BayouLife Magazine June 2021 by BayouLife Magazine

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79 19 / CONFECTION PERFECTION

66 / JOSH LOVE

30 / BLOOMING BOUTONNIERES

79 / THE PERFECT PALETTE

Make your day even more magical with a stunning wedding cake. From overthe-top creations to simple sophisticated cakes, let your dessert double as décor.

We asked our favorite florist to create a boutonnières to inspire future grooms.

41 / TREATS SERVED ON A PLATTER

JUNE 2021

146

The Platter & Sugar Bakery has more than enough treats for customers to peruse, customers can ease their way into selections knowing there never is a right or wrong combination, only what feels right in the moment.

50 / RING LEADERS

Hollis & Company Jewelers and Dupont Jewelers show off some of the best Wedding rings of the year. These sparkling settings are undeniably gorgeous.

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Josh Love isn’t just moving his fingers around his guitar, he’s seeking to communicate the message that music is life.

146 / WEDDING PARTY

Looking for the perfect look for a summer party? Choose an outfit that is cool, yet classically elegant.

170 / AROUND THE BEND

all local enterprises that A P R I L 2 0 1 8Though participate get recognition, it’s apparent

Find your perfect palette and then everything else falls in place. From blush tones to natural woods, citrus drink to floral invitations – these are a few of our favorite things.

by frequency of participation and attention to detail that Strickland’s involvement is not just business; it’s personal.

90 / BEHIND THE LENS

182 / WEDDING VISION

Perhaps you know the recently wed Shoemaker by her maiden name, Groce, and the business she owns and operates called Unveiled Radiance.

104 / COACH BOWDEN

This month we celebrate fathers, those men who represent strength, love, and commitment to family. ULM football coach Terry Bowden is this month’s BayouIcon.

These beautiful blooms are masterfully arranged into gorgeous wedding bouquets by North Louisiana’s best floral decorators.

e’ve done it – over 100 issues of BayouLife Magazine. It’s true that time flies when you’re having fun, or in a constant deadline. I’ve been so fortunate to have the support of our community throughout the years, not to mention a rockin’ staff and supportive family. Last year we missed out on our annual wedding issue, it was more of a “let’s keep our head above water” issue. We were so excited to publish this magazine, we all love pulling together wedding themed pages, especially the floral side of things! This year marks my 16th wedding anniversary and I still remember my wedding day like it was yesterday. My friends were running around trying to get margarita machines working, Maré, Vikki and Nick were putting the finishing touches on all the flowers and Kelly Moore Clark was busy taking pics – the first collaboration of many. In this month’s issue, we’ve compiled the best of the best wedding vendors in our area. On our cover this month is the breathtaking Karlee Malone in a wedding gown from Blush by Sadie C’s. Meka, Kelly, Meagan and Taylor headed out to White Oak Venue to take these beautiful photos. Special thanks to Carlstedt’s for supplying the florals for the bouquet. While we were there, we also shot this month’s fashion shoot. Find it on page 146. For months I’ve watched the progress of the St. Jude Dream Home through the local Facebook page. St. Jude’s holds a special place in my heart, because our family was directly affected by childhood cancer. My cousin, Allyson, was admitted to St. Jude’s as an infant, and today is a survivor. As an adult,

she has dedicated her life to researching cancer as a senior scientist at a large pharmaceutical company. Once again, Jan Hales Strickland, donated her time and efforts as the lead designer. Jan, along with countless volunteers, built and designed a magnificent home. See the completed project on page 170. I almost felt like I was living in an alternate universe when I stepped into The Hub a few weeks ago to celebrate the winners of the Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence Reception. It was great to hug the necks of so many friends that I haven’t seen in over a year. See the full list of nominees and winners on page 116. Along with welcoming weddings back into the pages of BayouLife Magazine, this month we celebrate fathers, those men who represent strength, love, and commitment to family. ULM football coach Terry Bowden, now a father and a grandfather himself, is also the son of a very famous American sports figure, Bobby Bowden. This larger-than-life dad was one of the most influential people in Bowden’s life – and still is. When asked recently why he had chosen coaching as a profession, Bowden quickly responded. “I simply fell in love with what my dad did,” he said. “I loved my dad so much that I wanted to be what he was.” Read his article on page 104. We are so excited to kick-off this year’s 5th annual Bayou Buzz Awards. Make sure to pick up the July issue of BayouLife where winners will be listed. You can also find it on our Facebook page. And, a very special thank you to all the dads out there. A special shout out to my dad who has always been a cheerleader for me, who has rubbed my head when I’ve been sick or down, and has encouraged me to be my best. Happy Father’s Day!

Cassie

BayouLife 1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185

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PUBLISHER & OWNER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com GENERAL MANAGER Ashley Hubenthal ashley@bayoulifemag.com COPY EDITOR Cindy Foust GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meagan Russell meagan@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Katelyn McAllister katelyn@bayoulifemag.com Kirstie Martin kirstie@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Taylor Bennett LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Kelly Moore Clark CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cara Becker Dan Chason Kenny Covington Shannon Dahlum Lou Davenport Cindy Gist Foust Lori French Starla Gatson Dr. J. Marshall Haynie Kerry Heafner Paul Lipe

Erin Love Meredith McKinnie Dr. Timothy Mickel Guy Miller Dr. J. Preston Parry Georgiann Potts Cathi French-Roberts Delia Simpson Joyce Sims Beatrice A. Tatem Vanelis Rivera

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kelly Moore Clark Andrew Bailey Jenny Johnson with Waking Starlight Steven Palowsky Lauren Powell Photography ON THE COVER Karlee Malone models a dress from Blush By Sadie C’s at White Oak Venue Photography 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.

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MT Haberdashery

New Sewing Shop Creates Community in Northeast Louisiana

S MANY OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, WE HAVE expanded Material Things to include a much needed addition to Monroe, LA. In May of last year, I started the beginnings of The Haberdashery with my husband Robert by my side during the midst of the Covid pandemic! What better time to start a new venture, right? At the end of January this year, we took in the space that was next door so that we could grow our retail and classroom space. So, on March 11th we opened the doors and welcomed everyone to our newly imagined space that we have named “The Haberdashery.” In this article, I will be touching on many of the things that we will be offering in this new space. We have so much going on and even more planned for the future, hopefully I will be able to remember it all! SEWING BY HAND: There are so many benefits to this ancient technique! Great for beginners - All you technically need is a needle, thread and fabric. It is a wonderful introduction fo learning about stitch construction. Portable - Many hand sewing projects can be brought with you when you’re traveling, waiting at appointments or commuting. While it’s pretty impossible to carry a sewing machine wherever you go, most sewing projects, particularly embroidery can be carried with you. Meditative - Much of the joys of sewing by hand is the actual act of sewing itself, which can be true of machine sewing as well. There has always been something calming and meditative about putting thread through a needle and sewing by hand. Precision - Hand sewing always gives you the most control. You choose exactly where the stitches go, what size your stitches are and just how you want to attach everything. And, there are so many hand stitches to choose from. We have been and will continue to offer many classes for hand sewing enthusiasts and stock all the notions that you will need to make life easier while completing your projects. Here are a few of our tried and true classes that we have hosted in the past and will continue to offer in the future: Hand Piecing, Appliqué and Embroidery, Dorset Button Making, Converse Tennis Shoe Embroidery, Wool Applique and English Paper Piecing SEWING BY MACHINE: The benefits of this technique are limitless! Faster - There is no doubt that sewing by machine takes much less time than sewing by hand. You can finish machine sewn seams in a matter of minutes, not hours. 8 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Convenient - Once you have mastered setting up your machine, such as threading the top thread and filling the bobbin, then this method of sewing is extremely convenient and a great way to finish projects of any size. Professional - Sewing by machine affords a level of professionalism that is hard to achieve when sewing by hand. Stitch lengths and widths are precision controlled when done on the machine. And, most machines now offer a multitude of “workhorse stitches” as well as decorative ones. We are continuing to offer machine sewing classes as well as stocking everything that you need for your for this area of sewing. These are a few of the classes that we have offer now and for later: Beginners Quilt Making, Table Runners, Bag/Purse Making and Children’s Summer Sewing Camp SEWING BY HAND AND MACHINE: The best of both worlds! We offer several different classes and clubs that use both methods of sewing Glitter Club, Bring Me Flowers BOM and Folk Tales Wool Applique Hand piecing, appliqué and embroidery are just what their name says- the construction and/or embellishing is strictly done by hand. Our Dorset Button class was so interesting- it is a craft made button using a ring that is embellished with cotton embroidery thread that originated in the English county of Dorset. In one of our classes, we took a pair of canvas tennis shoes and hand embroidered and embellished them! English Paper Piecing is another form of hand piecing that is accomplished by sewing fabric onto octagon shaped paper pieces. In our beginners quilt making class, we teach you everything you need to know to complete the top of a quilt. We will be having seasonal monthly table runner classes that start with an easy pattern and progressively get more challenging as the year goes along. Our tote bag making classes have been a hit for all ages. We have hosted a simple cosmetic bag class where you learned to set in a zipper and will be having more advanced classes as well. June 7th-10th and June 14th-17th we are offering our first Children’s Sewing Camp. It is for ages 10 and up from 9AM-12PM each day, our campers will be completing a new project each class. And, at the end of the week, they will be taking home the supplies as well as the sewing machine they used. So, as you can see, we have a lot planned for the rest of this year! The best way to know what’s going on is to sign up on our website for our monthly newsletter and class calendar as well as following us on social media.

XOXO - Joyce

Alumni Spotlight ULM Alumni: Adrienne LaFrance-Wells

DRIENNE LAFRANCE-WELLS’ CURRENT POSITION AS Main Street Director for historic downtown West Monroe was prophetic in many ways. Her journey at ULM included a degree in psychology that fits in with what has become a diverse, yet oddly focused career path. Adrienne’s family owned an 1820s-era Boscobel Cottage Bed & Breakfast on the Ouachita River between Monroe and Columbia. Not only was this the beginning of her social interaction and communication with people from all walks of life, but it also formed the beginning of her love for historic preservation and the art of hospitality. She played clarinet during high school and was recruited by ULM’s Sound of Today, receiving the top scholarship offered to non-music major students. Adrienne paid her way through college, working at Matt’s Music and Windows, A Bookshop. Through her part-time work, she developed a love and appreciation for local merchants and their dedication to community. She also worked on campus at KEDM 90.3 Public Radio, hosted her own radio show, Nocturnes, Your Evening Soundtrack, and helped with membership for the station. After graduation, this became a full-time position, further strengthening her communication skills. At ULM, Adrienne majored in psychology, enjoying the study of people and personalities. However, she realized late in college that she didn’t want to work in the psychological field. Her work in small business and at KEDM cemented her commitment to communal efforts. She now uses her degree every day when dealing with merchants and people who live and invest in our community. Her work centers around communication. As a member of ULM’s Sound of Today, she met exceptional people and learned the value of teamwork. Working on campus at KEDM tied it all together. She developed skills in the workplace while earning her degree. After graduation, she accepted a position with the City of Monroe, working at the Civic Center. Adrienne’s efforts with the City later shifted to downtown development, helping launch the first two seasons of the RiverMarket. Then her husband Vernon Wells’ career moved the couple to Denver, Colorado for three years where she worked in marketing and HR for a construction firm. They appreciated “city life,” but both missed home and family. While Vernon’s career in technology allows him to “work from anywhere,” Adrienne felt she needed to make a difference where she lived and realized that was vital. They returned home to Monroe, and Adrienne was hired as the Director of Chennault Aviation & Military Museum. Her duties involved veteran advocacy, membership, events, and volunteer recruitment. The CEO of the museum, Nell Calloway, General Chennault’s granddaughter, mentored Adrienne. The job allowed Adrienne to travel to Russia and

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Beijing, China with the World War II Museum Association. Those experiences allowed Adrienne to view those countries through the lens of history with America’s World War II allies. After two years at Chennault, Adrienne was offered the position which she holds today, that of West Monroe’s Main Street Director. She is responsible for implementing the four points of mainstreet: design, organization, promotion, and economic vitality. She led the City through the Main Street designation process, and in 2020, West Monroe became the first Main Street community to be added to the state program since 2013. Alongside the non-profit Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group, Adrienne encourages future investment in the district while providing support for existing merchants. Her work is accomplished while maintaining the historic integrity of downtown, ensuring community engagement, and strongly supporting local businesses. Her job today is one she believes she is born to do, as she was a volunteer in Columbia’s Main Street program from its beginning. Adrienne’s mother Kay LaFrance-Knight is a Main Street Director in Winnsboro, and prior to that, she was over the Main Street program in Columbia. The twosome are the only mother/daughter Main Street directors in the country. Adrienne’s upbringing and career allow her to see the American Dream alive and well. She is inspired by the business owners who continue to dream. Currently, more than 70 businesses operate in the Downtown District. Adrienne believes her psychology degree from ULM provided the foundation she uses daily for dealing with people and personalities, particularly with merchants and individuals who appreciate and invest in their community. She is an advocate of supporting local businesses, insisting we need our local merchants for a healthy community. Likewise, she is proud of her local education at ULM. Downtown West Monroe proudly hosts ULM students, faculty, and alumni. Investing in our hometowns is crucial for the future of our communities, and Adrienne continues her efforts for the betterment of our region. 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.

Meaningful Connections The Power of Personal Interactions BY BEATRICE TATEM, PH.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

HE MONTH OF JUNE IS HERE. NAMED AFTER THE ROMAN Goddess Juno, the goddess of marriage, the month of June is often known as a prime time for weddings and the observance of Father’s Day and Flag Awareness Day. Increasingly, people are becoming aware and have begun to celebrate Juneteenth and LGBTQA Pride. Although, less known, during this time, Men’s Mental Health Awareness and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness are nationally recognized. June is cited as the great outdoors month which is readily welcomed in the State of Louisiana, the state also known as the Sportsman’s Paradise. June houses the day with the most daylight hours and the official day that kicks off the summer season. It is summertime which suggests “getting out and doing.” Our nation’s recent memory reflects a past summer of social distancing, restricted travel and limited gatherings. This summer many are welcoming the movement towards greater social interaction and outward engagement. This, along with the seasonal timing of June, with its long warm days and changes in nature suggests the notion of coming together and experiencing meaningful connections. A personal connection is a meaningful bond formed between two or more people in which each person feels heard, seen and known. Humans are by nature social beings with an emotional need for relationships and positive connection to others. Human connection is key to good mental health and serves as a basis for the human spirit helping us to live life fully. For years, psychologists have emphasized, that having a sense of social connection is a core psychological need essential to feeling satisfied with life. For some, connection is the sharing of thoughts, feelings and ideas. For other’s connections are nurturing relationships in which support is given and received. Connection occurs in numerous and in various ways. In therapy we often refer to connecting as “joining” or having a clinical rapport. People connect around good times as well as bad times. Consider times of adversity and struggle, and the connections that developed. We can all reflect on the past year and a half and the measures taken to be connected despite the many challenges experienced. The pandemic has been a disruption, which slowed down societies pace resulting in many having to create new ways to connect and interact. For many, there has been an increased use of technology to convey sentiments virtually that otherwise would have been done in person. The Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing has brought to the attention of many the power of human connection. Simply stated, whether it is through struggle or in celebration the human spirit thrives off of connection.

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We all know the comforting feeling when we are being physically embraced, feeling heard, emotionally understood and supported by another human being. Sincere human connection and personal interaction engages our senses and creates warm feelings which is important in our maintaining good overall emotional and physical health. The spirit of human connection has healing power which can result in our feeling better. In essence each of us has the innate need to connect with others. It is important to consider ways of maintaining meaningful connections. For example, create a space for honest conversation which is essential to making personal connections. Connect intentionally with yourself as well as with others. If you are not connected to a group of loving, life giving, encouraging individuals who can pour into your soul, find a group or create a “connection circle“ either virtually or in person and be connected. There is a lot happening in the world today impacting our ability to connect. “Imagine” a song written by John Lennon suggests the world would be a better place if there were not things to divide us. He sang, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” The potential to be connected exists and yet our own subjective perspectives can impact how we connect, when we connect and who we connect with. I believe there is something about everyone worth connecting too. Human connection is often desired because it feels good. To connect is to love, understand, listen, observe, appreciate and value. Human connection is like magic. It is soulful and meaningful. It is an uplifting power from within. This dreamer invites you to reflect on your connections big and small, old and new, personal or in passing. Strive to connect with the people around you… your family, spouse, friends, colleagues, teammates, neighbors, or schoolmates. This dreamer dreams of human connections so great that we are able to put aside the differences that separates us and replace it with genuine acceptance that unites humanity. This summer as we unmask and lessen the distance between us, let us make sure to bridge the gaps caused by classism, political unrest, racism, sexism, homophobic thinking, discrimination and oppression. As we re-enter a world that just a year and half ago functioned differently let us work towards meaningful connections. For more information about counseling services and outreach programming contact Dr. 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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Say Hello to Smooth Skin The Medical Spa by St. Francis Medical Group

HE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ANY FANTASTIC SUMMER include sunshine, vacation, relaxation, and now The Medical Spa! The Medical Spa by St. Francis Medical Group is excited to help you correct any skincare woes and keep you relaxed and fresh all summer long. As we settle into these warmer months and prepare for Father’s Day, we’re inviting you all to drop in and attend our Open House event on Friday, June 11, 2021, to check out the many amenities at The Medical Spa. We will have specials, raffles, and our OBAGI skin camera. Additionally, for the entire month of June, we are offering a 20% off promotion on a variety of our corrective products! Forgot to re-apply sunscreen and now you’re burned? Try out our SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective products. The Phyto line contains botanical ingredients, like cucumber, thyme, and olive, aimed to soothe and reduce red, discolored, and sensitive skin. The Phyto Corrective Masque reduces redness, discomfort, and the temperature of the skin surface post-exposure to sun, exercise, and extreme temperatures. Dehydrated and dry skin that’s been exposed to pool chemicals? Check out our OBAGI Hydrate line. The OBAGI Hydrate Luxe is a moisture-rich overnight cream providing luxurious rejuvenation to the skin and enhances smoothness. After a hot day in the sun, rehydrate your skin with the Daily OBAGI Facial Hydro-Drops, infused with hibiscus oil and vitamin B3. For Father’s Day, we’re offering a “Simple Selections” special. The special features three selections; choose one or choose all! Selection-1 features “Dad-tox,” an exclusive introductory Botox rate for men at $10/unit. Selection-2 features the Gentleman’s Facial Bundle including our popular OxyGeneo facial targeting men’s skincare concerns with hydration or detoxification plus a SkinCeuticals Sport SPF 50 for $160, retail valued at $215. Selection-3 features a 3-for-1 deal. Buy three sessions of laser hair removal for the price of one. This promo excludes full body. The special men in our lives work hard all year to protect, provide, and keep us safe. They teach us and make memories with us that last forever, so let us help groom, refresh, and rejuvenate the men in your life so they’re ready for a Father’s Day celebration! AESTHETIC INJECTIONS: BOTOX AND JUVÉDERM Are you starting to notice more fine lines and wrinkles? As we age, the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid slows, 16 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

causing an increase in skin laxity and wrinkles--not to mention all the environmental factors and stressors we experience each day that speed up the aging process even more! At The Medical Spa, we want to help you slow this progression and get you looking your best. Botox and dermal fillers can provide quick and effective results. Both injectables are used to achieve different results, and our expertly trained staff will help you choose the one best suited to your needs. The wrinkles that develop on the forehead or around the eyes are caused from repetitive muscle movement with facial expressions. Botox is considered a neuromuscular blocker. When Botox is injected into a muscle, the signals from the nerve to the muscle are blocked. The muscle is unable to contract, relaxing the wrinkles and lines. You will have a smoother, more refreshed look within 7-14 days and the effects can last for 3-4 months! Dermal fillers are used to replace volume loss, smooth out wrinkles and provide fullness. We proudly use the Juvéderm XC line at The Medical Spa. Juvéderm is made from hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body. Fillers can be used to soften creases, such as the nasolabial folds, marionette, and vertical lip lines. Fullness can be added to your cheeks and lips as well. The results are seen instantly with dermal fillers with the best results seen after two weeks and last for 12 months or longer. You may experience some bruising and swelling afterward. Before the injection, topical numbing cream is applied to minimize any discomfort experienced. The Juvéderm XC line also contains lidocaine to numb the inner tissues during the injection as well. If you’re considering Botox or filler, we would love to help you choose the best option for the results you are looking to achieve! Contact The Medical Spa to schedule your consultation today at (318) 966-3772. We’re located 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 complimentary valet parking, privacy, and easy access for clients.

W H AT I S C LU T T E R ?

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE | erinlove@panachebyerin.com

or the most part, I believe many people get the words “clutter” To conquer your physical clutter I want you to take a walk through and “disorganization” confused. For instance, some of my the areas that you checked off on the list. Notice if you feel stagnant when clients feel they are disorganized, yet they can hand me you walk into any space. In other words, if you want to leave the space or everything I ask for in an instant. Sometimes they might have room the minute you walk in, that place is just where you need to start. to step over unopened boxes, stacks of magazines, or sort Instead of walking out this time I want you to dive in! Pick up one thing through a pile of tchotchkes to get that item, which indicates they are only and take action on it. Do you love it? Are you using it? Should it stay or cluttered and NOT disorganized. So, I thought I would help you decide should it go? Do something about it now. Pick up one item at a time and if you are truly disorganized or simply cluttered because there are certain soon the momentum will keep you moving further and faster. When you ways to handle each. tire, stop, but be sure to return to the task as soon as possible. Are you cluttered? Clutter usually comes in the form of objects, To conquer schedule clutter you will need to delegate and learn commitments, and/or behaviors that you have acquired that take up to say “no” to some things. It is hard at first, but once you do it, I know space and energy but no you will feel like a huge longer provide real value. If burden has been lifted off you are cluttered, you might your shoulders. Grab the list OBJECTS – Most people could stand to clear a few physical items frequently utter the words “I that you checked off, your from their lives, but think about the following categories and put a feel stuck” or “I don’t know planner, a pad of paper, a check mark by the ones that are particularly troubling for you: what to do.” pen and a highlighter. We Extra Bedroom Are you disorganized? are going to conquer your Office Disorganization comes in schedule clutter! Write down Stacks of unread books, magazines, and newspapers the form of messy cabinets, all of your daily and weekly Master closet overstuffed closets, and commitments, including Excessive memorabilia unpaid bills. A disorganized housekeeping, childcare, etc. A lot of furniture person does not have clear Then, highlight any task, Overstuffed drawers and cabinets systems that make life easier project, meeting, or activity and less stressful. If you that feels like it is weighing SCHEDULE – Can you think of a task or activity that depletes your are disorganized, you may you down. Now, figure out energy the moment you think about it? Laundry perhaps? Check the frequently utter the words “I how you can clear these items categories that resonate with you. can’t find…” or “I don’t have off your schedule. Maybe Responsibilities that someone else should be able to do anything to wear.” you can hire a housekeeper to Assignments that have become too much to handle Don’t get me wrong; Committee obligations come once a week, or you can Meetings that hold little value you can be cluttered and get another family member Unfinished projects disorganized, but most of to help with laundry. Maybe A neverending to-do list the time you are in one state you will realize that you or the other. In this article, should resign from a board BEHAVIORS – Have you developed behaviors over time that however, I am going to focus or quit a monthly meeting. contribute to the clutter in your life? Maybe you are always late, or on why and how to combat To conquer your perhaps you are a workaholic and fill your schedule with meaningless clutter. you behavior clutter tasks. Do any of the following behaviors sound familar? I want to make this loud must be strong as this is the Too many escapes and clear so I get my point hardest one to correct. This (TV, email, internet, video games, online shopping) across! You must clear the is true because some of these Chronic lateness clutter to make room for habits have been engrained Procrastination change and growth. into your life, so it will take Packed schedule Now that I have your true grit to change them. The Perfectionism attention, let’s find your fastest way to see how your clutter points so you can get habits are adding clutter to on with living your best life! your life is to track your time. There are three areas in your life that can cause potential clutter. I suggest tracking every minute of your day. When you switch a task or I mentioned them before and they are objects (physical clutter), get distracted, write it down! Take notice if you zone out and go on “auto commitments (a cluttered schedule), and behaviors (bad habits). Let’s pilot.” Do these particular tasks drain you? Cut them from your schedule! break them down a bit in the checklist above. As you read this did you begin to feel lighter just thinking about how I am sure that you have checked more than one item in each category, removing the clutter can improve your life, energy, and growth? If so, so let me ease your mind by letting you know that you do not need to then just imagine what actually doing it will feel like! conquer all of the “clutter” in your life to get unstuck or begin moving If you need advice or help with any of this, please don’t hesitate to in the right direction. You just have to start somewhere. However, I do contact me! I would love to help! erinlove@panachebyerin.com or @ recommend that you start in the easiest place – the physical clutter. erinlovedesigns 18 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

FLORALS ABOUND Thurman Dickey created this beautiful four-layer cake with stucco buttercream icing adorned with gum paste peonies, magnolias and roses. The four layers are made of white, Italian cream, carrot and red velvet cake with buttercream filling.

Confection Perfection

Make your day even more magical with a stunning wedding cake. It is your opportunity to share your taste (literally) with all of your guests. From over-the-top creations to simple sophisticated cakes, let your dessert double as décor. S T Y L E D B Y TAY L O R B E N N E T T A N D P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K

PRETT Y IN PINK This artistic design from Thurman’s Food Factory features four layers of alternating strawberry and chocolate cakes with vanilla buttercream icing. Pink roses and cherry blossom florals complement the “poured” glaze in two-toned pink with a white bead border.

SUN KISSED The Platter & Sugar Bakery created a two-layer cake using a naked icing technique. The top layer is lemon cake with a delectable buttercream icing with lemon curd filling. The second layer is pink mimosa cake with champagne buttercream filling and the bottom layer is a classic Italian cream cake with buttercream filling.

St. Frederick High School Class of 2021

STEPHEN BOURGEOIS

AVA BROCKMAN

SETH BROWN

JILLIAN BURKHART

JACKSON BUTLER

IMRI CARR

BROCK EPPINETTE

KOLBY FOSTER

VICTORIA FRUSHA

COY GAMMAGE

TIERNEY GAMMAGE

GAVIN GILBERT

TAYLOR HOWARD

JOSEPH HUDSON

CADE JORDAN

KATIE KINCAID

OLIVIA LETLOW

SARAH LOFTIN

LEE RANDELS

ALEX RIGHTSELL

SAMANTHA ROY

ROBERT RUSHING

JOSH RYCHART

NELSON SPARKS

photos by Rhyan Emery with Albritton Photography

stfrederickhigh.org

NICOLAS BARAJAS

JULIA BARKLEY

BEAU BENNETT

JACE BERNARD

CAMILLE BONNECAZE

INDYA CARR

HANK CORDELL

MAE DICKERSON

CLESI DICKEY

SKYLAR DONALD

KAYLA DUCOTE

ANNA GRACE GILL

FAITH GURBA

EMMA HANEMANN

GABE HANEY

MACI HERRINGTON

ELLI HOUSER

MIA MARDIS

JACK MCCORMICK

CAITLIN MIDDLETON

KINCADE MULLINS

CAMERON OGLESBY

SARAH PRUITT

SARA STACY

GRAYSON SURLES

VICTORIA TABULOG

JON TORRES

JEREMIAH WILLIS

BRENDAN WOODS

3300 Westminster Avenue, Monroe

318.323.9636

One & Done Dental Implants NELA Dental Has Convenient Locations in Monroe & Farmerville NOW OFFERING “TEETH IN A DAY!” Now with Teeth in a Day, you can get your dental implants completed in just one day! NELA Dental is your home for this One & Done dental implant services. In fact, it is one of the few dental practices offering this procedure in the state of Louisiana. NELA Dental always strives to utilize the best in advancing technologies. Through the use of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and 3D printing, dental implants can be placed, and long-term temporary teeth can be printed and placed in one day. This process allows for more chewing ability and much less pain while healing. It also allows you to test drive your teeth so you get the teeth you want. SINGLE-TOOTH IMPLANTS & IMPLANT-RETAINED DENTURES A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or a bridge. A proper dental implant coupled with a replacement tooth or bridge will look, feel, and function like a natural tooth. 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. However, there are some limitations on certain foods. Your dentist can explain these eating “do’s and don’ts” during your appointment. EXPERT CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS We are proud to offer personal care that is customized to fit our individual patient needs. Dental implant cases are unique and all require special attention. At NELA Dental, we are proud to offer expert care to those seeking to strengthen their smiles through dental implants.

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Dr. Vance Costello is the only practicing dentist in North Louisiana with the ABOI/ID Board Certification, and one of only four ABOI/ ID Diplomates in Louisiana. Certification by the ABOI/ID attests that a dentist has demonstrated knowledge, ability, and proficiency in implant dentistry through a rigorous examination process. The American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry Diplomate (ABOI/ID) designation symbolizes the highest level of competence in implant dentistry. Costello worked tremendously hard for nearly a decade to achieve this prestigious designation. In addition to this accreditation, Dr. Costello has completed the American Academy of Implant Dentistry’s Comprehensive MaxiCourse and is Fellow of the AAID. Also, he’s an instructor with Advanced Implant Educators (AIE) and Implant Know-How. Dental implant know-how also extends to NELA Dental’s Dr. Daniel Raymond. Raymond has completed an implant fellowship with the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA). As a member of the IDIA, Raymond continues to build his continuing education portfolio as he works alongside industry experts to learn about the latest practices and techniques in order to provide his patients toplevel results. START SMILING TODAY Whether it’s for dental implants or a check up, 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, and schedule your appointment. Don’t let anything stand in your way of a great smile this year. Contact NELA Dental and Start Smiling Today!

Bayou Pages

NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES “Bluebird Bluebird” by Attica Locke REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

“The belief that they were special, that they had the stones to endure what others couldn’t, was the most quintessentially Texas thing about them. It was an arrogance born of genuine fortitude and a streak of hardheadedness, six generations deep.” Darren Matthews is a black Texas Ranger, dedicated to justice and plagued with being a black man in the south. He is proud of his heritage, that his ancestors had the gall to stay in a town that didn’t want them. He loves Texas because it is home, but his vantage point assures Darren sees the Lone Star State’s faults up close. The badge gives him power, but his skin color threatens the southern system of who gets justice and how. On leave from the Rangers for his suspected involvement in a homicide, Darren heads to the little town of Lark, Texas, to investigate two murders. A black lawyer from Chicago turned up dead, followed a few days later by a local white woman, an odd order of killings in East Texas. Matthews uses his anonymity to integrate in the community, blending into the still segregated spaces, where black people and white people do not mix without consequences. The thriller is fast paced and laced with homage to the blues culture, the beautiful East Texas landscape, and

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the colorful personalities that pepper roadside towns people only drive through. Lark is frozen in time, where people maintain their place, rarely challenging the racial framework of history. Darren’s presence and intent threatens the surface-level harmony in Lark and his role in the most elite and respected police force in the state. Meanwhile, his issues back home continue to simmer and threaten his current mission. Attica Locke writes with southern charm and grit, honestly portraying people and a place she knows intimately, having been raised there. The characters are flawed, yet handled with care. Locke exposes the truth of being so ingrained in a place that one becomes a perpetuation of its resistance to change. Locke explores the underworld of Klan activity and the diligence of a colored population who refuses to abandon their birthplace. The themes of racial justice and identity unravel a generational mystery that will have readers devouring every page. Bluebird Bluebird is the first in a series of novels about Texas Ranger Darren Matthews. Attica Locke won the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction for her novel Pleasantville and The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence for The Cutting Season.

Bayou Pages

NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES “Saint X”” by Alexis Schaitken REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

“Sometimes I thought I saw Allison. She picked up a box of cereal in the Flatbush Co-op. She jogged past me in Prospect Park. She slipped into a taxi in the rain. The Allisons darted. They slipped around corners. They were there and not there. They were always teenagers.” Claire and her sister Allison travel with their family to Saint X island for a winter vacation. Claire is only sevenyears-old, and Allison is a freshman in college. Claire is only beginning to find her place in the world, and Allison is a decade into resenting hers. When Allison goes missing the day before the family’s departure home, the island is in a frenzy trying to locate the white tourist, hushing the rumors for fear of devastating the island’s lifeblood, tourism; and trying to appease the white parents who demand answers about their daughter. When Allison’s body is found several days later on a nearby island, two local boys are immediately arrested, though later released for lack of evidence. When the family returns to New York, the parents spend years trying to uncover the truth, and Claire struggles to fill her dead sister’s shoes. A chance encounter in a taxi cab fifteen years later resurfaces the memory of the sister Claire hardly knew. “We don’t know what people look like. We only know what they look like to us. We have an idea of them, shaped by our affections, our memories, but this is the real distortion.” Claire is determined to discover what

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happened to her sister and forms a relationship with one of the original suspects. The journey forces Claire to face who she thought her sister was with whom she now knows her to have been. Schaitken’s book explores familial relationships, grief, sibling rivalry, class, race, and the role of community. The cover and plot synopsis leads readers to expect a page-turning thriller, but this is not meant to thrill anyone. This book makes you think. Rather than a whodunit novel, this is a reconsideration of the whodunit genre, more like a what it did to me. The story becomes less about Allison’s disappearance and more about whom Allison left behind. While everyone else in her family wants to forget Allison existed, Claire wants to know what she was too young to understand. “If I’ve learned anything it’s that you can have a pretty decent life without unpacking life’s mysteries.” Allison’s ghost, so to speak, is the dominant character, as everything Claire says and does is a reaction to her sister’s absence. Schaitken writes detailed descriptions of the fictional island; the first ten pages describe an aerial view of the vegetation. The plot is simple, but the effect on the characters is immense and extends well outside the immediate family. Schaitken writes thoughtfully about teenage angst and introspection and shows the reality of trying to cope and/or striving to forget.

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Blooming Boutonnières We asked some of our favorite florists to create boutonnières to inspire future grooms. These simple arrangements add a big punch of personality to wedding day lapels.

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

FINE FOLKS This white lisianthus sets the stage for a simple, chic boutonnière with two blooms, greenery and dried florals. It is finished with a simple white ribbon.

PETALS AND PEARLS A white lisianthus boutonnière accented with premium greens. The color combination of fresh dark green and lovely ivory is classic and beautiful.

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

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

EVERYTHING ARTSY This boutonnière is made up of a single white ranunculus. It is a frilly romantic bloom with a paper-thin dainty layer of petals. Surrounded in bright greenery and wrapped in a blue ribbon.

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A Gift for Dad

Locally Owned Company Serving North Louisiana and Beyond

ATHER’S DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND WE want to help you make it perfect. We have an incredible selection of single barrel store pick bottlings selected by us here at the store that will make awesome gifts. What could be better than a dram and a steak with dad? If you’re not familiar with the term barrel pick, it is when a store, group, or individual selects a single, standalone barrel of whiskey to be bottled for that place or person. These barrels come from distilleries favorite and best storage locations amongst their rickhouses. This gives us the opportunity to give the consumer a superior product at a great price, that is a one time only bottle. No two barrels are the same making each selection, essentially, a limited edition whiskey available at only one location for purchase. First let’s take a look at our Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select. This is a treat for fans of Jack Daniel’s and bourbon lovers too. A medallion hangs around the neck of this iconic bottle shape, signifying our selection, and makes for a striking package. The whiskey is even more striking. The nose opens with rich banana pudding and Graham cracker notes followed by molasses brown sugar and charred oak. It’s a gorgeous golden, honeyed copper color. The palette has a rich velvety texture that then reveals rich vanilla and spicy caramel that leaves a long pleasant finish of all the flavors described with a gentle tingle on the corners of the tongue. This is a smooth and easy treat. You may have seen on our social media that we recently took a trip to Kentucky where we had the opportunity to pick out some barrels and visit some incredible distilleries. We are super excited for you to try our picks from Barrell Craft Spirits. First up we have our 7 year old Kentucky (barrel #Z2A6) bourbon bottled at 122.48 proof. The nose opens with creamy apple jacks, vanilla bean, and caramel. The heat of the proof is almost not present allowing for you to nose deeply. A rich creamy mouthfeel leads to baked apple pie with nutmeg, vanilla cream, and touch of oak grip. The finish is long and smooth with a gentle tingling sensation. This drinks like a 107 proof, and will sneak up on you. Our next selection from Barrell Craft Spirits is our Single Barrel Private Release which is a blended barrel of multiple age statements. Blend B37i is made up of 35% 5 year, 20% 10 year, 40% 14 year, and 5% 16 year bourbons. Bottled at 113.86 proof the nose is spicy, showing

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cinnamon, allspice, and rich vanilla, caramel, toffee notes. The palate shows more gentle spice, barrel aged vanilla, leather, and oak. This bourbon is so well balanced between youthful spice and older aged bourbon character. Barrel Craft Spirits continue to impress us with quality and innovation in blending their incredible products that continue to win award after award after award. We highly recommend visiting their awesome website that has tons of information on their splendid products. Just a few months ago we were approached by Cathead out of Jackson,MS with the idea of selecting one of the barrels they have been patiently aging in their warehouse. If you’re not familiar Cathead has been the closest distillery to Monroe for quite some time. They produce amazing vodkas such as their Honeysuckle Vodka and a great gin by the name of Bristow. We are super excited about this pick that really blew our minds. Cathead sourced Old Soul from MGP Distillery in Indiana, but has been aged entirely at the Cathead facility in Mississippi. Barreled at 125 proof and bottled at 109 proof with a high rye mashbill that we love here at the store. A rich spiced toffee bomb! Those aromas pop immediately and carry over into the glass to be joined by sweet, aromatic pipe tobacco. The finish is long and rich with cinnamon brown sugar and generous, yet gentle heat. No bottle of bourbon is complete without great company, and great company means great food in Louisiana. Come by the store and get dad a great steak to go with that stellar whiskey. We have the Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe steaks for sale to take home to grill up for dad while you sip on that awesome whiskey and catch up with the old man. Be sure to keep an eye out for all the great whiskies we have ahead of us this year here at Washington Wine & Spirits. We have more from our trip to Kentucky coming down the line, and some super coveted barrels that have been beyond impressive that we have had the pleasure of selecting. We cannot wait to reveal more as the year goes by and for you to get your hands and palates on them! We want to wish the happiest of wishes to all fathers out there. We hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day with a great dram, company, food, and love. We look forward to all the dad jokes to come. As always thank you for letting us be your Spirits Guides.

Paperglaze Calligraphy is known for creating classic suites with beautiful hand-lettered invitations. This white and black invitation combines chic appeal with timeless design.

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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

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

Classic Calligraphy

Nib & Flow’s inspiration is an English garden wedding. A watercolor rose garden embellishes a streamline design with handlettered addressed envelopes.

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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

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

Rose Gardens

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Blue Swoon

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

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

Mallory Patterson Design’s invitations are specifically created to set the tone for the day – whether a casual garden wedding or a formal golden celebration.

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Treats Served on a Platter The Platter & Sugar Bakery has more than enough treats for customers to peruse, customers can ease their way into selections knowing there never is a right or wrong combination, only what feels right in the moment. After all, today’s lunch platter can be tomorrow’s snacks.

BAYOU E ATS

VA N EL I S R I V ER A

K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K

“People eat with their eyes first,” says Jodi Fontenot White, specifically referring to the visual feast of luncheon platters of all varieties and sizes served daily at her brick and mortar The Platter. Dubbed by many as “adult Lunchables,” food platters, a multifaceted version of charcuterie boards, is any epicurean’s dream. It doesn’t matter what you call it, what food items you choose to add, or whether you are using a tray or a board, the crafty and aesthetically appealing nature of this form of food display is a gastronomic cultural movement. Though people have been doing cheese boards and charcuterie for hundreds of years, the photogenic nature of these food presentations has become all the rage. Between the bright colors of fruit, shapes of creatively folded meats, intricate patterns of different cheeses, and then some, it’s no surprise that The Platter has become the hub for delectable food arrangements. Growing up her dad’s side of the family prepared smaller platters. Accustomed to this, her first venture into platter-making was a bit straightforward. “Everything was separate,” she says, referring to the single platters of relish, meats, and cheeses. But traveling with her husband exposed her to the seemingly endless possibilities of ingredients and layouts. Realizing there really aren’t any rules to the game, and newly inspired to “broaden people’s horizons,” she began creating platters to her liking, just for friends and family. One day, a Facebook post of one of her creations created a stir. Suddenly, her comments section was full of admiration and business inquiries. “This is really something that we need in our area,” White says, assessing that, “Food is the point of gathering.” Whether for a birthday, anniversary, or sympathy gift, sometimes a food tray is in the same vein as a card and flowers, especially because you can always enjoy it over a couple of days or share it with loved ones. “That’s how it originated. Because it can be used for so many different things, “says White.

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FOOD FROM THE HE(ART) Whether for a birthday, anniversary, or sympathy gift, sometimes a food tray is in the same vein as a card and flowers, especially because you can always enjoy it over a couple of days or share it with loved ones. “That’s how it originated. Because it can be used for so many different things, “says Jodi White, owner.

Her personal draw to the often nutritious array takes two forms—its ability to bring people together and act as the focal point of any event. “We’re all about the wow factor when it comes to our presentation,” enthused White. “We want people to be like ‘Oh, my gosh. I would have never thought about that.’” The plethora of platters that White creates is an opportunity for customers to try different foods they wouldn’t normally go out and eat or buy at a grocery store. The Platter became official in January of 2020 and opened its doors in only three months. “We just exploded,” she exclaims. White went from catering from five to eight people to the eight hundred she served at a recent event. The Platter currently has fifteen themed combos on its menu. “I’m not a huge sweets person, so I do enjoy the Bloody Mary,” says White. Trimmed in a beautiful garnish, the tray includes long stalks of pickled asparagus, juicy pickled okra, large black olives, stuffed green 42 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

olives, baby corn, celery stalks, banana peppers, baby dill pickles, all trimmed in a beautiful garnish. White also enjoys The Best Charcuterie. Here, amid a variety of crackers are carefully placed mounds of stuffed olives, nuts, salami, prosciutto, ham, cheddar, gouda, provolone, Monterey, brie, blue cheese, fresh mozzarella, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, green and red grapes, pepper jelly, fig spread, peso apricot jam, and spicy mustard. “My favorite platter to make is any platter combination on our threefoot round platter,” says White. The team has twin, three-foot platters they call Bertha and Betty. “And, when we put those together, it is so beautiful. Not only does that platter take on the whole backend of the business, but it also takes two people to hold because it is so heavy. They are perfect for the groom’s dressing room or the bride’s dressing room,” she adds, though such a massive spread is fitting for any large occasion or gathering.

SWEET AND SAVORY Starting in June, White will be combining her two businesses under one roof, The Platter and Sugar Bakery, which means more decadently sweet platters!

FOOD From themed platters to custom creations, The Platter has a variety of options. Add Sugar Bakery’s sweet treats to any platter or order a specialty cake.

PRICE Customizable platters created to fit your budget.

Starting in June, White will be combining her two businesses under one roof, The Platter and Sugar Bakery, which means more decadently sweet platters! Her current menu has a few sugary selections that touch on most of the usual favorites. The Angel Platter is something out of Mary Antoinette’s dreams. It highlights angel food cake bites, pound cake bites, dessert bar bites, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, rich chocolate fruit dip, and flavored gummies. Having a movie night? Start by picking up the Movie Night Platter made up of buttery popcorn, caramel popcorn, fresh grapes, juicy strawberries, pretzels, yogurt, covered nuts, gummy bears, fruit snacks, and M&Ms (with or without peanuts). Sugar Bakery covers all of our favorite sweets and then some, so don’t hesitate to add a little sweet to your savory selections if you’re opting for a customizable tray. Sugar Bakery’s cake balls are currently the people’s choice. Not only diverse in their flavor selections like red velvet, but they’re also the perfect on-the-go snack. White is always busy with cakes, a fact made even more apparent on their Facebook page. Their most recent cake post is of a lemon and raspberry, three-tiered wedding cake, mildly textured with frosting and decorated with light yellow flowers. White has also posted a homemade Chantilly Cake (vanilla cake decorated with fresh berries and a sweetened whipped cream), a special birthday order. A Turtle Bundt cake was highlighted as a catered order. And most impressive is a recent groom’s cake order: White’s first Star Wars creation in the form of the Millennium Falcon! It may be easy to stick with what you know at either end of this business, but White encourages customers to get weird. In other words, you can ask to add whatever you want to an existing platter, and none of White’s team will bat an eye, mostly because they’ve already had some interesting requests. White recalls that on one of her Birthday Sprinkles Platters (small birthday cake, rice crispy treats, macaroons, variety of cookies, variety of donuts, gourmet popcorn, variety of cake balls, dipped strawberries, dried pretzels, mini cupcakes, cereal mix, and chocolate candy mix) a customer asked to add pickles and salami roses. “Whatever works,” laughs White. “She may have been pregnant, I have no idea.” The nature of the business welcomes customization, which pairs excellently for anyone wanting to use them for catering. “We are very culture savvy,” says

White, referring to the number of foods she offers, many of which are home-cooked, as well as the many food accommodations she can make. Think vegan, keto, or vegetarian platters! White also partakes in private, charter flight catering out of Ouachita Parish. Passengers are able to look through their menu by way of the airport concierge. Not long ago, she made Lebanese food for travelers from Austria. “I love to know where my food is traveling,” she says. “We’ve received so many thank yous from our travelers, and so it’s pretty neat, and when they come back through they want to make sure that we’re catering for them.” Offering such a wide range of possibilities can make it challenging for new time customers who tend to want a little bit of everything, which White, of course, is happy to oblige, but also is willing to guide anyone who is willing to edit down their cravings. Clearly, The Platter isn’t serving your “traditional box for food.” They use quality ingredients and are happy to accommodate guests beyond their selection of food. “If you call and you want to spend $20, we can make something fabulous for $20,” she says. Like most things in life, her platters are about a journey, and with each item you select, you’re choosing your own adventure. Believe it or not, Westerners love to eat with their fingers. It’s intimate, fun, and laid back. “They enjoy the fact that the food is all together. You’re not having to prepare different dishes,” White says. “It’s convenient and shareable.” The kind of eating format a platter encourages is one where the community is involved. It’s also a conversation piece, food to talk about and share. “Here, you’re actually dealing with the owner,” she says, emphasizing that all custom orders and catering get individual consultations with her. “We’ll help you any way possible, so you’re getting that mom and pop feel.” Too many options can be overwhelming, and though The Platter & Sugar Bakery has more than enough treats for customers to peruse, customers can ease their way into selections knowing there never is a right or wrong combination, only what feels right in the moment. After all, today’s lunch platter can be tomorrow’s snacks. The Platter is located at 120 Blanchard St, West Monroe. Call them at (318) 450-7305 to schedule an event or catering consultation. Follow them on Facebook to stay updated with their lunch menu and featured platters and desserts. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 43

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

COLOR ME HAPPY Add a pop of color to your outfit by combining it with a neutral opposing piece. This salmon-colored coat is perfectly paired with a sand-colored trouser and mixed with a blue tie. Perfect for an outdoor wedding.

Suit Up This Wedding Season Don’t be a wedding crasher, make sure to show up in style this season with a beautifully crafted suit or tuxedo from Ron Alexander Clothiers. These are some of our favorite looks.

IN THE FAMILY This classic look is perfect for a black tie nuptial. Whether you’re a groomsman or a guest, you’ll look debonair in this trendy tux. For the groom, opt for an off-white coat in the same family.

SOUTHERN COMFORT Nothing says a southern wedding better than magnolias and seersucker suits. Find comfort in a traditional blue and white color, or step out in style in gray and white style. Feel special and look fabulous on your big day.

A NOTCH ABOVE THE REST This notch lapel tuxedo features a customized fit perfect for the sharp dressed man. If you’re looking for black-tie attire, you can’t go wrong with the OG of tuxedos. 44 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

PRO TIP FROM RON: Make sure to have your suit tailored to fit your body. You’ll want a streamlined look to gain the most flattering fit.

New Treatment Option For Managing Glaucoma

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA? Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. Scientists aren’t sure what causes the most common types of glaucoma, but many people with glaucoma have high eye pressure (intraocular pressure) — and treatments that lower eye pressure help to slow the disease. SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA In its early stages, glaucoma has no symptoms. It causes no pain. That’s why half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes. As glaucoma gets worse, you may slowly lose your side (peripheral) vision. If it remains untreated, you may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of your eye. Over time, straight-ahead (central) vision may decrease until no vision remains. The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye examination. TREATMENTS FOR GLAUCOMA Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be treated to keep it from getting worse. Catching it early is key to protecting your vision. Doctors use a few different types of treatment for glaucoma, including medicines (usually eye drops), laser treatment, and surgery. While these treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, it’s important to start treatment right away. New advances aim to make glaucoma treatment easier and more effective. In 48 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

particular, people who cannot reach their target pressure on eye drops or who do not want to use eye drops have other options besides traditional invasive glaucoma surgeries. MIGS DEVICES About 5 years ago, the treatment steps for glaucoma changed. It is part of a growing field known as minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to help adults with mild to moderate glaucoma. Now MIGS procedures let doctors treat patients earlier and more safely than older surgeries. MIGS is an outpatient procedure performed in an ambulatory surgery center. The surgery is usually done under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. Your doctor will want to examine you in the office the following day and you will be prescribed a regimen of postoperative drops for the next four to six weeks. If the procedure is successful you can expect a decrease in the intraocular pressure and you possibly may come off some of your glaucoma medications. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks before the outcome of the procedure is known. Each MIGS procedure involves implanting a tiny device to allow fluid to drain from the eye, reducing internal pressure. Some MIGS devices (iStent, Hydrus) are implanted during cataract surgery. Cataract surgery alone lowers pressure, so the combination lowers pressure more effectively or may help lower medication burden. Another MIGS device (OMNI System) is a single designed device that allows the surgeon to carry out a two-part procedure. The OMNI procedure can be performed at the time of

cataract surgery or as a stand-alone procedure. When glaucoma medicines and laser treatment fail or cannot be used to manage glaucoma, the OMNI device is recommended for some patients. Dr. Kim Dinh, a glaucoma specialist at Haik Humble Eye Center, is among the first ophthalmologists in Northeast Louisiana to offer the Omni. “Omni is less invasive compared to traditional glaucoma surgery and has a quicker recovery,” says Dr. Dinh. About one dozen Omni procedures have been performed at Haik Humble Eye Center —and the facility expects to do more — but the option isn’t suitable for everyone. “Choosing the right candidates is a clinical decision based on a number of factors, including the type and severity of glaucoma as well as previous surgical history,” says Dr. Dinh. Still, she adds, “MIGS are exciting because of its safety profile and fast post-operative recovery; and shortened surgical and recovery times can be very important to patients.” If someone needs more aggressive glaucoma treatment later on, a previous MIGS procedure does not affect it. Ophthalmologists can determine which MIGS device is best for each patient. Although no surgery can cure glaucoma forever or reverse vision loss, MIGS is an effective surgery that can slow or stop the progression of glaucoma by lowering the pressure in your eye. Most medical insurance, including Medicare, will help pay for an annual dilated eye exam for some people at high risk for glaucoma. For more information about glaucoma, contact Haik Humble Eye Center at (318) 325-2610.

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

MODERN LOVE

MA XIMUM IMPACT

This engagement ring from Hollis & Company is dainty, yet glamorous. It is crafted in 14K white gold in a diamond oval setting.

She’ll swoon over this Assher cut diamond engagement ring set in 14K white gold with a 1.33 ct center diamond. Available at Dupont Jewelers.

GOLDEN RULES

This 14K rose gold eternity band from Dupont Jewelers features .40ct round diamonds.

SIMPLY STUNNING

Ring Leaders

This engagement ring from Hollis and Company is a diamond double halo set in 18K white gold.

HOLLIS & COMPANY JEWELERS AND DUPONT JEWELERS SHOW OFF SOME OF THE BEST WEDDING RINGS OF THE YEAR. THESE SPARKLING SETTINGS ARE UNDENIABLY GORGEOUS

WITH THE BAND

If you’re looking for the perfect band, this 14K white gold beauty is it. This ring features 1.5 ct diamonds and is as stunning as it is unique. Find it at Dupont Jewelers.

A NEW T WIST

This engagment ring features a 14K white gold and rose gold twist setting with round center stone. Available at Hollis and Company

HAIL THE HALO

Find this 14K white gold engagement ring at Dupont Jewelers. This ring features .74 ct center diamond with halo and 1.22 total weight.

CHARMED LIFE

This gorgeous wedding band is set in 14K rose gold and has .25 ct diamonds. It is availabe at Dupont Jewelers.

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K 50 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

SAPPHIRE DREAMS This estate engagment ring is set in platinum and features a 2.14 ct diamond center stone and blue sapphires on each side. Available at Hollis and Company.

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R E M E M B E R T H E D E F I N I T I O N O F A FA T H E R

have been ransomed from their I REMEMBER distinctly sinful ways by the costly sacrifice of something that was said by a Jesus on the cross. The One whose speaker at a Bible conference which Son died for our sins is our Father/ I attended many years ago. He Judge who measures our conduct. said that if we were looking for a In addition to the fact that the definition of what “father” meant, Father disciplines and judges the we should look at the One who is conduct of His children, He is also our heavenly Father. He taught that a compassionate Father. Consider if we wanted to shape our thoughts the encouraging words that David about the role of a father, if we wrote: “He does not deal with us wanted a pattern to picture of what according to our sins… but as a father a father should be, we would do shows compassion to his children, well to focus on the One who is the so the Lord shows compassion to epitome of fatherhood. With that in those who fear Him, for he knows mind, and as we celebrate Father’s our frame; he remembers that we Day, let us look briefly at some of the I AM AWARE THAT GOD HAS SET A PRETTY are dust.” (Ps. 103:10, 13-14) qualities that make God the Father HIGH STANDARD FOR FATHERHOOD, Because He loves His children, the One we should emulate. AND TO SEEK TO FOLLOW HIS PATTERN our Father is busy seeking to protect If we were asked to list the us from all that would harm us. characteristics that make God who WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT, BUT ARE OUR King David, whom God protected, He is, near the top of the list would CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN NOT wrote these words of promise: “He be “love.” In fact, the Bible teaches, WORTH THE ENDEAVOR? will cover you with His feathers, “God is love.” (I John 4:8) It is His and under His wings you will find nature to love, and every action He refuge.” (Psalm 91:4) A good father will protect his children. takes toward us is driven by love. Unfortunately, we earthly fathers Also, as a loving Father, our God is faithful to provide what His are often guilty of being motivated by something less than love, but children need. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not worry blessed is the child whose father loves unconditionally, just as God about such things as food and clothing; then He gives the reason for the Father does. The kind of love that He has is love that seeks the His instruction: “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” best for its object; it is selfless and will sacrifice for the benefit of The clear implication is that when the Father knows what His child its target. The earthly father who loves like our heavenly Father is needs, those needs will be met! worthy of our admiration. A final thing I want to suggest as something we fathers can The fact that God is a loving Father does not mean that He learn from God the Father is that He teaches His children. David ignores or overlooks our faults. To the contrary, the One who loves talks about this in Psalm 32:8 when he writes, “I will instruct you us so much is the same One who disciplines us. And the reason He and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch disciplines His children is that He loves them. The Bible teaches over you.” To teach us how to live as His children, He has given us that not to discipline is to act in a way that is the opposite of love. His word, His church, and the family (including, and especially, the “Whoever spares the rod hates his son; but he who loves him is fathers). diligent to discipline him.”(Proverbs13:24) And Moses taught, “As I am aware that God has set a pretty high standard for fatherhood, a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.” and to seek to follow His pattern will be very difficult, but are our (Deuteronomy 8:5) children and grandchildren not worth the endeavor? So as we fathers As our Father, God loves His children, He disciplines His are shown appreciation on our special day, let us resolve that we will children, & He judges the conduct of His children. (I Peter 1:17) In give our best effort to be the kind of father to our children that God view of this, Peter urges proper behavior on the part of his readers, the Father is to us. and he reinforces his appeal by referring to the fact that believers

ar t i c le b y PAU L 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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Like Father, Like Son Coleman Chiropractic Clinic welcomes Dr. Beaux Coleman

R. BRIAN COLEMAN HAS PROVIDED CHIROPRACTIC and wellness management in the Monroe area for more than thirty years. The goal at Coleman Chiropractic Clinic has always been to make the world a healthier, happier place one patient at a time; a tradition Dr. Beaux Coleman is eager to continue with his father as he joins the practice. Dr. Beaux Coleman is a Monroe, Louisiana native and graduate of the University of Louisiana Monroe. After spending his formative years surrounded by chiropractic care, following in his father’s footsteps was always something he considered, but ultimately Beaux was intrinsically drawn to the field. In his words, “Chiropractic care is an extremely positive field; the primary goal is to help your patients, and often we have the ability to give them back things and abilities that were once lost.” After graduating from the University of Louisiana Monroe and spending time as a chiropractic assistant to his father, Beaux relocated to Dallas, Texas to attend Parker University, completing his doctorate in chiropractic medicine in spring 2021. Eager to return to his roots, Beaux and his wife, Kinsey, returned to their hometown of Monroe, where he joins his father in practice. Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the skeletal and nervous system, and the effects of these on general health. It is important to understand that the human body is a complex system of organs that function in tandem with one another. A chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and improve your body’s physical function. Chiropractic care allows for the removal of communication hindrances within the body, allowing the spinal cord to effectively communicate with other bodily systems. Chiropractors provide patients with a primary approach for the prevention, diagnosis, and conservative management of pain and discomfort often enabling patients to reduce and or avoid the need for prescription pain medications or surgery. While chiropractic care after an injury is a common route, it is important to understand the benefits of regular chiropractic care from a wellness perspective. There is a running joke among chiropractors, that everyone with a spine needs a chiropractor, while comical, the sentiment is more than accurate. 54 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Very few aspects of our daily lives provide our bodies with optimal posture or spinal support, many jobs requiring repetitive motions and less than ergonomic seating options. Chiropractic care allows for the adjustment and correction of the spine prior to chronic aches and pain, providing a more comfortable working environment. Chiropractic care is not only reserved for those with routine aches and pains, it has been shown to provide benefits among pediatric patients as well as athletes. Dr. Beaux Coleman spent a majority of his internships treating sports medicine patients, a subset he continues to be passionate about. Dr. Beaux Coleman encourages athletes and the parents of young athletes to consider chiropractic care as the first line of defense against sportrelated injuries as well as a tool in their recovery arsenal. For individuals who may be apprehensive of visiting a chiropractor, it is important to know that chiropractic care is regarded as a conservative, non-invasive approach to healthcare and is revered as one of the most impactful approaches to healing the body from the outside inward. Chiropractic care focuses on addressing the root cause of a patient’s ailment, versus masking and or medicating their symptom. Coleman Chiropractic Clinic strives to offer patients a holistic approach to healthcare by offering chiropractic adjustments to individuals from all walks of life in a welcoming and relaxing environment. Drs. Brian and Beaux Coleman specialize in spinal adjustments and extremity manipulation for patients of all ages and abilities. In conjunction with stellar chiropractic care, the clinic prides itself on offering the latest in chiropractic technology for their patients and remain on the cutting edge with the recent acquisition of the PiezoWave2. The Piezowave2 is a medical device that uses radio frequency to aid in the dissolution of fibrotic, or scar tissue, in a non-invasive manner. Coleman Chiropractic Clinic is currently the only location north of the I-10 corridor utilizing this equipment. The clinic also provides a digital X-ray on-site, as well as, massage therapy, custom orthotic solutions, and nutrition counseling creating a truly patient-centered approach to health and wellness. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, the clinic can be reached at (318)388-2215. Conveniently located at 2501 Ferrand Street in Monroe, Louisiana, Drs. Brian and Beaux Coleman are ready to help you find optimum health. Be sure to like us on Facebook @colemanchiropractic2501 or visit us online at www.colemanchiropractic.net.

Cheers to Fifty Years Cedar Creek School Celebrates 50 Years and Founders Day

EDAR CREEK SCHOOL CELEBRATED ITS 50TH Anniversary throughout the 2020/2021 school year. The year-long celebration concluded this spring with two events, Celebration 2021-Cheers to Fifty Years and Founders Day. Celebration 2021 – Cheers to Fifty Years, the school’s annual spring gala, took place virtually on April 17th. As in past years, Celebration funds are dedicated to a special program or needs at Cedar Creek School. When schools across the state and country chose virtual learning last fall, Cedar Creek School chose classroom learning and full-week education. Students, faculty and staff joined together, following and adhering to Covid-19 guidelines and requirements, to provide the educational environment that makes a Cedar Creek education exceptional. From temperature checks to additional duties and responsibilities, our faculty and staff remained faithful to our mission and maintained their commitment to excellence in the midst of a global pandemic. So naturally, we chose to celebrate our amazing faculty and staff with a 13th check provided by proceeds from Celebration 2021 – Cheers to Fifty Years. Our generous sponsors hosted pandemic party pods of Cedar Creek friends in their homes. Champagne, charcuterie trays and dessert were delivered to 45 homes across the region the day of the event. Friends tuned in across north Louisiana and as far away as Mexico. The live stream began with a welcome from event co-chairs Joanna and Bart Dugdale, Wendy and Kenny Merchant and Head of School Andrew Yepson. Viewers enjoyed a pictorial 50th Anniversary tribute to our Founders, followed by special award presentations to members of the Cedar Creek community. Justice Jay McCallum, Class of 1978, received the Outstanding Alumnus Award; Bill Cox and Kelly Smith received the Outstanding Service Awards. The families of John O’Neal and Johnny Maxwell were honored with the Super Omnia Award for overwhelming support of Cedar Creek School. As in past years, Celebration included silent and live auctions. New this year was the Fund the Faculty Drive which provided an opportunity for one guest to win a year of CC tuition. The silent auction opened several days prior to the event and included original art, shopping sprees, home décor packages, fashion, and date night experiences to name just a few. Of course, the highlight of the evening was the live auction hosted by Cedar Creek’s own Mandy Bush, elementary school secretary; Jacob Angevine, eighth grade English teacher and Coach of the CC State Championship Powerlifting Team; and Cedar Creek Mascot, Rocky the Cougar. Bidding 56 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

was fast and entertaining on live auction packages that included everything from vacations to college game day experiences. Our auction hosts barely survived the bidding on the Rangers Suite Package that went for over $15,000. Auction chair, Emily Pullin stated, “None of this would be possible without the support of our local businesses, sponsors and the generous bidders that contributed to this event.” The grand finale of Cheers to Fifty Years was the drawing for one year of free CC tuition. Everyone that contributed to our Fund the Faculty Drive was entered in the drawing and waited eagerly to hear the winner’s name. Our lucky winner, Matt Shirley, was delighted when his name was drawn! Andrew Yepson, Head of School, shared the following, “We were uncertain as to whether or not a virtual event could be successful, but knew we had to give it our best shot after we were unable to have Celebration last year due to Covid-19. The outcome surpassed all expectations and turned out to be our most profitable event yet. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone that supported this event and invested in Cedar Creek. Thank you.” As an appropriate close to Cedar Creek School’s 50th Anniversary year, Founders Day was hosted on May 6th. Founding families, retired teachers, alumni, students and faculty participated in a ceremony honoring our Founders. This group of devoted men and women had the courage to dream about a school that would make a difference in the lives of children, a school that set the standard high for academics and character. Centered by strong faith and through personal sacrifice they saw their dream fulfilled with the founding of Cedar Creek School in 1970. As an everlasting tribute to Robert Dawkins, Ben James, Tommy James, Jerry Johnston, Charles Killgore and their families, the Cedar Creek School Dining Center was officially named the Founders Dining Center. The Cedar Creek community cannot help but reflect on the challenge that our Founders faced more than 50 years ago. They were not intimidated or discouraged as they planned and sacrificed for something that they truly believed in. When asked what they felt their greatest accomplishment was, they would each say the role they played in founding Cedar Creek School. Sadly, Ben James, Jerry Johnston, and Charles Killgore are no longer with us. We are forever grateful for their service, sacrifice and commitment and look forward to continuing their legacy for the next 50 years and beyond.

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Fishing With Kenny TO MAKE IT EASY, KEEP IT SIMPLE article by K E N N Y C OV I NGT ON

ishing can be a complicated sport. The more information you have, the more information you get, the more information you retain, the more complicated things can get. It can get overwhelming, especially to young and new anglers. Information, while at times can be useful, often has a negative effect on the angler. In this month’s BayouLife “Fishing with Kenny,” I want to discuss some things that might help the young and/or beginning angler become a better more consistent angler. The information available on fishing, the various techniques, the “how to fishing videos” and all things in between, is mind blowing. What took me years to learn or discover on my own is now readily available at the push of a computer button. On one hand it speeds up the learning process but is this a good thing? With high school and college angling become more and more popular and the overall number of people who have taken up the sport in the past few years, the number of anglers you see on the water each weekend is staggering. Often times when I go practice for a tournament in the middle of the week, at one time I had the lake almost to myself, now I am greeted by a parking lot full of cars and trucks. The fishermen are many and the fish are not just more pressured, but they are getting educated as well. Now that I have come full circle, what is my point? Well, over the years I have kept records of the tournaments I fish and how I did in them. I note things such as weather, water level, and various other things I believe to be important. I ALWAYS list the fish I weighed in and how they were caught! These records go back almost 35 years and are more and more valuable to me as the years pass by. By keeping these notes, I can refer back to them as reminders on the particulars of a lake or what caused me to make the decisions I made during 58 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

the day. Maybe when I zigged, I should have zagged. This is valuable information you can’t get from a computer. At the end of a tournament day, if someone asks me, “How did you do?” all I have to do is look at the rods and techniques I used over the last four hours of the day. If I noticed that I used more than two or three different rods, I know I didn’t figure anything out and I probably didn’t do very well. The easier you can make things on the water, the more successful you will be. I have said many times in my articles and in conversations with other anglers, “there are no magic lures and there are no secret spots.” Throughout the rest of this article, I will make a few suggestions I believe can help you become a better angler. In each instance I am trying to help you as an angler by giving you a “been there, done that” perspective. Once you understand what you are trying to accomplish in the sport, no matter if you are a weekend angler or someone trying to compete in tournaments, things will become easier for you. Develop your own style. When I was a kid, it seemed like all of the adults that I followed in the sport or idolized did their own thing. My father was a great worm fisherman as well as a grub and jig man. Rick Clunn was a crankbait guru with a unique way of finding fish quickly. Larry Nixon was all about soft plastics. Jimmy Houston was all about a spinnerbait. Me, well I simply learned a lot from all of my heroes and developed my own way of doing things. I can fish deep and have been successful doing so, however, I prefer to fish shallow water and spend about 90% of my time doing just that. I have lures that I have confidence in and I know what it will take to be successful on most bodies of water that I fish. Best of all, I am still learning and shaping my fishing style. Learn from your mistakes. When I say “mistakes” I am not being critical. As long

as you are on the water, that is nothing but positive re-enforcement. But what you want to do is learn from the things you did that didn’t give you the results that you anticipated. Did you break a fish off? Or maybe lost several fish due to bad hook ups? What about losing a big fish because you didn’t have a net? All these things and more will happen to you if you spend enough time on the water. Did you have fresh line on your reels or maybe you tied a bad knot? Did you inspect your hooks on your topwater lure? If they were bad, did you replace them or use a file to sharpen the ones that were on there. These little things that many anglers overlook is what separates average anglers from good anglers and good anglers from great ones. To get better as an angler you have to learn from these mistakes so that you don’t make them twice. Be careful with “Dock Talk.” Tackle stores are there to sell fishing tackle. Fishermen are known to hide secrets. The combination of both is called “dock talk.” Learn who you can trust to give you good information but be careful about getting specific information. General information is usually best because it gives you something to go on. Instead of asking “where did you catch your fish?” maybe ask “what depth did you find to be the most productive?” Instead of asking about a specific color of crankbait just ask if it was a shallow running or a deep one. Ask general questions and you will get more useful information. Learn the difference between stubborn and stupid. I lost an Angler of the Year title once because I refused to throw a shaky head when fishing the last tournament of the circuit on Caney Lake. All I needed was to catch a small limit of fish and the title was mine. Nope, not me. I was going to make them bite the way I wanted to catch them and I was going to win my way. I was wrong! The stubborn side of me didn’t want to throw a shaky head on spinning tackle, the stupid side of me was I didn’t do it. Both stupid and stubborn will come back to bite you, trust me. Control the variables you can control, prepare for the ones you can’t. Retie your lures often. Change your line after a hard day on the water. Replace hooks. Take more water than you think you will need. Prepare for your trolling motor to break by having the needed tools to fix it handy. Have extra clothes in your boat in case you fall in the water, especially in the winter time. If it is possible keep your rain gear in your boat. I can go on and on but I think you get the general idea. Control what you can, prepare for the rest. Well, it looks like we have run out of time and space again this month. I hope we were able to share some thoughts and ideas that will help you be more successful on your future trips to your favorite body of water. With summer being in full swing please be mindful of all the pleasure boaters and jet skiers. Be safe, take care and most of all, catch one for me!

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BAYOUOUTDOORS

POP’S PRIDE ARTICLE BY DAN CHASON

am blessed to be in good health. I am blessed to have a great job and a wonderful team of people that I work with every day. I am blessed to be married to my best friend. But my pride and joy are the children of my children. My wife and I are blessed with 8 grandchildren (6 boys and 2 girls). Every one of them having attributes that make them individuals but most of all, each of them have a connection to “Mimi” and “Pop/Papaw” that are unique. What a strange but favorite memory is how I inherited two names. Our oldest granddaughter, who just graduated from high school (with honors and scholarships) was about 2 years old and was just starting to talk. I had been a grandfather for a year or so to my oldest grandson, Elijah. Rylee and I were playing and she was sitting on my lap. I would look at her and say, “Ok, Rylee. What’s my name?” With that jet black curly hair and those gorgeous brown eyes she would watch my mouth as I would say “Pop.” She would repeat, “Papaw.”No, Rylee try again....”Pop.” You see my grandfather was Pop, my dad was Poppie and I wanted to inherit my title from them. Rylee refused. “Papaw.” And to this day, it is Papaw. Of all of these wonderful, talented kids one of them absolutely is unique in his relationship to me and in his love of the outdoors. When Chance Crow and I started hanging out, I found out very quickly that this young man was a sponge. He hung on my every word and tried to mimic every technique and method I used in both the woods and on the water. What has transformed over the years gives me great pride as I see his relationship with me is identical fashion as the relationship that I shared with my Pop. I never knew I would enjoy the company of a 14-year old as much as I do every time we are together. It does not matter if we are going to the camp or if we are chasing bass. Chance is a tenacious hunter (when I can keep him awake) and an avid and talented fisherman. I remember one time when he came to my house and we were in my storage area. He looked at the hanging shirts that were mostly from my days from fishing for a living. When he saw the sponsored shirt with my name on it his eyes lit up. Not only did he go home with that shirt, but on every trip now when I pick him up, he is wearing it with pride. There is a sense of family, lineage and respect that is very uncommon in today’s youth. I will have to say that credit goes to his raising. My daughter Danielle and her husband, Casey, highly

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encourage all of their boys to interact with their grandparents and it does my heart good to hear the “yes sir’s” and “thank you’s” that are so missing in many young people’s vocabulary. Chance took his first buck with me. It was a very cold morning and we set up in my favorite stand. It was just one of those mornings. We watched the first deer come into the food plot and it was a good 8-point. Chance never reached for his gun. “Is that a mature one, Pop?” The deer was 3 1/2 and was a prize for any young hunter. “That’s your call, Chance. I’d wait a minute.” Instead of being over anxious or upset, he just smiled and watched the deer in my binoculars. Not long after, another nice buck came out, then another. At one time we had 3 bucks in the plot that most hunters would have shot immediately. Finally, I saw all 3 deer alert and look to the left. I could not see his head but I could see his hocks and body. He was a mature buck. I told Chance to get ready and when the buck stepped out, I could see it was an old deer but the horns were not impressive. Now mind you, this kid is looking at 3 other racked bucks. I told him the big buck was a cull but it was his choice. With a well aimed shot, he dropped the buck at 137 yards. Weighing in at 206 lbs it was one of the heaviest bodied deer we took that year. His choice and one that made his Pop very proud to witness. The same came true when we went bass fishing. The fish were biting and we were catching some pretty good bass. Chance caught a really nice bass that again, most kids would want to take home and show off. Chance’s response was “let’s let him grow” after a cell picture was captured. You cannot teach kids a better lesson than conservation. Leaving something for tomorrow and the opportunity to watch a fishery or a property flourish due to management. Too many times we make the trip about what is harvested or how many big fish are in the live well. I can assure you one thing, this young 8th grader is not only a fine young man, he is a gifted angler and hunter. It gives me great pride to see that he gets it. He gets the fact that we are stewards of the land and water. We can make things better for tomorrow and Chance is all in when it comes to that cause. Again, I won’t take full credit for it as the basis of his character is formed at home. Good parents with a good environment have made him into the young man he is today and into the man he will become tomorrow. I know that my Pop and Poppie would be very proud as I am of the young man I’m proud to see carry on my name and heritage.

A FATHER’S INFLUENCE

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

’ve been thinking a lot about fathers lately. Our son just became a father for the second time. This makes me a grandfather for the third time. As a father watching the next generation of fathers I see how a father really does influence his children. As I get older I find myself acting and talking more and more like my own father. My wife and children point this out to me on a regular basis. I also think about how I was as a father to my children. I can’t help but wish I had been better in some ways but then again our kids grew up to be great adults, spouses and parents. As they get older I definitely see myself in many things they do. Sometimes my son and daughter tried to become proficient in the skills and knowledge I taught them a person should know as a responsible adult, spouse and parent. At times my offspring even exceed my own abilities in some areas and I wonder if it’s because they really enjoy those particular activities and want to excel or do they try so hard to master some skill to make me proud of them? It’s likely both. And I can see how they are and will continue to influence their own children. Our four-year-old granddaughter adores her daddy and everything about him. Whatever he’s doing she wants to be right there doing the same. Our son-in-law is the attentive and active-participant husband and father that every wife prays she will have. There is no doubt in my mind that as our seven-month old grandson grows older he will be greatly influenced by his father’s beliefs and actions. I’m sure there must be some academic studies that try to put numbers on the impact of a father’s influence on his children. Some kids, like mine, want to

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take after their fathers in many ways. Some reject what their fathers are or do. If there are any studies that attempt to document a father’s influence by the father’s type of career I would find that an interesting read. I don’t really know but I suspect children whose fathers (and more recently mothers) served in the military are more likely to themselves to want to join the military than those whose parents don’t serve or who disdain military service. That is certainly true in my family. My research into our family’s history indicates I had at least one great-greatgrandfather who fought during the Late Unpleasantness. I don’t know anything about my dad’s paternal grandfather except his name. He died too young for my dad to really know him and by the time I wanted to know anything there was no one left to ask. I do know quite a lot about Dad’s maternal grandfather, Alexander Melchior, had an interesting and varied life. I could tell you stories about his saving a life, working for the Secret Service, what happened at the 1904 World’s Fair and serving in local government. But for the purpose of a military father’s influence I just need to say he was a drummer in the 3rd Virginia Infantry during the SpanishAmerican War. I still have his hand-carved drumsticks and the eagle from his drum. Grandpa Miller died when I was young and never talked about his service but I know he lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age sixteen. America’s entry into WWI was still a year away in 1916 but Pancho Villa was rampaging along the Texas border and I know grandpa was deployed to San Antonio to help secure that border.

My dad enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and some of his service was aboard a ship off of the Korean coast and in other waters of the Far East. Between dads and mom’s three brothers, I had one uncle who enlisted in the Navy, one who enlisted in the Army and one who actually served in both of those services. I guess I never gave any thought as to whether or not I should join the military, I just always knew I would. I chose the Marines because they guaranteed I would go to flight school once I was commissioned. Our son knew I had been a Marine. He also knew my dad had been in the Navy, his other grandfather had joined the Navy at the end of WWII and he had a great uncle who was killed in combat with the U.S. Army in WWII. While in high school Jon talked with the USMC recruiter and also with the National Guard recruiter. Ultimately other aspects of life prevented our son from joining the military but he did end up choosing a uniformed career as a firefighter paramedic. Jon also has his Charter Captain’s license and owns a couple of boats. A few years ago he learned about the Coast Guard Auxiliary and it would not surprise me if Jon volunteers for that organization someday. Do parents who serve really influence their children with a desire to serve in a greater percentage than the rest of the population? It seems to have been that way in the history of my family. I wish all fathers a happy Fathers Day; especially those fathers who are currently serving our country at home and abroad.

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hy not relish taking the “good things” out of the china cabinet and drawers not only for parties… but every day. The creative blend of heirloom and treasured pieces can soften the hard edges and add comfort and quality to contemporary living. Introducing the wedding banquet again can inspire lively conversation, toasts and a true celebration. Mixing china patterns, crystal and linens can evoke a sense of ease while repeating the florals and candles on the table scape offers a visual balance. Mapping out the crisp elements of marked silver with the thoughtful details of fresh petals and candlelight do not disappoint. Delicate offerings of either sweet or savory are all the more enchanting when presented on various levels. Sometimes the smallest things can present some of the most decadent tastings. A clever idea is to offer a variety of colors, textures and tastes, ensuring your guests can share in each delicious surprise. What you are pouring is just as important as the dining courses your guests will be served. Along with the finest of wines, the garnish, herbs and aromatic bitters you add to sparkling water, champagne and even iced tea, are lively additions. Dinner may always be the main affair, but any meal looks and tastes better by being lovingly presented in beautiful serving pieces and dishes (matched or unmatched). Adding a dash of seasonal flowers, relaxing music and the perfect lighting begs for the festivities to begin!

images from Soiree, Entertaining with Style

Settingshould the never table be a chore.

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

JOSH LOVE BAYOU BE ATS

From bedroom guitarist to believing “the sky’s the limit,” Josh Love isn’t just moving his fingers around his guitar, he’s seeking to communicate the message that music is life. article by VANELIS RIVERA and photographs by ANDREW BAILEY

osh Love was only a few minutes behind schedule when he walked into Standard Coffee Co. to meet with me. He’s hard to miss, standing 6’3” and styling a densely packed, curly-haired afro. I also noticed he was dressed comfortably, in jeans and a tee that read “Unity” in a bold font and all caps. He apologized for keeping me waiting, though I had brought a surmountable amount of work to pass the time, and initially he warned me that his guitar lesson might go over. “You know how musicians are when they get together,” he smirks. I was a bit thrown off. He was the one taking lessons. Turns out, he has continued to place himself in a learning environment despite his degree in music and fifteen years of developing his chops. At least once a month, he’ll seek out seasoned guitarists and set up Zoom sessions like the one he was just coming from with Charlie Allen, a jazz and blues guitarist who lives in London. “I just want to improve myself every single day. I want to be so much better ten years from now. I don’t want to be the same person or the same musician,” he asserts. Love’s parents played records and CDs around the house, “like most people,” he recalls. Both of his parents played instruments—his father played guitar and bass, while his mother played the clarinet. Growing up and “hanging out” with his dad, he would listen to bands like Rush and Living Colour. His sister also contributed to his music education by introducing him to pop and R&B, which would end up becoming huge influences on his individual

“I’VE GROWN INTO MYSELF, SO NOW THE STAGE IS A SECOND HOME, IF YOU WILL. IT’S WHERE I CAN KIND OF SHOW WHAT I GOT.” sound: “I heard those songs, and I would later learn them years down the road. That planted the seed.” Then, at fifteen, Love saw “somebody who would soon become a friend” play guitar at a school talent show in his hometown of Crossett, Arkansas. He was transfixed by the medleys and licks his soon-to-be-friend was rocking. “I went to my grandmother, who I was living with at the time, and I was like, ‘I have to learn guitar.’ “It was the craziest thing because I didn’t really have something I was passionate about,” says Love, referring to his average teenage diversions, like video games and chilling with friends. His first guitar, a “1970-something Harmony” electric guitar, was a junky, a pass-me-down from his cousin. “It was horrible,” he laughs. The bottom two strings, the E and the A, were the only strings that came through the pickup. “It was a terrible guitar, but it was awesome because I had a guitar, you know.” He also had a tattered amp to match the shabby electric twanger. “I remember playing until my fingers were numb, and it was a life-changing experience.” At the time, he didn’t realize the extent of his early days as a “bedroom guitarist,” but that awareness would develop with time, a lot of patience, and further instruction from experienced musicians that would end up inspiring him to keep progressing. When he graduated high school, he enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). “I didn’t know what I wanted to major in, so I kind of meandered around college not knowing what it was I wanted to do,” he says. Though, he admits that he wanted to major in guitar, but “they didn’t have a teacher until Dan Sumner showed up.” Even then, he was discouraged from doing so, being told that it wasn’t feasible. “Because, it’s music, you know? You can’t make a living doing music,” he says sarcastically, finishing with the afterthought, “except you can.” Thanks to the ULM music program, and instruction from one of the lead guitarists of the area and prominent recording virtuoso, Sumner, Love’s guitar savvy began to solidify. “I started taking guitar lessons from him, and getting introduced to local cats, like the school vibe, and also the cats in town, and, you know, it just kind of snowballed into where it is now,” he says, feeling fortunate to be able to play music full-time. Any musician will tell you, getting local gigs amounts to what and how covers are played. The more versatile the range, the more engaged an audience, and Love has sharpened WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 67

“I THINK IT’S TIME TO BRING OUT WHAT IT IS THAT I LOVE, AND WHAT IT IS THAT MY SOUND IS BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL AS INDIVIDUALS HAVE STORIES TO TELL.”

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his pulse for the covers that resonate with his audience. He’ll play Stone Temple Pilots, but he’s also a “huge” John Mayer fan. “Anything with guitar in it, I gravitate toward,” he emphasizes. Recently, he’s been listening to Paramore, rekindling his admiration for the alternative, pop rock sound. In his setlist, you’ll encounter tunes by Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tom Petty, “and the list goes on.” Recently, he impersonated, for the second time, personal favorite Jimi Hendrix at Legends: A Tribute performed at Flying Tiger Brewery. “I love Hendrix. I love Clapton. I love all those guys,” he says. Though it’s hard to stray from the original sounds of the greats, recently, he has started to plug his own musical intuition into popular songs. “I don’t ever really think about it like that, to be honest. I just have a sound in my head. And, it just depends on the day. As cliché as it sounds, it really does reflect on my attitude. Sometimes, I just want to punch the audience in the face, musically.” “Tush” by ZZ Top is one of those covers. “The way that they play that song is very particular,” says Love, explaining that sometimes he’ll take the song and play it “more as jump blues.” Other times, he’ll throw in some jazz changes, or even saturate his guitar with some gain, “to give it an aggressive tone. It really just depends on the day and the feel of the band.” Love plays with many musicians, each with distinct music backgrounds. When he plays with his “gospel-church” peers, he sticks to jazzier, R&B sounds. With musicians who regularly play as sidemen with other local bands, he hammers out more pop and rock n’ roll numbers. Having accumulated such strong collaborations is currently working in his favor, as some of his peers will be joining him on his first album. “I’m still writing it, and I’m just letting the inspiration dictate the sound,” he reveals, adding, “I was just talking about this very thing with Charlie Allen. We were just talking about how music can get really muddled with the idea of trying to get a lot of likes or streams.” Love admits that, for a long time, he cared “so much” about pleasing other people with his guitar playing and his singing: “Now, I’m just going to put a lot of work and effort and time into the way that I sound and the way that I look. You know, my whole product. But, at the same time, I’m starting to care less about trying to perform, and I’m just gonna—whatever comes out, comes out.” This includes the originals he has been working on. “I think it’s time for me to bring out what it is that I love, and what it is that my sound is because I think we all as individuals have stories to tell. So, what stories will you be telling in your first album? “Man, I’ve had woman troubles in the past,” he admits. “You know, it’s part of the human condition, if you will.” Love is also thinking of other relationships, like friendships he

has lost that were painful. “I’ll just be painting a picture of what it is like to be human in a musical format,” he finishes. Acknowledging he has an “infinite amount of inspiration to draw from,” Love is excitedly looking forward to the project. He’s approaching the album from a guitar and production perspective. “I want it to be a clear start and a clear ending, and I want it to flow really well,” he says, adding, “I’m thinking of everything from the guitar and the bass to the drums.” Even then, he doesn’t want the album to be a “guitar record” per se, or to be considered a “gunslinger album,” where song progressions are centered on “lick after lick after lick, and only a few bars of vocals.” Love isn’t trying to overthink too much, especially since the project is still in its early stages, and he expects his ideas to change as his songs advance. Though he knows he’ll continue playing covers, his new album is about discovery. “I’ve been playing out in Monroe since 2015. It’s 2021. Now it’s time for Josh Love to have an identity. It’s time for Josh Love to have a sound.” The steady decline of COVID-19 numbers in the area, alongside the rapid rate of citizens getting vaccinated, has meant the return of music to restaurants, bars, and other regional venues. Love’s gigs have increased and recently he’s played at Flying Heart Brewery & Pub in Shreveport, Tribe’s in Farmerville, and Smoot’s Grocery Blues Lounge in Natchez. Every Sunday he plays at 2Dudes Brew & Que solo: “So, that’s fun. I can, you know, do my solo chops, get my voice together, and carry my own.” Every Tuesday, you can find Love and a few other musicians at Little India for a Jazz Jam, which is open to instrumentalists or “people that enjoy the genre.” In the past they’ve had blues harmonica players join the stage. A few regulars include Mason Howard on sax, John Hoffman on drums, and David Oliver on bass. “We have a blast,” he exclaims. He used to be a “big ball of nerves” before going on stage, but he recently feels like he’s getting comfortable in his own skin: “I’ve grown into myself, so now the stage is a second home, if you will. It’s where I can be myself, and where I can kind of show what I got.” Regarding his music, he says, “Imagination is key,” considering it “that thing that you can’t really put your finger on; it’s the thing that kind of keeps us alive.” From bedroom guitarist to believing “the sky’s the limit,” Josh Love isn’t just moving his fingers around his guitar, he’s seeking to communicate the message that music is life.

“WITH MY ALBUM, I’LL JUST BE PAINTING A PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE HUMAN IN A MUSICAL FORMAT.”

Follow Josh Love on Facebook and Instagram, and direct message him about playing for your next big event. Ask about his customizable playlists and song requests! WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 69

You’re Engaged - Now What Let Everything Artsy Make Your Dream Wedding a Reality

O…YOU ARE ENGAGED! IT’S WONDERFUL, EXCITING, exhilarating and then the questions come out of nowhere! When and where are you getting married and what type of wedding are you going to have? As brides begin thinking about their events, they are often confused about how much to spend, where to obtain specialized services, and how to choose vendors. These worries often mount as quickly as the cost of the event. After the excitement wears off and the reality settles in, it’s shocking to discover how much preparation is involved. The average wedding can take more than two hundred and fifty hours to plan. With today’s hectic lifestyles, many brides may not have time to compare all the options, making sure they get the best deal and making sure all the details are in place. This is where a good wedding designer’s number will come in handy. Not long ago, a wedding designer was thought of as a luxury, only used by the wealthy. Now a designer is an essential element of a well-planned affair. Couples are faced with decisions about everything from invitation wording to venue options as well as many other details, both big and small. It’s not surprising that they turn to professional help. Designers are not here to make decisions for you but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. Their training, knowledge, and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality. They want you to host a beautiful and distinctive event with no worries. You should enjoy your wedding and remember it always as one of the greatest events of your life! Being experienced in negotiating contracts with vendors and suppliers, the wedding designer saves you valuable time and money. Tanya Paul is just that person! She is the owner and lead designer of Everything Artsy Events located in Ruston, Louisiana. Everything Artsy Events is an event design company that specializes in weddings. They offer event planning services as well as full floral design and styling services. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BFA in Graphic Design and a Masters Degree in Education. Tanya is a former art teacher turned florist, designer and everything else that a bride needs to make her wedding dream a reality. Upon meeting her you will get a true sense of who she is and how she conducts her events. “Classy, creative and professional” are just a few of the words used by her clients in describing her and her events. Tanya truly treats 70 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

each event as if it was her own. She loves a challenge and is constantly adding to her collection of events, from trendy to classic, she has you covered in the most stunning, beautiful styles. Tanya’s background in art combined with her passion for design are the perfect combination for professional event planning. The team at Everything Artsy Events includes Tanya’s super talented family and co-workers. Tanya says, “It is an absolute blessing to have this opportunity to work alongside my family in a job where we can all use our strengths and talents to be a blessing to others.” Tanya has a vast collection of decorating materials and resources on hand for any and every type of event. Her shop is full of antique furniture, chandeliers, glassware, linens as well as many other items available for use with her events. If there is anything that she doesn’t already have that you want or have in mind, she will find a way to make it happen for you! Tanya and her team can produce “the dreamiest events that one’s imagination can come up with “as quoted by one of her clients. Everything you need for an event is provided by or delivered to Tanya at your venue. No running around town, last minute to rent or return items used in your event. She takes care of everything! As one father of the bride was quoted, “The fact that she set up and took down the event was money well spent! We literally only returned the keys to the venue the next day!” Another one of her clients said, “It was so nice to be able to walk in before the ceremony started, and get to experience it all, without the stress of doing it ourselves.” She says that, “Tanya really listens to what you want, and she gets to know you as a couple so that your wedding décor reflects your vision and personalities. I was never worried about how everything would look because I knew if Tanya and her team were doing it, it would be done 110%. The tiniest of details didn’t go unnoticed.” Tanya and her team welcome new ideas and challenges for events and would love the opportunity to work with you!

Meredith’s Musings SOLICITED SOLITUDE article by ME RE DI TH MC K IN N I E

ometimes, I miss being alone. In the last seven years, my life has gone from being a party of one to a party of five. I had a decade to myself prior to meeting my husband. Time was my friend; we coalesced and rarely hurried through life. Being a wife and mother means hurrying, checking items off the list, but oh the gratification it brings. I’m old school and keep a list. I’m young enough for it to be digital, but old enough to take the time to check each box. Attending so many needs in varying degrees makes me feel needed, but so much so that it can be stifling. With the added pressure of being a student and teacher coupled with my domestic commitments, I began to feel drained. There was not enough of me left for me. And I had had enough time with just me to genuinely miss myself. With a particularly weighty deadline approaching in November, I told my husband I needed some days to work uninterrupted. I had papers to write and finals to grade, and I couldn’t muster the strength to even plan any of it. He took the girls to his parent’s home a few hours away. The girls were excited, but not as much as I was. They left on Friday evening and weren’t returning until Tuesday night. I helped load the bags and fasten the girls into their seats.

I kissed my husband through the window and poked fun at the tears in his eyes. I still find myself surprised and humbled by how much he loves me. I did, however, have big plans after their departure. I poured myself a glass of wine, ran a warm bath that would not be rushed, and just sipped and read a book for pleasure. The work would be there tomorrow. I stayed submerged until my fingers pruned, and just as I reached to drain the tub, my phone rang. My husband wanted me to know he missed me already. I thought about that call long after it ended. I know my husband well enough to know how much he anticipated seeing his family, but I could also see how sad he was that I wouldn’t be joining them. I should have felt worse about it, but I didn’t. I know myself enough to know when I need a break. And I was overdue. I told him with the Christmas break approaching, I need to miss them to fully enjoy the togetherness again. I know this may sound odd, and many women revel in the day-to-day with their families, dreading any pauses or interruptions. But I’m not one of those women. I love my family, but I love my free time just as much. I skip to the car each morning going to work. I have an entire office all to myself, and no one constantly interrupts my work as they do

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at home. I have a purpose apart from what is expected of me by my circumstances. My home had become a place where it was hard to relax. But in those five days of solitude, my home became my oasis again. I didn’t go into the office. I had 2000 square feet all to myself. When I did venture to the grocery store, I came home to the house just as I’d left it. I woke early in the morning without being awoken, and I poured a luxuriously hot cup of coffee, curled back up in bed, and watched the news I’m normally only allowed in snippets over a motley of voices. I studied and wrote and graded in a solid sevenhour span, closed the laptop each day at a respectable hour, and kicked back without domestic duties looming. There was nothing waiting on me, no one calling my name. Several times throughout each day, I would FaceTime my family, laugh at the little girl-isms, make kiss faces at my husband through the screen, remind Wilder that no, I loved her more, and see how much fun they were all having. They needed a change of venue and I needed a reintroduction to mine. I tackled house organization projects, had long phone conversations with friends, drank more wine and made dinners that weren’t eaten in bites between grabbing everyone something else.

I just got to be. I marinated in the silence and solitude and it fed my deprived soul. On one call, Wilder asked, “Do you miss me, mama?” I hesitated and responded, “I’ll be so excited to see you when you get back.” My husband laughed from the belly. He knows me best. I realized that what I had been missing was me. I got lost in everyone around me. That break taught me one thing. I need to take more breaks. I need to give myself the freedom to demand private time, apart from the people I love most. I can love them more when I am the best version of me. I have more to give when I am fulfilled. And I can’t always depend on others to fill me up. I’m in charge of my own tank. I must recognize what I need, articulate those feelings, and insist on its priority. I am showing my girls what a mother does. And the message I want most for them is to take care of themselves, in whatever form necessary. For me, it’s solicited solitude. When my husband and the girls returned Tuesday evening, I had little girls piling on my lap, my husband’s warm, comforting embrace, and a chorus of “Mom, we missed you so much.” I grabbed Wilder’s face, looked deep into the eyes of the one who thrives on focused attention, and said wholeheartedly, “Mama missed you too.” And I meant it.

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The Cleaners of Ruston Announces Delivery Expansion into Ouachita Parish

HEY SAY THAT GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO wait and the Clark family of Ruston certainly knows that to be true. Cullen and Katie Clark, both Ruston natives, have had the entrepreneurial bug for quite awhile… ten years to be exact. It was then that Cullen wrote Jim Shepherd a letter. Jim was the owner for The Cleaners of Ruston, a locally owned dry cleaning business that was a mainstay in the Ruston community. Cullen let Mr. Shepherd know that if he was ever interested in selling the business, to please let him know. The letter went unanswered and The Clarks assumed it just wasn’t meant to be. Fast forward to 2019, when a chance meeting happened in perhaps the most small town way ever. Cullen was attending a funeral and another gentleman was holding the door open. That someone was Mr. Shepherd, whose ears perked up when he overheard someone say the name “Cullen.” He asked him if he was the one that wrote him a letter all those years ago, to which Cullen said yes. Mr. Shepherd said that after 56 years he was ready to sell and all the rest of the pieces fell into place. The Clarks are now proud owners of The Cleaners of Ruston and happy to be small business owners. “We wanted to invest in a small business in Northeast Louisiana, as we believe that they truly are the backbone of our community,” said Cullen. “We love tradition and believe that dry cleaning is a service that should not go out of style.” Katie adds, “There is a certain look of a businessman in a crisp, laundered shirt and suit, a fresh pressed dress at a wedding or a cowboy in a pair or starched jeans. Just recently, I had a friend call whose daughter was making her first communion. It was such a joy to get her sweet, white dress perfectly pressed and ready for her special day.” One of the things that appealed to the Clarks about The Cleaners of Ruston was the business’ reputation and longevity and they hope to continue that. They are proud to be able to keep employees that have been with the business for over 10 years, including their manager and dry cleaner, Mark Hough. Mark who was trained by Mr. Shepherd, is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute of Maryland. The Clarks know that the secret to the company’s success has been the dedication and support of their excellent employees. They are excited to bring on Marian Payne, who has worked in the Ouachita Parish dry cleaning business for years. Marian brings a passion for serving her customers that aligns perfectly 74 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

with The Cleaners of Ruston’s business standards. The Cleaners of Ruston operates out of a state of the art facility, that was built in 2004. It is rare in the dry cleaning business for a plant to be meticulously clean and organized but that is just what you will find when you visit The Cleaners of Ruston. Not only do they want you to feel comfortable about how your clothes are being treated, they want their employees to feel the same way. It is rare in the industry to have an air conditioned plant but their’s is because they want to provide the most comfortable working environment for their employees. They continuously invest in efficient machinery to keep up with technology and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to industry practices. The Cleaners of Ruston offers dry cleaning services, laundry services, wash and fold options, alterations, linens and household items, wedding dress cleaning and preservation, leather, suede and fur cleaning, lab coat cleaning and more. “We can make a difference in people’s lives through our business. Our employees and customers are The Cleaners two greatest assets. Our goal is to provide quality service to our customers and for our employees to continue to grow and love what they do. If we can achieve that, its a win-win,”said Cullen. Katie mentions, “Not only do we clean your clothes but we remove stains, replace missing buttons and make necessary repairs as needed. Our goal is to return each garment in ‘ready to wear’ condition.” Every garment that comes into their facility gets a personal touch, with an awareness of quality control at every stage of the process. At any time, all employees are empowered to send a garment to another department if it needs attention, whether for spotting, alterations or pressing. Another aspect of their service is free pick up and drop off at your home or office. And while their name is The Cleaners of Ruston, they aren’t limited to Ruston. They are excited to announce their expansion into Ouachita Parish. Whether you are in Monroe or West Monroe, you can now depend on The Cleaners of Ruston as your go-to dry cleaner! Katie and Cullen Clark are happy to be a part of the community that is Northeast Louisiana. They have three children - Cullen, 13, Anna Kate, 11, and Nealy, 9. They are active at Trinity United Methodist Church, where the teach Sunday School. They look forward to being able to offer the service and quality that The Cleaners of Ruston has been known for and serving the community for years to come!

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The ULTRA Lifestyle Michelob Ultra Gold Powered By the Sun

ICHELOB ULTRA PURE GOLD, THE FIRST NATIONALLY available USDA certified organic lager and the brand that knows a thing or two about enjoying nature, announces it is now brewed with 100% renewable electricity from solar power. This announcement marks a major sustainability milestone for Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, as it will be the first beer within the Anheuser-Busch U.S. portfolio to make this distinction. “As the best-selling USDA certified organic beer in the country, Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold has always celebrated nature and now we’re going further by brewing our beer sustainably with 100% solar electricity,” said Ricardo Marques, Vice President of Michelob ULTRA. “This Earth Day we look forward to celebrating our commitment together with our long-standing partner, Maluma, who shares in our passion for nature and sustainability.” ABOUT MICHELOB ULTRA PURE GOLD Introduced in 2018, Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold is a USDA-certified organic light lager with organic ingredients sourced from the finest farms. At just 85 calories, 2.6 carbs and a superior golden taste, Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold is the first organic beer from a national brewer. As of 2021, Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold is brewed with 100% renewable electricity from solar power. The Michelob family has been around a long time, has brought us many great-iconic beers such as, Michelob Lager, Michelob Light and Michelob Amber Bock. In 2002, they introduced Michelob ULTRA and it has actually proven to be the fastest growing brand in the business as Michelob Ultra remains the largest share gainer in the US, now for eight consecutive quarters. Appealing to active people of all ages, the Michelob ULTRA™ family promotes the “ULTRA™ lifestyle,” Michelob ULTRA supports an active, social lifestyle and is proud to be a sponsor of athletic events across the country, ranging from running and cycling competitions to golf tournaments. It’s positioning – call it inspirational for the aspirational -- reflects a clear understanding that people today, especially the younger, more affluent people that represent the brand’s target audience, are inspired to live an all-together healthier lifestyle. Not dieting or eating less fattening food, but pursuing healthier choices in all aspects of life. Since Michelob ULTRA™ was introduced in 2002, its high end American-style has appealed to the masses. People who are interested in a low carb lifestyle finally had an option to choose from when it came to beer. Its subtle fruit and citrus aromas compliment this light-bodied beer’s smooth and refreshing taste. One year after its introduction, Michelob 76 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

ULTRA™ became the fastest-growing new brand in the industry and was a phenomenal hit among adult fitness enthusiasts, adult consumers living an active lifestyle, and those looking for a great-tasting beer with lower carbohydrates and fewer calories. The original Michelob ULTRA™ has 4.2% alcohol by volume, 95 calories and only 2.6 grams of carbs per serving, making it one of the lowest carb beer choices on the market. But Michelob ULTRA™ isn’t the only choice when it comes to low carb brew. The ULTRA family offers many choices for a wide variety of taste. • Michelob ULTRA™ Amber is a beer that is full in flavor and rich in color with great amber taste and 3.7g of carbs, 114 calories and 5% alcohol by volume. • Michelob ULTRA™ Lime Cactus boasts a refreshing lime taste, perfect for summer days. With 4% alcohol by volume, 95 calories, and only 5.5 grams of carbs per serving it makes a great choice for healthy beer drinkers. • Made with organic grains from the country’s finest fields, Michelob ULTRA™ Pure Gold is a light lager with a superior, golden taste. With only 2.5 carbs and 85 calories, Pure Gold is triple filtered and brewed free of artificial colors and flavors. • Michelob Ultra Infusions Pomegranate & Agave is a crisp, refreshing light lager infused with real exotic fruit. The product will be released in 6 pack bottles and 12 pack cans. The beers in the Infusions line each have 95 calories and 4 percent alcohol-by-volume. • Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer has zero carbs, 80 calories, zero sugar and is six times filtered. The brand launches with three initial flavors: Spicy Pineapple, Peach Pear and Cucumber Lime, followed by a second variety pack later in 2021. Locally, Marsala Beverage employs about 100 full-time employees. Marsala Beverage, LP is the largest malt beverage, wine/spirits and nonalcoholic distributor in Northeast Louisiana. Their success is based on the fact that they never lose sight of delivering what is really important – quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for our customers’ needs. Annually, they deliver over 2.4 million cases of beverages to over 700 retail accounts. Please find us at www.marsalabeverage.com or follow us on social media: Facebook: Marsala Beverage Twitter: @marsalabeverage1 Instagram: @marsalabeverage

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June is Men’s Health Month St. Francis Medical Group Offers Men’s Comprehensive Wellness Exams

EN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO RECEIVE CERTAIN diagnoses but are often nearly half as willing to go to the doctor for preventative screenings. Men’s Health Month is the perfect time to remind the men you love about the importance of having a primary care provider and an annual wellness exam. Primary care providers with the Medical Group are now offering a comprehensive wellness exam focusing on the unique health needs of men starting at age 20. It’s important to have a primary care provider that is caring for your overall health and not just treating symptoms. A comprehensive wellness exam for men considers all aspects of your health, from weight loss to reproductive issues. When making an appointment for your comprehensive wellness exam, you can expect a physical exam, skin cancer exam and immunization check. Various lab tests will be ordered based on your age. Your provider may recommend both a cardiac screening and a testicular cancer screening. For those over the age of 50, prostate cancer screening and colorectal cancer screening are recommended.Depending on your individual needs, your provider may suggest services including customized treatment of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, testosterone deficiency, etc. St. Francis Medical Group also offers complementary services which can positively impact your overall health and wellness. Medical Spa Services – even men like to be pampered! The Medical Spa by St. Francis Medical Group offers facial and body treatments including laser hair removal and the latest in anti-aging products and techniques. Nutrition Weight Loss Services – if your provider determines that weight loss may be appropriate, St. Francis Medical Group offers Ideal Protein, a modified keto diet combined with professional support and healthy eating education. If you are ready to schedule your comprehensive wellness exam, call the St. Francis Medical Group at (318) 966-8600. If you are a current patient of St. Francis Medical Group, call your existing Medical Group primary care provider for more information or to schedule an appointment.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER (PCP) Your primary care provider is not just someone to call when you’re not feeling your best. Instead, they serve as the gatekeeper of your health; someone who can not only get you feeling better, but help you stay healthier, longer. They help you understand your health and health concerns, as well 78 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

as screen for blood pressure issues, high cholesterol and depression. Your PCP is someone who understands your health history and can help control chronic illnesses and monitor for new problems. How often should you see your primary care provider? To best manage your health, all patients should be seen at least once a year, but did you know that some diagnoses call for more frequent visits? • Controlled Hypertension: Every 6 months* •C ontrolled Diabetes Hemoglobin A1C 7mg/dl < 7: Every 3-6 months* • Diabetes Hemoglobin A1C 7mg/dl > 7: Every 3 months* • High cholesterol: Every 12 months* • Peripheral vascular disease: Every 6 months* • Coronary artery disease: Every 6 months* • Chronic kidney disease: Every 6 months* • COPD/Asthma: Every 6 months* *Suggestions are only estimates What screenings can a PCP provide? Your PCP can screen for many health concerns and help you understand those results. Screenings may include: • Arthritis • Blood pressure • Cancer screening measures • Cholesterol • Asthma • COPD • Depression • Diabetes • Immunization updates What should patients expect from a PCP appointment? Once you’ve secured a new PCP, what should you expect? At your first appointment with a new PCP, your provider will usually perform a full physical exam and discuss your complete medical history. For men, a physical exam usually includes: • Height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and temperature measurement • General examination of eyes, ears, throat, lymph nodes, lungs, heart, abdomen, liver, spleen and neurologic function • For men under 40, a hernia check and testicular exam • For men over 40, a rectal exam Most importantly, your primary care provider should always provide time to talk, listen and answer your questions.

B AYO U W E D D I N G S

The Perfect Palette

Find your perfect palette and then everything else falls in place. Think of your favorite piece of art, a special memory from childhood, a textile from travel and let that dictate your color inspiration. On the following pages, Taylor Bennett creates a cohesive look that hits all of our nature-inspired dreams. From blush tones to natural woods, citrus drink to floral invitations – these are a few of our favorite things. S T Y L E D B Y TAY L O R B E N N E T T A N D P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K FLORALS PROVIDED BY CARLSTEDT’S MONROE

BLUSH DREAMS By using a napkin in the same hue as the charger, Taylor creates a cohesive tablescape with complementary florals adorning the table.

GARDEN VIBES Nib & Flow created a floral-inspired invitation package mixing a vellum overlay with a traditional design.

HAVE A SEAT Nib &Flow created a table seating arrangement on a reclaimed window creating a polished yet playful detail.

IN BLOOM Taylor created this gorgeous bouquet combining full peonies, Quicksand roses, blue thistle, blue and white delphinium, olive leaf, bay leaf, Tibet garden roses, wax flowers and lisianthus. Dress available at Blush by Sadie C’s.

SWEET ENDINGS Sugar Bakery created a lightly frosted two-tiered cake with flowing florals completing the look.

SIGNATURE SIPS This signature drink combines rosemary and citrus with adds a pop of color and combines seasonal ingredients that highlight an outdoor wedding.

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Breast Augmentation Training and Experience Matter

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

VER 200,000 BREAST augmentations are performed annually by American plastic surgeons. Since I opened my practice in Monroe in 1990, I have personally done well over 1500. It is by far the most common procedure that I perform, and it is certainly one of the most gratifying. There are very few surgical procedures that in the course of an hour can have such a profound and lasting impact on the way a woman feels about herself. Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour. Most are done through a small incision in the fold beneath the breast or around the edge of the nipple. Either approach results in a small scar that is well hidden. About 95% of the breast augmentations I perform are with silicone implants. I use smooth implants that are round or disc shaped. All round implants take on a teardrop configuration when they are upright in your body. Implants can be placed either above or below the chest wall muscle. Each of these options has its pros

and cons. I use both of them when appropriate, as I try to tailor the operation to the patient’s desires and her anatomy. At the initial consultation, considerable time is spent discussing the patient’s motivation for surgery and the result she hopes to obtain. A series of breast and chest wall measurements are taken, and the breast tissue and overlying skin are evaluated so that I have a thorough understanding of the patient’s starting point. Rib and chest wall asymmetries, differences in breast width, height, projection and shape, and differences in nipple level are all noted and discussed with the patient. I have never seen two breasts that are perfectly identical. Minor asymmetries are normal. As a patient once told me, “breasts are sisters, not twins.” Much of the initial consultation is spent discussing desired breast size. While every woman knows that breasts basically come in two sizes – too large or too small - my job is to align the patient’s wishes with a result I can realistically deliver. Patients generally describe

their breasts in terms of cup size. Unfortunately, breast implants don’t even come in cup sizes; they come in volume sizes and base widths. So, a 300cc implant may make one woman a “B” cup and another a “D” depending on her chest wall width, the pliability of her skin, the amount of breast tissue she starts out with and where she buys her bra. Choosing the appropriate implant size is more complicated than simply looking at pictures on the internet and picking a number. It requires thoughtful discussion and assessment of many variables. I listen carefully and provide guidance and advice on implant size so the patient can be realistic about the surgical result. In the end, I rely mostly on the patient’s measurements and my clinical judgment. It pays off. In over thirty years of breast implant surgery, re-operation simply to change implant size has occurred in less than 1% of my patients. Overall, complications from breast augmentation are few. Most patients can return to work within a week and can return to full unrestricted activity in three weeks. So if you have been considering breast augmentation, you don’t need to leave town to have it done. Call Mickel Plastic Surgery at 3882050 for an initial evaluation and a thorough discussion of the procedure, the recovery and the risks. I encourage you to visit www. mickelplasticsurgery.com, browse the before and after gallery, then decide for yourself. Thirty years of experience matters. Just one hour of surgery can have a positive impact for years to come.

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Down the Aisle

Walsworth & Company, Your Wedding Registry Headquarters

T IS OFFICIALLY TIME TO TAKE A WALK DOWN THE AISLE. With wedding season upon us, it is the perfect time to visit the staff at Walsworth & Company and explore their newly renovated bridal registry space, aptly named Down the Aisle; the Twin Cities’ newest twist on bridal registry. Down the Aisle, located inside Walsworth & Company, presents a unique bridal registry experience created for today’s bride. Building from a vision of providing local brides with a premier wedding registry destination, the team at Walsworth & Company has devoted more than 1,400 square feet of newly renovated showroom to their registry area. Continuing the Walsworth tradition of downtown restoration, the remodeled area features original architectural elements such as exposed beam work and a rustic accent wall created from the original hardwoods. Adorning the space are five newly installed crystal chandeliers providing a classic ambiance within the space. Unlike the online registries, brides have grown accustomed to, the experts at Walsworth & Company help take the guesswork out of registering and are prepared to guide registrants through the entire registry process providing a checklist along the way. Helping to ensure all of your registry needs are met and your service is truly personalized. Providing brides with pieces from Zodax, Beatriz Ball, Abigails, Emile Henry, and Nora Fleming, the selection is truly unparalleled. As a special gift to their brides, Walsworth and Company will be

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gifting each bride a gift certificate valued at 10% of the total of their registry to be used throughout the store; no more unused credits or gift cards. Another benefit to registering at Walsworth and Company, no more duplicate gifts! You can make exchanges for other items throughout the store such as rugs, pillows, art, furniture; the list goes on and on. Once you’ve completed your registry, don’t forget to take advantage of their vast collection of gift items for your hostess and bridal party gifts. Housing home fragrance brands such as Nest, Capri Blue, Nouvelle, as well as Orleans, let Walsworth and Company be your gift headquarters. When you need to treat yourself, select something luxurious from their expansive Archipelago, Lollia or Spongelle collections. When the wedding is over, Walsworth and Company will continue to be your go-to for all things home decor, from lighting to bedding and seasonal pieces; Walsworth and Company are always ready to help transform your house into a home. Stop in today to see the newest and most elegant bridal registry to hit the twin cities! Walsworth and Company, your home decor, gift, and now bridal registry headquarters. Located at 311 Trenton Street on Antique Alley in downtown West Monroe. Open Monday - Saturday 10 AM- 5:30 PM. Follow us on Facebook for design inspiration and product updates!

Your Hometown Urologist Dr. Robert Marx Specializes in Vasectomies

ITH FATHER’S DAY JUST around the corner, it has many families asking, “Is it time to retire the swimmers?” If so, it may be time to schedule your vasectomy. Vasectomy is a medical procedure in which two tubes (the vas deferens) that carry sperm from the testicles to the urinary tract are tied and sealed. This prevents sperm from passing into the seminal stream and fertilizing a woman’s egg. Although it is permanent, it is surgically reversible in most cases. Reversibility is dependent upon time elapsed since the vasectomy. When it comes to forms of permanent male birth control, a vasectomy is the ideal permanent surgical procedure available to men. The procedure carries very low risk of complications and is available to be performed as an outpatient procedure with localized anesthesia. Dr. Marx performs a nocut technique, which is the least invasive. The patient is sedated and local anesthesia is used in order to achieve a painless procedure.

THE VASECTOMY PROCEDURE IS NEARLY 100% EFFECTIVE Prior to a vasectomy, patients may be asked to prepare by: • Washing the scrotum to prevent infection • Not shaving the area • Bringing a pair of tight-fitting underwear or athletic support to the surgery to support the scrotum and minimize swelling • Arranging for transportation home to prevent extraneous movement • Avoiding anti-inflammatory drugs prior to and following the procedure, which thins the blood and can cause excessive bleeding After the vasectomy is completed, patients are advised to rest for two days in order to reduce swelling and allow the vas deferens to heal. Discomfort may last for up to a week after the procedure, with patients

often being prescribed anti-inflammatory or painkillers for pain. Patients are encouraged to avoid heavy lifting, straining or squatting for one week. If you do any of these activities for work, you may need to take off work or arrange for light duty. Dr. Marx can provide an excuse, if neccesary. Also, keep the area dry for a week as well. If you are considering a vasectomy, call today to discuss your options with Dr. Marx. Robert D. Marx, M.D. is this community’s hometown urologist. He was born and raised right here in Monroe, Louisiana. He graduated from NLU, 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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Let Tonore’s Cater to You Every Event Big or Small

ET’S ADMIT IT - WHILE GUESTS are always happy to celebrate the union of a dear friend or family member, their favorite part of the wedding is the food and the booze (especially the latter). A good wedding bar setup can really enhance the guest experience, but there can be a lot more to the standard drink bar than serving up beer. Glassware, mixers, and delivery is something that no one really wants to think about while planning the rest of their big day! Planning a special event: birthday party, engagement party, class reunion or even wedding reception, let Russell at Tonores help you find the right combination for your occasion! On a budget? No problem! At Tonores Wine Cellar, they can help you pick out the best options for your budget. There’s one surefire way to make your wedding memorable (in the worst possible way): run out of alcohol. To prevent this

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reception catastrophe, let Tonore’s do all of the work for you! Russell can do everything from start to finish., as he is equipped with tables, table clothes, glassware, everything you need for your event. He does any size event from personal tastings to huge weddings. Just tell him exactly what you want and he and his team can do the rest from set-up to clean-up. THE OPEN BAR An open bar is the most gracious approach. Guests can order any drink at the bar, and you’ll have to pick up the tab when the party’s done. Because there’s no limit, people may drink like guppies. Know anyone who tends to imbibe too much? Tell the bartender in advance. Anyone planning to serve alcohol at their wedding will probably agree that an open bar is ideal—but we know it can get pricey. Not everyone can dedicate a significant

chunk of their reception budget to a night of unlimited, free-flowing spirits. That’s why we’ve come up with a few alternatives to the full, open bar that aren’t a cash bar (because you should never ask your guests to enjoy your party out of pocket). Here’s how to cut back on wedding reception alcohol without depriving your guests. THE LIMITED BAR You offer a selection of drinks—beer, wine, and a signature cocktail, for example— and set specific consumption times, such as the cocktail hour, the toasts and during dancing. Keep it simple with the essentials: wine, beer and a signature drink, with the option of beer and a hard-alcoholic sip, you should be able to satisfy pretty much everyone’s cocktail cravings.

VelaShape III Body Shaping Treatments The Woman’s Clinic Allows You to Wear Confidence

HEN IT COMES TO YOUR appearance, how often does the phrase “what if” cross your mind? “What if I were a size smaller, and I could fit into that dress?” “What if I felt as good in all my pants as I do in my favorite pair?” These are questions we’ve all asked ourselves at one time or another. Confidence and lifestyle satisfaction play a big role in the care and well-being of today’s woman. In a recent survey of American women, 70% worry about developing a tummy bulge. 81% are concerned about maintaining their body shape and 45% are afraid cellulite will remain a concern. At The Woman’s Clinic, our mission is to provide total care for today’s woman. In fulfilling that mission, we provide services that let us ask our patients these questions; “What if you could wear confidence? What if the fitting room was where everything fit?

What if all your pants were your good-butt pants?” To address this, we offer a non-invasive body contouring product called VelaShape III. VelaShape III™ technology combines infrared light and bi-polar radio frequency. This type of system stimulates the growth of new and better collagen and elastin. VelaShape enables you to safely achieve a toned, contoured and well-shaped body in typically 3 treatment sessions (single treatment protocol is also available); making you look and feel more youthful. VelaShape provides dramatic results without downtime or significant discomfort. Cellulite treatment areas could be on the arms, thighs, buttocks, flank and abdomen. Most patients see gradual and cumulative results throughout the treatment regime. VelaShape III has been clinically proven to work on a variety of different treatments including: • Cellulite Reduction

• Body Contouring • Shrinking of Fat Cells • Skin Tightening

In clinical trials, the body contouring power of VelaShape III led to a reduction of one whole dress size after treatment! VelaShape III treatments are incredibly easy, quick, and simple and offer minimal downtime or discomfort. Each treatment lasts about fifteen minutes and most patients describe the treatment as feeling like a warm massage. We invite you stop saying “WHAT IF?” and ask us about VelaShape III, so you can get that perfect fit. Schedule your free consult with our cosmetics nurse to learn more about Velashape III and other cellulite treatments. Like us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on all of our services and special pricing. www.thewomansclinic.net | 318-388-4030

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Bayou Bowl Introduces New Updates

Local Bowling Alley Installs Projection Screens Adding to Entertainment

AYOU BOWL IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR improvements, just in time for the summer season! Owner Lauren Cusimano has had a vision and dream since she took over the local bowling alley in 2011. Last year, Bayou Bowl introduced an updated feel with new flooring installed throughout the building as well as new paint and renovated bathrooms. This year, they are excited to introduce their new screens above each lane. A mounted projector shows music videos that coordinate with the music playing throughout the venue. In addition to videos, you can watch sporting games. They are excited to show LSU football, Saints football, basketball and more, so everyone can keep up with their favorite teams while enjoying bowling. Lauren says that the screens are just another way that Bayou Bowl is doing everything to keep up with technology and what the public wants. “We think that this technology adds to the already fun experience of coming to Bayou Bowl,” said Lauren. “This is a modern update that just adds to the experience and entertainment.” If you really want to experience the difference the screens make, check out Bayou Luminescence from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. each Friday. The bowling alley is transformed with blacklights and music, adding to the energy and entertainment. “This entire process has been almost a decade in the making and it has been long, but it has been worth it!” Lauren said. “Especially after the last year. But we are happy to say we made it through the other side of being closed for months and we are glad to still be here after 39 years!” While Lauren had the vision for the updates, it was certainly a team effort.

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“I couldn’t have done this without my general manager, David Campbell and our entire management team and staff members,” said Lauren. Bayou Bowl would like to thank Jacob at North Louisiana Electric, Martin at Crest Construction, Jon at 318 Construction and Michael at Innovative Tech for making the vision come to life. And the ultimate vision isn’t completed quite yet. In the coming months, Bayou Bowl will replace the ball returns at the beginning of each lane. They also nearing the completion of their new expanded kitchen with all new appliances. Be on the lookout for new menu items, including some plant based items for some healthy options. And bowling isn’t all Bayou Bowl has to offer. You can check out their bumper cars, pool tables and arcade games for added fun! You can enjoy all of the updates with some of the specials and camps Bayou Bowls offers throughout the summer. Take advantage of their “All You Can Bowl” special on Thursdays, which includes unlimited bowling and shoe rental for just $15. Their summer bowling camps get underway June 14th and are for kids from seven years to seventeen years old. For just $99 per week, they will attend camp Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will learn bowling basics and scoring. House balls, shoes and hot lunch are provided. Kids can also join the Summer Youth Club on Monday nights for eight weeks of bowling. Lauren and her team at Bayou Bowl invite you to visit and continue to make memories and enjoy wholesome family fun!

Bold and Brilliant

Black and White Design Story

VERY ROOM DESERVES A STORY. The use of black and white in design can create a stunning and dramatic décor. Finding how to best take advantage of the combination of these two simple colors can maximize your decorating statement. There’s a rule in decorating that says that “every room can use a touch of black.“ You might think this is strange if you have a room of pastels or jewel tones. But take a minute. Using the color black adds a focal point of color that anchors, grounds, and adds a sophisticated look to a room. Black in accessories, light fixtures, paint, trims or in one bold piece of furniture will help to catch the eye and sharpen any decorating scheme. It will serve as an outline that sets off specific objects or areas. Black by itself is striking. But to get real spark and drama, pair black and white. The use of black and white in decorating gives a clean, fresh, unquestionably

sophisticated, and elegant look to any room. Black and white are a perfect color combination for any decorating style. Contemporary interiors often combine black and white with sleek metals. French Country decorating style, among many others, is often set off with this color combination. If you are afraid of using just black and white, add variety using areas of yellow, teal, pink, camel, red, green, or purple for a striking look. Keeping black and white prominent, however, preserves the elegant effect. HOW TO USE BLACK AND WHITE IN YOUR HOME A black and white floor is a good place to start. The ultimate choice would be beautiful black marble set off with tall white baseboard moldings. Short of that, try white ceramic tiles with a black border, or octagonal black and white tiles set into a pattern with a black border. Walls painted stark white or a soft, ivory

white serve as a perfect background for artwork. One of my go to colors is Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. Its not too stark and not to yellow in tone. If you are exceptionally bold you can paint those walls black. A go-to color is Black Magic by Sherwin Williams. It is a bold rich black that adds that needed punch. A small room is a great place to choose black and white as the main color scheme. A powder room or small bathroom looks elegant with a black marble countertop, a white sink and shiny gold accessories. Contemporary homes incorporate black and white in wonderful ways. Use dark charcoal rugs or carpeting. Choose vibrant accent colors for a focal point. Add color artwork, shiny or matte finish metal accents, and modern designed fabrics. Let Clinton Whitney Downing and the Revival Design team assist you in discovering your black and white story and all the accent hues between. Revival is located at 300 Walnut in Historic Downtown Monroe. Our Summer hours are 11:00 am – 5:00 pm TuesdaySaturday. Revival will be open Thursday, June 3rd from 11:00 am- 9:00 pm as part of the revival of the Downtown Gallery Crawl. Twenty artists will be featured with food, libations and music. Come join the fun and find your design inspirations.

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BEHIND THE LENS

ANGELA SHOEMAKER Perhaps you know the recently-wed Shoemaker by her maiden name, Groce, and the business she owns and operates called Unveiled Radiance. This year marks her tenth as a business owner and photographer, a milestone she herself can’t believe she’s celebrating.

WHEN ANGELA SHOEMAKER first arrived on Louisiana Tech’s campus, she was sure the journalism degree she was working toward would be her ticket into the world of sports broadcasting. She would stand on the sidelines with a microphone in hand and a camera fixed squarely on her as she scored exclusive interviews with your favorite team’s coaches and players. But after she made her way across the Thomas Assembly Center stage to shake the university president’s hand and receive her diploma in 2010, some of that certainty had begun to fade. “After college, you’re kind of in that whole headspace of like, ‘Maybe I want to change my mind. I don’t know now,’” she explains. So, rather than race to put her initial career plans into action, Shoemaker returned to West Monroe, the city she’s called home since kindergarten, and accepted a job at State Farm — a position she wasn’t passionate about — while she weighed her options for what would come next. Fast forward to the present day, when her occupational uncertainty is gone, and Shoemaker is totally convinced her photography career is the path she is supposed to be on. Perhaps you know the recently-wed Shoemaker by her maiden

name, Groce, and the business she owns and operates called Unveiled Radiance. This year marks her tenth as a business owner and photographer, a milestone she herself can’t believe she’s celebrating. And though her stream of clients has been consistent since the beginning, Shoemaker admits she never imagined being where she is. Shoemaker’s photography career began when Jamal Miller, a good friend of hers, asked if she was willing to photograph his best friend’s wedding. “I had shot pictures at Tech of friends for senior pictures and families at church here and there but never thought about it as a career at all,” she says. “I was like, ‘People actually do that as like, a real job? I thought that was just for fun.’” Despite having no professional photography experience, Shoemaker accepted her friend’s invitation and, after consulting YouTube, Google, and Pinterest, shot her first wedding in October 2011 and fell in love with the job. “I was able to kind of portray this beautiful thing that was someone getting married, and it was literally frozen in time for the rest of eternity; I thought that was the coolest thing ever,” she says before adding with a laugh, “Also, I really liked telling people what to do and being in charge.”

A RT ICL E BY STA R L A GATSON a nd P H O T O G R A P H Y BY K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K

BAYOU A RT IST

COUPLE GOALS

“You get to make relationships with all these couples,” she says. “You get to shoot their weddings, but then after that, you’re shooting their families, their births, their kids, and so on and so on, and then you get to shoot their sister or brother’s wedding. You really become family with them. They invite you into their home and all their big moments after that.”

THEN, THE RECENT GRADUATE was left to wonder if professional photography was a path she could pursue. So, she prayed. “I was like, ‘Alright, Lord, if this is what I’m supposed to do, I just need like 15 weddings next year to know that I can pay my bills,’” she recalls. Her prayer was answered quickly; in November, the aspiring photographer shot her second wedding, and by the time January rolled around, she had booked 12 ceremonies for the upcoming year. So, it was decided: Angela Shoemaker was going to be a professional photographer. The worlds of sports broadcasting and photography are very different on the surface, but Shoemaker believes the two are more similar than you might realize, and the jump from one passion to the other isn’t as drastic as it sounds. Considering the environment in which she grew up, pursuing sports broadcasting just made sense. “My dad and I were always watching sports, always going to sporting events, and I played sports,” she explains. “That was what drew me into doing broadcasting; I just loved that aspect of getting to be in the excitement of it all.” With photography, on the other hand, she’s still part of the action and excitement, only instead of chasing a famous quarterback down for a quote after an awesome game, she’s using a camera to document the major events of a client’s life. Both jobs focus on storytelling, she says, which is one of the things that led her to journalism in the first place. “I realized I’m able to still tell those stories, but just in a different aspect,” she says. “It’s still through my vision and viewpoint.” Her images, some of which can be seen on her Instagram profile @unveiledradiance or website www. unveiledradiancephotography.com, have kept business booming for the West Monroe resident, with her sometimes shooting up to 30 weddings a year. Even with the busy weekends filled with shoots and weekdays packed with

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editing and booking, Shoemaker loves what she does — “Ten years, and I haven’t hated it yet!” she exclaims — not just because she loves looking at the world through the lens of her camera, but because of the bonds she’s built along the way. She and her community of local photographers, for example, lean on one another, and having their support goes a long way. “You’re like, ‘OK, there are good humans in the world that want you to succeed and do well,’ and they’re also in your world, so it’s nice to have that, too,” she says of her friendships with other people within her field. It isn’t just the support from fellow photographers that make her job worthwhile, however. The friendships Shoemaker shares with her clients play a significant role in making her love what she does. In fact, those client connections are her favorite part of the job. “You get to make relationships with all these couples,” she says. “You get to shoot their weddings, but then after that, you’re shooting their families, their births, their kids, and so on and so on, and then you get to shoot their sister or brother’s wedding. You really become family with them. They invite you into their home and all their big moments after that.” Fortunately for her, capturing those special moments is exactly what Shoemaker had in mind when she named her business as a recent college graduate years ago. The name Unveiled Radiance is a nod to 2 Corinthians 3:18, Shoemaker explains, which is a passage of the Bible that references humanity being seen in the light and radiance of Jesus Christ. And that — snapping images of people in both light and radiance — was exactly what she set out to do. “When I read that verse, I was like, ‘That’s it.’ That’s exactly what I want to portray, letting people be seen in their best light, and my faith being an important part of that and letting the Lord just kind of lead me where I was going to go with my camera.”

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DREAM DREAMER

“Sometimes, you just have to jump off that cliff, and even though it seems really scary, it’s so worth it,” she advises. “Even if it doesn’t work out or if it fails, you tried. You dreamed big and you gave it your all.”

Though she often finds herself capturing her clients in their best light during senior and family sessions, weddings make up the majority of Shoemaker’s work, and for good reason: because “wedding cake is awesome,” she says, laughing. Then, she goes on, “I think I just love weddings because you’re able to give someone a lifetime of memories. Not that I don’t love seniors or families, but I really just love love, and I love being able to document that for them to look back on.” Plus, she adds, each wedding is different, and being part of each unique ceremony is another pull to the job. The unique ceremonies of which she speaks have led Shoemaker to destinations like Switzerland and Ireland, where her photos have been used to promote tourism in each country, respectively. “The travel part was also a huge pull, getting to go to all of these amazing places and getting to shoot them and shoot people in them, and that’s been more than I thought was going to happen.” It’s clear that Unveiled Radiance has come a long way since its establishment. Shoemaker’s small beginnings as an uncertain college graduate who decided to try something new have blossomed into something much larger than she thought it would be, and she attributes her success to her willingness to go all-in from the very start. “Sometimes, you just have to jump off that cliff, and even though it seems really scary, it’s so worth it,” she advises. “Even 94 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

if it doesn’t work out or if it fails, you tried. You dreamed big and you gave it your all. I could’ve easily been working at State Farm or doing something else, but I really did give my all to it. If you work hard and put in the effort, and you do things with integrity and excellence and you’re kind to people and show grace, I think that brings you a lot in life.” And one more piece of wisdom she offers: be authentic. “I think that’s what people are drawn to with Unveiled Radiance,” she muses. “I’m just going to be me and I’m going to have fun and bring joy and be ridiculously goofy and help them know I want them to have the very best days and sessions and moments with their families and people.” Though she is grateful to be where she is in her career, Shoemaker hopes her hard work and dedication continue to bring new things into her life, specifically a wedding venue of her own to operate in the future. But for now, she mostly hopes to make time for the things that inspire her creativity, and she encourages other creatives to do the same. “Burnout is definitely a real thing,” she says. “It definitely happens with creatives because I feel like you’re giving so much not just emotionally and mentally, but physically, too. I think it’s healthy to give yourself outlets of keeping yourself inspired.” Her outlets include spending time with her friends and family, including her

new husband, who she met while shooting a wedding, by the way. “They encourage me all the time to do my gift, but they also don’t see me as just a photographer. That’s a healthy thing for me to know I don’t have to just be ‘photographer Angela.’ I can just be Angela with them.” She says she also draws inspiration from traveling and looking at other artists’ work and adds, “Anything that gives you new ideas and new elements to your work and your craft is always good.” And speaking of her work and her craft, of course, Shoemaker’s future plans include continuing to take photos and establish connections with people. She loves her job and at this point, can’t imagine her life without a camera in hand, she says. “I really, really enjoy going to work every day, and I wanted that aspect of it being a joyful thing I was getting to experience, not something I dreaded going to every day,” she explains of Unveiled Radiance. “I know not everybody has that luxury, but I just felt like the Lord really opened up that door, that it was going to be a place where I could use my gift and really have fun doing it.”

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A Personal Touch

Nib & Flow Design Offers Calligraphy and Custom Stationery

STABLISHED IN 2015, NIB & FLOW DESIGN IS A calligraphy and stationery design studio owned by Meagan Russell. Through Nib & Flow Design, Meagan has revitalized the historical practice of calligraphy, giving a beautiful touch back to the modern world. The name Nib & Flow Design was largely influenced by the term ‘ebb and flow;’ a phrase highlighting the cyclical nature of earth and applying the natural ebb and flow to the practice of handwriting and calligraphy. As the ink flows from the nib and hits the paper, it swells with passion and energy and then it diminishes to thin lines creating episodes of quietness, calmness and space. Up and down, back and forth, give and take, push and pull, ebb and flow paving way for Nib and Flow. Hailing from a graphic design background and sparked by her own engagement, Meagan was inspired to learn the art of calligraphy. Her love for the craft grew immediately and shortly after attending her first workshop, she became a member of the International Association of Master Penman, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH). Joining this association has given Meagan the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most renowned calligraphers. While there are numerous styles of calligraphy, Meagan focuses on traditional hands, such as English Roundhand, Copperplate and Spencerian. When selecting a calligrapher and stationer, it is important

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to understand each of these to match the aesthetic of your big day or event. For brides, the invitation suite is and should be a reflection of you and your fiancé as a couple. Just like a marriage, it is a union of your personal styles. Custom invitations paired with hand calligraphed envelopes provide guests with a first glimpse of your wedding and sets the stage for what is to come. By working with Meagan, brides will have the ability to create a custom design, allowing them to be involved throughout the process. Invitations should command attention, and by choosing a professional stationer and calligrapher your invitation will stand out the moment it’s received, and singles out each guest with pride and customization. Custom invitations go the extra mile in relaying to guests their importance of their attendance on the big day. Nib and Flow Design specializes in all things custom from wedding invitations and stationery to vows and keepsake wedding certificates. A special wedding gift could be a foiled bible with the couple’s new name on it or a hand painted house portait of their new home. There is no limit on what can be created by Meagan. For more information or to get started on your custom project contact Meagan at hello@nibandflow.com. You can find examples of her work by following her @nibandflow on both Instagram and Facebook.

No Longer Living with Pain

Dale Had Daily Leg Pain Until He Found a Solution

ALE THIBODEAUX LOVES TO work in the garden. For years, his vein disease made gardening painful, but he did it anyway. Now, he enjoys planting flowers without the discomfort. “I’m even more active now. I love being outside, whether it’s working in the yard, working on the house, taking care of my automobiles, or fishing in the lake behind our house,” Dale said. “I’m no longer experiencing pain, swelling, or itching in my legs. I don’t have to take ibuprofen, and the rope-like veins in my legs are much less noticeable.” Dale, who is now retired after working in industrial and electronic controls for 35 years, first received vein treatment more than a decade ago in Lafayette. About five years later, his leg pain returned. Dale, who has a family history of vein reflux disease, wore compression socks to correct the problem, but it did not work. So, in 2020 he visited Dr. Bart Liles at Delta Vein Care, located within The Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana.

DALE

Dr. Liles, through the use of an ultrasound, diagnosed Dale with venous reflux disease in the great saphenous vein. Venous reflux disease occurs when tiny valves—that normally force blood back up towards the heart—no longer function. Also, sometimes the vein wall can become weak, and it does not function properly. Blood then collects in the legs, leading to distended veins and other complications. The most common vein to suffer from vein reflux is the great saphenous vein, which is the longest vein in the body and runs from the groin to the ankle. During the course of three months, Dr. Liles performed three radiofrequency ablations on Dale, 63 years old. Radiofrequency ablations are conducted through a small incision in the vein. This technique effectively heats and damages the vein wall, closing the varicose vein. The brief, outpatient procedure, which involves a numbing medication, is painfree. Patients are able to resume their regular activities the same day.

Dale highly recommends his surgeon. “Dr. Liles, who immediately told me he was going to treat the source of my problem, is very personable and friendly. He’s so approachable; he’s someone you could talk to as a friend. He’s down-to-earth, kind, and has a good sense of humor,” Dale said. “And the clinic nurses and staff are wonderful and welcoming.” The simplicity of the procedure impressed Dale. He said he was able to quickly resume normal activities after each ablation. “If you have had a colonoscopy, this is no different. It’s important maintenance of your body, and it’s so easy,” Dale, of Calhoun, said. When vein reflux is diagnosed at an early stage with a simple ultrasound, doctors can prevent other veins from becoming problematic. Untreated vein disease can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and even deep vein thrombosis, which can be life-threatening. In addition to Dr. Liles, the Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana is home to surgeons Dr. Walter Sartor and Dr. Patrick Smith. Contact the clinic today with your questions about vein care procedures or other medical needs, such as weight loss surgery. Follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/surgeryclinicofnela

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Louisiana Peach Festival 2021

Hosted by Downtown Ruston and Ruston Lincoln CVB

HE LOUISIANA PEACH FESTIVAL IS A LONG-STANDING Ruston tradition dating back to 1951. The festival was created by area peach farmers as a way to promote their industry and the delicious peaches they produced throughout Louisiana and surrounding states. Over the years, the Peach Festival has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to Lincoln Parish and pumped millions back into the local economy. The festival has seen many changes over its 70 years, but through it all, the event has continued to be a source of excitement and pride in the community. In 2021, the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau and Downtown Ruston took over coordination of the event with the goal of continuing the event’s legacy as a celebration of Ruston’s local talent and delicious peaches. We hope you will join us for this homegrown music + arts festival on June 5, 2021 in Downtown Ruston. For other peachy events like the Princess Peach Pageant, Dixie Gem Pageant, Baby Photo Contest, Fishing Tournament and more, check out www.lapeachfest.com All festival activities are free to attend from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Admission from 3:00pm - 11:00pm is $10 per person ($5 for kids 12 and under). 9:00AM - 3:00PM Peach Art Market Discover art, handmade items, and homemade goods from local artists, artisans, and makers. Located in Sexton Lot.

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9:00AM - 3:00PM Kids Alley: An Art Experience Kids of all ages can enjoy hands-on art activities including peachy crafts, calligraphy, photography, art demonstrations, and more! Located in Esma’s Alley, 112 E Park Ave. 9:00AM - 3:00PM Peach Art Exhibit The North Central Louisiana Arts Council will again host its popular Peach Art Exhibit during the festival. The exhibit features drawings, paintings, photography, 3-D art, and mixed media from artists of all ages. Located in the Historic Fire Station, 200 E. Mississippi Ave. 9:00AM - 11:00PM Live Performances on the Railroad Park Stage 9 AM | Jade Reynolds 2 PM | Zach O’Neil 10 AM | Lady Chops 4 PM | The Cypress Knees 11 AM | Josh Love 5:30 PM | Tipsey the Band 12 AM | Victoria Wells 7:20 PM | LVVRS 1 PM | Bill Deese 9:30 PM | The Hollow Decks

Paperglaze Calligraphy Unique Hand Lettering to Highlight Your Big Day

HERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE CUSTOM CALLIGRAPHY to punctuate the special moments in your life - especially your wedding! Shannan Inman from Paperglaze Calligraphy (est. in 2008) has specialized in addressing services, custom invitations and wedding signage for over 20 years. INVITATION DESIGN Your wedding invitation should be unique and one of a kind just like you. Paperglaze Calligraphy works alongside area stationers/ printers to craft a custom invitation for each bride. For a truly custom invitation, each component of the invitation suite can be completely written out in calligraphy. Another popular and less expensive option is “spot calligraphy,” which highlights important items (e.g. names and venue) while the rest of the invitation is typeset with a beautiful classic font. More calligraphy details can be added with hand-drawn maps, custom crests and beautifully scripted monograms. ADDRESSING There are several reasons why a calligrapher is a good investment in addressing your invitations. First of all, this is one of the most important days of your life, and your invitation is extremely special! Many people spare no expense on creating the perfect invitation; however, “the icing (or should I say, “glaze”) on the cake “ is the beautiful addressing. It is the first impression of your big day and sets the tone of the celebration to come. Secondly, a hand addressed invitation signifies that you value your guests and their presence at your wedding. It is wonderful to hear compliments concerning the beautiful piece of mail that they received and how excited they are about your big day. Third, it is considered good etiquette to have your wedding invitations hand addressed. Labels are highly discouraged, as it often looks both lazy and tacky. An experienced calligrapher will also be familiar with how to correctly address your guests with distinguished titles. Lastly, and maybe more importantly, a calligrapher saves you much needed time. As a bride, you will be extremely busy planning the many details of your wedding. A calligrapher will be able to use their experience to make your invitations and envelopes look cohesive together, which is another thing you will not have to worry about in your planning process! WHERE TO START Once you've narrowed down what services you are needing, email Paperglaze Calligraphy to ask for basic details and a quote. Include your wedding date, approximate guest count and a general description of your wedding style, as well as the services you're interested in (envelope addressing, wedding signage, etc), so you can receive a more accurate quote and timeline. Keep in mind that much like a popular wedding venue, experienced calligraphers book up fast, so start the process early. E-MAIL - shannan@paperglaze.com • PHONE: 318-914-1116

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Ken’s Coffee Service

Serving Northeast Louisiana for Over 40 Years

EN’S COFFEE SERVICE WAS formed in early 1978 by Ken and Ginger Cook. Though they divorced in the mid 80’s, Ken and Ginger remained equal business partners until her death in 2018. Ginger’s job was to handle the books and Ken’s was to pick up new office coffee accounts. We started by working out of our home in Lakeland Gardens, WM. In a matter of about a year, we had to relocate to the old Stop n Save on Kiroli Road. Back in the early days the tough part of selling was to convince accounts to go to a coffee service. Most businesses were using peculators or their own Mr. Coffee using coffee from the grocery stores which sold for about $0.50 a pound. My big break came when a freeze hit Brazil, killing a large portion of the coffee trees. This freeze wiped out the coffee supply causing green bean coffee to go up to $5 a pound. It would take years before the coffee farmers could plant new trees and raise them to produce coffee beans.

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Our business grew leaps and bounds for several years. Today we have five route men, a warehouse manager, and two ladies in the office. Back in 1988 we built our own office on North 7th Street in West Monroe. Our business has increased to the point that we now have our own private label coffees. We’ve done the same with our canister cream and sugar. It was early 2001, best I can recall, that a bottle water company started approaching my accounts trying to get them to give them our coffee business. My response at first was to look at getting into the bottle water business, but after researching my options, I decided to get into the filtered water cooler business. The biggest reason was there was no heavy 5-gallon bottles to handle. I don’t recall losing a single account to that bottle water company. I did, however, get my routemen to give me an inventory of all the bottle water coolers on their routes. From that list one by one I talked my customers into letting me replace nearly all of

them with my filtered coolers. Over the years I’ve handled several different brands of coolers. Today I feature what I believe to be the best of the best, the ION Cooler. This cooler has a unique way of providing unlimited cold filtered water. It has a digital display and is now available in Bluetooth so the consumer is able to get water with their phone and never touch the unit. It is available in a countertop or standing version. We use ½ micron filters in our coolers. The lower the micron rating of the filter the better the water it provides. To my knowledge, this is the best filter on the market. There is no cost for installation and no contract to sign. Every six months we change the filter and sanitize the coolers. Due to popular demand from customers in our business accounts we now offer our coolers for residential use. If you are interested in acquiring one or more of our coolers for your home or business, please call, Ken at Ken’s Coffee Service, (318) 361-0035 or cell (318) 381-4868.

Put your Best Face Forward on Your Big Day LA Center for Women’s Health Offers A Variety of Services

OUR WEDDING DAY IS A DAY THAT you will look back on for years to come so you definitely want to feel...and look... your best! At Louisiana Center for Women’s Health, we offer a variety of services and procedures to help you do just that. Our clinic has acquired the equipment and expertise to offer a palette of state-of-the-art procedures to maximize your appearance. We strive to offer our cosmetic services and procedures at affordable prices. These various high-tech services can be obtained at our private clinic here in the North Louisiana community for a fraction of the charge for the same procedure in other cities. HYDRAFACIAL Everyone can benefit from the Hydrafacial procedure. Using patented technology, the HydraFacial cleanes, extracts and hydrates, all with nourshing ingredients that create an instantly gratifying glow in just three easy steps. The first is to cleanse and peel, uncovering a new layer of skin with gentle

exfoliation and relaxing resurfacing. The second step is to extract and hydrate, removing debris from pores with painless suction and nourishing with intense moisturizers that quench the skin. The final step is to fuse and protect, saturating the skin’s surface with antioxidants and peptides to maximize your glow. It is inexpensive, gives immediately noticeable results, only takes about 30 minutes, and has no social downtime. Not to mention, the procedure is extremely pleasant and relaxing, perfect for a bride before her big day. We have the latest Hydrafacial equipment and a dedicated technician to perform it in a private setting. The procedure minimizes skin discoloration and brightens skin tone, instantly minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. VASER LIPOSUCTION We are among the earliest adopters of Vaser Liposuction in the world. In fact, we have taught and demonstrated this unique procedure for doctors from as far away as Seoul, Korea. Vaser liposuction uses a very small incision of less

than 1/4 inch to emulsify and remove fat. The procedure is performed in the office under local anesthesia, saving the expense of a hospital or surgery center. The results are immediate, unlike various non-invasive treatments which may or may not work. STATE-OF-THE-ART LASERS This cosmetic procedure uses a dual-wavelength laser to resurface your skin while promoting the growth of collagen. We use the Sciton® Halo™ laser system to perform virtually painless skin rejuvenation treatments to deliver predictable results with just 1-2 sessions, doing away with scars, spots, large pores and even some wrinkles. BOTOX, FILLERS, COSMECEUTICALS We also offer Botox, Juvederm fillers, and various cosmeceutical beauty correcting formulas, all priced competitively. Please call if we can provide you with additional information.

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Let’s Create Something Together Mallory Patterson Design Can Help You with Your Next Event

HEN PLANNING AN EVENT, THE TYPE OF invitation and design you use sets the tone and theme for the whole event. This is the first insight your guests will see when they are invited to a wedding, shower, or party. When planning, you want to make sure that the invitations include the personality of the bride and groom or the theme of the party you are planning. Mallory Patterson with Mallory Patterson Design can use her keen eye for design to help you come up with the perfect invitation for your next event. She also has an eye for customizable unique monograms, party cups for your showers and much, much more. Whatever you need customized for your next event, she has the ability to make it happen. Mallory Patterson Design was born out of a love for celebrations big and small. The unique, personal details that come together to make gatherings with your most favorite people so special are her favorite details. In April of 2018, she knew she wanted to make cute game day cups for the upcoming 2018 football season. She sat on her couch and played for hours with a new design program and Mallory Patterson Design was born. Since then, Mallory Patterson Design has grown into so much more than she could have ever imagined. Mallory has gotten to be a part of some of the most fun birthday celebrations

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and some of the most beautiful weddings. From start to finish she loves to see the reaction of the customers when they see their design visions come to life. From custom invitations to personalized party essentials, making your celebrations that much more special brings her so much joy, and she loves every single step of the journey. The process of creating an aesthetic for a wedding, through digital art, is by far one of her favorite parts of the process. It all begins with an initial consultation. Once she learns the overall feel and aesthetic of the wedding and what is needed, she can create a custom quote. Then, the fun part begins- design! She uses high quality print materials and has access to an endless array of products that can be completely personalized to fit your theme, personal style and look you are trying to accomplish. The options are truly endless.. if you can dream it, she can create it! Call Mallory today to schedule a consultation.

The Collective in Ruston | 103 N. Trenton St. email:mallorypattersondesign@gmail.com. Follow along on Instagram: @mallorypattersondesign

COACH

B AYO U I CO N

BOWDEN This month we celebrate fathers, those men who represent strength, love, and commitment to family. ULM football coach Terry Bowden, now a father and a grandfather himself, is also the son of a very famous American sports figure, Bobby Bowden. This larger-than-life dad was one of the most influential people in Bowden’s life – and still is. When asked recently why he had chosen coaching as a profession, Bowden quickly responded. “I simply fell in love with what my dad did,” he said. “I loved my dad so much that I wanted to be what he was.” article by GEORGIANN POTTS photographs by KELLY MOORE CLARK

COAC H T E R RY B OW D E N AT T H E U L M WA R H AW KS F O OT B A L L S TA D I U M TA L KS A B O U T LOV E O F FA M I LY A N D F O OT B A L L

B AYO U I CO N

hat does it take to become a successful football coach? It takes a lot more than winning, according to ULM head football coach Terry Bowden. He recognizes from experience that coaching is much more than that. It is about being a mentor to young athletes – helping guide them toward meaningful, productive lives after football. “The older I got, I realized that my most important job is being a servant-coach. My primary purpose isn’t simply to achieve victories,” Bowden explains. “I must serve those players who come to play for me. Can I provide them with a positive approach to life? Can I impact their life in a big, broad way? Most people don’t believe that coaches think about those things, but we really do.” Growing Up a Bowden When Bowden speaks about his family, it is obvious that love within the Bowden family is strong and that family has been a major influence on his attitude toward the role of a coach. His father is 91, and his mother is 88, and they recently celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. The patriarch and matriarch of the Bowden clan, they have set a wonderful example of how to live life as a team. “They got married very young after meeting in church,” Bowden says. “They eloped and got married, but didn’t tell their parents until a year later. Back then, you didn’t sneak around and live together. You got married. They’ve been together ever since.” Bowden had five siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters). He was the “middle child,” five years younger than his oldest sister and five years older than his youngest sister. Ginger, Jeff, and Terry are the only three still working. The other three (Robyn, Steve, and Tommy) have retired. Bowden observes with a chuckle that they are all in their “grandparent stage” now. Today there are 20 grandchildren and a dozen great-grandchildren in the clan. Bowden and his siblings grew up with a football coach dad and a stay-at-home mother. Bowden recalls that their mom found time to work when she could, but much of her time was spent picking up and dropping off her children and getting them to doctor’s appointments. “Mom really couldn’t get help from my father because he was usually coaching someone else’s kids,” Bowden says. “But when dad was home, he was all dad. He sure made it feel special. It was a big family with a very public father figure. We were extremely blessed to have a good mother, who kept it all tied together even though the head of the ship was always my father.” Although he was born in Douglas, Georgia, a change in coaching jobs for his dad meant that Bowden went to late elementary, junior high, high school, and college in Morgantown, West Virginia. He still loves Morgantown, and marvels at the number of successful coaches who are from the same FAITH, FAMILY, FOOTBALL area. “My brother Tommy (former Tulane and Bowden has coached for 30 Clemson head coach), Rich Rodriguez (ULM years, and has been a head coach for 25 of those. Along offensive coordinator), Jimbo Fisher (Texas the way he has learned that A&M head coach) and Nick Saban (Alabama while sports is a huge part head coach) – we all grew up within 30 miles of his life, his faith and famof each other near Morgantown,” Bowden says. ily are the most important “Growing up we were all called ‘hillbillies’, parts to him.

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BAYOU ICON

At left: ULM 2021 Spring practice and Bowden with his team. Above: Tommy Bowden, Coach and Mrs. Bobby Bowden, and Terry Bowden at press conference introducing Bowden as new head coach. Photos courtesy of ULM. ‘hicks’,’ illiterates’ and those kinds of things by other people, but when asked where we were from? The answer was always ‘West -- By God -- Virginia’!” (Today Bowden says he lives and works in “Monroe -- By God -- Louisiana” – a community and state he is proud to represent.) Bowden loves to share stories about his youth. His first job was as a newspaper delivery boy in Morgantown. He walked over a mile each day delivering the morning paper before sunrise, and earned 2 cents per paper delivered. “At that time, I wished we lived in a big town where all of the houses were right beside each other,” Bowden says. When he was in the 6th grade, an accident resulted in a heavily stitched, bandaged hand. He couldn’t carry his newspaper bag, so his dad had to get up and drive him around his route. It was January, with snow and freezing temperatures nearly every morning. “I will never forget standing outside my parents’ bedroom door and asking dad if he could give me a ride,” Bowden says with a laugh. “He still kids me about that, even imitating my voice and inflections. I can only imagine how much he hated hearing that call when I needed him to get up and take me on that route.” Even though they were quite young, he and his brothers, Steve and Tommy, would travel to away games with their dad on the team bus. He remembers one 15-hour trip they made to play Louisiana College. “We slept in the luggage carriers above the players, and listened to all of the stories they were sharing – some of which we shouldn’t have been hearing at that age.” Bowden still enjoys traveling on the team bus. He says it gives him a chance to relax after long days of game preparation. A memorable trip happened when their dad became an assistant coach in West Virginia and the family took the family Station Wagon from Tallahassee to Morgantown. Three sat in the front, three sat on the middle bench, and two slept on top of the luggage in the back. Going through the Blue Ridge was 106 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

amazing because none of the children had ever seen mountains before. “We had never been on a road where it was straight up on one side and straight down on the other,” Bowden remembers. “All of us children were crying because we thought that Station Wagon was going to fall over the edge.” A Thoughtful Preparation From the day Bowden was born, his dad was a college football coach. For 18 years he sat at the breakfast table with a head football coach. That career influence was unmistakable, but so was another – his size. “At an early age, I knew I wanted to be a coach because everyone outgrew me,” he says with a laugh. “I’m 5’6”, so at age 14 the other boys shot up in size and I didn’t. Even so, I became a really good wrestler and a solid football player. Baseball, wrestling, and football were my focus.” Sports were not Bowden’s only interest. As he has often said, every class or degree he took was for a purpose. He was active in the theatre club during middle and junior high, and then in high school acted in several plays (and loved that!) and took several speech courses. “Because my dad was an excellent public speaker, I knew that was something that coaches had to do,” Bowden says. When he entered West Virginia University, Bowden knew that he needed a business degree. He earned a degree in accounting (graduating magna cum laude and earning the highest grade-point average on the football team). He became a graduate assistant at Florida State and was accepted into their law school. He believed that a law degree would let presidents and athletic directors see that he was serious about academics. He continued his studies at Oxford University in England, where he studied the history of common law compared to criminal law with a little international law mixed in. With law degree in hand, Bowden followed his dream and entered the

coaching profession. He never regretted any course he took, but he knew that most of them didn’t cover how to win or lose a football game. “You have to learn that on the field,” Bowden says. The Coaching Dream Comes True In 1983 when he was 26, Bowden became the nation’s youngest head coach when he accepted the offer from Salem College in West Virginia. In his first season, he took a team that had been 0-9-1 the year before and led them to two conference championships in 3 seasons. Bowden became head coach at Samford in 1987, leading the team to a 9-1 record, a tie with the best record in school history. In 1992, Bowden was named head coach at Auburn. The following year he led the Tigers to a perfect 11-0 season and became the first coach in Division I-A (now FBS) history to have a perfect inaugural season. While at Auburn, he became the first collegiate coach in 50 years to win his 100th career game before his 40th birthday. Bowden resigned his position at Auburn in 1998 and took time off to work in broadcasting. During that time, became friends with Tim Brando, a ULM graduate who was also working in broadcasting. They became best friends and ended up doing a daily 3-hour radio program that aired in 7 southern states. It was all great fun for a decade, but Bowden loved coaching more than broadcasting and missed it. In December 2008, he accepted the head coach position at the University of North Alabama where he led the team to 3 appearances in NCAA Division II playoffs. In December 2011, he became head coach at the University of Akron. He left there when the new AD bought out the last 2 years of his contract. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 107

Bowden loved all of his jobs, but Salem College holds a special place in his heart. The first quarterback he signed while there was Jimbo Fisher, and Rich Rodriguez followed Bowden at Salem as the next head coach. Bowden was young, and was able to learn his craft “. . . while no one was really looking. Jimbo, Rich, and I all laugh about those times.” “I was still excited about coaching, and still hungry to win, so I decided to do what a lot of former head coaches do between jobs --- become an analyst,” Bowden explains. “I chose Clemson because it was an elite program and the head coach, Dabo Sweeney, had played for Alabama when I was coaching Auburn.” When Bowden met with Dabo, Dabo told him he couldn’t hire another analyst unless he was a student. And just like that, Bowden enrolled in a master’s degree program in athletic leadership and joined the group as a volunteer analyst.

Family Traditions Beyond Football Bowden’s move to Monroe provided an opportunity to continue a family tradition of summertime family reunions that had been put on hold in 2020. These reunions began in the mid-sixties when Bowden’s dad was an assistant at West Virginia. This became a tradition that lasted for over 50 years and is still going strong – though with some adaptations for the growing clan. First were family trips to Panama City Beach, Florida -- the beach that Bowden’s parents enjoyed when they were teenagers. The family called it “L.A.” for “Lower Alabama” and it became their “family destination beach.” They always

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“

I’d describe Monroe as a small, big town. It has great shopping and incredible restaurants, and just a short walk from my house I can be in the woods or on the water. If I can help turn this football program around and win some games, Monroe is going to be tough to beat.

“

ULM Comes Calling When Bowden was in his second year as a graduate student at Clemson, ULM came calling. It was the second time in Bowden’s career that ULM had expressed an interest in him. He had talked to some ULM representatives five years earlier, but the time wasn’t right for Bowden then. Still, through that he learned a lot about their football program. After talking with ULM this time, Bowden knew that ULM was exactly the kind of program that he wanted to rebuild. The beauty of the campus helped seal the deal. “I was raised on college campuses and this is truly one of the most picturesque campuses in the entire country,” Bowden says. “I love the way the bayou cuts through the heart of our campus.” Not only did ULM impress him; Monroe and North Louisiana did, too! He enjoyed the climate, the geography, the people, and the proximity to good fishing spots. “This will be an easy place for me to fall in love with and might end up being my favorite place at this stage in my life,” Bowden says. “I’d describe Monroe as a small, big town. It has great shopping and incredible restaurants, and just a short walk from my house I can be in the woods or on the water. If I can help turn this football program around and win some games, Monroe is going to be tough to beat.” Bowden says that it didn’t take long to realize how passionate ULM fans are about football. He loves having this opportunity to turn the ULM football program around. “I know there will be some growing pains, but there’s such a passion and love for college football here that creates tremendous optimism. There are so many people committed to winning, and that’s what makes this job so attractive.” ULM fans this fall will see Bowden’s ULM program, The Warhawk Way, in action for the first time. Through this program, studentathletes will learn invaluable life lessons – to give is better than to receive; to learn about and respect Major General Claire Chennault and his courage and service to our country; and that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing things, and Warhawks do things the right way --- even as they learn how to become a winning football team.

Top: Tim Brando and Terry Bowden at Press conference introducing Bowden. Middle Image: ULM 2021 Youth Football Clinic with team and campers. Bottom: Terry Bowden at ULM spring practice 2021. Photos courtesy of ULM.

scheduled their trip for the week of July 4th for seven days. “Everyone put their other plans aside because my mother demanded it,” explains Bowden. “It started with a hotel room, then a condo, then a house, and then 3 houses. We had almost a compound down there on the beach. As coaches, we could all get away at that time. It was that way for over 50 years, from 1966-2020.” The family has sold most of the houses and property there now. Their parents are older, so their children are picking up the reunion planning. There are 45 people now, counting the grandchildren, so this year only the children and their spouses will join their parents at the beach. “It will be different than previous years,” Bowden says. “I imagine there will be some sentiments and emotions there, but it will be the best way for us to spend time with our parents in their late stages of life.” This year the Bowdens will be coming to Monroe for their reunion. Bowden has made all the arrangements to make the week special as he introduces the family to his new home. No details have

escaped him – there will even be custom golf balls emblazoned with “2020-21 Terry Bowden /Family Retreat”. There will also be ULM hats, t-shirts, pendants, lapel pins, and Mardi Gras beads for all. Before the retreat, however, there was one more dream to be fulfilled. On May 5, 2021, Bowden donned a robe, walked across a stage, and received his diploma – for the first time. “I never walked after completing my undergraduate degree. I never walked after graduating from the Florida State Law School. At 65, I wanted to celebrate the occasion because I knew this would be my last degree,” Bowden. “I wanted to put that robe on, walk across the stage and grab that diploma.” He had completed his coursework entirely online – something that amused him when he realized that 34 years before he had graduated from law school at a time when there was no internet and no computers. More importantly, he had shown his ULM football players just how serious he is about academics, setting an example none will forget. The Greatest Influence of All Bowden has coached for 30 years, and has been a head coach for 25 of those. Along the way he has learned that while sports is a huge part of his life, his faith and family are the most important parts to him. When asked recently who has influenced him the most, Bowden’s answer was immediate. “I couldn’t ask for a better personal mentor than my father. He’s a wonderful husband and father who relied on his strong Christian faith to provide the foundation for his life,” Bowden says. “I was fortunate to be raised by a football coach who had a reputation of coaching the right way all his career. He isn’t the greatest coach of all time, but everyone admires him, including me.”

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Makers of Handmade

Fine Jewelry

Let DuPont Jewelers Create a One-of-a-Kind Piece for You

ORKING WITH A COUPLE TO to make their engagement and wedding ring is one of my favorite and most rewarding pleasures. When a couple enters our store, usually it is obvious the purpose of their visit. This experience has changed over the years but one thing seems to never change, their hope, excitement, and apprehension of shopping for the perfect ring. We usually start by talking about their likes and dislikes in style, color of metal, style of cut for the center stone, and style of the mounting. Do you like a simple solitaire or maybe a very popular halo setting? What about a vintage look? Or perhaps an infinity style, or a single or double row of diamonds on the side? Also, what is your choice of precious metal? This is where the conversation changes from the past. My question has always been, have you seen a style you like? That is usually when the phone comes out, and I am shown

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a picture of the dream ring for the bride-tobe. That’s when a sales person will start searching their store for a “somewhat” look alike ring, or they offer to order a ring for them. I smile because I know I have an opportunity to make a ring that will be exactly what she wants and not be like any other ring. It will be made perfectly and uniquely for her. We discuss the process of how to get started, how long it takes – usually six to eight weeks. Do they own stones they want to use in the design or will they be selecting a stone from our beautiful loose diamonds? At some point, I have a private conversation with the groom-to-be, where we talk about budget and a date he is planning to pop the question. Then I usually put on my counseling hat. I remind him that this is where the pressure really comes in, so make it special! She will remember this event the rest of her life and all her friends will be asking, “How did your

fiancé’ propose?” Don’t make yourself look bad in front of her friends! One thing that I started doing a few years ago was sending pictures to the groom-to-be, as we reach significant points in the process of making her ring. We shape the ring, assemble it, drill the holes for the placement of the stones, engrave the ring, set the diamonds, and hand polish the ring to a glowing finish. He gets text or emails enabling him to see the design being created in real time. We stamp the ring with the very prestigious stamp “handmade.” Only jewelry made without any mechanized process can have this stamp. Then we do something most jewelers don’t do, we stamp our name in the ring, a reminder of our commitment to you and your bride. Come in and visit, and let’s make a beautiful ring and memory that will last a lifetime.

– James DuPont wwww.DupontJewelers.com facebook/dupontjewelers Trade - Restore - Redesign - Sell Dupont Jewelers on Forsythe in Monroe Makers of Handmade Fine Jewelry

Something to Smile About

DCHC Dental Clinic welcomes Dr. Mindi Roberson

E’VE GOT GOOD NEWS, AND we’re smiling about it! The DCHC Dental Clinic is proud to welcome Dr. Mindi Roberson, Board Certified Dentist, to our Delhi Dental Team full time. As a native of Northeast Louisiana, Dr. Roberson is excited to return to her roots and brighten smiles in her hometown community. Dr. Roberson received her Bachelor’s Degree from Louisiana Tech University and her Doctorate Degree from LSU School of Dentistry. She brings with her expertise and skills that will enhance our already-amazing team, as we continue to focus diligently on delivering outstanding patient service in a warm and friendly dental office setting. Dr. Roberson has been serving with us on a part-time basis since our Dental Clinic first opened in 2016 and we are proud and honored to now have her onboard as our full-time dentist. Under her direction, we look forward to expanding our line of dental care services.

WHEN THE MASK COMES OFF, IS YOUR SMILE READY? As life begins to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, mask mandates are being lifted and we are beginning to reveal our smiles again! Unfortunately, it has been all too easy to neglect our oral health during this time, but it is nothing to be ashamed of. Dr. Roberson & the DCHC Dental Care Team can help make sure your smile is bright again and ready for when the face masks come off. From dental exams, x-rays, routine cleanings & more, we offer comprehensive dentistry services for the entire family in a safe environment. TEETH WHITENING Concerned about stained or discolored teeth? We offer Colgate Optic White Treatments that can make your smile up to 7 shades whiter in just one 30 minute in-office visit. These treatments are comfortable, affordable, and deliver noticeably whiter teeth. We also

offer the option of an at-home whitening kit so that you can brighten your teeth from the comfort of your own home if you prefer. It takes a little longer, but the results are just as brilliant. Either way, the DCHC dental experts can guide you to a more radiant smile. KEEP ON SMILING We want to be a provider you can trust for your dental care for many years to come. The DCHC Dental Clinic Team is here to provide routine check-ups, dental restoration and everything in between. Remember, routine services and preventive maintenance is the key to keep you smiling longer. As masks become a thing of the past, what kind of smile will you reveal? Don’t put off your dental care any longer. Sometimes just a couple of visits to your dentist can make all the difference in your smile. Schedule a consultation with your hometown dentist, Dr. Mindi Roberson, at the DCHC Dental Clinic to discuss preventative dental care, restorative dentistry, teeth whitening and more. You’ll be proud and smiling because you did! Contact us at 318-878-8656, visit us online at www.dchc-delhi.com or follow us on Facebook at @ DelhiHospitalandClinics.

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Bayou Buzzworthy On Thursday, May 11th, Marion State Bank’s West Monroe/Drew branch was gifted a piece of custom artwork commissioned by West Ouachita High School senior Maggie Casutto. Under the direction of art teacher Michele Olinde, Maggie completed the expansive piece. While the project began as a group effort, due to the Coronavirus pandemic the final product was a solo effort. Inspired by Marion State Bank’s Earl the Squirrel mascot, Casutto’s piece provides a lifelike rendering paired with a jar of their mayhaw jelly, the piece filled the space and will be on display for customers to see. The 2021 St. Jude Dream Home raised $751,587 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The winner of the home was Betty Simons from Sikes, Louisiana while Gilmer Hingle of Monroe took home the $2,500 VISA gift card, courtesy of Assurance Financial, Rhymes Oliver of Monroe won an Exmark zero-turn lawnmower and Echo trimmer, blower, pressure washer, edger and hedge trimmer, courtesy of 3B Outdoor Equipment and Sherman Harrelson of Columbia, won the bonus prize, a 2021 Nissan Altima S courtesy of Sparks Nissan and the Dream Day Foundation. Tickets sold out in a record amount of time and the team is already working on the 2022 home!

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The 2020-2021 Junior League of Monroe’s provisional class hosted W.E. C.A.R.E., or Women Empowerment Career and Resource Education program on Saturday, April 24th. The event catered to Northeast Louisiana women in need of professional attire and career-enhancing resources. Through their efforts, they were able to donate more than 160 pieces of professional clothing. Attendees were also invited to hear three keynote speakers who provided valuable interview and resume development resources.

Spa Bella Introduces Skin Care Line Local Spa and Shop Have Something for Everyone

PA BELLA IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO relax before the big day down the aisle. Brides can put their best face forward by choosing from one of the many services Spa Bella has to offer. Spa Bella specializes in facials including Sea of Life, Vitamin Sea Radiance and Ocean Awakening. You can pair one of their facials with a dermaplanning service to optimize your results! These are just a few of the many options they offer and can even customize treatment based on your specific skincare needs. Additionally, they offer services like lashes, permanent makeup and microblading. The permanent makeup includes eyeliner, lip liner and eyebrows, all applied by a licensed esthetician. You will be sure to be glowing... literally...when you get a Fake Bake Spray Tan, professionally applied to make you look your best. Spa Bella is excited to introduce their new skincare line, OSEA. You can purchase the products at the spa and they are used for treatments and procedures as well. Drawing

inspiration from the ocean, sun, earth and atmosphere, OSEA was created with a singular intention in mind – to deliver your best skin with the highest quality ingredients. Innovative formulations of wild seaweed are blended with pure steam-distilled and cold pressed essential oils. In short, the best ingredients possible, sourced from all over the world. This approach has allowed OSEA to eliminate the need for harmful ingredients, while delivering active and effective solutions for your skincare needs. OSEA products are all plant-based and gluten-free, as they pride themselves on their commitment to delivering conscious vegan skincare. Their products are cruelty-free and do not contain animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin, beeswax, carmine and beyond. Favorite services using the OSEA products include the Healing Cocoon, Undaria Body Contour, Earth and Sea Scrub and the Vagus Nerve Meditative Massage. They can customize your service using OSEA products to focus on what you need, from migraines to detox to relaxiation.

OSEA products include cleansers, toning mists, serums, moisturizers and facial oils, masks and exfoliants, addressing a variety of concerns like anti-aging, brightening, blemishes, eye care, hydration and sensitivity. Some of the best sellers include the Undaria Algae Body Oil, Hyaluronic Sea Serum, Ocean Cleanser, Salts of the Earth Body Scrub and the Vitamin C Probiotic Polish, just to name a few. And if you simply can’t decide, you can get one of the starter sets to try a little of each of some of their top selling products. In addition to the new OSEA line, Spa Bella carries the entire line of Bath House Soapery, a handmade soap, bath and beauty company that makes fresh cosmetics in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They offer soaps, soaking salts, bath bombs and scrubs, body butter, deodorant, shaving accessories, room and linen sprays and more. They even have products for the guys, perfect for Father’s Day. Check out their Honky Tonk Man Soap Slice, shaving brushes, Moonshine shave soap and more. Right next door to Spa Bella is their sister store, Bella Magnolia. If you know a bride and have an upcoming shower or reception, check them out for the perfect gift. They have home accessories, a variety of candles and quite the selection of furniture, perfect for the couple building their first home. Whether you are a bride, part of a bridal party or looking for a gift for the happy couple, Spa Bella and Bella Magnolia have something for you!

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SIMPLY LOU THE REAL LOVE article and illustration by LOU DAV ENPORT

’ve been to a lot of weddings in my day, and I’ve always loved a good wedding. For that brief few hours, everyone is so happy, and all things seem possible. The first wedding I remember was my cousin, Beverlee “Tuttie” Albritton’s wedding when she married Doug Comeaux. She asked me to be her flower girl. My Aunt Cye made her wedding dress and veil, and she also made my dress as well. I still remember my dress. It was made out of white “dotted Swiss” fabric. I know I gave my mama a hard time getting me all cleaned up, and getting my hair just “so.” As I came down the aisle, throwing my flowers like I had been shown to do, I stopped dead in my tracks, and checked out this other little girl that I’d never seen before. I just stared her up one side and down the other. I know my mama was holding her breathe, hoping that I didn’t say anything to that little girl, and that I’d just keep on walking to get to my designated spot! It seemed like from then on, there was always a wedding to go to, and I think I made them all. Me and my cousins’ favorite thing to do was decorate the “get away car,” although we never did anything bad; never tied any cans to the bumpers, or put a “Just Married” sign on any of the windows. We mainly liked to write all over the cars with white shoe polish! Years later, my cousins started to get married, and that’s when we really started to enjoy weddings, especially the rehearsal dinners. After Loretta’s rehearsal, we ended up out in a cotton field drinking beer. How we got back to where we were staying I can’t remember, but we sat out on the front steps for hours, thinking the front door was locked. It wasn’t, but it sure did take us a nice long while to figure that out! When my cousin, Judi, got married, I met my first husband. His name was Larry, and he was from Greenville, Mississippi, where Judi lived at the time. I remember seeing him from across the dance floor at the Ramada Inn, and asking Judi, “Who is that?” She told me who he was, but he was there with a girl. So, even though I was disappointed, I continued to “party on.” At some point in the evening, Judi told me

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that the girl he was there with was his sister! We were introduced, and he got my phone number. I never dreamed he’d call, but he did. And the rest was history. I married that man a few years later, in a small ceremony with one of my best friends as my maid of honor, and one of Larry’s as his best man. My mom and dad were there, as well as his mom and sister. The weather was fine, until we left. There were several tornado warnings announced, and thunderstorms rolled in...along with some hail! That must have been a good omen for us, since we stayed married for nearly 23 years. We would still be married today, had it not been for cancer walking in one day, and changing our lives forever. Before Larry passed away, our daughter, Carolyn, got married to Ty. Larry was able to walk her down the aisle, and give the bride away. A dear family friend, who was an Episcopal priest, performed the ceremony. They are still happily married to this day, for 25 years, in fact! I didn’t have much money to spend on her wedding. So, I learned how to make and decorate the cakes. I learned how to arrange and assemble flowers for the bouquets and boutonniere, and how to arrange centerpieces to decorate the church and the reception hall. For the rehearsal dinner, Larry fired up his grill, and all their friends piled in, and had a damn good party out on our deck. Even though everybody was “moving slow” that next day, the ceremony went off without a hitch! When the reception was over, those kids came back to the house and stayed longer! I figured we got those two, “really married!” After Larry died, my best friend, Janine, and her husband leased Ceres Plantation, a little ways outside of Vicksburg, and they had a nursery. We came up with the idea of renting the place out from time to time, because it was the perfect setting for a wedding venue. Before we knew it, we were staging weddings! That’s when I learned a whole more about floral design, and even thought for a while that I’d make that my profession. But, I learned rather quickly that it involves a lot more work than you’d think, and don’t even get me started on the

amount of pressure it brings! Aside from that, the weddings that took place out there were SO beautiful, and I truly enjoyed every minute of helping them come about. I started doing floral designs as wedding gifts for some of my family members. One of the most beautiful weddings I ever did was my cousin Stacey’s, when she married John Majure. She has the best taste, and knew exactly what she wanted. That, of course, made things a lot easier for me, but there’s still pressure to get them done, get them arranged and placed at the venue, AND leave yourself time to get ready to go to the wedding. The latest wedding I went to was in Granbury, Texas on May 1st. My cousin, Travis, married the love of his life, Laura, last weekend. It was a treat in itself, since my daughter, Paige, and I got to have our first road trip since last year, and it was the first time I have got to see and visit with my son, Adam, in almost a year! (Thanks, Covid!) Everybody stayed at the same hotel, so there was a lot of catching up going on with everybody. We were all loud, and happy to see each other. There was even time to check out the little town of Granbury, and I’m already planning to go back. Travis and Laura’s wedding was held at a gorgeous venue, La Bella Luna, right outside of Granbury. I wonder just how many

weddings have been held there, because they have weddings down to a fine art! They got married outside, and we were all praying it wouldn’t rain. Luckily, the rain held off during the ceremony, and only made an appearance during the reception. When Laura walked down the aisle in an incredibly beautiful white dress, she wore a pair of blue heels. You know, something borrowed, something blue? I loved that! Travis has a little boy, Lucas, who is five years old, and Lucas was his best man! When they explained to Lucas that as best man, he would have to give a toast to the bride and groom. He came out with the best toast I’ve ever heard...he simply said, “Strawberry!” Travis and Laura made sure Lucas was a big part of the day, and he enjoyed every minute of it. The whole wedding was very “family oriented” and I really liked that! There were even “light sabers” for all the kids and there were everywhere! I think the kids had more fun than the adults! We were assigned tables, and my cousin, Gene, and his wife, Lana, were seated with us. It has been at least 15 years since I’ve last seen Gene. Even though we stay in touch on Facebook, it’s just not the same as “in person.” Travis decided against getting a groom’s cake, so he had a “beignet truck,” and, oh, powered sugar was everywhere! The wedding cake

was so good, I wanted to get a “to go box,” and fill it up for later! When it was time for Travis and Laura to leave, we were all given sparklers, which I love! Even though the rain was pouring down by then, we gathered around, and held up our sparklers for their grand exit. I admit I wiped a little tear. I’m certainly no expert on marital advice but, I’ve learned a few things about it. Loving somebody is one thing, but that person needs to be your friend, first. And, if they won’t let you be yourself, and you can’t let them be themselves, just run! Like any relationship, marriage is work, and not always easy, but if you both want the same things in life, things tend to go a whole lot smoother. Be willing to say you are sorry first, and whatever you do, always encourage each other. Cheer them on! Don’t be selfish. Spend time with them, be honest with them (and yourself), and compliment them. That’s what real love is to me. Maybe Bob Seger sings it better than I can say it… “I think I’ve found the real love... Genuine and true... I think its really come my way, babe. I think its really you.”

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T H O M A S H S C O T T AWA R D S

it, Stay & Play, Midsouth Medical, Inc., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Louisiana Campus, Mid South Extrusion and InterMountain Management were honored with Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence during a reception held Thursday, May 13th at The Hub in downtown Monroe. In addition, three businesses received special Judge’s awards. The selections came from forty-two nominations for the prestigious awards, which honors companies making significant contributions to the Ouachita parish economy through capital improvements, expansion, job creation, and community involvement during

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2020/2021. This year’s nominees collectively created or retained 1, 274 jobs in Ouachita parish and made capital investments of over $180 million. The Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence Reception is hosted by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Business. Presenting sponsor for the event is Scott Powerline and Equipment and Strauss Interests. Additional sponsors for the reception are: Origin Bank, Heard, McElroy and Vestal, IberiaBank, Holyfield Construction, Progressive Bank, KTVE/KARD, Stephens Media Group, The City of Monroe, and the Radio People.

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SIT, STAY & PLAY SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNER Sit, Stay & Play 2410 Duval Drive in Monroe | 318.512.4153 Sit, Stay & Play won the award in the category for small businesses (10 employees or less). The concept for Sit, Stay & Play was laid out by Susie Lefebvre on a napkin during a dinner conversation. The concept became a reality in June, 2020. Sit, Stay & Play is a luxury boarding, day care and grooming facility for our furry, four-legged family members. Sit, Stay & Play supports the community through donations to local schools and organizations like the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter and the NELA Cancer Society. Sit, Stay & Play is located at 2410 Duval Drive in Monroe. Visit their website at sitstayandplay.com

SI T, STAY & P LAY: D R . RI C H ARD LE FE BVRE , J R

MIDSOUTH MEDICAL, INC. MEDIUM BUSINESS AWARD WINNER Midsouth Medical, Inc. 3209 Breard Street | 318.855.0411 The winner of the medium business category (11-50 employees) was Midsouth Medical, Inc. Jonathan Lee and Becky Jones acquired Midsouth Medical in 2010 with a staff of three, and now they have thirty-four employees. In 2020, Midsouth Medical purchased their own facility located at 3209 Breard Street. This purchase and renovation made Midsouth Medical the largest medical retail supply and equipment store in the state of Louisiana. Midsouth sponsors numerous little league teams, but their biggest contribution is taking care of the elderly and injured and providing the tools they need to live independently at home.

M I D S O U T H MEDICA L : J ON ATHAN LEE

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VCOMLA CAMPUS LARGE BUSINESS AWARD WINNER Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus at ULM Recognized as the large business winner (51 to 100 employees) was VCOM. The Osteopathic Medical School first opened its doors to students in Blacksburg, Virginia during the fall of 2003 and graduated its first class in 2007. Since then, VCOM has opened campuses in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Auburn, Alabama and the fourth campus in Monroe. The opening of the Monroe Campus in 2020 created 96 jobs. In July 2020, 149 students began their first year at VCOM. The college is committed to outreach to medically underserved communities, both rural and international. VCOM seeks to train medical students to be caring, practical, capable and well-rounded physicians. Their goal is to create national and international healthcare leaders for the future while providing students with rewarding, service-based learning opportunities. VCOM’s Louisiana staff and students have donated to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, and The Wellspring.

VCOM - LOUI SI ANA C AM P US: D R . RANDY ALD RE T

MID SOUTH EXTRUSION CORPORATE BUSINESS AWARD WINNER Mid South Extrusion 2105 Jackson Street in Monroe, LA

M I D SO UT H EXT R US ION: K E N UP SHAW, C FO; SCOT T A NDER S ON, V P; M AR K ANDERSO N, CEO; M IKE H ENAGA N, VP of O P E R AT IO NS; RO N M A S ON, PR ES ID ENT

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The corporate business of the year award (over 100 employees) was presented to Mid South Extrusion, a plastics manufacturer specializing in flexible films and bags to serve the flexible packaging industry targeting industrial and food-grade applications. In January 2020 with over a $13 million dollar investment, CEO Mark Anderson and President Ron Mason installed their newest production line that added approximately 10,000,000 pounds of production capacity to their campus. During this production expansion, Mid South added additional office space, 15,000 square feet of warehouse space, a state-of-the-art reprocessing line and four new silos. Mid South Extrusion supports United Way, area grade schools, ULM and North Louisiana Economic Partnership.

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INTERMOUNTAIN MANAGEMENT THE THOMAS H. SCOTT AWARD InterMountain Management 2390 Tower Drive in Monroe | 318.325.5561 The Thomas H. Scott Award was presented to InterMountain Management. The company was founded by Dewey Weaver and his father in Monroe. They initially operated the company out of his mother’s spare bedroom. Over the years, the company grew to become a national leader in hospitality management. Dewey eventually moved the headquarters to a beautiful building on Tower Drive. In February 2020, he expanded the headquarters by opening a second office next door to the first. The headquarters employs 65 people locally and 35 remote employees across the country and supports over 80 hotels with 1,530 employees nationwide. InterMountain supports The Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Soup Kitchen, and NELA Food Bank.

I N TE RM OUN TAI N M ANAGE M E N T: COLBY WE AVE R WALKE R , I NTE RI O R DE S I G N A N D P URC H ASI N G M ANAGE R AT I RC HOT E L S

GENUSA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT THE SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE AWARD Genusa’s Italian Restaurant 815 Park Avenue in Monroe | 318.387.3083 The Spirit of Resilience Award was presented to Genusa’s Italian Restaurant. If 2020 was not hard enough on restaurants, Genusa’s got a double whammy. Once when a kitchen fire did extensive damage to the restaurant and again when the pandemic shuttered restaurants across the country in 2020. But, the disasters provided the opportunity for Cherry Genusa to add 1,000 sq feet for a new kitchen, additional storage space and redesign a new entryway. The restaurant is now back in business with more clients then ever before.

GE N U SA’S ITALIAN R ESTAUR A NT: A S H L E Y G ENU SA A ND CH ER RY GENUSA

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MEDINA MARKET

THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD Medina Market 2601 Sterlington Road in Monroe | 318.654.4291 The Spirit of Enterprise Award was presented to Medina Market. This award is given to a business that shows the true spirit of entrepreneurship and displays the desire to do what it takes to start and own a small business. Medina Market is more than just a business. It is a place that connects Hispanic families with each other and with other local Hispanic owned businesses. Established by Emma Medina and Jenessy Raley, Medina Market is a family-owned Latin-American grocery store specializing in packaged goods from Central America and Mexico. Medina Market carries items such as imported flours, rice, coffee, herbal teas other natural products. In 2021, a coffee shop and smoothie bar was added to the market. Located at 2601 Sterlington road, Medina Market is a reference point for Hispanic families.

M E D I N A M ARKE T: J E N N E SY AN D M I TC H RALE Y

KING SPRINGS THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD King Springs KingSpringsLA.com

K I N G SP RINGS: J AY YAT ES, G ENER A L M A NAGER

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The Spirit of Innovation Award was presented to King Springs and to a gentleman who is committed to innovation, excellence, and entrepreneurship. Not only did Dr. Terry King excel in his chosen field as a physician, he invented the “cardiac umbrella” to close holes in the heart without surgery, and was the first to implant the device in humans. Later, he developed Kingsland Ranch and raised grass fed beef cattle that produces some of the best steaks you will ever taste. Through the ranch he distributed beef, hay and dirt. This year he added natural spring water that is pure and sustainable to the mix. With an investment of over 1 million dollars he developed King Springs which is now available in stores all across Northeast Louisiana.

T H O M A S H S C O T T AWA R D S

2 0 2 1 T H O M A S H . S COT T N O M I N E E S SMALL BUSINESSES Amazing Transport, LLC Bold Creations of Monroe LA Care Pregnancy Clinic Downtown Nutrition Durrett Law & Title Michael Donohue Edward Jones Investments Genusa’s Italian Restaurant, LLC GiGi’s Kountry Kitchen Glaze Junkie Guice Law Co. King Springs KitchenCooking Luna Piena Italian Bistro Medina Market MSB Mortgage NELA Driving Academy Revelry Nutrition, LLC Sit, Stay and Play

SouthStar Urgent Care Step It Up Nutrition The B Law Firm The Black Sugar Bakery The Cookout, LLC The Sugar Shack Vines Capital Management, LLC. MEDIUM BUSINESSES 318 Construction, LLC Alex Latin Restaurant and Cafeteria Catahoula’s Discover Monroe-West Monroe Five 19 Tap House & Tapas Magic Grill 165 Midsouth Medical Inc. Regions Bank The Foot and Ankle Clinics

LARGE BUSINESSES The Business Alliance Financial Services, LLC Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Louisiana Campus River City Ready Mix, LLC CORPORATE BUSINESSES InterMountain Management Mid South Extrusion Monroe Housing Authority Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union Surge Entertainment by Drew Brees

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MidSouth Medical Inc. Improving Life for Others

IDSOUTH MEDICAL, INC. HAS BEEN A PART OF THE Monroe/West Monroe landscape since 2001, with the company ultimately being purchased in 2010 by Jonathan Lee and Becky Jones with goals of creating a medical device and equipment haven for Northeast Louisiana. Coming from a medical sales background, Jonathan immediately saw the potential in Midsouth Medical, and with his partner Becky, the team began the process of rebuilding and establishing themselves among the medical community. Building connections with local doctors and patients was imperative and has provided a guiding virtue and embodiment of their business slogan, “Improving Life for Others” throughout the years. With a mission and passion for helping people have fun and stay mobile; the team at Midsouth Medical has created a vast inventory of equipment options, allowing patients to opt for brighter colors and different styles for a truly individualized customer experience. Providing an unparalleled customer experience has propelled their business, growing from 3 employees in 2010 to a staff of 34 in 2020. With a growing staff and clientele, Jonathan and Becky decided to relocate the business from the West Monroe location to their current location in Monroe. Jonathan said, “We loved the idea of re-purposing an old warehouse instead of just seeing it sit and be torn down one day. Which became a big part of our design throughout the new store.” Keeping

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original elements, the new store features exposed metal beams and a custom counter featuring a steel top to tie everything in. Midsouth Medical Inc. was recently recognized at the annual Thomas H. Scott Awards presented by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Business. The Thomas H. Scott Award is awarded to businesses that have made significant contributions to the Ouachita parish economy through capital investments, expansion, job creation, and community involvement. MidSouth Medical, Inc., was selected as the winner for the medium-sized business category, reserved for businesses employing 1150 employees. Employing 34 residents, the team at Midsouth Medical prides itself on its continued growth and service to the community, sponsoring numerous little league teams and providing items to the elderly and injured in our area the ensure their continued independence. The team at Midsouth Medical has inevitably created a one-stop shop for at-home medical needs and has created the largest retail medical supply store in Louisiana, located at 3209 Breard Street directly behind the Monroe Post Office on Hwy 165. The professional staff is ready to meet with you and assist your every need. Reach us by phone at 318-855-0411 or stop by our store. We are open Monday – Friday 8 AM - 5 PM and Saturdays 9 AM – 3PM. We hope to see you soon!

King Springs Water, Delivered to Your Door Local Water Company Offers Convenience

EEP BELOW THE ROLLING HILLS AND LUSH GREEN fields of the King Family’s North Louisiana property sits a vast aquifer of sand filtered naturally pure spring water. So much clean spring water sits under the property that it bubbles naturally from the ground cold to the touch. Now after more than five years of research, source cultivation and testing, the King Family brings you the most fresh and clean bottled water product Louisiana has ever seen. King Springs is more than just another bottled water. With the guidance of health professionals and environmental experts, we have bottled a clean and natural source of water for everyone. Bottled at the source, King Springs water goes through a three step purification process using state of the art technology to create a perfectly PH balanced, crisp tasting water. This incredibly delicious spring water is now available for delivery to your home or office! King Springs is Ouachita Parish’s only spring water bottled at the source. This refreshing PH balanced water is certain to quench your thirst throughout the year. Whether enjoying King Springs from a single serve bottle or a glass perfectly chilled from our state-of-the-art dispenser, you’ll get that same great taste in every drop. Dr. Terry King, and his team at King Springs are proud to be part of this community and state and wish to share this delicious local treasure. Our company strives to give back and recently donated water to our local firehouses, as well as throughout Shreveport during the recent winter storms. We were recently awarded The Spirit of Innovation

Award as part of the 2021 Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence, presented by The Monroe Chamber of Commerce. This award is truly an honor as it recognizes our commitment to innovation, excellence and entrepreneurship. At King Springs we are committed to conserving North Louisiana’s natural beauty and our facility recycles every possible component of our production process. Any waste water produced in our production is used for irrigation of the meadows surrounding our facility. Our commitment to the Louisiana’s most precious resource - its environment - will always be built into the foundation of our business model. King Springs delivery fleet is eager to serve new business and residential customers in the surrounding area including Monroe, West Monroe, Calhoun, Sterlington and Ruston! We offer 5 gallon and a lighter 3-gallon jug as well as cases of King Springs 16.9 ounce or 12-ounce bottles, all delivered directly to you. If you don’t already own a water dispenser, King Springs can provide a sleek bottom loading dispenser that provides hot and cold-water taps. The bottom loading feature makes swapping a jug easy and means no more flipping heavy bottles upside down. Optional contactless delivery and electronic payments make subsequent deliveries an easy, no hassle process every time and there are no contracts required. Our water truly tastes great and our customers love it! Give us a call at 318-396-1047 or visit us online at www.KingSpringsLA.com. It’s easy to make the switch to King Springs at your home or office today!

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Run, Play and Make Furry Friends At Sit, Stay, Play in Monroe

IT, STAY, & PLAY WAS BORN OUT of a very simple idea. Provide the highest level of care in a fun and loving environment to animal lovers and their fourlegged companions. Motivated by a passion for animals and deep understanding of quality pet care, we pride ourselves on caring for your furry family members. When you and your loved ones come to Sit, Stay, & Play, you become part of our family. Clients will have peace of mind knowing their pets are well taken care and having a great time while staying with us! BOARDING Taking a vacation? Don’t leave your pets out, give them a vacation at Sit, Stay and Play! They will enjoy plush amenities and fun in the yard during daycare. Don’t worry! We have condo life available for our cats, too! Felines will enjoy their time staying in our condos where they can play all day and perch up in our windows. They will have the opportunity to have fun and run around in our cat centered room! In addition,

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they will receive their daily afternoon tuna treat. Canines have numerous options for accommodations at Sit, Stay and Play! Check out our various style of accommodations. All include plush bedding, with daily turndown service and a happy treat hour during the day. Furry friends will enjoy sumptuous dining during their stay with us. Your pets will LOVE the one of kind service they receive at Sit, Stay and Play. GROOMING Pamper Your Pet! Sit, Stay & Play offers full-service grooming by appointment only. Grooming can take extended time and pets are welcome to play in our daycare until their grooming appointment if requested by the owner. The Tune Up! (Clean-Up Groom) • Soothing Bath • Relaxing Massage • Trim-Bottom, Feet and Face • Mani and Pedi (No Paint)

• Anal Glands Expressed • Bow/Bandanna • Refreshing Spritz

The Overhaul (Full Groom) • Full Cut • Soothing Bath • Relaxing Massage • Mani and Pedi (No Paint) • Ears Cleaned • Anal Glands Expressed • Bandana/Bow • Refreshing Spritz DAY CARE The best play your pup will get today. During the day, let your dog be a dog at Sit, Stay and Play!. We will show your furry friends love and attention throughout the day and they will come home as one tired and happy PUP. Participating in daycare will help eliminate the feeling of loneliness and boredom while you are away. Canines participating in our program will enjoy many events throughout the day with their new friends! Good Behavior Bucks: Earn Good Behavior Bucks while participating in daycare or boarding with us. Bucks can be cashed in during their next stay at daycare or during boarding for something special during their stay.

Advanced Fertility Treatments We Build Families

BY J. PRESTON PARRY, MD, MPH

S MANY LOOK TO THE EARLY summer as a time of graduation, what happens when a couple needs to graduate from spontaneous efforts at conception or low cost oral medication and insemination to get to the upper levels of IVF? Many can be reassured that, though there are exceptions, many people undergoing IVF have great outcomes. A large recent study from New Jersey showed women with three chromosomally normal blastocysts had a 92% cumulative take home baby rate, which is very encouraging. The challenge is that there were women in the 8% who didn’t bring home a baby and also not all women get three normal blastocysts with IVF, as this usually requires approximately 25 eggs if under the age of 35. How do you predict who has great chances and whose are lower? A few variables go in to this: 1. Egg quantity and quality: if there are

fewer eggs, there are fewer chances. Similarly, if over the age of 35, eggs are more likely to have mistakes in the DNA, so there are fewer good eggs among those available. This is the driving predictor of IVF outcomes. 2. Sperm quantity and quality: though sperm are less often the source of lower embryo quality, one has to watch for advanced paternal age or severe male factors, such as when sperm need to be removed directly from the testicle. These can lead to lower embryo quality. 3. Recurrent miscarriage: many factors can contribute to this, but often it relates to issues with egg or sperm quality. If a couple has “bad DNA” this doesn’t mean there are no good eggs or sperm, but it may be harder to find. When all other things are equal, a couple with recurrent miscarriages is more likely to have abnormal DNA for their embryos relative to other couples. 4. Heavy smoking or drinking: though

some people get pregnant with circumstances related to heavy drinking, beyond creating opportunity, it doesn’t help. By some estimates, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption to one drink a day can improve pregnancy rates by 40% . We often see poorer quality embryos in couples with heavy smoking or drinking and see better embryos and more successful pregnancy chances when they stop. Ultimately, all four of these often relate to DNA issues. There can be other contributors such as uterine factors but these are far less common than these four causes. Though not all fertility can be fully predicted, recognizing these core causes can give better estimates for a woman’s chances of successful conception and give more realistic expectations as to how they will do with treatment. If you’re wondering about your fertility, know that many couples don’t need IVF, as lower cost, lower tech solutions often work. Though we can never fully control the cards that are dealt, we can do a lot to stack the deck in your favor. Please let us know if we can help you have a full house! Please join us on Facebook every first Friday of the month for First Friday Fertility Live 12:00 PM CST.

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B AYOUKID Z

Moving Towards a Life of Gratitude for Every Day We Are Gifted

article by Cindy G. Foust

ell, here we all are at the halfway mark of the year… and we are certainly a far cry from where we were last year at this time. Anybody want to give me an A to the men on that one? As a reminder, this time last year we were all scared to death to go the grocery store because we thought COVID would jump off a zucchini and get on us. This June, it’s more like, “Hey, where’s everyone going on vacation?” We have to give a praise report for this shift back to the perspective we had prior to the pandemic for sure. Speaking of vacations and all that that involves, where IS everyone going this summer? And are you driving or flying? Maybe I should write this month’s column on how to survive a road trip with your children. But that should be pretty easy, right, because we all survived a pandemic shuttered in with them for months on end, right? Am I right? It’s kind of funny to me really, when I think back on it now, because when I was growing up, it was kind of like we were in a pandemic, but we really weren’t. What I mean is, we all sheltered in place because 126 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

there really wasn’t much else to do, so except for school, my family was together all the time, all the time. Yes, I said it twice. It was a much slower time, much like what we experienced last year, and everything

around us seemed to move at a snail’s pace. And no one really hated it. During the school week, we did look forward to the weekends, but it was because our parents were taking us to a Play Day (a sort of informal rodeo for you nonequestrienne readers), or the church gym to play in a volleyball tournament or perhaps my parents’ were having “Rook” night (by

the way, I’ll take your money in a game of Rook because I AM getting the Widow no matter what I have in my hand) and all their friends were coming over. Which meant all my friends were coming over and it was going to be board game night or bike riding or a basketball game with someone’s headlights shining on the grass court after dark. What was a guarantee was homemade ice cream would be involved so that made it an especially rich experience. Well, rich in my book and I’m the one writing the column, so rich indeed. Gosh, some days I wish we could go back to those times… and last year, we kind of did. But here we all are, on the cusp of a fresh start, like a really fresh start as more and more mandates are lifted and we are getting to recapture privileges we likely didn’t even appreciate we had… like walking in the grocery store without a mask on and being able to tell who other shoppers were. A lot has happened in my own personal life since this time last year, and there’s part of me that feels like I’ve certainly been given a fresh start… a clean slate if you would. And it feels really great.

But great in a different way than I have felt in years… it actually takes me back to those years in my life when I felt carefree and joyful…and uncluttered. It has sharpened my focus, yes, but it has also made me appreciate those same things that I continued to take for granted. Since June is Cancer Survivor’s Month, and I have now survived it, twice, I feel I am in a sort of position to be able to give the perspective of someone who kind of gets it now. All of it. I get that life is truly short and we need to live every day in a robust and explosive way. I get that life is also very precious and every life is just as important and valuable as the next. I get that some of us are blessed with second chances and opportunities to live long, healthy lives (even if you have to go through 16 rounds of chemo to get there) and some of us are not privileged with those length of years, like my Samuel or my sister, Angel. I get that life does get interrupted from a death, an illness or a pandemic, but in the end, the way we march through it is what people will think and say about us. I get that little things that get in the way

of family relationships or friendships and sometimes turn into big things are not really important at all… there’s always a way to work through them, so if you find yourself in that situation…including myself… get busy working through them. I get that the most valuable of lessons my father taught me (Happy Father’s Day this month, too, Daddy) is to be kind to one another, no matter what personality conflict or issue may reside between you and that person, you can still be kind. I get that every day we are given to live on this earth, no matter where our travels take us or where we call home, is a gift. Life is a gift, and I have had to say goodbye to my son, my sister, family and friends way too soon…and sometimes way too long, especially if they were sick, and it’s hard; it’s inexplicable; it’s unfathomable, but we do it. Because that’s what we do, we march through what life throws at us and we come out grateful, grateful that we have the opportunity to march through it, unlike some people who didn’t get the same chance. And finally, I get that there are hundreds of excuses for feeling sorry for ourselves, but the truth is that no one is guaranteed of tomorrow and today, today is the day to

start living that way. With gratitude. With kindness. With forgiveness. With an explosive energy that surprises even ourselves. What’s this article really about, as I twist and turn through the words? It’s about living… shedding the sorrows and worries of the past year and picking up where we left off and moving towards a life of gratitude for every day we are gifted. I hope you get where I’m going, readers… and I challenge you to meet me there. I walk outside every day and bask in the air of a new day… loving my family, my friends, my life, my work, and grateful for cures, for second chances, for modern medicine, for supportive family and friends and for the most blessed of lives I can imagine. You don’t have to go through chemo, readers, to meet me there, you just have to know where you are going, even if you don’t know how you will get there. Trust me, your attitude will be all the compass you need. Cindy G. Foust is a wife, mom, author and blogger. You can find her blog at the alphabetmom.com for weekly columns about homelife, parenting,smallbusinessstoriesandinsightwithasmidgen of literacy. Give her a like or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

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Fleet Feet in Monroe Debuts Redesigned Retail Space

HEN MIKE FRONSOE TOOK OVER FLEET FEET IN March of 2017, he wasn’t sure what the future held. He was a transplant from Florida, moving to Monroe to be closer to family and started a retail business venture, something he hadn’t done before. By 2019, Mike knew this was exactly where he needed to be. The sports shoe store, located in the Northgate Shopping Center on Forsythe Avenue in the heart of Monroe, had grown roots in the community and had an established customer base. Then, came March of 2020. “We had no idea how long the shut down was going to last,” said Mike. Once again, Mike did not know what the future held. The following month, people’s interest in outdoor actives increased and Fleet Feet was able to reopen with curbside pick up. Business began picking up and the community was focused on shopping local. Once businesses were allowed to fully reopen, Fleet Feet hit the ground running…literally. More and more people were coming in looking for walking and running shoes, socks, athletic gear and more. In addition to walkers, runners and joggers, Mike and his staff also saw an increase in customers from the medical community. “They are on their feet all day, now more than ever, so comfortable shoes are key,” he explained. Suddenly, Fleet Feet was bursting at the seems. “There wasn’t enough room for inventory, and the space just wasn’t working for us,” said Mike. After talking to the landlord, Mike decided a total remodel was what the store needed. The entire store moved next door to their current space for seven weeks while they took the space down to the studs. “We worked with James Reneau at Blue Heron who helped us redesign the layout of the store to something that works better for us,” said Mike. The new space is now open and with a new layout. The back wall is filled with shoes for men, women and children. Their top lines include On Running shoes, Brooks, Hoka and New Balance. “We truly have something for everyone and our customers range from kids to people in their 80’s. And they aren’t all marathon runners. We strive be an all inclusive store, here to serve our community.” And that is just what Fleet Feet has done since Mike took over in 2017. Not only are they involved in local races, but they have weekly and monthly fun runs at their store. “These runs are for people of all levels and just a way for people to get together,” said Mike. Fleet Feet is proud to be here after four years…and a pandemic. And they have found ways to give back to the community that has given so much to them. In September of 2020, Fleet Feet partnered with the City of Monroe and New Balance to outfit 74 kids at Barkdull Faulk Elementary School in Monroe. “We took our 3-D scanner to the school and fit all of the kids at the school and it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of,” said Mike. The project then inspired Hannah Hudnall, a Fleet Feet employee who had lost her mother to breast cancer. Her mom, Kelly Hudnall, was a teacher at Crosley Preschool in West Monroe and had an affinity for Pete the Cat. In January of this year, Hannah provided a new pair of shoes and a copy of Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes children’s book. Whether you have been a customer of Fleet Feet for years or haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet Mike and his staff, stop in today to see the new space and everything they have to offer. And while you will find all things walking and running related, the one thing you will most definitely find - community. 128 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Genusa’s Restaurant

Local Restaurant Receives Thomas H. Scott Awards

HE GENUSA FAMILY HAS SERVED TRADITIONAL Italian dishes to the greater Monroe area for more than 50 years. Nestled in the heart of the Monroe Garden District, Genusa’s provides customers with an unrivaled menu, wine selection as well as a one of a kind experience. The Genusa’s Italian Restaurant we see today is a sizable operation compared to their humble beginnings. Undeterred and armed with the savory recipes of Francis Genusa’s mother and aunts, Cherry and Francis Genusa began their journey as restauranteurs. As their restaurant and customer base grew, so did the Genusa family allowing them to grow their business into a family operation with Ann, Rachel, Ashley, and Cole overseeing daily operations with Cherry. The menu at Genusa's has evolved with the restaurant and has grown to include favorites such as the wild halibut with smoked gouda sauce and the rosemary-rubbed grilled filet as well as the chicken Florentine, a dish served with their signature artichoke and fresh spinach dressing on top of a plump, juicy, grilled chicken breast. The oldest recipe served is the delicious and always popular cannelloni; a traditional Italian dish that encompasses everything revered about Italian cooking, from the creamy artisanal cheeses, to the sauce made with fresh, vine-picked tomatoes, to the perfectly cooked pasta. The cannelloni is tough to beat. Continuing to be a staple in the Monroe area, the team at Genusa’s was recently honored at the 2021 Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence Banquet. Receiving a special judge’s award, Genusa’s Italian Restaurant received the Spirit of Resiliency Award, an award aptly deserved in light of a recent electrical fire that caused extensive property damage as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While many businesses would have faltered Cherry and her team, dug in and planted their roots even deeper into the community, paving the way for a 1,000 square foot expansion to the restaurant. Always staying a cut above the rest, the team at Genusa’s is excited to announce their latest menu additions with a story that truly brings their history of service full circle. In the 1980s the Genusa’s staff included a young busboy, Daniel John. After working with the staff, he eventually relocated to California where he had the opportunity to work with and train under several renowned chefs in the area. Daniel eventually settled in Chicago where he owns a successful catering business, Whatever Lola Wants. The Genusa’s team is thrilled to announce the upcoming collaboration with Daniel and our resident wine guru Rachel to create a Chicago-inspired section to their menu. Cherry and the staff are honored to be able to work with Daniel once again, as the partnership brings his experience with Genusa’s full circle. The new menu items will be launching next month under a ‘Whatever Lola Wants’ section as a special nod to Daniel’s thriving Chicago business. Genusa’s Italian Restaurant is located at 815 Park Ave and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Genusa’s Restaurant is a time-tested favorite in the region, and there is always something new for the palate to discover at their table. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know of drink and food specials.

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J.S. Clark Magnet School Top Elementary School in District Test Scores

N 1993, J. S. CLARK MAGNET SCHOOL WAS RESTRUCTURED with the vison of focusing on excellence in science, math, and technology. This vision continues today. JS Clark Magnet School offers a fast- paced curriculum with emphasis on innovative classroom activities, while mastering national and state grade level expectations. J.S. Clark Magnet School stands apart from other elementary schools in several ways. We consistently lead the district in standardized test scores and have been rated an “A” school for the past five years. Honors bestowed on the school include distinction as, “A School of Academic Achievement,” “Magnet School of Excellence,” and “Title I Distinguished School.” Additionally, we are the only elementary school in the area with academic labs embedded into our weekly schedule. All students attend the following enrichment labs each week: Math Lab, Science Lab, Computer Lab, Art Lab, Fine Arts Lab, Character Counts Education and Physical Education. For the 2021-2022 school year, we are adding computer coding classes, through our Amazon Future Engineer Program. Our Science Lab maintains a garden, a pond, and houses several animals. The Math Lab uses hands-on activities and an array of manipulatives to enhance students’ learning. Performance groups including band, choir, orchestra and bucket band are offered. A recent purchase of steel drums, djembes and various global percussion instruments provide the students with a fun multicultural musical experience. Art Lab offers a broad range of varied hands-on art projects where students use their unique imagination and problemsolving skills to create their own art. Featured extra-curricular activities include Chat and Chew Book Club, National Elementary Honor Society, Student Council and Robotics’ Club. Our Robotics’ Club recently won first place in the middle school division at a district-wide competition. Parent and community outreach activities include Science Day, 100 Days of Math, STEAM Night, Dad’s Day BBQ and Beach Day, among others. Local business partners include Origin Bank, Homeland Bank, James Machine Works, Grambling, ULM and the LSU Ag Center. J.S. Clark Magnet School is currently enrolling for the 20212022 school year for grades pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade. A completed packet must contain the following: birth certificate, updated state of Louisiana Immunization Record, copy of social security card, and two proofs of residency. In addition, students registering for grades 1-6 must present a copy of their most current report card. Pre-Kindergarten applicants must have proof of income. For more information or a school tour, please contact Tricia Nolan, Program Coordinator, at (318) 322-8976.

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DBK Dance &

Performing Arts A Champion in our Community

E ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN nominated by the West Monroe - West Ouachita Chamber Of Commerce for the Community Champion Award. What an honor for our community to recognize our efforts in teaching students the importance of giving their time and talents to serve others! In our 43-year history, DBK Company Dancers have contributed to the Children’s Coalition, Cerebral Palsy, March of Dimes, Med Camps, Race for the Cure and our annual Fashion Fusion - Where Dance Meets Design and have raised thousands of dollars for the Cancer League Of Northeast Louisiana. We are so much more than a Dance Studio. Our staff is committed to making a difference in the lives of young people. We not only share a genuine passion for the performing arts, we also believe in teaching students important life lessons that lead them to be successful adults. Building character and confidence is so important to our youth. The lessons learned at DBK are intentionally designed to teach students the value of serving with humility and grace. Our students become our family, so it is important that they are trained in a loving and positive environment. We share the excitement of each skill mastered and goals that are met with each student. It is so difficult in today’s world where instant gratification is what both parent and child too sadly have come to expect. We take so much pride in instilling strong work ethics and teaching our students that true quality takes time. Our curriculum is based on a syllabus set forth by Dance Educators Of America of which Mrs. Debbie Bourg, Owner/ Director of DBK, is a Certified Honor Member. We offer the widest variety of classes in our area. Classical ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical/ contemporary, and hip hop. We incorporate quite a bit of musical theater into our jazz curriculum as well. This not only gives the students some acting skills, but helps tremendously with self expression. Our Tiny Treasures program for ages 2 1/2 - 6 is a fabulous way to introduce younger students to the Performing Arts. These classes include ballet, tap, and tumbling in a format that builds coordination of motor skills, focus, as well as helping learn class structure. This is most helpful with their academic success! The Performing Arts are a vital part of every child’s life. The sheer joy of music and dance are meant to be enjoyed by all. Join our dance family today! “Dance from the Heart and Give God the Glory”

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A Barn with Charm The Meadow Can Host Your Wedding

OU’VE FINALLY GOTTEN OVER THE EXCITEMENT OF getting engaged to your forever person, and now the planning begins. This is such an exciting and fun time for the bride as she tries to figure out a theme, a color scheme and most important, a venue. Sandy Spillers and her family, found themselves in this very spot. Her daughter was newly engaged and they were starting to plan her dream wedding. As they we looking for a venue, they just couldn’t find one that fit their vision perfectly, so Sandy’s husband and son went to work trying to make this day everything Sandy and her daughter dreamed of. In May of 2017 the Spiller’s family along with some very special friends started building their daughter’s wedding venue. They had the perfect spot on their families’ land with an abundance of lush trees. They took advantage of this and started constructing the perfect barn. They used the trees off the land to provide the lumber for the project which made it even more special. Sandy’s husband was hoping to get a new hay barn out of this new project and her son was hoping to get a new shop out of it. Little did they know, this was about to be a new business venture for the entire family. As they were working and building this beautiful new barn, they started to catch the attention of some passersby. Some were stopping and inquiring about what was going on and asking about their plans for this project. Thus, sparked the idea of making this barn a new wedding venue, The Meadow Wedding Barn. Right after their daughter’s wedding, they immediately started booking events. This beautiful new venue has so much character and is full of country charm. This versatile venue can be as casual as you’d like or dressed up with decorations to become a country chic elegant venue. There is room for your wedding to be held outside of the barn on their vast green land or brought inside. The entire venue is equipped with air conditioning and a heating system, so there are no worries about trying to plan during the perfect season. The Meadow Barn also has dressing rooms for the bride and her bridal party and a separate changing room for the groom and his groomsmen. They also have guest bathrooms and a large back porch. If you need a kitchen to prep in, they are also equipped with this, as well. This venue offers different packages that help make your day stress free and easy going. The basic package includes table rental, chairs, outdoor benches, special lighting and beautiful curtains. They also offer an additional package that includes decorations and rental, tablecloths and clean up. When you book this beautiful venue, you can expect to find a friendly, helpful staff ready to make your dream wedding a reality. It’s a quiet, peaceful place with a country charm and exquisite view.

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Feel Confident this Summer Choose Confidence by Choosing DermaMediQ

O MATTER YOUR AGE, EVERYONE WANTS TO LOOK and feel their best, and Dr. Sowma-Fakhre and the team at DermaMediQ can help with just that. Let the knowledgable team at DermaMediQ help you gain the confidence to feel your best this summer. They offer a variety of skin care solutions from mild treatments to more in-depth targeted procedures, treating fine lines, acne scars, sagging skin and more. Kysse Kysse. Looking for the perfect pout? Restylane Kysse is the first lip filler designed with XpresHAn Technology™ for flexible movement and natural-looking volume proven to last for up to one year. Enhance texture and color of the lips while maintaining a full range of expressions. Designed specifically for the movement of lips, Dr. Sowma-Fakhre is able to give patients natural-looking volume with Kysse-able softness. Why have lip enhancements? With age lips lose elasticity, volume and color. With this new innovative gel, the staff at DermaMediQ can specifically target these losses and give your lips a natural smile enhancement for Kyssable perfection. They can also use this to get rid of “gummy” smiles. If you are not happy with the amount of gums that show when you smile, let Dr. Sowma and her team help. They can treat and fix your problem quickly and easily. There is almost always a part of your body that you would love to change and get rid of unwanted fluff or flab. Dr. Sowma has the solution for those stubborn areas, and she is also the only one in the area to have this technology and the results are amazing. EmSculpt. The FDA-approved in-office machine is a first-of-it’s kind, non-invasive body-contouring device that uses High Intensity Focused Electro Magnetic energy to activate muscle contractions, which strengthens muscles while also creating a metabolic reaction to break down fat. No other technology has the capability to address both muscle and fat at the same time. Emsculpt has two applicators, which can be used individually or simultaneously on either the abdomen, arms or buttocks. BodyTite is a tool used for performing radio frequency assisted liposuction. It’s meant for people who want to get rid of fat in specific areas of their bodies. Not only does it suck out fat like traditional liposuction, but it is also melts fat tissue and works with blood vessels to achieve a smoother, tighter look. It can be used to tighten up any area of the body that has excess fat, including: • Arms • Thighs • Hips • Abdomen • Neck • Knees • Buttocks 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 or due to aging.

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HOME BUYERS

writtenMeredith by McKinnie 134 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

uying a home for the first time is intimidating. Making such a significant purchase with another person brings its own complications. Marriage requires communication and compromise, and buying a home together requires the same. The process is a crash course in making a collective decision with profound financial and emotional implications. We spoke with Susie Dartlon, a mortgage lender at Eagle Bank & Trust, and Mark Sisk, a realtor with RE/MAX Premier Realty, to find out the best advice and information for first-time home buyers. We also chatted with Josephine Baris, a newlywed and recent home buyer, to find out a buyer’s perspective on the process and how to successfully combine two households. So how does one begin the home-buying process? Susie advises first-time home buyers to begin with establishing a budget. That could mean deciding on the overall price range of a home or an estimated monthly payment. While it is tempting to look for the best home one can afford, Susie suggests finding a home that feels financially comfortable. No one wants to be strapped with a monthly payment that excludes enjoying life outside the home. Potential clients begin by filling out an application for a loan; this can be completed in person, over the phone, or online. Many couples find the online option more convenient due to conflicting schedules. The mortgage lender then assesses the clients’ credit reports to determine if the clients are pre-approved for a loan or if they need advice on how to improve credit scores. Once pre-approved, clients must consider the type of loan suitable for their needs. Rural development loans offer 100% financing but must be applied to home purchases outside the city limits. The rural development loan is a popular choice for first-time home buyers. If clients want to remain in the city limits, an FHA loan and conventional loan are other options. Susie helps clients make the best decision depending on their financial profile. The FHA and conventional loans require a down payment, whereas the rural development loan only requires buyers to handle closing costs. As many couples just starting out don’t have much cash on-hand, the rural development loan makes home ownership a possibility. The conventional loan is available for buyers with strong credit scores, while the FHA loan allows those with lower credit scores to obtain a better interest rate and a cheaper mortgage insurance premium. Susie likes giving her clients options, but the final decision on the type of loan rests with the clients. Property taxes and closing costs are other considerations buyers should understand. Home purchases inside the city limits require buyers to pay both city and parish taxes. On home purchases outside the city limits, tax rates vary by ward. Closing costs consist of bank fees, appraisal fees, attorney fees, homeowner’s insurance, and property taxes. The closing costs are estimated at a certain percentage of the home’s purchasing price. It is imperative that clients be aware of closing costs and necessary down payments that will be due at the time of purchase and can’t be factored into the loan amount. Determining financial readiness is where mortgage lenders can be extremely valuable. Making big financial decisions as informed buyers is key to purchasing confidence. When potential clients are not pre-approved, mortgage lenders offer advice to improve one’s financial standing. Susie advises clients with no credit history to obtain a credit card and charge one tank of gas each month and pay off the balance when the bill arrives, making sure to keep the balance under 30% of the approved credit line. It is important to not max out the credit limit, as it can do more to harm one’s credit than help it. After about three months, Susie will perform a rapid rescore of one’s credit to see if the client’s credit score is increasing. Mortgage lenders can help clients go from no credit or low credit to pre-approval in a relatively short period of time. Once potential home buyers have established a budget with a mortgage lender, they can begin to consider the right realtor. Mark Sisk with RE/MAX encourages buyers to look for a representative with knowledge of the local market and the mortgage approval process. A realtor should be informed about the homes becoming available on the buyer’s “micro” market and how quickly they are selling. Buyers should prioritize realtor knowledge and communication. It is important for realtors to be able to communicate with all parties involved in the sale, as realtors are the bridge between the homes on the market and potential buyers. When searching for a realtor, it might be tempting to click around online and assume one will be in good hands. Mark suggests asking the mortgage lender or friends and family for references. Make sure the realtor is active in real estate, as many have real estate licenses but are not currently involved in market transactions. Markets shift and home values change, so having an active realtor with timely information is essential.

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Mark Sisk with RE/MAX encourages buyers to look for a representative with knowledge of the local market and the mortgage approval process.

Questions for realtors include: How long have you been in real estate? How many transactions have you handled this past year? Realtors with an established team of experts will have the most collective information for buyers, often circumventing potential problems before they inevitably arise. Expect honesty from a realtor. Make sure the representative is willing to say when a home is not a good investment. Building trust is the primary goal for Mark, as he hopes to work with clients in the future. When house hunting as a newly married couple, it’s helpful for the realtor to stay cognizant of the “wants” and “needs” of each spouse. “It’s not always rainbows and butterflies. It’s compromise that moves us along,” says Mark, unashamedly quoting Maroon 5. When it comes to availability, buyers should expect realtors to respond quickly, as the market never sleeps, especially in the current market when inventory and interest rates are low. Home purchases are time sensitive, and a good realtor should be willing to accommodate that reality. Mark loves guiding clients on the journey of home ownership and building lifelong relationships. Helping people find and build financial stability is a rewarding profession. As a more recent home buyer, Josephine Baris knows the process from the other side of the table. She and husband Ugur Baris started searching for their first home shortly before their wedding in April of 2018. She suggests buyers educate themselves on the types of loans available and start familiarizing themselves with the property values in any desired neighborhood. Josephine and Ugur did look at houses online, but found the most value in driving the streets, getting a feel for each neighborhood. She also encourages potential home buyers to follow realtors on social media, as they are consistently showing new properties on the market. Knowing your rights as a home buyer is crucial to navigating the process, and that’s again where the experts come in. When it came time to furnish their new home, Josephine and Ugur discovered their radically different aesthetics. Ugur preferred clean, modern lines, and Josephine preferred lived-in spaces.She immediately began searching for ways of combining their tastes, centering in on their mutual love of neutral colors as a starting point. The couple exchanged pictures of spaces they loved and found ways to incorporate both styles in their new home. Like adjusting to marriage itself, decorating a space that feels like home for everyone takes time and attention. While exploring home ownership can be scary, seeking information from the experts can lessen one’s fear. Buying a first home is an exciting experience, and though the decision is often the largest financial investment of a lifetime, it need not be overwhelming. 136 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE THINGS This month, we asked area retailers for bridal gift ideas. From servingware to pajama sets, these local stores will have the upcoming bride taken care of.

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BayouTrends

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1 . TONOR E’S W I NE CELLAR 2. BLUSH B Y S A D I E C ’ S 3 . R E V I V A L D E S I G N A N D C O N S I G N 4 . T H E MU F F IN T IN 5. H E RRINGST ONE’S BO UTI Q UE 6. W ALSW O RTH & C O M P A N Y 7 . P E T A L S & P E A R L S 8 . M A T E R I A L T H I N G S 9 . D U ST Y & C OM PAN Y 10 . PAL ET TE HO USE + PLUM E 11. DUPO N T J E WE L E R S 1 2 . H E M L I N E M O N R O E 1 3 . WA S H I N G T O N WIN E & SPIRIT S

It All Starts with the Venue

The Mansion at Red Hill Provides An Opulent Setting for Your Special Day

WEDDING IS AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS IN someone’s life. A day devoted to you, your soulmate and your future together. Naturally, the wedding location is at the center of it all. Everything about your wedding, including the look, feel and tone depends on the location. The venue serves as the backdrop in your photos, where you share your first meal as a married couple, where you dance the night away and ultimately one of the most important pieces of the entire wedding planning process. The Mansion at Red Hill is a luxurious bed and breakfast located in Delhi, Louisiana. The inviting beauty of the property’s serene setting and classic style creates a romantic backdrop ideal for any special occasion or event. Quiet and private, the Mansion can be found off I-20 in Northeast Louisiana, north of Delhi, Louisiana. Situated on 85 acres of lush grassland with groves of trees and a large stocked pond, the Mansion at Red Hill is a luxe beacon amid a sea of rich agricultural land. The 21,000 square foot bed and breakfast is striking with the looks and details of antebellum, complete with all of the comforts one has come to expect from modern luxury living. The mansion has an executive suite, four bedrooms, an elevator for our guests needing assistance, two living rooms, a dining room, library, a grand staircase foyer, rear courtyard and an expansive front gallery, providing limitless photo opportunities for the big day.

photo provided by Jansen Nowell Photography

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Complete with a gazebo overlooking the beautiful pond, the Mansion provides several locations for a romantic wedding, reception, or even classic photographs before and after the big event. Select from a number of outdoor settings; the center courtyard allows the classic wedding visionary to thrive with beautifully maintained garden colors to surround the bride and groom on their special day or use The Mansion itself as a backdrop. With an expansive front gallery, the porch becomes the perfect stage with a wide center staircase with manicured lawns and front gardens. If weather is a factor on your special day, the interior of the Mansion is spacious and can accommodate a full guest list. Included in the wedding package are the use of the front porch, courtyard grounds, the lower floor of the mansion as well as linens, chairs, set up and clean up for the event. The 1,000 square foot Honeymoon Suite is also available for the bride and attendants to dress for the big day. With sprawling acreage and limitless amenities, the Mansion at Red Hill offers brides unparalleled customer service and strives to make each bride feel at peace and beautiful on their special day. To reserve the Mansion at Red Hill for your upcoming wedding or special occasion, contact Eva Dawson at eva@mansionatredhill.com or by phone at 318-878-5155.

Give For Good Raises Record $2.3M for North Louisiana Nonprofits

AY 6TH WAS A RECORD-BREAKING day for our community. Give For Good, created by Community Foundation of North Louisiana in 2014, raised $2,301,350 for area nonprofits, the largest amount ever raised during the event. Give For Good is an annual online giving day that invites everyone to participate in philanthropy and have a hand in transforming our community. “From the beginning of COVID-19, many area nonprofits never closed their doors and stepped up to serve the growing community needs,” says CFNLA CEO Kristi Gustavson. “North Louisiana has always been such a giving community and we are thrilled that donors rallied around the vital nonprofits that make our community a brighter place.” The $2.3 million was raised through more than 10,000 gifts from across the country for 240 area nonprofits. Since inception, the annual event has now raised over $14 million for our community. Donors participating in Give For Good chose from nonprofits who provide services ranging from healthcare to education to the arts. As an extra incentive, all gifts are amplified by the Lagniappe Fund, a bonus pool that matches donations on a pro rata basis.

To see a full list of results, visit giveforgoodnla.org. Save the date for next year’s Give For Good: May 3, 2022. If you would like to learn more or become involved, contact the Community Foundation at giveforgood@cfnla.org or 318-221-0582.

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B AYO U H E A LTH BY S HAN N O N DAH LU M

The Key to Regulating

Chronic Inflammation

ccording to the World Health Organization, chronic disease is the greatest threat to human health. In 2015, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in the United States, and in 2017, cardiovascular disease accounted for one out of every three deaths. Twenty three percent of Americans, more than 54 million people, suffer from arthritis, and more than 50 million suffer from allergies, making it the the sixth leading cause of chronic human disease in this country. Other common chronic diseases include Alzheimer’s, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and any other condition that ends with the suffix “-itis.” The underlying cause of all of these conditions is chronic inflammation. The best preventive measure you have against developing any common chronic disease is to manage chronic stress, which creates inflammation in your body. You most likely already know that lifestyle practices like sleep quality, food quality, exercise, social connections, optimism, and a sense of purpose are some of the lifestyle factors that can ease your stress burden. One major key player in your level of inflammation that you may not hear discussed often, though, is your vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve of your autonomic nervous system, which controls the functioning of your organs without your conscious awareness. Although it’s referred to as a single nerve, it’s actually a bundle of nerves that originates in the brain stem and extends through the neck, chest and abdomen, all the way to the colon. The vagus nerve connects your brain to every organ in your body from your neck to your transverse colon, with the exception of your adrenal glands. Not only does this nerve control the functioning of your organ systems, it’s also your body’s main inflammatory control system. Imagine your vagus nerve as a bundle of electrical wires connecting your brain with the organs of your body. Electrical signals are sent through these wires from your body to your brain, and from your brain to your body. When an electrical signal reaches the end of the nerve, it triggers the release of a chemical signal, called a neurotransmitter. The major neurotransmitter utilized by the vagus nerve is acetylcholine, which has a major anti-inflammatory effect in the body. If your vagus nerve is working sub-optimally and isn’t able to manage healthy levels of inflammation in one organ of your body, it’s highly likely that other organs are, or will become, involved, too. Remember, the same signals are sent through the vagus nerve to nearly every internal organ of your body. This is why if one chronic disease is present, the risk for developing other chronic diseases increases dramatically. To optimize health and halt the progression of disease, an optimally functioning vagus nerve is absolutely paramount. If you think of the systems and functions of your body working like an orchestra, the vagus nerve is the conductor that directs each instrument. Making sure the conductor is healthy and performing well is the most important piece in creating a harmonious concert.

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The following symptoms are associated with a poorly functioning vagus nerve: DYS F U N C TI O N A L B R E ATH I N G : - rapid, shallow chest breathing versus slow, deep, diaphragmatic breathing - monotone voice D I G E S TIV E D I S TR E S S : - food transit time from ingestion to elimination of less than 10 hours or more than 24 hours - bacterial overgrowth - poor satiety reflex (taking a long time to feel full from your meal) C H R O N I C I N F L A M M ATI O N A N D I M M U N E AC TIVATI O N : - low grade joint pain and/or gut inflammation - overactive immune system (allergies and autoimmune conditions) DYS F U N C TI O N A L H E A RT R ATE - inability to normalize heart rate quickly after a stressful event - inability to maintain heart rate and blood pressure, leading to fainting DYS F U N C TI O N A L LIVE R F U N C TI O N : - poor blood sugar control, hormonal imbalance, high cholesterol, low bile, poor detoxification - strongly dysfunctional liver leads to fatty liver, enlarged liver, and potentially cirrhosis DYS F U N C TI O N A L S LE E P A N D C I R C A D I A N R H Y TH M

L AC K O F S O C I A L I NTE R AC TI O N There are also simple ways of measuring your vagus nerve function on your own, using heart rate variability, resting heart rate and heart rate recovery time, various breathing tests, and a bowel transit time test.

EXERCISES TO TONE THE VAGUS NERVE The most effective way to positively affect your vagus nerve is to learn to breathe correctly. This could be a whole article all on it’s own, but here are the basics for a short breathing exercise that can have a significant impact when practiced daily: • Sit tall without allowing your back to rest against anything. Be sure your ears are aligned over your shoulders, and your shoulders are over your hips. • Exhale completely to remove all the air from your lungs. • With your hands resting on the base of your ribcage, inhale through your nose to a count of 5, feeling your ribcage expand in all directions, without your shoulders rising. • Hold your breath in for a count of 5. • Exhale to a count of 5. • Hold your breath again, without allowing any air to enter, for a count of 5. • Repeat for a total of 5 breaths or more. For best results, practice this breathing exercise several times per day. For more details and information on proper breathing, take the free “Breath Reboot” course on my website at www.bodevolvewithshannon.com Cold exposure is another powerful way to activate and tone your vagus nerve. Bursts

of frigid temperatures activates the stress response, but in the long run, it actually makes the rest and recover response in your nervous system stronger. Continuous acute exposure to cold teaches you to regulate your breath which has an overall positive impact on your vagus nerve function and significantly decreases inflammation throughout the body. Incorporate cold exposure regularly by dropping the temperature of the water during your last minute in the shower, and allow the cold water to hit the back of your head and neck. The blast of cold will be shocking to your system and you’ll notice your breathing become fast and shallow. Your goal here is to work on controlling your breath and taking as many deep, diaphragmatic breaths as possible. Training your body to breath in a relaxed way through the cold is very strengthening for your vagus nerve. Over time, as you become better at maintaining a relaxed state, work on increasing your time under the cold water. Activating muscles in the back of your throat directly stimulates the vagus nerve and helps to wake it up. Gargling and humming are two simple ways to stimulate these muscles. Try gargling every time you finish brushing your teeth, but to get the positive impact on your vagus nerve, it’s important to gargle vigorously. When your

eyes begin to water, it’s a signal that your vagus nerve has been stimulated. Humming or chanting deep in your throat activates and vibrates muscles in your larynx, which stimulates the vagus nerve. If done long enough, and with enough strength, it can be a powerful way to help control your breath, slow your thoughts, and deeply relax. It’s also been shown to decrease inflammation in the body and improve digestion. One type of signal that’s controlled by the vagus nerve is sensation to parts of the external ear. There’s a growing body of research showing that stimulating the vagus nerve through acupuncture points on the ear can yield positive effects in patients suffering from depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and highly active pain receptors. Simply giving yourself an ear massage can trigger this response. Don’t expect to give yourself an ear massage and instantly cure your diabetes. These exercises aren’t magic pills, but they can be significant pieces in your wellness puzzle. Just as lifting weights one time won’t make you stronger, stimulating your vagus nerve every now and then won’t create significant improvements in your levels of inflammation. Incorporating simple activities to enhance vagal tone every day, however, has the potential to powerfully improve your energy, digestion, inflammation and pain. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 141

J&J Exterminating Get the Shield

ERMITE SEASON HAS ARRIVED, AND LOUISIANA homeowners can expect egg-laying swarms beginning in April, culminating in May, and topping off in June. Louisiana is ripe for termites this year thanks to already heavily landscaped swamp areas and the recent 2020 hurricanes. Now is the time to make sure your property is protected and that your pest control plan is in place. “Most people in south Louisiana know that our climate contributes to a variety of pest control challenges, and termite services are critical for local property protection,” says Robert Lewis John III, Southeastern Regional Supervisor of J&J Exterminating. J&J Exterminating offers some of today’s most effective weapons against termite infestation of your home and/or business. The Termidor® System places a treated zone in the soil around your home, while the Sentricon® System makes use of monitoring/baiting stations directly in the ground around your home. Both systems are effective in preventing termite infestation as well as controlling existing colonies. Your technician will work with you to determine the best protection for your property needs. Along with termites, J&J Exterminating battles a variety of additional pests, including bed bugs, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, moths and rodents. Hot and humid summer months of June through September are particularly ripe for mosquitoes and J&J Exterminating offers one-time event sprays as well as ongoing maintenance-control programs. Mosquito treatment options include: One-time contact treatments for parties and social gatherings ranging from the smallest to largest outdoor events. Residual treatments to trees, shrubs, under porches and raised homes, air trap areas (porches, patios that are partially blocked, etc.) I.G.R. treatments (insect growth regulators) which disrupts the growth cycle of the mosquito. These products are used in areas where water is stagnant and cannot be corrected and where mosquito development is likely. Additionally, the company now offers the progressive, E.P.A. approved, “T.A.P.” or Total Acoustical Pest control insulation. TAP is a permanent pest solution which also helps save money on energy costs and insulates your home against unwanted outside noises. Why choose J&J pest control services? J&J Exterminating has been providing pest control services since 1960. J&J continues to set the highest standards for the company to ensure clients receive the best service possible including: • 24 Hour Response Time • Total Pest Control Services • Native & Formosan Termite Elimination (Termidor – Sentricon) • Mosquito Treatments: Residential & Commercial • Guaranteed Quarterly Pest Control Service • Wood Destroying Insect Reports • Free Termite Inspections • Free Estimates We Guarantee Our Service and Offer Unlimited Call-Backs, 365 Days A Year. From humble beginnings in Crowley, Louisiana, with over 60 years of expertise, J&J Exterminating is now the largest state-wide pest control company with over 200 hundred employees, and three generations of “Louisiana Strong” owned and operated. Request a FREE estimate and learn more at jjext.com or by calling the local Monroe office at 318.450.6414 today!

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JAC’s Craft Smokehouse

Local Restaurant Has Dining and Catering Options

AC’S CRAFT SMOKEHOUSE HAS BECOME THE TALK OF the town since their opening in November of last year. The food truck, turned brick and mortar restaurant is owned by Tracy and Kristi Carter and located on the corner of Trenton and Pine Streets in the heart of downtown West Monroe. Some menu items have already become customer favorites. For starters, there is the nachos that feature house-fried tortilla chips topped with your choice of house-crafted pulled pork or chopped brisket, smothered in their expertly seasoned nacho cheese sauce and drizzled with your choice of their awardwinning sweet or spicy BBQ sauce. Other unique offerings include their Brisket Melt with their famous chopped brisket, brown-sugar caramelized onions and melted pepper jack cheese, served on toasted rye bread brushed with garlic butter and a portion of horseradish aioli. Another savory sandwich is the Bayou Cuban with pulled pork, smoked ham and melted Havarti cheese, served on lightly toasted New Orleans style po-boy bread, slathered with their award-winning mustard sauce and topped with pickles. Like any good barbecue restaurant, JAC’s offers traditional meat plates served with your choice of meats and sides. And while their meats and sauces have become famous, don’t sleep on the salads. They have clubs, smokehouse and smoked chicken to choose from, as well as stuffed potatoes. Plus, they can accommodate a variety of diets like keto and gluten-free. JAC’s has become a go-to lunch and dinner spot but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy their deliciousness elsewhere. You can order a variety of platters that you can take with you to the lake, outdoor event or party. The Downtown Platter has a little bit of everything - brisket, pork, turkey, ham, sausage and your choice of two sides. The Midtown Platter serves 3 to 4 people and has 2 lbs. of meat, 1/2 rack of ribs, 4 small sides and a pint of BBQ sauce. The Uptown Platter feeds 8-10 people and has 5 lbs. of your choice of 4 meats, 3 quarts of your choice of sides, 1 quart of barbecue sauce and 10 pieces of toast. You can even place an order for these platter online and it can be ready the next day! If you want something custom, you can meet with the team at JAC’s and they can plan the perfect platter pairing for your wedding, party or special event. Their charcuterie boards have been a big hit and include a variety of smoked meats, fresh pickled veggies, cheese, homemade sauces, spreads, jams, fruits, nuts and more. JAC’s can even host your special event as you can reserve their patio or rent out the entire restaurant. And their catering options don’t just stop at meat. With an in-house pastry chef, JAC’s can provide baked goods and special desserts like bread pudding, banana pudding, cake, cobblers and more. Whether you are looking to feed your office, host a pool party, have a backyard get together or a large wedding with all of your friends and family, JAC’s can help you! This month, we celebrate Father’s Day and what better way to honor dad by giving him the day off. You can place your order for meat by the pound and he can enjoy a day away from the grill, without doing any work. JAC’s gift certificates make the perfect gift as well! Whether you are looking to host a special event or just want to grab lunch, JAC’s has some of the best barbecue in town. Stop by and see them today! WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 143

New Chancellor

LA Delta Community College Welcomes Esters

HE THOUGHT OF BUYING A PAIR OF NEW LEATHER shoes can bring mixed emotions. On the one hand, you’re getting something new! On the other hand, you know you’re going to have to break those bad boys in before they begin to have that “custom” fit feeling. Those broken-in worn pair of shoes quickly become a favorite. Dr. Randy Esters has that broken-in timeworn appeal. It’s not surprising though, after all, he is returning home. Esters takes the post as LDCC’s sixth chancellor on June 1st, replacing the extremely short stint of Dr. Scott Rule, a Georgia native. Esters has first-hand knowledge of Louisiana, its people, culture, and educational systems. He has served as the Head of the Liberal Arts division at Louisiana State University at Eunice, Dean of the School of Education, and Associate VP for International Affairs at Louisiana College in Pineville. Esters also served as industrial coordinator/evening administrator, interim campus dean, and assistant campus dean for seven years at Louisiana Community and Technical College Oakdale Campus. He led the Oakdale campus to record growth of 144%. His most recent post was president of North Arkansas College. Esters received a B.A. in Biology and General Science Education and M.A. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from McNeese State University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership/Higher Education from Lamar University Beaumont, TX. “Louisiana is more than a place. It’s a feeling, a culture, a way of living. It’s home for me, and I am beyond happy to be coming back,” says Esters. He has made extensive preparations to shorten the adjustment period needed upon entering his new position. Many introductions have been made, and a host of meetings are already on his calendar. He had been in close communication with the Interim Chancellor, Chris Broadwater, until his official arrival. Esters is thorough. He’s also shored up his knowledge about college projects, potential and existing, through regular meetings with former chancellor Dennis Epps. He has positioned himself well to hit the ground running. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him, I’m sure you will soon! Esters is getting to know his LDCC team and not at all interested in grass growing beneath his feet. Esters explains, “I am working with an incredible team of people at LDCC to continue the tradition of excellence. We compete with other colleges in Louisiana and Arkansas for students. We cannot be as good as they are; we have to be better. We have to be better at serving students, better at serving the community, and better at finding ways to adapt quickly.” LDCC is registering now for the summer and fall sessions. Campuses are located in Bastrop, Jonesboro, Lake Providence, Ruston, Tallulah, West Monroe, and Winnsboro. The main campus is in Monroe.

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St. Francis Medical Center Nationally Recognized Again with an 'A' for Patient Safety from the Leapfrog Group

T. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER RECEIVED AN “A” grade in the spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing St. Francis Medical Center’s achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care. St. Francis Medical Center also earned an "A" rating in the spring and fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade reports, as well as fall 2018 and spring 2019. “Being recognized as one of the safest hospitals in the nation is a reflection of the hard work by our dedicated team members and physician partners in making patient safety a priority," said St. Francis President Kristin Wolkart. "Having earned consistent 'A' ratings, especially during the middle of a pandemic, reflects our unwavering commitment to providing our patients and community with trusted care in a safe environment." “An ‘A’ safety grade is an elite designation that your community should be proud of,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for hospitals, but St. Francis Medical Center shows us it is possible to keep a laser focus on patients and their safety, no matter what it takes.” Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. St. Francis Medical Center was awarded an “A” grade today when Leapfrog updated grades for spring 2021. To see St. Francis Medical Center’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook ABOUT THE LEAPFROG GROUP Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 145

wedding party Looking for the perfect look for a summer party? Choose an outfit that is cool, yet classically elegant. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK MUAH BY MEKA BENNETT

ROSE BOUTIQUE With a high neckline and a tea length hem, this is the ideal dress to keep you cool in the summer. Pockets add the perfect touch. Accessorize with a long, beaded necklace.

MODEL: SOPHIA OLSEN SPECIAL THANKS TO WHITE OAK VENUE FOR THE LOCATION. www.whiteoakvenue.com

HERRINGSTONES Stand out from the crowd in this show stealing high-low maxi dress! The bright florals, ruffled high-low skirt and one shoulder will have you making plans for any excuse to wear this. Pair with studded heels and Kendra Scott jewelry.

PALETTE HOUSE AND PLUME This silk maxi dress is the definition of luxury. It features a flattering custom twisted knit detail at the waist and high side slit. Pair it with gold geometric earrings for a simple and sophisticated look..

BLUSH BY SADIE C’S Looking for the perfect dress for an evening wedding? This mauvecolored dress features a deep neckline with spaghetti straps and a curve-flattering fit. Pair it with black strappy heels.

DUSTY & COMPANY This patchwork blue and green floral dress is comfortably chic - perfect for a day of celebration. Accessorize with gold and blue earrings and super stylish silver wedges.

HEMLINE MONROE This red floral mini dress features a defined waist, ruffle straps and a tiered flounce. Accessorize with a woven statement mule with stiletto heel and a matching bag, Allison Avery hoops, gold chain necklace and layered bracelets.

The Art of the Cigar

Omertà Cigar Co. Offers Superior Lounge Experience and Unrivaled Selection

IGARS HAVE AN UNDENIABLE APPEAL AND TO MANY, they play a key part in the quintessential gentleman’s image, and quite frankly, they taste superb. For many the act of smoking a cigar is more about the overall experience it provides them, such as moments of mindfulness, restoration, and the opportunity to connect with your fellow cigar enthusiasts; these are often regarded as the true benefit of a cigar. Opening its doors locally in early March 2021, Omerta Cigar Co. and Governor’s Lounge is no stranger to all things cigar. Originally starting in Oklahoma City in 2015, the Omertà Cigar Company is comprised of 6 partners and has expanded into multiple cigar shops, with a strong online presence as well as a whiskey bar and cigar friendly dive bar located in the greater Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas. Bringing their profound knowledge to the Monroe area is something the team takes great pride in. If you’re new or slightly unfamiliar to the world cigars, it can be overwhelming knowing where or how to begin – allow the team at Omertà, our resident cigar authority to assist. Taking time to select the right cigar initially will pay off in the long run. Having a locally operated cigar shop offers the priceless benefit of being able to connect with the other cigar enthusiasts, while the Omertà partnership allows the staff to offer a robust collection,

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with inventory limited and exclusive to Northeast Louisiana along with classic selections. Having the ability to consult with other cigar enthusiasts can be beneficial when choosing the right cigar to meet your personal requirements. In addition to the expert staff recommendations, Omertà’s location provides its members with a unique atmosphere that exudes a vintage ambiance flowing to the rear lounge area which has been renovated to include modern seating, a fully stocked beverage area, wall mounted televisions as well as a state of the art ventilation system. The staff at Omertà prides itself on creating a superior lounge experience for its members encouraging a sense of community, solidarity, and appreciation for commonality among its members. With a tagline of “ Your lounge experience is our strength” the team at Omertà definitely delivers. With Father’s Day just around the corner, give dad the ultimate gift and visit the team at Omertà for all of your cigar needs. The team at Omertà invites you all to stop in for a visit to experience the Omertà lifestyle. Conveniently located at 1004 North 3rd Street in historic Monroe. Follow them on social media to stay plugged in for the latest news and upcoming events.

Promoting Academics Helping Students Succeed Early

START YOUNG Our daughter recently graduated from high school and we asked her why she felt she did so well (she graduated top 10% and is headed to the #2 public university in the nation). Her answer surprised me. She said it was all that reading we did when she was little. Her dad and I began reading to her as a baby. During our time living with grandma, I would often find she had snuck down after bedtime to have grandma read her novels. By the time she could read, she quickly moved on to those novels herself. This love of reading, along with wonderful teachers, resulted in a 35 on the reading section of the ACT. The research backs this, and not just when it comes to English. Many studies show reading to small children improves IQ, cognitive development, language skills, attention span, and listening skills. FOSTER PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY Aside from our daughter’s observation, we believe allowing her to make and learn from mistakes along the way, while rewarding her successes created an adult who is self-motivated and independent. When it came to homework, we allowed natural consequences to guide our children’s decisions regarding homework and studying. If a child chooses not to do homework you might say, “Oh, that’s too bad you made that choice. You must need more time to get it done so we may need to postpone playing with friends today.” Allowing them to learn from their choices early on creates teenagers who don’t need to be told to do homework. SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS In the Washington Post article, “Why Asian American Kids Excel,” Fred Barbash noted, “It’s about the way they view their horizons, with extraordinarily high expectations....Their families, even on limited resources, manage to seek out and move to neighborhoods with good schools. And they aspire to success with specific goals in mind: medicine, law, engineering and pharmacy. And they aim for the best schools.” ENCOURAGE SELF-ADVOCACY It is important to teach children to be advocates for themselves. Encourage them to talk to teachers when extenuating circumstances arise instead of doing it for them. Respectfully standing up for yourself is a real world skill some children may be too timid to master before heading out on their own. It can be as simple as having them make calls to set up appointments or building the courage to ask a coach to switch positions. This translates to discussing tests you feel were unfairly graded with college professors, or asking a boss for a promotion. Giving them ownership of their problems and resisting the urge to jump in and save the day fosters bravery as they grow. At Tuft Pediatric Dentistry, we love hearing of our patient’s successes! A special congratulations to Gracie as she starts on this next big adventure!

Love,

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Celebrating Coldiron

Ba rba ra An n Holla day An d Ada m Coldiron G e t M a rri e d With A B a n g O n Th e B ayou

he big day finally arrived for BarbaraAnn Heidi Holladay and Adam Coldiron. The couple began dating in May of 2012, and after months of preparation and two postponed dates due to COVID, Saturday, May 15, 2021 was set. BarbaraAnn Holladay is the daughter of Cynthia Hovell Holladay of Monroe and Bob Holladay of Monroe. Adam is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wilson of Jonesville. The tone was set with beautiful invitations from Haven, with help from Sandy McMillan and Katie Tibbs. Each invitation was created on an antique letterpress and accented with silver foil and a custom matched blue design on the invitation, as well as the envelope liner. Out of town wedding guests arrived in Monroe on Thursday and were greeted at their hotels with goody bags containing a selection of wines from Southern Beverage and snacks from Thurman’s Food Factory. They even had spicy crackers and pretzels from one of the couple’s favorite local restaurant, 2 Dudes Brew & Que, special thanks to Kev-O, Mary and their team. Following, they 154 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

gathered at Genusa’s Italian Restaurant where the couple and their family have enjoyed so many celebrations over the years. The dinner was hosted by BarbaraAnn’s Aunt Heidi and Uncle Mike, with magnificent service by Suzie, as always. Ann Williamson and Rachel Dickey were there along with the newest generation of Genusa’s to make the evening perfect. Gregory Hudgins with In Great Detail coordinated the events and created their beautiful floral creations throughout the entire weekend. The mother of the bride hosted a bridesmaid’s Luncheon on Friday at Parish. The table was adorned with beautiful flower arrangements with roses, Dusty Miller and Lillies, as well as personal mementos like BarbaraAnn’s childhood babydoll, “Ball Headed Baby” and pieces of her Royal Albert Beatrice Potter. BarbaraAnn carried that baby doll all around town when she was little so it was only appropriate that she be a part of her wedding as well. BarbaraAnn presented tokens of appreciation to her bridal party, as well as her mother, her dad’s wife, Sherri Holladay

and special family, Dorothy Gaston, affectionally known as “Dee Dee.” The rehearsal dinner was held at the American Legion Hall where the bridal party, friends and family enjoyed a fabulous evening of food, wine and music while telling stories filled with love and well wishes. It was a special moment for everyone when BarbaraAnn said the blessing before the meal. Since the couple met at Thurman’s Food Factory, it is only fitting that Thurman and his team catered both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. The following day, the bridesmaids joined BarbaraAnn at her mother’s house to enjoy breakfast and mimosas as they prepared for the big day. Everyone got their hair done by Sarah Katherine Ewing and make-up by Victoria Alexander. At this point, no one but the bride and her mother had seen the wedding dress. It was transported directly from Shirley’s Alterations to the church. It was there that her dad had his first sneak peek and the two shared a private moment in the church courtyard. Photographer

Jenny Johnson with Waking Starlight was on hand to capture the moment, as well as all of the unforgettable moments throughout the entire wedding. Additionally, Bri London Duron served as the videographer. BarbaraAnn’s dress was an elegant ivory embroidered regal ballgown with a royal train. With an asymmetrical neckline, the entire gown was adorned with crystal beading resembling the wings of an angel. The entire look was finished with a beautiful pearl and crystal edge veil that extended beyond the length of the gown to create a fairy tale look. The gown was designed by Ysa Makino and the veil by Toni Federici for Stardust Celebrations of Plano, Texas. The entire process was made possible by Marianne Stayer Phillips, who worked relentlessly to get the dress through customs, arriving in Monroe just seven days before the wedding. It was then that Mrs. Shirley of Shirley Alterations worked her magic to alter the dress to fit perfectly. Around her neck, the bride wore an antique pearl and canary diamond choker, a gift from her mother, from the estate collection of Hollis & Company. Her “something borrowed” was a triple pearl strand bracelet, originally owned by her grandmother and one of her namesakes, Barbara Hovell and borrowed from her Aunt Heidi, another namesake. Her third namesake is from her dad’s mother, Ann. The groom wore a custom blue suit from The Toggery, with help from Ronnie Jenkins and Tom Baker. The bridal party included Matrons of Honor Elizabeth Cochran and Charlotte DeSouza, Bridesmaids Claire Holladay, Paige Davis, Greer Holladay, Laura Davis, Haley Collins, Brittany Eads, Elizabeth Lewis and Megan

ph otograp hy by Je nny Johnson wi t h Wakin g Starl i g h t

Jones. The Best Man was the groom’s brother, Stephen Giddens, who is currently in the Army serving as a Staff Sergeant of Special Operations at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He drove throughout the night, arriving just hours before the ceremony to stand by Adam’s side. Groomsmen were Angel Davila, Gavin Sherman, Zack Brown, Brandan Greer, Tyler Buckley, AJ Carlson, Cody Carlson and the bride’s brothers, Rob Holladay and Hanson Holladay. Hagan Lei Holladay and Greyson Davis, nephews of the bride, were precious as the ring bearers. The ceremony was held at St. Paul’s Methodist Church and the wedding party walked down the aisle to a beautiful string quartet. BarbaraAnn was escorted down the aisle by her father. Pastor R.B. Moore delivered a touching and sincere wedding ceremony. He even quoted John Denver’s “Annie’s Song,” which holds a special place in the couples’ hearts. Then, the happy couple was pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Coldiron! JPS Transportation provided the buses that whisked the entire wedding party over to BayouPointe for the reception. Upon entering the reception, guests were wowed with a spectacular 10 foot tall floral arrangement, created by Gregory. A gold urn sat in the middle of a table filled with gigantic Monstera leaves, hydrangeas, roses, delphinium and gladiolus. BarbaraAnn changed into her second look, a BERTA dress, directly from Israel. The couple enjoyed their first dance to a mix of “Love Will Keep Us Together” and “Working My Way Back to You.” The father of the bride danced to their favorite song to tear up the dance floor, “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Adam and his mother danced to “Three Times A Lady,” while the bride and her mother hit the dance floor to “Brown Eyed Girl.” The Chee-Weez from New Orleans took the stage with live music, lights and energy. Given the family’s connection to music, it was no surprise that BarbaraAnn and her brother Rob hopped up on the stage and performed “You Give Love a Bad Name” right along with the band. Guests enjoyed food from Thurman’s Food Factory like beef and pork tenderloin, meat pies, mashed potato bar, brisket, boiled shrimp, cheeses, fruits and more. The wedding cake was a five tiered cake covered with fresh and fondant flowers while the grooms cake was a chocolate Fleur De Lis. While the band took a break, Hot Rod Thompson played music that everyone enjoyed. The night ended with a spectacular fireworks display over beautiful Bayou Desiard. The following day, everyone enjoyed brunch at The Lotus Club before the couple left town to enjoy their honeymoon in Antiqua. Adam is employed by Kabota - Ruston Tractor and BarbaraAnn is a Public Defender with the Fourth Judicial Court as well as an attorney with Creed & Creed Law. The couple will make their home in Monroe.

Thomas H Scott Awards Reception On Thursday, May 13th, The Monroe Chamber of Commerce presented the Thomas H. Scott awards at the HUB in downtown Monroe. Forty two businesses from Ouachita Parish were nominated for their significant contributions to the local economy through capital improvements, expansion, job creation and community involvement. Mayor Friday Ellis was on hand to recognize each nominee, along with Monroe Chamber of Commerce President, Sue Nicholson. Sponsors for the event included Scott Powerline & Utility Equipment, Strauss Interests, The City of Monroe, Heard, McElroy and Vestal, Holyfield Construction, Iberia Bank, KTVE/KARD, Stephens Media Group, Origin Bank, Progressive Bank, The News-Star, The Radio People and the ULM College of Business and Social Sciences.

On the BayouScene

1 Guy and Elizabeth Cochran 2 Melanie Machnik, Jessica Nugent, Alyssa Hughes and Candice Skeen 3 Shelva Thomas, Katrina Brenson and Christina Davis 4 Keal Demeer, Don Legg and Corbin Legg 5 Juanita Woods and Shane Smiley 6 Ashley McDonald and Britney Feazell 7 Sarah Heatherly and Colby Walker 8 Mayor Friday Ellis and Sue Nicholson

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A New Look

The Center for Children and Families Updates Branding and Logo

F YOU DRIVE DOWN RIVERSIDE DRIVE OR WALNUT Street in Monroe, you may notice something different now. That’s because The Center for Children and Families, a local nonprofit organization that proudly serves local families in our region has updated its logo and branding to a more cutting-edge and modern design. This is the first logo update for The Center for Children and Families since 2005, and the new icon and typeface were designed in collaboration with Donnie Bell Design of Ruston, La. The colors of blue, green, and gold were chosen very deliberately. “The color blue is associated with reliability and wisdom and signifies that we will do what we say we will do,” said Chief Marketing Officer Kyle Roberts. “The color green is associated with growth and healing. It’s a color we have used before and it symbolizes that we will honor our past as we move into the future,” he added. “Lastly, the color gold is associated with excellence which is our standard when it comes to all of the ways we offer hope to the community,” said Roberts. The new logo has been implemented on The Center for Children and Families’ website www.standforhope.org as well as on their social media pages. Soon the logo will be featured in new signage and print materials for each location of The Center. The Center for Children and Families is an umbrella organization which includes the following divisions: Therapeutic Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Northeast Louisiana, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana, and Brokers of Hope. In addition to the headquarters in Monroe, The Center for Children and Families has offices in Rayville, La., Shreveport, La., Crowley, La., and Clinton, Miss. Community members that are interested in partnering with the efforts of The Center for Children and Families should go to www. standforhope.org. Once at the website, community members may send referrals through an online portal and can find information on how to apply for both employee and contractor positions to offer hope to the community. Donations may also be made to the #BeTheHope campaign. For every $100 raised by community supporters, The Center for Children and Families can ensure that any of its divisions is able to help families begin the services they need. All programs within The Center are committed to three core tenets: “We Show Up” in places where others do not want to go, “We See Value” in everyone we work with, and “We Offer Hope” that the future can be better. Giving to The Center can be done in $100 increment donations, or as monthly recurring payments for as little as the estimated price of two cups of coffee each month. The Center for Children and Families is committed to promoting safe, healthy environments through advocacy, counseling, education and prevention.

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Taco Bandido Ribbon Cutting n April 29, 2021, a ribbon cutting was held at the West Monroe O location of Taco Bandido to celebrate the new ownership. Monroe natives Tyler Moses and Jack Holmes recently purchased both locations of the restaurant and look to continue the tradition that everyone has come to know and love for decades. Everyone at the ribbon cutting enjoyed music from Joseph Stogner and refreshments. Delegates from the City of West Monroe and the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce were on hand for the occasion as well. They also announced a contest to name their mascot, The Masked Rabbit, and the winner will win free tacos for a year! Look for details for a celebration soon at the Monroe location!

On the BayouScene

1 Laura and Jack Holmes, Tyler and Kelsey Moses 2 Emily Stogner and Dana Craft 3 Regena Ridley and Donna Faulkenberry 4 Selah Storm, David Cole and Johnna Van 5 Wendy Langley, Peyton Moses, Dale Moses, Monique Keene and Preston Moses 6 Hannah and Eloise Livingston 7 Staci Mitchell, Barry Bell, Courtney Hornsby and Don Gonnillini 8 Kacie Hobson and Caleb Seney

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Rose Boutique Something for Everyone

HE PICTURESQUE SMALL TOWN OF RAYVILLE, Louisiana is home to one of the largest suppliers of FLAX clothiers in Northeast Louisiana, Rose Boutique. Owner Kaye Hill started the store over twenty years ago after seeing a need for a women’s boutique in her hometown. Capitalizing on her own style, Hill started carrying lines that she would wear – which includes the popular linen line, FLAX, along with more contemporary clothing lines such as Umgee. The expansive store is located on Louisa Street, easily accessible to those wishing to walk around the bustling downtown that is currently seeing a revitalization of Main Street businesses. Their beautifully decorated windows beacon passers to stop for a visit, it’s a place where strangers become friends – finely dressed friends, that is. When asked what is one of the best trends for summer, Hill replies, “You cannot go wrong with a linen set. We love the Kentucky blue bolero worn over a white cami, and paired with matching Jennie pants. We love it so much we used it in this month’s ad. Our linens are so cool and comfortable and fit all sizes and ages.” With summer wedding season upon us the Flax and Match Point collections at Rose Boutique are second to none. Walking around the store, it’s easy to see that Rose Boutique provides shoppers with selections for all occasions, sizes and age groups. Palm Leaf printed sundresses hang from racks, while Match Point sets welcome those wanting a more refined and age-appropriate look. A newer line at Rose is Jess and Jane, which features bold, floral prints on soft, relaxed fit tees, the list goes on and on. Whether you’re looking for super soft pajamas, beach maxis, work clothes or a gorgeous new summer dress, Rose Boutique is the place the shop. “The best thing about some of our pieces is that you can invest in a few items, mix-and-match them and look like you have an entirely new wardrobe,” says Hill. “Wear a FLAX spaghetti strap top under you favorite jean jacket, or throw on a bolero with capris and you have a completely new look. Our selections are not only comfortably chic and timeless, they are versatile.” The next time you’re looking for a unique shopping experience with the friendliest staff east of the Ouachita River, take the short drive to Rose Boutique at 725 Louisa Street in Rayville, open MondayFriday 9 AM - 5 PM and Saturdays 9 AM - 1 PM. For a view of their newest arrivals, check out their Facebook page or give them a call at 318-728-6468.

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Coastal Conservation Banquet

The Monroe Chapter of Louisiana’s Coastal Conservation Association held their annual banquet on May 11th at the Monroe Civic Center Conference Hall. CCA Louisiana is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Louisiana’s marine resources. Founded in 1983, CCA Louisiana (then GCCA) has been instrumental in banning gill nets in state waters, establishing redfish as a gamefish and ensuring good stewardship of Louisiana’s coastal resources. The event was presented by Goff & Goff Attorneys and Banner Ford of Monroe and sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors, BXS Insurance and Ford. Leading up to the event, patrons were able to bid on items online like flasks, knives, LSU items, artwork, fishing rods and more. Live auction items included everything from dinner at Parish restaurant to fishing and hunting trips to a baby goat! It was a good night of food and fellowship, all benefiting coastal conservation.

On the BayouScene

1 Greg Hawkins and John Hawkins 2 Lesa and David McMillan and Jeb Andrews 3 Mike Sawyer and Tommy Hayes 4 Ryan Tidwell, Caron and Barry McPherson 5 Todd Burgess and Babbette Adcock 6 Jane Campbell, Claire Campbell, Barbara Trascher and Gelene Malmstrom 7 Michael Waller, Bill Whatley and Jeff Joyce 8 Add and Shelley Goff

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APRIL SHOWERS BRINGS MAY FLOWERS

une is dad’s month, and nothing says Happy Father’s Day like lawn equipment! At the same time, nothing will turn dad into an idiot faster than… you guessed it… lawn equipment! Let’s look at this. In particular, society’s fascination with zero-turn mowers. Testosterone and zero-turn mowers are a deadly mix. Dad climbs on the trusty and valiant steed and determines he can do superhuman things like mowing around a tree trunk without wounding the tree, or hitting a sprinkler head, or taking out some of mom’s prized flowers. Ah, but we love our status symbols, don’t we? And hey, “work smarter, not harder” right? If lawn equipment is on dad’s gift list this Father’s Day, do him a favor and get him a good, old fashioned push mower. Using a push mower will keep dad in shape. A Harvard University study found that a 180 lb. person will burn 244 calories in 30 minutes mowing the grass. Mowing with a push mower is a great way for dad to stay in shape. He’ll burn calories, strengthen core and lower body muscles, and get great cardio all in one workout! Dad will also notice an improvement in his stamina. Mom will notice this, too, and if mom is happy, then everybody’s happy! Right? If employing a lawn service this mowing season, do some homework before signing on the dotted line. Lawn services are a dime a dozen nowadays, and while most are honest and well-intentioned, all have one goal: to get paid. A professional lawn/landscape service should be insured. If pesticides are to be used, the owner of the business should carry a commercial pesticide applicator’s license. Ask to see the license card before trusting someone to just spray chemicals on your property. Make sure your landscape service knows the difference between pruning and “hedge trimming.” When installing new foundation plantings, it is preferable to plant young material and let plants grow to the desired sizes over time. Too often, landscape companies install fully mature plants at the beginning, and homeowners find themselves in the position of having to pull everything out from the resulting jungle and start with a new 162 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

LSU AG CENTER

planting. As customers, make sure your lawn/ landscape provider knows what you want, and can deliver the goods. If you irrigate your lawn, consider setting timers so they come on less frequently but stay on longer so water can penetrate deeper. If you’re experiencing a lot of runoff, then the lawn may need to be aerated so water percolates downward. Deeper watering promotes better root health. Less frequent watering will lessen the likelihood of fungal issues like brown patch or large patch. If you applied fertilizer in April, make a second application this month. One pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is recommended. Centipedegrass should receive ½ pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Mow as needed with a sharp blade. Recommended heights for southern turfgrasses are: • Common Bermudagrass, 1 to 1 ½ inches • Hybrid Bermudagrass, ½ to 1 inch • Centipedegrass, 1 to 2 inches • St. Augustinegrass, 3 to 4 inches • Zoysiagrass, ½ to 1 ½ inches Summer broad-leaf weeds can be controlled with post-emergent herbicides provided daytime temperatures are not above 85º F. Many herbicides volatilize and drift at this temperature, and non-target plants may be damaged. During hot weather, the LSU AgCenter recommends products containing

metsulfuron such as MSM Turf for broadleaf weed control in lawns. A particularly heavy infestation of weeds may indicate a shift in the soil’s chemistry that favors weeds and not your turfgrass. A soil test will tell the tale. Soil test kits are available at all 64 LSU AgCenter extension offices throughout the state.

VEGETABLE GARDENS Insect pests are already active and will be as temperatures rise and will target stressed plants first. Start pest control measures as soon as evidence is visible. Read, understand, and follow directions on any pesticide label. Control weeds to avoid competition with desired crops. Cultivating between plants every 7 to 10 days will prevent weeds from getting a foothold and will keep soil aerated. A layer of mulch between rows will help suppress weeds, will prevent water evaporation from the soil, and will help regulate soil temperatures as the thermometer rises. While vegetables are flowering and setting fruit, as much as an inch of water every seven

< If you irrigate your lawn, consider setting timers so they come on less frequently but stay on longer so water can penetrate deeper.

INSPECT ROSES REGULARLY to ten days will be necessary. Drip irrigation or otherwise supplying water directly to the roots of plants is the preferred watering method. Minimize the amount of water that contacts foliage so fungal pathogens will be minimized. Vegetables that will produce into late summer, such as okra, tomatoes, and peppers, can be side-dressed this month with either calcium nitrate or 13-13-13. Lots of vegetables are ready for harvest this month if everything has gone well. Snap beans are most tender when picked before pods reach full size. Sweet corn can be harvested when kernels are filled out all the way to the tip of the ear and the silks have dried and turned brown. Cucumbers should be harvested when skins are bright green and the fruit is firm. Yellowed cucumbers are better kicked than picked! Okra is ready for harvest when pods are anywhere from 2 to 4 inches. The socalled ‘cowhorn’ varieties may get longer and still be tender. If saving seeds of an OP variety is the goal, simply leave the pod on the stalk and let it dry and start to split open. At the end of season, cut the pod off and empty the seeds into an envelope. Store in a dry place for next season. Irish potatoes are dug when the plants above ground have yellowed and died back. Dig gingerly to avoid bruising or skinning tubers. Do not wash potatoes before storage in a dark, dry, well-ventilated place no warmer than 60º F. Summer squash are best when picked young. Skin should be glossy and easily penetrated by pressing with your thumbnail. Tomatoes can be harvested green for frying, or just as they’re starting to turn from green to pink or red (the so-called “breaker stage”). They will ripen in a warm place out of direct sunlight. Maximum flavor, of course, is achieved when ripened fully on the vine. Seeds can be started later this month for fall tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplants. While sterile seed-starting media are widely available, any good potting soil will suffice. Keep seed starts moist but not saturated. Transplants can go in the garden in early to mid-August for harvest up to the first frost.

“A particularly heavy infestation of weeds may indicate a shift in the soil’s chemistry that favors weeds and not your turfgrass. A soil test will tell the tale. Soil test kits are available at all 64 LSU AgCenter extension offices throughout the state.” For advice on how to make your garden thrive, click on the Louisiana Living link under News at www.myarklamiss.com and submit your questions. I’ll answer them every Tuesday on Louisiana Living!

ROSES As temperatures heat up this month, inspect roses regularly for fungal diseases such as black spot. Black spot is evidenced by yellowed leaves that develop circular, black spots. Infected leaves usually fall off. While this is seldom fatal to the rose, it is not aesthetically desirable. Keep roses well-mulched with either pine bark or pine straw, and water consistently, preferably with drip irrigation. Drift roses are quickly becoming all the rage and have even been designated as a Louisiana Super Plant. They are disease resistant and provide color into fall. Their low-growing, mounding habit makes them suitable for small, sunny spaces in the landscape. A wide color assortment is available, too!

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BAYOU WEDDING

photography by Steven Palowsky

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aylor Meredith Hines and Jonathan Shane Washam were united in marriage on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the beautiful Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana. A lovely and magical reception followed at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, Louisiana under the lighted big top to the tunes of Dat Band from New Orleans, an ode to Taylor’s former time as a New Orleans Saintsation. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Minor Dakin Hines of West Monroe. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garland Meredith and the late Mr. and Mrs. Johnnye Hines. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kevin Washam of Monroe. He is the grandson of Mr. Richard Reynolds and the late Glenda Reynolds and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Washam. The wedding ceremony was officiated by Tommy Inman, a close family friend, who delivered an emotional and personal ceremony for the couple. The talented Julian Jones provided the musical interludes and processionals. Richmond McGough and Hunter Hines, brother of the bride, were the vocalists. A very moving and beautiful memorial tribute of “How Great Thou Art” was sung by Richmond and Hunter, in memory of Taylor and Jonathan’s late grandparents. Serving as Maid of Honor was Anna Kirksey. Taylor’s bridesmaids were Sarah Bourgeois Ber, Allie Moore Cooper, Shelby Fincher, Emma Lou Ford, Emily Washam Garner, Elise Hackney, Caitlin Tindell Hall, Lauren Harper, Amelia Haynes,

Annamaria Hutson, Alex Howell Johnston, Madeline Kent, Richmond McGough, Katelyn Clark Reynolds, Abbi Scallan and Amber Scott. Junior bridesmaids were Angel Grace Foust and Emory Cooper Leggett. Flower girls were Pheebie Fava and Ruby Garner. Serving as Best Man was the groom’s twin brother, Jordan Washam. Jonathan’s groomsmen were Austin Allen, Hunter Austin, Jacob Cannon, Robert Scott Foust, Paul Michael Garner, Chandler Hall, Hunter Hines, Chase Lunceford, Sam McGuffee, Bryn Meredith, Britton Mulhern, Connor Mulhern, Reed Robertson, Kyle Sisson, Casey Sutton and Jesse Thomas. Junior groomsmen were Jayden Book and Caden Lester. Ring bearer was Rhett Michael Garner. Ushers were Jon Michael Book, Garet Titus, Joseph Book and Ty Titus. The bride wore an exquisite gown by Martinaliana Bridal from Low’s Bridal and the bridesmaid dresses were by Show Me Your Mumu. The bridal bouquets and boutonnieres were designed by Lauren Roebuck. Hair for the bride and her party was by Parlor House (Lesley Boyd, Tasha Martin, and Destiny Ramsey) and make-up by Kirk Moncrief, Mallory Coco and Kristyn Hamilton. After the wedding ceremony, which was directed by Cathy Morris, guests were treated to tray hors d’oeuvres and music from Dat Band while they waited on the bridal party to make their arrival. And make their arrival they did! The New Orleans processional included each bridesmaid and groomsmen making their entrance into the tent before the bride and groom, who then entered and led the party in a dance mix choreographed by the bride and Amelia Haynes. The answer is still unclear about who won the “dance battle” but the groom certainly gave it his all! Taylor and Jonathan then had their first dance to “Amazed.” The couple was then whisked away to cut their six-layer wedding cake from Nancy Whittenburg. The bride’s cake table was adorned with greenery and white hydrangea. The groom’s cake, also by Judy Whittenburg, was chocolate on chocolate and the groom’s table was centered around one of his favorite hobbies, hunting. Cookies and

cupcakes were made by Judy Cousans. After the toasts, guests were treated to a delicious culinary buffet prepared by Chef Matt Voorhees of Squire Creek. The ballroom was decorated with beautiful floral arrangements of white hydrangea and red roses; a special request of the bride. The wedding arrangements were designed and styled by Cathy Morris and Cindy Foust and their wonderful team. Guests were able to enjoy the rest of the reception under the lighted big top to more tunes from Dat Band. They also enjoyed a photo boot by La Snapparazzi, owned by Nikki Hale. Heaters kept the guests warm on the crisp beautiful January evening. They were later treated to beignets and hot chocolate as they waited for the couple to make their departure. The happy couple left the reception in a beautiful 1956 Corvette that was loaned to them by Clark and Alana Cooper for their special night. A special thank-you to Lane Titus and his amazing staff at Squire Creek who made the evening a night Taylor and Jonathan will never forget. Jonathan is a graduate of Louisiana Tech in business and Taylor is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in biological sciences and the University of Louisiana Monroe with a degree in nursing. After they honeymooned at the Sandals Montego Bay Jamaica, the couple has made their home in West Monroe, where Jonathan works as a District Sales Manager for Shelter Insurance and Taylor works as a Registered Nurse for Glenwood Regional Medical Center. A very special thanks to photographer Steven Palowsky and videographer Houston Bass with Honest Productions, who created beautiful photographs and videos that the couple and their family will treasure for a lifetime. Another special thanks to the talented Ginger DeBruhl-Stapp who painted a beautiful painting of the couple’s first dance.

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Bonding with your Teen BY THE CHILDREN’S COALITION FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

tips help parents create a lasting bond that he teen years can be quite a makes navigating the teen years somewhat rollercoaster, but they don’t easier: have to be a monstrous Dr. Mark Wilson is a successful corporate nightmare. Parents can develop executive, former collegiate athlete, an unbreakable bond with researcher, and he currently serves as the their teens with regular conversations, Corporate Compliance Director fantastic listening skills, for Cognitive Development and understanding but firm Centers of Seaside Healthcare. demeanor. Spending quality As the Corporate Compliance time together and showing Director, Dr. Wilson currently genuine interest in their manages 450 employees in 18 hobbies, friends, and personal locations across the state of lives will strengthen that bond. Louisiana. Dr. Wilson attended Patience and an open mind are the University of Louisiana at incredibly helpful when raising Monroe where he completed a teen, and they can make these his undergraduate degree years incredibly enjoyable. The in psychology and Masters key to successfully tackling this of Education in Community phase is to take a deep breath, Counseling. He has a doctoral relax, and remember that teens MARK WILSON are not monsters. They’re just degree in Public Policy from Southern University and kids going through a lot of A&M College. Dr. Wilson is also a Licensed physical, emotional, and social changes– all at the same time. Parents can build and Professional Counselor, as well as a Board Approved Supervisor for Provisionally maintain a healthy relationship with their Licensed Professional Counselors. Dr. Wilson children throughout the teen years with a bit of patience and a lot of love. The following currently serves as the President of the Board

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of Directors for the Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana and he is the President of the Eta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Q: What should be expected when children become teenagers? A: It is a common misnomer that families become less important to children as they matriculate through their teenage years. In all actuality, your teenage child needs as much support during this period of life as they did when they were younger. Parents should expect change to family relationships during adolescence. When children are younger the parent plays the primary role in nurturing and guiding the child. As the child matures and the child becomes more independent, the parent’s role evolves into a supportive role. Its normal during this stage of development that adolescents experience some ups and downs while they navigate the changes associated with becoming a teenager. Typically, despite these tumultuous times, things improve as your child matures and family relationships tend to stay strong

right through. Most teenagers view parents and families as a source of care and emotional support. Parents and families give teenagers practical, financial and material help. A new type of relationship forms during this time. Despite the changes the desire for teenagers to spend some time with their families to share ideas and have fun still exists. Parents should expect that their teenager may be moody and seem uncommunicative at times, but they still need you. Beneath that sometimesabrasive attitude and body language, is a teenager that still loves you and wants you to be involved in their life.

“Parents should expect change to family relationships during adolescence.”

Q: How do I strengthen the connection with my teen(s)? Remember, all connections are personal choices that require trust. A connection cannot be forced—most of the time it is a slow process that requires patience and persistence. When a parent is trying to strengthen a connection with a teen, they must prove that they are willing to stick it out, try new things, and be open-minded. Whether they are a parent raising their own biological child, or they are trying to build a better relationship with a stepchild, foster or adopted teen, relationship building may often feel like trying to understand someone with a completely different lifestyle or background. Even if a parent thinks they know everything about their child, when the child grows older the parent may need to get to know their child again without assumptions, judgment, or superficiality. At this point, the teen is looking to the parent for support and guidance as well as structure and discipline. There are three basic things that a parent needs to connect with a teen: an open mind, a sense of understanding, and a supportive attitude. Remember those three things, and you will have a closer relationship in no time. Q: How do I create a lasting relationship with my teenager? A: There are several ways that a parent can create a lasting relationship with teens. One way is to establish family routines. Family routines set out how families organize themselves to get things done, spend time together and have fun. Routines help family members know who should do what, when, in what order and how often. Routines also let teenagers know what is important to your family. For example, special routines are sometimes called rituals. These can help strengthen the shared beliefs and values and build a sense of belonging and togetherness within your family. Routines can be good for children for several reasons. Safety, belonging and relationships. Routines can be part of an organized and predictable home environment, which helps teenagers feel safe, secure, and looked after. A predictable family life can also help children cope during development changes like puberty, or life events like the birth of a new child, divorce, illness or a house move. Also, routines built around having fun or spending time together foster a sense of belonging and strengthen family relationships. For example, watching a movie together before bed, sharing regular family meals or playing catch before baseball practice can be special time for you and your child. Skills and responsibility. Having chores as part of family routines helps teenagers develop a sense of responsibility and some basic skills like time management. These are skills children can use for life. When children can do their parts of the routine with less help or supervision from you, it contributes to them becoming more independent. Routines can also be beneficial to parents. Routines take some

effort to create. But once you have set them up, they have many benefits: When life is busy, routines can help you feel more organized and in control, which lowers your stress, regular and consistent routines can help you feel like you are doing a good job as a parent, routines help your family get through your daily tasks more efficiently and free up time for other things. Routines often mean you do not have to sort out disputes and make decisions. For example, if Sunday night is pizza night, no-one needs to argue about what is for dinner. Lastly, when a parent is trying to connect with their teen they should learn to listen, show respect for their interests, be sincerely supportive, and make time for them. Remember rules without relationship leads to rebellion, so work on the relationship with your teen. Trust me, they are worth it. If these tips are not effective and if you continue to struggle to develop a relationship with your teenager, you should seek the services of a professional counselor for additional help.

RESOURCES United Way NELA 211 United Way NELA 211 is an excellent way to connect to community resources. You can call them at 211, or you can text your zip code to 898-211. If you visit their website http://www.unitedwaynela.org/211. php you can also search a database to directly link to local resources

Jan Daniels, Youth Development Director at the Children’s Coalition, works with middle schools in northeast Louisiana to provide the suicide prevention program Signs of Suicide (SOS) and the abstinence-plus program Rights, Respect and Responsibility. Call Jan at (318) 323-8775 or go to www.childrenscoalition.org to learn more about how you can get these programs at your child’s school.

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BAYOU ENG AGEM EN T A RT ICLE BY CA R A BECK ER PHO T O GR A PH Y BY L AU R EN P OW EL L

ill and Grace Kirksey of West Monroe, Louisiana proudly received family and friends to their estate on May 8, 2021 to celebrate the engagement of their daughter, Anna Kirksey, to Christopher Prudhomme of Lafayette, Louisiana. Looking effortlessly chic, the bride-to-be greeted guests in an ivory top, intricately beaded, and garnished with a beautiful chiffon bow tied at the nape of her neck and flowing down her back. This gorgeous piece from the Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon in Dallas was paired with a sleek pair of high-waisted, white pants, flattering not only Anna’s enviable figure but highlighting the absolute levity and joy she exudes. Christopher, the groom, dressed sharply in an Italian fabric jacket, perfectly fitted by Ron Alexander. The tasteful blue tones of the jacket ensured that he presented the perfect other half.

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Guests streamed in from across Louisiana and Texas, travelling even as far as Colorado, to congratulate the happy couple and take part in the festivities! They were graciously welcomed into a Southern wonderland of magnolia and greenery. With subtle tones of gold and sage woven through a glowing outdoor tent, the party represented the ideal backdrop to announce the eagerly awaited engagement. The evening commenced with true southern style, inviting guests to partake in refreshing spring cocktails, dine on freshly fried oyster hors d’oeuvres, and share in a family style menu featuring Louisiana classics. And what better accompaniment than a live band? The mingling and laughter beneath the gentle twinkle of the lights rapidly transformed into dancing and singing alongside the classic rock and country renditions of musician Jordan Sheppard. Happiness blossomed bigger and more beautiful than the magnolias around which the party was themed. In his poignant speech, the Father of the Bride, Bill Kirksey brought the crowd to tears, reminding us all that change can overtake us in the blink of eye. He reminisced over the early days of dropping Anna off at the Linda Lavender School of Dance with her tutu in tow, reluctantly moving her in to her first college dorm room, and stood awed that he was now hosting his baby girl’s engagement party. The joyous occasion had guests trickling out into the late hours of the night, with shoes slug over their shoulders, sore feet from endless dancing, grins spread far and wide, and romance on the mind. The couple regaling everyone with their grace, compassion, and love for one another.

Front row left to right: April Kirksey, Mallory Coco, Christopher Prudhomme, Anna Kirksey, Grace Kirksey, Back row left to right: Joe Kirksey, Zach Kirksey, Sarah Kirksey, Bill Kirksey

Front Row left to right: Neal “Poppy” Prudhomme, Anna Kirksey, Linda “Meme” Prudhomme, Robyn Prudhomme Back row left to right: Cameron Prudhomme, Christopher Prudhomme, Peyton Prudhomme, Chris Prudhomme

A steady and strong relationship, Anna and Chris were engaged on Christmas Eve 2020 and look forward to their marriage in New Orleans at St. Patrick Cathedral. A reception is to follow at the Riverview Room located in the bustling heart of the French Quarter. The date is set for April 30, 2022, and is set to be hosted at the Higgins Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton in the lively Warehouse District. More information can be found on their wedding website on TheKnot.com The special night would not have been possible without the hard work and help of the following vendors and friends: florals, design, and event planning done by In Great Detail by Gregory Hudgins; Photography by Lauren Powell Photography; Food and Petit Fours catered by Thurman’s Caterer; Bar by Wesley Winnon, and supplied by Russell at Tonore’s Wine Cellar; Bride’s hair and make-up by Mallory Coco; Music by Jordan Sheppard; Cookies by Cake. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 169

AROUND THE BEND p h o to g r a p h y b y K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K a r t i c l e b y VA N E L I S R I V E R A

hen Jan Strickland was asked to be one of the sponsors for Northeast Louisiana’s St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, her first thoughts were of her childhood best friend Tiffany Suann Greer who passed away from cancer on August 18, 2004. The pair created countless memories in their youth, like going to Sonic before dance recitals and eating Tiffany’s favorite, plain-cheese tots. Strickland is in her fourth year of decorating the interiors of these illustrious homes that make dreams come true for both winners and St. Jude families. Along with a plethora of local business owners, she has donated her time and expertise to help raise thousands of dollars for a cause near to her heart. Though all local enterprises that participate get recognition, it’s apparent by frequency of participation and attention to detail that Strickland’s involvement is not just business; it’s personal. BRACO Construction Co.’s Brian Allen reached out to Strickland about the project after he worked with her while building her parents’ home. A seasoned sponsor (now in their tenth year acting as a St. Jude Dream Home contractor), Allen was enthusiastic to welcome Strickland’s keen design instincts to such a significant endeavor. “It was something that I knew I was supposed to be a part of,” admits Strickland, who on this project worked with Allen’s son, Bradley. She still isn’t quite sure how she managed her first Dream Home, since she was very pregnant at the time. “I was picking out all of the finishes, plumbing, countertop, flooring tile, the week before my daughter was induced.” Her daughter has grown alongside each home she has fashioned, another personal reminder for Strickland as to the central focus of her labors—giving children an opportunity to gain exceptional care, and providing relief for distressed families.

Design and Coordination: Strickland Interiors, Jan Hales Strickland, Allied ASID Construction Contractor: Bradley Allen, BRACO Construction House Plans: Ray Bendily Home Design Landscaping: Bradley Hall, Riverside Landscaping Interior Staging Furnishings and Decor: Jo Tiffany Faulk, Sleepy Hollow Furniture Neighborhood: Frenchman’s Bend National Sponsors: Bosch, Brizo, TRANE, Shaw Flooring

t. Jude is a recognizable name and institution, but when it touches an entire community, it hits differently. “That’s what happened this year,” beams Strickland. Considering the toll that COVID-19 has taken on the economy, it was a pleasant surprise to the St. Jude Dream Home team when tickets sold out in a record time of eight weeks during the month of March, raising $750,000 for the children’s charity. “Before the house was done. Before I ever put one piece of furniture in there,” she says, still in complete awe and disbelief. “It’s because our community grabbed a hold of this project. I mean, everyone wants to be involved.” If you’ve ever built a home from scratch, you know there are many moving parts that need to work in unison. This year’s 4--bedroom, 3 ½-bath home, located in the Frenchman’s Bend community, is valued at $350,000 thanks to the generosity of national and regional chains alike. Strickland has observed the same “loyal sponsors” each year get first dibs on a project that is fully donated by the community from the lot to the roof. Twin City Granite for the past couple of years has taken care of all the countertops. Joe Banks Drywall and Acoustical has been donating “since day one.” Rucker’s Custom Cabinets, “does a phenomenal job,” especially with this year’s self-closing inset hinges on the kitchen cabinets. Strickland gets the light fixtures from Coburn Supply Company in West Monroe. All the windows and doors are donated by Russell-Moore Lumber, Inc. “Every year it seems people become more eager, more involved. And I really believe it’s because you know, they know how important it is,” asserts Strickland. “Everyone just pitches in, in-depth.” After the construction crews accomplish the grueling work of building the house from the ground-up, Jo Tiffany Faulk steps up to the plate. Faulk, owner of Sleepy Hollow Furniture & Mattress, has the marvelous task of helping Strickland stage the house, making it come to life. That includes the furniture, accents, and floor covering. “Any of the things that turn it from a house to a home,” says Faulk, who relies on Strickland’s storyboard to pick out items when she goes to “market.” For the style of the home this year, Strickland went for classic southern elegance. “Everything that she had envisioned was very subtle in color,” says Faulk, noting how Strickland played with all the neutrals, and the soft textures. The first few steps into the home provides a promising initial impression for a minimally layered, delicate design. From the banquette bench seating in the dining room table to the cozy, low-set upholstered bar stools, the immediate vibe is sleek comfort. The subtlety of texture begins with the wood floors donated by national sponsor Shaw Floors through local sponsor Custom Design Center. The foyer flaunts platinum wood panels in a herringbone pattern, which contrasts the light oak panels in the open living room and kitchen, Strickland’s favorite space.

JAN STRICKL AND

JO TIFFAN Y FAULK

BRADLEY ALLEN

Pro Tip: Strickland says one way she created a cohesive mood for the 2021 Dream Home was to limit her interior color palette to basically three key Sherwin-Williams paint colors: Malabar (a soft beige with slight gray undertone), Pure White (bright and green), and Taupe Tone (a warm grey-brown). Remember: The same paint color in a different sheen like flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or high gloss can take on different qualities in changing light, giving any one paint color lots of versatility.

“I love the vaulted ceiling and, to me, the lighting in here is just so beautiful.” Matte white kitchen cabinets reflect the illumination charmingly from three single light, mini pendant light fixtures and matching chandelier, bringing attention to the sandy-colored tile backsplash framing a nickel mounted pot-filler and modern Bosch stove. If that’s not posh enough, the other Bosch appliance that’s sure to keep the kitchen busy, particularly in the mornings, is the built-in, stainless steel espresso machine and milk frother. Another true statement piece can be found in the living room, across from the white-splashed red brick fireplace—a Chesterfield-style sofa with tufting on the backrest and roll arms (Faulk’s favorite piece). And though the dining room is tucked in a corner, it refuses to be upstaged. Two tall and narrow window shutters, compliments of Smith Blind & Awning, and a metal framed, rectangular chandelier demand instant admiration. Keeping true to one of her signature principles of design, Strickland kept a few common threads flowing throughout the home. She used three paint colors donated by Sherwin-

Williams—Malabar (a soft beige with slight gray undertone), Pure White (bright and clean), and Taupe Tone (a warm grey-brown). While understated, they appear in unexpected ways. In the main bedroom, the tray ceiling is even more apparent by way of the soft beige center, lined by the crisp white, and accessorized by an impressive wide taper light fixture. Following suit, the main bathroom keeps up with the well established tasteful elegance of the home by way of sleek wall sconces and hexagonal, porcelain bathroom tiles that trail vertically like a stream onto the granite tiles that make-up the shower walls; the same eye-catching tiles are also used for the bathroom floor. Brizo faucets match the chrome accents, and an LCR white tub, compliments of The Plumbing Warehouse, awaits to provide the new homeowners a luxurious and restful pause. The remaining bathrooms follow Strickland’s floor-towall tile approach, showcasing stunning geometric pieces she chose to keep muted in tone, quite unlike the walk-in pantry where she added a jolt of rich “trendy” patterns in the form of WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 175

black, light grey, and white Sevilla ceramic tiles. “I think whenever you’re doing trendy stuff, it’s good to do it in bathrooms or smaller spaces,” advises Strickland. Adding the finishing touches of pizzazz to the home, Amy Simmermaker, a former designer for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, stained the grand entry doors with a welcoming walnut brown that pairs well with the white washed brick exterior and tavern-style, copper porch lanterns. “The patio is almost always one of my favorite spaces,” says Faulk. Sleepy Hollow’s patio showroom is currently celebrating five years, and has seen all the design trends hit the patio world. “I love watching the whole furniture industry embrace the patio industry as well,” adds Faulk. This year’s home incorporated Sleepy Hollow’s deep-seating, beige and ash furniture collection, nestled on a textured, water resistant carpet. The spacious patio also makes room for six wicker-like seats set around a pseudo concrete top table, longlasting and lifetimes pieces. Faulk notes that the outdoors is

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becoming the “new living room,” which is easy to do in this home thanks to the calming view of Bayou Desiard. Though all rooms are staged in order to stimulate the vision of hopeful homeowners, the set-up that resonates the most is in the form of names and pictures. The fourth room, closest to the entrance, is set up like a home office with a simple wood writing desk, centered under a woven, metal pendant light fixture. Behind the desk are three mounted shelves, each bearing six, square metal plates (curated by Tanya Paul from Everything Artsy Designs) with stylishly calligraphed names (done by Shannan Inman from Paperglaze Calligraphy). Sam, Ava, Sawyer, Harley, Sam, each name a current St. Jude patient in our area are among the eighteen featured. “I always gift these things back to the family. So, when we take this down, I’ll make sure that each family has their child’s name,” informs Strickland. The two additional bedrooms, staged as kids’ rooms, honor local patients who succumbed to the illness. In the girl’s room, minimally styled with a distressed bedside table and matching, tufted headboard, the black and white photos of Katie “KK” Joyce, Tiffany Suann Greer, and Amber Nicole Tamburo, smile from a white wall. The boy’s room features a “twin over twin house loft 178 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

bed,” as well as the pictures of Claude Benjamin Williams and Corbin Gulde, whose fight included enduring bouts with four different forms of cancer. Another reminder of this fundraiser’s unique mission is mounted at the entrance, a framed picture of St. Jude with the prayer: “St. Jude, apostle and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for me and all who need thy help, the most desperate and hopeless cases. Amen.” Even in the midst of all the shiny, bright things that make this year’s St. Jude Dream Home a wildly anticipated raffle win, there is no mistaking where the heart of this home truly lives. “Everybody who buys tickets toward this project, their $100 ticket is making it where no child’s family ever has to pay a bill, and also towards the life saving research,” asserts Strickland. This incredible project transcends brick and mortar. It’s a spirit-filled endeavor that starts with hard labor and ends only when the fruits of our generosity help find a cure. To learn more about the St. Jude Dream Home in our area, follow @ stricklandinteriors on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about this national movement by visiting https://www.stjude.org/give/dream-home. html.

Pro Tip: Trend Alert! While the furnishings and decorative accessories used throughout the St. Jude Dream Home for staging are right on trend now, Strickland says to not be afraid to switch things up when the mood hits. When everything is the correct scale for a space, individual elements can be switched out easily to accommodate for trends in the future.

T H A N K YO U TO O U R S PO N SO RS A N D PA R T N ERS Plumbing: Roy Wiggins of Mangham Custom Millwork: Rucker’s Custom Cabinets Stone Countertops: BPI Countertop fabrication: Twin City Granite Flooring and Tile Installation: Custom Design Center Faux Finishing: Amy Simmermaker Iron Railings: Shayne Wallace Interior Shades: Smith Blind and Awning Exterior Gas Lanterns: Hart Lighting Interior Light Fixtures (Progress Lighting) and Bosch appliances: Sourced through Michelle Miller, Coburn’s Electrical Contractor: George Word, Word Electric Staging Drapery and Shower Curtains: Fabulous Fabrics Sheetrock: Trey Banks, Joe Banks Drywall and Acoustics Gas logs & Grill: O’Neal Gas Decorative Concrete: Chad Sanders, Decorative Concrete Coatings Brick: ACME Brick Painting: Antonio Rubia Brizo Supplier, Plumbing Fixtures, Sinks: LCR Plumbing Warehouse Exterior Metal Awnings and Flashing: Les Jones, Proflashing Lumber, Windows, Locks, Hardware: Brian and Randy Russell, Russell Moore Lumber Furniture Delivery & Set Up: John Reed Loflin, McCorquodale Transfer Paint: Sherwin-Williams Security System: Automated Alarm Internet: AT&T U-Verse St. Jude Metal Logo: James Machine Works Garage Doors: Overhead Door Mirrors and Glass for Kitchen Doors: AAA Glass Insulation: Tempco Insulation St. Jude Logo: James Machine Works Calligraphy of Patient Names and Curated by : Shannan Inman with Paperglaze Calligraphy, Tanya Paul with Everything Artsy Events, and Ruston Glass Lot Donated by James Cook Family Cleaning: Southern Cleaning, LLC Media Sponsors: Fox 14 and KTVE 10 Television, BayouLife Magazine & Z107.5 Big Country Radio St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway Sponsors: Sparks Kia, Dream Day Foundation, Egret Landing Subdivision, Sleepy Hollow Furniture, 3B Outdoor Equipment, Assurance Financial

About Jan Hales Strickland: Jan Hales Strickland is a Richland Parish native, mother of two and professional interior decorator. She began doing design projects for her parents at the tender age of 15 and soon determined interior design to be her calling and passion. She majored in interior design at the University of Alabama and is an Allied Member ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) member. “I’m trained to work on projects from a logical point of view, envisioning the final product from just a set of plans or the bare bones of a space,” she explains. “Everything needs to have a purpose as well as to adhere to the elements and principles of design. About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of St. Jude Children’s Hospital founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. See something you love in the Dream Home? After the Giveaway, all furniture, art, rugs, mirrors and decorative accessories used in staging the 2021 St. Jude Dream Home will be available for purchase at Sleepy Hollow in Monroe. All custom shower curtains, drapery, rods, and roman shades created by Fabulous Fabrics will be at their Monroe location for purchase.

ULM Announces New Dean For the College of Business and Social Sciences

NIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE PRESIDENT RON Berry announces Michelle McEacharn, D.B.A., as the new Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences, pending University of Louisiana System board approval. McEacharn is the Susan and William D. Banowsky Endowed Chair and Professor of Accounting in the William D. Hoover School of Accounting, Financial and Information Services in the CBSS. Berry said McEacharn possesses qualities essential for a college dean – experience, expertise, and enthusiasm. "The University is truly fortunate to have Dr. Michelle McEacharn accept the position of Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences. She is an outstanding teacher and scholar who will provide strong advocacy and leadership for the college. Dr. McEacharn will be able to begin immediately leading the college towards new levels of achievement," said Berry. When Berry, former Dean of the CBSS, became ULM president in 2020, Associate Dean and Professor Peggy Lane, Ph.D., filled the role of interim dean. Lane was the CBSS's first female interim dean, and McEacharn is the first female dean of the college. When interviewing for the position, McEacharn was asked why she wanted to be dean. Her response captured the momentum building at ULM. "Who wouldn't want to serve in this role at this time? The excitement across campus is genuine and pervasive with Ron Berry as president. What a bright future for ULM under his direction.” “The CBSS is a great college with high-quality students who are engaged in the programs, a group of faculty and staff whose dedication and devotion is unmatched, and an alumni base which both appreciates and supports our students and programs. This is my home and my family, and my love for ULM and the college runs very deep,” McEacharn said. McEacharn has served in the ULM Accounting program continuously since 1989. She began as an instructor and progressed to assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor in 2003. McEacharn earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration at ULM and her Doctor of Business Administration from Louisiana Tech. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Chartered Global Management Accountant. Vice President of Academic Affairs Alberto Ruiz, Ed.D., said McEacharn would cultivate and build the CBSS to meet the expectations of students and exceed the demands of the job market. "Dr. McEacharn possesses the skills, knowledge, and abilities to lead the CBSS. I have every confidence Dr. McEacharn will work tirelessly to enhance and develop programs in the college that are required today and essential for the future. I congratulate her on this accomplishment in an already exceptional career in higher education," Ruiz said. Berry and Ruiz thanked the committee for their dedication in the nationwide search for a new dean, especially chairman Don Simpson, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Health Sciences. "Dean Simpson and the committee conducted an intense search, and they found the right person. I am delighted our new dean is one of our own," Berry said. McEacharn currently serves as the Executive Director for the Federation of Business Disciplines and is a recent past president for the Northeast Chapter of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Accounting Education Award by the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants in 2009 and the Outstanding Educator for the Southwest Region of the American Accounting Association in 2008. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | JUNE 2021 181

wedding vision

These beautiful blooms are masterfully arranged into gorgeous wedding bouquets by some of North Louisiana’s best floral decorators. Photography by Kelly Moore Clark and model Karlee Malone. Gowns from Blush by Sadie C’s. Location White Oak Venue

English Garden bouquet by Petals & Pearls The fragrance of Old English garden roses in hues of mauve and blush are interspersed with white lisianthus, giving this bridal bouquet a touch of nostalgia. Petals and Pearls incorporates eucalyptus, fern and stock for a bouquet that makes traditional feel modern.

BLUSH BY SADIE C’S The Louie gown features hand sewn lace appliqués that whimsically cover a plunging deep V neckline, featuring an A line skirt with pockets. Matching veil also pictured.

White Wedding bouquet by Everything Artsy Celebrate the big day with a modern mass bouquet that gathers roses as you would friends. White roses and ranunculus stand out among staggering heights of greenery. Pink spirea and spray roses add contrast to this vibrant bouquet. BLUSH BY SADIE C’S The Leo gown by Jane Hill is part of the Adore ’21 collection. This modern fitted crepe gown features a V neckline and a central split. The dress features a flattering waist and buttons from the bust to the top of the split. .

Here Comes the Bride bouquet by FIne Folks An elongated bouquet filled with blousy garden roses in shades of blush, and white warrants a trip down the aisle, especially when the blooms are accented with gorgeous terra cotta tulips. White delphinium and lisianthus are combined with dried florals, eucalyptus foliage, along with olive and lemon leaf. BLUSH BY SADIE C’S The Carla is a three dimensional masterpiece featuring delicate, handmade florals with subtle hints of bone underlay as well as signature ivory detailing to create a truly unique bridal gown.

Fashion Fusion 2021

While Fashion Fusion was delayed because of Covid-19, the show went on Saturday, May 1st at the Monroe Civic Center. Models walked the runway in local boutique fashions, all to benefit the Cancer Foundation League. The event was produced by DBK Dance and Performing Arts. Participating boutiques included River Belles, River Outfitters, Cara’s, Dusty & Company, Eleven 26, Blue Line Boutique and Little Blue, Hemline, Rustico, CW Designs, HerringStone’s, The Nude Nomad, Ron Alexander Clothiers for Men. The Cancer Foundation League provides direct financial assistance to individuals diagnosed with cancer and everyone stood and applauded the cancer survivors as they walked the runway and closed the show.

1 Tamyra Allen and Kennedy McGaha 2 Kaylee Grassi and Kennedy Girod 3 Kylah Heckard, Emmy Yates and Jordin Garrison 4 Katelyn Branch, Madelyn Sorensen and Emily Garrett 5 Karlie Caston, Bonnie Hay, Dusty Teer and Alexia Elise 6 Bailey Evans, Jessica Pollard and Breanna Bass 7 Christina Nguyen and Angel Grace Foust 8 Kam Buttitta and Mya Holloway 9 Donna Davidson, Debby McNew, Carla Costello, Debbie Sawyer and Heather Lee Prez 10 Avery Hannah, Chanda Yee and Julie Yee 11 Ashlyn Underwood and Ainslea Kaylors 12 H aley Cheek, Alli Beach, Madeline Sorenson, Sterling Head, Madeline Beach, Presley Head, Brooke Wooden and Elizabeth Harris 13 Ashlyn Underwood, Bella Fontana, Kynsley Ingram and Ainsley Koehler 14 Chanda Lee, MaKayla Johnson, Andrea Sadler, Addey Stegall, Jamie Underwood and Kerry Searcy 15 McKenzie Grassi, Sonnie Bennette, Holly Savage, Alysa Blackburn and Malissa Ring

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On the BayouScene

Annual Spring Provisional Party 1

The beautiful River Oaks home of Traci Canterbury, who describes herself as a “creative expressionist,” provided the perfect setting for the JLM Sustainers on Standby to host their annual spring party on Wednesday, April 28th, to honor the new 2021 provisional class. From the kitchen to the sunroom, one’s eyes will feast on Traci’s unique, engaging abstract paintings that “allow the viewer to see what they want to see in her creations.”

On the BayouScene

1 Shelva Thomas, Allison Payne and Patience Talley 2 Mossy Guinn and Regina Wood 3 Yasmeen Dickerson and Liz Craft 4 Mandy Green, Shannon Pittard and Faith Gremillion 5 Tiffany Rials, Hannah Saulsberry, Lisa Hammett and Lauren Voorhees 6 Lauryn Hatten and Mallori Williams 7 Allison McTurner and Ashley Davis 8 Dianne Cage and Mary Bernard 9 Brooke Daniels, Chelsie Walker and Chelsea Babineaux 10 Mary Linda McCann and Debbie Edgerton 11 Laura Centola and Beverly Jarrell 12 Jenny Pankey and Melissa Kiper

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Happy and Healthy Feet 5 Tips to Keep Your Feet Healthy and Free of Injury this Summer BY J. MARSHALL HAYNIE, MD

MERICAN WRITER/ SATIRIST, RUSSELL BAKER WROTE “Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” Even though temperatures may rise to nearly unbearable in our beloved Louisiana, we still flock to our lakes and rivers, fire up the grill and flip flops become the footwear of choice… only to be beat out by bare feet running down the pier. Unfortunately, these seasonal behaviors, can wreak havoc of our feet leading to foot pain, blisters and even increasing your risk of infection and injury There is a lot you can do to protect your feet and ankles. Here are five tips to help keep your feet in tip top shape this summer. 1. Flip and flop in moderation. Flip-flops are a summer staple, and they are comfortable, convenient, and fun. However, flip-flops typically offer little to no structural support around the foot and extraordinarily little, if any arch support. This lack of support can lead to foot/ankle pain and fatigue which can lead to even greater orthopedic issues. Flip-flops are not designed to wear all day. I tell my patients wear the proper shoes for daily activities, so you can wear the fun shoes for special occasions or shorter periods of time. Not all flip- flops are created equally… when shopping for new pair, look for flip-flops that have a thicker sole with arch support and a moderate toe box that allow minimal movement underneath the toes. 2. Drink plenty of water. Spending more time on our feet and in the summer, heat can cause our feet and ankles to swell and a big contributor to this swelling, is dehydration. When you perspire and do not take in enough water, your blood will become slightly thicker which decreases circulation and can exacerbate foot and ankle swelling. When outdoors, try to always keep water with you and if the weather is particularly hot, try to continue drink and do so regularly. If foot and ankle swelling persist, lie down, and elevate the feet higher than the rest of the body. You can also soak your feet in ice water for fifteen minutes or less to reduce swelling. 3. Wear your sunscreen! Summer footwear or lack thereof leads to greater sun exposure to the feet. In the summer, we replace shoes, boots and socks with flip-flops and sandals. The skin on the outside of the foot is very thin and more susceptible to sunburns and sun damage and can increase the chance for callouses and blisters forming on the feet. Do not forget about your lower body! Getting a sunburn on your feet will make it very painful to wear shoes in the coming days. 188 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

4. Waterskiing… Woe is me! We love our lakes in Louisiana and one of our favorite pastimes is to get behind a boat on a pair of skis. Being aware of some the common injuries associated with waterskiing can help water enthusiasts reduce risk of injury and seek proper treatment if an injury does ensue. Some of the more common waterskiing injuries I see as a foot and ankle surgeon include ankle sprains, fractures and Achilles’ tendon injuries. In all water sports, ankle sprains are probably the most common injury. If the water skier “catches the edge” of the water, it can cause the foot to be pulled backwards causing the leg to move outwards or inwards resulting in either an ankle inversion sprain (outward) or ankle eversion sprain (inwards). Prevention and taking precautions are key to keeping you on the water. Make sure before you get behind the boat that you practice strengthening and conditioning exercises and that you are in sync with your boat captain regarding turns and speed changes. Remember to adjust the skis so that your feet are not wobbling in an event of a crash and most importantly, if you suspect or know you have an injury, do not push the limits, and consult an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist sooner rather than later. Also, with all water sports, whether it be the pool, the lake, the beach, be sure to rinse and clean your feet. Stagnant water often carries bacteria which can potentially lead to foot infections. 5. Do not ignore foot pain. If something happens to one or both of your feet, it can have a major impact on the rest of your body. Foot and ankle instability often leads to putting extra stress on our body, particularly the knees, hips, and spine. If you have injured foot or have persistent pain, see your doctor. With summer and greater exposure of your feet, do not ignore blisters, punctures or wounds and be mindful of your feet by strengthening and conditioning the feet and wearing the proper footwear for the designated activity. Here’s to a safe and healthy summer and happy feet! Also, if you want to look for more information about foot and ankle care and treatment, you may want to visit: http://myfootcaremd.com/ To schedule an appointment or an evaluation with one of the docs at Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana, call our scheduling department: 866.759.9679 or visit: orthopedicspecialistsla.com.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Sustainably Crafting Great American Beers Since 1980 BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT BRAND MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.

EN GROSSMAN FOUNDED SIERRA NEVADA BREWING Company in 1980, with the goal of providing his customers with the kind of beer he liked to drink — hoppy, dark, and flavorful. What began in a 3,000 square foot warehouse in Chico, California is now a multi-brewery operation with beer distributed in all 50 states and overseas. Ken’s background in homebrewing, uncompromising commitment to quality, and financial savvy have helped him build one of the most successful craft breweries in the United States. Despite being one of the largest breweries in the country, Sierra Nevada remains a family owned and run business. Grossman still plays a large role in the brewery’s day-to-day operations. Under his direction, Sierra Nevada has evolved from using second-hand dairy vessels to one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the world. The continued expansion of the craft beer industry challenges Grossman to hold true to the company’s spirit of innovation, which helped change the drinking tastes of millions. When they began brewing at the end of 1980, with limited equipment, their production maxed out at 120 barrels a month, a little over 1,000 barrels a year. They quickly realized they would need to scale up if they were going to turn a profit. Ken worked a second job for a year or so and they added two more open fermenters and four more cellar tanks. By 1987, they had gained enough of a track record that they were able to convince a bank to loan them some money along with friends and family. They started construction and opened what is the current facility in 1988. Sustainability has always been a goal for the company. In the Chico, California facility today, there is a lot of energy generation equipment. 15 years ago, they put in a megawatt of fuel cell power. At the time, it was the largest private installation in the U.S. They have since changed that out to 10 microturbines – 2 megawatts worth – with a bank of Tesla batteries. They have their own onsite storage and distribution network, which is coupled with more than 10,000 solar panels. The Chico facility produces almost 100 percent of its own energy. While Pale Ale is still the flagship beer for the brewery, they have branched out into a few more styles. Available locally are Pale Ale, Torpedo, Hazy Little Thing, and Wild Little Thing. 190 JUNE 2021 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE A craft original, this beer made hops famous and brought an industry back from extinction. Heavy on the hops has always been the plan. They loaded Pale Ale up with Cascade hops, which were new in 1980 when this beer was conceived. Named after the mountain range, they have intense aromas of pine and citrus. 5.6% ABV (Alcohol by Volume), 38 IBU (International Bitterness Units) SIERRA NEVADA TORPEDO EXTRA IPA Torpedo started as a napkin sketch in a pub, an idea for a device that could boost hop aroma without adding more bitterness. The sketch was built, and the “Hop Torpedo” revolutionized dry hopping and inspired Torpedo Extra IPA. It is an aggressive yet balanced beer featuring the complex citrus, pine, and herbal character of whole-cone hops. 7.2% ABV, 65 IBU SIERRA NEVADA HAZY LITTLE THING Juicy hops and silky malt meet in this hazy IPA. Oats and wheat, both malted and unmalted varieties, are critical to the recipe. The fermenters are chilled at slightly higher temperatures than normal, so the haze doesn’t fade. Filtering is skipped to package all the hazy flavor in its prime. 6.7% ABV, 35 IBU SIERRA NEVADA WILD LITTLE THING This slightly sour Wild Little Thing has just the right smack of tartness for serious refreshment, while guava, hibiscus and strawberry lend fruity-sweet depth and a bright pop of color. sours are brewed the traditional way, with wooden barrels and lots of time. But Wild Little Thing is made using a technique called accelerated “kettle souring.” First, a wort is made without any hops. Then it is boiled, cooled, and lactobacillus is added. This special wort is blended back into Wild Little Thing to achieve its tartness. 5.5% ABV, 7 IBU 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.

FATHER’S DAY

gift guide

HAIK HUMBLE EYE CARE

WALSWORTH & COMPANY

DUPONT JEWELERS

RON ALEXANDER CLOTHIERS

REVIVAL DESIGN & CONSIGN

AZURE POOLS & SPA

PALETTE HOUSE + PLUME

WASHINGTON WINE & SPIRITS THURMAN’S FOOD FACTORY MATERIAL THINGS

HOLLIS & COMPANY

MUFFIN TIN

SPA BELLA

OMERTA CIGAR CO. FLEET FEET

TONORE’S WINE CELLAR

Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com June 3 Downtown Gallery Crawl The Downtown Gallery Crawl is back on June 3rd in Downtown Monroe! Enjoy an outdoor art crawl, live music, and food trucks! Venue: Art Alley, Downtown, Monroe June 4-6 Perfect Game Baseball Tournament Perfect Game is bringing a weekend filled with baseball games! Come cheer on the teams as they play against each other in this fun tournament! Venue: Sterlington Sports Complex 1290 LA-136, Sterlington June 5 Louisiana Peach Festival Come enjoy 10+ hours of live music, a local art market, kid’s activities, peachy treats and eats, sidewalk sales and more festive fun! Hours: 9 AM-11 PM Cost: 9 AM – 3 PM Free; 3 PM – 11 PM $10 ($5 for kids 12 and under) Venue: Downtown Ruston 101 W Park Ave, Ruston Phone: 318-255-2031 June 5 Community Health & Wellness Expo The Community Health and Wellness Expo is making a return for 2021. Receive nutrition advice, fitness tips, mental wellness support, and other healthy lifestyle information all in one place! There will even be a deadlift/weightlifting competition sponsored by Spearpoint Fitness! Venue: Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe Hours: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM June 5-6 USSSA 2021 State Baseball Tournament Enjoy a weekend filled with Baseball games at USSSA State Baseball Tournament! All games will be held at ULM's University Park on June 5th - 6th. Venue: University Park 4709 Bon Aire Drive, Monroe

June 11-12 32nd Annual Peach Rodeo Come out and enjoy two days full of bull and bronc riding, along with other events that are sure to be fun for the whole family. Hours: TBD Cost: Adult $10, Children $5 Venue: North Louisiana Exhibition Center, 165 Fairgrounds Rd, Ruston Phone: (318) 255-9377 June 11-13 Big Creek Trade Days Big Creek Trade Days are held monthly on the weekend before the second Monday with over 100 indoor and outdoor vendors, food trucks, and fun for all ages! Hours: Friday & Saturday 9 AM-5 PM, Sunday 10 AM-4 PM Cost: $5 per vehicle for the weekend Venue: 327 California Plant Rd, Dubach Phone: (318) 680-1304 June 12-13 Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen is back for 2021! Cheer on your favorite contestant as these young talented young ladies compete for the title. Venue: Jack Howard Theater 401 Lea Joyner Expy, Monroe June 17-19 Miss Louisiana The Miss Louisiana Pageant is making a return for 2021! Cheer on these beautiful ladies as they show off their talents and compete to become Miss Louisiana 2021. The first two nights include preliminary competition. The last night will feature the top finalists competing for the title. Venue: Jack Howard Theater 401 Lea Joyner Expy, Monroe June 19 Juneteenth Heritage Festival and 5k Race/1 Mile Walk Join in celebrating the Juneteenth Heritage Festival with a 5k Race/1 mile Walk. The race will start and finish at the REAL-LIFE Wellness Center.

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Hours: 8 AM - 10 AM Cost: Walk - Free 5k race- $25-$30 Venue: Real Life Wellness Center 268 Main St., Grambling Phone: (318) 599-9403

June 21-28 Pathway Louisiana 2021 Pathway Louisiana is coming to Monroe on June 21 - 28 at the Sterlington Sports Complex and the University of Louisiana Monroe. This event will serve as a qualifying event for the 2022 Pathway National Championship. Venue: Sterlington Sports Complex 1290 LA-136, Sterlington June 24-27 Seussical The Musical Jr The Ruston Community Theatre brings the world-renowned theatrical performance, Seussical Jr. in the Dixie Center of the Arts’ first live performance in over a year! Come support and watch as the performers display their determination and all the hard work it took to put the play together. Hours: June 24th and 25th 2 PM and 7 PM; June 26th 7 PM; June 27th 2 PM Cost: TBD Venue: Dixie Center of the Arts 212 N Vienna St, Ruston Phone: (318) 595-0872

June 26-27 DSRA Monroe Race Deep South Racing Association is bringing high speed boat racing to Monroe! Come cheer on these boat racers as they race along the Ouachita River! Venue: Forsythe Boat Dock 2100 Riverside Dr, Monroe June 5, 12, 19, 26 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 to attend Venue: Ruston Farmers Market 220 E Mississippi Ave Phone: (318) 957-1305