BayouLife Magazine January 2022

BLcontents 20

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48 20 / HOMEMADE MASKS

Avocados boast an incredible amount of skin-boosting beneftis due to healthy fats, vitamins and nutrients packed inside this healthy fruit.

JANUARY 2022

22 / SMUDGE STICK

Burning herbs for their smoke is a common practice called smudging. This trend originated with the Indigenous People of North America and has grown in popularity in the last few years.

102

62 / THE BEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS

We’ve asked local experts to recommend their favorite beauty products to add to your beauty regimen in the New Year.

65 / TOP DOCS 2022

102 / A LIFE FILLED WITH GRACE

39 / MORNING RITUAL

Here are some small but significant ways to rise and thrive in the new year.

48 / HEALTH WITH HOPE

114 / ON POINTE

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Because of the impact it has on inflammation, immune health, and nutrient absorption, every system of your body is affected by the functioning of your gut.

A P R I L 2 0 1 8133 / HEALTH WITH HORMONES

We are proud to announce our 4th Annual Top Doctors.

Rhonda Grace has a simple message for everyone she meets: “Love God, love others, and love yourself!” Hers has not always been an easy life, but one thing has seen her through it all – her steadfast faith.

Food has always meant something to Hope Anderson Frugé. “It was handed down from generation to generation,” she says, referring to the cooks and bakers in her family.

128 / GO WITH YOUR GUT

For Michelle Harvey, dance has always been part of her life. She started teaching in high school and would later open her own dance studio.

Biodentical hormone replacement therapy is making a difference in the lives of those struggling with hormone deficiencies.

138 / THE ART OF COMBAT

On the mat, in the weight room, running marathons, and in fights, Butler exudes an enthusiasm and passion for his craft, the art of one-on-one combat, and his unstoppable progression in the sport appears to mirror his will to be great.

BayouLife

H

ealth & Wellness is the theme of this month’s issue. The new year marks a time for fresh beginnings and healthy living, and we’ve gathered information to help you on your quest to a healthier lifestyle.

I’ve been trying to think about what my New Year’s resolutions will be. I think I’ve landed on a few ideas: getting dressed in work clothes daily, actually using the Peleton that has been collecting dust in our guest bedroom, spending more time on my spiritual journey and waking up with more time in the morning. I’m going to go into it with a positive attitude and see what happens.

I was really interested to read Vanelis Rivera’s article on Morning Habits. She talked with four community members to see what rituals start their day. Read this article on page 39.

I loved dancing. Michelle Harvey had a little studio in Rayville where I grew up earning my elastic for learning my dance positions and honing in on my step-ball-change. When my children started dancing, it warmed my heart to know that Miss Michelle would be their dance teacher. From a Nutcracker star to life-long dance teacher, Michelle Harvey is this month’s BayouArtist. See her article on page 114.

A month ago, I was sitting in church and heard the testimonial of Rhonda Grace. I cried. I was so moved at the obstacles that she had overcome, of the overwhelming trials that she had faced, and yet she continued on the path to open Grace Place. Rhonda Grace is this month’s BayouIcon. Read her article on page 102.

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1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185

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PUBLISHER & OWNER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com COPY EDITOR Cindy Foust

We are proud to announce our 4th annual Top Doctors issue. We sent over 1,500 letters to local medical professionals’ offices, and asked them who they would recommend in particular categories. We do know that this list is by no means an all-inclusive and encompassing list, and we do not recommend changing your medical provider because of this list. We are extremely lucky to have a large pool of medical professionals in Northeast Louisiana and are thankful for all the amazing people that devote their talents to make our community healthy and happy. See our Top Doctors on pages 6588.

Whether you are searching for heartwarming, healthy recipes or looking for an exercise routine to jump start the new year, this issue is full of great ideas.

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

Thank you for your continued support of local businesses. We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Cassie

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meagan Russell meagan@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Katelyn Tolbert katelyn@bayoulifemag.com Courtney Thomas courtney@bayoulifemag.com Jenny Pankey jenny@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Taylor Bennett LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Kelly Moore Clark

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Nils Borquist Dan Chason Kenny Covington Shannon Dahlum Lou Davenport Cindy Gist Foust Lori French Starla Gatson Kerry Heafner Val Irion, MD

Paul Lipe Erin Love Meredith McKinnie Georgiann Potts Emily Roberson Delia Simpson Beatrice A. Tatem Vanelis Rivera Judy Wagoner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kelly Moore Clark Andrew Bailey Allyson Walker

ON THE COVER Poke´ Bowl photo by Kelly Moore Clark BayouLife Magazine is published and distributed by Redbird Publishing, LLC. Postal subscriptions ($30) can be ordered online at www.bayoulifemag.com. BayouLife Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, manuscripts, or other materials. Opinion columns do not represent the views of the publisher. Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited.

Eddleman Dental = 1st in LA

Offering Our Patients the Best Care Available in the World Today is What Matters Most to Us

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IRFLOW GUIDED BIOFILM THERAPY WILL ONE DAY become the standard of care in dentistry. But why wait! My team and I are so proud to have been the FIRST dental office in the state to introduce guided biofilm therapy cleanings using the Airflow Prophy Master system from EMS. Last spring, we closed our office for 2 days for continuing education and to train on this advanced technique. We invested in this cutting-edge technology and trained on new techniques required to provide the best care to our patients. And we offer this service at no additional charge! Same price, better cleaning!

BIOFILM is a colony of bacteria that has clustered together and attached to a surface. Even though it is a scientific term, biofilm is found in your everyday life — usually in areas with moisture.

WHY BIOFILM IS A CONCERN? Biofilm, commonly known in dentistry as plaque, is always forming on teeth. Even when it is removed, it is not gone for long. Managing dental plaque/biofilm is an ongoing endeavor. Without active removal from tooth surfaces, biofilm accumulation can escalate to varying degrees causing cavities and gingival inflammation, leading to oral diseases and eventual tooth and implant loss.

HOW DO WE TREAT AND REMOVE BIOFILM? Good news is AIR-FLOW Therapy is a cutting-edge technology designed to gently, quickly and thoroughly remove biofilm. Polishing and stain removal will still take place during your appointment, with the added therapeutic benefits of complete biofilm removal leading to better clinical outcomes.

Water, air and minimally abrasive powder combine to break down and flush away biofilm.

WHY IS AIR-FLOW THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?

IT’S SAFE: FDA-approved AIR-FLOW Therapy is gentle on the enamel of natural teeth, gum tissue and restorative and bonding materials, so it won’t cause damage to any surfaces. Not only safe, it’s also anti-bacterial for full mouth disinfection.

IT’S COMFORTABLE: The spray mixture does all the work. With the fine grain powder, it just feels like water is being sprayed on the gums instead of a chunky, gritty material you might expect (and dislike) during your cleaning.

IT’S EFFICIENT: AIR-FLOW Therapy requires just 5 seconds per tooth to work its magic, compared to 30–60 seconds for other methods.

Additionally, using AIR-FLOW to remove all biofilm first will reduce the time spent using other instrumentation to remove stains and hard deposits, making your preventive cleaning appointment a more positive experience.

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WHAT IS THE POWDER MADE FROM? Erythritol, a sugar alcohol, is biocompatible with the body, effective for biofilm removal and gentle enough remove bacteria from tissue but always keep you comfortable.

COMMON QUESTIONS FROM OUR PATIENTS:

I have all natural teeth — just here for my regular cleaning… You are used to having polishing at the end of your appointment — usually with a rubber cup and paste in the flavor of your choice. Instead, AIR-FLOW will be used first for a more efficient, yet comprehensive treatment.

I have very sensitive teeth and cleanings sometimes hurt… AIR-FLOW’s warm water and gentle erythritol powder, a natural vegetable sugar, is very effective for biofilm removal but gentle enough to remove bacteria from tissue but always keep you comfortable.

I have a dental implant… Care must be taken with your dental implant to keep it clean without scratching or damaging it. Implants can fail when biofilm builds up and causes serious diseases like peri-implantitis.

AIR-FLOW Therapy will adapt around the implant making sure all the crevices and curvatures are thoroughly cleaned.

I have a restoration (crowns, veneers, etc)… You paid for your restorations and don’t want them to be damaged during your hygiene check-ups. AIR-FLOW’s gentle glycine or erythritol powder causes less surface damage than other polishing powders and coarse prophy pastes, while maintaining the cleaning efficiency.

I (or my child) have braces or orthodontic hardware… Braces, built-in retainers and even clear aligner “buttons” are very difficult to clean around. AIR-FLOW Therapy reaches around and through any brackets or wires without breaking down the composite materials holding the hardware to your teeth.

I have a periodontal disease/have had periodontal surgery… AIR-FLOW Therapy can help reduce inflammation by clearing out harmful biofilm in deeper pockets* and difficult spaces, often reversing perio diseases.

If you have had periodontal surgery and are here for your maintenance appointments, AIR-FLOW Therapy will help keep you on the right track back to a healthy smile.

I am a parent to a pediatric patient… AIR-FLOW Therapy is safe to use on children. In fact, your child may not currently have many hard deposits, in which case the comfortable AIR-FLOW treatment is all they need.

Call or text 322-2013 today to experience it for yourself!

A New Year, A New Home Mark Sisk Helps You List It, Sell It and Move On!

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OW IS THE TIME TO GET YOUR HOME ON THE market! Interest rates are at historic lows and buyers are ready to make a move. To get your home “show ready” here’s a list of DIY projects that could significantly improve the appeal of your home.

Smaller rooms can be difficult to decorate, because if you don’t know a few important tricks, the space can end up feeling a little claustrophobic. Here’s how you can keep a room feeling airy and spacious, even if it’s just a small office or laundry room.

BREATHING ROOM Your first inclination might be to arrange all your furniture flush against the walls. Though this may add a little extra room to move through the room, it’ll make everything feel more crowded and congested. Instead, try arranging items at an angle, or pulling them six inches away from the wall.

MIRRORS AND STRATEGIC COLORS Dark paint will make the room feel smaller. Instead, opt for whites, light grays, and other light colors. A well-placed mirror will also expand the room’s appearance. Just think of the times you’ve been in a restaurant and a mirror made the space look twice as large.

MULTI-PURPOSE ITEMS Look for storage everywhere—you can keep books and DVDs inside an ottoman, or store blankets in a bench or hollow coffee table. If you don’t have room for a dining table, you can invest in a coffee table with a pop-up section.

RAISE YOUR WINDOW TREATMENTS It’s common to hang your curtain rods just a few inches above your windows, but to make the ceilings appear taller, you can hang them just a few inches below the ceiling. It can have a dramatic effect.

SWAP OUT THE SOFA The sofa is likely the biggest, most unwieldy item in your living room.

What if you swapped it out for a smaller couch or a pair of comfortable chairs? You won’t lose much in functional seating, but you’ll gain some precious space and room for foot traffic.

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BAD LIGHTING Have you ever seen the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry’s date looked different depending on where they went to dinner? It was the lighting.

I know you may feel that your “daylight” white light bulbs help to reduce fatigue, but it’s very harsh lighting. Soft warm lights always have a cozy, inviting vibe. I’ve lost count of the number of listings I’ve had to replace the lightbulbs!

Some things are better left to the professionals. No matter how handy you are, I would not advise tampering with electrical, plumbing or other systems that require a licensed professional. Which brings me to my next point, the services of an experienced realtor and a full service professional real estate firm. I have systems in place to address both common and not so common issues that arise when selling a home.

My extensive network of licensed contractors are on speed dial when a home inspector comes in and finds a laundry list of items to repair. My knowledge of the local market is invaluable to circumvent problems like having a low appraisal. My contacts with local title companies are essential when dealing with a title issue you never knew about.

These problems only come into play after you get a buyer on the hook. My marketing strategies and systems are proven effective time and time again. You can’t sell the home if nobody sees it, or worse, if buyers see it and are turned off by a bad impression. I showcase your home in its best light and ensure maximum exposure in today’s digital age.

I am consistently ranked among the top of all realtors in Northeast Louisiana according to the Northeast Louisiana Association of Realtors. This is no accident. My 12 years of experience as a realtor and my strong desire to exceed clients’ expectations have made my clients’ real estate transactions smooth and pleasurable. I’m extremely grateful for the growing number of clients who entrust me with their real estate needs and I also look forward to serving you.

MARK SISK - REALTOR ® Real Estate Advisor

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Alumni Spotlight ULM Alumna: Aimee Hayward

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S A GRADUATE OF OUACHITA PARISH HIGH SCHOOL, Aimee Hayward first moved away for college. One year later, she returned home and enrolled at ULM and majored in marketing.

Admittedly, Aimee had no idea what career path she wanted to pursue, but she dove into her studies and trusted her gut. Pledging Kappa Delta sorority had a tremendous impact on Aimee’s campus experience. She met lifelong friends and immersed herself in social engagements she might otherwise have avoided. While Aimee describes herself as a social person, meeting new people didn’t always come naturally. The sorority environment challenged Aimee to stay involved, seek out new acquaintances, and give back to her community via the group’s philanthropic efforts. She represented ULM on the Homecoming Court, something she couldn’t have imagined before the group’s influence.

Aimee comes from a family of ULM graduates. Her father Roger Green was recruited for NLU basketball years ago, and her mother Gail was an NLU Warbonnet. Her older brothers Andrew and Matt, and now-husband Al played baseball at ULM. The couple met her sophomore year and now have two children, Alex and Charli who attend Lexington Elementary. Her university experience seemed predestined to impact her life, both personally and professionally. While studying marketing, Aimee took several classes under Dr. Bruce Walker, whose pedagogy Aimee was drawn to. Dr. Walker managed the classroom with authority and kindness, encouraging his students to succeed.

While her marketing studies occurred before the radical online shift in business, Aimee learned the effectiveness of communication and how to interact with people in professional settings.

Outside the classroom, Aimee worked at Waterfront Grill.

Managing part-time work, juggling classes and sorority commitments taught Aimee the lesson of time management. She developed more personal responsibility and is thankful for the values her parents instilled in their children growing up. The university experience provides the space and creates the conditions for self-growth, and Aimee benefitted from that time to grow more confident in her capabilities. After graduating from ULM, Aimee was thrust into the unknown. She had her degree, but she wasn’t sure about the next step.

A local CPA was opening some gyms in the area and needed someone to run the locations. Aimee was hired on the spot, and her tenure with Anytime Fitness began.

Aimee describes herself as competitive, but not necessarily athletic.

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much to do with responsibility and time management, the skills she developed during college. Aimee doesn’t ever do things half way; she commits herself entirely to a project and sees it through to completion.

After one year, Aimee was named manager of Anytime Fitness and oversaw the opening of several additional locations. The business became her baby. In 2015, the original owner was looking to sell, and Aimee insisted he sell to her. She knew the business, had fostered its improvement over the years and trusted her gut again. Aimee made improvements on her own dime and shifted locations to follow the market. She felt confident the business would continue thriving under her ownership.

When Covid hit in 2020, Aimee had just moved into a new building, anticipating business growth and new members. The new Covid reality halted the gym’s success. People were scared and times were tough; a gym membership was an easy bill to eliminate, especially when locations were closed. Thanks to small business relief investments, the locations are thriving again. In the future, Aimee wants to invest more in her gyms, updating equipment and remodeling locations. She knows a successful business has to meet its clients where they are. Anytime Fitness was founded on the idea of building a supportive fitness environment that is convenient. Aimee is dedicated to the mission of her business and the health and happiness of her members.

As a local business owner, Aimee sees ULM’s impact on the community where she lives and works. The campus beautification project has elevated the university’s footprint in the community, and Aimee is proud to be a ULM alumnus. She is encouraged by the tireless efforts made by the faculty, staff, and administration at ULM to bring more people to our community and encourage the region’s economic growth.

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.

The Warneckii ‘Lemon Lime’ is a true performer in interior spaces requiring very little attention. It’s beautiful lime-yellow, gray and white leaf variegation is a stand-out.

Place it near a sunny window and enjoy it’s signature style.

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LIGHT: The Lemon Lime needs moderate light, but to maintain the variegation, place it in a sunny space near a window or outdoors.

WATERING: This plant prefers its root zone on the dry side. Make sure that it has time to dry out between waterings.

PRUNING: Most of the pruning will be just maintenance, with a simple removal of its older leaves.

styling by T A Y L O R B E N N E T T

photography by K E L L Y M O O R E C L A R K

BAYOU PL A N T

LE MON LIME

Feeling Twenty-Two Looking Back While Moving Forward

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

“

FEELING” TWENTY-TWO. OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS BEEN QUITE awhile since I was twenty-two and obviously I am not Taylor Swift the talented pop and country singer-songwriter referencing her song “Feeling Twenty-Two.” When I speak of feeling twenty-two I am referring to thoughts, ideas, wishes and dreams for the New Year, 2022.

It was while watching Gail King co-host of CBS Mornings interviewing Taylor Swift about this song that I decided I would borrow the title and message as a premise in which I would base this article. When listening to the interview I recognized the relevance and timeliness of the song.

The two talked of celebrating the holiday season, the meaningfulness of taking time to give thanks, society’s anticipation of the New Year and the revised version of her song “Feeling Twenty-Two.” In this highly popular song Swift sings of the conflicted emotions often felt when one is 22, happy, hopeful, carefree, confused, uncertain, in-decisive and lonely all at the same time. When looking back while moving forward it is felt many can relate to these emotions.

The New Year is a time for reflection, renewal, rebirth and rebuilding.

Each year many reflect on the past in preparation for a new year. It is the time of the year when millions of people (present company included) consider ways to change their lives or aspects of themselves they feel need to be changed. I have been reminded of the importance of remembering the past and not being stuck in the past. The past year can inspire us for the coming year. We are two years into the current decade. Like many, I excitedly coined “twenty-twenty” as the year of perfect vision. Twentytwenty was to set the tone for a new decade of hope, growth, awareness and positive change. Twenty-twenty was a year heavily shaped by the unexpected and yet many survived one of the most difficult times in human history. Life reminded us nothing is perfect, nor is anyone. Then 2021 came with all the hope of things returning to “normal” as we began to think less often of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. COVID has taught us much. It has taught us to refocus, redirect, to actualize plans and prioritize. During 2021 we were taught not to take our lives for granted; to pay closer attention to our physical health; to seek therapy when needed; to avoid putting off to tomorrow what can be done today; and to value relationships. Life in 2021 reminded us just when we wanted to opt out of watching the news because of its “negativity,” the importance of being aware of the happenings around us became evident when past issues we tried to ignore were put in our faces. The year 2021 has shown us to avoid trying to make the future return to the perceived normalcy of the past but instead be open minded to a new future we can help create.

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With all of the uncertainty and its challenges 2021 has quickly come and gone. When I reflect on 2021, I think what a year and yet when I look forward to 2022, I think what a year; after all new beginnings often come as a result of past experiences. On the day (Dec. 14th) this picture was taken we hoped for sunny, clear blue skies as that would symbolically be the perfect back drop. In other words brighter days are ahead 2022. Contrary to our hopes and weather predictions the weather had a mind of its own.

However, what stands out most for me are the bridges and waterways seen in the background. As I stood on the balcony over-looking the river I thought how symbolic for society has had to endure many troubled waters and we have crossed many bridges and yes brighter days are ahead.

It is now 2022, the start of the new year. For some the journey towards 2022 has been met with uncertainty, for others it might have been the best journey or the most significant year of their lives. When reflecting over 2021 many will agree there were positive experiences as well as aspects of life needing to be changed. A number of societal occurrences not to mention personal dynamics have shaped our lives. Let us face it, the world is new with a different political landscape, a reshaped economy and mental health at an all-time high. In 2021, the world turned the tide against the pandemic.

It is 2022, we must be open to adjusting to a new set of realities. This year feel endless inspiration, experience change, celebrate the chance to do it right this time. Work toward a happy new you, soak in the power of reflection and the richness of transformation. Be mindful some things need to stay in the past. Align your thoughts and desires with your actions and with your vision. Appreciate the “new” and recognize the “happy” in the new year. Look back at the events that led you to this point…look back while moving forward. Put more of your spirit into your life. Envision life and have endless vision. Each day is a celebration of life find your place in it. This coming year free yourself from the stress of uncertainty. Just imagine what life will look like. Be rooted in confidence and a carefree spirit. When revisiting the past consciously choose what aspects of the past you hold on to while carefully selecting what you create for the future and look forward to “feeling twenty-two.”

For more information on counseling and outreach services contact Dr. Beatrice Tatem at Wellness Initiatives, LLC, 2485 Tower Drive, Suite 10, Monroe, La 71201, 318-410-1555 or at btatem.bt@gmail.com.

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left to right: DR. WALTER SARTOR, DR. MOAHMED BAKEER, DR. BART LILES, AND DR. PATRICK SMITH

Good Health Begins Here

Weight Loss Surgery is One of the Many Life-Changing Procedures The Surgery Clinic Offers

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OSING WEIGHT—FOR GOOD—IS POSSIBLE. LEARN HOW one decision led Brian, Lauren, and Brittney (pictured on next page) to permanently transform their lives. While their stories are different, their journeys began with the same surgeon: Dr. Walter Sartor at the Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana.

BRIAN WALTON wore baggy clothes to hide his weight as a teenager. He hated undressing in the locker room before football practice. Snarky comments about his size from friends and family made the depressed teenager feel even heavier. Then, Brian made a decision that would change his story.

Dr. Walter Sartor performed the gastric sleeve surgery on Brian in 2016, and since that time, Brian has lost—and maintained—190 pounds.

Brian said, “I have become a very goal-oriented and hardworking person since I lost the weight. I am confident, and I love life now. I feel like I have a purpose.”

Every morning, Brian wakes up an entrepreneur—something he never imagined for himself before his weight loss surgery. “Before the surgery, I would not have been able to start my own business. Getting healthy made it physically possible for me to do the work. My new outlook on life, energy, and ambition have allowed me to chase my dreams full force. And I’m so proud to provide another source of income for my family.”

His career is not the only area of his life that has improved. “Being more positive has allowed me to concentrate on life’s important things, like being a good husband and father.” After his weight-loss surgery, he changed his eating habits, started exercising, and focused on positive thinking. Now, food no longer controls him. “I look at food differently now because I want to stay healthy. I used to love Little Debbie snacks, but I no longer eat them, and I don’t crave them at all anymore. I view food more as fuel for my body instead of an obsession or an addiction.”

After LAUREN CATER walked 20 miles without stopping, she cried. A few days later, she started running.

“I felt so strong, mentally and physically. I felt so free and alive,” Lauren said. “That walk brought me to tears because I never thought that I could achieve something like that. Now, I am training for a marathon, which is unbelievable to me.”

Not long before that walk, she carried an extra 135 pounds, which made simpler activities—like holding her new baby—difficult.

Lauren experienced several obesity-related complications during her pregnancy and the birth of her son in 2018. When he was just over a year old, she called Dr. Walter Sartor. She eventually underwent the 18 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

gastric sleeve surgery, the catalyst for her significant weight loss, in 2019.

Lauren, who had struggled with depression since her teenage years, experienced a much darker form of depression when she gained more weight later in life. In addition to the mental anguish, she suffered from significant knee and back pain. “I got to where I was so ashamed of how I looked and even felt that I didn’t want to get out of my house,” she said. “My family loves being outdoors, so when I had to sit on the park benches and watch my kids play, I knew I had to change.”

When people ask her about bariatric surgery, her response is immediate and adamant: “I say the same thing every time: ‘Do it!’ It will change your life. The pain, which is really just soreness, is only temporary; the weight loss can be lifelong and so freeing. I’d do it again in a minute because it truly saved my life.”

BRITTNEY BARNETT was sitting at the dining room table with her family discussing her transformation—specifically her 140-pound weight loss—when her brother said something that would always stay with her. “My little brother looked at me and said, ‘I feel like I have my sister back.’ I had to try really hard not to start crying. What he said meant so much to me, and it was true,” remembered Brittney.

Brittney had struggled with obesity throughout her life. “My weight made me feel self-conscious and worthless. It felt like everyone looked at me with disgust. I just wanted to fit in.” Eventually, Brittney suffered from joint aches, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. Life became painful for the nurse and mother of two small children.

“The children and I would get home from school, and I would think, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t chase after them. I need to sit. My back and legs hurt.’ So, I would call out to them from my chair and tell them to be careful,” Brittney said. “But I couldn’t play with my kids. I was so out of breath. And sometimes, I just had to lie down while my husband took over. And then, I didn’t feel like getting out of bed.” When she realized how much her weight affected her children, Brittney contacted Dr. Walter Sartor, who performed her gastric sleeve procedure in 2016.

She hasn’t consumed a carbonated beverage since the procedure and continues to eat much smaller portions. “Everything was always centered around food, whether we were celebrating something, or I was bored,” she said. “After the surgery, my mentality regarding food changed. Finally, food was no longer a habit.”

Contact our clinic with your questions about weight loss surgery, general surgery, and vein procedures.

t he m A S KS

COCOA HYDRATION MASK This edible mask combines three components that will hydrate your dry skin. Coca is an excellent antiinflammatory and honey is a antibacterial and anti-inflammatory – both are perfectly combined with avocado. Mash one quarter or a ripe avocado, stir in one tablespoon of cocoa powder and one tablespoon of honey and mix well. Apply to clean face and let sit for 10 minutes.

Wash with warm water.

TURMERIC MASK This brightening mask is made with three key-ingredients: honey, turmeric and avocado. To make this mask mix one teaspoon or honey and one teaspoon of turmeric with one quarter or an avocado.

Apply the mixture to a clean face and let stay on skin for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer.

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photography by K E L L Y M O O R E C L A R K

MOISTURIZING MASK Hydrate the skin and calm redness with this soothing moisturizing mask. Mash one quarter of a ripe avocado in a bowl with one tablespoon of rolled oats and one tablespoon of raw honey. Mix until ingredients are well-combined. Apply mask to face and let dry for 10 minutes. Wash with warm water and apply moisturizer.

styling by T A Y L O R B E N N E T T

BAYO U H E A LT H

Avocados boast an incredible amount of skinboosting beneftis due to healthy fats, vitamins and nutrients packed inside this healthy fruit.

Below are three simple recipes that highlight avocados to moisturize, hydrate and brighten.

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s mudge s t icks

DIRECTIONS: Gather ingredients (we used rosemary and sage, but you can combine lavender, rose petals or completely dried rosebuds). Layer herbs. Cut a piece of twine four times longer than bundle.

Make a loose knot at the base of one end. Wrap the twine tightly all the way up the bundle and back down again, securing the string to the original knot. Allow the smudge sticks to dry completely in a sunny spot before burning.

Light one end with a match, fan smoke and let burn with windows and doors open.

styling by T A Y L O R B E N N E T T

photography by K E L L Y M O O R E C L A R K

BAYO U H E A LT H

Burning herbs for their smoke is a common practice called smudging. This trend originated with the Indigenous People of North America and has grown in popularity in the last few years. Smudging is intended for different purposes - such as cleansing the energy around you or sparking creativity. We take you through the process of making your own smudge stick.

SUPPLIES: Dried herbs of your choice Twine or 100% cotton thread

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bayou

PAGES

“The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton

“The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend.”

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somehow managed to make it through a graduate degree in English without ever having been assigned Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, a fictional story of New York City’s elite class during the Gilded Age. I delayed too long, or just long enough, as a period piece feels most appropriate when the world gets heavy. Wharton’s whimsical portrayal of the efforts of those at the top of the social hierarchy to retain their status, along with the language of the time period, and the oddly formal nature of human interaction cement the novel as a literary relic of a much different America.

Newland Archer’s engagement to the seemingly naive and adoringly beautiful May Welland is the backdrop for Wharton’s subtle critique of social standards in the 1870s. When May’s cousin Countess Ellen Olenska arrives in town under the veil of scandal, May’s family calls on Newland to secure her social and financial future in the wake of her soon-to-be-announced divorce, an unfathomable decision for a woman of her background and standing. Countess Olenska’s vivacious personality and daring refusal to conform to societal norms intrigues Newland who can’t help comparing the talk of the town to his future bride. As a product of the social class he now questions, Newland

must decide if the predetermined future society demands is even worth it.

Wharton explores themes of social class, wealth, and gender politics. Though told from Newland’s perspective, the dynamic female characters are the catalysts for Newland’s emotional evolution. May Welland’s strength is in her innocence, her willingness to play a role in society deemed most appropriate. Ellen Olenska’s strength is in her defiance of those social norms, her willingness to reject social conventions and expectations for personal freedom. Wharton highlights the far-too-often forced binary placed upon women of that era, while men were free to seek self-expression at any cost. The book is also about love, how life makes what should be simple more complicated. Newland once exclaims in exasperation, “You gave me my first glimpse of a real life, and at the same moment you asked me to go on with a sham one. It’s beyond human endurance - that’s all.”

Wharton’s use of language, character development, and an impending ending that keeps pages turning is a stunning achievement. No wonder people still read Wharton inside and outside of academic spaces. The Age of Innocence won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman in history to receive the honor. Director Martin Scorsese adapted the 1993 film production starring Daniel Day Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder.

“Do you know - I hardly remembered you.

Each time you happen to me all over again.”

REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

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bayou

PAGES

“The Revisioners: A Novel” by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

“People are so afraid of hauntings but I pray for them. Lord, clear me out so I can be with all that have lived through me. There are the sweet hauntings, the tender ones you yearn for. Just one minute with the great beyond, I beg of him, and now he’s starting to respond.”

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his intergenerational novel explores the ties between women, culture, and identity. Told from two perspectives, the story weaves between 1855, when Josephine was a young girl enslaved on the plantation, to 1924, when Jospehine is free and facing the threat of the Ku Klux Klan. Her great-granddaughter Ava’s struggles in 2017 mirror the family history, where race is the root of contention.

Each chapter shifts in time, showing the consistent heartbeat of racial strife against America’s evolving historical contexts.

The story opens in New Orleans with Ava and her only son considering moving in with Ava’s white grandmother Martha, a wealthy woman who wants Ava to care for her. Faced with financial insecurity since her divorce, Ava takes the leap, leaving her low-paying job and moving her son to a new school.Ava is forced to confront old demons, namely the generational conflict resulting from her black mother and white father’s

union years ago and the existent animosity between Ava’s mother and Martha.

Josephine’s story is woven into Ava’s narrative, unfolding the backdrop of family history that enriches the current plot. When young Josephine’s family decides to flee the bondage of slavery, Jospehine’s whole world is rocked. Knowing only confinement, the promise of freedom threatens the only reality she knows. The novel then leaps sixty years forward, as Josephine, now a widow, has grown accustomed to freedom in a country that still harbors racial resentment. When Josephine befriends her white neighbor Charlotte, racial tensions resurface that threaten the family’s survival.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book in the first few chapters. I felt Wilkerson dove so deep into each character, that the point-of-view shifts seemed abrupt. As I kept reading, I became more curious about how these stories would intersect, where and how the connection would evolve. I am so glad I didn’t give up, because the ending is so beautiful and vivid. Wilkerson shows us the fabric of family history, that who we are is directly tied to our ancestry, that the stories we are told affect the people we become. She pays particular attention to female bonds in this novel, that the struggles of black women makes them even more reliant on each other for survival.

“I think about what my mama has said, that there are versions of ourselves, there are versions of ourselves within ourselves.”

REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

26 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

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New Year, New You The Medical Spa by St. Francis Medical Group

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HE MEDICAL SPA IS RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH our New Year, New You promotions throughout the entire month of January! We would love to help you look and feel your best going into 2022, so during January, you can receive 25% off new treatments and 20% off new skincare regimens. If you’ve been considering laser hair removal, body tightening, or maybe even our Geneo facial, there is no better time than now! Juvederm and Kybella will be included in these specials: purchase 1 syringe of Juvederm (1ml) to receive $75 off and $100 off each vial when purchasing Kybella.

If you’re unsure what treatment or skincare options to choose, call us to schedule your complimentary consultation to discuss available options.

NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM

Who doesn’t love a good loyalty program? The Medical Spa’s success this year is due to our fantastic clientele. To show our appreciation, we want to reward you for purchases made at the spa. Start earning points now when services and retail products are purchased. These points will earn you money to go towards future treatments. Additional ways to earn points and discounts while visiting The Medical Spa are available through Alle and Obagi Premier Points. Alle is an Allergan loyalty program and rewards you with points when you receive treatments with Allergan brands such as Botox, Juvederm, and Kybella. Points accrued from Alle loyalty program can be used towards purchases of Allergan products (Botox, Juvederm, and Kybella) and eligibility towards special discounts and promotions. Obagi Premier Points can be earned when making Obagi purchases at The Medical Spa. These points are redeemable and can be used towards free products. Points can also be earned when you receive other medical spa treatments like laser hair removal, micro-needling, and more! Contact the Medical Spa to find out more information on all of these loyalty programs.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

Sensitive skin can be difficult to care for especially in the everchanging Louisiana weather. If you have sensitive skin, you may tend to have more redness, irritation, and be more reactive to certain ingredients. People can develop sensitivity at any age and irritants 28 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

vary from each person but knowing what products to avoid can help when building your skincare routine. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to use products that are fragrance-free and free of other irritants such as alcohol. The Medical Spa offers a variety of products for all skin types. Below are just a few products we recommend whether you’re looking for a cleanser, corrective cream, or masque.

SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser: Soap-free cleanser for sensitive skin, containing a high-concentration blend of botanical extracts.

Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser: Mild facial cleansers which leave your skin feeling soft, clean, and with a fresh complexion.

SkinCeuticals Phyto +: Soothing and hydrating gel with arbutin and kojic acid to help the appearance of discoloration.

Obagi Vitamin C 10%: antioxidant serum with 10% pure L-ascorbic acid gentle enough for dry or sensitive skin.

Obagi Retivance: Complex containing retinaldehyde and antioxidant Vitamin C and Vitamin E to improve the texture and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This product is dermatologist tested as well as paraben and fragrance-free.

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel: Soothing gel serum containing cucumber, thyme, and hyaluronic acid which helps to calm, hydrate, and reduce redness.

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque: A calming botanical masque that helps soothe temporarily reactive skin containing a blend of cucumber, thyme, and olive extracts.

Stop by The Medical Spa this month to take advantage of our specials, events, and to find out more about the medical-grade skincare products and treatments offered. We are in the James R. Wolff Building (also known as the P&S Building) in downtown Monroe.

Our address is 312 Grammont Street, Suite 406, across from St. Francis Medical Center. This location offers access to plenty of parking, privacy, and easy access for clients. Also, be certain to follow us on St. Francis Medical Center Facebook page and Instagram so you can be up to date on all the new and exciting things happening here at The Medical Spa!

Coleman Chiropractic Clinic Treats it All

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HE NEW YEAR MEANS A NEW YOU, A FRESH START TO to think about your body. When jotting down your New Year’s resolutions, take a minute to think about how that goal can affect your body’s health and function. Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions involve being healthier and that can look different to so many people. The best resolutions focus on long term practices to improve your mind, body and soul. Because chiropratic care focuses on the whole body wellness, visiting Coleman Chiropratic Clinic can help you prepare for those New Year’s resolutions. Fostering new growth, a healthy mindset, improving change and self-improvement are all factors to consider. Whether it’s for self care, to assist with weight loss, to help chronic pain, or to just improve your overall health, there are many ways chiropratic care can act as that missing component you’ve needed to maintain long term wellness.

The main objective of our chiropractors along with delivering healthy treatments, is to help the nervous system communicate freely with the entire body. As you adjust to the new year, considering a chiropractic adjustment can help you start off your health and wellness journey with less pain. The chiropractic team at Coleman Chiropractic can help you keep your body in tune to achieve those goals. Dr. Brian Coleman has been keeping families healthy by providing chiropractic care along with health and nutrition programs for the entire family. As an experienced chiropractor, he is committed to promoting healthy living and a life drug free. Being established as a practicing chiropractor of almost 40 years, Dr. Brian Coleman is teaming up with his son, Dr. Beaux Coleman to bring chiropractic care to our community. Each doctor sincerely believes in both drug-free and non-invasive care. Chiropratic care is widely recognized as one of the safest forms of health care.

A new year is a time where we can focus on how we want the next year to go, what can be done for your body’s health, a family member or a friend. A healthy diet, proper hydration, and weight loss are all common goals set for the new year. All of these goals accompanied with chiropractic care have been shown to create a stronger immune system for an overall healthier way of life. Let our chiropractors educate and execute proper care for you today. Even with a restored, functioning nervous and immune system, maintaining healthy habits is the cornerstone to keeping to your New Years resolutions. By visiting our clinic regularly, you will have a team to keep you accountable, 30 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

answer questions, and prolong the success of your health journey by keeping you on track.

Now is a great time to start thinking about how to make meaningful changes to your life, and it’s a fresh start for everyone. For many, this can be the beginning of your journey to a better you. With chiropractic care, you may find that it is easier and a more effective approach than hitting the gym. Our Chiropractors can help you with treatment to be more alert, have better focus and have better clarity by correcting misalignments in your body. And one of the best parts is that for many people, the results can be instantaneous. Rather than quick fixes or unsustainable goals, our team at Coleman Chiropratic want to encourage holistic wellness and mindfulness alongside your New Year’s resolutions. With the expert guidance of our doctors, you can hold true to your goals all year long.

Many things can happen in a lifetime; sports injuries, stiff neck from work, auto accidents or just everyday aches and pains; Coleman Chiropractic Clinic treats it all. A healthy spine gives rise to a healthy body and everyone can benefit from quality chiropractic care from infants to the elderly. We offer other services and products to keep you in shape including custom orthotics, supplements and foot detoxes.

We are also proud to exclusively offer the Piezo Wave 2 to our region.

If you would like to add chiropractic care to your routine, check us out at Coleman Chiropractic Clinic. Getting treatment is easier than ever before. Our friendly office staff will help you conveniently schedule your appointment, one that works for you. There are plenty of times and availability to get the care you want, hassle free. Get a head start on your health and well being in 2022, beginning with a quick trip to Coleman Chiropratic Clinic as soon as today. Because improving your quality of life by shifting your perspective is the greatest thing you can do for yourself.

Coleman Chiropractic Clinic 2501 Ferrand Street, Monroe 318.388.2215 | www.colemanchiropractic.net Find us on Facebook @ColemanChiropractic2501

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t he pok e b o w l

styling by T A Y L O R B E N N E T T

photography by K E L L Y M O O R E C L A R K

BAYOU R ECI PE

This vibrant bowl is full of our favorite, healthy ingredients: marinated tuna, seaweed, radishes, cucumber, avocado, cabbage, over steamed rice and topped with a umami-packed sauce. It’s an easy and nutritious meal to add to your New Year recipes.

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R E M E M B E R

C H A L L E N G I N G Y E A R S, B U T N O N E AS C H A L L E N G I N G AS T H E L AST

almost-daily prayers was, “Lord,

I REMEMBER, as I look back I believe; help my unbelief.” And over the many years of my life, He did! He was always present that none of those years was as when we were dealing with doubt, challenging as was this past year, and, as He promises, His grace was 2021. I can recall previous years sufficient for us. (II Corinthians that were marked by difficulties 12:9) such as problems in school or at I suspect that many of you work, disappointing relationships, were affected by the things that family struggles -- including the happened to us in 2021, and that scare of polio that threatened my you also survived by His grace. older sister, and a war (World War With Him beside us, the hills are II) that could be devastating to the not so steep and the path is not whole world. But 2021 had all of too long. This is so encouraging these and more! as we face the new year, because

Perhaps the most difficult whatever difficulties arise, He is and most testing trial was that WITH HIM BESIDE US, THE HILLS ARE with us. My hope and my prayer is produced by the Covid pandemic NOT SO STEEP AND THE PATH that 2022 will be filled with “good” which impacted us all in multiple things and that it will not have the ways. In addition to the deaths IS NOT TOO LONG. negative things that were such a associated with this virus and the major part of our lives in the prior painful battles many endured in year. But if we have trials that are fighting this disease, there were reminders of what we experienced the shut-downs that affected our in 2021, we can best endure and survive those ordeals if we don’t try schools, businesses, and churches, plus the various mandates that we to manage them all by ourselves. Those are indeed fortunate who had to endure. This made for a long year and many restless nights have family and friends who can help shoulder their load. I trust that and was a severe test of our faith. all of us have a loving family to support us, and I would suggest that

Several members of our family “caught” Covid, but none had a good place to find friends who will stick by us is a church. much difficulty due to their light cases. However, we were confronted

Of course, the search for a friend who will never forsake us will with a pandemic that caused concern worldwide. lead us to Jesus. He loves us with a love from which we can never be

The most serious happening for me in 2021 was when my family separated (Romans 8:39). In addition to that, He knows everything members were faced with the task of watching as a loved one – wife, that will happen to us in the New Year, so He is never surprised by mother, and grandmother – battled cancer. What made the situation those happenings. Furthermore, He has the power to perform all that harder for me and my family was that our struggle resembled a ride He has promised us. He has His children and the year 2022 in His on a roller coaster. We would receive a positive report concerning her omnipotent hands! condition, and not a long time afterward, there would be unwelcome

With His unconditional love, His unlimited wisdom, and His news. This pattern continued through the months of her illness, raising sovereign power in action on our behalf, we can face 2022 with our hopes and then snatching them away – over and over again. hope, expectation, and confidence. So let each one of us seek a close

So, 2021 was not the best of years for our clan. However, we were relationship with the Lord through prayer, reading His word, and able to cope with the various negative experiences because of One fellowship with like-minded friends, both in regular worship and in who is unchanging, always the same. And we were reminded of His our every-day lives, and may God richly bless you with His favor in faithfulness by friends, by Christian teachers on TV, by our churches, the New Year. but especially through our personal devotional times. One of my

ar t i c le b y PAUL L I PE o p in io n e x p re s s e d is t h a t o f t h e w r it e r

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Smile New in 2022 Healthier You Begins with Your Smile

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AKE A RESOLUTION TO SMILE MORE OR ENJOY EATING your favorite foods again! From cosmetic options for any budget to solutions to make smiles stronger, NELA Dental is equipped to handle any need for your smile. In addition to their amazing cosmetic and implant services, they also offer sedation options to make patients as comfortable as possible. 2022 is the year for a healthier you that begins with your smile!

COSMETIC OPTIONS FOR CONFIDENT SMILES Let your smile shine bright with teeth whitening from Zoom Whitening. It’s an affordable treatment to whiten your smile in one visit. The treatment also includes take-home whitening trays to ensure the best results. By combining in-house LED technology and at home treatment, patients will see their whitest smile in a week’s time.

Resin bonding is another type of cosmetic solution for chipped, gapped, and stained teeth and fillings. The material is shaped and molded to your teeth to give the appearance of a straighter, whiter smile.

Resin bonding can be completed in a single appointment.

Veneers are a wonderful option to improve your smile and it’s great for those with slight imperfections such as teeth that are stained, chipped or have gaps. Veneers are custom-made thin shells that are attached to the front surface of your teeth to change their color, shape, size, or length.

EAT MORE OF YOUR FAVORITE FOODS WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS For those with missing or decaying teeth, dental implants can improve your smile not only cosmetically but structurally as well.

Implants provide a stable and durable base for restoration so you can start to enjoy all of your favorite foods again.

An implant-retained denture is a denture attached to implants inserted into the jaw. This is different from a regular denture which rests on the gums. Denture wearers often find their dentures can be held in place with dental implants for added comfort and stability.

Some patients even experience improved speech; a welcomed benefit for many. Implant-retained dentures may provide patients with more confidence. Another major benefit of implant-retained dentures is the ability to enjoy foods previously considered off limits.

NELA Dental is your home for this Teeth in a Day, dental implant services. In fact, it is one of the few dental practices offering this 36 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

procedure in the state of Louisiana. Through the use of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and 3D printing, dental implants can be placed, and longterm temporary teeth can be printed and placed in one day. This process allows for more chewing ability and much less pain while healing.

DON’T LET FEAR STAND IN YOUR WAY

Whether it’s root canal therapy or a routine procedure like a cleaning, IV and oral sedation is an option. Often, sedation allows patients to have multiple procedures completed in one visit. Thus, cutting down cost and the number of visits to the dentist.

Intravenous sedation, or IV sedation, is delivered through a vein in your arm to make you drowsy. IV sedation is an anti-anxiety medication, and the level of sedation can be adjusted to suit your needs. You will most likely sleep throughout the entire procedure.

Oral sedation can be administered to patients who may have some anxieties about IV sedation to reduce their fear and make them more comfortable. There are a variety of single or incremental doses used to help medicate a patient during a dental procedure. These oral medications can help to reduce memory of the sights and smells of the dental office to avoid any discomfort. The sedation allows a more complicated procedure to finish faster and more comfortably for a patient.

START SMILING TODAY

Whether it’s for dental implants or a checkup, visiting the dentist is the key to overall 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!

We accept most major dental insurance plans, third-party payments, and offer flexible financing options. Call one of our convenient locations in Farmerville and Monroe, schedule your appointment.

Don’t let anything stand in your way of a great smile this year, contact NELA Dental and start smiling today!

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Morning Rituals

H E R E A R E S O M E S M A L L B U T S I G N I FI C A N T WAYS TO R I S E A N D T H R I V E I N T H E N E W Y E A R A r t i c l e B y Va n e l i s R i v e r a

Beatrice Tatem, owner of Wellness Initiatives, LLC and licensed professional counselor and counseling psychologist based in Monroe, Louisiana, informs, “The start of the day sets the tone for the rest of the day.” Though we tend to categorize ourselves as either early birds or night owls, Tatem notes that whenever you get the day started is the best time to establish healthy habits. “A routine tends to make people feel more in control,” she says, explaining that when we have a hand in what we can control, we are able to better manage our stress when the unexpected rears its impish head. Of course, at the beginning of the year, it’s easy to talk about the things

we have to do like—exercise more, take on healthy habits, or release what didn’t work the past year. But, Tatem warns of the importance of being realistic and reasonable when goal-setting.

“We should be patient with ourselves,” she says, pointing out that we are still adjusting after the socio-economic blow from COVID-19. For 2022, the best approach to any of your resolutions should be the mantra “progress over perfection.” With that in mind, and thanks to the advice from a few prominent community figures, here are some small but significant ways to rise and thrive in this new year.

But First, Coffee

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he life of Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis has changed tremendously since he took office. As a business owner, he used to do everything for himself. Now, his staff helps him schedule events and prioritize tasks. But, when it comes to his mornings, some things remain a constant.

“First things first, a good cup of coffee,” he says as he runs through his usual morning. “I’m a bit of a coffee snob,” he laughs, listing his preferred homebrew methods: Chemex coffeemaker, Nespresso machine, Keurig, French press, and an Aeropress.

“I still on occasion brew on my dad’s percolator,” he adds, calling it the “cowboy coffee” way. After he takes his three

kids to their schools, which means three different dropoffs, he fills his morning with a second round of coffee while attending informal meetings.

For the second cup, he likes to go local. At Standard Coffee, his usual is The Standard (espresso, milk, honey, and vanilla), and at Dreux Coffee, he’ll go for the Maverick (house-made brown sugar simple syrup, espresso, and steamed milk).

Across the Lee Joyner Bridge, Adrienne LaFranceWells, Downtown Main Street Director at the city of West Monroe, also needs all the coffee she can get. She enjoys her first brew in the comfort of her couch in the morning.

For a few minutes, she cozies up with her dog, an energizing cup of Joe, and listens to the

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local and national news while catching up on work-related tasks and reviewing her daily schedule. Once done, she’ll take her hubby breakfast and coffee, then she’s “off to the races.” Like Mayor Ellis, LaFrance-Wells also enjoys scheduling meetings at coffee shops. When she does, she doesn’t hesitate to take advantage of two of her Antique Alley favorites. At Seventh Square Coffee, she enjoys an Americano, while at Caster and Chicory, she’ll probably be spotted with a cafe au lait.

Whether you’re at home brewing or opting for one of the area’s finely brewed concoctions, catching the pep to your step may only be a few coffee beans away.

Tou c hi n g Fai t h

Father, husband, pastor, and CEO at Key Marketing Solutions, LLC, DeRon Talley has a lot going on in the first three hours of his day. “A nice, warm shower. That’s always number one,” he says. Before dropping off his daughter at school, the pair stop at the Donut Palace so that she can pick out and pay for her own donut “to teach her how to buy things and have manners when ordering.”

At her school’s drop-off, they recite the Lord’s Prayer, one of the most important things done together. “Every day has to start with the Lord,” he says.

The next article on the agenda is his congregation of St Joseph’s Missionary Church. The rest of his morning consists of choosing scripture to reflect on for his daily-themed message: Motivational Monday, Tuesday’s Thoughts, Worship Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, Faithful Friday. For Talley, connecting to his faith in the morning becomes the compass of his day: “It opens up your heart.”

Also seeking spiritual stillness in the morning is BayouIcon, Dianne Cage. “First thing I do when I wake up in the morning [is] I say my prayers and thank the Lord,” she says.

She contemplates to further permeate a spirit of joy in her mornings. While stretching, she

SELECTION OF MAYOR ELLIS’ PLAYLIST I’M DOPE Tobe Nwigwe SLIDE Calvin Harris TEXAS SUN Khruangbin & Leon Bridges BELIEVE ME NATALIE The Killers THINKIN BOUT YOU Frank Ocean CRAWLING KINGSNAKE The Black Keys MONROE, LOUISIANA Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown CAN’T HIDE LOVE Earth, Wind & Fire I WAS WRONG Chris Stapleton

reflects on the “Lord’s beautiful world.” From the chirping of birds, her home-grown garden, the frantic squirrels outside her window, or even a cat running across her front yard, just tuning in to nature is fulfilling. “It don’t cost a lot of money,” she says.

At 79 years old, she’s proud of every year, revealing, “I feel my age, but I feel good, and I like how I look.” With the wisdom of years, she’s able to embrace just how much of life is a gift and a miracle. Her morning contemplations further open her heart to this truth.

Music Motivation While coffee gets the body right and devotion gets the spirit ready, music gets the mind going. If you pass by Mayor Ellis’ office, you’re sure to hear some music. “And, I don’t play it softly,” he laughs.

Lately, he has been digging Khruangbin, a psych-funk rock trio from Houston, Texas, but his “Funroe” playlist on Apple music has a little bit of everything: Charles Bradley,

Leon Bridges, The Black Keys, and Sturgill Simpson. Even though the tunes are fun, Mayor Ellis does not take the gravity of his work lightly. “So much is at stake,” he says, adding, “What we are working toward is opportunities for families here.” Using everything he has to make that happen will, time and again, require some motivation. Torrents of rhythmic sound waves tapping through

one’s headspace are a great call to attention.

Cage is also on the morning music train. “Pretty songs” by artists like Chet Atkins, Kristoffer Kristofferson, and Mickey Gilley often play while she organizes the house.

Instrumentals also help her ease into the day, particularly anything by Henry Mancini.

“What would we do without our music?” she asks, recognizing the intimate synchronicity between sound and spirit.

The reality of mornings is that sometimes the best you can hope for is coffee and staying hydrated, as LaFrance-Wells notes. Nevertheless, setting the tone of the day can be in our control even with just minor additions, aiming to remind us that facing the day doesn’t have to be a hero’s journey of wellness. Sometimes, as long as we are weighing and measuring ourselves as contributing members of our community, as Mayor Ellis encourages his team to do, all we need to focus on is enhancing how we ease into our morning routines.

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Time to Try Something New Local Studio Offers Pilates and Yoga Classes

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OMETIMES,THE PILATES METHOD AND THE EQUIPMENT used for it can be intimidating. “Pilates isn’t something most people grew up around so they aren’t familiar,” said Marcia Donald, owner, of Bon Temps Pilates. “But pilates has been around for a hundred years and it has been proven over and over again that it works.” Pilates offers a balance of flexibility, muscle tone and strength and is gaining traction among new converts, and picking up new enthusiasts regularly.

Pilates was founded by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, as a form of exercise and body conditioning and as a method of injury recovery for dancers. However, over the years, it has been proven that the average person can benefit from the Pilates method. “After walking a certain way or sitting at a desk for several hours, our muscles can get imbalanced and pilates helps counteract that,” explains Marcia.

Bon Temps Classical Pilates stays true to the classical method that Joseph Pilates created and does not venture into their own works or works of other teachers that claimed to be teaching Pilates. Their certified instructors believe that teaching Pilates the way Mr. Pilates intended is the only way that truly crafts the body and mind into balance. The exercises are simple enough and challenging enough to delve into for a lifetime.

The Method of exercises consists of over 500 variations that can be done on each of the apparatus in the studio. Mr. Pilates created a set order of exercises on the mat and the reformer, which is an apparatus in a pilates studio. A Classical teacher uses the method in various ways, depending on the body they are teaching. The order of exercises varies on what the person needs in order for them to get the most out of each session. The method of exercises are broken up into three different levels, called systems. Each system has a certain order that exercises must be taught in order for your body to be physically ready for the next exercise. The three systems are labeled Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Every new client at Bon Temps Classical Pilates starts at the Beginner System regardless of age or level of fitness. They use this system to evaluate their clients and get them connected to their core which Joseph Pilates called “The Power House.” The Intermediate System can be taught when the body is physically accessible and can be appropriately challenged with more difficult exercises. The Advanced System is for clients that are devoted to Pilates and practice at least three days a week.

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Some of the principles of the Pilates method include concentrating on each movement, using the abdomen and low back muscles, flowing movement patterns that are precise and a steady and controlled breathing. The focus of pilates is on muscle tone rather than building muscles and it focus specifically on your core. Most people assume your core is just your abdomen, but it is much more than that.

Bon Temps Classical Pilates first and foremost uses Joseph Pilates brilliant Method of exercises to strengthens your core which is the “Power House” and in charge of strengthening every other muscle in your body. It is widely known that the most popular New Years resolution is getting back into shape. Unfortunately, that resolution is often thrown by the wayside by February. We often forget that starting out small instead of making a drastic change in our overall wellbeing can be difficult. But what if we started out small? What if you just focused on your core, the muscles that support and stabilize every move that you make in your body? Pilates is just the exercise that will work those intrinsic muscles in your abdominals, back, shoulders, and pelvis.

Taking private and group classes at Bon Temps Classical Pilates will be a great step in not only getting fit, but also preventing future injuries. Often times, people think they have to be in excellent shape or are too old to practice Pilates, but that simply isn’t true. Pilates is for people of all ages and fitness levels. Pilates is best for people who are looking to achieve core stability and good posture. Both the equipment and the exercises can be modified and adjusted for anybody, which makes it perfect for those looking to tone up, rehab from an injury, train for a particular hobby or sport or just looking for a low impact, full body workout. If that sounds like you, now is the time to try Pilates. You can take advantage of their sampler package.

For just $99, you can try a private session, a mat class and a reformer group class. This is the perfect way to experience all of the benefits that Pilates has to offer and try something new in 2022. Cheers to a Happy New Year and a stronger core!

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H OW O N E WO R D C H A N G E D M Y L I F E A N D H OW I T CA N D O T H E SA M E FO R YO U !

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE | erinlove@panachebyerin.com

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hat do you do at the beginning of a new year?

I have made resolutions like most people but failed to see them through. I know I am not alone in that. So, a few years ago while on my personal growth journey, I came across a concept that intrigued me by recommending the choice of ONE word a year by which to live my life. In addition, such a commitment promises a happier year. It made total sense!

Choosing one word that represents what you want more of, what you want to focus on, or what you need to improve upon is much more than a seldom-kept new year resolution! It is a game changer!

I have been choosing a word of the year for almost six years, and I can tell you that it has changed my life. Let me tell you how:

1. I know my “why” for each year.

Knowing your why is one of the most important steps to creating, reaching, and surpassing your goals. If you don’t start with why, you have no direction. For instance, my word a few years ago was “grow.” Every choice I made was based on whether it would help me to that goal--to grow personally, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, etc.

Your word of the year may be balance. You will now be able to create your year so that it balances you – personally, emotionally, spiritually, etc.

2. I can say “no” more easily. I no longer have to say yes to events, meetings,

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or situations that don’t serve my “why.” My days and nights are focused on what I truly want to achieve during the year.

3. Following this path makes my goals clearer, so that means that I am more likely to achieve them. In fact, you may develop goals based on your word that you never even thought about. For instance, each year I make goals in eight different areas of my life- work, love life, physical environment, spiritual life, friends and family, fun and recreation, health, and financial. I use my word of the year to create specific goals for each area.

Now that you know how choosing a word of the year can change your life, let me tell you how to go about choosing a word.

1. Consider how the past year has been.

What is something you want to improve upon? Do differently? Keep working on?

2. What isn’t going so well in your life right now? Turn it around and consider what would make it better. Maybe you aren’t devoting enough time to fun and recreation. for instance. Think of words that lead you to change that - enjoy, fun, recreation, and relax are a few to get you started.

3. What do you want more of in your life? Travel? Love? Abundance? The list is truly endless.

4. What do you want less of? This question will prompt you to turn the negative into a positive. For instance, I would love less rushing. In my business, everyone needs something right now. A goal of mine is to be

prepared for whatever is thrown at me.

If nothing is jumping out at you, go online and google “word of the year.” Dozens of lists will pop up for you.

For the word of the year to change your life, you must use it properly. You can’t just set it and forget it. You must see it and use it often. I typically create a vision board with my word and hang it in my office. Below are a few more ideas of how to incorporate your word into everyday life. Feel free to do one or all of them!

1. Create a screensaver with your word.

2. Create a personal hashtag. No one needs to know what it means, but using it and seeing it will serve as a good reminder.

3. Have your word made into a piece of jewelry. My favorites are necklaces and bracelets. Then every time you look down you will be reminded of your why!

4. Have a huggie made for your water bottles or cold drinks.

5. Find and read books that are specific to your word. It will help engrain it further into your psyche.

So, without further ado, my word for 2022 is STRENGTH! I am looking forward to strengthening my relationships with my husband, my children, my other family members, my friends, my clients, my coworkers, my God, and myself! What is your word of the year? Please share with me on social media or by emailing me at erinlove@panachebyerin.com.

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Heart of an Entrepreneur Dhu Thompson Partners with ULM to Create Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup

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The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup is the premier academic business plan competition for the state of Louisiana, with one of the most significant cash prizes in the nation. The goal is to inspire participants and the community to think entrepreneurially by rewarding creativity, professionalism, and hard work.

Competitors will have access to networks of entrepreneurs, economic developers, investors, and others as they move through the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup process.

The rigor of the competition sharpens participants’ critical thinking, team building, presentation, and other soft skills – allimportant to career success.

The competition is open to full- or part-time students of ULM and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, including undergraduate and graduate students of all disciplines, with the intent to learn valuable business skills such as market research, budgeting, strategic planning, teamwork, and written and oral communication.

The competition requires a written formal business plan to be judged by business owners and investors. Six finalists will be chosen to give a presentation to top-tier entrepreneurs. Each team will select one member to deliver a 90-second elevator pitch competing for a cash award live at the awards luncheon at ULM.

Intending to grow the competition to all universities in his home state, Dhu is putting entrepreneurship as his primary focus for the development of Louisiana for generations to come.

First-place winners will be awarded $25,000, with second place receiving $15,000, and third $10,000. Faculty advisors are also awarded $3,000 for finishing first, second or third, and the elevator pitch winner will receive another $2,000 individually.

Dhu’s decision to share his expertise and resources with the entrepreneurs of tomorrow reflects his genuine desire to see students prepare for success by exposing them to the patterns and people who help lead to success.

“You’ve heard the old adage; it’s not personal, it’s just business.

Let me tell you what, that is a wrong statement. Business is personal because it is your values, ethics, and relationships with people. When ENTREPRENEURSHIP PELICAN CUP people realize who you are and that you’re goal-oriented, it brings in

By creating the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup in partnership with those like-minded people,” he said. the University of Louisiana Monroe, Dhu has set his sights on the next For more information on the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup: https:// generation of business owners, innovators, and creative thinkers – www.ulm.edu/pelicancup/ university students.

NT R E P R E N E U R S H A V E A R A R E M I X O F characteristics. They can be complex and simple, unorthodox and traditional, extravagant and conservative.

From these contradictions emerge people whose faith in their abilities outweigh any fear of their shortcomings. The entrepreneurial spirit may be born, but its success is always made.

Dhu Thompson, an alumnus of the University of Louisiana Monroe, is the definition of an entrepreneur. He dedicated 16 years to banking in Monroe, 10 years with Central Bank and six years with Bank One. He achieved a vice presidency, became an industry expert and had the respect of his colleagues and clients. Yet, he had business ideas that needed – demanded – to be explored.

Dhu acquired controlling interest of a company that was attempting to recycle agricultural plastics. He believed this could work – and Delta Plastics was born. Dhu set out to change his life and change the lives of others in the agricultural industry across the Mississippi Delta.

“When you take off as an entrepreneur, it is 180-degree from banking. I was very fortunate that I had a good banking background, but then all of a sudden, you’re sitting at the other side of the desk,” Dhu admitted.

Delta Plastics is in Stuttgart, Ark., and later, Dhu added a plant in Little Rock.

Dhu’s business model incorporated science-based sustainability practices to add value to the company and ecological preservation for the state of Arkansas.

Success was not immediate. The first year, his company posted a $1.4 million loss. It wasn’t until year four that Delta Plastics showed a profit. The company became one of the largest recyclers of heavily soiled plastics and the largest manufacturer of polytube in the world.

Dhu went on to create Revolution Bag, an EPA-compliant trashcan liner.

In 2019, Dhu sold the majority of his business and turned his focus back home to Northeast Louisiana to invest in the future of entrepreneurship in Louisiana.

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Health With Hope article by Vanelis Rivera photography by Kelly Moore Clark recipes by Hope Anderson Frugé

Food has always meant something to Hope A nderson Frugé.

“It was handed down from generation to generation,” she says, referring to the cooks and bakers in her family.

When she remembers when her relationship with food began, her mind drifts to images of her family sitting around a table. “My mom made it a point for us to come to the table. And the table is a sacred place to me… coming to the table is a moment to pause from the rat race and the chaos of life, which only seems to get busier as I get older,” she admits. Time goes by quickly for those finding enjoyment in it. For Frugé, the pause is all the more important, especially when it comes to preparing meals and sharing them with friends, family, and her community.

Frugé’s mother cooked quite a bit when she was a child. A stay-at-home, working mom, much like Frugé is now, she provided her children ample quality time, particularly in the kitchen: “My mom would always look for activities to engage us and the kitchen was a part of that. A nd I think that’s really where my food stor y began.”

Though always dabbling in the kitchen in one way or another, Frugé didn’t start creating and experimenting with dishes, learning the art of cooking on her own terms, until she was in college. “That’s where it began to really blossom,” she says, recalling the joys of having her own kitchen. She credits her mother with instilling a love of food that was based more on balance than following restrictive diets.

“We came to the table if she cooked something. We were encouraged to try it, but we were never forced to…eat Brussels sprouts. And I think my love of food also is very much attributed to that because we just tried lots of different foods,” she recalls, mentioning the cultural foods she was exposed to when her family lived in south Louisiana for a stint. She ate Cajun food as a child, trying boudin and couscous for the first time, and being amused by the funny-sounding dish. She says she’s that “blend of south Louisiana and north Louisiana.”

Roasted Beet & Pear Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette Ingredients: SALAD Mixed baby greens 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled 1 pear, thinly sliced 2 beets, skin peeled 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1/4 cup roasted pecans, chopped salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste DRESSING 1 clove garlic 1 small shallot 1/4 cup champagne vinegar (sherry, apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar substitute well) 1 Tbsp. stone-ground mustard 2/3 cup canola oil (*or avocado or grapeseed oil) 1/2 tsp. salt Freshly ground pepper to taste Method: 1) Pour olive oil over beets and wrap tightly in an aluminum foil packet. Place on a baking sheet and roast in oven at 425°F for 45 minutes. Remove and allow to cool.

2) Meanwhile, make vinaigrette by blending all ingredients in a food processor (or blender) until fully emulsified.

3) Drizzle dressing over greens, top with pear slices, pecans, roasted beets (cubed to 1” bitesize pieces), and crumbled goat cheese. Season with salt and cracked pepper, to taste. Serve.

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any recognize Frugé from her success on pageant stages, namely her 2011 coronation as Miss Louisiana.

Unfortunately, those four years “did a number” on her relationship with food.

“There was so much pressure to have a certain aesthetic, self-induced mostly.

And, I’m tall and lean, just naturally, but you have to take it to that next level when you’re going to Miss America,” she explains. Food in that season of life was not the healthy, life-giving, freeing component that Frugé had accustomed herself to. With all of the demands on her time and appearance, very little time was allotted for cooking, and as a result, protein bars became her go-to meal. “I don’t eat protein bars anymore,” she says slyly, “I really believe that food is close to the natural source, like what we’re chowing down on now is just what your body really needs.” Frugé gives the round charcuterie board she’s prepared for the interview a glance. An attractive arrangement of sliced pears, mixed nuts, a bowl of blueberries, crackers, and three different blocks of cheese surround a jar of jam. “But moving forward from that,” she continues, “it was in that year that I’d actually seen a lot of girls in pageants in the dance realm, begin struggling with their bodies and their relationships with food.” At that point, her foundational love and interest in food transformed into a fascination for the science of nutrition. After winning Miss Louisiana, she gave serious thought to what her scholarship money should fund. Having graduated from the University of Louisiana Monroe with a degree in mass communications, journalism seemed the natural course, but her dream job was to be the Today Show’s health authority.

Toward the end of her reign, she spoke at the Louisiana Dietetic Association’s annual conference on the obesity epidemic and outreach to children. After the conference, an attending dietitian approached her and encouraged her to take the dietitian route instead of broadcast journalism. “That sort of just rewrote everything for me. Not in the moment, but it planted this seed.”

Frugé was humbled but also recognized that her passion for people, love of food, and eagerness to educate would make her a success in the field of nutrition. As a result, she enrolled in the nutrition program at Louisiana Tech University, which landed her a residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. From the first day of class, she knew she met her calling: “It felt like everything in my body, all my cells were just vibrating learning about [nutrition].”

As a licensed dietitian, Frugé returned to Monroe and established Health with Hope. Her private practice offers a variety of services dealing with health and nutrition such as nutrition counseling, grocery store tour, cooking classes, kitchen renovation, and small dinner parties. Through her practice, she aims to instill in people a love of food and appreciation for their bodies. With a patient-focused mindset, she wants to walk alongside her clients and show them that “it’s not all about kale and carrot chips, that they can totally eat real food, enjoy food.” Balance is key, but balance also looks different for every single person. “And I love that, that I get to be part of people’s stories that I get to help people heal their relationships with food,” she says.

Frugé is constantly emboldened by her own relationship

EAT FIT PARTNERSHIP “One out of four people walking into a restaurant, at least, is looking for that healthy option. So [Eat Fit] is giving consumers what they’re looking for and what they’re interested in,” she informs.

with food, even though it has not always been perfect. She eagerly admits that it will never be perfect, but she found freedom in listening to her body and developing awareness for eating intuitively. Her food evolution is the reason she has been called to help curate people’s stories of food and body appreciation.

When Frugé gave birth to her first daughter Landry in September 2019, she was planning to take a step back and only work part-time. But then she received a call from a New Orleans-based dietitian Molly Kimball, the founder of the Ochsner Eat Fit initiative, which collaborates with local restaurants and markets to spotlight nutritious and delicious meal options. At the end of 2019, Eat Fit received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield to expand the program across Louisiana. Frugé’s name came up as the go-to dietitian to spearhead the Northeast Louisiana branch of the program. Though hesitant at first, she accepted the position because it would provide her with a different kind of impact that she had yet to tap into in the community, predominantly working with restaurants and getting healthier options on their menus. So far, Eat Fit has had a huge impact across the state with nearly 600 restaurant partners. “It’s great to work collaboratively on a team, too. And that’s something also that attracted me to building this. I would get to work with other dieticians,” she explains. Frugé’s first year directing the program for the region was 2020, the year COVID-19 hit. She was building a nonprofit program with restaurants as many of them were either shutting down or struggling with staffing issues. Even then, while also leaning into motherhood with a four-month-old at the time, she still managed to sign up 11 restaurants by the end of that year. Currently, they have 37 different locations that serve Eat Fit, easily accessible through the Eat Fit app. “One out of four people walking WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 51

EAT FIT PARTNERSHIP “One out of four people walking into a restaurant, at least, is looking for that healthy option. So [Eat Fit] is giving consumers what they’re looking for and what they’re interested in,” she informs.

into a restaurant, at least, is looking for that healthy option. So [Eat Fit] is giving consumers what they’re looking for and what they’re interested in,” she informs.

When considering her own family’s nutritional needs, Frugé draws inspiration from her baking background and her Cajun-born husband. “I married a man who is an amazing cook,” she says, recalling one of the first dishes he made for her: a grilled rib. She remembers showing up at the table, looking at that “beautiful steak,” and warning him to not be offended if she didn’t finish half of it. “There’s no way; it was a big slab of meat. And, I’m not a super heavy meat eater. But, I wiped out the entire thing,” she laughs.

Cooking meals for her family may not happen every night, but it’s enough to know that cooking is both of their love languages. To save some time, especially at 9 months pregnant, she has been batch cooking. Whether it’s roasted butternut squash soup or roasted beets (her favorite vegetable), she tries to make larger quantities so that she does not have to cook every single day. “Soups have been my jam lately with the weather changing,” she says, mentioning her favorite, white chicken chili, and her husband’s favorite, Italian wedding soup. Recently, she made sweet potato and lentil curry.

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onions. “We use a lot of herbs… rosemary, thyme. I love sage this time of year. I don’t use it year-round, but sage just feels very autumnal to me,” she says. Cilantro is one of her personal all-purpose herbs, parsley placed at a close second: “We try to add color with herbs, spices.”

Another food item coming out in batches from the Frugé kitchen has been in the works since 2015—Hope Bars. When living in Nashville, she was asked to speak at the Nashville Ballet Company for their Performance and Nutrition Workshop and did not want to show up empty-handed. So, she went into her tiny kitchen and took ingredients that she always had on hand like bananas, walnuts, dark chocolate, and peanut butter. “And I just threw something together. The only time in my life that I’ve ever just turned something together and it was actually good from the get-go,” she says.

With good reviews all around, she started making them for health fairs that she would attend. Shortly after moving back to Monroe, she sold them at local coffee shops. “My toddler loves them. I love them. After making them all these years, I still eat them. It’s amazing,” she beams. Not just great tasting, as she has perfected the recipe over the years, this healthy snack is hardy and sure to energize any morning.

“Food is unifying. To me, food is universal,” claims Frugé, continuing, “We celebrate with food, we mourn with food… cooking is such an expression of love.” Food may always be a balancing act for her, but as something that she considers part of her DNA, part of her life as a wife, and now as a mother, she has allowed her relationship with food to continue cultivating and nourishing the things that she is passionate about.

Nourishing your body is like hugging yourself from the inside out, a maxim that fits perfectly with her approach to her career, which encourages people to keep hope with their health.

Morning Glory Muffins Dry Ingredients: 3/4 cup whole wheat flour 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup old fashioned oats 1/4 cup steel-cut oats 1.5 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup shredded carrot 3/4 cup shredded zucchini 3/4 cup chopped green apple 1/2 tsp. salt Liquid Ingredients: 1 large egg 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt 3 tbsp. canola oil Method: 1) Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl; whisk together liquid ingredients in another bowl.

2) Pour liquid mixture into bowl with dry ingredients, stirring just until batter forms (don’t overmix).

3) Spray nonstick cooking spray onto a 12-muffin tin then spoon batter evenly into tins.

4) Bake 15-18 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and tops of muffins are golden.

5) Cool on rack and enjoy with a smudge of nut butter or drizzle of honey.

Home Health vs. Home Care Serenity Care Providers Breaks Down the Difference

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ERENITY CARE PROVIDERS HAS BEEN PROVIDING home care services to Northeast Louisiana since 2013. Serenity Care Providers understands the challenges and concerns the aging population experiences. While it may be hard to accept, most of us will need some type of care assistance as we age. Serenity Care Providers listens to the client and family concerns, then works with them to customize services to meet their needs.

IS HOME HEALTH THE SAME AS HOME CARE?

Often when someone thinks of home care, they assume home care and home health care are synonymous, but that is not the case.

Robin Cox, owner and administrator of Serenity Care Providers, says people often confuse their services with home health services. She has outlined a few of the differences below to help answer questions.

Home Health services provide a range of medical services such as medication assistance, nursing services, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Home Health Care services are prescribed by a physician and are often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Home Health is needed when an individual has a medical condition and/or is being discharged after an extended hospital stay or surgery. Generally, the nurse will visit weekly to assess the patient, and a home health aide may come out and bathe the patient 1-3 days a week.

Home Care services are designed to assist with daily activities and personal care. Caregivers report to the client’s home according to the schedule the client and Care Coordinator discussed. The caregiver assists with everyday activities such as bathing, grooming, meal preparation, and light housekeeping. Home care assistants (caregivers) can also help the client get to and from appointments, as well as assist with groceries and shopping. Caregivers are an “extra” set of eyes to ensure the client is well. Caregivers can ensure the client is taking their medication, identify when clients are feeling ill, and ensure the home is free of objects that may cause falls. Caregivers focus on the goals and choices of the client, and practice person-centered care. From companionship to 24/7 assistance or supervision for safety and comfort, home care services are designed to help the client age in place for as long as possible.

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Medicare does not pay for home care services. There are government programs, such as Medicaid and Veterans Administration, that covers limited in-home care for those who qualify. While Serenity Care Providers does not participate in the Louisiana Medicaid program, they do have a contract with the Veterans Administration and work with long-term care insurance companies. “I encourage everyone to look into long term care insurance. By the grace of God, we will all grow old. We never know what our future holds, and while that thought may be scary, the thought of not being able to pay for care is scarier!” says Mrs. Cox.

Home care offers many benefits. Home, wherever that may be, is a place where care recipients are accustomed to making decisions and being in control. Home is a place of familiarity, comfort and allows for a greater sense of autonomy. Care recipients may achieve better sleep, and greater control of anxiety and pain. They may also be less likely to experience confusion and infections. But most importantly, care recipients are the focus of the caregiver and receive one-on-one care.

Serenity Care Providers wants you to have peace of mind knowing you can trust them to bring professionalism and honesty to your family. Services are designed to enhance the lives of clients while giving friends and family the peace of mind that comes with knowing their loved one is safe. If you or a loved one needs an extra hand, call Serenity Care Providers and let us assist you in finding the answers you need. You can also visit www.serenitycareproviders.com to find more resources and information regarding personal care services.

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Fishing With Kenny FLAT SIDE CRANKBAITS article by K E N N Y C OV I NGT ON

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ere in our part of the country, January is an odd month for consistent weather. If you get a week of stable warm weather you would almost swear the fish were ready for their annual spring migration to the shallows to begin spawning. Then, the very next week, it can turn so cold you have to almost talk yourself into walking outside to take the trash out. Such is the month of January but that doesn’t mean the bass won’t bite.

One January morning several years ago, I received a phone call from my team partner, Lee King. “Hey man, I think I am about to head to the lake, you want to go?” Looking at the ice still hanging off my roof, I politely told him no thank you but for him to call me if he did any good.

Not expecting my phone to ring any time soon, I returned my focus to the ballgame I was watching. It wasn’t more than a couple of hours later when I got a picture message from him that was a three-pound bass laying on the deck of his boat with a small shallow crankbait swallowed to the back of his throat. My initial thought was Lee had stumbled on the one stupid fish that was out looking for a meal and the fish was probably starving, so Lee just happened to catch it.

Later, as I was grilling him about his frigid trip, Lee told me the water temperature was in the high 30’s and he’d caught that fish off a windy, rocky bank in about four feet of water. The depth in which he caught the fish didn’t surprise me, however, his choice of lure did. He was using a Bandit Flat Maxx, a flat sided crankbait that runs about six feet deep. A crankbait? In 40-degree water? Where would he get such an idea?

Lee told me about watching an episode of In-Fisherman, and they were fishing a lake that was a week removed from being covered in ice and they were catching huge smallmouth bass in shallow frigid water on a Shad Rap. “I figured if Al Linder could catch them under those conditions, why not try to do the same thing here?” I had to admit he had a point and since that time, fishing a flat sided crankbait for cold water bass has become a staple in our tournament arsenal.

The first thing you may ask yourself, why a flat-sided crankbait?

Well, the reasons are many, but I have a few theories of my own. One, I don’t think fish see many of. Two, they look very natural and do not put of any negative vibes to the fish as most of them are subtle moving, non-rattling or softer sounding baits. When it is cold, they don’t require a lot of “fishing”, you simply throw them out and wind them back in with a slow steady retrieve. But, most importantly, they catch fish, in both numbers and size.

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several versions of flat sided crankbaits, in all shapes, sizes and colors in my tackle boxes. As a refresher, I also analyzed where and why I used these lures. The smaller handmade balsa versions work better in clearer water lakes like Caney and Claiborne. The larger, louder versions such as the Bandit Flat Maxx work well in more stained bodies of water such as Darbonne and the Ouachita River.

The Shad Rap, a proven fish catcher regardless of the time of year, has been the standard cold-water crankbait since its inception. How good of a fish catcher is a Shad Rap? When the Shad Rap was first introduced, it was difficult to find and even harder to purchase, so tackle shops would allow anglers to rent a lure for a day. That’s hard to comprehend but it happened a lot, especially on lakes with on the water tackle shops with these lures in stock but not wanting to sell them to the public.

Another lure from Rapala, the OG Slim 6, designed by professional angler Ott Defoe and the Berkley Frittside 5 designed by crankbait guru David Fritts have also become favorites. Both have proven deadly for fall and winter fishing and while I can’t say I prefer one over the other for specific scenarios, I believe the Frittside catches more numbers while the OG Slim 6 catches a better-quality fish. Another flat sided style of crankbait a lot of anglers forget about this time of year is the Rat L Trap.

No matter if it is the original Rat L Trap or the Strike King Red Eyed Shad, these lures are versatile fish catchers. You can burn them, use a yo-yo or a stop and go retrieve or simply slow roll them like you would a spinnerbait. One of the biggest wintertime stringers I have ever caught was on a ½ ounce chrome/blue Rat L Trap, fished on a lake with ice still in abundance on the shoreline. The fish were relating to the outside edge of a grass flat and just ticking the grass with the lure was the key. The strikes were not jarring but simply a sense of having a leaf caught on your bait, but the size of the bass caught were staggering.

Speaking of grass, if your favorite body of water has an abundance of it or even just areas of sparse amounts, this is a great place to look for bass this time of year, regardless of how cold the water is. This is where the Trap style lures shine. If the grass is dead or dying, the fish will still use these areas, not because of the added heat as most would believe but more because a bass food chain feeds heavy off the decaying, dying grass.

Shad, minnows, and crayfish all use these areas, making it much easier for a larger bass to grab an easy meal.

Since we are already touching on the subject, let’s discuss some other types of places these lures can be effective this time of year. One of my favorite areas to look for are rip-rap banks or seawalls. I also like harder bottoms, no matter if it is rock, old shell beds, or sand. These types of areas, even in the cold of winter, have proven effective for holding catchable fish.

I have always believed larger fish pull shallower much earlier than most people realize, and harder bottoms seem to draw big fish like magnets.

Most of the focus for this article has been the flat side’s effectiveness in cold water but I have also had good luck using one other seasons of the year. I won an event this past fall using the Frittside 5 and have won events in the heat of the summer using a Norman Thin N. I have found the Thin N to be an excellent substitute for a spinnerbait especially when used in heavily stained or muddy water. By now you may be thinking, what about colors? Well, I keep things simple. I use shad patterns in the summer and fall and I like crawfish or red patterns in the spring. My favorite off the wall color is Firetiger. For whatever reason it works well on cloudy, rainy days and surprisingly, is a good choice for clear water.

When it comes to fishing flat sided crankbaits, I use a 6’8 or a 7’0 glass rod, depending on how precise my casting needs to be and a 6.3:1 reel. Most of the time my choice is 12 lb. line. I will go to 15 if the cover is heavier or if I am fishing around a lot of wood. When it comes to retrieve speed on the flat sides, a slower moderate retrieve seems to work best.

Well, it looks as though we have run out of time and space again for another month. I sincerely hope we have shared with you some information that will help you put a few more fish in your boat on your next fishing trip. No matter if you are in the woods or on the water this winter, please take extra caution and if you happen to be fishing, catch one for me! See you next month!

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Empty Bowls

The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana Hosts Annual Fundraiser

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HE FOOD BANK OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA’S 6TH Annual Empty Bowls event will be held on Saturday, January 29th from 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m.. Launched in 2017, Empty Bowls quickly became the Food Bank’s largest annual fundraiser, providing hundreds of thousands of meals to children, families and seniors facing hunger in Northeast Louisiana. Planned and executed by a passionate group of volunteers, this event brings together artists, restaurants, musicians, businesses and community members who all share one thing in common: the desire to make a difference for our neighbors who face hunger.

After adapting to a drive-thru style in 2021 because of the pandemic, the Food Bank is excited to be gathering back in person at the Monroe Civic Center in 2022. For those who haven’t attended before, Empty Bowls is a unique fundraiser where local artists donate hundreds of handmade bowls to be taken home by ticket holders. The options range from traditional ceramic bowls in a variety of beautiful colors, to wood and decorative mediums. Attendees can choose their favorite bowl from the hundreds on display. This event wouldn’t be possible without the many talented local artists who donate bowls. This year, attendees can choose bowls from Ann Johnston-Currie, Gary Ratcliff, Brooke Cassady, Alyssa Guidry, Sheila Floyd, Megan Smith, Dianne Asby, Lexi Smith, Paula Meredith, Sarah Hoffman, and more. In addition, local ceramics artist Alyssa Guidry will be doing a live pottery demonstration at the event. Local artist and Empty Bowls Committee Member Ann JohnstonCurrie has been involved in the fundraiser since its inception, and has donated hundreds of her ceramic bowls to support the Food Bank.

“I really enjoy volunteering on the Empty Bowls committee and donating bowls each year,” said Ann. “Knowing that each bowl will make a difference for people struggling with hunger in our community makes this a special labor of love for me.”

In addition to the beautiful bowls, a tasting of dishes and beverages will be served from multiple local restaurants including: Parish Restaurant; Standard Coffee; Chef Pat Nolan; Grown and Grazed; The Fat Pelican; Taste of India; GoodEarth Eatery; Thurman’s Food Factory; JAC’s Tailgaters and more.

The wide variety of food and drinks to sample is the favorite part of the event for many attendees. Crowd favorite Chef Cory Bahr’s Parish Restaurant will be back this year, along with his latest addition, Standard Coffee.

“This event helps solve food insecurity in our region,” said Cory Bahr, Chef and Owner of Parish Restaurant and Standard Coffee. “As

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a chef, feeding people is what I do, and we’re honored to be a part of something this meaningful.”

The delicious food is always accompanied by live music from local musicians. This year, the Toc-Toc Troubadours band made up of Jeffrey Hicks, Paul Amy, Larry Amy and Matt Morgan will be providing a great soundtrack for the event. Their style ranges from classic rock to bluegrass, and is sure to entertain. Talented local artist Leigh Buffington will be creating a landscape in oils live, which will go to the lucky highest bidder.

Leigh paints representational and abstract pieces where she is expressing her experience on the bayou with bold colors, shapes, and lines. There will also be numerous art and gift items available in the silent auction thanks to the generosity of local donors. For the kids, artist Brooke Foy will be offering face painting.

Each ticket purchased for the Empty Bowls event helps to support the mission of the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana. As one past attendee said, “I enjoyed all of it - the food, the music, the auction, and the knowledge that we were helping the Food Bank help those in need.” Empty Bowls tickets are on sale now, with a limited number of all-inclusive tickets available. Ticket prices range from $10 for children ages 4-12; $20 for food only; and $40 for the all-inclusive ticket with a handmade bowl. Tickets can be purchased at www.emptybowlsnela.com, or by calling 318-322-3567. The all inclusive bowl tickets have sold out in advance for the past 2 years, so don’t wait! Get yours today and enjoy this fantastic community event for a great cause! This year’s Empty Bowls is presented by Graphic Packaging; Mark Taylor, MD, LLC; JP Morgan Chase; Louisiana Plastic Industries; IBERIABANK/First Horizon; Origin Bank and numerous other local organizations.

A special thank you to the Empty Bowls 2022 Committee: Ann Johnston Currie; Patti Morris; Ashley Able; Hope Anderson Fruge; Bryan Creekmore; Angela Benson-Doyle; Brooke Cassady; Joey Haddad; Ernest Finch; James Callender. Their hard work and dedication on behalf of the Food Bank’s hunger relief programs is an inspiration.

In the 12 parish region the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana serves, over 66,000 people struggle with hunger. The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana is the largest hunger relief organization in the region. They partner with over 60 nonprofits that operate food pantries or meal programs, forming a network that serves people facing hunger throughout Northeast Louisiana. In addition, the Food Bank operates three programs that directly provide food to those most vulnerable – our children and seniors. For more information about the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana’s work in the community, please visit www.foodbanknela.com.

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MT Haberdashery

The Best Place to Shop for Thoughtfully Curated Quality Quilting and Sewing Notions

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INTERTIME IS THE PERFECT time of year to broaden your horizons by learning new skills or pick up where you left off on an old one. As many of you may or may not know, March of last year we expanded Material Things to include The Haberdashery-the best place to shop for thoughtfully curated quality cotton fabrics, notions, books, patterns, sewing machines, sergers and so much more!

We have officially had The Haberdashery open for almost a year now, and are growing by leaps and bounds. Our fabric shelves are just about filled to capacity and Robert isn’t going to let me have a “bigger” space...

Yikes! We have also greatly expanded our English Paper Piecing corner to include many new shapes of acrylic templates and papers to correspond. Our community of wool appliqué enthusiasts has also grown so we are doing our best to accommodate them by adding new wool fabrics and threads for all of the projects that they are working on as well as the different wool clubs that we offer. We are always discovering new notions that will make your stitching time an enjoyable timeeveryone knows that if you don’t have the perfect needle, thread, scissors or anything needed for your project then you will not enjoy what you are trying to accomplish and possibly not finish it.

A few new areas of the shop that we plan to expand on are children’s and adult’s clothing patterns and hopefully adding a small curated selection of needlepoint kits. We have had a big interest in clothing classes and needlepoint this past year. I will be adding

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the Wiksten line of patterns for clothing very soon. My intentions are to attend needlepoint/sewing markets this spring and hopefully find exactly what I am looking for to make it as rewarding as possible for all of the new and seasoned needlepointers out there.

Also, we will be beginning not just one but two Block of the Months (BOM) this yearone will be a machine pieced pattern and the other is an English Paper Pieced (EPP) by hand pattern. The machine pieced pattern is Sew Hometown and is perfect for beginners or experienced sewers. It teaches you many different techniques throughout the year and is put together in a sampler style. The hand pieced pattern is The Seedlings Quilt by Tales of Cloth. This one is a culmination of all of the patterns in her book that will feature a different medicinal herb every month and be machine or hand pieced together in a log cabin style. You will receive everything needed to make these quilts each month-pattern/ book, hand selected fabrics, acrylic templates and EPP papers. We will be starting this in January but, at this moment, I do have a few spots left of each BOM if anyone is interested in joining us! The kits for these BOM will be available for pickup on the second Thursday of each month starting on January 13th. So, if you would like to join us on this fun journey, call us to secure your spot!

Additionally, in The Haberdashery, we have partnered with Husqvarna Viking to offer a premier line of sewing and embroidery machines as well as their line of sergers. They are a leader and innovator in the sewing

world by offering so many exclusive features to their machine line up since 1872. Not only do we sale the machines but we offer in house training and servicing of your machine when you purchase it from us. My husband Robert has had extensive local training on this machine with Mr. Ron Adams at The Fabric Shop of Ruston, as well as certified training at Husqvarna Viking headquarters in Tennessee.

So, when you are ready to purchase your new machine, come by and visit with us!

To stay in the loop of everything that is going on in The Haberdashery, go to my website to view the class calendar and sign up to receive MT Threads (our monthly newsletter and calendar). We look forward to continuing to offer premier fabrics, notions and classes to all of our new and existing customers throughout this exciting new year!

XOXO - Joyce

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THE BEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS

We’ve asked local experts to recommend their favorite beauty products to add to your beauty regimen in the New Year. Below is a list of products that will help you round out skin routine for a brighter, more youthful glow.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

1.HOPKINS DERMATOLOGY RX: ALHABET SOUP SERUM A powerhouse antioxidant that boosts levels of Vitamin C in the skin while shutting down free radical pathways through a patented, rapid-release delivery system. This high potency Vitamin C Serum is designed to improve the look of wrinkles, brighten skin’s complexion and support the microbiome, while a protective antioxidant system guards against free radical damage. Available at HOPKINS DERMATOLOGY 2. ZO FIRMING SERUM An anti-aging breakthrough in skin structure and shape. This mild, lightweight and tolerable formulation is indicated for all skin types and sensitive skin areas to reinforce skin health and hydrate to support the visible improvement in skin elasticity and firmness.

Available at THE WOMAN’S CLINIC 3. ALPHARET OVERNIGHT CREAM A skincare cream featuring a unique ingredient that is made up of a retinoid combined with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that provides visible skin rejuvenation with little-to-no irritation. Improves the appearance of lines, wrinkles, uneven tone and texture. Available at SPA BELLA

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4. SKINCEUTICALS C E FERULIC A patented daytime vitamin C serum that delivers advanced environmental protection and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and brightens skin’s complexion. Now clinically proven to reduce combined oxidative damage from free radicals generated by UV, Ozone, and Diesel Exhaust by up to 41%. Available at SPA NOUVELLE 5. ANTE AGE MD SERUM AND ACCELERATOR SYSTEM Restore your skin’s ability to heal itself with AnteAGE® regenerating serum. The AnteAGE Accelerator is a performance driven treatment rich in powerful moisturizers and revitalizing actives.

Available at PROFESSIONAL LASER CENTER

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6. OBAGI NU-CIL EYELASH ENHANCING SERUM Nu-Cil is designed to target the growth phase of the lash cycle to support overall lash improvement. Powered by NouriPlex™ technology, a unique blend of 4 key ingredients nourishes lashes for a more luscious, thicker, and defined appearance with results that continuously build day after day. Available at THE MEDICAL SPA BY ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL GROUP 7. ZO EXFOLIATING POLISH Gently removes dead skin cells to instantly reveal smoother, softer and glowing skin.

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Physically exfoliates dead skin cells and other debris to improve skin radiance. Available at MICKEL PLASTIC SURGERY 8. SKINCEUTICALS SILYMARIN CF SALICYLIC ACID ACNE TREATMENT An oil-free vitamin C serum formulated specifically for oily and blemish-prone skin types that delivers advanced environmental protection and reduces oiliness, refines skin texture, and visibly improves skin clarity and fine lines. Provides advanced antioxidant protection from environmental aggressors.

Available at LOUISIANA CENTER FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 63

ONLY IN THE MOVIES?

Historical Impressions

b y G u y M i l l e r, V i c e C h a i r E m e r i t u s , C h e n n a u l t Av i a t i o n a n d M i l i t a r y M u s e u m

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t’s the new year and this is always a time people think they need to pursue new ideas and new projects.

With a new budget year in play I guess military leaders could feel the same way. The U.S. Navy already has cutting edge stealth destroyers and is testing shipboard lasers and rail guns.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could get them to develop flying aircraft carriers like the one in the 2012 Avengers movie? Even the less impressive looking flying carrier from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow would be pretty impressive in real life. Well, actually a flying aircraft carrier is not a new idea for the U.S. military although the tested concepts don’t resemble the movie carriers.

Although rare today, rigid inflatable airships were in regular use back in the early 20th century. Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin developed airships that were useful for military purposes due to their range, fuel efficiency and heavy payload capabilities. The weakness of the huge airships was their vulnerability to attacks by conventional fixed-wing aircraft.

Great Britain was the first country to try to offset an airship’s vulnerability by building an apparatus that could carry and launch three Sopwith Camel biplanes beneath an airship’s hull. A mitigating factor was the Sopwiths needed to land at a ground airfield after deployment.

Eventually Britain built four of these rigid airship carriers and they served until the1920s. The U.S. Navy took notice of the concept and had its own inflatable airship carriers built- the USS Akron and the USS Macon.

The U.S. airship carriers took the British concept one step further. Their “carrier” apparatus could both deploy F9C-2 Sparrowhawk biplanes then recover them again in mid-flight. Internal hangars were built on each airship that were large enough to hold five biplanes. Because

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Navy airships were flown over the ocean, the airship’s “parasite” planes were intended for both defense and for shipspotting reconnaissance.

Unfortunately the U.S. airships did not perform very well in Navy exercises and both eventually ended up crashing. The Akron first flew on August,1931. It crashed on April 4, 1933, killing all 76 people on board. The Macon took its first flight only three weeks later on April 21 and performed better than the Akron but it too ended up crashing on February 12, 1935. Only two of Akron’s 83 crew members died because the Navy added life jackets and inflatable boats aboard its airships after the Akron tragedy.

The U.S. Air Force also explored its own “flying carrier” concept using the massive post-WWII B-36 bomber. The B-36 could carry an 86,000 lb payload almost 10,000 miles and had a 230 foot wingspan.

For comparison, the well-known B-52 carries 70,000 lbs 8800 miles and has a 185-foot wingspan. With size and range, the Air Force thought the B-36 could serve as a flying aircraft carrier for its YRF-84F fighters.

The Air Force idea was similar to the Navy airship concept- carry the YRF_84Fs internally to extend their operational range, then deploy them via a lowered boom.

The fighters then acted as protection for a bomber group and also could be used for reconnaissance or offensive operations before returning to the B-36 for recovery.

What doomed the B-36 carrier concept was not any operational flaw but the development of mid-air refueling. Midair refueling dramatically increases the operational range of all kinds of aircraft including fighters deployed for bomber group protection. The flying aircraft carrier concept became less cost-effective than air-refueled fighter and reconnaissance support.

Despite the outcome of the B-36 proposal, the Air Force began looking into

the carrier concept once again in the 1970s.

With size, range and a payload capacity of as much as 883,000 lbs, the Boeing 747 is an extremely capable aircraft for a wide variety of applications. The Air Force decided it was worth looking into converting a 747 into a flying aircraft carrier with “parasite” fighters that could be deployed and recovered in mid-air.

Instead of adapting existing aircraft to the parasite role, Boeing proposed designing and building new fighter aircraft that were small enough to be housed within the 747 and an apparatus for the 747 to carry the fighters, deploy them when they were needed, and recover them after they had fulfilled their mission.

This 1970s concept study never really solved questions such as the actual range of a 747 carrying such a heavy payload, how the effect of turbulence from the 747’s engines could be overcome in deployment and recovery operations and how the proposed new fighters would perform in combat against the top-of-the-line Soviet fighters.

Although the 747 carrier concept never made it off the drawing board, the idea of a flying aircraft carrier was declared “technically feasible” using 1970’s technology. Technically feasible of course does not mean financially feasible and a cost-to-benefit analysis was never made.

Never saying never, in January, 2021, an X-61A Gremlin UAV was successfully launched from a C-130A cargo aircraft.

The idea behind this demonstration was the efficacy of deploying and recovering low-cost combat drones from military cargo aircraft. Cargo planes could deploy drones outside of the range of enemy air defenses and the drones can fly on to complete missions before returning to their “mother ship” to be refurbished and reused at a later date. It is too early to tell if this “flying carrier” concept will ever become an operational reality.

BayouLife Magazine’s

TOP DOCS 2022 We are proud to announce our 4th Annual Top Doctors issue. We sent over 1,500 letters to local medical professionals’ offices, and asked them who they would recommend in particular categories. We do know this list is by no means an all-inclusive and encompassing list, and we do not recommend changing your medical provider because of this list. We are extremely lucky to have a large pool of medical professionals in Northeast Louisiana, and are thankful for all the amazing people that devote their talents to make our community healthy and happy.

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Dr. Ricky Caples and Dr. Chris Robinson Caples & Robinson Orthodontics 2210 Forsythe Ave. | Monroe, LA 71201 Phone: 318.325.9655 crorthodontics.com

Doctors Ricky Caples and Chris Robinson, of Caples and Robison Orthodontics, go to work each day knowing they make a difference in their patients lives. They are proud to be chosen as Top Orthodontist for the fourth year in a row. Their passion is to create a smile of a lifetime. Together they bring 48 years of collective quality orthodontic treatment and a staff with over 150 years collective experience in the best patient care. They are both graduates of Louisiana State University School of Dentistry earning Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees. They are proud to be the only orthodontic office in Northeast Louisiana on the Cleft Palate team and are Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics.

Dr. Ricky Caples has been practicing orthodontics since 1993.

He is a member of the LSU School of Dentistry Alumni Board of Directors and the J.M. Chadha Educational Board as well as on the Development Committee for the LSU School of Dentistry.

He is an active member in several organizations including the American Association of Orthodontists, the Louisiana Association of Orthodontists, the Louisiana Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the Northeast Louisiana Dental Association.

In his spare time, Dr. Caples enjoys spending time with his family.

He is the father of two children and the grandfather of two. He is also a collector car buff, enjoys turkey hunting and traveling with his wife, Lynna.

Dr. Chris Robinson has been in private practice since 2001. He is a member of numerous organizations including the American Association of Orthodontists, the Louisiana Association of Orthodontists, the Louisiana Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the Northeast Louisiana Dental Association.

Dr. Robinson enjoys staying active in community events, volunteers his time and services and is is the past president and board member of the Monroe Youth Baseball Association. He also participates in the Give Kids a Smile Day program. Outside of the office, Dr. Robinson likes spending time with his wife and three kids. He also enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

For over 28 years, their practice has focused on giving patients optimal treatment in a safe and healthy environment. The doctors along with their knowledgeable staff are committed to providing excellent orthodontic care and will make sure you experience a patient-centered treatment plan. Your oral health, goals and priorities are the focus of what will become a beautiful, healthy smile of your dreams.

As Monroe’s Trusted Orthodontic Practice, Caples and Robinson has some big news they are excited to announce. “Make You Smile

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- Free Braces” giveaway program was implemented in September of 2020. The program was simple and fun…and open to everyone!

That means anyone could participate for the chance to win monthly giveaways and a grandprize of free braces! The “Caples and Robinson Car Crew” were on a mission to find cars with the CRO magnets who proudly displayed their local high school sports teams.

At end of the year, 36 winners were entered into the drawing and a winner was selected… Ms. Raegan West of West Monroe, a freshman at West Monroe High School. Raegan and her family (Damon West, Ashanna West, Raegan West, Damon West Jr. and Amaya West) are pictured along with Dr. Ricky Caples and Dr. Chris Robinson. The team at Caples and Robinson Orthodontics want to give a heart felt “thank you” to all who participated in the giveaway.

Dr. Ricky Caples and Dr. Chris Robinson are strong supporters of our community. Whether it is sign on the field or on uniforms, they work hard to show gratitude to their students, businesses and local charities. They are blessed to have the opportunity to serve patients in five locations across Northeast Louisiana. They offer advanced solutions in treatments and may recommend:

• Early Orthodontic Intervention

• Adolescent Orthodontic Treatment

• Adult Orthodontic Treatment

• Invisalign

• Damon Braces

• CLARITY Advanced Braces

• Retainers

• Other Orthognathic Appliances

• Orthognathic Surgery

Drs. Ricky Caples and Chris Robinson are blessed to have the opportunity to work in a community that comes together for so many worthy causes. To get started on your healthier, more beautiful smile, contact their office for a consultation @ 318.325.9655. Their skilled experienced orthodontic team can help you ensure great oral health.

They welcome new patients of all ages and strive to accommodate all.

Locations include: Monroe: 2210 Forsythe Ave. Monroe, LA 71201 West Monroe: 206 McMillian Rd. West Monroe, LA 71291 Ruston: 300 W. Alabama Ave. Bastrop, LA 71270 Bastrop: 2004 E. Madison Ave., Bastrop, LA 71220 Mangham: 4279 Hwy 15 Mangham, LA 71259

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

TOP ORTHODONTIST WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 67

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Coy Gammage, MD Oncology Associates of Monroe 1162 Oliver Road | Unit 7 Monroe, LA 71201 318.325.7007

Dr. Coy Gammage is a graduate of the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. He also completed his residency and fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.

Dr. Gammage grew up in Natchitoches, attending St. Mary’s School and Northwestern State University as an undergraduate. He has over 30 years experience in the medical field. As a physician who specializes in both hematology and oncology, Dr. Gammage diagnoses and treats diseases of the blood, as well as monitors and treats patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Dr. Gammage has more experience with Pancreatic Neoplasms and Skeletal System Neoplasms than any other specialists this area. The doors to Dr. Gammage’s office are always open and his staff are committed to providing compassionate care to his patients and their families. His philosophy regarding his practice is “We do not treat diseases, we treat patients who have diseases. We see them all, veterans, the elderly, men or women.”

Dr. Gammage enjoys spending time with his wife, Kristie, and their four children Ashley, Coy, Tierney and Hannah all who attended St. Frederick High School. He has one precious grandson James Michael who takes much of his and his wife’s spare time. He also enjoys watching his children and their activities such as travel softball, soccer and tennis. Another one of his favorite pastimes is fishing at their camp on Caney Lake. An evening out with the family and friends is an example of some of the little things in life he cherishes. He and his family are members of the Jesus the Good Shepherd Church.

He is a very strong advocate of preventative medicine and does not hesitate to counsel patients on getting all their age appropriate screening tests scheduled in a timely manner. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Northeast Louisiana.

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BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Gordon G. Grant IV, DC Shell Chiropractic

3219 Sterlington Road | Monroe, LA 318.387.5388 shellchiromonroe.com

Dr. G.G. Grant grew up in Ruston and graduated from Louisiana Tech in 2001. In 2005, he graduated from Parker University in Dallas, Texas with a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. Right after school, Dr. Grant began working at Shell Chiropractic in Monroe. Now in his 17th year of practice, he practices alongside Dr. Brent Bryant and Dr. “Brud” Boudreaux.

And he LOVES his career.

While Dr. Grant sees patients from all ages, from pediatrics to later in life patients, Dr. Grant also has a specialty focus on athletes. And he proves his love and affinity for this facet of his practice by volunteering his time as the team chiropractor for area high schools as well as for the University of Louisiana Monroe, for the last 13 years. Part of the love he has for this area of his practice is, like with his private practice, the satisfaction he gets from educating athletes on how to prevent injuries. Says Dr. Grant, “I like

to describe a patient’s chiropractic picture as having an imaginary line… on the top of the line is a non-injury status and below the line is the injury status. The education I give my patients keeps them as far away from the injury line as possible. My ultimate goal is to educate these athletes so that when all the components of their athletic training work together: therapy, training, weight lifting and conditioning, then they can operate and play at their peak performance.”

Dr. Grant further says, “I am just another tool in the bag. I like working with all the disciplines to give each athlete a chance for their optimal performance. I want the athlete/patient before they are injured so we can work together to avoid a debilitating setback. I tell my patients to think of it like this: you get your tires rotated so proper wheel alignment will give allow your car to run better. It also reduces the wear and tear on the tires. I operate much the same way in my practice with the tools I put in my patient’s hands…to help them run infinitely.”

Dr. Grant resides in Monroe with his wife, Heather, and their children, Lake, 18, a senior at Neville, Hunt, 15, a sophomore at Neville, and Griffyn, 6, a 1st grader at Jesus the Good Shepherd. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, duck hunting and playing golf.

Dr. Grant and Shell Chiropractic are conveniently located on HWY 165 North in Monroe and are currently accepting new patients. The clinic also has a massage therapist on staff. Call today to schedule an appointment with BayouLife’s Buzz Award winning “Best Chiropractor” Dr. G.G. Grant.

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BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Janine Hopkins, MD, FAAD Hopkins Dermatology 2509 Broadmoor Blvd, Suite A | Monroe 318.325.0600 hopkinsdermatology.com

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Dr. Janine Hopkins, M.D., F.A.A.D. is a Boardcertified dermatologist and experienced physician practicing in Monroe since 1996. She received training through a progressive program with an emphasis on surgical and cosmetic dermatology at LSU’s School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Dr. Hopkins is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the former secretary and treasurer of the Louisiana Dermatological Society; she also served as the past state chair for the Dermatology Foundation, and is a member of the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, and the Ouachita Medical Society.

Dr. Hopkins’ practice focuses on skin cancer prevention and detection, general dermatology, laser treatments, and cosmetic procedures with an emphasis on non-surgical facial aesthetics and body contouring.

Dr. Hopkins lectures at medical meetings in the U.S. and internationally on both laser and facial aesthetics. She uses her expertise, education, and training to focus on what will work best specifically for each patient’s skin and body type. Hopkins Dermatology is in the top 1% of dermatology practices in the U.S. offering advanced nonsurgical cure for skin cancer, known as Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy.

While attending and lecturing at professional medical meetings, Dr. Hopkins is constantly learning new techniques and technologies. She has successfully patented her medical device, the CuraCator™, that allows her patients and the health care market to more efficiently apply serums and medications. The CuraCator™ was designed and developed to meet the unmet need for hands-free, needle-free, controlled application of products to skin or other tissue. The CuraCator™ is a unique and innovative device, providing a solution that alleviates safety concerns as well as worries of incorrect application. Along with offering the latest facial antiaging fillers and neurotoxins, Dr. Hopkins continues to use the finest state-of-the-art laser systems, including the highly advanced Fotona and X-Trac lasers. This revolutionary non-ablative laser brings a whole new dimension to anti-aging treatments. After receiving advanced training and certification with Fotona in San Francisco, Dr. Hopkins incorporated this technique for anti-aging on the face, neck, and eyelids, as well as for body contouring and tightening. Dr. Hopkins remains focused on delivering optimal care, addressing the needs of her patients at every stage of their lives with an emphasis on skin cancer prevention and treatment.

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Anna Grace Livingston, AGNP-C Hopkins Dermatology 2509 Broadmoor Blvd, Suite A | Monroe 318.325.0600 hopkinsdermatology.com

Anna Grace Livingston, AGNP-C, is a nurse practitioner with a specialty in Dermatology under the supervision of Dr. Janine Hopkins at Hopkins Dermatology, serving patients aged 13 and older. Anna Grace completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Louisiana Monroe. She began her career in Dermatology as a registered nurse at Hopkins Dermatology in 2016. Soon after, Anna Grace completed her degree as a Master of Science in Nursing with the concentration of adult-gerontology nurse practitioner in 2019, as the valedictorian of her class. Throughout her career, Anna Grace has solely focused on her specialty in dermatology and is proficient in treating a multitude of dermatologic conditions. Her practice includes performing total body skin exams, locating and treating skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions, diagnosing and treating rashes, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, hair loss and nail issues. Anna Grace is trained and skilled in performing all types of laser treatments within the practice, which include, laser tattoo removal, hair restoration treatments, a multitude of skin rejuvenation treatments, laser hair removal, and lasers for treating acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. She has also trained and is skilled in cosmetic injection of neuromodulators, such as Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, and Jeauveu. Anna Grace also remains as an active provider with Skin Cure Oncology while assisting in overseeing Image Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy (IG-SRT) treatments for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers within Hopkins Dermatology.

Anna Grace is nationally Board certified and accredited through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Anna Grace is a member of the Dermatology Nurses Association along with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Anna Grace has been happily married for 6 years to her husband, Jon Michael Livingston. They have a one-year old baby boy, Jon Henry, who has completely stolen their heart. Anytime Anna Grace is not working, she spends the majority of her time with her growing family. She also enjoys playing tennis and shopping with friends. Anna Grace is dedicated to her growing practice, here in Monroe, and looks forward to many years ahead providing cutting edge care for her patients.

TOP NURSE PRACTITIONER WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 71

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

The Woman’s Clinic

Laurie LeBleu, MD Amber Shemwell, MD Monroe | West Monroe | Ruston 318-388-4030 www.thewomansclinic.net

Meet Laurie LeBleu, M.D. Dr. Laurie LeBleu has been practicing medicine since 2008. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Dr. LeBleu continued her training at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina. She is a board-certified member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and the Ouachita Medical Society. She is a chairperson for the Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology committee at P&S Surgical Hospital. She serves as the current Obstetrics Department Chair at Glenwood Regional Medical Center. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Specialty Management Services Organization.

In her spare time, Dr. LeBleu enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons. She loves watching them play hockey, spending time outdoors, and traveling.

TOP OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 72 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Meet Amber Shemwell, M.D. Dr. Amber Shemwell has been practicing medicine since 2007. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Dr. Shemwell continued her residency training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. She is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a well as a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Shemwell is a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and currently serves as the President of the Ouachita Medical Society. She is active in leadership both in medicine and our community.

Dr. Shemwell likes to cook and garden when she isn’t in the office or the hospital. She is enjoying the teen years with her two children, and she loves traveling with her husband, Clay. She also cherishes her tribe of friends. Although she is not a native of Monroe, she is proud to call it home.

For 60 years, The Woman’s Clinic has been dedicated to providing total care for today’s woman. The providers of The Woman’s Clinic are continually improving their skills, learning new treatments, and providing more wholistic care to our patients. The Woman’s Clinic physicians appreciate every patient that chooses us to care for them throughout the course of their lifetime, and endeavor to provide excellent care to each.

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

ORAL SURGERY ASSOCIATES Matthew Fowlkes, DMD, MD, Eric Geist, DDS, FACS, and Nick Gregory, DDS 2003 Forsythe Avenue, Monroe | 318.388.2621 620 S. Trenton Street, Ruston | 318.254.0018 www.oralsurgeryassociates.com Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the only dental specialists recognized by the American Dental Association who receive four to six consecutive years of hospital based surgical and anesthesia training prior to being certified to practice. Board certification from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons requires completing an additional two yearlong examination process after successful completion of an accredited residency program.. Their training focuses primarily on the function and anatomy of the face, mouth, and jaws. Doctors Geist, Fowlkes, and Gregory are all Board certified Oral and maxillofacial surgeons serving the northeast Louisiana community. Their extensive and rigorous training allows them to offer the most advanced surgical techniques and state of the art methods in every aspect of the care they provide. In addition todental implant surgery

they also specialize in wisdom tooth removal, advanced oral bone grafting, corrective jaw surgery, oral and maxillofacial pathology, TMJ disorders and obstructive sleep apnea. Oral Surgery Associates of Northeast Louisiana would like to congratulate our own Dr. Eric Geist, Dr. Matthew Fowlkes & Dr. Nick Gregory on being selected as Top Doctors in our community.

Dr. Eric Geist, DDS, FACS has been serving the community for over 30 years and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Department of Surgery at LSU Health Science Center, Shreveport.

He also served as president of both the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and American Association of Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He received the LSU Dental School Alumnus of the Year award in 2011, which is one of the many awards he has received.

Dr. Matthew Fowlkes received his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from UMMC. He then moved to New Orleans for his advanced training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at LSUHSC. Dr. Fowlkes completed an internship in General Surgery and completed his training as chief resident at the Medical Center of Louisiana. He actively serves on multiple committees at local hospitals as well as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Louisiana Monroe. He enjoys spending time with his family, golf, hunting, fishing, and watching MSU and LSU sporting events.

Dr. Nick Gregory received his Doctorate from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Dentistry where he was awarded the Dental Student Oral Surgery Award from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, as well as being the only one accepted per year into a prestigious Surgical Dental Implant Fellowship. He enjoys spending time with his family outdoors, hiking, and biking. Also, Dr. Gregory enjoys playing the guitar, music ministry, and hunting and fishing.

TOP ORAL SURGEON WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 73

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

TIMOTHY J. MICKEL, MD, FACS Mickel Plastic Surgery 903 N. 2nd Street | Monroe, LA 318.388.2050 mickelplasticsurgery.com

Dr. Mickel is a Board certified plastic surgeon. A third generation Monroyan, he was born at St. Francis Hospital, raised in the Garden District, and graduated from Neville High School. Dr Mickel attended Vanderbilt University, where he graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology. He received his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr Mickel completed a full five-year general surgery residency program at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and earned board certification in general surgery in 1988. He went on to complete his plastic surgery training at Parkland/UT Southwestern Medical Center in 1990 and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. As a plastic surgery resident, Dr. Mickel’s research on frontal sinus fractures won national acclaim, including the prestigious Snyder Award, given to the plastic surgery resident who presents the best paper at the annual meeting of the Plastic Surgery Research Council.

TOP PLASTIC SURGEON 74 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Dr. Mickel returned to his hometown in 1990 to begin a practice in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Over the decades, he has focused on cosmetic surgery, breast cancer reconstruction, and repair of cleft lip and palate. Dr Mickel is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Southeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Cleft Palate Association and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Mickel has given back to his community in numerous ways since he returned here almost 30 years ago. He is Medical Director of the Northeast Louisiana regional cleft lip and palate clinic and the plastic surgery clinic at the parish health unit. He has served on the Grace Episcopal School board, the St. Frederick school council, and was a founding board member of the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum. He has served as chairman of the Monroe Historical Preservation Commission for over a decade and is active in his church.

But the achievement he is most proud of is raising five wonderful children with Stephanie, his wife of over 30 years.

An avid outdoorsman, Dr Mickel has hunted dove, duck, squirrel and deer in the woods and fields of north Louisiana since he was a boy.

He enjoys hiking and water skiing in the warmer months and snow skiing in the winter. To stay fit enough to pursue these hobbies, he is passionate about exercise - biking, swimming, and doing cardio and weight training on a regular basis.

In the ever changing field of plastic surgery, Dr. Mickel strives to stay current, investing in proven technology and offering the latest techniques to help you look your best.

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Tiffany terra, fnp Geaux Family Health 1401 North 18th Street, Suite A | Monroe 318.600.4364 geauxfamilyhealth.com

Tiffany Terra, Owner of Geaux Family Health has been serving our Community as a nurse practitioner for more than 9 years. Her dream throughout nursing school and nurse practitioner school was to have her own clinic. Geaux Family Health and Spa Terra are both products of her ambition and love for her patients.

Her priority is to help her patients feel comfortable by assisting with their health and medical needs.

She has shown her love for what she does through her dedication to her patients and staff. She is a huge supporter of local area athletic Pprograms and the amazing athletes that she treats. Tiffany also shows her love for community by supporting local non-profits.

Tiffany has been supported through all of this by her husband Bryan Terra and their two children, Brayden (18) and Briley (12). The love and support from her family, friends, and patients continues to drive her and kept her reaching for the stars.

Tiffany lives by the motto, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” She inspires people everyday and is proof that you can achieve anything through dedication, hard work, and love for what you do.

TOP NURSE PRACTITIONER WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 75

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Melanie Massey Physical Therapy 4401 Sterlington Rd. | Monroe | 318.388.1989 2309 South Service Road West | Ruston | 318.232.1969 1800 Buckner St., C249 | Shreveport | 318.934.1969 107 Summer Ln. | West Monroe | 318.396.1969 www.mmptinc.com

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Melanie Massey Groves, PT, PRPC, was born and raised in West Monroe and has been married to Todd Groves for 25 years. They have two teenage daughters, Ellie and Gabbi. Starting out as an entrepreneur 26 years ago, Melanie has treated patients in all of the surrounding parishes. She is proud to stand behind the name Melanie Massey Physical Therapy as one of the longest standing outpatient therapy clinics in north Louisiana. You can find her either serving or involved with many local nonprofits like Med Camps, Living Well Foundation, and the West Monroe revitalization efforts. In the past, Melanie has served on boards dear to her heart, such as Families Helping Families, West Monroe Chamber and was a founding member of the Dixie Diehards. She is also a certified leadership coach, speaker and trainer with the John Maxwell Team. She believes that when an organization understands the gifts of its team and is unified by strong core values, the leader and teammates are free to do what they do best. Because Melanie has seen the benefits of building a strong culture through teamwork and leadership, she now helps other business owners/ leaders do the same in their businesses through her coaching business, MoCo Leadership.

“Joyfully use your gifts to brighten the lives of others.”

This is the mission at Melanie Massey Physical Therapy.

Melanie credits her team for the unwavering excellence and success of her therapy programs. Melanie’s specific area of expertise is pediatrics, neurological conditions, and pelvic floor disorders for men, women, and children. One of the many things that sets Melanie Massey Physical Therapy apart from the others is the many areas of specialization that are represented in one business. With five established clinics in Shreveport, Ruston, Monroe and West Monroe, they are able to serve a wide variety of diagnoses for every person from pediatrics to geriatrics.

Melanie and her staff maintain a high level of hope for healing and complete restoration for their patients.

She feels privileged to have been led to physical therapy as her life’s work. She says THANK YOU to every person who has entrusted anyone at MMPT with the care of themselves or their family members. Melanie and her team promise to always give their best.

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

SUMMER POWELL, LOTR Melanie Massey Physical Therapy 4401 Sterlington Rd. | Monroe | 318.388.1989 2309 South Service Road West | Ruston | 318.232.1969 1800 Buckner St., C249 | Shreveport | 318.934.1969 107 Summer Ln. | West Monroe | 318.396.1969 www.mmptinc.com

Summer Powell, LOTR was born and raised in West Monroe and earned her Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2001. She is a wife and mother of three beautiful girls. She dedicates her time as a Bible Quiz coach at Christian Life Church, working with kids ages 6- 18. They learn and compete on hundreds of verses each year. She has been an Occupational Therapist with Melanie Massey Physical Therapy for over 11 years and the Clinical Director of all five MMPT Clinics for the past five years. Her speciality treatment includes lymphedema management, shoulder rehabilitation, vestibular disorders, assistive technology and driving rehabilitation.

When Melanie Massey talks about her therapists, she explains that “They are not only excellent clinicians but they also treat the patient from a perspective of physical, emotional and spiritual healing.” Melanie has intentionally built a culture with the core values of fun, compassion, service, teamwork, and knowledge. Believing that each patient can overcome a medical diagnosis and encouraging that positive center for healing is what her therapists do best.

One of the many things that sets Melanie Massey Physical Therapy apart from the others is the many areas of specialization that are represented in one business. With five established clinics in Shreveport, Ruston, Monroe and West Monroe, they are able to serve a wide variety of diagnoses for every person from pediatrics to geriatrics. Melanie is proud of the diversity of expertise found in MMPT’s clinicians. A few of these special certifications include: - Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, particularly focuses on lower extremity injuries - Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, focuses on the spine specifically, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapist, Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (all joints) - Certified Pelvic Rehab Practitioner, among one of the first in Louisiana to have the certification.

- Certified Hand Therapist - Manual Therapy Certified - DryNeedling /cupping - Active Release Technique in ASTYM and in the SFMA - Certified Lymphedema Therapists - Pre and Post Surgical Breast Cancer care - Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist - Assistive Technology Professional - Neurodevelopmental Treatment Certification for the treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.

- Sensory integration

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BayouLife Top Docs 2022

J. Preston Parry, M.D. Positive Steps Fertility 1900 North 18th Street, Suite 209 | Monroe 149 Fountains Blvd. | Madison, MS 833.POS.STEP (767.7837) positivestepsfertility.com

TOP FERTILITY CLINIC 78 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Thank you Northeast Louisiana for again choosing Dr. Parry as the top fertility doctor! We love building families!

Why did you become a fertility doctor? Everyone wants to have a career where they feel relevant. I can think of no better job than transforming lives where instead of coming back to an empty house, couples that want more love in their world get to come home to such more. Also, fertility is a field where there is so much hope, as a lot more can be done than many realize.

Why don’t most women get pregnant? Friends and family make infertility seem like voodoo, where you have to have hips in the air for fifteen minutes, and the husband needs cold showers, and the wife needs Geritol and Robitussin and pineapple core. None of these things truly change low sperm counts, running out of eggs, blocked tubes, or uterine problems such as fibroids.

Most of fertility relates to problems with sperm, eggs, the tubes, or the uterus, which makes fertility far easier to figure out when focused on the right things. We’ve actually pioneered testing (the Parryscope® approach) for understanding the pelvis in a single visit, helping women focus on factors that matter most.

Does everyone need IVF? Though IVF is incredibly powerful, many women don’t need it. In fact, our preference is for low-cost, low-tech measures. Many women with reasonable chances have a 30-40% chance of being pregnant in three months for approximately $1400$1700 in treatment. This isn’t free, but it is better than many expect. However, just a consult for $150, a semen analysis for $75, or comprehensive female fertility testing for $1000 can give a lot of answers and direction.

What defines your clinic? Though our motto is “We build families through excellence, empathy, and efficiency,” I think it is the personal and knowledgeable team that sets us apart. However, people want to know how much you care before they care how much you know. I believe and hope that insight and empathy won’t come just from me, but from everyone on the team.

What is the best advice you can give to those on the TTC journey? Don’t go through it alone. The value of a specialist is in perspective, where they can say whether certain truths apply to your situation or not. I always say that it doesn’t matter whether you have a fear of flying— what matters is if the pilot has a fear of flying. At Positive Steps Fertility, we fly these skies every day and, not that you can’t hitchhike to your destination, but if you get a ticket, you’re a lot more likely to get there in a faster and safer fashion.

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

W. Jason Read, MD Read Eye Center 2600 Tower Drive, Ste. 111 Monroe, LA 318.387.3881 readeyecenter.com

Dr. Jason Read has dedicated his life and medical practice to helping the Northeast Louisiana community.

With a passion for helping people and a love for this area, he has served our community for over 16 years.

Dr. Read has practiced Ophthalmology in Monroe since 2005, before opening his own clinic, Read Eye Center, in February of 2011. He is truly humbled and thankful to be recommended again as the top Ophthalmologist by the medical professionals in our community.

Born in Mississippi, Dr. Read attended Mississippi State University where he received his undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering. From there he went on to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and graduated in 1997. He completed residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Mississippi in 2001.

He is a Board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery and the treatment of glaucoma and diabetic patients.

Dr. Read is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Louisiana State Medical Society. He currently serves as the President of the Northeast Louisiana Physician Hospital Organization Board and serves on the Specialty Management Services of Ouachita Board. He served as a past president of the Ouachita Medical Society.

Dr. Read has built and established his practice in the heart of Monroe in the St. Francis building on Tower Drive. Truly a family business, Read Eye Center strives to give patients the best care in a professional, yet friendly environment. They continually update their technology to provide their patients with the latest equipment and treatments available. In addition to surgery, laser, and medical treatments, Read Eye Center has an optical that offers designer frames and sunglasses.

Part of the reason for choosing Monroe as home is Dr. Jason Read is a true outdoorsman. He enjoys fishing, biking, photography, and can be caught using his engineering skills in the yard of his home that he shares with his wife and three children. Their oldest daughter, Reagan attends Mississippi State University; their middle son, William attends Louisiana State University; and their youngest daughter, Hadley attends Neville.

Dr. Read and his family are members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

TOP Ophthalmologist WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JANUARY 2022 79

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

WALTER M. SARTOR, MD, FACS, FASMBS The Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana 312 Grammont Street, Ste. 303 | Monroe 318.398.2984 | SurgeryClinicNELA.com

TOP GENERAL SURGEON 80 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

It is not unusual for Dr. Walter Sartor to call his patients and check on them, even when he is not working. That kind of compassion, combined with his excellent surgical skills, leaves his patients with a profound sense of gratitude.

Thom Rogers, who has maintained a 160-poundweight loss since his gastric sleeve surgery in 2015, is one of those patients. “Dr. Sartor is calm, reassuring, and he truly makes you feel like you are his only patient. He is a very present physician, and he is with you throughout your entire journey,” Rogers said. “I took comfort in Dr. Sartor’s attention to detail and his caring demeanor. When speaking with him, it was as easy as if I were talking to my brother.”

Dr. Sartor’s latest recognition, Top General Surgeon, is well-earned, said Dr. Bart Liles.“Walter has always been the consummate surgeon and friend. I cannot think of anyone more worthy of this award. It is long overdue,” Dr. Liles said. “His commitment to surgical excellence has benefited the region for many years.”

Dr. Sartor is a partner in The Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana, home of Delta Vein Care, with partners Dr. Liles, Dr. Patrick Smith, and Dr. Mohamed Bakeer.

The lasting impact of his work fuels him, Dr. Sartor said. “A weight loss surgery is one operation, and yet, it can resolve multiple medical problems. When our bariatric patients visit us 12 months after their operations, they are no longer suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea,” Dr. Sartor said. “They are doing things they never thought possible, like running marathons. That’s one of the main reasons we do this—to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Dr. Sartor has been practicing general surgery in Monroe since 2000. After graduating from River Oaks High School, the Monroe native earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Tulane University and his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Maryland Medical Systems in 1997. Dr. Sartor co-founded a bariatric program— recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery— in 2007. He was also named a Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation in 2021.

His wife Sue and their three children bring him great joy—as do his surgery clinic partners. “We share an unmatched camaraderie and a very similar sense of humor and work ethic,” Dr. Sartor said. “Practicing surgery with them has become the brightest spot in my professional life.”

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Justin e. tarver, dds Tarver Family Dental 92 Lincoln Road | Monroe 318.343.6006 tarverdental.com

Dr. Justin E. Tarver is committed to providing his patients with exceptional comprehensive and cosmetic dental care. Dr Tarver was born and raised in Monroe, LA. He graduated from Neville High School in 2000 and received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University in May 2004. He then followed in his father’s footsteps and attended LSU School of Dentistry to obtain his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree in May 2008. In 2010, after practicing in Baton Rouge for a few years, Dr. Tarver returned home to Monroe to take over his father’s dental practice.

Dr. Tarver is married to Dana Dugas Tarver of Baton Rouge, and they have 3 boys that keep them busy.

Dr Tarver and his family are active parishioners at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Monroe. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, hunting, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Tarver is honored to be voted the top dentist by his peers. He is passionate about his profession and enjoys going to work every day. He is thankful for his incredible team and says they help the office run smoothly and make his job easy. This allows him to focus on his work and spend more time with his patients. Dr. Tarver feels it is important to stay on the cutting-edge of dentistry. He maintains memberships in many prestigious professional organizations and stays up-to-date on the latest dental techniques and technology. He is currently a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association and Northeast Louisiana Dental Association.

At Tarver Family Dental, his team offers a wide range of dental services such as cleanings, same day crowns, veneers, whitening and dental implants.

Tarver Family Dental is committed to helping patients by caring for their long-term oral health. They are currently accepting new patients and are always ready to welcome you into their practice!

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BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Randolph taylor, md Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Medical Center 4864 Jackson Street Monroe, Louisiana 71202 318.330.7840 ochsnerlsuhs.org

Dr. Randolph H. Taylor is an orthopedic surgeon at Ochsner LSU Health – Monroe Medical Center.

His special interests include knee and hip joint replacement, arthroscopy, and orthopedic trauma.

Dr. Taylor is a native of Monroe, and has been practicing in Ouachita Parish for more than 35 years.

He graduated from Neville High School in 1969, completed his undergraduate studies at Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) in Monroe in 1973, and graduated from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1976. Dr. Taylor completed his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Dr. Taylor has been certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons since 1986. He also stays updated on current trends and continuing education in orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Taylor is a respected member of our community. He is known to be a friendly, empathetic physician who puts the comfort and well-being of his patients first. Here is some feedback from his patients:

“Dr. Taylor is a caring and considerate person. I am thankful for his time and professionalism.”

“Dr. Taylor is very friendly, and is sincerely concerned about patients’ problems. If I have any orthopedic problems, Dr. Taylor is the doctor I would see.”

“Dr. Taylor is always very concerned and thorough about my condition. I appreciate his patience, skills and knowledge.”

TOP Orthopedic 82 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Michael O’Neal, md

Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Medical Center 4864 Jackson Street Monroe, LA 71202 318.330.7600 ochsnerlsuhs.org

Dr. Michael O’Neal truly believes there is no place like home. Born and raised in West Monroe, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana Monroe. It was important for Dr. O’Neal to pursue his medical degree in North Louisiana.

Therefore, he headed a short distance on Interstate 20 to study and train at LSU Health Shreveport. Once he finished medical school and his residency, Dr. O’Neal returned to West Monroe. He spent 12 years practicing internal medicine as a hospitalist.

“Well, it’s home,” said Dr. O’Neal. “The community is a phenomenal place to raise a family. The hometown feel, along with the availability and access to healthcare that we have here, was a big draw to come back.”

Dr. O’Neal remains a strong supporter of this community and an important asset for the hospital. For the last year, he has led by example as Chief Medical Officer at Ochsner LSU Health – Monroe Medical Center.

Dr. O’Neal is excited about what the future holds for healthcare in Northeast Louisiana. He plans to be at the helm as access to Ochsner LSU Health’s exceptional care continues to expand.

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BayouLife Top Docs 2022

TERRY O. THOMAS, PH.D. HealthPoint Center 1818 Avenue of America Monroe, LA 318.998.2700

Terry O. Thomas, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who provides services through HealthPoint Center LLC, a multidisciplinary practice in Monroe, LA. HealthPoint Center is comprised of licensed mental health specialists that provide comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. For the fourth year in a row, Dr. Terry Thomas has been award the top psychologist in Northeast Louisiana.

Dr. Thomas obtained his Master of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Gerontology from the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM). He earned his doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. Dr. Thomas completed his residency training through the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in the Department of Psychiatry. This clinical training included rotations through Arkansas Children’s Hospital, UAMS Child Study Center, and Methodist Behavioral Hospital. Dr. Thomas has provided mental health services since 1994 and has been affiliated with a variety of public and private programs and agencies. He has conducted research and taught at ULM, Louisiana Tech, and UAMS. His clinical interests focus on the assessment and treatment of emotional, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, adolescents and adults. He also works with couples and families in crisis. Dr. Thomas is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA). He serves on several boards and is active in his community on issues regarding mental health.

Dr. Thomas is married to Mary Ann Thomas, and they have four adult children. He enjoys cooking for friends and family, music, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

TOP PSYCHOLOGIST 84 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Stephanie Evans, LOTR St. Francis Medical Center Practices at St. Francis Medical Center 2600 Tower Drive, Suite 314 | Monroe, LA 318-966-6335 | stfran.com

Stephanie Evans graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1992 with her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. She has practiced as an occupational therapist in various settings but found her home at St Francis Medical Center over 28 years ago.

She works in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Department at St. Francis Community Health Center on Tower Drive caring for adults. She also provides therapy for infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital.

It’s the best of both worlds for her.

Stephanie said, “It is so rewarding to help someone become functionally independent after a life-changing event, such as a stroke or orthopedic surgery.

And it is especially rewarding to be able to help parents and their babies in the NICU with feeding and developmental issues. One of my children spent time in NICU so I know how important it is to take home a healthy baby.”

Stephanie resides in Sterlington with her husband Paul. She has two children Garrett and Reagan, along with five stepchildren - Brody, Jett, Samantha, Tabitha and Payton.

TOP OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Aristoteles Peña-Miches, MD St. Francis Medical Group Practices at the St. Francis Pediatric Neurology Clinic 500 Hall Street | Monroe, LA 318.966.7337|stfran.com

TOP Neurologist

Dr. Aristoteles Pena-Miches is a Board certified pediatric neurologist, practicing in the northeast Louisiana area since joining the St. Francis Medical Group in 1999. He received his medical degree in 1982 from the Autonoma University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He went on to complete his pediatric residency training at New York Medical College and Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx and later completed his pediatric neurology fellowship at State University of New York Health and Science Center in Brooklyn.

His pediatric neurology scope is not only limited to offering office and inpatient consults but also interpreting electroencephalograms, from newborn to early adolescents. He offers specialized epilepsy treatments such as Vagus Nerve Stimulator, spasticity treatment with Botulinum toxin injections, continuous infusion pump of Lioresal, and since 2016, the use of Spinraza in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.

Dr. Pena firmly believes in treating each patient the same as if they were his child or grandchild. His goal is to help his patients overcome or minimize the negative impact neurological illnesses may create in their lives as well as their families’ lives while maintaining a “team approach,” in which patients are educated regarding the challenges these illnesses can produce in the family.

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BAYOULIFE BayouLife TOP Top DOCS Docs 2022 2022

Resham R. Poudel, MD St. Francis Medical Group Practices at the St. Francis Endocrinology Clinic 2600 Tower Drive, Suite 215, Monroe, LA 318.966.6490 | stfran.com

Dr. Resham Poudel is a Board certified endocrinologist with the St. Francis Endocrinology Clinic, joining the St. Francis Medical Group earlier this year. As an endocrinologist, he treats adult patients with ‘hormone-related diseases’ or ‘disorders of glands that produce hormones’ including diabetes, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), thyroid nodule or goiter, thyroid cancer, high calcium problems, hyperparathyroidism, adrenal nodule, Cushing syndrome, pituitary tumor, low testosterone, etc.

Dr. Poudel graduated medical school from Nepal followed by an internal medicine residency at Western Reserve Health Education in Youngstown, OH. He completed an endocrinology fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA. He is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and endocrinology.

When Dr. Poudel is not caring for patients, he spends time with his family, playing with his daughter, going out to see nature, rivers, and parks. He also loves watching science fiction, mostly time travel.

TOP ENDOCRINOLOGIST

David V. Tran, DPM St. Francis Medical Group Practices at the St. Francis Podiatry Clinic 2600 Tower Drive, Suite 215, Monroe, LA 318.966.6480 | stfran.com

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David Tran, DPM, AACFAS specializes in podiatric surgery. Dr. Tran’s comprehensive training in the treatment of foot and ankle trauma include diabetic limb salvage, total ankle joint replacement (TAR), complex deformity reconstruction, ankle arthroscopy, sports medicine, and minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Tran completed his undergraduate studies at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. He attended Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed a three-year surgical residency at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. He is Board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Tran is grateful to have the opportunity to help patients get back on their feet. One of his mentors from residency instilled in him that a good work/life balance is essential for a more well-rounded physician. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his fiancé, Jess, and their Goldendoodle, Odie. They enjoy exploring new parks and trails, paddling around the bayou, or playing a round of golf. Dr. Tran is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and can be readily seen in the hospital with his Steelers scrub cap!

BayouLife Top Docs 2022 (318) 398-2985 surgeryclinicnela.com

BayouLife Magazine’s

2022 TOP DOCS

WINNERS

Hospice

Elara Caring 300 Washington Street, Ste 402C Monroe (318) 340-0221 elara.com Compassus 2213 Justice St, Monroe, LA (318) 373-5896 compassus.com Premier Hospice 1513 Texas Avenue, Bastrop (318) 556-1999 premierbastrop.com St. Joseph Hospice 1890 Hudson Circle N. Unit 3 Monroe, LA (318) 387-2687 thecarpenterhealthnetwork.com

Internist Allergist

Joseph V. Giannobile, MD, APMC Allergy and Asthma Specialist of Northeast Louisiana 3200 Forsythe Avenue, Monroe (318) 398-1989

Audiologist

Deborah D. Cowan, AUD Acadian Hearing & Balance Center 107 Contempo Avenue, #3, Monroe (318) 410-9095 acadianhearing.net Melissa De La O, AUD Affinity Health Group 2516 Broadmoor Blvd., Monroe (318) 812-1125 myaffinityhealth.com

Cardiologist

Greg Sampognaro, MD Affinity Health Group 503 McMillan Road, West Monroe (318) 322-7726 myaffinityhealth.com

3219 Sterlington Road, Monroe (318) 387-5388

2802 Kilpatrick Blvd, Monroe (318) 855-6282

Dentist

FERTILITY CLINIC

Justin E. Tarver, DDS Tarver Family Dental 92 Lincoln Road, Monroe (318) 343-6006 tarverdental.com

Dermatologist

Janine Hopkins, MD Hopkins Dermatology 2509 Broadmoor Blvd., Ste A Monroe (318) 325-0600 hopkinsdermatology.com

Gastroenterologist

Endocrinologist

General PRACTICE

Resham Raj Poudel, MD St. Francis Medical Group 2600 Tower Drive, Ste 215 Monroe (318) 966-6490 stfran.com

Gordon G. Grant IV, DC Shell Chiropractic

Hal Hinkle Gastroenterology Clinic 611 Grammont Street, Monroe (318) 325-2634 gastromds.com

Joe Byron Henry, MD Family Doctors of NELA 3995 Sterlington Highway, Ste A Monroe (318) 329-9447

General Surgeon EnT

Chiropractor

J. Preston Parry, MD Positive Steps Fertiltiy 1900 North 18th Street, Suite 209 Monroe (833) 767-7837 positivestepsfertility.com

Lee A. Miller, MD Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of Northeast Louisiana

Walter M. Sartor, MD The Surgery Clinic of NELA 312 Grammont Street, Ste 303 Monroe

Michael O'Neal, MD Oschner LSU Health 4864 Jackson Street, Monroe (318) 330-7600 oschnerlsuhs.org

Neurologist

Aristoteles Pena-Miches, MD St. Francis Pediatric Neurology Clinic 500 Hall Street, Monroe, LA (318) 966-7337 stfran.com

Nutritionist

Andi Holyfield, RD Eat to Lose 3801 Chauvin Lane, Monroe , LA (318) 348-3120 eattolose.net

OB/GYN

Laurie R. Lebleu-Vaszily, MD Amber Shemwell, MD The Woman's Clinic 417 McMillan Road, West Monroe (318) 388-4030 thewomansclinic.net

Occupational Therapist

Summer Powell, LOTR Melanie Massey Physical Therapy 107 Summer Lane, West Monroe (318) 396-1969 mmptinc.com Joshua H. Stanley, OT Green Clinic 1200 S. Farmerville Street, Ruston (318) 255-3690 green-clinic.com Stephanie Evans, OTR St. Francis Medical Group 2600 Tower Drive, Ste 314, Monroe (318) 966-6335 stfran.com

ONCOLOGIST

Coy W. Gammage, MD Oncology Associates 1162 Oliver Road #7, Monroe (318) 325-7007

Ophthalmologist

Neurosurgeon

Marshall A. Cain, MD 2807 Mark Drive, Monroe (318) 600-4159

Nurse Practitioner

Anna Grace Livingston, AGNP-C Hopkins Dermatology 2509 Broadmoor Blvd., Ste A Monroe (318) 325-0600 hopkinsdermatology.com Tiffany Terra, FNP Geaux Family Health 1401 N. 18th Street, Ste A, Monroe (318) 600-4364 geauxfamilyhealth.com

Jason Read, MD Read Eye Center 2600 Tower Drive, Ste 111, Monroe (318) 387-3881 readeyecenter.com

Optometrist

William Gordon, OD Family Eye Care 3000 Forsythe Avenue, Monroe (318) 325-9474 familyeyecare.net Directory continued on next page.

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BayouLife Top Docs 2022

Oral Surgeon

Matthew Fowlkes, DMD, MD Eric Geist, DDS Nick Gregory, DDS Oral Surgery Associates 2003 Forsythe Avenue, Monroe (318) 388-2621 620 S Trenton Street, Ruston oralsurgeryassociates.com

Orthodontist

Ricky Caples, DDS Chris Robinson, DDS Caples & Robinson Orthodontics 2210 Forsythe Avenue, Monroe (318) 325-9655 www.crorthondontics.com

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Randolph Taylor, MD Oschner LSU Health 4864 Jackson Street, Monroe (318) 330-7840 oschnerlsuhs.org White "Sol" Graves, IV, MD

Elliot B. Nipper, MD North Louisiana Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 1501 Louisville Avenue, Monroe (318) 323-8451 northlaortho.com

Pain Management

Vincent R. Forte, MD Louisiana Pain Care 210 Layton Avenue, Monroe (318) 323-6405 lapaincare.com

Pathologist

Richard J. Blanchard, MD Delta Pathology Group 309 Jackson Street, Monroe (318) 966-4105

Pediatrician

Gary Stanley, MD Pediatric Associates 2600 Tower Drive, #406, Monroe (318) 323-8824

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Pharmacy

Community Pharmacy 2123 Forsythe Avenue, Monroe (318) 398-2100 mycommunityrx.com

Physical Therapist

Melanie Massey Melanie Massey Physical Therapy 4401 Sterlington Road, Monroe 107 Summer Lane, West Monroe 2309 S. Service Road W., Ruston 1800 Buckner St., Ste. C249, Shreveport (318) 396-1969 | mmptinc.com

Plastic Surgeon

Timothy J. Mickel, M.D., F.A.C.S. Mickel Plastic Surgery 903 N. 2nd Street, Monroe, LA (318) 388-2050 mickelplasticsurgery.com

Podiatrist

David Tran, DPM St. Francis Medical Group

2600 Tower Drive, Ste 215, Monroe (318) 966-6480 stfran.com

Richardson Medical Center 254 Highway 3048, Rayville (318) 728-4181

Psychiatrist

Rheumatologist

Francis E. Weinholt, Jr., MD Glenwood Psychiatry 128 Ridgedale Drive (318) 329-4419 glenwoodregional.org

Psychologist

Terry Thomas, PHD HealthPoint Center 1818 Avenue of America, Monroe healthpointcenter.com (318) 998-2700

Pulmonologist

Clement W. Fox, M.D. St. Francis Medical Group stfran.com (318) 966-6500

Radiologist

Ralph Lee Abraham, III, MD

Jyothi R. Mallepalli, MD Arthritis and Diabetes Clinic, Inc. 3402 Magnolia Cove, Monroe (318) 388-5830

Speech Therapist

Emily Wyatt Glenwood Regional Medical Center 503 McMillan Road, West Monroe (318) 329-4200 glenwoodregional.org

Urologist

Jon Bradley Johnson, MD The Urology Clinic 2516 Broadmoor Boulevard Monroe, LA (318) 387-9420 myaffinityhealth.com

Lumecca Intense Pulsed Light For More Youthful Skin

BY EMILY ROBERSON, RN, BSN

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APPY NEW YEAR FROM MICKEL Plastic Surgery! January is a time to reflect on the past and aspire for the future. We often have patients who set New Year’s Resolutions in hopes of improving their appearance and physical health.

Mickel Plastic Surgery offers not only cosmetic surgical procedures but also medical grade skincare services that are simple and cost-effective methods of providing a more youthful appearance.

Natalie Todd, a licensed Medical Aesthetician, has been working with Dr. Mickel for over 25 years, and her experience shows. During the winter season, Natalie’s services are often focused on improving hyperpigmentation, sunspots, and melasma.

Hyperpigmented skin can be an effect of sun exposure or hormonal changes, and Natalie has helped many clients improve their skin, resulting in a more youthful appearance.

Her treatment of choice for women or men

with hyperpigmentation is Lumecca intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments.

What is Lumecca?

Lumecca (IPL) is a powerful light treatment which targets skin imperfections such as age spots and visible veins, to help create a more even, clear skin surface whether it’s on the face or elsewhere on the body. Unlike other IPL treatments, Lumecca boasts higher efficiency treatments and optimized light output, meaning Lumecca provides better results in fewer treatment sessions compared to other competing IPL machines. And, Lumecca’s “sapphire cooling tip” provides a higher standard of comfort for patients during their treatment sessions.

Lumecca IPL treatments improve the appearance of your skin in 1-3 treatments, with 4 to 6 weeks between sessions. Natalie recommends pretreating the skin with ZO Skin Health Hydroquinone – from our medical

grade skin care line - for 6 to 12 weeks prior to IPL treatments to optimize results. Lumecca is safe for all skin types, but a consultation visit with Natalie is required prior to scheduling IPL treatments.

What to Expect: You will want to be sure to avoid unprotected sun exposure or tanning one month prior to treatment. During your treatment at Mickel Plastic Surgery, there will be a bright flash of light from the Lumecca device that feels like a light rubber band snap.

Redness and a slight warming of the skin are normal after treatment and usually subside within an hour. Over the next 24-48 hours you may see a darkening of pigmented areas of the skin; in the week afterwards, the pigmentation will crust and flake off, leading to a more beautiful, clear, even skin tone. As early as the first session you will notice a significant change in the appearance and clarity of your skin. Multiple sessions provide even better results. Improvement in sun damage and complexion can be seen a few days after the first session and the treated area will continue to look younger and more brilliant over time with the most visible results after 1-2 weeks.

As you welcome the New Year, let Mickel Plastic Surgery help meet your resolutions.

Schedule a consultation with our experienced licensed medical aesthetician, Natalie Todd. And again, Happy New Year and Best wishes for 2022!

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Cinderella Project

JLM Hosts a Drive for Prom Dresses

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HE CINDERELLA PROJECT OF MONROE IS celebrating their 12th year of service. The local non-profit organization provides local junior and senior girls prom dresses, while building self-esteem, self-confidence and the importance of giving back to others. The Cinderella Project of Monroe is collecting prom dresses January 3rd through February 5th for its dress giveaway in March.

Dresses should be age appropriate and suitable for a high school student, clean and in good condition. Donations can be dropped off at Raising Cane’s Monroe, West Monroe and Ruston locations, HerringStone’s Boutique, Eleven 26 Boutique, Goldie Boutique of Ruston, any D&D Cleaners locations in Monroe, West Monroe, and Ruston, CFWM Gym, and The Junior League of Monroe.

After the dresses are collected, volunteers will sort them and get them ready for the giveaway. The Cinderella Project will host a free Dress Giveaway on Saturday, March 5th at The Junior League of Monroe league house located at 2811 Cameron Street in Monroe.

The Cinderella Project is open to area junior and senior high school girls. The giveaway is open to any girl in need, not just in Monroe or Ouachita Parish. Each girl is assigned a personal shopper to help pick out a dress and try dresses on. Each girl will walk away with a goodie bag and have a chance to win giveaways.

Through the partnership with the Junior League, The Cinderella Project is able to host more volunteers to help ensure the event is a success and reach even more girls throughout northeast Louisiana.

“Last year due to COVID-19, we had a smaller event and were limited with signups and trying on dresses. This year we cannot wait to open our doors and conduct business as usual! We’re hoping for a great turnout! This is a very large and recognizable project for the area and the Junior League. We begin work on The Cinderella Project in early fall so we’re very excited when the event comes around,” said Tara Etheridge, Co-Chair of the Community Service Outreach Committee, of JLM.

Special thanks to in-kind donors Tower Storage, Lamar Outdoor, The Radio People and BayouLife Magazine. The Cinderella Project of Monroe is already looking for volunteers for the Dress Giveaway. If you would like to get involved or make a monetary donation, please contact cinderellaprojectmonroe@gmail.com. For more information on The Cinderella Project of Monroe, please visit cinderellaprojectla. org or facebook.com/CinderellaProjectMonroe. You can also call The Junior League House at 318-322-3236.

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New Year, New Smile Dental Implants at Bayou Dental

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T’S TIME TO GIVE YOURSELF THE SMILE YOU DESERVE. If you’ve been avoiding cameras or meals with your friends, you need to call Bayou Dental Group. Our Monroe, LA dentist can give you a smile solution that looks and feels as good as your natural teeth. And Dr. Finley can place and restore your dental implants all in one office.

There are several benefits to choosing dental implants: • They are the closest in function and appearance to your natural teeth.

• You’ll feel an increase in your self-confidence when you have a full, beautiful smile.

• Because they are not removable, you won’t have to worry about keeping up with your teeth.

• Eat all of your favorite foods, regardless of how hard, sticky, or crunchy they may be!

• Speak clearly and with ease.

•T here’s no risk of slipping; they are anchored to your jawbone.

• This is a long-term solution. With proper care, they can last a lifetime!

• Patients with dental implants have had decreases in the amount of bone loss.

If you’re unsure about the cost of a full set of dental implants, you might benefit from a denture supported by four or six implants.

TRUST YOUR SMILE TO OUR EXPERT DENTAL CARE

Having your implants placed and restored in one office means you’ll receive consistent care throughout the entire process.

There’s no risk of anything falling through the cracks because you’ll have the same doctor and staff from start to finish.

We use cutting-edge technology, including cone beam radiography, which takes the guesswork out of implant placement, and digital X-rays that allow instant feedback.

After your consultation, Dr. Finley will perform a thorough examination, during which he will: • Check your mouth and bite • Do a 3D scan • Check bone levels • Take measurements for full dental implants

The implant is then placed and allowed to fuse with bone.

Next, Dr. Finley will take impressions to make the final restoration.

Finally, the dental crown, bridge, or denture is attached to the implant or implants. This entire process (and healing between procedures) will take a few short months to complete.

Call us now at 318-323-9303 to see how we can make you smile!

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Eat to Lose

Andi Holyfield’s Program is Tailored for Individuals

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ONGRATULATIONS TO BRAD AND JENNIFER for their successful weight loss! This couple has been on a weight loss journey together for 14 weeks with Andi Holyfield and they feel great!

By following the Eat to Lose program, Brad has lost 44.4 pounds, 5 inches around his waist, 10% of his body fat, and 5 levels of visceral fat that can cause heart attacks at higher levels. Jennifer has lost 47 pounds, 6 inches around her waist, and over 5% of her total body fat.

Jennifer says that the feeling of losing weight with Andi’s Eat to Lose program has been indescribable and energizing. She doesn’t shy away from the camera anymore and feels confident in her success.

Brad feels much better physically and mentally after this experience and says that this is a program they intend to implement even after reaching their target weight.

The greatest success in their eyes from following this program aside from their own weight loss is the ability to implement Eat to Lose within their own family. Their daughter and Jennifer’s mother have both lost weight by picking up healthy habits that Brad and Jennifer follow. Both Brad and Jennifer agree that this program is not necessarily a diet but a lifestyle change that is very easily maintained. They loved having an accountability partner in each other as well as in Andi who motivated them to become the healthiest version of themselves.

Andi is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist that has been in practice for 15 years. She has had many successful clients that have followed the Eat to Lose program. Between her 75 clients, a total of 1,270 pounds have been lost. Andi has received 4 awards for her success and has been recognized on a national and local level.

During her career, Andi has worked with sports teams, families, college students, pediatric clients, diabetes patients, bariatric patients, Polycystic ovarian syndrome patients, rheumatoid arthritis patients, and local companies to help them become the healthiest version of themselves that they can be. Her goal is to help clients lose weight in a manner they will enjoy. Dietary changes that she implements with this program are portion control and choosing healthier foods for snacking and meals. Andi customizes a plan with healthy food items based on each client’s personal preferences to ensure that it is enjoyable to the client. She even factors in clients eating at restaurants and customizes a menu for individuals based on their preferences and the restaurant’s menu items. There is no cookie cutter way to diet since every client is different so customization is key to this program. Andi is currently working on a new book for the new year and is excited to work with new clients to help them achieve their goals.

Appointments can be made with Andi at her office in the MAC of Monroe, Louisiana. She can also make on site visits for companies to work with larger groups or work remotely through zoom meetings.

Group discounts are offered for clients and most insurances will cover the Eat to Lose program. We hope that your holiday season has been wonderful and look forward to helping you accomplish your goals.

Happy healthy New Year!

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B AYO U F I T

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

AT HOME HIIT WORKOUT

Certified personal trainer, Asja Jordan, leads us through a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout that can be performed right in the comfort of our homes! This selection of exercises is not only meant to help improve cardiovascular health and muscular endurance but coordination as well.

Hight Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a form of interval training that entails short, intense bursts of effort followed by short recovery periods. HIIT is an effective way to keep your heart rate high, improve anaerobic and aerobic fitness, and burn calories within a short amount of time. The shorter duration and use of minimal equipment is what makes this style of exercise appealing to many.

For optimal results, perform each exercise for :30 seconds immediately followed by :30 seconds of rest for a total of 5 rounds to equal 20 minutes of exercise.

SQUAT JUMPS

A) Stand with feet shoulder-width apart.

B) Bend at the hips and knees until in a squat position with torso forward and hips back and in line with knees.

C) Jump up explosively and land back into squat position to continue movement.

Modification: If knee pain persists in jumping movements, simply remove the jump and perform a regular body weight squat.

ALTERNATING KNEELING LUNGES

A) Start by placing both knees on the ground.

B) Step the right foot forward into a lunge.

C) Step the left foot forward and remain in a squat-like position so you can step the right knee back to the starting position.

D) Perform the same movement on the other side with the left foot and knee.

Modification: If you would like to avoid placing pressure in the kneeling position, simply perform a reverse or walking lunge variation instead.

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TABLETOP TOE TOUCHES

A) Sit on the floor with your feet planted in front of you placing the hands behind your hips and point the fingertips towards your body.

B) Lift your hips in the air to obtain a parallel position by contracting the core.

C) Bring your right hand up while simultaneously lifting the opposite leg to touch your left toes.

D) Return to elevated position and switch sides.

Modification: If you struggle with balance in this movement, simply remove the lifting of the arm/hand and remain lifting the legs until you feel more confident lifting the arms.

PLANK TO PUSH UP

A) Begin on all fours in forearm plank position. Keep lower core engaged by avoiding any arch in the lower back.

B) Push up onto one hand, placing it where your elbow previously was.

C) Push up onto the other hand so you come to a full push-up position.

D) Lower back down to your elbows one arm at a time and repeat with alternating arms to ensure you work both sides equally.

Modification: If this movement is too difficult, place your knees on the ground and perform the movement the same way you would with legs extended.

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It’s Flu Season, Be Prepared

Aron’s Pharmacy has Everything You Need to Stay Healthy

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IRST AND FOREMOST… IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET your flu shot! Aron’s Pharmacy has flu vaccines in stock and one of our amazing pharmacists will be glad to vaccinate you during our regular business hours. No appointment necessary!

The only way to know that you have the flu is to be tested. Health clinics/doctors offices, and some pharmacies offer in-house testing, that can provide you with results in a timely fashion.

Keeping a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables is a healthy way of fighting the flu, but you can also supplement your diet with overthe-counter vitamins such as vitamin B, C, and D. Additionally overthe-counter supplements such as elderberry and zinc may be helpful.

There are prescription medications that are available from your healthcare provider to fight the flu this season. These medications are usually prescribed when you have had symptoms of the flu for less than 48 hours, and they can lessen the duration and severity of your flu symptoms.

Hydrate! Hydration is very important in helping the body fight off the flu. Water, electrolyte drinks and juices all provide proper hydration for the body. It is strongly recommended that if you have been diagnosed with flu, you should isolate for at least 24 hrs after you are fever free without the assistance of fever reducing medications.

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Additionally, frequent hand-washing, and wiping down exposed surfaces in your home or office with disinfectants is very important.

Always consult with your healthcare provider prior to taking any over-the-counter medications.

Here is your health care checklist to make sure that you stay healthy this cold and flu season.

• Get a flu shot.

• Wash your hands frequently.

• Sneeze/cough into your elbow or sleeve.

• Isolate to reduce spread of the flu.

• Consider wearing a facial covering in crowded areas.

• Keep your hands and fingers away from your mouth, eyes and nose.

• If you have a fever, stay home.

Find everything you need this season at Aron’s Pharmacy located on the corner of North 18th and Roselawn ave. in Monroe, La. Call Today 318-323-2242!

Love Your Bladder Again

Robert D. Marx, M.D., Your Hometown Urologist

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ENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE living with overactive bladder (OAB) and chronic fecal incontinence (FI). These conditions not only disrupt everyday life, but they are embarrassing to talk about. So people tend to keep them hidden. Robert D. Marx, M.D. and his staff are here to help our community members suffering from these conditions find relief.

OAB and FI are more prevalent than many other common conditions. When people with OAB and FI finally seek treatment, they are often unhappy with the results. Here’s why: dietary changes and physical therapy can be ineffective, medications often cause unpleasant side effects or patients don’t realize other options are available.

Medtronic therapies can help people with bladder and bowel control issues get their lives back. They are potentially life-changing options for any patient with OAB or FI who isn’t responding well to first- and second-line treatments. More than 70% of patients with OAB

discontinued medications within 6 months and many people with bladder and bowel control issues do not seek treatment.

Medtronic offers a proven therapy for treating OAB and chronic FI. Medtronic Bladder or Bowel Control Therapy delivered by the InterStimTM system, also called sacral neuromodulation (SNM), is clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of both OAB and chronic FI. Unlike conventional treatments, SNM works by gently stimulating the nerves that control the pelvic floor muscles, lower urinary tract, anal sphincter, and bowel. This is thought to restore the bladder-brain and bowelbrain communication pathway, resulting in significant improvements in quality of life.

Unlike other treatments, SNM allows patients to experience the therapy during a short evaluation before committing to it. It is a minimally invasive procedure, 3 to 7 day assessment and helps determine likely longterm efficacy.

Complications can occur with the

evaluation. Patients should be instructed on operating the test device and given other precautions related to the evaluation as well as activity restrictions. 84% of OAB patients are satisfied with SNM therapy.

If you’ve been waiting to correct your incontinence issues, don’t hold off any longer.

Whatever level of severity your problem is, Robert D. Marx, M.D. and his dedicated staff are ready to assist you. If you are suffering from OAB or FI please call their office for an appointment today.

Robert D. Marx, M.D. is this community’s hometown urologist. He was born and raised in Monroe, LA. He graduated from NUL, now ULM, and graduated from medical school and completed his residency at LSU Shreveport. Dr. Marx has traveled extensively working with the leaders of the field in order to keep up with the latest and most successful techniques in incontinence. He has been in practice for over thirty years and conveniently operates at Glenwood, Monroe Surgical and P&S.

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New Year New Things For HARTFORSTYLE

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N 2021, HARTFORSTYLE CAME IN STRONG WITH MANY new things including a website launch, frequent pop-ups, and local involvement. But, what are some things you can look forward to in the new year with HARTFORSTYLE? Here is what you should keep an eye out for!

Themed Drops: Themed drops are a way of making the clothing collections fun and exciting. For instance, some of the past themes have been “The Birthday Collection” and “All That 80s.” If you are following us on our socials, then we will give you a heads up on when the drops go live on the website!

Pop-Ups/Events: Just as HARTFORSTYLE hosted “Hart For Harvest” in October of 2021, we will be hosting more pop-ups this year just like that one. This will be a great opportunity for other local makers and small businesses to participate as well. As well as hosting our own events, we will be participating in other local events as well such as the Downtown Gallery Crawl.

Local Shopping: HARTFORSTYLE will now be a part of Mercantile Monroe, a local store that sells vintage clothes and goods from local makers. Located in the heart of Downtown Monroe, you now have a chance to shop from HFS in a storefront type setting as well as shop from our website.

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Availability for All: HARTFORSTYLE started out as selling predominately women’s vintage fashion, but since then, we have branched out to men’s, plus, and babies/kids. Our goal is that everyone would find their heart for style, therefore we want to be available for all!

HARTFORSTYLE is a second-hand online thrift business that focuses on the importance of repurposing clothing and preserving vintage fashion. 18-year-old West Monroe native Hartley Waldrop is the owner and curator of this business. Recently launching her new website, Hartley’s goal is that everyone would find their “heart” for style and learn to love vintage and unique fashion just as much as she does. Since starting this business when she was just 16 years old, HARTFORSTYLE has gained a following and a name for itself. Get to know Hartley and all that her business is about!

How to stay connected and up to date with all things HARTFORSTYLE? Follow us on social media @hartforstyle

Audibel Introduces a Style Crafted Just for You Discover the World’s Most Innovative Hearing Technology

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F WE DO SAY SO OURSELVES,THE NEW Arc AI changes the game with the most advanced Audibel Sound, enhanced connection, with a complete line of styles. With Arc Al, an effortless hearing experience is what you can expect. If you are wanting the ultimate streaming experience and effortless hearing, Arc Al will deliver. This complete line of hearing aids connects seamlessly to your lifestyle.

At Audibel, we understand the impact of hearing loss. Which is why we take every step to make better hearing effortless. With up to 55 million personalized adjustments every hour, our always-on, always automatic approach delivers realistic and genuine sound quality in every listening environment without the need to do anything extra. Exceptional sound quality in a full line of handcrafted hearing aids with key components.

Noise Reduction- With a 40% reduction in noise energy, compared to previous technology, your sound quality is better than ever.

Edge Mode- Hearing better in challenging

listening environments is easy with out friendly, on-demand Artificial Intelligence feature that works with or without the Thrive app.

TeleHear- Remote Programming offers even more flexibility and fine tuning wherever you are. By consulting with your hearing professional virtually, remote adjustments can made to your hearing aids.

You want hearing aids that are discreet, stylish, and effortless, right? Talk to your hearing professional Audibel about your needs, your lifestyle and how active you are to help find the hearing aid that’s right for you. And if you have single-sided hearing loss we have solutions to help you. For In-ear solutions, they are custom molded to your unique ear canal and is offered in six different color options.

With the Over-the ear solutions, the Surface NanoShield helps protect hearing aids from moisture and is offered in seven different color options. Along with a number of color options, you can expect your hearing aids to fit perfectly with your lifestyle. With improved connectivity,

the best streaming sound quality, and Remote Programming improvements, Arc Al does exactly that; including fall alerts and reminders.

Fall alerts now provide even more accuracy in detection than ever before. With a busy lifestyle ahead, you can get calendar and reminder alerts directly through your hearing aids.

They’re much more than just a hearing aid.

Along with Arc Al being the most effortlessly connection to better hearing, Arc Al comes with multiple wireless accessories.

• Remote Microphone+Mini Remote Microphone

• Remote

• TV Streamer

• Standard & Custom Charger

• Mini Turbo Charger Bring any questions you have with you to your appointment with your hearing professional. The professionals at Audibel will discuss the results of your hearing test, discuss the best treatment, and answer any other questions you may have.

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Bayou Buzzworthy On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, Professional Laser Center hosted a beautiful evening with their Open House event in their suite at the Premier Plaza. Guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, festive beverages, amazing door prizes while touring their grand facility including their new IV Nutrient Infusion Center. Judy Wagoner and Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Hoskins were on hand as friends, family and clients chatted and learned about the effective services that their Medispa has to offer.

Sterlington Panthers hoists the trophy after the Class 3A State Championship game between Union Parish and Sterlington at the Caesars Superdome on December 11th.

Congratulations, Sterlington High School!

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Our very own Miss Louisiana, Julia Claire Williams was selected as the recipient of a $4,000 100th Anniversary Miss America Foundation Stem Scholarship winner. The scholarship is awarded to a Miss America contestant majoring in a STEM field at a college or university and demonstrating excellence in their studies.

Out With the Old, In With the New Skin

Center for Women’s Health Can Guide You to the Products That Best Suit Your Needs

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S YOU WELCOME IN THE NEW Year, it might be a good time to reevaluate your skincare routine and take some steps in the coming months to improve your skin’s appearance.

A skincare routine is the first defense in keeping your skin looking young. At Louisiana Center for Women’s Health, we carry the SkinCeuticals® and ZO® Skin Health products.

From sunscreen to moisturizers, the products are all backed by science. Our expert team can guide you to the products that best suit your needs.

BOTOX® More than 7.5 million people in this country use Botox® injections for a younger, wrinkle-free look. As you begin planning your 2022 skincare plan of action, you may want to pencil in Botox® injections. As we age, our body produces less collagen, which makes your skin less elastic. Botox® injections work on the forehead, neck, crow’s feet and around your jaw area. The injections typically last between three to four months.

DYSPORT® is a natural-looking, fastacting, long-lasting prescription injection proven to help smooth moderate to sever frown lines between the eyebrows – without changing the look or movement of the rest of your face.

Results typically appear 2-3 days after treatment and may last up to 5 months.

HYDRAFACIAL® is a 30-minute treatment that provides instant and longlasting results. It cleanses, peels and hydrates your skin. The treatment exfoliates your face and removes debris from your pores. Your skin is nourished with moisturizers and creams that protect your skin and maximize your natural glow. In addition to the glow, patients notice more elasticity and firmness in their skin. Our team recommends that you get a HydraFacial® once a month to keep your skin looking fresh.

JUVÉDERM® is a filler that is injected into areas of wrinkles or folds on the face. That includes the area around the nose and mouth, better known as the “parentheses lines”. It stimulates the production of collagen that

plumps the skin. Most patients will notice the effects of the treatment right away or after the swelling reduces. The results typically last between six months to two years.

RESTYLANE® is a line of fillers which smooths away facial wrinkles and folds, provides subtle lip enhancement, smooths the lines around the mouth, adds lift and volume to the cheeks, and helps reverse the signs of volume loss in the back of the hands.

HALO™ HYBRID FRACTIONAL LASER works to erase fine lines and reverse skin discoloration and damage. This cuttingedge technology stimulates new collagen. The laser treatment requires minimal recovery time.

Our team makes a plan for each patient based on their cosmetic needs, but we recommend that the treatments be spread at least three weeks apart. With proper care, Halo laser treatments will last for years.

For more information on any of these procedures, please contact our office at (348) 3873113.

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B AYO U I C O N

A Life Filled With Grace

Rhonda Grace has a simple message for everyone she meets: “Love God, love others, and love yourself!” Hers has not always been an easy life, but one thing has seen her through it all – her steadfast faith. That faith has led her down many paths in her life’s journey, but in retrospect each of those paths was preparing her for one special moment. That moment was when she started Grace Place Ministries – Ordinary People Serving an Extraordinary God with hardly more than a hope and a prayer. Today that ministry is one of the most impactful in our community. For her tireless work helping others, lifting them up when others had given up, Rhonda Grace is our January BayouIcon.

Rhonda Grace readily admits that she had the most wonderful parents – parents who loved their children with unconditional love. They provided Rhonda and her two sisters with a safe and secure home that included a strong religious foundation. “Both of our parents taught Sunday School at the Methodist church in El Dorado, Arkansas, where we were all faithful members,” Rhonda recalls.

Parental Influence and Family Love Rhonda’s parents met on a blind date at a football game in Little Rock. It was an important chance meeting as the two of them fell in love and were happily married for over 50 years. Rhonda describes their marriage as a “wonderful example of a Godly marriage.”

Her father, Kermit Cottrell, was born in El Dorado, and her mother, Bernice Andreas Cottrell, was born in Brenham, Texas. Her dad had a very successful career with the Bell South Telephone Company for 40 years, and Rhonda’s mom was a stay-at-home mom who was a wonderful homemaker. She canned, cooked, and kept an immaculate house, according to Rhonda. “She made all of our clothes and doll clothes, as well!” Rhonda says. “She always had some kind of homemade

cookies or pastries for us when we got home from school.”

Their parents taught their three girls important life lessons as they were growing up in their country home located 8 miles out of El Dorado. Rhonda remembers her parents sharing fresh vegetables from her father’s garden and some of his catch of catfish with a needy family on several occasions. She also remembers her paternal grandmother recounting stories of the Depression when needy families would come to her door for something to eat. Her maternal grandparents in Texas had a large farm and also shared with those in need. “They were all great examples to me of Christian charity in action while I was growing up,” Rhonda says.

Rhonda’s paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived only a few miles away. Sunday afternoons were for making homemade ice cream with relatives coming by to visit. Because her maternal grandparents and relatives lived in Texas, Rhonda didn’t see them often. Each summer, however, she and her sisters would spend a week with them.

“Those were memorable days on their farm,” she recalls. “Grandpa had beehives, and eating that honeycomb was the best!”

ARTICLE BY GEORGIANN POT TS P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K

learly Rhonda loved the country life. She enjoyed going fishing with her father (there are countless family stories about her ability to tangle a fishing line), walking behind him when he plowed the garden, swinging on the old tire swing, and playing in her tree house. She enjoyed selecting a watermelon from her father’s garden and then having the neighborhood kids come to share it. “There were times when I did play with my baby dolls and cooking sets,” she says, “but being outdoors was where I was at my best.”

An early and lifelong influence on Rhonda was her parents showing her that they honored the Lord above all else. She remembers sitting at the breakfast table as a child, listening to her parents read from the devotional Upper Room. When she and her sisters got older, they had their own devotions. Other lessons learned from her parents were about integrity and doing a job well, and respecting one’s parents and respecting others. “I have strived to live my life as my parents reared me. Their ethics and example have guided me in business and in ministry throughout my life. I am so very grateful for them!” she says.

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Education – Secular and Religious

Rhonda learned the importance of work at an early age. She earned 25 cents a week if she did her part of the chores. When she mowed grass, she got extra. She babysat often, and made some arts and crafts pieces which she sold to relatives. Her first “real job” was working after school and on Saturdays at a hardware store. One summer she delivered flowers for a florist. “Those jobs taught me the value of working hard, saving my money, and pleasing the boss,” she says. “I also got a glimpse of what being out in the work force meant, and how to work with many different kinds of customers – some easy to please, and some difficult.”

Rhonda enjoyed her years in the El Dorado school system. Even now she maintains contact with many of her classmates and friends from her high school days. After graduation, she attended Louisiana Tech University for 2 years, majoring in interior design. Truth be told, all she ever really wanted to be was a wife and mother. She met her future husband at LaTech. When they married, they began a nursery/garden center and landscaping business which Rhonda operated for 18 years until the marriage ended. Together they had two beautiful daughters. Today Rhonda cherishes her family – her daughters, sons-inlaw, two grandsons, three granddaughters,

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three great-grandsons, and her first greatgranddaughter expected to be born in April.

Among the religious influences that Rhonda came under while growing up were those of Billy Graham and David Wilkerson.

When she was in junior high and high school, Graham’s televised crusades impacted her.

When she was only 15, she read Wilkerson’s book, The Cross and the Switchblade. When she finished the book, Rhonda was convinced that God was calling on her to work with alcoholics and those trapped by addiction.

Rhonda never forgot that revelation. It would be nearly 35 years later before she was finally ready to answer that call.

Finding Her Way

As an adult, Rhonda worked in several different jobs, all of which she understands now were preparing her for her ministry.

She was a receptionist and a secretary for a time. Later she had a cleaning service and a wallpaper hanging/decorating business.

She always found time to help others, and especially enjoyed caring for elderly women by taking them on their errands, and cooking and cleaning for them. “Every job I had, owning a business, and caring for the elderly were all stepping stones to prepare me for ministry leadership,” she says.

Another important step toward her ministry (though she did not know it then) happened when she was a teenager and her parents became foster parents for two young boys who had been abused and badly neglected. They lived with the family for over a decade. Rhonda saw them become

CHRISTMAS CHILD OUTREACH Each year, Grace Place Ministries helps more than 800 local children by supplying one warm cap, one pair of gloves, full size blanket, medium stuffed animal, bible, and a goody bag of treats.

drug-addicted because of the years of abuse.

To see firsthand those in great need was an important opportunity for her.

The lessons she learned from her foster brothers remained with her. In September 2000, Rhonda was working in New Orleans as director of a halfway house for prostitutes and addicts on heroine and crack. This was her first fulltime ministry and she was 49-years-old.

Although it was often overwhelming, she believed that the Lord had told her when she was 15 that this would be her work. She laughs now when she admits that she kept telling the Lord that she didn’t know what

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FAMILY MATTERS Rhonda pictured with her family (at top) and her three granddaughters (below).

she was doing. His answer was always the same – that He had chosen her for this work.

She saw children fending for themselves on the streets, and living in badly neglected housing projects. Rhonda learned to help one child at a time and make a difference in that one life. Then she could help another child, and then another.

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To Grace Place

In 1999, Rhonda suffered a major disability because of degenerative disc disease. She had to live with friends who could care for her. During this time, Rhonda says that she heard God speak to her spirit again and understood Him to say “Grace Place.” That meant nothing to her at the time. Soon thereafter, she heard the Lord speak to her spirit, telling her that He was changing her name to “Grace.” She became so convinced that this was part of her destiny that she legally changed her last name to “Grace” in 2000. In September 2001, she established Grace Place Ministries – Ordinary People Serving an Extraordinary God.

After looking all over Ouachita Parish for a place to establish her ministry, Rhonda finally selected the southside of Monroe. On September 11, 2001, shortly after the Twin Towers were hit, she signed a lease on an 18room house on South Grand.

The first step was to repair the badly neglected house. Badly vandalized and with major needs, the structure had to be repaired first and then renovations could begin. Eventually the home was completely renovated and landscaped, making it a welcoming oasis to all who needed its shelter and comfort.

Children from the neighborhood began coming twice a week for Bible Study and activities, giving Rhonda an awareness of their specific needs – unconditional love and guidance. Where she detected abuse, she called Child Protective Services. She had nurses come and teach abstinence classes.

After-school tutoring classes were begun to help with schoolwork when parents (many absentee) couldn’t. “Some of those children who are now grownups still come by to see me,” Rhonda says with a smile.

Over the years since its inception, Grace Place has continually grown in the numbers of people its ministers to. The Grace Place ministry now offers a meal at noon three days a week; hands out food bags on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month; gives clothing and household items where needed; and does Christmas Child Outreach each year (in 2020 in a pouring rain, they gave out gift bags to 781 children). “When I first started Grace Place, God never told me there would be a children’s ministry,” Rhonda explains.

“I thought I would be taking in women off the streets like the women I worked with in New Orleans. The children’s ministry wasn’t something I asked for, but the Lord asked me if I would love the children and teach them.

How could I say ‘no’?”

Grace Place has changed locations several times since its beginning. After losing the lease on South Grand, Rhonda moved the operation across the street to a 4-room house that had been donated to Grace Place and began renovations again. Then in 2005, Rhonda saw a building on Jackson Street that she felt was destined to be the next Grace Place. After securing a loan and with no idea how she and her Board of Advisors would make the payments, she began renovating once again. After a year of renovating, 1600 Jackson Street had been transformed into a beautiful soup kitchen. “Once again, the Lord didn’t tell me in advance what He had planned,” she says. “A soup kitchen was never on my radar!”

Rhonda remembers the early days with the soup kitchen. With the help of several faithful volunteers, they cooked, cleaned, and served for the hungry. The numbers of hungry increased to the point that Rhonda reached out to several churches for help.

Over time, more churches became involved.

Each selected its menu, so there was variety in the meal offerings. They provided all of the ingredients and had their volunteers cook on site.

Today, all of the slots are filled by church and civic volunteers, but there is always a need for extra volunteers to help clean tables, carry trays for children and the elderly, sweep and mop, and be a smiling face to greet those who need it. Approximately 3,500 meals are served per month. “Grace Place is filling voids in the community by serving hot meals, food bags and clothing, and serving up the love of God and prayers to every man, woman, and child we can,” Rhonda says.

A Future of Service

Rhonda has traveled extensively, but her favorite destination of them all is Jerusalem, Israel. She has visited Jerusalem and that country three times. Susan Jones, a nurse and close friend who has traveled to Israel with Rhonda several times, describes Rhonda this way: “Rhonda Grace is a true servant and a true lover of Jesus. I have seen her continue to serve even in times of great physical illness and personal adversity. She has continued to do all that she can to take care of God’s children. Her ministry reaches across all ethnicities, colors, and ages. In Israel, Rhonda spent three months at her own personal expense ministering to terrorist attack survivors and encouraging the men and women there through prayer. While there – as here – she met the needs of people mentally, physically, and spiritually.”

“We all have traumas or hard times,” Rhonda explains. “But

by God’s anointing, I see the hand of God move in people’s lives.”

Based in part on her own life’s experiences, Rhonda offers counseling and inner healing from life’s traumas through personal counseling by appointment. Whether those needing counseling are among her own volunteers or strangers who come in off the streets, she is always willing to help others work through their challenges as much as she can.

Rhonda doesn’t see retirement as an option for her. She believes that she has at least 20+ more good years that will take her to 90. “As long as God wants to use me, and as long as there are needy people in spirit, soul, or body, I will be available,” she says. “God does not disqualify because of age, feebleness, frailty etc.; anyone who can be used by Him.”

Rhonda believes that in five to ten years she will still be serving people who hurt, whether through the Grace Place soup kitchen or another non-profit that she hopes to start soon. She is also considering writing a book about her lifetime of adventures.

When Rhonda is asked about how and why she does what she does, she answers simply. “I say that when the Lord asks me, I say that I am not qualified or have enough smarts or talents, and I am too old,” she says. “I have learned that He will give me all the resources I’ll need to accomplish all that He has planned for me to do. I rely on His grace and mercy, and not on my own abilities.”

Rhonda often says that that her entire life has been filled by God’s grace. Through many heavy struggles and personal doubts, that grace has seen her through and given her the courage and the will to continue moving forward. Saint Augustine of Hippo (theologian and writer – 354 AD – 430 AD) wrote, “For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.” Such is certainly the case with Rhonda’s faith-filled life and countless good works.

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Celebrate with The Platter

Local Restaurant Offers a Variety of Options

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ITH THE NEW YEAR COMES NEW HOPES, NEW plans and of course, new year resolutions. And one that is always at the top of everyone’s list is eating right. Whether you are looking to cut carbs with a keto diet plan or slim down by sticking to vegetables, the Platter has you covered! This locally owned business has become known for their charcuterie boards and platters for all occasions.

The Keto and Paleo lifestyles have become very popular and The Platter caters to those dietary needs. You can grab a protein platter out of the grab and go section or custom order something to your specific taste and needs. A typical protein platter has roast beef, pepperoni, salami, boiled eggs, cheese, olives, carrots, bell pepper, broccoli and more. Another favorite is the relish-n-meat platter with salami slices, prosciutto, pepperoni, black olives, green olives, pickled asparagus, celery stalks, sliced carrots, baby dill pickles, fresh blackberries and crackers. If cutting meat is your goal, grab a Veg Out Platter with a beautiful purple cabbage centerpiece and surrounded by the perfect veggie dip, broccoli, carrot slices, celery, cucumbers, red, orange, and green bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, sliced squash and cauliflower.

Maybe your new year’s resolution is to cut out fast food. The Platter’s famous boxes have been a hit for people of all ages and their grazing tables have been the piece de resistance of recent weddings, gatherings and parties. With selections ranging from stuffed olives, nuts, prosciutto, ham, cheddar, gouda, provolone, Monterey, brie, blue cheese, fresh mozzarella, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, pepper jelly, fig spread, jam, spicy mustard and a variety of crackers, there is surely something to please every palette. If you would like to spend more time with your family this year, you can always grab a meal or casserole out of the grab and go section to fit your entire family something delicious, without spending all evening cooking in the kitchen.

The Platter also has healthier sweet treat options with a variety of sugar and gluten free options, as well as vegan and keto friendly selections. You can talk with them about your dietary needs and they can whip up something for your birthday, anniversary, special occasion or just to satisfy that sweet tooth. The Platters specializes in cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies and assorted pastries all made from scratch! The Platter also offers off site catering as well as free catering consultations. Jodi and her team can guide you to execute your vision through their consultations and will have your vision come to life with their close attention to detail. They are able to accommodate weddings, showers, game night, Sunday school functions, anniversaries, birthdays, receptions, galas, corporate events, sales rep events and more. They can do it all!

Stop by The Platter on 120 Blanchard Street in West Monroe to see everything they have to offer. You can call ahead to place an order or visit the grab and go section from the cooler. The Platter looks forward to serving you and continuing to be the talk of the town.

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New Year New Me

Put Your Best Face Forward This Year

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R.SOWMA AND HER FRIENDLY STAFF AT DermaMediQ, located on Lamy lane in Monroe, want to wish her current and future clients a Happy New Year. “We are so grateful for our patients’ support this year. As we step into a new year, my staff and I look forward to helping you become more confident, and happy with your overall appearance,” says Sowma.

Dr. Sowma has been providing state of the art medically supervised beauty regimens at DermaMediQ in Monroe for more than 10 years. She is board certified in aesthetic medicine and pediatrics. Dr.Willis, who joined DermaMediQ in early 2021, is a board-certified general surgeon and one of the leading experts in liposuction and skin tightening.

Morpheus8, Silhouette InstaLift, Votiva, Forma, O-Shot and BodyTite are just a few of the many procedures DermaMediQ offers.

MORPHEUS8

Morpheus8 is an advanced microneedling treatment developed to stimulate remodeling in the fatty tissue of the dermis. Designed

by In Mode Aesthetics, a leading manufacturer in the radiofrequency technology arena, Morpheus8 is the only device that combines radiofrequency with the microneedling technique.

INSTALIFT

Silhouette InstaLift uses absorbable micro-cones to instantly lift aging, mid-facial skin, including sagging cheeks and deeper folds in the skin. This procedure also activates your natural collagen production to boost volume over time for up to 2 years. That means you can achieve the look you want — without surgery or fillers.

VAMPIRE FACELIFT®

A vampire facelift is a cosmetic procedure that uses the patient’s blood. Unlike a vampire facial, which uses microneedling, a vampire facelift injects both plasma and a hyaluronic acid filler. The procedure can make skin look less wrinkled, firmer, and more elastic.

FORMA

Forma is suitable for all skin types and is appropriate for individuals seeking a non-invasive and a natural looking approach to achieve a younger appearance without surgery, scars or downtime.

BODYTITE BodyTite is a minimally invasive body contouring procedure delivering results previously only achieved through more excisional surgical procedures. Bodytite, powered by directional radiofrequency, provides contraction of the dermis, subdermal connective tissue, and adipose tissue coagulation. BodyTite is a great solution for individuals who are looking to reduce fat without the saggy, wrinkly skin. It also helps improve skin laxity after weight loss due to aging.

“I went to Dr. Sowma for fillers, and was so pleased with the results.

She made me feel extremely comfortable during our consultation, and walked me through the entire procedure. My lips looked natural and not overly plumped. I looked like myself, but 10 years younger.” – patient of Dr. Sowma

No matter your age or issue you want to address, Dr. Sowma and the amazing staff at DermaMedicQ can help you achieve your beauty goals and truly put your best face forward this year.

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Monroe Chamber Holiday Gala On Thursday, December 2, 2021 the Monroe Chamber of Commerce held its annual Holiday Gala at Bayou DeSiard Country Club. It was a magical night filled with music by The Josh Madden Band, complimentary wine & beer and 12 days of Christmas auction items donated by local business in our community. The Chamber staff along with Mrs. Terri Arthur (Gala Chairman) went all out for this event. There was not a seat left open at any of the VIP tables nor space on the dance floor. Patrons, sponsors, Chamber staff along with other guests enjoyed a night out on the town. For more information on the Chamber of Commerce, contact them at 318.323.3461 or visit their website at monroe.org

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1 Dave and Emma Loyless, Roy and Beth Heatherly, Sarah Heatherly 2 Christy and Collin Dunn 3 Brenda and Charles Marsala, Damon Marsala and Kristen Walter 4 Hunter and Victoria Christy, Roy Arthur 5 Ruthie Wheatley and Sarita Daniel 6 Erin Etheridge and Toni Bacon 7 Kirsten Gladen and Erin Woods 8 Alberta Green 9 Aimee Kane and Misti Cordell 10 David and Bridget Hampton 11 Joe Holyfield, Ramona Martin, Janet and Bob Durden 12 Friday and Ashley Ellis, Christine and Ron Berry 13 Tony and Lori Mathieu, Aaron and Kim Dietrich, Patti Wilhite and Brent Vidrine 14 Kelsea McCrary and Steven Keirsey 15 Jorenda Stone and Kristopher Kelley 16 Patience and DeRon Talley 17 Jeannine and Darren Burgess

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New You in 2022 Change Your Life this Year

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R. PATRICK MCGEE HAS BEEN PRACTICING DENTISTRY in the Twin Cities for the past eight years. Over this time, he has seen numerous families and treated every situation from first cleanings to cavities to Invisalign to dental implants. “One of the most gratifying and humbling things that I do in my practice is give people a new outlook on life,” said Dr. McGee. “We have seen people that haven’t been able to eat their favorite foods like steak or pizza in years because of ill-fitting dentures. We are able to offer them options like our Hybridge treatment plan, giving them their life back.”

For patients with complex dental issues and multiple missing or unhealthy teeth, one of the best ways to replace them is with an implant retained restoration. This prosthetic involves anchoring the new teeth to the jawbone using small titanium posts that act as tooth roots, providing incredible stability and longevity. What once took more than a year to complete, can now be done in far less time and expense with the advancement of dental implant technology. Dr. McGee is proud to offer his patients a state-of-the-art approach to a long-lasting, fixed set of teeth with Hybridge Dental Implants, which allow you to permanently restore up to 12 teeth in as little as three weeks. Regular dental implant dentures can require up to eight implants to deliver the same quality of results.

Because the Hybridge is supported by strong bone, patients are able to recover virtually all of their biting and chewing strength, allowing them to enjoy many foods that are usually considered off-limits to denture wearers. Plus, the teeth won’t slip out of place throughout the day. Some of the benefits of Hybridge Dental Implants include a shorter treatment time, reliability, long-lasting and they offer a natural and attractive look.

If you are looking to regain not only the ability to eat the foods you love, but self confidence, make an appointment for an initial consultation so you can get started on your treatment plan this year!

Often times, people have a fear of the dentist. Whether they have had a bad experience or are scared of the unknown, Dr. McGee has changed patients’ outlook on visiting the dentist. From the moment you walk in the door, you are greeted with a smile from his friendly staff and everyone makes you feel comfortable. They walk you through the entire process on what to expect and explain your dental insurance benefits as well. They also offer IV Sedation, which works as a form of conscious sedation to help you feel relaxed during your appointment. This method does not put you fully to sleep, but it does make you less aware of your surroundings. This means you can still respond to verbal commands or gentle nudging.

Dr. McGee prides himself on offering the latest in technology and services, all to provide the best care for his patients. Just one of the tools he uses is the X-Nav guided surgery, offering minimally invasive options and ensures efficient and effective results. The benefits include a live, 360-degree view during surgery, interactive, turn by turn guidance and improved accuracy. Cosmetic Dentistry is another area that Dr. McGee specializes in. Using advanced cosmetic dental treatments and materials, Dr. McGee can make a real difference. The skill, experience and commitment of their practice, using a unique combination of science and artistry, can literally redesign your smile. The office offers dental bonding, porcelain veneers, inlays, onlays, teeth whitening and Invisalign.

The office of Dr. McGee is currently accepting new patients and the first step in a healthy and happy smile is making an appointment. They will take the time to properly diagnose your immediate dental concerns, review your past medical and dental history and create a treatment plan that provides for your optimal dental health.

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The Get More!

Giveaway

Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Announces Winners

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HE GET MORE! GIVEAWAY LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER and ran for seven weeks with the goal of incentivizing America’s workforce to take advantage of Spherion’s employment opportunities nationwide. The giveaway also served as an employee retention tool for Spherion’s client companies and its 200-plus offices from coast to coast. As a result of this campaign, Spherion helped job seekers in the Monroe area find and stay at meaningful career opportunities.

“The Get More! Giveaway was a great and interactive way to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication,” said Brittany Forbis, VP of Operations at Spherion West Monroe. “We celebrated weekly winners who experienced the thrill of some extra cash in their paychecks and our regional prize winner who was awarded a $2,500 cash prize.

We have a strong collaborative team and look forward to holding more campaigns in the future to benefit our dedicated employees.”

Spherion Staffing and Recruiting West Monroe has announced a winner of its Get More! Giveaway. Spherion West Monroe had one of three regional grand prize winners. The regional prize winner, Staci Glenn, employee of Spherion West Monroe, was awarded a $2,500 cash prize.

Staci was born and raised in West Monroe and has a husband and two children ages 8 and 5. Her 8-year old son is autistic and she is an advocate for autism awareness. This is Staci’s first time working with a staffing company, and she has been employed with Spherion since October 2021.

Winning the $2500 couldn’t have come at a better time, as it will provide her the opportunity to give her children a very merry Christmas.

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To learn more about the Spherion Get More! Giveaway or see a list of final regional and grand prize winners, visit https://www.spherion. com/getmore.

Each year Spherion offers a Community Giveback Program. This campaign highlighted efforts of organizations that are creating change in our community. Our office selected local nonprofit Embrace Grace and donated $1000 to their worthy cause. For more information how you can donate, volunteer or be in a support group visit https://www. embracegrace.com.

ABOUT SPHERION

Spherion, a leader in the recruiting and staffing industry with 75 years of experience, brings the power of local to its clients and candidates through a network of independent and empowered franchise owners.

Backed by the drive and stability of the global leader in human resource services, Spherion is growing and evolving to tackle what is next for the emerging workforce. In 2021, the company unveiled a striking new brand identity that reflects its successful growth to meet the needs of client companies and the emergent workforce. It also revealed a new purpose-driven tagline, “Let’s Get to Work.” Today, Spherion services the workforce needs of more than 4,000 businesses and operates more than 200 offices across the country. To learn more about Spherion’s services, visit https://www.spherion.com. For information about the Spherion franchising opportunity, visit https://www.spherion.com/franchise/.

Relieving Stress and Depression Let Spa Nouvelle Take Away Those Winter Blues

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HAT’S A WRAP. THE ORNAMENTS have been neatly tucked into the attic, the hustle and bustle now seems a distant memory and people are settling into the new year. It’s often a time of reflection and change, but for many the stress of the new year becomes overwhelming. It’s easy to overassess about accomplishments or lack thereof, or maybe it’s just a feeling of uneasiness after a holiday calendar jammed packed has finally resolved. If this seems familiar, take time to relax and rejuvenate at Spa Nouvelle.

Taking time for a massage is as important for people dealing with depression as it is with someone with a sports injury or arthritis. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, clinical trials suggest that massage therapy may help relieve depression. A 60-minute massage can lower cortisol, a hormone that’s produced in response to stress by an average

of 30 percent. And when cortisol levels decline, serotonin – one of the body’s antipain mechanisms – increases by an average of 28 percent after receiving a massage. By lowering cortisol and increasing serotonin, you’re boosting your body’s ability to fight off pain, anxiety and feelings of sadness, according to professionals at the Mayo Clinic.

Partners Mary Beth Dickerson, Ana Lopez Hale, Drew Farr and Wendy Newsom all have a passion for health and beauty. They understand that their business provides a safe and nurturing place for individuals to relax, refocus and find clarity. 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 BayouBuzz Awards since its inception.

For many clients who are living with anxiety and depression, and the day-to-day symptoms those feeling bring, the staff at Spa Nouvelle are here to help. From personalized

essential oil infusions to CBD oils, signatures service from Spa Nouvelle are guaranteed to offer relief and rejuvenation.

If you are one of the many who are suffering after the holiday season, or if you are overloaded with extra stress, make an appointment today. Start the new year with a new sense of relief, empowerment and mind-body connection. For a list of services, visit their website at spanouvelle.com. Spa Nouvelle is located at 1705 Lamy Lane in Monroe. Call them at 318.816.4949 and be sure to like them on Facebook and Instagram for special offers and appointment openings.

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On

Pointe

FOR MICHELLE HARVEY, DANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF HER LIFE. SHE STARTED TEACHING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WOULD LATER OPEN HER OWN DANCE STUDIO BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK WITH LINDA FORD AT LINDA LAVENDER SCHOOL OF DANCE AND THE TWIN CITY BALLET COMPANY. ARTICLE BY STARLA GATSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

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MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Michelle Harvey and her mother, Meg Page, ready to dance in The Nutcraker

FOR THE LOVE OF DANCE

“There’s no place like home” isn’t just a well-known mantra from The Wizard of Oz. It’s a phrase that sums up the path of Michelle Harvey’s career. For her, dance — particularly when it’s done in a Linda Lavender School of Dance (LLSD) studio or at a Twin City Ballet (TCB) performance — is home, and it has been since she first donned a pair of pink ballet slippers as a young girl.

“One of my neighbor friends started dancing,” Harvey recalls, “and my mother worked, so hers said, ‘Well, I’ll take Michelle, too.’ So, I went with my friend to dance at Linda Lavender School of Dance at age nine. That’s where it all began. I fell in love, especially with ballet. That was my favorite.”

Then, at age 10 with just one year of classes under her belt, Harvey expanded her training a bit. She would not only be dancing at LLSD but with the Monroe-based TCB, too.

This experience only deepened her interest in ballet.

“That year was our Nutcracker,” she says of her first season as a company dancer.

“I was a soldier and an angel, and I thought I was the star of the show.”

That was the first of many ballets for Harvey, and though she wasn’t technically the star then, she would go on to perform many roles during her tenure with TCB. She took the stage during TCB’s takes on several popular ballets including Coppelia, and at one point or another tackled nearly every role in the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, including Arabian, Mirliton, Snow Queen, and Sugarplum Fairy.

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Linda Lavender Ford instructing a dance class while Michelle Harvey, a student, listens.

which a 17-year-old Harvey shared the stage with her late parents, Meg and Charles Page, as they were included in the party scene of Act I.

She gets a bit teary-eyed as she shares this memory. It no doubt holds a special place in Harvey’s heart, but likely means a lot to many others as well given the Pages’ support of the local dance community. Through the years, the two of them proved to be just as dedicated to the ballet company and Linda Lavender studio as their daughter. Their countless hours of service, sponsorship, and commitment to the arts even earned them a Twin City Ballet Lifetime Membership.

Nowadays, Twin City Nutcrackers look a bit different for Harvey. Rather than commanding the stage as a gifted performer, she’s conducting rehearsals as one of the company’s four directors alongside Gretchen

Jones, Linda Lou Bourland, and her own teacher, Linda Lavender Ford.

Teaching, Harvey says, stole her heart when she was just a senior in high school.

Once she began assisting classes at LLSD, she knew dance instruction was the job she wanted to pursue. She attended the University of Louisiana Monroe and earned a degree in physical education, but she never really had plans to use it, she says. She was going to teach dance instead.

“It was challenging because you don’t think about yourself anymore,” she says as she remembers the transition from dancer and student to instructor and choreographer.

“As a dancer, you worry about how you perform and how you look, but as a teacher, you’re more worried about your students.

But I loved it. I found it very rewarding, and I still do.”

he satisfaction Harvey found in teaching drove her to create even more opportunities for herself to lead students through adagio, petit allegro, and pirouette exercises at the ballet barre.

Instead of working solely at Linda Lavender, she decided to open a studio of her own and teach there, too. She explains, “I saw a need for a studio in Rayville, so I opened it in 1980.

I taught some wonderful children over there, and a lot of them I still have contact with.”

Rayville wouldn’t be as far from home as Harvey would fly, though. When life — and her husband’s job — led her to the Lone Star State, she found herself closing her studio, leaving LLSD, and heading to studios in Cedar Park and Georgetown, respectively.

Eventually, though, the Harvey family — Michelle, her husband Bill, and her son Matthew — reached the end of their time in Texas, and they made their way back to Louisiana to help care for a sick Meg and Charles. When she came back to Monroe in 2005, Harvey resumed teaching dance at the studio in which she grew up, and she has been a beloved LLSD faculty member ever since.

Despite having dreamt of being a dancer since she was a little girl who saw a photo of a ballerina on a magazine cover — “I just thought, ‘I want to be that,’” she reveals —

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Harvey says her younger self would be surprised to see just how long her career has spanned and how many students she’s crossed paths with.

“When I first started teaching dance, I probably couldn’t foresee that I’d still be teaching at this age,” she admits. “I probably didn’t see how much I could impact [the students], but it’s definitely eye-opening to see what you can do and how much you can shape and mold dancers and guide their lives in the right direction.”

The shaping and molding of which Harvey speaks aren’t just teaching children to stretch their feet, straighten their knees, and bourree across the stage in pointe shoes, though. Dance, she explains, gives students traits they can carry into many other aspects of their lives.

Harvey says, “Not everybody goes on to be a professional dancer, but I feel like dance training takes them even further in their careers than they realize because they have confidence and discipline. Those contribute to whatever direction they want to go in.”

The characteristics and habits students pick up in a ballet class like the ones Harvey teaches are not unlike the ones she gleaned from her teachers. She draws inspiration from all kinds of instructors and choreographers, she says, from those who guest-teach and choreograph at Twin City’s

THE FOREVER BALLERINA

I just feel like this is what God wanted me to do, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. When you go to work and you love what you do and you enjoy being around the kids, it’s not work. It’s pleasure. It’s joy,” says Harvey.

summer workshops to those she encounters at the Regional Dance America Southwest Festivals the company attends annually. Two of her most prominent influences are TCB’s first ballet company mistress and former Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company dancer, Madame Cecelia Kelly, and her successor, Linda Ford.

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numerous students she has had a part in training since opening her studio over 60 years ago.

“I’m not even sure I can express into words what she means to me,” she says of her teacher, employer, and friend. “She’s always been my role model. I think of her as my second mom. She made me accountable and dependable and shaped me into the person I am today.”

Accountability and dependability weren’t the only things Harvey got from her beloved Ms. Linda. Impeccable technique, showmanship, and a genuine love of dance were also part of the deal. These gifts, especially the latter, are some she hopes to pass on to the young dancers she educates.

“I just want to teach them to come into the studio and love what they do, enjoy being around other children, take direction, and experience the joy of movement,” she says. “Just getting their bodies moving is so important nowadays with all the video games and cell phones and things that distract them and keep them sedentary all the time. I think it’s so important to keep moving. It’s vital.”

It doesn’t always happen, Harvey muses, but perhaps after learning to love moving their bodies through dance, a few of her current students will join the ranks of other TCB and Linda Lavender alumni and dance professionally. While creating prima ballerinas isn’t necessarily her primary objective, she says she hopes to see some of LLSD and Twin City’s dancers shoot at a few dance-related targets, adding, “I strive to do my best every day with all the dancers by encouraging them and trying to instill the love of dance because that’s what’s in me. I want to pass it on to them, and hopefully, they’ll realize how important it is and want to have dreams and goals like I did.”

Harvey knows dance to be a friend that sticks around, even long after the pointe shoes, tights, and leotards are hung up for the last time. Whether or not her influence leads her students down a path like hers or in a different direction, she says she believes they will always remain connected to the art form.

“There’s nothing like it,” Harvey says of dance. “Even if you leave it, it stays with you forever. You’ll always be a dancer, and I feel like I will be, too. It’s in your heart.”

The appreciation for the performing art is what fuels Harvey, and her passion is no doubt the secret of her over four-decade-long career. It runs so deep, she says, that she can’t picture who she would be had she never taken a dance class.

“[Dance] is my world,” she declares. “It’s my every day, and it has guided my path. I wake up every morning, and it’s what I think about. I just feel like this is what God wanted me to do, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. When you go to work and you love what you do and you enjoy being around the kids, it’s not work. It’s pleasure. It’s joy.”

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ULM College of Pharmacy

Annual Poor Man’s Run and Jambalaya Cook-off Set for April 9

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S K A U L M P HAR M AC Y STU DENT W H Y H E / S H E wants to be a pharmacist and you will most likely hear something like “I want to help people get the care they deserve,” or “I want to make a difference in my community’s healthcare.”

They don’t wait until graduation to get out there and start achieving these goals. Most ULM College of Pharmacy (COP) students are involved in one or more professional organizations, participating in health fairs, educational presentations, immunization clinics, food drives, and numerous other community activities.

One example of this dedication is the St. Vincent De Paul Poor Man’s Run and Jambalaya Cook-off sponsored by the ULM Pharmacy Student Council. This April will mark the fifth year for the 5K/1-Mile Fun Run and the second year for the Jambalaya Cook-off.

All proceeds from the day’s events go to our local St. Vincent De Paul Community Pharmacy.

St. Vincent De Paul Community Pharmacy serves 19 parishes in Louisiana, which include those parishes north of Alexandria and east of Shreveport. The pharmacy opened in Monroe in April 1999 and continues to serve our community. In that time, the charity pharmacy has filled over 230,000 prescriptions, reaching over 7,200 patients.

St. Vincent De Paul Community Pharmacy is part of the “National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics” (NAFC) that works to serve

the working poor, uninsured, and medically underserved population.

The NAFC utilizes volunteers and donations to provide health care in over 1,200 Free Health Clinics across the country to those who have no access to care and we are fortunate to have one of these clinics in Monroe.

In April 2021 over 250 runners participated in the Fourth Annual Poor Man’s Run, with six jambalaya teams competing in the cook-off, raising over $8,600 for St. Vincent De Paul.

The next Poor Man’s Run and Jambalaya Cook-off will be held on April 9, 2022, at the ULM College of Pharmacy, located at 1800 Bienville Drive, Monroe, Louisiana. It is a fun day for the entire family and we hope to have a great turn-out again this year.

If you would like to become an event sponsor, or would like to receive a sponsor information packet, please email Michelle White at mmassey@ulm.edu or call (318) 342-3800.

Watch the ULM College of Pharmacy Facebook Page or Instagram for more details on sponsorship, race registration, cook-off, and other activities.

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BAYOU OUTDOORS

MY BEST FRIENDS ARTICLE BY DAN CHASON

2021

was a rough year for all of us. There were many losses due to Covid 19 and I lost friends, co-workers and acquaintances from my life because of this deadly virus and to other diseases or illnesses. They say that the older you get, the more funeral homes and hospitals you find yourself visiting. That is so very true. Last year I did a story called “My Nam Buddy” (which you can review/find on Bayou Outdoors search on page 11). Doyle McEacharn was my mentor, fishing buddy, squirrel hunting companion and just a guy I loved spending time with enjoying the outdoors. Doyle kept me laughing. It was just his funny ways, like when he would hang up from a phone call. Most folks will be like “see ya” or “talk to you later.” Doyle was always the same way on our regular calls, his last sign off was always “ok, good-bye.” I’ve never heard anyone else ever do that. He wore the most goofy hats fishing. I told him one time, “Doyle, I’ll buy you a good hat if you would wear it.” He would always laugh and say “Well, Big Boy, the hats you would buy wouldn’t fit my style.” He would then burst out laughing and I would join him. Doyle was a guy that you couldn’t help but like. Easy going and always eager to chase anything with hair or fins on it made him a friend I will never forget.

About the first of November in 2021, I tired of Facebook and social media and took a break.

In late October, I had called Doyle and set up our annual “eat at the camp” where he and Coach Allen Ray Best would come and eat, visit and plan our annual squirrel hunt. Doyle didn’t sound the same as his over the top, eager attitude wasn’t there. “My gut don’t feel right, Dan. I’m gonna have to pass this weekend” which caused me no alarm or misgivings. Little did I know that a week later his son would be on Facebook asking for prayers for Doyle. Doyle would have a bout of pancreatitis that ended getting into his colon and taking him from us. I was at the camp 3 weeks later with my brother-in-law when he 120 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

said, “I’m sorry to hear about Doyle.” I stopped the side by side and asked him what he was talking about. When he told me that Doyle had died, I had to get off the wheeler, walk around behind my camp and vomit. I was heartbroken.

I knew right then that my life would change significantly. The many crappie trips, the annual squirrel hunt, the regular phone calls, plans for trips to wherever to fish...all of it.

Doyle loved animals. Kids and animals seemed to bring out a kid in Doyle. On our annual squirrel hunting trips, he along with Coach and another squirrel dog owner, Tommy Woodard, would join me for a whole month of chasing the bushy tails. Doyle loved to pick at Tommy and always said that “Tommy moves at the speed of smell.” Meticulous Tommy always had a great squirrel dog and it was another way to pick at Tommy when he would compare my lab Buddy with his dog.

Buddy was a rescue dog. Young, full of himself and one that had had very little human reaction as he was kept in a kennel by himself until right before duck season. The freedom he found with me could be seen in how he behaved and the dog he became. He was happy. He would retrieve ducks but Buddy’s love was squirrels. I noticed this as when I would look outside, Buddy would be watching the squirrels play in the trees. At first he would just run around and maybe sniff or prop up on the tree.

His defining moment is when I shot a squirrel in the hind quarters with a pellet rifle and the squirrel bailed out on top of Buddy’s head. From that day forward Buddy literally hated squirrels.

He became a premiere squirrel hunting dog and did so until I retired him in 2019 due to arthritis and heart issues at the age of 12. Buddy wasn’t just a hunting dog. I would daily load my trailer and boat and Buddy would always be right there wanting to jump in with me. If I didn’t take him to our lake home, he would lay down at my trailer and be there, no matter how long I fished until I returned. He would go fishing with me daily. He loved any kind of hunting including in his later days, literally in the box stand with me. Wherever I was Buddy wanted to be included. When he was young, we found out really quick that I had to take him to the camp. If I walked out of the house with camo on, Buddy was jumping at the back of the truck.

So many wonderful memories I shared with this dog. He was a great companion and still today I sit down in my recliner and put my hand on the arm of it for that brown nose to move my hand to the top of his head. If I ignored him, he would join me in the recliner. I’ve had dogs that I bonded with in my 60 years but none came close to Buddy. Buddy disappeared around the first week of November doing what he loved... chasing the ladies. I don’t know what happened to him but my life has changed drastically due to this wonderful animal.

While squirrel hunting, Doyle’s big ribbing usually came when Tommy’s dog would bark and Doyle would not budge from the front seat

of my side-by-side. If Buddy barked, Doyle would smile and grab his gun. Of course, he had to make sure Tommy saw it as it was the confidence Doyle had in my dog which was even more fun if he could rag Tommy in the process. When we would return from our hunt, I would be in the camp. More times than I can remember, I would ask where Doyle was and why he wasn’t in the camp. “He’s petting that dang brown dog” would be the reply and sure enough there would be Doyle on the camp porch or pickup tailgate, loving and petting on Buddy as it to thank him for a great hunt.

Few people or animals touch your soul. I can never remember a single argument, cross word or anger showed to me by this man. I can never remember nothing from Doyle and Buddy but kindness, love and a joint appreciation for the outdoors and for what we all enjoyed. I will miss Buddy. I will miss Doyle. Somehow I think Buddy met Doyle at heaven’s gates and they are there right now scanning the tall timber for a hiding squirrel. And they are both eternally happy. Happy hunting boys. Save a spot for me.

Spa Bella Introduces New Technology Local Spa Offers Unique Laser Treatments

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OR YEARS, SPA BELLA HAS BEEN known for their relaxing massages and fantastic facials but in 2022, they are introducing something new! “We are constantly looking for ways to improve and serve our clients,” said owner Kristan Berry. “We want to offer the best products and technology.” Spa Bella recently introduced a new machine to the services they offer and they are already seeing amazing results. This BBL laser is the world’s most powerful IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) device on the market. It sets new standards in treating skin conditions associated with aging, active life-styles, and sun damage. The light energy delivered by BBL will gently heat the upper layers of your skin. The heat absorbed by the targeted areas will stimulate your skin cells to regenerate. This process will restore your skin to its natural beauty, making it clearer, smoother, vibrant and younger looking. This laser machine is an all in one, one stop shop for all things skin related. Here are some of the options they have -

BBL Corrective - Worried your freckles, age spots or rosacea make you look less radiant and older? With BBL they will be a thing of the past. The light energy delivered by BBL will stimulate cells to regenerate and typically with the first treatment you will start to see smoother, more even and vibrant skin. The photothermal energy will eliminate fine vessels that cause redness and reduce unwanted melanin that produces age and sun spots.

Forever Young BBL - a new approach to younger looking skin. This revolutionary treatment sends light energy deep into the skin to boost your body’s natural ability to fight again.

The result? Skin that’s visibly younger looking, year after year! Forever Young BBL is not just for women and men who have experienced sun damage over the course of their life.

Forever Clear BBL - Get rid of acne at the speed of light! This cutting edge acne treatment uses the power of light to comfortably and effectively clear acne without creams or medicine.

Forever Bare BBL - Kiss goodbye the hassle and discomfort of shaving, painful waxing and tweezing! Using gentle, yet effective BBL energy to heat hair follicles, the Forever Bare BBL treatment is as comfortable as a hot stone massage. The result is hair removal that’s more comfortable, safer, and faster than other traditional treatments.

SkinTyte - SkinTyte uses advanced infrared light to deeply heat your skin while cooling and protecting the entire treated surface. Light energy is delivered in rapid, gentle pulses to initiate the body’s natural healing process, which leads to the appearance of increased skin firmness.

HALO - This treatment precisely targets damaged skin to dramatically improve the visible signs of aging, restoring the glow that sun, time and stress have depleted from your skin Spa Bella has also added two award winning skin care lines - OSEA and SkinBetter Science. OSEA stands for the core elements of wellness - Ocean, Sun, Earth and Atmosphere and is a clean vegan skincare line powered by the sea. SkinBetter is full of award-winning products that are backed by a diverse team with decades of experience in clinical research and development and furthered by a continued commitment to the study of skincare science.

The new year is a good time to implement a new skin care regimen or correct some of the things that have bothered you. Put your best face forward this year with Spa Bella!

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North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Expands in Ruston

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ORTH LOUISIANA ORTHOPAEDIC & Sports Medicine Clinic is excited to announce that it will soon open its much-anticipated orthopaedic clinic at 1500 Commerce Street in Ruston.

This new state-of-the-art facility will offer the same advanced and specialized orthopaedic services that North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic has provided to Ruston area residents over the last two decades and has provided to citizens throughout northeast Louisiana since 1951.

In addition, the new facility will incorporate the latest technology and equipment to complement our physician’s ability to diagnose and perform surgical procedures.

The facility will also offer other essential patient support services, including x-ray, advanced diagnostic imaging (MRI) and outpatient physical and occupational therapy services.

Construction of this new orthopaedic

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facility certainly represents North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic’s commitment to advance the overall quality of healthcare services offered to the citizens of Ruston and surrounding communities.

The clinic’s highly trained surgeons are prepared to fulfill this commitment by providing exceptional orthopaedic care at this new Ruston facility, while continuing to forge mutually supportive and collaborative relationships with Ruston area surgical facilities.

Dedicated to providing you with the compassionate and experienced care you deserve, the North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic confidently maintains the mission it was founded on 70 years ago — to provide specialized state-of-theart medical services through high-quality, customized treatment plans focused on your needs and goals. Why look beyond your own backyard when all of your orthopaedic needs

can be taken care of right here at home?

At North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic, our commitment to delivering excellence in orthopaedic care continues through our services.

• Bone Density Testing

• Center for Osteoporosis Management

• Digital X-Ray

• Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

•E lectromyography (EMG) & Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)

• Fracture/ Injury Care Clinic

• LeanMD Weight Loss Program

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology

• Occupational Therapy

• Orthopaedic After Hours Clinic

• Physical Therapy

• Regenerative Medicine Monroe Clinic | Monroe Rehab Ruston Clinic | West Monroe Clinic

Phase II Assisted Living Opening This Month New Apartment Homes Available to Lease Now

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HE MOMENT IS SOON TO BE HERE! Phase II assisted living and memory care apartment buildings that have been carefully planned and constructed are opening on the city block campus of The Gardens at Georgia Tucker. New residents are starting the new year by joining others who have been enjoying their lifestyle and activities in the original phase setting in north Monroe’s Garden District.

Everything that made the original facility desirable continues into this new phase, plus even more amenities have been added.

Among the new features is a fitness area where exercise routines will be led by local NextLevel Health & Fitness, and each participant will have a unique nutritional and exercise plan for optimal health and well-being.

Enhancing day-to-day living is a new dining area with a gourmet chef-designed kitchen where all meals of the day are prepared and served for both Phase I and Phase II assisted living residents. Memory

Care apartments have an exclusive dining area that is conducive to residents’ comfort and security.

Newer amenities also extend to the exterior grounds where an inner courtyard includes areas for walking and relaxing for residents and guests surrounded by foliage that will be beautiful to enjoy this coming spring.

Popular shared endeavors such as musical entertainment, movies & games, birthday parties, themed events, church activities, and more are continuing in the gracious atrium gathering space in the original vintage building. There will also be shopping excursions, and complimentary transportation is provided for medical visits.

There are one-bedroom & two-bedroom assisted living apartments in both Phase I and Phase II buildings, as well as one-bedroom apartments in the Phase II Memory Care building. The Memory Care services include all the expected amenities along with an

individualized plan of care to maximize quality of life for your loved one. Full accreditation and a certified staff ensure proper attention for residents in this building.

The unparalleled comfort, convenience, and amenities of The Gardens At Georgia Tucker assure residents of an environment that can truly be called home. You can hear for yourself from some of the residents expressing their contentment when you visit GeorgiaTucker.com to view testimonial videos and comments.

For the best in gracious assisted living, take a closer look at The Gardens at Georgia Tucker. Reservations and lease deposits are being accepted now for the Phase II assisted living and memory care apartments. Please call 318-538-0040 to schedule a tour appointment.

The administration staff will be pleased to show you around, answer any questions, and provide leasing & lifestyle information for you or for a loved one. Visit GeorgiaTucker.com for more details.

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IN THE GARDEN J

anuary is a good time to plan this year’s garden indoors in the cozy comfort of an easy chair with a mug of hot coffee!

(Note: As I write this on the 15th day of December in 2021, the predicted high is 75 degrees. So, adjust sitting location and beverage choice accordingly!) Whether it’s a vegetable garden, herb bed, or a simple foundation planting, draw your beds out the way you want them and select sites by taking special note of things like what direction the beds are facing, how the sun moves across the space throughout the day, what tall structures are nearby that may provide shade, and how close a watering source is. Research the plants you’re interested in. Are they annuals (from seed to seed in one season) or perennials? How tall do they get and how much space will they take up in the garden? What diseases and pests are they susceptible to? Or, more importantly, will this even grow here? I’m already mapping out the Louisiana Kitchen Garden Exhibit at the zoo, a veritable game of chess with plants!

January is also the time to be getting seed catalogs in the mail and placing orders. A good seed catalog can help you make informed decisions on what to buy so you don’t throw your money away. Hybrid vegetables will usually be designated with an “F1” notation. The seeds produced by an F1 hybrid make up the F2 generation and will either be sterile, or will yield plants that are not the variety you’re interested in. Tomato varieties designated with “VFN” mean that those varieties are resistant to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt, and nematodes. A number of days should also be given that explains how soon after sowing seeds you can expect either flowering or a harvest. All of this homework can and should be done indoors before you turn over the first shovel full of soil.

Remember, the “Non-GMO” label is a marketing ploy. There are no GMO crops available to home gardeners.

January is also the perfect month for installing raised beds.

Raised bed gardening has become all the rage, but let’s make sure raised beds are used for the right reasons. First, they can be great space savers. They are essentially containers, and they can be built to suit just about any space. Second, raised beds are the way to go if native soil doesn’t drain well. They provide extra space above the soil line for water percolation and for root system expansion 124 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

< Raised beds improve both drainage and root system growth.

> Good soil is biologically active and has an earthy aroma.

Raised beds are a great option if space is limited or if drainage is an issue.

Soil in raised beds should be easily worked with just a shovel.

“January is also the perfect month for installing raised beds. Raised bed gardening has become all the rage, but let’s make sure raised beds are used for the right reasons.”

which is crucial for most plants. Whereas the green, above-ground parts of plants give off oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis, the non-photosynthetic, underground parts need oxygen. Soils that stay saturated provide an anaerobic habitat for plant roots.

Plants not adapted to having submerged roots literally drown. Gardening in raised beds is a practical solution to drainage issues. Finally, the gardener controls what kind of growing medium or soil the bed is filled with, and how much material is put in the bed. Ideally, the bed should be filled and periodically topped off. I’ll never understand why gardeners who choose to use raised beds fill them only half full. That practice just short-changes the plant. Soil settles over time, so needing to top off a raised bed periodically should be expected.

Raised beds, however, aren’t for every gardener as they do have their downsides.

They are often colonized by fire ants more readily than in-ground beds or rows. They require more frequent watering than inground beds, and because of this, they require more frequent fertilizer applications.

There is usually some up front expense with building raised beds. Ironically, much of the initial cost is associated with soil or growing medium. Recent lumber prices have also been a deterrent for many firsttime gardeners interested in raised beds. If you’re thinking about installing raised beds, keep a few things in mind.

Raised beds can be fabricated from a wide variety of materials. You don’t have to purchase the most expensive building materials or prefab kits to have productive raised beds. Make them from what best suits your wallet.

When filling a raised bed, remember to calculate a volume (cubic feet or yards) and not simply an area. A raised bed 12 ft long, 1 ft tall, and 4 ft. wide will provide a space of 48 cubic feet. However, bulk soil is typically sold by the yard. So, divide 48 cubic feet by 27 (a yardstick is 3 ft long so 1 cubic yard is 27 cubic feet). So, 48 cubic feet is 1.77 cubic yards of bulk soil. Go ahead and make it 2 cubic yards because as the soil settles, the bed will need to be topped off.

Build raised beds that are ergonomic.

Making beds too wide will make reaching the center difficult. How do I know this?

I learned the hard way. Beds that are 4 ft. wide are much easier to work than 6 ft. wide beds.

The addition of compost will improve the soil’s tilth or workability as well as the soil’s fertility. If you know me, then you know I swear by homemade compost. The addition of chopped leaves during fall or winter will also keep your soil biologically active, which any good soil is.

To learn more about raised beds, see our publication #3360 by going to www. lsuagcenter.com.

Tune in to Louisiana Living every Tuesday at 4:30 for In the Garden with Kerry Heafner of the LSU AgCenter.

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Jan Strickland Book Signing On Tuesday, November 30th, Jan Strickland hosted a book signing at the Bayou DeSiard Country Club for the release of her new book Interiors for Living: A Collection of Rooms by Jan Strickland. Friends, family and fans gathered to celebrate the interior decorator on her new release.

The first edition copies have sold out, but there will be a second release coming in January. Reserve your books by emailing jan.h.strickland@gmail.com or look for them to be released in local retailers in the first quarter. Jan Strickland grew up in Rayville, LA and graduated from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa with a B.S. in Interior Design. She is the lead interior decorator for the St. Jude Dream Home, and has over 14 years of experience in interior consulting and decorating field.

On the BayouScene

1 Jan Strickland, Cathy Strickland, Angela and Myrt Hales 2 Clint and Sue Haddock 3 Kay Chandler and Roxie Woods 4 Jan Strickland and Onna Gallagher 5 Dallas and Judy Humble 6 Susan Clark and Lindsey Lowe 7 Courtney Thomas, Jan Strickland and Ashley Hubenthal 8 Barry and Gayla Stevens 9 Jan Strickland and Billy Boughton 10 Jan Strickland, Lori Ann and Karl Kaufman 11 Jan Strickland and Joe Holyfield 12 Alex Barham, Jan Strickland, Tori Fisher and Sara Barham 13 Jan Strickland and Misti Cordell 14 Jan Strickland, Griffyn and Heather Grant 15 Jan Strickland and Jo Tiffany Faulk

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Where Beauty Meets Wellness Moisturize from the Inside Out

BY JUDY WAGONER

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IOV I TA L I T Y, A D I V I S I O N O F Professional Laser Center, opens its doors January 1st, becoming Northeast Louisiana’s premier IV Nutrient Infusion Center. BioVitality has one purpose in mind: to restore hope… and optimize the body’s innate ability to heal from within, through the delivery of functional or natural medicine.

BioVitality offers a wide range of services that treat diverse health and beauty conditions. Our unique process centers on your individual history, needs, and desires.

We offer IV nutrient infusions, IM injectables, the world’s top nutritional supplement brands, plus a plethora of aesthetic services, all in one beautiful, relaxing location., Our IV Vitamin and Nutrient Bar is designed to provide our clients with cutting edge, customized vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and amino acid nutrients in a highly absorbable IV infusion.

We live in a time when obtaining the

needed amounts of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants is difficult with diet alone. When we consume foods or supplements in pill or liquid form, they need to travel through our digestive system before they can start being utilized by our bodies. It’s estimated that as much as 50% of the population has issues with absorption in their digestive systems, meaning they never get the full benefits of the nutrients they take in. When you send vitamins, minerals and hydration directly into the bloodstream, you bypass the digestive system altogether. Your body gets 100% of the benefit of these powerful ingredients that are exactly the right recipe for you.

Specific benefits of IV nutrient infusion therapy may include improved immune function, increased energy, more restorative sleep, decreased stress and anxiety, enhanced mood, and overall enhancement of your wellbeing. It’s a powerful therapy for such issues

as Asthma, Allergies, Alzheimers, Athletic Enhancement & Recovery, AutoImmune Disease, Fatigue, Chronic Epstein Bar Virus, Migraine Headaches, Viruses, Dehydration, and Immune Support.

BioVitality offers a variety of “signature” IV cocktails to choose from to treat hangovers, fatigue, jet lag, and enhance athletic performance. Our medically trained Nurse Practitioner, Elizabeth Hoskins, can help you decide which treatment is right for you. Choose from IV drips, IM boost shots, or medical weight loss solutions. Our programs target a wide variety of health issues and objectives.

You can sit in our relaxing IV lounge chairs and read, text, or simply rest while being infused with vital nutrients. Most infusions take 30-45 minutes to administer.

With 18 years of experience in aesthetics, we can also guide and help you on your journey to look and feel more youthful. We offer Botox, Filler, PDO Thread Lift, Hormone Replacement, including estrogen and testosterone Pellets, as well as several Laser treatments and Microneedling. From the minute you walk in the door, your experience at BioVitality, a division of Professional Laser Center, will be an exquisite and memorable one.

BioVitality, a divison of Professional Laser Center, is located on the second floor in the beautiful Premier Plaza in Monroe. Our address is 1900 N. 18th Street, Suite 209. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 318-361-9066.

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B AY O U H E A L T H |

BY SHANNON DAHLUM

Go With Your Gut to Decrease Chronic Disease and Improve Body Composition More than 2,000 years ago, Hypocrates, the father of modern medicine, suggested that all disease begins in the gut. While it may not be true of every disease, evidence now shows that most modern chronic disease is indeed rooted in imbalances within the gut. Because of the impact it has on inflammation, immune health, and nutrient absorption, every system of your body is affected by the functioning of your gut.

INFLAMMATION

The digestive tract is arguably the leading cause of inflammation throughout the entire body, which is the underlying cause of a variety of symptoms. Systemic inflammation keeps the body in a chronic state of stress which can lead to chronic fatigue. Inflammation can also have a neurological impact, causing brain fog or symptoms of depression and/or anxiety by altering neurotransmitters, which are your “happy mood” chemicals. It’s also been said that your skin is a reflection of your gut, and indeed, inflammation in the digestive tract can cause inflammatory conditions of the skin, like acne or rashes. Your sex hormones are also altered by inflammation which can cause menstrual and menopausal symptoms in women, fatigue and low libido in both sexes, and erectile dysfunction in men. Your body’s ability to use thyroid hormone can be damaged by inflammation, and even symptoms of insomnia have been documented as a result of inflammation in the digestive tract.

IMMUNE DYSREGULATION

The greatest concentration of immune cells in your entire body exists in your small intestine, so if there is bacterial imbalance or inflammation there, immune symptoms will likely follow.

These can include Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, celiac disease and gluten intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, food allergies and intolerances, rheumatoid arthritis, and any other autoimmune condition.

NUTRIENT ABSORPTION

Of course, if your digestive tract isn’t healthy, your ability to digest and assimilate nutrients will be compromised. This is known as malabsorption, and it can manifest in many ways. Being unable to properly assimilate protein and fat can lead to dry or thinning hair, and dry or aged skin. Various nutrient deficiencies can lead to fatigue, brain fog, depression, hormonal imbalances, and others. When the brain senses a deficiency in nutrients, you’ll experience cravings for sugar, simple carbohydrates and fatty foods. You may also experience fatigue and slowed metabolism, leading to weight gain, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and high blood sugar.

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learly, your gut has a massively far-reaching impact on your health.

It can affect everything from your mood to your metabolism, your energy to your skin. But what exactly is your gut, and what is it that determines how healthy or unhealthy it is?

The “gut” is a term that refers to your entire digestive system. It begins with your mouth and extends through the esophagus to the stomach, through the small and large intestines and ends with the rectum. This system is lined with a dense mucosal barrier, which serves to keep toxic material from entering the bloodstream. You can actually think of your digestive system as “outside” of your body. It’s designed to break down and assimilate the nutrients your body needs while shuttling harmful materials from your mouth to the toilet without letting them enter other areas of the body. The healthy functioning of the digestive process relies heavily on the integrity of the mucosal barrier, and also on the ecosystem of bacteria and fungus that live within it.

MICROBIOME

It’s recently been discovered that the human body contains more bacterial cells than human cells. Almost every surface of your body (including your gut, skin, lungs, and urinary tract, for example) has its own bacteria living on it. Your gut alone contains roughly one trillion microorganisms, consisting of one thousand different species.

The microbiome is best thought of as a virtual organ of the human body. These organisms do a lot of the heavy lifting in the digestive process (namely in the small intestine, which is responsible for 90% of caloric absorption) by fermenting indigestible fiber. The result of this fermentation process is gas and the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Some of these SCFAs play a role in appetite regulation and in cholesterol and fat metabolism, while others are responsible for killing off cancer causing cells in the colon, for beneficial effects on blood sugar and metabolism, and for maintaining a healthy oxygen balance in the gut which helps to support a healthy microbiome environment.

If you aren’t giving the organisms in your gut enough fiber through your diet, the fermentation process won’t happen and you won’t get the benefits of those SCFAs. You’ll also be starving those organisms of their energy source, so they’ll essentially die out.

This is one reason fiber intake is so vital for your health. American adults average a daily fiber intake of 10-15 grams, while 25-30 grams daily is the recommendation given by the American Heart Association.

Other foods that support the diversity of your microbiome are probiotic rich foods.

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These are foods and beverages that have been fermented, like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi. Taking probiotic supplements introduces added bacteria to your gut, as well, but varying the supplement you take is a good idea, to ensure variation in the bacteria you’re receiving. Additionally, if you have an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in your gut, supplementing with probiotics can exacerbate imbalances. It’s important to work with a health professional who can help you determine if supplementing is a good idea for you. There are also home stool tests available (one called Viome, for example) that can tell you about the quality of your microbiome and offer specific recommendations for improving it.

Different species of organisms feed on different types of foods. This is why, to support a healthy environment containing a wide variety of organisms, you need to include a wide variety of whole foods in your diet. Limiting your diet to large amounts of simple carbohydrates with minimal fiber, for example, will support certain types of bacteria and fungus while starving out others. This leads to unhealthy imbalances and overgrowths that can cause digestive woes like IBS, but can also contribute to conditions like hypothyroidism and celiac disease. It has also been observed in clinical studies that having a wider variety of organisms is associated with healthier body composition, while a more limited microbiome is associated with obesity and metabolic disease. Going on a very restrictive weight loss diet may provide some short term benefits, but the lack of variety in the diet can eventually lead to disruptions in the microbiome that eventually enhance weight gain. One fascinating study in 2013 took the

gut bacteria from a pair of identical twins, one of whom was obese and the other lean, and transplanted it into different healthy mice.

The mouse that received a transplant from the obese twin became obese, while the mouse who received a transplant from the lean twin didn’t. This demonstrated that obesity could be induced simply by modifying the microbiome.

Your environment also plays a significant role in the quality and variety of microorganisms that exist in your gut.

Bacteria lives abundantly all around you, and exposure to these organisms is vital.

Organic soil is teeming with bacteria and this is transferred to the plants that grow in it, as well. Playing in the dirt and eating organic produce provide enormous benefits to your microbiome. Unfortunately, the majority of food you have access to in the grocery store has been treated with pesticides and herbicides which destroy bacteria, both harmful and beneficial. One of the most common herbicides used in farming and probably your own yard, glyphosate (found in Round-Up), is actually an antibiotic. Treating plants and soil with this chemical kills all of the bacteria living on and within them. Not only are you then deprived of receiving these healthy organisms, but when you ingest the chemical, it also damages the organisms you already have in your gut. On the other hand, picking an organic basil leaf off of a plant in your backyard and eating it without washing it is incredibly nourishing to your microbiome. Exposing yourself to healthy microbes is especially important right now, with all of the exposure prevention measures you’ve been taking over the past couple of years because of the viral pandemic.

MUCOSAL BARRIER

In addition to a healthy ecosystem, the gut requires a sturdy barrier to prevent outside materials from entering other areas of the body through the bloodstream. This is the role played by the mucosal barrier; a thick mucous lining that covers the entire digestive tract. This semipermeable barrier allows absorption of nutrients while limiting the transport of harmful antigens and microorganisms. When the integrity of this barrier breaks down, microbes from your gut and molecules from items you ingest are able to penetrate through the barrier and enter the blood stream. Remember, the digestive system can be thought of as “outside” of the body, but when the barrier is compromised, things that should remain outside of the body are now allowed in. This is similar to the difference between exposing your healthy, intact skin to harmful bacteria, and exposing a cut on your skin to harmful bacteria. With the skin intact, the bacteria stays on the outside and causes no harm.

When the barrier of the skin is compromised by a cut, bacteria is able to enter the body and infection can occur. When unwanted molecules and organisms enter the body through the gut because of a damaged mucosal barrier, the immune system responds to get rid of the foreign invader.

When the immune system is chronically

reacting to foreign invaders from the gut, it can lead to autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammation.

The mucosal lining in the small intestine is thinner than in other locations throughout the gut, making it more prone to damage.

Remember, this is also where 90% of the calories you consume are absorbed. This is why the health of the small intestine is so impactful on immune conditions. Damage in the small intestine underlies many immune and autoimmune conditions, food reactivity, and nutrient malabsorption.

There are a variety of food and lifestyle factors that contribute to supporting a healthy, intact gut barrier. Flavonoids are components present in plants that have been proven to benefit the gut lining. They’re abundant in most vegetables, fruits, green and black tea, red wine, chocolate and coffee.

Vitamins, minerals and trace elements from foods (specifically vitamin D, vitamin A and zinc) have been associated with the regulation of the intestinal barrier, as well.

Glutamine, an amino acid, supports the integrity of the gut barrier, the microbiome and also modulates inflammatory responses.

Glutamine is found in protein rich foods, especially animal sources like chicken, beef, eggs, poultry, and bone broths. Plant sources of glutamine are present in nuts, beans and even raw cabbage.

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In addition to quality, nutrient dense foods, exercise also enhances the bacterial population in your gut. Even different types of exercise promote different types of bacteria. High intensity training has been shown to increase bacteria associated with leaner body composition while steady state endurance training increases bacterial populations associated with increased fat storage. This makes perfect sense, since fat is used as an energy source during long bouts of aerobic exercise.

Some of the most damaging foods to the mucosal barrier and microbiome are highly processed foods, which contain industrial food additives. Emulsifiers, which are used to keep ingredients from separating in foods and beverages, directly thin the mucous barrier.

This increases the contact of toxic material with your bloodstream, enhances inflammation and can create immune dysfunction. On an ingredient label, examples of emulsifiers are polysorbate 80, lecithin, carrageenan, polyglycerols, and xanthan and other “gums.” They’re present in “healthy” items, too, like many non-dairy milk substitutes.

Another ingredient to avoid is artificial sweeteners of any kind.

Non-caloric sweeteners are abundant in diet foods to keep the calorie content low, but ironically, the damage they do to your gut can alter the way your body metabolizes food and potentially leads to increases in body fat. Sucralose (in Splenda), saccharine, aspartame, and sugar alcohols (like erythritol and xylitol) have all been clinically shown to increase inflammatory markers in the gut and disrupt the balance and diversity of the gut’s microbiome. Even stevia, which is a naturally occurring herbal non-caloric sweetener has been shown to disrupt gut balance. Monk fruit is another naturally occurring non-caloric sweetener that is relatively new to the market, but no studies have been done yet on its impact to the gut. On the other hand, small amounts of raw honey and pure maple syrup can support a healthy gut environment. Raw honey contains nondigestible oligosaccharides that feed beneficial bacteria and substances that kill pathogenic strains.

Pure maple syrup contains polyphenols that have a positive effect on

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When it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth, your healthiest bet is to include raw and organic honey and maple syrup in small amounts.

microbiome diversity. When it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth, your healthiest bet is to include raw and organic honey and maple syrup in small amounts.

Other factors known to damage or disrupt gut health include alcohol, medications, and stress. Sure, red wine does contain flavonoids which support the gut lining, but the alcohol itself is a toxin that damages the gut lining and increases permeability and inflammation. Various over the counter and prescription medications have been shown in studies to be a key modulator of the gut microbiome composition. Non-steroidal antiinflammatories (like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen) and proton pump inhibitors (like Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid) are some of the most commonly used medications that create imbalances in the gut.

If your goals this year include improving your health and/ or body composition, perhaps optimizing your gut health should be your main focus. Prioritize food quality rather than food or calorie quantity.

Avoid highly processed foods and include a large variety of fresh, organic foods to promote a wide variety of healthy gut microorganisms.

Be sure to consume plenty of fiber, which feeds your gut population, and avoid produce sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, and animal products treated with antibiotics. Additionally, regularly perform a variety of exercise, and spend time in nature soaking up vitamin D from the sun and microbes from the soil. Don’t be afraid to get dirty!

There is no simple pill or restrictive diet that can provide a quick fix when it comes to your wellness. Take care to support the community of microorganisms that live within you, and they will do their part to support your health in return.

Health With Hormones

B I O D E N T I C A L H O R M O N E R E PL AC E M E N T T H E R A P Y I S M A K I N G A D I FFE R E N C E I N T H E L I V E S O F T H OS E S T R U G G L I N G W I T H H O R M O N E D E FI C I E N C I E S Ar ticle By Meredith McKinnie

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ioidentical hormone replacement therapy is an individualized approach to treat hormonal imbalances in men and women.

“Bioidentical” means plant-based, identical to what one’s body would normally produce. As many patients are in search of a more natural form of treatment, the pellet form of hormone replacement is ideal. The implanted pellet is similar in size to a grain of white rice and can be inserted right under the skin, the subcutaneous area. The pellet slowly dissolves over a 3-6-month period, depending on various factors such as the type of patient or individual body chemistry.

The steady state of absorption into the body results in less risk factors and often fewer side effects than traditional hormone therapy dependent upon pills, patches, or creams.

The pellet treatment is completely individualized to each patient based on preliminary lab work and patient symptoms. After a simple blood draw, they check a patient’s existing hormone levels and make sure the patient is up-to-date on overall wellness. For females over 40, providers make sure a current mammogram has been performed. For males, providers check for prostate specific antigens. Six to eight weeks after the initial treatment, follow-up lab work is performed to address any necessary dosage adjustments. As long as a patient is feeling well and hormone levels are optimized, lab work only must be performed every 6-12 months based on the provider’s discretion. The implantation procedure is simple, with little to no pain to the patient. Many pellet recipients only report slight discomfort with the injection of the numbing medication (lidocaine), a slight sting with the initial prick. The incision is

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small, only three millimeters and doesn’t require a stitch, typically in the fat pads of the upper buttocks. Once the pellet is placed under the skin, the area is covered with a waterproof bandage. Typically, females must leave on the dressing for three days; men might have to leave on the dressing for up to five days due to a larger dose of required testosterone. The injection site may feel like a slight bruise for a few days, though many patients report not feeling anything post-procedure. Patients are immediately allowed to return to work, though they should refrain from any strenuous exercise until the dressing can be removed.

Many patients go directly to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy before trying other methods.

While there are certain risk factors with any kind of hormone treatment, pellets offer less risk due to their individualization by patient.

After implantation, the hormones take about a week to absorb into the bloodstream, and feelings of well-being continually increase for 4-6 weeks. Hormone replacement therapy helps to optimize existing hormone levels and can begin alleviating associated symptoms within a week. For example, testosterone is often considered a male hormone, but it is extremely important for women as well and is not just related to sexual function. Increased testosterone can help improve sleep, energy throughout the day, concentration, skin texture, lean muscle

mass, metabolism, and female libido. When testosterone drops, females often experience increased anxiety, feelings of depression, concentration issues, and brain fog.

Perimenopause can begin in a woman’s 30s causing hot flashes and aforementioned lowtestosterone symptoms. As a result, many women begin taking testosterone alone to stabilize levels and reduce symptoms.

During menopause, combination treatments of estrogen and testosterone work well together, with increased levels also reducing existing symptoms. Pellet hormone therapy is best for optimizing an individual’s hormone levels.

Patients for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy vary in age and gender. Due to medical issues, some women require a complete hysterectomy in their 20s. Ovaries help protect a woman’s heart, bones, and mind. If those hormones are not replaced in someone very young, quality of life is drastically reduced and life expectancy even goes down. For patients with a history of breast cancer, traditional estrogen supplements pose a significant risk to overall health. For too long, hormone therapy providers didn’t have much to offer them. Prior breast cancer patients had to suffer through hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal atrophy. Now with testosterone therapy via pellet implantation, those patients have options. Crystal Sanches, a Nurse Practitioner at Louisiana Center for Women’s Health has been consulting with oncologists after patients’ breast cancer treatments to offer testosterone therapy.

Sanches says, “It’s great having oncologists on our side. It’s such an improvement for breast cancer patients who traditionally would have no hormone treatment options.”

Many patients go directly to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy before trying other methods. While there are certain

PELLETS OVER PILLS The steady state of absorption into the body results in less risk factors and often fewer side effects than traditional hormone therapy dependent upon pills, patches, or creams.

risk factors with any kind of hormone treatment, pellets offer less risk due to their individualization by patient. With oral estrogen, some risk factors include stroke, blood clot, and heart attack. Any patients with a personal or family history of any of the aforementioned risk factors should consider the pellets. The most risk of side effects come with oral hormone replacement.

Transdermal patches and creams reduce the risk of side effects, but bioidentical hormone replacement poses the overall lowest risk.

If one is unsure if they are a candidate for hormone replacement therapy, consider existing symptoms. Do you feel tired all the time, even after adequate sleep? Do you get more tired throughout the day, perhaps experience the afternoon slump? Do you aggravate easily or have increased anxiety or feelings of depression? Do you suffer from brain fog or reduced concentration?

Have you noticed aching in your bones or joints? These are all signs of hormonal fluctuation. Women in their mid-30s and beyond should start thinking about their hormone levels. While some women have been put on antidepressants to address common hormonal imbalance symptoms, treatment therapy allows some of them to reduce their antidepressant dosage or come off the medicine altogether.

Crystal Sanches claims, “If I can take people off medicine, that’s really my goal.”

Sanches, age 43, has been using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for the last three years. She never imagined her symptoms could be due to low testosterone.

She was just living life - married, with two children and a full-time job. She assumed being tired was just part of it. After checking her hormone levels, she noticed her testosterone was really low. Almost immediately after the pellet implantation, Sanches noticed the small improvements.

She started sleeping through the night for the first time in years. She felt better throughout the day and had more patience with her children.

Dr. Laurie LeBleu, an OB-GYN at The Woman’s Clinic, has been on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for the last 11 weeks. After noticing low testosterone levels, Dr. LeBleu decided to try the pellets and is extremely happy with the results.

After battling with fatigue, sleep issues, and irritability, Dr. LeBleu noticed a difference two weeks after the initial pellet implantation and felt like a completely different person after four weeks. The Woman’s Clinic has been offering Biote hormone therapy for three months, and patients are also incredibly excited about the results. The

high-quality Biote pellets are available in the Woman’s Clinic office. After initial lab work, the hormone therapy consultation and implantation can be performed during the patient’s next visit. Like herself, Dr. Le Bleu’s patients report “more energy, better sleep patterns, and they just feel good.”

Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Hoskins at Professional Laser Center prescribed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to one of her patients who had been using creams to address hormonal imbalances.

After a combination therapy of estrogen and testosterone, the patient reported feeling better, with more effect from the pellets than the creams. Hoskins notes that only 10% of creams are actually absorbed by the body.

Likewise, transdermal patches can come off the skin easily. The continuous release of the pellets allows for optimal absorption.

Hormonal imbalance disrupts living.

Collectively, those minor symptoms can cause significant decreases in quality of life. Reaching out to your local OB-GYN or Nurse Practitioner for more information on hormone treatment therapy can make all the difference.

This article is only meant to inform, please consult with your physician before making any medical decisions.

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SIMPLY LOU YELLOWSTONE TRIVIA article and illustration by LOU DAVE NPORT

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hen I first started thinking about what I’d write for my January column, I had ideas. I thought about writing about Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, but, while my holidays were very nice, I just wanted to write something different, something, unexpected.

One of my favorite shows, Yellowstone, recently returned for its fourth season. Since I have a head full of trivia, I thought I’d write about some of the interesting facts about the show, the writer, the director, and the actors.

First, I’ll just list the cast:

Kevin Costner plays “John Dutton,” the family patriarch. Known for many wonderful movies, “Bull Durham,” “Tin Cup,” “Dances with Wolves,” and “The Bodygaurd.” He’s also won 2 Academy awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Luke Grimes, plays “Kasey,” John Dutton’s youngest son, ex Navy seal and now Livestock Commissioner.

Kelly Reilly, plays “Beth,” Dutton’s only daughter, financier, manipulator and schemer.

Wes Bentley, plays “Jamie.”

Attorney General for Montana, adopted son of John Dutton whose real father is an ex-con named “Garrett Randall,” played by actor, Will Patton.

Cole Hauser, plays “Rip Wheeler,” John Dutton’s right hand man and boss of the ranch hands. He was taken in as a runaway by the Dutton’s. Wheeler has a on again/off again romance with Beth.

Denim Richards, “Cody,” ranch hand, also a classically trained opera singer. Forrie J. Smith, “Lloyd,” oldest ranch hand at Yellowstone, retired from the rodeo in real life and is now an actor. Gil Birmingham , “Thomas Rainwater,” the Chairman of the Sioux tribe. Also a talented musician as well as an actor. Mo Brings Plenty, Thomas Rainwater’s driver and assistant. “Mo” brings the evidence to John about the man who ordered the hit on his family. Kelsey Asbille, “Monica,” married to Kasey Dutton and mother of “Tate,” John Dutton’s only grandson, played by Breken Merrill. Kasey’s wife was once a teacher on the reservation. They have now rented a house near the Dutton Ranch. Ian Bohen, “Ryan,” ranch hand. Jennifer Landon, “Teeter,” lst female ranch hand and daughter of Michael Landon. Eden Brolin, “Mia,” one of the two “buckle bunnies.” Eden is the daughter of Josh Brolin. Hassie Harrison, “Laramie,” buckle bunny. Ryan Bingham, “Walker,” ex-con, hired by Rip Wheeler when he was getting out of prison. Former rodeo rider, turned singer/songwriter. Was nominated 136 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

for an Academy award for his song, “The Weary Kind,” starring Jeff Bridges, a story about a down and out bar singer. Taylor Sheridan, director, executive producer, screenwriter and an award winning rodeo rider and actor, “Travis Wheatley.” “Montana,” star of the show with its sprawling land, mountains and beautiful scenery that they use to actually film Yellowstone

The drama is set on an actual ranch, Chief Darby Ranch, near Darby, Montana where you can actually stay. The show follows the conflicts along the borders of a large cattle ranch, Yellowstone and a native reservation and people who want to develop the land for a ski resort or a golf course, just about anything the Dutton’s or the Native Americans DO NOT want. The Native Americans and the Dutton’s seem to get along together since neither group want to see the land be the loser to the land developers.

Yellowstone first debuted on the Paramount Network on June, 20, 2018 and got a bit of a slow start but by the third episode, fans began to “get into it” and now, having a fifth season, it is one of those shows that just keeps you on the edge of your seat!

They also love cliffhangers! At the end of Season 3, fans were “wowed!”

There were explosions, gunfire, murders, plots and intrigue that left us all wondering, “who died, who lived, what’s going to happen to this character or that character, and who in the world set it all up?! Then we had to wait…..and wait….until finally on November 7th of this year, we finally got to see what happened!

Luckily, everybody survived! Beth, John Dutton’s daughter, was severely burned.

John, was shot by some unknown assassins and was left clinging to life for about a month, but, finally survived. Kasey, John’s youngest son and Livestock Commissioner, was attacked by some unknown assailants but came out with guns blazing and threw a grenade and chased down some of John’s assassins.

Rip, John’s right hand man and foreman of the ranch’s crew threw a rattlesnake on Rourke, one of the land developers that were trying their best to take Yellowstone, so, ol Rourke floated down the river, dead, and into oblivion. Meanwhile, Jamey, who had just found out he was adopted, worried that his ex-con father may have been the one behind the attacks.

Monica and Tate ran outside the Dutton house only to see Rip ride up and tell them to go to the bunkhouse. While running through the house, Monica is attacked by an unknown assailant and Tate has to shoot the man. Action packed right?

Now to those “buckle bunnies,” “Mia” and “Laramie.” In season four, “Jimmie” had fallen “head over heels” over “Mia.” And, “Laramie” had started sleeping with “Lloyd.” The “buckle bunnies” caused all kinds of bad feelings among the rest of the ranch hands, but, the worst was when “Walker,” stole “Laramie,” from “Lloyd.” “Lloyd” just didn’t understand how “Laramie” could drop him and start “shacking up” with “Walker.” Of course, a fight started with both, “Lloyd” and “Walker” nearly killing each other. “Rip” walked in as the fight was going on, grabbed “Lloyd” off “Walker” and yelled “there’s no fighting in bunkhouse!” He also made “Lloyd” sleep out in one of the stalls. Rip further humiliated “Lloyd” by not letting him help the other ranch hands break some of the horses or ride with them when they went to move some cattle.

“Lloyd” didn’t take that very well and slipped back into the bunkhouse after a couple of days of being mistreated and grabbed “Walker’s” guitar and smashed it into one of the bunks. Then, the fight was really on with both men beating the “stew” out of each other and “Lloyd” finally stabs “Walker.”

Rip comes in again and throws the “buckle bunnies” out and once again, scolded “Lloyd,” telling him, “why are you making me do this!

You know the rules!” At that point, “Rip” makes the two men go out into the corral and “fight it out,” telling them, “This ends today!” Even though “Lloyd” is much older than “Walker,” he gives it to him with every bit of strength he had and finally knocks “Walker” out! It was almost like watching “Cool Hand Luke” the way “Lloyd” just wouldn’t give up. “Rip” finally gave poor “Lloyd” a hard punch and brought him down. Now, we’re left wondering is “Lloyd” really finished at Yellowstone? Will he get taken to “the train station?” (many that have disagreed with John Dutton have met their demise by being thrown off a steep cliff, “where nobody ever finds the bones!”)

And, there are more questions. Will “Rip” and “Beth” be married?

She certainly wants to but when “Rip” was taken in by her father, he never found out who “Rip’s” parents were and “Rip” feels he has no real name.

Beth took in an orphaned teenager, named, “Carter,” played by “Finn Little, when her father was in the hospital and “Carter’s” father died of a heroin overdose. Beth felt sorry for him since he didn’t have any place to go. But, right now, things aren’t looking good for him. When Beth tried to buy him some new clothes, he threw a fit and acted like a spoiled brat so she brought him home and told “Rip,” “you can have him!” Right now, “Carter” is out in the barn cleaning out the stalls and trying to learn how to be a ranch hand and learn some manners!

And…..who did order the hits on John’s family? After Jamie finds out who his real father was, he visits him and they seem to make amends.

But, later, John finds out that Jamie’s father, being a former inmate, had hired a guy, “Riggins,” he knew in prison to “take the kingdom” for Jamie. Jamie goes to interview the former cell mate and he confirms Will Burnett did order the hit, we just don’t find out who could had enough money to cause such a huge amount of damage, so, there’s that! WHO put up the money?

And when Jamie came home, he held his father at gun point! But, as all good con men do, he talked him out of it. The two of them walk outside and who walks out but Jamie’s ex girlfriend, Christina, who gave Jamie an ultimatum, his family or her. Also, she was pregnant and Jamie didn’t want children.. In shock and totally unprepared, Jamie found himself face to face with his son! So, what’s going to happen now?

Well, I guess you can tell I really like this show! I’ll be the first to say, “it’s not for everybody,” but, at least give it a chance if you haven’t! I only have basic cable right now, so I just rent the season on Amazon and have to watch it on Monday. But, that’s all right with me! Nothing like a good cup of coffee, watching an action packed drama with lots of good lookin’ men! Happy New Year ya’ll!

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B A Y O U

P R O F I L E

THE ART OF COMBAT ARTICLE BY NIL S BORQUIS T PHOTOGR APHY BY K ELLY MOORE CL ARK

WALK INTO KRON GRACIE JIU JITSU at 1412 Natchitoches Street in West Monroe on nearly any afternoon or evening during the week and you will notice him. Amidst the children and teens in their crisp, white gis running and rolling on the cushioned mats and the adults hammering away on a rowing machine or punishing themselves with squats, plated barbells stretched across their shoulders, look, and he will be there. He is undeniably recognizable, solemn and quiet, grinding away, honing his Jiu Jitsu or striking skills, pounding the weights, or stretching hardened muscles bludgeoned from five-hour a day workouts. Beyond the lithe and obviously powerful frame and curling handlebar mustache reminiscent of early 20th century strongmen, the eyes of Jesse Butler give him away in an instant.

Opened wide, seemingly straining with incredible intensity, the focus and drive shine forth. On the mat, in the weight room, running marathons, and in fights, Butler exudes an enthusiasm and passion for his craft, the art of one-on-one combat, and his unstoppable progression in the sport appears to mirror his will to be great.

orn and raised in West Monroe, Butler grew up like most any other boy in this state. He went to school, played video games, hunted, and participated in sports. Unlike most kids, though, he showed tremendous aptitude in a particular game, excelling in baseball from his youth leagues throughout high school. Butler showed such promise at Claiborne Christian High School, where he played for and won two state titles. He received multiple college offers to play, including a chance to attend Louisiana State University-Alexandria. However, while he contemplated the opportunity to pursue that dream, something told him to let it go and stay in his hometown, so he ultimately spurned the offer and chose to remain in Northeast Louisiana. While working and attending Louisiana Delta Community College, he realized in his time away from competitive sports that he greatly missed that aspect of his past life. At 18 years old, Jesse sought out something to fulfill the desire to test his abilities against another, so with team sports likely out of the picture, he discovered and entered the realm of mixed martial arts.

The first day Butler walked into the gym and got onto the mat, he was absolutely hooked. He went in, geared up, sparred, and, in his own words, “got whooped.” Although punched and kicked and tossed around, he did not mind in the least; he even enjoyed the one-on-one battle. He knew, from that day forward; that he wanted to be a fighter.

As a former high level athlete, he understood that his commitment to the sport would be the singular vital ingredient necessary to take him where he wanted to go, to the very top of the game. After that evening, Butler embraced the discipline and physicality and required studying imperative for potential success, and it planted the seed for the enduring belief that he could work himself to the elite level of the fighting world, a belief he is seeing come to fruition. Nevertheless, even with his current success and upward trajectory, Butler had to start somewhere, so after only eight months of training, he fought in his first amateur bout, a contest he won by decision after thoroughly dominating his opponent but being just inexperienced enough that he could not finish him the way he wanted. In any case, compared to the first sparring match of his life, the excitement and anxiety and anticipation aroused by that first actual fight definitely cinched the path Butler had chosen. He was all in.

After his first 16 fights, 13 of which he won, Butler jumped from the amateur ranks into the professional world. This also precipitated a move to Coconut Creek, Florida, where Butler worked with the crew at American Top Team. This experience, he claimed, was quite

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significant for his learning curve as in the year he spent there he was able to train with top flight fighters from all over the world.

Competing only three short months after his final amateur bout, Jesse won his first pro fight via a complex choke submission two minutes into the first round; a victory that absolutely solidified his pursuit of the martial arts world championship. At that stage, at 23 years old and with a bright future in his sights, Jesse set out to optimize every facet of his approach to fighting as well as every piece that directly affected that livelihood; in particular, reassessing his outlook regarding training, recovery, diet, and sleep has heightened his potential eminently. Additionally, in 2016 he decided to leave Florida and return to Louisiana and the training facility that would become Kron Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Vital Fitness, a fortuitous decision that has proven invaluable to the upwards course of his fight path.

Those competing at a certain weight class in combat sports, whether boxing, jiu jitsu, or mixed martial arts, seek to enhance their strength and speed and develop greater flexibility while also further expanding their overall skill sets, all while remaining at the same competition weights. Certainly, being smarter, stronger, quicker, and faster and staying nimble and comfortable offers tremendous advantages. Butler definitely knows this, and over the past six years, he has learned a great deal about what he needs to do to maximize his physical abilities. Fighting in the featherweight division at a lean 5’10

INSPIRED BY FAMILY Although he is a tremendous athlete who continues to get better every day, Butler straightforwardly and humbly confesses that he has had so many others around him who have played important roles in his life. He stated, “My family inspires me because they’ve believed in me since the beginning, and my wife Hannah is a huge factor when it comes to my nutrition, recovery, and focus.” In addition to his immediate family, his MMA family plays a huge role in his successes of the past and those to come. (At Left: Photo courtesy of Jesse Butler)

and 145 pounds, he glides in the ring smoothly, but when he wishes to envelop an opponent, he loads and uncoils like a steel spring in a flurry of stony elbows and jagged knees, clutching and clenching the victim as an anaconda might, squeezing ever so tightly and unrelenting. Such attacks require tremendous skill and acumen.

Butler’s attention to the details of strength and conditioning, cardiovascular training, and drilling over the details of grappling and striking continue to pay off. In fact, Butler stated that he believes “the suffering we do in the weight room really plays a huge part in fighting another person in a cage. It allows me to dig deeper than I ever imagined.”

Following a conjugate tactical fitness strength program, perhaps the most applicable system for fighting due to its innovative combination of maximum weight lifts in conjunction with an abundance of auxiliary dynamic movements, from the acclaimed Westside Barbell Club in Columbus, Ohio, Butler has improved his power by appreciable measures over the past five years. Along with the demands of his strength program, Butler also runs, an exercise he has utilized more and more over the past few years. In fact, he recently ran two marathons in the last four weeks, the Twin City Marathon in Monroe/West Monroe and the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, Tennessee. Besides emerging as a great joy for Jesse, he also credits running for helping increase his overall fitness levels. Adding in a steady prescription of jiu jitsu training rounds out the physical training arsenal. In particular, beyond the values of weights and the pavement, Butler claims that jiu jitsu training has greatly accelerated

his abilities in the ring, especially as concerns his submission skills, an area he is principally adept at.

Regarding recovery, Butler leans on exhaustive stretching in addition to a particular favorite, the excruciating pain of postworkout ice baths. Although such punishment may seem gratuitous, the healing impact of cold water treatments has verifiable value, especially when the need to train on a nearly daily basis is required.

Jesse also takes great pride in his strict diet. He does not stick to a particular protocol, instead relying on comfort when deciding what to eat. However, one should not think that such comfort includes sweets or inflammatory foods; Butler’s plate most often contains a heavy dosage of whole foods and green vegetables along with a hearty supply of wild game as his meats of choice. Being able to exert maximum effort as often as possible decidedly affects growth, so the nutrition and recuperative means employed are as invaluable as the training methods. Perhaps, though, two other aspects of Butler’s approach will – JESSE BUTLER prove to be the edge over his opponents to come: his unwavering focus on getting better each day as well as his overwhelming gratitude for the assemblage of people who in the past and continue today to assist him in achieving his goals.

Although he is a tremendous athlete who continues to get better every day, Butler straightforwardly and humbly confesses that he has had so many others around him who have played important roles in his life. He stated, “My family inspires me because they’ve believed in me since the beginning, and my wife Hannah is a huge factor when it comes to my nutrition, recovery, and focus.” In addition to his

“The suffering we do in the weight room really plays a huge part in fighting another person in a cage.

It allows me to dig deeper than I ever imagined.”

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immediate family, his MMA family plays a huge role in his successes of the past and those to come. Jesse told me the “list is long of the people who’ve helped me along the way, and I’m forever grateful.” Training and drilling countless hours every week with Dillon Fraley, consistent and instrumental mentoring by Jonathan Brantley, and his unique involvement with Kron Gracie have pushed his talents into the stratosphere. Regarding the latter’s influence, as well as the influence on jiu jitsu by the entire Gracie family, Butler stated that his last five years of being able to spend time with Kron training and studying his work ethic have paid tremendous dividends. Helping him as well has been his sponsor, 4D Clean Energy Supplements, a company that has shown their faith in Jesse by financially backing him on his path to the top.

All of the hours spent sweating and straining in the gym, on the roads, and on the mats and the team of family and friends who have assisted Butler undoubtedly pushed him to a high level of competitive sport. At the end of the day, though, the ring contains one man or woman versus another, alone and with only the pulsing sound of one’s heartbeat pummeling in the ears. In this arena, the desire and focus of each competitor, both often likely to be nearly identical in skills when fighting at the highest level, are the deciding factors that lead to victory.

Jesse’s dedication to his craft and his businesslike approach to every training session provide him with consistent gains and aid in building his confidence that he will overcome any obstacle to his desired success. He takes no repetition off, nor cruises on any mile, and sparring with him can be equated to going to battle. This mindset carries him to pushing himself beyond the 142 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

RUNNING INTO FITNESS Along with the demands of his strength program, Butler also runs, an exercise he has utilized more and more over the past few years. In fact, he recently ran two marathons in the last four weeks, the Twin City Marathon in Monroe/West Monroe and the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, Tennessee.

boundaries of the normal man and into the realm of the superman, the individual who writes his own story then sees it through to the end.

When considering the future, Butler has a singular professional goal: to be the very best. While many profess to desiring such a lofty end, very few are willing to put in the hours of work required to get there. Preparation, talent, motivation, willpower, and immense selfdiscipline. These are the cornerstones of greatness, and they are all superlative descriptions that when combined are embodied by Jesse Butler. He wears them, wraps himself in them, and he does so gladly because he knows that they will propel him to the greatness he seeks.

However, they do not define him. They are parts of him, powerful parts, yet he is also a tremendous friend and trainer, one who works with anyone who asks. Perhaps that is his most treasured attribute, the fact that he not only wants the best for himself but that he also wants to help everyone in his life to maximize their own abilities as well. It is easy to root for such a man, and we, as his extended family of fellow Louisianians, should get behind him at every opportunity we can.

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Cheers to a New Year What’s New on the Adult Beverage Scene

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

SAMUEL ADAMS BOSTON LAGER

Samuel Adams has recently remastered the recipe for its flagship beer, Boston Lager. Boston Lager, which played such an integral role in the American craft beer boom since its introduction in 1984, has now been updated with an evolved brewing process that improves its sessionability. As they put it: “While Boston Beer has never renovated Boston Lager to this degree, the lager has constantly evolved as they work relentlessly in pursuit of better beer. Boston Beer has optimized their brewing process, worked with farmers to refine their hops and even revamped their glassware.

Now, through a German Reinheitsgebot technique called Biological Acidification, Boston Beer has reduced steps within the filtration process and the resulting Boston Lager is brighter and easier drinking.”

Boston Beer Co. says these processes lend the beer “a more refreshing, cleaner aftertaste than the original recipe,” and that focus groups noted “a noticeable difference in the new formula, calling out the aroma, a round malt impression and a soft mouthfeel that leads to a fast finish with no lingering bitterness or astringency.” The “remastered” Boston Lager is available on shelves now.

Bold, rich and complex, with a distinctive balance of spicy hops, slightly sweet roasted malts, and a smooth finish, Boston Lager maintains its full-flavored taste. The unmistakable character of this brew began as an original and became an American classic. Ideal food pairings for this beer include Charcuterie/cheese plates, grilled steak, Rosemary chicken, and Pulled pork. It even pairs beautifully with desserts such as dark chocolate and Crème brûlée.

TRULY MARGARITA

Truly has made an indelible mark on the beverage industry with its low calorie, better-for-you hard seltzers. This year, we see an innovative new flavor from the brand, the margarita. New Truly Margarita-Style Hard Seltzer offers bold margarita-inspired flavors paired with the refreshment of hard seltzer. These hard seltzers are made with real lime juice, Mexican agave, and sea salt to deliver a unique mix of sweet, sour, salty and refreshing flavor in each sip.

Truly Margarita is available in a variety 12-pack containing four unique flavors. Classic Lime Margarita-Style: Light, refreshing hard seltzer meets zesty, citrusy margarita flavors in this Classic Lime style.

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Lime forward with a hint of tequila flavor and a salty finish -- tastes just like happy hour, in a can! Strawberry Hibiscus Margarita-Style: Juicy strawberries are perfectly balanced with lime margarita flavors and a hint of floral hibiscus in this unique and flavorful hard seltzer.

Mango Chili Margarita-Style: This hard seltzer packs a punch with tropical mango flavors and a kick of spicy chili. Watermelon Cucumber Margarita-Style: Cool and refreshing – this delicious mix of watermelon, cucumber and margarita flavors will make you feel like you’re on vacation. All flavors are 110 calories per 12 ounces with just 1 gram of sugar.

BEVY LONG DRINK The Boston Beer Company recently announced the launch of Bevy Long Drink, a new, refreshing beverage inspired by the national cocktail of Finland, the “Long Drink.” Bevy Long Drink will hit shelves in early 2022 in two flavors: Sparkling Citrus Refresher and Sparkling Berry Refresher.

Bevy’s new sparkling citrus refresher is made from a delicious and easy-drinking blend of citrus flavors and wild juniper berries for an exceptionally thirst-quenching beverage that’s perfect for any occasion.

Bevy Long Drink’s initial styles are sweet, tart, refreshingly packed with flavor, and 5.8% ABV.

What is a “Long drink”? Long Drink is a traditional Finnish cocktail that traditionally consists of gin, grapefruit soda, and tonic. The drink was first created when the Finnish government commissioned a refreshing cocktail to serve guests attending the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

The Long Drink cocktail is Finland’s best-kept secret, but it’s typically made with gin. Bevy Long Drink is Boston Beer’s signature spin on this classic. They developed a cocktail-inspired recipe, with all the citrus flavors and wild juniper berries, and made it ready-to-drink from a can. You get all the refreshing citrus flavor without the gin. But the best part is that you don’t have to fly to Finland. Bevy Long Drink is available locally in 6-pack cans and single 24-ounce cans.

Be sure to like Choice Brands on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with new product releases. Feel free to message us for information on where to find your favorite brands. Find us at facebook.com/ choicebrands, twitter.com/choicebrandsinc, and instagram.com/choicebrands.

West Monroe West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet 2021 On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce held it’s Annual Banquet for 2021. The winners were presented with distinguished awards and recognized for their outstanding contributions to the West Monroe- West Ouachita area. The Chamber also recognized the outgoing chairman and new incoming chairman and Board of Directors for 2022. Congratulations to some of the most deserving individuals who help make Ouachita Parish extraordinary. For more information on West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce, contact them at 318.325.1961 or visit their website at westmonroechamber.org.

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On the BayouScene

1 Amanda Massey and Rachel Mitchell 2 Aline Snead, Amanda Edge, and Mike Walsworth 3 Harry and Alice Prophit 4 Alberta Green and Angie Wilson 5 Adrienne LaFrance-Wells and Christopher Kelley 6 Cindy Perkins and Todd Worley 7 Carolyn Clampit, Kim Cox and Brandon Welch 8 Michael Mulhearn, Tyler Owens, Jessica Owens, Kim Cox and Carolyn Clampit 9 Shaundrika Davis, Alyssa Hughes, Kriston Brogden 10 Amber Etheridge, Courtney Dickerson and Erin Etheridge 11 Scott and Cindy Foust and Meghan Jones 12 Derek Bounds, Ashley Bounds, Josh Johnson, and Nikki Johnson 13 Kori Clowers, Cyndi Tatum, Mandy Dejean, and Paula Ford

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wardrobe reboot

U PDAT E YO U R C LOS E T W I T H O U R W I N T E R M V PS: CO M F Y, C L A SS I C , W E A R A B L E PI EC E S T H AT M A K E YO U H A PPY. P H O T O G R A P H S BY K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K M O D E L : G E O R G I A FA I T H H I L L

HEMLINE MONROE This crisp white collared button-down shirt featuring a multicolored wild cat design throughout is paired with these ultra-lightweight, smoky super skinnies.

HEMLINE MONROE (Opposite Page) A vintage Elton John tee is worn under a fun, faux fur black cropped jacket.

Paired with these super chic coated high rise jeans in grape, this look is complete with strappy black disco heels.

PALETTE HOUSE AND PLUME (This page) This crew neck button henley top with a balloon sleeve and ruffle from S’edge is paired with olive-colored, high-rise coated jeans that are cropped at the ankle. The outfit is accessorized with silver tube hoops.

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HEMLINE MONROE This classic, menswearinspired style is reimagined in vegan leather. Featuring tonal details and a matching belt, this shirt jacket instantly transforms any look.

PALETTE HOUSE AND PLUME This cut-out boat neck tee is the perfect hue for the new year.

The top is paired with Mother Denim’s iconic high-waisted bootcut jean that hits at the ankle and features a frayed stephem.

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Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Marsala Beverage Welcomes Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda

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ARSALA BEVERAGE IS THRILLED to be introducing Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda. This is the the newest addition to the Bud Light Seltzer Family! This new variety pack includes all of your favorite classic soda flavors like classic cola, cherry cola, citrus soda and orange soda. Get all the satisfying sweetness and flavor of soda pop with the stats and refreshment of Bud Light Seltzer. Zero Sugar, 5%ABV and only 100 calories! Variety packs coming soon!

BUD LIGHT SELTZER LEMONADE Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade will be available everywhere in 12-ounce slim can variety 12-packs with the four new flavors.

Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade is brewed with loads of lemonade flavor, cane sugar, natural fruit flavors and comes in at 100 calories with less than 1 gram of sugar and 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

“Our Seltzer Lemonade marries the bold flavors of lemonade with the refreshing bubbliness of seltzer; this new offering is perfect for both established seltzer fans and those who are looking to give seltzer a try, says Tyler Flemister of Marsala Beverage BUD LIGHT 1982, Anheuser Busch introduced Bud Light nationally. Bud Light, the most popular beer in the country, is a light bodied lager with a fresh, clean and subtle hop aroma.

Its delicate malt sweetness and crisp finish provide the ultimate refreshment. Bud Light is brewed using a blend of premium aroma hops, both American grown and imported, and a combination of barley malts, water and rice. Its superior drinkability and refreshing 152 JANUARY 2022 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

flavor make it the world’s favorite light beer.

Bud Light contains 4.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Brewing an American Light Lager, like Bud Light, is hard. The style is so clean and clear that any imperfection can come through. That’s why we believe in brewing the highest-quality light beer on Earth using the finest ingredients that come from the Earth. And that’s why we pay special attention to every step throughout the brewing process to ensure the Bud Light in your hands is the best it can be. We believe you, the light beer drinker, deserve the very best with every single sip. We work hard to make sure that’s exactly what you get with every Bud Light.

BUD LIGHT PLATINUM

Bud Light Platinum has reinvented the category of light beer. Within each cobalt blue bottle lies a bold formula that’s triple filtered with a smooth finish to create its stop shelf taste. Its the first of its kind, and the only beer worthy of the name Bud Light Platinum. Bud Light Platinum contains 6.0 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

CHELADAS

Chelada Clamato: The savory combination of Bud Light and the spicy richness of a Clamato Tomato Cocktail. Best served over ice and garnished with Lime.

CHELADA EXTRA LIME:

Mango Chelada: The savory combination of Bud Light and the sweet richness of a ripe Mango. Best served over ice and garnished with Lime.

BUD LIGHT PEELS SERIES:

Bud Light is expanding the brand’s citrus portfolio with a refreshed Bud Light Lime and the addition of Bud Light Orange. Both light lagers are brewed with real lime and orange peels, and deliver a clean and crisp taste that highlights natural citrus flavors in every sip.

The colorful new packs for Bud Light Lime and new Bud Light Orange feature bright orange and lime details, with accents of real citrus peels. Together these beers form the ultimate citrus combo for a taste that’s unmistakably summer.

Bud Light Orange is brewed with real orange peels for a “clean and crisp taste that highlights natural citrus flavors,” according to a press release. It has 142 calories—more than Bud Light and Bud Light Lime, for those keeping score at home. Bud Light Platinum contains 4.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

Bud Light Lime is a refreshing twist on America’s favorite light lager. Our new brewing process uses real lime peels to ensure a clean, crisp and refreshing taste with a hint of real lime flavor in every sip. Pick some up and try the summery goodness today! Bud Light Lime contains 4.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

Please find us at www.marsalabeverage.com or follow us on social media: Facebook: Marsala Beverage Twitter: @marsalabeverage1 Instagram: @marsalabeverage

DIRECTIONS: Fill a lowball glass with ice. Mix blood orange juice, pomegranate juice, lime juice, agave and turmeric in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain mixture into prepared glass.

Top with club soda and garnish.

photography by K E L L Y M O O R E C L A R K

BAYOU DR I N K

Start the New Year off with a refreshing drink that is not only beautiful to look at, but tastes great, too. With notes of pomegranate and turmeric, this recipe combines antioxidants in a healthy and flavorful combination.

INGREDIENTS: 2 ounces freshly squeezed blood orange juice 2 ounces pomegranate juice 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 1 teaspoon agave 1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric Club soda Blood orange wheel, garnish

styling by T A Y L O R B E N N E T T

t he mock ta il

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New Year, New You New Year’s Resolutions and Fitness Goal

BY VAL IRION, MD

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EW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS… inevitably they usually include weight loss and ideas about starting an exercise regime. One of the best ways to get a jump on your new year’s fitness goals and weight loss is to have a healthy attitude about diet and exercise. To get the best results from an exercise program, it is important to include the fitness trinity:

• aerobic conditioning (walking)

• flexibility exercises (yoga)

• strength training (push-ups, planks, free weights).

So, let’s talk more about strength training.

Often, people beginning or reintroducing an exercise program into their schedules forget about how important it is to include strength training. It is such a vital component to maintaining and expanding your health and fitness level. In strength training, resistance is added to movement in order to make muscles work harder and, over time, become stronger.

The most common strength training methods include:

• using weight machines

• working with free weights

• doing exercises that use your own body weight.

Strength training increases, muscle tone, strength and endurance. There are many additional benefits from adding a strength training program to your weekly fitness regime:

• Improves balance and coordination.

• Reduces the risk of injury.

• Can make daily activities, like hauling groceries and working in the garden, less tedious and much easier.

• Assists in health weight management, by maintaining and improving muscle tone.

As we get older, we tend to lose muscle

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mass which often results in slowing our metabolism. If you can work to maintain and improve muscle mass, your body will naturally burn more calories at times of rest.

Free weights and weight machines are both effective tools to improve muscle strength and endurance. Free weights are typically easier because they are less expensive and can adapt to different body types and individual ability.

Weight machines are often considered safer than free weights because they position the body properly and it is easier to control the weight and resistance level. Other tools commonly used in strength training are resistance tubing, stability balls and exercises that use your own body weight for resistance. It’s important to remember that all of these options do typically target specific muscle groups. To stay motivated and to get the best overall strengthening, you should target one muscle group per work out.

Try to work out twice a week focusing on each major muscle group. For example, you may want to work your lower and upper body on alternate days and rotate week to week. It is important to allow your muscles to rest a full day in between working your muscle groups. If you do prefer to focus on total strength training, it important that the next day should either include rest or aerobic activity. For best results from your strength training and to stay healthy and injury free, here are some helpful tips:

• Incorporate two to three alternate days to focus on strength training while alternating targeted muscle groups.

• Include exercises for all major muscle groups. Muscle imbalances often result in injury.

• Effective strength training usually involves three sets of 12 repetitions.

• Choose a weight that is heavy enough

to result in muscle fatigue after 12-15 repetitions and increase weight as the exercises become easier.

• Try adding new exercises or equipment to your regimen to keep your strength and workouts fresh, engaging, and effective.

• Practice proper technique. If you do exercises incorrectly, they can put you at risk for injury.

• If you have a gym membership, make sure you ask your club’s fitness professional about proper use and technique when using weight machines or free weights.

• If you prefer working out at home, you may want to consult with a certified personal trainer to insure that you are doing the exercises properly. They can also help you create a customized exercise program to meet your needs.

• If you’re new to exercise, are overweight, a smoker or middle aged, you may want to consult with your physician prior to adding an exercise regime to your weekly activities.

All of us at Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana want to wish health and happiness in 2022. Starting a new exercise regime is a great way to kick off the new year, but please remember to listen to your body. Be sure to consult with a physician if pain or discomfort interferes with your increased activity or your daily routine. No pain, no gain is not typically applicable to a healthy exercise program.

Val Irion, MD is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, joint replacement – knee & shoulder and Mako robotic partial & total knee replacement. To learn more about OSL or to schedule an evaluation with one of our physicians, please visit: orthopedicspecialistla.com or call (866)759.9679.

Material Things Christmas Open House On Thursday, December 2nd, friends and patrons gathered for a special night of shopping and fellowship at Material Things for their Christmas Open House. Gretchen Pettis, owner of Interlude Antiques, brought her beautiful baubles and artist, Lee Gibson showcased her stunning pieces. Small bites and sips was provided by The Warehouse and guests mingled and filled their bags throughout the evening. Owner, Joyce Sims made sure everyone’s Christmas lists were checked off as gifts were wrapped with holiday cheer. It was was a fun evening had by all.

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On the BayouScene

1 Angie O’Pry and Robin Hitt 2 Gretchen Pettis and Stacy Lee 3 Will Copeland and Brad McGilton 4 Jodee and Sam Bruyninckx 5 Jessica Ragsdill and Melanie Fulmer 6 Cathi French-Roberts, Lauren Vincent and Joyce Sims 7 Diana Kelly and Vicky Kelly 8 Cécile Marchese and Alex Johnson

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To Have a Good Friend You Have to Be a Good Friend article by Cindy G. Foust

H

appy New Year readers! You are not going to believe what this month is, because I never talk about it (insert eyeroll).

But it’s my 9 year anniversary writing for this wonderful magazine. Let me do the math for you… but that’s 108 monthly columns from yours truly. What a ride it has been, sharing my life’s stories, ups and down, opinions (lots of those) and my donkey. I don’t share her with just anyone, I’ll have you know, but I do share her with my friends, and that’s what we are… very good friends.

As I type the word “friends,” it makes my mind wander, as it typically does, to the friendships I have. And boy did I hit the jackpot in that department. When I think about my friend circle, that has a lot of smaller circles, I get sort of overwhelmed thinking about the friends who live within the confines of that shape… the proverbial circle of friendship. Or is that circle of love? Or life? No matter, friends could live in any of those areas, as we well know, because if you are lucky enough to have a similar circle, you know of what I speak.

A true friend is a rare thing, indeed, I mean someone who stands in the gap for you and cold caps your hair while you take 16 rounds of chemo is a true friend. Honestly, I wouldn’t even try to list the way my friends showed up for me this past year, and when I say year, I mean the last 365 days. But we’ve all

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had them, right? Tough times? Hard days? Worrisome moments? I’m no different and I have certainly had my share of setbacks. The common denominator throughout those dark days, however, the common thread is the way my support system kept me above water. And there were plenty of times I felt like I was drowning.

But as I recall some of these critical moments in my life, I am reminded of a pretty common saying, and that is “to have a good friend you have to be a good friend.” So there… I said it.

You know when my kids were young and working through friend issues, I would remind them of this pretty much all the time. If we want someone to show up for us, we have to show up for them. And that my friends, is the bone structure of a healthy friendship. Life is full of roller coaster turns and some have us screaming in fear; or maybe screaming with joy. And the ride can be the tricky part and sometimes, in one of the loops… or straightaways… we can lose a friend. Or two. Been there so put a check in that box.

I know what you are thinking readers, “who wouldn’t’ want to be friends with the 9-year veteran of BayouLife magazine?” And I would have to agree with you. Cause I’m a nice person! But the truth is friends, we are all flawed and sometimes, those flaws, those opinions, those

character traits surface and we get in our own way. It’s happened to me, as I am sure it has happened to you and here’s the thing that I discovered: I never want to feel that way again. I never want to feel the way I felt when let someone down or caused the friction or put the barrier between me and someone I loved.

In a rare, raw moment readers, I will share that after I lost my son, Samuel, I distanced myself from any and every thing. I simply wanted to be with my then 5-year old (now 23 and a recent college graduate, so yes, this is a good time for you to applaud). It was a dismal and dark place in my life and I never ever want to be anywhere near that space again… nor do I want it for anyone else. But during that time, I became a shell of someone I didn’t know. I smiled fake. I laughed little.

I spoke less (probably a good thing for me sometimes). I cared about things I should even less than less. You might be thinking it was an understandable place to be, and you won’t get an argument from me on that. But what I realized as I began to come out of my fog, is that I left some of those friends on the other side of the Grand Canyon crater that I had been living in. And I didn’t like the way that felt.

God used some of the darkest moments of my life to illustrate that fundamental lesson that we need our friends. All of them. We need that support system… for when you turn 50 and your friends give you the greatest surprise hip hop party of all times. Or when you publish your first children’s book. Or when you have another baby at almost 40, when your eggs are weary (can I say that in my children’s column?) but God blesses you with the most beautiful little red haired baby that ignites the joy that you so desperately want to feel. Yeah. Those friends.

And if you are raising children, which you likely are if you stay with me week after week for the imparting of the most profound and compelling parenting advice around these parts (like I am the Loretta Lynn of the written word), you have probably already had to parent your kids through a friendship roller coaster. Or two.

To quote my good friend, Lisa Miller, here’s what I would say: keep the kids on the roller coaster. Teach them to forgive those that hurt them. Show them by forgiving those that hurt you. Teach them to be the friend that they want to have. Show them that you are the friend that you want to have. And teach them that their friends are flawed, just like they are, and through these imperfections we can create friendships that one day will carry them through their happiest, or through their saddest, life’s journey moments. Show them, readers, that you have those imperfect friends who have carried you through the valleys and stood with you on the mountains, because you yourself, have stood there with them.

Friendships are tricky, you won’t get an argument from me or probably anyone we would ask. They take work. But they are some of the most joyous of relationships… some of the most rewarding and some of the most valuable possessions we can have. I treasure mine…

I love mine hard… and I am so grateful for their love to me right back.

Let’s teach our children that the gift is in the relationship and no matter the circumstances, the effort we put into that relationship will come back to us in ways that will sustain us when nothing else can.

Thank you readers, for being my “friends” these past 9 years and allowing me in your homes, in your lives and for giving me the opportunity to write about things that remind me of what is one of the most valuable assets we have: our friends.

Cindy G. Foust is a wife, mom, author and blogger. You can find her blog at the

alphabetmom.com for weekly columns about home life, parenting, small business stories and insight with a smidgen of literacy. Give her a like or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

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Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com Jan.1 Last Day Freedom Trees

It’s not too late to get in the Christmas spirit and check out the Freedom Trees! Check out the trees on New Years before they’re gone.

Venue: Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, 701 Kansas Ln, Monroe Phone: (318) 362-5540 January 1 – January 31 Monroe Museum Month Join Monroe’s museums for Museum Month all month long in January 2022. Nine museums, all located in Monroe, have come together to celebrate what we love about and learn from visiting museums! Stop by any participating museum or the Visitor Center at Discover Monroe-West Monroe and pick up your museum passport.

Venue: Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, Chennault Aviation & Military Museum of Louisiana, ULM Bry Hall Art Gallery, Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, Masur Museum of Art, ULM’s Museum of Natural History, Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Museum, and Precious Legacy Museum and Archives Cost: Admission Varies January 1 – February 5 Theo Tobaisse: Textural Emergence

This award-winning exhibition from the Alexandra Museum of Art’s permanent collection features work from the later years of innovative Jewish artist Theo Tobiasse (19272012). As a teenager living in Paris, Tobiasse and his family were forced into hiding during the city’s Nazi occupation from 1942-1944.

Tobiasse’s work – influenced by surrealism, expressionism, and modern primitivism – explores themes of mythology, biblical stories, exile, and his own past. All of these elements combine to present rich metaphors for the 20th century.

His mix of techniques and mediums brings a rich and colorful emotional

quality to these later works.

Venue: Masur Museum of Art 1400 South Grand, Monroe Cost: Free Phone: (318) 329-2237 January 6 Part III of A Three-Part Jewish Heritage Film Series: Strange Fruit

Come to the NELA Delta African American Heritage Museum to see Part III of the Three-Part Jewish Heritage Film Series in conjunction with the exhibition Theo Tobiasse: Textual Emergence, Strange Fruit.

Venue: NELA Delta African American Heritage Museum 1051 Chennault Park Dr, Monroe Hours: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Phone: (318) 342-8869 January 7 Smackwater Live at El Azteca

Come out to see a fantastic live performance by Smackwater!

Venue: El Azteca 4075 Sterlington Rd, Monroe Plant Based Junk Food in Monroe

Flying Tiger Brewery is joining up with Vuture Food to bring NELA great vegan comfort food! Don't miss out on the popular vegan Crispy Chik'n Sandwiches, Loaded Fries, and more.

Venue: Flying Tiger Brewery 506 North 2nd St, Monroe Hours: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Phone: (318) 547-1738 Let's Do Lunch with Erin Love Professional organizer, Erin Love, will show a few tips of the trade of styling and organizing while enjoying a fun lunch date at The Hub Music Hall in Downtown Monroe.

Venue: The Hub Music Hall 201 Washington St, Monroe Hours: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Cost: $15 January 7-9 Big Creek Trade Days

Big Creek Trade Days are held monthly on the weekend before the second Monday with over 100

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indoor and outdoor vendors, food trucks, and fun for all ages!

Venue: 327 California Plant Rd, Dubach Hours: Friday & Saturday 9 AM-5 PM, Sunday 10 AM-4 PM Cost: $5 per vehicle for the weekend Phone: (318) 680-1304 January 8 Learn to Homebrew at Flying Heart

Join Flying Heart West Monroe in the beer garden on January 8th at 11am to learn everything you need to know about home brewing!

Venue: Flying Heart Brewing & Pub, 204 Commerce St, Monroe Hours: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Phone: (318) 367-0888 Krewe de Riviere’s Grand Ball

Join the Krewe De Rivière for the Krewe de Rivière Ball! The CheeWeez will be entertaining! Formal dress.

Venue: Bayou Pointe 100 Warhawk Way, Monroe Hours: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM January 11 Fundraiser for Project 4 Hope at Flying Heart

Join Flying Heart Brewing & Pub-West Monroe for a day of fun supporting Project 4 Hope! They will have live music, a silent auction, activities for kids and the whole family, and special guest speaker Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Flying Heart Brewing & Pub-West Monroe will also be donating a portion of sales for the day, so come show your support for this amazing organization building homes for homeless veterans!

Venue: Flying Heart Brewing & Pub, 204 Commerce St, Monroe Hours: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Phone: (318) 367-0888 January 14 – 16, 20 - 22 Nunsense Nunsense is a hilarious spoof about the misadventures of five nuns trying to manage a fundraiser. Sadly, the rest of the sisterhood died from

botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia Child of God. Thus, the remaining nuns – balletloving Sister Leo, streetwise Sister Robert Anne, befuddled Sister Mary Amnesia, the Mother Superior Sister Regina, and mistress of the novices Sister Mary Hubert – stage a talent show to raise the money to bury their dearly departed.

Venue: Strauss Theatre Center 1300 Lamy Ln, Monroe Hours: 7:00 PM – Until; Sunday: 2:00 PM - Until Phone: (318) 323-6681 January 14 – 15 Ag Expo

Ag Expo 2022 is back to educate the public, both youth and adult, on the many ways agriculture touches daily lives!

Venue: Ike Hamilton Expo 501 Mane St, West Monroe Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Phone: (318) 355-2495 Jan. 15 – Jan. 16 The Color Purple

The Arts with Passion is proud to present, The Color Purple!

Venue: WL Jack Howard Theatre, 401 Lea Joyner Expwy, Monroe Hours: January 14 - 6:30PM; January 15 - 2:00 PM & 6:30 PM Phone: (318) 417-7561 January 15 Fact vs Fiction in The Garden

The Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners Association is proud to present Dr. Susan Pell, Deputy Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden, as she speaks on the types of scientific research carried out in botanic gardens.

Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard will speak about research at LSU's Hammond Research Station and Louisiana Super Plants. Dr. Allen Owings will speak about some of the nonsense on social media gardening pages.

Venue: West Monroe Convention Center, 901 Ridge Ave, West Monroe Hours: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM Phone: (318) 323-2251

Jay Dupuis as Elvis

The best Elvis tribute artist in the world will take the stage at the Dixie Theatre for a night of Elvis classics that will make you feel as if you are watching the King himself.

Hours: 7:00 PM - Until Cost: $25 Early Bird, $30 at door Venue: Dixie Center for the Arts 212 N Vienna St, Ruston Phone: (318) 255-1450 Breonda G. Simmons Book Signing

Join Breonda G. Simmons in her first published book, Floating in My Breakthrough, a signing event with a special tribute to Jamie Mayes. A poet, author, and a skilled public figure that serves as a mentor of Breonda G. Simmons.

Venue: Saul Alder Recreation Area, 3900 Westminster Ave, Monroe Hours: 12:00 PM - Until Phone: (318) 329-2446 January 22 Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition

A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud™ is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country.

Venue: Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, 2006 Riverside Dr, Monroe Hours: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM Phone: (318) 397-6717 January 27 Night of Cakes Each year the Quota International West Monroe Club’s annual funderaiser collects funds that go back to the community. this sweet night features.a silent auction of celebrity cakes, along with other fun prizes!

Venue: West Monroe Convention Center Website: wmquota.com

Hours: 7 PM Cost: $25 Early Bird, $30 at door Venue: Dixie Center for the Arts 212 N Vienna St, Ruston Phone: (318) 255-1450 Little Miss Krewe de Rivière

Strauss Little Theatre of Monroe is hosting a youth pageant benefiting Krew de Rivière and local youth!

Venue: Strauss Theatre, 1300 ½ Lamy Ln, Monroe Hours: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Phone: (318) 323 - 6681 6th Annual Empty Bowls - A Serving of Food, Art & Music

Join the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana for the 6th Annual Empty Bowls event! The delicious food will be accompanied by live music from local musicians and numerous art and gift items available in the silent auction thanks to the generosity of local donors.

Venue: Monroe Civic Center, 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expwy, Monroe Hours: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Cost: $40 Phone: (318) 322-3567 Delta Fighting Championship

Delta Fighting Championship is ready to kick off 2022 with DFC 2!

Come out for an awesome night of Pro & Amateur MMA. Venue: Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expwy, Monroe Hours: 6:00 PM - 11:30 PM Phone: (318) 235-7594 January 8, 15, 22, 29 Ruston Farmers Market

Shop, eat and support local at the Ruston Farmers Market. Choose from a wide selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, honey, jams, salsa, and other locally produced goods.

Hours: 9 AM – 1 PM Cost: Free Venue: Ruston Farmers Market 220 E Mississippi Ave, Ruston Phone: (318) 957-1305

January 29 James Dupre Live at The Dixie

Rising country star James Dupre performs live on the Dixie Center for the Arts stage. Dupre most recently toured with country music legend Randy Travis.

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Meredith’s Musings MY BODY IS ME article by MEREDI T H MC K I NNI E

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y body and I have been battling for almost four decades.

As a kid, I just lived in my body, in harmony. I biked and swam with friends, leaped over puddles, stretched for basketballs goals out of reach, fell down, scraped knees, and kept going. Too busy living, I didn’t think about how I was looking. I didn’t know to care. I don’t recall being ridiculed about my weight as a kid, so I never considered my size relevant. I could move, and that’s all I needed.

As a teenager, my perspective changed, or rather, people changed it for me. I had always been active, coordinated, and though I couldn’t carry a tune, I could follow a beat. I made the dance team in junior high and high school, at two different schools. My 4’10 stature cemented my spot at the end of the kick line, but I kicked as high as any taller girl in the middle. I was good. I could feel it. I often coordinated routines for the team, and was placed in the most challenging routines at dance camp. The week was long and arduous and thrilling. On Fridays, girls from all over the state gathered to perform the perfected dances in front of the entire camp, staff, and parents. I marched to the front row, dead center if not ordered to the end, and danced my little heart out, never nervous or fearful of error. All I had to do was move to the music; I spoke this language.

I learned quickly that making the team and being a good dancer mattered much less than how I looked. On both teams, I was put on a weight plan, involving conferences with my mother about my diet

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and weekly weigh-ins to log my progress. If I didn’t lose two pounds a week, I was prohibited from performing at pep rallies and games. I sat on the sideline as my teammates danced in front of crowds, answering questions about my absence. Most assumed I was sick every other week.

I’m sure it hurt, but I didn’t fight it. I just learned that my body was bad, and being larger than the other girls meant our uniforms were less sexy.

I felt my weight was carried by everyone.

Junior year, I didn’t try out for the next season. I took over coaching the junior high team, choreographing routines that again I wouldn’t perform. I took myself out of the limelight, instead highlighting the skills of others. It felt like a promotion, a trade off, but in hindsight, it was more punishment. The guidance counselor called me into her office before the decision was made that I wouldn’t pursue trying out again.

She said, “Sometimes we must accept the things we can’t do.” She meant I was too big to be on the team, and that it would be better for everyone if I didn’t try out. Everyone knew I would make it, so I should “take one for the team” and bow out. I wish I had the strength and confidence of now to fight back. At the time, I only felt shame.

Once body image reality sets in, it never really diminishes. I considered every outfit I purchased, compared myself to every friend who devoured snack cakes mid-afternoon, took up smoking to keep my hands busy, avoided the pool conveniently in my parent’s backyard, ordered salads when I wanted a hamburger like the normal girls. Every decision I made involved my body and its limitations. I stayed home and attended college locally after being accepted to a much larger school down south. I couldn’t risk inconveniencing strangers with my size. I married my first real boyfriend because I couldn’t take a chance on someone else daring to love me. I didn’t even love myself.

In my thirties, I found myself single, and alone with my body. I began to tame it, vigorously. I did boot camps and survived on protein bars and one full meal a day. My stomach growled constantly, but I learned to ignore it. I never did get skinny, but I was thinner. I felt people noticed me before noticing my size. Sustaining that workout schedule and restricted diet proved difficult long term, and again my body started to fluctuate. Then came kids, and it became all about them.

But pregnancy taught me an invaluable lesson. My body is meant for more than adoration. I don’t owe anyone a perfect appearance, nor can it be sustained without repercussions. My body is for me, and for whom I choose to share it.

After giving birth twice, I now respect the skin I’m in. It may be stretched and often squeezed into denim, but it’s mine and no one else’s business. I walk often, enjoying the way movement makes me feel. I’m not trying to be thin; I’m trying to feel good. It’s not a goal, but rather a consistent effort that requires daily investment in myself.

By taking care of my body, I take care of myself. Instead of battling a number or mocking a reflection, I focus on living like the little girl who instinctively knew how.

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