BayouLife February 2019

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FEBRUARY 2019

42 20 / TERRARIUM GUIDE Taylor Bennett Gives Readers Step-By-Step Instructions on How To Make a Container Garden Terrarium

88 / FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY Creating Custom Floral Arrangements with Help from Your Kids

30 / THE STORYTELLER’S STORY Genaro Ky Ly Smith is an AwardWinning Author and a Beloved Instructor of Composition and Creative Writing

102 / BAYOU EATS Kindall and Tony Makolli’s Love Story Plays Out Every Day in Their Family-Centered Restaurant, Roma Italian Bistro

46 / YOUR MAJESTIES Continuing Louisiana Traditions with King and Queen Janus XXXVI, Sammy Tolar and Blanche Betz

124 / CRUSH From Pretty in Pink Jumpers to Little Black Dresses, We’ve Got Options Perfectly Suited for a Romantic Date or Night Out with Friends

70 / HOWARD SHAFT REUNION Popular 90s Band Takes Stage for a Show-Stopping Reunion at Flying Tiger Brewery

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142 / BAYOU HEALTH Shannon Dahlum Discusses How Your Breath Influences Weight Loss 146 / TIME TO TALK: JUULING Jermaine Galloway Explains the Effects of Vaping on Teens

APRIL 2018

134 / FINISHING THE DREAM Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum is This Month’s Bayou Icon

154 / IT TAKES TWO Tom and Sue Nicholson Enjoyed Two Very Different Childhoods, Yet Both Grew Up with Similar Value Systems and Dreams 160 / VICTORIAN GOTHIC WITH A TWIST The Midnight Hued, VictorianInspired Exterior of Leanne and Clay Nelson’s Home Echoes Today’s Minimalist Style with Sleek, Modern Interiors

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BayouLife

EBRUARY IS A TIME TO

recognize those we love, recognize the central role of African-Americans in U.S. history and gather together to celebrate Mardi Gras and prepare for the Lenten season. It’s a month that the Livingston family celebrates in a big way – both of my little girls have birthdays this month, as well as my aunt and mom. It’s a party all month long at my house.

This year, my friend Lauren Davis, asked me to ride with her in the Krewe of Iris in New Orleans. I rode in my first parade a few years ago as a guest in the Krewe of Janus. There is something magical about participating in carnival season – from King Cakes to funky clothes, it’s a time I look forward to every year. In this month’s issue we interview King and Queen Janus XXXVI, Sammy Tolar and Blanche Betz. For all of the upcoming Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras events, see page 46.

Most months our BayouArtist column features visual artists in Northeast Louisiana, but this month we wanted to highlight a literary artist. Genaro Ky Ly Smith is an award-winning author of three books: The Land Baron’s Sun, The Land South of the Clouds and The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born. He is also a beloved instructor of composition and creative writing at Louisiana Tech University and is currently shortlisted for a 2019 Guggenheim Fellowship. See his story on page 30.

I remember the first time I heard Howard Shaft play as a student at Louisiana Tech. It was 1997 at Rabb’s, and I thought they were the coolest local band around. When Jeremy Davis contacted us to let us know they were having a

1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185

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PUBLISHER & OWNER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com Howard Shaft reunion, I had a fan-girl moment. They recently took to the stage at Flying Tigery Brewery, and put on an unforgettable performace. Vanelis Rivera caught up with the group for an interview on page 70.

I love the idea of homemade Valentine’s gifts. On pages 88-90, Taylor Bennett and Lindsey Lowe of Fine Folks take us through making a floral arrangement with kids. So, this Valentine’s Day, carve some time out with your children, get creative, forage for greenery and give mom/dad the ultimate homemade and thoughtful present.

For serving its mission of documenting and educating the region about African-Americans and their impact throughout our communities, the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum is Bayou Icon for the month of February. See how founder Nancy Johnson, and the late Lorraine Slacks’ dream is continuing to make an impact in our community on pages 134-139.

We hope you enjoy reading this month’s issue of BayouLife Magazine.

We are your only locally-owned, home delivered publication in North Louisiana.

Thank you for your continued support of local businesses.

Cassie

COPY EDITOR Cindy G. Foust ART DIRECTOR Melanie Moffett melanie@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Ashley Hubenthal ashley@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Amanda Singley amanda@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Katelyn Tolbert katelyn@bayoulifemag.com OFFICE MANAGER Sarah McElroy sarah@bayoulifemag.com PHOTO STYLIST Taylor Bennett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Steven Atchison Sarah Blackwell Maré Brennan Dan Chason Laura Clark Kenny Covington Shannon Dahlum Lou Davenport Michael DeVault Dr. Thomas Estis Dr. David Finley Cindy Gist Foust Lori French April Clark Honaker Heather Land

Paul Lipe Erin Love Meredith McKinnie Dr. Timothy Mickel Guy Miller Marci Parker Dr. J. Preston Parry Georgiann Potts Lesli Rambin Cathi French-Roberts Delia Simpson Beatrice A. Tatem Vanelis Rivera Judy Wagoner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Arender Andrew Bailey Kelly Moore Clark Jamie Dahlum

Scarlett Garcia Heather Land Sarah McElroy Jo Williams

ON THE COVER Mallory Lynn models in Crush fashion shoot.

Image by Kelly Moore Clark. Makeup by Brittany Dye. Hair by Lesley Boyd.

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BayouLife Magazine is published and distributed by Redbird Publishing, LLC. Circulation: 13,000 copies monthly. Postal subscriptions ($30) can be ordered online at www.bayoulifemag. com. BayouLife Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, manuscripts or other materials. Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited.

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Downtown River Jam Keeping the Beat Alive in Downtown Monroe

BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT BRAND MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.

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OCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS COMMANDING THE stage, children dancing with their parents, music lovers gathering around the fountain in Bry Park… these are the familiar scenes of Downtown River Jam, a free concert series put on by the Downtown Monroe Alliance several times per year. Music is an essential element of the identity of any city. Nowhere is this more true than in Louisiana. The Downtown River Jam committee strives to keep the music alive with this family friendly event held in the heart of Downtown Monroe.

On Saturday, February sixteenth, Amdocs presents the Downtown River Jam Mardi Gras Block party. From 6 until 9 pm, free live music will fill the air at the corner of Third and Pine in Downtown Monroe.

Local favorites, the Joe Haydel Band, will get things kicked off on the Skent-N-Dent Stage as we gear up for the Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade. Headlining will be J.A.M. Brass Band out of New Orleans.

Doe’s Eat Place will be on hand with a cash bar and Choice Brands will be there with some delicious samples of Louisiana beer from Abita, Flying Tiger, and Crying Eagle to wet your whistle. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

J.A.M. Brass band was started in Ruston about eight years ago at the Sundown Tavern. Band leader, Kirk “Bigg House” House was a member of a popular second line band called The Red and Black. He decided to branch out and start something new. J.A.M., which is an acronym for Just Average Musicians, has been entertaining audiences with its authentic New Orleans brass band, jazz, R&B, funk, rap, and old school music for a number of years in Northern Louisiana. They are now also playing at many venues in the historic French Quarter in New Orleans. With Tim Brown holding down the bass line on tuba, Kasey B and Chuck B blowing you away on trumpet, Corey and Jacoby killing you smoothly with their saxophones, Pretty Boy Steve on that nasty trombone, and Bigg House serenading you and keeping the beat with his vocals and drums, you are sure to JAM the night away.

Throughout the day, there will also be specials and festivities happening at the surrounding businesses. Neat, Mustang Sally’s, and Flying Tiger Brewery will all be getting in on the action. The

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parade, led by King Sammy Tolar and Queen Blanche Betz, will begin at 6 pm in West Monroe on Natchitoches Road and make its way to Downtown Monroe, passing in front of the Skent-N-Dent stage as revelers dance the night away and catch beads, cups, and other treasures. The parade will then continue down Louisville, ending at Oliver Road. For the complete parade route and other details, visit kreweofjanusonline.com. There will be an after party at Live Oaks Ballroom beginning at 9 p.m. featuring favorites, The Hollow Decks.

The party doesn’t end with Mardi Gras. Look for other Downtown River Jam events throughout the year, including the infamous Dueling Pianos event which has grown exponentially in size and popularity the past several years. Additional events will be held in April, October, and December. To stay posted on event details, be sure to like the Downtown River Jam Facebook (facebook.com/downtownriverjam) and Instagram (Instagram.com/downtownriverjam318) pages. We look forward to seeing you downtown!

Downtown River Jam wouldn’t be possible without its sponsors.

Extra special thanks to Amdocs, Century Marketing Solutions, Choice Brands, Skent-N-Dent, Azalea Estates Assisted Living and Retirement Center, Doe’s Eat Place, Matt’s Music, James Machine Works, Lamar Advertising, and Lagniappe Media, who all contribute to bring us these wonderful events. If you’d like to become a sponsor of Downtown River Jam, go to facebook.com/downtownriverjam for more information.

Be sure to like Choice Brands on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with local happenings and new product releases. In addition, you’ll find links to beer related articles, fun recipes, and much more! Find us at facebook.com/choicebrands, twitter.com/choicebrandsinc, and instagram.com/choicebrands.

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Washington Wine and Spirits Celebrating with That Special Someone

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APPY FEBRUARY FROM ALL OF US HERE AT Washington Wine and Spirits! This month we will be talking about a few wines that will make your Valentine’s Day better than ever!

Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating with your special someone, usually with roses and chocolates, so we are going to tell you about some gifts along those lines to help make your Valentine’s Day a holiday to remember! First up we are going to talk about a few sparkling Rosés.

Calvet, one of the oldest French wine brands in the world, was founded in 1818 by Jean-Marie Calvet and has just recently been made available in the US with their 2017 Calvet Brut Rosé. This wine is made of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot and is aged in the bottle for 12 months which adds body and flavor to the wine. The nose has elegant notes of raspberries and cassis and has persistent pinpoint bubbles that tease the mouth with a lovely finish of crisp, round, fruity flavors.

We recently had the pleasure of meeting the owner and winemaker of Calvet and his wines have become some of our personal favorites.

La Vieille Ferme Réserve Sparkling Rosé is designed to share your celebration in elegance and simplicity. Whether served as an aperitif or paired with an amazing entree from Doe’s Eat Place, this wine will make your memorable moment that much better. This wine is comprised of 40% Grenache Noir, 40% Cinsault and 20% Pinot Noir.

On the nose you get fresh raspberry and wild strawberry, which leads to a perfect balance between freshness, acidity and roundness. The notes of citrus, peach and white flowers will allow you to serve this wine for all occasions. We also carry the La Vielle Ferme Still Rosé and the amazing La Vielle Ferme Reserve Brut Sparkling which are both amazing wines.

Ruinart is the oldest established Champagne house in the world, exclusively producing champagne since 1729. Ruinart Rosé is produced from a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay from the best of recent vintages. All of the fruit is from premier cru vineyards. The wine is a brilliant orange-yellow rose petal color with a very fine, profuse and sustained mousse. The nose is characterized by small red berries, mainly currant. On the palate, the wine is vigorous and well balanced.

A fine, fresh, fruity wine with well-integrated tannins and a hint of spice on the lengthy finish, this wine shows why Ruinart is one of the best Champagne houses in the world.

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Next up we have a few suggestions for all the chocolate lovers out there! These wines will be perfect for your Valentine with a sweet tooth.

For dark chocolate we recommend the Sexual Chocolate Red Blend from SLO Down Wines. This Syrah/Malbec blend delivers an intense combo of ripe, dark fruit with a long, smooth finish. This is a wine that can hold its own but is also a most welcome addition to a variety of foods, especially dark chocolate.

If you have milk chocolate or chocolate with nuts, we suggest a tawny port. Two of our favorites are the Warre’s Otima 10 and 20 year old Tawny Ports. The 10-year-old has a rich tawny color, with an excellent nose of nuts and hints of mature fruit. The palate is light and delicate, beautifully rounded, with hints of dried fruits, and a long elegant finish. The translucent copper colored tone of the 20-year-old is matched by the beautiful soft nutty aromas gained by a full twenty years ageing in seasoned oak casks. Otima 20 Years is rich and delicate, but never cloying; the tannins and acidity ensure balance and perfect length.

If white chocolate is your vice, then we would pair it with the beautiful Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling. This semi-sweet wine opens with luscious aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. The mouthfeel is juicy with bright acidity that activates the palate and displays flavors of peach, pineapple and honeysuckle. The finish is wonderfully persistent with balance of sweetness and refreshing crispness. Serve well-chilled and allow to warm in your glass for optimal enjoyment of aroma and flavor!

Be sure to come by Washington Wine and Spirits and pick up a few of the Doe’s Eat Place uncooked steaks to take home and put on the grill for Valentine’s Day! These are the best steaks in town and your Valentine will think so too! We are open Monday-Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

6 oz Filet - $9.75 10 oz Filet - $16.24 14 oz Bone-In Filet - $39.99 1.5 lb Bone In Strip - $20.99 20 oz Ribeye - $21.24 2 lb Bone In Ribeye - $35.98 1.5 lb T-Bone - $20.99 2 lb T-Bone - $27.98 2.5 lb Porterhouse - $39.98

3 lb Porterhouse - $47.97 2-5 lb Sirloin - $9.99/lb

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Experience Counts…

1500+ Mako Robotic Total/ Partial Knee Replacements and Counting

BY STEVEN ATCHISON, MD

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N 2010, MY PARTNERS AND I AT SPECIALISTS HOSPITAL Shreveport invested in a new robotic technology: MAKOplasty- a robotic, arm assisted system for partial knee replacement, and I would be the first surgeon in Louisiana to perform a MAKOplasty, partial knee replacement in July, 2010. In 2013, Stryker Orthopedics acquired MAKOplasty and combined Stryker’s market-leading implants (US) with Mako’s proprietary robotic arm technology and began a partnership with orthopedic surgeons from around the world (including myself) to create the surgical application of Mako Total knee replacement. Having performed hundreds of Mako robotic partial knee replacements, I was excited and intrigued by the MAKO Total Robotic Knee application and worked closely with Stryker Orthopedics to grow the application. In December of 2016, I was again, Louisiana’s first surgeon to perform the Mako Robotic Total Knee at Specialists Hospital Shreveport.

One of the greatest achievements in total joint replacement is the Mako robotic total knee replacement. Robotic technology has been utilized for years in orthopedics, primarily focusing on partial knee replacement and hip replacement, and we now have the technology to perform robotic-arm assisted knee replacement. As an orthopedic surgeon, precision and accuracy are key factors in a successful surgical outcome. Using the Mako Robotic arm assisted technology, the surgeon can better execute getting the implant in the pre-surgical plan position determined through an individualized CT (computed tomography) scan. Ideally, the more exact the implant is positioned, the better the function of the knee and the greater potential for the longevity of the implant… meaning the implant has the potential to last over a longer period of time. We have used numerous tools and instruments to insure implant placement before, but none are as precise and clear as the technology offered with the Mako robotic arm assisted robot. Mako robotic total knee replacement offers my patients a customized approach to their total knee replacement and provides the technology to insure proper implant alignment and placement intra-operatively with real-time feedback. Do keep in mind… the robot does not perform the surgery, rather it is a trained surgeon’s tool to insure accuracy and precision.

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Any patient with osteoarthritis of the knee, that is significant enough to affect their daily activity level and function to warrant a knee replacement would be a candidate for Mako robotic total knee replacement. When a patient does come to see me, we’ve determined through x-ray and an evaluation that they are a candidate for knee replacement, and they assure me that they are ready for total knee replacement surgery, the next step is getting them scheduled. We will order labs and some preadmissions testing that need to be completed about three weeks prior to their surgery. One of those tests will be a CT (computed tomography) scan that allows us to make an individualized surgical plan that is customized to each patient. Once we obtain the CT scan, we can feed information through the robot, as to indicate the size and location of the patient’s bone, determine the size of the implant to be utilized and exactly where on the patient’s bone we will place the implant.

For the most part, patients will spend one to two nights in the hospital following their Mako Robotic total knee replacement and be up walking just a couple of hours after surgery. While in the hospital the patient will work with a physical therapist to learn exercises that promote a strong recovery at home. Patients go home with a walker and generally progress to a cane and then walking on their own with full regain of function within six to eight weeks following their surgery. Keep in mind, every patient’s recovery is their own… you get out what you put in to this surgery! Mako Robotic total knee allows for surgical excellence… you’ve got a great new knee, but you have stay focused and dedicate time to your recovery to have your very best outcome.

Steven Atchison, MD is one of the Nation’s leaders in Stryker Mako Robotic Partial and Total Knee Replacement and has performed over 1500 Mako robotic knee procedures since 2010. Dr. Atchison practices at Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana in Shreveport and Bossier City. To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Atchison, please visit: orthopedicspecialistsla.com or call: 866.759.9679.

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What the World Needs Now is Love A Push for Neighborly Love

BY BEATRICE TATEM, PH.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

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WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE SWEET love. It’s the only thing that there is just too little of. What the world needs now is love sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone.” These are words taken from the 1965 popular song “What the World Needs Now” a song written by Hal Davis, lyrics composed by Burt Bacharach, sung initially by Jackie DeShannon and made popular by Dionne Warwick. “What the World Needs Now,” is a song written against the backdrop of controversy and disagreements among Americans about the Vietnam War. Ironically, decades later these same words hold true as we are a nation embroiled in discontent and steeped in feelings of despair. Today, we struggle with societal woes that seem to alter the temperament and disposition of the nation. Like many, I am aware of this emotional shift due to recent headlines in the news. I am equally aware due to the heartfelt sentiments of clients about their concerns for society. The upsurge in client discussions about the plight of the nation has motivated me to look closely at “societal issues, occurrences and happenings” and the impact they have had. Despite the feelings of sadness, uncertainty, frustration, anguish, mental fatigue, stress, anxiety, fear, anger, disappointment and confusion reported by some, what is common amongst them is the hope for change and the aspiration for love.

The anticipated season of love is quickly approaching. When removing holiday decorations from my office I recall thinking, “Valentine’s Day is coming just in time, love is what society needs to focus on.” Realistically, it takes more than a display of Valentine’s décor or a day set aside to celebrate love to bring about positive change.

When confronting “societal issues, occurrences and happenings” we must assess our willingness to be agents of change, and our ability to act with love. I encourage leading with love and compassion for self and others; love is a powerful path to peace and healing. Our actions can speak louder than words, become engaged and avoid escaping the difficult because it does not affect you. Connections help to bring neighbors together; it will take unity, backing away from intolerance and divisiveness it will take, looking across various lines to collaborate and courageously confronting societal issues. We must recognize when we are distracted from acts of love, when we avoid the news because we have become fatigued by the unreasonable and the absurd, and when our civility towards humanity is compromised in reaction to

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the occurrence of shortages, cutbacks and shutdowns. We all need a reprieve from local headlines of shootings, crime and tragedy that we thought only happen someplace else to someone else. Recently, I was asked by a friend, out of their love for me to limit my viewing of the news and to be mindful of what I internalize for fear it will disturb the peace of mind I try to maintain and help others achieve. My friend is right. These days we all need to take a break from the unconstructive to focus on love.

During the month of love and the months to come, be a role model of love and push for love. We need it in these times. Penetrate the negative with positive intent. Replace acts of hatred, bigotry, racism, prejudice and discrimination with love for humanity; set a goal of decency and respect for every human being you encounter. Anger gives us energy.

Let us use anger positively. Transfer fear to human understanding. True love over rides contrived love and symbolism. Commit to everyday acts of love. Make time for social connections. We belong together even with our differences, disagreements and discord. Make love a priority. Do something with those you love and with whom you experience love.

Give love to others as much you get. Love responsibly and straight from the heart. Give love generously, honestly, willingly and unconditionally.

Practice empathy and love for those different from yourself. Value the love you have given and the love have you received. Strive to love your enemy. Revamp negative conversations with optimistic thoughts of love. Find common ground. Let us talk. Let us love. When you go through the day thinking about love you will experience it. The world needs our love now; seek love in the world, for the world.

As we head into the season of love consider ways you can show love to people and places where acts of love are needed. Be mindful no matter who we are, where we live, of how we look. We all need, want and deserve to be loved. My suggestion is to never underestimate the power of love, being in love and offering love. Love is potent, powerful and empowering. At the risk of sounding as though I am trying to force positivity, my hope is that we would all stop to wish love for all, and to act lovingly. After all, what the world truly needs now is love sweet love.

For more information about counseling services and outreach programming contact Dr. Tatem at Wellness Initiatives, LLC 1900 North 18th Street, Suite

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Alumni Spotlight ULM Alumni: Adams and April Rodgers

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GRADUATE OF WEST MONROE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1993, Adams Rodgers had the gift of music, especially playing the drums. It was a drum scholarship that brought Adams to ULM, a decision that ultimately forecasted his future career and allowed him to meet his wife, April. A graduate of Ouachita Christian School in 1994, April always envisioned going to ULM, majoring in marketing, and becoming a financial planner at Merrill Lynch. Both marketing majors, Adams and April’s initial introduction came in sociology class, though the twosome remained only close friends throughout college. Frequent classmates, Adams and April both participated in PREP Staff, NLU 31, and Greek organizations, Adams in Pi Kappa Alpha and April in Kappa Delta. They were involved undergraduates, April with a clear vision for her future and Adams on the quest for his.

Growing up in a financially challenging environment, Adams started in Pharmacy chasing the money, assuming it was his best hope for happiness and fulfillment. However, Adams soon discovered that even though he had a passion for serving people, the medical field was not his calling. A wise friend reminded Adams of his aptitude for sales, mentioning his dedication to many retail jobs and business-related ventures. And after a divine conversation with the dean of the business school, Adams felt he had found his purpose and eventually graduated from ULM in marketing and management. He ultimately discovered true happiness and fulfillment comes from God when you walk out your calling.

In marketing class, April practiced selling her marketing professor, Dr. Charles McConkey, a mutual fund during a class presentation. He asked questions she wasn’t quite prepared to answer without the proper training, but after her graduation April worked hard to obtain a Certified Financial Planner™ designation, and Dr. McConkey did end up opening an account with her at Merrill Lynch. April says McConkey was the first person to believe in her, outside family, in a professional setting. Adams credits Dr. Pederson for showcasing a passion for music that Adams emulated and especially Dr. Larry Anderson for his dedication for finding local talented music students and ultimately recruiting Adams to ULM. Dr. Henry Cole served as Adams’ business advisor and cared for him during and after graduation. Adams calls Cole “the mortar that held my bricks together.” He spoke life and gave Adams hope, courage, and confidence. Adams is honored to have paid him back years later by writing a letter of recommendation for his promotion, a testament to the longevity and symbiosis of the student/scholar relationship.

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After college, social circles evolved, and Adams and April found themselves free to pursue a more personal relationship. After taking a job in Nashville, Adams called April each day to check on his recent IRA account he had invested with her, a financial investment for his personal future. The mutual objectives paid off, and the couple began dating long distance. After moves to California and Arizona for Adams, and then Atlanta and finally Phoenix for April, the couple were married on May 5, 2001 in Monroe. They moved back home and Adams began his career at Merrill Lynch. After 10 great years with Merrill Lynch, April decided to stay home and raise their two daughters Addie, and subsequently her younger sister, Ella. When Ella began kindergarten, April made a career shift and enrolled in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and after three years obtained her Master’s in theology in 2016. She then started her own business, Reflecting Light Ministries, where April is a Christian speaker and author writing Bible studies. She also presides over a local non-profit, The Jeremy Barnhill Foundation, for Christian teens. Adams has now been with Merrill Lynch for 17 years and is senior partner of a successful financial planning team, as well as consistently supporting April’s goals and their family.

Adams is currently Board President of the ULM Alumni Association and frequently serves on committees helping university administrators navigate an ever-changing landscape. Adams is also involved in the continuing education of PIKE, including professional development and helping members make personal improvements that can transcend into any organization. April serves on the ULM Women’s Symposium Board, and the Rodgers as a family, enjoy attending the ULM football and basketball games. Adams and April recognize that as the seasons have changed, they have matured along with their university, becoming better citizens of the community ULM serves. They see a bright future for ULM, one in which they’re thankful to be involved.

The ULM Alumni Association reaches, connects and celebrates alumni and friends to build lifelong relationships, and commit to the university’s missions of academic freedom, scholarship, diversity, excellence, integrity and service. We represent alumni who honor the traditions of our university and who share a sense of achievement and pride. We create a network of professionals, establish scholarships and advocate for our University through community engagement. Members of the Alumni Association support countless initiatives, and annual memberships are just $35. To learn more or to become a member, please visit our new alumni network at ulm.edu/alumni.

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The Secret Is Out

The Woman’s Clinic Is Now Offering Expanded Services For Woman’s Health and Beauty

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O, THIS IS A NEW SPACE FOR YOU to see us? You know us: The Woman’s Clinic has been around for more than 50 years. One of us probably delivered your children or maybe you came to see us for a treatment that improved your quality of life.

We’ve always been there for you when you needed us.

So why are we here now? Well, it’s always been the mission of The Woman’s Clinic to provide total care for today’s woman. To live up to that, there are times we must expand the care we provide. In today’s world, confidence and lifestyle satisfaction are part of caring for today’s woman. With that in mind, we knew it was time to expand our services to provide that care.

To decide the best way to help improve the confidence and lifestyle satisfaction for women in Northeast Louisiana, we wanted to offer a range of services that would be able to accommodate a variety of different patient needs. We settled on three treatment types that offer the range of services we were looking for.

In a recent survey of American women, 70% worry about developing a tummy bulge.

81% are concerned about maintaining their body shape and 45% are afraid cellulite will remain a concern. To address this, we will be offering a non-invasive body contouring product called Velashape. VelaShape III™ technology that combines infrared light and bi-polar radio frequency. This type of system stimulates the growth of new and better collagen and elastin. Velashape has been clinically proven to work on a variety of different treatments including: • Cellulite Reduction • Body Contouring

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• Shrinking of Fat Cells • Skin Tightening In clinical trials, the body contouring power of Velashape led to a reduction of one whole dress size after treatment. Each treatment lasts about fifteen minutes and most patients describe the treatment as feeling like a warm massage.

For many women, skin imperfections can impact self-confidence. We also know women considering facial rejuvenation procedures are inhibited by high cost, pain, downtime and side effects. We found that Sublative and Sublime skin treatments are an ideal solution.

Sublative treatments improve the superficial imperfections of skin’s tone and texture by precisely directing bi-polar radio frequency into the skin. Healthy skin around the treated area accelerates the healing process of the skin and new collagen and skin cells are produced.

Sublime treatments improve facial contour and overall skin quality by heating dermal tissue with combined bi-polar radio frequency and light energy, stimulating collagen production.

Both treatments have been clinically proven to treat the following: • Stretch marks • Acne scaring • Reduce fine lines and wrinkles • Eye rejuvenation

These treatments provide the results you desire without the worry of more invasive procedures. They penetrate more deeply than creams and peels and address your skin’s overall tone and texture more effectively than injectables. And while results with more invasive procedures may be dramatic, few are

willing to incur the cost, risk, or downtime.

While we’ve always been your go to place for gynecology, we are always expanding treatment there as well. No woman wants to lack confidence with intimacy. It is an important part of everyone’s satisfaction with life. To help with this, we will offer an in-office non-surgical treatment that uses laser energy in gynecological applications called CO2RE Intima. CO2RE Intima is a medical laser that delivers controlled C02 energy to the tissue improving skin tone, texture and appearance.

Among its many uses it has been proven to treat the following: • Mild to moderate urinary incontinence • Helps correct post child birth and menopausal changes • Non-hormonal treatment for dryness • Improved confidence with intimacy

We know the thought of laser treatments in such a personal area may give some women pause. CO2RE Intima is FDA approved for a range of gynecological uses and patients experience mild to no discomfort with little downtime.

If you would like to hear more about any of these options, please give us a call at (318)388-4030 to schedule a consultation. You can also visit us online at thewomansclinic. net and request a consultation. Be sure to like us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and information from The Woman’s Clinic, too.

Pictured Above – Bottom Row: Dr. Erin Gullatt, Dr. Sara Klug, Dr. Dawn Pennebaker, Dr. Adrienne Williams; Top Row: Dr. Amber Shemwell, Dr. Jason Wilson, Dr. David Bryan, Dr. Terry Tugwell, Dr. Won Lee, Dr. Laura Petty

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TERRARIUM GUIDE

TAYLOR BENNETT GIVES READERS STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE A CONTAINER GARDEN TERRARIUM THAT WILL ADD A LITTLE GREENERY INTO YOUR INDOOR LIVING SPACE. IMAGES BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

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HOW TO: INDOOR GARDEN TERRARIUM

CHOOSE A CONTAINER. The first step in starting your indoor garden is choosing a container. I opted to use a recycled glass vase – get creative when choosing your terrarium's vessel, whether it is an open air or closed container.

START WITH ROCKS. Use white rocks or smooth river stones that vary in shape and size. I added some larger rocks that I picked up while traveling out west. Having a bottom layer of rocks aids in draining excess water.

ADD SOIL. In this terrarium I used one type of soil, but you can layer different types of dirt and sand to help keep things fresh and aerated. Also remember that the soil you choose should stay in line with the type of terrarium you are building.

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ADD PLANTS. Choose your plants according to what type of terrarium you are building. I love succulents, cacti and air plants because they are easy to care for and make an excellent desertthemed container. Don't be afraid to use fake succulents – they look real and don't require upkeep.

ADD MOSS. I love using all types of moss. This is actually my favorite part of the process. In the terrarium above, I used reindeer moss (it comes in a few different colors), peat moss and even a little Spanish moss.

BE CREATIVE. Unleash your creative side while decorating your landscape. Create rolling hills, stone gardens and use driftwood to add depth to your little oasis.

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PARENTING

Meredith’s Musings

M

Love Explosion |

y stepdaughter is experiencing divorce again.

Her mother and stepfather have announced it to her, and I’ve been watching her closely ever since. The longer I co-parent this nine-year-old, the more I realize how intertwined we all are. I may not be privy to what is going in our child’s other home, but we all experience the ramifications. She has an almost lackadaisical attitude about it this time, as if she knows she’s weathered this before. Having been in her life for the past five years, the majority of her life, I know my stepdaughter, her quirks, her mannerisms, and I particularly notice when they suddenly shift. And recently, her attitude, her demeanor has shifted.

It began slowly with clingy behavior, both for her mom when she would drop her off and for her dad and me during her time here. She never wants to be alone, even in the daytime. She hesitates when I send her to her room to retrieve something, as if we may not be there when she returns. She begs to sleep in our bed, though she knows the rules. She doesn’t just sit beside me when we watch TV,

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By Meredith McKinnie but rather curls up against my hip, almost willing me to stay put as long as possible. I know she is craving consistency, and I realize I am the only new person introduced to her life that has stayed put. I like that I can be that for her, but hate that she fears losing it.

Shortly after the imminent divorce had become common knowledge among us, she was painting one of her canvases, an activity she has always loved. Her dad will sketch “her vision,” and then she paints, with bright, vibrant colors and meticulous attention to staying inside the lines. She’s a perfectionist when it comes to her art. But this night, when she revealed the painting to us, the pink and red colors were smeared all across the canvas, her father’s lines were invisible, and little connection to the original concept remained.

The shock may have shown on my face, but she was still staring at the canvas, studying the imperfect picture with satisfaction. And she inhaled a deep breath and announced, “It’s called love explosion.” My heart broke a little. I don’t even know if she realized she had just smeared her feelings of disappointment all over that canvas, but her dad and I did. I hope it was therapeutic for her.

She’s always somewhat on edge, obsessed with time and ingredients in her favorite recipes, and when someone will be returning. She wants to know how long her dad’s game will last, if I have dinner plans away from home that evening, what day she has to leave. She’s searching for structure, for certainty, for the guidelines that make it easier to notice anything strange. She’s looking for signs of change, and seeks refuge in routine. If my tone shifts, she’s quick to calm the situation, as if upsetting the balance might unseat the family. She’s made it her mission in our home to keep everything as it always was. Perhaps she felt like she failed in her other home. I hope she knows it’s not her fault.

One evening she was being defiant, and her dad was at a game, and my patience was running thin. I got so lost in reacting to her behavior that I forgot for a moment to consider the source. She was testing me. She had tried it years ago, and when I wouldn’t budge, I won her respect. Often she moves quicker when I command her to do something than when her her 6’4 father does.

But she kept on, and I kept fighting her. When she repeated the behavior inconsistent with this child, I paused and grabbed her arms. I looked her straight in the face and insisted, “I’m not going to divorce your father.” She tried to shrug me off and shook her head as if it wasn’t her worst fear. But I said it again.

And she shook less. So I said it again, and again....and again. When tears appeared in the corners of her eyes, I knew she’d heard me. She couldn’t look me in the eye; that would be admission of fear, but she hugged me tight and exhaled deeply.

She’s been lighter since, as if she has chosen to accept my promise and not try to be perfect for fear of upsetting the balance. I hate she’s having to carry this. It kills us as adults; I can’t imagine how the kids think about it. My husband insists they probably simplify it, accept the change and move on.

Kids always handle adult situations better than adults. They don’t get enough credit.

I can’t promise she will never experience divorce again, but I can control our home. I can be the consistency she craves in a world of chaos. I made a promise to a nine-year-old, and every day I’m keeping it.

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Historical Impressions

I

TRUE AMERICAN HEROES

t is all too common today for people to think popular entertainers and sports figures are worthy of being considered “heroes.” Real heroes in my opinion are people who put themselves at some kind of risk, up to and including risk of life, to help those in need or to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I have met several genuine heroes in my life. I feel blessed that three of the genuine heroes I have met were known by the descriptive name “Tuskegee Airmen.”

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Army Air Corps to build an all-black flying unit. Before 1940, the Jim Crow racial segregation laws enacted

by Southern Democrats during the post - Civil War Reconstruction era had been used to prevent African American soldiers from becoming pilots. To accommodate Roosevelt’s order, the Army Air Corps opened a new training base at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. In the spring of 1941, the first thirteen African-American pilot candidates entered training and a number of enlisted men also began training to become aircraft maintenance personnel.

From 1941-1946, a total of 1,000 Black pilots were trained at Tuskegee.

In April 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron deployed directly from Tuskegee to combat duty in North Africa. As the war progressed the 99th advanced with the Army to Sicily and the mainland of Italy. In early 1944, the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group also deployed to Italy. Eventually reassigned from the 12th to the 15th Air Force as B-17 and B-24 heavy bomber escorts, the Tuskegees traded their P-40 and P-39 fighters for P-47s and P-51s. The commander of the 15th Air Force required each Fighter Group to have a unique color painted on the tails of their planes for identification purposes. The 332nd was assigned red and the story of the

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Red Tails really took off with their success, protecting our bombers from German fighters.

Regarding the combat record of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the subsequent 332nd Fighter Group, they flew over 15,000 combat sorties during which they shot down 111 German aircraft and destroyed 150 more on the ground. During their ground attack sorties, they destroyed 950 train cars, trucks and other vehicles. As unbelievable as it may sound, one Tuskegee pilot, Lt. Pierson, even sank a German destroyer using the machine guns on his P-47 fighter. The 332nd had one of the lowest loss records of all of the fighter groups escorting bombers during World War II. This combined with their combat success resulted in a record unmatched by any other fighter group.

The valor and successes of the Red Tails earned them a collective 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 14 Bronze Stars and for wounds sustained in combat, 8 Purple Hearts. In war, there is always a price to pay. Sixty-six Tuskegee pilots were killed in action or in accidents, and thirtytwo pilots were shot down and captured.

Before becoming part of the 332nd Fighter Group, the 99th Squadron as a unit was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations (June-July 1943 and May 1944) for outstanding tactical air support and aerial combat in the 12th Air Force in Italy.

The 332nd Fighter Group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its longest bomber escort mission to Berlin, Germany on March 24, 1945. During this mission, the Red Tails destroyed three German ME-262 jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters.

In addition to the fighter pilots, many Tuskegee Airmen trained as pilots and crew for B-25 bombers. The Tuskegee bomber crews did not get a chance to fly in combat however because Japan surrendered before

they could be deployed.

The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen did not stop with the end of World War II. In 1948, partly due to the determination, dedication and success of the Tuskegee Airmen, President Harry Truman enacted Executive Order No. 9981 which directed equality of treatment and opportunity in the United States Armed Forces. Eventually this led to the end of racial segregation in the U.S. military.

Many of the Tuskegee Airmen made a career in the military. Three of the Tuskegee Airmen eventually rose to general rank.

Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the first commander of the 332nd Fighter Group, became the first black general in the U.S. Air Force.

Lucius Theus retired as a major general. He spent much of his 36-year career in the Air Force improving the military’s bureaucracy and helping to implement a direct deposit system for service members.

Daniel James was commander of the 7272nd Fighter Training Wing at Wheelus Air Base in Libya during the August 1969 Libyan coup. The base was to be turned over to the Libyans and Mohammar Qaddafi and others tried to push the Americans out early- at one point running “a column of half-tracks through the base housing area at full speed”. While arguing with James at the base gate, Qaddafi moved his hand over to his pistol holster. James told him to move his hand away. And later said “If he had pulled that gun, his hand would have never cleared the holster.” In 1975, Daniel James became the Air Force’s first black 4-star General.

I am not the type of person to care much about autographs of famous people.

Despite that I do treasure my three signed photos of Red Tail pilots, true American heroes.

BY GUY MILLER Vice Chair-Chennault Aviation and Military Museum

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Bayou Books

powerful account of one young man’s struggle to overcome more than three centuries of social mores and norms in the quest for that ever-elusive, one true love.

Commonwealth

By Ann Patchett

NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES Romance Unconventional REVIEWS BY MICHAEL DEVAULT

T

he traditional romance story – boy meets girl, boy woos girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back – is a story literally as old as storytelling itself. It is, after all, one of the more recognizable versions of the quest archetype, and if recent cognitive science developments are to be believed, it may well be etched on our DNA. But there’s just one problem with an archetype. At some point, we start to expect what’s going to happen next. Not the expectation of anticipating the moment our tensions are relieved, but the kind of expectation that comes with knowing the boy is going to get the girl at the last…possible… second, just before Titanic slips beneath the waves or the asteroid strikes, or she succumbs to consumption.

That’s the problem with conventional romance. It gets old, and fast. But what of unconventional romance, the moment when an author says, “Hey, I’ve done this story before, and so has Danielle Steele. Let’s try something different,” and then sets out to defy convention? That is the unconventional romance, and this month, BayouLife takes a look at three genre-defying, formula-breaking stories that hit all the hallmarks of the archetype. Yet, somehow, their authors still manage to enthrall, delight, and somehow surprise us. These books represent the best of 28 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

the unconventional romance. Settle in, kick off your shoes, and pour yourself a glass of wine.

This Is How You Lose Her

By Junot Diaz In 2007, Dominican-American writer Junot Diaz exploded onto the scene with his breakout novel, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, the tragic tale of a nerdy boy coming of age in a land of violent dictators.

What many readers still don’t realize is “Oscar” is the middle portion of a trilogy of books (so far) told by the novel’s narrator, Yunior. This memorable, if somewhat unreliable, narrator returns in This Is How You Lose Her, Diaz’s collection of interconnected short stories that follows on the heels of “Oscar.”

Through the familiar, comfortable, and embracing voice of Yunior, Diaz recounts a series of stories from the Dominican diaspora community in and around Paterson, N.J. Each of the stories focuses on one of a series of unfaithful men who are coping with the aftermath of infidelity. Through their experiences, Yunior is struggling to find his way to a stable, pattern-shattering commitment that will define his life.

At once a celebration of Dominica and an indictment of the machismo that undermines otherwise intelligent and successful men, This Is How You Lose Her is a heartbreaking and

Ann Patchett is another author quite familiar to readers, both of popular earthshattering books and this column. Her works have often tread into unconventional territory, and with Bel Canto in 2001, Patchett cemented permanent literary acclaim as a modern master. Of Bel Canto, Patchett once quipped the book “changed my life, too.”

When pressed, she said, “Before I wrote it, I didn’t have money. After I wrote it, I had money,” downplaying the book’s widespread critical success. She returns to unconventional romance with Commonwealth, a novel that finds two families’ stories forever interlinked and their worlds turned topsy-turvy.

Bert Cousins isn’t the stuff of a traditional romance. In fact, he’s anything but traditional.

Groaning under the stress of a loveless, if child-filled, marriage to his wife, Bert accepts an invitation to a friend’s friend’s child’s christening. After downing more than a little gin, Bert kisses the kid’s mother and sets in motion a series of events that results in two divorces and what psychologists might call a “blended” family. There’s only one problem: Bert’s kids and his step-kids never blend, and Bert forever finds himself struggling to escape the world his gin-fueled triste has unleashed.

Patchett fans will revel in the rich tapestry of competing alliances, nuanced parlays, and palace intrigue nestled in the family’s Virginia vacation home. They’ll also recognize that, yet again, Patchett proves herself a master of the native tongue and one of the definitive voices of her generation.

Juliet, Naked

By Nick Hornby

He’s not a stalker. He’s just a really, really loyal fan. Such is life for Duncan, a superfan of English Rocker turned L.A. denizen Tucker Crowe. For Duncan’s girlfriend, Anne, her boyfriend’s obsession with all things Crowe is quickly becoming a non-starter. That is, of course, until Tucker shows up at their house, moves in, and begins to romance her.

This is the fertile ground in which Nick Hornby explores the nature of love, alliance, and redemption as he takes his readers inside the pending release of Crowe’s upcoming album, Juliet, Naked. The author of About A Boy and High Fidelity is truly on his game, and readers won’t want to stop until they’ve settled things for Anne, Tucker, and the suddenly single Duncan.

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The Storyteller’s Story BORN IN VIETNAM IN 1968, Genaro Ky Ly Smith’s earliest Genaro Ky Ly Smith is an awardmemory was of lying beneath a hospital bed in Pleiku, wrapped in winning author of three books: his dad’s arms, as the Viet Cong’s bombs rained down around them.

The Land Baron’s Sun, The Land His dad Genera whistled songs in his ear to sooth and distract him South of the Clouds and The the best he could. Although Genaro was just a toddler at the time, the memory remains vivid.

Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born.

Genaro is the first born son of an African American G.I. and the He is also a beloved instructor of daughter of a wealthy South Vietnamese Army Major, who was also a composition and creative writing land baron. Originally from New Orleans, Genaro’s father spent four at Louisiana Tech University and years as a cook in the United States Air Force. During the war, he also is currently shortlisted for a 2019 served as Genaro’s mother Ngoc’s English tutor. Their whirlwind relationship was strained by her family’s objection, but they eloped Guggenheim Fellowship. nevertheless after only 12 weeks of knowing each other.

When his time in the Air Force ended, Genera and his family Article by April Clark Honaker remained in Vietnam for another two years. During that time, he Photographer by Kelly Moore Clark worked as a civilian developing photos and later at a telephone company. Then in 1972, they decided to move back to the United States. After a brief two months in Genera’s hometown of New Orleans, they landed in a community in Los Angeles comprised of Genaro spent his early childhood in this neighborhood. Then, when he American husbands and Asian wives. According was 8, they moved to an area he called The Valley. Around that time, to Genaro, there were families formed during the Genaro began to realize he was destined to be a writer. Watching Star Vietnam War, the Korean War and even World Wars in 1977 inside Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Genaro War II living there. knew he wanted to tell stories. He just didn’t know what kind.

Watching Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and their entourage save the galaxy and rescue Princess Leia, Genaro was moved by the movie’s epic nature, the conflict between good and evil, and the internal conflicts of the heroes.

As a child, Genaro was also a serious reader, but it was not by choice. “I was forced to read Mark Twain and H.G. Wells when I was 8,” he said. Reading was one of Genera’s daily requirements for his son. “I didn’t enjoy it then,” Genaro said, “but I had to read 50 pages a day and give a summary, and if I got it wrong, I couldn’t go outside and play.” Genaro said his dad wanted to raise a kid who was as smart as possible, and he wanted to instill the importance of education and continual learning. Genaro didn’t realize how formative the experience was until he got to college. At that point, he actually thanked his dad for making him read and write so much.

In addition to summarizing every 50 pages of the books he read, Genaro willingly summarized movies on his own. He liked to watch Abbott and Costello films and other black and white films, and then he would wait a day and write a summary based on what he could remember. The summaries included paragraphs, dialogue, physical descriptions and scenery. They were good practice in terms of learning what professional storytellers did, but Genaro didn’t start writing his own stories until he was about 10.

“My dad didn’t want me to be a writer, and that drove me to want to be a writer.

I wanted to prove him wrong.”

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I

n school, the students were asked to write stories about each better than I could myself at the time.” Eventually Genaro’s mother of the major holidays, and Genaro’s stories were always 4 to started to open up more about their life and family history in 5 pages longer than the other kids’ stories. His teacher Mrs. Vietnam, but it wasn’t until Genaro was 30 years old.

Standard noticed that he liked writing. “She encouraged me

Fortunately, the master’s program at McNeese allowed Genaro to continue,” Genaro said. “One advice she gave me was to to pursue his history and his education in writing simultaneously. always listen.” It was good advice, but Genaro has learned In fact, he said his education in writing really started at McNeese. that listening doesn’t always mean using your ears. “It’s not so Very little of what he learned in the program at California State much listening audibly but listening to the words on the page,” he made a lasting impression. He said they endorsed a kind of said. It’s about noticing what the characters say (or don’t say) and “bandage process” in which they pointed out the weak parts of noticing the details that define a writer’s style. a piece with the idea that fixing those weak parts could create

When Genaro graduated high school, he went on to major in something good.

English at California State University, Northridge. He said, “When

According to Genaro, Butler’s advice was completely different: I told my dad I was an English major, he said, ‘What are you gonna “If something’s bad, throw it all away.” Following that advice was do with that?’” Despite making his son read and summarize 50 hard, but Genaro did it, which is why he believes he’s the only pages a day, Genera had hoped his son would major in finance or one from his class of ten who is still writing. Now that Genaro has something related to business. “He several publications under his belt, didn’t understand that his constant he can approach writing a little criticisms shaped my path in life,” differently, but he believes Butler’s Genaro said. “He didn’t want me advice is still right for beginning to be a writer, and that drove me writers who are serious about to want to be a writer. I wanted to becoming great writers. He cited as prove him wrong.” proof two more of Butler’s former Genaro was determined to students: Adam Johnson, Pulitzerbe a writer and studied English Prize winning author of The Orphan blindly, not knowing what his Master’s Son, and Neil Connelly, primary occupation would be when author of multiple novels including he was finished or how he would The Miracle Stealer and Into the support himself. “I didn’t know I Hurricane. Although it’s hard to was gonna be a teacher,” he said. “I throw out complete drafts because was scared of that idea—of giving something isn’t working, Genaro misinformation, of not having an said, “If something’s important impact.” enough, it will come back.”

Thanks to his perseverance,

In terms of genre, Genaro likes Genaro is now an award-winning to read and write literary fiction. author of three books: The Land “It stems from my love of Mark Baron’s Sun, The Land South of the Twain and southern writers like Clouds and The Beautiful Ones Are Faulkner and O’Connor,” he said.

Not Yet Born. He is also a beloved “It’s the idea of bringing a region instructor of composition and to life, whether in America or creative writing at Louisiana Vietnam.” Lately, Genaro has been Tech University and is currently interested more in suspense, drama shortlisted for a 2019 Guggenheim and murder mysteries. In fact, he’s Fellowship. To reach this level of writing about a small-town murder success, he said one of the most of a 5-year-old boy committed by The Land South of the Clouds is one of important steps was finding the two 10-year-old boys who get away Genaro’s award-winning books. right mentor. After earning a with it. The title of the work is The Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis Boys in the Woods, and he said, “It’s in creative writing from California dark but lulling.” It’s a story that State, Genaro applied to the Master of Fine Arts program in creative lures readers in and inches them toward the thing they’ll find tragic writing at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. and gruesome.

He applied there specifically to work with Pulitzer-Prize winning

In this work and some of his others, Genaro has been inspired author Robert Olen Butler, and he was accepted. at least partly by a desire to hold on to people who are gone. “I

Genaro sought Butler as a mentor partly because of Butler’s think it’s the idea of not wanting to let certain people go, and experience as a G.I. in Vietnam. “He was a white man who those that are gone we want to resurrect their stories,” he said. understood my Vietnamese history better than I did,” Genaro said, “So many people die without finding resolution or redemption “and I was hoping it would rub off and it did.” When he started for what troubled them in their lives.” In the process of reviving his master’s, Genaro’s parents had not been open with him about people in his stories, Genaro creates a place for that resolution and his family history or life in Vietnam, so he looked to Butler to help redemption to happen. him understand that part of himself. “When I read his stories,” In the same way, Genaro’s work allows him to work out Genaro said, “I felt like I was in Vietnam. He could place me there problems in his own life. For example, he’s critical of himself as a

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father and husband and said, “I place that on my characters to try to find a way to resolve that.” In writing his poetry collection Portraits of Our Father Drinking, which is awaiting publication, he draws not only from the destructive wake alcoholism has left in the lives of friends and family but also from personal experience. He’s not afraid to allow his characters to take on parts of himself that he feels he needs to work on. “Because I’m laid back and inactive, most of the characters are that way. They’re often observers,” he said. “I’d like to be braver in life, and that’s the flaw of some of the characters.”

Sometimes it can be hard to write about personal struggles, especially when the goal is publication, but Genaro believes the end result is worth it. “You have to recognize that there are so many others who have the same problem,” he said, “and hopefully it will shape me to be a better person, and maybe it will help them identify some issues they have. Maybe they can resolve those issues.” In writing about his problems, Genaro is doing something about them and said the process is therapeutic. In overcoming the fear of embarrassment to share his work, his hope is that those with similar problems may find his stories therapeutic as well.

Unfortunately, thinking about how readers will react can be paralyzing for some writers, but Genaro rarely thinks about the reader until the work is finished. This approach helps him write more freely. “I’m more immersed in the characters and the story,” he said.

Only when a draft is complete does he begin to consider how readers will react. “Then I place myself in the reader’s place when I read it

aloud,” he said. “If it’s a sad story, the readers have to cry, or if there are moments where it’s funny, the reader has to laugh.” It’s important to him that his work inspires an emotional reaction. When people tell him they felt like they were there, whether in Vietnam or someplace else, he knows the work has been successful. When they tell him something he wrote reminded them of a specific memory or of stories they heard from their family, it’s rewarding.

Because Genaro has three voices—African American, Vietnamese and Amerasian—he can use any one of them at any time, depending on the needs of a story. He believes this aspect of his work sets him apart from other writers. “It’s the whole identity thing,” he said, “trying to find one’s place in society. Because of my racial makeup, it was hard to know where I fit in.” Through his work, Genaro continues to dig deeper into his personal history, the history of his two countries and the history of his two races. He aims to leave a legacy for his daughters and to keep his mother’s country and family alive through literature.

In the future, Genaro hopes to win a Pulitzer Prize and see his work added to the American Literature canon. He wants to be recognized as a great American writer, but at the same time, he said, “The awards don’t mean anything. It’s about recreating and resurrecting my family’s history. It’s about keeping them alive on the page.” In writing their stories, he’s learned a valuable lesson now embedded in his words: “Out of hardships like war, something beautiful can emerge, and we can appreciate certain aspects of life even more.”

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Knight Law Firm Robert Knight Offers Expertise and Compassion

A

S THE NEW YEAR BEGINS,THE STAFF AT KNIGHT LAW Firm is grateful for the opportunity to serve their clients and community. Robert Knight grew up in Richland Parish, moving away to study English at the University of Mississippi. After completing his undergraduate degree overseas, he returned to the states and attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center location on the campus of LSU. After obtaining his juris doctorate in 2003, Knight returned to Northeast Louisiana to start his practice.

Knight has a practice emphasis in family law litigation which includes divorce, custody and property settlements and in personal injury litigation, including car accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice and nursing home abuse cases. On top of hundreds of cases that Knight Law Firm successfully handled, 2018 was a year of growth for the business. Robert Knight was admitted to practice law in both Texas and the State of Colorado.

When asked by BayouLife why he was interested in becoming an attorney licensed in multiple states, Knight replied, “The answer is two-fold. My dad, who is an accountant, is licensed in multiple states and worked all over the world prior to my birth. I grew up seeing those multiple licenses, and seeing my father who was capable of handling a range of companies’ finances, from multi-million dollar companies to family-owned small businesses. More important is the fact that I am committed to improving my craft as an attorney. I want to get better each year I practice and believe using the laws and techniques in other states to bear in my home practice state.”

Knight Law Firm has not only grown demographically, but the staff has also expanded to include Caitlyn Bamburg as the new office manager. With over fifteen years of customer service experience, Caitlyn’s expertise allows her to empathize with clients and ensure they have a satisfying experience. She is a wife and mother and attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Lexi Byars, another full time employee, is also an assistant at Knight Law Firm. Lexi is a 2018 graduate of Louisiana Tech University. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law. She plans to attend law school in the future. Rounding out the team is Kallie and Jill Adams, both instrumental in project completion. Kallie is from south Louisiana and attends the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is majoring in Dental Hygiene. Jill Adams graduated 34 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a degree in marketing and merchandising. She is a busy mother of two. The staff’s attention to detail and organization helps the firm represent clients with first class curation.

BayouLife asked the staff what they enjoyed most about working at Knight Law Firm. They all agreed that they enjoy being able to assist Mr. Knight in making a difference in their clients’ time of need.

In addition, Lexi said, “I’ve enjoyed working under one of the best attorneys and gaining knowledge that will help me in my future career.”

Robert Knight has dedicated his life and career to helping everyday people who need a voice to speak for them. He has authored numerous appeals and argued both at the various appellate courts throughout the state of Louisiana. Knight has also orally argued before the Louisiana Supreme Court, an honor which is by invitation only. As an attorney who is passionate for his community, Knight is involved in several non-profit organizations and has given his time to support those in need.

Now in its second decade of service, Knight Law Firm is looking forward to continuing their expansion and honing their craft to better serve clients. They endeavor to achieve the best result for their clients every time with careful advice and relentless preparation. Knight Law Firm offers free consultations to anyone interested in speaking to an attorney experienced in handling personal injury or family law litigation. This consultation will be with an attorney, not a secretary or investigator. Once this consultation is quickly scheduled, an attorney will meet with you and discuss your case promptly and accurately.

If you require the assistance of an experienced attorney who will use aggressive, creative litigation tactics to solve complex problems, contact Knight Law Firm. They will assist and guide you through the often confusing legal process with expertise and compassion. Call them today at 318.323.2213 or 318.220.8991 or complete the free case evaluation which is located at knightlawfirmllc.com

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Wedding Dreams The Mansion at Red Hill

T

HE PERFECT LOCATION FOR the most stunning wedding a girl could dream of is The Mansion at Red Hill is an elegant Bed and Breakfast that creates an amazing and romantic backdrop for a bride’s special day. The inviting beauty of the manicured acres, stocked pond, serene setting and elegant home are perfect to make your special occasion decadent and luxurious. Remember, the wedding venue sets the scene for the entire celebration.

When choosing a wedding venue one must keep in mind the desired style.

But finding the perfect venue isn’t easy.

There are so many options to choose from, whether you’re looking for a stunning barn, an elegant ballroom, a cozy restaurant, or a quiet outdoor ceremony. Choose a venue that aligns with your vision. The Mansion at Red Hill has multiple options to fit any style.

Whether you are looking to have an elegant and extravagant wedding or a small rustic wedding, The Mansion at Red Hill adjusts to match your style preference. The expansive front gallery, amazing columns and brick steps at the front of the house set the scene for the perfect southern wedding.

A grove of trees offers secluded ambiance for the ideal outdoor wedding location.

Hang lights from the trees for a romantic evening event that is sure to bring the tears.

One can only imagine the excitement of their big day with family and friends.

Quiet and private, the Mansion can be found off I-20 in Northeast Louisiana, north of the town of Delhi. It is situated on 85 36 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

acres of lush grassland with trees and a large pond, complete with a fountain and pavilion. Nearby sites include the Poverty Point World Heritage Site and Black Bear Golf Club. Truly everything one could hope to find in a wedding venue is at The Mansion at Red Hill.

The Mansion has an executive suite, three bedrooms, an elevator for our guests needing assistance, two living rooms, a dining room, library, a grand staircase foyer, rear courtyard and an expansive front gallery. There is an uncountable amount of settings for bridal and wedding photos. The center courtyard allows the timeless wedding celebration to thrive with beautifully maintained garden colors to surround the happy couple on their special day.

Included in the wedding package are the use of front porch, courtyard, grounds, the lower floor of the Mansion, 100 white chairs, 17 round tables, linen for the tables, clean up and set up for the event, 3 staff members, and the 1,000-sq. ft. Honeymoon Suite.

The Honeymoon Suite is available for the bride and groom the night of the wedding and is also available for the bride and her attendants to dress on the day of the big event. The Mansion also provides a delicious breakfast for the Newlyweds the following day. Elegance and decadence are guaranteed in all aspects of The Mansion at Red Hill.

If weather is a factor on your special day, the interior of The Mansion is spacious

and can accommodate all guests. As soon as guests enter the front entrance, they will be greeted by a grand foyer with a large beautiful staircase and views to the back courtyard. No matter what time of year it is, The Mansion at Red Hill can host a beautiful and luxurious wedding.

The property is available at 8am the day of your wedding, giving ample time to be pampered and have pictures taken before guests arrive. The Mansion offers brides unparalleled customer service and strives to make each bride feel at peace and beautiful on her special day.

Bridal photoshoots are also available at the Mansion. Not only does the house provide a grand staircase, amazing columns, a balcony and other beautiful sets but the manicured acres of rolling hills, white fence and open fields are wonderful backdrops, as well. In the front of the mansion rests a beautiful pond complete with a bridge and gazebo over the pond. Indoor or outdoor backdrops, The Mansion at Red Hill provides.

For more information call 318.878.5155 and start planning your dream wedding today. Or visit their website at mansionatredhill.com. Their helpful staff can assist you with finalizing the details of your wedding day.

Photos courtesy of Unveiled Radiance, Kim Wilhite Photography and Desiree Gooding Photography.

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EXPRESS YOUR OWN IDEAS –

ON FLOWERS, ON EVERYTHING article by Laura W. Clark

I

must have tried on my senior prom dress—a satin sheath with a v-neckline—at least a dozen times before the big event. I was 17, but I remember thinking I looked at least 22. A few days later, my high school boyfriend stopped me in our school’s hallway and asked my preference in flowers. “To be honest, flowers kind of make me sad because they die so quickly,” I replied immediately. As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt guilty and foolish. “Why would I talk to him about dead flowers?” I thought.

He did not respond; he just smiled and left for his next class.

The evening of prom, I watched from the kitchen window as my boyfriend approached our driveway. I quickly met him outside, trying to avoid an audience composed of my parents and siblings. As he exited his car, I immediately noticed his boutonniere, which was crafted of felt flowers. He presented me with a matching wrist corsage, also made of felt flowers. Then he grinned and said, “These flowers will not make you sad.”

Now, to be candid, my lush bouquet of fresh peonies at my Louisiana wedding remains my favorite. But when I reflect on that moment in South Dakota, the kind of moment that has even more impact during one’s formative years, I remember how important it is, especially for women, to ask for what we want—without fear or guilt over how it might be received.

While my 1996 memory is an example from my personal life, I can think of instances throughout my professional career when I should have voiced my concerns or expressed my preferences. For example, when I was offered one of my first newspaper jobs, I accepted the position and salary without question, even though I knew the responsibilities were not consistent with the salary I was being offered. I did not want to risk offending my new boss.

In talking about workplace negotiations, Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, authors of “Women Don’t Ask,” explain how childhood play affects professional interactions. While their findings are not absolute truths for every woman or every man, it is helpful to understand why women and men often view negotiations through different lenses. It begins early. Female children often play collaboratively and treasure relationships; when females disagree, they often end games to preserve relationships, choosing harmony over conflict. Boys play in larger groups and play competitively, focusing on hierarchy.

How does childhood play affect the workplace? The authors describe a study in which they asked men and women to ascribe metaphors to workplace negotiation. Men selected phrases such as “winning a ballgame,” while women chose metaphors such as “going

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to the dentist.” The authors found other disparities: women viewed salaries as price tags, i.e., non-negotiable, while men viewed salaries as starting points for debate. Men equated negotiation with excitement.

Women often hesitated to negotiate; they worried they might harm their relationships with the people they were asking.

Overall, women tend to be more “communal,” and less concerned with their desires and more focused on the well-being of others.

Additionally, they find it much easier to advocate for others. The authors also described a study that observed the differences between how men and women negotiated salaries for other people versus how they negotiated for themselves. Women, while advocating for others, made offers that were significantly higher than the offers they made while speaking for themselves. Conversely, men negotiated for themselves at higher rates than what they advocated for others.

The wage gap between men and women is startling, but women can participate in narrowing this gap. Babcock and Laschever concluded that 85 percent of males assumed that they should determine their value and negotiate to ensure the company paid them what they were worth.

Only 17 percent of the women surveyed made that assumption. Women tend to believe their hard work and dedication will be eventually recognized and that they can avoid awkward negotiations.

So, how can professional women address this disparity and overcome it? Before a negotiation, she should identify scenarios that may induce stress, and plan how to address them. She should prioritize ideal outcomes; acknowledge deal-breakers; and research her market worth. She should also evaluate perceived barriers and determine if they are real or imagined. This will empower her to feel a greater sense of control during the actual mediation. She should enter each negotiation with the other person’s goals in mind, ask questions during the discussion, and tailor her answers accordingly. Lastly, she should practice these techniques with a trusted friend.

When I struggle with voicing my concerns, I remind myself of what a male colleague told me years ago while I was working in higher education and doubting my expertise: “You’re here because you can do the job. We want to know what you think, so tell us.” I think that is essential advice for all women. When we express our ideas with confidence, we create more effective work environments. And, we feel better about ourselves in the process.

Laura W. Clark, owner of Vivian’s Voice, LLC, a communications consulting company, can be reached at findyours@viviansvoice.com

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EIGHT REASONS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER

by Erin Sharplin Love erinlove@panachebyerin.com

D

o you want to get organized but have no idea how to make it happen? If you see pictures of perfectly-organized spaces on Pinterest, but you can’t seem to duplicate them yourself, It could be due to a lack of time, a lack of motivation, or you might simply not know where to begin. If this is you, a professional organizer can help!

A pro is trained to set up spaces that function smoothly and efficiently. That pro should also teach the client processes and practices that will help maintain the newly-organized space.

Sometimes it just makes sense to get help from a professional. The reasons below may help push you in the right direction.

1. You are short on TIME – The number one reason my clients aren’t organized is lack of time! Most of us are working parents or busy stay-at-home moms who barely get the house cleaned and the laundry put away, much less get every space organized! There is no doubt that organizing and decluttering is a time-consuming job, and you might get lost along the way. So, if “getting organized” is on your resolution list, consider whether it is time to hire a pro!

2. You run a home-based BUSINESS – There is no greater reason to consider getting organized than the success of your business counts on it! A business cannot flourish fully in an unorganized state! Consider how much clearer your focus could be if you worked in an organized area and started each day with purpose. A professional organizer can make that a reality!

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3. You are going through a life TRANSITION – Perhaps you are a new mommy, are getting a divorce, or are mourning the loss of a loved one. These life-transitions are hard to navigate and are even harder when surrounded by the chaos of unorganized spaces. The last thing you need during these times is added stress, so getting organized is a necessity.

4. You are MOVING - Moving is a highstress endeavor that takes ample time and energy to complete successfully. If you are moving, starting the decluttering process is paramount to creating a new and improved home for yourself and your family. There is no reason to take unneeded items to the new house with you. Let go of the old and welcome the new! A professional organizer is also great for setting your house up for you! All you have to do is welcome your family to their new home.

5. You are REMODELING – Remodeling requires a significant investment of time and money, so I recommend making the most of it by hiring a professional organizer to optimize every shelf, cabinet, closet, and drawer!

As much as we would like to say that our previous kitchen, for instance, was organized to perfection and the counters were clear, the truth is that there is a good chance you will fall back into old habits unless an organizing system is put into place.

6. You just want to SIMPLIFY – Simplifying is on-trend these days, so if you have been wanting (and needing) to hop on the bandwagon, a pro can help! To live the

simple life, you must let go of attachments and survive on the necessities only. That is hard to do when there are so many people and places that make you want to purchase more and more. To prevent this waste, you need someone to hold you accountable and help you to know what to part with and what to keep.

7. You want every day to go more SMOOTHLY – Maybe you just want each daily task to go smoothly so you can get more done in less time and with less stress! That sounds great to me!! A simplified organizing system is just the ticket! For instance, wouldn’t meal time be better if you had a meal plan and shopping list ready at the beginning of each week? What if you could find the chopper and ladle quickly? I also imagine that cleaning the bathroom would be easier if you had a caddy stocked with just those essentials, too. There are endless ways a professional organizer can help your home run more smoothly.

8. You are completely OVERWHELMED – Getting organized can be an extremely daunting task! Where do I start? What will I do with everything? What if I start and can’t finish? Many clients call me because they have gotten overwhelmed and just quit right in the middle of the job. They couldn’t see the end in sight. A pro starts with the end in mind and does whatever it takes to get to that point. Vision is everything and a professional organizer has vision!

So, have I talked you into creating your best life yet? Getting organized WILL make your life better! I guarantee it!

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Be Mine, Cheesecake Crust: About 3 C Chocolate Cookie Crumbles 6 Tbsp Butter, Melted 1/2 C Mini Chocolate Chips Filling: 1 8 oz Pkg Cream Cheese 1 C Sweetened Condensed Milk 1/2 C Lemon Juice 1 Tsp Vanilla

Strawberry Glaze: 1 Pint of Strawberries 2/3 C Sugar 1 Tbsp Cornstarch 2 Tbsp Water 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Crust: Mix cookies, butter and chocolate chips and press onto bottom of a greased 9” spring form pan. Bake at 350º for 10-15 minutes or until chips melt.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

Filling: Soften cream cheese and beat until fluffy. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk. Beat well. Add lemon juice. Pour into cooled crust and chill one to two hours, before topping with glazed strawberries.

Strawberry Glaze: Wash and slice strawberries. Combine sugar and cornstarch in pan. Add lemon juice and water. Stir until smooth. Add strawberries and bring to a boil. Cook about two minutes or until clear and slightly thick. Optional: Add one or two drops of red food color. Chill completely and serve over cheesecake. Optional: Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

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recipe by Evelyn O’Neal and photo by Kelly Moore Clark

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T H E

O U A C H I T A R I V E R

article by Lesli Rambin logo by Melanie Koskie, Plumwood Marketing photo by Kristopher Kelly

The Ouachita River and Its Impact on West Monroe

I

n many ways, a river is a mecca. People travel to it, settle alongside it, and pay homage to the ways in which the rich soil near the water eases the burden of life.

Civilizations have always flourished alongside river banks. Main streets pop up on the riverfront, bridges connect communities, and commerce prospers, prompting more families to settle near the water’s edge.

The Ouachita River is no exception. It spans six hundred and five miles throughout Arkansas and Louisiana, long sustaining life in the twin cities of Monroe and West Monroe.

Before the days of steamboats and railroad bridges, canoes adorned the landscape, called Prairie des Canots by an early French settler who noted the significance of the river’s presence to indigenous tribes. Yet even before French settlers explored the area, marveling at the canoes lining the banks, the land teemed with cultural significance. Watson Brake, the oldest earthwork mound complex in North America—older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt—is located near present-day Monroe, constructed over centuries by members of hunter-gatherer tribes.

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In 1815, a ferry located in Fort Miro, now known as Monroe, linked the east and west banks of the Ouachita River together. A few years later, in 1837, Dr. John Campbell first attempted to establish a town in the piney hills of the west bank, though bankruptcy thwarted his efforts. Less than two decades later, in 1854, Christopher Dabbs followed through on this endeavor and submitted plans for the town of Cotton Port, now part of present-day West Monroe, where Antique Alley is located. Recognized as a town in 1859, the community boomed as a river port and, later, as a rail depot.

Just north of Cotton Port, at presentday Claiborne St, William Trent purchased a tract of land and, by the 1840s, had erected a warehouse and cotton shed called “Trent’s Landing.” This land was later sold and subdivided in 1851, creating the town of Trenton, named after Mr. William Trent.

As Cotton Port prospered during these days, so did its neighboring community of Trenton. Aided by the cotton trade, the community survived throughout the Civil War, later withstanding a great fire in 1873,

followed by a flood in 1874. Yet despite the tenacity of Trenton’s residents, larger cities with a railroad—which provided a safer way of transporting cotton—like Shreveport and Vicksburg overshadowed the community.

There exists between river and land a symbiotic relationship: one can’t advance without the other. Such was the nature of Cotton Port and Trenton. Due to the river, the cotton trade boomed, and Trenton quickly ran out of room to store the crop. Trenton needed Cotton Port, and with the arrival of the railroad in Cotton Port, it became clear that the communities could not exist without one another.

Due to the expansion of the railroad west of Monroe, residents began using the name West Monroe in 1883. A charter for the incorporation of West Monroe was prepared in 1889, followed soon after by the official dissolution of Trenton in 1905.

During the 1920s and 30s, the population in West Monroe rose significantly, and the community as it appears presently began to take shape. A catastrophic flood in the winter of 1932 propelled residents to construct the sea wall that runs along Trenton St, now bearing community art by local school children.

Many of Cotton Port’s historical structures established during this time still stand today, now transformed into boutiques, antique stores, and restaurants.

The Ouachita River still nourishes the community of West Monroe today. On any given day, people can be found stretched out on its levees, kayaking in the waters, or fishing from its depths. Agriculture continues to thrive in the region, and businesses such as Graphic Packaging International are directly supported by the river, which is, in many ways, the pulse of the community.

Historians believe that the name Ouachita is derived from the Caddo word “Washita,” meaning “good hunting ground.” The term still holds deep meaning for the river and its surrounding communities, as locals and tourists alike know that whatever one is hunting for—be it business or pleasure and recreation— can likely be found on the banks of the beautiful Ouachita River.

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YOUR MAJESTIES Continuing Louisiana Traditions with King and Queen Janus X X XVI, Sammy Tolar and Blanche Betz | Por trait by Andrew Bailey

For the almost 200,000 revelers who crowd along the parade route February 16th, the 36th Annual Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade will be a fun, exciting night celebrating Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage. For Sammy Tolar and Blanche Betz, the minute the wheels begin to roll marks the pinnacle of more than a year’s worth of work, preparation, and effort.

Sammy and Blanche are also known as King and Queen Janus XXXVI, and they’ll reign over the parade from two of the highest vantage points available—the backs of the royal floats. It’s a spectacular moment that brings them at last before their “royal subjects” – the Mardi Gras revelers, and for Queen Janus XXXVI, it’s the highlight of her reign.

Besides “looking fabulous,” as she quips, it’s a chance for her to push herself in a new direction.

“It’s a chance for me to get outside my comfort zone, dealing with different people and the exposure,” Blanche tells BayouLife. “I’m looking forward to it, which is crazy.”

Blanche is a recent addition to the Krewe of Janus, which was founded in 1984. She was friends and coworkers with another krewe member, Kevin Caston, and had been following his exploits.

“I was watching the parade and I saw Kevin’s picture on facebook,” she says. “I thought it looked like fun, so I decided I needed to do that.”

Joining the krewe took a little effort, though, and it took a bit of reconnoitering for her to finally figure out joining meant a visit to the Krewe Den on Louisville Avenue in Monroe.

Once she was in, though, she threw herself wholeheartedly into the krewe.

“I developed some really good frienships that, otherwise, I wouldn’t have had,” she says. “I never would have met so many people if I hadn’t joined the krewe.”

This is somewhat surprising, given her outgoing nature.

But it makes sense on some level because this year’s king and queen share a common character trait: they’re both more comfortable working behind the scenes and demure from too much attention. Sammy says he’s excited to get to know the people a little more, getting out in the community, and making the appearances he’s required to make as King Janus XXXVI. And Blanche agrees. They are, after all, the public face of Mardi Gras 36 in the Twin Cities.

What paradegoers experience as a single day of celebration—the pet parade, the children’s parade, and the “big show,” as they call it—is for the people in the float barn a year-round effort to deconstruct, repair, rebuild and create the massive creations that awe and inspire audiences each year. And that’s where Sammy has spent the majority of his time in the krewe.

He joined the Krewe of Janus in 2009, shortly after his wife Donna. He gives her 100 percent of the credit.“I joined the krewe because Donna joined the krewe,” he says. “Our children were grown, and we were looking for a change.”

Retired with two grown sons, a group like the Krewe of Janus provided the Tolars with a new outlet for their passions, and for Sammy it offered a place for him to branch out. It didn’t take too long for him to find his niche.

“My first year was just getting to know everybody and finding my place to fit in,” he says. “It wound up being in the back, working on floats. That’s what I enjoy doing.”

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A

s Sammy explains, his favorite part of the krewe hasn’t been as regnant. It’s been “in the back,” working on floats is where he’s found his greatest comfort, and with good reason.

“It’s the group of people I work with,” he says of the float-builders. “The people back there make it fun and enjoyable. We’re always cooking and having a great time back there.”

This year, though, he’s King Janus XXXVI. Like Blanche, the king is looking forward to the attention parade night will bring, but for a slightly different reason.

“It’s going to be a good time,” he says.

“Both of my grandsons are going to be on the float with me.”

The parade marks the second time Caiden, 11, will ride a float. For Sam, 12, it’ll be his first. Sammy is sure they’re going to make some great memories for themselves and for the thousands of revelers screaming “Throw me something, mister!”

For Blanche, the parade also marks a celebration of another passion of hers. She adores animals and lives with a menagerie of her own.

“I’m really looking forward to the pet parade,” says the queen, who is the proud owner of six dogs, five inside cats, and “I don’t know how many” outside cats. It seems her home has become a refuge for stray cats because, as she explains, “I refuse to let an animal go hungry.”

She calls herself a “foster fail,” and notes that on multiple occasions she’s agreed to foster animals only to never move them to another home. Instead, they find permanent residence at the queen’s palace, part of Blanche’s very own royal court.

It can make for a crowded environment for the CenturyLink IT Systems Analyst, but she is kind of used to a big family. She is one of eight children. Originally from Dallas, she moved to Monroe as a child to live with her grandparents. Surprisingly, shy Blanche is also quite talkative—a skill that will no doubt serve her well in the coming months.

“My mama used to say I’d talk to a stop sign and then throw rocks at it if it didn’t talk back,” she says. This personable quality makes her a worthy ambassador for an organization that is, at its heart, as much a service organization as it is a cultural one.

For much of their reign, King and Queen Janus XXXVI will visit nursing homes and schools, helping spread the joy of carnival to people who might otherwise be unable to attend the parade. These stops provide citizens their best up-close-and-personal interactions with their Mardi Gras king and queen.

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For the rest of us, King and Queen Janus XXXVI will roll by, waving from a perch almost 25 feet in the air. Factor in the six feet of regalia that towers above them, the royal court, and the 199,999 other people cheering them on with you, and it’ll be a night you won’t want to miss.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

THE 36TH ANNUAL KREWE OF JANUS MARDI GRAS PARADE

The route is set, volunteers are trained, and the beads have been hung on pegs.

As artisans and crafters put the finishing touches on the floats, local law enforcement officials double-check security plans and more than 1,000 participants are gearing up to march, dance, or ride their way through throngs numbering in the tens of thousands.

It’s that time of year again, and the 36th Annual Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade will roll through the Twin Cities February 16th, marking the biggest portion of the region’s celebration of time-honored carnival and capping a day of festivities that will include the Krewe of Paws Pet Parade, the Children’s Parade, and good ol’ fashioned

IMAGES COURTESY OF MONROE WEST MONROE CVB

Mardi Gras Ball for them lucky enough to attend.

C e l e b rati o ns span the community, stretching from Pecanland Mall to New Natchitoches Street in West Monroe and featuring a cross-section of participants and revelers from literally every walk of life in the region. One thing is certain: if you miss Mardi Gras this year, you’re missing out on something special.

Saturday’s festivities begin with the Krewe of Janus Children’s Parade at Pecanland Mall. Held at the Carousel at Center Court, the children’s parade invites children and parents to dress up and show off their Mardi Gras spirit. Generous sponsorships from Pecanland

Mall, the Radio People, Macaroni Kid, and Centric Credit Union help the Krewe provide the parade as a free-to-participate event.

Later that morning comes the Krewe of Paws Pet Parade on Commerce Street in West Monroe. The area’s poochiest pooches and cattiest kitties will take to the street at 11 a.m., and in 13 years, the Pet Parade has developed a devoted following of its own. So you’ll want to arrive early and camp out for the perfect spot.

Finally, that night comes the big show.

After a day of tailgating in parking lots and front yards from New Natchitoches to Oliver Road, after we’ve had our crawfish and barbeque, and after more than a few hotdogs, the lights flicker on, the engines roar, and

the 36th Annual Krewe of Janus Parade rolls through town.

This year’s route starts at New Natchitoches near the I-20 overpass in West Monroe, rolls down Trenton Street in West Monroe before crossing the Louisville Bridge.

After a brief trip up Walnut Street, the parade proceeds through downtown Monroe on Desiard Street for two blocks, turning onto 3rd Street for the return to Louisville, where it will continue until it concludes at Oliver Road.

Organizers anticipate crowds in excess of 175,000 people, so you’ll want to get there early to scope out that perfect spot from which to catch all the beads, doubloons, and other parade trinkets you can catch.

For more information about the 36th Annual Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade, visit their web site at kreweofjanus.com.

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BAYO U O U TDO O RS

POST SEASON BLUES

A TIME FOR TRANSITION

BY DAN CHASON

W

ith deer and duck season ending, February is the time for transition.

For some it is squirrel and rabbit hunting, for others it is time to dust off the boat and start looking for pre-spawn fish. For the smart hunter, it is time to head back to the woods and start scouting for next year.

Whitetail deer begin to shed their horns this time of year and there is not a better indicator of what really lives on your hunting property than to find their shed horns. There is a growing sport of shed hunting with even trained dogs to hunt the sheds. The problem is if you don’t get there early, the horns will not last. Squirrels, possums, raccoons and other varmits absolutely love to munch on the calcium rich horns. If you wait too long, you won’t find the whole side of horns. It is rare to find the full set but when you do it is an accomplishment. This is also the time to venture beyond the box stand and get onto well worn game trails to hunt these sheds. I find most sheds adjacent to feeding areas such as old corn fields and areas where we planted food plots. I like narrow trails as when the horns become loose, standing vines and trees will catch onto them and assist in their falling from the animal’s head.

Shed hunting is a time consuming project.

But if you are looking in the right places, you will find every size you can imagine. This helps you to gain confidence in new areas

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as when you find sheds, you are finding the prime area where a big buck lives. His shed horns this year will likely be larger next year.

If you ask any veteran hunter or land owner they will tell you that these sheds give a very good barometer on the size bucks your area is holding.

When I’m not shed hunting in February, I am usually hunting squirrels with my dog or hog hunting. I love hunting in February as the leaves are gone, acorns are gone and most hunters are gone. Even though I hunt private land, I always have some orange on me in case there is a hog hunter in the area. This is also the month where I can leave the shotgun at home and drag out my .22 rifle. There is nothing more challenging than hunting squirrels with a rifle. I shoot a bolt action where most of my partners opt for an automatic. The bolt action makes me slow down and be accurate where with an automatic, there is a tendency to shoot multiple rounds instead of taking your time and going for that lethal head shot.

Every now and then I will get an invite to go on a good rabbit hunt in February. To me, there is nothing prettier than a beagle busting through a thicket, hot on the trail of a rabbit.

This is definitely the time to wear hunters orange and always be sure of your shot. With multiple people in the field, plus dogs, safety is a number one priority. What most people overlook and fail to execute is to understand what a rabbit does when jumped. The primary

prey in Louisiana are cotton tail rabbits and the old cane cutter. The cane cutter will run much like a deer. Long races are common and you can tell from the dog’s voices that they are on one fairly quickly. With a cotton tail, they will jump and make a circle. The object is not to try to head him off, but to go to where he first jumped. Nine times out of ten, he will come right back where he started. I will emphasize again the need for hunter’s orange. In thick cover and with hunters and dogs constantly moving, be alert to where your hunting partners are located. And remember, that shaking bush may be a dog that is not barking and you should NEVER shoot at anything unless you clearly see the target and know what is behind same.

For anglers, February brings the favorite time to catch lunker bass and crappie. There is nothing I love better than dropping a jig by a cypress tree for crappie. But if bass are your prey, it is time to start looking for prespawning areas. These can be flats, structure or drops near spawning flats. Rattletraps are hard to beat along with big white spinnerbaits worked in creek flats. I remember years ago where a partner and I weighed in five fish weighing 25.02 lbs. on Toledo Bend. It was bitterly cold and after a 40 minute ride where I could no longer feel my face, we stopped on a creek ledge where I had located some fish. I am not a big spinnerbait fisherman. But I had caught some on a 3/4 ounce Bulldog by slow rolling it up a ditch that fed into the creek. We caught 34 bass that day with one topping the scales at over 8 pounds. To locate these fish, the trick is to find the bait. This particular place had a grassy flat that dropped into a 15 foot creek. The fish were positioned just off the ditch and were feeding on shad coming into the creek. The spinner bait mimicked what they were eating and the bite was on.

Another memorable day on Sam Rayburn was where I located a ditch that ran through a huge flat. In three casts, I landed a 8, 9 and 9.5 pounder on a carolina rigged zoom lizard.

The difference was the weather. The wind was high and it was cloudy. By slowing down and dragging this rig down this ditch, the bass could easily track it and gave me a memorable trip.

Crappie fishing will always be my passion as they are so finicky. I love the challenge.

Don’t fall into the pit of making them be on structure when they are not. One of my best crappie trips was in February where they were supposed to be on the timber. By moving out and changing my presentation, I found them suspended and the bite was on. So whether you hunt or fish, don’t let February give you the blues. Alter your plans and have a productive month in the great outdoors.

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GALETTE DES ROIS The French tradition of baking a special cake began to honor the day the Three Kings visited infant Jesus. Today, King Cakes are enjoyed throughout France and Louisiana from the feast of Epiphany until Mardi Gras Day. Usually decorated with a crown and powdered sugar, the Galette Des Rois is a puff pastry filled with frangipani filling and baked with a bean or whole almond trinket inside. By Taylor Bennett and photography by Kelly Moore Clark.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING: 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar ¾ cup almond flour ¼ teaspoon salt 2 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tablespoon rum (optional) 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract TO ASSEMBLE: 2 9 1/2-inch-diameter circles puff-pastry dough (from a 14- to 17-ounce package; 396-482 grams), cold 1 whole almond or dried bean, for the charm

PREPARATION TO MAKE THE FILLING: Working with a mixer or by hand, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy and light. Beat in the almond flour and the salt. Mix in 1 whole egg, then the white from the second egg (reserve the yolk). Mix in the rum, if using, and the extract. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Mix the yolk with 1 teaspoon cold water; cover, and refrigerate until needed.

TO ASSEMBLE: Place one circle of dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border bare. Press the charm into the filling. Moisten the border with cold water, position the second circle of dough over the filling and press around the border with your fingertips to seal well. Using the back of a table knife, scallop the edges by pushing into the dough (about 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep) every 1/2 inch or so. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 425. Brush a thin layer of the reserved yolk glaze over the top of the galette, avoiding the border (if glaze drips down the rim, the galette won’t rise). With the point of a paring knife, etch a design into the top of the galette, taking care not to pierce the dough. Cut 6 small slits in the top as steam vents.

Turn the heat down to 400, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the galette is puffed and deeply golden. Check after 20 minutes, and tent loosely with foil if it’s browning too much or too fast. Transfer to a rack, and cool for at least 15 minutes (the galette may deflate — that’s puff pastry for you).

Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Bayou DeSiard Country Club Cotillion 2019

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he Bayou DeSiard Country Club Cotillion was held on January 5, 2019. The tradition of Cotillion began in the 1950’s as part of the Mardi Gras celebration, an integral part of the unique heritage of Louisiana. Originally, the girls made their debut by being presented to the Club’s Board President and spouse, as well as to the King and Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball. In the mid 1960’s, the Bayou DeSiard Cotillion was changed from a Mardi Gras event to a Christmas Cotillion.

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This year’s presentation was sponsored by the governing board of the Club and the parents of the nineteen young ladies presented. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr. Charles Marsala. Presentation coordinators were Terri Arthur and Ginny Yatco. Special thanks to Ainsley Anderson Herlevic of Ainsley Events for décor and design, Mary Dawson Photography, the governing board of The Bayou DeSiard Country Club and Board President Mr. French Smith.

Katherine Elizabeth Burkett Tulane University

Ashley Rae Dickson Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Kylie Jordon Embanato

Lily Ariana Hart

Julie Annelies Hayward

Louisiana State University

Elana Lee Dickson

University of the Ozarks

Louisiana Tech University

Emma Jane Johnson Texas Tech University

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Molly Frances Landry Louisiana State University

Bailey Ryan Lemoine Louisiana State University

Gabrielle Stuart Morstead

Olivia Bell Morstead

Caroline Catherine Raymond

Rebecca Scott Robinson

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Texas Christian University

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Sarah Mason Ryan University of Mississippi

Lucy Hubbs Sartor Tulane University

Elizabeth Lacey Shackelford

Olivia Rose Thomas

Halley Jane Travis

Julia Grace Trettin

Louisiana State University

University of Pennsylvania

The University of the South

University of Tennessee

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Junior League of Monroe Spring is in the Air and Shopping is at the Market

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PRING IS IN THE AIR, WHICH means the Junior League of Monroe’s Spring Market, sponsored by Origin Bank, is coming soon. This annual event takes place at the Monroe Civic Center and is Friday March 15, 2019 - Sunday, March 17, 2019. This year is all about change and giving Spring Market a fresh new look and feel. On Friday, the Market opens at 9:00 a.m. with a classic champagne brunch event, “Shop Til’ You Drop!”, sponsored by The Mulhearn Corporation, LLC. At this exclusive event, shoppers will enjoy strolling the market sipping on champagne and mimosas and will feast on a brunch catered by The Coffee Bean. Live entertainment by LA Jazz Quartet will give shoppers that classic New Orleans French Market feel. There will also be door prizes throughout this event and tickets are $30.

General shopping will be open to the public for the rest of the day from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday night is the signature event, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” sponsored by Progressive Bank and kicks off at 6:00 p.m.

This event includes catering by Thurman’s Food Factory, everyone’s favorite“Marketritas”, door prizes and live entertainment.

Tickets are $40 each to this event that is sure to be a good time!

Each year, the Junior League of Monroe features a raffle for Spring Market to increase fundraising efforts. This year, the league is excited to announce that the raffle is a New York City shopping vacation for two. The winner will fly from Monroe to

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New York City and stay four nights and five days at the Westin Times Square hotel and see a Broadway show. They will have $2500 spending money to shop the vacation away, dine at some of New York’s finest restaurants, or whatever their heart desires in the Big Apple, making this a trip of a lifetime! Tickets are only $20 and can be bought from a Junior League member prior to Spring Market or at the Market. The drawing will be held at 5:00 p.m., Sunday March 17, 2019.

The Junior League of Monroe is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through effective actions of leadership of trained volunteers. Since 1930, members have devoted countless volunteer hours to meet the needs of the people of the major fundraisers for the Junior League of Monroe.

• “Tools and Literacy for Children (TLC)” is a community outreach program that addresses the overall needs of at-risk children and families and focuses on the physical, emotional, and educational needs of a selected area elementary school and students.

• “Education Task Force” is a committee committed to helping education in our community. We give grants to area teachers.

• The League awards at least one Endowment Fund Grant each year to

local non-profits, helping with certain projects, missions and programs for the betterment of the community.

• C ommunity Outreach is a community project by the league that provides a single day of volunteer work from a team of League members to provide local organizations the manpower to fulfill an immediate need that they otherwise would not be able to accomplish on their own. Projects have included work at Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Coalition, Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo and more.

This only names a few of the outreach programs that are operated through the Junior League of Monroe, giving purpose to your purchase of a ticket.

General shopping is Friday, March 15, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday March 16, 2019 from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday March 17, 2019 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from a Junior League or by visiting the League House located at 2811 Cameron Street in Monroe, from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The Junior League of Monroe looks forward to seeing you at the market!

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Something for Your Sweetie Rain the Salon and Day Spa Has Plenty to Offer for Valentine’s Day

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ALENTINE’S DAY IS HERE AND RAIN IS THE PLACE TO find that special something for your sweetie. Not only do they carry an entire line of luxurious Oribe hair and body products, Paul Mitchell products and tools and Smith + Cult nail polish, they are excited to offer some new items. The Louvelle shower wear is all the rage since the moment it hit the shelf. Selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, this sophisticated and fashion forward shower cap is inspired by the pages of fashion magazines in a bohemian turban style. It is perfect for the modern woman who wants to look “très très chic.”

This allows you to shower in style and protect your crowning glory! It also extends the life of a blow out because it reduces frizz and prevents humidity from water from affecting your hair. The cap is created from stretch, quick dry fabric with waterproof lining.

You just gather up your luscious locks and put on front to back as you would a traditional shower cap, ensuring all hair is enclosed.

It is also ideal to protect your hairline when removing or applying makeup. There are two different styles - the Amelie and the Dahlia.

Both are available in black and black and white stripes. There is also a big hair option that comes in a beautiful floral print, perfect for bigger and longer hair. These Louvelle shower caps are the perfect gift for the woman who has everything, and likes a little everyday luxury.

Another fun item just in time for Valentine’s Day is the Bath Confetti Push Pops. If someone loves a bath bomb or just some relaxation in the tub, they will love this fun treat. There are four different colors. The pink and purple versions are filled with hearts, and the yellow and blue are filled with circles. You just fill your tub with water, take the lid off and hit the bottom of the stick to pop the fun into your bath! The hearts and circles are made of a pressed soap that dissolves in water, giving you a soft touch with some fragrant aromas.

Rain has some fun hair accessories like gold pony tail holders, chunky barrettes, a cute geometric inspired clip and more. These are the perfect happies for Valentine’s Day or just because. Included in the Oribe line, that Rain exclusively carries, are candles, perfumes and body products. The rollerball perfume and nourishing hand

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creme top the list for gift ideas because they are perfect for ladies of all ages and anyone who appreciates luxury and style will appreciate this gift. The fantastically rich creme revitalizes hands and lightly scents with the signature Cote d’Azur fragrance. The Oribe signature candle awakens with sun-drenched Calabrian bergamot, black currant and Sicilian orange. The floralcy of white butterfly jasmine embraces creamy sandalwood and crisp amber to create a fragrant experience day and night.

Rain also offers gift certificates allowing you to give the gift of relaxation, refreshment and renewal. Gift certificates can be used on any of the services that Rain offers including hair cutting, styling and color, plus a variety of spa services. Rain offers several facial options including their signature facial, a multivitamin power exfoliant and an bio-bio-active peel. There are also waxing, manicure and pedicure services. Rain also offers micro-blading, eyelash extensions and the latest craze - eyelash tint and lift.

The team at Rain are experts in what they do. But knowing the best techniques is only part of the process, they are also there to make everyone who walks in the door feel great. You are always greeted with a smile, offered refreshments and treated well.Whether you are coming for a quick trim or an all day spa day, they will ensure you walk away happy! Rain is locally owned and operated by owners Holly and James McCready and has a team with years of experience and training. In fact, some team members have been at Rain for over a decade! This speaks to the salon’s professionalism, dedication and commitment to the community.

Located in downtown Monroe on DeSiard Street, Rain is open Tuesday through Saturday. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and check out their website for more information! They even have an app available iTunes and Google Play where you can book online, see what’s new and stay up to date with all things Rain!

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Sadie C’s

Celebrating Our First Year Serving Our Community

BY SARAH BACKWELL

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N THE BEGINNING, IT WAS LITERALLY just a passing thought. Almost overnight, it became a reality. All the pieces just seemed to fall into their own respective places. There was definitely someone greater than me lining it all up.

I was born and raised in Rayville. My parents, Hazel and Bob Calvert were married for 51 years and have been the most influential people in my life. I attended Riverfield Academy and Louisiana Tech, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1998. After 15 years of learning about life, I came full circle and married my high school love, John Blackwell.

Together, we are a blended family of seven.

Having lived here most of my life, I knew there was a need to help build something better for our area. I have young children and want them to grow up in a community with places to shop and work. I was determined to contribute something positive. My vision was to have a beautiful store with a clientele of all ages and provide them with clothing and accessories that were both trendy and timeless, yet affordable.

After spending the last 18 years as an insurance agent and being involved in various other endeavors, I was ready for a change. The idea of building another business had been running around in my mind, but I just wasn’t sure how to pull it all together. As luck would have it, a brand new building just north of the interstate suddenly became available. Within days of hearing about the location, I ran into a close family friend, Macy Sorensen, who had experience in boutique sales. I convinced her to be my store manager and the stars aligned. I knew I had to close my eyes and jump!

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We opened Sadie C’s doors on February 10th, 2018 and were quickly overwhelmed with the positive response we received from people from the surrounding areas. On any given day, we will see people from Tallulah, Oak Grove, Lake Providence, Newelton, St. Joseph, Winnsboro, Bastrop….and more.

With a desire to reach beyond our local market, Leslie Sharbono came onboard as our Website Developer and worked diligently to launch www.shopsadiec.com. We are thrilled to know that customers as far away as New York, Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas are now representing Sadie C’s!

Our inventory and store layout changes daily; our customers often comment on how different things are each time they come to shop.

I strongly believe that if we are changing, we are growing. We make it a point to constantly think “outside the box.” We also work tirelessly to keep our customers up to date on our social media platforms. You can find us on Instagram and Facebook, with photos of our favorite new jeans or the latest sale items and giveaways.

The Sadie C’s style ranges from casual jeans to the perfect cocktail dress and our sizes include Tweens and Plus, with everything in between. We have an excellent selection for the young and for the young at heart. To complete your wardrobe, you’ll find the trendy platform tennis shoes, the latest gold mules and a beautiful pair of snake print high heels.

Then, we will add the dainty choker necklace, trendy octagon shaped hoops and the perfect matching bracelet…all designed to layer and complement every outfit for any occasion.

In addition to our clothing and accessories, we are your go-to source for unique gifts.

Proudly, we are one of the few retailers in the US to offer Believe Bands jewelry which is designed in New York. This inspirational jewelry boasts a full collection of Swarovski crystal and sterling silver rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. With our variety of home fragrances, you’re sure to find a candle, soap or diffuser that you will love. Our large Hobo handbag collection of purses, wallets, cross-body bags and more are very popular and always a showstopper. We have Pelican State Clothing’s locally created t-shirts, the perfect whiskey wedge Corkcicle glasses and the Scout duffle bags just for the guys!

Regardless of how busy we are, I am rewarded by this business with each new day. The support of our community has been amazing. People stop me daily to share how much they love our clothes. My unbelievable staff shows up every day with enthusiasm, new ideas and a genuine love for Sadie C’s.

And then there is family…from my father stopping by daily to check on things and give his support to my cousin’s creative hashtags as he shares each and every post. Yet, I’m certain my biggest fan watches from above.

My love for clothes, style, grace and all things beautiful began with my mother. Therefore, all things Sadie C’s are in honor and memory of her. She is and always will be the barometer for perfection in my life, and I’m still working every day to make her proud.

My closest friends can tell you that I have never backed down from a challenge and that I don’t sit idle for long. My motto has always been: “Go Big or Go Home,” and I truly believe Sadie C’s is GOING BIG!

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BON & VIV Spiked Seltzer The Original Seltzer is Getting a Facelift

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ARSALA BEVERAGE WELCOMES BON & VIV Spiked Seltzer. Spiked Seltzer was originally introduced in 2013 by Nick Shields. Nick’s first job after college was managing production for Nantucket Nectars, a thriving upstart juice company in Boston, and continued that entrepreneurial experience with winemaking at Wolffer Estate on Long Island. He went on to study food science at Cornell University, fermentation science at UC Davis, and even developed products for beverage titans Pepsi and Cadbury Schweppes. Nick’s great-greatgrandfather, Rudolph Haffenreffer, founded Boston’s Haffenreffer Brewery in 1870. As a 5th-generation brewer, Nick always knew he would eventually return to the family business of brewing. Nick’s goal was to create a new kind of beverage by combining disciplines of brewing, winemaking, and natural flavors. After refining nearly 100 batches, Spiked Seltzer was born.

The company’s roots are based in Norwalk, Connecticut and quickly became a staple all over the Northeast. As sales skyrocketed and mimics followed, Shields sold the Spiked Seltzer brand to AnhesuerBusch. In the summer of 2018, AnheuserBusch took the brands national. “The Hard Seltzer segment is booming, growing nationally at 197% annually, but Spiked Seltzer needs to evolve if we’re going to accelerate growth and capture greater share of the market. That is why we’ve decided to revamp Spiked Seltzer with a new name, packaging, and liquid that will allow us to stand out from the competition and deliver on what consumers want. Our team has 64 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

spent the past six months studying consumer behavior in the hard seltzer space and we believe that we have the right brand to deliver what they want”, says Chelsea Phillips, vice president of Beyond Beer Brands at AnheuserBusch.

Now known as BON & VIV™ Spiked Seltzer, the new formula and packaging will be hitting the street at the end of January.

BON & VIV™ Spiked Seltzer uses purified water and select ingredients, including a blend of cold-fermented corn sugar and natural fruit flavors that create the 4.5% alcohol and a clean, crisp taste. With no barley or wheat, BON & VIV™ Spiked Seltzer is gluten free, sugar free, and only has 90 calories per can.

BON & VIV will still have their flagship flavors:

Orange: Citrusy floral notes accompanied by a splash of Valencia Orange flavor with a smooth, dry finish

Grapefruit: Subtle hints of citrus zest and the tart juiciness of Indian River Grapefruit combine for a crisp and enjoyable taste.

Lemon Lime: Light notes of Lemon & Lime peels, followed by a satisfying tartness and refreshing, lively finish.

Cranberry: Brisk, lively aromas and pleasantly tart flavors of Cape Cod Cranberries with a lingering, satisfying finish.

Prickly Pear: Prickly Pear entices with vivid aromas and a balanced taste for a pleasant, fruit-forward experience.

Marsala Beverage has seen growth in the Hard Seltzer category and is extremely excited to see what the BON & VIV brand

family will bring to Northeast Louisiana.

The Hard Seltzer segment is booming, growing 197% YOY1, but Spiked Seltzer needs to evolve if we’re going to accelerate growth and capture greater share of the market. That’s why we’ve decided to revamp Spiked Seltzer with a new name, packaging and liquid that will allow us to stand out from the competition and deliver on what consumers want. Our team has spent the past six months studying consumer behavior in the hard seltzer space, and we believe that we have the right brand to deliver what they want.

On top of the flagship flavors, at the end of January, there will be three new flavors introduced and they sound delicious: Pear Elderflower, Black Cherry Rosemary, and Clementine Hibiscus will be hitting shelves soon enough.

Marsala Beverage is a local-based company that employs about 100 full-time employees, who all live and support the community of Northeast Louisiana. Each employee bases his or her success on never losing sight of delivering what is really important – quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for our customers’ needs.

Please find us at www.marsalabeverage. com or follow us on social media: Facebook: Marsala Beverage Twitter : @marsalabeverag1 Instagram: @marsalabeverage

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I REMEMBER unconditional love a r t i cl e by PAUL L I PE

I REMEMBER that, as students in elementary school, we used to give

Valentine’s Day cards to everyone in our class. Maybe we saved the best card for the prettiest girl in our group, but we asked practically every other student to “be my Valentine.” As we grew older, we gave fewer cards, and by the time we were in high school, we had narrowed our choices down to just one special person. “Love” had gotten a bit more discriminating.

Well, as you know – unless you are even older and more forgetful than I – February is the month that gives us Valentine’s Day. So on February 14th, some of you will be thinking about a very special person and will be trying to discover the courage to ask that individual to be your Valentine. Hopefully, a good percentage of you will have your hearts gladdened by a positive response, but there will probably be those whose little hearts are broken by a refusal of their invitations. As we shall observe later, love can be painful.

Please indulge me the opportunity of sharing some thoughts with you that may provide some helpful ideas that could enhance your Valentine experience this year.

First, we must understand that love is so much more than an emotion or a feeling. Obviously, our emotions and our feelings are involved in the manifestation of love, but genuine love goes deeper than these subjective expressions. Sincere love does feel, but it also acts; and sometimes an action is required that will put love to the test.

A truth that many have failed to grasp is that true love has its object’s best interest at heart. Superficial love may look only for what it can get FROM the one who is the object of that love - but that kind of thinking, that perspective is a gross distortion of love. Love that is real does not concern itself with what is “good” for the one who is doing the loving; instead, is interested in what is best for its object, as in “God so loved that world that He gave His only Son” – He did this to free us

from our sins and to open the gates of heaven to us. It was agonizing for Him, but good for us. This is what I had in mind when I wrote that loving another can be painful – there is a price that often comes with loving another, and to love us, God paid the ultimate price.

Have you ever felt the hurt that can come because you loved another? This often occurs when we lose a loved one to death, or when the object of our love goes through a family break-up or suffers a major disappointment in their lives – when their hearts break, our hearts feel the pain – because we love them.

But if love can cause us pain, it can also bring tremendous joy. True love has its rewards. The writer of Hebrews pictures both the pain and the rewards of love when he said of Jesus, “Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.” In His unconditional love for us, Jesus endured the suffering of the crucifixion. But even while He was experiencing that unimaginable pain, He was anticipating the joy that would come from seeing the results of His love for sinners – their reconciliation with the Father because One Who loved them had paid for their sins. In a similar way, we can know joy when one whom we love is blessed by self-denial on our part.

Maybe some of us have never loved to the point of suffering for another, and we wonder how one is able to love that deeply. It is here that a vital, and perhaps the most important, truth about love comes into play: True love has its origin in God. The Scriptures tell us that God is love and that we love because He loved us first. We also learn from that sacred Book that love is the fruit, the product of the Holy Spirit. To love in a self-sacrificial way requires the help of our Lord. It is by His grace that we can deny ourselves and love others.

Jesus taught, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) As we benefit from His love for us, let us follow His example by loving, not only our Valentines, but everyone with whom we have any relationship.

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.”

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he term self care is one that we all have come to know. It likens to the phrase when the flight attendant is describing the safety features and everyone is reminded to “put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others.” Why not make sure you take some time for home care too? Small inspirations can lift your spirits and also create a calm and relaxing haven for you and your family.

Cathi French Roberts & Lori French

Time To Show Your Home Some Love

Assorted Light Bulbs

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o you really need four 100 watt bulbs in that ceiling fan? Unless you are trying to read the fine print, why not remove the light kit and opt for a few lamps? Usually a few soft 60 or 75 watts do the trick if you really analyze the space.

Home Fragrance

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oes your home smell like hairspray and bacon or a welcome signature inviting scent? Agriaria for example has a room spray travel collection. It’s nice to be able to test different ones and remember your home scent can evolve each season! Spray your fabrics, your sofa pillows, your closet... anywhere and often.

Linen Spray A

spritz of linen spray on crisp cotton sheets when making your bed makes for a heavenly lavender dream.

Dryer Balls

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dd your favorite essential oil directly on the ball before tossing in your dryer. Creating one more way to touch your senses and customize scents for your washables.

Fresh Cuttings

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ur friend, Sandy McMillan, remembers growing up and her mother taking the time every week to cut something fresh out of their yard. She then took a few moments to disperse them in various vases around their home. It doesn’t matter if there is not a bloom outside! A bit of bear grass or nandina berries is all it takes to bring life to your home.

Vintage Kitchen Towels

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hese are readily available and can spruce up a kitchen in no time. Collect all different kinds and roll them up displayed in a large wooden bowl.

Cutting Board Tonic U

se this to naturally freshen, clean and sanitize your cutting board. Made with gentle ingredients, your wood surfaces are maintained while being sanitized for the next round of vegetables.

FOR YOUR OWN FRENCH TWIST CONSULTATION, CALL CATHI AND LORI AT 318-355-3041

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TTERSO K E IT H P A

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of the vocalist taple, can tell d n a ist es-s xophon y nineti years, his band avis, sa , a frisk ft D ix a s . h y S to m e d Jere beyond of fiv owar band H n I-20. In a span er the Delta and e n th ia n g ia in Louis ry exit o band gear all ov s Davis, recall ctly eve eir outckle ling th u u r h a c you exa h fo g , o ,” g d in a e v b iv li e r n r his ir a irection e in made th ght they had “ ining a 1970 W vis travels with d in one d ont of ip r d n a ou began to to the fr addie, a over obta 6, 2018, and D They th usiasm hton, M vannah, g songs n from behind were so hot 2 r th ig in e e n il b e L -r , e m ’s s c e d c a n id S ns De ban die ectio nd k ces as The hor d, idence in Their au ting the horn s gigs. It’s ife Meredith a otion. “ first performan their res s the high roofe m if w of-town h m s — w o y lo fr ly il s s eir fam uitarist iana avis r. A seamles like a wave in one of th s, the look on g enly gear and Monroe, Louis rcedes Sprinte rk 75, D a In . m , is e e v il g a ip n e to sudd Hor eM ear m rst tr calls D the sta Miller— oneaux, embers attractiv here on I-20, n down on its fi fire,” re e Howard Shaft n im n a S , o s n n o y o s h a d d w e Jo em Georgia es some ide brok his Winnebago stic an Monday and th onday, the late fondly r section. an pass ickety r e ” Davis n r o h e luxury v en the band’s r iles away from n enduring arti ’s Blu ader of Blue M I signed up for, e ard th w a t ft m h le a a s to e w Over th d h a h il S n s w h m d a l. ll s e reca specia rby. W : is isn’t t serv oward agneti a a ls th e H g m a “ n th c in s h e n e e lo e r e ic th c c m e e e h h a n on th audie g d som a somewh es in on the pla iana. Even w their music, w r, bec n e h li th ), tt s y e g e s m th ru ed, be of uis los regardin ixon (d en that p chang roe, Lo the end nion last Decem Davis c knew th e band’s line-u uitar), Derek M lis, Indiana, n: Mon it never meant u o y e ti r e a h y d T il n o m fou ed, dianap erson (g f time, th ee,” p rm of a fa conclud course o e General” Patt ildcard from In was the “yank s. made u in the fo sical legacy. s d journey te id a k r w ) h b a cele flute h “T The ’s mu ss). A all of u uisian the band orth Louisiana Branch. of Keit mes Cook (ba ard, and ure shock for orth Lo o y b N rs k y c ” e o y k R z N d Ja cult nd ” humo nes gan, “cra a nod to a bit of onroe, a st stepping sto vis, an llini (or is heart, ered he mostly h s te M f a r o s t o s w s C e le ix It b y W “ a r A m Ton us, nt. iscov onroe, of the fi orn section—D for a sti ore like red r they d Shaft: M as one h ls)— but only ally became m ent to him afte the “eight hund Howard zz Ensemble w al was over, the rombone, voca w r w tu n n fo e y e ir ll n Ja n (t ow tua The e e Blu hears He ev LA Tech band ac ough he was kn r,” says Davis. y Johnso entually becam on as re e la rn o s e h C , s T th it . d A u . n is o e d a Dav speak ealize oon en and ev s like s r S e e y the band s (trombone), . c y a th n n e d f a e n o g th u r o t T fl eM ne and he efore wiftly played o soul coming ou jams, led by in Adam Jo blues band Blu haft Horns. B ampton music blues, s H s f e a d c o e x u e s d d r h T S it an d d l. B eir xten pound joined w nd the Howar d Memphis an e Otis Redding jam, Co funky e ny of th a d spun u of the they styled ma ne lik n r y o s u u a d o g -h d s n e n . d u o m n o is ti M av hs nd , enius a es stuff,” ergy horns, wit edone,” says D in 1995 nit, a ba music g the “blu ccured escue U sr en o e R h n h ft ig m c a tu h e h iu B T S r to & A rd Aqua turned in rothers. “Old R at the L f Howa sB emark o a talent show as CJ6. s from. e e d d a u lu e c tr B m l e r th cia d d perfo on of the n a The offi n they entere b e , th ati g whe the time ding ov en beginnin uditorium. At nly stan or did they ev o e th A d n e h d r, it r iv e a e w n c How s win ey re cially ough th ot mentioned a let down, espe r e th th n fa e v E as a ere n nson’s w h w It Jo y . e n n e o th s h enti almo t ut w night, ss was orable m rowd. B n c lo o e e h th e th iv in rename nts rece haft,” eir pare ot the s mbers to span th g e f s m o y e e o b th m f so lly ou eo eventua cked, “y pired on wise-cra it naturally ins rd Shaft, would , as wa worth it ame, Ho p. The n u o r g e th belt. the sun

he first “taste of success” arrived in the form of three hundred audience members in downtown Ruston at hot spot Sundown Tavern, which quickly became their personal launch pad. From there, they went to Monroe night hangouts, like the former 6th Street Bar and Sal’s Saloon, where they really took off. Once they hit the road, they stopped mainly among the southeast from Texas to Virginia, playing in small community college towns. They travelled “super hard-core” (nineties style: no phones, open paper maps, and beepers out), driving twelve hours at a time, setting up gear at venues, “crushing it” on stage, and then driving back about five hours to “deadhead” home, recalls Davis, adding Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga to their pit stops.

Their road stories abound, like the time the band opened for the considerably controversial rap group from Miami, 2 Live Crew, and having to share a dressing room, witnessed some unsavory antics. Or the time they played the Millennium “Y2K” New Year at Pat O’Brien’s, the one on top of Jack’s Brewery in New Orleans.

Convinced that the “Y2k” scare could happen, they wanted to avoid potential pandemonium, so half an hour after the show, they were already loaded and on the road—family, friends, and all. Though their travels took them all the way to Universal Studios, New Orleans will always stand out as the most memorable music venue, namely

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the rustic landmark of live music and Cajun dancing Tipitina’s and House of Blues New Orleans.

Moments between work and play allow for the unpredictable.

Capturing sound in the framework of a space, sometimes cements with no effort. Such is Howard Shaft’s imprint on North Louisiana.

Fans still inquire about obtaining burnt copies of the band’s only released CD. Some local bands have been known to cover original Howard Shaft songs in their sets. There is even a fraternity song that is a Patterson original, “Child of God.” While the rumors are true, some band members have reached levels of stardom that most musicians aspire to, and the numbers that Howard Shaft reunions are known for are due to local success. Undisputedly, it doesn’t hurt that drummer Mixon, a West Monroe native, has collaborated for years with Grammy award winner Chris Stapleton. Or that bassist Cook has been touring, for the past four years, with Capital recording artist Luke Bryan, nominated for many ACM and CMA awards. Davis and Johnson, friends since seventh grade, joined forces in Savannah, Georgia and formed The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra, a “fiery hot” 17-piece big band that play sophisticated arrangements in the “style and swagger” of Frank Sinatra and is the official ambassador of Savannah. Meanwhile, Patterson, Jones, and Cortellini reside in the area, periodically taking the stage and recording.

“North Louisiana should be proud of their musical legacy,” says Davis, attributing his success to the local music programs of

his upbringing. A West Monroe High School (WMHS) alumni, he praises the late Dr. Michael D. Spears, respected music educator serving WMHS for forty-seven years. Speaking to the value of music programs, Davis asserts, “Our music careers started in his band program.” With this pride of place prevalent in their music identity, it’s no surprise that Howard Shaft has held about ten family reunions in Monroe, with no signs of stopping. They play their reunions as if they were playing at their own house party. Regardless of venue, that’s usually the case, because when they play in Monroe, their family and close friends are usually in the audience. There’s only ever time for one impromptu rehearsal: “It’s like breathing. Everything comes back,” says Davis. This reunion’s stage was at Flying Tiger Brewery. A show that began at 7 PM was packed wall-to-wall within thirty minutes. A dance-line naturally formed in congruence with the “unique musical DNA of the horns” section. The band played to the crowd: hammering epic sets of instrumental improv, heckling each other, and roaring to the crowd like New Orleans style jazz bands.

The freestyle vibe resonated with the crowd, a taste of Howard Shaft’s hayday that goes beyond music, and holds the carefree moments of times past for many in the crowd.

How a person becomes a person begins where they grow up. It’s a rhythmic counterplay of individual willpower and the steady hand

of community. Howard Shaft is driven by hard syncopated sounds and accented by gusto. Though some moved on to reach heights of music nobility, none ever forgot the road home, proving that sometimes home is where stars are born.

Listen to The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra on iTunes and/or Spotify.

Follow them on Facebook or on Instagram (@equinoxorchestra) and catch their exclusive Valentine’s party in Monroe, Friday, February 8th. This exclusive dinner show features amazing food from Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe.

You won’t want to miss!

Howard Shaft celebrates the following extended members: BRAD BLACK (trumpet, toured with The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra) ALCEDRICK TODD (trumpet, plays with Wu Tang Clan) JOHN SIMONEAUX (guitar, founder of Blue Monday) CLARK HICKENBOTTOM (bass, member of Blue Monday) DONOVAN HATCHER (drums, member of Blue Monday)

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BayouTrends

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Let the good times roll this Mardi Gras season with these festive items from local retailers. From workout apparel to purple swing tops, these items will have you doing the Mardi Gras Mambo!

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1 .PETA LS A ND P EA RL S 2 . R AIN T H E S A L ON A N D D A Y SPA 3. ELEVEN 26 4. C C ’ S C OFFEE 5. K- SERA BO UTI Q UE 6. M A T E R IAL T H IN GS 7 . S A D IE C ’ S 8. H ER R IN GSTON E’ S 9. FIESTA N U TR ITION C ENTER 1 0 . S L E E P Y H OL L OW FU R N ITU R E 11. W A SH IN GTON W IN E A N D SPIR ITS

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Ballroom Bliss SARAH MOUTON AND JAROD FLOYD MARRIED IN LAFAYETTE IN A BEAUTIFUL EVENING CEREMONY

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arah Mouton and Jarod Floyd tied the knot on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at six o’clock in the evening at City Club River Ranch in Lafayette, LA. After a long engagement and much planning, the ceremony was to be held outdoors under a beautiful gazebo with 200 of their closest friends and family. Rain threatened to alter plans and ultimately Mother Nature prevailed, relocating the ceremony with little time to spare into City Club’s Evangeline Ballroom.

As guests arrived, the ballroom quickly filled with loved ones from near and far who shared in the intimate ceremony. Sarah was escorted by her father, Marc Mouton Jr. and the ceremony was performed by John Balgavy, uncle of the groom. The couple exchanged heartfelt personal vows including Sarah’s special tribute to Jarod’s son, Caden.

Courtney Davis, sang “Hallelujah” while parents of the bride and groom, Mona and Marc Mouton Jr. and Lynn and Bill Burnett, were presented with white roses.

Members of the bridal party included Matron of Honor Hilary Tuttle Trahan, bridesmaids Jennifer Cunningham Mouton, Samantha Napoli, Megan Patin Hebert, Andrea Courville, Mary Claire Burns, junior bridesmaid Kinley Floyd and flower girl Stella Davis. On the groom’s side Best Man Phillip Smith, groomsmen Caden Floyd, Bryan Floyd, Devin Womack, James Mouton, Nicholas Mouton, Bobby Bonds, junior groomsman Westin Davis and ring bearers Landen Leber and Jackson Mouton.

Sarah wore Blush by Hayley Paige’s “Pepper” gown - an ivory Marrakesh beaded ball gown complete with a scalloped sweetheart neckline and cascading tulle skirt with thin horsehair trim, purchased from Le Jour Couture. Her bouquet was adorned with her mother’s wedding handkerchief, a rosary made with flowers from loved ones in heaven and a broach belonging to her great-grandmother Inez Mouton. Her veil and garter were handmade by her mother. Jarod wore a classic Ike Behar black tuxedo complete with monogrammed cufflinks and handkerchief, antique pocket watch and custom shoes from Undandy, engraved with their names and wedding date.

The reception was held in City Club’s Fleur-de-Lis Ballroom, complete with a white dance floor, illuminated love sign and Spartix sparkle boxes. The couple shared their first dance to “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector. The bride danced with her father to “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” by Owl City and the groom and his mother danced to “I’ll Be There” by Jackson 5. An anniversary dance brought all married couples to the dance floor and the longest married couple, the bride’s grandparents Bernadette and Ronnie Monte, celebrated 59 years of marriage. Throughout the night, guests enjoyed a lively party - compliments of Aaron Lane – Pro DJ. Invitations were hand addressed by Sugar Script Calligraphy while floral designs were artfully arranged by Thistle Company – filled with peonies, ranuculus and oharas. Adorned with flowers, the three-tier cake was made by Caked by Em and guests enjoyed a donut display by Meche’s Donut King. The day was truly special thanks to the vision of Courtney Davis and hard work of Katie Paris, Jennifer Foreman and Ashley Trahan along with countless family and friends.

Special moments were captured in pictures by Kimbrali Photography and video by Genuine Collective Films – a short film can be viewed online at bit.ly/floydwedding.

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ar t i cle b y K enny C o vin g to n

FISHING

With Kenny

Making the Old into Something New

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ishing is an interesting sport. There are secret spots, secret lures, and places no one knows about except for the person who is telling the story. In reality none of that is really true. While nothing is sacred that doesn’t mean you can’t create your own secrets and way of doing things. Thinking outside of the box and tweaking a few of your favorite techniques is all it takes to make them into something new.

I am known as a power fisherman. I like to use lures that will cover a lot of water in a short period of time, making the chances of finding active fish more probable. I have found ways to use lures that may not be considered fast moving but apply them in certain situations and they become one. Or maybe you can take a lure and give it a completely different presentation than what it is designed. Let me explain.

A shaky head is one of the best fish catching techniques ever introduced to bass fishing. In tournaments, it is rare to find a boat that doesn’t have a rod without it being tied on. I had used this technique a few times in its lighter line, lighter rod introduction phase with little success but it was only after being shown how to use a shaky head for flipping purposes did I become more open minded about it. A heavier shaky head size, a larger soft plastic lure and a stouter hook all make for a flipping/pitching presentation. A slow finesse approach is now something I can steadily work and cover more water. Something old into something new.

Another great example that I have experimented with is the addition of swimming frogs to buzzbaits in place of skirts that were used. The buzzbait has been around since the 1970’s and its ability to catch big bass is well documented. For several years however it fell out 78 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

of favor with fishermen in favor of the newer wave of topwater lures such as the Whopper Plopper. Now that swimming frogs are being used as the main attractant of the buzzbait, its popularity is starting to come back. Something old has become something new.

This concept isn’t just limited to fishing lures. The same can be applied to rods, line, hooks and so forth. Rods come in all makes, models, sizes and buying one can be as confusing as anything else.

When I buy a rod I always consider what specific technique am I trying to cover but also what other techniques can I use it for?

I probably have used every glass rod ever made for crankbait fishing. Did you know they are also excellent choices when throwing topwater lures, using chatterbaits or maybe slow rolling a spinnerbait at night? Granted you may have to make some line adjustments to the technique being used but it is still a good way to think outside the box when using a technique specific rod and create something out of what you already have. This is especially effective if you are a beginning angler or maybe an angler on a budget.

Braided line was first introduced into bass fishing for flipping/ pitching into heavy cover. The more strength and smaller diameter lines were perfect when trying to get larger bass out of areas where monofilaments didn’t stand a chance. Guess what? We now use braided lines for all types of fishing. From frogs, to topwaters, to crankbaits, spinnerbaits or whatever the lure of choice, fisherman have had great success using braided lines. It only took someone thinking differently than everyone else for these ideas to come to light.

Remember, something old becomes something new.

Have you ever used a soft plastic jerk bait on your Carolina rig?

Or have you ever used a ¾ ounce spinnerbait in a foot of water? What about using a Zoom centipede, long a favorite choice for a Carolina rig, as favorite flipping bait? The possibilities are endless. We have so many lures at our disposal that it quickly becomes overkill. Sometimes something old can become something new because the fish just haven’t seen it. Here are more examples of what I mean.

When was the last time you used a pork trailer on your jig you were throwing? Or what about throwing a six-inch curl tailed worm?

How long do you think it has been since the fish in your favorite lake or pond have seen these offerings? In the age of newer and better we often times forget tried and true. Most of today’s young fishermen have no idea how many fish have been caught on a firetiger colored Bomber 6A crankbait but I still have a lot of success with it because so few people use one.

Often times in fishing the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) theory is overlooked. It was asked of jig fishing expert Denny Brauer once why he liked using a black and blue jig and he replied “they seem to bite it so why not throw it?” Makes sense to me. When he was asked why he mostly fished his spinnerbait to close to the waters surface fishing legend Jimmy Houston said, “I like to see them (bass) come up and hit it.” Ok. Catching fish is easy, it’s the finding them that is complicated.

Don’t make it more complicated by overthinking it.

As you can see there are several ways we can get more out of our lures, rods, and other equipment we use in this great sport. Before I buy a rod, or before buying a new lure, I ask myself, “What can I do with this that I can’t do with something similar I already have?”

Multi-tasking in fishing is as important as a pocket knife is to a wood worker. Take something old and with a little thought you can make it into something new.

Looks like we are out of space again for another month. Be careful out in Mother Nature’s playground and if you are on the water please make sure to catch one for me! See you next month!

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Valentine’s Day Feelings of the Heart

BY THOMAS ESTIS, PH.D.

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ISTORIANS TRACE THE ORIGIN of Valentine’s Day to the ancient Roman Empire. It is said that in the Rome of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. History recounts Emperor Claudius II banned marriage because he thought married men were bad soldiers.

Saint Valentine felt this being unfair, broke the rules and arranged marriages in secret.

When Claudius found out, Saint Valentine was thrown in jail and sentenced to death. There, instead of experiencing loneliness he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. As he was being taken to be executed on February 14th, he sent her a love letter signed “from your Valentine.” St. Valentine was truly a man with a heart of love: for God, his fellowman, and the jailer’s daughter. If we could all be so fortunate (excluding the death sentence) to possess such a fullness of love in our very beings.

Unfortunately, loneliness, and not love is experienced by many people. The statistics relate that loneliness will be experienced at some point by at least 40% of the population.

More than 60% of married people suffer loneliness within a marriage. Loneliness distorts perceptions; and contributes to mental and physical disorders. The effects of loneliness on the human body have been compared to the same damage as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Stress associated with loneliness elevates blood pressure, upsurges cholesterol, increases risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke), and impairs the function of one’s immune system resulting in higher inflammation (Winch, 2014).

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Divorce or death of a spouse will result in the other encountering the darkness of loneliness and depression. Chronic loneliness can diminish the longevity of one’s life by 14%.

Chronic loneliness is linked to increases in neurodegenerative diseases such as the chance of dementia by 64% (Van, 2010).

Loneliness produces isolation and feelings similar to depression: Loneliness contributes to feelings of powerlessness to connect with others, an inability to be understood, rejected, abandoned, and hopeless, while thinking no one cares. The ongoing sense of being disengaged and detached from others and self, results in being dissatisfied with life in general. The experience has been compared to a mime behind a glass with vague gestures in attempts to connect while believing this is the way life will always be.

The experience of loneliness is a feeling not one’s identity. Just because one fails does not make one a failure. Some people attempt to self-medicate loneliness or filling oneself with alcohol, other drugs, and/or process addictions. Alcoholism and addiction worsen the symptoms. The greatest loneliness of all is to miss oneself. Counseling offers the opportunity to confront the loneliness and the related contributing factors.

Perhaps St. Valentine affords a design for living a life with the least risk of loneliness.

St. Valentine first secured the proper point of reference and filter system for his life, GOD (Great Orderly Direction). Then he was empowered to be committed and concerned about others as well as himself. The 12-steps direct one to acknowledge the problem (step

one), recognize the solution (step two), and decide to apply the solution to the problem (step three). The 12-step Principles offer a roadmap in values extending an upward pathway toward a spiritual awakening and a radically different viewpoint for oneself and one’s life.

Love is an action verb described as being genuinely committed and concerned about someone else’s welfare and well-being as much as one’s own (adult-to-adult relationship).

Intimacy is the ability to love someone and to reciprocate their love. Actions need to be the producer of feelings, not vice versa. Placing the relevance of feelings above the necessity of the actions in pursuing goals and aspirations results in regret and loss of self. An individual may pursue what he/she wants and not get what one values. Getting what one wants and not what one values will result in regret and increased disconnectedness and loneliness.

Living a regretful existence limits options and perceptions of self-resulting in self-despising and self-deprecating.

Counseling invites the person, couple, or family members to differentiate facts from feelings, falsities, and/or “future tripping” conclusions. Counseling offers hope in reprioritizing one’s values, reclaiming one’s life, and recovering and discovering the life one is designed to live. If you or a loved one suffers from disconnected relationships, loneliness, depression, alcoholism, addiction, anxiety, and the customary disconcerting thoughts, contact us at Aimwell Addiction Recovery Center at 318.816.5329. We can help.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. World Class Commercial Insurance Products and Services

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HILE GALLAGHER IS THE third largest insurance brokerage firm in the world, the company’s emphasis on hometown service for its valued clients sets Gallagher apart from its competitors. The branch in Monroe on Tower Drive hosts 30 employees, a team of local, dedicated professionals offering a tailored approach to insurance. Being part of a global company allows more leverage that smaller companies simply can’t provide. Gallagher brokers give advice, places coverage, redesigns coverage; and they represent a full-service operation. And while the Monroe branch specializes in agriculture, railroad, public entity, and construction insurance, Gallagher has the resources to consult and review any type of insurance program. With an “intense focus” on the company’s clients, Gallagher is committed to “providing service with integrity.” Clients get what they need when they need it, and this is a result of Gallagher’s exemplary team managers and members.

Named the 2018 Client Services Operations (CSO) Leader of the Year for the Gallagher Mid-South Region, Diana White is the Gallagher backbone of this area. In the insurance industry for 41 years and with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. for the last 26, Diana is an effective leader with her extensive insurance knowledge and experience and a consistent “resource to her CSO team as well as the production staff in her office.” She is invested in other people’s success, including her clients and other members of her team. She leads by example

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and takes personal satisfaction in watching people grow. Having worked in both the sales aspect and the service aspect of the insurance industry, Diana is able to provide expertise on both sides of the business, knowing from experience what each side is facing. While her job is to “ensure that her team meets benchmarks, supports growth initiatives, follows processes and procedures, and meets the needs of their clients promptly and professionally,” it is with her leadership that Gallagher meets these goals head on and continues to establish, sustain, and grow client relationships.

Diana believes in the insurance services she provides, and she makes sure her team shares her passion for the industry.

She recognizes they’re not selling luxury products, but rather insurance is a business need our clients can’t afford to do without.

Melvin DeLacerda, President and CEO of Johnny’s Pizza House, Inc. has worked with Diana for over 20 years and “considers her to be one of the most trusted business associates I’ve ever worked with.” Diana prides herself on being proud of the product she sells and how she sells it, knowing, “sales gets the business and service keeps it.” The insurance industry offers real career opportunities for people, and Diana likes seeing people take advantage of those opportunities. Her team emulates her passion for this industry, and their collective enthusiasm shows in the satisfaction of their clients. Area President, William Jackson insists Diana’s “leadership and passion for putting the client first has been integral in

the growth and development of Gallagher Monroe, and we couldn’t ask for a better testament to ‘The Gallagher Way’ than Diana White.”

Along with its local attentive team, Gallagher’s strategic advantages continue to raise client expectations in the region.

The teams consist of subject matter experts, “individuals who have skills and knowledge in a specific resource tool.”

Any question is followed by a competent, informed Gallagher professional with the answer. CSO Services Support ensures your team members have a centralized support team to answer their questions to better provide clients with the best service.

Gallagher delivers “world-class products and services” to local clients by local team members, establishing that hometown feel from a worldwide platform. Being a publicly traded company, Gallagher has to abide by laws and regulations ensuring Gallagher’s way of business is more likely to be free of error with potential problems having already been addressed and eliminated.

“Our clients repeatedly tell us the most important thing we can do is to protect their assets by providing a comprehensive and tailored insurance program with the most competitive terms.” The quality of the product along with the service provided by noteworthy team leaders like Diana White and the very capable and qualified service staff of professionals ensures a growing client base and the continued success of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

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Sip and See at Park Manor On Sunday, December 16th, Bastrop’s premier wedding venue, Park Manor, held a Sip and See to introduce their newest addition to the historic property. They invited guests to tour the grounds and plantation farmhouse. Guests were able take pictures while enjoying treats and refreshments. The showcase of the Sip and See was, of course, the newest addition to the grounds, which is the expanded reception hall.

Recently renovated to accommodate all of the seasons, guests got to experience the beauty of the build and the details of the design. Brides walked the grounds with family and friends and made plans for their big day. Park Manor is honored to be a part of this community and would like to say “thank you” for so much continued support.

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On the BayouScene 1H annah Fallin, Amanda Fallin, Christi Farrar and Natalie Farrar 2 S idney Thomas, Taylor Thomas, Sharon Thomas and Euleshia Johnson 3 Jeff and Terry Chrisman 4 Crew and Jordan Warner 5 Bailey Ryder and Angela Ryder 6B renda Alexander, Janet Philbrook, Wanda Beckham, Jackie Dickerson and Gary Dickerson 7D iane Clausing, Denise Harrison, Lauren Goings and Wanda Harrison 8K im Cummings and Betsy Stadius 9 Ashton Johnson and Darlene Johnson 10 Raleshia Johnson and Tammy Warner 11 Pam Chain, Anna Deblieux and Kathy Deblieux 12 Christi Farra, Stephanie Smith and Monica Thrower 13 Kim, Morgan and Megan Huntsman 14 Ryan and Rhett Warner 15 Natalie Farrar and Stephanie Smith

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New Year’s Eve Celebration AMS Entertainment, LLC held their 1st Annual New Year’s Eve Fundraiser on the Terrace.

This Black Tie Event included complimentary alcoholic beverages, heavy appetizers, and live music. All proceeds went to feed the less fortunate in Ouachita Parish. The event was from 8 p.m. -1 a.m. on December 31st at Tower Place in Monroe.

Guests were invited to walk the red carpet, have their picture taken at the door, enjoy food and drinks while views of the Monroe and West Monroe firework show could be seen from the terrace. The event had two live bands to celebrate ringing in the new year. AMS Entertainment would like to thank everyone who attended and looks forward to hosting a bigger and better party next year.

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On the BayouScene 1 Joseph Shumate and Hannah Viator 2 Arabelle Adams and Regan Ferland 3 Michael Juneau and Jessica Jordan 4 J ames Bradly Smith, Tony Sanchez, Carla Torrez, Mallory Lynn and Payton Smith 5 E ileen Greer, Jerri Beth Watson, Valerie Matherne, Sharon Dollins and Michelle Berry 6 T ran Dotson, Miguel Mora and Kendra Rowell 7 Wesley Drake, Kaitlyn Many and Andrew Holmes 8 Kendall Barrett and Colby Muhearn 9 T ammy and Brad Smith 10 Juwan Joseph and Jeremiah Crowe 11 Marine Oliver and Madison Smith 12 Gabby Reno and Hunter Tyler 13 Adrian Smith and Cody Haynes 14 Kerrigan May and Sonni Bennett 15 Jerri Beth and Kevin Watson 16 Donice and Preston Mayo 17 Michael and Caroline McVay

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floral arrangements

FOR VA L EN TI NE'S Looking for the perfect gift this Valentine's Day? Carve some time out of your schedule and make mom or dad a custom floral arrangement with help from your kids.

It's the perfect way to say "I love you!"

PHOTOGERAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK FLORALS BY FINE FOLKS, WILLA AND GUY

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Creating an exceptional bouquet for Valentine's Day doesn't mean that it has to be perfect. Make a trip to your local floral shop or grocery store and buy a few bundles of fresh florals in different sizes. For greenery, step out into the yard and forage with the kids. Fine Folks recommends using smilax, rosemary, bay leaves and magnolia leaves.

CHO O SING A V E SSE L

Use a small, drinking glass or a vase that you already have. If you choose something other than glass, you can place an oasis in the bottom. For our arrangement, Fine Folks chose small rose-hued glasses and made a grid with clear floral tape on top. If you don't have floral tape, Scotch tape will work for this project.

C R E AT E A WOR K SPACE

Pick a workspace in your home that can be easily cleaned. Set up the florals and prepared vases/glasses. Separate greenery, large buds and smaller buds into separate containers with water. Next, make sure to have scissors ready. For smaller kids, use blunt tip scissors.

MA K I NG YOUR A R R A NG E ME N T

Let your children's creativy flow when arranging the florals. A good rule is to start with 3-5 large blooms. In Fine Folks arrangement, Willa and Guy used Juliet roses as their larger blooms. Next, fill in the grid with the greenery that was foraged. The last step is to fill the spaces with smaller blooms. Fine Folks recommend using ranunculus, spray roses, anemones and wax flowers. Mom, dad and kids will all love this special, homemade gift this Valentine's Day. 90 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

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Kick Up Your Heels at the Shindig!

Annual Event Slated for March 22nd at MBH Farm

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ON’T MISS OUACHITA COUNCIL ON AGING’S 11TH Annual “Shindig” fundraiser scheduled for Friday, March 22nd, from 7 p.m. until midnight at MBH Farm, owned by Dr. Herschel and Mary Beth Harter in western Ouachita parish. Lisa Spann and Company will entertain the crowd with dance music covering every genre from rhythm and blues to country to rock ‘n roll. Lisa is well known around town and surrounding areas and has a following of her own. Catering for the event will be provided by Catfish Charlie’s, offering a delicious spread of catfish, chicken, and all the trimmings! You don’t want to miss out on the delicious food and fun music!

Shindig tickets are $60 for general admission, while a reserved table for 8 can be purchased for $600. By purchasing tickets to this event, you help support some 22 programs available for seniors in Ouachita Parish, including the Meals on Wheels Program and NonEmergency Transportation.

Ouachita Council on Aging’s Executive Director, Lynda McGehee, reminds everyone to come prepared to participate in the Live Auction which will take place midway thru the evening. One item up for bid will be a Blue Dog print by the late artist George Rodrigue. According to McGehee, this will be a night of “fun, food, and fellowship”, with patrons dressing casually in cowboy boots, hats, and jeans. The huge, gorgeous barn at MBH Farm is decorated in rustic style, with the resident Clydesdales getting ample attention from the crowd.

Back in 2008, the Board of Directors was looking for a way to pay off the remaining debt on the Carolyn Rose Strauss Senior Center and the Ouachita Council on Aging offices located on Ferrand Street in Monroe. The “Shindig” was thus born out of necessity to generate much needed revenue for retiring the building mortgage. After succeeding in “burning the note” in 2012, the Council now directs proceeds from the Shindig to the most vitally needed programs provided for our elderly. The fact that this event is one of the most anticipated in our region is just an extra bonus.

The Ouachita Council on Aging was established by charter in June 1967, thus recently celebrated its 50th year of serving seniors. In 1980, OCA was also designated as the Area Agency on Aging for Ouachita Parish. Currently, OCA has established 12 dining and activity sites throughout the area and 15 Meals on Wheels routes which cover the entire parish. Additionally, OCA contracts for services with West 92 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Ouachita Senior Center in West Monroe and SCORE (Senior Citizens OutReach Entity) in Richwood.

While federal and state funding is provided to the Area Agency on Aging under the Older Americans Act, funding falls short of meeting the needs of the ever-growing senior population. Other sources of funding include United Way, the City of Monroe’s Community Development Block Grant, the City of West Monroe, program participant contributions, and donations from concerned citizens and groups in the community. Local sources make up 37% of the total operating budget, with Shindig revenue being a large part of that percentage.

Billy Justice, Marketing Director for Vantage Health Plan, says, “Vantage is proud to be the premier sponsor of this fundraising event for Ouachita Council on Aging. I’ve seen first-hand how the Council operates and how they utilize their funding. The Shindig is their main source for raising additional dollars to fill the budget gaps and meet the needs of our seniors.”

“When OCA first started, they served only 80 persons on the Meals on Wheels Program. Currently, noon meals are provided, Monday thru Friday, to approximately 500 homebound seniors, age 60 and over. We serve meals to another 450 older individuals at our 12 dining sites each day. Monday thru Friday, vans from OCA transport dozens of elderly to doctor appointments and life-saving dialysis and cancer treatment centers. More than any other time in our history, we are depending on continued donations from our community,” said McGehee. “Fortunately, we live in an area that is known for its generosity and concern. We simply couldn’t operate at our current level of service without contributions from local businesses and individuals. We are so very grateful for their support.”

Tickets for the Shindig are now available at the Ouachita Council on Aging office located at 2407 Ferrand Street, Monroe, LA, or by calling Lynda McGehee or Diane Gaines at (318) 387-0535. For information about the Ouachita Council on Aging and its services, visit their website at www.ouachitacoa.com or find them on facebook.

If you cannot attend the Shindig, but would like to make a donation to OCA, go to the website and click on the “Make a Donation” button.

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Time to Relax with Spa Nouvelle Treat Yourself and Your Loved Ones This Valentine’s Day

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LOSE YOUR EYES. IMAGINE SOOTHING MUSIC playing in a calm, relaxing atmosphere that allows you to melt away and leave everything behind. Pleasant aromas fill the space and an expertly trained staff is there to pamper you in a stateof-the-art facility with every convenience and amenity available. If this seems like a dream, wake up, it’s a reality at Spa Nouvelle. With Spa Nouvelle, you are sure to experience an all-encompassing spa experience like none other offered in Northeast Louisiana.

Partners Mary Beth Dickerson, Ana Lopez Hale, Drew Farr and Wendy Newson all have a passion for health and beauty. With an attentive approach to relaxation and skincare health, it’s no surprise that the staff of Spa Nouvelle has won top prizes in the BayouLife BayouBuzz Awards since it’s inception. Ward off the stress of the holiday season with one of the many spa services offered at Spa Nouvelle: massages, facials, waxing, microdermabrasion, dermaplanning, Oxygen Hydro facials, airbrush tanning, chemical peels, lash and brow tinting, SkinCeuticals products, DoTerra and essential oils and diffusers. Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Spa Nouvelle offers gift certificates to use with any of their services.

A Valentines gift certificate favorite is the Spa Day Escape. We are offering it at a discount this month. Especially for Valentine’s Day, the massage is upgraded to a chocolate massage. Have your spa experience tailored to your specific needs. Lockers, luxurious bathrobes, towels, showers, and sandals are provided for your use during your day. Three and a half hours of uninterrupted relaxation is designed to help you escape from stress. The experience includes a light lunch, spa day customized luxury massage, and spa day red carpet treatment facial that includes product consultation. Spa Nouvelle also will host a spa party. Whether it’s a day of pampering with your bridesmaids, a mom’s day out, or a staff retreat, they can accommodate the whole gang or just a few special ladies… or men.

From beginning to end, the dedicated spa team at Spa Nouvelle will ensure that your visit enhances your well-being.

Our massage therapist will talk to you in detail about your needs and customize your massage just for you. It doesn’t get much better than that and our massage therapist are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Here are a few others: The Signature Massage – our signature massage is a spa favorite with 80 minutes of body work with essential oils (sounds like heaven doesn’t it?); and Deep Tissue Massage – a wonderful remedy for those tired muscles from all those pre-wedding workouts.

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About High Blood Pressure Your Questions Answered

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LOOD PRESSURE IS THE FORCE OF BLOOD PUSHING against the walls of your arteries, which carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day. But if it stays high for a long time, it can damage your heart and lead to health problems. High blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.

High blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. The only way to know if you have it is to measure your blood pressure. Then you can take steps to control it if it is too high. High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is quick and painless.

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats.

The chart below shows normal, at-risk, and high blood pressure levels. A blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg is normal. A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more is too high. People with levels in between 120/80 and 140/90 have a condition called prehypertension, which means they are at high risk for high blood pressure.

BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS Normal

systolic: less than 120 mmHg diastolic: less than 80mmHg

At risk (prehypertension) systolic: 120–139 mmHg diastolic: 80–89 mmHg High systolic: 140 mmHg or higher

diastolic: 90 mmHg or higher

Team-based care that includes you, your doctor, and other healthcare providers can help reduce and control blood pressure.

If you already have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medications and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes are just as important as medications. Follow your doctor's instructions and stay on your medications. Do not stop taking your medications before talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All drugs may have side effects, so talk to your doctor regularly. As your blood pressure improves, your doctor will check it often.

MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Lifestyle changes can help you control your blood pressure: • Diet. Eat a healthy diet that is: • Low in sodium, total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

• High in fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Be active. Try taking a brisk 10-minute walk 3 times a day 5 days a week.

• Do not smoke. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible.

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Modernize Your Space with Mixed Metals Provided by Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom

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HILE METAL IS OFTEN considered a functional part of the home, it’s also a significant factor in interior aesthetic. This is especially true in the South, where homes have swung between trends of chrome, brushed nickel and oiled bronze for years. However, these features don’t have to exist separately. By experimenting with metal combinations, a new design trend was born — and is likely here to stay.

ACCENTS IN ACTION Perhaps the most versatile spaces for mixed metal use are the kitchen and bath. Here, you can include appliances like refrigerators, ranges and faucet fixtures featuring multimetal materials within their design.

Stainless steel is popular in contemporarystyle homes for its clean, sleek appearance. For a rustic farmhouse feel, wrought iron’s dark color is perfect for either light or dark cabinets.

Brushed or satin nickel is versatile, durable,

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attractive and less shiny than stainless steel, making it a popular modern option. For highend looks with low-maintenance appeal, brass offers a unique gold color that doesn’t tarnish easily. Copper’s distinctive reddish-gold color stands out more than brass, and pairs well with deep wall colors.

Give a pop of diversity to your space, while also widening your range for compatible accents, with striking dual-tone centerpieces like those from the KitchenAid® Black Stainless Steel line. For versatility, Monroe Interior Designer Jan Strickland suggests working with black for an eye-catching yet adaptable look.

Black metal acts as a neutral and can be mixed in to work with almost any style.

Cabinet knobs, handles and hinges also dramatically impact kitchen and bath spaces.

From unique shapes to elegant finishes, each selection provides a touch of personality and creativity.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

While mixed metals offer a new degree of freedom to your design, choosing too many styles or textures can make spaces feel busy.

Canter suggests sticking with two or three choices, rather than losing direction with too many selections. When mixing metals, it’s important to choose a dominant metal then add one or two as accents. You can also bring in your metals with décor for continuity.

Choose metals, finishes and fixtures that suit your taste, style and, most importantly, make you want to spend time in your space.

COUNT ON COBURN’S

Ready for an upgrade? Visit a Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom for appliance options, finishing touches and guidance.

Our consultants are committed to customer satisfaction and will ensure your purchase delivers the value and performance you expect.

Introducing miraDry No More FOMO from B.O.

BY TIMOTHY J. MICKEL, MD, CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

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HEN YOU WERE IN HIGH school, were you afraid to raise your hand in class because of the giant sweat ring? Were you embarrassed on dates because nervousness and anxiety gave you B.O. that no deodorant could hide? Do you throw away shirts (or blouses) because of the armpit stains?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not alone. Hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating – affects about 5% of the population, although another 20 - 30% sweat enough to cause any of the problems mentioned above. But sweat that soaks through clothes and complaints about persistent odor are only part of the problem. Excessive sweating can disrupt normal daily activities, cause social anxiety, withdrawal and embarrassment and have a significant impact on overall quality of life. Over the course of a lifetime you could

spend a fortune on high priced deodorants and antiperspirants, or armpit Botox – not to mention the clothes you replace. Or, you could just be Bohemian and embrace it. But now you don’t have to do any of these, because you can eliminate the cause – with miraDry.

miraDry is a revolutionary new treatment that uses thermal energy to heat the armpit, where bothersome sweat and odor glands reside, and safely eliminate them. miraDry is a non-invasive treatment that takes about an hour; is done under local anesthesia; has little or no downtime; and results in an 80-85% reduction in perspiration and odor in just one treatment. As a side benefit, there is also a 4050% reduction in armpit hair – regardless of the color.

While your body does need sweat glands to cool itself, you have 2 – 4 million of them so eliminating the troublemaking 2% that reside

in your armpit won’t affect your ability to stay cool. miraDry has a strong safety record with over 100,000 treatments performed worldwide with predictably good results

Most patients can return to their normal activities immediately after treatment, although there may be some localized soreness, swelling or numbness that can last a week or two. The results are immediate and lasting – the sweat and odor glands eliminated by miraDry are gone for good. A single treatment is sufficient for the majority of patients, although an occasional heavy sweater may need a second treatment in four to six months.

So say goodbye to armpit stains and odor.

Call Mickel Plastic Surgery at 388-2050 today and set up a free consultation to see if miraDry is right for you.

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Chicken Salad Chick Give Your Valentine a Gift They’ll Love!

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HICKEN SALAD CHICK, THE nation’s only southern inspired, fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, opened its doors in Monroe, Louisiana on April 25th and has not slowed down since. Located at 1191 Lamy Lane, this location is owned and operated by Monroe natives Ashley Keever, Krista Rhymes and Matthew Miller.

The Chicken Salad Chick concept, born in Auburn, AL was established in 2008 in the kitchen of founder, Stacy Brown. When Stacy discovered that the local county health department would not allow her to continue making and selling her delicious recipes out of her home kitchen, she overcame that obstacle by launching her first restaurant with the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. Together, they opened a small takeout restaurant, which quickly grew; the company now has 90 restaurants across the Southeast.

Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored,

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southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick’s robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest.

The Monroe Chick is open from 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. for dine-in and carryout orders.

Chicken Salad Chick also features a catering menu with assorted mini-croissant platters, fruit trays, executive-style boxed lunches, and desert platters. From Bridal showers, to teacher lunches, tailgate parties to holiday soirees, Chicken salad Chick can tailor to your order to fit any occasion.

For the month of Fenruary, Chicken Salad Chick will be offering a half sandwich and a cup of soup for $6.99. Pair your favorite half chicken salad, pimento cheese and egg salad sandwich with the soup of the day for creative flavor combinations. Want to warm

up on a these chilly nights? Don’t forget about the loaded potato soup served everyday, which features a rich, mouth watering broth and all your favorite bake potato toppings.

Also, try crowd pleasers served on certain days like the soul warming Broccoli CheeseMonday, Tomato Bisque-Tuesday, Chicken Tortilla- Wednesday, Chicken Artichoke Florentine-Thursday, Tomato Bisque-Friday, and Chicken Artichoke Florentine-Saturday.

Also in February, we will be bringing out the heart cookies, which will be available for an upgrade with your meal, by itself or you can buy them by the dozen.

From intimate gatherings to large corporate events, let the Chick cater your next event. For more information on menu items and store hours, please “like” the Monroe Chicken Salad Chick facebook page at www. facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickMonroe or visit the website at www.ChickenSaladChick. com/Monroe.

Love Yourself: A Girlfriends Brunch Presented by Holistic Vibes

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MPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWER women. A Girlfriends Brunch is a stellar event which aims to support, encourage and empower women of all ages.

Women sharing their successes and failures, their accomplishments and challenges. The Brunch will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in West Monroe on February 23, from 10:00 am – 12:00 p.m., sponsored by Dr. Beatrice Tatem at Wellness Initiatives. The Brunch is a unique occasion to uplift and inspire women in the community.

The event will feature amazing speakers, local women expressing their own perspectives and truths. Each speaker will share their own stories, their own personal experiences and share their own strengths of being influential, remarkable women. Each with a different perspective, hear how these women create power over their own lives, influence society in their own unique ways,

and graciously support their communities.

Hear how these women practice well-being and how each have discovered their own happiness through marriage, friendship, family, love and life.

Behind every women is a tribe of successful women who have her back.

The Girlfriends Brunch is presented

by Holistic Vibes, an organization that encourages, inspires and motivates people to live a holistic, healthy lifestyle. As a wellness practitioner, Katrina Branson, promotes health and wellness for the mind, body and spirit. The motivational brand, Holistic Vibes, comes from her personal weight loss journey of losing 70 pounds.

Discipline and commitment, dedication and hard work changed her life. She used the energy and an environment of positive

affirmations and positive vibes to reach her goals.

Limited vendor space is available.

If you are interested in reserving vendor space at the Girlfriends Brunch or have any questions, contact Katrina L. Branson, Owner and Founder of Holistic Vibes. You can email her at katrinabranson@gmail.com or call/text her at 318-791-5074.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite: bit.ly/GirlfriendsBrunch When women support one another, incredible things happen.

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2019 Audubon Pilgrimage 48th Annual Event Set for March 15-17

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HE FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL AUDUBON PILGRIMAGE, March 15- 17, 2019, celebrates a southern spring in St. Francisville, the glorious garden spot of Louisiana’s English Plantation Country. For nearly half a century the sponsoring West Feliciana Historical Society has thrown open the doors of significant historic structures to commemorate artist-naturalist John James Audubon’s stay as he painted a number of his famous bird studies and tutored the daughter of Oakley Plantation’s Pirrie family, beautiful young Eliza.

Featured this year are three historic plantation homes in the countryside and two townhouses, plus lots of extras.

Sunnyside, built in 1838 in Pointe Coupee Parish, was disassembled, trucked across the Mississippi River bridge in 1997, then meticulously reassembled on the Tunica Trace, retaining its original footprint. It is now home to historian David Floyd and wife Marla.

Laurel Hill Plantation, purchased in the 1830s by Judge Edward McGehee, founder of the early standard-gauge West Feliciana Railroad, has been splendidly restored. It is now the property of Jimmy and Mary Farrar Hatchette.

Puente Largo, built in the 1850s in Tangipahoa Parish, was moved to West Feliciana in 1997. Once a field hospital during the Civil War, Puente Largo has been beautifully furnished and landscaped by owners, Mike and Krista Dumas.

Brasseaux House, quintessentially charming cottage complete with Victorian gallery trim, picket fence and climbing roses, was built in 1895. It is now home to a vibrant young family, the Magruder Hazlips.

The Coffin House, tiny stepped-roof structure built around 1903 right on St. Francisville’s main thoroughfare, is now a delightfully cozy pied-a-terre for Don and Harriet Ayres.

In addition to the featured homes, visitors are also welcomed to Afton Villa Gardens, Audubon (Oakley) and Rosedown State Historic Sites, three 19th-century churches in town and beautiful St. John’s and St. Mary’s in the country, plus the Rural Homestead with lively demonstrations of the rustic skills of daily pioneer life.

Audubon Market Hall will host an exhibit of the works of the late Charles Reinike (1906-1983), one of New Orleans’ most respected landscape artists.

The Historic District around Royal Street is filled during the day with the happy sounds of costumed children singing and dancing the Maypole; in the evening as candles flicker and fireflies flit among the ancient moss-draped live oaks. There is no place more inviting for a leisurely stroll. Friday evening features old-time hymn singing at the United Methodist Church; Graveyard Tours at Grace Episcopal cemetery; a wine and cheese reception; and young ladies modeling the pilgrimage’s exquisitely detailed 1820s evening costumes. Light Up The Night, the Saturday evening soiree, features live music, dancing, dinner and drinks. The weekend is filled with exciting events for the entire family.

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Bayou Dental Group

Improve Your Appearance, Improve Your Life

BY DAVID D. FINLEY, DDS, FAACD, FAGD

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NY GOOD DENTIST IS INTERESTED IN SAVING ALL of your natural teeth. But natural teeth aren’t always attractive teeth. They can be crooked individually, out of alignment with each other, and discolored. That’s where I, as a cosmetic dentist, can help you get the smile of your dreams.

The latest technologies in cosmetic dentistry mean that you really can enjoy your life more fully and have the smile of your dreams. If your teeth are less-than-ideal and causing you pain, discomfort, or embarrassment, then now is the time to find a cosmetic dentist to help you solve your problems. We have seen patient after patient return to a full and happy life no longer selfconscious about their smile; no longer hiding their mouth at any opportunity; and no longer letting their teeth hold them back from the life they want to lead! And now, you can join them!

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

Here is what you will receive when you see a cosmetic dentist: ● Y our Dream Smile – Imagine waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror, and seeing the most beautiful smile looking right back at you! ● I mproved Self-Confidence – Flashing your gorgeous smile will make you feel incredible and more confident. ● R educed Risk of Future Problems – With a small correction to your teeth now, you could save having to deal with far more serious problems in the future.

This is the time to sort out any issues that you might have, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant they may be. I take a patient’s smile very seriously and consider myself an intricate planner. I also involve the patient in the process every step of the way. On any given smile creation case, we’ll take photographs and then create a wax model to show exactly what your smile will look like after treatment.

As an added bonus, you should know that I’ve been creating smiles for more than 30 years and have taken hundreds of hours in continuing education. I take pride in my work in the office and with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, where I am the 61st accredited Fellow. My office has won the annual smile competition at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry several years in a row with our restorative and cosmetic dental solutions.

TRUST A DENTIST WITH YOUR TEETH WHITENING

Many people are tempted to try do-it-yourself teeth whitening.

Professional teeth whitening will work faster and protect sensitive gums and tooth-root surfaces better than over-the-counter whitening products. Having an oral exam before you begin any whitening process is an important first step, as we want to make sure your tooth discoloration is not the result of a dental condition in need of treatment. We offer ZOOM! whitening and Professional Tray Whitening in our office.

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roma

KINDALL AND TONY MAKOLLI'S LOVE STORY PLAYS OUT EVERY DAY IN THEIR FAMILY-CENTERED RESTAURANT, ROMA ITALIAN BISTRO.ON THE QUAINT, HISTORICAL STREETS OF ANTIQUE ALLEY IN WEST MONROE, THIS ITALIAN EATERY HAS DELICIOUS FARE THAT WILL LEAVE YOU SAYING, "THAT'S AMORE!" AR TIC LE BY VAN E LIS R IV E R A AN D PH OTO G R APH S BY AN D R E W B AI LE Y

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he quintassential Lady and the Tramp moment seems to be created from the stuff of fairy tales—a moonlit chef’s table, an Italian serenade, and a serendipitous bite-and-slurp into the same spaghetti thread. It’s bella notte: the moment when you are side by side with your loved one, enchanted, weaved in a spell of love. This juncture of good food and romance doesn’t just belong to cinema, though. On the quaint, historical street of Antique Alley in West Monroe, an Italian eatery will hit your eye like a big pizza pie and make the world seem to shine like you’ve had too much wine, because the owners of Roma Italian Bistro believe that’s amore!

Kindal Makollli’s story at Roma began in the form of a blind date, which she wasn’t particularly enthused to attend. On February 2016, she was set her up with now husband, Tony Makolli (owner). She only agreed to attend because it turned into a group outing instead of the awkward first date. Eight months later, he proposed to her at the restaurant under the guise of a family vacation. He asked her to meet at Roma with her daughter, Kinley Batby. She arrived to bouquets of flowers on the back patio, tables dressed, and her mother in attendance. “He proposed to me, and then he turned around and asked [Kinley] if she would be his ‘forever girlfriend’ and gave her a ring too,” fondly recalls Kindal. Good things often show in threes, and such was the case for Kindal when she married at the restaurant in June, 2017. With the spacious dining hall cleared, the rough-hewn brick fireplace served as the couple’s altar. “We do everything here,” says Kindal, referring to their relationship developing around her husband’s work hours. Work and play intertwine as the ebb and flow for this couple, as the day after their wedding they opened Tony’s Pizza in Monroe.

The extensive Makolli family roots hail from Sicily, but originally sprouted from Albania, a country in Southeast Europe with cuisine influenced by Italian, Turkish, and Greek cooking. World traveling and living in places like Holland, Germany, and New York resulted in varied culinary influences that periodically sneak their way into the menu. The first Roma opened in Duncanville, Texas, and ten years later, the Makolli family, between Texas and Louisiana, have amassed ten locations total. Vicksburg may be next: “We’ll see how this year goes,” says Tony. His brother, Ylli Makolli, was the first Makolli in our area. He opened the West Monroe location on September 22, 2015, while also working as a CenturyLink engineer between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. “You gotta enjoy the chance and opportunity that you have,” claims Tony, emphasizing the importance of making the journey greater than the destination. He attributes the restaurant’s success from the greater commitment to the restaurant than to themselves: “The business is going to take care of you, the way you take care of the business.”

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emnants of recipes from a savvy line of Makolli female cooks inspired the Roma menu, constructed by Ylli. It’s a triumph of saucetopped pasta and sautéed meat dishes. Their pink sauce, a Roma specialty, headlines the Stuffed Mushroom appetizer—mushrooms stuffed with crab meat, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese, topped with pink sauce and adorned with picturesquely plated lumps of crab meat. “They never say no to the pink sauce. Pink sauce nobody makes in this town. It doesn’t matter how Italian they are as long as they are not part of my family, they can’t do it. It’s legit,” says Tony. The House Speciality Pasta dishes are designated based on the noodle used, each aptly named for their shape: spaghetti (little twine), rigatoni (large lined ones), manicotti (sleeves), cannelloni (large reeds), and tortellini (small little pies.) You can’t go wrong ordering one of the traditional plates, like the beef lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs, but if you want a bit of oomph on the classics, BayouLife recommends adding ricotta cheese! Among the cheese-stuffed dishes to choose from, like the Cheese Ravioli or the Tortellini alla Panna, you may want to go veggie. The Eggplant Rollatini is stuffed

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with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, a cheese and veggie lover’s daydream.

The Italian dish names in the chicken, veal, and seafood entrees generally refer to the stand-out ingredient or the type of preparation. For instance, the Chicken Marsala salutes the Sicilian sweet wine produced in the surrounding city of Marsala by using it as a sauté sauce. Any piccata dish means the preparation of the meat or fish is sliced, sautéed, and served in a lemon juice and butter sauce. Artichoke hearts are the pulse of the Chicken Carciofi: sautéed artichoke hearts and mushrooms in a sherry pink sauce. Chicken Cacciatore, an involved plate of mushrooms, onions, mixed peppers, capers, and black olives in a spicy marinara sauce, is said to derive its name from the hunters’ wives who traditionally cooked this dish on the eve of a hunt. Italian words add ‘un tocco in più’ (an added touch) to any dish they dazzle, but don’t let unfamiliarity retract you from familiar tags like the Grilled Chicken. Here, a colorful assortment of sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, mixed bell peppers, and red onion form a bed for a juicy grilled chicken breast, as well as the Chef’s Special, which is chicken, shrimp, and scallops in a pink sauce.

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Pane (bread) is not a requirement but a gentle suggestion for pleasuring your taste buds. It’s presented before every meal in the form of giant breadsticks in a basket. Though difficult, you can skip all the pasta dishes, and turn to the doughier side of the menu. Choose from three calzone options (sausage, pepperoni, or spinach) or the stromboli, a close relative to the calzone that is more sandwich than pizza. Roma’s stromboli is stuffed with pepperoni, canadian bacon, sausage, ground beef, and mozzarella. Rolling, spinning, and throwing dough professionally, the Makolli brothers boast an impressive selection of New York style pizzas. Coming in small, medium, large, or giant, you can choose from the Chicken Alfredo, Florentine, Veggie, Meat Lovers, Hawaiian, Mexican, BBQ, and Margarita. “They wanted to perfect the art of their ambitions,” says Kindal about their artfully formed pizza pies. At one point, to practice while not wasting so much dough, they bought fake dough from Amazon. Dough pressing machines are practical, but sometimes the experience—disks of dough flying into the air—bows to the relevance of craft, though it may look like a circus trick.

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aturally, repeat customers have their favorite dishes when they come in, even when they come in ten times a month. Tony wants to encourage exploration of the menu, and customers always find a new food crush when they find their way outside of their favorite. “You gotta’ take time to cook something,” says Tony. He always tells his staff, “If you cook something, make sure you cook it like you’re cooking for yourself.” It makes a difference when a kitchen strives to make meals to order. You won’t find a microwave in the kitchen or sauces sitting in pots. Even the desserts are made in-house.

Start with the Sicilian pastry that has become an American favorite, the cannolis: shells of fried pastry dough, filled with sweet, creamy filling. Another Italian classic is the coffee-soaked tiramisu, made from ladyfingers dipped in coffee and layered with a sweet whipped mixture, and flavored with cocoa. A zesty option is the limoncello cake, a bright and refreshing flavor of fluffy sponge, saturated with a limoncello syrup (lemon-flavored Italian liqueur), and of course, they craft flavors of one of America’s favorite delectable desserts, cheesecake, in plain, strawberry, chocolate or turtle.

“In order to own your own business you’ve got to be able to know, understand, and deliver on every aspect of that business,” says Tony. Kindal never worked in the restaurant business until she joined the Makolli family. She was in project management at Chase for ten years, but in lieu of her husband’s business mantra, she learned the ins-and-outs of serving and managing. Meanwhile, Tony walks the line, occasionally assisting as cook. Kindal vouches for her husband’s cooking, praising his ability to design dishes, like their off-the-menu sautéed penne noodles (for an added crisp), topped with red pepper, feta cheese, and shrimp or chicken. He adds some Tony pizzazz!

Roma’s wood floors, worn industrial wood beams, and bricklined walls invite customers to intimately connect with what they’ve deemed, “Nothing fancy, just great Italian food.” Going three years without a vacation or official day off seems drastic, but the Makollis of West Monroe have found themselves in this town. They have felt accepted, loved, and supported. “God bless them for everything they have done for us,” beams Tony.

This month visit Roma Italian Bistro and share a pasta thread with someone you love.

Roma Italian Bistro is located in 400 Trenton Street, West Monroe. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday between 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Follow them on Facebook for information on lunch specials, served between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and stay tuned for their Valentine’s night soirée. Call them at 318-4105050 and make your date-night or family lunch reservation.

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Fashion Fusion 2019 North is a Direction, the South is a Lifestyle

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ARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR AN EVENING OF fashion and fun as we celebrate everything southern. In the South there is no such thing as too much! This applies to hair, jewelry, laughter, heel height, emotion, faith, persistence, and revelation - not to mention fried chicken, barbecue, and sweet tea! Our area Boutiques will show you the seasons hottest trends to make sure for any event you are high fashion in a sassy, sophisticated southern way!

Fashion Fusion 2019 will mark the ninth year for this outstanding showcase of art, dance, and design. Featuring local talent and fashion in a high energy runway presentation, the event is truly a musical extravaganza you don’t want to miss! This year’s “Southern Lifestyle” theme promises to be as entertaining for the gentlemen as well as the ladies. Our production will feature exciting dance numbers by the Debbie Bourg Dancers and the amazing vocal talent of special guest Miss Louisiana, Holli’ Conway. As we say in the South, “Do it big or go home... and do it in the right pair of shoes!”

We are so excited to announce that proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Cancer Foundation League of Northeast Louisiana. To partner with such an important organization in our community is truly an honor. Nearly everyone has been touched by this horrific disease. Many of us, either first hand or through a relative or friend, knows the anguish that a diagnosis of cancer can cause.

But perhaps most people are not aware of the financial ramifications of such a diagnosis. CFL provides financial assistance to Northeast Louisiana cancer patients and supports the programs and services of the Louisiana Cancer Foundation. The League members are all volunteers, giving their precious gift of time and love to raise financial assistance for cancer patients. CFL pays for medications, medical supplies, transportation to and from treatments, lodging during treatments, nutritional supplements, and even help with household bills. Every penny raised goes to helping NELA cancer patients and supporting programs of the CFL.

By supporting this event through Sponsorship and/or attendance, you will be making a tremendous impact on the much needed assistance to the people of our community who suffer from this horrible disease. Cancer shows no boundaries on age, race or gender.

For Sponsorship or Ticket Information; contact, The Cancer Foundation League at (318)966-1953 or DBK Dance and Performing Arts (318) 325- 0120.

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Wine Over Water

Benefitting the Warhawk Endowed Scholarship

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OSTED BY THE ULM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND THE Ouachita Parish Alumni Chapter, Wine Over Water is your opportunity to support scholarship funds by attending an exclusive party on the beautiful ULM campus. Proceeds from the night benefit the Spirit of the Warhawk Endowed Scholarship, which is instrumental in attracting our local scholars to ULM. Thursday, April 25th will be an unforgettable night. The celebration will be held on the Northeast Drive Bridge, and will overlook beautiful Bayou DeSiard. With food from over 30 local restaurants, wine provided by Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, and beer provided by Marsala Beverage, your taste buds will be delighted. You will receive a commemorative wine glass, sunset boat rides on the bayou with B&L Marine and entertainment featuring Flashback 5. You do not want to miss this evening of fun, and tickets are only $60. The evening’s attire is dressy casual – no denim or shorts, please.

The Tonore’s Cork Pull is back by popular demand. With over 50 bottles of wine up for grabs, you can purchase a cork for $25 and take home a mystery bottle of wine to enjoy. No bottles are valued at less than $25, but many are worth more. Not only do you have the chance to win spectacular wine, you are also supporting ULM. In addition, a Patron Party will be held prior to Wine Over Water. This event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and last until 7:30 p.m. in the ULM Library, on the seventh floor. This will give you the best view of campus, and allow you to begin enjoying the celebration prior to the bridge opening! Patron Party tickets include complimentary hors d’oeuvres, event wine glasses, and attendance to the Wine Over Water Bridge Party. These exclusive tickets are $125 each and lively entertainment will be provided by Rod Allen Payne and Trevor Davis.

The Spirit of the Warhawk Endowed Scholarship supports local students pursuing their undergraduate degree at ULM. You ticket purchase ensures students of Northeast Louisiana can continue to strive for academic excellence and ease the financial burden.

Numerous scholarships have been awarded since the event’s inception and our goal is to increase support for our students through Wine Over Water each year. The Ouachita Parish Alumni Chapter hosts events throughout the year to connect alumni and friends.

Tickets are available online at ulm.edu/wine, by calling 318-3425420, or at the Laird Weems Center now located at 4400 Bon Aire Drive. Office hours are Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Don’t wait; get your ticket today and support the Spirit of the Warhawk Endowed Scholarship!

To learn more about the ULM Alumni Association, please visit ulm.edu/alumni.

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IT’S NOT THE DESTINATION, BUT THE JOURNEY Planning a Memorable Spring Break Trip article by Cindy G. Foust

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reetings BayouLife nation, on what is now the second month of 2019... and before you know it, we will be dragging the Christmas boxes back out of the attic and Black Friday shopping all over again.

But alas, it’s still just February so I think I’ll just try to soak up some of this winter precipitation we’ve been having and continue drinking my hot chocolate.

Wait, who am I kidding? The only precipitation we’ve had is...well, we haven’t had any so there’s that.

How about we back up and start over, readers while I try to decide what to write my column about this month. I was thinking I’d write my very first “how-to” column and give a tutorial on “how-to” organize your pet supplies. After all, February 20th is Love Your Pet Day, and I thought that would make for a fascinating read. But, the only pet supplies we have at our house are puppy pads and dog food, so I’m trying to figure out how in the cat hair I’m supposed to organize those. But hey, if you are my best friend, Linda Lou, you might have to think about adding an “annex” to your garage to house all your dog toys. It’s true readers, her dogs got Christmas presents before her kids did, so there’s that, too.

So, with no help in the pet supply organizing department, I thought about just giving an update on my very own pet, Annie Lou Foust. After all, she is the smartest dog in all of the world and probably should be at Harvard for dogs, but doesn’t everyone think that about their pets, so yeah, a pet update on

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my Malti-poo is a no-go, as well.

Then I got to thinking about how next month is spring break and wondering where I might take my kids on a little mini-vacation (sadly, this is just how my brain swings from one random idea to the next). We’ve never gotten to have a spring break vacay that didn’t

revolve around sports, so I got to thinking about where I might like to surprise my kids and go. Any ideas? I’m not the one to ask, really, because I have kind of bad luck on vacations.

Bad luck might very well be an understatement. One time, I went on a church trip to these cabins in the woods in Arkansas, like out in the middle of nowhere, where Jason and Michael Myers live, and I accidentally dove in the shallow end of the pool and

scraped all my hair off, like to the middle of my head. It was rather unfortunate looking, to say the least.

Then another time, I signed up for a mission trip to Big Piney, Wyoming to teach Vacation Bible School. It seemed like a good idea at the time, all we had to do was take classes and train for six months before we left...well, we actually departed the church in a big motorhome, like the kind you drive, pulling a travel trailer.

Before we got to Bossier, the travel trailer blew a tire or broke an axle or had some malfunction that couldn’t be fixed so we had to leave it on the side of the road. While we were gone to get help, it got vandalized.

Honestly, that should have been our “sign” to TURN AROUND AND GO HOME but no, we continued on our way and the minute we pulled in the parking lot of the church we were teaching VBS at, some lady, whose identity I will try and protect, was chasing these two little boys around in the front yard of the church with a fly swatter. And let me tell you, when she caught them, she tore their tail up DELUXE. Not sure what they did to get their tails torn up like that, but I’m willing to bet they didn’t do it again.

GET IN YOUR MOTORHOME AND GO HOME should have been our next idea, but no, we were trained VBS professionals so we were ready and waiting the next morning for our little children to teach the gospel to. Lo and behold, only three kids showed up... and two of them were the preacher’s kids. Might have been the same two running for their

lives the day before, if memory serves me best. So technically, only one kid showed up.

One. CALL YOUR PARENTS FOR A PLANE TICKET.

That same night we went to the movies, Conan the Barbarian, and do any of you remember that movie? The opening scene is a little “unsuitable” for younger viewers (we were in high school really, but on a church trip nonetheless) and right about the time the inappropriate scene started, (while my youth pastor was hyperventilating and trying to get us ushered out of the theater due to the nature of the movie), a wind storm, like the kind that spins sand through the air and causes you to have zero visibility, and quite possibly blew Dorothy and Toto right out of Kansas, blew through Big Piney and knocked the power lines down (all two of them, since the population was like 578) and we had to sit in the theater in the pitch black and finally be ushered to our motorhome by this elderly gentleman with a flashlight the size of a Buick.

Man, did we ever think the Lord was coming back, right as we sat in the movie theater watching a racy movie on a church trip. FUN TIMES. So, I’m probably not the go-to person for trip advice, although I do love to travel.

And I have passed that gene down to both my children, because they like to travel as well,

which brings me back to my original column topic, which is, where to go for spring break?

You know readers, it doesn’t have to be Disney World to be a memorable family vacation (you could rent a motorhome and take your family to Big Piney, Wyoming, population now 551, a drop I am sure that was caused by the great wind storm of 1982.)

It could just be renting a cabin at Caney Lake or even a small cabin in the woods of Arkansas. The beach is also a good idea this time of year, if you like icicles hanging from your nose and rain...lots of rain this time of year.

The point is this readers, traveling as a family, no matter what your budget or your idea of fun is, is some of the best ways to make memories with your children. I can tell you this, my parents weren’t on the Big Piney trip with me (my youth pastor and his wife were and they are still like my parents), but it was memorable to say the least.

Did I forget to tell you about the pit bull that got after me and chased me over a fence when I was trying to be a missionary and tape VBS invitation cards to people’s front doors? I still walk funny to this day, but it was memorable.

Traveling is yet another way to pull your little family in tighter and especially when your kids or grandkids, are small, even if

you just head over to the Great Wolf Lodge for a long weekend. I did a waterpark one time, too, and after I shot out of one of those big tubes going 100 miles an hour and hit the water, my swimsuit bottoms shot off my body like a slingshot and I had to wait on someone to bring me a towel. I’ve got witnesses, whose names I will also protect, to back me up on this one.Thank God they didn’t have camera phones then or I might not be able to run for public office. I guess the bottoms got hung in a drain, but dear Lord, I had a way of making church trips memorable.

So what says you, readers? What cool trips are you planning for spring break or even a little further down the road, for summer vacation? Remember, it’s not the destination, but the journey you took to get there (this sounds like something Robert Frost would have written, but I get to take full credit).

Take the time and plan a little get-away, even make it a surprise for your kids, and get busy making memories that your children will be writing about in their columns one day. Spending time together is what you should strive for and I encourage you to carve out a week and head cross country to Wally World with your crew. Just don’t forget to stop and see the world’s largest ball of yarn, while you are at it.

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Fall in Love with Material Things All Over Again Local Shop Celebrates 10 Years!

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S WE GO INTO OUR 10TH YEAR, we have many things planned to celebrate this milestone. We have reimagined the store to make way for all of the fresh, new products that are coming in over the next few months. This is just a short list of the wonderful things we are looking forward to.

Paper and Tea: An outstanding German company that sources whole leaf, hand processed, single garden teas. We will have 8 varieties to choose from. Watch for a tea tasting coming soon.

Maileg: This is a unique Danish designed brand of children’s toys. Their philosophy is a well-made, adorable toy that will last. And, having fewer, better made toys open children’s minds to new stories and innovative ways to play which will serve them well through life.

DJecco: This Company was started in 1954 in France by a woman wanting more artful and educational toys. It was handed

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over to her son in 1989 and he has continued his mother’s mantra of well made toys that are stimulating while maintaining their artistic roots.

Via Venezia Textiles: An exciting addition to the shop that includes an exclusive line of pillows, spreads and throws made of exquisite quality silk velvets and sateen linens. The fabrics are hand-dyed and printed with motifs and patterns, using individually hand-illustrated and carved wooden printing blocks. The designs are inspired by ancient Italian works of art, particularly Venice and it’s far Eastern influence. Look for a trunk show coming in the Spring!

Fer a Cheval: We’ve expanded our home keeping line to include a fabulous cleaning product. Fer a Cheval is a soap factory in Marseille that’s been in operation for 160 years. They follow a recipe certified

by Colbert’s Edict of 1688. This recipe is free of preservatives, colorants, fragrances, or

added animal fat. Our offering will include all purpose cleaner, bath cleaner, laundry liquid, and dish liquid.

Nora Fleming: Another new product coming to the shoppe is Nora Fleming – One gift for Every occasion. This brother/sister owned company based in Illinois makes the perfect gift for brides, housewarmings or any occasion that a gift is needed. The line includes simple, elegant ivory stoneware serving and home décor pieces. The key to this product being a stand out is that it has seasonally interchangeable “minis” that make one serving piece relevant for all occasions.

There are so many other exciting new lines coming in to add to our existing line up!

Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with everything.

Kindest regards,

Joyce

A Healthy Outcome

Local Dietician Marci Parker Answers Your Weight Loss Questions

BY MARCI PARKER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN, LICENSED NUTRITIONIST, AND BARIATRIC COORDINATOR FOR LOUISIANA CENTER FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

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ELOW ARE SOME OF THE questions I am frequently asked when people learn I am a dietitian.

“What do you think about this (insert trendy diet here) plan?” People often inquire about Atkins, Keto, Whole 30, and more.

Some of these diet plans may contain healthy components, but I always respond with this question: “Do you think you can follow this plan for the rest of your life?” Most of the time, this answer is “no.” Some of the most popular diets right now are “elimination” diets. These diets remove entire food groups such as fruit, carbohydrates and milk from your diet. These plans may deplete your body of essential vitamins and minerals.

I am often asked, “Are carbohydrates bad?” Healthy carbohydrates, such as whole grains, decrease our risk of heart disease.

There are no “good” or “bad” foods. We should eat most foods in moderation. Be wary of any diet that touts unrealistic weight loss.

Most healthy plans advocate a 1-2 pound per

week weight loss. Anything more than that is not conducive to long-term success and sustainability.

I am also asked, “Do weight loss surgery patients eventually regain their weight?”

Studies have shown that 50 percent of patients may experience a small weight regain (5-10 percent) within the first two years of surgery. The amount of weight loss maintained is usually higher than what they would have maintained with diet and exercise alone. Many patients no longer have diabetes or high blood pressure. People also ask if weight loss surgery is the “easy way out.”

This surgery is merely a tool; the bariatric patient still needs to implement behavioral changes such as decreased caloric intake and increased exercise.

I am often asked, “What do you think about leaving the country for weight loss surgery?” I always warn people against this practice, otherwise known as medical tourism. Most people believe the surgery

cost is lower, but when considering all of the factors, this is not true. The initial surgery cost is less due to the lower cost of labor and malpractice insurance. However, in exchange for this lower price, you may receive lower quality surgery by a surgeon who is less qualified. The risk of flying after surgery can put you at a higher risk for blood clots.

Can the surgeon in Mexico manage your complications if they arise? Complications are rare, but can significantly add to the cost. Bariatric surgery is a lifestyle change that requires consistent follow-up with your surgical team.

Working with a dietitian will help you learn what to include in your diet for a healthy outcome. Also, I can help with meal planning, grocery lists, and even how to eat healthier in restaurants.

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Bridal Extravaganza New Bridal Event Set for February 24th

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HE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 2019 ARE ALL ABOUT fulfilling New Year’s resolutions, getting ready for the year ahead... and wedding planning. That’s right! If yours is among those one in three engagements occurring between Thanksgiving and the New Year, now is a smart time to kick off your plan. Since it can take months to nail down the perfect wedding venue, dress or suit, band or DJ, and any number of other items on your to-do list, this Bridal Extravaganza will help you start planning your perfect wedding all in one place.

Ah, yes, the perfect wedding. Who doesn’t envision this? An absolutely flawless night spent with loved ones and family members to celebrate the union of two people. A night where memories will be made and people will forever remember and talk about all the fun that was had! This is all good and fun to think about, but what makes the perfect wedding?

The second you get engaged, the questions start: “When and where is the wedding?” “Am I invited?” “Have you shopped for a dress?” Take a deep breath, and know that you can—and should— take some time to just enjoy being engaged. But what better time to start planning than now, at the Bridal Extravaganza.

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This event connects brides and bridal parties with all the resources they need to make their dream wedding a reality. The party atmosphere will include informal modeling, door prizes, mimosas and more! Some of the vendors include; The Bridal Shop, King of Hearts, Limousines Unlimited, Calvert Crossing Golf Club, Dale Wallace Photography, Kim Wilhite Photography, and Connie’s Boutique just to name a few. For an upcoming bride to be, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

The Bridal Extravaganza isn’t just for the bride and the bridal party, this event will be a fun day suited for everyone. This fun-filled event will have opportunities to register for awesome door prizes, which will also include a Grand Prize worth over $1000!

Set your calendar for Sunday, February 24,2019 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the West Monroe Convention Center, 901 Ridge Ave. in West Monroe Louisiana. Admission to this event will be $10. Children under the age of ten get in free. For more information about this Bridal Extravaganza don’t hesitate to call us at 318.914.2026. Hope to see you there!

Sign Up for a NELA Dental Membership Plan

2019 Plans Are Now Available NO INSURANCE? NO PROBLEM! Our NELA Dental membership plan will make your oral health a priority at an affordable price. Your teeth and gums are directly linked to great overall health. We want our patients to be healthy, laugh, smile, and have the ability to eat! We also want to help patients make dental visits a priority.

At NELA Dental, we understand unplanned dental expenses are often a surprise. That is why our plan offers discounts when you need them, letting you focus on other things important to you and your family. We offer two plans to fit your needs.

Our “Adult Plan” is designed for patients ages 12 years or older. The membership includes comprehensive exams, emergency exams, full-mouth complete series, regular cleanings, annual exams, oral cancer screens, bitewing x-rays, 20% off minor and major treatment, 20% off orthodontics, and $99

teeth whitening. The cost is $299 per year.

Our “Child Plan” is designed for patients ages zero to eleven. This membership option includes comprehensive exams, emergency exams, full-mouth complete series, regular cleanings, annual exams, oral cancer screenings, bitewing x-rays, and 20% off minor and major treatments. The cost is $199 per year.

GET INTO A GOOD ROUTINE Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is the key to good oral health. NELA Dental wants to make that financially easier for our patients. That’s why we offer membership plans to help alleviate the cost of some procedures. Frequent visits keep your smile healthy, but these visits may also help catch potential problems early. This could make treatments simpler and more affordable.

Catching problems early is not only good for oral health and your wallet, but it may also

boost your medical health too. The benefits of routine oral maintenance are seemingly endless!

Frequency of dental visits depend on the patient. Those with little risk of cavities and gum disease should visit their dentist once or twice per year. Higher risk patients should visit a dentist every three to four months.

Higher risk patients include those with a personal or family history of oral issues, pregnant women, and those with heart disease.

CONTACT ONE OF OUR THREE LOCATIONS Our goal at NELA Dental is to make our patient’s dental visits as pleasant as possible. That includes not only comfort but also creating a seamless and clear payment process. The above plans are not dental insurance. We accept most insurance plans and offer Care Credit financing for 6 and 12 months with no interest upon approval. Call NELA Dental to schedule your check up.

We offer flexible appointment times at three convenient locations. Our offices are located in Monroe, Farmerville, and Oak Grove. Our dentists are ready to help guide you to your healthiest smile.

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article and photography by Heather Land

TAKE TIME TO MAKE TIME

FROM A TREK OUT WEST TO A BROWN PAPER BAG FILLED WITH POPCORN, SPEND TIME IN THE PRESENT AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT In 2017, we parked our bus at a State Park by the ocean for one month. As volunteers our duties began before sunrise and we quickly found ourselves driving our work cart into the new light each morning. In between the shower houses we cleaned, there was a morning lull before we could close it down for cleaning. Thus, our morning ritual evolved. We would spend the lull with our faces in the sun, on the beach. Each of us would take the half hour to do as we pleased. I would sit in the cool sand, close

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my eyes and drink in the sound of the water in meditation. Stella could most certainly be found on her hands and knees digging or wading knee deep in the morning tide. Our little Bird would sometimes sit alongside me or perch somewhere else, softly, on her own.

Almost instinctually, we would begin to repeat our ritual at sunset. We rarely missed a sunset in the 30 days we were there. I knew that we could and would come back to that same beach over and over again, but we would never have that time back. We would

never have those days, those opportunities, to bask in its incredible light, inevitably burning the memories into our very beings.

When our month was ending, my hubby came to town to stay with us the last few days before we would caravan back home.

We sat side by side and watched the sun set over the great, uninterrupted expanse of ocean - just as it had every day in the weeks before. When it had made its final decent into the what appeared to be the belly of the ocean, leaving behind only a sherbet-colored sky, he turned to me with eyes of awe, and said “I’m not sure I’ve ever really watched the sun set. That was incredible.”

It was a moment so simple, yet so profound for me. I will remember it forever.

Through his eyes, I witnessed the wonder I had felt when I had first sat and watched it as though it was a movie and I couldn’t miss a scene.

Even in the 20 minutes that lead up to the sun fading into the horizon, it can feel like an eternity. It’s plenty of time to get bored doing other things – conversation, shell hunting, cartwheels, or dinner plans. But should you keep your eyes diligently focused in its direction, in the last few moments you will watch it happen. It will begin to melt before your eyes so quickly that if you move, you will miss its rim as it disappears.

Science has explanation for its every move. Yes. It happens everyday. Yes. Something so mundane – like breathing. The sun rises and the sun sets.

But have you ever really pondered it?

Have you viewed it with fresh eyes and a sense of wonder?

For me, I cannot help but be awestruck.

It represents life itself. It means the earth is still turning; just one ball in the middle of nowhere. It means the world is still growing; fertilized by the warmth of its glow. It means the universe is so much bigger than our minds can fathom. And therefore, our lives have only the relevance we personally give to them.

For me, its the only mark of “time;” which is limited only by that which I create.

In February, I will turn 40-years-old. Yet, I can honestly say I feel like a kid. I spent my twenties in full speed, my thirties split between being a mother and resurfacing as myself. Now, nearing this milestone year, I am gushing with excitement. Numbers have no relevance on the energy that fuels me. At this point, I am a blissful mix of wisdom and playfulness. I feel closer to the girl I was born as than I have ever been.

About a month ago, I decided to pop some popcorn on the stovetop. And what happened after that, was like the sunset for my hubby. I was filled with awe. Had I never

experienced it before? I couldn’t say. The smells, the sounds… it made me giggle and gush. It fed my senses.

I popped popcorn every night for nearly two weeks and each night it made me feel happy. So simple. It sparked memories of my own mom telling stories of what a treat it was for her as a kid. With six boys and two girls, my Pepaw would pop up brown paper bags full for them for their “fun nights” together as a family. And as my girls and I stand around the stove in great anticipation, waiting to hear that first “POP” - the one that signals that it is time to add the kernels - I cannot help but think “Mom, I get it.” Tossed in a brown bag, we sit around and take turns grabbing handfuls. It is a snack best shared. It brings us all round, close together - for a movie by the fire, over a map scheming to make dreams a reality or best on a rooftop, under a blanket, in the middle of nowhere at all for a sunset.

As I write this, we’ve been on the road in our bus for nearly 2 weeks now. We’ve made our trek West - all the way to the Pacific Ocean where we parked for 3 days and watched every minute of sunset we could - even wrapped up in a bundle watching it come and go amongst the clouds. We’ve pulled over, making the homeward trek East- between here and there just to watch it slip out of sight. It never gets old. I know it to be a gift. And though I know that our girls very well may not appreciate it for many years, I have planted the seed and I will nurture it, with faith that its roots are already taking hold. I like to imagine that one day each of them will sit still, find their faces basking in its warm glow and they will smile and say, “Thanks Mom. I get it.”

“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” - Albert Einstein

This month I urge you to pick a night and make it a something; pop some popcorn on your stovetop, ice down some bottles of Topo Chico, slice up some citrus, grab a blanket and watch the sun set on the big screen. Let time sit patiently beside you and feel rushed for nothing but what is right there.

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Let Your Colors Run! Color Me KD 5k

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HE DELTA ZETA CHAPTER OF Kappa Delta Sorority was founded at the University of Louisiana Monroe in 1967, and continues to uphold the standards of all things honorable, beautiful, and highest.

Kappa Delta Sorority began supporting Prevent Child Abuse America in 1981 and has been donating to their organization to help children across the nation ever since. Kappa Delta is committed to building confidence and inspiring action in not only its members, but others as well.

This sisterhood believes that instilling confidence in children is essential to a great childhood. Child abuse and neglect destroys the confidence of children. This is why Kappa Delta is driven to help children everywhere and help them gain the confidence they need and deserve. By working with Prevent Child Abuse America, Kappa Delta is able to ensure that children across the nation are

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getting the help they need to have a bright, colorful childhood. There’s nothing that destroys a child’s confidence like abuse, and Kappa Delta wants to do the most it can to prevent this.

Kappa Delta encourages its members to inspire action by getting involved in the community. We do this by hosting several events not only in our community but also on ULM’s campus. During Shamrock Week, we help raise funds and awareness for Prevent Child Abuse America on campus by hosting bake sales and selling pinwheels, the national symbol for PCAA. Within the community, we also host a give-back night at different restaurants as well as helping out at the Boys and Girls Club in West Monroe.

All the proceeds from the annual Color Me KD 5k will go to PCAA and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. ULM’s chapter of Kappa Delta began giving back

and working hands on with the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in 2016. Since then, Kappa Delta has helped host a family fun day, traveled to King’s Camp, and held many other events for the kids. We believe that it is important to help the community and see the change locally as well as nationally.

Kappa Delta invites you to come join the fight against child abuse by sponsoring, donating, or running in our annual Color Me KD 5k. You can help us make a difference!

If you or anyone you know would be interesting in sponsoring, donating, or running please contact Michiala Hemphill at kddzshamrock2019@gmail.com. Come join us and let your colors run!

Azalea Estates of Monroe

Compassionately Caring for North Louisiana’s Seniors for Over 23 Years

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ZALEA ESTATES ASSISTED LIVING and Retirement Communities are owned and managed by the original founders, who have more than 100 years of combined experience in caring for seniors.

Our company strives to set new standards each year for services, amenities, and programs designed to keep our residents as active and independent as possible.

While our communities’ surroundings and home-like atmosphere are wonderful, what truly sets Azalea Estates apart is our staff and their understanding of the true meaning of service to our residents. Our goal is for you to walk into one of our Azalea Estates and say, “It feels like home.”

We strive to accommodate all of our residents and make them feel at home.

We have individual apartments in single bedroom or two bedroom. We also have a studio option available, as well as, our new

secured “Legacy Wing.” The Legacy Wing provides care for residents with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. We want our residents to be comfortable and happy while staying at Azalea Estates.

Some of the accommodations we provide are weekly housekeeping and laundry service. We also provide transportation to and from doctor appointments. There are scheduled daily group activities, weekly social outings, family dinners and special events. Table service breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining hall everyday. We want the transition into assisted living to be easy and carefree.

Our living options include: • Retired Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Respite Care

Few other senior living communities can compare to the lifestyle, features, amenities, and outstanding value that Azalea Estates offers each resident. The very best way to learn about us is to come by and see our communities, have a meal with us, meet our residents and staff, and see how much fun we have and how you can make tomorrow better than today.

Special offering is happening now for a limited time. Please call or stop by to see how you or your loved ones can continue living YOUR best life.

Azalea Estates of Monroe 318-350-6576 4380 Old Sterlington Rd. Monroe, LA 71203

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Simply Lou Hot or What? article and illustration by Lou Davenport original drawing

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ometimes your best ideas come when you least expect them. I have been “fretting” about what I’d write for the month of February for weeks. I “sorta kinda” knew what I wanted to do, but, I just couldn’t seem to fit it all together. When that happens, I usually try to not think about it at all and go listen to some music. BAM! I found a great new song, my column title and all the pieces fell in place!

This time I happened to run across a song I had never heard by a musician that I really like, Mark Knopfler. He wrote and sang this song, “Hot or What” about a professional gambler who is on a winning streak. The video to the song shows photographs of Paul Newman and I knew right then I had my idea!

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Cascio, wrote a special yearly column years ago about Monroe’s best-dressed women. I miss Victor, so this month’s column is a little “tip of my favorite faded red baseball hat” to him. This one’s for you, Victor!

I’m going to tell ya’ll who I think is HOT or the “IT” factor. I did not make a WHAT list because that wouldn’t be very gracious of me. Even though I may be getting older, I still have a great eye for beauty! Yes, men can be considered beautiful, but, we’ll say these following men have that “certain something” that is referred to as the “IT” factor. It’s a bit hard to define but really, some men are just hot and some are not. It isn’t all about the looks either!

My choice for the “hottest” man to ever walk the earth is of course, Paul Newman.

What was there not to love about him? Those blue eyes, ooooohhh! My mother loved him.

One day I was watching “Long, Hot, Summer,” and his character, “Ben Quick,” is standing there in a simple white man’s undershirt and it hit me why my mother loved him so “IT!” I wish I could have said “MAMA!” She passed that love of him on to me I guess and I still have to watch that old movie about once a year. Someone quoted all “women who have a pulse know Paul.” I would have to agree.

He was still “smokin’ hot” when he died in his 80s!

Lee Marvin is another one who still lives on as one hot dude. I love “Paint Your Wagon” when his character, Ben Rumson, sings and Lee Marvin was no singer. But, it worked! When he is leaving “No Name City” slogging down the muddy street he is singing “Wanderin’ Star.” Nobody but him could have sang it. A true “manly man.”

My favorite wrestler, “Stone Cold Steve Austin.” He’s retired now but when he was in WWE, “rasslin” was fun! He’d stomp out, cussin’, flipping off everybody, climb up on all four turn styles and crash beers together.

Back then, their creative team had a great time writing shenanigans for him. He has a podcast on YouTube now and he has made cussing a true “art form!”

Bill Murray. It is not his looks by any stretch of the imagination but Bill has “IT” in spades. It’s that free spiritedness of his! I want him to show up at some place I’m at sometimes so I can have my very own “Bill Murray” story and hear him say, “Nobody will believe you!”

Bryan Cranston. I never laid eyes on him until I finally watched, well, binge watched, “Breaking Bad.” His playing Walter White so amazing. And, I have to say he has the “IT” factor because he ran around in those white “tighty whities.” He’s just good all around. Go over to YouTube and see “Bryan Cranston’s Super Sweet 60.” It’s a parody of the show, “My Super Sweet 16.” Take my word for it, you’ll be a better person for seeing him at his comic best.

Jeff Bridges. Well, I couldn’t leave “The Dude” off my list. I’ve liked every thing I ever saw him do. He just abides. He’s Jeff Bridges.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan. The very best villain ever in a TV series! How I love that bad boy, “Neagan” with his baseball bat, “Lucille” in “The Walking Dead.” You just cannot hate him cause he is so good at being bad! And ole Jeffrey Dean is one gorgeous man for sure.

Norman Reedus. I couldn’t let Neagan be on my list without the man who oozes “IT factor.” As Darryl you just want to take care of him. But, he can definately take care of himself.

What’s not to swoon over with a man that carries a cross bow and rides a motorcycle during a zombie apocolypse!? First time I ever saw him was in “Boondock Saints” and he

looked the same. And that is a great movie. I watch it every St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate my Irishness!

Most people who know me know I love the TV show, “Vikings.”

They have an over abundance of fine men with lots of “IT” factor!

There was “Ragnor,” Travis Fimmel, but, he got killed in a snake pit.

I miss him on there but there are still more hunky me to admire. But, Travis is just “hotter n’ hell.”

Peter Franzen plays “King Harald Finehair” on Vikings and he is a very talented actor from Finland. He’s also an author, screenwriter and now, he’s a “King!” He speaks four different languages! Shield Wall!

Mike Rowe. I think he should just be named “Sexiest Man in the Whole Wide World Forever.” Hands down. All others need not apply.

He is so unaware of how good looking he is. He’s hilarious, he sings opera, he’s not been afraid of “getting dirty” on “Dirty Jobs.” He works so hard to encourage students to learn a trade! And, it’s not Christmas unless you hear him sing “Mr. Grinch” on YouTube.

“Mad Men” had to have been one of the best TV series ever made.

The sets, wardrobe, makeup, everything was near perfection. And, they have John Hamm star in it as a “sorry so and so,” Dan Draper, and we loved him.

Ed Harris. When I first saw “The Right Stuff” about the first astronauts, I saw Ed Harris as John Glenn and I still call him that sometimes. Check out “Kodachrome” on Netflix and see him at his best.

And, I highly recommend “Pollock,” a film that he financed and starred in about artist, Jackson Pollock. It just hasn’t ever gotten the respect it should!

Will Ferrell. I can look at him and laugh. He doesn’t really have to do anything. He gets big points because he will get naked in a movie and could care less that his body is not perfect. He isn’t afraid of taking risks!

Leonardo DiCaprio. Leonardo is just good, plain and simple. I can’t watch a lot of his movies because he seems to choose roles that he dies at the end. We’ve all watched him grow up and he is just a cute, mischievious “imp” with mega-talent.

Jack Black. What can’t he not do? And do well. He makes my list for his rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” in the movie, “High Fidelity.” He named his band, “Barry Jive and the Uptown Five.”

Dennis Quaid. This man just keeps getting better looking with age! Not all of his movies are good, but, if he’s in it, it’s worth a “looksee.”

Ryan Reynolds. Just because he is “Deadpool.” I like my super heroes with an irreverent wit and politically incorrect.

If Ryan Reynolds is on here, Josh Brolin has to be, too.

Remember him in “The Goonies?” He is another one that has just gotten better with age. A real “cutie patootie.”

Graham McTavish. One really “hot Scot.” He played “Dougal McKenzie” in “Outlander.” They killed his character off and I haven’t been very enthusiastic about the show as I once was. He really knew how to wear his kilt!

To round out my list of men with “IT” I cannot leave out a man who is just about Paul Newman status. Sam Elliott. It IS his looks but, there’s a lot more going on there. It has a lot to do with that voice. It’s “like buttah!” He’s showing some age but, really, who cares?

He’s Sam and he’s “takin’ her easy.”

There are many other “IT” men but I don’t have the room to list them all. I think the deciding factor for being hot with “IT,” seems to be a sense of humor. In my opinion anyway!

“Cause I’m on a roll, yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m on a roll. I’m runnin’ hot, Baby am I hot or what?”

“Hot or What?” – Mark Knophler

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When One Plus One Only Equals Two Positive Steps Fertility Now Open in Monroe

BY J. PRESTON PARRY, MD, MPH

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ITH VALENTINE’S UPON US, and so much focus on taking love to the next level, the holiday is hard on couples who want to have a child, but can’t.

Infertility can result in 50% rates of major depression and can even increase divorce rates by up to 50% over baseline, so couples place a lot of pressure on themselves in addition to that by friends and family. (For a fun video, check out Facebook the Positive Steps First Friday Fertility live broadcast in December. We list the best responses to being asked “When are you finally going to have a baby?” with comebacks from the cheerful to the more cheeky.)

The complicated part is infertility is stressful, but then many women are worried that their stress is making fertility worse, which creates a vicious cycle. The good news is that “psychogenic infertility” is pretty much a myth. It dates to a century ago where women were blamed for their attitudes as a source

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when medicine simply didn’t understand why some people could and others could not get pregnant. (Modern solutions such as the Parryscope approach can quickly explain most female causes.) If you look at World War II, African genocide, Eastern Europe under economic collapse, and many other complicated times, you’ll see fertility rates didn’t change that much in spite of horribly stressful conditions.

There are two primary ways stress causes infertility. First, if a woman is so stressed she doesn’t have regular periods, it is hard to get pregnant if you don’t release an egg. Second, and more commonly, when couples are stressed, they fight, and then they stop having sex, which really lowers chances.

While telling a person to relax about things usually works in reverse, there are some ways to take the pressure off.

• Don’t destroy a relationship for the sake of

expanding it—a happy couple comes before there can be a happy home.

• Don’t think that fertility can be readily fixed by consulting Dr. Google. We spend more time than you can imagine debunking silly myths that have popped up on the web.

• See an expert. I often joke with patients that no matter how much they may have a fear of flying, what truly matters is whether the pilot has a fear of flying. As long as they show up and follow the crew instructions, that’s what really determines whether they reach their destination.

No matter how stressful wanting to be pregnant is, we can help and can get results.

There are often explanations, multiple options, and always hope. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Please join Parryscope & Positive Steps Fertility on Facebook for our “First Friday Live” every first Friday of each month @ 12:00 CST.

Introducing BodyTite Derma MediQ Teams Up with Dr. Daryl Marx

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OR THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS, Dr. Saidi Sowma-Fakhre has been providing state-of-the-art medically supervised beauty regimens at Derma MediQ. Dr. Sowma-Fakhre is Board Certified in Aesthetic Medicine and Pediatrics. Starting in January, she is pleased to be partnering with Dr. Daryl Marx to bring a new procedure to Northeast Louisiana. BodyTite by InMode is a minimally invasive body contouring system that uses Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis technology. In combination with traditional tumescent liposuction, Dr. Marx will be performing these two fat reducing procedures at Derma MediQ. Daryl Marx, M.D. is a general surgeon specializing in General, Bariatric and RoboticAssisted surgery using advanced minimally invasive techniques. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and board certified by the American College of Surgeons.

He received his Doctor of Medicine degree

from Louisiana State University of Medicine in New Orleans, LA, and continued his surgical internship and residency there, graduating in 2003. Dr. Marx’s surgical expertise combined with the aesthetic background of Dr. SowmaFakhre guarantees an exciting partnership for those looking for a procedure that offers significant, long-lasting fat reducing results.

WHAT IS BODYTITE?

BodyTite is a great solution for individuals who are looking to reduce fat without the saggy, wrinkly skin. It also helps to improve skin laxity after weight loss or due to aging.

BodyTite is a minimally invasive procedure that shapes, contracts and lifts without the scalpel or large scarring. You are left with surgical-like results without prolonged downtime.

WHAT AREAS CAN BE TREATED? If you can imagine it: stomach, arms,

chest, knees and inner/outer thighs are some of the most common treatment zones. Multiple areas can be treated in one visit. Each zone will take approximately 15 minutes of treatment.

Results can be seen immediately, with best results noticeable after six weeks, and continuing up tot 12 months. And, depending on the treatment area, downtime can be from 1-2 days up to 10 days.

If you are looking for a treatment that will treat fat in stubborn areas while tightening skin, the combination of BodyTite and liposuction will sculpt your body into its ultimate shape.

The staff at Derma MediQ in partnership with Dr. Daryl Marx not only has an eye for aesthetics, but the medical knowledge necessary to safely provide patients with the relaxed, rejuvenated and sculpted look they want. Schedule your consultation today for this breakthrough fat reducing and skin tightening procedure.

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C R U S H

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to prep for the perfect date night (or day) outfit. From pretty in pink jumpers to little black dresses, we’ve got options perfectly suited for a romantic date or night out with friends. photography by Kelly Moore Clark model Mallory Lynn makeup by Brittany Dye hair by Lesley Boyd at The Parlor House, Instagram @lesley.colors

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ELEVEN 26 This lace covered, v-neck ruffle hem dress has an incredible caged, lace-up back that looks just as good from the back as the front.

Pair it with suede orchidcolored sandals with leg wrap construction, gold and rhinestone drop earrings and a three pearl gold cuff.

HERRINGSTONE’S This pink jumpsuit will slay this Valentine’s Day. Keep it simple and classy with sleek nude suede heels, rose gold earrings, stackable rose gold BuDhaGirl bangles and a pink fur shoulder bag.

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SADIE C’S You can’t go wrong with a little black dress. This gorgeous LBD features a high-low hem and is perfectly accessorized with a geode and gold necklace, gold hoop earrings and snakeskin peep toe platform heels.

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K- SER A This belted romper will accentuate your figure to perfection. Pair it with a snakeskin belt and silver drop necklace. Then, hit the town this Galentine’s Day with these booties featuring four stacked buckled strap closures.

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It’s Party Time at 2High Trampoline Give Your Child The Party of a Lifetime!

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OOKING FOR THE PERFECT PLACE to host your child’s upcoming birthday party? 2High Trampoline Park has you covered because birthday parties are our specialty! Let us help you celebrate with our awesome, affordable party packages built to meet the needs of any customer. We offer dodgeball, an obstacle course, basketball, open jump and more – and loads of fun! Book your party with us, and enjoy a stress-free, indoor birthday party. Our great, friendly staff is here to handle everything including set-up, entertaining, hosting and clean-up. All you have to do is bring the kiddos and have fun!

Here are a few things we have to offer:

new challenge to overcome. In the near future, 2High Trampoline will hang a time board so that you can challenge your friends to beat your time.

NINJA COURSE Our innovative ninja obstacle course, popularized by TV’s American Ninja Warrior, challenges the balance, strength and agility of our park guests in a thrilling new way! The Ninja Course changes periodically so you will always have a

2 BASKETBALL COURTS With the trampoline/basketball goal duo you have the exhilarating opportunity to dunk like the pro’s. With adjustable heights, our goals offer anyone the chance to perfect the alley-oop, or 360 dunk of their dreams.

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AIRBAG PIT Our airbag pits provide a nice, soft, consistent alternative to traditional foam pits. The airbag is the perfect landing area for jumpers.

2 DODGE BALL COURTS A new twist on a childhood favorite! Our trampoline courts, built into a designated area with dedicated staff to oversee the action; the dodge ball court will quickly become your favorite!

OPEN TRAMPOLINE A series of interlocking trampoline beds with custom, angle cut pads. Our beds feature safety flaps that prevent hands and feet from coming in contact with the spring area. Our trampolines are built with safety in mind- redundant beds, (backup safety system beneath the main jumping surface) and custom springs (we use twice as many as others.)

SOFT PLAY Built to ensure that all members of the family have fun at our facility, our soft play area provides your little ones (toddler to age 6) with a chance to play, but in the safety of a padded, play area!

PARTIES The results are clear: kids and parents love birthday parties at 2High Trampoline Park! Schedule your birthday party with 2High Trampoline and let our Flight Crew do all of the work.

2High trampoline isn’t just great for birthday parties, it’s perfect for all groups: • Church Groups • Lock-Ins • Retreats • Office Parties • School Field Trips • Events of all kinds

Call us anytime at (318) 224-7052 for our party pricing and availability.

Miss Kay’s Sweets and Eats Sweet Treats for Your Valentine and More

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ISS KAY’S SWEETS AND EATS on Antique Alley in West Monroe can accommodate any occasion with coffee, handcrafted espresso drinks, homemade sweet treats and great food made with Miss Kay Robertson’s famous recipes! We love to cater, too! We are open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday.

SUPPER CLUB

At Miss Kay’s, our new year’s resolution is to have more and better sponsored events, and one of those is the Miss Kay’s Supper Club. The club will be a paid subscription group who are the first to know about, and be invited to a special dinner event at Miss Kay’s each month. The series will feature guest chefs, themed dinners and, as always, great food and company. Call us to find out more!

VALENTINE’S EVENTS

Couple’s Dinner – As part of the Supper Club series, Miss Kay’s will host a couple’s event on Valentine’s Day, February 14th.

The menu will feature paired dishes such as sous vide steaks with mushroom cream sauce, shrimp alfredo fettuccine and delicious desserts like King Cake profiteroles and chocolate covered strawberries. Registration will be open to the Supper Club for pre-sale, and all remaining seats will be open to the public. Seating is very limited, so call us today to reserve your spot!

Mommy and Son/Daddy and Daughter Dinner – Family is a top priority for Miss Kay and her business, so this year Miss Kay’s Sweets and Eats is starting a new tradition of events especially for families! The Daddy and Daughter Dinner is scheduled for February 7th and th Mommy and Son Dinner is scheduled for February 12th. Both will feature

a photo booth, cookie or cupcake decorating, music and dancing, and of course, kid and adult-friendly meals. These events are open to families of all ages. Come on down to Antique Alley with your dancin’ shoes!

CATERING

Miss Kay’s Kay-tering is really taking off!

Book the hottest catering company in the Twin Cities for your next event. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner with friends at your home, looking for a place for a wedding rehearsal dinner, or having a crawfish boil at your church, we can help you! We can cater to groups as small as six or as large as hundreds for any occasion. We have a wide variety of specialties including favorites like hot boiled crawfish, gumbo, hors d’oeuvres, pastas and sandwiches. Call us for a quote today!

DONT FORGET DESSERT! Dessert isn’t just an afterthought for us! We offer a large selection of sweets, from cookie and brownie trays to birthday cakes and petit fours to cold, creamy gelato and sorbetto, we’ve got something for everyone!

Come on down to 401 Trenton Street in the heart of downtown West Monroe to get your sweet fix!

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New Owner Renovates and Expands Boudreaux’s Cajun Cafe Opens Inside Thomas Road U-Pak It

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OR YEARS,THE THOMAS ROAD U-PAK IT HAS BEEN A convenient spot for gas, snacks and drinks. In recent months, travelers may have noticed some improvements and upgrades to the location. In July of 2018, Lane LaBorde purchased the store and has worked to make the store even better. “I added some wood decor around the store to give it a more homey feel,” said Lane. “I also moved a wall and opened up the floor, making it more welcoming when you walk in the door.” After working as a liquor sales rep for five years, Lane saw his fair share of convenient stores. “I was in and out of stores all day and learned a lot,” said Lane. “The idea of owning my own business and being an entrepreneur has always interested me and this opportunity came along at the right time.”

The store is located at 407 Thomas Road, just off I-20 in West Monroe. It has all of the things you would expect in a convenience store - snacks, chips, Icees, gas and more. However, Lane wanted to set the store apart from any other gas station and offer the community something unique. And he did just that by opening Boudreaux’s Cajun Café inside the store in January of 2019. This restaurant features authentic Louisiana food prepared by Bucky Newell, who has over 20 years experience in the food and restaurant industry. For sandwich selection, you can choose from a hamburger, chicken sandwich or po-boy. The hamburgers are hand patties and made fresh daily and the chicken sandwich can be prepared grilled or fried. There are roast beef, catfish and shrimp po-boys that are piled high. Hand battered chicken strips and fries are also served up fresh daily. To complete the Louisiana menu, you can choose from authentic seafood gumbo, jambalaya and red beans and rice. You can even order fresh, hot beignets throughout the day.

“Everything we make is made to order, prepared in house and never frozen,” said Lane. “We pride ourselves on the fresh food and people have really enjoyed it and been impressed at the quality.”

Lunch is served every day from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month, Boudreaux’s is excited to announce they will start offering dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“I have enjoyed improving the store and getting to know our customers,” said Lane. “I look forward to continuing to connect to the community and offering the best products, food and customer service.” Stop by the Thomas Road U-Pak It and Boudreaux’s Cajun Café to see what everyone is talking about!

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Bad Weather Ahead Are You Prepared?

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HAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS in the event of a power outage? Adding a power generator can prevent loss resulting from short or long-term power losses due to weather, accidents, and more.

A power generator independently provides a backup source of power in the event of a power outage. Similar to an automobile, a generator creates mechanical energy with the help of a heavy-duty recharging battery to initiate and maintain energy, a fuel tank to supply fuel (gasoline, diesel, or natural gas), an engine, and an alternator to convert that mechanical power into electrical power.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF GENERATORS; PORTABLE AND STANDBY.

Portable generators may be wired into a subpanel by an electrician or simply plugged into appliances using extension cords. They power only chosen essentials such as lights, refrigerators and some computers.

They are a simple and inexpensive backup power option, but must be started and maintained. They offer a limited supply of electricity, providing enough power for two to four outlets or a few specific circuits when wired in. These generators must be located at least 10 feet away from your business, away from doors and windows, and in a completely open area (not even carports or awnings are safe) to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Standby generators start automatically during power outages, preventing interruptions in electrical service. They are powered by natural gas or propane, are quieter than portable models, and have the ability to power everything in your business. They come at a higher price and also require the professional installation of a transfer switch, a subpanel, and the power generator itself.

A professional can determine the right size generator for your needs. Do you know how to properly calculate wattage so that your system isn’t overloaded at startup? This varies depending on the equipment you need to power and the manufacturer of your generator.

Our professionals have the skills necessary to calculate power needs for a smooth operation.

A professional electrician can safely set up wiring, plugging your generator into the transfer switch and wiring it directly to your business’s service panel. This disconnects you properly from the grid and ensures the safe delivery of power only to designated circuits, preventing the overloading of you generator, backfeeding, fire, and other safety issues. Proper positioning and installation of your portable generator is also essential in preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mr. Electric® arranges for the inspection of your newly installed power generator. This ensures all local codes and regulations are met.

Keep productivity and electricity flowing with the help of a power generator, contact Mr. Electric today. Our professionals can install the perfect generator to meet all of your emergency power needs, getting you back to business as usual.

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IRA – It’s Not Too Late

Justin Mailhes with Argent Advisors in Monroe Explains

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NLIKE MOST RETIREMENT plans 2018 contributions can be made to your IRA up to the 2018 filing date of April 15, 2019. If you do contribute for 2018, make sure your IRA custodian knows you are doing a 2018 contribution. The contribution limit for 2018 is $5,500 and if you are 50 or older you can contribute $6,500.

Contributions are per person not per account meaning, if you have an IRA and Roth IRA you cannot contribute $5,500 to both but you can split the $5,500 between both accounts.

The contribution limits have increased for 2019 to $6,000 and $7,000 if 50 or older.

The tax deductibility of the contribution is subject to income limits and participation in employer sponsored retirement plans.

• For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is $63,000 to $73,000 for 2018 and has increased to $64,000 to $74,000 for 2019.

• F or married couples filing jointly, where the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan,

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$101,000 to $121,000 for 2018 and has increased to $103,000 to $123,000 for 2019.

• For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $189,000 to $199,000 and was increased to $193,000 to $203,000 for 2019.

Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible but are not subject to taxes when withdrawn. This can be especially attractive to younger contributors. While retirement plan participation is not a factor, a Roth IRA contribution is still subject to income limits.

A single taxpayer phase-out range is $120,000 to $135,000 for 2018 and increases to $122,000 to $137,000 for 2019. Married filing jointly is phase-out range for 2018 is $189,000 to $199,000 and for 2019 it increases to $193,000 to $203,000.

The discussion between doing a traditional IRA or Roth IRA contribution is

best discussed with your financial advisor or CPA. WHY CHOOSE ARGENT ADVISORS IN MONROE?

Our mission is to help establish, manage, and protect our clients’ financial plans, and we take that very seriously. The Argent Advisors team in Monroe has over 60 years of combined financial planning experience.

No matter where one’s objectives fall, we help our clients establish a definitive goaloriented plan for current needs and for the future. Argent Advisors in Monroe is a fee-based, Registered Investment Advisor firm. We agree on an annual management fee, and then we work for YOU. We do not make money on account activity or have proprietary products. Our independent process assures you that we are acting in your best interest, not in ours! If you have any question about your financial planning needs, please contact our office.

www.irs.gov

Miracle Injection— or Shot in the Dark?

A New Treatment for Women Promises A Cure for the Bedroom Blues

BY JUDY WAGONER

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ALL IT THE SHOT HEARD ROUND the world—only this time the revolution is on behalf of modern women. The O-Shot is a non-invasive treatment, that aims to alleviate female sexual dysfunction and urinary stress incontinence.

The O-Shot® is a revolutionary approach to restoring the sensations a woman has lost or perhaps never had. It is an all-natural, painless and non-surgical procedure that can rejuvenate and revitalize vaginal and clitoral function, improve sensitivity and significantly enhance sex drive. It’s also been shown to dramatically improve urinary stress incontinence.

First, the patient’s blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge to separate the Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP. The PRP is then injected near the clitoris and vaginal wall (after the area is thoroughly numbed). The PRP then releases growth factors that stimulate growth and repair.

There is an immediate volumizing effect, which lasts up to a week. The real payoff, though, comes over the next few weeks and months, as the PRP stimulates the growth of cells, collagen, and blood vessels. The overall effect should last at least 18 months Patients report increased sexual desire and improved ability to achieve orgasm. The same method can be applied to men in the form of a “P” Shot...or “Priapus Shot.” Men see similar results with sensitivity, orgasm, girth, and stronger erections.

Professional Laser Center Medical Director, Dr. Victor Zuckerman, has received advanced training in the injection of Platelet Rich Plasma from Dr. Charles Runels, creator of the Vampire FaceLift, as well as the O-Shot and P-Shot.

As an adjunct to the O-Shot, our newest addition to Professional Laser Center, is the vFit Feminine Wellness Device. It is

a “Physician Strength,” at-home medical device….THAT WORKS! Feminine wellness issues are a pervasive problem with up to a third of women suffering from pelvic floor issues, such as bladder leakage, dryness and painful intercourse. “vFit” is the first medical device of its kind that can be used comfortably in the privacy of your home. Treatments are every other day for six to 12 minutes, and it is not only painless, but can be quite enjoyable with no downtime. It provides LED technology, heat (up to 41 degrees Celsius), and sonic vibrations to improve feminine and vaginal health. Results can be seen in one to six weeks, and then a maintenance schedule of twice a week is followed. The LED produces photobiomodulatory effects that help with blood flow, reducing inflammation and pain in the vaginal mucosa. The heat also brings oxygen, protein, and nutrients to the area to heal the tissues, increase collagen production and restore elasticity and moisture to the vagina.

The sonic vibrations help tighten the muscles of the pelvic floor, increasing muscle tone. Plus, it improves sexual function, sensation, pleasure, and intimacy. vFit was created by women, for women, to boost confidence and intimate wellness.

What a great Valentine’s gift either or both of these would make. Call 318-361-9066 today for a free consultation or to schedule an appointment.

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FINISHING THE DREAM

For serving its mission of documenting and educating the region about AfricanAmericans and their impact throughout our communities, the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum is Bayou Icon for the month of February.

Article by Michael DeVault and Photography by Brad Arender

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hen retired educator Lorraine Slacks passed away in September, she left behind a family, a community of students she had spent a life educating, and a thriving cultural center that has become one of the region’s premier resources for African-American history. Walking through the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum, it’s hard to escape the presence of a woman who grew to become one of the top education leaders in the region.

Museum director Ross Slacks is her son, and for him, the museum epitomizes the work his mother devoted much of her life to: demonstrating to young children in her community that there’s more to life than sports.

“Every time you see black people on television, it’s usually in an athletic capacity,” Ross tells BayouLife. “She wanted us to know there was more out there than just sports. She helped us to begin to see life beyond football or basketball.”

The vision Slacks worked to craft in the museum—and the displays there today—present an aspirational look at the history of blacks in the region as well as the impact they have had in the community.

The museum’s exhibits are three-fold: connect visitors to the past; shed light on the present; and provide an inspirational view of the future.

To that end, interactive exhibits take visitors hands-on with some of the implements used in farming, housework, and other tasks of rural life as slaves and, later, sharecroppers. At the same time, the museum displays a number of historical and cultural artifacts from Africa, which demonstrate the connections between African-American culture today and their ancestors from centuries ago.

Numerous dioramas and exhibits also feature the work of prominent black citizens in the area from business, industry, and education, underscoring that AfricanAmericans have had a deep and lasting

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impact on the development of northeast Louisiana’s economy and culture, an impact that goes far beyond their time as slaves.

Throughout the museum, works by prominent African-American artists celebrate black culture and history, remind viewers of the evils perpetrated against slaves, and highlighting how far society has come in just a few brief decades. After all, the Civil War ended barely a century and a half ago—just a few generations.

In this reminder of the distance traveled the museum excels, for it presents a vision for future generations. At its heart, the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum is more about what comes next than what went before, and that’s just how Lorainne Slacks intended it.

“That’s evident in the way she built the museum,” Ross says. He points out significant resources the museum has dedicated to forward-facing community services that individuals from across the community can utilize to advance themselves. “The museum has an art class room, where students can learn about painting and other artforms, a computer lab, and a technology room so you can come and learn to navigate the internet or use a computer.”

These are the kinds of communitybuilding skills that many individuals in the community desperately need to move forward professionally and personally. Yet, there are too few resources at their disposal through libraries, local schools, and community centers. Ross says the museum fills a critical need in helping prepare people for the future—and not just black people.

Dr. Kerry Scott is president of the museum’s board of directors. He points out the museum is for the whole community’s enrichment, whether it’s through the museum’s historical and cultural exhibits or its role as a community development organization bringing vital skills to people who need them.

“Knowledge bridges the gap and brings an understanding of the AfricanAmerican role in this community,” Scott says. “One thing we’ve always said about this museum: it’s not just an AfricanAmerican museum for African-Americans.

It’s for all people. All people are invited. We

want to make sure that people know they are welcome.”

Creating a sense of unity in the community is one of the primary goals of the museum, and Slacks herself was a master at enlisting allies to the cause. After all, she was just one person and building a permanent museum celebrating black history and culture in northeast Louisiana is a big job. She certainly didn’t go it alone.

By 1993, the interest in a facility celebrating African-American heritage in the Delta parishes had reached a tipping point. That’s when Nancy Johnson decided to found the museum. It opened its doors the following March in a small building on Plum Street in the heart of Monroe’s Southside community. Almost immediately, it was clear the building’s 2,098 square feet was insufficient for the museum’s mission.

For more than a decade, Slacks and other members of the community worked to expand the museum’s reach and to secure a more suitable home. During that time, Slacks leveraged a career’s worth of contacts, hard-earned during a career as a teacher, administrator, and ultimately as curriculum coordinator for the Monroe City Schools. She met with community leaders at all levels of government, many of whom were former students. She reached out to business leaders, both former students and the parents of students. And she contacted state legislators who represented her district and the community she hoped to better serve.

“KNOWLEDGE BRIDGES THE GAP AND BRINGS AN U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F T H E A F R I C A N-A M E R I C A N R O L E I N T H I S C O M M U N I T Y. O N E T H I N G W E ' V E A LW AY S S A I D A B O U T THIS MUSEUM: IT'S NOT JUST AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS. IT'S FOR ALL PEOPLE. ALL PEOPLE ARE INVITED"

By 2007, government officials had begun to take notice of the small museum and the lady who could boast she had met with five decades of mayors and more than a few of the state’s governors. That’s when State Rep. Willie Hunter and State Sen. Charles Jones stepped to the plate.

They pushed through some $3.2 million in funding to build a new, state-of-theart facility more centrally located to the 15-parish delta region the museum serves.

Working with officials at the city of Monroe, the museum board secured 26 acres of land adjacent to Chennault Park off Millhaven Road, which provided ample room for parking, a new facility and, most importantly, room to grow. Here, the board undertook the construction of a modern, 14,480 square-foot facility. The museum’s modern design features swooping arches, soaring spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide vista views of lush, green trees and an expanse of manicured lawn. Building the museum’s new home was no small feat. This was, after all, a time of tightening budgets and shrinking state coffers.

“It was all paid for,” Ross says. “All we have to do is handle the upkeep.”

The Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum is an inspiring, positive space. With the museum completed, though, and the doors opening in August, 2011, the new challenge became funding its operations. That’s where the communities the museum serves come in.

“We rely on contributions, mostly, and some entrance fees for different events,” Ross explains. The museum hosts a number of educational and enrichment activities that bring in visitors, but the majority of the funding is in the form of donations. Ross hopes to change that. “We’re working right now to establish other avenues, particularly grant funding and direct support from other municipalities in the 15-parish area.”

Museum board member, Dr. Leonard Clark sees the facility as a unifying force that can bring together people from all races and walks of life across the region.

Whether its through heritage and history exploring the legacy of slavery and efforts to free the slaves, or through its ambitions as a community development engine, the museum’s message is clear: there is one community, and we’re all part of it. Clark explains this is not a recent development and, instead, has long been the case.

“It wasn’t just black people struggling,” Clark says. “There were also other people from other cultures helping them along the way.”

Black slaves leaned on white sympathizers to flee bondage along the Underground Railroad. Along the way, white people hid blacks seeking freedom in the northern states, a tremendous risk as being caught harboring fugitive slaves was a crime. Today, that unity takes a new form, particularly in the more impoverished areas of the Delta parishes, where the region’s poor continue to struggle to advance. Ross sees it every day on the faces of the thousands of students who visit the museum each year.

“White students are receptive to our message because they can see the struggle people went through and what it could take,” he says. “Many of them come from poor backgrounds themselves, so they understand how poor whites and poor blacks were both fighting to better the world in the 1960s. That continues today, in social media, but that struggle? It’s still there.”

One of the central displays in the museum is a modern sculpture, forged in iron, and at the center, a father stands. The

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mother and their children cling to him, underscoring the importance of family in escaping bondage. From the father’s hands hang broken shackles and chains.

The piece is by world-renowned artist Don Cincone, and it’s one of many of Cincone’s works hanging in the museum. Many of his painting hang alongside Daryl Triplett and Bernard Menyweather, two other prominent black painters.

Their paintings each depict different aspects of the African-American experience, from slave life to sharecropping to Hurricane Katrina. Each painting tells a story, draws viewers into the world of black culture, and helps create a picture of the transformation African-American culture has undergone over the past 150 years. At the same time, the paintings also frame a different narrative, and it is in this alternative narrative that the future begins to unfold.

Most of Menyweather’s paintings feature daily life for blacks in America over the ages. In each of the paintings, Ross points out that the people depicted are welldressed, with erect posture, and a sense of pride of self. That’s a message that itself is vital to demonstrate to future generations, one that strikes at the heart of his mother’s goal of positioning future generations for continued advancement.

One painting in particular stands out.

It’s a small landscape, and the branches of a towering oak frame a distant valley. Far off, a white house gleams from beneath a red roof. Rolling hills are alive with verdant trees and grass, only just beginning to yellow in the cool Fall. As the viewer approaches, they notice something that, perhaps, they didn’t see at first: a young woman, reclining in the roots of the tree. Open on her lap is a book, and she’s reading. The painting is called “Autumn Serenity.” Ross explains its importance.

“She’s up there, alone by herself, in the place she goes to calm down and get away from the world, a favorite spot no one else knows about. She can still see the world around her, away from it all but keeping an eye out as she reads her book,” he says.

“She just happens to be black.”

It’s not an unimportant point that the girl “just happens” to be black. It’s a detail that a casual observer might overlook on first viewing. And therein lies the painting’s magic, as Menyweather’s painting says to the viewer that we are all looking for that 138 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

" F O R T Y Y E A R S F R O M N O W, T H E W O R L D W I L L L O O K L I K E I T I S F O R K I D S T O D A Y, O N LY T H O S E K I D S W I L L B E A D U LT S W H O H A V E T H E S A M E AT T I T U D E , B E C A U S E M O S T K I D S T O D AY D O N ' T S E E C O LO R . T H E Y S E E E A C H OTHER AS FRIENDS WHO THEY LIKE TO W O R K W I T H A N D P L AY W I T H . "

same bit of serenity, regardless of the color of our skin.

Outside the gallery stands another inspirational display, this one featuring another young African-American woman.

A sign beside the woman reads “Henri Ana’s Beauty Shoppe and School,” and Ross explains the story of Henri Ana, the daughter of businessman Henry Carroll.

In the 1960s, her beauty shop was a place where women could go and learn how to be in business for themselves and to develop professional skills that would help them advance in the community.

Nearby, a painting of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shines over the museum.

The painting features more than two dozen prominent African-Americans, such as Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman. It’s called “Standing on Shoulders,” and it highlights how each generation helps prepare the next to move forward.

King himself predicted that, one day in the “not too distant future,” black political influence would become sufficient enough to elect an African-American president. Barely more than 40 years after his prediction—just a single generation later—Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation’s 44th president. For Ross and the people who make the North Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum a reality every day, that’s not a lost message.

They’re looking at the next 40 years. And they’re hopeful.

“Forty years from now, the world will look like it is for kids today, only those kids will be adults who have the same attitude, because most kids today don’t see color,”

Ross says, predicting a society that’s become more color-blind to divisions of race. “They see each other as friends who they like to work with and play with.”

Ross says that’s exactly the legacy Lorraine Slacks left behind, the future she and Johnson helped to manifest, and the vision that propels everything the museum does. And, he adds, it’s a legacy she proudly fulfilled.

“What God put her here to do, she finished her job, and then put us here to carry out the dreams she had for the future,” Ross says of his mother. “This isn’t the end of the road. It’s the beginning of the journey.”

PORTRAIT OF NANCY JOHNSON, FOUNDER OF THE NORTHE A ST LOUISIANA DELTA AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM

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Share Some Baby Love

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Hosts a Shower for Babies

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BABY SHOWER IS A PARTY OF gift-giving or a ceremony that celebrates the delivery or expected birth of a child or the transformation of a woman into a mother. The term shower is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is “showered” with gifts.

On Sunday, February 17th from 2-5 p.m. the Monroe Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority would like to invite the public to a free event for our community. The Baby Love event is a community baby shower to benefit new and expecting mothers in our area that may need a bit of assistance. Both fun and educational, the event will take place at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe.

The sorority alumna is now accepting new and gently used baby items for the new and expecting mothers from now until the shower. Baby clothing, blankets, shoes, socks, bedding, wipes and diapers are just a few of the things a new mom will need for their new

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bundle of joy. Supplies can be dropped off at 2751 Tower Drive, Suite 13, in Monroe or call 318-479-2229 to arrange a pick-up.

Guests are more than welcome to bring donation items to the Baby Love Shower on the 17th of February. There will be door prizes, food and refreshments and vendors with giveaways ensuring that everyone will have a great time. Guest speakers will talk about the educational aspects of giving birth and there will be ultrasounds, as well as, clinic and hospital resources available. Coupons and discounts will also be given out to guests as they visit.

The baby shower is a chance for the community to support these young women as they venture into a life of motherhood.

Not everyone is blessed to have a baby shower thrown for them so this is an amazing opportunity to share some Baby Love to our area.

The shower is being hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1913 on the campus of Howard University to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; to educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in communities. Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has more than 900 chapters worldwide and has initiated over 300,000 members since its founding. The Sorority uses its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement to create its national programs. The Monroe Alumnae Chapter was chartered in 1955 to serve Monroe and its surrounding areas.

The current chapter President is Dr. Rochelle Gilbert-Abrams.

The sponsors of the baby shower include: The Well Woman Center, March of Dimes, Nurse-Family Partnership, St. Francis Medical Center and the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana.

BAYOU BUZZWORTHY

TODAY SHOW TRIANGLES

Local couple Kylie and John Austin recently took a trip to New York City to celebrate their one-year anniversary. While waiting in line outside of NBC’s Today Show, the couple was picked to play “Today Show Triangles” hosted by Meredith Viera. The couple competed against each other while answering questions with the help of Today hosts. Kylie took home the win with a$1000 Visa giftcards and the couple both left with swag bags from the show, along with t-shirts signed by the hosts!

OCS SAINTS DAY

Ouachita Christian School held their first ever ‘Saints Day’ Friday, January 18th. The students and teachers were encouraged to show the New Orleans Saints some love and dress up in their black and gold gear for the day. The ‘Who Dat’ Nation is alive and well in the halls at OCS, cheering on the Saints as they make their way to the Super Bowl.

THE FIELDHOUSE CELEBRATES

On Saturday, January 5, The Fieldhouse Bar and Grill in Monroe celebrated their 10 year anniversary. Owner Joey Trappey, started the restaurant after graduating from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The local business is heavily involved in the community, non-profit organizations and university activities and athletics. The celebration included drink specials, giveaways and live music.

KLACI SIMMONS

Klaci Simmons of Monroe, recently traveled to London over the Christmas break to represent River Oaks School as an All American Cheerleader in the London New Year’s Day Parade. The parade had over 10,000 participants with over 500,000 people watching along the parade route and another 3 million watching on television.

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ARTICLE BY SHANNON DAHLUM & PHOTOS BY JAMIE DAHLUM

bayou health

How Your Breath Influences Weight Loss ALONG WITH EATING RIGHT AND EXERCISING REGULARLY, INCORPORATING A BREATHING PRACTICE INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE CAN HELP YOU KEEP STRESS LEVELS LOW AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

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tand in front of a mirror and watch your shoulders. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Do your shoulders rise when you inhale and fall when you exhale? If so, you’re breathing vertically. The muscles in your chest, neck and upper back are constantly working to lift your ribcage and shoulder blades. This creates undue tension on those muscles, limits your strength and range of motion in that area, and increases your risk for shoulder injury. It also means you aren’t able to burn fat efficiently!

Yes, the way you breathe actually impacts your ability to lose fat. But you probably haven’t heard that before, because there’s a lot of confusion about how fat is actually lost. You can blame the oversimplified “energy in versus energy out” weight loss theory for your misunderstanding.

The energy we consume and burn is known as calories, and calories are also a form of heat. So a common misunderstanding is that we “burn” fat; that fat somehow turns into heat and leaves the body. Let’s just go ahead and clear up this false information now.

To understand how fat loss really works, it helps to know what your body fat is actually made of. Triglycerides (natural fats and oils) stored in your tissue are what you call body fat, and they’re a form of stored energy. These triglyceride molecules are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms

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bound together. If you paid attention in your high school science class, you may remember that energy can’t be created nor destroyed; it can only change form.

Of course, this holds true for the energy stored in your body as fat, too. Those triglycerides don’t just disappear into thin air! In order to leave your body, they need to change into another form of energy.

Any guesses on what they transform into?

Here’s a hint: it’s not heat.

When you lose fat, your triglyceride molecules come apart, and the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms held within them form new molecules. The carbon joins with oxygen to create carbon dioxide (CO2), and the hydrogen also binds with oxygen, to create water (H2O). In other words, your fat cells turn into carbon dioxide and water. According to research published in the British Medical Journal in 2014, 84% of a triglyceride molecule becomes CO2, while only 16% becomes H20. That means 84% of the fat you lose is exhaled through your lungs! To put this into perspective, if you want to lose 20 pounds of fat, 16.8 of them will need to exit your body through your breath. Your lungs are your primary fat loss organ! The remaining 3.2 pounds will turn into water, which may be excreted in sweat, tears, breath, or flushed down the toilet.

The majority of fat that leaves your body exits with your breath, so to lose fat efficiently, it’s vital that you’re breathing properly.

Let’s revisit that breathing exercise you did at the beginning of this

article. If your shoulders rise when you inhale, that’s a sign of vertical breathing.

Some other signs you may be breathing vertically are: feeling as though you grow taller when you inhale and shorter when you exhale, feeling your chest move more than your belly during your breath cycle, and/or feeling as though you breathe “up” when you inhale and relax “down” when you exhale.

The blood supply in your lungs is gravity dependent, so when you’re upright, most of the blood remains in the bottom lobes of your lungs. The carbon dioxide (that’s created when your triglycerides break apart) is carried to your lungs though your bloodstream. To pick up all the CO2 that’s in the blood supply, your breath needs to reach all the way into the blood-rich lower lobes of your lungs to scoop it out. If you’re breathing vertically, though, your breath is only accessing the upper lobes of your lungs, leaving behind all the CO2 that’s waiting at the bottom to hitch a ride.

Breathing into the lower lobes of your lungs requires that you breathe from your diaphragm rather than your chest. Your diaphragm is your breathing muscle, and it sits at the base of your ribcage. You can imagine that it looks like an upside down umbrella. When you inhale, the umbrella opens up, forcing the bottom of your ribcage to expand. On your exhale, the umbrella closes and the ribcage and abdominals contract. The muscles in your neck and chest are uninvolved and

your shoulders remain relaxed. This is called horizontal breathing.

In order to properly use your diaphragm for breathing, it’s important that you practice good posture. Your ribcage needs to be aligned directly over your pelvis to allow your diaphragm to contract. If you’re slouching, there’s no room for the “umbrella” to open.

Try this exercise to learn how to breathe more efficiently: • Lie on your back with your feet against the wall, hips and knees bent at a 90 degree angle. This properly aligns your pelvis and ribcage.

• Place your hands on the base of your ribcage.

• Inhale through your nose and imagine that you’re pulling your breath in from your belly (or more accurately, the bottom of your ribcage).

• With your hands, you should feel your ribcage expand on every inhale.

• Be sure to exhale fully, and feel your ribcage and abdominals contract on every exhale.

• Maintain relaxed shoulders.

It’s not uncommon to breathe “backwards”, with your ribcage contracting when you inhale and expanding when you inhale. This is called paradoxical breathing. If

ONCE YOU CAN COMFORTABLY MAINTAIN THIS HORIZONTAL BREATHING PATTERN WHILE LYING DOWN, START TO PRACTICE IT WHILE STANDING AND SITTING. REMEMBER TO SIT OR STAND ERECT AND DON’T ALLOW YOUR SHOULDERS TO ROUND FORWARD. this is you, continue practicing until you get it!

Just keep imagining that umbrella inside your ribcage opening on the inhale, closing on the exhale. Once you can comfortably maintain this horizontal breathing pattern while lying down, start to practice it while standing and sitting. Remember to sit or stand erect and don’t allow your shoulders to round forward.

Focus on exhaling fully, and using your abdominal muscles to push the air out.

Learning how to breathe is something you probably haven’t really considered.

You’ve been breathing your entire life, so you

should be a pro by now, right? You did come into this world breathing correctly, but most likely learned at an early age to change your breathing pattern because of poor posture and/ or societal pressure to keep your belly sucked in.

You take anywhere from 17,000- 30,00 breaths every day, so make sure each one counts! Along with eating right and exercising regularly, incorporating a breathing practice into your daily routine can help you keep stress levels low and maintain a healthy weight.

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Valentine Pops featuring Mandy Harvey MSO Presents Concert Saturday, February 9th

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UDIBEL-THE HEARING CENTER and the Monroe Symphony Orchestra are proud to welcome Mandy Harvey to Monroe as the featured vocalist for the MSO’s Valentine Pops Concert on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Mandy appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2017 and placed fourth overall. She was the recipient of Simon Cowell’s “Golden Buzzer” (allowing the contestant to skip over preliminary judge cuts). The MSO will feature Mandy and her band during their annual Pops concert.

Come enjoy great classics such as “Call Me Irresponsible,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Come Fly with Me,” “What a Wonderful World,” and some of Mandy’s original material as well.

At 18 years old, pursuing a degree in vocal music education at Colorado State University, Harvey lost her hearing due to

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a neurological disorder. She left the music program and pursued several career options, including education, but eventually returned to music. She quickly learned to sing using visual tuners and her ability to remember pitches, having almost perfect pitch. Legally deaf, Mandy has overcome her loss of hearing to become an award-winning instrumentalist and vocalist. In 2009, Harvey’s first album, “Smile,” was released to widespread praise.

Since then, she has released two more critically acclaimed albums: 2010’s “After You’ve Gone” and, in 2014, “All of Me.” In 2017, she released a memoir, Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World Without Sound.

General admission seats in the Monroe Civic Center arena are $30 for adults, and $10 for students. Floor-level tables (can seat up to 8 persons) are available for $50, and every

person at the tables must have an individual ticket. If you wish to sit at a table, attendees are allowed to bring food, decorate their tables, and experience a much more relaxed event. There will also be a cash bar available.

Advanced tickets and tables are available for purchase at mymso.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the Monroe Civic Center box office, and at the door on February 9. For more information about Pops tables, please visit the MSO website: mymso.org, or call the MSO office at 318-812-6761.

Mandy Harvey is touring through Louisiana as a part of the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council and RUPAR (Rural Underdeserved Presenters and Representatives) consortium, and will appear in Ruston, Ferriday, Tallulah, Crowley, Winnsboro, Jonesboro, and Arcadia. Her website is mandyharveymusic.com.

Can You Afford Not to Have Lasik?

Broussard Laser Vision Center Can Help WHAT IS LASIK?

Lasik is a medical procedure that can do away completely with your contacts/ glasses!

wearing prescription glasses, you don’t even get wear cool sunglasses. So, it’s really a WIN-WIN! And, we can help you with your financing!

HOW AFFORDABLE IS LASIK? CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO HAVE LASIK?

We know that cost is important to you. Having great vision every moment of every day isn’t just priceless—it actually costs less than glasses or contacts! LASIK correction is one time and permanent so you will never have the recurring expense of buying multiple glasses or contact lenses throughout your life.

Here’s the math: the average cost of glasses/contacts over a 15 year period is $7,500. Our cost of LASIK is $2,400. THAT IS A SAVINGS OF $5,100. Not to mention, eliminates the potential medical problems of over-wear with contact lenses. And if you’re

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR LASIK?

Most interested patients are candidates for LASIK. Knowing for sure requires a thorough evaluation. Dr. Broussard will complete a complimentary evaluation to determine whether or not you are a candidate. Some basic requirements include: • Stable prescription for past two years.

• Best corrected vision of at least 20/40 • Healthy cornea.

• No active eye disease.

• Over 18 years old.

HOW LONG DOES THE LASIK PROCEDURE TAKE?

Usually the procedure only takes

about 10 minutes per eye. Depending on the corrections to be made, the laser itself only takes 15-30 seconds to correct your vision. Make plans to be in the office for approximately one 1 ½ to 2 hours on your day of surgery.

WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO DRIVE?

On the day of your surgery it is important to have a driver take you home.

You will also need a driver for your postoperative appointment the day after surgery.

In most cases patients drive by the end of the second day.

HOW SOON AFTER LASIK WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE?

Visual recovery varies from one day to one week. The majority of patients resume normal activities one to two days following surgery. It might take longer for your vision to fully stabilize. The vast majority of our LASIK patients achieve legal driving vision or better the next day. It is exciting that clear vision comes so quickly! Initially, your vision might not be crisp and may fluctuate slightly. This is perfectly normal and should improve day by day.

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JUULing

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BY THE CHILDREN’S COALITION FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

aping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as “vapor,” produced by an e-cigarette or similar device.

These devices are also known as e-cigs, vapes, vape pens, JUULs, “jeweling” or mods. More than 20% of high school students vape, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among high school students, vaping jumped 78% in 2018 from a year earlier. Middle school vaping rose 48% over the same period. E-cigarettes are battery powered and deliver nicotine through a liquid (called e-juice), which turns into a vapor when using the devices. The liquid comes in flavors, such as mint, fruit, and bubble gum, which appeals to kids. In Louisiana, just under 30 percent of high schoolers say they started vaping because a friend or family was using, while about 10 percent said they began in order to quit using other tobacco products.

Last year, the Louisiana Legislature expanded a ban on smoking and vaping in elementary and secondary school buildings to include oncampus playgrounds and school buses. While teen smoking rates in Louisiana have dropped since 2011, vaping among high school students has increased by more than 600% in the same period. One sign of the pervasiveness of vaping in teen culture: JUUL, the most popular e-cigarette brand in the US, is getting the verb treatment, a la “Google that.” JUULing is now a thing, as in “I got caught Juuling during class today, so I’m stuck in detention.”

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Standing at 6’9”, Jermaine Galloway can look intimidating. But in fact, he’s a devoted, passionate man who cares about America’s (and beyond) youth and communities. That passion is the platform for what he does with Tall Cop Says Stop™. With 17 years of law enforcement experience, much of it dealing with drugs and alcohol abuse, Galloway has been providing the insights he developed on the frontline of drug interdiction to interested groups for several years. It has become his passion to help parents, teachers and other law enforcement officials to learn the signs of drug culture in their children. To date, he has trained more than 105,000 people nationwide and internationally. He will be presenting High in Plain Sight, a day-long workshop on February 15 from 8:30 to 4:30 in the Student Union Building on the ULM campus. The presentation is for parents and professional and costs $99.00. CEUs are available for Social Work, Counseling (LPC) and ADRA. You can find a direct link to registration on the Children’s Coalition Facebook page (https:// www.facebook.com/ccnela/ ) or call 318-3238775 for more information.

Q: What is the most important thing parents and youth need to know about JUULing?

A: You can’t stop what you don’t know.

Take the time to learn about the different kinds of e-cigarettes, what they look like and what they contain. Many types of e-cigarettes are available, but JUUL is becoming more prevalent with youth in middle and high school because of its small size, and it looks like a USB device. When using a JUUL it is often referred to as JUULing. There are several kinds of vapes that look like the JUUL, but this brand alone accounts for half of the e-cigarette market. Teens like that it can be hidden in plain sight. It looks like a flash drive and tastes like candy. We don’t know all of the ingredients in a JUUL, or what the health effects of inhaling the vapors are because it isn’t regulated by the government yet. We do know that the nicotine in one JUUL pod is the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes.

Q: Why is important for parents to talk to their children about JUULing?

A: In the end, the first line of defense comes down to communication and education. Kids are going to find out about it no matter where they live. There is no rural on the internet. So, instead of taking away their internet access and phones, simply develop the relationship with your children that allows the information to be discussed openly. E-cigarettes are constantly changing, and you need to know what to look for and how it works in order to talk about it. Small and rectangular, JUULs look like a USB connection while being charged, often at school or even at home in the presence of parents. A three-part system includes a charging port, vape pen and vape pod. Charging ports have USB attachments so it can be charged in a laptop. The pen sits on the charging port. Nicotine pods lodge into the top of vape pens. JUULs are activated when a user takes a drag from the top of the device (pod). The pens have on-off switches making it quick and easy to take a drag from the device.

Fruity tastes and lack of a lingering odor add to youth popularity. In some stores, I have seen traditional tobacco on the back wall and JUUL vape pods at the counter top, inches from my reach.

1 in 5 high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the past month.

Q: What are some common misconceptions about JUULing?

A: 66% of teens think “just flavoring” is in their e-cigarette/JUUL and that vaping is less dangerous than using other tobacco products,

such as cigarettes. The truth is the amount of nicotine in the liquid can be the same or even more than the amount found in cigarettes. In addition to nicotine, a vape/e-cig/JUUL, can contain other harmful ingredients, including: ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into your lungs, flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease.

Q: What are the risks in JUULing?

A: Whether nicotine is smoked, dipped or vaped, it is addictive.

The truth is, no matter where you get it from, nicotine is risky. It can harm your developing brain, which can impact your performance on the field or in the classroom. Youth need to know that more people in the United States are addicted to nicotine than any other drug. Research suggests that nicotine may be as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol. In addition, e-cigarettes can vaporize marijuana – either the ground plant itself, waxes often referred to as dabs, or THC and CBD oils. Youth need to know that this concentrated marijuana is 5-times stronger than herbal, street-level, marijuana.

Q: How will I know if someone is JUULing and/or vaping marijuana?

A: Vaping can be difficult to detect as there is no smoke, minimal odor and the vapor produced dissipates rapidly. However, just like smoking, vaping marijuana can result in bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and thirst, increased appetite and shifts in behavior and mood. If you think your child is JUULing, check their computer. Maybe the USB in the drive is not a USB, it’s the charger for the JUUL. Look for devices and receptacles that look unfamiliar or may contain unfamiliar waxes and oils. When you see something like this and you don’t recognize it, that is perfectly fine. You just have to recognize it enough to go search (Google) it.

RESOURCES Know the Risks: E-cigarettes and Young People (https://e-cigarettes. surgeongeneral.gov/default. htm ), is sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services and has a wealth of resources about the use and abuse of e-cigarettes. A useful tip sheet provides conversation starters for parents to talk about e-cigarettes (https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ ParentTipSheet_508.pdf You Can’t Stop What You Don’t Know (https:// www.tallcopsaysstop.com/ ) is a website dedicated to education and resources for the detection and prevention of substance abuse to help keep young people, families and communities safe. You can also find past presentations of the author and how to book him for future training.

Mary Barrios, Healthy Living Coordinator at the Children’s Coalition, works with local agencies and experts to provide information and events that educate youth about substance abuse. Call Mary at (318) 3238775 or go to the Coalition Facebook page (https://www. facebook.com/ccnela/) to register for the upcoming Officer Tall Cop workshop, High in Plain Sight, on the ULM campus.

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Brides, Beaus, and Bubbly

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On Sunday, January 13, ULM hosted its first bridal show - Brides, Beaus, and Bubbly. The event was held at Bayou Pointe and offered a way for the public to learn about the facilities available at ULM, as well as mix and mingle with local vendors.

Attendees and potential brides grabbed a goodie bag on their way in the door and registered for prizes and giveaways. Bash Booth was on hand and snapped fun pictures of everyone that they could take home. Everyone noshed on food and desserts from Thurman’s Food Factory, Aramark, Catfish Charlie’s and more. There were several photographers, event rental companies, florists, and invitation and stationary designers on-hand, as well. Her’s Bridal from Minden even had brides modeling a variety of wedding dresses and gowns during the event.

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On the BayouScene 1 Heather Ganey and Andrea Hayes 2 Taylor Dement and Haley Williams 3 Sarah Perry and Nathan Yeldell 4 Jessica Sherrill and Kaitlyn Johnson 5P am Barnes and Tina Oswald 6 Jasmine Grayson and Troy Linder 7P atty Stewart and Robin Austin 8 Dale and Suhan Wallace 9 T homas Holland and Victorija Morris 10 Jennifer Granger and Jake Houston 11 Amanda Harris, Etta Adams and Kriston Redmond 12 Kathy and Scott Sills 13 Laura Bloomer, Mary Lynn Bloomer and Lindsey Allen 14 Emily Clark, Camile Currier and Meghan Olinger 15 Alana Babb and Rebecca Mitcham 16 L eann Williams and Hali Williams 17 Kim and Brian Wilhite 18 Harley Moore and Madeline Weatherford

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Celebrating 22 Years of Success Waterfront Grill in Monroe

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OR 22 YEARS, THIS LOCAL restaurant is one of Monroe Louisiana’s favorite places to dine. Waterfront Grill opened its doors February 14, 1997 and has been providing this community with some of the best grilled plates in the area ever since.

With a casual setting on Bayou DeSiard and a menu featuring the highest quality steaks and assortment of savory seafood dishes, it’s not hard to see why Waterfront Grill has lasted so long. The Weems family has mastered the grill and has created a special niche that customers, whether they be a local resident or passerby, find delectable.

This Valentine’s Day make reservations for you and your sweatheart and come have dinner at this community-based restaurant as they celebrate their 22nd year of business.

There will be specials for the night and, of course, some of the best grilled food around.

Dine on the bayou for the perfect Valentine’s Day evening.

They have perfected their menu with items that can appeal to any clientele, all without the use of a single frier. One of the most popular dishes on the menu is the Catfish DeSiard, which was once featured in Southern Living Magazine. This dish consists of baked catfish topped with seasoned bread crumbs, green onions, parmesan cheese, mushrooms and shrimp and is truly a mouth-watering combination of flavor and texture.

You can never go wrong ordering oysters, steak or pork chops from the menu at Waterfront. Their frenched, center cut pork chops are made from a premium selection of meat and are char-grilled, flawlessly harnessing the flavors of the seasoning and the natural juices. Pork chops may not be your first choice when dining out, but saying that you would be missing out if you didn’t try these would be an understatement.

Waterfront Grill has evolved over the years, and will continue to evolve, to ensure

that this family restaurant remains a local favorite.

Providing gluten free options, Waterfront strives to accommodate each and every one of their customers. Every aspect of the restaurant is infused with a sense of community and hometown pride. The walls are adored with ULM memorabilia, large windows on the back wall provide views of the patio overlooking the bayou, and the cuisine itself is a statement of Louisiana.

You can find Waterfront next to ULM’s campus at 5201 DeSiard St., open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, or simply call-in your order at 318.345.0064

Waterfront Grill would like to say thank you to our community for their support over the years!

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Bayou DeSiard Country Club Cotillion On January 5, 2019 the Bayou Desiard Country Club Cotillion was held. Charles Marsala served as Master of Ceremonies and this year’s presentation was sponsored by the governing Board of the club, as well as the parents of the young ladies. The nineteen ladies that were presented were Katherine Burkett, Rae Dickson, Elana Dickson, Kylie Embanato, Lily Hart, Annelies Hayward, Emma Jane Johnson, Molly Landry, Bailey Lemoine, Gabby Morstead, Olivia Morstead, Caroline Raymond, Rebecca Robinson, Sarah Ryan, Lucy Sartor, Elizabeth Shackelford, Olivia Thomas, Halley Travis and Julia Trettin.

After the presentation, everyone danced the night away and enjoyed the celebration!

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On the BayouScene 1 Keith Johnson and John David Trettin 2 Adeline Brunnini, Charlotte Robinson and Sam Brown 3D ee and Dr. John Ledbetter 4 E velyn Johnson and Anthony Perkins 5B lake LeBlanc, Connor Thomas, Lynne LeBlanc and Olivia Thomas 6 Al and Aimee Hayward 7B ambi Tonore, Johnna Nelson, Loretta Lemoine, Tammy Cagnolatti and Aimee Hayward 8 Wesley Johnson and Judy Marx 9M aryBeth Kelligrew, Adelaide Sartor, Dr. Walter Sartor, Lucy Sartor, Walt Sartor, Jr. and Peter Kelligrew 10 Sarah and Daniel Raymond 11 E merson Glover, Shannon, Kylie, Joey and Kade Embanato 12 A l Hayward, Jim Tonore, Dale Cagnolatti and Ryan Nelson 13 Joe and Cynthia Travis 14 S arah and Caroline Raymond and Jodee Bruyninckx 15 Annelies Hayward and Dr. Christiana Hayward 16 Katie and Dr. Rolf Morstead 17 B ill Patrick, Olivia Morstead, Kathy Patrick, Katherine Patrick and Isabel McCurdy 18 Sarah Raymond Haydel and Deborah Raymond

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Hopkins Dermatology

On Wednesday, December 12, Hopkins Dermatology hosted an open house event. Guests learned about a new treatment available at Hopkins Dermatology - the cutting edge body contouring technology, TruSculpt iD. Dr. Hopkins also shared the magic of her non-surgical anti-aging procedures, the Fotona laser and exclusive facials. There were also refreshments, door prizes and special promotions.

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On the BayouScene 1C arolyn Dolecheck and Tammy Robinson 2 Dr. Janine Hopkins and Andrea Robinson 3 S usan Hopper and Melissa McKinley 4 Phyllis Sampognaro and Sarah George 5 Mary and John Eaves 6 Dr. Janine Hopkins and Sarah George

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9th Annual Gardening Seminar and Seed Swap

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Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners 9th annual Gardening Seminar and Seed Swap, “Seeds of the Past for the Future,� was a huge success once again this year. People traveled from across the United States to attend this amazing gardening event. Many vendors gathered with different types of greenery, yard signs, seeds, pottery and so much more. There was definitely something for everyone at this event. The attendees got to listen to exciting informational speeches from Larry Stephenson, John Coykendall, and Dr. Allen Owings.

When it comes to apples, seeds, flowers, and pretty much everything you want to know about gardening, these speakers know what they are talking about. The attendees also got to swap seeds with other amazing gardeners in the area.

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On the BayouScene 1 John Coykendall and Ashley Valentine 2 L iz Lee and Bailey Thompson 3 Keith Yeager and Mona Hayden 4 J ana Foster, Barbie Luther and Shirley Brumley 5M argie Mixon and Liz King 6 Steve Ford and Rosemary Ford 7C heryl Haislip and Michele Rhodes 8 Jerry Morregoard, Jeanette Davis and Lorretta Eckert 9 L issy Compton and Anne Sanders 10 Ken Grant, Judy Grant and Dr. Warren Daniels 11 Allen Owings, Gene Rogers and Mike Moore 12 Larry Stephenson 13 Christina Hopkins and Laura Malone 14 Ryan and Evelyn Boyd 15 K athy Barr and Virginia Chin 16 Hope Anderson and Madeline Gebhardt 17 Ronny Rogers, Sheila Hutson and Dianne Brown

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IT TAKES TWO

Tom and Sue Nicholson enjoyed two very different childhoods, and yet both grew up with similar value systems and dreams. Early on, both embraced the importance of honesty, hard work, patriotism, and being open to new ideas.

By Georgiann Potts Photographs by Brad Arender TOM WAS BORN IN DALLAS, and moved to Monroe with his family when he started first grade. His dad had become head of Business Affairs at Northeast Louisiana State College (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe) under newly appointed president, George T. Walker. He describes his childhood as “ . . . a very standard-issue Monroe upbringing” during which he attended Lexington Elementary, Lee Junior High, and Neville. He and his brother, John, were active Scouts and both attained the Eagle Scout rank. “Our family was pretty much typical of the era,” Tom recalls. “Dad went to work every day, and Mom stayed at home to raise us and manage the household.”

Tom describes his growing up as “ . . . mostly going with the flow.” He made good grades (and admits he didn’t have to try very hard) but really didn’t have any hobbies to speak of or much thought about a future career.

Sue’s childhood was far less “fixed.” She was born in Tacoma, Washington, where her father was an officer in the United States Army. Because of her father’s career, Sue lived in places both here and abroad -- Alabama, Colorado, California, Korea, Georgia, Germany, and DeRidder, Louisiana. Not

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surprisingly, two vivid childhood memories reflect the impression living abroad had on her while growing up.

At age six, Sue was living in Tague, Korea, on a small military housing base near the airfield where her father flew helicopters. She remembers watching the Korean women doing their laundry in a little stream on the side of the base. Even though a large fence separated the base from the civilians, the children on both sides would watch each other and try to have a conversation.

“While we didn’t understand much, they remembered my name – ‘Susie’,” Sue recalls. “It sounded a lot like a Korean name – ‘Su See’. When I wasn’t there because of school or chores, the kids would stand by the fence and yell ‘Su See’ for me to come play.”

Today Sue realizes that experiencing an undeveloped country like Korea helped her understand what is truly important in our daily lives.

She also understands that although the modern world gives much to make life better, it often desensitizes people to feel less grateful and less appreciative of what truly matters.

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hen Sue was in her early teens, the family lived in Munich, Germany, during the Cold War prior to German reunification. An important part of their household was the “emergency box” that the family kept in the hall closet in case they had to evacuate on short notice.

Even though times were tense, the family was able to visit West Berlin. They made the trip from Munich by train by night, and Sue remembers seeing armed guards at every stop. Once in Berlin, she remembers visiting the Wall, stopping at Check Point Charlie, and climbing up the observation tower. “This was the first time I can remember being grateful that I was an American and aware of the true meaning of freedom,” she says.

PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION

Tom and his brother, John, both earned undergraduate degrees in finance from ULM and graduate degrees in finance from Louisiana State University. When asked how he and his brother happened to select identical university degrees, Tom (with characteristic frankness) replied, “Dad thought – for whatever reason – that banking looked like a great career path for his boys, so that’s how we both got started.

Sounded OK to us, and we didn’t have any better ideas.”

Tom remembers his undergraduate experience at ULM as being one of the best of his life. Because of his father’s job there, Tom more or less grew up on the campus. He enjoyed attending sports events, watching track-and-field world records being set, the incredibly exciting basketball squads coached by Fant and Hollis, and also just getting to know a number of the people who were working so hard to build the university during the 1960’s and ‘70’s. Two former ULM presidents -- George Walker and Dwight Vines -- are among those he admired for what they were trying to do. “The education I got was excellent, and the environment was just so friendly and supportive,” he recalls. “It still is today.”

Several professors were among Tom’s favorites while at ULM. His very favorite subject, though not related to his career, was Statistics, taught by Dr. Mike Dolecheck – the professor he still says today was one of the best he ever had. “Dr. Dolecheck was so good that I took 156 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Advanced Statistics as an elective,” Tom says with a smile. “Everyone thought I was crazy!”

The best course that he had that directly related to his career was Business Communications taught by Dr. Dolecheck’s wife, Carolyn.

Tom credits her with helping him develop what became one of his strongest assets – effective written communication.

The third professor who was a particular favorite was Dave Norris, former mayor of West Monroe now retired, who taught Tom his first Economics class. “He was very good at relating how abstract economic principals apply to real people,” Tom says. “Very enjoyable, and it created an interest in the broader field that I still have.”

By contrast, Sue’s earliest career aspiration was to become a missionary. Her best friend’s parents in Korea were missionaries and she thought that was what she wanted to do. Later she learned about the work of the Peace Corps and decided that she wanted to do that. After she graduated high school in DeRidder and began undergraduate studies at Louisiana Tech, law school piqued her interest. Though none of these ended up being her destiny, her interest in them all illustrate perfectly different parts of her personality. The “common thread” among these is that she wanted to help others, to make a difference. Tom laughingly refers to it as her “do-gooder” gene!

At Louisiana Tech Sue earned a degree in history (graduating Summa Cum Laude) and through it discovered a love for research.

When she went to work in the non-profit sector -- a decision that seemed at first to be a mismatch, she quickly learned how much research is a significant part of the work done in that field. She discovered that research and the writing associated with that --- two things that she loves --- made working for non-profits a perfect fit.

Her favorite subjects during her college years were Medieval History and English History. A self-confessed PBS English drama junkie, Sue says that any trip to England always includes visits to medieval churches.

While at Louisiana Tech, one professor impacted Sue in different ways. Dr. Abe Attrap taught her history using a series of stories to make the history “come alive”. “Dr. Attrap was the first professor who

Tom’s third mentor was the late Saul Mintz, whose career philosophy Tom embraced as his own. He heard Mintz articulate his “business plan” several years after Tom joined Strauss and immediately recognized that their philosophies matched perfectly.

Mintz explained to Tom that while many business people set goals, created budgets, and so on, he had never really had much use for all of that. Mintz said that his philosophy was to just “ . . . try and move the ball a little every day. Occasionally I get to move it more than that, and every now and again, I look up and am amazed at how far I’ve come.”

CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE

Sue’s work with the Ruston/Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau marked the beginning of what would become a long and successful career through which she connected with people and influenced community decisions for the better.

In 1995 Sue was named President of the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, a position she held for nearly a decade. In 2004 she became Assistant Vice President for External Affairs at ULM, another post that she absolutely loved. Still, Chamber work drew her back. In 2005 she became president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the position she currently holds. pushed me to read and understand different and often conflicting viewpoints,” Sue remembers. “He taught me to be open to different points of view and to compare and contrast them with my own. He helped me to understand the richness of civilizations and the lessons of history.”

Sue’s favorite subject not related to her career was art. She loves to draw and paint, although she insists that she isn’t very good at it. “I love the colors and textures of visual art,” she explains.

ESTABLISHING CAREERS

Both Tom and Sue had rather inauspicious beginning to their work lives. Tom’s first job was working at the old power plant on Park Avenue. He and his coworkers helped maintain the facility, and faded yellow paint on the handrails is still faintly visible. “I helped paint those,” Tom says. “The lesson that taught was that I didn’t want to paint handrails for a living.”

Sue’s first job memory was babysitting, but during the summer between her junior and senior high school years, she worked in a fast food restaurant. “This inspired me to get the education that I needed,” she says, “so that I would never have to work in a fast food restaurant again!”

Both confess to never having had what Tom calls “some grand master plan” concerning their careers. Even so, each took advantage of every opportunity that arose and by doing so, developed rock solid careers doing things that they love.

ROLE OF MENTORS

Tom “measures” his career in terms of three mentors who each took an interest in him that went beyond just family connection or friendship. The first, his father, clearly had a lifelong influence on Tom in all aspects of his son’s life.

The second was the late Jim Altick, the banker who brought Tom on board at Central Bank and helped guide Tom’s very successful career in banking. When Tom left the bank and the banking industry in 1998, he did so as the last president in Central Bank’s 100+ year history.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY

Tom and Sue share a passion for travel and get away as often as their jobs will allow. They love “traditional travel” (London, Scotland, Vancouver) but also embrace trips to places not as often on most travelers’ maps. Peru and Iceland are two such destinations that they have enjoyed. They would like to return to Iceland, but this time include a side trip to Greenland, Newfoundland, and Labrador.

Both also share a keen interest in genealogy, something that is often a part of their travel. Tramping about ancient churchyards and delving into old documents suit them both.

FUTURE DREAMS Tom and Sue share a common vision for their future. Each looks forward to a time when careers won’t be at the forefront and they can spend even more time together. Both of them are extremely independent spirits, but somehow they have managed to accept at least partial dependence on each other.

“Tom will say that we fit together so well because we are both eccentric and hard to live with,” Sue says. “Still, it works. He is my best friend, we are a good team, and we just ‘fit’.” Tom adds, “For me, ‘family time’ is whenever Sue and I are together. We always have a LOT of things to talk about that interest us both. We find this world to be an infinitely interesting place. That is one of the strongest ‘glues’ that make our marriage a fit.”

As with all healthy relationships, there are occasional differences of opinion. Once early in their marriage, after the two had disagreed on some matter long since forgotten, Tom created a drawing for Sue. “It is of two stick figures on a hill,” she explains. “He said we were like two generals who were looking over the battlefield and we would always have each other’s back.” She had the drawing framed and keeps it where se can see it every day.

That drawing may also illustrate their joint role in our community --- watching closely to see if there are areas in which they may contribute. Certainly sharing that “do-gooder” gene has helped, too.

Their joint commitment to our community and its people has made all the difference.

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Phantom of the Opera ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts Presents Classic Musical

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ickets are now available for Phantom of the Opera, performed by the School of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The show will be performed on the ULM campus on Thursday through Saturday nights, March 2123, at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium.

On Sunday March 24, a matinee at 2:00 p.m. will be presented.

Phantom, in the last 30 years since its opening in London, has been seen in New York City by more than 6 million people, and on tour in many countries throughout the world in many languages. The musical takes place entirely in the Paris Opera House toward the end of the 19th century in the interior of the opera house, on the roof and the labyrinth below. The settings are the locations where young dancer Christine Daae is tutored in singing by the mysterious Phantom of the Opera, his disfigured face hidden by a mask. Entering the scene is her childhood friend Raoul, a well-to-do Count who is in love with Christine. Among the cast of characters enriching the story is the opera diva Carlotta and her singing partner Piangi, and the administrators and performers behind the scenes and onstage of the storied opera house.

The all-student cast will be headed by Blake Oden singing the Phantom, Leah Huber as Christine, and Jace Cascio is Raoul. Double casted Divas are Morgan Meyer and Taylor Witherspoon as Carlotta, and Piangi is performed by Peyton Churchwell.

Principals also include Gray Hall, Emmanuel Capers, Rachal Bouriaque, Morgan Rowland, Hannah Parker, Allison Newton, Kylie Daigle, Ryan Kersh and Caleb Norman.

The production is directed by Mark Ross Clark; the conductor of the orchestra is Deborah Chandler; and the production team includes Derle Long, producer; Justin Havard heads music preparation, Margaret Hall, costumer and Steven Burnside, technical director, also executing the set construction.

The cast also includes Irina Polunova, Ashtyn Henderson, Ethan Dennis, Nicole Bou, Dovie Milstead, Breanna Gottschalck, Latiyara Faris, John Radcliffe, Gabriel Wright, Sand Bhatta, Landry Allen, Timothy Butler, Morgan Crosser, Alicia Guerrero, Hannah Atsedewoin, Brandi Pippins, Kara Carter, Gabby Ballew, and Huntleigh Foster.

Tickets are $15 general admission and $5 students, and are available online: ulm.edu/VAPA and at in the VAPA Office, Biedenharn 105 on the ULM campus between the office hours of 7:30 am and 5:00 pm.

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President’s Awards Given, Board Members Elected

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North Central Louisiana Arts Council Announces Awards

he North Central Louisiana Arts Council held its Annual Meeting and Member’s Holiday Party January 9, 2019, at Ruston Artisans in Ruston.

Board President Peter Jones announced the 2018 President’s Awards, presenting honors to: Catherine McVea– Patron of the Year; Cathi Cox-Boniol – Board Member of the Year; Main Street Exchange - Arts Business of the Year; Michael Williams - Volunteer of the Year; Bruce Gay – Artist of the Year; and First National Bank - Corporate Sponsor of the Year.

New Board Members elected to serve are: Mike Leblanc, Carolyn Collier, Natorshau Davis, Erika McFarland, and DeVaria Hudson. Dorene Kordal will be reelected for another term. Interns from 2018 were recognized, including Michael Miller,

Skylar Vickery, Abi Watson, Brittany Alford, Mary Tyler Storms, and Bailee Golden.

NCLAC wishes to congratulate these winners and to thank its members and supporters for a successful year. Appreciation is also expressed to Ruston Artisans for the use of their event space.

NCLAC is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and administered by Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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VICTORIAN GOTHIC WITH A TWIST

The midnight hued, Victorian-inspired exterior of Leanne and Clay Nelson's home echoes today's minimalist style with sleek, modern interiors.

TEXT BY MARÉ BRENNAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

CONSTRUCTION BY NELSON BUILDERS

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ne thing is for sure, husband and wife team, Leanne and Clay Nelson, know how to create buzz around their family’s business. How many 30-somethings are daring enough to develop a neighborhood of custom and spec homes designed and built by their own construction company? How many would be so bold as to design a two-story Victorian-inspired single family home, then paint its exterior an edgy midnight black hue? Taking it a step further, in a surprise twist that’s only hinted at from the exterior’s single-pane large windows, the interiors are pared back with a sleek, modern look.

What gave the Nelsons the gumption to design and build a black house? Says Leanne, “Clay and I have been married 14 years and in those 14 years, we’ve had seven houses. Until this house we have always had to build based on resale. This was a house that I could design just for us, without having to worry about resale.” So they “went for it.”

Located in West Monroe’s Henryanna subdivision, a wide, welcoming path leads visitors to the Nelsons’ home through an allée of crepe myrtles. Henryanna is the first subdivision the Nelsons have developed; however, they are no strangers to building luxury residential structures with work in Mallard Estates and Castle Creek before trying their hand as developers. The home’s signature dark, Gothic exterior is embellished with four half columns on the second story façade. As lead designer for Nelson Builders, Leanne found two ideas for this home’s front exterior and had a draftsperson combine the two for a residence inspired by turn of the century architecture.

Long copper lanterns illuminate either side of olive-hued front doors which feature oversized brass hardware. The front doors had started off as a pink color, but soon changed to green. “I knew that olive color would work well with my terra cotta pots outside.”

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When guests pass through the generous double front doors, they step metaphorically into the light, playful interior of the home.

The open floor plan welcomes with a view that carries one visually through the living room, to the open, U-shaped kitchen and to the covered patio and backyard beyond. Visually, there is nothing fussy like crown molding or trim around windows to obstruct the clean lines in the interiors.

The living room exudes what the Danish call “hygge” or an ultimate coziness or feeling of warmth. On either side of the fireplace built-in shelving is artfully arranged with the family’s treasures. The open shelving of the built-ins provides an inexpensive solution.

Macramé art on the wall and succulents hanging in glass globes from the ceiling add natural softness to the mix.

Leanne designed her kitchen unconventionally, sacrificing upper cabinets in order to gain four large, vertical windows behind the extra long kitchen sink and counter, which overlook the outdoor living space. A gold-toned faucet lends an air of dressiness to the space. Stainless steel appliances by Thor are the tools used by a culinary dream team. Cabinetry throughout the kitchen features soft-close drawers with crescent-shaped, modern gold pulls.

The kitchen’s countertops are a work of art handcrafted by Clay, himself. Each counter took at least a week to produce, says Leanne.

“Each piece was cut individually to fit in a beautiful chevron pattern, glued down, then sanded. Then a coat of matte polyurethane was added to finish.” The empty return “boxes” on either side of the kitchen corners helped center the cabinetry and the windows in the room. Clay also built the open shelving which is home to easy to reach mugs, glasses and small plates. Leanne chose not to place an island in the kitchen, instead choosing to place her dining table and chairs in the middle. “This is where people congregate anyway, so why not?” says the homeowner. “This is my favorite part of the house. I like that it’s not traditional with the table in the center and the openness of the windows.” The dining table was built by Clay and his brother of dark stained walnut with thick legs. For this home, Leanne ordered pin legs from Ikea and Clay replaced them and lightened the stain. Hidden from sight but making the table even more special, the family’s handprints are beneath the top.

In Clay’s office, a vintage kilim tops polished concrete floors.

Clay’s guitars hang artfully from leather straps and custom pegs behind his minimalist desk. A wire basket holds house plans. The twin’s youth guitars stand ready for family impromptu music sessions. Among Clay’s hobbies besides guitar-picking is creating videos for his family and for fun. “Clay does a great Christmas video,” says Leanne, “He edits and puts the whole thing together.

It’s really nice to see the growth of the kids from year to year.” And both Leanne and Clay love animals, even naming their subdivision’s road after their rescue dog, Sadie. “Sadie gets the whole room under the stairs which was designed especially for her with a doggie door that leads to her dog run outside.

Clay, who is also a twin, comes from a long line of contractors.

His dad supervised at Breck Construction. Clay got his contractor’s license at age 20, starting Nelson Builders when he was just 21.

Part of a formidable home building team, Leanne designs all the house plans and helps families make choices for custom plans. “I like for each house in our subdivision to have its own special, unique feel, whether it’s a custom house or a spec house.” The Nelsons have had great success with spec houses because many times people are afraid of the process. It’s all in the family, as Clay’s dad and two of his brothers work with him at busy Nelson Builders, which has just signed deals to build an Adventure Park and duplexes in addition to other high profile build-outs.

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Henryanna has a Home Owners Association which helps pay for the upkeep of common grounds and maintains restrictions, such as a minimum heated square feet requirements, and a second phase of Henryanna is scheduled to get underway later this year. The neighborhood, which is tucked away off Wallace Road, is home to some killer block parties. Those who own homes in the neighborhood are kept up-to-date on happenings through a fun group text. For holidays, residents of Henryanna along Sadie Lane are encouraged to change the color of their soffit lightbulbs .

A long hallway with built-in “art” niches for displaying the boy’s handiwork leads from the enclosed garage past Clay’s office to the master bedroom. Each niche is lit from above with a tiny LED spotlight. Several niches include collages of the Nelsons’ twins artwork, by Rachel Madden with Jelly Bean Street.

A full bath is located adjacent to the office and features a square porcelain sink top-mounted to a mid-century modern inspired vanity. Says Leanne, the twins were so bad about pulling down shower curtains in their previous home, she decided to look for glass doors as a replacement. “When you love your tilework, don’t you want to see it?” says Leanne. Adorable airplants peeking out from blown-glass orbs hang in the shower.

The outdoor living area offers areas for outdoor dining, relaxing and watching the latest sporting event. A neat feature for keeping this covered patio area free of leaves is a retractable air pressure hose which is routed through the empty return corner space in the kitchen, up to the attic and is attached to a pump in the garage.

The couple’s master bedroom and bath is a luxurious retreat. The couple’s soaring lattice-work bed was sourced from Paul Michael Company and repainted from its original blue shade to a grayish white. A vintage kilim and low storage bench lie at the foot of the bed. The bed is made with crisp white linens, a mushroom silk velvet coverlet, a long inky-hued bolster pillow and a round sun embroidered pillow. Globe shaped chrome lights for reading are centered above bedside tables.

“I like for each house in our subdivision to have its own special, unique feel," says Leanne.

The en suite master bathroom is Leanne and Clay’s pièce de résistance. On the left, a sculptural freestanding tub provides a restful spot for soaking beneath a fringed concentric ringed chandelier.

A photograph of a longhorn bull, placed behind the tub, and a Southwestern style ladder add masculinity to the space. On the right is a double rain shower with luxe fixtures. “I am known for the design of my master baths,” says Leanne of her specialty. “Every one is unique and my signature is an open shower. Double shower heads and a shower wand make bathing twin boys, dogs and plants a breeze. The open shower is delineated with two concrete columns and a concrete header which were hand poured by Clay. First he set and braced forms for the columns and header, mixing and pouring concrete into the forms from his position in the home’s attic. The concrete, because of the forms, has the texture of the wood.

The vanity features a chevon patterned countertop like those found in the kitchen and under counter mounted double sinks.

Cabinetry utilizes finger pulls for a sleek, unobstructed look to cabinet drawers and doors. A series of five clerestory windows sends daylight streaming into the space. A pair of oversized round mirrors adds balance to the bathroom.

In order to maximize space, the couple’s closet features pull down rods that takes storage to the ceiling yet keeps it in reach. The closet connects to the home’s laundry room, which features push button cabinetry and a cheery palm print wallcovering.

The stairs which are located by the front door were envisioned after Leanne saw a similar set of railings on television. Simple painted pine creates the railings, while treads are kept a natural matte pine.

At the top of the railing a leather butterfly chair and hanging lantern create a simple, homey vignette.

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he couple’s three year old twin boys keep things lively and helped inspire Leanne’s choices for finishes and room design throughout the home. On the first floor, swirling polished concrete creates a unifying and durable surface for a young family on the move. Turkish kilims provide softness, warmth and color underfoot. The interior doors are a new pattern carried by Builders’ Supply and one that reflects the fresh modernity of the home and its occupants.

The large upstairs playroom is large enough for the boys to ride their bikes and roughhouse.

Throughout the second floor, Leanne chose a tongue and groove pine flooring in alternating widths of 4” and 6” planks finished with an unusual matte polyurethane. “I had to order the matte polyurethane by these little quarts because it didn’t come in a larger size,” laughs Leanne, who related how she bought out every quart at every home improvement and hardware store in the Ark-LaMiss.

The boys’ bathroom features a hexagon-shaped tile flooring that looks as if it is actually distressed barnwood. A modern glossy, white floating vanity and white square tile shower/tub with glass door keep the bathroom up to date and sleek.

When Leanne was looking for a fresh, arrangement and versatile furnishings for the twin’s bedroom, she looked to Modsy.com, an online interior design service, for help. She uploaded the dimensions of the room, told them her needs and those of her young boys, and the designers came up with a plan that fit her budget and room perfectly.

Leanne then took the Modsy plan and made it her own. The twin’s beds are placed as mirror images of each other in the large bedroom. The lion and elephant paintings above one bed were created

by Leanne and Clay. A large, 8-light Edison bulb chandelier provides lots of light throughout the room.

In the upstairs Guest Room, large single pane windows fill the room with an abundance of light.

Roman shades of natural woven grass provide privacy yet let the sun shine through. A chandelier with a basket-like woven shade and kilim in muted tones add warmth to the space. A rose gold metal bed is outfitted with soft blue sheeting, tailored and tucked with a white duvet and a navy throw and accent pillows. At bedside are chrome globe reading lights above bedside tables.

A Nelson Builders’ home is easy to determine.

Look for the signature indented cross at the end of the driveway. For every home they build, the Nelsons bury a Bible at the end of every driveway.

“We push a Bible into the concrete as it is being poured. After it is smoothed over and begins to dry, the cross is lifted, leaving its impression,” says Leanne.

Leaving an impression is something that the Nelsons will continue to do as they push the boundaries of what living luxe can mean in the Twin Cities and beyond.

For more images of the Nelson's home, visit our website at www.bayoulifemag.com

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Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com Through – February 9 En Plein Air: The Artist and the Natural World Since the dawn of humanity, artists have looked to the natural world for guidance, inspiration, and understanding. This selection of works from the Permanent Collection of the Masur Museum and the Twin City Art Foundation features landscapes and other scenes from nature, though the artists have interpreted their surroundings in vastly different ways. From the romantic English countryside of Frederick William Hulme and the hazy bayous of Alexander Drysdale, to the scientific specimens of Alberto Rey, take a journey through this exploration of nature, and art's relationship to it.

Venue: Masur Museum of Art 1400 South Grand, Monroe Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: 318-329-2237 Through – February 28

In Her Own Words, The Private Collection of Marie Keahey This exhibit is a wonderful showcase of a vivid collection of art from Marie Keahey. All are invited to come and explore this collection, open now until Feb 28th. The Private Collection of Marie Keahey, the Schepis Museum presents such an artistic narrative as told by the collector – Marie Keahey. This narrative is told through works that cross the continuum of culture, geography and time – from the unknown and obscure to the work of royalty. Join us for an exquisite exploration of this collection of ceramics, sculpture, paintings, textiles and much more!

Venue: The Schepis Museum 106 Main Street, Columbia Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Weekdays Cost: Free Phone: 318-649-9931 January 31 – February 3, 7-9 Who's in Bed with the Butler

Enjoy a showing of Who's in Bed

with the Butler at Strauss Theatre!

A California billionaire has died and bequeathed all of his assets to his only daughter. Constance, except the yacht to Josephine, his art collection to Renee and his antique car collection to Renee and his antique care to collection to Marjorie. Constance arrives with a lawyer and detective to find out who these women are. The butler seems to hold the key but there are lots of unanswered questions.

This hilarious farce confuses, delights, and most of all entertains.

Venue: Strauss Theatre Center 1300 Lamy Lane, Monroe Hours: 7 p.m Thursday - Saturday, 2 p.m. on Sunday Cost: $30 for Adults $10 for Students Phone: 318-323-6681 February 1 First Annual NE Louisiana Boat and Outdoor Show

The Monroe Civic Center will be packed with your favorite equipment and products for the 1st Annual NE Louisiana Boat and Outdoor Show.

See what's new for 2019 in the world of boats and outdoor products!

Venue: Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe Phone: 318-329-2225 February 2 Primitive Fire Starting

Learn how the Native Americans of Poverty Point may have created fire more than 3,500 years ago.

Connect with our shared past in learning about primitive firestarting techniques using a bow drill.

Visitors are welcome to try out the bow drill for themselves, as well!

Venue: Poverty Point World Heritage Site 6859 Highway 577, Pioneer Hours: 11:00 a.m.

Cost: $4 Phone: 888-926-5492 Goat Yoga at the Farm

Come join Double BB Farms for Goat Yoga at the farm! Goat yoga is for people of all ability or no ability at

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all. This event will be outside so dress appropriately. Class includes tour of farm. Please bring your yoga mat if you have one. Class will be taught

by Yogi, Elizabeth Griffon. Click link below to book. **Disclaimer: Class could be interrupted at any moment by baby goats wanting a cuddle!

Venue: Double BB Farms, 1816 Stubbs Vinson Road, Monroe Hours: 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.

Cost: $20 Phone: 318-355-1824 February 2-28 Black History Month Celebration Across Lincoln Parish, organizations are hosting events and programs celebrating Black History Month. Festivities are kicked off by welcoming renowned artist Morris Taft Thomas to Ruston Artisans for a special exhibition February 2.

Exhibition will run through March 1.

Venue: Throughout Ruston and Lincoln Parish Info: www.rustonlincoln.com February 7 February Downtown Gallery Crawl

Start February off with another cool crawl in downtown Monroe & West Monroe! As we enter the Mardi Gras season, it's the perfect time to support your creative community and have a blast at the 10 galleries on Art Alley, Antique Alley and S. Grand.

There's no better place to be than the Downtown Gallery Crawl!

Venue: Downtown Monroe and West Monroe Time: 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

February 9 2019 Reign Beard and Mustache Competition

It’s that time again to show off your growth! Categories include: Full beard under 3.5 inches, Full beard from 3.5-6.5, Full beard 6.6-beyond, Mustache, Partial Beard, Whiskerina, and Arm Wrestling! Don't miss out on this fun event!

Venue: Flying Tiger Brewery 506 North 2nd Street, Monroe Hours: 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $5 cover Phone: 318-547-1738 Krewe de Life Mardi Gras Ball

You are cordially invited to attend the inaugural 2019 Krewe De Life Mardi Gras Ball fundraiser.

Enjoy an enchanted evening of music, dinner, and dancing. Guests will enjoy an open bar. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction with fabulous items including sports memorabilia, local dining, gourmet baskets and more! New Orleans Jazz Saxophonist and DJ, Gary Brown, will provide entertainment. Must be 21 and older to attend. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. Your generous contribution will truly make a lifesaving difference for those awaiting an organ and tissue transplant by funding LOPA’s Community Education and Family Service programs.

Venue: Bayou Pointe Student Event Center 100 Warhawk Way, Monroe Hours: 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Phone: 318-342-5216 Valentine Pops

Love is in the air for Monroe Symphony Orchestra's Valentine Pops concert, featuring the jazz vocals of Mandy Harvey, an award-winning singer and songwriter. Mandy Harvey finished fourth on America's Got Talent in 2017 and was Simon Cowell's "golden ticket" selection.

Reserve your pops table now, grab your friends and family, and join the Monroe Symphony Orchestra for a night of unparalleled entertainment.

Mandy Harvey will perform songs to enchant and delight during this Valentine's event.

Venue: Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe Hours: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Cost: $5-$25 Phone: 318-329-2225 Farm to Table Dinner

Join For His Temple Family Foods for a dining experience to remember!

They are serving a five-course meal featuring locally sourced ingredients and focused on Louisiana Cuisine. As always, their food is gluten free, dairy free and primarily organic. Feel free to bring your favorite bottle of wine to enjoy.

Venue: For His Temple Family Foods 315 Woods St, Monroe Hours: 6:00 p.m.

Cost: $75 Phone: 318-791-5956

morning of February 16th with the Krewe of Janus' King, Queen and the Royal Court! Parade entrants must bring their own throws such as beads, cups, candy and toys.

Wagons, bikes, or small batteryoperated vehicles are allowed.

Venue: Pecanland Mall 4700 Millhaven Road, Suite 2000, Monroe Hours: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Cost: Free Phone: 318-322-4635

February 13 Big Daddy Weave - Alive Tour

Enjoy Big Daddy Weave live in concert at First West Baptist Church on February 13th!

Venue: First West 500 Pine Street, West Monroe Hours: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Cost: $15 - $185 Phone: 318-322-5104

13th Annual Krewe of PAWS Mardi Gras Pet Parade

The 13th Annual Krewe of PAWS Mardi Gras Pet Parade will roll through Antique Alley in West Monroe, LA on February 16th!

Venue: Antique Alley 100-400 blocks of Trenton Street, West Monroe Hours: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

February 14 “Don’t Get Trouble in Your Mind” Indie Film

This independent film documents the story of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an AfricanAmerican string band from Raleigh, North Carolina, and their mentor, fiddler Joe Thompson. The film captures how three musicians from the hip-hop generation embraced a 19th Century genre and took it to new heights, winning a Grammy in 2010.

Venue: Dixie Center for the Arts Hours: 7:00 p.m.

Cost: $5/$3 for students Phone: 318-255-1450 February 16 Artifact Identification

A chance for area "collectors" to have their finds identified by the park staff. The program allows staff to learn about the distribution patterns of the Native American culture and help establish a good working relationship with the area people. For more information call 888.926.5492 toll free or 318.926.5492 locally.

Venue: Poverty Point World Heritage Site 6859 Highway 577, Pioneer Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $4 Phone: 888-926-5492 Krewe of Janus Children's Mardi Gras Parade

Under the Big Top is the theme for the 2019 Children's Mardi Gras Parade! The parade will be rolling through the mall the

Jester Jog 5K

Runners and Walkers will take over the streets of downtown West Monroe just a few short hours before the Mardi Gras Parade.

Venue: Downtown Monroe and West Monroe DeSiard and Trenton Streets, Monroe and West Monroe Hours: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 to enter race Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade

Don't miss out on the Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade! This is a traditional Mardi Gras Parade with marching units, floats and costumes.

This year's theme is "Under the Big Top." Venue: Monroe-West Monroe Louisville Avenue and Trenton Street Hours: 6:00 p.m.

Downtown River Jam Block Party

Amdocs presents the Downtown River Jam Mardi Gras Block Party!

Hang out in the heart of downtown while enjoying great food, incredible music, and the Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade! Music will be on the Skent-N-Dent Stage from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. beginning with the Joe Haydel Band and the J.A.M Brass Band to follow. Choices Brands, Inc. will have beer samples and Doe’s Eat Place will have a cash bar.

Venue: Corner of North 3rd and Pine, Monroe Hours: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

February 16-17 Home Expo 2019

The Home Expo offers the

potential home buyer or remodeling client the opportunity to meet with scores of vendors conveniently under one roof and have dialogue about their individual needs. Home Expo 2019 features a kaleidoscope of homebuilders, remodelers, decorating services, residential designers, mortgage bankers and virtually any service or product related to the home.

Venue: Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe Phone: 318-329-2225 February 21 February Book Discussion

Join the Spice & Tea Exchange of West Monroe as they immerse your senses in flavors. Book selections are based on culture and cooking experiences. They explore a new book each month.

February's book is The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert.

Venue: The Spice & Tea Exchange of West Monroe 229 Trenton St, West Monroe Hours: 6:00 p.m.

Phone: 318-388-3920 February 22-23 ULM Warhawks vs SIUE Cougars

Join in on the fun and watch the ULM Warhawks take on the SIUE Cougars!

Venue: ULM Warhawk Field Warhawk Way, Monroe Hours: 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday Cost: General Admission: $9 Reserved Seatback: $13 Phone: 318-342-1000 February 23 Forever Young: Throwback Prom

The Downtown Monroe Alliance is bringing Forever Young: Throwback Prom. Forever Young is a celebration of the good ole days. They will be infusing a little bit of each decade from the 60s through today in the event, and they want to see each decade represented! Come decked out in your fanciest clothes! Relive your prom or create the one you never had. DJ Chad Hays will be bringing you the top jams from over the years. Get ready to dance the night away! You might even win big!

Venue: Ouachita Grand Plaza 501 South Grand Avenue, Monroe Hours: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Cost: $30-$300

Phone: 318-329-1381 Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball

Enjoy an evening out with dinner, dancing, and celebrating the arts culture of the area! Guests also can take part in a silent auction with original artwork, fine jewelry and more! Proceeds from the night benefit the historic Dixie Theatre and the North Central Louisiana Arts Council.

Venue: Ruston Civic Center Hours: 7:00 p.m.

Cost: $65 Phone: 318-255-1450 February 24 Bridal Extravaganza

Bridal Extravaganza is a bridal expo connecting brides and bridal parties to resources they need to produce their dream wedding! Door Prizes, Fun and Entertainment!

Venue: West Monroe Convention Center 901 Ridge Avenue, West Monroe Hours: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $10 Phone: 318-914-2026 Enjoy your stay in MonroeWest Monroe!

We at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitor’s Bureau hope you have a great stay here!

Please feel free to call us at 800-843-1872 if you have any questions. You may also stop by our offices at 601 Constitution Drive, West Monroe for brochures, coupons and additional information.

Visit www.monroe-westmonroe. org for information about events in Ouachita Parish and visit www.rustonlincoln.com for events in Lincoln Parish.

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