hats get up to, they also had a little fun along the way. All of the above is the name of the game for the Hat Club, a Little Rock-based nonprofit men’s social club.

It all started in 2010, when a group of friends who would eventually become the club’s founders were gathered together at one of their grandfather’s houses for a party. The story goes that this grandfather, Buddy Coleman, had a very eclectic hat collection. Each guy capped their outfit for the evening with one, and the hats even became a topic of conversation among attendees. Finally, one of the friends had a revelatory idea: What if this became a thing? What if we could have a good time and also do good by raising money for the community at the same time?

That spark generated what would be the Hat Club’s first event, a crawfish boil, which raised a couple hundred dollars for charity that first year. The 2023 crawfish boil put on by the club shelled out almost $40,000 in proceeds benefiting the UAMS NICU. Talking about this gets Eric Elizondo, current president of the Hat Club, so energized he has to leave his office to even discuss it so as not to disturb his colleagues.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of stuff,” Elizondo says. “I’ve yet to find something that’s like this.”

Elizondo joined the club on a whim in 2012. The San Antonio native and his wife had moved to Little Rock for work a few years before.

“Coming from San Antonio to a city like [Little Rock] was a complete flip of my world,” Elizondo said. “I’m an extroverted individual. I like to engage with folks. I like to talk to folks, and moving into a city that I’d never even driven through, starting a new business and getting married all at one time was a test. We kept the winemakers in California very busy those first three years.”

As time went on in this new place, he craved an outlet — namely like-minded friends, good people who, like him, cared more than the average person and about more than just themselves. With this in mind, he chased down a lead for a thing he had heard about called the Hat Club and attended one of their happy hour events, regular meet-ups for members to hang out and unwind.

“I instantly fell in love,” he said. “I just get a vibe when I’m around people, and the vibe that I felt around these guys was the same vibe that I feel today when I’m with these guys. [There’s no] angle. I don’t have to be on the defense here. I don’t have to worry about what they’re going to try to sell me or how they’re going to try to short me. I don’t have to worry about that, because we’re all there for the same reason — just to do good, more for other people and not about us.

“I remember going home to my wife, and I was like, ‘Look, this is it. I’ve got to figure out more about this. I’ve got to go to more of these events.’”

Elizondo immediately joined, and over the more than 10 years that

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"It's just about finding peopel who care about doing more than the average bear," said Eric Elizondo, left, here pictured with A.J. Reynolds, both Hat Club leadership.

followed, he has served as new-member chair, chair and co-chair for the Hat Club Classic golf tournament, as a board member, and, now, as president.

A.J. Reynolds, vice president of the Hat Club, has a different origin story that still landed him under the same brim. When the Little Rock native joined in 2013, he was newly married, fresh in his career, not yet a father and heard about a unique group of professionals who were connecting, networking and giving back through the club.

Now with two daughters, life looks a lot different for Reynolds than it did then, but the constant remains his service through the Hat Club.

It has come full circle for both Reynolds and Elizondo. Having joined as younger men to a younger club, they now watch other men, some in similar positions as they were a decade ago, join a club that looks much different today than it did back then.

When the duo first joined, they estimated the club was at around 50 to 60 members; today, there are more than 200. Some like Reynolds and Elizondo, are well into their careers and married with children. Others are a little greener both personally and professionally.

There is an NFL referee just as well as there are local business owners, insurance brokers, doctors and project managers. The vocation is really of no concern; if there is a genuine heart for the purpose, there is a place to sit among the hats.

Like the growing membership, the purpose has become much more impactful over the years, as well. What stemmed from a few crawfish and money in the triple digits given to charity has evolved into multiple annual events plus a few supplementals from there, each of which raise money in the tens of thousands. The aforementioned crawfish boil benefiting UAMS is one example of this growth, but it is far from the only one.

In August, the group hosted its annual Hat Club Classic, a four-player scramble golf tournament at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock. Funds raised from the event’s sponsors and ticket sales were donated to Project Zero, which has become a regular beneficiary of the club over the years. Project Zero is a local nonprofit with a mission to promote adoption through the foster care system and a belief that every waiting child deserves a place to call home and a family to love them.

According to the National Foster Youth Institute, more than 23,000 children age out of the foster care system every year. Project Zero’s goal is right there in its name — to bring that number down to zero. The words of Christie Erwin, executive director of Project Zero, ring with a similar passion for the club as those of its leaders.

“Since the day the young men of the Hat Club heard about Project Zero and our fight to find adoptive families for waiting kids, they have been in the fight with us,” she said. “They have raised tens of thousands of dollars, which has allowed us

to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families, build hope in kids while they wait and help connect waiting kids with their forever families.

“The Hat Club is filled with energetic, enthusiastic, passionate, intentional and compassionate men who are on a mission to change lives in their corner of our country.”

When it comes to the why behind the club’s work, Elizondo is quick to reroute the credit to where it is most due.

“They’re the ones that are doing the work,” he said of Erwin and her Project Zero team.

“All we’re doing is throwing a golf tournament and handing them a check.”

This past month marked another of the Hat Club’s fabled fundraisers, Chili Fights in the Heights on Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock, the club’s biggest draw of the year.

Like all of its recurring events, the goal is to generate more attention and thus deliver more impact than the previous year.

The 2023 iteration of Chili Fights saw the

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Among the organizations benefiting from this year's Chili Fights in the Heights is the Arkansas Food Bank. (Photo provided) club couple up with Hillcrest HarvestFest, one of the city’s biggest fall festivals. The events transpired on the same day, but rather than make it a competition, the bowler boys turned it into a collaboration, setting up shuttle services that ran to and from each event so attendees could conveniently (and safely) enjoy both events.

Proceeds from Chili Fights in the Heights benefit the Arkansas Foodbank, which helps to combat food insecurity in the state.

In addition to UAMS, Project Zero and the Arkansas Foodbank, the Hat Club’s fundraisers have also supported Arkansas Children’s, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas, the Centers, CARE for Animals, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Arkansas Autism Resource & Outreach Center, and many more.

To date, the club has raised more than $800,000 for more than 30 local charities and nonprofits, using its mission to help other groups carry out their own.

The only caveat to their charity, however, is the locality of it. As Elizondo firmly outlined, the Hat Club does not exist to devote its resources to national conglomerates or causes that already have a steady foundation of support. The Hat Club is, by design, filled with the heartbeats of local guys, and so its purpose is similarly local.

Its new-member policy is just as intentional. In a process led by the new-member chair, all prospective hats must be referred in some way by a current member and are then interviewed by that chairperson for admission. It may sound counterintuitive to be so selective, but in a world where social clubs and networking groups can get incidentally watered down by plentiful but often inactive, members, the Hat Club seeks to maintain a core of passion for the work its members do — and the fun they have.

“We want to make sure that we don’t just let anyone in just for status purposes or something like that,” Reynolds said. “We want to make sure that their goals are in line with what our goals are.”

This purpose and the number of hats behind it were, however, tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understandably, social groups were among the first to falter when Zoom meetings were in vogue and at least six feet of distance was kept between people. Couple that with the fact that events — from member-only happy hours that benefit local restaurants to public fundraisers that benefit local charities — are at the center of the Hat Club’s existence, and one would only expect to see a loss of momentum.

Perhaps due to the intentionality with which the club is run and grown, the Hat Club only picked up steam. Held together via virtuality and creativity like the rest of the world during that interim, the hats went back on as soon as it was safe to gather, and the membership plunged the pedal right back down the floor.

“Nobody had done anything for three years, so last year was all about, ‘Look, we’re going to get this wrecking ball, and we’re going to send it right through the wall,” Elizondo said. “The goal for me and the board last year was just to get liftoff. That’s all we wanted to do was just, ‘Let’s get this plane in the air, and it’ll take care of itself,’ and now, we’re cruising. We’re not at altitude yet, but we’re pretty close.”

If they are ever in need of mid-flight perspective, in Reynolds’ eyes, all the sweat behind their work hits home when they have the opportunity to see Hat Club's impact in action.

“When you go and see the NICU or Project Zero or Arkansas Foodbank, and you walk the halls and listen to these doctors over at the NICU and see what your dollars go to and see these families using the equipment that Hat Club dollars paid for … it’s unbelievable,” Reynolds said. “It’s a no-brainer after that. You want to run through a wall for them.”

For the work of the Hat Club, a tip of the cap is surely in order.

“It’s just about finding people who care about doing more than the average bear,” Elizondo said. “It’s not a super-hard chemistry equation.

If you want to do more for other people than just yourself, this is the platform.”

“When you go and see the NICU or Project Zero or Arkansas Foodbank, and you walk the halls and listen to these doctors over at the NICU and see what your dollars go to and see these families using the equipment that Hat Club dollars paid for … it’s unbelievable. It’s a no-brainer after that.

You want to run through a wall for them.”

— A.J. Reynolds

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arts & culture

omething MAJOR

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra prepares for first permanent home

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos provided

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S

weet melodies are soon to fill the air in Little Rock’s East Village, which will become the first permanent home of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra when the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center opens there next summer.

“I am so grateful,” said Christina Littlejohn, CEO. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of, and I’m excited about the new music center serving the community and state for generations to come.”

She said the nearly 20,000-square-foot facility will accommodate 200 to 300 people and feature a grand hall, two group rooms, four private practice rooms, a broadcast recording studio, offices, a catering kitchen and storage space.

The music center was designed by WER Architects in Little Rock, and the builder is Bailey Construction in Little Rock, she said.

She added that the project cost nearly $12 million, including an endowment to operate the building.

The ASO launched a capital campaign to fund the building in 2019. More than 200 people, including about 50 musicians, have donated to the project, she said, adding that the ASO received a $1.5 million challenge grant from the Windgate Foundation that was awarded if the ASO raised $3 million.

Littlejohn gave credit to the Crescendo Committee for helping raise the donations. In addition to the Windgate Foundation, other impactful donors include the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Susie and Charles Morgan, Terri and Chuck Erwin, Simmons Bank, Gus Vratsinas, and Jim Wallis and Pat Becker Wallis.

“With the campaign, we were making progress, and then COVID hit, so there have been several times during the last four years that we have been like, ‘Oh my gosh, are we ever going to make it?’” she said. “So there have been some people that have helped make sure we really get through those humps.”

The ASO has also been able to grow its annual fund while raising money for the new center, she added. “[The donors are] a lot of wonderful, generous people that have been involved with our organization for a really long time and want to make sure that this project happens for their grandchildren, and they want their children and their grandchildren and their children’s grandchildren to be able to participate and make music in this facility, as well,” she said.

“Several of these people that were the leaders have been involved for 40, 50 years, and this was really important to them.”

Littlejohn said she is glad that the community orchestra and students of the E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy will be able to use the grand hall.

“We have close to 200 children that participate in youth ensembles that we do, and so

The new center will provided dedicated practice spaces for students.

those kids will have a place to rehearse, and then we also teach children violin, viola and cello in our string academy,” she said. “Our young string players will have a professional spot they’ll be able to practice and do recitals in. Currently, we’re just on top of each other.”

The ASO is currently housed at the St. John Catholic Center at the Diocese of Little Rock, and staff members’ offices often double as practice rooms for private lessons, she added, and students have had to practice outside when there was a chance of rain. She said she herself has had to write a grant while an instructor teaches a private lesson in her office, and several people have offices in a hallway.

“There’s just not enough room in our current space to accommodate anybody who wants to learn an instrument and play an instrument,” she said. “The new space will have a grand hall, so the orchestras can rehearse there, and then we’ll have two group rooms, so the violins will have a place to go, or the cellos … they can be practicing and rehearsing at the same time something else is happening.”

Furthermore, the offices are not accessible to people who have disabilities, she said.

“We had a cello player who is 106 now, but she had to quit playing with us when she was 104 because she couldn’t get up the steps anymore with her cello,” Littlejohn said, “which is crazy, like, I don’t know how she got up here at 104 with her cello, but she did.”

The ASO has been headquartered at the diocese for at least 30 years,

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The ASO is currently housed at the St. John Catholic Center at the Diocese of Little Rock.

she said, adding that it is the only nonprofit organization there that is not associated with the Catholic church. One of the main benefits of the diocese location is a hall that is large enough and has a high enough ceiling to accommodate the youth orchestra.

She said it is exciting that multiple groups will be able to practice at the same time. Equally exciting is the climate-controlled storage space that will house the orchestra’s library, its percussion instruments and a Steinway piano that is currently stored in Mayflower, she said.

“We have a music library that’s got scores that the organization has had for over 50 years,” she said. “We’ll have a proper space for that. A huge one of an orchestra’s assets is the library, and so we’ll have a really nice space for

“My hope is that we can help showcase more of Arkansas musicians and our rich tradition and heritage with music in our state. By having a connection with the Clinton Library, having more international and national tourists, that will help us do that.” ­­

― Christina Littlejohn, ASO

it, a really nice space for our instruments.”

The center also includes additional shell space so that it can expand as needed.

“We’re not exactly sure which area’s going to grow first,” she said.

“If we need more group rooms or we need more private space or if we need more room for I don’t know what, there’s a little bit more room for expansion,” Littlejohnn said.

Littlejohn said the broadcast recording studio was not part of the original design but instead came about because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the ASO live-streamed lessons from its current space and allowed students to make recordings for auditions there.

The ASO also recorded its annual children’s concert and distributed it to teachers during the pandemic. Geared toward children in fourth and fifth grade, the concert normally draws about 2,000 children from across the state, she said, adding that 23,000 children were able to access the recorded concert. She said the ASO plans to continue recording the concert so that more children have access to what may be their first time hearing an orchestra.

“I’m really excited because 100 years ago, Stella Boyle Smith had the idea of starting an orchestra, and she had musicians who came and played in her living room,” she said. “So the first concert was in Stella Boyle Smith’s living room about 100 years ago, and now, with the new Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, we’ll be able to broadcast the Arkansas Symphony into everyone’s living room across the state of Arkansas.”

She added that the ASO also plans to stream its performances to nursing homes, hospitals and other places where occupants may not be able to physically visit the ASO. She said she hopes the new music center will allow the ASO to build on existing programs such as the Bucket Man Group, in which children learn percussion by drumming on buckets, and enable the ASO to start new programs, such as a children’s choir.

“The whole idea is being able to make music and create these opportunities for people of all ages, all stages of life, to make music together and form their own communities and have joy together,” she said. “It’s all about making joy.”

The music center will provide a venue for events such as the Opus Ball, the ASO’s annual fundraiser, she said, adding that she also hopes to conduct more concerts that feature small ensembles, such as string quartets, brass ensembles, drumlines or an experimental concert that mixes electronic music with a solo cello.

Having a dedicated performance space, instead of renting, will provide the ASO with more flexibility to host concerts at a range of times, such as lunchtime or after-hours, Littlejohn said. The ASO’s composers will be able to write for smaller ensembles, she added, and the ASO will be able to experiment using lights and screens.

“This space will allow us to really do a lot of experimentation because it’s our own space,” she said.

She added that the music center will be able to share the work of

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The new center will include a performance hall and a recording and broadcast studio.

Arkansas musicians to out-of-state and international visitors to the Clinton Presidential Center.

“My hope is that we can help showcase more of Arkansas musicians and our rich tradition and heritage with music in our state,” she said. “By having a connection with the Clinton Library, having more international and national tourists, that will help us do that.”

Another goal is to highlight and nurture the work of contemporary Arkansas composers, she added.

“Can we start enhancing the work of our Arkansas artists who are here right now, our composers?” she said. “How can we maintain and sustain and grow that legacy?”

Bringing more people together through music is one of the top priorities of the ASO, she added.

“We really want to engage more people in coming to make music together,” she said.

Musical activities can help individuals overcome the loneliness that has become pervasive in America, she said, and there are plenty of musical Arkansans who can find camaraderie at the ASO. “There’s a lot of people that played at some point in their lives, so are we creating a space where they can come back and play and get to know other people through music that’s an engaging, joyous place?” she said.

“That’s important to us, and then the other thing that’s important to us, that we really want to aspire to, is being able to be a leading orchestra, to be an example of how an orchestra can truly serve its community.”

To that end, Littlejohn said, the ASO has met with members of organizations such as the Central Arkansas Library System and St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock to find ways to meet community needs.

Both institutions have discussed providing music-based after-school programming to children through the ASO, she added, and the ASO has reached out to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock about collaborations, as well.

She said the groundbreaking in August inspired her and other members of the ASO to make the music center a rhapsody of all kinds of community members who can come together to make music and appreciate the music of Arkansas.

“What we realized through our work with that was that we wanted to be a radically welcoming hub of musical activity for all Arkansas and that music can be all kinds of things,” she said. “Arkansas has got a tradition of the Ozarks [folk music]. Johnny Cash is from here. Florence Price, the African American classical composer, is from Little Rock.

William Grant Still is too. We have a long, rich tradition of all kinds of music being here, so how can a music center reflect all of that?”

She said a performance by bagpipe players from Lyon College kicked off the groundbreaking, which also featured a drumline from Little Rock’s Parkview and Southwest high schools and a reception performance by 5 South of the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View. In addition, professional and amateur musicians from 6 to 106 joined in a pop-up rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

“We really wanted all of the different musicians to be there for the groundbreaking to set us up and showcase that it will be a place for all kinds of music making,” Littlejohn said.

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Why did the

FOOTBALL TEAM CROSS THE ROAD?

Battle of the Ravine resumes college football’s greatest rivalry 152

By DWAIN HEBDA Photos by STEVE FELLERS

F

or the record, Bobby Jones ain’t confessin’ to nothin’.

Asked what part he may or may not have played in any shenanigans surrounding the Battle of the Ravine, the annual donnybrook between Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, the congenial Henderson ex-chancellor and former Reddie linebacker stops being chatty and chooses his words judiciously.

“I think I was in the car when the guys got the tiger’s tail,” he said, referring to one of the many times Henderson State commandos snipped the tail off a tiger statue on the Ouachita Baptist University campus, burying it somewhere in the Clark County dirt. “It’s one of those things where you just hush up about it and go on.”

Rex Nelson, the broadcast voice of OBU, decorated newspaper columnist and recognized oral historian of Arkansas, hoots at the story. He knows Jones and can read between the lines of his tale of the tail. It is just one of the many pranks over the years that have contributed to the lore of the game, elevating the series to fabled status.

As for any malfeasance on his part as an OBU student, Nelson’s response is even more cagey.

“Well,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “I’ve got to tell you one of the funniest is after I had graduated. I had gone to Washington for the Arkansas Democrat newspaper. I came back here on kind of a fall break, and I wanted to see the game. The Democrat back then had this Sunday magazine, and occasionally I’d do magazine pieces, so I decided to do a piece on the Battle of the Ravine.

“I knew some Ouachita students because I was still in my 20s, and I wasn’t that much older than them. I thought I’d cover it by going over and going with them to do some painting and so forth. I could write kind of firsthand things, but they got caught by Henderson security. I’m just in the car as a newspaper writer like, ‘I’m just covering this crime, officer.’”

It is impossible to say how many people have “just been in the car” for such hijinks over the past almost-century of the game’s existence, but given the fervor with which the Battle of the Ravine is contested every year, it likely dwarfs the 10,000 or so souls that comprise the population of Arkadelphia itself.

Some are the stuff of legend, some merely dastardly, and many more aborted or averted. Time has burnished the tales, no doubt, but the best ones need no exaggeration, just like the game itself.

“You’ve got to be one or the other in Arkadel-

phia,” said Nelson, who grew up there. “I can tell you, after that game, if your team won, you woke up early that following Monday morning, and you couldn’t wait to get to school. If your team lost, you told your mom you were sick and tried to get out of it and weren’t allowed, of course — had to go to school and listen to the barbs from your Henderson friends, in my case.”

“I used to think there was only one thing better than beating Ouachita, and that’s just really beating them bad,” Jones said. “I’ve reached the point where I’ve got a lot of good friends at Ouachita that I played against. We have good fun with this thing.”

Perhaps more than any other sport at any other level, the soul of college football exists in its rivalries.

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Battle of the Ravine, 1922 and 1989 (Photos provided)

Perhaps more than any other sport at any other level, the soul of college football exists in its rivalries. Nowhere else does the sports world capture the true spirit of competition than in playing year after year against a team worth beating more than any other. Some — like Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn and Ole Miss-Mississippi State — exist to this day, binding generations of players and weaving threads into the fabric of fan families on both sides. Others, like Nebraska-Oklahoma and Cincinnati-Louisville, are incomprehensibly extinct with other bad-blood games soon to be on the trash heap as conferences disintegrate on the fault lines of big-time college sports.

The essence of every good rivalry varies, but the best ones hold one or more things in common. There is proximity, where each school is close enough that high school teammates are split and

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prep rivals are carried forward. Longevity is another hallmark since nothing ripens rancor as well as time. Parity is a must; Notre Dame and Navy have met since 1927 but most fans don’t care because the Fighting Irish have held serve to the tune of 81-13-1, during which time the Midshipmen went 0-for in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Finally, there is the tasty seasoning of consequence in which each side has something riding on the outcome, either in advancing its cause or damaging the opposition’s season.

Very few, if any, current rivalry games check all four of these boxes as boldly, especially in Division II, as the Battle of the Ravine. First played in 1895 and almost uninterrupted since 1907, the 2023 contest finds Ouachita narrowly leading the series 46-43-6. On numerous occasions, the game has determined the outcome for conference honors and/or entry into the postseason for one team or the other. Both the Reddies and the Tigers have had their runs — Henderson won seven straight between 1989 and 1998, and OBU has won six straight twice, from 1915 to 1922 and 2016 through last year.

By far the most distinguishing characteristic of the game is proximity. The two schools sit separated from one another by a kudzu-clogged ravine, which gives the contest its name, at one spot and just a two-lane highway’s width at another stretch. This has given rise to one of gameday’s most hallowed traditions in which the visitors walk- dressed for battle from their locker room across the street to the home team’s stadium through a phalanx of bands and fans both friendly and foe.

“There are very few things in this country that you can really say are unique,” Nelson said. “A college football game where the road team walks to a road game, that’s unique. It doesn’t occur anywhere else in America, and to be a part of that and have it happen in my hometown is just a very neat experience.”

“We start getting ready for that game, and you try to keep your mind on what’s going on,” said Jones, who played in four of them. “You walk across the street to play each other, and you’ve got the band playing, and the state troopers have the traffic stopped on [U.S.] Highway 67. I’m 74 years old, and it’s still one of those things that means a lot.”

If Jones had any misconceptions about how much the game meant to their respective programs, the truth was ramrodded home to him as a coveted recruit out of Malvern High School.

“I was being recruited both at Ouachita and at Henderson my senior year in high school,” he said. “[Henderson] tuition back then was $100 a semester, and lo and behold, Henderson came up with a scholarship. Ouachita didn’t, and they were a little bit more expensive.

“I proceeded to call on Coach [Buddy] Benson, who was the head football coach at Ouachita.

I went to his office and told him I was going to Henderson, and he told me to get up and get the hell out of his office.”

Nelson, by contrast, was dipped in the OBUHSU font early in his formative years, and despite a momentary flirtation with the idea of attending Vanderbilt, he graduated from Ouachita in 1981.

“I grew up a block from the Ouachita football stadium. That rivalry has been a part of my life since I was born,” he said. “My mother went to Ouachita. My older sister went to Ouachita.

My dad, Red, played football there. He played his freshman year in 1942 on a team that only lost one game to a really good team. Then he was a bombardier on a B-17 during World War II for two years, and he came back and played the ’45, ’46 and ’47 seasons and was starting quarterback in the Battle of the Ravine in 1947.”

One might think, due to the intensity of the rivalry, that neither the schools nor their students would have anything to do with each other, which might be true in a larger community. Such is not the case in a small town such as Arkadelphia, where limited options for entertainment, worship and socialization force students and fans to coexist side by side.

“There was a fast food place called the Minute Man,” Jones said. “It was on the Ouachita side of the street, and they had a poolroom in the back — nine-ball if you wanted to play pool. The guys would come in, and they’d have Ouachita jackets, and there’d be Henderson jackets, and nothing ever happened, any fights or anything like that.

“In high school, when I played quarterback, my center ended up playing at Ouachita, and we’ve stayed close all these years. He’s a retired pharmacist, lives in Pine Bluff. We have some goodnatured back-and-forth with one another. After we play, it’s over. You have a bad taste for a while, and then you start

talking about next year.”

The general congeniality has resulted in many houses, Jones’ included, cross-pollinated by red and purple. Arriving on campus, he soon met his future wife, Judy, a pretty Henderson cheerleader a year ahead of him. Irony being what it is, Judy would later become registrar at OBU, which is why Jones jokingly describes his 53 years of matrimony as “a mixed marriage.”

Both Jones and Nelson can list clearly the most memorable moments on the field witnessed from the sidelines, the chancellor’s box in Jones’ case and the broadcast booth in Nelson’s. On air, Nelson said he tries to remain as dispassionate as possible, to which Jones good-naturedly said Nelson is not fooling anybody.

“This is my 40th year to do play-by-play, and [Battle of the Ravine] is the hardest one to do just because it means too much,” he said. “I can remember many times over the years, silently telling myself, ‘Calm, breathe, breathe,’ because your obligation is to the listener, and if you’re a screaming maniac, they’re not going to know what’s going on.

I have to tell myself that.”

“Rex Nelson, bless his heart, he’d die on a hill, purple and gold,” Jones said. “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard Rex announce a football game, but he can announce it where a five-yard touchdown takes 30 minutes to get it out of his system. ‘He’s at the five. He’s at the four. He’s at the three. He’s in the Promised Land!’ We have a good time, and he’s a good friend.”

The pranks that have accompanied the annual contest are as memorable as the winning drives and overtime dramatics that have been part of the

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A must-see experiece for any Arkansas college football fan is witnessing the visiting team’s walk across the highway.

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“I used to think there was only one thing better than beating Ouachita, and that’s just really beating them bad.”

— Bobby Jones game’s lore, lauded for their daring and ingenuity on both side of the ravine. Picking the best prank in a series this long is difficult.

There’s the time Tiger students dyed the water in the Henderson campus fountain purple and added soap to create a sudsy mess. There was the year an underhanded Reddie agent tried filming OBU’s practice, only to be spooked and run off, leaving the video camera behind, equipment labeled “Property of Henderson State Athletics.” Multiple indignities have been heaped upon the OBU tiger statue, from being painted to enduring enough tail-ectomies that “it’s like a bobcat now,” Jones quipped.

The true Hall of Fame-worthy pranks defy belief. In 1950, OBU student and newly-minted homecoming queen Ann Strickland took a ride with some Reddie friends from high school a few days before the game. Those friends confined her to a nearby location, refusing to let her leave or communicate with the outside world for a couple of days. When news quickly spread that the coed had been kidnapped, Strickland’s future husband,

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defensive end Bill Vining Sr., mustered a posse of teammates and scoured the town for his beloved.

“I say it’s a friendly kidnapping because it was some of her friends from Henderson, and they took her over to a lake house,” Nelson said. “It wasn’t that bad — they were in a lake house on Lake Hamilton — but nobody knew where she was. All the football players were searching hotels and everything else, trying to find her.”

Vining and his mates did not share Nelson’s benevolence. The incident was reported to local police, and one member of the team’s search party, Ike Sharp, father of current OBU Athletic Director David Sharp, was said to have been packing a shotgun in his overalls. In the end, it was the prank that blasted the Reddies; Strickland was released in time for the game, and a motivated Vining and Co. pummeled Henderson 26-14. Undeterred, Henderson revisited kidnapping as mental warfare in style several years later, when some male Reddies in drag convinced an OBU librarian they were there to pick up a smaller tiger statue for its annual cleaning and walked it right out the door.

Ouachita’s hands were not entirely clean through the years. In 1973, a passel of OBU students snuck on campus in the dead of night and lit ablaze a massive bonfire assembly that was to be the centerpiece of a campus pep rally the following evening. It is not known who lit the match, but the raiding party included none other than religion major and future Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, per the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. No doubt the future presidential candidate was only in the car when it happened.

Perhaps the prank to end all pranks was the aerial assault Henderson State launched on its rivals across the road.

“My favorite was in ’75. I would have been in high school at the time,” Nelson said. “Henderson has a well-known aviation program, one of the few in the state. Some of their aviation students bombed the Ouachita campus with marshmallows. They had actually dyed some of the marshmallows red. They had painted ‘Beat OBU’ on some of them. They bombed the campus with thousands of marshmallows.

“In fact, I went over and picked a couple up.

I’m a packrat. I think somewhere I probably have a couple of those marshmallows from 1975 because I know I kept them. I mean, well done.”

Jones admits time does a lot to mellow the passions one carries for the game in one’s 20s, when the losses smarted more and the wins bought a license to gloat for 12 months.

“My junior year, we won the conference. My senior year, Ouachita stomped us,” he said. “Well, we played basketball in the old armory, the old gym there on campus. Henderson sits on one side and Ouachita on the other. The Ouachita football players come marching in, and they’ve got this sign.

Couple of guys went berserk on our team.”

“This would have been in the winter of ’71 at

“This is my 40th year to do play-by-play, and [Battle of the Ravine] is the hardest one to do just because it means too much.”

— Rex Nelson Henderson’s old gym, which was just a little tiny cracker box,” said Nelson who witnessed it. “That banner went all the way from one baseline to the other, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was ‘Football, football 31-0,’ and then they started the chant, ‘Football, football.’ Two of the Henderson football players led the charge and ran full speed across the court and dived into the crowd to tear that sign up, tear it down, and it was on after that.”

Not everyone kept perspective, of course, which is what caused the series to be suspended between 1951 and 1963 due to vandalism, the only peacetime interruption in the series’ history. Today, protecting campus assets on both sides has become an operation of militaristic precision as signs are draped and landmarks are guarded by student organizations to prevent sabotage. Even someone as dyed-in-the-wool as a young Jones would have a hard time breaching the perimeter in 2023.

“Now if you go on the Ouachita campus, the tiger actually is surrounded by a steel fence and has cameras on it 24/7, 365 days a year, not just Battle of the Ravine week,” Nelson said. “It would be kind of hard to get to it now.”

In recent years, the game has received its just due in feature spots on CBS Sports and in the pages of Sports Illustrated, but as both Nelson and Jones quickly attest, the brass ring has thus far eluded it — having ESPN’s College Gameday broadcast live from Arkadelphia. Opinions are mixed if that will ever happen; if it does, it would be the fitting laurel to confer upon the game. If not, the Battle of the Ravine will lose none of its impact or importance for generations of Ouachita and Henderson families.

“I’m honest when I say this: in my family, it was such a big day. That was Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, all rolled into one,” Nelson said.

“When I was four, they still played on Thanksgiving Day, and I have memories of that, of eating Thanksgiving dinner and then walking to the football game with my family. Later, especially if the game was at Ouachita, we were kind of the gathering place where parents of other players who had gone to school with my parents would all gather at our house. People would start arriving early in the morning and we would have so many at our house.

“From basically when I was old enough to walk,

I was like a water boy. I would walk the Ouachita sideline. I would actually leave and go to the Ouachita fieldhouse very early in the morning, help the managers or just hang out and do whatever I needed to do. Then when I started, in high school, writing for the weekly paper, I moved from the high school to the press box, and then I started broadcasting as a student. I have been in the press box ever since.”

“It’s one of those things where it really means something to you as you get older,” Jones said. “I’ve got two sons, and both of them graduated from Ouachita. One played baseball, and the other played football. I have a grandson who is a graduate assistant at Ouachita this year. His younger brother is a trainer at Henderson for football. I’ve got two more grandsons; one’s a senior in Malvern, and one is a senior at Little Rock Christian Academy, and he’s already committed to go to Ouachita.

“Ended up, strangely enough, some of my best friends are the guys I played against in college at Henderson. Most of them, I played against in high school. We’ve become close friends. We play golf together, but when it comes time for the Henderson-Ouachita game, blood’s thicker than water, and I’m a Reddie.”

96th Battle of the Ravine

Nov. 11, 2023 Cliff Harris Stadium Ouachita Baptist University obutigers.com/hsusports.com

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B AT T L E O F T H E R AV I N E W E’ R E A F R I E N D LY, L A I D - B A C K B U N C H I N T I G E R N AT I O N – U N T I L G A M E T I M E. THAT’S WHEN OUR CLAWS COME OUT. Come see for yourself Saturday, November 11, when the Ouachita Tigers take on our across-the-street challenger Henderson State during the 96th Battle of the Ravine!

Join us at Cliff Harris Stadium for one of the oldest and most unique football rivalries in the country.

You’re welcome to bring a spread for tailgating before 2 p.m. kickoff.

You’ll want to bring a seat cushion, maybe some sunscreen and – of course – your Tiger swag.

Just remember to #BringYourRoar.

Want to know what the hype is all about?

SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT obu.edu/botr

health

Nothing to

Sneeze At

By EILEEN BEARD

A spike in new allergy cases is a cause for concern

A

llergies are hardly a new phenomenon, but they seem more common than ever. One factor in the rise of allergy cases. The internet has made information easier to obtain and share with others. Adults and even children with allergy symptoms can look up possible causes on WebMD and walk into a doctor’s office to confirm their suspicions.

Better health insurance has also contributed to the rise in cases. The number of insured people has increased, and the quality of health insurance has improved.

“When I was growing up, you went to the doctor, you still had to write that check or pay the cash to see the doctor, and if you had insurance, then the insurance reimbursed you,” said Dr. Jim Ingram, a board-certified allergist and immunologist with the Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic, “so you were probably less likely to go at the drop of a hat.”

The confusion between a food allergy and a food intolerance may also contribute to the perception that allergies are becoming more common.

“An allergy is a reaction that you can have to things in the environment — things you breathe in, things that you eat or things that you touch,” Ingram said. “When your body is exposed to these different proteins, whether it be the protein in pollen or the protein in dust or cat dander or peanuts, your body can have an allergic reaction to that.”

For a person who is allergic to pollen, for example, the immune system produces antibodies to attack the perceived threat, or allergen, contained in pollen. More specifically, the immune system releases chemicals such as histamine to attack the threat, and it is those chemicals that are to blame for itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose. That is why an overthe-counter antihistamine like Benadryl is such an effective treatment for some allergies.

The same process is at work when someone is allergic to milk, but it mirrors lactose intolerance in that the patient has a similar difficulty breaking down a naturally occurring sugar found in milk. Both conditions can exhibit common symptoms such as upset stomach, hence the confusion. A person can have an allergic reaction to wheat, but someone who is gluten-intolerant has trouble digesting a certain protein found in wheat. Celiac disease, on the other hand, is neither a wheat allergy nor a gluten intolerance, but an autoimmune disease.

As of 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that nearly one-third (31.8 percent) of adults ages 18 and older had a seasonal allergy, food allergy or eczema. Approximately 1 in 5 children (18.9 percent) had a seasonal allergy, 10.8 percent had eczema, and 5.8 percent had a food allergy.

“It’s definitely real. Allergy in general has increased over time,” said Dr. Melissa Graham, a board-certified allergist and immunologist with Advanced Allergy & Asthma in Little Rock.

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is common in Arkansas because many people are allergic to tree pollen, grass pollen and ragweed, Ingram said.

The good news is that seasonal allergies rarely cause severe reactions.

“It’s very rare that hay fever would lead to anaphylaxis,” Graham said. “It’s hard to breathe in enough stuff outside that would cause the allergen to get into your blood system.”

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that occurs quickly after a person has been exposed to an allergen. Blood vessels dilate, causing an extreme drop in blood pressure, while histamine forces airways to tighten, making it difficult to breathe. Additional symptoms, including skin rash, nausea or vomiting, might occur. Allergies to food or medication or venom are more likely to cause anaphylaxis because the allergens enter the bloodstream.

As scary as it sounds, the CDC estimates only 150 to 200 people in the U.S. die from food-related allergies each year. The numbers are even lower for medicine and venom allergies. The food allergies most likely to cause anaphylaxis are peanut, tree nut, wheat, egg, dairy, fish, shellfish, soy and sesame seeds.

“Usually children outgrow milk, egg, soy and wheat by school age.

That’s why you don’t hear about them as much as peanuts,” Graham said. “They’re not as complex an allergen, so you develop tolerance to them faster.

“There are multiple factors that lead to allergy, but if you have a close relative with atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma or food allergy, then you have a 50 percent chance of having an allergy. Two close relatives puts it at a 70 percent chance. If you’re an allergist, you see multiple members of the same family generally.”

“When your body is exposed to these different proteins, whether it be the protein in pollen or the

(Photo provided)

protein in dust or cat dander or peanuts, your body can have an allergic reaction to that.”

— Dr. Jim Ingram Eczema is a general term used to describe a variety of dry and itchy skin conditions, but allergic eczema is called atopic dermatitis. About 30 percent of children may have a food allergy that is triggering their eczema, Graham said. Eczema is essentially an allergy warning sign, as is asthma.

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"Asthma and allergies go hand in hand because it’s all an inflammatory response. Just like when you breathe pollen in your nose, it can cause an inflammatory response, when you breathe those pollen grains into your lungs, the same thing can happen,” Ingram said, “Asthma is inflammation of the airways and then constriction of the airways, and allergies can trigger that.”

Parents who suspect their child has an allergy should visit a board-certified allergist.

The physician will likely start with a skinprick test to check for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 50 different substances, including pollen, mold, pet dander, medications, latex and foods.

“In the South, fire ants are a big thing.

Fire-ant stings can cause anaphylaxis,” Ingram said. “I've probably got more patients on fire-ant venom shots than bee stings.”

People tend to be allergic to more than one substance at a time. "We see a wide variety of allergic diseases, and most with allergic rhinitis are polysensitized to multiple allergens,” said Dr. Lori Kagy, a board-certified allergist and immunologist with the Arkansas Allergy and Asthma Clinic in Little Rock.

Allergists may also use a blood test to measure the antibody immunoglobulin E since allergic patients tend to have more IgE in their blood than normal. However, the most important factor in determining whether a person has a food allergy is primarily what happens when the person ingests the food, Kagy said.

Individuals who are diagnosed with an inhalant or venom allergy may receive immunotherapy shots. Each shot contains a tiny amount of the allergic substance, which slowly introduces it to the patient’s immune system, building tolerance.

“You really need to be seen by a board-certified allergist to properly treat these problems, especially with immunotherapy or allergy shots,” Graham said, adding that even though exposure therapy is now recommended for infants with a peanut allergy, the best option for children and adults with a food or drug allergy is to strictly avoid it.

People who are at risk or have a history of anaphylaxis are advised to carry EpiPens with them in case of emergency.

“We urge patients to have two doses; 20 percent of people need a second dose because they only stay in their system for five minutes,” Graham said, “Latex allergy is another thing that needs an EpiPen. We don’t see it as much because we stopped using as much latex in medical treatment.”

The uptick in case numbers is not merely a matter of perception.

Food allergies in particular are definitely on the rise. According to

“In the older days, when we had less allergies, people were not in airtight houses; they lived on farms and they had dirt floors, so they were exposed to a lot of bacteria.”

(Photo provided)

— Dr. Melissa Graham

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Today, the wealthiest and most sanitized nations have the highest rates of allergies in the world. the CDC, food allergies in children younger than 18 have risen 50 percent since 1997.

New evidence suggests food allergies are also becoming more common in adults.

“The increase in allergic conditions is a very complicated interaction between a person’s genetic makeup and their interaction with the environment. Therefore, there is no one single cause,” Kagy said. “Numerous environmental factors may play a role.”

One of the most common theories to explain the rise in allergies is known as the hygiene hypothesis. As sanitation and cleanliness have improved in modern times, foodallergy rates have increased. As the theory goes, with fewer real threats to counteract, the immune system turned against harmless things like allergens.

“In the older days, when we had less allergies, people were not in airtight houses; they lived on farms and they had dirt floors, so

they were exposed to a lot of bacteria,” Graham said.

Today, the wealthiest and most sanitized nations have the highest rates of allergies in the world. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, modern society has become more sanitized than ever out of necessity. While the hygiene hypothesis might be one component of changing allergy rates, it is definitely not the whole story.

“For 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics told mothers not to give peanut butter to children until they are two or three. If they’d kept getting it, they probably would not have developed an allergy to it,” Ingram said.

Until recently, the medical community tried to protect infants with allergy risk factors by eliminating exposure to them. A 2015 study conducted by the Immune Tolerance Network found that babies who avoided peanuts had an allergy rate of 13.7 percent, while those who were exposed to peanuts had an allergy rate of 1.9 percent. Now most health officials agree that babies should be slowly introduced to potential allergens such as peanuts with medical guidance.

The dip in vitamin D levels is another potential piece of the allergy puzzle. Vitamin D plays a supporting role in the immune system’s ability to function properly. The human body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight or through certain foods, such as salmon and egg yolks.

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According to the American Academy of Alreactions. Please make sure lergy, Asthma & Immunology, as vitamin D levthat my foods are prepared els have decreased in western countries like the in a different place in the United States and Australia, food allergies have kitchen free from any other increased. That is likely because people in wealthfood allergens and that difier countries tend to spend less time outdoors. ferent utensils, pots and “Multiple studies have been performed, lookpans are used to prepare my ing at several factors including the role of vitamin food.’”

D in the development of food allergy, but there As allergy rates continue are no definitive conclusions,” Kagy said. to increase, some exciting Adult allergy rates also seem to be on the rise. new advancements are be“After about 30 years of age, you usually ing made to treat them. don’t keep developing more inhaled allergies.

“Over the last five, six You’ve always had them, but they start becomyears, these new biologic ing a problem. The allergies can continue to medications have started worsen,” Graham said. coming out that go directly A person can develop a food allergy at any to the point of inflammaage, but the reasons why are not entirely clear. tion in the body,” Ingram One guess is that as the immune system ages, said. “It just kind of turns it becomes a little less effective as time goes by. inflammation off because Another explanation is immunological stress that's what allergies are. caused by an infection, such as COVID-19 or Mainly it’s an inflammaalpha-gal syndrome, which can be a cause of tory response to something adult-onset allergies. you're allergic to.

“Alpha-gal, or mammalian meat allergy, is an allergy that is seen “Now they can target the specific proteins in primarily in the southern and southeastern United States and cereach allergen, like the protein in grass, and can mantainly in Arkansas,” Kagy said. ufacture that protein instead of going out and colAlso known as the tick-bite allergy, alpha-gal syndrome was not lecting a bunch of grass and grinding it up to make formally identified until 2000. It is believed to be caused by the lone a serum they inject you with.” star tick, which transmits a sugar into the system when the insect The use of biologics in the treatment of allerbites the host. Some people’s immune systems assume this sugar gic diseases has changed the allergy and asthma is a threat, but that same sugar is present in beef and other meat world, as well, and these biologic therapies are humans consume. The next time the afflicted person eats red meat, often highly effective for treating allergic diseases the immune system attacks the allergen. such as atopic dermatitis, autoimmune urticaria Climate change could be extending the life of some allergens. and asthma.

“With hay fever, one reason those are increased is the pollen sea“New therapies will continue to emerge, tarsons are longer and longer because it’s warmer outside,” Graham said. geting the cellular level to treat these conditions,” For now, public awareness has made those who suffer from alKagy said. lergies much safer. Most schools and airplanes ban peanuts or tree nuts of any kind. The typical candy “The increase in allergic conditions bar wrapper clearly indicates what allergens it contains. is a very complicated interaction “Some entities don’t have to include a label, like bakeries and restaurants, but anything in a can, between a person’s genetic a box or a bag has to have a label,” Graham said. makeup and their interaction Still, physicians agree it is important for individuals to take rewith the environment. Therefore, (Photo provided) sponsibility for their own health.

Graham advises people at risk of there is no one single cause. Numerous anaphylaxis from a food allergy to carry something called a chef card.

“The Food Allergy & Anaphyenvironmental factors may play laxis Network updates food-allergy action plans for kids for school. We a role.” advocate for patients to put all your food allergens on the front and on — Dr. Lori Kagy the back,” Graham said. “It reads, ‘These foods cause life-threatening

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Physicians are on the medical staff of The BridgeWay, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of The BridgeWay. The facility shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.231468-1588 6/23

thebridgeway.com

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GIVE THE GIFT OF AY About You is the essential authority on being Arkansan. We are the trusted resource for sharing the best of Arkansas food, travel, arts, entertainment, music, culture, living, gardens, health and real life murder mysteries. Visit aymag.com and click on the more tab, then choose subscribe. $

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If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you no longer have to leave the state for proton therapy, a soughtafter form of radiation treatment known for its success against solid tumors. Proton therapy is so powerful and precise that it kills your cancer with less damage to your body’s healthy tissues and organs - all so you can be “healthy you” again after the cancer is gone.

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The Proton Center of Arkansas is a collaboration of UAMS Health, Arkansas Children’s, Baptist Health and Proton International and is one of only 43 proton centers in the U.S. 167

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health

Physical Fitness Through the Decades

Age is just a number, but PRs are forever

By MAK MILLARD // Photos submitted

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W

hen it comes to fitness, there is really no bad time to start.

To put a spin on the familiar phrase: if the best time to get into weightlifting was 20 years ago, the second-best time is now. The science backs that up, as well, at least in the wide world of sports. As a fact sheet from the Australiabased ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research states, “athletes in sports requiring speed and power tend to peak by their mid-20s, those in endurance sports peak by their 40s, while those in tactical, low impact sports can still compete at elite level in their 50s.”

The report also noted that the average age of Olympic participants has increased by two years since 1992. That tracks with other professional sports in which elite athletes are staying at the top of their games for longer. Then there are cases like that of 92-year-old runner Mathea Allansmith, who just last year set the world record as the oldest woman to ever complete a marathon. Combined with advances in medicine and health science, these patterns point to a promising outlook for staying decently fit at any age — even for those without podiums, gold medals or trophies in their futures.

Whether one’s exercise of choice is a marathon or pickleball, yoga or CrossFit, swimming or walking the dogs, just about any movement is better than nothing.

Even when it is time to hang up the running shoes and pick out the shuffleboard cues, it is worth the effort to get up and get active. Of course, aging comes with its own set of changes to the body, so some adjustments might have to be made as one enters and exits the various stages of life. Luckily, there are plenty of expert trainers ready to guide people through the decades, making for as many active years as possible.

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Young adulthood is a time of milestones and firsts, from wrapping up college and settling into a career to starting a family. In all of these things, a solid foundation is the key to success, and an exercise routine is no different. As Richard Webb, a trainer at Hot Springs’ Lake Hamilton Fitness & Athletics, pointed out, the knock-on effects of getting started on one’s fitness journey early cannot be overstated.

“We don’t think about heart health and blood pressure and things like that when we’re in our 20s because we can pretty much eat anything we want [and] do anything we want,” he said. “As you get older, it starts to catch up with you.”

While the specific breakdown depends on one's goals, Webb recommended a mix of high-intensity cardio and weight-resistance training for young adults. He also emphasized the importance of flexibility, urging at least five to 10 minutes of mobility work every day. Unfortunately, this key aspect of long-term fitness is easy to neglect in one’s younger years — to the detriment of one’s 40-, 50and 60-year-old self.

“I even train kids now, from 8-year-olds all the way up to high school, and even at that young of an age, they’re not flexible at all,” he said. “Most of the kids can’t even bend and touch their toes.”

It might be tempting to make a beeline for the weight rack as soon as one gets to the gym, but make no mistake: taking the time to stretch can be the difference between a PR (personal record) and the ER. “You get to lifting and you’re not stretched out, then you tear a

20s

shoulder or blow out a knee or blow your back out,” Webb said. “A lot of injuries that come from weightlifting and that come in the gym come from poor form and lack of flexibility.”

For many people, the shift into full-blown adulthood should also come with a few diet changes. Dialing in on nutrition, Webb said, has both physical and mental benefits, and it goes hand in hand with the other aspects of fitness. Most important of all, though, is taking the first step.

“No matter where you go or what you do, do something,” he said.

“If you wait for the right time, there’ll never be a right time. Just do it.”

Webb, right, here pictured with his wife, Kristi, said flexibility is important at any age.

If all goes well, one’s 30s should mostly be about keeping up the good work. Still, there are a few things that will require a closer eye as during the transition from young adult to, well, adult.

“This is the first time you realize you are past your peak performance,” said Quen Spencer, a Little Rock-based trainer and founder of Tap In University. “You are still capable of performing at a high level, but consistency with nutrition, recovery and sleep are much more important than in your earlier ages.”

Anyone who got away with avoiding flexibility and stretching in your 20s could find this is also the time those decisions might come back to haunt them.

In one’s 30s, Spencer explained, there must be a conscious effort on proper warmups and cooldowns, as well as an emphasis on quality sleep.

“The 30s is actually the first time you realize the importance of recovery from exercise, staying up late and sleeping on the wrong pillow or mattress,” he said. “You also realize that if you get the slightest injury, it could linger much longer than it did earlier in life.”

Trainer Quen Spencer, second from left, said sleep and recovery become even more important in one's 30s.

30s

For those who have been consistently active up to this point, Spencer recommended a few routine tweaks to help slow down wear and tear on the knees, hips and feet as the years go on: a conservative training split with four days of rest between training the same muscle group or even opting for one or two high-intensity, high-impact workouts per week.

If exercisers have only recently decided to get serious about their routines, there is no need to panic. When starting from scratch at this age, however, it might be a good idea to find a personal trainer who can show newbies the ropes, establish one's baselines and suggest activities best suited to one’s current level and goals.

It is also important to keep in mind that activity can come in many different forms. Even for those who are not following a particular program or hitting the gym regularly, staying involved in the hobbies that kept them moving in their 20s — and even throwing in a few new ones — can be extremely beneficial.

Spencer recommended exercising or being active most days of the week, but he also pointed out that there is a difference between training for a healthy life and training for a sport. For most people, honing the basics will be enough to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle while still avoiding any potentially problematic injuries.

40s

Stephanie Newcomb, owner of Unleashed Health + Fitness in Little Rock advised women in their 40s to see a specialist about age-related hormone fluctuations.

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Spencer said a few adjustments can make workouts more sustainable as one ages.

By this point, adults probably at least have an idea of what activities and movements keep them feeling their best. Unfortunately, they might also be dealing with a few more aches and pains than in years gone by. No matter what, those evergreen mobility and recovery components only get more important with time.

Additionally, if people were not lifting regularly before now, they might not necessarily be eyeing the squat rack as they enter their 40s. However, according to Stephanie Newcomb, owner of Unleashed Health + Fitness in Little Rock, it is worth one’s while to throw around a few weights every now and again. “[Weight lifting] is important at all ages, but especially as we age and our bone density changes,” Newcomb said. “Lifting improves this 100 percent.”

One thing to add to the mix if it is not there already? Newcomb recommended creatine, an amino acid usually taken as a supplement in the form of powders or capsules. Be sure to check with a doctor before adding any new substance to a health routine, though, especially for those who have any conditions or medications that might interact with the supplement.

“Creatine is so beneficial not just for muscle performance, but also for brain function — which we need as we age.” Newcomb said.

The most common obstacle at this stage, she added, comes in the form of hormone changes, especially for women. Hormone fluctuations can undermine even the most carefully crafted workout routines, so she recommended seeing a hormone specialist to make sure one’s levels are where they should be.

There is also the issue of simply having the time to workout regularly, especially for people who might be juggling an advancing professional career with busy school schedules and extracurriculars for their children. Keep in mind that letting physical fitness fall by the wayside, however, will only hamper one’s ability to fully participate in other areas.

“We make time for the things we want in life, so prioritize working out like it’s an appointment that can’t be missed,” Newcomb said. “It’s an appointment with a longer, more fulfilled life. I always say it’s like brushing your teeth: you don’t have a choice. If you want to live a long, sustainable life, you’ve got to move your body.” aymag.com

50s Five decades in, even the most tried-and-true exercise regimens might require some alterations. Listening to one’s body at this point is paramount to avoiding injuries and staying healthy. The knocks and bruises picked up through the years start to add up, and recovery takes longer. To be sure, working out is about pushing oneself, but there is no shame Kari Sterling, instructor at McClure in knowing one’s limits. Just take it from Fitness in Benton, leaned into Kari Sterling, a longtime group fitness strength training during her 50s. instructor at McClure Fitness in Benton.

“In the past, if I overworked a muscle group, it may be tired and sore for a couple of days, but in my 50s, it will cause that muscle group to be very tight and even painful. I have to be very aware of this,” she said.

“When I'm taking a class that is very shoulder focused, I may have to change it to a bicep curl.”

In addition to making smart swaps, 50-somethings can also use less weight than they would normally opt for. If they are still feeling up to intense cardio sessions, Sterling added, go for it, but be sure not to put strength training on the back burner as a result.

“I am a little more focused on strength training as I have gotten older. When I'm 80, I won't care if I can still do 20 burpees, but I want to be able to carry my groceries in from the car,” she said. “I have also noticed that I need more joint mobility through stretching.”

Sterling also explained that a recovery day does not have to be a “do nothing” day. In fact, she rarely has a rest day that does not involve at least a solid four-mile walk. She recommended activities such as walking and yoga as great options for non-gym days.

When it comes to getting started, Sterling again highlighted the values of strength training and walking, but she warned against doing too much too fast. Impatience at this age can do more harm than good.

“In my 50s, I have become more aware of my long-term health,” Sterling said. “I want to avoid injury and still be doing this when I'm 80, so I am more careful at how hard I push myself. Learn to live in the tension of being OK with what your body can do while wanting more from it.”

60s

Jean-Paul Francoeur is the founder of JP Fitness and Recovery in Little Rock.

As retirement crests into view, so too does a prime opportunity to shake up one’s fitness routine. Staying fit after leaving the workforce behind is essential since all the free time in the world will not mean much if one is not active enough to enjoy it.

At this age, explained Jean-Paul Francoeur, founder of Little Rock-based JP Fitness and Recovery, there is an even greater need to focus on building muscle mass and stability.

Interestingly, the ability to jump can be a good indicator of your current level of fitness.

“If you think about all the things that happen that start that negative, downward spiral of health, it’s usually the first big fall. [The vertical jump] shows that you still have the ability to react to gravity quickly. When you slip and fall, the same kind of reflexes kick in to catch yourself, and if you have good muscle mass, you can usually react and catch yourself. If you can’t catch yourself, you have sufficient padding — muscle — to absorb the force when you land.”

The heightened risk of injury at this age means that with any

The emphasis on balance only increases as one enters the 70s and beyond. In fact, a balance assessment is the first step Little Rock trainer Jay Lloyd of the Athletic Clubs takes with new clients.

“In my training, you want to work balance first, and you should work it two or three times a week for about 10 to 15 minutes,” he said. “Leg strength is really important.

Something as simple as sitting to standing can be duplicated on the weight floor with a seated leg press.”

What tends to be more unique to the 70s group is the additional burden of chronic diseases that need to be managed. From diabetes and cardiovascular disease to knee and hip replacements, it is important to take any health condition into consideration before stepping foot on the weight-room floor.

“I ask all my clients to fill out a health questionnaire, kind of like you would if you were seeing a physician for the first time,” Lloyd said. “Just as important as that is

70s

what are their goals? Some people want to lose weight, and some people want to run their first 5K, even in their later years.”

The personal trainer’s place in a senior’s constellation of health care providers can be extremely important, especially when recovering from a major operation such as a shoulder replacement. While a physical therapist will help patients work specific skill sets meant to rehabilitate the joint, a personal trainer can come in afterwards to augment and strengthen the muscles surrounding it, Lloyd said.

One of the benefits of staying active that becomes vital in the later years is the opportunity to stay engaged with the community. Many of Lloyd’s clients, for example, are perfectly capable of working out solo, but they enjoy having an accountability partner there to cheer them on.

“A lot of these people, they’re getting up there. They may have lost a spouse. They may have lost dear friends,” he said. “If you go to the gym enough, you make connections, and you can’t overemphasize the importance of those social connections that they make.”

Lloyd added that it is never too late to start pursuing fitness. In fact, one of the highlights of his time at the Athletic Clubs so far was a woman who started coming to the gym at 90 years old. Lloyd showed her around the machines, and the last time they chatted, she had just turned 91.

“She realizes the importance of having a plan each day on what to do,” he said. “It’s great. I can’t tell you how good that makes you feel.”

Little Rock trainer Jay Lloyd of the Athletic Clubs said he starts off new clients with a balance assessment.

planned exercise or activity, there is a need to weigh the benefits and risks. For example, Francoeur said, the kind of short, intense, full-body circuits popular in CrossFit come with plenty of positives, but they can be tough on joints in a way that might not be advisable in one’s 60s and beyond.

In addition to resistance training with free weights or machines, Francoeur recommended balance exercises that help strengthen the muscles at their end ranges. These end range activation, or ERA exercises, include movements such as wall sits, lateral raises and planks in which the aim is to hold positions for a minute or more.

If adults have not hired a trainer by the time they hit their 60s, splurging on a qualified professional might be worth the investment. That is especially true for those buckling down on fitness for the first time or coming back after time away.

As Francoeur said, “It’s much easier to maintain something than it is to go get it back after you’ve lost it.”

“Not every single workout is going to be the perfect workout, but as long as you’re consistent about it, you’ll get this compounded interest in terms of fitness,” he said. “Just having that activity, just being physically active, really, even if they’re not fit yet, they’re still going to feel better mentally and emotionally.”

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Francoeur, here pictured training client Bryan Dietz, said muscle mass and stabillity are keys to fitness in one's 60s.

people

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Children of

God

Christian faith traditions and the pastoral youth movement

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

A

s Ecclesiastes famously tells us, “To everything there is a season,” and in churches of all denominations, each season sees the tide of young clergy washing up on the shores of faith. A quick, unscientific scan of church websites and social media bears this out: fresh, joyful faces preaching timeless and universal truth in new languages and modern means.

Older congregants may decry the encroachment of such vehicles as TikTok, YouTube and the internet into the sacred space, but the fact is Christianity has always been joined at the hip with technology and advancements driven by young innovators with fresh ideas. The Bible itself was held by only the very privileged few until Johannes Gutenberg printed it in 1455, the first complete book extant in the West and only the second in the world.

That printing, achieved using movable type, would open the floodgates to mass production of texts and eventually make the Bible the most ubiquitous book in human history.

In January 1921, the first licensed radio station in the United States, KDKA Pittsburgh, broadcast Sundayevening vespers service of the Calvary Episcopal Church choir. The following summer, evangelist Paul Rader perched atop Chicago City Hall with a brass quartet and broadcast the first sermon over U.S. airwaves. From there, radio would be widely used by preachers and churches alike to reach the masses, a practice that continues to this day.

In the 1960s, forward-thinking preachers recognized the power of a newfangled invention called television and sowed the seeds for religious programming that would explode in the 1980s with the televangelist movement.

Today’s Christian clergy and pastors harness digital and social media platforms in much the same as spirit as their predecessors in order to paraphrase 2 Timothy 4:17, preach in a way that all might hear. AY About You interviewed a few members of this new generation in the pulpit to discover how they are carrying the light of faith forward.

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The Rev. Krystle McDonald Online Campus Pastor St. Mark Baptist Church

generation for helping build a multi-generational community.”

Still, McDonald said, old attitudes are hard to get by, and many congregants have gotten used to the platform a lot more easily than the pastor. She said gaining acceptance as the youngest woman in the room A few years ago, the Rev. Krystle McDonald was working on the is a daily dance. staff of St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock and running a success“My gender is the bigger issue, for sure,” she said. “Some people are ful side hustle as an online entrepreneur. One hand began washing the confused about my age. For instance, people know that I have a son in other when she would communicate with her online audience about her college, and some people look at me and say, ‘You don’t look old enough life, which included raving about her church. to have a child in college.’ That’s when I share my testimony and say, “It was a part of my lifestyle at that point. I was personally [promot‘Yeah, I was 17. I was a teen mom. I literally had to grow up a little bit ing church] just because it needed to be done,” she said. “I needed my faster than some people.’ So they became more committed to, ‘She’s online people to know that this is a place of worship that I am passionyoung but she’s got a little old spirit about her.’ ate about and I wanted y’all to be passionate about it.”

“It's me being a female that I am challenged with the most. I work A year after she started, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and like many with predominantly men houses of worship, St. Mark scrambled to in this community, and find ways to reach a congregation suddenly there have been moments “For a long time I had to deconstruct my terrified to gather. Church leadership moved where I’m standing next McDonald, a former police officer, to the idea of ministry and my idea of what that to one of the male pashead of the online campus. tors that I work with, and meant for me as a woman, not knowing “In 2020, ministry, in the way that I unthey’ll come up and say, that God was helping me do that in derstood it, totally shifted,” she said, “but ‘Hey, pastor. Hey, Krys.’ I what I didn’t lose was my online community. preparation to lead.” can’t lie and say it doesn’t I had already been doing this whole influencbother me, but what I’m ing thing, so I still had a grasp on a lot of called to matters more.” people spiritually. Literally, what happened was God used my personal McDonald said another unexpected reality of her life in ministry influence as leadership influence.” is the difficulty she has had in winning over female congregants, even It would be easy to assume McDonald’s online ministry is how St. those women who enthusiastically support her in other ventures, such Mark most authentically and firmly connects with the younger genas being a motivational speaker and founder and designer of She Speaks eration, which study after study has shown to be less likely to attend Apparel. In the face of this, she leans on the image of Jesus being rechurch, if belong to one at all. However, such has not been the case, and jected in his hometown as she slowly, steadily builds bridges out of grace McDonald found herself preaching to an audience predominantly of and patience, soldered by the Word. baby boomers.

“For a long time I had “It’s interesting because it has really caused me to learn how to effecto deconstruct tively walk in my calling as a pastor,” she said. “I have some strikes against me. I’m young, and I’m a woman. In most Baptist denominations, both of those are not typical for pastoring. So when I came into it, I was automatically geared towards trying to ‘fight for my space.’

“Thankfully, because of how progressive the world has become, more of the older generation wanted to stay connected to Christ by any means necessary. Even though they were not sure about the online space, once they bought in, they became committed to it, so, I give credit to this

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my idea of ministry and my idea of what that meant for me as a woman, not knowing that God was helping me do that in preparation to lead,” she said, “but it was very disappointing to know that I was connected to women who knew me as an empowerment speaker, who knew me as a leader in the community, inviting me to speak at events and inviting me to these different empowerment brunches, but they rejected the idea of me as a pastor.

“I’m still navigating that. Some women still call me ‘sis’ instead of ‘pastor,’ and it’s OK. It really takes humility to navigate through that and say ‘I see the struggle they have with that.’ This walk is challenging, and there are going to be times where you’re going to trip up, and one foot is going to land right and the other foot is still going to be caught up. Give yourself grace, but also remember you’ve got to keep walking.”

"This walk is challenging, and there are going to be times where you’re going to trip up, and one foot is going to land right and the other foot is still going to be caught up. Give yourself grace, but also remember you’ve got to keep walking.”

The Rev. Kathleen McMurray

Connecting Ministries and Worship Pastor Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Growing up in a dual-faith household, the Rev. Kathleen McMurray was always steeped in matters of Christianity. Born to a Catholic father and Methodist mother, she experienced both religious traditions and their various charisms regularly growing up.

“We were very involved in both churches,” she said. “From the time that I was little, my parents made sure that they brought us to worship at both churches. We would usually go to Mass on Saturday evenings and then on Sunday mornings, because the churches were right around the corner from each other geographically, we would literally walk between them to go to Sunday school, choir and another Sunday school and another worship service.

“I did youth choir at both churches. The youth group was more active at the United Methodist Church. I did acolyte and altar serving when I was younger at both churches. All three of us kids took "No matter what your faith first communion in is like, no matter where the Catholic Church.

Then when it came you come from, no matter time for confirmation, what you’re struggling with my parents said, ‘You all decide.’ My brothin your life, whether you’re er and I both became excited to be here or you Methodist and my sister became Cathohave so many doubts about lic, but I was still inGod, that’s all welcomed volved in the youth in this place.” choir at my dad’s church. We were a very involved family.”

McMurray’s road to ministry began one Sunday when something new caught her eye at the Methodist church “My mother’s church had their first female clergy woman when I was about 11,” she said. “I got to see a woman doing that for the first time, and I think it had been kind of rolling around inside of me."

McMurray continued her immersion in church activities throughout high school and into college where matters of faith and serving others led her to finally consider ministry for her life’s work.

“I was very involved in my youth group,” she said. “I was very involved with a lot of our mission projects and things that we participated in, one of which was Ozark Mission Project. I ended up working for OMP when I was in college, and it was while working there during the summer as one

of their college staff members that I really felt the call and accepted it to ministry. I think it had been bubbling up for a little bit.”

Arriving at Pulaski Heights United Methodist in Little Rock in 2020, the 36-year-old quickly settled into her ministry. She said being closer in age to younger members of the congregation helps her communicate more effectively.

“Pastors have always been public presences in different ways, and they’re supposed to speak and interact with addressing the hurts and the harms and the struggles and the fears and the anxieties of their flock, of the people with whom they are charged to care for,” she said. “In the wake of social media, in the wake of technology, that changes what that looks like.

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“The people that are receiving your word aren’t just the people that are sitting in your pews. I think that there is this awareness of this layered complexity when it comes to what it means to be a pastor. With the increased globalization over the past 20 years, the awareness that we have of the global world has changed. How we address those issues that folks may encounter in the wake of increased partisan politics, that becomes a lot more complicated and challenging, but I think that awareness of the hurts of the world in a more amplified way certainly changes the way that ministry looks.”

McMurray said when it comes to declining church attendance among young adults, Sunday-scheduled activities, fallout from the pandemic and a general jading of society are real, but largely the easy things to blame. The bigger challenge for churches, she said, is to speak openly and honestly about the importance of faith and its role in members’ lives.

“Young folks, millennials, Gen Z, yearn for authenticity, and sometimes the church has not always been good at that,” she said. “We have a pretty large young adult ministry here that has sprung up over the last couple years, and folks are hungry. They’re yearning for that. It’s inviting people to find their place. Sometimes people don’t know where their place is in the church, so, trying to open up those conversations and welcome people where they are is important.”

“A lot of times, folks get the idea, whether it is spoken directly or if they are communicated with indirectly, that you have to have your life together when you come to church or be a certain kind of person to come to church. That is, I think, a gift each and every week in worship, when I welcome folks into our community to communicate that no matter what your faith is like, no matter where you come from, no matter what you’re struggling with in your life, whether you’re excited to be here or you have so many doubts about God, that’s all welcomed in this place.”

Fathers Patrick, left, and Joseph Friend

Father Patrick Friend/Father Joseph Friend Catholic Diocese of Little Rock

In Roman Catholic vernacular, peer clergy refer to each other as uncle’s 10-year priest anniversary in 1997,” he “brother priests.” In the case of priest Joseph and Patrick Friend, the said. “He and one of his brother priests were first part of that title came along well before the second. Today, it is hard holding my hands, and they were skipping me, to see much distinction between their connection by blood and by vocaand I just remember looking up at their coltion, just as there is not much space between what the men have chosen lars, and I saw how joyous they were. There was to do and what they were born to be. something about what they did, and because “As a priest, my whole being is not so much what I do; it’s who I of my awesome parents, I knew who God was, am,” said Patrick, 35, a teacher at Little Rock Catholic High School. even at 4. I told them, ‘One day I’m going to “Everywhere I go, whether it’s the grocery store or the classroom here be a priest like you guys.’ at Catholic High or in the Mass, I say with all humility that I mystically and miraculously make present that sacMy priesthood is ultimately about bringing Christ to rifice to every person that I meet. I people by getting on their turf just as he came onto wouldn’t compartmentalize it so much into a function as an identity that our turf. That’s the whole story of the incarnation. It is a brings objective grace into the world challenge, but it’s also good motivation for me.” established by Jesus and carried on for 2,000 years.”

— Father Joseph Friend Patrick, 30, agreed, and he has the backstory to prove it. Growing up in a devout family and with the example of Monsignor Scott Friend, their uncle, considering a life in vocations was “When I told my family I was going to do always encouraged. His decision to enter the priesthood ahead of Patit, I was 17, and my brother says it was just rick, who is five years his senior, is something he loves to rib his brother eating at him and he knew. He was like, ‘Oh about from time to time. man, my little brother, he’s going to make me “The first time I explicitly said it, I was 4 years old. I was at my do this.’ It was always in his heart too. He was

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Patrick lays hands on Joseph as part of Joseph's ordination in 2020.

just too scared to admit it.”

The brothers said while society tends to focus on the things demanded of priests — including foregoing marriage, raising a family and being moved from place to place at the will of a bishop — they’re given something far greater in return.

“I think it’s always going to be something that is difficult to understand,” Patrick said. “It was difficult when Paul was explaining it all the way back, saying it would be better that you don’t marry. In our society today, I think what is upheld as one of the ultimate goods is sexual expression. People are like, man, why would you sacrifice that?

“Jesus tells us from the beginning there are some who will choose this state, and that’s what it is, a choice for the sake of kingdom of heaven and a sign. It’s a beautiful thing when I get to stand here with those who are celibate, maybe not because of their choosing, or are in difficult life situations and are having to say no to certain impulses that they may have, to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them and say, ‘I know it’s not easy. I’m there with you.’”

The two men are part of a youth movement that has transformed the Catholic Church in Arkansas, one shepherded by none other than their uncle who headed the diocesan vocations office for many years.

Under Monsignor Friend’s guidance, Arkansas has for years produced more priests per capita than much larger dioceses around the country.

Joseph, who serves as pastoral administrator to three parishes in Crossett, Hamburg and Lake Village, said while congregations are overjoyed at seeing younger faces at the altar, ministering to all ages takes some time to perfect.

“It is tricky because you can’t preach to a group of people that you don’t know,” he said. “One of the things that I will take to my grave was taught to me by [Monsignor] Jack Harris who is, I believe, the second oldest active priest in our diocese, and he is incredible.

He told me, ‘Joe, the key about the priesthood is getting on the people’s turf.’

“When I look out at the people, if I don’t know them, that’s showing there’s a problem. I spend a lot of time getting out to the elderly and those who are shut in and struggling and asking them their story. I naturally have more fun talking about the things in my own life, but that’s not what my priesthood is about.

My priesthood is ultimately about bringing Christ to people by getting on their turf just as he came onto our turf. That’s the whole story of the incarnation. It is a challenge, but it’s also good motivation for me.”

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YOU. GROW. HERE. CELEBRATING WITH Pastor Krystle McDonald

being recognized as an up and coming young pastor by AY Magazine.

Pastor Phillip L. Pointer, Sr., First Lady Keya Pointer, and the entire Saint Mark Baptist Church Family.

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A HASTY DECISION W

By JOE DAVID RICE // Photos provided

hen Max Horton bought his 82-acre tract outside Hasty, he did not pay that much attention to a dilapidated barn located down the hill from where an old homeplace once stood before it burned to the ground. In fact, he originally thought the barn might be used to store firewood or supplies — and even considered converting it into a man cave he could rent to hunters.

Then he talked with builder and contractor Chris Burris, who has years of experience dealing with Ozark structures, and asked Burris to look into renovating the barn into a rental unit for visitors to the Buffalo National River area. Now, after a full year of work, the ancient outbuilding is the latest addition to the ever-growing list of Airbnb properties available in northern Arkansas.

If you are looking for a bit of geographic orientation, Hasty is in northeastern Newton County, flanked by Yardelle and Piercetown for those who are familiar with the area. For the rest of us, Hasty is located on Arkansas 123 between Western Grove and Jasper. The unincorporated community was originally called Gum Tavern or Agee when the region was settled back in the late nineteenth century. In fact, the local graveyard is still known as the Agee Cemetery and dates from 1878. It was about that time when a grist mill and sawmill were established in the vicinity, resulting in a sizable influx of new residents. Noticing the settlement’s rapid growth, the local postmistress, one Joanna Morrison, suggested the name “Hasty” to federal postal officials, and that is what it has been called since 1902.

As for Horton’s property, it had been owned by the Garner family since the 1920s. Joe Garner, the family patriarch, was a carpenter during the week and a preacher on Sundays. Using oak lumber that was milled locally, he built the barn in the early 1940s.

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The transformation from a barn to “The Barn,” as it is now called, was nothing short of miraculous. First, Burris and his local crew had to dig out the dirt floors to accommodate the eight-foot ceilings. They next strengthened the exterior walls and added several inches of insulation.

Then they got to work on the interior, using salvaged barn wood wherever they could. There is now a modern kitchen that has every convenience (including a microwave under the island), two baths, a master bedroom, a second bedroom with bunkbeds, a great room with gas-fired logs in the fireplace, and high-speed internet service. Burris’ wife, Becky Jo, provided some interior decorating skills, adding touches of the Ozarks throughout the cabin.

Outside, the place looks like a barn, of course, but it is probably the most inviting barn passersby will ever see. The graveled driveway is lined with a split rail fence, and there is an enormous oak tree with a pair of swings standing guard at the entrance. Original to the barn, the front door is a classic example of Ozark design. The back porch features a nice sitting area, a gas grill and an eight-person hot tub. Beyond the porch is a firepit and a horseshoe pit, along with views of the distant mountains to the north. Both Horton and Burris said the nighttime skies are phenomenal and filled with stars. The wildlife sightings have been pretty amazing, too, with foxes, bobcats, deer, owls, armadillos and even black bears appearing on occasion. Believe it or not, there is even a charging station for electric vehicles.

If you have ever had a hankering to spend a night in an Ozark barn, this may be your best chance. Visit www.airbnb.com to make reservations. The middle section of the Buffalo National River is only a few miles away.

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Builder Chris Burris, bottom right, transformed the ancient barn from a rotting shell to a beautiful sanctuary in the picturesque Hasty countryside.

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This side of SEVEN – By Jason Pederson

Deleting the Deceased

I

do not know about you, but my phone is quickly becoming a cyber cemetery.

It is one of the unfortunate privileges of getting older: you start outliving your contacts, and just like those of yesteryear who had to decide what to do with a card in their rolodex after a person passed, a similar modern-day decision involves the contacts in our smartphones.

The latest for me involves Jim Spencer. Jim was the perfect father-in-law; available without being intrusive, helpful without being judgmental. At the age of 79, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and ten weeks later, he was gone. We have photos, videos, cards and letters, social media pages and our memories, so why keep a phone number that will one day be assigned to someone else?

“The grieving process is so personal, and much personal history affects our response,” said Kime Eubanks. Eubanks is a grief coach based in Little Rock. He has more than 2,000 contacts in his phone and said he does not know how many of them are dead, although he can think of a dozen or so off the top of his head. Eubanks does not know because he has never culled his list. They remain in his phone more out of neglect than respect.

“Things that clutter my floor or kitchen table demand attention,” Eubanks said. “Things on my phone are easily ignorable. For me, almost all of [the deceased contacts] are there just due to sheer neglect or laziness.”

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If he were to delete the dead from his phone, one contact would be months before he died at the age of 92: “Uh…Jason? It’s Pappaw. Give more difficult to part with than the others. me a call at your earliest convenience if you will, please. I’m trying to run “The one exception might be my wife, who died 17 years ago,” down a phone number. Thank you. I love you. Buh bye.”

Eubanks said. “That one would make me pause. I don’t keep a lot of “Although we can reason that deleting a contact is not disrespectmemories of her out in the open, but it does make me smile when I ful since the person is gone, it may feel deeply that way to a person run across them.” grieving,” Eubanks said. “My father-in-law had my wife’s voice on his That is a big reason why I refuse to delete deceased contacts from my old-school answering machine greeting. After my wife passed away, he phone. While keeping those names and numbers is meaningless from a kept it hooked to his landline, which is all he used until he died. It was practical standpoint, it is personally meaningful. Like Eubanks, I smile comforting to him, but I didn’t like calling his house and hearing it. Our when I scroll through the S's and see Jim Spencer or Mike Shumaker, responses are personal and, again, tied to so many personal experiences.” my best friend since third Several Decembers grade who died in July ago, I visited the grave of 2022. Confession: I have my great-great-grandfatexted Shu a few times ther in Osceola, Wis. Iver since his death on a sigPederson was born on nificant date or if I heard Oct. 7 and shares a birthsomething that I thought day with our son, Spencer, would make him laugh.

146 years apart. Iver PedHad I deleted his number, erson died in 1943, two I would not have been able years before my now-78to do that. year-old father was born.

A scroll through my The chance that there is a D contacts includes the person alive who rememphone number for my bers anything about Iver good friend and forPederson is slim. I have mer colleague Matt Denever seen a photo of him Cample. Matt was just 44 and know very little about when his battle with canthe man, and 80 years after cer ended in 2019. Nearly I’m gone, very few people five years later, his name will remember me. and number remain in my There are tech compaphone, and his Facebook nies moving into “digital page remains a place for afterlife services” that are people to share thoughts promising to change that.

The author's son Spencer Pederson at the gravesite of his ancestor. and memories. FiftyTwo of them are Eternime three friends posted on and Replika. The techhis timeline in 2020 on his nology is not quite there birthday, including me; 52 did the same thing this year. His mother yet, but an AI chatbot given access to and informed by your history of posted on Mother’s Day in 2021. emails, text messages, social media posts and other volunteered informaThe D's also include my mother-in-law, Diane Delone, who left us tion could one day be used to create an avatar or digital alter ego that in January 2020. The pandemic would not have been good for Meme, continues to look, act, sound and talk like you long after you are gone. neither mentally nor physically. So while death spared her that, it left This would allow, in theory, a young man living 146 years from now to those who loved her to grieve. Really, that is what this entire examinado much more than visit a cemetery to connect with his distant past. It tion is all about — the different ways that people grieve. To some, seeing could also allow a grieving spouse or parent to drown in a false reality. a name in a phone will trigger a wave of grief and emotion they would The desire to survive past our mortal existence is not new. The first rather avoid, so they delete. To others, it triggers a feeling of warmth and cryogenic patient, James Bedford, was frozen in 1967. His hope was, a smile, so they keep it. Neither is right or wrong, just different. and I guess remains, that one day scientific advancements will allow for Since my last name begins with a P, you would expect to find a large his revival. Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams is probably the most number of deceased contacts in that section of my phone, but I have famous of the frozen, electing to have only his head preserved in 2002 lived a blessed life. Only my uncle, Gary Pederson, and my wife’s aunt, for an unlikely earthly reunion sometime in the distant future.

Margaret Pierce, are gone from the P's. They were both prayer warriors I am not interested in extending my life here on earth for any longer who cared for their nieces and nephews and all of the children of their than what the God I believe in has planned for me. To me, there has nieces and nephews like their own. been only one true resurrection, and my faith teaches me that because of Although his name was Bob Chowning, I also keep “Pappaw” in it, a much better life awaits in eternity. But when I die, if you have my with the P's. My wife’s grandfather was so kind and is so missed that contact information in your phone, it would be nice if you waited just a I occasionally listen to a voicemail I saved from Oct. 19, 2013, two bit before saying goodbye for good. I’ll do the same for you.

JASON PEDERSON For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his awardwinning time on the news, he now serves as deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

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MURDER MYSTERY: Murder in the family

T

he ice cream he had brought home from lunch was melting in its container on the kitchen table. Everything else seemed frozen in time by the bullets that had ripped into his body, now lying on the floor. In a wailing 911 call, his wife, Michelle, identified the dead man as Marc Despain.

Marc, 34, a father of three, was known to be a successful real estate appraiser and property owner who ran his business from his home in the upscale Layman Crest neighborhood of Jonesboro. Initially, it appeared that he was ambushed by burglars when he came home.

The house was ransacked, but to Detective Vic Brooks, the crime scene quickly began to reveal itself as something other than a robbery gone bad. Highly sought-after items normally targeted by thieves were still in place, and who would just walk in on a robbery that might still be in progress?

Not only that, but Marc had gone all the way to the kitchen, where he set down his ice cream on the kitchen table. Most notably, his cell phone was right next to it. No doubt he was taken by surprise, but had the intent been to murder the unsuspecting Despain, and then stage the scene as a robbery to throw investigators off ?

Also, it was not going unnoticed by cops that outside, beyond the yellow crime-scene tape, Marc's father-in-law, Carl Kelley, was screaming profanities at Marc’s father, Jack. Interesting. The animosity displayed on the front lawn was just a trailer for the scenes that would unfold at police headquarters when each man was interrogated.

Police interviews began that day, Aug. 24, 2011. Good cops do not share their thoughts on

By Sarah Russell a crime scene with potential suspects, so Brooks must have found it odd that Kelley was insistent that if this was a murder staged as a robbery, Jack was their man.

There had been nothing but bad blood and cold silence between the two families for more than five years now, Kelley said — motive enough.

In his interview with Brooks, the distraught Jack freely admitted the estrangement, but kill his only son? No. If this was anything other than a robbery gone bad, he suggested Brooks look at the folks on the other side of the family — Kelley and/ or his daughter, Michelle. There they would find a motive.

Marc had been a good kid, Jack said, an athlete with a fun personality. After high school, he met Michelle, who, at 18, was a year younger than he was. Soon she would be more than a date or a girlfriend; it was what you do when you get a girl pregnant, his mother Tana said.

You marry her.

Michelle came to her vows as a package deal with a daughter from a previous relationship. None of that mattered to Marc — they were both his family now. Joining his parents’ real estate business, he quickly proved that he, too, could be successful. As Tana would later say, while Marc worked hard, Michelle spent hard, but the truth was that Marc enjoyed being able to give his wife, her daughter and their two boys anything they wanted.

The young couple had a lot, but a time came when a lot did not seem like enough anymore. In a family meeting, Marc and Michelle clearly stated they felt they deserved more money out of the business, a conversation that started professionally, and then blew up

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when Michelle and Jack threw words at each other.

After that, all parties agreed it would be best for each family to go their separate ways business-wise.

The damage had been done to the relationship, but it was not the end. No, that came later, Jack explained, after Michelle’s teenage daughter borrowed a phone from him. Supposedly, Marc and Michelle found nude photos of her on it, and when questioned, the girl insisted Jack had forced her to take the photos. The couple confronted Jack, who vigorously denied he would ever do such a thing. They chose not to believe him. The police were called, and an investigation was opened.

Tana was stunned by the accusations and left. For three months, Jack endured a broken marriage and the community side-eye. After several police interviews, the girl’s story wobbled to the extent that the investigation was closed. No charges were ever filed against Jack. With that, Tana, his love of 30 years, soon returned to his side. Later, it was learned that Michelle masterminded the entire thing as a way to isolate Marc from his family, solidifying her control over his finances. Indeed, nothing but cold silence existed during the ensuing years.

Marc, by all outward appearances, continued to be successful, but Jack knew that was not true either. There was still mutual ownership of some of the rental properties, through which Jack was made aware that many of the properties under Marc’s control were facing foreclosure and tenants who had rented from them for years were being put out on the street. Jack and Tana could only guess what might have caused such a downward trajectory in Marc’s success.

No doubt Brooks found such information intriguing, especially since Michelle had told police that in addition to her job at the bank, she did the books for their business, and the couple owed well over $1 million.

Not that she brought that up in her interview; instead she preemptively revealed to Brooks that she was not just a wife and mother, but a sugar momma. Her lover, a 24-year-old fellow bank employee, was having an all-expenses-paid liaison with her.

Had Marc, now hit with serious financial troubles, finally begun to question how his money was being handled? Did he suspect Michelle and her father — his rent collector — of taking money from the business? Had he found out about Michelle’s extracurricular activity? Murder might have been considered a viable solution if Michelle and Kelley were in danger of being the next ones to be put out on the street.

For his part, Kelley said he dropped off rent money at the house earlier in the day, placing himself at the scene of the crime. However, at the actual time of the murder, a surveillance tape backed up his alibi that he had gone to the bank to see Michelle. The tape conveniently alibied her, as well. Another surveillance tape confirmed Michelle’s story that she and Marc had lunch together earlier, even showing them getting the ice cream. After her dad dropped by, she said she left the bank again, going home to retrieve some bills that she needed to pay that day.

At this point in the case, Michelle was free to bury her husband.

Mixed in with the mourners was Brooks, who noted in the case file that it was the coldest funeral he had ever attended. Cold, too, was Michelle’s exclusion of Marc’s parents and sister. As his family rushed in to say one last goodbye before his casket was lowered, the police were called.

The case hit a long pause but kick-started anew when Brooks got a tip that a man named Terrance Barker, aka Qualo, was street-yapping that he killed Marc. In a thorough initial investigation, cops had questioned neighbors and learned an unfamiliar beaten-up blue Mercedes had been circling the area that day. Included in the information were

Marc Despain

descriptions of two men by whom Barker was nailed.

In custody, he would admit being offered the hit for several thousand dollars, the latter being his only motive. He did not know any of the Despains, he said, but he did know Johnny Hubbard, one of Marc’s tenants, who, coincidentally, owned a blue Mercedes. For his part, Hubbard implicated Kelley, who had already placed himself at the scene of the crime by disclosing that he dropped off rent money. In fact, he was allowing Barker access to the house.

Confronted with her father’s arrest, Michelle turned on him. He probably did it, she told Brooks, hoping that she would share in the million-dollar life insurance policy Marc had taken out. With that, Michelle might have thought she had convinced detectives she was innocent, and between the insurance payout and her boy toy, probably saw her future as set.

However, phones often have a lot to say to law enforcement. After securing the phones of all involved, Brooks noticed both Michelle and Kelley had deleted information on their phones that day. It is a common mistake among amateur criminals, assuming that deleted files are permanently erased. While it takes time for experts to retrieve such data, Brooks was able to present prosecutors with quite the mother lode.

The texts between the two started early in the morning. “It has to be today,” Michelle texted Kelley. Marc had not wanted to go out to lunch that day, that was clear, and he had not wanted to go get ice cream afterward, either. It was just as Barker had said, confirmed by Kelley’s texts with Michelle — a play-by-play as the whole thing went down.

Upon being convicted of first-degree murder, Kelley and Barker each got 35 years. Hubbard got 18 years for hindering apprehension plus decades more for violation of probation on a previous drug conviction.

Barker and Hubbard are still incarcerated. Kelley died in prison of congestive heart failure.

In April 2014, Michelle negotiated a plea deal. By admitting guilt on three counts of hindering apprehension, she avoided a capital murder charge. She also waived her right to an appeal. Her sentence was 30 years with eligibility for parole in five. In September 2019, she got that parole.

Was this justice? Maybe not in its entirety, but Jack and Tana had to face a hard reality: Without the plea deal, Michelle would go to a jury trial. As Tana has said, it would only take one juror to set her free. The couple knew all too well how persuasive she could be.

As his ice cream melted, Marc’s life was ended by two bullets. It took a frozen heart to make that happen to the father of three.

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Ivory-billed woodpecker

I

am a bit puzzled whether to write this piece in the present or past tense, but being an inherent optimist, I will make a leap of faith and assume — and fervently hope — this iconic bird still exists in the wilds of Arkansas.

Called “the great chieftain of the woodpecker tribe” by John James Audubon, the ivory-billed woodpecker is among the largest woodpeckers on the planet, boasting a 30-inch wingspan and reaching a length of 20 inches. These distinctive birds are shiny blueblack with white trailing edges on their wings and white markings on their necks. Crests on the males are black with an abrupt transition to vivid red on the sides and rear, while crests on females and juveniles remain black. Their eyes are brilliant yellow, and the long chisel-like beaks are, of course, ivory colored.

Audubon frequently spotted ivory-billed woodpeckers on his 1820 and 1822 excursions through eastern Arkansas, noting the bird “constantly resides, breeds and passes a life of peaceful enjoyment, finding a profusion of food in all the deep, dark and gloomy swamps.” While he observed the birds eating wild grapes, hackberries and persimmons, their primary source of food was beetles, larvae and large grubs found under the bark of dead trees. Audubon saw the birds knocking down strips of bark up to eight inches in length with single blows from their strong bills while searching for food, sometimes denuding 20 to 30 feet of tree trunk over the course of a few hours.

The brightly plumed heads of the male ivory-billed woodpecker worked against the birds’ survival. Native Americans frequently incorporated the rich scalps in their war dress, and hunters used them for shot pouches. According to Audubon, it was common to see vendors displaying heads of male ivory-billed woodpeckers at steamboat landings, selling them at the rate of two or three for 25 cents.

The woodpeckers’ habitat requirements have also contributed to their undoing. The thick hardwood swamps and extensive piney woods common across the South prior to the Civil War began to disappear as the country’s demand for agricultural land grew. Compounding the problem is that each nesting pair needs nearly 10 square miles of territory to find enough dead and dying trees to feed themselves and their young.

The ivory-billed woodpecker was thought to be extinct by the 1920s, when a pair was spotted in Florida, only to be shot by a local taxidermist. In the mid-1930s, a small colony was found in Madison Parish of northeastern Louisiana on land known as the Singer Tract, which was controlled by the Chicago Mill & Lumber Co. Conservationists desperately searched for a plan to protect the area. On Nov. 22,

By Joe David Rice 1943, governors from four southern states (including Arkansas Gov. Homer Adkins) wrote the company, offering to purchase the land at a fair price and concluding: “We feel that the saving for all time of the rarest North American bird, the ivory-billed woodpecker, and of the finest remaining stand of virgin hardwood timber in the South are matters of great national importance and of concern to the citizens of our states.”

The reply from the chairman of the Chicago Mill & Lumber Co. was short and to the point: “We are just money grabbers,” he wrote. “We are not concerned, as you folks, with ethical consideration.” The forest was cut, and the wood was used in the war effort to make tea chests for the British army. The birds disappeared.

That was pretty much the last news about the bird until a startling announcement by U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton on April 28, 2005: the ivorybilled woodpecker had been rediscovered in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge of eastern Arkansas. The initial sighting had been made by kayaker Gene Sparling on Feb. 11, 2004, but a team of ornithologists had spent the intervening 14 months working in secrecy to avoid a stampede of birdwatchers. Over a dozen additional sightings occurred during the span, confirming, at least for the research team, that the ivory-billed woodpecker once again lived in Arkansas.

The Department of the Interior announced a $10 million plan for the protection and recovery of the rare bird.

Most of the birding community was ecstatic upon hearing the news. Other authorities, however, refused to believe the ivory-billed woodpecker had been spotted. They argued that the one video clip was inconclusive and that subsequent sightings had actually been of the fairly common pileated woodpecker which, although considerably smaller than the ivory-bill, bears some similarities in appearance.

Thousands of hours have been spent in the Cache River bottoms by dozens of people, all hoping to obtain definitive proof the ivory-bill is still around after all these years. Although scientists installed decoys, cameras and tape recorders to capture conclusive evidence, they have yet to enjoy any luck.

I spent a few hours a couple of years ago canoeing in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, quietly praying to see the famous bird. My appeal went unanswered, but after paddling through the watery maze of tupelo gums and cypress, where visibility was often less than 20 feet due to the thick vegetation, I can readily appreciate the difficulty in spotting such an elusive creature on a 65,000-acre tract.

Meanwhile, I am maintaining the faith.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, has written 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 — one 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 you 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 at Amazon and the University of Arkansas Press.

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Conway. When your family needs medical care, you can trust our board-certified providers to provide you with the

2023

comprehensive care you deserve when you need it most.