BayouLife Magazine Sept2016

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SEPTEMBER 2016 16 / P. ALLEN SMITH Apples to Apples 46 / JO AND KEMP Fashion Blogging and Style 72 / AMY’S STORY A Story of Breast Cancer Written By A Husband 75 / PINK LADIES Five Women’s Journey With Breast Cancer 92 / FOUR RIVERS HANDBAGS It’s All In The Bag

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102 / HARP STRINGS Jewelry With A Past

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108 / BRITISH MALAYA Art From the Heart 114 / IF THE SHOE FITS Dee Keller Is A Down-To-Earth Mother of Four and Successful Shoe Designer 124 / CLOTHES MADE THE MAN BayouIcon: Ron Alexander 130 / NATURALLY YOURS BayouArtist: Emily Caldwell 136 / GLOBAL INFLUENCE SUE•ANU: Indian Couture With a Western Twist 154 / TEAM EFFORT The Home of Buffy and Scott Walker

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164 / NEW SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN Seven Men With Distinctive Style

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BayouLife

HIS ISSUE IS ONE

of my favorite issues we’ve published. It’s been an emotionally challenging, yet extremely rewarding magazine to put together.

On September 17, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will be held at Forsythe Park. In some way or another, all of us have known or know someone who has/had breast cancer. In this issue, we highlight five women who we have deemed our “Pink Ladies.” Each of their stories is different, yet each of of their stories have one thing in common – these women are now part of a “sorority” they never wanted to join.

On August 1st, I texted Glenn Northcott to see if his darling wife wanted to participate in this issue. Lisa was diagnosed a year ago with Stage IV breast cancer at the age of 40. Lisa agreed, but she hadn’t been feeling well, and they were in New Orleans at the doctor. The next day I messaged them to check on Lisa, and Glenn told me things weren’t going great. It wasn’t long after that they shared the news that Lisa would come home on hospice. I was surprised on the following Monday, when I got a text that said Lisa still wanted to do the interview and could we send someone over. Our writer, Kay Rector, told me after that Lisa looked beautiful and that the interview was perfect. It wasn’t until I spoke with Lisa’s husband later, that we realized this would be one of the last times Lisa would have a conversation with anyone. A few days later, Lisa Northcott passed away of breast cancer. She has been an inspiration to me over the last year. I know that she must have had anxiety and struggles, but everytime I saw her, she was smiling. She

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1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185 Fax 318.855.4645

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was smiling and praising God for the little miracles, for the moments she had with her husband and children. She was truly a blessing to so many people. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family and friends.

In the wake of the flooding, it’s sometimes hard to focus on other things.

We are just now getting back to our homes and businesses, and now we are seeing those in the southern part of our state go through devasting losses. Please check out our Facebook page @BayouLifeMagazine for a list of drop-off locations around our community.

This month is our annual Style Issue, and while we snuck in a few other timely editorials, we definitely highlighted some amazing, fashionable people. From the dapper Ron Alexander (page 124) to the artistic stylings of Emily Caldwell (page 130), this issue profiles those in our community who make style look easy. On page 164, we’ve highlighted seven “New Southern Gentlemen;” on page 92 two girls from Lake Providence have teamed up to create Four Rivers Handbags; and on page 136 you can read about Sue Sartor and Anu Lal’s gorgeous clothing line, Sue•Anu. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of BayouLife Magazine.

Cassie

PUBLISHER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com EDITOR Maré Brennan mare@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Moffett melanie@bayoulifemag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Taylor Collins taylor@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Toni Navarro toni@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Ashley Hubenthal ashley@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Amanda Singley amanda@bayoulifemag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kelsey Bohl Maré Brennan Dan Chason Kenny Covington Lou Davenport Dr. David Finley Cindy Gist Foust April Honaker Michael Johnston Paul Lipe Erin Love

Meredith McKinnie Dr. Timothy Mickel Kay Rector Delia Simpson P. Allen Smith Beatrice A. Tatem Analeise Thomas Lisa Tramontana Patrick Trisler Judy Wagoner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Arender Scarlett Holland Martin G. Meyers ON THE COVER Chic 101. This month’s fashion spread was shot at Georgia Tucker Elementary.

Model: Kayla Stites. Photography by Brad Arender.

Special thanks to Matt Sanderson BayouLife Magazine is published and distributed by Redbird Publishing, LLC. Circulation: 13,000 copies monthly. Postal subscriptions ($20) can be ordered online at www.bayoulifemag. com. BayouLife Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, manuscripts or other materials. Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited.

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Wine and Football A Surprising Combination

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OOTBALL SEASON IS HERE, AND WITH IT COMES the tasty cuisine of pre-game tailgating. There’s no better way to get pumped for a game than with good eats and a little bit of spirits. Being avid football fans, the crew at Washington Wine and Spirits put together a tailgating guide on how to pair your grub with the perfect wine, all of which can be found here at the store.

A good rule of thumb is white wines pair well with lighter dishes, creamy or citrus sauces, fish and white meat; red wines do well with red meat, game, smoked and cured meats, and pasta with red sauce. Below you’ll find more specific pairings, but at the end of the day, we will always recommend drinking whatever you love.

One of the more versatile wines that go great on their own or with food is a Red Blend. The spice profile in these wines complement the smoky flavor of meats. We suggest Hahn 2014 GSM with BBQ chicken, brisket or pulled pork. In a more adventurous route, you can also pair a Red Blend with chili or game. An enjoyable wine that will stand up well with these dishes is Eberle Full Boar Red Blend. Be sure to look for that Louisiana love when you take your first sip as Mr. Eberle is an LSU graduate!

However, if you want the classic backyard treat of hamburgers and hot dogs, you won’t go wrong with Manteo 2012 Red Blend. It’s a neat bottle that packs a punch with dark, red fruits and woodsy spice.

For lighter fares such as cheese and vegetable plates, the Solena 2014 Pinot Noir gives you jammy flavors with a touch of creaminess that will elevate the taste of that veggie plate. If you’re looking to get more creative, pimento cheese and Astrolabe 2013 Sauvignon Blanc are a hit together. The hot pepper notes in the pimento cheese are mimicked by the jalapeño flavor in the wine.

For an easy-sipping porch wine to enjoy by itself, the Recuerdo 2013 Torrontes is an excellent choice. This white blend boasts clean, crisp flavors including jasmine, citrus, honeysuckle, and pear with a touch of acid that adds a nice bite.

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If your aim is white meat or seafood, these suggestions are the ones for you. Fried chicken or chicken wings go together with Flor Prosecco like peanut butter and jelly. The sparkling quality of the Prosecco creates a very apt combination with the chicken’s crisp flavors. This bottle will win your heart at first glance with its black and gold fleur-de-lis label. Another archetypal combination with sparkling wine is oysters. If you want to branch out a little, the Blanc de Blue sparkling wine has crisp bubbles and a blueberry profile that goes surprisingly well with oysters. For a classic pairing, try fried fish with Chardonnay. Cartlidge and Browne 2013 Chardonnay will give you a nice oakiness with a little fruit flavor to bring out the best in that fried catfish.

Now, we know everyone’s favorite Louisiana soul foods will make their way to the tailgate, so we’ve got you covered there!

A classic pairing you may not be familiar with is sausage and Riesling. Riesling’s sweet and mineral notes go well with the saltiness of sausage. Kruger-Rumpf 2014 Riesling would be suitable for traditional Cajun dishes such as boudin and jambalaya. Gumbo is another excellent tailgating food that’s begging for some wine to bring it to that next level. We suggest a bold and smooth Cabernet Sauvignon, like Jason Stephens 2012, that’ll couple flawlessly with any kind of savory food. Last but not least, crawfish étouffée with its cream and spice qualities pairs well with Jules Melange 2015 Vin Blanc. This white blend will complement the light richness of the dish with flavors of tropical fruit, floral notes and a touch of sweet.

From all of us at Washington Wine and Spirits, we hope we could help make your tailgating experience that much better. Feel free to stop by the store and chat with us. We’d be happy to help you find the perfect wine for your tailgating needs!

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Robotic Urological Surgery Results in Less Scarring and Recovery Time

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ROSTATE CANCER IS THE MOST common cancer among men, but as 2 million survivors can attest, it is often treated successfully. One out of every 10 men will develop the disease at some time in his life, most often after age 50.

Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). The prostate gland produces fluid that is one of the components of semen. Treatment options and prognosis depend on the stage of the cancer, the Gleason score, and the patient’s age and general health.

With greater public awareness, early detection is on the rise and mortality rates are declining. New advances in medical technology, such as robotic surgery, are enabling cancer patients to return to active and productive lives soon after their treatment.

Other urologic conditions that can be treated with robotic surgery include kidney or urinary tract disorders along with kidney and bladder cancer.

The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of fist-sized organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back.

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urine. Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder (a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen).

Urine is then stored in the bladder and empties through a narrow canal called the urethra. When parts of the urinary system are not functioning properly, symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe.

Some typical signs and symptoms of urological conditions may include: • Blood in the urine or semen • A lump in the abdomen • Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite • Pain in the side or lower back • Changes in urination including frequency, pain or incontinence • Feeling the need to urinate without results • Sensation that the bladder is not empty after urinating • Trouble starting or holding back urination • A weak or interrupted urine flow

When medicine, lifestyle changes and other non-surgical treatments do not ease urologic symptoms, the patient’s doctor may recommend surgery.

Many urologic surgeries are now performed robotically by Dr. Edward Rutland at Glenwood Regional Medical Center. Robotic surgery allows patients to return home more quickly, and with less scarring and side effects than open surgeries. Dr. Rutland is a board certified urology specialist and is one of the only

robotically trained urologists in Northeast Louisiana.

With robotic surgery, Dr. Rutland is able to operate with greater vision, precision and control. He performs the operations through a few small incisions instead of a large open incision used in traditional urologic surgeries. The da Vinci System features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. Dr. Rutland remains in 100% in control of the da Vinci System, which translates his hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a urological condition that could require surgery, it’s important to consider all of your options. To learn more about robotic urological surgery, ask your doctor for a reference to Dr. Edward Rutland at Glenwood Urology. Glenwood Urology is located in Suite 111 at the Glenwood Medical Mall in West Monroe.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 318-329-8517.

The Flavors Of Fall

A Sneak Peek at the Best Brews of the Season

BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT, SPECIALTY, AND IMPORT MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.

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ALL IS ALWAYS A POPULAR TIME for new beers. Cooler weather, tailgate parties and Oktoberfest celebrations abound. It’s the perfect time for sipping and savoring the best brews this season has to offer.

Get ready to raise a stein with these beauties.

Without a doubt, the most well known style for fall is Oktoberfest. A malt-balanced beer with toasty and caramel notes, this type of beer was first brewed in Munich in 1810 to celebrate the royal wedding that has become the modern-day Oktoberfest. In late August, early September, look for examples from Sam Adams, Leinenkugel’s, Abita and Shiner Bock to hit the shelves. Sam Adams even hosts some local events to celebrate the occasion. To find one near you, search #RaiseTheSteinNELA on Facebook.

Sam Adams Octoberfest Brewed with Tettnang Tettnanger and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops, this version of the classic style blends hearty malts for a deep, smooth flavor with notes of caramel creating a brew that’s perfect for the season, or whatever you’re celebrating. For more information, visit samueladams.com.

Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest Leinenkugel’s proud German heritage shines through in their homage to the world’s greatest festival. A traditional Marzen style beer, Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest has a toasted malt flavor and subtle spicy, hop notes that make it perfect for celebrating fall in true German fashion.

For more information or to find Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest near you, visit leinie.com.

Shiner Oktoberfest Brewed in Shiner, Texas, Shiner is best

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known for their classic Bock. Their nod to Oktoberfest is amber in color with mild aromas of caramel and sweet bready malts and hints of subtle spicy hops. Full bodied and highly carbonated, it goes down smooth and ends with a thirst quenching finish. For more information or to find Shiner Oktoberfest near you, visit shiner.com.

Abita Octoberfest Brewed in Abita Springs, Louisiana, this full bodied malty lager has a copper color and is hopped and dry hopped with German Hallertau hops giving it a pleasant, spicy hop aroma that is just right for fall. Best served in a goblet or stein, this beer is the perfect combination of German tradition and Louisiana flair. For more information or to find Abita Octoberfest near you, visit abita.com.

Abita Peach Harvest Lager Making its debut in September is the newest addition to the Harvest Series at Abita.

Fresh Louisiana peaches are handpicked for this smooth lager. Pale malt gives the beer a sweet, crisp taste, with abundant amounts of ripe, juicy peaches added in the brewhouse to capture the flavors and aromas of real, fresh fruit. As always, the Harvest Series is made with the finest Louisiana-grown ingredients.

For more information or to find Abita Peach Harvest Lager near you, visit abita.com.

Bell’s Best Brown Ale

Best Brown Ale from Bell’s Brewing is a smooth, toasty fall seasonal beer that offers hints of cocoa and caramel. With the help of American hops, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cooler weather without being heavy. It’s the perfect pairing for the changing

of the seasons. For more information or to find Bell’s Best Brown Ale near you, visit bellsbeer. com.

Bell’s Hopsolution A limited release from Bell’s Brewery, Hopsolution is a remarkably drinkable Double IPA which pays tribute to one of Mother Nature’s finest creations, as several hop varietals combine for massive aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and pine. A mild caramel malt character and dry finish provide a nice counterpoint to these hop notes. For more information or to find Bell’s Hopsolution near you, visit bellsbeer.com.

NOLA Mecha Imperial IPA Brewed in the heart of New Orleans, NOLA Brewing’s Mechahopzilla is definitely for the hop hungry. With a whopping 81 IBU’s, this monster is hoppy and heady. Formerly known as Mecha Hopzilla, this is an American Imperial IPA with a unique combination of four different hops and a half-pound-perbarrel, dry-hop process resulting in a powerful flavor that’s not for the faint of heart. For more information on NOLA Brewing, visit nolabrewing.com.

Be sure to like Choice Brands on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with local happenings and new product releases. In addition, you’ll find links to beer related articles, fun recipes and much more.

Find us at facebook.com/choicebrands, twitter. com/choicebrandsinc, and instagram.com/ choicebrands.

Going for the Goal Seizing Your Defining Moment

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

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HEN THE SUMMER OLYMPICS in Rio began, like millions around the world I tuned in for the opening ceremony with great anticipation of what was to come: the creatively choreographed program filled with pageantry, music and dance reflecting cultural diversity, the parade of nations, as well as an introduction to world class athletes. At a time when the world is facing so much turmoil, it was timely to be able to celebrate the occurrence of the Olympics and all that it symbolizes. I felt an array of emotions while viewing the Olympics. As I watched and listened to history being made, records being broken, expressive stories of athletes being shared, I experienced joy, energy, empathy, disappointment, admiration, frustration, amazement and pride. I observed in awe as though every participant was a relative or friend. Although, I favored the USA teams, regardless of the sport, I was inspired by the power of the human spirit displayed by the athlete when going after something they greatly wanted. For every flip a gymnast made, every dive and stroke a swimmer took, every ball dunked or volleyed, every sprint ran and finish line crossed, I was with the athlete in spirit, heart and soul.

Whether competing for an Olympic medal or striving to reach a personal goal, the athlete exemplifies seizing the moment to win the goal. Seizing the moment is defined differently and ultimately experienced differently. For some it is a split second decision made under the pressure of needing

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to have your best performance at the right time after years of practice and preparation to experience their defining moment. For many athletes seizing the moment is more than medals, fame and money, but represents successful competition shaped by drive, brilliance, skill, discipline, sacrifice and perseverance; a test of one’s mental and physical toughness to push beyond what appears humanly possible. Stories of Olympians reflect unexpected winners in unexpected ways rising to their own challenges. Some win medals, some fall short of winning medals while some win in ways the public may never know. For the Olympic Refugee Team, the likelihood to win a medal was irrelevant; they had already won due to overcoming obstacles of the past to capture the goal of freedom. These individuals mere presence reflected survival, hope, bravery, political progress and social justice. They reminded us life itself is a gift and in life we can arise above our circumstances.

When working with clients on goal setting I use the sport inspired metaphor, “life is like a marathon.” You must train yourself for the race of your life. Fortify yourself mentally and physically; rest and eat properly. When a dream is deferred never give up, avoid regret; regroup, refocus, set your pace and stay on stride. Position yourself to seize the moment and make every second count. Bounce back from mishaps. Prepare for the “ups of winning and downs of losing. “We are human with vulnerabilities. Know when to stop.

Acknowledge competition by recognizing

who and what you are running from as well as who or what you are running for and too…it could be you. Appreciate the person that lies within the athlete. Turn rivals into great competitors. Avoid self doubt when competitors achieve success. Goals are milestones towards growth, set incremental goals and avoid directing too much energy into one goal. Try to improve yourself, strive to break your own records and recognize your progress. Whatever your “sport” is in life, determine your personal best and go after your goal.

The Olympic games have ended; the torch has been extinguished leaving the fire of the human spirit; the fire within to burn.

Athletes from around the world have left an indelible impression in sports and on the world. Some from parts of the world so remote the individual athlete is as known to the world as the nation they represent. Each athlete has displayed behaviors we can all learn from: perseverance, emotional stamina, resilience, fortitude, steadfast determination, healthy competition, motivation, competence, character, confidence, pride, dignity, respect, passion and grace under pressure. The powerful impact of the Olympic games doesn’t just happen for the Olympian; these games represent powerful lessons beyond sports. They are lessons reminding us we must seize the moment and go for the goal.

For more information about counseling services and outreach programming contact Dr. Tatem at Wellness Initiatives, LLC. 1900 North 18 th Street, Suite 414, Monroe, La 71201, 318-410-1555 or at btatem.bt@gmail.com.

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Apples to Apples article by P. Allen Smith PHOTO BY JANE COLCLASURE

PHOTO BY BETTY FREEZE

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f you’re thinking of planting apple trees in your yard, it’s time to think small. The apple tree industry has been trending towards dwarf varieties for a few years now, says Arlie Powell of Petals from the Past and professor emeritus at Auburn University. He has advised fruit industry professionals all over the south on selection and maintenance of varieties for years. He also helped me choose the tree varieties at Moss Mountain Farm, where we settled on Gala, Fuji, granny smith, honey crisp and the native Arkansas black apples.

He says traditionally apple trees were planted 25 to 30 feet apart in orchards and grew up to 45 feet tall, but with today’s dwarf varieties, they need only be planted about nine feet apart. Some of these trees have root systems so small, they need a trellis or a post to give extra support.

This is only the latest development in apple production. He says varieties have been trending sweeter and sweeter for the past century.

In the South, apples were not originally grown for fresh eating. The Horse variety was the most popular apple among Southern ladies in the 1910s, 20s, 30s and 40s because it was a stellar cooking fruit.

“It’s not a very pretty apple, but it had cooking qualities beyond belief,” he said. “We sell that variety still, and it’s one of those that had a place in time. It’s one of the best for cooking, because it holds together well, retains its flavor and has a certain amount of sweetness.”

However, its sweetness is far less than the apples of today, which are sweet enough to be dessert.

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“If you’re used to eating a sweet gala, it wouldn’t taste as good, because its texture and flavor is more suited to a cooking fruit, and adding other ingredients to end up with that sweetness,” he said.

Southern families didn’t have luxury of temperature controlled environments and the advanced storage containers of today, so they primarily wanted an apple they could preserve.

“Years ago in the South, most apples were grown for cider, for drying, for vinegar, or they were for cooking,” Powell said. “Very few varieties were really what you call fresh-eating fruit. Today, probably 80 to 90 percent of the apples in the stores are sold for dessert and fresh eating. One hundred years ago, it would’ve been just the opposite.”

By the time those apples were harvested, they were blemished and likely had insect and disease problems. Much progress has been made in those areas, with sprays and even organic sprays to keep the food in good order, while it’s on the tree, Powell said.

APPLE PIES:

For a new take on the standard apple pie, these singleserving pies will be a hit with your guests. And you won’t have to fiddle with too much dough, because the apple core is the crust.

Individual Apple Pies 8-10 Granny Smith Apples 1 ½ tsp cinnamon 1/3 cup sugar 1 ½ Tbsp brown sugar Pie crust Melted butter Extra sugar and cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Take six Granny Smith Apples and cut off the tops. Carefully remove the insides of each apple with a spoon or melon baller. Don’t puncture the peel. Set aside.

Remove the skins from two additional apples and slice very thinly.

Mix the sliced apples with 1/3 a cup of sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon of brown sugar and 1 ½ teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl. Then scoop the mixture into the hollow apples.

Roll out the pie crust and slice into 1/4 inch strips and cover the top of the apple in a lattice pattern with the pie crust strips. Brush a small amount of melted butter over the pie crust and sprinkle with a little cinnamon and sugar. Place in an 8×8 pan and add just enough water to the cover the bottom of the pan.

Then cover the apples with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the sliced apples are soft.

PHOTO BY HORTUS LTD GROWING YOUR OWN

The best time to transplant young apple trees in the South is after the first frost, once they’ve started losing their leaves and become dormant, generally in November or December.

“You can plant throughout the winter, we just advise people not to plant them in front of hard freezes, which we define as temperatures below 30 degrees,” he said. “If you buy a tree from us, we can tell you if we’re going to have a hard freeze. So, hold off on planting your tree before a hard freeze. When you get past that, you can plant your tree.”

He says transplanting gives the tree a bit of a shock, and some of that cold air can settle around the roots and cause damage.

In order to produce blooms and fruit, apple trees need a certain amount of “chill hours,” which can be tricky for residents in the South.

Chill hours are the number of hours the temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Some varieties need only 600 chill hours and some need 1,200 and above. Northerners don’t worry about chill hours, because they always have enough cold weather to spare. So, Southerners should be wary when selecting an apple tree that traditionally grows well in Northern climes, because sometimes the chill hour requirements are merely estimations. However, it’s very important because if you live in an area without adequate chill hours, the tree won’t bloom or produce, Powell said.

Compounding the problem is the seasonal variations in temperatures from year to year. If you have a particularly mild winter, you may be waiting a lot longer for your apple tree to produce fruit. If you have questions, you can contact your local cooperative extension service for guidance.

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The Platinum Promise Audibel Hearing Center Is Committed To Patients

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O MATTER WHERE YOU purchase your Audibel hearing aids in the U.S., we promise you are fully covered at any location nationwide. In fact, that is what we refer to as our Platinum Promise. As you will see detailed below, every Audibel hearing health location abides by the same measures of patient care and service.

What does this mean for your or a loved one’s hearing care and hearing aid warranty coverage? First the primary objective of the Platinum Promise is to ensure the same delightful office experience and hearing outcome at any of the several hundred Audibel locations. Essentially no matter what town you are in, with an Audibel office nearby you will be welcomed at the office just like you are a patient of their own, even if you didn’t purchase your hearing aid directly from them.

Additionally the warranty coverage on any Audibel hearing aid will be honored at any location. This ‘warranty for one, warranty for all’ concept allows any seasonal travelers to not have to worry about any issues with their hearing aids away from home. These are just a couple of the many important patient value statements contained in our Platinum Promise.

OUR COMMITMENT Our Commitment to patient care was built around a mutual agreement of honor, integrity and trust with each patient. As a part of the nationwide Audibel network, we aim to provide the greatest experience of hearing care possible by abiding to the following standards that define American Hearing Excellence.

1. Comprehensive Evaluation: We will evaluate your hearing, your communication needs and the goals for your life.

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2.

Recommend only what needs recommending: Because we evaluate all your hearing and communication needs we will recommend a treatment plan that is unique to you and designed to meet your needs.

3. A clear understanding of the journey and the results: We will make sure that you understand what steps will be taken on your journey to better hearing and what the realistic outcomes are of those steps.

4. Seeing and hearing the benefit: We will verify that the hearing instruments and any accessories that go with them are working and provide the benefit that you need. This verification may be done through several clinically accepted tools such as Real Ear Measurement, Speech Mapping or Sound Field Verification.

5. Treatment is more than just an office visit: We will work with you to create a longterm treatment plan, defining follow-up appointments, regular ongoing evaluations and any additional care that you may need to make sure you stay satisfied with your hearing in the years to come.

6. In warranty for one, in warranty for all: When you work with Audibel. you are working not only with your local hearing healthcare professional, but also the national network that will honor the warranty, support and service guarantees on all Audibel products.

7. We commit to you for a lifetime: All Audibel products will receive free cleanings and testing for their lifetime.

There are many people right here in our community that have benefitted from the Platinum Promise at Audibel. They have not only been satisfied with their new hearing

aids, but with the care, service and attention they have received. Here are just a few of our customers’ experiences:

“My experience with Audibel and their staff has far exceeded my highest expectations regarding service, product and compassion towards me and my hearing needs.

I recommend Audibel and their staff to anyone needing hearing assistance.”

- Paul J. Binkley, PCLA

“I have become so much more aware of the world around me, and the people at The Hearing Center are absolutely precious.”

- L. James

“My dad has been a patient of Cherry’s and the Audibel Center for 8 years. She and Andrew and the staff there are wonderful! I knew Dad’s hearing needs had changed and that he would need new hearing aids, but I was a little afraid he was at the point where he couldn’t be helped. I took him in today and found out that he could be helped! I want you to know that he talked all the way home, because he could actually HEAR us!”

- P. Gulley

“I have been a patient of Cherry Phillips for the past 5 and a half years, and I am totally satisfied with the care I have received. Cherry and her entire team are always professional, but they are also kind, considerate and genuinely concerned for their patients’ well-being. I am impressed that Cherry is concerned with my specific needs, and works on them for me. I never feel like a “number.”

Cherry understands both the science and the human element required in her profession, and makes a huge difference in many lives.”

- Dr. James B. Potts, Jr.

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I REMEMBER article by PAUL LIPE

I REMEMBER

the first time my soccer-playing granddaughter kicked the ball into the goal – she was elated, and we who were watching were happy, too. But our delight was tempered a little by the fact that Mary Hastings had kicked the ball into the goal her team was defending! None of that mattered to her; she had kicked a goal!

She was elated, and we who were cheering for her were popping with pride.

You need to know that, at the time, she was only five or six years old, and this was the first time she had ever played the game.

The only thing that registered with her was that the ball was right there in front of her and the goal was wide open – she did the natural thing and kicked the ball into the net! And she was as happy as if she had just scored the winning goal for the USA team in the world championship finals.

“But,” you may say, “she scored for the opponents – that does not help her team win the contest.” You are right, and winning IS important. But it is not the only thing, is it? There is more to competition than just winning. For instance, I remember the goal that Mary Hastings scored, but I cannot recall who won the soccer match!

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not one of those people who think that every participant should receive the same reward, the same recognition. I am all in favor of 20 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

acknowledging the valedictorian, the most valuable player, the top salesman, the artist who shows the greatest talent, the soldier who demonstrates unparalleled bravery, and every other individual who surpasses others in the performance of his duties or his opportunities. They have bested others in their field, and they merit the recognition that their performance garners.

Furthermore, when I was young enough to compete, I played to win. I like to win, and it hurts to lose. In fact, if it does not hurt to take a beating, there will be lots of losses on one’s record! Every time one enters any competition, it is appropriate to have victory in sight; he should aim to win.

However, just as there is fun and fulfillment in winning the race (or the game or the match), there should be fun and fulfillment in running the race. In fact, I am convinced that how one runs the race is more important than whether or not he wins that race. For instance, when, as a grandparent, I watch my Grands compete, I care far more about HOW they play than I care about whether their team comes out the victor. If they play well, if they do their best, and still lose, that is O.K. with me. But if their team prevails, and they play poorly, that concerns me and leaves me dissatisfied.

I believe that God views things similarly.

We can please Him, even if we fail in some

endeavor, if we give the effort our best shot.

We can’t all sing like an angel, preach like a prophet or battle like David, but when we do our best with a desire to please our Master, He notices and gives His approval.

Eric Liddell, whose story was made into an Academy Award-winning movie, “Chariots of Fire,” was the son of missionaries and a world-class sprinter. He represented Great Britain in the 1924 Olympic games which were held in Paris. Because of his Christian convictions, he failed to qualify for the 100 meter dash (in which he was favored), because the preliminary heats were contested on Sunday. He refused to compete on Sunday and, therefore, forfeited his chance for a Gold Medal in the 100 meter dash. However, he did win the 400 meter race, setting Olympic and world records in the process. Later he would write, “In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory, there is a glory to be found if one has done his best.” Honor is gained, not only in winning the race, but also in running the race well.

There will be rewards in heaven for those Christians who excel, but there will also be a “Well done, good and faithful servant” for all who offer their best in His service. And I shall be full of joy should He say those words to me.

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Fitzco Marine Group Serving the Waterfront of the U.S. Since 1979

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IKE FITZPATRICK, OWNER/FOUNDER OF FITZCO has spent all his life on and around the water. He started in business in 1979 at the age of 19. Having been instilled with values and principles from the beginning, he truly operates his business by the Golden Rule.

Fitzpatrick has a passion for educating folks on marine construction, to help them get the best “bang for their buck.”

Fitzco has recently partnered with Joe Terracina of River Marine Works on the Ouachita and Red Rivers, as well as local lakes, in Northern Louisiana to provide a level of quality unlike any other in the area. They offer unsurpassed customer service and quality for your marine construction needs.

Mike’s message is that floating docks shouldn’t be unkempt looking structures with vegetation growing out of the “exposed foam” flotation. They shouldn’t have poorly painted steel framework and columns. The problem is with the original design of the docks, most of which are not repairable as the concrete decking has been poured on top of the foam flotation with a steel frame around it.

“At Fitzco, we do many things differently… for a reason,” says Fitzpatrick. “We believe that your dock should secure your boat, not the other way around. Over the years, we have developed equipment and processes specific to improving our finished product while increasing efficiency. This has led to unmatched ability and quality in the maritime construction industry in the areas of pile driving (we can even drill and install piles in bed rock), bulk heading, floating and fixed structures and underwater recovery of sunken vessels.”

“With us, it’s about designing and building it correctly…. once,” says Mike. “If it’s already been built and is not performing, we will redesign it and rebuild it correctly…. once. If you choose

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us for your next project on the water, whether it’s replacing pilings, installing a bulk head, building a new floating or fixed pier or an elaborate custom boat house, prepare to be impressed.”

Their system features: • Encapsulated float modules that are replaceable should one become compromised (which will not allow vegetation to exist) • Galvanized steel frames with the floats attached thereto so as to prevent any direct exposure of steel to the water • Precast, steel reinforced concrete deck panels which can be removed to access utilities or to replace in the event one becomes compromised.

• All galvanized steel components alleviates the need to paint anything resulting in a truly “maintenance free” design.

“I’ve been designing and building floating dock structures, from small private docks to massive commercial marinas, as well as consulting for other marine contractors, for over 30 years,” states Fitzpatrick. “It’s simple,” he says, “Fitzco and River Marine Works want you to enjoy more time on the water!

Contact Fitzco Marine today by calling Mike Fitzpatrick (318584-7003) or Joe Terracina (318-665-0190 or 318-614-2406).

323 Moon Lake Road, Monroe, LA 71203 P.O. Box 466, Shell Knob, MO 65747 • 417-858-BOAT (2628) 212 Flat River Road, Bossier City, LA 71112 • 318-584-7003 Fitzco Marine Construction • AirHoist Boatlift Systems Century Maritime • MariTow U.S. “Serving the waterfront of the U.S. since 1979”

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 23

What’s Your Vision of Beauty?

Haik Humble Eye Center Wants You to Imagine the Possibilities

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AIK HUMBLE EYE CENTER offers advanced cosmetic and medical aesthetic services to our practice offerings. Our services are provided in a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere utilizing the latest technology and highly qualified professionals to deliver great results.

Our goal is to help you achieve healthier and younger-looking skin. We’ve focused our advanced technology on treatments for improving skin’s health and appearance, as well as cosmetic procedures for the eyes and surrounding area. Whatever your vision of beauty, Haik Humble Eye Center makes it remarkably affordable.

ResurFx LASER SKIN RESURFACING The ResurFX laser system by Lumenis is the newest and one of the best available treatments for non-ablative fractional resurfacing of the face, neck, chest and hands.

Non-ablative means it does not destroy or ablate the skin cells, while fractional means the laser is delivered to the skin in tiny dots and to only a fraction of the skin. This type of laser cannot cut or produce bleeding. The surface of the skin remains intact and all the laser work is done beneath the surface of the skin.

ResurFX resurfaces skin to reveal younger, more refreshed skin, improving the appearance of wrinkles, scars and age spots through a simple procedure with minimal downtime.

The optimum benefits of ResurFX are obtained with several treatments depending on the condition and desired results.

WHAT CONDITIONS DOES THE ResurFX TREAT? • Age spots or sun spots • Fine lines and wrinkles 24 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

• • • • •

Stretch marks or striae Hyperpigmentation or discoloration Uneven skin tone Scars from acne or surgery Lax or loose skin

HOW DOES ResurFX WORK? The advanced ResurFX technology prioritizes patient comfort just as much as effectiveness. It offers deeper dermal laser penetration and vaporizes tiny columns of tissue on the skin’s surface, stimulating the body’s natural skin cell and collagen regenerative responses. As collagen increases, the skin looks tighter, more even, and more youthful. Because of its miniscule size, the laser does not damage surrounding healthy tissue, allowing for rapid healing to only the targeted area.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THE ResurFX PROCEDURE?

During a ResurFX laser skin rejuvenation treatment, a topical anesthetic is applied.

Due to the non-ablative nature of the laser, most patients find treatments comfortable.

Treatments can take 20 minutes or more, depending on the size of the targeted area.

ResurFX requires only one pass over the skin to produce effective results, reducing treatment and recovery time.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER THE ResurFX PROCEDURE? After ResurFX, patients generally have recovery time with some redness and swelling after the procedure. Patients can return to their normal activities the day after the procedure.

Recovery time is short and relatively comfortable. Redness, swelling, and minor

irritation (similar to a mild sunburn) may develop, but these effects typically subside in just a few days. Sun exposure before and after treatment should be avoided – a sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher should be worn daily in the days after the procedure.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED? ResurFX is completed as a series of treatments. Because it is a limited downtime procedure, it usually requires multiple treatments for significant and meaningful results. Typically, at least 3-4 treatments about one month apart are necessary to obtain optimum results, although this varies by the individual and their goal.

RESULTS of ResurFX The results of the ResurFX® procedure vary depending on each patient’s individual skin, but most report significant improvement to the overall quality of their skin, including: • Reduced appearance of brown spots • Reduced fine lines and wrinkles • Improved appearance of acne and surgical scars • Improved tone and texture The results of the procedure will continue to improve as side effects subside and best results are seen in 3-6 months. It is important to take certain precautions after treatment to protect the skin and help it heal properly. A sunscreen of at least 30 SPF daily is recommended.

ResurFX is a true nonsurgical alternative to more invasive surgical and resurfacing procedures, as it significantly reduces the risks and recovery time associated with facelifts and other resurfacing procedures.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 25

DR. WALTER SARTOR

BEFORE

Take Charge

AFTER

LCWLS Can Help

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TEPHANIE CRAIG GALBRAITH, A REGISTERED NURSE in an intensive care unit, has lost 80 pounds since undergoing the gastric sleeve surgery on July 8, 2015. Everything has changed, she said.

“I work in a very fast-paced environment, and I now can keep up without tiring easily,” she said. “I’m also a better role model for my child. She sees me get dressed up and feel good about myself.

That makes it all worth it! Everyday activities are so much easier. I can play outside with my child or just go to the store without feeling so exhausted. I realize now all the things I was missing out on before surgery and especially how much I avoided going places due to being overweight.”

Much of Stephanie’s childhood was challenging due to her weight, she said.

“I have always been overweight, for as long as I can remember.

I was always ‘the fat kid’ in middle school. Every year, we would go back-to-school clothes shopping, and it always ended with me feeling fat, because I could never find clothes that fit me.”

While Stephanie did not yet have obesity-related health issues, she was worried about her future.

“Both my parents have diabetes and high blood pressure. I knew if I didn’t get my weight under control, I would follow in their footsteps.”

Stephanie said her “wake-up call” came to her in a photograph.

“When I saw my wedding pictures, I was mortified. I didn’t even realize I had gotten that big. I was so embarrassed of how I looked that I never printed any copies, nor did I show the photos to friends and family. I knew at that moment I had to do something.”

Her new life following the weight loss surgery led her to a moment she will never forget.

“My family and I were eating in a restaurant one evening. I was actually able to wear blue jeans, which I hadn’t worn in years. My 11-year-old said, ‘Mom, you have on blue jeans!’ I had gotten so used to wearing yoga pants and t-shirts that my child barely recognized me in normal clothes!”

Stephanie, who now describes her life as “fabulous” has one regret: that she did not undergo the gastric sleeve surgery earlier in her life. “Having bariatric surgery is the best thing you can do for

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yourself and your family. You will add years to your life and actually be living!”

Stephanie is thankful for the staff at Louisiana Center for Weight Loss Surgery. “I received the best care from Dr. Walter Sartor and his entire staff. The day after I returned home from the hospital, his nurse called to check on me. They always made me feel that if I ever had a question or problem, I could call them. That meant a lot.”

MYTH: I have to be at least 100 pounds overweight to qualify for the surgery.

TRUTH: While being 100 pounds overweight does qualify one for the surgery, there are other health conditions that can qualify a patient for the procedure. If you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 35 and associated health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, you may qualify for the procedure.

MYTH: I cannot afford weight loss surgery.

TRUTH: The cost of a gastric sleeve surgery is $12,900, which includes all doctor and hospital fees. Medicare—and even some commercial insurance companies—cover the cost of the procedure. If your insurance company does not cover the cost, there are often financial options available through your bank. We urge you to call the LCWLS office for additional finance options.

MYTH: Weight loss surgery is the “easy way out.”

TRUTH: Weight loss surgery is a tool, not a cure. To maintain longterm success and a healthy weight, you will need to commit to lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a healthy food plan.

The Louisiana Center for Weight Loss Surgery’s Total Lifestyle Care™ program provides a team of professionals – your surgeon and your nutritionist – to guide you as you learn and implement new habits.

Louisiana Center for Weight Loss Surgery, an accredited bariatric program, is a partnership between Dr. Walter Sartor, P&S Surgical Hospital, and St. Francis Medical Center. Like us at facebook.com/LCWLS, and call us today at 1-866-821-LIVE. Check out Louisiana Center for Weight Loss Surgery on YouTube.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 27

Fishing With Kenny THINGS WE SHOULD DO AND

SOME THINGS WE SHOULDN’T article by Kenny Covington

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o me fishing is the greatest outdoor activity we have ever been blessed with. There’s no better way to spend a day.

I’m sure my friends that hunt would argue with me about that, but my argument is based on the fact that 70% of the earth is water, so I believe we should spend as much time as we can enjoying it with a fishing pole in hand.

Now that I have stated my fishing beliefs, I am often asked about mistakes I see other anglers make. I usually reply with, “As long as they are on the water, there is nothing they are doing wrong” and I honestly believe that. However, I do have a few suggestions that have nothing to do with lures and specific techniques.

In this month’s BayouLife column, we are going to suggest and discuss some ideas that may help you become a better angler, but I know will help you to enjoy this sport even more.

Here are some things that I try to keep in mind no matter if I am fishing a tournament, pre-fishing for an event or just fishing for fun with a friend. While most of these ideas are not set in stone, a few of them are critical when looking at the big picture.

Have Fun. That is why we go fishing in the first place. Just to be in the outdoors, or enjoy the time spent with a family member or maybe it’s time spent to introduce someone to this great sport. No matter what your reason is for being on the water, make sure you enjoy it.

Take care of your equipment. Our excursions can become nightmares when our equipment isn’t in working order. Take 28 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

time off the water to maintain or properly upkeep your equipment. Are the batteries being charged properly? There is nothing like getting to the lake and your motor won’t crank or your trolling motor doesn’t work. Do you need to replace line on a few reels? Fresh line makes any reel work better, and there is nothing more frustrating than dealing with line issues that could have been easily avoided. Is your boat gassed up? I’ve seen this more times than I care to remember. The only way to know exactly how much gas is in your boat is to stop and put some in it.

Things such as these may seem to be common sense issues, but I have seen these on several occasions. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.” I am willing to bet that was first said by a fisherman, who owned his own boat.

Find, figure then catch. No matter what species of fish you are trying to catch, no matter how many fish you are told supposedly live in a lake, it’s not very often that you are going to catch fish as soon as your bait hits the water. Catching fish is the easy part. It’s the locating and figuring out how to catch them that is the hard part.

Patience is a virtue and a necessity.

This is probably the biggest requirement when fishing with children or really just fishing in general. It’s easy to become frustrated when the fish aren’t biting and even more so when fishing with children. Make sure your trip is about the kids more than it is about catching fish. If they get tired of fishing and want to eat, let them eat. Or maybe they will want to play in the minnow bucket. Or take a short boat

ride. Let them determine the atmosphere of the trip, and you will more than likely gain a fishing partner for life. When it comes to fishing and kids, please make sure you refer back to “Have fun.”

Fishing is probably more popular than it ever has been. Today, when you add the other water sports that people enjoy, our water ways are more crowded than ever. This often times leads to a new set of problems.

Who owns the water? The correct answer depends on who you ask. Bass fishermen have long been accused of thinking narrow mindedly about the rights and wrongs when it comes to particular bodies of water. White perch fishermen are beginning to stake claim to their water and their arguments can go on and on.

Landowners have suddenly decided that it’s their right to create their own private lakes using water that is never theirs to begin with. I haven’t even mentioned water skiers, jet skiers and the other pleasure boaters.

In a perfect world, we would be able to find a common ground and learn to share our waters without conflict and controversy.

I’m not sure such a place will ever exist. That being said, I do believe that common sense and common courtesy would go a long way in making things better for all parties involved.

I hope we have shared some information that you can put to good use. For those of you preparing for or beginning your hunting seasons, please be careful in the woods. For those of you still on the water, take care and catch one for me, and I will see you next month!

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 29

Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School Paving the Way with an Annual Fund

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HAT IS THE JGS ANNUAL FUND? Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School will continue its yearly giving program, The JGS Annual Fund, which has replaced its fall fundraising events of years past. An annual fund is an effort on the part of a school to establish one major fundraising campaign that last throughout the year which can produce better results than many small fundraisers. Traditionally, established institutions have strong annual funds and JGS should be no different.

How will the fund be distributed and what is our annual goal?

Our annual fund goal this year will remain consistent with last year at $100,000. The goal of the JGS Annual Fund is to develop a loyal constituency of annual donors in order to maintain and improve the overall operations of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School. Revenue from the JGS Annual Fund is part of the operating budget of the school with any excess going towards capital improvements. The collected funds are distributed between, but not limited to, tuition assistance, teacher retention and benefits and capital improvements. Twenty-nine percent of the 2015-16 annual fund was used toward upgraded security features and new computers for the computer lab, while 36% went toward teacher retention and benefits and 35% toward tuition assistance.

It is our hope that the 2016-17 JGS Annual Fund campaign will be equally successful.

How can I make a donation?

Opportunities to support the JGS Annual Fund are limitless.

Donations can be made all at once or over the course of the school year, and all JGS Annual Fund donations are 100% tax deductible.

For instance, a donation of $30 per month over a 10-month period will add up to a total of $300. Donations can also be made through employee matching. Therefore, if an employee donates a gift of $500, their employer will match $500 through a one-toone matching fund program. Donors who are interested in this form of donation should contact their Personnel offices for more

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information. Those who donate will be eligible to become part of the JGS 1960 Society or the JGS Ram Loyalty Club, depending on the size of their donation. These donor organizations are meant to offer a way for supporters of JGS to feel a sense of affinity and belonging to our school family. Each donation makes a difference in our ability to reach our annual goal.

What is the “JGS Top Ram 2016” competition?

Each year JGS will have teams of competitors that consistent of parents, grandparents or alumni that will compete to raise the most donations for the JGS Annual Fund. The JGS Annual Fund competitors this year will be competing for the title of “JGS Top Ram 2016.” The Top Ram 2016 teams this year are “The Angel Agents” and “The Ram Realtors.” The teams consist of JGS parents who are in the insurance and real estate industries. They are a wonderful example of school supporters, who are joyfully adding to the success and excitement of the JGS Annual Fund, and we thank them for their commitment to our school.

Why support the JGS Annual Fund?

By supporting the JGS Annual Fund and our JGS Top Ram 2016 competitors, you will be actively participating in the advancement of our school’s mission and vision for the future. Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School has made a difference in the lives of children for over 50 years, and we pray that we can continue to provide an environment of learning, faith, love, leadership and service. On this month’s JGS ad, you will find a detachable donation card that may be returned to the school office with your annual fund donation. Your donation will also count as a vote for your favorite “JGS Top Ram 2016” competitor. We ask that you prayerfully consider contributing to the JGS Annual Fund and to the betterment of our future. We recognize that a donation of any size is a personal decision, so please know that your generosity, in any form, is always meaningful and genuinely appreciated.

We thank you in advance for your investment in the mission and future of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 31

“

“

In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.

ALFRED STIEGLITZ

ARRANGEMENT BY GREGORY HUDGINS PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN G MEYERS

Black and white assemblage of glass and porcelain containers reference Thornton Picard Imperial Field Cameras. Precariously positioned Crocosmia “Montbretia” and Cymbidium or “Boat Orchid” creates drama within the prescribed confines of the container, while at the same time being discontent with those restrictions.

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“

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Between two worlds life hovers like a star, twixt night and morn, upon the horizon’s verge.

LORD BYRON

Triple arrangement of Cymbidium orchids nestled among shredded newsprint. The slender black glass container facilitates the viewers eye from the energy of the sharp, orange orchids and newsprint into the calm, quiet of the horizon.

ARRANGEMENT BY GREGORY HUDGINS PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN G MEYERS

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 35

Great Raft Brewing Company Real Beer, brought to you by Marsala Beverage

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REAT RAFT BREWING IS A CRAFT BREWERY IN Shreveport, Louisiana that specializes in world-class quality beers that complement the lifestyles and cultures of Louisiana. The Company was founded in 2012 by Andrew and Lindsay Nations – two Shreveport natives with a passion for beer.

Great Raft Brewing’s mission is to brew what we call “Real Beer.” Real Beer is brewed with creativity, passion and authenticity.

Our beer is brewed with creativity that pushes the boundaries of style, a passion for greatness and authentic ingredients. DRINK REAL BEER. YOU DESERVE IT. Barrel Aged Old Mad Joy Old Mad Joy is a baltic porter with layered malt complexities of chocolate, coffee and roasted barley. This dark and rich lager shines with a boozy but restrained sweetness and builds a slight fruitiness as it warms.

Awkward Uncle™ - Belgian Strong Dark Ale This Belgian Dark Strong Ale is BIG AND BOOZY, just like the best and worst family gatherings. The rich malty sweetness of this festive ale is balanced by plentiful amounts of cherries, ginger and cinnamon. This beer contains a lot of good cheer. Enjoy responsibly

Make Believer™ Make Believer, our session IPA, is a delicate but hoppy ale that clocks in at just 5% ABV and is loaded with Citra and Galaxy hops.

Creature of Habit™ - Coffee Brown A collaboration brew with Rhino Coffee to celebrate their 1 year Anniversary. We added cold-brewed coffee, made from an exclusive Rhino bean blend, to our brown ale to create this roasty and refreshing beer.

Southern Drawl™- Pale Lager A hop forward lager with complex, citrusy aromas derived from German hops and wheat phenols. We use our house German lager strain to provide a fresh backdrop for this perfect session lager.

Mildly traditional...Wildly drinkable.

Commotion™ - American Pale Ale This pale ale has a slightly fruity aroma, with an upfront hop bitterness of grapefruit and citrus. This complex but balanced dryhopped ale is faintly sweet, but soft through the generous amounts of wheat.

At Arm’s Length™ - India Pale Lager Throwing an absurd amount of American hops at a classic lager seemed only natural for us. Shh, don’t tell the Germans. We like to keep them at arm’s length

Grace and Grit™ - Double IPA Our Double IPA has strong tropical aromas derived from massive amounts of Citra and Amarillo hops. This incredible bitterness is balanced with honey malt creating a soft and slightly sweet hop bomb.

All my Tomorrows™ - Hoppy Saison A modern interpretation of a classic farmhouse ale that celebrates American innovation. We kicked tradition to the curb, adding a generous amount of rye and American Mosaic hops to create a rustic Saison that’s earthy and fruity, with intense aromatics of juicy citrus.

Reasonably Corrupt™ - Schwarzbier A black lager with dark and roasty malt sweetness. Don’t let the darkness fool you – this is a sweeter, fuller-bodied version of the premium lager you know and love. It has a smooth, crisp finish, with depth of color and taste.

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Apple Dental We Love To Make Your Smile

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VER LOOKED IN THE MIRROR and wondered how your teeth got so yellow? Many of us have. Because yellowing can happen gradually, it can easily go overlooked. Luckily, yellowing teeth are not a sign of a serious medical condition. And while it may be disheartening and confidenceshattering to feel like you’ve lost your best accessory – your bright, white smile – you can get it back. For starters, be aware of what causes yellowing, and how you can avoid or limit exposure to those things.

There are two categories of staining as it relates to the teeth: extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining.

Extrinsic stains are those that appear on the surface of the teeth as a result of exposure to dark-colored beverages, food and tobacco and routine wear and tear.

Superficial extrinsic stains are minor and can be removed with more involved efforts, like teeth bleaching. Persistent extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and become ingrained if they are not dealt with early.

Intrinsic stains are those that form on the interior of teeth. Intrinsic stains result from aging, exposure to minerals (like tetracycline) during tooth formation and/or excessive ingestion of fluoride. In the past, it was thought that intrinsic stains were too resistant to be corrected by bleaching. Today, cosmetic dentistry experts believe that even deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth whitening that is maintained over a matter of months or even a year. If all else fails. There are alternative cosmetic solutions to treat intrinsic staining, such as dental veneers.

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TOP 6 REASONS YOUR TEETH ARE SO YELLOW Reason #1: You’re getting older.

Your teeth can also start yellowing as a natural part of the aging process. This happens as the strong, white, protective coating on the teeth, known as enamel, fades over time because of everyday wear and tear on your teeth.

Reason #2: You’re a smoker.

Tobacco products, from cigarettes to pipe smoke, stain teeth. If you consume these products, your teeth will darken over time.

Reason #3: Your oral hygiene is lacking.

When you do not routinely brush, floss and rinse your mouth to remove plaque build-up and tartar, this can hasten the discoloration of your teeth.

Reason #4: You’re on medication.

Certain medications, such as the antibiotics doxycycline and tetracycline, can darken teeth of children younger than 8 years old. Some antihistamines, drugs for high blood pressure and antipsychotic medication can also stain adult teeth.

Reason #5: You have an illness.

A less common cause of tooth discoloration can be either a disease that affects enamel, or the treatment of a disease, such as chemotherapy and/or radiation used to treat cancer. In this case, the discoloration is more of a brownish color.

Reason #6: The solution is in your genes.

It also may be possible that you inherited

enamel that is more yellow than that of other people whose genes differ.

TEETH WHITENING SOLUTIONS

Tray-based Tooth Whiteners – these systems that can be purchased from your dentist, involve filling a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution which contains a peroxide bleaching agent. The tray is typically worn a couple of hours every day during the night for up to four weeks or longer (depending on the degree of discoloration and desired level of whitening).

In-Office Whitening- This type of bleaching provides the quickest way to whiten teeth. With in-office bleaching the whitening product is applied directly to the teeth. These products can be used in combination with heat, a special light or laser.

Results are seen in only one 30-60 minute treatment. With in-office bleaching, dramatic results can be seen after the first treatment.

At Apple Dental, we offer both takehome trays and in-office light enhanced whitening solutions. Come visit us or give us a call if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your smile.

Dr. Matt Sanderson and Dr. Kevin Haynes would also like to welcome Dr. Dennis Warner as the newest addition to our dental team.

Apple Dental , we love to make your smile.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 39

BAYOUBUZZWORTHY RAIN THE SALON

Recently, at Paul Mitchell’s annual conference, The Gathering, Rain the Salon was honored as one of the top eleven salons in the country. Their staff attends The Gathering each year to learn new techniques and get hands on experience with the latest Paul Mitchell products. This year, Holly McCready, Holly Brooke Epperson, Rami Gaubert, Kelly Hosea, Larkin Banks, Morgan Johnson and Jess Brodnax represented the salon in Las Vegas at the Aria Convention Center. Rain is located in downtown Monroe, owned by James and Holly McCready and has been in business for 13 years.

ULM’s NURSING RANKED NO. 1

MAGNOLIA HALL PASS WINNER

West Monroe High School teacher, Taylor Branch, was one of five winners in a nationwide classroom design contest from Magnolia, a company owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, hosts of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.” Magnolia hosted a contest for teachers called Magnolia Hall Pass. The only requirement to enter was to post a picture of your classroom to Instagram and use the #magnoliahallpass.

Taylor was selected and given Magnolia merchandise that will be perfect additions to her classroom. This is Taylor’s third year teaching Family and Consumer Sciences and Clothing and Textiles at West Monroe High School.

SHIRTS THAT GIVE BACK

Mr. P’s Tees announced that they have raised enough money for a boomer ball for Timmy the Tiger at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. Through the sale of their latest shirt that gives back, the white tiger design, the local t-shirt company donated $5 from the sale of each shirt and tank.

A boomer ball is a large, industrial strength rubbery type balls that large animals love to play with. Last year, the company donated 20% of their shirt featuring Bam Bam, the Ring Tail lemur, another resident of the zoo.

With the proceeds from the shirt, the zoological society, along with Delta Community College, was able to design and build a new structure for the lemurs to play on. Owners, Brent and Lissy Compton, have given back to several organizations with their shirts that give back, including raising over $35,000 for Louisiana Flood Relief this past spring.

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The University of Louisiana Monroe’s online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program was ranked no. 1 in the nation for 2016-17 by CollegeStart.org.

The site ranking took into account several key factors to ensure that the student gets the best rate of return on their educational investment. The factors in determining the ranking were graduation rate, cost, acceptance rate, enrollment rate, retention rate, student to faculty ratio, percentage of students receiving financial aid, and loan default rate. Based on these factors, ULM had a near-perfect score of 98.8%.

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LOVE YOUR STYLE

by Erin Sharplin Love erinlove@panachebyerin.com

D

eveloping your own personal style should be one of the most important things on your “to do” list. After all, your style speaks volumes and acts as your “calling card.” Is your calling card giving others an accurate perception of who you really are? If not, I am here to help.

Your wardrobe should make you feel authentic, comfortable, beautiful and in charge of your future, which, in turn, suggests that your clothing must fit, complement your skin tone and meld seamlessly into the life you live. Developing this personal style should be an enjoyable experience, so if it becomes daunting, remind yourself to relax and enjoy the process.

FIT IS KEY. The most important thing to remember when developing, or redeveloping, your personal style is that proper fit is the key! You want clothes that flatter your shape and show off your best features. For instance, maybe you have a tiny waist, so look for items that are more form fitting in that area. You should also wear long necklaces to draw the eye to that area. Keep in mind, ladies, that the smallest areas on every woman’s body are her ankles, wrists and natural waistline! *Note: Your natural waist line is right under your ribcage and above your hips.

COLOR MATTERS. Black is a basic in everyone’s wardrobe, but mixing in color 42 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

can increase your style savvy exponentially.

It is also important to understand what your best and worst colors are. This is not to say that you should never wear your “worst” colors; on the contrary, you will just be able to make better choices on how and when to wear those colors. To find your best colors, think back to what you were wearing the last time you received a compliment. It was most likely a color that brightened your face and made you feel beautiful.

purses, shoes and even destroyed denim (another trend).

WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE? In other words, what are you most drawn to? What makes you feel most comfortable? For me, it’s skinny jeans, flowy tops and high heels.

For you, it might be a cute dress with flats or pants and a fitted top. Figure out what you gravitate to, and then you will know the direction your signature look should take.

Once you are confident of your best style, you can add fun accessories and mix and match to your heart’s content!

NEVER STOP LEARNING. Read books, visit blogs and find inspiration in current magazines. The more you fill your mind with fashionable things, the more likely you are to replicate them.

HAVE FUN WITH IT. As I mentioned in my opening statement, fashion is meant to be fun, so play with different pieces and don’t be afraid to try something new! When a new trend arises that you are drawn to, figure out how to incorporate it into your own style. For instance, the color of the year for 2016 is a pastel pink. Pastels are typically hard to wear for most people, because they tend to “wash you out,” but you can still incorporate them into your wardrobe by choosing accessories in a pastel pink. Think

SCHEDULE A CHECK-IN. I recommend checking in with yourself and your wardrobe once a year to see what still works for you and what doesn’t. Maybe a trend is waning, or you have found yourself weary of it. Remove those items to make room for new pieces that will keep your personal style evolving and growing.

STAY ORGANIZED. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the importance of being organized where style and fashion are concerned. After all, that’s where my professional organizing career began – I realized I couldn’t help people with their wardrobes, if I couldn’t see what was already in their closet. Taking the time and energy to get and stay organized will definitely make finding and refining your personal style easier.

“Style is personality. It’s having the ability to look at things beyond fashion and the selfconfidence to transform even the simplest thing into something special.” ~ Dolce & Gabbana

SELF-WORTH

Meredith’s Musings I Fell In Love With Me |

By Meredith McKinnie

I

’ve always been presented aging as a tradeoff. The physical ailments show up more pronounced, but with each decade we become more ourselves, more comfortable in our skin. I’m only on my third decade, and I know this to be the case. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel at 50. I’m more anxious for that self-awareness than I fear the physical ramifications. Perhaps that’s maturity. Perhaps I’m being naïve. Perhaps you’re laughing at me right now, and that’s okay too. I welcome your participation in my follies about life.

But what I do know now, more so than ever before, is that I love me. I really love me. I love me in a way that I had never fathomed before.

And I don’t mean in a “selfish, I am better than everyone and make no mistakes” kind of way.

I mean it in a “You’ve always had potential, Meredith, and you finally took the steps and the time to foster success for yourself. And your life looks a lot like you imagined it would in your thirties.” I’m proud of me, both in my career, which I adore, and my relationship, which I adore even more. And I don’t think those two things just happened upon me. I don’t think I necessarily sought them out.

But I do equate a sense of self-awareness and acceptance for welcoming good things in

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your life. You have to be ready to receive. And sometimes it takes years.

I was always a smart kid. I wasn’t “the smart kid.” Someone always did better, but I always did well. And in college, when I was finally challenged beyond what was easy, I fell in love with the environment. I fell in love with the people. I fell in love with logic and thinking and seeking knowledge. I’ll defend the college institution until the day I die, because it was the journey of learning that taught me more than what I actually learned. You have to travel the trail. And I did it for six years, for two degrees. My mother would jokingly ask if I would be a lifetime student. The implication made me positively giddy, because I couldn’t imagine anything more enjoyable.

So I did the second best thing, I became a teacher at the institution that I love, and I’ve done well. I’ve slowly progressed, rather timidly at first, but always adhering to my parent’s example of being a worker and being professional. I don’t remember when it happened, but somewhere along the way, I gained the respect of my colleagues and then my superiors. The people I had always esteemed my entire college career treated me like an equal and respected my opinion. I belonged at the table. And perhaps I always

did, but until I knew it, until I felt it, it didn’t matter.

Eleven years ago I began a marriage that would ultimately fail. I sensed it would fail two years before it began, but I stayed out of fear.

I didn’t know myself yet, didn’t trust myself.

The fear of being alone, of no one ever loving me, that sneaky little devil of doubt convinced me this was it because it was there, no other reason than that. His role is irrelevant; it was about me. I wasn’t ready to be anyone’s wife, because I didn’t even know who Meredith was.

I found Meredith in the ashes when the whole three years and vowed promises burned to the ground, when I said goodbye to the house all by myself, because I was the only one who cared, when I gained sixty pounds on my already obese frame trying to find joy in food during that first year after the divorce. Meredith had it tough; Meredith struggled for a bit. What was already a rough situation, I made worse, because I didn’t know what to do. I was lost.

But two years later, and many pounds lighter, I began to breathe again. I began to invest my efforts into my students again. I began to put myself out there. I had holed up in my little cave, and one day I didn’t like what I saw, and I changed it. It took years, but I did it. And every day was a challenge and a battle, but at the end of every day I could look myself in the mirror and be proud of me. And that became enough, and every day it became easier, and then it became routine, and now I’m accused of being the most vibrant, loud, selfaware person in the room with all the answers.

I don’t have all the answers. I know what I feel in the moment, and sometimes it applies. But what I do know, though I have no idea when exactly it happened, is that I fell in love with me. I fell in love with my flaws and my hangups and my voice and my ability to love, and then the magic happened. It made me lovable in return. It’s funny how that happens. Once we love ourselves, others follow in step and see us as lovable. And I take a moment to love me every day, whether it’s a mile on the treadmill, a wink in the mirror, a smile when no one is around to see, or an overpriced lotion just because it smells good. I’m good to me, because I deserve it, because no one will take better care of me than me. I will invest in myself, so there is more of me to invest in others. I fell in love with myself; I’m worth it, and it shows.

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Fashion Blogging and Style article by Meredith McKinnie

Having been raised in the fashion world, Kemper LaRae Baugh is no stranger to style. Her stepmom, Kelly Block, opened K Sera when Kemper was only thirteen, and since then Kemper has been involved in photo shoots, fashion shows, styled for Homecoming Court and has essentially been rooted in the local fashion scene. She calls Kelly her “fashion foundation,” and Kemper has since gone on to build both her name and her brand along with her husband, Jordan Baugh. This young, fresh duo have evolved into local fashion blog celebrities and taken Instagram by storm.

Kemper always knew she loved fashion, but wondered how to mold that passion into a career. She worked as a style assistant on the local hit TV show, Duck Dynasty, where she helped style the women. She descrived working on the production an “amazing experience” which helped her develop her own style. It was during this time that another teenager gave Kemper a suggestion that would jumpstart her success.

“You need a fashion blog!” were the words of Sadie Robertson, and perhaps it was timing or the boost of confidence from a peer whose style she admired, but that ignited the spark in Kemper.

Jordan Baugh embraced his wife’s passion and began researching the world of fashion blogging. He designed their website and learned the art of photography. He takes the photos, uploads and edits (with 46 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

some help from Kemper) while she types up their blogs, usually one per week. Jo says, “no matter how good you are, it takes time, experience and knowledge to build an audience.” Though spending a lot of time on Photoshop, he tries to “capture as much of the moment in the camera.” Before he would say the photos make it, but now it’s a balance of style, location and lighting as well.

Jordan enjoys letting Kemper primarily be the face while he works behind the scenes. He will sometimes delve into fashion choices, though Kemper often tweaks his choices. Most of all he enjoys the time with his wife. Much like their two-year marriage, they are learning and growing together, something they cherish.

The couple describes their style as “urban, chic, with an edge.” Kemper’s role is to shop, put the outfits together and style them. She likes a variety of outfits, often inspired by mood, sometimes leaning toward “urban slouchy.” Jo’s personal style has also improved, which Kemper describes as “urban edgy.” Now they tend to dress more alike, sometimes even matching.

Together they scout locations, often local spots in Monroe and frequently downtown. Shots are often taken without greenery, more often back-dropped with old buildings, Kemper perched upon steps, or prancing down the blacktop street, always with her infectious smile. A fan of accessories, no look is complete without the right bag,

sunglasses, headband, hat, stylish shoe and the right pop of color gracing her lips. Kemper knows style. And Jordan knows how to photograph style. Kemper owns each photo while still highlighting and promoting the essence of the clothes. And sometimes the couple will appear together, frequently mid-laughter, genuine moments frequently captured by Jordan’s mother, Sherry. It’s the twosome, the “mind and the face” that make this fashion blog and each photo successful. Kemper insists she wouldn’t be doing this without Jordan, that it “wouldn’t be worth it.”

For each Instagram shot, usually anywhere from 20-30 photos are taken. The couple strives for one photo a day to keep the social media presence fresh and in people’s minds. They have been able to draw followers to their Instagram, first through giveaways, but now more so from shares, reposts, word of mouth, comments, and by tagging friends. The blog is written once a week, often detailing what the couple has done that week, different details about each outfit, how she styled it, how it could be styled differently to suit others’ tastes, and links where viewers can find the clothes. The blog promotes itself with the benefit of hashtags and an abundance of followers; clothing companies often send the couple outfits to style, shoot and promote… the more exposure, the more successful the blog.

Jo and Kemp have partnered with the company RewardStyle and LikeToKnow.it, the program within the company, which together act as the middleman between brands and social media influencers. By clicking on the liketoknow.it link under each social media post, viewers can enter an email address, and with each liked picture, the viewer receives an email with outfit details from each liked picture and links on where to buy the outfit. This exposure has led to more opportunities for Jo and Kemp with companies such as: Forever 21, Nordstrom (which actually featured Jordan in the photos), Express, Urban Outfitters, Kate Spade, and American Eagle. The brands contact Rewards Style to find bloggers with an impressive social media following. And in return, aside from financial compensation, Jordan and Kemper receive publicity on the brands’ websites. The couple attended the RewardsStyle conference this past March, by invitation only, hosting

the company’s top 200 style bloggers worldwide. This opportunity allowed the couple to meet blog celebrities, people they follow, and sit in on sessions to improve and further establish their brand. At one point Kemper was star-struck, meeting a fellow European blogger, her inspiration. Jo and Kemp were well received, and did not find the environment to be competitive, insisting, “Your success does not affect my success.”

Most of all they love experimenting. Kemper wants to stay true to herself and her style, broad, but consistent. And like their marriage, communication is key, telling each other what they think. They’ve learned it’s Jordan and Kemper that define the blog. They created the blog because of their special connection, “never wanting it to become an obligation.”

It has begun expanding into lifestyle blogging opportunities, focusing on travel and hotel marketing. Everything they’ve prayed for together is coming to fruition, and they’re hopeful and excited for their future.

What is most intriguing about the couple is their connection. Not only is it abundantly evident in the photos, but in everyday life. The last two years have taught Jordan the importance of keeping “marriage refreshing, still being romantic,’ keeping the relationship, itself, alive.” Both wake up every day putting the other first. They believe in each other, they promote each other, and between them visibly exists a connection most couples strive for.

Though newlyweds by definition, they understand compromise, commitment, business, and the importance of faith. They strive for a balance of giving God the glory and staying true to each other through example.

Viewers will see the light through them, and each shot further exemplifies this commitment to the success of the blog, but most importantly to each other.

Facebook: JO & KEMP Instagram: joandkemp Blog: www.joandkemp.com Email: hello@joandkemp.com WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 47

BOOTS

These boots are made for walking. Whether you’re looking for the perfect bootie or an over-the-knee boot, our area boutiques have something for everyone. Photographs by Martin

ERIN’S ATTIC

HERRINGSTONE’S

THE FASHION

BEAU MONDE

ELEVEN 26

K-SERA

HEMLINE

CARA’S

BEEHIVE

THE FLEURTY GINGER

FREE BIRDS

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SCHOOL SPIRIT Whether you root for purple and gold or bleed red and blue, we’ve got spirited clothes just for you. Find these looks at area retailers. Photographs by Martin G Meyers

FLORAL DRESS

K-SERA

BULLDAWG TANK

MR. P’s TEES

RED CUT-OUT DRESS

BEAU MONDE

GEAUX TIGERS NECKLACE

THE FLEURTY GINGER

BRACELETS

CARA’S

RED LACE RACERBACK BRALETTE

CLEAR & GOLD PURSE

ERIN’S ATTIC

HEMLINE

RED SUEDE ROMPER

ELEVEN 26

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CHARMING CHOKERS Left (top to bottom): Erin’s Attic, Hemline, The Fashion Center (top to bottom): Free Birds, HerringStone’s Right (top to bottom): Hollis & Co., Beau Monde, K-Sera

PASSING THE TORCH Black and White Ball 2016

ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN

M

aking the universe a safer place for women and children is not an easy task. Monroe’s Children’s Advocacy Center is one such worthy place where a difference is made in the lives of countless victims of abuse, right here in north Louisiana. You get your chance to help make a difference in the lives of children and families when you buy your ticket to the 11th Annual Black and White Ball, slated for September 24 at Bayou DeSiard Country Club. Chaired by Jordan Haedicke and Jennifer Lord, this is sure to be the event of the season.

With a $75 ticket, you’ll get to dance the night away to Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters and be treated to a live artist demonstration by celebrity painter, Jacob Zumo, as well as complimentary food, wine and beer. Order your tickets online by going to www.standforhope.org.

THE PASSING OF THE TORCH:

In 2005, Janet Haedicke and Sue Sartor, Executive Council members of the Center for Children and Families Board of Directors, dreamed of creating a signature fundraiser for Monroe’s Center for Children and Families that would bring awareness to the work of the center as well as raise funds for its programs. The Center for Children and Families is the umbrella organization for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which assigns volunteers to children in the court system who have been abused or neglected and the Children’s Advocacy Center, which streamlines services and interviews for the youngest victims of abuse, as well as a Therapeutic Services division with the aim of strengthening families through clinical interventions.

Says Janet, “I remember sitting in my hotel room in Baton Rouge and coming up with the Galaxy aspect for that very first Ball.

We determined then to dedicate the Ball to mothers and to making children safer in our universe.”

In just three months from creative concept to completion, this dynamic duo of Haedicke and Sartor pulled off the very first Black and White Ball at the Haedicke’s 54 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

home on Mother’s Day weekend. Janet and Sue continued to chair the Black and White Ball together from 2005-2011, and both have remained the staunchest of supporters for the Center. In fact, the first four years of the Ball were held at the Haedicke home with illustrious entertainment ranging from local favorites Rod Allen Payne and Lisa Lee Phifer and world famous Charmaine Neville to Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr., who will mark his second Black and White Ball appearance this year. To add spice to the auctions, entertainers like synchronized swimmers and aerialist like Brandon Sanford would wow the crowds of chicly dressed men and women. The early Black and White Balls would also feature local chefs providing cuisine from around the world. Crowds would sample unique dishes from far away places, such as Italy, Africa, India, Belgium, France, Mexico and Ireland.

“What’s encouraging now is seeing all the young people, who are involved in keeping the tradition and the glamour of the Black and White Ball going,” says Janet.

Like her mother and grandmother, Mildred Vanderpool, before her, this year’s Black and White Ball Chairperson, Jordan Haedicke, is committed to serving her community and making the lives of children and families safer. She and co-chair Jennifer Lord have pulled out all the stops to make this year’s event event bigger and better.

Clint Downing has been tapped to create a “retro vibe” for the Club’s interiors, Rockin’

Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters will have everybody on the dance floor and celebrity artist Jacob Zumo, known as JZumo, of Baton Rouge will be on hand to chronicle the event on canvas.

ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana (CAC) is designed to provide a unified approach to confronting the problem of child sexual abuse and the devastation it has on so many families within this area (Note: CAC services can only be accessed through law enforcement or social services).

Before the CAC, child victims of sexual abuse would have to talk about their experience to several different agencies and officials. The child could be moved all over the region to numerous different locations in order to fulfill all of the required examinations, interviews and assessments. Now, the CAC works to collaborate the efforts of all the agencies and officials, who are involved in child victim cases in order for the process to be less traumatizing to innocent victims.

All of the necessary steps - assessments, forensic interviews, medical exams, and victim support services - are conducted in one location. Everyone works together for the best interest of the child. It is through this process that the CAC hopes to relieve some of the strain and trauma from the children who have suffered through no fault of their own.

RED SHIRT DRESS

BEEHIVE

TURQUOISE PLAID & PAISLEY SHIRT

HEMLINE

OMBRE BIRD SHIRT

FREE BIRDS

BROWN & TEAL PLAID

THE FASHION

NAVY OMBRE SHIRT

ERIN’S ATTIC

RAD PLAID Plaid is in this fall in a big way. From dresses to vests, this season is all about rad plaids. Photography by Martin G Meyers

PLAID VEST

CARA’S

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LUXE LOOKS

From sumptious suedes to luxe velvet, this fall is all about the feel of fabrics. These items can be found at area retailers. Photography

by Martin G Meyers

SUEDE FRINGE JACKET

BEEHIVE

VELVET CHOKER

HERRINGSTONE’S

VELVET EMBROIDERED TOP

THE FASHION

TAN SUEDE TANK

FREE BIRDS

PURPLE VELVET DRESS

ANITRA’S

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HEAVY METAL From clutches to necklaces, metallics are perfect for any outfit. Find these great items and more at our local retailers. Photography by Martin G Meyers

Clutch: Eleven 26; Rings: Hollis & Co.; Arrowhead Earrings and Necklace: HerringStone’s; Wrap Bracelet with Tassel: The Fleurty Ginger; Bracelet and Earrings: Anitra’s; Geode Necklace: Beau Monde; Beaded Necklace: Cara’s

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Say “Goodbye� to Sun Damaged Skin And Hello To Fresh Younger Skin DERMA MEDIQ:

SPA NOUVELLE:

LUMECCA - Are you ready to repair damaged skin from the summer sun? Brown spots, broken capillaries, spider veins, rosacea and much more can be improved in just 1-3 sessions with Lumecca! Lumecca is the most advanced intense pulsed light (IPL) system used to treat pigmented and vascular lesions.

Improvements with sun damage and skin complexion are noticeable in as little as a few days after your first session. Your skin will continue to repair itself over time with the most visible results after 1-2 weeks, leaving you with a brighter, more youthful look. Lumecca is a superior solution to improve your skin!

NEW OXYGEN HYDRA FACIAL (Red Carpet Facial) - A customized rejuvenating skin resurfacing, targets congested pores and infuses antioxidants, peptides and hydrating hyaluronic acids into the skin through ultrasound and oxygen infusion. Lymphatic drainage helps to reduce toxins into the skin. This facial treatment softens the appearance of large pores, improves texture and helps repair sun damage. The oxygen treatment at the end of this facial plumps and revitalizes the skin, leaving it super hydrated. The oxygen treatment alone can be added to any facial treatment we have on our menu.

FRACTORA - Are you looking to reduce fine lines and wrinkles

LED LIGHT THERAPY - LED is a painless skin care treatment that plumps up aging skin by boosting collagen production and treats mild to moderate acne by killing bacteria responsible for breakouts. LED stands for light emitting diodes. First developed by NASA, LED works by sending energy producing packets of light into the deeper layers of the skin. The LED red light stimulates the fibroblast that produce collagen, which gives the skin its plump look. Professional LED light machine can also minimize fine lines and wrinkles, helps with sun spots and reduces redness. LED blue light is antibacterial and is effective on breakouts. Amber LED is a great treatment for rosacea and irritated skin. LED green light is used to improve photo damaged pigmentation and freckling. This treatment can be done as an add on to any of our facial treatments or as a separate LED light therapy treatment which includes cleansing and steam with a purifying cleanser, followed by a mild lactic peel that exfoliates and brightens. Next is 20 minutes under the appropriate LED light followed by a serum and sunscreen.

and reverse the effects of aging? Fractora skin treatment is the fractional rejuvenation and skin resurfacing treatment you have been searching for! It heats the deep layers of the skin in a controlled manner to revitalize collagen. You can expect a more youthful appearance with 1-6 sessions. Optimal treatment areas for Fractora include any face and body areas that illustrate wrinkles, discoloration, or acne scarring. Visible results can be seen immediately, and your skin will continue to improve up to three months after treatment.

REJUVAPEN - The Rejuvapen Automatic Therapy System utilizes 9 precisely spaced micro needles in a small cartridge to create invisible, vertical, micro perforations into the epidermis and the top layer of the dermis. As a result, the skin shifts its natural repair mechanism into high gear and starts producing collagen and elastin to repair these micro-perforations. The self-repairing property of the skin is a 100% natural form of skin renewal from the inside out. The advantage of the Rejuvapen compared to other treatments is not that it only activates cell rejuvenation, it also enhances the absorption of active ingredients of RP Complex into the skin during the treatment before the skin closes. Your skin becomes firmer and regains its elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced, pores become finer, circulation is stimulated and the overall condition of the skin improves.

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Derma MediQ and Spa Nouvelle are located at 1703 Lamy Lane. dermamediq.com spanouvelle.com Open Monday-Friday 9-5 Saturday 10-2 318-807-1060

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Louisiana Cancer Foundation Research and Education

O

UR MISSION The Louisiana Cancer Foundation for Research and Education is a nonprofit health service organization. The foundation was established in 1999 with the purpose of increasing public awareness, early detection, treatment and research for cancer throughout Northeast Louisiana. Our message is simple, to better the lives of those impacted by cancer, as expressed in our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Louisiana Cancer Foundation is to promote quality-of-life for cancer patients and family members while also providing the citizens of Louisiana with accurate and up-to-date information on prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.

Programs within the foundation are designed to encompass various aspects of the cancer treatment experience. From prevention through education and research, to free cancer screenings for early detection, we try to teach individuals the importance of monitoring their own and loved ones’ health.

Early Detection

Finding cancer early is key. The Louisiana Cancer Foundation coordinates cancer screenings four months of the year.

They are free to the public and promote cancer awareness and early detection. No other organization offers free public cancer screenings in Northeast Louisiana.

Each month is focused on a different type of cancer. Breast and cervical cancer screenings are performed by healthcare 66 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

professionals. They provide women with pap smears, breast exams and access to free screening mammograms. Later in the year, free colorectal screening kits are distributed for self testing. In the spring, dermatologists are onsite to examine worrisome skin issues, and they will recommend proper care based on the examination. During the fall, urologists perform prostate exams, and a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test is given to each participant.

Screening Months: January: Breast and Cervical Cancer March: Colorectal Cancer May: Skin Cancer September: Prostate Cancer Research

The Louisiana Cancer Foundation funds organizations making a difference for cancer patients. We provide financial support for the University of Louisiana- Monroe’s Nursing Oncology class, as well as the University’s School of Pharmacy for cancerrelated research. Support is also given to organizations like Susan G. Komen of North Louisiana, The American Cancer Society, The American Leukemia Society, Camp Quality, and The Ronald McDonald House.

The Cancer Foundation League

The Cancer Foundation League provides direct financial assistance to individuals diagnosed with cancer who live in, or are being treated in Northeast Louisiana. This group of highly motivated women is committed to improving the

financial, emotional and physical wellbeing of cancer patients in Northeast Louisiana. The organization is affiliated with the Louisiana Cancer Foundation as a fundraising arm to help with outreach and to support the Foundation’s programs and services. One hundred percent of all funds raised are distributed locally to fund cost of medications, medical supplies, transportation costs, nutritional supplements, and various other cancer patient needs, etc.

During the holidays, members gather items to create special Christmas baskets and deliver them to the area cancer patients.

Baskets are made up of a variety of items from seasonal foods and decorations to toiletry goods.

Members spend several months of the year preparing for their two largest fund raising events. The Theresa Marsala Memorial Golf Tournament and the league’s Annual Gala.

Donations

There are no administrative costs, and all monies raised or donated stay here in our community to directly help citizens and cancer patients in Northeast Louisiana.

Services of the Louisiana Cancer Foundation are maintained through grants, fundraisers, and private and corporate contribution.

Visit www.lacancerfoundation.org or call (318) 966-1953 with inquiries or to make a donation. Donations may also be made through the www.cancerfoundationleague. com.

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A. ALDEN’S MEMO

FALL TRENDS Dallas and Atlanta based sales representative for Reeves & Company, Analeise Reeves Thomas, curates this Fall season’s top trends

This Fall, we as a nation will be faced with a very tough decision. Who you choose as your presidential pick in November might prove to be difficult, but what you choose to wear this season definitely shouldn’t be.

I absolutely love fall dressing- suede, leather, fur, cashmere, the list goes on. There are some key trends this season that were not only all over the runway but showcased in all of my brands. KUT from the Kloth featured the crop flare and I’m seeing it well into the Spring 2017 season. Bobeau, Buckley K, KUT and CROSBY are all showing off the shoulder tops. Stuart Weitzman has an array of over-the-knee boots that are to die for. See my must haves below for this Fall 2016 season to help take off the pressure of decision dressing.

LEATHER & SUEDE LEGGINGS

MULES

OFF THE SHOULDER SHEARLING JACKETS

PATCHWORK DENIM

CHOKERS

CROP FLARES OVER THE KNEE BOOTS WRAP MAXI

FRILLS THAT THRILL

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BayouTrends Hey, fall! Here’s taupe you. These are just a few of our favorite things in one of our favorite colors.

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1. FABULOUS FABRICS 2. HOLLIS 3. LOUISIANA PURCHASES 4. THE CHILDREN’S SHOPPE 5. ELEVEN 26 6. CARA’S 7. SLEEPY HOLLOW 8. BEEHIVE 9. HAIK HUMBLE 10. MR. P’s TEES 11. ERIN’S ATTIC 12. HEMLINE 13. THE FASHION 14. PEARCE PHARMACY 15. K&K GIVING TREE 16. FREE BIRDS 17. THE FLEURTY GINGER 18. MD MINERALS 19. K-SERA 20. HOUSE OF CARPETS & LIGHTING 21. HERRINGSTONE’S 22. BEAU MONDE 70 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

FRI DAY, OCT 7 T H 6 –9 PM | $ 50 PE R P ERSO N

A RARE CULINARY COLLABORATION OF AWARD-WINNING CHEFS

Hosted by West Monroe Convention Center 901 Ridge Avenue West Monroe (behind West Monroe City Hall) Locals and visitors intermingling among tremendously talented celebrated chefs from across the Gulf South and representatives of the top wine and beverage brokers as well as craft beer enthusiasts and brew masters in an aromatic room filled with live music, laughter and delicious delicacies.

OCTOBER 7, 8 and 9

SATURDAY, OC T 8 T H 8 –1 0 AM | $ 3 5 PE R P ERSO N

presented by

THE CENTURYLINK 5K DASH-N-DINE/WALK-N-WOBBLE Chipped timed walk/run with food and libations across the Ouachita River and through Downtown Monroe & West Monroe.

6 PM

STRAUSS THEATRE CENTER DINNER THEATRE 7 PM

RARE CULINARY COLLABORATIONS

To benefit Nor theast Louisi ana Ar ts Council

at Restaurant Sage and The Fat Pelican Celebrated Chefs will pair with a few local restaurants and venues to offer exceptional meals paired with fine wine offerings. Some restaurants will be donating a portion of their proceeds back to the area arts organization of their choice.

SUNDAY, OCT 9 T H 1 1 AM –2 PM Fried Chicken & Champagne Brunch at Restaurant Cotton

To Purchase Tickets Visit NorthDeltaFoodAndWineFestival.com For More Infor mation Call 318.397.6754

ST RY ARTICLE BY AMY’S HUSBAND, MICHAEL JOHNSTON

INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER (IBC) is a very aggressive form of breast cancer in which the cancer

cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. It is called “inflammatory” because the breast looks swollen and red, or inflamed. The skin of the breast may also appear pitted like the peel of an orange, or the nipple may be flattened or inverted. Inflammatory Breast Cancer usually develops very rapidly over a short period of months, or even weeks. Only 1-2% of all breast cancer cases in the U.S. are IBC. This disease progresses so quickly that most patients with it are pronounced Stage III or Stage IV upon diagnosis. The survival rate for breast cancer is now around 88-89%. Fifty percent of IBC patients die within two years.

My wife Amy was diagnosed on April 26, 2011. We were told that we caught it early ---within two to three weeks of symptoms appearing. We were shocked, as anyone would be. Her gynecologist told us, and then we went to see our family physician, who then got us an appointment with a surgeon that very day. He was concerned when he examined her and recognized the symptoms as inflammatory breast cancer. We had never heard of it before. He quickly scheduled her for biopsies to be performed on Friday, April 29. After the shock wore off a little, we were determined to beat this disease because the survival rates for breast cancer were getting better every year.

He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 91:2

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he plan was to do three rounds of chemotherapy (every three weeks for 2 ½ hours a treatment), perform a mastectomy, three more rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and then anti-hormone therapy. She started chemo on May 2 less than a week from diagnosis. She lost her appetite and was fatigued, but she kept on working, because the doctors told her that the more active she stayed, the better she would feel. On May 8 (Mothers’ Day) Amy had a brilliant idea. She decided that we should take our family’s Christmas picture before her hair fell out. So, we did ---and it’s still my favorite picture we’ve ever made as a family. Our two sons (Haven aged 19 and

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Gentry aged 16) agreed with me to shave our heads so that she wouldn’t be alone with a bald head, but she emphatically said, “No, I want to see some hair in this house somewhere.” Her hair started falling out two days later. She then shaved it and got two wigs that semi-looked like her beautiful blonde hair.

All biopsies showed cancerous inflammatory carcinoma, and a mastectomy was scheduled for July 6. Amy handled the chemotherapy treatments and the resulting side effects with determined resolve, continuing to work as a Speech Therapist for the Monroe City School System and as an adjunct professor in Speech Pathology at the University of Louisiana - Monroe. The

mastectomy was very difficult for her. Losing her breast and her hair was so emotional for her, because she felt that it made her less of a woman, but not to me! Her desire and passion to win this battle for life made me realize how beautiful and life-loving she was.

The results of the mastectomy weren’t great.

The surgeon was still concerned about the margins and spread of the disease, and he removed all of her lymph nodes from the right side because so many were affected.

He wanted us to go to M.D. Anderson to the Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic, named after a 21-year old IBC patient. (IBC patients tend to be younger on average than Breast Cancer patients.) This was continuing to be very scary.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (Stacey’s verse) On July 18, we went to M.D. Anderson. We also had to miss my niece’s funeral; Stacey had just lost her two-year battle with colon cancer. M.D. Anderson is a big, scary place when one first arrives, full of trepidation, uncertainty, yet hope. We met with the leading IBC specialist in the country, and he developed a plan for us. We spent the month of August 2011 getting two radiation treatments a day on her chest wall for every week day for a total of 44 treatments. We stayed at a hotel during the week and drove home on the Fridays after her afternoon radiation.

Her skin turned bright red, and we had to keep it moisturized all of the time. When she finished her last radiation treatment, she got to ring a bell signifying the end of her treatment ---it wasn’t. During this time I was trained in lymphedema massage techniques that would be needed each night to prevent any infection or swelling in her right arm and surrounding areas. In September, we went back home and back to work trying to be

as normal as possible. She continued with two different chemotherapy treatments, once every three weeks---still working.

By the time we got back to M.D. Anderson on December 20, Amy was extremely weak. The doctor told us that the chemo treatments had been too strong, and that she was through with her chemo treatments. We went home ecstatic…but she wasn’t through. Before the year was finished, she couldn’t walk. We thought that it was just extreme fatigue from the extra chemo, but it was peripheral neuropathy in her fingers, hands, feet and lower legs. The chemo had killed or damaged her nerve cells in these areas to the point where her feet and fingers were stinging, burning and causing stabbing pains nearly all the time.

During January 2012, sleep was almost non-existent. We would move from the bed to a pallet on the floor to a recliner, but nothing allowed her to get any relief until exhaustion overtook her for a couple of hours a night.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. Revelation 8:18 We both took extended sick leave from our jobs, and we started going to a physical therapist and an occupational therapist three to four times a week. Amy started out in a wheel chair for the month of January, but by February she had progressed to a walker. Her goal was to be able to walk on her own for our youngest son’s (Gentry’s) graduation. By May, she had improved to the point with our PT’s help (Shane Hogan – I can’t say enough good things about the man’s encouragement and patience with us ---Awesome!) she had advanced to the point of using AFO’s (Ankle Foot Orthosis braces) that helped her lift her feet. She walked at graduation.

The rest of the summer was spent improving her walking, physical and occupational therapy, treatments, and trips

to M.D. Anderson. In August, we both went back to work. In September she started driving again, giving her a little freedom instead of being stuck with me 24/7. On November 30 during a heavy rain, she spun out through a normally busy intersection on Highway 165 North at 9:00 a.m., and no one was in her way. She didn’t hit anyone, and no one hit her! However, she complained of a neck problem, like a crick in her neck. So, I suggested we go get it checked at our family physician, and we had x-rays taken. On December 5, Amy called me at work at 2:00 p.m. We had forgotten to put her AFO’s on her that morning, and she had worked, walked and driven ALL DAY without her braces! At 3:30 we got a call about the x-rays taken earlier and her blood work; the cancer had come back in her bones.

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 Back at M.D. Anderson in January of 2013, we were included in a Phase II Clinical Trial. We had to document every medicine, vitamin, food, etc. that Amy had. We thought that it was being beneficial, but by July the cancer had metastasized into her liver. We were devastated…again. By September, M.D. Anderson had given us a time frame; and she wouldn’t live past a certain number of months. So, we went to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Illinois. The CTC staff and a new local oncologist were more positive and supportive, and we started on a new chemotherapy regimen. Amy was still working five days a week – she was a dedicated speech therapist all of her adult life.

During the first week of February of 2014, Amy felt terribly bad - so bad in fact that I had to take her to the emergency room.

Our oncologist informed us that her liver was getting worse.

On her fourth night in the hospital, she started having breathing trouble. She was sent back to the emergency room, where I had to watch her placed on a mechanical intubation machine.

I didn’t know that she would never breathe another breath on her own. At this point, and only at this point, did I realize that Amy was going to die…and she did the next morning at 10:20 a.m. She had made it 33 months from the time of diagnosis.

She had fought harder than anyone could ever imagine. She was my hero.

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So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Looking back after 2 ½ years, my heart still aches. I know that LIFE is a struggle. ALL people struggle. We had faith that God would heal her of the cancer and the neuropathy pain. Because the God we worship is an OMNIPOTENT God. And, if Jesus healed people in His day, doesn’t He still heal people today? Yes, He does because Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

And, we believed in the miraculous power of Jesus Christ healing her.

The Word of God was very encouraging to us. Romans 15:4 states, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement that they provide we may have hope.” Now, most preachers will look at that verse and say that I’m taking it out of context, but it gave us HOPE. Hope is what we needed. We had prayed every night for healing – believing that God would heal her. Many non-Christians will ask, “Well, why didn’t God heal her?” Here’s my answer: “I don’t know.”

Does that mean that I quit believing in a powerful, merciful, omnipotent, loving, healing God? Not at all! It just means that I know that God is OMNISCIENT, too. He knows why. He knows everything. When a tragedy or catastrophe or illness or death or STORM happens in one’s life, (which it always does) it’s almost like looking at a gigantic mosaic work of art with one’s nose pressed against the painting – nothing makes sense! But TIME allows us to back away slowly and take a look at the bigger picture and see what it’s meant to be. I’m still too close – I can’t see the “why.”

If our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:20 Many people look at cancer survivors with so much respect, because they had the will, determination and perseverance to survive, which they should be honored in that manner. I give all the credit in the world to anyone who survives such a terrible disease and the treatments. But those who die…they fight just as hard. I can remember when Amy was re-learning to walk and she was SO weak; I would ALWAYS hold her hand to keep her from falling. However, later on, when she was walking fine, I found myself still holding her hand, because I was so proud of her that I wanted everyone to know that I was married to this wonderfully strong woman!

Amy was declared cancer-free on February 7, 2014, at 10:20 a.m.

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PINK LADIES INTERVIEWS BY KAY RECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G MEYERS

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. It is predicted that in 2016, more than 300,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society’s predictions, more than 40,000 women will die of breast cancer in this country in 2016. These statistics are startling.

BayouLife talked to five area women whose lives have been affected by this disease. They tell their stories in the hope that others will benefit. They try to encourage others who are going through similar trials. “We have become part of a sorority that we really do not want to be in,” says breast cancer survivor Cindy Foust. These woman want to educate others about the importance of early detection. They want to make sure, to the extent that they can, that it does not happen to anyone else. Publisher’s Note: Lisa Northcott passed away five days after her interview. She wanted everyone to know her story in hope that she could save someone’s life. She died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. We want to thank her husband, Glenn, for submitting the beautiful image of Lisa.

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BEVERLY ABRAM The Butterfly Lady

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he is known as the “Butterfly Lady.” Beverly Abram, a soft-spoken, stately woman, wears a sparkling pink butterfly pin, one of many she has collected over the years. Her clients and co-workers at the Social Security Administration in Monroe, where she has worked for over 40 years, recognize her by the butterflies she always wears. She explains that the butterfly is, to her, a symbol of transformation and renewal, inspired by a favorite scripture.

“2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that ‘if any man is in Christ, then he is a new creature. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new,’” Abram explains. During its brief life cycle, the butterfly goes through a metamorphosis and changes from a caterpillar into a beautiful new creature that is able to fly. Wearing the butterfly reminds Abram of her own spiritual transformation many years ago, and of the new creature that she has become.

Abram is a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is also a breast cancer survivor. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, at age sixty-four. Her cancer was discovered in its very early stages, confined to a small area in each breast. She initiated a doctor visit after noticing some unusual symptoms. A mammogram, and later a biopsy, detected a small malignant tumor. Within about two months of this diagnosis, Abram had surgery to remove that tumor. While she was still in the hospital, further tests revealed cancer in her other breast, and she immediately had a second surgery. As soon as she recovered from the operations, she began radiation treatment.

Abram underwent radiation four days a week at the Kitty Degree Cancer Center in Monroe. Thereafter, she continued to take daily medication for five years to suppress hormones that contributed to the cancer’s growth.

Before her diagnosis, Abram had never had any serious health problems. Despite the fact that her mother had breast cancer many years ago, Abram refused to go for regular checkups and mammograms. “It was ignorance, pure ignorance on my part,” she says. She recognizes that there was also some element of denial in her avoidance of medical testing. “I just didn’t want to know,” she admits. “I couldn’t deal with the bad news that I might get, so I just didn’t do it.” Thankfully, she did not ignore her symptoms when she found something unusual, and her cancer was detected in its very early stages. She realizes now how fortunate she is.

Like so many other women whose lives have been touched by breast cancer, Abram stresses the importance of early detec-

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tion. “That mammogram saved my life,” Abram insists. “I tell women ‘Please, please, please have regular mammograms.’”

“When I was first diagnosed,” Abram recalls, “I was devastated. I kept asking ‘Why me?’ I remember showing up for my first radiation treatment at the cancer center, and thinking, ‘I’m not sure I can do all of this.’” Abram is so grateful for the outpouring of support that she received from friends, family and co-workers after her diagnosis and during her treatment. Without them lifting her up, emotionally and spiritually, she says that she could not have made it through her ordeal. Abram says that because others were so encouraging she was able to stay strong and positive. “My husband, too, was just fantastic,” Abram says, expressing her gratitude for how supportive he has always been.

As soon as her treatment was over, Abram began to take an active role in supporting others battling breast cancer. Abram knew Dr. Florencetta Gibson through a family connection. Dr. Gibson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Nurse Specialist and a community leader and volunteer. She works with several organizations in the Monroe community involved in breast cancer awareness. Dr. Gibson invited Abram to attend the annual “Pink Ball” sponsored by the Witness Project of Northeast Louisiana, a group dedicated to breast cancer education and awareness. At the Ball, which Abram describes as a “wonderful celebration of life,” Abram met lots of other women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. It is an event she now looks forward to each year.

Abram became part of a support group led by Dr. Gibson, meeting with other breast cancer patients and survivors once a month to share information and experiences. Along with the other members of her group, Abram participates in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure each fall and volunteers at other events, handing out information to educate women and raise awareness about breast cancer. Her group also provides outreach to other breast cancer patients.

In her job with the Social Security Administration, she encounters other women with breast cancer. She tries to encourage them and let them know that she understands what they are going through.

Abram says that having breast cancer changed her life. It opened her eyes to how precious life is and made her re-think her priorities. “Cherish every day,” Abram reminds everyone.

Although it was a terrible ordeal and there were certainly dark days, her struggle with breast cancer ended up being another positive transformation for her. She feels that she emerged from it a better person.

CINDY FOUST

The Soul of a Survivor

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hen meeting Cindy Foust, it is difficult to reconcile the person you encounter with the hardships she has endured. Quick with a smile and a hug, she is positive, upbeat and inviting, with a knack for making others feel comfortable. She is hilariously funny, one of those rare storytellers who can make people laugh and cry at the same time.

Foust is an author, publisher and business owner. Her monthly column, “BayouKidz,” is a favorite among BayouLife readers, filled with her often self-deprecating humor and insightful child-rearing advice. She has written and published a children’s books series called “AlphaKidz.” She is a wife, mother, sister and daughter.

Cindy Foust is also a survivor. Before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, Foust had already lived through every parent’s worst nightmare. She and her husband, Scott, lost their two year old son, Samuel, who passed away in 2003.

Of overcoming the loss of a child, Foust says “You will be different for the rest of your life. It is so hard to go on, and some days you don’t want to. You sit around praying for the rapture, because all you want to do is go to heaven and be with your child. At some point, though, you have to make up your mind that you are going to get through this.” Foust somehow learned to cope, and to help their older child, Robert Scott, who was only five years old at the time of Samuel’s death, cope with the loss of his brother. “Only through God and my faith in Him was I able to keep going. He is the one you have to lean on,” Foust insists. “Because, of course, you are mad at everyone else,” Foust quips, referring to the anger that is an integral part of the grief cycle.

Unfortunately, Foust was already intimately familiar with the grieving process. In 1989, Foust’s sister, Angel Gist, died tragically in an automobile accident. At the time of her death, Angel was a nineteen year old freshman and member of the women’s basketball team at Baylor University. When Foust and her husband were blessed with a third child after Samuel’s death, they named their daughter Angel Grace, in memory of Foust’s sister and in recognition of the spiritual grace that God provides to get her through difficulties in her life.

Foust continually uses her experience with grief and tragedy to help others navigate hardship. She writes about what she has been through, and shares her story with groups and individuals. Each one of the books in her “AlphaKidz” series is loosely based on her own life and experiences. The stories teach lessons children can apply to situations they encounter in their own lives. “Every story comes straight out of my living room,” Foust says.

Foust wrote the thirteenth book in the “AlphaKidz” series, “Melanie Mouse: It’s a Very Sad Day at Our House,” about Samuel’s death and the emotions that children experience when a loved one dies. “There just wasn’t anything out there that really resonated or made sense to help Robert Scott deal with the loss of his little brother,” Foust says.

Since that book was published, Foust has received positive feedback and stories from other parents who have used her book to address grief and loss in their own families.

In April of 2011, exactly one year before her cancer diagnosis, the AlphaKidz business office flooded. That event was devastating, both financially and emotionally, for Foust. A few months later, in the summer of 2011, Foust’s father dealt with cancer and had to undergo chemotheraphy treatment at MD Anderson for lymphoma. Fortunately, he received a clean bill of health in January of 2012.

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For a brief while, things seemed to be looking up. “I thought the black cloud that seems to always be looming just over my shoulder might be gone,” Foust says. In April 2012, calamity struck again.

Foust was changing clothes when she noticed spots of blood in her bra. She immediately contacted her doctor and went in for a mammogram and an ultrasound. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, a cancerous condition in which all of the cancer cells are contained within the milk ducts. Because the cancer had not yet invaded the breast tissue and both breasts were surgically removed, Foust did not have to have chemotherapy or radiation treatment. “Because I caught it so early, and had a double mastectomy, I get to live,” Foust says.

Immediately after her diagnosis, Foust consulted Dr. Michael Schwalke, a surgical oncologist in Shreveport. Before losing his own battle with cancer last year, Schwalke devoted his career to women with breast cancer. Foust says, “He was wonderful,” very caring and patient with all of her questions. Says Foust, “He told me that I am going to die one day, but it is not going to be from breast cancer.”

The cure rate for the type and stage of breast cancer that Foust had is extremely high. Had she ignored her symptoms, her situation could have been much worse. “If women will act immediately, as soon as they experience their first symptom, it can mean the difference between life and death,” says Foust.

Foust had no family history of breast cancer. She did not smoke, was not overweight, and had none of the other risk factors for breast cancer. She notes that women with a family history tend to be more diligent and proactive about prevention and routine testing. But as Foust can attest, it can happen to anybody. All women have to be proactive. “You have to be an advocate for yourself. As women, we have to be aware of our bodies, especially as we get older, and be able to notice changes. If you feel or see something unusual, go get it checked out right away,” Foust advises.

Foust says that from the date she noticed the first symptom to her diagnosis was less than three weeks, and she had the double mastectomy two months later. The reconstruction process took much longer, requiring multiple trips to the doctor for procedures prior to surgery, but by May of 2013, the reconstruction was complete and Foust was fully recovered. “The pain from the surgeries was horrific, but I get to live,” Foust says.

Besides the physical pain and limitations, the emotional toll that serious illness takes on a patient is enormous. Foust explains that after a cancer diagnosis, there are so many emotions present--fear, anger, sadness. “There is a grieving process involved in having cancer, and a lot of your emotional responses are involuntary,” Foust says, remembering. “Meltdowns can come on unexpectedly.” Talking to other women with similar experiences can be helpful.

Heather Toms, another breast cancer survivor, is one of the women who reached out to Foust. Being able to talk to her, and knowing that she understood, helped in dealing with the torrent of emotions brought on by her illness. Toms had also had a double mastectomy.

She endured months of chemotherapy before she could have reconstructive surgery, and then went through the whole reconstruction process. “She is my hero,” says Foust.

Foust hopes that she can use her experience to help other women. She describes having breast cancer as just one more curve that life threw her way, a “part of her quilt.”

SUSAN KRAPF The Shining Light

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usan Krapf was just a few weeks pregnant when she went in see to her obstetrician, afraid that she had miscarried.

She and her husband were prepared to receive bad news about their baby. What they were not prepared for was breast cancer. Krapf was only 39 years old, with no family history of breast cancer. Just a year earlier, she had been assured, after a mammogram as well as an ultrasound, that a suspicious lump in her breast was not malignant.

The baby was fine, but this was not to be a normal pregnancy. Krapf was not only still pregnant, but she had breast cancer.

Her formal diagnosis was infiltrating ductal carcinoma, Stage III, HERS positive, ER/PR negative. They were told that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, but that some of the diagnostic tools normally employed, such as PET scans, could not be done because of her pregnancy. For certain information, Krapf and her husband would just have to wait.

Krapf looks back now in amazement at the course of her simultaneous pregnancy and cancer treatment, still not sure how she got through it. “At thirteen weeks pregnant, I had a double mastectomy, and started chemo at fifteen weeks pregnant.” After about two weeks of chemotherapy, Krapf’s hair began to fall out. Her husband, Gary, worked on an offshore oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico and was gone for 14 days at a time. When he left for his two week shift, his wife had a full head of hair. When he returned, there was only a little fuzz. At her request, he had promised to shave her head if she asked, and she said she was ready. “He kept his promise,” Krapf smiles. “Losing my hair was as hard, for me, as losing my breasts. There is no way to cover that up, really.”

Krapf remembers that the chemotherapy during pregnancy was really difficult. Not only was I pregnant, but I had my eight year old son, Gus, to take care of. “It would wipe me out, every time, and I would have to be given a couple of units of blood.

That became a pattern.” She was also extremely worried about the baby’s development.

In July of 2008, by emergency cesarean section, Krapf gave birth to her daughter, Helen, a healthy, beautiful little girl weighing 4 pounds 6 ounces. Krapf resumed chemotherapy almost immediately, and had the PET scans that had been postponed until after the pregnancy. Krapf was holding her daughter in her arms when she received the scan results. She was told that the cancer had spread to all three lobes of her liver, and at best she had a couple of years.

At her husband’s insistence, they flew to Houston to MD Anderson for a second opinion. More tests were run, but the

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news was the same. “I was devasted,” says Krapf. “All I could think about was my children and all that I was going to miss.

There was a whole lot of crying.” At some point, Krapf says that she made up her mind to continue fighting. “I decided that God had done so much for us already. And I told my doctor that God was going to take this cancer from me, piece by piece, and put it in his pocket.”

It took a long time—years of aggressive chemotherapy— but by June of 2010 her scans were clear. The chemotherapy had worked. On her doctor’s advice, she discontinued treatment underwent reconstructive surgery in 2012. By 2013, the cancer had returned, and spread from her liver to her lungs.

In May of 2013, she traveled to Chicago to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and started new treatment there. “I felt like we were heading in right direction and that CTCA was where I was supposed to be,” she recalls. She eventually transferred to CTCA’s Atlanta location, and continued on her treatment path. In March of 2015, Krapf received the news she was hoping for. Her scans results were clear, and have remained that way for more than a year now.

Krapf stresses how important it is for women to be in control of their own healthcare and treatment options. “There are lots of doctors out there. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor about what is going on with you, and don’t feel like you are being heard, then that person is not the doctor for you.”

She advocates getting a second opinion, and a third or fourth if necessary. “You have to be your own advocate,” Krapf says.

“Ask those uncomfortable questions, and if you don’t get the answers that you think you should be getting, ask someone else.”

Krapf has also come to realize the importance of having a support group. She says that she was very reluctant to get involved with a support group. “I always thought, I do not want to listen to a bunch of women whine and cry and talk about what ails them. I don’t need that. But I was so wrong,” Krapf says.

Eight years ago, Krapf got involved with the support group at Kitty Degree Breast Center, and it has been so valuable for her.

“No one else can understand certain things, like losing your hair, or the fatigue. We know what the other person feels.” The support she has found has played a huge part in her recovery.

It has been over 18 months since Krapf’s last cancer treatment. She still has cancer, but she is symptom free, for now. Her children are thriving, including her daughter, Helen, who was born in the midst of her mother’s battle with breast cancer. She is thankful every day for the time that she has been given, and hopeful for what the future will bring.

LISA NORTHCOTT Every Minute Counts

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heirs is a love story with a bittersweet ending. Lisa and Glenn Northcott got to know each other over a romantic dinner at Genusa’s Restaurant in Monroe, where they had their first date. The next year, Glenn proposed to Lisa at that same restaurant, on a night when they knew, with more certainty than most couples, that the future might hold some very difficult times. He asked anyway, and she said “yes” anyway.

During the year that followed, they would navigate a world of doctors and hospitals, scans and testing, chemotherapy and radiation. They would also travel the world, enjoy life and take advantage of every minute they had together.

On August 5, 2015, two days before Glenn’s proposal, Lisa was told that a lump in her breast could be cancerous. She had a mammogram and an ultrasound, and was warned by the radiologist that preliminary results did not look good. Three weeks later, Lisa traveled to Ocshner Medical Center in New Orleans for a biopsy.

While waiting on the biopsy results, unsure of what Lisa’s official diagnosis would be, Glenn and Lisa flew to Las Vegas and were married. The day after they returned, Lisa’s battle with breast cancer began. The biopsy and other tests confirmed their worst fear. Lisa had Stage 4 breast cancer, with tumors in her breast, liver and lymph nodes. She was only 40 years old.

Over the course of the next year, Lisa made trips to New Orleans almost weekly, undergoing 32 rounds of chemotherapy.

In addition to four different types of aggressive chemotherapy, she also had radiation treatment. Despite this rigorous treatment schedule, Lisa did not experience any serious side effects. She never suffered the severe nausea most patients have with chemotherapy, so between treatments she was able to enjoy her time with family and even travel with her husband and children.

Lisa’s mother, Marie Middlebrooks, fights back tears as she describes her daughter’s strength and courage during her yearlong battle with this terrible disease. “Lisa never quit fighting,” she says. “She was so strong, and such an inspiration to others.

She kept smiling, too. That was the thing that so many people commented on.”

There were some small victories along the way, but unfortunately, by mid-summer the cancer had invaded Lisa’s bones and metastasized to her brain. On August 3, 2016, almost exactly a year from the date her world was turned upside down by the cancer diagnosis, Lisa made her final trip home from New Orleans to begin hospice care. She died on August 14, 2016.

Before she passed away, Lisa shared her story with BayouLife, hoping that other women might benefit from reading about her experience. She wanted women to understand the importance of early detection. “Women should have mammograms before age 40, regardless of what doctors recommend. The norm is not really the norm anymore,” she said. “Get tested early,”

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Lisa stressed, “especially if you have implants.”

In 2009, Lisa underwent elective breast implant surgery. She had a mammogram before her implant procedure, even though she was only 34. That mammogram showed no signs of cancer.

Based on standard medical recommendations, another mammogram would not be indicated for six more years. Only because she noticed something unusual, a lump in her breast that had not been evident before, did Lisa have the August 2015 mammogram. By then, it was too late.

Based on her experience, Lisa cautioned other women about breast implants. “If you do get breast implants, have yearly mammograms, regardless of what the doctors or insurance companies say.” Lisa felt strongly that because the lump in her breast was located behind the implant, it was harder to feel and only became palpable once it had grown. She believed that her life was cut short by a cancer that might have been eliminated if it been detected sooner.

In the time that she had between her diagnosis and death, Lisa focused on what mattered most. She said that having cancer made her understand how precious each minute of life is, and she wanted to remind others to savor each moment. Fearing that her time was short and wanting to take advantage of every minute, Lisa never passed up an opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends.

Glenn is a pilot with United Airlines, a job that allowed him to be with Lisa during her treatments and enabled them to travel extensively during this past year as Lisa felt up to it. They took her son, Dylan, on his first cruise. They traveled to Europe, Tokyo and South America. They flew with their children to Hawaii.

They celebrated Christmas at home with family. They celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Above the sofa in their home hangs a painting of Lisa and Glenn and all of their children at a Mardi Gras parade just six months ago. Lisa beamed as she talked about her children, and the good times she shared with them despite the terrible ordeal of having breast cancer.

Lisa also spent as much time as she could on the beaches of the Gulf Coast, which she deemed her “happy place.” “Sitting on the beach in Pensacola one day,” Glenn says, “I commented to Lisa that every day counts. She looked at me and said, “every minute counts.’”

Lisa Northcott’s life was short, but she lived it well. She will be remembered for her strength, her positive attitude and her beautiful smile. She had unwavering faith in God, a faith that gave her strength through the bad news, a faith that she acknowledged with every good moment, a faith that she credited bringing her to her husband and a faith that helped mold her into the amazing mother that she was. She was an inspiration to others and will continue to inspire those who loved her to make every minute count.

JODI PIPES

Just Keep Swimming

J

odi Pipes was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, at the age of 38. She had never had a mammogram, and according to prevailing medical opinions, she was not old enough to require regular screenings for the disease. Yet, Pipes insists, signs of her illness had been present for years prior to her diagnosis.

Pipes is a teacher, active cheerleading coach and the mother of three beautiful girls. Right after the birth of her oldest daughter, Pipes developed a large lump under her arm, near her breast. She was told it was mastitis, a painful infection, and took prescribed antibiotics until it seemed to go away. Four years later, during the first trimester of her second pregnancy, the lump came back. She again took antibiotics, and while it got smaller, the lump was still present.

When her second child was about two years old, Pipes experienced significant unexplained weight loss. She went to her doctor, and at that checkup, weighed in at only 88 pounds. Pipes also had some leaking from her breasts, despite the fact that she had not been able to nurse her baby.

At age 37, Pipes learned that she was pregnant with her third child. Immediately, she says, the lump near her underarm reappeared, and the swelling never completely went away. “It really never occurred to me that this could be a sign of cancer. I had no clue.

No one seemed concerned, so I thought it was just something that happened during pregnancy,” Pipes says.

In October of 2013, when her youngest child was less than a year old, she detected an unusual knot about the size of a quarter in the lower quadrant of her breast. She says it was very painful, “like a hot knife.” In early November, she finally had her very first mammogram. The same day, doctors performed an ultrasound and then a biopsy. “Even then, I had no idea what was coming. I was clueless. I was planning to go right back to work.”

Late on the afternoon of November 14, 2013, Pipes was at home with all three of her children when the doctor’s office called with her test results. Her official diagnosis was invasive mammary carcinoma. She still remembers writing it down. She called her husband and paced outside in her backyard while they talked on the phone. She was in shock but did not shed a tear. She even went to school to teach the next day and tried not to worry.

She would later learn that her cancer was “Stage III,” having spread throughout her breasts and into her lymph nodes. On the day after her 39th birthday, Pipes underwent a double mastectomy.

She traveled to MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, where she had extensive testing and endured sixteen rounds of chemotherapy.

She also had 33 rounds of radiation. “It was so hard, because the girls were in school, and I had to be away from them.” Those first treatments went well. She and her girls, ages ten, six and 18 months, and her mother spent most of the summer of 2014 in Houston, while Pipes went through intensive, aggressive treatment at MD Anderson. They returned home, and she spent the 2014-15 school year virtually pain free, teaching school, coaching her cheerleaders and taking care of her children. Her hair grew back in. Her scans were clear. She thought her ordeal was over.

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Once the school year ended in May of 2015, Pipes returned to MD Anderson to have a robotic reconstruction procedure. She said this surgery involved moving a muscle from her back, and it was a very difficult surgery to go through. Although she was sore for a few weeks, she did not have any major complications. Before long, though, Pipes begin to have severe pain in her neck. “I thought it was related to the surgery, and because I was breaking the rules,” says Pipes, who was lifting her youngest child in and out of a carseat and pushing other physical limits as she went about her normal routine. By mid-August, the pain was debilitating, and it continued for months. She had additional scans and checkups at MD Anderson and they found nothing to explain her pain. She continued to teach school and coach cheer and gymnastics classes, but her pain kept getting worse. “I never cry,” Pipes says, but by the end of March 2016, I was just breaking down, because the pain was so bad.” Pipes went to a local after-hours orthopedic clinic for X-rays, and the results were frightening.

She was told that she had severe degeneration in the C-4 area of her spine. “Basically, my C-4 vertebrae was gone. My husband and I looked at each other, and we knew what it was. We headed straight to MD Anderson’s ER that night,” says Pipes. “I had been spotting back handsprings just hours before.” Their fears were, unfortunately, confirmed. Pipes had a large malignant tumor in her neck. Scans showed cancer in other areas of her spine. Her cancer has now progessed to Stage IV. She had neck surgery this spring and more radiation. Her chemotherapy is continuing. The side effects are sometimes brutal. She takes daily pills and monthly injections. She takes life day by day.

Pipes wants other women to know her story. She feels strongly that early detection would have made a difference in her prognosis.

She describes herself as a “loudmouth” and is determined to let people know that this can happen to anyone, at any age. “Listen to your instincts,” she cautions. “Scream at a doctor. Lie if you have to. Do whatever you have to do to get that early mammogram, have those tests. It could save your life.”

When talking about her breast cancer, Pipes describes herself not as a survivor, but a “lifer.” Medically speaking, her cancer is incurable. Pipes is small in stature, but extremely tenacious. The tears come, though, when she talks about her children. “My biggest fear is for them. I am so afraid of disappointing them.” As a mother, she says that there is no amount of time that a doctor can give her as a prognosis that is long enough. “All I know for sure,” she says “is that I am still here.”

Early in her struggle with this illness, Jodi created a Facebook page called “Cheer for Jodi” to keep friends and family updated on her medical condition and record her experiences. A recurring theme on that page and in Pipes’ attitude as she keeps fighting for her health is “Just Keep Swimming.” She and her girls are fans of “Finding Dory.” She says she is encouraged by this motto from the movie: “When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just Keep Swimming!” That is what Pipes intends to do.

B AYOUKID Z

REAL-LIFE SUPERHEROES Teaching Our Children Honor and Respect article by Cindy G. Foust

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nd they are off!

The kids that is … By the time you read this column, our children will have been back in school for nearly a month. Speaking of being back in school, September is the month at BayouLife that we focus on fashion and style, both of which I find myself grossly deficient in.

I will, however, take any offers to remedy that situation if someone feels brave enough to perform an Extreme Makeover on me. But, well, this column isn’t about me (well, sometimes it is, but it’s generally when I am making fun of myself), rather, it’s about fashion for our Bayou Kidz. With that being said, I sure hope our readers were able to navigate the mall and find your children some really great bargains on back-toschool outfits. (Right about now is where you hear crickets; or a deafening silence; or the kind of “quiet” you hear on the 18th hole of the Masters.) Because that’s it, that’s all I got, readers! I just don’t think a column I could write on color coordinating your jewelry with your outfit or what not to wear after Labor Day would inspire my readers. I am just not the ‘go to’ person for that. (I will, however, consult my good friends, Lori French or Cindy Stone, for future fashion columns, and maybe they can help this fashion disaster of a writer muddle through it.) So, when Cassie sent the email that we were bringing our readers the latest and greatest fashion must haves, I simply did a mental block and flipped over to the news channels to get an inspiration for this month’s column. And boy, did I ever.

You know, the news can be quite depressing. In fact, I could probably consult a child psychologist on how to monitor what your children see and hear on the news and how to deal with their anxiety and worry after they do. Now, that would be a good column. Good grief, it’s depressing for an adult to watch.

One such tragic news story of late has been the horrific and senseless shootings of our police officers. That readers, and I am sure you feel the same way, simply takes my breath. When I watched a press conference held by Dallas Police Chief, David Brown, his powerful speech reduced me to tears. He said when he was a little boy, he compared police officers to superheroes, and he related them to his favorite 86 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

childhood superhero when he said, “Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Look it’s a train, it’s a plane, no, it’s Superman!” I got to thinking about this analogy, and quite frankly, it moved me to write this column.

Where has our world gone, readers? We could debate that through the entire pages of our magazine, but really, our world has gotten so far off base, so corrupt, so evil when deranged individuals sit and conspire to kill innocent people, the same people who risk their lives every day, so we can sleep peacefully at night.

For that matter, so the same people who are conspiring to kill them can sleep safe at night. I know that irony isn’t lost on anyone but me?

These are the same people who work holidays and birthdays and miss their own children’s performances and activities, so we can sit and enjoy watching ours. The same people who report for duty late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, completely unaware of what tragedy or crime they may be facing, all the while, we are sleeping safe in our homes. The same people who leave their own families, (also superheroes in my book) who wonder if their loved ones will come home. Because guess what? These brave souls don’t have x-ray vision. They can’t leap over a tall building, and sadly, they are not faster than a speeding bullet. They are human.

They certainly deserve to be distinguished as superheroes, or actually, the superheroes should be distinguished as our law enforcement, but the reality is, they are vulnerable and visible and often exposed in ways that compromises their safety and their health, every day, so we can live our lives in relative peace and tranquility. And for this, they deserve our civility, they deserve our respect, and most of all, they deserve our gratitude (even though, that word just isn’t adequate enough.)

I asked a good friend of mine, who is in law enforcement, to weigh in on what they expect from us, what can we do for them. His answer, as honorable as I would expect, is they want nothing more than for citizens to act honorably, trustworthy and law abiding. Readers, if that doesn’t give you a lump in your throat, nothing will.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 112

Chef Taxi: Best Restaurant Delivery Northeast Louisiana’s Best Restaurant Delivery Service

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OU HAVE HAD A LONG DAY AT WORK. YOU HAVEN’T

thought about dinner once, until you walked in the door.

Wouldn’t it be great if someone could feed your family without you having to go back out?

You want to do something special for a big client, but you are totally swamped. What if there was someone that could run some muffins or cookies by their office or bring lunch for their staff to show them how much you care?

Surely you have heard of Chef Taxi, but have you tried out their service? They are quick and efficient, and they deliver eats right to your door from some of Monroe and West Monroe’s finest establishments.

Tommy Neck, owner of NorthPro Landscape and Lawn Care has started the business venture. He has been in lawn care, since he can remember. NorthPro has received awards such as Best Lawncare in the Delta and Best Landscaper for multiple years.

Tommy saw the need for a service in our area that could deliver high quality food (not just pizza) to busy professionals and families on the go.

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Chef Taxi is sure to please patrons all over the area… A big city service right here in Monroe and West Monroe. Why go out when you can dine in without having to leave for takeout?

Participating restaurants are: Catfish Charlie’s Monroe and North Monroe, Corner Coffee House, Cotton, Dickey’s BBQ, El Chile Verde on 165 and West Monroe, El Sombrero, Jimmy John’s, Nonna, Magic Grill, Magic Chicken, Mama Deluca’s, Monjuni’s, Sports City Grill, Subway on Lamy, The Coffee Bean, Fat Pelican, Taste of India, Tummy Yummy Creations, Waterfront Grill and Willie’s Duck Diner.

Find them on Facebook and like their page for great incentives and more information. Join their text club for a free delivery to try it out and also receive coupon codes and alerts for future promotions. Perhaps the best thing about Chef Taxi is that you can order online with just a few clicks at www.cheftaxi.com. Or you can call 318-855-8619 to easily order.

Every Monday is Fundraiser Monday. We raise money to donate to local charities year-round.

House of Carpets and Lighting Well Worth the Drive!

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ELLO! ALL OF US AT HOUSE OF Carpets and Lighting in Shreveport are excited to showcase our products to Northeast and North Central Louisiana, and hope you will make the short drive to see us.

We promise you will not be disappointed!

Remodeling your home? Building a new home? Looking to update a couple of areas in your home? House of Carpets and Lighting has what it takes to make your home look its best.

We carry quality flooring, from beautiful hardwood to durable ceramic and porcelain tile to plush carpet, and so much more!

We also have a huge selection of backsplash and tumbled stone. House of Carpets and Lighting is the only Shaw Design Center in the area, and we have other top name brands as well.

When it comes to lighting, House of Carpets and Lighting combines quality and

selection. We offer a wide range of lighting products that provide the perfect blend of beauty and utility. From beautiful crystal chandeliers, to decorative kitchen and bedroom lighting, to under-counter and LED lighting, you will find the perfect lights for your taste, style and budget!

Whether you are looking to update your entire house, or just one room, we’ve got you covered!

Let us make your home the gem of your street with the perfect exterior lighting solution to highlight the beauty of your home.

From subtle lighting accents to landscape lighting and gas lanterns, House of Carpets and Lighting can help you enhance your home’s exterior to match the level of style and beauty of the interior.

Accessories are the “cherry on top,” and you will find plenty of treasures at House of Carpets and Lighting. Artwork, lamps, home accessories, mirrors, accent furniture and

vanities – everything to update your beautiful home.

However, what sets apart House of Carpets and Lighting is our customer service.

Family-owned and operated, House of Carpets and Lighting’s staff is knowledgeable about all of our products. In addition, our design team can guide you when it comes to selecting the best look for your home.

We look forward to serving you!

We can’t wait for you to visit our showroom at 4344 Youree Drive. Take the Market Street exit off I-20. Market St. becomes Youree Drive, so you will be here in no time!

Open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

House of Carpets and Lighting— Well Worth the Drive!

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Vieux Carré Market The Best Seafood Spot in Town

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HEF JOHN PETERS IS SHAKING THINGS UP AT Vieux Carré Market. The gourmet market and bistro is a one-stop-shop for culinary delights, as well as a hot spot for lunch in Monroe. The chef’s specialty is seafood ,and he is determined to deliver the freshest options from the gulf to your plate.

The bistro features daily specials, such as grilled black drum in a lemon caper sauce topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and served with asparagus. Another specialty dish they prepare in the bistro are their delicious crab cakes, a favorite among patrons.

Black drum and fresh Ahi tuna are shipped in twice a week from the gulf to Vieux Carré. They use only the freshest fish from United States’ waters.

Coming soon, Peters says they will start carrying and serving fish from the Pacific Ocean. Halibut, wild caught salmon and mussels will be available to pick up or have in one of their delectable dishes.

Chef John Peters plans to include various fish dishes on the daily menu. He believes in keeping it simple, while offering a variety of seafood items. Peters knows a thing or two about seafood. In addition to training at Commander’s Palace, he was also a sous chef at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans. He was the owner and executive chef of Crescent City Connection in Monroe from 1998 until 2004. In 2005 he created, developed and ran a 29 ft, ninety percent fresh-never-frozen seafood department for Fresh by Brookshires.

In addition to the bistro, Vieux Carré Market offers easy, takehome meals that are prepped and ready for those nights you want to stay in, prepared by Chef John Peters. They have ready-made kabobs, meat, steak, seafood combinations and gourmet sides.

Stop by and see what they have in the case for dinner tonight!

Lunch Hours Tuesday – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dinner Hours Thursday – Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.

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Frozen Fat, Thinner You

CoolSculpt Produces Impressive Results

TIMOTHY J. MICKEL, M.D. CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

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OW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU GRABBED THAT ROLL OF fat on your lower abdomen or the back of your hip and said, “too bad somebody can’t just melt this off.” Well, you could try to get rid of your rolls the old-fashioned way: exercise more and eat less. But, for most of us, that doesn’t work too well.

Good news—there’s an easier and more effective way. About five years ago the FDA cleared a new technique called CoolSculpt, clinically proven to reduce bulges of unwanted fat, without needles, without incisions and—most importantly—without downtime. Too good to be true, you say? I thought so too—until I tried it myself. I went back to work immediately after the procedure, went to an event that evening, and swam half a mile the next day! Best of all, after three treatments my love handles are noticeably smaller. Mickel Plastic Surgery introduced CoolSculpt to this area in 2010, and the results have been impressive.

CoolSculpt uses an ingenious concept called cryolipolysis, developed by researchers at Harvard Medical School. The device delivers precise, even cooling to the fat layer causing fat cells to rupture and slowly release their contents. The fatty material is picked up by the lymphatic system and removed. Studies of hundreds of patients who have undergone CoolSculpting treatments have shown no ill effects from this fat cell rupture. Improvement is gradual and progressive, peaking at two to three months. Patients in the initial studies experienced a 20% reduction in the thickness of the fat with the first treatment as measured by ultrasound and a little less with each subsequent treatment.

Only one area can be treated at a time, and the procedure takes about an hour per area. No sedation is needed, so you can drive yourself to and from the office. No compression garments are necessary after the treatments, and you can literally return to your normal activities, including exercise, immediately. Our experience over the past five years indicates that while some improvement is noticeable after one treatment, most patients require three sessions for an optimal result.

Because we want every patient to have a noticeable result, we no longer offer single sessions. Treatments are sold as a package of three sessions at a significantly discounted rate.

Of course the procedure is not for everyone. The ideal patient is close to their ideal weight and has relatively small, localized areas of fat without a lot of saggy skin. If you are morbidly obese, you may need bariatric surgery. If you are moderately obese, you still need a disciplined program of diet and exercise and may require liposuction and excisional body contouring for an optimal result. But if you are reasonably fit, close to your ideal weight, yet in spite of Body Pump, Spin Classes, half marathons and New Year’s resolutions still have areas of unwanted fat, then CoolSculpting may be right for you. Call Mickel Plastic Surgery at 388-2050 today to see if CoolSculpting is right for you!

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IT’S ALL in the

BAG

Two small town girls are making a big splash in the fashion industry.

Cassie Condrey and Beth Nettles have launched a succesful handbag business.

ARTICLE BY KELSEY BOHL

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atives of Lake Providence, Beth and Cassie are two best friends that grew up together that are now designing beautiful, simple, and lasting handbags out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Beth and Cassie are the founders of Four Rivers Designs. Crafted from the highest quality Italian leather and genuine cotton fabrics, Four Rivers totes and bags are the epitome of classic style. With simple designs that feature no excessive hardware or logos, these handbags are timeless and chic designs. Inspired by the pairs’ travels around the world and childhoods in Lake Providence, the name Four Rivers pays tribute to the circle of the friends’ lives from living around the world to ending back in their native state of Louisiana. Beth and Cassie are both farmers’ daughters that are no strangers to canoeing, waterskiing and mud riding; they each lived in cities that have access to rivers, specifically four rivers each.

Beth has lived in Atlanta on the Chattahoochee, Nashville on the Cumberland, Italy on the Arno, and back to New Orleans on the Mississippi. Cassie has lived in Boston on the Charles, Argentina on the Rio de la Plata, Singapore on the Singapore River, and back to the Mississippi. Their lives

inside and outside of the Bayou State has inspired their handbag designs that showcase well-made materials, timeless and simple silhouettes, and functional practicality. Four Rivers Designs has recently celebrated their one year anniversary. Cassie and Beth released their inaugural collection in summer 2015; the collection showcased their signature bag The Magnolia named after Louisiana’s state flower.

Cassie Condrey and Beth Nettles have both lived abroad, and through their travels discovered the need for bags that were functional, practical, durable, and beautiful. While Beth was living in Italy, she started experi-

menting with Italian leather and discovered she was interested in handbag design as a career. Cassie and Beth knew from young ages that they wanted to end up living and working close to each other. After Beth returned from Italy and Cassie returned from living in Singapore, they found themselves in New Orleans at the same time. The two friends got together and started brainstorming about starting a business together, and through that chance reunion in New Orleans, Four Rivers Designs was born.

Together, Beth and Cassie have created a collection of handbags that are versatile, elegant, long-lasting, and stylish.

Through inspiration from her travels, Cassie Condrey shows her creativity through her designs. She has lived four years abroad, two in Argentina and two in Singapore, and has travelled all around the world. Some of her favorite countries she has travelled are Japan, New Zealand, and Cambodia. From her travels and life abroad, Cassie learned that bags which are high quality and durable are essential. Those exact characteristics are trademarks of all Four Rivers Designs handbags. Cassie loves the feel and smell of the leather bags, “You just know you are carrying something high quality,” and she loves incorporating fun and playful lining fabric to keep the feel of the bags young and fresh with functional pockets on the outside.

A mother of two vivacious sons, Beth Nettles’ designs to fit her busy lifestyle. She loves their signature Magnolia bag because of its perfect size, incredible colors and unique lining fabrics.

A graduate of Millsaps College with a degree in business, Beth started designing bags while she was living in Italy and was inspired by luxurious leathers that

were available. After experiencing the luxury materials that were central to many Italian designs, Beth knew she had to bring that aesthetic back to her home state.

“People often advise not to go into business with a friend,” says Cassie Condrey, “but in our case, we can’t imagine it any other way.” Cassie and Beth’s partnership works so well, because their skillsets are so compatible. Cassie does the majority of the media relations by serving as photographer, web designer and social media mogul. With Beth’s educational background, she handles the business side of the company, while the designs of the bags are a collaborative effort. The design process starts with Beth

and Cassie designing a prototype, then testing the handbag by carrying it to see how the materials feel and function. All the while, the pair is tweaking the design to make the perfect handbag. They both will select the final leather and linings for the bags creating the stunningly well-designed, handmade final creation. “The whole process is very organic for us and a lot of fun,” says Condrey, “We each have different strengths; therefore, we are able to do most things ourselves and not have to outsource much. We grew up together and know each other well, so we feel comfortable stating our opinions and discussing things without worrying about it getting in the way of our personal friendship.

It is also a lot of fun to have business meetings with a lifelong friend over a glass of wine or at the newest neighborhood hot spot!”

These north Louisiana women have established a company that is creating handmade, high-quality products in a market that is saturated with mass produced goods. These women are incorporating inspiration from their experiences living abroad, their lifestyles and their childhoods in north Louisiana into their designs that translates into the hallmark design that is Four Rivers. Beth and Cassie put a lot of love into their design process and that shows in the final product. To learn more about Four Rivers Designs, be sure to check out their website at http://www.fourriversdesigns.com.

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Azure Pools and Spas More Than Just Pools

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ZURE POOLS AND SPA HAS BEEN YOUR LOCAL pool professionals since 2006. In addition to selling liners, above ground and in ground pools, they offer a great selection of products and supplies to help take care of your pool all season long. Fully stocked with reliable brands for your convenience, their knowledgeable staff can help answer all your pool-related questions. As a member of The Backyard Place, they provide quality products and dependable service to all of their customers. Azure’s has a reputation for excellence and continuous service to the community with high-quality pool supplies and service.

However, Azure has more than just pools. They are known across Northeast Louisiana for their spa selection. They make having a spa in your own backyard a possibility! You can choose from Hot Springs or Jacuzzi spa and have it delivered right to your backyard. They aim to make life easier for you and offer everything you need to make your spa both decorative and functional. Choose from simple spas for relaxation or one that makes a backyard statement.

At Azure Pools & Spas, we aim to make life easier for you and offer everything you need to make your spa both decorative and functional. Choose from simple spas for relaxation or one that makes a backyard statement. Plus, you can accessorize your spa with LED lighting, integrated entertainment systems, water features and Azure can provide the supplies and chemicals.

Azure is the exclusive carrier for Hot Springs Spas and Jacuzzi, and is the only authorized dealer in the Ark-La-Miss region!

To add even more to your backyard, check out the Primo Ceramic Grills, one of the most versatile outdoor cookers in the world, available at Azure’s. You can use it as a grill, an oven, a roaster or a smoker with a simple adjustment to the air flow and cooking configuration.

In addition to offering products and service, Azure’s offers convenience with two locations! Serving North Louisiana and South Arkansas, Azure Pool and Spas is located in Monroe on Hwy 165 North, as well as on Willow Glen in Ruston. Azure Pool and Spas is locally owned and operated and is your one stop shop to get your backyard ready for all seasons!

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St. Francis Medical Center St. Francis Home Health Recognized in Five-Star Quality Rating System by CMS

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T. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER HOME HEALTH WAS recognized in the most recently released results from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Five-Star Quality Rating System.

The Monroe home health provider – the exclusive home health partner of St. Francis Medical Center – was recognized with a 5-star rating in both quality and patient satisfaction. According to the data, the agency achieved the highest rating possible in each category.

The star rating system was instituted by CMS as part of its Home Health Compare website to provide a “tool for consumers to use when choosing a home health care provider.” The system ranks providers in two categories: Quality of Patient Care and Patient Satisfaction.

The ratings are highly coveted by home health providers and seen as a key differentiator in the industry. According to the Medicare.gov website, only 4 percent of agencies in the state of Louisiana achieved a 5-star rating, while only 3 percent met that standard nationally.

St. Francis Medical Center Home Health has been providing quality home healthcare services for patients and families in Monroe and the surrounding region for many years. With a staff of professional clinicians and support personnel, the full-service home health agency delivers high-quality care in cooperation with the physicians and staff at St. Francis Medical Center.

The professional nurses, therapists and social workers treat a wide range of medical conditions, allowing patients to rest and recuperate in the comfort of home. Patients can trust that the treatment plan prescribed by their doctor will be followed thoroughly.

Under direct physician supervision, St. Francis Medical Center Home Health helps patients of all ages with post-acute care at home. Home health care professionals help patients recovering from illness, injury or surgery, as well as people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and many others.

At St. Francis Medical Center, offering a comprehensive home health solution is an important part of the overall plan of care for patients. Working with an experienced and proven home health provider helps patients seamlessly transition from the hospital to home. Home health care is convenient, cost-efficient and supports faster recovery and patient independence.

For more information on services provided by St. Francis Medical Center Home Health, call (318) 327-4500.

St. Francis Medical Center Home Health is part of LHC Group, a provider of post-acute care services with 11,000 employees operating more than 350 locations in 25 states.

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St. Frederick Raises the Bar STREAM Curriculum Offers New Classes

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HIS YEAR ST. FREDERICK RAISES THE BAR TO A NEW level. Our STREAM program is kicking off this year with the addition of two new classes – Introduction to Engineering and CAD/Robotics. With the outstanding faculty we have, we are able to provide the best education for our students and prepare them for college and life by teaching them to become independent thinkers and problem-solvers. The STREAM program builds these skills in our students. ~ Blair David, Assistant Principal

St. Fred’s has helped me in many ways, but the biggest way was courage. I learned from every situation where I had to show my faith, be a leader, operate afraid or summon the courage from God to not be afraid. I have become a full servant of the Lord, and a large part of it came from where God put me in the first place, St. Fredrick. ~ Justin McWilliams, Student Body Chaplain.

St. Frederick is a place where students can make a difference. The opportunity they are given to participate in athletics and clubs is something they would not be able to get anywhere else. St. Fred’s is a family where no student goes unnoticed. Personally, the most

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important thing about St. Frederick is not just the knowledge that I’m getting a top-notch education, but that I am loved. And that is irreplaceable. ~ John Ellender, Student Body President.

Entering 7th grade, I was known, as Brock’s little sister so I wasn’t nervous. With encouraging faculty and students, I learned that I can and will do great things with my life. St. Frederick helped me gain the confidence that I lacked when I was in elementary school. ~ Amanda Bryant, Senior Class President

I enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to serve, in Mass weekly as an Altar Server. Our teachers are faithful, and I like the fact that we open and end each school day with prayer. ~ Pippa Morstead, 8th Grade

Students can still register at St. Frederick. Contact Admissions Director Shere May at 323-9636 or go to the website: stfrederickhigh.org.

Why Let Your Hair Decide Your Age? A New Technique To Fight Hair Loss

BY JUDY WAGONER

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AIR LOSS IS A PRIME CONCERN for many men and women these days.

With advances in the field of medical research, several new techniques are available now to combat hair loss with ease. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is the latest innovative technique for treatment of both male and female hair loss.

The procedure involves drawing a small amount of blood and spinning it through a centrifuge to separate Platelet Rich Plasma from the blood. The PRP is then injected into affected areas of the scalp.

The platelets contain various growth factors which stimulate a response in the treatment area. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is able to reactivate the impaired hair follicles resulting in new hair growth. The treatment not only promotes hair growth but also strengthens hair follicles. The complete procedure takes about an hour to perform. You can go back to work the same day.

There is minimal discomfort associated with this procedure and almost no downtime.

Skin will appear flushed and red immediately after treatment; you may experience a ‘sunburn’ like sensation. This normally subsides within 24 hours. You may also experience some minor swelling or bruising at the injection sites. Your own blood is used, so allergies or reactions are not a concern with PRP, and there is no risk of scarring or changes in pigmentation.

For optimal results, patients are normally advised to have 2-4 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart in order to obtain optimal results.

Maintenance treatments may also be required.

Results are not immediate, but hair growth will become visible about 3-4 months after your initial treatment as the platelets stimulate the growth factors, which assist in more hair growth. This will gradually improve over the ensuing months.

PRP treatment is recommended for men and women who suffer from hair loss due to

Androgenetic (hormone) Alopecia or Alopecia Areata.

Dr. Victor Zuckerman, Medical Director at Professional Laser Center in Monroe, is the only certified provider of the Vampire Hair Restoration Procedure in north Louisiana.

With his years of experience, he will help stop your hair loss, enhance your existing hair and help restore the hair you’ve lost. At Professional Laser Center, we pride ourselves in the use of non-surgical (non-transplant) techniques to achieve these goals.

As an added bonus, we offer $100 off any other PRP (Vampire) procedure if done the same day, including the Vampire Facelift, Facial, Hand Rejuvenation, O-shot or P-shot. All of these procedures can be found on our website, www.professionallaser.com.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call 318-361-9066.

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First National Bank

Making a Difference On and Off the Field

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HE CYCLE OF SPORTS FOR MOST NORTHEASTERN Louisiana highs schools and Universities represent the same analogous examples of life; a beginning, a midpoint to review, then an end. Once a season ceases, we look forward to the next sports cycle, and all hope is again aflame for whatever particular color jersey “your” school wears.

The summer heat is at its worst in the area. Unbearable humidity casts downward and wears itself like another article of clothing. Everywhere we look we see excitement, regardless of the overbearing heat. Freshly mown grass cascades to our sense of smell and the precision lined fields leap to the forefront of our consciousness. Football season is beginning! With the new cycle, we feel a “chill” and sport a whole new optimism that springs forth, despite the heat. What these coaches, players and fans all want, is to sit in cooler temperatures in the later months and watch “their team” finish what started out in the heat. The teams want to end with a complete sense of giving.

First National Bank has been giving too, since its inception in rural Bienville Parish in 1905. For more than 111 years, we have supported all levels of athletics in our communities, whether it is a financial pledge or hosting a cook out for the team. From all

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our local high schools in Bienville, Lincoln, Union and Ouachita Parishes carrying on to our steadfast commitment of the three local Universities that represent our areas - Grambling State, Louisiana Tech University and the University of Louisiana-Monroe, First National Bank, The Uncommon Bank, has pledged our support then, now, and will continue to pledge it when this cycle ends and a new one begins.

BEFORE THE KICK-OFF

Whether you’re a Warhawk fan or Bulldog enthusiast, First National Bank would like to personally invite you, your family and friends to joins us for a tailgate party before each home game.

Look for the big FNB tent in the LA Tech parking lot or in the ULM Grove. We will be serving up a complimentary meal and handing out cold drinks. It’s our way of showing our unwavering commitment to the communities we serve!

The Fleurty Ginger Boutique A One-Of-A-Kind Boutique

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HE FLEURTY GINGER BOUTIQUE’S MOTTO HAS always been “Focus on Fashion, Focus on Life, Focus on You.” From the moment you walk in the door of either of our locations, you will notice the latest affordable fashion trends for women in their 20s and beyond! You will realize that many moms, friends, teachers and professionals around our area shop The Fleurty Ginger Boutique for sizes Small-6XL! We have an entire room at 200 Bell Lane, WM focused on Small-Large fashion and two full rooms focused on XL-6XL fashion! Our second location at 1862 Forsythe Ave, Monroe offers a variety of fashionable sizes throughout the store. The location in West Monroe is our flagship location with over 3,000 square feet to enhance your shopping experience. You will love the prices that you find at these two locations. Most items in the store are priced below $40!

The Fleurty Ginger Boutique wants to focus on “LIFE,”so we created our own brand of tees, Ginger Junkie Tees, in 2016. This line of tees was designed to focus on the life of the person that wears them. From some of your favorite religious sayings to your hobbies or your personal life, Ginger Junkie Tees has a tee for you!

These tees are extra soft and come in sizes Small-4XL, so you can enjoy everything that life brings you. We also offer several tees to support your favorite football team this fall! View our selection at www.TheFleurtyGingerBoutique.com or at either of our 2 locations.

You will realize that The Fleurty Ginger Boutique helps you focus on “YOU!” Our friendly and helpful fashion consultants are focused on helping you build the perfect wardrobe for any occasion. They can even help you dress a little “fleurty” if you are willing to venture out of your comfort zone. If shopping without help is your preference, the fashion consultants will allow you the ability to shop in peace. They have a goal to make you happy being “YOU!”

The Fleurty Ginger Boutique stands behind our motto of “ Focus on Fashion, Focus on Life, Focus on You!” Visit either location of The Fleurty Ginger Boutique Tuesday-Friday from 10:30-5:30 or Saturday from 10:30-4:00 to start working on your new wardrobe for the fall! Once you experience boutique shopping at this level, you will have a new favorite store!

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Harp Strings JEWELRY WITH A PAST

ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G MEYERS

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he stories behind collectible objects, such as antique buttons, drive Lisa Harp to create lasting pieces of Harp Strings jewelry that celebrate each button’s uniqueness. Lisa and her husband of thirty-one years, James, have recently returned to Monroe after a move that found them in the middle of nowhere among Nebraska’s cornfields in the quaint little town of Kearney. When I caught up with this selftaught jewelry entrepreneur in her northside Monroe home, her trusty sidekick and lovable companion, Boomer the rat terrier, was eager to greet me.

Today, the couple’s home is filled with antiquities and treasures ranging from her husband’s extensive Native American arrowhead collection to antique books that Lisa would find at JunkStock in Omaha, NE, billed as “Three Days of Love, Peace and Junk,” Lisa points out that most of the antique books that line her bookshelves were found there for only $2 to $4. While in Nebraska, Lisa fell in love with antique doorknobs which featured elaborate scrollwork and metalworking. Her Hooks of Art were made specifically using these antique doorknobs which could be mounted on the wall as a unique hook for jewelry or ties or hanging robes or towels on. This enterprise led to her chance meeting with the Grand Dame of button collecting, Mrs. B., a 74-year-old button connoisseur, who began her personal collection of buttons at the tender age of seven.

“Mrs. B’s life’s mission was to rescue buttons out of long forgotten jars,” says Lisa. “She taught me everything I know about collecting antique buttons.”

Lisa peruses a display of her antique perfume button rings which are artfully placed within a vintage leather piece of luggage. She coyly asks, “Do you know what a perfume button is?” Fascinated, I want to know. These small round, velvety button rings beckon to be touched and admired. From the mid to the late 1800s perfume buttons were a “thing.”

Perfumes of that era were oil based and would readily stain fabrics, so the Victorians devised pierced metal buttons with black velvet inserts that perfume could be dabbed upon for a lasting scent that would not stain a delicate white cuff. The Victorians loved buttons in general and would place over 100 small buttons on an outfit. When a husband or boyfriend would go off to war, the wife or girlfriend would snip off one of the perfume buttons to give to their beloved. Many a soldier in the Civil War was found either holding his lover’s perfume button or wearing the button beneath his lapel.

And those who survived the war often credited the scent from the perfume button as their reason for continuing to fight for life.

When England’s Queen Victoria went into mourning for 40 years after the death of her husband, Albert, black glass mourning buttons became fashionable. The queen’s black outfits required buttons which were often

made of jet, a black petrified wood. With these classic buttons, Lisa creates chic necklaces that bring joy to those who wear them.

Picture buttons in the Victorian era are yet another type of button with a history that Lisa longs to share with her clients and those who simply love history. These buttons might depict any number of interests the wearer had, for instance a button might show a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream for a theatre lover or show a woman gathering flowers if the wearer had a love of gardening. A Harp Strings button ring with a deer on it would make the perfect gift for someone who loves the hunt or to celebrate the collection of their first deer.

Harp Strings Lagniappe Collection of button necklaces features delicate little Victorian bails as decorative pieces from which hang the antique buttons. Chains are sourced from a company in the United States that bought antique chain molds. Chains are thicker, more solidly made and contribute to the vintage feeling of the jewelry. The collection is called Lagniappe because the bails provide the “little something extra” for the necklaces.

Fun fact: Did you know that underwear buttons have two holes and are generally made of cow bone?

“I’ll go the Big Book of Buttons when I find a button that intrigues me just to find out more about it,” says Lisa. For example, Lisa opens a display case filled with dragon buttons which are stamped metal overlaid atop wooden backs which are then Japanned to seal everything together. Another example would be a French enameled button with gold leaf, which was dated to the 1880s thanks to the pristine condition of its shank.

Today, Lisa sets these incredible buttons into jewelry that is open backed to show

the shank of the button and any identifying marks. Lisa leaves the shanks intact, because the shanks are a key to identifying the age of the button and many collectors prefer to keep the buttons whole and undamaged. She picks up an intricately designed button and turns it over to reveal that it is marked “Paris” on the back. While the buttons may be from Europe, Lisa tries to source her rings, necklaces and bracelets from the United States. The chains are made from dead stock, materials made for jewelry, but never used. The rings, says Lisa, are made in Israel using a Victorian mold.

Growing up in an Air Force family, Lisa, the youngest of four siblings, in her youth lived off and on in England and the United States, a life that fueled her dad’s love of antiques, especially collecting clocks and pipes.

For the past 25 years, Lisa and her father have operated a booth filled with English antiques at the Rialto Antique Mall on West Monroe’s Antique Alley. “My 85-year-old dad makes his regular weekly pilgrimage over from ShreveWWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 103

port to tend to our booth, and the ladies that run the Rialto are nothing short of our angels,” smiles Lisa as she relays how the antique business has been such a bonding experience for her and her dad. Because of her father’s connections with English antique dealers, every month pickers will scour the European countryside for button “gold” and send boxes full of treasures to north Louisiana. When those travels send their sources to Italy the trove includes unique religious medals. One of Harp Strings sources in Italy is a History professor who sends vintage Chanel buttons from the 1950s to 1990, unearthed from an Italian button factory.

Fun fact: In Europe, many people use Chanel buttons as replacement buttons to make an ordinary suit an instant classic.

Harp Strings is a family business with Lisa’s husband, James, taking on the challenge of making stands and display cases for Lisa’s handmade jewelry. Every bit as charming as the necklaces and rings they hold, the cases were created out of antique radio cabinets. “James would take the guts out and give the parts away at JunkStock,” says Lisa.

The newest venture for Harp Strings jewelry includes a new line featuring Beatles paraphernalia. “I met a lady, named Jude, in a beauty shop and she told me about her involvement with the Beatles Fan Club. So now I am making Beatles-inspired jewelry for the Beatles at the Ridge Festival in Walnut, AR in September,” explains Lisa. “This little town is kept alive by the memory of the night in 1964 when the Beatles stopped to change planes on the town’s little airstrip, and all the teens of the town came out to greet the fans.”

Lisa frequently attends Dallas Market to sell her Harp Strings jewelry, which has been picked up by boutiques in California, Texas, Tennessee, among others. Rodeo Boutique in Ruston carries Lisa’s line of Coordinates Bracelets, which give the coordinates for football stadiums. An Etsy site is devoted to her hand-stamped jewelry, which often features latitudes for specific places, like the spot in the park where a couple gets engaged or the first base of your high school baseball diamond. Harp Strings button jewelry can be found online at www. harpstrings.com. Clients are welcome to call for an appointment or view pieces of Harp Strings Jewelry at her home in Monroe or online.

Got an antique or sentimental button you’d like turned into a piece of wearable art? Lisa can custom create a piece just for you, using your own personally collected button.

Says Lisa of her button obsession, “I’m like the girl on ‘Rehab Addict’ when it comes to buttons. She is my soulmate. This work is not about the money, but it is about saving the soul of the buttons. like she is about preserving older houses.” Lisa is particular about wanting to be the one who creates each piece of jewelry by hand. “I don’t want anyone else touching my buttons. Is that terrible? It’s really the truth,” she laughs. “I know this sounds nerdy, but I really want to rescue these buttons from obscurity.”

“Buttons are so beautiful,” Lisa gushes. And so is Harp Strings jewelry.

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Southern Circuit

NCLAC Partners As One of South Arts’ 21 Screening Parners in the 2016-2017 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers

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he North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) is pleased to announce their participation as one of South Arts’ 21 screening partners in the 20162017 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. Southern Circuit, the nation’s original regional tour of independent films and filmmakers, coordinates multi-week tours for invited filmmakers and their work.

Filmmakers participate in community screenings and audience engagement activities. This season’s screening partners include organizations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

With a variety of events planned to coincide with the film screenings, NCLAC is anticipating a tremendous audience response to the series. “Touring filmmakers attend community screenings and participate in audience discussions about their work and the art of filmmaking. Southern Circuit not only

supports the work of indie filmmakers, but encourages the development of independent film audiences,” stated Teresa Hollingsworth, Senior Program Director at South Arts.

The films to be screened include: Agents of Change on September 15, 2016; Donald Cried on October 3, 2016; NUTS! on November 17, 2016; Shake ‘Em On Down on February 2, 2017; Some Beasts on March 23, 2017; and Hunky Dory on April 27, 2017. Those who purchase either a “Red Carpet Season Ticket” or an “A la Carte VIP Ticket,” will be able to attend special pre- and post-screening events. Special events include: a post-show “Beer with Jesse”

at Sundown (Donald Cried); a pre-show party (NUTS!); a pre-show party at Studio 301 (Shake ‘Em On Down); a pre-show dinner at the Norton Building (Some Beasts); and a pre-show Sponsor’s Part at the Dixie Center for the Arts (Hunky Dory).

For more information on the films, and to purchase tickets, visit www.nclarts.org or call the NCLAC office at (318) 255-1450, MondayFriday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information on the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, visit the South Arts website at www.southarts.org.

Thanks to the Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as Louisiana Tech’s College of Liberal Arts, for support of the film series.

NCLAC is supported by its members, as well as by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and administered by Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Munchkin Market

Upscale Children’s Consignment Sale

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ALL IS ALMOST HERE, AND THAT CAN ONLY MEAN one thing, The Monroe Munchkin Market Event is just around the corner. From September 28th to October 1st, the Fall/ Winter event will be held at Pine Grove Baptist Church Gym (4300 Loop Road). There will be new and gently used children’s clothing (girl’s: newborn to junior; boys: newborn to 18), toys, books, DVDs, baby equipment, furniture and gear, shoes and much more.

“The sale is open to the public Wednesday, September 28, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 29, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Friday, September 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, everything marked in RED is ½ price,” says India Gregg, co-owner. Don’t want to wait? An Early Bird Presale is available for eager patrons from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27th for $10.

Monroe Munchkin Market is a small business started by long-time friends and moms, India Gregg and Amie Smith, both of Monroe. “We are moms and know the expense of trying to keep your children clothed. We saw in other markets that consignment sales were hugely popular by the public and other moms wanting great clothes at prices that were affordable. We started out 8 years ago in a small location with clothes mostly consigned by our friends and family and have grown to 500+ consignors twice a year for a Spring Sale and Fall Sale,” according to Gregg and Smith.

“I personally shop every Monroe Munchkin Market Event – I attended the new mom’s slot when my daughter was first born and was addicted right away. My friends always comment on how cute I dress Stella and Vivian and half of their clothes come from consignment. They have name brands like: Peaches n’ Cream, Matilda Jane, Kissy Kissy, Feltman Bros. and more. If you haven’t been – make sure you sign up today,” says Cassie Livingston, a fan of the Munchkin Market experience.

Believe me, you don’t want to miss out on this event. Once you experience the Monroe Munchkin Market, you will keep it on your calendar for years to come. For more information about the sale visit www.monroemunchkinmarket.com, “Like” Monroe Munchkin Market on Facebook or send an email to info@ monroemunchkinmarket.com.

Munchkin Market has now expanded to the Vicksburg market with Sassy Seconds! Sassy Seconds Sale is September 8th - 10th at River City Cheer and Tumble located at 1420 N. Washington in Vicksburg. Visit www.sassysecondsvicksburg.com for a complete schedule and more information.

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Plastic Surgery Is it seasonal?

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N LOUISIANA, WE OFTEN PLAN OUR ACTIVITIES BASED on two things … one, the weather and two, LSU’s football schedule.

But when it comes to plastic surgery, there’s really no right or wrong time of the year to schedule a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or face lift.

“I tell patients that it really depends on their schedule,” said Alexandria plastic surgeon, H. Stephen Maguire, M.D. “You really want to make sure you have adequate recovery time. For some procedures, that’s a few days. For other procedures, it could be a few weeks or months.”

That being said, plastic surgery procedures sometimes follow a seasonal pattern. Students and teachers often schedule procedures during the summer months since they often have that time to heal.

Breast augmentation, on the other hand, are often scheduled in the spring, as women begin thinking about bathing suits and the beach.

“One thing most plastic surgeons will tell you is that they see most of their facial rejuvenation and eyelid, face and neck lifts in the fall,” Dr. Maguire said. “There are two reasons for this. One, facial rejuvenation carries post-surgical instructions to avoid the sun. That’s easier to do in the fall and winter.

“Plus, if you have facial work done in the fall, you’ll have plenty of time to heal before the next family get-together or holiday event.”

When it comes to liposuction and tummy tucks, winter seems to be the most popular season.

“With this type of surgery, our patients must wear post-surgical compression garments, which would be more uncomfortable in the heat of the spring and summer,” Maguire said. “For that reason, some patients choose to schedule liposuction during the winter.”

Long holiday weekends, no matter what the season, are also a popular time for plastic surgery procedures.

“As with any surgery, patients are going to need time to heal,” Dr. Maguire said. “Recovery from larger procedures takes longer than surgery from small procedures. And depending on the patient’s age and medical history, some heal faster than others.

“But the thing we want our patients to know is that no matter what the season, and no matter what the procedure may be, we’re here to help them look and feel their best.”

To find out more about these plastic surgery procedures and more, call (318) 442-5800.

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BRITISH MALAYA:

as his legislative aide on the East Asian International Affairs Committee and as a speechwriter. Following his tenure with the congressman, Tim returned home to Monroe and has worked various positions with CenART FROM THE HEART ON A MISSION in turyLink, including Investor Relations and Chief of Staff to ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN AND the Chief Operating Officer, as PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBI BERRY well as working with the Cloud/ Colocation sales group for the im McIlveene is a man on of the year will be to ministries Fortune 500 company. a mission. “I’ve always dedicated to helping migrant

While working in Asia, Tim wanted to start a foundaworkers and their families in began collecting vintage posttion to continue the work Southeast Asia. These workers cards and maps, printed from the my sister loved as a way to are usually undocumented, have 1890s to the 1940s. Some posthonor her memory. Aimee, my no legal protection and are often cards depict typical street scenes sister, passed away unexpectedly exploited and mistreated by and colonial architecture, and at the age of 23 from a virus that their employers. We think Aimee many employ beautiful photogattacked her heart,” says Tim, would be right there loving these raphy and soft, watercolored who recently founded Aimee’s people, and we love the thought images that take you back to the Heart Foundation. of continuing the work she so era in which they were created.

Aimee McIlveene loved loved.”

“I think what I love about these helping others, especially chilTim’s company, British images the most is the historical dren and teenagers. She worked Malaya, is a purveyor of fine art aspect,” says Tim. “We live in as a lifeguard for many years, prints based on the art, photogra- such a throw away society. When played basketball for ULM and phy, maps and vintage postcards went on multiple mission trips Tim McIlveene began collecting around the world, working with when he worked for a non-profit women and children, and had based in China. After getting his determined that a life of service MBA from ULM, Tim worked for was her calling. Her mission US Congressman John Cooksey travels led her to Europe, Asia, in his Monroe office for two years the Middle East and Central before wanderlust led him to America. Says Tim, “Aimee had China to work on humanitarian, a heart to serve, and that’s where education and hunger relief projthe name of the foundation ects with rural peoples. Tim lived comes from.” in such exotic locales as Chiang Says Tim, “When I was Mai, Thailand, Penang, Malayforming my company, British sia and Hong Kong. After three Malaya, I thought this would be years abroad, Tim moved back to a great way to fund a foundation. the States to work in Washington, Our first donation by the end D.C. for Congressman Cooksey

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these images were created, the British were colonizing this part of the world. At that time, Christians were welcome. Now they are often persecuted in China.”

Reflecting on his time spent among the people of Southeast Asia, Tim describes Hong Kong as “New York City on steroids and Singapore as a little island with no natural resources except for an amazing harbor and its millions of incredibly smart people. According to Tim, Singapore’s strict laws are designed to

Aimee McIlveene, Tim’s sister, is pictured on a mission trip.

She died at the age of 23 of a virus that attacked her heart.

Her mission travels led her to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Central America. Says Tim, “Aimee had a heart to serve, and that’s where the name of the foundation comes from.”

make life with so many people crowded together more beautiful, modern and clean. “Penang is very beautiful as well with a slower pace and a melding of cultures,” says Tim.

During his tenure with Congressman Cooksey, the congressman insisted that Tim attend a meeting with him to discuss trade with high level Taiwanese legislators visiting the nation’s capitol. Although Tim was nowhere near fluent in Chinese, the congressman informed the group that Tim spoke fluent Chinese and would translate.

Tim summoned his best Chinese and turned to the group and said, “‘This is my boss. He thinks I speak Chinese, but I don’t.

Please be kind.’ And with that the entire delegation burst into laughter. Thank goodness, right at that moment the event got underway.”

Tim’s interest in working with people from Southeast Asia came from his father, a pastor at Community Baptist Church and his mom who is a reading specialist at Robinson Elementary.

His parents led groups from their church on mission trips to China and volunteered at a school for underprivileged kids.

To create British Malaya, Tim looked to technology and the Internet to reach the most people who might be interested in fine art prints with a distinctly British colonial feel. He has launched his website, www.britishmalayashop.com, which is populated with beautiful photography of his products by good friend Abbi Berry, who had been a member of his sister’s youth group.

Whether hand tinted or rich in sepia tones, the fine art prints are locally, custom reproduced on buyers’ choices of paper or canvas, with options that include a standard matte paper, bamboo matte paper, a premium fine art paper or canvas, in sizes ranging from 4” x 6” to 11” x 14” with many sizes in between. Buyers also have the option of having their print framed by British Malaya.

To learn more about Tim McIlveene’s company or to peruse his collection of vintage postcards and maps, please go to www.britishmalayashop.com.

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Ouachita Community Connections A Newcomers Club

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EING A NEWCOMER TO A COMMUNITY CAN BE difficult. In addition to the stress of starting a new job, newcomers are oftentimes faced with the tasks of finding employment for their spouse, choosing a new school for their children, selecting a new doctor and dentist, and by all means, a new hairdresser! It can prove quite difficult to establish the sense of belonging they had in their previous community.

An established resident of Monroe, Kathy VanVeckhoven has worked with many newcomers over her the years in her role as a realtor. Kathy has noticed that each newcomer has different needs and interests. With a strong sense of urgency to find a way to connect newcomers to our community and to one another, Kathy called together a group of residents and professionals to create a club designed to meet the needs of those individuals and families who are new to our community. Eager to share her relocation story, Stephanie Young, a newcomer to Monroe in 2014 and Human Resources Director at CenturyLink, has played an integral role in bringing this project to fruition.

After a year and a half of research and planning, Ouachita Community Connections: A Newcomer’s Club is hosting its first event on Thursday, September 22nd from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at

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Bayou Landing in Monroe. The club is a social and philanthropic organization whose members strive to: forge new friendships, help members learn about their new community, share information about volunteer opportunities and have fun. Please join us to learn more about how you can become a member of this newcomer’s club. Complimentary food and drinks will be served and membership information will be available.

A special thanks to Andy Martin and Josef Cook of NetTech for donating their professional services to the club. Other sponsors include BayouLife Magazine, Catfish Charlie’s, CenturyLink, Marsala Beverage, North Delta Title, Origin Bank, Progressive Bank and Van Trow Toyota. The committee is most appreciative to these community partners for their support.

For more information, visit us at www.ouachitacommunityconnections.com. Have a question?

Email us at ouachitacc@gmail.com.

The Parlor House

Salon Ties Modern Style to a Timeless Craft While only open a little over a year, The Parlor House has grown and expanded to include a group of individuals that are well-trained, highly educated and extremely personable. The team includes beauty experts with esthetician skills, as well as cut and color stylists.

HEATHER TERRAL Heather Terral is our cavitation liposuction specialist. Cavitation liposuction is very affective for people who want to lose fat cells instantly. The process uses second generation Specific Frequency Signatures to give you instant visible results. Come experience a relaxing session from the Neurotris microcurrent machine that Vogue Magazine calls “The Miracle Machine.”

MADELEINE FOX Madeleine Fox offers a variety of esthetic services. These range from facials for all different skin types, full body waxing using hard and soft wax, makeup applications, lash and brow tinting, as well as eyelash extensions - which can be customized with different size and length option using JB Lashes. Madeleine carries the Dermalogica skin care line, which is available for purchase in the salon.

DAWN MARTIN Dawn Martin is our newest Parlor House team member. She offers permanent cosmetics, as well as microblading. Eyebrow microblading is a semi-permanent procedure that allows you to dramatically correct or fully reconstruct lost eyebrow. Microblading techniques involve drawing individual, crisp hair strokes that are more natural looking than tattooing, brow pencils or powders. The blade of a microblading pen contains numerous pins that are 3 times thinner than the needles used for tattooing. When done correctly by our professional, the procedure is almost painless.

THE STYLISTS The salon side of The Parlor House is made up of 4 team members: Katie Anzalone - Owner/Stylist, Chelsea Branch - Stylist/Spray Tan Specialist, Jenny Howse - Stylist, and Lesley Boyd - Future Professional. They pride themselves on staying up-to-date with what is currently trending in the “world of hair.” They enjoy doing beautiful fashion colors, “lived-in” color techniques, icy cool blondes, and haircuts that display lots of texture and movement, which are just a few examples of what is trending now.

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REAL-LIFE SUPERHEROES Continued from Page 86 So how can you bring this month’s column into your home? How can you impart to your children, this virtuous message from an esteemed and dedicated police officer? As the subtle text of many of columns suggests, it has to start at home (that’s another column we could debate, and we won’t so that I can keep my job and continue to bring you Tales from Oz, because that’s where I feel like I live sometimes.)

I read an article written by a police officer that said he wished parents wouldn’t threaten their children with having the police come get them if they are bad, rather, he wants children to run to a police officer if they are scared, not be scared of the police officer. This also, made me get a lump in my throat, because, well, the police ARE the good guys. Teaching our children to respect authority should be a fundamental principle in all homes, but particularly, teaching them to respect and honor all law enforcement.

To take it one step further, how about taking the time (something we all know is hard

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to do and often times, has to be a concerted effort) to have your children publicly thank their local law enforcement officers? This can be done in a variety of simple ways, such as making them a thank you card and delivering it to them personally or to the police station; or making them a goodie bag or a “survival kit” for their car or desk which includes life savers of course, because, well, that’s what they do.

I also think it’s really neat when you are in a restaurant and there are law enforcement officers eating, for your children to watch you buy their meal (this is probably some violation of some federal code of civil procedure for public bribery rules of unethical conduct, so don’t tell anybody I said to do it, but it’s still a really cool gesture for your children to see.) And lastly, you, as a parent, need to get involved in the thank-you process. Let your children watch you write a thank-you card or hear you praise the efforts of law enforcement. Children learn from what they hear and see, that’s simple Parenting 101.

In all ways, as the authority in your own home, let your children see the respect and gratitude you have for law enforcement and that will be the point of reference they will use.

I love seeing the support from people all over this great nation with yard signs and car decals and t-shirts, all proudly displaying their support of the black and blue colors of our law enforcement. Seeing this gives me confidence that while we might be a nation that sometimes seems lost and hopeless, there is still hope that we can be restored to a nation of honor, integrity and unity. And the colors of our black and blue will be standing right where they always have, just as strong, reliable and protective as they always were. That duty is a great calling, indeed.

PI KAPPA ALPHA

Members of the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Set A New Record

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embers of the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity set a new record for consecutive wins of the fraternity’s coveted Robert A. ‘Smythe’ award by winning their 18th consecutive at the Pi Kappa Alpha Convention held in New Orleans.

The award is given to the top 10 percent of Pi Kappa Alpha chapters each year. This win marks the 23rd Smythe award in the last 25 years for the ULM chapter.

The award is based upon excelling in 16 areas of operation, including: academics, community service, campus involvement, athletics, management, health and safety, new member education and alumni relations.

“The ULM chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha definitely deserved their 18th consecutive Smythe award,” said Laura Jennings, Director of Student Life and Leadership. “This sort of legacy is almost unheard of for any type of group. Every year I am consistently more impressed with our Pike chapter, because they

continue the raise the bar for themselves and continue to meet that goal.”

Nineteen ULM students (the most from any Pike chapter in North America) joined Tommy Walpole—Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises and the fraternity’s university relations adviser—at the four-day event.

Those students included Ben Sylvestri, Morgan Wiggins, Will Frith, Wyatt Medlin, Spencer Perkins, Evan Sinclair, David DeGraw, Austin Green, Bryan Deloach, Michel Elliot, Jacob Hale, Josh Usie, JT Roberts, Cody Crnkovic, Alec Shell, Hank Pipes, Chase Campo, Jacob Lester and Zoe Poole. Over 50 Pike alumni made the trip to New Orleans to witness the chapter set the new consecutive win mark.

During the convention the group was recognized for earning—for the sixth consecutive year—an overall grade point average higher than a 3.0. Other highlights of the trip included the ULM chapter receiving the Raymond L. Orians Award for Chapter Excellence.

The group was also recognized for 100 percent participation in the undergraduate donor club, which is sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha’s Educational Foundation.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association was also named as a William R. Nester Outstanding Alumni Association. This was the group’s 17th time to be recognized as one of the organization’s best alumni associations in North America. In addition, two alumni of the fraternity were recognized as some of Pike’s best. Joseph Beard, who serves as the Chapter Advisor, was one of nine selected as a part of Pike’s Inaugural Class of Young Alumni of the Year and Adams Rodgers, who serves the chapter as its Continuing Education Advisor, was selected as the top volunteer from Pike’s Delta Region which consists of all volunteers in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at ULM was founded in 1972.

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IF THE SHOE FITS

Dee Keller is a down-to-earth mother of four, a successful shoe designer based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a breast cancer survivor. By Lisa Tramontana

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EE KELLER IS EXHAUSTED BUT EXCITED. She has just returned home from a fashion market in New York City, where she spent the last few days connecting with her colleagues in the shoe industry --- buyers, sellers and designers like herself. The trip allowed her to discover new brands and get a sneak peek at the latest trends in fashionable footwear. She can hardly wait to meet with her partners in Italy next month to talk about ideas for her next collection. It sounds like the life of a jet-setter, but in truth, Keller is a soft-spoken, beautiful, down-to-earth mother of four, who enjoys talking about her family life as much as her designs. For a few short years, she worked as a real estate attorney, but put her career on hold to raise her children.

HOME SWEET HOME

She never lost her undeniable flair for fashion, however, and it extended from her personal wardrobe to her Baton Rouge home, which she enjoyed decorating, especially during the holidays. “I was always looking for a new project,” she said. “And I did a lot of interior design for many of my friends.”

When her oldest daughter went away to college, Keller discovered another hobby --- decorating sorority rooms, dorm rooms and apartments. Her client list eventually expanded to include college students at no less than 10 universities in the southeast. Knowing that college can be a stressful time for young adults getting their first taste of independence, Keller’s mission is to create a comfortable “home away from home,” incorporating a student’s favorite colors and particular interests.

It was through her interior design projects that Keller became intrigued by textiles and colors. “Draperies, upholstery, fabrics … I enjoyed learning how they worked together to create certain looks and feels,” she said. “I enjoyed using that creative part of my brain.” It was just a matter of time before she moved on to her secret passion.

TAKING THE FIRST STEP

In 2011, Keller took a big leap of faith and decided to start her own shoe design company. Her lifelong passion for shoes and her natural sense of style were a perfect combination. At the time, many brands of high-end shoes were too trendy or too expensive for most women. Keller found her niche by designing classically beautiful shoes that were more affordable than what the market offered. A business was born.

When asked about her influences, she responds by talking about her “vibe.” “I’d describe it as an eclectic spin on traditional design,” she says. “I want my designs to appeal to all ages. I like to think that they bridge the gap between older and younger clients, casual and elegant, fashionable and fun.”

Indeed, a look at her collection reveals an elegant and classic style with a vintage touch. Her website features chic pumps (available in four heel heights), sandals, wedges, ballerina flats and more. Keller experiments with details and explores with color --- red, turquoise and hot pink are her favorites for any season. Her 2017 collection, which is being presented to retailers this fall, will feature a mix of elements such as cork heels, perforated leathers, and cheetah and leopard prints.

COMFORT, BEAUTY AND VERSATILITY

More than anything, Keller’s designs are driven by comfort, beauty and versatility. “I like the idea of a shoe going from casual to dressy depending on where you’re going … a brunch, a wedding, church, a party,” she said. “I want my designs to be versatile so they find more places in your wardrobe.”

One of Keller’s most personal touches is the way she names her shoes. Willow, Emma, Portia, Alexis, Paige … they all refer to people who are dear to her … relatives, friends, people who believed in her.

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Keller puts faith and family at the top of her list of priorities. Here, she is pictured with family and friends at her daughter Coco’s graduation.

It’s rewarding, she says, to think that mothers and daughters are both fans of her shoes. With three daughters of her own, it’s no problem staying on top of trends. Even so, some things never go out of style.

One of her must-haves --- nude flats and nude heels. “Every woman should have both,” she said. “They are great staples in your wardrobe, because they are so versatile.” Nude pumps, as everyone knows, go with every outfit and automatically give the appearance of longer legs. Can’t go wrong with that advice!

THE EUROPEAN CONNECTION

Keller’s designs are manufactured in Italy, specifically Milan and Tuscany. “Historically, Italy is known for its world-class shoemakers,” she said. “They are craftsmen who use the finest materials available. It is an art form for them.”

At least four times a year, Keller travels to Europe to visit her Italian partners and participate in research and development. She usually stays about two weeks and thought it’s a work-related trip, she admits to soaking up the Italian culture.

“I have to say the food isn’t bad,” she teases, “and the wine is pretty good, too.”

The creative process usually happens at home. And it’s more complicated than it might seem. There are many elements to consider --- pitch, heel height, insole, outsole, materials, vamp --- and design choices to make --- straps, scalloped edges, laser cut. And the list goes on.

“Yes, I do actually sit down with colored pencils and paper, and sketch designs,” she said. “And I cut shoes apart to create new designs using a ‘last’ (foot mold) to make sure the fit is right and the feel is comfortable.”

Next, she meets with her graphic artist who uses specialized computer software that allows Keller to tweak the design until she is satisfied with it. The finished image is then sent to one of her craftsmen in Italy, who builds a prototype of the shoe.

“It’s a bit like architecture,” she says of the process.

Keller’s line, which is now available in upscale boutiques around the country, has expanded to include accessories, and she dreams of growing her business even more. She gets a nice boost from her daughter Brighton, a fashion and lifestyle blogger based in Texas. From the very beginning, Brighton has provided her mother with support, encouragement and inspiration based on her own bold sense of fashion. Brighton’s website, brightontheday.com links to her mother’s site and features many of her shoes and accessories.

“

Women love shoes! They are an expression of her identity. They can instantly transform her mood, make her feel empowered and boost her confidence.

“

As for growing her brand, Keller insists she’s in no hurry.

When she is able to carve out time from her busy schedule, she and her husband Stephen, a real estate developer, enjoy visiting their grown children who are now scattered from Dallas to Shreveport to Atlanta. The couple splits their time between Baton Rouge and Atlanta, where they are busy these days remodeling a second home.

A CAUSE CLOSE TO HER HEART

Fashion is just the most obvious of Keller’s passions. Another cause close to her heart is promoting breast cancer awareness.

Keller is a breast cancer survivor who just this month, marked the 10-year anniversary of her 2006 diagnosis. Like everyone who has sat in a doctor’s office and heard the word “cancer,” Keller never thought it could happen to her.

“My experience proved to me that cancer doesn’t just happen to other people,” she said. “I was 42 years old and the first in my family to be diagnosed. But I was fortunate, because my cancer was caught early and had a high cure rate. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for some women.”

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er battle became a family affair, and she is especially proud of how her children, teens and tweens at the time of her diagnosis, handled her illness. “They wanted to help, and they became very involved,” she said. “They helped promote awareness and even organized special events to raise funds for breast cancer research and education.”

Brighton and Coco, her two oldest daughters, organized a fashion show luncheon, La Vie a la Mode, which continued for seven years.

Her son, Stevie, and youngest daughter, Lele, hosted a middle school dance called Disco for a Cure. Over the years, the whole family has remained involved in breast cancer events and programs.

(After her cancer battle, Stephen was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and has since recovered.)

Keller urges women to get annual check-ups and keep up with their mammograms as this increases early detection and improves survival rates. “Listen to your body,” she said. “If something feels strange or odd, see a doctor and be diligent in finding out why you are feeling the way you do. Be your own advocate. Get second opinions and explore treatment options.”

And most important?

“Stay strong in your faith,” she said. “Whatever journey you have to travel, the path is much more gentle and hopeful, if it’s done with prayer.”

For more information about Dee Keller Designs, or to order her products online, visit deekeller.com.

Dee Keller Designs are carried in upscale boutiques and department stores throughout the country. In Louisiana, her designs are available in the following cities: BATON ROUGE:

Eros: Towne Center at Cedar Lodge, 7425 Corporate Blvd. (225) 218-9600.

Chatta Box Boutique: 17650 Highland Road, Suite C. (225) 755-5702.

LAFAYETTE:

Amor: 500 Settlers Trace Blvd. (337) 476-1932.

MANDEVILLE:

Emma’s Shoes & Accessories: 3904 La. 22.

(985) 778-2200.

METARIE:

Chatta Box Boutique: 4114 Veterans Blvd.

(504) 454-1527.

MONROE:

The Toggery: 1400 N. 18th St. (318) 388-4939.

NEW ORLEANS:

Angelique Boutique: 7725 Maple St. (504) 866-1092.

SHREVEPORT:

M Boutique: 855 Pierremont Road. (318) 220-8828.

(Information provided by M.K. Bledsoe)

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The Fashion Buzz From Beehive Style for everyone!

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EEHIVE OPENED THEIR DOORS IN 2002.THEY quickly became a popular landmark in Ruston, Louisiana for jewelry and handbags! Now, 13 years later, Beehive has evolved into a shopping mecca where you can find the latest fashion trends, the perfect shoes, monogrammed gifts for any occasion, children’s clothing, home décor, a variety of furniture styles and so much more!

Beehive can monogram, add vinyl lettering, make personalized gifts, hand stamped jewelry and an assortment of items perfect for everyone!

The BOPS shop is located inside Beehive Outlet in Ruston, Louisiana. In 2000, a small-town woman started a business based on her passion for art. As a homegrown entrepreneur, owner of Beehive outlet & founder of BOPS, Amy Bernard knows all too well the challenges and rewards that come with starting your own business; particularly as a woman and mom.

As a company run by and serving women, we want to do what we can to raise the next generation of woman leaders. Our passion is designing fun women’s accessories with an artist’s touch.

Our mission is simple: to encourage women in impoverished

communities to become entrepreneurs, so they can use their Godgiven skills to provide for their own.

Of the world’s poor, 70% of them are women … unbelievable!

We believe that a woman’s inherent creativity and resourcefulness can be her path to economic independence, and we want to help.

BOPS uses a portion of their profits to teach practical skills to women to start and sustain a business that will transform dreams into the power to uplift families…and communities. We hope you love our products, but most importantly you are invited to help turn dreams into realities.

Whether you are looking for the latest styles in clothing, shoes, jewelry or home décor, Beehive has got you covered!

Stay up-to-date on Beehive news and events by checking out facebook.com/BestofBeehive.

Follow us on our new Instagram page for our latest arrivals and fashion trends: instagram.com/beehiveoutletruston.

Beehive is located at 213 North Service Rd in Ruston. Drop by and view their enormous selection of home décor, clothing, shoes, and more!

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BAYOU OUTDOORS

MR. RAY

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believe that we are molded from a young age by the people that we encounter through life. I have been very fortunate. During my life, I have met some very special men who have molded me, inspired me and helped me in many ways. One such man came into my life unexpected. I had no idea how much this man would influence my thought process on life, wives, children and business. It all started in 1998 in the strangest of places.

I was working the KNOE Boating and Outdoor Show in the Monroe Civic Center.

During my demonstration on the “hawg trough,” the giant aquarium where fishing lures are demonstrated, I could not help but notice the elderly man with white hair, a pressed shirt and red suspenders, watching my every move. This was the second time I had noticed him as he stood in almost the same spot with almost the same attire during the show last year. I remembered him because he looked like Colonel Sanders without 120 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

article by Dan Chason

the beard. When I stepped down from the demonstration, the elderly man walked up, stuck out his hand and introduced himself as Ray Niswanger. Mr. Ray, as he became to me was the owner of Consolidated Truck Parts in Monroe. “Son, I’ve been watching you.

Now you pitch that jig pretty good.“In fact,” he said with a grin, “almost as good as I do.”

After a long visit about fishing, family and business, Mr. Ray extended an invitation for me to come to his camp on Toledo Bend and fish. I returned the invitation and asked him to join me on a trip to Lake Fork for a good jig fishing trip. Not only did he accept the invitation, he offered to chauffeur my crew and me in his motor home on my next trip to Lake Fork. Not a bad deal at all.

Prior to our scheduled Lake Fork trip, I stopped by to visit with Mr. Ray from time to time at his shop. Little did I know what kind of billiards hustler that I had stumbled upon. I guess the custom pool table and stick right outside of his office should have been an

indicator. Mr. Ray shot a mean game of pool and really loved to rub it in when he won. He was the same fierce competitor at fishing, as I would find out later.

When we arrived for the Fork trip outside of his business, Mr. Ray came outside donning a black chauffeur’s hat, shined shoes and the signature red suspenders. “Now Caason (the altered name he gave me), do you think this old man can get you there and back in this old raggedy thing? “as he had a good belly laugh standing next to what I can only call a palace on wheels. “Now, Mama (pet name for his wife) said that I better take it kinda slow, so we won’t be going over ninety.” He continued to laugh as we loaded up. On the way, he showed me where he stopped to let his prize dogs get a rest stop, and the years he spent on the road driving a truck. He then got kind of quiet as he talked about being a “Fighting Seabee.” Mr. Ray had seen his wars, succeeded in business and was a man that was truly rewarded for his hard

work. He was deeply religious and would tell you in a heartbeat what he was thinking. He displayed how a man should love his wife and how to be a good father. And the man could flat fish.

At my favorite jig hole, I finally slowed my champion boat down enough to have a laugh at Mr. Ray’s expense. He had told me once in conversation that speed was for land and he didn’t like to go fast on the water. I intentionally “aired it out” and ran up that lake just as fast as she would run. As we stopped, Mr. Ray looked over at me, with a stern look on his face, flattened out his now tassled hair and said, “Son, I ain’t lived this many years to go see my maker and try to explain why I got in a rocket to go across a lake. Now on the trip back you can slow this thang down just a smidgeon on my part, or you can sleep in the parking lot tonight.” I slowed down on the way back.

Mr. Ray liked certain reels, rods, depth finders and his Ranger boat. He was very meticulous about his gear but was always asking questions and trying to learn new fishing secrets. The one thing I picked at him about later was his collection, and I mean collection of purple, black and blue jigs with a red trailer. If the man had one, he had a hundred. No other color or styles and he

had one tackle bag (a Walmart sack) that was slap full of the same jigs. When the fish were biting, he threw a jig. When I was catching them on top water, he threw a jig. When we were shallow or deep –you got it– he threw a jig. But he caught fish. Big fish. The prize? A signed one dollar bill with my signature. He won a dollar at Lake Fork (twice) and a dollar at Toledo Bend (twice). I never won a single dollar from Mr. Ray. This “bet” carries on to this day in my boat in memory of Mr. Ray.

One thing that Mr. Ray was proud of was his ranch in West Texas. You have to remember, Mr. Ray had a unique southern drawl. So you have to pronounce it with a long “A”. Raaanch.

I finally went there on his invitation, and that is where both of our lives changed. I will never forget the trip or how tragically it ended. Mr. Ray suffered a stroke and never made it back home.

I was fortunate to spend the last days of Mr. Ray’s life with him. I miss him and thank him and “Mama” for the kindnesses shown to me. You know, I bet right now Mr. Ray is sitting in a Ranger boat in the crystal sea of heaven. And I bet he is throwing a jig.

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Simply Lou Stylin’ and Profilin’

article and illustration by Lou Davenport

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hen I was told this was to be the Style Issue of BayouLife, my first response was, “What?! I “ain’t” got no style!” But, after some thought, I decided that was not quite true. We all have style. A very personal style, like our fingerprints. We are all different to be sure, but, whether you realize it or not, we are all “stylin’ and profilin’” each and every day!

The dictionary defines style as “a manner of doing or presenting things.” Style applies to all kinds of things such as art, architecture, design, fashion, your likes, your dislikes.

I thought I would just pick one and go for it. So I am going to tackle style and fashion. They are not the same thing. While style reflects our inner being, fashion is the outward expression of that inner being.

Put another way, what you wear is a reflection of how you feel about yourself. And I learned that 80% of someone’s first impression of you is how you look. Oh dear!

I had to think about that for awhile. Sometimes I could pass for a vagrant. Since I have retired, what do I need with all those work clothes?

I have pared that wardrobe of mine way, way down! And I save a lot of money on makeup, since I don’t absolutely HAVE to put the face on”everyday. I like what Orson Welles said, “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.” That’s me!

I can’t paint unless I’m wearing my nightgown. Oh, it is a special kind, too. I have three of them, all alike. I have paint all over two of them.

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The third I save for formal occasions! As in, when I am NOT painting!

It’s like my Sunday best! I will go over to my daughter Paige’s home with a shirt on over my gown with my boots on! And, I might wear one of them all day if I want to. Retirement does have it’s perks.

My other thought on fashion is, if it isn’t comfortable, I will not wear it! That goes way back to my childhood. I didn’t like being in anything tight or restrictive! My poor Mom. She so wanted me to be a girly girl.

But, didn’t happen. Still hasn’t. I want comfort or I ain’t happy.

I have two dresses for the summer. If I go out, I will have one of those on. People may think, “is that all that woman has to wear?” Well, no, but, these dresses are comfortable, easy to throw on and even easier not to have to iron them. And people, my car’s air conditioner won’t work. It’s one of those scorcher Louisiana summers. I love some linen pieces I own, but I’ve rebelled against ironing, unless I absolutely have to. Linen can be hot, too.

Now, in the winter, if I can add my precious, treasured blue jean jacket and my cowboy boots, I’m good. I have had the boots and jacket for many years and I always feel good when I have them on. They are like dear old friends.

I have a really pretty dress up dress and a black sparkly dress for special occasions. And I do wear my jacket and cowboy boots with the sparkly one. The pretty dress up dress, okay, I admit it, I put the cowboy boots on with it, too. As Bob Dylan said, “I can only be me, whoever that is!” And besides, I cannot wear heels. Never could. I wobble when I try

to walk in them, so, first chance I get, I am going to kick those things off, so why bother? Those things hurt my feet, too. Once I was on the Homecoming Court at Bastrop High School. We had to wear a formal and heels and then ride in the parade. Well, I took those dyed to match high heels off ASAP and ran around outside after the pep rally in my pantyhose. I didn’t know concrete would tear those hose to shreds. So, I just slipped into the bathroom, took those things off and threw them away. I got on the back of that convertible and enjoyed being the first and probably only Sophomore Maid ever to ride barefooted. Again, my poor Mother.

And hair. I used to slave for hours fixing my long, blonde hair. It was the late 60’s and early 70’s. Everybody had their hair long. “The boys loved long hair.” When I got married and had my first baby, that long hair had to go. I cut it off and have kept it short. Larry Davenport would ask why? I’d tell him if he had to fix that mop of hair and take care of a baby, he’d shave his head! He knew he was not going to win that debate!

I keep it short and messy. It fits me. To some, I’m sure it’s a little bit out there, but again, it’s me! I also have a baseball hat and a straw hat for those bad hair days!

A side note to that long hair. When I was in high school, all there was to do in Bastrop was drive around “the Loop” and check out all the guys! With the windows down of course. At every red light, I had to fix my hair just by chance some good lookin’ guy drove along side and wanted to talk. I kept my brush right beside me in the seat! We all did that! It finally worked, and I did meet a very good looking young man who did become a boyfriend. For a while anyway. Oh, the good ol days.

“We’ve come a long way, baby!”

In Trace Adkins song, “Rough and Ready,” he sings about his suit.

He sings “size too small, don’t fit me at all, unless somebody kicks, gets hitched, suit makes me itch! But, I am who I am, and that’s all I can be, and you are who you are, and that’s alright with me!” I agree!

I cannot bear anything that itches. I had a gorgeous silver gray wool sweater one time. First time I put it on, it came right off. I ended up cutting it into four pieces and stitching the edges. I used them for place mats at a Monroe Garden Club table scape meeting. I still have them and they are pretty! Odd, but pretty! If you can’t wear it, recycle it!

In defense of my slightly eccentric style, I still “clean up pretty good” when I have to. For my age, I can still pull it all together! I can still be “stylin’ and profilin’!” I was talking to my cousin Margaret yesterday about how much trouble I was having writing about style. I told her I didn’t have any style! She gave me a huge complement when she said, “Yes, you do! You are flamboyant!” I think she really meant, LOUD! We laughed and laughed at that! It’s funny how others see us, huh?

I do want to say that I think Southern Ladies have the most impeccable style in the world. We may all travel different paths, but, it is true that we are all Steel Magnolias. We can handle anything with style and grace. We also come in all shapes, sizes and colors! Turn some of our Southern Ladies loose on those runways in Paris! They would turn heads and knock em out of their seats! That audience would not know what hit ‘em! And backstage, the ladies would most likely have a perfectly appointed buffet, southern food only, and be hostesses, too.

Well, in closing, I guess it was a good thing to write about style as it relates to fashion. I have learned a few things while writing this one.

As we get older, we really don’t care what others think. That’s a good thing. I know who I am and who I am not, and that’s a great feeling. I also believe I am picky. Well, I know I am! Style is about spirit. Strong spirits. And for us Southern Ladies, we are loaded with that!

Kick that air conditioner down and stay cool! “The Long Hot Summer” will end sooner or later. And Netflix needs to put on some new shows. I’m running out of things to watch in my formal nightgown!

My illustration uses an Emilo Pucci design for the background.

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Bayou Icon Ron Alexander talks to BayouLife about his career in men’s fashion

Clothes Made the Man

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A RT I CLE BY KAY STOTH ART RECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD AR E N D E R

on Alexander was in seventh grade when he received a gift certificate to Glasgow’s, an iconic men’s clothing store in his hometown of Ruston, Louisiana. He was fascinated by what he found there—the beautiful shirts and ties, the texture and design of the suits, the colors and creative displays.

Even at such a young age, he knew he wanted to work in a place like that someday. Alexander’s family was in the construction business. At his father’s urging, he enrolled at Louisiana Tech University after high school and majored in architecture. His father was a residential builder and hoped that his son would join him in business one day, designing and building homes. “I just couldn’t ever work that out in my mind,” Alexander says. He took drafting classes, but although he enjoyed the creative aspect, he did not like sitting behind a drafting table all day, drawing plans.

While in college, Alexander worked at Glasgow’s, the downtown establishment that had offered him that first glimpse into the world of men’s fashion. Owner Joseph Glasgow was the third generation to work in his family’s business. “Joe took me under his wing,” Alexander says. “I became like a part of their family.”

He recalls how much he enjoyed his job at the clothing store, learning all that he could from Joe and his father, Buddy Glasgow. Working at Glasgow’s confirmed his decision to give up building design and pursue a career in the men’s apparel industry.

Alexander continued working for the Glasgow family beyond his college years. When the store was sold to a new owner, Alexander remained. He moved into a management position and was able to participate in some of the buying and other decisions, but he knew that, given the chance, he could do more. He was constantly looking for ways to grow and become better at what he was doing.

One day, Alexander was approached by a sales

representative for Hart Schaffner & Marx about an opportunity in South Louisiana. Gaidry’s Mens Wear was, at that time, the largest independently owned Hart Schaffner & Marx retailer in the South. They owned two stores—one in Lafayette and one in Lake Charles-and were looking to expand to a third location. “These were huge stores with inventory that, on any given day, could include over 8,000 suits and 15,000 to 20,000 pairs of pants,” Alexander recalls. Realizing that working in a larger business would allow him to learn more about buying, inventory and retail sales, he took the job in Lafayette and headed south to Cajun country.

“Every day was a big day in that store,” he remembers. With a large inventory to work with, Alexander took advantage of the opportunity to do lots of creative merchandising. He also made lasting connections within the apparel business. As a buyer for Gaidry’s, he traveled to Chicago to the Hart Schaffner & Marx showroom, where he was able to watch as HSM representatives made presentations to retailers. He was impressed with the unique, coordinated manner in which they showed their lines.

Alexander honed his skills during his time at Gaidry’s, constantly creating and learning about merchandising, store design and layout. Calling on his artistic nature and background, he figured out how to create what are known in the business as “silent salesmen,” eye-catching displays of merchandise that lead to sales. ”With the right display and merchandising, you can create a shopping experience for your customer and sell what looks good to them,” Alexander explains.

Eventually, Alexander made his way back home to North Louisiana. He served as a manager and buyer for Graham’s in Ruston for several years, and then worked briefly with The Toggery in Monroe. Using his experience and eye for detail, he developed a clientele who counted on him to help them look their best.

Throughout his early career, Alexander always dreamed of owning his own store. In 1994, his dream finally materialized. That spring, he secured a location in the Murray Place Shopping Center on North 18th

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and went to work putting together his vision for an upscale store carrying men’s clothing and accessories. When talking about Ron Alexander Clothiers, Alexander expresses tremendous gratitude for the Biedenharn family, owners of the building that houses his business. He credits them as instrumental to his success. “They are wonderful people,” he says, noting that they helped make his goal a reality, working with him to create the space he envisioned.

Ron Alexander Clothiers opened its doors in October of 1994 and quickly became one of Monroe’s premier men’s retail establishments. One customer at a time, Alexander built his store into a successful, thriving business. “Knowing How to Dress is Knowing Where to Buy” is the motto of Ron Alexander Clothiers.

Personal service is a key element of Alexander’s business. ”It is all about what we can do for you,” he says.

Alexander realizes that there are a lot of men out there who are not really into clothes, and especially hate to shop. He also knows that there are always those times when it is important to look your best---a first date or special event. “Everyone wants to look nice. It is not just about the clothes. It’s about the image a man is projecting, but more importantly, it’s about making sure that he feels good about how he looks, so that he can feel confident,” he explains. “What I like most about this business is helping people feel good about the way they look in their clothing. When they feel good about the way they look, that’s the best compliment I can have,” Alexander says.

Alexander has watched the men’s garment business change drastically over the years, as styles have evolved from formal to a much more casual norm. “Men don’t buy suits to wear to church on Sunday anymore, and that used to be a big thing,” Alexander says. He also notes that very few men still wear suits to work every day. In today’s market, a man typically shops for a suit as needed for special occasions—weddings, holiday parties, formal events, funerals and the like. Unlike women, Alexander notices that few men shop for clothes ahead of time or just for the pleasure of shopping. “Men buy clothing for events, as they need it,” he says.

The Internet has also changed things in the clothing industry.

Ron Alexander Clothiers was one of the first stores in the Monroe area to have a website, thanks to Bayou Internet. Alexander uses the Internet and social media tools like Facebook and Instagram to promote his business. He believes that while e-commerce has hurt a lot of small retail stores, his particular type of business has been impacted less than most. When buying a suit, for example, most men still prefer coming in to a store.

Ron Alexander’s offers tailoring and alterations, which are not available via the Internet. Of his tailor and assistant, Chris Gilmer, Alexander says “She is my right hand. Chris has been with me for 22 years. I could not operate this store without Chris.”

Regular customers know and love Gilmer. With her talent for custom fittings and alterations, they know they can be assured of a perfect fit.

Alexander has seen an increase in demand for customized service in recent years. He estimates that 60% of his business now is custom-made clothing and special orders, whereas at one time that made up only about 20% of his sales. “This day and time, it isn’t just about the merchandise I have in the store. Given enough time, we can design and build a custom wardrobe for someone.

Whatever the customer has in mind, we can do that for him. We have hundreds of fabric swatches and thousands of options.”

Wardrobe planning, another aspect of personalized service that Alexander offers, has become even easier with modern technology.

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For select clients, Alexander coordinates outfits to create an entire wardrobe, and saves the information to a digital file, complete with color photos of wardrobe options for each day of the week.

This can be a valuable tool for businessmen who must travel for work. Packing is easy, and any worries about clothing are eliminated.

Alexander has a discriminating eye for colors, textures and patterns, and after so many years in the business, he knows what works. He can put together an outfit or an entire wardrobe for a customer, and take the guesswork out of looking good so that the customer feels confident and free to concentrate on his work or upcoming event.

Ron Alexander’s customers are familiar with his talent for creating a fashionable wardrobe. Those closest to him know that his creative abilities extend beyond men’s fashion. He is also a singer and guitar player with a penchant for country music.

Although lately he plays only to a handful of close friends and family, Alexander was once a musical entertainer with a much larger audience. In his younger days, he and fellow musicians formed a band they called “80 West,” and spent weekends playing barn parties, which were popular gatherings at the time. He later became part of the Wildwood Express Showcase in Ruston and sang on the historic live music show, “Louisiana Hayride.” This past April, Alexander joined other performers on stage at the Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston for the Tenth Annual Joe Woods Wildwood Express Showcase.

Whether he is entertaining friends with his guitar or coordinating a wardrobe for a CEO headed off on a business trip, Ron Alexander uses his talent to make others happy. He is fortunate to spend his days doing what he loves, helping his customers feel confident about the way they look and dressing them for success in whatever they may pursue.

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Molly Butler at the Dixie Center for the Arts

Winner of Best in Show at This Year’s Peach Art Exhibit Will Be On Display at the Dixie

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he North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) is pleased to announce an exhibit of work by painter Molly Butler at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Ms. Butler, winner of Best in Show at this year’s Peach Art Exhibit, was awarded this solo exhibition as part of her prize. Her exhibition will be on display from now until October 28, 2016, in the Dixie Center for the Arts.

Ms. Butler is a Junior in the School of Design at Louisiana Tech University, from Eros, LA. In addition to her studies, Ms. Butler works as an intern for NCLAC, and recently participated in “Art Wars,” in Lake Charles, LA, at the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. Her work is also currently being displayed at Three Artisans Designs in Lake Charles, LA.

Regarding her current exhibition at the Dixie, Ms. Butler notes that, “It is an intriguing psychological concept that facial expressions and outward appearances are the primary perception of a person’s character. When meeting someone for the first time, a tendency to immediately judge that person based on his or her image arises.

Upon realization of this, I sought out to create pieces to shatter superficial prejudices that people have come to fabricate when encountering somebody new.” For more information about the Molly Butler exhibition, and NCLAC, visit our website at www.nclarts.org.

In partnership with the Dixie Center for the Arts, NCLAC presents art exhibitions that feature work by regional artists. Works are available for purchase by calling the NCLAC office at (318) 255-1450 between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, Monday-Friday. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 N. Vienna in Ruston, has been a part of Ruston’s historic downtown since 1928 and provides the city a full season of entertainment and the arts.

NCLAC is supported by its members, as well as by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and administered by Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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NATURALLY YOURS

Emily Caldwell’s art is whimsical, often looking at nature for inspiration. Her path to art was a winding one, but she found a shining light in the end - one that she hopes to share with others. Article by April Honaker.

Photography by Brad Arender.

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he famous poet, Rumi, once said, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you,” but as Emily Caldwell’s story illustrates, it can sometimes take a while for the light to find its way. In 2001, when Emily and her husband Doug, lost their son Ben, the wound was unimaginably deep. At 18 years old, Ben had grown up a well-rounded kid, involved in church, Young Troupe and music. He was a vibrant teenager preparing to head to college at LSU. Bright and witty, he played the trombone and football. According to Emily, he was the light of their lives, so when he was diagnosed with cancer, a heavy cloud formed over them, and their world was upended.

Ben endured treatments at St. Jude for a type of leukemia the Caldwells had been told was curable, but after coming home for Labor Day, he developed an infection and passed away in late September, leaving a void that seemed unfillable. “It changed everything,” Emily said, and afterward, she found herself experiencing a level of grief she described as “scary” in its intensity.

She was suddenly unable to do many of the things she had done before. According to Emily,

she had been the “quintessential church lady,” teaching the children’s choir and jumping at the chance to volunteer when needed, but after losing Ben, she found herself withdrawing from these activities. Her world was dark.

Then one day Emily received a card that read, “The sun shines not on us, but in us.” She said, “The words were beautiful, and they reflected Ben to me.” They also compelled her to begin shining her light again by painting a mural on her laundry room wall. Having never made art before, she asked her friend and fellow artist Donna McGee to help her by adding the words from the card to her mural.

After completing the mural, Emily started drawing and experimenting with other forms of art—mosaics, assemblages and mixed media. In the beginning, much of her work was focused in and around her home. In fact, after reading an article about a woman who built a labyrinth to promote inner peace, she decided to build one in the clay of her side yard. Although she had been skeptical of its peace-giving potential, she said the physical activity of digging and moving bricks was good for her and that it allowed her to create something that honored Ben.

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round the same time, Emily’s friend Jane Brandon introduced her to Anna Rowan, an artist Emily says has proven to be one of her biggest mentors and supporters. In the beginning, Anna would come to Emily’s house once a week, working with her and giving her assignments. Emily says, “I was still crazy with grief, but working on art would take me into another part of my brain. It would help me make it through the day.”

Other women soon joined them, including Liza Kidd and Emily’s cousin, Mary Helen Blanchard. The women continued to work weekly, making art, talking about it and building one another up. During this time, Emily’s husband, Doug, was also one of her biggest supporters. When she and her friends worked on assignments related to particular artists, Doug often ordered books about those artists to give to her, helping her accrue quite a collection.

Though it took a long time, these weekly meetings and Doug’s support helped Emily reconnect with people and, as she put it, “get back into society.” Emily said, “At the time, I think I needed to make something, because I’d lost something so beautiful.” However, she added, “I don’t want it to seem like what I do is ‘art therapy.’ It’s just what I do.” She says going on with her life is a way of honoring Ben’s memory.

Eventually, the weekly meetings led to the creation of so much art that the women needed to look for a larger venue to produce, store and display their work. In 2009, after about a year of looking for the perfect space, Emily and Anna found it at 135 Art Alley, and they proceeded to convert the 100-year-old wholesale drug factory into galleries and artists’ studios.

When the space was ready in December of 2009, the pair hosted their first UPSTAIRS gallery show, forcing Emily out of her comfort zone. “You make yourself so vulnerable when you open your work to the public,” she said. “When people come in, it’s like you’re bringing them into your house.”

Although scary at first, that openness brought a lot of light into her life, eventually making UPSTAIRS Emily’s favorite place to be.

Since launching the gallery, Anna and Emily have curated the work of over 150 artists. In that process, she says it’s been important for the two of them to provide a professional venue to show artists’ work and to celebrate creativity. Emily says they’ve built relationships with these artists and that she has found joy in meeting and encouraging the young ones and the ones who forgot they were artists. She believes everyone is creative, even if they don’t realize it.

As curators, Emily and Anna try to nurture artists and to raise the bar for themselves each time a new show opens, which is typically on the first Thursday of every even-numbered month. These days mark the Downtown Gallery Crawls that have drawn crowds of arts enthusiasts into the historic riverfront commercial district of Monroe and West Monroe on schedule since before UPSTAIRS gallery was born.

Over the last eight years, the gallery has taken as its mission to expose people to different kinds of art. Emily says she especially likes the idea of helping young artists realize that it’s okay to take risks and do something they’ve never seen before.

According to Emily, the work that goes into putting on the Crawls is truly a team effort. The small group of women that started in Emily’s home has grown into a full-fledged club of seven members: Amy Ouchley, Leigh Buffington, Kay McDonald, Selina Aktar, Jenny Ellerbe, and of course the original members, Emily and Anna Rowan.

These woman not only continue to meet once a week. They also help prepare for the Crawls. In addition, Ann Bloxom Smith, a retired ULM English professor, writes the press releases and does the publicity for

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the Downtown Arts Alliance, which sponsors the Crawls. Ali Hijazi and Emj Cruz volunteer to make the vinyl name decals for the shows, and Jason Nelson, who is responsible for the logos, also prepares the door and entryway of the gallery for shows. In addition, numerous friends and family members donate food, serve wine, and check IDs. In truth, the number of behind-the-scenes volunteers, sponsors and in-kind donors is vast and deeply appreciated.

Over time, UPSTAIRS has definitely evolved from its initial purpose as a space for a small group of women to create and show their art. It has slowly transformed into a dynamic venue that serves others, fosters collaboration and becomes a totally different space every time the featured artists change.

In addition to connecting Emily with creative people, the gallery has provided opportunities for personal artistic growth. Meeting with the Art Club weekly has continued to expand her art, and the public nature of the gallery has led to numerous encounters with university professors and other distinguished artists. Emily has taken these opportunities to ask for feedback on her work. She is so comfortable sharing her work now that she says she doesn’t hesitate to ask people like Benjamin Hickey, curator of the Masur Museum of Art, for advice and criticism. Although she confidently seeks feedback now, her growth has not always happened without flashes of insecurity.

In fact, she has a piece that once made her say to herself, “This is just too crazy. I can’t show this.” The piece was inspired by a relic found at Poverty Point, one she decided is a fox-man, although others believe it is a great horned owl. After mustering the confidence to share the piece with a few close friends, she was encouraged to find that they loved it. As a result, she decided to show it to the public and then add it to the small number of pieces she would deliberately hold on to for herself or for Doug. She said, “I wanted to keep it as a reminder to try—to not be afraid of what people will think and to trust my intuition.” She wishes the same courage to other artists as well.

Through the support of family, friends, and other artists, Emily has grown tremendously, so much so that she says, “I can’t even begin to explain it.” In the course of her development as an artist, her love of nature and being outdoors has also played a crucial role, serving both as inspiration and as a means of connecting her with like-minded people.

Birds, in particular, are a recurrent theme in Emily’s work, and she’s always liked them. Even as a kid, she would create bird models, and when her friend Ann Bloxom Smith asked her to create a billboard for Black Bayou Lake, birds were prominently featured. Although she hasn’t always been serious about identifying the birds, she grew more interested in identification after meeting Kelby Ouchley and his wife Amy. Kelby is a biologist and retired wildlife management professional, who asked Emily to create drawings of animals for his book “Bayou-Diversity: Nature and People in the Louisiana Bayou Country.” At the time, Emily was still a new artist and had never created the kind of intricate black and white drawings that Kelby needed. After some hesitation, she agreed to take on the project and, with Anna’s mentorship, tackled it.

She says the project really sparked her interest in other creatures, leading Emily and the Ouchleys to start hiking and kayaking together.

Sometimes they were joined by other friends, but regardless of the group’s size, its members approached the excursions with mindfulness. Kelby’s wife Amy even brought along a magnifying jeweler’s loop, which gave them the opportunity to look more closely—to see aspects of nature that can’t be seen with the naked eye. This tendency to look closely at nature is also something Emily hopes her art will encourage viewers to do.

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er love of outdoor adventures has led to work inspired by trips to a variety of places, from Poverty Point to the Grand Canyon.

Of the Grand Canyon, she once wrote, “How can you do it justice with artwork? But how can you NOT do artwork?” Emily sees that there are things in the natural world that simply can’t be captured by art, but she has a simultaneous, unquenchable desire to try to capture these things anyway. The resulting art combines whimsy with intricate, realistic detail. The tension between these two is complex and difficult to express, just as holiness is.

In a world that tends to shy away from talking about holiness, Emily aims to capture it in her art. Drawing inspiration from writer and theologian Frederick Buechner, she sees art as an enduring means of communicating with each other about sacred things.

One of her favorite quotes by Buechner suggests that “the most basic lesson that all art teaches us is to stop, look, and listen to life on this planet, including our own lives, as a vastly richer, deeper, more mysterious business than most of the time it ever occurs to us to suspect.” The meaning of this quote is reflected in Emily’s work and in what she writes about her work. In an artist statement for a show titled “Yucca and Friends,” she wrote, “Shapes, patterns, reflections—southern, southwestern, northwestern—it’s just good to pay attention to what’s around you.” These down-to-earth words make it easy to relate to her and to follow her advice.

Emily’s first major exhibition outside of UPSTAIRS gallery took place last year after spending three years as president of the Downtown Arts Alliance. Knowing she would have more time to devote to her art, Benjamin Hickey invited her to create work for a show at the Masur Museum of Art that would be titled “Emily Caldwell, Naturally.”

The work she created was inspired by outings she took in northeast Louisiana with the Ouchleys, outings she fondly dubbed “Field Trips.”

In these trips, Emily realized the interdependence of species within the ecosystems she observed, and the resulting work stands witness to that realization. In a brochure for the show, Hickey said, “her work is like the artist herself: an improbable mixture of joie de vivre and seriousness that coalesces into beautiful, thought provoking activism.”

After witnessing Emily’s inspiration firsthand and seeing the finished work, her friend Kelby asked, “How can we not be summoned to be better stewards of these remaining natural treasures after viewing this remarkable collection?”

Emily’s current collages are full of rich colors, textures and patterns, and they feature wildlife in a fashion she describes as “almost scientific.” When conveying a creature, Emily says, “I hope to reveal its intricacies, and I want to encourage people to think about its special place in nature.” She adds, “I think if more people were biologists there would be no wars. We would respect life more.”

Several of her collages are currently on display in The Big Room Gallery, curated by Ricky Sikes. The Big Room is separated from Emily and Anna’s gallery only by a small upstairs foyer, and both galleries are located at 135 Art Alley, where Emily and Anna hosted their first show.

One thing Emily says she has learned as an artist is that people can ultimately take away whatever they want from your work, but at the same time, artists can have hopes or intentions for that work.

Sometimes she hopes simply to make people smile, to share some of her light—her insight—with them, and if it can be captured or shared, maybe a bit of holiness.

As an artist, Emily Caldwell has worn many hats and connected with many people. She has been influenced and has been an influencer. Her place in the larger narrative of the Downtown Arts Alliance is a testimony to the power of the arts to infuse life and light into people and their communities.

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Call For Entries

NCLAC is Now Accepting Applications From Visual Artists to Participate in its 19th Annual Holiday Arts Tour

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HE NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA ARTS COUNCIL IS now accepting applications from visual artists to participate in its 19th annual Holiday Arts Tour. The event is a celebration of the arts in Louisiana, featuring visual artists, musicians, writers and other performing artists. NCLAC will place artists from its five parish region of Lincoln, Jackson, Claiborne, Bienville and Union parishes first, but if enough host sites are available, artists from elsewhere in the state may participate. Applications will be accepted through Monday, September 19th.

The NCLAC Holiday Arts Tour is a juried arts market. Only unique, original works of the highest quality will be accepted.

Submissions will be shown to a committee that will determine if and where an artist will be placed with a merchant. This year’s tour will take place on December 2nd and 3rd.

Visit nclarts.org for more information and to download an Artist Application. For assistance or questions about the Holiday Arts Tour and the application process, please contact the NCLAC office at (318) 255-1450, Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm.

Visual artists who participate will have work reproduced in the full-color brochure, as well as featured posts on the NCLAC site.

The Tour weekend will promote visual, literary and performing artists and will draw visitors from around the state. NCLAC wishes to receive entries from artists in: ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, jewelry, fiber arts, mixed media, fine woodworking, etc.

NCLAC’s Holiday Arts Tour is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts council and administered by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

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Global Influence Timeless Classics SUE•ANU:

INDIAN COUTURE with a WESTERN SENSIBILITY When two raven haired beauties from opposite hemispheres meet in a small Southern town, the sky is the limit.

ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN

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ast meets West in the very best of ways when friends, busy moms and frequent collaborators Sue Sartor and Anu Lal put their minds together to create a fashion label that celebrates the very best silhouettes with the fabrications and embellishment of Indian couture clothing. The two have worked tirelessly on committees and boards to serve our communities, including the Grace Episcopal School PTF and the Twin City Art Foundation Board, which serves the Masur Museum. The friends most recently spearheaded the revitalization of Strauss Youth Theatre by creating SYAA (Strauss Youth Academy of the Arts, one of our community’s most precious resources for precocious children to nurture and discover their

love of theatre arts.

Leave it to these energetic doers to discover their shared love of couture fashion. Sue of Sue•Anu was born on the East Coast, studied fine art at Tulane, lived in Europe and returned to work in New York City for famed designer, Calvin Klein at his zenith, dressing models for Fashion Week and visually merchandising stores ahead of the designer’s personal appearances.

Anu of Sue•Anu was born in Houston, spent her teenage years in Delhi, India, then returned to the US to pursue an engineering degree. For Anu,the art of couture clothing is the norm in India. For example, you will find only one person between you and the people who actually weave your garment’s fabrics, she explains. While designer brands have been more prevalent in the United States, branded

couture in India has only come about in the late 1990s and 2000s.

While Sue is the partner tasked with the creative side of the business, Anu has had a business relationship with the couturier in India for over 19 years; and her extensive knowledge of Indian fabrics and natural business acumen has been crucial to Sue•Anu’s early successes.

Explains Anu of her distinctive working partnership with Sue, “We work really well together, because we process information differently.”

“And it works well cause we naturally gravitate toward similar silhouettes and appreciate the art of couture clothing,” adds Sue.

For Sue•Anu, Anu is the direct link to the couturier who for over 20 years has designed the traditional Indian clothing for her and her family. “His goods were in the same stores and sold alongside the biggest couture brands in India. His work in India is known as exceptional,” says Anu of the couturier.

Says Sue of working with their Indian couturier, “We are able to send him our designs for handstamped fabrics and he is able to work with weavers and artisans to create the looks we want. I send loose sketches, and our fabricator sends the block printed fabric back to us for approval.”

The Sue•Anu design aesthetic is based on embroidery and luxurious fabrics and textures. While the fabrics and embroideries are traditional in the Indian sense, Sue•Anu has designed the clothing to be highly wearable with light silks, cottons and luscious brocades of quality in silhouettes that are flattering to the body. “We are focusing on wearability and timeless style,” says Sue. Easy pieces, like cotton kaftans or short ponchos in hand-stamped cottons or light silk, are great for throwing on with a pair of jeans, boots or heels with for a ballgame or night out. Silk tunics and elegant dresses in rich brocades are refined with customizable embroidery in various shades of metallics from a soft silver to a polished gold and offer thousands of options for modern dressing. Think Tori Burch, Vince and Emerson, but totally designed in the fabrica-

tion and the embellishments that will make each piece completely yours.

For Fall 2016, Sue•Anu will be offering brocades in different tone on tone metallic hues, which are right on trend. Beginning this season, the company will begin carrying stock pieces that will be ready to try on and sell.

The company’s first Pop Up Collective with other like minded artists and designers will take place in San Antonio on September 7 and 8, with others to follow in New Orleans, Dallas, Houston and Monroe.

What a fun way to find globally inspired, locally designed pieces for your home and wardrobe!

One of the most popular styles, the “Lucy” dress, features a deep “V” front and back with a self banded waist.

Sue has designed an adorable crop top with a scallop or V neck to be paired with a cute flounce skirt – a cute twopiece option for girls in the know. Those same girls will love the new shorter poncho styles, as well.

The “Uma” tunic, named for Anu’s close friend Dr. Uma Rangaraj, is a classic when fabricated with Chandori silk, which is a breathable 80% cotton and 20% silk, perfect for our Louisiana weather.

“Everything has to feel luxurious and look great,” says Sue. Fall’s new color ways for silks include Earl grey, Sky, Burnt Orange, Cardamon, Teal, Chai, Black and Brinjal, which is an eggplant hue. Other silks color available include Ivory, White, Blush, Mint, Fuschia and Taupe.

In addition to dresses, ponchos, kaftans, tunics and jacket toppers, Sue•Anu offers a line of hand stamped cotton pajamas, which will be available locally at Haven.

Of special note are exquisite, long statement necklaces hand crafted and beaded by Sue, using vintage African brass beads, agate, carnelian, malachite, amber, or jasper stones paired with carved Balinese teak and silk or suede tassels, which are attached to embroidered strips of silk.

The Sue•Anu logo and walking elephant design was created by award-winning graphic designer Kristin Brown.

Hand-stamped fabric featuring the company’s walking elephant logo is featured on the placket of each piece of clothing.

To keep up with the latest styles and offerings from Sue•Anu as well as their schedule of pop-up boutiques in cities near you, be sure to follow them on Facebook.

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August Downtown Gallery Crawl On August 4, art enthusiasts reveled at the Downtown Gallery Crawl.

From 5 to 9 p.m. eight galleries opened their doors to display our area’s finest artisans. The River Gallery presented works by Mary May, who recently won first place at the 2016 Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston. The Big Room Gallery presented potter Gary Ratcliff, among other local artists. ARENDER studio + gallery brought in Chad Schoonmanker, a Baton Rouge-based artist. Nicole Duet was featured at the newly renovated Garrett House and the Palace Gallery had Emily Ezell show her beautiful figure drawings and painting. Many more artists were on hand at various galleries showing their works.

Crawlers who missed this event will want to mark their calendars for the next crawl on October 6th.

On the Bayou Scene

1 Aris Paraguya, Anne Floyd and Jonathan Clayton 2 Victoria and Mashall Smith 3 Gaeb and Emma Cardinale 4 Chad Schoonmaker and Brad Arender 5 Victoria Smith, Kelsea McCrary, Emi McIntrye and Ben Bennett 6 AnnDerria Winston and Payton Neville 7 Zeke and Courtney Wetzel 8 Brittany Ramsey, Meaux Hansen and Alissa Russell 9 Scott A. Stone, DH Clark and Craig Henry 10 Richard and Jenn Harrison 11 Lisa Harp and Brenda Myers 12 Caroline Youngblood and Dawn Wilson 13 Bob Eisenstaedt, Dawn Eakin and Celina Wickstrom 14 Pamela Fritz and Emily Caldwell 15 Gary Ratcliff and Brian Fassett 16 Em J Cruz and Ali Hijazi 17 Griffin Ellis and Chelsey Ware 18 Arely Castillo and Taylor Norris

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Non-Profit Week at Hemline Monroe During the week of August 8 – August 13, Hemline Monroe hosted a non-profit week, where customers could donate a portion of their purchase to the organization of their choice. The organizations to choose from were ARCO, The Children’s Coalition, The Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter, Blue Star Mothers of NELA Chapter 6 and Epsilon Sigma Alpha, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. On Thursday, August 11, the store wrapped up the week with an art show, featuring the work of Nicholas Bustamante.

On the Bayou Scene

1 Clint and Whitney Causey 2 Raph Rhymes and Garnett Robinson 3 Austin Engen and Molly Butler 4 Jayme Watson and Shelly Scott 5 Ralph and Diana Asbury 6 Mariah Rogers and Madeline Rogers 7 Natalie Sutor, Hannah and Nicholas Bustamante, Josh and Leslie Culp

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Momentum Wealth Management Open House 2

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On Thursday, August 18th from 6-8pm friends and family came out to support the opening of the new Momentum Wealth Management office. The Open House provided the best coffee and entertainment in the land, courtesy of our friends at Union Mill Coffee and Smile Moore Photo Booth. The new office at 424 DeSiard Street was prepared for the open house by FineFolks, complete with a wide variety of cheese plates, cookies and bar.

Momentum Wealth Management would like to thank everyone that came out to show their support.

On the Bayou Scene

1 Lila and Chip Strode 2 Ron Purty and Matt Hightower 3 Keith Brown and Janishi Hightower 4 Steven Myers, Lindsey Lowe and Taylor Bennett 5 Cindy, Ethan and Andy Cottle 6 Angela Groce with Elizabeth and Reid Cottle 7 Walt Caldwell and Friday Ellis 8 Ashley Doughty and Brent Hightower 9 Sheena Burbridge and Myra Gatling-Akers 10 Mallory, Elam, Beckett and Caleb Savant 11 Ildiko and Daryl Lusk 12 Binh Nguyen, Matt Howse and Nathan Spruell 13 Christy Echols and Daniel Luther 14 Josh Mitchell and Ryan Lowe

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Momentum Wealth Management Building Futures

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OMENTUM WEALTH MANAGEMENT IS A FINANCIAL services firm focused on helping clients plan and build their futures. We want our clients to live with momentum, no matter what stage of life they’re in. Founded in 2013, Momentum Wealth Management believes that an advisor-client relationship works best when the advisor holds fiduciary responsibilities. Owners, Garrett Cottle and Matt Hightower, ensure the needs of the client are always put first, and choose to be held to the fiduciary standard. Fiduciaries are legally required to work in the best interest of their clients, so you can feel comfortable knowing that we’re on your side of the table.

As with anything in life, you need to have a plan to succeed. In order to develop a financial plan, we first have to identify your goals.

Identifying goals as part of the financial planning process helps us to quantify our successes or failures when planning for things like college, cars and retirement.

Momentum Wealth Management builds portfolios based on facts, not theories or market hypothesis. The focus of Fact-Based Investing is entirely on careful measurements of ‘What Is’, rather than emphasizing the predictions of what ‘might’ or ‘ought’ to happen tomorrow. We zero in on measurements that reflect the continuous tug-of-war between supply and demand. We believe that every single tick in the market - and every trend - results from imbalances in

supply and demand. After all, if there were no imbalance of supply and demand, prices wouldn’t budge at all! Fact-Based Investing makes no attempt to predict future changes or ‘the next big thing’. Instead, it relies on careful measurements of actual performance to guide portfolio construction.

With a focus on financial planning, our approach includes a six-step process that is designed to help guide you through your financial journey. During our process, we’ll establish a client-planner relationship, identity your goals, analyze your financial status, develop a plan, implement financial recommendations and monitor your progress to ensure you are on track to build your future.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re at the end of the wealth building phase, we’d love the opportunity to partner with you to help you plan your finances and build your future. Visit us at our new location - 424 DeSiard St. Monroe, LA 71201.

Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member of FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Momentum Wealth Management and Cambridge are not affiliated.

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Choice Brands at Portico Restaurant Portico Restaurant and Bar in Monroe teamed up with Choice Brands to introduce Yuengling to its patrons on Thursday, August 11th. Local beer lovers were excited to try the brews from America’s oldest brewery, which arrived in Louisiana at the beginning of August. Yuengling Lager, Light, and Black and Tan were all on hand to sample. Lottery style scratch-off tickets revealed such prizes as hats, t-shirts, and commemorative pint glasses. Along with the prizes and samples, guests learned about the storied history of Yuengling, which has been brewing beer in Pottsville, PA since 1829.

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On the Bayou Scene

1 Stuart Scalia, Ronda Herlevic, Georgie Porter, Brenda Bonin and Lisa Herlevic 2 Delia Simpson and Nancy Burch 3 Nikki Dennis, Lauren Hughes and Ashleigh Fletcher 4 Dawn Wilson, Patti McGilton and Tami Heflin 5 Amy Horstkamp and Megan Anderson 6 Kyle Roberts and Gary Blaylock 7 Meg Breard, Megan Jefcoat, Angie Baldwin and Ashley Kilpatrick 8 Kim Hartt and Darlene Johnson 9 Christy Ratcliff and Graslyn Duke 10 Lynn Ann Marsh, Donna Barefoot, Denise Hill and Buff Harvey 11 Virginia Barham and Olivia Elkins

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NCLAC Presents Agents of Change NCLAC Announces Agents of Change As Its First Film In Its 2016-2017 Southern Circuit of Independent Filmmakers

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he North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) is pleased to announce Agents of Change as the first film in its 2016-2017 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, screening on September 15th at 7:00 pm at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students, and may be purchased online at www.nclarts.org, or at the Dixie Center for the Arts prior to the show date and the day of the screening. “Red Carpet Season Tickets” for the entire series, or “A la Carte VIP Tickets” for individual films may also be purchased online, or by calling the NCLAC office at (318) 255-1450, Monday-Friday, between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Agents of Change, by directors and producers, Abby Ginzberg and Frank Dawson, presents the dramatic, untold story of black students at over 1,000 colleges and universities who organized from 1965-1972 to demand the increased admission of black students, the creation of Black Studies departments and the hiring of black faculty in order to create a system of higher education more relevant to and reflective of the black experience. The film introduces today’s generation to this forgotten history through the eyes of those on the front lines at San Francisco State and Cornell Universities.

Filmmakers Ginzberg and Dawson both earned undergraduate degrees at Cornell University. Ginzberg is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, focusing on subjects such as race and social justice. Dawson is a former media executive and producer for NBC Universal and CBS Television Network.

NCLAC’s screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director/ Producer Abby Ginzberg, plus a student panel with representatives from Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, and University of Louisiana at Monroe. The film will be moderated by Reginal Owens, Department Head for Journalism and the F. Jay Taylor Endowed Chair of Journalism at Louisiana Tech University.

Southern Circuit, the nation’s original regional tour of independent films and filmmakers, coordinates multi-week tours for invited filmmakers and their work. The series is made possible, in part, by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Founded in 1975, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization building on the South’s unique heritage and enhancing the public value of the Arts. More information about South Arts and the Southern Circuit can be found at www.southarts.org.

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Neville Tiger Kickoff Bash

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The 2nd Annual Neville Tiger Kickoff Bash was held on Saturday, August 13 at Ouachita Grand Plaza. Guests enjoyed food provided

by Portico and drinks by Marsala Beverage. A silent auction was held, and the live auction was the highlight of the night, led by auctioneer Matt McTurner. Guests bid on items donated from local business owners and members of the community. Among the items were beach trips, hunting trips, and items, packages from area boutiques and more. The monies raised will go to improve and maintain excellence in the Neville Football/ Athletic Program.

On the Bayou Scene

1 Carol Anne Barnes and Grisham Lenard 2 Chris and Lauren Voorhes 3 Anya Fulco and Dana Mullins 4 Matt and Ashley McTurner 5 Joanie Roberts and Nancy King 6 Lyndsey Ewing and Whitney Martin 7 Charlen Campbell, Page King and Latonya Williams 8 Benjy Lewis and Mike Stephens 9 Kyle Roberts and Brittany Smith 10 Carolyn Guerrriero, Lori Smart and Laura Nickelson 11 Paula Aitken and Bob Brown 12 Kimberly Landry and Gretchen Pettis 13 Shannon Newton and Amy Moses 14 Anna Claire Herndon, Toni McCarty and Jennifer Routon

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Neville High School Recognizing AP Scholars

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AP Pizza Party

HAT IS THE REWARD FOR PURSUING RIGOROUS coursework including Advanced Placement courses?

Research indicates that students who enroll in advanced coursework do better in college and career, because they are more prepared to persevere through challenges, to document and support their thinking with credible sources and to apply skills in novel situations. Administrators, counselors and teachers at Neville High School encourage all students to stretch themselves by choosing the most challenging courses available. Students prepare for Advanced Placement beginning in ninth grade with pre-AP offerings in which teachers facilitate student growth by breaking academic skills into smaller, more palatable steps along the way to the culminating Advanced Placement course and exam in junior or senior year.

When students progress to the Advanced Placement course, they will find that teachers have developed rigorous curriculum and assessments to challenge and engage students at high levels. At year end, students take an examination that assesses mastery of the skills and content learned, as well as their ability to communicate that understanding in writing. Appropriate AP scores —usually a score of 3 or higher on a 5 point scale—result in credits recognized at over 2500 colleges and universities across the world—another reward for advanced study!

At Neville High School in 2016-17, five students earned the distinction of AP Scholar. To be named to this prestigious group of students, a student must receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. Forty-six students scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam.

The following students earned AP Scholar distinction: Katherine Burkett, Angel Dixon, Mary Snellings Inabnett, Edward Seymour and Sallie Sherman. These AP students and their teachers celebrated their accomplishments at a pizza party at the home of Michael and Katherine Sandifer. The following students earned scores of three or higher on at least one AP exam: Ben Ambrose, Matthew Bhandari, Bric Braud, Emily Coenen, Kennedy Cupples, Sharif Elgourani, Cullen Guerriero, Elizabeth Hancock, Annalies Hayward, Evan Hebert, Brett Hill, Takia Hill, Mary Grace Holloway, Chika Ifediora, Jaqueline Jenson, Emma Jane Johnson, John Kade Lawrence, Chris Lin, Kayleigh Keyes, Camille Louis, Taiesha McDowell, Millicent McFarland, Emilee McGuire, Katheryne Nickelson, Katherine Patrick, Allison Payne, Parker Reneau, Aayan Rezan, Stewart Scott, Sarah Morgan Sivils, Connor Smith, Talia Teplitzky, Harrison Travis, Charlotte Trettin, Kristin Van and Darius Washington.

Congratulations AP Scholars! Neville is proud of your quest for academic excellence.

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CHIC 101

PHOTOGRAPHY

BRAD ARENDER MAKE-UP & HAIR

MEKA RELIFORD MODEL

KAYLA STITES LOCATION

GEORGIA TUCKER ELEMENTARY

A Fall Daydream

HERRINGSTONE’S

Think lace bellsleeve blouses paired with skinny jeans. Add a modern tall bootie and long statement necklace.

Book Smart

THE FASHION OF RUSTON Get all A’s in this unstructured jacket paired with a slim cropped pant. A neutral pump and statement bag are great choices.

Most Likely To Succeed

HEMLINE

Casually move to the top of the class wearing this off the shoulder dress paired with over the knee suede boots. The season’s best choker and fold over clutch complete the look.

Handraiser BEAU MONDE

Try this two piece suede blouse and skirt with braid detailing for an attention getter.

Layer on stacked bangles and a long crescent pendant with neutral heels.

Head of the Class K-SERA

Turn up the volume with a cropped suede blouse with mock neck. Pair with a flare jean, neutral heel. A dainty necklace makes the grade.

Study Break ANITRA’S

Late nights call for great dresses like this halter neck A-line dress. Bangles, strappy neutral heels and a beaded clutch add interest.

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TEAM EFFORT

THE ART OF BUILDING A HOME IS MADE ALL THE MORE FUN WHEN THE HOMEOWNERS, ARCHITECT AND BUILDER ARE ON THE SAME TEAM. INTERIOR DESIGN BY BUFFY WALKER | ARCHITECTURE BY CASSIDY KEIM CONTRACTING BY CHRIS MORAN

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fter moving 10 times in the past 19 years and setting up home in everything from a turn of the century Victorian to a trailer, Buffy and Scott Walker got to know the little details that make a home special. Having built and remodeled several of their homes over the past two decades, the couple were ready to take on this latest project with the help of local architect Cassidy Keim of Catalyst Design and contractor Chris Moran of Chris Moran Construction, Inc. The homeowners had worked with Chris before when building their home in Ruston’s Creeks Edge neighborhood and were eager to continue their successful partnership on this new project. The designing and building trio of Buffy, 154 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Cassidy and Chris have proven that beautiful can be functional and stylish and warm and welcoming, as well.

“When we set out to build this house, we wanted our guests to feel immediately at ease and comfortable,” smiles Buffy. “I wanted it to seem as if it was an old house. Our home is a reflection of all the places we have lived.”

She adds laughingly, “We moved ten times to get here.”

Buffy recounts looking back in an old journal she kept, “The banker back then told us we could buy a $150,000 house. I got so excited over hearing that news! We have truly loved every house we’ve owned.”

Making a visual connection to the landscape that surrounds and envelopes the home was key for architect Cassidy. The house is

nestled on a high ridge that runs along the property, surrounded by nothing but mature native hardwoods. Walls of French doors with oversized panes allow cascades of light to saturate the living spaces. “The home is sited high up, so you feel like you are in the tree tops,” says Cassidy.

Cassidy Keim received his undergraduate and masters degrees in architecture from Louisiana Tech. “I had an offer to work in Baton Rouge for a bigger firm, but decided to stay here in Ruston, because we are passionate about here,” he says of Ruston. When he and Buffy first sat down to discuss plans for the home, they first talked about how the house would feel and function, rather than its style. Keim built a full 3D visual model of the home so that the homeowners could do a “walk-through” before the foundation was even poured. “The 3D model helps me communicate the design effectively,” says Cassidy. “It was so rewarding seeing the whole process – to start from nothing, just an idea, and watch it come together. I enjoy coming back and seeing how my projects are lived in.”

Contractor Chris Moran, a 17 year veteran of the construction business, explains about his company’s collaboration with Catalyst Design and the Walkers, “Buffy is that great client who gives our team the latitude to

do something unique. We help each other, because we work together so well.

My favorite part of working on the Walkers’ home is that it was not cookie-cutter, and we were able to do some really neat things. Homeowners like the Walkers can make a job. It’s not about the money. We just want to be proud of what we do in our small community.”

Buffy is known for her artistic pursuits both as a painter and art educator.

She used her creative abilities to create the interior design for her home that is simultaneously chic and encourages the kicking off of shoes and relaxing. With two teenage boys and two dogs, this is precisely the kind of style that encourages friends and family to linger longer. Of her construction process, she says, “These two guys [Cassidy and Chris] did a phenomenal job of listening to their client and figured out how to do everything I asked.”

During the building process Buffy’s husband, Scott, whom she describes lovingly as amazing and funny, kept the process light, frequently coming up with off the wall requests for the architect and builder, some real…some just for fun. Scott, you see, is a University of Kansas megafan, who takes his family on an annual pilgrimage to watch his favorite team play. To celebrate his beloved Jayhawks, Scott’s office features a unique ceiling medallion of the Kansas mascot. Scott himself painted the medallion, which is suspended from the ceiling and backlit for maximum effect. Built-in cabinetry is filled to capacity with Jayhawk memorabilia. A former basketball coach, Scott calls the shots now as an insurance agent.

From the road that winds through the Ruston subdivision, you would barely know the Walkers’ home was hidden behind the verdant branches of tall oaks. Ascending the driveway as branches make way, the columned veranda beckons guests toward the front door. At night, the tower where the boys’ rooms are located glows from within.

Buffy’s art studio is located to the left of the home’s front door, which is well lit by large gas lanterns. A large fleur-de-lis fountain, in honor of her dad and his love of the New Orleans Saints, delineates the separate entrance to her studio. The art room is home to where Buffy teaches art lessons for children WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2016 155

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as well as adults and creates her own adorable canvases, which are sold at Sue Paperie in downtown Ruston. The room is an incredibly versatile space and can even double as a guest room with a sofa bed. The sink is recessed into a wall cubby, so it is easily accessible yet visually out of the way. Artistic vision is carried through in the room as one needs only to look up to enjoy the soaring groin vaulted ceiling.

In the coffered ceilinged living room, from the front door, one can see through the voluminous space all the way to the luxurious pool and outdoor living area. Another view down the long central hallway reveals Cassidy’s obsession with everything being on axis and centered. The result is a very clean lined feel without the home having to be ultra-modern. A church pew from one of Scott’s dad’s churches in Douglas, LA has a place of significance. Her father’s roll-top desk is another piece the couple treasures and has incorporated into the design of their home. Economical yet stylish sofas in neutral linen with nailhead trim were found on Internet design site, Joss and Main. Buffy sourced the decorative urn on the coffee table from Shreveport’s Lewis and Co. The mantle in the living room was built by Chris to replicate a mantle the couple had loved in a previous home.

The master bedroom and accompanying en suite bathroom is a veryconscious effort on the part of the homeowner to be pared back to the essentials, with no wasted space. “We wanted lots of windows to fill our bedroom with natural light, and these doors lead to the pool,” says Buffy.

Luxurious bedding and soft carpeting underfoot create a spa-like feel.

The bedding and curtains are from TJ Maxx. Side tables were a Joss and Main find.

In the master bathroom, the architect designed another groin vaulted ceiling under which a freestanding tub is centered. The flooring is an economical rectangular tile laid in a herringbone pattern, upping the design quotient. The space is warmed by toe kick heaters, hidden under his vanity cabinetry. Her vanity features mirrored doors for a glamorous treatment. The oversized shower gets private with a frosted glass door with the couple’s monogrammed initials.

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he kitchen, dining room and keeping area is the heart of the home.The keeping room’s ceiling treatment is made of vintage wood panels. Custom cabinetry by Robbie Wallis of Wallis Woodworks creates the backdrop for this one of a kind kitchen. The tall cabinets feature topmost cabinets with glass front doors for displaying the couple’s china. The fireback behind the gas stove top is an antique from the 1800s. When it arrived from England, a small crack had become a huge one. But never fear, Chris’ team figured out a way to make the crack become more character and less deal breaker. Backsplash tiles in a Moroccan pattern were found online and actually remind the homeowner of painted pressed tin tiles.

“Chris did a great job of keeping us in line with our appliance costs which helped keep us on budget,” says Buffy. Instead of a more pricey brand of refrigerator and freezer, Buffy created the visual look of an extremely high end dual side by side by placing a Frigidaire stainless steel freezer and refrigerator with an added-on kit that makes it look like one piece of high end machinery. Buffy splurged on her favorite “Sonic” ice maker, finding all of her appliances from Barrett’s in Shreveport.

Two copper lantern pendants provide task lighting above the kitchen island. The island provides seating for four, as well as an out of the way place for ovens and a below counter microwave. An undermounted prep sink on the island and a large farmhouse sink provide plenty of coveted sink space. The farmhouse sink is positioned beneath a window which offers views of the front lawn and forest, which often reveal a pair of spotted fawns and their mother as they pass through.

In the dining room adjacent to the kitchen, rolling upholstered storage doubles as stool seating around the table.

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The tower foyer is lined with vintage, white-washed wood siding. Upstairs, the boys have full reign. The landing provides just the right amount of space for a sitting room. Both boys’ bedrooms are located off the upstairs common area. Designed with the future in mind, Cassidy placed the boy’s bedrooms upstairs so that when they are off at college, the tower can be shut down to reduce heating and cooling costs. When the boys have families of their own and visit, the tower is all theirs again.

A doggy door in the laundry room is just one of the functional gems the Walkers had built into their home.

Another is a key drop area by the back door which alleviates the age old “where’s my keys?” scenario.

The half bath is an area where Buffy’s creativity on a budget reached its maximum potential. She had seen an antique tile that she wanted to position around a mirror but discovered the cost was prohibitive. Her solution? She positioned a pair of sconces backed with antiqued mirror from Paul Michael on either side of a large mirror to achieve a gorgeous effect. This bath is also accessed from the outdoor living space as well.

“This is where the basketball team comes and hangs out after the school and after the game,” says Buffy pointing to the outdoor living area and pool. Old St. Louis brick was used to create a fireplace and focal point. All of the outdoor furniture was sourced from Lincoln Outdoor Living.

The Walker’s dream home is a light-filled beacon on a Ruston hilltop. Here’s to the teamwork that made it happen!

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Think Tank at Tower Place

On Thursday, July 28, Think Tank at Tower Place hosted a ribbon cutting and opened their collaborative workspace. This endeavor

by Holyfield Construction is a space for small business owners, entrepreneurs, sales reps, remote workers and small teams to operate out of, host meetings and conferences and more. Guests toured the facility, located on the first floor of the iconic Tower Place Building on N. 19th Street in Monroe. In addition to enjoying beverages and hors d’oeuvres, members of the community were able to check out some of the amenities including video conferencing, wireless screen projection and a large training and meeting room.

On the Bayou Scene

1 Lila Strode, Jay Curtis and Michael Echols 2 Scott Martinex and Sue Nicholson 3 Kalynda Cook and Nick Oliver 4 Daphne McClish and Keith Brown 5 Frederick West and John Mitchell 6 Robert Moore and Chris Holyfield 7 Rhonda Haygood and Mike Breard 8 Tom Janway and Alana Cooper 9 Loura and Guy Barr 10 Joe Holyfield, Amanda Edge and Mike Walsworth 11 Andi Holyfield and James Moore 12 Adam Greene and Kathy VanVeckhoven

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Written by Meredith McKinnie Photographs by Martin G Meyers

Kita K. Wright A native of West Monroe, Louisiana, Kita Wright’s style can be summed up in one word, comfort. A graduate of Carroll High School and The Art Institute of Dallas where he focused on video production, Kita started his business, Proworks Productions in 2000, offering services in video production, photography and graphic design. He also specializes in media production of political campaigns. Kita’s family owns the Monroe Free Press, and Kita must be ready to go when the news media calls. As a result, his style is one of comfort and convenience.

Kita describes himself and his style as “down to earth.” He admits he’s not a suit and tie person, though he does own them for the appropriate occasions. Instead, he typically opts for a Polo shirt and blue jeans. It’s essential that his style be relaxed as he could be called to start shooting video or pictures at any time. His jeans are not expensive; rather he chooses the pairs around $20.

His splurges come in the form of boots, his favorites being lizard and gator. Kita doesn’t identify as a “clothes person,” but he does claim to be a “tool junkie.” His money goes to equipment for his business and various tools used to do his carpentry work in his downtime.

His most influential role model is Jimmy Young of Newcomer, Morris and Young, an advertising agency. Kita says Jimmy has “all the good tools and toys.” But mostly he taught Kita the importance of being genuine.

Kita’s style motto is: “Be yourself. Dress for yourself.” Regardless of one’s style choices, if it comes from an honest place, it’s always in fashion. People frequently ask Kita, “Why are you always in jeans?” His response, “That’s just me.”

Bill Hogan A current resident of Lincoln Parish, Bill Hogan grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, graduated from Oklahoma State, and moved all over the country before finally moving to Ruston in 1989. He moved to Ruston to work with his father in the residential construction and development business, which led him into the lumber business as owner of the Do-It Center. In the early 2000s, he joined his family as an owner of Hogan Hardwoods & Moldings. In 1996 he became a board member of Ruston Building & Loan, which later became Bank of Ruston. In 2008 Bill changed careers and became an employee of Bank of Ruston and was named president in 2011. ”Today, he serves as president and CEO. He is extremely excited about the growing economy in Northeast Louisiana.

He is married to Kelly Boren Hogan, owner of The Fashion of Ruston, and they have two daughters, Natalie and Taylor.

Bill is a self-described “CrossFit addict!” He understands the importance of exercise and healthy living, which shows in his passion for cooking. He loves to entertain and cook for family and friends. Bill loves anything from home cooking, grilling, gumbo or “really anything in cast iron.” Bill calls his culinary style a collaborative effort with his wife, Kelly, as his sous chef.

Since Bill loves the outdoors and is an avid golfer and duck hunter, he dresses casual as much as he can. Earlier this year, Bill was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards as Commissioner of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Bill dresses “fairly traditional” and prefers to buy his clothes locally. His favorite clothing brand is Peter Millar; he believes ties are for weddings and funerals and prefers golf shoes over dress shoes. Bill’s favorite article of clothing is his twenty-year old black Tallia jacket, but his absolute favorite things to wear are his golf clothes. Whether he’s wearing his business suit and tie or his favorite hunting shirt, Bill is all about family, community and economic growth.

Friday Ellis Owner of Governors Cigar & Pipe in Monroe, Louisiana, Friday Ellis is refined, somewhat dapper and sharply styled. Dad to Friday III, Asher and Aurie Grace, he and his wife Ashley Ellis have recreated that same style in the local cigar shop, where a masculine edge meets attention to detail. Friday claims, “When you walk in Governors, you see my face, but my wife creates the atmosphere.” Ashley even selected the cigar profile for their newest venture, Governors very own cigar brand made by Black Label Trading Company in Estelli, Nicaragua. The cigar is appropriately named The Governor and the First Lady; it is petite, pigtail capped, mimicking the curls of his wife’s hair. The cigar will be a shop exclusive and is a realized dream for Friday, who always wanted to “create something in the cigar industry.”

Friday’s style around town is his version of simple: boots, Japanese denim and an Oxford shirt, a stand-out in most rooms in Monroe where the average male opts for slouchy casual. Friday believes signature scents to be just as important as attire, as they complement each other. He’s not afraid to “stray away from the pack and find something that no one else wears.” He loves the House of Creed scents, as “they make some of the world’s most famous fragrances that are timeless and masculine.” On a date night with Ashley, he spiffs it up even more with by selecting a jacket with bold colors or patterns, dark selvedge denim or slacks.

He was inspired by his dad Friday Ellis Sr. who frequently stepped out in his Hickey Freeman suits and Allen Edmond shoes, quite the example of putting effort into one’s appearance. Emulating his dad’s effort, Friday’s attention to presentation is precise, from the sharp colors of his jackets to the staple cigar in his right hand. Friday claims, “Regardless of your style, be confident in what you wear. Don’t be afraid of choosing bold colors or mixing patterns. And most importantly, don’t be afraid of public opinion.” Since Friday always has a cigar on him, Ashley has nicknamed the front pouch of his jacket as the “Nicaragua pocket.”

Friday’s adherence to quality is evident in his business, his partner, his genteel nature, and clearly his style.

Danzie Pierce Danzie Pierce believes in the power of education. Serving as the Dean of Students at Lee Jr. High School, he wants to give back to children, because education lifts them out of poverty. Along with his wife of five years, Robyn Pierce, the assistant principal of West Monroe High School, he is actively teaching not only his blended family of six children, but others as well. Danzie thanks Charles Johnson, his own principal in elementary school, for telling him that he did have the knowledge to succeed. Serving in the Army Infantry for two years in Operation Desert Storm taught Danzie discipline. He strives to continue setting and achieving goals and staying physically fit in his civilian life.

Danzie describes his style as his own, often searching on Pinterest for outfits that stand out, that “pop.” He prefers a tailored look, noting it can be difficult to find outfits accentuating one’s frame. When people see him, he wants them to know he puts time and thought into his appearance. His closet is an explosion of color including: plaid pants, shades of orange, green, blue and red.

Danzie is not afraid of color. His accessories include shades, hat, scarves and his primary fascination, shoes, of which he has about 200 pair; his favorite brand is Kenneth Cole, reasonably priced, but good quality. He mentions David Beckham as his fashion icon, particularly for his fashion choices, casual yet professional.

Much like his everyday style, Danzie is consistently proving, by example, his mantra of, “Be who you are.” He’s showing his students their potential at school, that it’s okay to stand out and stand up. His fashion choices are just one other way he is exuding confidence, backing up his statements of individuality with expressions of boldness.

Julian Jones “Music has always been a part of my life,” claims Julian Jones. An accomplished pianist and Instructor of Voice at ULM for the last six years, Julian’s love of music began with his dad, Nathan Jones, a pastor who played guitar. Julian has also maintained a private studio with Paul Hewitt Music Company for 22 years, and he is the Director of Contemporary Music at First United Methodist Church in West Monroe. With there always being a need to lead worship, it was a natural path for Julian. His style is essential to his work, a blending that comes naturally to him. His dad was always in a suit, and Julian’s style is much similar, though at times less formal than his father.

He admits striving to be the better-dressed man in the room, his suits personifying who he is, his form of genuine expression.

Julian describes his style as “classic with an eclectic edge,” always accentuated with his own personal touches: glasses, pocket squares, socks, and various scents. He even takes the time to layer his scents; one always wants to get a hug from Julian to smell his neck. His soft-spoken tone and genteel, welcoming nature puts people at ease while his attire demands respect and admiration.

His shirts are often tailored from J. Hilburn, with his shoes and accessories by Billy Reid.

His appearance is consistently elegant, often transitioning from day to night with the simple addition of a blazer.

Julian insists, “Style should be natural. It shouldn’t be contrived or have that feeling of trying too hard.” And much like the music he respects, his wardrobe commands that same attention. This blending of the two passions manifests itself at recitals and concert venues, and is often determined by the style of music being played. His attention to detail with each note is recreated in each outfit. His appearance is note worthy, and more often than not, Julian will consistently be the best-dressed man in the room.

makeup by Minerals Black Tie Grooming & Cosmetic Collection

Joshua Culp Serving in the Army and National Guard for the last nineteen years, a venture into fashion seemed an interesting and unexpectedchoice for Joshua Culp. Along with his wife, Leslie Culp, and with the help of his sister, Natalie Sutor, the couple opened the doors of Hemline Monroe in February 2014. Joshua was most intrigued by the business aspect, not becoming a “fashion mogul.” The changing industry of fashion keeps it exciting. Some brands that are popular in the spring fade away by the fall; it keeps both consumers and business owners on their toes. Joshua’s military background taught him the importance of organization, team building, communication and an ability to work with people. In the military, one can’t be only authoritative; this taught Joshua to adapt to different personalities, a trait that is serving him well with the store.

Joshua describes his style as simple. For a dinner outing, one might spot him in a button-down shirt and jeans, perhaps a jacket, a younger version of something more traditional. He exudes a quiet confidence.

Married to Leslie for over three years, Josh confidently chooses his wardrobe and is responsible for his own style. Still being fulltime military, Joshua stays busy, but his style stays consistent. Even though this interview was way out of his comfort zone, Joshua did it with that same quiet confidence. Joshua claims, “Everybody sees things differently.”

His ability to get along with others and maintain his own originality keeps him true to himself and makes him one of our style icons. Joshua and Leslie are expecting their first child this fall, a baby boy named Jack Henry. Just like his military adventure, then fashion venture, his step into parenthood will surely be another one of Joshua’s successes.

Jay Stephenson A Monroe native and graduate of St. Frederick Catholic High School, Jay Stephenson has been a buyer for Hollis & Company Jewelers for the past seventeen years. He claims he simply fell into it after being asked to help out for one week during an event. But quickly he also fell in love with the beautiful pieces of jewelry for their craftsmanship and design. His attention to detail and eye for elegant, timeless pieces carries over to his own closet where sophistication reigns supreme.

Jay describes his style as “tailored with unexpected touches.” He is not afraid of statement pieces. At work, one can find Jay in a suit and tie. For dinner, he often trades the suit for jeans, removes the tie, but wears a jacket. He claims, “I wear what I’m feeling at the moment.” Surprisingly, his closet is made up of fewer pieces than one might expect, as he often edits his clothes. He purchases timeless pieces that he can mix and match, and he loves luxurious shoes.

With a selection of 20-30 pair, Jay insists, “Shoes elevate whatever else I’m wearing.”

He inspires risk-taking. Like the bold patterned pants in this feature’s shot, Jay exudes confidence with his selections. He doesn’t just wear it; he owns the look. He’s not afraid to stand out, to start the trend, to be the statement in the room. Finding genuine joy in clothes, he admits his outfits change the way he feels each day. He is inspired by Tom Ford with his put-together, classic style that Jay emulates. His advice to other seeking sophistication, “Get better shoes. Get a tailor. Invest in quality, timeless pieces. Ron Alexander is who I rely on for custom suits and shirts. Most of all, wear what makes you feel good.”

makeup by Minerals Black Tie Grooming & Cosmetic Collection

BUILT FOR GREATNESS

The Henry Bry Architectural District Preservation Charrette

ARTICLE BY PATRICK TRISLER

A

rchitecture is much more than just the sum of four walls and roof. It is a synthesis of art and engineering. A visual representation of the tastes and technologies of a people at a particular point in time. An ideal can be written down and put on a shelf to be forgotten, but buildings confront us with their ideals on a daily basis, and for better or worse, are much harder to ignore.

With that in mind, preservationists and interested citizens gathered to discuss the state of the architectural treasures of Monroe the weekend of May 28 in an informal roundtable workshop hosted by the Cooley House Foundation in association with Tulane University. The discussions were chaired by Mr. John Stubbs, the Director of Preservation Studies Program at Tulane University, and local area preservationist John Denison. Mr. Stubbs is a Monroe native and the son of local area architect King Stubbs. He has a long and prolific background in the field of preservation, serving with the World Monument Fund and acting as a Professor of Historic Preservation for Columbia University, among many other accomplishments.

The focus of the workshop was the Henry Bry District, a small neighborhood located in south Monroe that contains a broad cross section of architectural contexts and styles.

In one way or another, this site represents most of the historical eras of Monroe from its creation through to the present. The future of this spacial museum was what brought these concerned citizens together.

Under specific consideration were two landmark sites located within the district, the Layton Castle and the Cooley House. By a happy coincidence, these two sites sit right next door to each other on Riverside Drive.

Opposite, the Castle is the Masur Museum, with its own rich cultural history, acting as a anchor of the community.

Layton Castle started life as a plantation home in 1814. Over the generations, the original structure was transformed by the family into an eclectic manor house and today is known as ‘Layton Castle’ due to its imposing grandeur. It contains ‘approximate172 SEPTEMBER 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

ly’ 60 rooms. The dramatic crenellated tower in particular earns it the title. The expansive grounds still contain remnants of mulberry trees brought to the site in the hopes of starting a silkworm farm. The castle is privately owned by Mrs. Carol Layton Parsons, a descendent of Henry Bry, the original builder.

Mrs. Parsons grew up in the house and still inhabits the upper two stories. The lower stories have been converted into apartments.

The Cooley House is an architectural wonder in its own right. This house was built in the iconic Prairie Style in 1925 and is instantly discernible. This style was meant to define a new pattern for the American home, one that was divorced from the traditional styles of Europe. It is characterized by an open floor plan with an emphasis on the horizontal.

Though very few Prairie Styles homes were built in the South, the Cooley House is a clear and even daring example of the style. The house was purchased by the City of Monroe in 2008 and thanks to the efforts of the Cooley House Foundation, has undergone several phases of restoration.

Discussions focused on each site during a day-long brainstorming session. Participants were divided according to their areas of expertise such as advocacy, education, and architecture, and asked to generate opportunities and constraints in that area. Ideas were then presented to the overall group and cross-referenced to develop areas of focus.

As expected, plans of action were different

for each site, since one is privately owned and the other public.

Recommendations for the Castle included the initiation of an umbrella group that was concerned with the preservation of the entire neighborhood . Another suggestion was the archiving of existing conditions and relevant material. The furniture alone in the building represents the accumulation of generations and needs to be catalogued as such.

It was also noted that the house has as many stories as it did additions, and that was what gave the building it’s vitality.

The Cooley House, being owned by the City of Monroe, had a different set of goals and objectives. First steps include securing the physical condition of the building, but with the guidance of a Prairie School restorationsist. One far reaching goal was the establishment of an entity that guided and archived preservation in North Louisiana.

This organization could be headquartered at the Cooley House. This way it could act as an inspiration for the local neighborhood and a resource for the area at large.

The first in a hopeful sequence of motion, the workshop was able to assemble the talents necessary to develop a working ‘first step’ plan for each of the sites. Incorporated into those plans was the relation that each site has with each other and with the district.

These steps will hopefully allow the buildings to tell their stories far into the future.

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SETTING the CURVE

MARTIN G. MEYERS HAIR & MAKE-UP MEKA RELIFORD MODEL CHLOE CANTU LOCATION NEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY

Eleven 26 This black velvet pant is perfect for fall football games. Pair it with this printed kimono, and camel-colored top for a completed look. We are crazy about these neutral heels and stacked beaded bracelets.

The Fleurty Ginger Boho chic is back in a big way. Chloe is ahead of the class in this knit, fringed top and striped palazzo pant. This look is completed by adding a choker and long, tassel necklace and suede wedges.

Cara’s Boutique For a foolproof back-toschool ensemble, Cara’s paired this aztec printed knit cardi with a soft, long-sleeve tee. Over-theknee boots and a haute hat pump up the drama.

Free Birds Boutique Chloe is too cool for school in this button-down denim dress from Free Birds Boutique.

Finish the look by adding a plaid button-down shirt and leather booties for perfect chemistry.

Beehive Chloe is darling in this simple, yet stunning outfit from Beehive in Ruston.

We love this printed shirt paired with this button-embelished skirt and black bootie.

Mr. P’s Tees From the library to the big game, Chloe rocks this White Tiger Print Tee from Mr. P’s Tees. $5 of every tee sold will be donated to help buy a Boomer Ball for Timmy the Tiger at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo.

Erin’s Attic Chloe is casual chic in this green skinny jean from Erin’s Attic in Ruston. This anything-but-basic black top is paired with a green lace racerback bralette.

Get an A+ by adding this black suede heel and fringed statement necklace.

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Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com

September 1-24 Hometown Teams

This Smithsonian exhibit tells the stories of underdog heroics, larger-than-life legends, fierce rivalries and the gut wrenching defeats that shaped sports in America.

Cost: Free and open to the public Venue: Lincoln Parish Library Address: 910 North Trenton Street, Ruston September 1 First Thursday Downtown Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm

On the first Thursday of every month join Antique Alley for extended shopping hours.

Enjoy sips, nibbles and store specials during extended shopping hours at participating merchants Venue: Antique Alley Address: 100-400 blocks of Trenton Street West Monroe LA, 71292 Admission Cost: Free www.antiquealleyshops.org September 3 Painting in the Park!

Time: 9 am-12 pm

Come to the Kiroli Park Tennis Shelter and paint a canvas or ceramic for only $10! Larger canvases will be available for $15. We supply everything (even step by step instructions for a variety of paintings) or bring your own ideas! All ages are welcome.

Please remember that acrylic paint is not washable, aprons are provided.

Venue: Kiroli Park Address: 820 Kiroli Road

West Monroe LA, 71291 Admission Cost: $10-$15 Phone: 318-355-4720 Web: www.westmonroe.com/ departments/parks/kiroli.php My Mini Masur Drop-In Activity Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm

Bring your kids and let the creativity flow at the Masur Museum as they create an art project. This event is free of charge and children will leave with a unique art project.

Venue: Masur Museum of Art Address: 1400 South Grand Monroe LA, 71201 Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-329-2237 www.masurmuseum.org Warhawk Football; ULM vs. Southern Time: 6:00pm

Come and cheer on the Warhawk Football team as they open the season against Southern! From the tailgate to the game this evening full of fun will have you cheering the whole time!

Venue: ULM Malone Stadium Address: 514 Warhawk Way Monroe LA, 71203 Admission Cost: Lower Bench (Sections 101-107) - $25; Upper Chairback (Sections 202206) - $25; General Admission (upper WEST or EAST) - $15; GROUP PRICING AVAILABLE; for ticket packages visit the ULM football website.

Phone: 318-342-1000 www.ulmwarhawks.com Ice and Ivy On The River Time: 9:00 pm-1:00 am

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ULM vs. Southern Alumni After Party sponsored by the Eta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Zeta Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Come out and enjoy the beautiful view of the River and be entertained with live music from the band “Pulse” and DJ Rob Lloyd.

Venue: RiverMarket Address: 316 South Grand Monroe LA, 71203 Admission Cost: $10 Phone: 318-807-9985 downtownrivermarket.com September 8 Taste of Home Cooking School Time: 4:00 pm-9:00 pm

Come out to the West Monroe Convention Center for Taste of Home Cooking School show. At this event Culinary Specialists will demonstrate step-by-step instructions to create satisfying and flavorful dishes. The jam-packed program offers tips on easy-to-prepare recipes with step-by-step instructions to create dishes that feature familiar, everyday ingredients.

Venue: West Monroe Convention Center Address: 901 Ridge Avenue West Monroe LA, 71291 Admission Cost: $9-$20 Phone: 318-396-5000 Web: www.eventbrite.com/e/ taste-of-home-cooking-schooltickets-26728600965 Black Bayou Open House Time: 6:30 pm

Meet Black Bayou Lake

National Wildlife Refuge complex leader and find out what is happening with the pier and the new hunting area on the south side of the lake. Also what activities will be coming up this fall and what you can participate in and/or volunteer to help with. Also find out what Friends of Black Bayou is doing and how you can help. Light refreshments will be served and we will be hosting at the Visitor Center.

Venue: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Address: 480 Richland Pl Drive Monroe LA, 71203 Admission Cost: free Phone: 318-387-1114 Web: www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/blackbayoulake Talks On Tower Time: Noon

Lea Ann Jones, LPN and Ashley Ratcliff, BS present “AIM: Acute Illness Management.”

Venue: St. Francis Community Health Center Address: 2600 Tower Drive Monroe, LA Phone: 318-966-7054 September 9-11 Big Creek Trade Days Time: 9am-6pm Friday and Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday

Shop a mix of unique gifts, antiques, hand-made items and more treasures from a huge variety of vendors!

Cost: $5 for parking Venue: Big Creek Trade Days Address: 327 California Plant Road, Dubach

September 10 Downtown Donut Dash Time: 8:30 am-11:30 am

Get ready for the 4th Annual Downtown Donut Dash! 1 donut awaits you at every mile aid station. So do the math, that’s 3 donuts before you cross the finish line!

Venue: RiverMarket Address: 316 South Grand Monroe LA, 71203 Admission Cost: $20 – $27 Phone: 318-807-9985 Web: www.eventbrite.com/e/ downtown-donut-dash-tickets-26502949034?aff=efbevent Landry Vineyards presents: Code Blue & The Flatliners Time: 4:00 pm-7:30 pm

Landry Vineyards winery outdoor concert featuring Code Blue & The Flatliners! A mix of 60’s,70’s,80’s, and country music will have you, family and friends dancing all night. Make sure you pack your lawn chair, blanket and picnic dinner and enjoy the outdoor show.

Venue: Landry’s Vineyard Address: 5699 New Natchitoches Road West Monroe LA, 71292 Admission Cost: Adults: $10; Ages 13-18: $5; Children 12 & under: Free Phone: 318-557-9051 www.landryvineyards.com September 15 Downtown River Jam: Dueling Pianos Time: 6:00 pm-9:00 pm Come out to Downtown River Jam and watch local legends, Josh Madden and Kenny Bill live on the Skent-N-Dent stage, as they perform classics on dueling pianos. Seating limited! Reserve your table today at Eventbrite.com. Food trucks will be on site, and beer tastings will be provided by Choice Brands.

Venue: Bry Park Address: 110 DeSiard Street Monroe LA, 71201 “Agents of Change” Time: 7 pm

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documentary on the movement for black and ethnic studies that stemmed from the Civil Rights movement on college campuses. This is the first in a six film series from the Southern Circuit Film Tour.

Cost: Tickets are $5 Venue: Dixie Center for the Arts Address: 212 North Vienna Street, Ruston September 16-18 2016 Southern National Time: Friday 8:00am-9:00pm, Saturday 8:00am-end of races, Sunday 7:30am-end of races

Come out and see the 7th Annual Indoor Offroad R/C Race at The Ike Hamilton Expo.

Venue:Ike Hamilton Expo Center Arena Address: 501 Mane Street West Monroe LA, 71292 Phone: 318-325-9160 Web: theike.com September 17 Race for the Cure Time: 8:00 am

Help support and fund cancer research and treatment at this 5K and 1 mile fun run.

This is the largest 5K series in the world and the largest 5K in Northeast Louisiana.

Venue: Forsythe Park Address: Riverside Drive & Forsythe Avenue Monroe LA, 71201 Admission Cost: Registration fees vary from $25 - $35 Phone: 318-329-2439 KoMen Jambalaya Cook-Off Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Think you have the best Jambalaya around? Come out and show it off at the 1st Annual KoMen Jambalaya Cook-Off. All proceeds will benefit Susan G. KoMen of North Louisiana.

Venue: Forsythe Park Address: Riverside Drive & Forsythe Avenue Monroe LA, 71201 Admission Cost: $50 per team, $5 per tasting band Phone: 318-329-2439

September 20 Rebel Runway Time: 6 pm

On September 20, fashion takes flight at the 2016 Rebel Runway.

Venue: West Monroe Convention Center September 22- October 2 Ark-La-Miss Fair

Enjoy rides, food and fun at the annual Ark-La-Miss fair in Monroe with all ride wristbands sold each day!

Venue: Monroe Civic Center Address:401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway Monroe LA, 71210 Phone: 318-396-8700 Web: www.facebook.com/ArkLaMissFair September 22 Rock ‘n’ Box Volunteer Night with Josh Madden Band Time: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Join the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana during Hunger Action Month for a rockin’ night of volunteering!

Josh Madden and his band will be jamming for volunteers as they box up food in the warehouse. Volunteers must sign up online at http://vols.pt/ fLe1wz Venue: Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana Address: 4600 Central Ave Monroe LA, 71203 Phone: (318) 322-3567 Web: www.foodbanknela.org/

Phone: 318-398-0945 www.standforhope.org September 28- October 1 Munchkin Market Fall/Winter Time: Wednesday 10:00am-6:00pm; Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm; Friday 10:00am-7:00pm; Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm

An Upscale Children’s Consignment Sale including clothes, toys, baby equipment, bouncers, shoes and so much more!

Venue:Munchkin Market Address:100 North 18th Street Monroe LA, 71201 Web: www.monroemunchkinmarket.com October 1 Bark In The Park Time: 5k registration at 7am, Race at 8 am 1k registration at 7:30 am, Race at 8:50 am Blessing of the pets at 8:30am

The Bark in the Park 5k and 1k returns. Walk or run with your pet, walk in memory of a pet or just help the cause.

Race forms are available at area vet offices or register online, orval.us.

Venue: Forsythe Park Proceeds benefit Ouachita River Valley Animal League

September 24 Black & White Ball Time: 7:00 pm-12:00 am

Get glammed up in all black and white to raise money and awareness for the Children’s Advocacy Center. Enjoy live music, decadent cuisine, a silent auction and raffle items.

Venue: Bayou DeSiard Country Club

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