DeSoto Magazine November 2015

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November CONTENTS 2015 • VOLUME 12 • NO. 11

features 54 Polar Express Arrives!

Mississippi’s inaugural event

72 Beyond the Bottomline Organizations dedicated to giving back

64 The Baddour Center Achieving dreams

departments 14 Living Well Keeping a beautiful smile

42 A Day Away Cleveland, Mississippi

18 Notables Church Health Center’s newest president

46 Holiday Gift Guide

22 Exploring Art Making Earth Grace Jewelry

80 Southern Harmony Memphis’ Gerry Finney

26 Exploring Books Introducing Ms. Martha

82 Table Talk Tupelo’s Simply Sweet

30 Into the Wild Duck Hunting, yesterday and today

84 In Good Spirits Pour a pumpkin something

34 Exploring Cuisine Did someone say soup?

38 Exploring Destinations St. Charles, Missouri magical Christmas

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78 Homegrown Sweet potato time…all year

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86 Exploring Events 88 Reflections Dear Dr. Camici

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editor’s note }

november

Two Steps Forward, One Fall Back

By the time this thought hits the page, the clocks will have been turned back and we’ll officially be in a proverbial wind down to the holidays.

Since late summer when Batesville, Mississippi received the news they would host the first-ever Polar Express train ride in the state, it feels like the holidays have already arrived. The excitement is palpable! What an honor for this town and our state.

Many things make me proud this month. Talking about The Baddour Center, the organizations whose generosity goes beyond the bottom line and the life of Martha Hawkins. All truly inspiring.

I’ve always loved the juxtaposition of these last few months in a year; while nature is busy letting go, indoors life is full. If you need a couple of food ideas for the table, look no further than page 34 where Cheré talks all about soup.

And if it’s something sweeter, head to Tupelo and let the folks at Simply Sweet introduce you to German breads and pastries.

Up the river from my vantage point, St. Charles begins a month-long Christmas celebration that will help even the biggest Scrooge feel that holiday spark. I mean, who can’t help but feel merry with chestnuts, singing and an entourage of international Santas?

November 2015 • Vol. 12 No.11

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell

EDITOR Karen Ott Mayer

CONTRIBUTORS

Closer to home, Eric caught up with Memphis’ Gerry Finney whose known largely for his music...and then so much more. His humor and joie de vivre is an inspiration to discover.

As we move into next month, we will all look to 2016 with the deepest gratitude. DeSoto Magazine continues to grow, and it’s you the reader, that makes us look forward to each month. I am personally grateful for all the wonderful feedback--and when you share your own stories with us.

From all of us at DeSoto, enjoy November, Thanksgiving, family and friends!

Karen

Paula Mitchell Andrea Brown Ross Devin Greaney Dr. Amy Wadsworth Corey Latta Charlene Oldham Mary Ann DeSantis James Richardson Adam Mitchell Cheré Coen Lazelle Jones J. Eric Eckard Robin Gallaher Branch

PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media Co.

2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 Fax 662.449.5813

DeSotoMagazine.com Get social with us!

on the cover There’s nothing better than a warm bowl of delicious soup on a brisk November afternoon.

AC’s Steakhouse in Hernando, Mississippi makes fresh, seasonal soups daily. They are located on Hernando’s historic square. www.acssteakhouse.com

© 2015 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner.

Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly

by DeSoto Media Co. Parties interested in advertising should email paula@desotomag.com or call 662.429.4617. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.

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living well } healthy smiles

A Recipe for a Beautiful Smile

By Dr. Amy Wadsworth, Hernando Dental Group

Prevention is the foundation for a beautiful smile. Caring for your teeth keeps them healthy by avoiding cavities, gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, and enamel wear or loss. Effective prevention combines athome care by you, the patient, and in-office chairside treatment by dental health professionals.

Good care starts by following a few key practices---everyday.

Daily brushing

Brush teeth at least twice each day with a soft or extrasoft toothbrush. Replace your toothbrush when the bristles become frayed or after you have been sick. Use a fluoride 16 DeSoto

toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). If unsure about how to brush your teeth, your dental hygienist can show you the best way to brush. And remember to brush your tongue, too!

Floss Daily

Plaque builds up in between your teeth and only floss can effectively remove this debris. Flossing also stimulates the gums and helps to lower inflammation. There are many types of floss available---floss picks, superfloss, floss holders and floss threaders. Choose the one that is easiest for your to manage and cleans the area the best.

Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash can decrease the amount of acid in your mouth as well as help with bad breath. Some washes even have extra fluoride to help re-mineralize your teeth. Once again, ask your dentist about the best recommendations.

Schedule Annual Dental Exams and Cleanings

The ADA recommends teeth cleanings at least two times each year. Dental disease can be caught in the early stages, protecting your smile and limiting costly dental treatments. X-rays are taken at these exams and allows the dentist to see cavities in between your teeth and any problems under the gumline. Oral cancer screenings allow the dentist to check for any abnormalities in the oral cavity. If you grind your teeth, a mouth guard may be recommended to help with TMJ symptoms.

Besides cleanings, your dentist can talk to you about other treatments.

Orthodontics may be necessary as crooked teeth are more difficult to keep clean and malocclusions (when teeth are misaligned causing a poor bite) can interfere with eating and speaking. Sealants are thin composite coatings applied over the chewing surface of the back permanent teeth and can help prevent decay from forming. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, whether it’s the color or shape or missing teeth, an annual exam is a good time to discuss any concerns with your dentist who can suggest solutions.

Drink More Water

Public water fluoridation, while controversial, is a simple way to strengthen tooth structure and make teeth more resistant to decay.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Maintain a diet full of crunchy vegetables and fresh fruits, while limiting the amount of sugary and acidic foods. Avoid smoking and drinking which contribute to increased health risks.

Oral health is linked to overall health, and as such, preventive dentistry is important to your overall well being. Detecting dental problems early leads to the best treatment options and prognosis. By following a daily routine including these suggestions, you will find a beautiful smile is within reach.

Dr. Wadsworth’s Spinach Salad

2 - 6 ounce packages of fresh spinach 2 pints fresh strawberries or raspberries, sliced Toppings can include cooked bacon, fresh broccoli, blanched snow peas or diced red onion Dressing: 1/2 cup sugar and apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds, 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds. Pulse all ingredients except oil and seeds in a blender until smooth. With the blender running, add the oil in a slow steady stream and process until smooth. Stir in seeds and chill 24 hours.

To serve, combine the spinach and berries in a large bowl. Add dressing and desired toppings.

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notables } antony sheehan

From Across the Sea

Antony Sheehan brings holistic vision to Memphis’ Church Health Center

By Corey Latta. Photography courtesy of the Church Health Center

At the crossroads of health care and the Christian faith’s mandate to care for the physical and spiritual needs of others, stands the Church Health Center. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the organization is the largest faithbased health care organization of its kind in the nation.

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Antony Sheehan with Dr. Scott Morris and Rabbi Micah Greenstein at a recent staff retreat.

Founded in 1987 by Dr. Scott Morris, a family practice physician and ordained United Methodist minister, the Church Health Center has led the integration of faith and medical services for going on 30 years.

In that time, the Church Health Center has grown from the 12 patients on its first day to the more than 44,000 patients the clinic serves annually.

With the new arrival of President Antony Sheehan, the future promises to be just as impressive as its past.

Hailing from the English Midlands, Sheehan now calls Memphis home. And he brings with him a personal history steeped in health care.

Sheehan originally trained as a nurse and spent the early part of his career in the mental health field. It was his experience with those suffering from mental illness that Sheehan first felt the painful need for holistic healthcare, especially for those whose sickness carries stigma.

“Health is about overall well-being, just as much emotional and spiritual as it is physical well-being,” Sheehan said, recalling those early formed and long held convictions.

Sheehan eventually moved into health care administration, and finding himself in a position to create policy, began to create a culture of healing for those on the margins of society and wellness. Sheehan’s vision for health care is best described as holistic, a vision caught from seeing the limitations of the care a single agency could alone provide.

“It’s no good to only replace a hip without the physical therapy required afterward, and it’s no good to provide physical therapy without the emotional support also necessary,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan’s heart for holistic health care found more room to grow when he served in Prime Minister Tony Blair’s administration as Director General for the Department of Health, where his duties included creating policy for mental health; maternity and families; children’s health care; health care in the criminal justice system; and older people’s services.

For more than a decade, Sheehan occupied a prominent place in England’s National Health Services. After a long and distinguished history in England’s health care system, one that included serving as the Chief Executive Officer of one of England’s largest Community Health Services, Sheehan ventured to the United States.

Sheehan’s journey to the Church Health Center began when he was elected as the 2011-2012 Health Foundation Quality Improvement Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston. It was during this time that Sheehan providentially heard about the Church Health Center, an organization that shared his passion for holistic health care that increased access and improved quality for those unable to attain it. Sheehan was named President of the Church Health Center two years ago.

As President, Sheehan’s hope and mission for the Church Health Center is twofold: to continue building on Founder Scott Morris’s leadership and to expand the Health Center’s impact on Memphis.

“People come to Memphis for touristy reasons, to see Graceland or the world’s tallest free standing elevator at Bass Pro Shop, but what if they came to see how the Church Health Center is changing health care?”

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Memphis’ Church Health Center

Focusing on those who are socially excluded, taking into account the massively important and predictable role poverty plays on health care, Sheehan is committed to a kind of improvement and innovation that will minister to and heal the whole self.

“Jesus said the poor you will always have with you. But you shouldn’t be able to predict which zip code they come from,” Sheehan said, noting the importance of poverty on well-being. This is the Church Health Center’s reason for being, to create health care practices and policy that take into account all facets and experiences of the human condition, from spiritual to physical to economic.

The move to Crosstown promises to be the most monumental event in the Church Health Center’s future. Crosstown, a 1.4 million square-foot renovation project resulting in a shared space vertical urban village, will be the Center’s new home.

“We are changing inside and out, when you consider Crosstown,” said Sheehan, continuing, “on the inside, we are moving from 14 different buildings to one central location, where will be working with neighbors in the arts and education, to build and collaborate systems of innovative 22 DeSoto

holistic wellness. On the outside, we are creating a model that needs to be shared. We are piloting improved concepts of health care that hopefully light the path for health care around the world.”

Challenges do exist, however. There is always the challenge of innovation and final restriction, the challenges of funding, of awareness, of support.

As Sheehan says, “more people need to know about the health center, but it is no good for people just to know we exist. They have to join in and become involved. Community support is very important to what we do.”

“Who is going to lead this vision into its fourth decade?” asked Sheehan. “Hopefully I have fresh eyes that can help see and fresh hands that can help shape the vision and continue the service the Church Health Center is known for. To demonstrate how faith and health connect to improve people’s lives, so that they may enjoy the full richness of life, that’s the mission going forward.”

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exploring art }

Herons Nesting

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earth grace

By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of Earth Grace

As a custom home designer and builder who worked with his hands all day, Al Stanford never even wore a wedding ring. So he can’t explain why, one day in 2012 when the economy was slow and the custom construction business slower, he felt inspired to go to his garage and create a piece of jewelry. “To understand how out of character that was for me, you would have to know me personally,” Stanford said. “I’m a big guy. I have hunted and fished all my life, like most Mississippi guys. My wife, ‘Miss Carla,’ would have to show me a picture of the jewelry she wanted for our anniversaries. I knew nothing about jewelry!”

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Even after that initial inspiration, it took Stanford weeks to make a piece his wife of nearly 35 years would wear.

In the process, he became devoted to applying principles he’d learned from nearly 20 years of designing and building homes to making jewelry -- reading books, watching videos and learning through trial and error. Soon, work space once home to cabinet and furniture building, duck decoy carving and custom duck and turkey call construction became devoted to jewelry design and development.

“I’ve worked with tools most of my life, so that part kind of comes naturally,” he said. “It just becomes a matter of learning to apply that to metal instead of wood. I knew how to make things beautiful and attractive to the eye. I was obsessed with learning to make jewelry that someone would appreciate.”

Stanford did that and then some when he added a single, simple element to a bracelet that had seemed incomplete, no matter what he tried. He’d sketched a cross weeks earlier, and thought it might work with the unfinished bracelet. He traced the pattern on an old piece of copper and cut it out.

“I laid it onto the bracelet and, to my surprise, it was a perfect fit,” he said. “The ‘Grace’ bracelet was born.”

So was Stanford’s new venture, Earth Grace Artisan Jewelry.

Miss Carla shared photos of the Grace bracelet on Facebook and they took some of Stanford’s pieces to art shows in the area. A few months later, they presented products at the 2012 Mississippi Market and contracted to wholesale jewelry to nine stores. So Stanford found himself making jewelry full time.

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“That Grace bracelet, we started getting orders for it and, from that time on, we’ve never had a slow minute,” he said. “Of course, we’ve got a lot more designs now, but that’s the one that really went viral. That’s the one that got us here.”

Today, Earth Grace wholesales its copyrighted pieces to nearly 250 stores in 10 states and employees 10 other artisans, including one of Stanford’s three sons, in a workshop near New Albany, Miss. There, Stanford personally trains the staff to replicate his designs.

“I do very little sketching of my original pieces,” he said of his process. “They are usually created, hands on, at my bench. I have designed hundreds of originals, but if it doesn’t excite my eye, we never produce and sell them.” The handmade bracelets, earrings, rings, and necklaces – crafted from materials including copper, bronze, sterling silver, gold and semi-precious stones -- are created by hand forging, rolling, soldering and using the process of lost wax casting.

Earth Grace’s reliance on ancient jewelry-making techniques and simple hand tools give each piece an earthy quality that echoes Stanford’s designs, which reflect regional influences including everything from Native American traditions to blues music. Perhaps most prominent are Christian themes, like those seen in his signature Grace bracelet, and in Earth Grace’s everyday operations. Stanford, who became a Christian at 16, battled and beat cancer in 2011, and said the experience renewed his focus on faith, family, forgiveness and nonjudgmental love.

“That is how we try to conduct our lives and our business,” he said. “I guess you could say that some of my designs that are very rugged and worn looking represent the scars in all our lives.”

Right now, life is sweet for Stanford whose wife, Miss Carla, recently retired after more than 20 years at Mississippi State University’s extension service, to work with the business full time. Earth Grace also employs Miss Carla’s cousin as its secretary, receptionist and office manager given the business had long since outgrown Stanford’s garage. He purchased property and a building just outside New Albany more than two years ago, expanded twice, and recently bought land across the road with plans to build if sales keep pace.

“It was something I never expected,” he said. “I was getting ready to wind down for retirement, I guess. It exploded so fast that we’re just trying to keep up with demand. We’re very thankful and blessed that it’s worked out the way it has.”

Earth Grace does not sell directly to consumers. To find a retailer near you, visit www.earthgrace.com

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exploring books} finding martha’s placeÂ

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Martha Hawkins

Soul Food Salvation Story and Photography by Mary Ann DeSantis

Martha Hawkins boundless faith and determination become an inspirational message for anyone suffering from mental illness and depression — just as she once did.

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Lima beans are always on the menu at Martha’s Place for a reason. The Montgomery, Alabama, restaurant has been the go-to place for homestyle cooking and soul food since 1988, but many customers are not aware of the struggles Martha Hawkins endured before becoming a successful restauranteur and sought-after inspirational speaker.

“Folks say that no lima bean ever amounted to much, but I know how food can become more than just food… You take something as ugly, stupid, forlorn and forgotten as a lima bean, but you cook it up just so and a powerful change happens,” explains Martha in the overture of her book, “Finding Martha’s Place: My Journey Through Sin, Salvation, and Lots of Soul Food.”

Readers may think she is describing just a bean, but her book reveals those are the same thoughts she once had about herself long before Martha’s Place became a culinary destination in Alabama’s capital city and was featured on the Food Network. After a customer from Mississippi described her lima beans as “luscious,” she realized that cooking those beans with love made them “worthwhile” after all.

When she is serving her daily bounty of Southern fried chicken, collards, peas, and – yes – lima beans, Martha’s sunny disposition and beautiful smile belie the pain and suffering she encountered as a young woman.

In “Finding Martha’s Place,” Martha describes her battles with depression and mental illness – as well as her poor choices – with astonishing candor.

The book takes readers on a journey mixed with emotions that run the gamut from sadness and despair to humorous and inspirational. At times it was hard to imagine how she would ever succeed with her dream to open her own restaurant.

“One reviewer said ‘there’s no way that could be a true story’,” said Martha with a laugh. “But it is… it just shows what determination and faith can do.”

As one of 12 children in 1950s segregated Alabama, Martha’s family was poor in material things but rich in love. Her mother’s garden was the source of many feasts for the large family, and Martha was cooking by age 12. However, a bad decision as a high school sophomore led to 30 DeSoto

a teenage pregnancy and a brief marriage. By the time, she was in her late 20s, her life was spiraling downward and she couldn’t cope. A failed suicide attempt led to a stay at Greil Memorial Psychiatric Hospital, where she discovered many things about herself, including how much she enjoyed reading an old Gideon Bible that someone left behind in her room.

“Society has put a stigma on mental illness,” says Martha. “I always wanted to tell my story, because so many other people are in the same situation.”

She held on to her dream to open a restaurant, and good luck eventually turned in her direction. Her first catering job came when Maya Angelou spoke in Montgomery. After a newspaper article appeared about the restaurant, people visited from all over the state. The restaurant outgrew its original building – an old home she describes in detail in the book — and moved into a larger location in 2012.

At age 38, she returned to school and eventually earned a degree from Troy State University. She raised four sons alone, all of whom became professional men.

“By changing my life, I watched my sons’ lives change as well,” she said proudly.

Her story indeed is inspiring and has been featured in Oprah Winfrey’s “O” Magazine, Guideposts, The New York Times, and more. She has spoken in 38 states and to the U.S. Senate. Her first cookbook will be released in early 2016 although “Finding Martha’s Place” ends with a few of her most popular recipes, including “Perfect Pecan Pie.”

But it’s more than Martha’s food and life story that have earned respect from family, strangers, business leaders, and even presidents. She describes how “stepping into God’s promise for her” required her to give back. Today, she has 23 employees – all of whom have been down on their luck in one way or another, just as she once was.

“I tell them that I don’t want to know your past; I want to know your future,” she said. “This is my way of giving back.”

And just like those lima beans, Martha watches and nourishes those employees until they, too, become “something worthwhile.”

“Finding Martha’s Place: My Journey Through Sin, Salvation, and Lots of Soul Food”

By Martha Hawkins with Marcus Brotherton Publisher: Touchstone – Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. List Price: $21.99

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into the wild } duck hunting

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Phillip Cagle of Cypress Slough Hunt Club

F lying High

Preserving duck hunting’s true traditions

By James Richardson. Photography courtesy of Adam Mitchell and Ducks Unlimited

With duck hunting season underway this month, many hunters and aspiring hunters will be cleaning up their shotguns, shopping for shells, decoys, waders, duck calls, warm clothes, and other supplies. They may even look at a new gun. They will definitely be reading up on the latest techniques on camouflage, types of shotguns and ammunition, and the forecast on duck populations. If that hunter has a lease on hunting ground, he has paid a good sum of money. Even if not, the duck hunter has spent a small fortune pursuing this very popular sport--even before hitting the fields.

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Bedroom and kitchen inside Cypress Slough Hunt Club

According to Phillip Cagle, manager and director of the Cypress Slough Hunting Club in Dundee, Mississippi, “Duck hunting has to be the most expensive sport on earth.

I have been a duck guide or have been in the duck hunting business for over 15 years. I’ve been duck hunting for over 30 years. A lot of things have changed over the years. If anyone has been hunting for a while he probably remembers the days when he could go duck hunting on a farmer’s land. Now farmers know that duck hunting is big business.” And so the lease on a duck hunting plot can be exorbitant.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) whose mission statement is “to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl” has done significant work in Mississippi for its waterfowl and for hunters. According to DU, the state of Mississippi “is part of the Mississippi Flyway and provides important winter habitat for waterfowl. In most years, Mississippi winters significant numbers of mallards and wood ducks across the state. Northwestern Mississippi comprises an important portion of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, known regionally as the Delta. Historically, flooded forests of the Delta provided reliable, high-quality habitat for millions waterfowl.

DU has worked to conserve more than 307,000 acres of waterfowl habitat throughout Mississippi.” Public waterfowl hunting lands are concentrated in northwestern Mississippi in the form of wildlife refuges and wildlife management areas.

Check the National Wildlife Refuge website (www.fws.gov) for a list of Mississippi refuges where waterfowl hunting is allowed.

The location for duck hunting is one important aspect of the sport. Terry Roberson of the Roberson Brothers Guide Service near Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee, agrees. “Finding 34 DeSoto

a good duck hunting spot is a problem for some people. But here in West Tennessee, we are blessed with a bunch of good spots. It’s hard hunting, but it’s good. For instance, we have the Hatchie and Obion Rivers, and of course, the Mississippi River.”

Equipment is another factor. “Duck hunting is a costly sport. You can spend as much as you want,” Roberson continued. “We grew up hunting ducks, rabbit, squirrel. It was a long tradition in our family. Now we guide on our private land.”

To most folks, whether hunters or non-hunters, duck hunting is killing ducks. But, looking a little deeper, there is more to this sport than shooting waterfowl. Roberson observed, “Most people we guide do it for pleasure. When we were younger, we did it for the shooting. The majority of younger hunters want to see who can kill the most ducks. We have learned that the older hunters, maybe those 40 and older, do it for the experience.”

Phillip Cagle agreed. “Duck hunting is and always will be about relationships and memories, not how many ducks you kill. It’s about a kid’s first Mallard drake and the smile on his or her face. It’s about the dog you have been working with that finally makes a complete ‘to hand’ retrieve for you! It’s about when you called in your first duck and shot it. It’s about the one time you went years ago and limited out in less than an hour and when you left the ducks and geese were ‘still funneling in by the thousands’. It’s about sharing moments with friends and family in a sport like no other. It’s not about the killing. It’s not a guarantee that you will limit out every time you go. Some days you may not see a duck. Timing, your location, Mother nature,

and the good Lord above is who controls how you do.”

Roberson added his thoughts on the real reason duck hunters do what they do.

“Really, being in God’s outdoors and seeing what He has given us makes it all worthwhile.”

After duck season is past, whether a duck hunter, or an aspiring one, spent a small fortune on hunting supplies, or hunting leases, or whether he hired an experienced guide that provided much of the supplies (including the place to hunt), he will probably remember who he was with, what they talked about, the good times they had...and not how many ducks they got.

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. One Waterfowl Way Memphis, Tennessee 38120 (800) 45DUCKS or (901) 758-3825 www.ducks.org Phillip Cagle Cypress Slough Hunting Club (901) 674-1132 www.CypressSlough.net phillipcagle2001@yahoo.com Terry and Randy Roberson Roberson Brothers Guide Service (731) 446-9501 www.ReelfootDuckHunt.com terrylroberson@yahoo.com

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exploring cuisine } seasonal soups

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Open Season on Soups

By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of Southern Comfort Cookbook and cookinglight.com

It’s fall suppertime, and one James Beard award-winning cook is making soup, filled with fall’s rich butternut squash and a host of delicate spices.

“I made it for my toddlers the other night with spices — I love spices — and thought they would love it,” said Allison Vines-Rushing, a 2004 James Beard Rising Star award winner.

Her daughter turned her nose up at the dish.

So much for the tastes of children.

Vines-Rushing is also the author, with her husband Chef Slade Rushing, of “Southern Comfort: A New Take on the Recipes We Grew Up With.” Although the West Monroe, Louisiana, native didn’t grow up on squash soup — more like Campbell’s tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches — she includes one for butternut squash with spiced crème fraîche, a testament to the book’s title. Squash was not something easily found in Southern grocery stores growing up, Vines-Rushing said, but the sweet vegetable is now available almost everywhere and can be incorporated into a rich soup perfect for fall days in the South.

The recipe incorporates flavors of licorice root, nutmeg, cinnamon and a spice purse along with white wine to add some acidity, Vines-Rushing said. The crème fraîche that’s used as a topping also comes spiced.

“We drew on those fall spices that make you think of Thanksgiving,” she said.

Vines-Rushing used to create lots of soups for her restaurants Longbranch and MiLa — she’s a stay-at-home mom now — to give vegetarians an option in the Creole city of New Orleans. Another of her favorites, also in the cookbook, is a black-eyed pea and barley broth accented with mushrooms.

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For Gwen McKee, founder of Quail Ridge Press in Brandon, Mississippi, the first hint of fall has her dreaming of gumbo. But because her company specializes in regional cookbooks, including a “Best of the Best State Cookbook Series” in which McKee and editor Barbara Mosley traveled the country looking for each state’s best recipes, her fall soups run the gamut, from soup baked inside a pumpkin to acorn squash soup.

“We completed every state in the U.S.,” McKee said.

“We did a second round, then did a third round for Louisiana.”

Some of her favorite fall soup recipes include the easy “Storm Weather Chili” from Iowa, a chili from Cincinnati flavored with cinnamon, allspice and cocoa and a sweet potato bisque from Pennsylvania that allows substitution of low-fat ingredients and “is delicious either way,” McKee said.

Although we’ve spotlighted a pumpkin spice soup recipe from Quail Ridge below, McKee insists that fall soups can be just about anything but almost always a delicious and healthy meal that warms the belly as well as the soul.

“Broccoli soup is wonderful in the fall,” she said.

“Corn soup, bean soup. And you can’t beat good ole beef stew.”

white pepper, and spice purse. Cook until the shallots are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the mixture is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the squash, sugar, stock and cream. Cook until all of the flavors meld together, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the spice purse and season with the cinnamon, nutmeg and licorice root.

Puree the soup in a blender, being careful not to overload the blender with the hot soup. (Before turning on the machine, be sure the lid is tightly secured and covered with a towel to prevent the hot mixture from escaping.)

Strain through a fine strainer and serve with spiced crème fraîche.

Spiced Crème Fraîche 1 cup crème fraîche 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Crème Fraîche From “Southern Comfort: A New Take on the Recipes We Grew Up With” 3 pounds butternut squash 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 cups sliced shallots 1/3 cup smashed garlic cloves 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper 1 spice purse (1 bay leaf, 1 thyme sprig, 1 star anise, 4 whole peppercorns wrapped in cheesecloth and tied closed with kitchen string) 1/2 cup white wine 1 tablespoon sugar (optional) 8 cups of vegetable stock 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated licorice root (optional) Spiced Crème Fraîche, for accompaniment (sour cream may be substituted)

Directions: To roast the squash, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a vegetable peeler, remove the skin from the squash. Carefully cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast the squash until it is soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.

To make the soup, in a large soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the shallots, garlic, salt, 38 DeSoto

Directions: Whisk all ingredients until smooth.

Spicy Pumpkin Soup From “Easy Does It: Winners & Favorites”

by Patty Roper, www.quailridge.com 1/2 stick butter 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 stalks celery, finely chopped 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cups chicken broth, divided 2 carrots, finely chopped 1 large potato, finely chopped 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoons allspice, divided 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided 2 teaspoons cloves, divided 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, divided 2 (14-ounce) cans unsweetened coconut milk Half-and-half Black pepper to taste For garnish: half-and-half and cilantro

Directions: Melt butter in heavy stockpot. Stir in garlic, celery and onion. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and cook 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Add carrots, potato, and pumpkin, and mix well. Add remaining chicken broth, and bring to a low boil. Add cilantro, honey, sugar, and half of the spices.

Stir well and reduce to a simmer. Simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender, stirring often. When vegetables are tender, remove from heat and allow mixture to cool; transfer in batches to blender. Blend until smooth.

Return to stockpot and add coconut milk.

Add additional spices to taste. Let simmer 15–20 minutes, stirring often. Add halfand-half as needed for desired consistency.

Sprinkle with half-and-half, black pepper, and cilantro.

Yield: 12 servings

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exploring destinations } st. charles, missouri

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A St. Charles Christmas

By Lazelle Jones. Photography courtesy of St. Charles CVB

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in St. Charles, Missouri, the sleepy historic village located along the Missouri River. In late November, the town welcomes the Christmas season and a month-long celebration begins.

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Where else can visitors meet a cavalcade of internationals Santas or roast chestnuts?

It all begins with Santa’s Parade which is held the day after Thanksgiving and on every Saturday and Sunday when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by horse-drawn carriage.

This year begins a new tradition – Saint Charles Christmas Traditions Krampusnachts--brings together a cast of historical figures to entertain visitors.

The parade’s grand finale includes international Santas, each with their own flag from their native land as Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive and depart on a horse-drawn carriage.

But this is just a small part of a town celebration filled with zany characters, reindeer flying instructions, singing, music, and roasted chestnuts. Escorted by the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps, the final ceremonial piece of greenery is hung to mark the start of the holiday season as the St. Charles Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is accompanied by the Cobblestone Wassailers.

Music provided by the official Victorian carolers (the Cobblestone Wassailers) who serenade with traditional Christmas carols, is everywhere. There are the Sleigh Bell Singers Quartet who deliver the holiday standards of the 1940s and 1950s like I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, Silver Bells, It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas.

Friday nights the Master of Revels Marshmallow Roast is hosted by the resident clown about town, the Master of Revels. Stacks of marshmallows are shared by Revels and his 42 DeSoto

friends along with their shenanigans.

On Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings the day comes to a close with a special Evening Processional, a candlelight walk down Main Street to Saint Charles’ official Christmas tree where the Cobblestone Wassalers lead a singalong.

December 6 finds the Saint Nicholas Day celebration beginning in the Colonnade where children of all ages join Saint Nicholas in the festival’s Saint Nicholas Day Children’s Parade. Everyone is invited to join in the classic Saint Nicholas Day custom of gift-giving, a shoe drive where visitors bring a new or gently used pair of shoes to donate. Saint Nick often has a special gift in return.

On December 13 the centuries-old Scandinavian “St. Lucy’s Day” is celebrated. Included is a special evening children’s parade led by the Saint of Light herself and interactive storytelling under the glow of candlelight.

On December 19 and 20 the Reindeer Flight Instructor brings her special friends direct from the North Pole where she regales with funny stories about her reindeer pals (a great photo-op). Other festival attractions include Chestnut Roasters who entertain with antics and witty banter as they demonstrate the art of roasting this favorite holiday snack.

The Gingerbread Contest gives everyone a chance to let the creative juices flow. Cash prizes are awarded and there is Gingerbread Village where sugar-coated sights and smells along with the candy, cookies, and icing titillate the palate. Bring your

sweetheart and visit the bundles of mistletoe under the gazebo at Kister Park where hot chocolate is served.

In Santa’s Cottage, Santa and his elves share a little North Pole magic.

Checkout “Santa’s Train Land,” an interactive train display and talk with Santa himself.

December 24 finds the St. Charles Christmas Traditions coming to a close with the annual Santa Send-Off as Santa and Mrs. Claus board their horse-drawn carriage to head back to the North Pole to prepare for the big night ahead. www.historicstcharles.com www.stcharleschristmas.com

Stay

Boone’s Colonial Inn A five-star historic inn located in the heart of St. Charles www.boonescolonialinn.com

Dining

Riverfront Guest House and Boone’s Colonial Inn provide historic elegance smack dab in the middle of this Christmas celebration

Mother-In-Law House is just such a place where dining and a slice of (for real) home baked pie can be enjoyed At Lewis & Clark’s sit on the balcony and watch the Santa Parade below Bella Vino Wine Bar & Tapas offers street side dining adjacent to a brick fire pit Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa (a buffet-style breakfast at Garden Café a la Fleur) provides an up-close-and-personal visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Enter your child’s name to win a ride with Santa and Mrs. Clause aboard their horse drawn carriage. www.stcharleschristmas.com.

The contest opens November 1.

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a day away } cleveland, mississippi

Cleveland, Mississippi

restaurant serves 9:00 C ountr y P latter is a great place to star t the day. This local ly-owned kfast favorite! up trad itional soul food. The Catf ish & Waf f les is a new twist on an old brea en at Delta 10:00 Take a stro ll through the Hazel and Jimmy Sanders Scul pture Gard ging exhibits State Universit y, which feat ures permanent garden exhibits as well as chan displayed for 18 mont hs. antiques, 11:00 Shop the downtown distr ict. Tons of bout iques and specialty shop s offer dio 230 to see jewe lry, home decor, gifts as well as fine clothing. Be sure to swing by Stu beautiful local art. tive chef C ole 1:00 While downtown pop into Delta Meat Mar ket for lunch. Owner and execu are served on Ellis uses only fresh meats and vegetables. The specials change weekly and beautiful McC arty pottery dishes. artifacts, 2:00 Tour the Mar tin & Sue King Railroad Museum. The museum houses many ion. Be sure documents, phot os and memorabil ia pertaining to rail history in the Delta Reg to watch the mode l train travel through “Anytown”, Mississi ppi.

Admission is free. 662-843-3377. ppi Grounds.

3:00 For an afternoon pick-me-up, grab coffee and a sweet treat at Mississi Pair with a Specialty drinks like the C otton Boll and Toffee Bar are served hot or iced. homemade red velvet cupcake or white choco late rasp berry scone.

McC arty’s 4:00 Drive a short distance down Highway 61 to Mer igold, which is home to igold from famous pottery. In the early 1950s Pup and Lee McC arty moved back to Mer arty pieces make Oxford and set up shop in an old mule barn, which is still there today. McC for great gifts and collectables. craft beer 6:00 Dinner at Hey Joe’s. A laid back atmo sphere, live music, qual ity food andare on the menu makes this a C level and favorite. Sandwiches, salads, appetizers and wrap s but the gour met burgers are a must!

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Plan your trip! visitclevelandms.com deltameatmarket.com cityofclevelandms.com mississippigrounds.com mccartyspottery.com thesculpturegardenms.com eatheyjoes.com

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Upcoming Events: Homecoming: Delta State University vs.

Valdosta State University November 7 4:00pm Holiday Open House November 7, 2-4pm November 8, 1-5pm A Very Electric Christmas November 19 Bologna Performing Arts Center Get in the holiday spirit with this family-friendly show. Performed in complete darkness, this creative storyline features Nutcracker soldiers with candycanes, naughty Rats, an electric Christmas tree surrounded by presents, glow worms, dancing flowers and other creatures that light up the stage.

Visit bolognapac.com for more details and tickets.

Holiday Tour of Homes December 5 – 6 Visit some of the Mississippi Delta’s most beautifully decorated homes. For more information visit holidaytourofhomescleveland.com.

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holiday gift guide } gifts for her

Gifts for Her

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1. Frye Boots Center Stage Hernando, MS 2. Barbour Equestrian Jacket and Vest Abraham’s Cleveland, MS 3. Boot Socks The Bunker Hernando, MS 4. Katie Kalsi Dovie handbag Katiekalsi.com 5. Scarf Paisley Pineapple Olive Branch, MS 6. Waxing Poetic Necklaces The Pink Zinnia Hernando, MS 7. Karma Skull Umbrella Cynthia’s Boutique Hernando, MS 48 DeSoto

8 9

10

13

11 14

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8. Lollia Bath & Body Products Mimi’s on Main Senatobia, MS 9. Nicole Peep-Toe Booties Upstairs Closet Senatobia, MS 10. Suede and Shearling Vest Upstairs Closet Senatobia, MS 11. Southern Vegetable Cookbook and Tea Towel The Merry Magnolia Marion, AR 12. Bath Balms Ultimate Gifts Southaven, MS 13. Hobo Purse Center Stage Hernando, MS 14. Cinda B Cosmetic Bags Paisley Pineapple Olive Branch, MS 15. Judith March Hats The Bunker Hernando, MS DeSoto 49

holiday gift guide } gifts for him

Gifts for Him 2

1 4

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3 6

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1. Ole Miss Tie SoCo Hernando, MS 2. Yeti Ice The Blue Olive Hernando, MS 3. Kavu Sling The Bunker Hernando, MS 4. Men’s Soap Set Bon Von Gifts Hernando, MS 5. Deer Wine Cork The Blue Olive Hernando, MS 6. Wine Log The Blue Olive Hernando, MS 7. Fish Hippie T-shirt and Cap Stubbs on the Square Batesville, MS 8. Peter Millar Button Down & Cashmere pullover Abraham’s Cleveland, MS 50 DeSoto

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9. Southern Marsh pullover Stubbs on the Square Batesville, MS 10. Vineyard Vines Belt SoCo Hernando, MS 11. Wild Game Cookbook The Blue Olive Hernando, MS 12. Ole Miss Arthur Court Tray Bon Von Gifts Hernando, MS 13. Drake and Zep Pro wallets Stubbs on the Square Batesville, MS 14. Leather Coozies The Bunker Hernando, MS 15. Whiskey Wedge Ultimate Gifts Southaven, MS DeSoto 51

holiday gift guide } gifts for home

Gifts for Home

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3 4 6

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1. Handmade Soy Candles The Funky Zebra Batesville, MS 2. Reillume Candles The Blue Olive Hernando, MS 3. Peter’s Pottery Rabbit Talk of the Town Batesville, MS 4. Small Lamp The Square Cupboard Hernando, MS 5. Etta B Platter The Candle and Gift Shoppe Batesville, MS 6. Cross Bon Von Gifts Hernando, MS 7. Fusion Sofa The Wooden Door Olive Branch, MS 8. Lariat 16 light Chandelier Magnolia Lighting Hernando, Oxford and Tupelo, MS 52 DeSoto

9

10 12

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9. Large selection of McCarty Pottery Cynthia’s Boutique Hernando, MS 10. Kate Winston Pillows Moes Boutique Batesville, MS 11. Fusion Side Chair The Wooden Door Olive Branch, MS 12. Etta B Platter Paisley Pineapple Olive Branch, MS 13. St Jude Ornament Paisley Pineapple Olive Branch, MS 14. Amy Howard One Step Paint Commerce Street Market Hernando, MS DeSoto 53

holiday gift guide } gifts for kids

Gifts for Kids

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1. Melissa & Doug Chunky Puzzles The Square Cupboard Hernando, MS 2. Big Scoop Tractor Punkin Patch Cleveland, MS 3. Melissa & Doug Tea Set The Merry Magnolia Marion, AR 4. Hape Gourmet Kitchen Mimi’s on Main Senatobia, MS 5. Madame Alexander Doll Punkin Patch Cleveland, MS 6. Zubels Hand-Knit Dolls Mimi’s on Main Senatobia, MS 7. Vera Bradley Super Soft Blanket The Pink Zinnia Hernando, MS 54 DeSoto

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ALL ABOARD!

By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of Premier Rail Collection

One of the world’s most beloved Christmas stories is coming to life in North Mississippi this holiday season when the Polar Express Train pulls into the Batesville, Mississippi town square.

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Sarah Munley, marketing director for Premier Rail Collection, shared the following information about the exciting upcoming event in Batesville, Miss.

“Premier Rail Collection, the nation’s leader in special rail events, has announced its 2015 THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride schedule, departing for the North Pole from seven U.S. and two U.K locations this season. Families are whisked away on an unforgettable one-hour storybook journey complete with hot chocolate, dancing chefs and whimsical elves. Santa boards the train at the North Pole and visits with each child to deliver the first gift of Christmas- the iconic silver bell said to only be heard by those that truly ‘believe’.”

For the younger generation, this is a familiar Christmas story. For those who may not be as familiar, or perhaps, are only familiar with the movie, an excerpt from the Premier Rail Collection’s press release explains.

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“The Polar Express film is based on Chris Van Allburg’s classic Christmas picture book, which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published

by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. In 1986, it won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for Illustration. The Academy Award winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunited for The Polar Express, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.”

While several cities across the United States have created a holiday train ride, Premier Rail Collection actually

holds the exclusive license to The Polar Express.

Mulney explained how Batesville was selected to host The Polar Express.

“Iowa Pacific was selected as the operator of the Grenada Railway earlier this year. Based on the event needs and the proximity to metropolitan areas, Batesville was the ideal location. The people with the Batesville Main Street Program were instrumental in orchestrating this massive event and have been very welcoming.”

Word spread quickly that The Polar Express was coming as reflected in online ticket sales.

“Tickets in premium classes have DeSoto 59

been added over the last couple weeks. There are still many seats available as of right now,” said Mulney.

There will be a gift shop at the departure location with a variety of toys, gifts and souvenirs. “Guests are encouraged to arrive early and leave enough time to browse the gift shop,” added Mulney.

The City of Batesville is preparing to make this an opportunity families will want to experience year after year.

The city of approximately 7,200 residents is well under way to accommodating the 30,000 plus visitors expected throughout the six-week period.

Colleen Clark, Batesville Main Street director and Panola Partnership office manager, plays a crucial role in all the activity.

“We are excited to share our friendly small-town atmosphere with the anticipated visitors and influx of surrounding community guests. We have several multigenerational family-owned businesses. This has been a great opportunity to update and freshen up their businesses,” said Clark.

“We’re ecstatic about this opportunity. I think our whole town will benefit from this event. It seems like every business is doing something in preparation,” said Teddy Morrow, alderman and owner of the downtown square retail store Stubbs.

Eddie Nabors, alderman representing the downtown area, agreed.

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“Small loans have been made available to local businesses to help them prepare for this special event. We’re decorating early, sprucing up, and stocking up in anticipation of our holiday guests. Even if people do not purchase train tickets, we hope they will come downtown and participate. It’s going to be a festive and fun time just watching the train depart and arrive in the square,” he said.

Thursday evening, a free showing of The Polar Express will happen in Pecan Grove Park. “The first train departure will be the following day on Friday, November 20.

On Sunday, November 22, we will have our Holiday Open House from 1-5 p.m.,” said Clark.

Merchants on the square, as well as other outlying areas, will be participating by offering carriage rides, a Christmas Bazaar, and Santa’s workshop. Santa’s workshop will be free for children and will include activities such as making ornaments, Santa snack, reindeer food, and writing a letter to Santa. Children can expect a letter from Santa after participating. Santa’s Workshop will be located in the Municipal Court Building located on the square. Square Arts will also be offering pictures with Santa.”

Businesses may be serving refreshments or giving prizes during the Holiday Open House. The Batesville Main Street Program will offer a drawing for a downtown shopping spree and will hold a holiday window decoration contest that weekend.

Free parking is available on the square and in close

walking proximity to the square.

“A photo opportunity will be provided at Gateway Park. This will be a great way for families to remember their trip to Batesville, or even put on their family Christmas card. Spirit Song Pottery in Oxford has created a commemorative ornament for this year. It will be available at various retail merchants. All proceeds go to the restoration and revitalization of downtown Batesville,” explained Clark.

For those who will not be able to catch the train this year, there will still be plenty of holiday magic in the air for those who believe.

“Iowa Pacific Holdings has all intentions to return The Polar Express Train Ride to Batesville in 2016,” said Mulney.

To learn more about The Polar Express train rides, please visit their website, www.grenadapolarexpressride.com. Tickets are available online.

To learn more about the Batesville Main Street Program, find them on Facebook or visit their website, www.batesvillemainstreet.com.

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Explore Batesville andPanola County, Mississippi

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Baddour Center Chapel

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Scott and Jordan perform at Dancing for Our Stars event

Always Baddour, Always Beginnings

By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of The Baddour Center

The Baddour Center in Senatobia, Mississippi offers residential living with a comprehensive array of services for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Snugly located within the city limits of Senatobia, Miss., The Baddour Center is a 120-acre rolling green campus dedicated to the intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, emotional, and vocational growth of adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. But more than that, it’s a home.

“Within the pastoral setting of lakes and trees, our residents are given the opportunity for lives of dignity, joy, and hope. In fact, providing these opportunities are a part our vision

here at The Baddour Center,” explained Executive Director Parke Pepper.

It all began in 1978. Two brothers Paul M. and Don Baddour inherited money to be used only for a charitable purpose. After the passing of their father, Paul Baddour, who founded the well-known retail chain Fred’s in 1973, the sons ultimately decided to use the money as a ministry for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Having an extended family member with an intellectual disability, the brothers worked in DeSoto 67

Garden Center staff poinsettias

The Miracles, our very popular traveling choir

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collaboration with the United Methodist Church, as well as business associates, family, and friends, to open the campus on what had been the Baddour family farm.

“At that time, this privately-funded community was a new concept for this area,” said Pepper.

At the pedestrian-friendly campus, adults with intellectual disabilities are encouraged to gain independence in a safe environment. With over a dozen group homes and a licensed assisted living facility for geriatric residents and those with more severe medical needs, the campus can accommodate up to 175 residents. Besides the residential area, The Baddour Center, boasts many other buildings, including vocational complexes, greenhouse, chapel, health clinic, ball fields, tennis courts, and an outdoor swimming pool. Perhaps the heart of the campus is the community life building. Fitness room, gymnasium, indoor pool, art room, library, and theater room are some of the available amenities in the community life building.

While a few residents are employed off campus, several residents are employed with Baddour Custom Packaging located on campus, or the Garden Center, also located on campus. As mentioned on The Baddour Center website, residents provide the filling, distributing, and storing of orders for their clients. They have been awarded the Supplier of the Year and Outstanding Service Awards from FedEx. Potential customers may get a quote and view Baddour Center’s customer reference page on the website as well.

North Mississippi residents are likely familiar with the Garden Center previously located directly off Highway 51. Now relocated on the back of the campus, the Garden Center, has a full scale greenhouse offering plants year round.

“We like to think we are growing people along with plants,” commented Pepper. Linette Walters, master gardener and Horticulture Manager, explained more.

“Our resident employees go through training and are certified Proven Winners growers and sellers. We sell perennials, annuals, vegetables, trees, and shrubs. We also rent greenery, such as ferns, for special events,” she said.

Open six days a week, the Garden Center offers seasonal favorites from chrysanthemums to poinsettias, and Easter lilies. They offer an extensive spring crop, DeSoto 69

Betsy had a blast modeling in our Fashion Show

with off-campus and truck sales, as well.

“We are also engaged in a monarch butterfly project. Thanks to a donor in Memphis, who gave us 12 caterpillars, we are now able to raise and release monarch butterflies. We are also educating local school children on their life cycle process,” said Walters.

The building which was previously the Garden Center is now a Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is a multipurpose building that will host a variety of special events.

Residents enjoy a multitude of opportunities in the community on and off campus.

“Our residents attend local churches of various denominations, participate in local festivals and 5k walk/ runs, the Special Olympics, Trade Days, eat at their favorite restaurants, shop, and attend the movies. A decades old tradition is for our residents to attend the movies at Tobie Town Theater on Monday nights,” said Pepper.

“We also host events for the community such as a fishing rodeo and fireworks display. We also had a ‘Dancing 70 DeSoto

Jeremiah won Silver Medal at Special Olympics World Games

For Our Stars’ event, as well, as our annual Fashion Show in Memphis,” he said.

Director of Development and Public Relations, Ruth Ann Hale, described the event which was held for the first time in February 2015.

“Media stars, a mayor, and other prominent community leaders came together for The Baddour Center’s firstever Dancing For Our Stars fundraiser.

Modeled after the popular television show, “Dancing With the Stars”, the event paired seasoned dancers with community leader “celebrities” for a competition to benefit The Baddour Center”.

Having recently held its 36th event, the fashion show continues to be a popular fundraiser.

“We love showcasing residents’ talents any way that we can, and seeing the joy on their faces as they pick out their outfits and walk down the runway during the show, it’s easy to see that they love the experience as much as we do, if not more,” Development Associate Jenny Hurt said.

“At the end of the day, helping our men and women achieve their dreams is what The Baddour Center is all about.”

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Theron F ly, Public Relations Coordinator, explained the significance of music.

“Each year at the Fashion Show, audiences are treated to performances by The Baddour Center’s traveling choir, The Miracles, as well as its creative ensemble group, Hearts in Motion. The fun doesn’t end there, however, as residents stroll the runway each year as fashion models. This year, The Miracles performed renditions of “We Are His Miracles” and “When God Ran”. Hearts in Motion performed a routine set to Christina Perri’s “Human”.

In addition to the latest styles on the runway, guests had the opportunity to bid on more than 90 silent auction items, ranging from event tickets and home décor to handbags, baby dresses and vacations.

“It’s humbling to see all of the support that The Baddour Center has received, both through this event, as well as leading up to it,” Pepper said. “So many people had a hand in making this a special occasion and none of this would be possible without our supporters. We’re very grateful,” he said.

Nationally renowned, The Baddour Center’s traveling gospel choir, The Miracles, are yet another example of opportunities provided by The Baddour Center. While often performing at local venues, The Miracles also travel to other states to perform where they often amaze audience members with their musical abilities and talent.

“The Miracles’ objectives are to worship, bridge attitudes and barriers, and spread awareness about The Baddour Center,” said Pepper.

In the hills of north Mississippi, small miracles happen everyday for everyone involved with life at The Baddour Center.

“We provide a well rounded life.

We provide opportunities for residents to live, learn, work, worship, and play,” said Pepper.

To learn more about the Baddour Center, find them on Facebook or visit www.baddour.org.

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Pickles with a Purpose by Glory Haus

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Massey Place Blessing Blocks

People over

Profits

By Devin Greaney. Photography by Devin Greaney and Paula Mitchell

Colleges help communities by educating the workforce and helping locals achieve their dreams. Likewise, businesses help by providing jobs and consumer needs. But there are those for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations that don’t stop there because they want to make a positive impact in the community, not just on the bottom line.

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Rhodes College students

Rhodes College, Memphis Tennessee

In the basement of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Midtown Memphis about 10 Rhodes College students are chopping fruits, veggies and sizzling meat in the skillets for tacos along with fruit, beef stew and salad.

“Not the Tex-Mex restaurant stuff. This is the original Mexican recipe,” said Katrin Arango, the student leader who is toiling with the rest of them.

Toiling, but also laughing, chatting and enjoying their time together. The crew cooks, leads the prayer, serves the food, busses the tables and cleans for the dinner crowd. Kitchen manager Rosetta Holmes helps too. A helper not a boss, she wears a peaceful “they got this” smile on her face. All 80 dropins got a free meal.

Rhodes has been nationally recognized for their tradition of service. One of several programs is The Bonner Scholarship which gives students discounts on tuition based on their family income and agreement to put in 140 hours of 76 DeSoto

service a semester- roughly 10 hours per week.

“A majority of those with the Bonner Scholarships are first generation college students,” said Shannon Hoffman, community service coordinator.

Bonner Scholar Lisa Hsi found things by volunteering she couldn’t get from a class.

“I think community service has added a lot to my college experience. It’s gotten me out into the City of Memphis.

I’ve explored areas I never would have otherwise and have been able to interact and learn from such a diverse group of people.

I’ve reconsidered what I hope to do with the rest of my life and what I want to study in school as a result of my experiences in service.”

Hoffman shares another story. “One student saw a need for a college preparatory program so he started one.

It’s been sustained for the last four years.” Now one of those high schoolers who was helped is now at Rhodes as a Bonner Scholar.

Shop to Give

This holiday season ads will pop up online, TV commercials will butcher Christmas Carols and the Black Friday tsunami of shoppers will once again make headlines. But everywhere, gentle reminders of the season show up, too.

Could holidays be more about faith and charity? Is there a way to shop and help out those this season? Here are just a few ideas how to make a dollar go further---for someone else.

Be Free Revolution

Britney Christie and Lacey Stluka sit at a table in their store/coffee shop “The Rev.” They didn’t know each other until they met on a mission trip in Africa.

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“We weren’t friends before then, but now we are more than family,” Stluka said. “People like our location and our unique Christian-oriented group and that we are travelers.”

Their mission trips gave the two an epiphany- they could give a hand up to employ and empower women. Jewelry made from paper- attractive pieces- and artwork comes directly from Kenyan and Ugandan women and the money raised goes to them.

Christie said they sponsor anywhere from four to six mission trips to Africa and give the opportunity to sponsor a child in an impoverished nation. “We are a place where people can become inspired.” The shop is within walking distance of the Clark Tower complex.

“You can come in for a coffee and leave planning a mission trip!” Christie said. www.therevmemphis.com

Peace of Thread

Renee Lamb brought Peace of Thread to Memphis two years ago. It was founded in Atlanta in 2010. “We want to give refugee women a trade, a hand up not a handout,” she says.

Refugees in Memphis are given sewing kits and the material- usually upcycled fabric- to make purses. In doing so they are taught a skill, and once the bags are sold, the woman who made the bag receives half the profit. Not only are they taught a skill, but also they learn a bit about our free enterprise system.

“They have not been taught that not everyone here receives government assistance and that if they can become self-sufficient they can actually pay into the system to help other refugees,” said Lamb.

Lamb and her husband used to travel to Lebanon to help the poor. “I realized I don’t have to go to them to help, their cultures are coming to us,” she said.

Currently they have refugees from the Congo, Rwanda, Eritrea, Burundi and Somalia. Some have left the program, not out of dissatisfaction, but because they were able to make it on their own.

“That’s a good thing,” Lamb said.

The purses are available online. Locally they are at Miller’s Station in Senatobia and at the Women’s Exchange in Memphis.

Massey Place Blessing Blocks

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A picture may be worth a thousand

words, but words of wisdom from The Good Book can hang like a picture. Dale and Tori Show saw “a hunger for the word of God,” he said, which inspired them to begin producing wooden plaques of Biblical phrases. Last year, the mom-andpop company made about 10,000 which resulted in moving to a new location from the original location.

“My back porch!” Dale Show said.

The blocks come in 2 x 4, 2 x 6, and 2 x 8 sizes. And which is the most popular?

“Oh goodness.. I don’t know!” laughed Show.

One half of the profits go to discipleships and poor ministries in Africa.

They are not available online but can be found at: Ultimate Gifts in Southaven and Square Cupboard in Hernando, Mississippi. In Memphis: Turkoyz, Hope Church Bookstore, Bellevue Baptist Church Bookstore and Classic Trends. Terri Hannah, Germantown and First Fruits, Collierville.

Glory Haus

An employee of Glory Haus and his wife were living out of a car. It broke nine-year old Luke Holm’s heart when he heard someone could be homeless.

So he prayed and wrote in his journal asking for God’s guidance and asked his mom Molly Holm, one of the founders of Glory Haus, how best to help the couple. Ms. Holm remembered her mother’s secret pickle recipe. Luke decided selling the pickles would not only help the homeless couple but encourage others to make a difference.

Today, Pickles with a Purpose is well on its way to making this happen. It’s received attention from the media and from Sadie “Duck Dynasty” Robertson who was inspired by the young businessman and more so, his heart.

Not a fan of pickles? The Marietta, Georgia-based company has more to offer in the way of gifts that help out others both here and in their factory in India.

“They give free food, childcare and education to the women who work there. It’s so sad because many have a horrible home life and we give them empowerment,” said Ansley Williams, Strategic Partnernships Director with Glory Haus. “I don’t have to leave my faith at home.” pickleswithapurpose.org gloryhaus.com DeSoto 79

home grown } sweet potato sweets

A Sweeter Fall

By J. Eric Eckard. Photography courtesy of Sweet Potato Sweets

Vardaman, Mississippi knows sweet potatoes.

A hundred years ago, a few farmers migrating from Tennessee began planting the edible root around this small Northern Mississippi town. And now, more than 100 farmers around Vardaman plant about 25,000 acres of sweet potatoes each year. Mississippi consistently ranks third for sweet potato production each year in the United States, joining North Carolina and California.

And Vardaman is right in the middle of the biggest sweet potato producing counties in the state. This tiny town of about 1,300 plays host to an annual Sweet Potato Festival that attracts almost 20,000 people to the town located 140 miles south of Memphis, Tenn. There’s even a pageant complete with a requisite Sweet Potato King and Queen.Vardaman indeed knows sweet potatoes. Ask anyone around there. They’ll 80 DeSoto

tell you. The townspeople have proclaimed Vardaman “The Sweet Potato Capital of the World”.

“It’s our bread and butter around here,” Judy Holder said. “Everyone’s got their own recipe in town.”

With so many farmers growing sweet potatoes and so many Vardaman townspeople creating their own dishes with sweet potatoes, why would anyone think that opening a shop offering sweet potato baked goods would be a good idea?

“This is our 19th year,” said Holder, who manages Sweet Potato Sweets, a Vardaman mainstay that sells everything sweet potato - from casseroles to cakes - and of course, pies.

The specialty bakery is the brainchild of the wives of three Vardaman sweet potato farmers, who for years trotted out their sweet potato fare at the annual Mid-South Farm and Gin

Show in Memphis. One year during the show, the ladies came up with the idea to open a store in Vardaman featuring their sweet potato treats.

“Their husbands said no way it would work,” Holder said. “So, 19 years later, we’re still selling sweet potato pies that the husbands said they couldn’t sell.”

Three years after opening in 1996, Sweet Potato Sweets moved from its small two-room rental building to a spot in the heart of Vardaman - the site of the town’s first bank.

After outgrowing their new location a few years after that, the owners built a modern facility next door.

Today, two of the original owners remain - Daphna Cook and Karen Wright - and Holder runs the day-to-day operations. Fall is harvest time for sweet potato farmers, but Sweet Potato Sweets has products all year long.

“But it seems like everybody thinks fall is sweet potato eating season,” Holder said. “In the past, sweet potatoes typically took center stage only around the holidays - Christmas or Thanksgiving. But with the advancements in storage technology - you know, refrigerators and freezers - sweet potatoes can make an appearance anytime of the year.”

Known for their sweet potato pie - naturally - and their pecan pie, Sweet Potato Sweets doesn’t reveal any of its recipes. But each of the 30 to 40 items on the menu include sweet potatoes in them - from marmalade and butter to muffin tops and cheese straws. They even have dog treats for the puppy in the family. And if you’re looking for that perfect wedding cake, they’ll even whip up a three-layer sweet potato cake with

cream cheese icing,

“It’s wide open,” Holder said. “We make a fudge - cookies and candies. But bread is always a popular item especially at Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

Sweet Potato Sweets offers gift trays with a variety of items around the holidays, and they ship to other states.

“During the holidays, we make a lot of gift baskets,” Holder said.

“And we have a lot of regulars who come in the store.

We have a lot of Memphis people who come down to pick up items.” Holder said Vardaman’s reputation for growing quality sweet potatoes is well warranted. And Sweet Potato Sweets’ reputation for sweet treats also is justified. It all comes down to the ingredients - primarily because they only use sweet potatoes grown in the Vardaman area.

“The ground we have here is sandier, and the soil is what makes them sweeter,” said Holder. “Ours just has a sweeter taste. So, we start with a good product, and then we make a good, old-fashioned custard-type pie. We cook it slow, and we don’t use a lot of spices.”

Holder said she couldn’t say how many pies the store makes in a year, but she did reveal that they typically sell about 1,000 pies at the weeklong annual Sweet Potato Festival in Vardaman.

Oh, and her favorite? “Probably the sweet potato bread or the sausage balls,” she said. “So if you’re treating yourself, we have plenty of choices.” www.sweetpotatosweets.com DeSoto 81

southern harmony } gerry finney

Always the Music

By J. Eric Eckard. Photography courtesy of Gerry Finney

It’s hard to pin a label on Gerry Finney. Some people know him through his irrigation business or his Juice Plus franchise. Others constantly see him out on the tennis courts or golf courses around Memphis, Tenn. He’s into real estate. He has beaten cancer twice.

And he’s been playing music for the past 25 years.

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“I’ve constantly started over and tried to re-invent myself,” the 46-year-old Finney said. “But all along, I’ve stayed with music.”

Finney has started working on his third album, which will feature plenty of songs inspired by his latest battle with Stage IV lymphoma. He said there will be some personal aspects to the lyrics, but the focus on cancer will be subtle despite his recent bout with cancer being anything but subtle.

“I have a lot of stubborn, bull-headed parts to me, and this was not going to beat me,” said Finney, who has been cancer-free since June. “I have a strong faith, and I was leaning on God. I told Him that I’d do my part if He’d give me strength.

When you look back on your life, it’s not how many buttons are on your jacket, it’s ‘Who did you touch?’ and ‘Who did you impact?’”

Finney’s positive outlook, never-quit attitude and always-looking-for-something mindset didn’t show up with the cancer. It’s just who he is.

When he was in high school, he played tennis. But he said he wanted something he didn’t think tennis would provide.

“I wanted to meet girls,” Finney said. “And I knew I wasn’t going to meet girls playing tennis.” So, a buddy tried to convince him to be in a play. When Finney found out there were 20 girls in the cast and four boys, he was sold. And that’s when the idea of creating music was born.

“Musically, I thought I could do something,” Finney said. “I could already sing, but then I decided I wanted to play an instrument.” Listening to local artists around Memphis particularly Posey Hedges - Finney decided on the guitar. So, when he turned 21, he bought his first guitar at a pawn shop.

He taught himself to play, strumming pretty much all day long when he wasn’t working, waiting tables.

“I kind of woodshedded my music until I was good enough to get paid,” Finney said.

Throughout the 1990s, he performed at bars, honky tonks, clubs and private parties. He started out playing 1960s and ‘70s acoustic standards by James Taylor, Jim Croce, Jimmy Buffett and Rod Stewart. Finney put together a band, and they played covers of the Beatles, Byrds, Eagles, Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues. When he wasn’t playing with the band or solo, he teamed with Joe Norman, and they played bars and parties.

But in 1997, he was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin cancer. It was four months after his mother died of breast and lung cancer.

“Chemo and radiation just suck,” he said. “I’d have the treatment, and then I’d go out and puke. It was wild. I played through it though. Part of me didn’t want to let the band down. But there were plenty of gigs I had to cancel.”

Nine months later, he was in remission - and back to playing music full time. This time around though, he wanted to scale back his time in smoke-filled clubs. He started to brand himself as primarily a private party performer.

And he wanted to do more. He bought an existing irrigation business in Memphis thanks to some good mentors and a few well-off investors.

“I like to surround myself with people with positive attitudes,” Finney said. “I had to teach myself about the irrigation business. Today, I still run it. But I’ve got a great team.”

Then after years running two businesses, buying rental properties, cutting two albums and still playing plenty of parties - Finney got the word about cancer again. This time, in 2015.

“It was everywhere,” he said. “This was a real bitch.”

Finney underwent a stem cell transplant and more radiation, which he said requires doctors to nearly kill him before backing off the treatment.

“The human spirit is tough though,” Finney said.

“In easy times, it’s easy to be happy. When things are tough, that’s what reveals your true character.” This is what those tough times revealed about Finney’s character. He was forced to wear a chemo bag with a catheter in his chest 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday.

“This is not going to work,” he said. “This is going to screw up my tennis.”

So he strapped the 4-pound chemo bag in the front pocket of his hoodie and kept playing set after set through the treatment.

“It was nuts,” he admitted. “It was crazy. I did it to see if I could do it. But I also wanted other people to say, ‘What can I do?’”

Finney’s scans have been clear for more than four months, and he’s back to a hectic lifestyle - working, playing golf and tennis and of course, playing music.

“I love music, and I’ve gone back to writing music,” he said. “There are a lot of people who have it worse than I did.

I just like to see what I’m made of - and maybe inspire some people along the way.”

www.gerryfinney.com

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table talk} simply sweet by margarete

Baking Comfort

By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of Simply Sweet by Margarete

The wonderful beckoning aroma of freshly baking bread wafts around South Green Street in Tupelo before dawn. The scent means different things to different people: home to many; welcome and good morning to others.

“To me, it means comfort,� said the baker, Ursula Margarete Garner.

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People simply follow their noses to Simply Sweet by Margarete, a popular destination business featuring baked goods, chocolates, and lunch.

Garner, 52, greets them personally at 9 a.m. when the shop opens. Coffee steams and warmth from hot rolls temporarily clouds the glass cases. She got up at 3:30 a.m. and was in the shop baking by 5 a.m. Sometimes before opening she has time to change her black apron to a fresh one and to check her nose and face for flour smudges. Other times she doesn’t and simply goes to the front of the shop as is. Customers love it. And they love her, for she’s been in Tupelo a long time.

Inside, Simply Sweet is small and cozy. The colors are yellow and white. It feels fresh and smells good. “I like things clean and crisp,” Garner said.

The baked goods, a selection of American and German breads, are displayed in antique show cases. The chocolate portion of the business comes from Albanese Chocolates from Indiana. The sweets are candied chocolates, cream clusters, and chocolate covered nuts.

Are there samples? “Well, of course,” Garner exclaimed cheerfully. “I want people to buy, and they have to taste before they buy.”

The shop is open weekdays until 6 p.m. Heavy traffic for lunch occurs between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Simply Sweet is a go-to midday destination for locals. On Saturdays in the summer its wares are displayed at Tupelo’s popular Farmer’s Market. “We usually sell 130 loaves of bread in four hours,” she said

Simply Sweet is three years old this November. “We started out small,” Garner said. She made what she knows and loves, breads reminiscent of her German heritage.

Garner grew up in Bavaria; her parents owned a restaurant. She came to America 26 years ago from Germany, the bride of an American serviceman. The marriage ended in divorce, but Garner decided to stay in Tupelo. She became a naturalized citizen. She’s worked for many years as a waitress.

“I know everybody and everybody knows me,” she said. “I love this town.”

And the people respond by supporting her business.

They know her as one who for years took her good cooking to sick neighbors, one who enjoyed having people over for a hearty dinner, and one who kept in touch with the pulse of the town

Johnny Robbins and his wife Judy are among the Tupelo residents who regularly frequent Simply Sweet. “She takes good care of her customers,” said Robbins, who owns multiple businesses in the Tupelo area. “It’s hard to find a seat at lunch. Whatever she serves, it’s always good. I’ve never been disappointed.”

Simply Sweet grew the old fashioned way, by popular demand. Customers and friends asked for lunch. “We started slowly with soups,” Garner said. Appreciative customers wanted more. The lunch menu now includes bratwurst and sauerkraut, schnitzel sandwich, roast beef au jus and soups— clearly a popular and tasty mix of American and German cuisines.

Her menus follow the seasons. This fall she’ll make many breads, soups, and pies with sweet potatoes, pears, apples, and pumpkins. She makes her cakes and pastries American style (measuring in cups) and her breads, German style (weighing in grams). Simply Sweet’s two most popular breads are apple cinnamon and sourdough.

Yes, the shop does sell German Chocolate Cake.

Why? Because of its name and because customers naturally associate it with her background. However the surprising thing is that the cake is not ethnic at all. It is not a bit German!

Garner wondered about its name —because the ingredients of coconut, caramel, pecans, and chocolate are not common in traditional German cooking. She discovered that it is named for a man whose last name was German. “I make it because people want it,” she smiled.

Apple Praline Cake

Cabbage Beef Soup

1 1/4 cup of oil (Garner uses canola oil) 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups plain flour (unsifted) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon soda 1 cup nuts (Garner uses pecans) 3 cups raw apples chopped and peeled.

1 pound ground beef ¾ teaspoon garlic ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 16-oz. cans kidney beans, undrained. ½ medium head green cabbage, chopped 28-oz. can diced tomatoes, uindrained.

Fill the 28-oz. can with water.

4 beef bullion cubes ½ cup chopped onion.

Directions: Grease and flour a spring form pan. Mix oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla together. Mix flour, salt, and soda and add to the first mixture. Stir in nuts and apples. Bake at 325 degrees for an hour in the spring form pan. Cool.

Topping: 1 stick margarine ½ cup evaporated milk 2 cups light brown sugar, packed Mix in a pan or skillet. Let boil, stirring for about 5 minutes.

Drizzle over the cold cake.

Garner’s comments? “It looks good and tastes good.”

Directions: Brown and drain beef. Add all the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for one hour.

“People love that soup,” Garner says. “It brings memories of comfort and warmth.”

Simply Sweet by Margarete Bakery/Chocolates.

189 S. Green St. Tupelo, MS 38804 662-840-3290 DeSoto 85

in good spirits} pumpkin martini & more

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Pumpkin Martini & More

By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of cakenknife.com

Nothing seems to scream fall like pumpkin, whether baked in a pie, adorning our doorsteps or used as a flavor enhancement in a variety of dishes. Pumpkin also dresses up a cocktail quite nicely, warming your soul on a crisp autumn night.

Cathead Vodka of Jackson offers some fun cocktail recipes incorporating the flavors of pumpkin and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, all sensory experiences associated with fall and Thanksgiving. Cathead even produces a pumpkin spice vodka specifically for the autumnal pumpkin craze as well as a pecan vodka — hmm, pecan vodka pie in our future?

Here are a couple of recipes created by Southern mixologists just in time for the drop in temperatures. Following the two Cathead recipes is one for a Pumpkin Spice Martini, a favorite of our publisher, Paula Mitchell. The flavors include spicy, tangy and sweet and are sure to be a hit at any holiday party.

Pumpkin Head - Spicy

Created by Pizza Domenica of New Orleans 1 ounce Cathead Pumpkin Spice Vodka 1/2 ounce Allspice Dram (allspice flavored liqueur) 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice Saint Arnold Octoberfest Beer Cinnamon stick Directions: Add all ingredients to a highball glass filled with ice and top off with Saint Arnold Octoberfest Beer. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

2 dashes Creole bitters Orange peel Directions: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake. Pour into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with orange peel.

Paula’s Pumpkin Spice Martini - Sweet

From allrecipes.com 1.5 ounce jigger vanilla flavored vodka, such as Stoli 1.5 ounce jigger Irish cream liqueur, such as Bailey’s Irish Cream 1.5 ounce jigger pumpkin flavored liqueur, such as Hiram Walker 1 cup ice cubes 1 pinch ground cinnamon 1 pinch ground nutmeg Directions: Pour the vanilla flavored vodka, Irish cream liqueur and pumpkin flavored liqueur into a cocktail shaker over ice. Cover, and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to serve.

The Southern Cat - Tangy

Created by Eduardo Guzman of JCT. Kitchen & Bar of Atlanta 2 ounces Cathead Pumpkin Spice Vodka 3/4 ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice DeSoto 87

exploring events } november Holiday Open Houses: November 6. Columbus, MS November 7. Corinth, MS November 7-8. Cleveland, MS November 8. New Albany, MS November 10. Holly Springs, MS November 12-14. Greenwood, MS November 14. Clarksdale, MS, Collierville, TN, Marion, AR November 15. Hernando, MS November 22, Pontotoc, MS, Batesville, MS November 28, Oxford, MS November 29, Vicksburg, MS December 5, Senatobia, MS Kudzu Playhouse “The Wizard of Oz” October 30 - November 8 Hernando Performing Arts, Hernando, MS Fridays & Saturdays 7:00pm; Sundays 2:00pm Hernando Performing Arts Center, 805 Dilworth Lane, Hernando Performances are Friday-Sunday, October 30 to November 8.

Ticket prices are $12 adults, $7 seniors, students and children.

Tickets can be purchased at iTickets.com. For additional information, visit www.kudzuplayers.com or call 662-429-4170.

The 1st Annual Gingerbread House competition and display November 6th - December 19th.

Desoto Arts Council presents The first Annual Gingerbread House competition and display at the Bank’s Mansion 564 West Commerce in Hernando.

Beginning November 6th at 6pm.

Delta Holiday Marketplace November 12, 10 am – 7 pm at Indianola Country Club featuring more than 40 booths and 25 artists. FREE admission all day! A Preview Party and Artist Gallery opening, is Wednesday, November 11, 6 pm-9 pm. Advance tickets are $15 from the Indianola Country Club, The Crown and Young Ideas. Tickets at the door are $20. Heavy Hors d’oeuvres and a Cash Bar will be available.

Cocktails and Capone: A Night at the Speakeasy Presented by the Junior Auxiliary of DeSoto County November 13 Landers Center, Southaven, MS 7:00PM Live music by Jeremy Shrader’s Hot Memphis Six, whiskey tasting, silent auction, wine pull and split the pot raffle. For more information visit jadesoto.org.

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Tony Bennett November 18 The Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN Don’t miss Tony Bennett, one of America’s best-loved singers.

Tickets are $70-$125. For more information call 901-525-3000 or visit www.orpheum-memphis.com.

Nut Remix November 20 - 22 Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Memphis, TN An energetic mix of traditional and modern dance styles, Tchaikovsky’s venerable Nutcracker leaps into the 21st Century, reconfigured with Ballet, Hip-Hop, authentic African dance, Flamenco, Chinese Folk and a score that honors the classical element. Audiences experience the classical ballet of the Sugar Plum juxtaposed with the raw energy of urban dance that has come to be associated with New Ballet. For more information call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

The Polar Express Train Ride November 20 - December 27 Batesville, MS The Polar Express™ comes to the Grenada Railway for the first time, recreated to match all the sights and sounds of the beloved story. Picture the excitement of children dressed in pajamas with golden tickets clutched in their hands as they board the train and prepare to embark on their journey to the North Pole. For more information visit www.grenadapolarexpressride.com.

Willie Nelson & Family November 21 Horseshoe Casino Tunica Tunica Resorts, MS For more information call 800-303-7463 or visit www. ticketmaster.com.

17th Annual Southern Lights November 26 - December 31 Central Park, Southaven, MS Begins at dark; check for closing hours; closed Christmas Day Admission: cars $10, vans & hay rides $15, buses $25 and motorcycles $5. For more information, visit www.southaven.org.

MS Delta Christmas Train November 27 - December 23 Hopson Commissary Clarksdale, MS This will be the first year Mississippi Delta Railroad hosts a Christmas Train in Clarksdale, Ms. List of activities that will be available: -20 minute train ride to look at Christmas light displays and decorations that will be set up along the track -arts and crafts for homemade decorations -an area for writing letters to Santa -pictures with Santa -bounce houses on December 5th and 12th -snacks will be available in Hopson Commissary. For more information visit mississippideltarailroad.com or call 662-902-5129.

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reflections} dear dr. camici…

Story and photography by Karen Ott Mayer

Somewhere in Pennsylvania is a doctor I have never met. He’s Italian. He commutes from New York City to this hospital where he performs brain surgery one or two days each week. The only thing we have in common is that he once owned an apartment in Cortona, Italy where I once spent time with friends. A threadbare connection.

This doctor is a neurosurgeon. I have no idea what occurs during his daily routines or in his operating room...with one exception.

On a cool day in October, this surgeon cancelled two surgeries in order to schedule one complicated surgery for a nun. The nun in her late 70s had fallen yet again. With osteoporosis and poor circulation, no one questioned the reason she fell. After all, she’s elderly and nearly immobile.

But then, a discovery after the fall that took her to the hospital. Modern technology revealed the worst. A brain tumor, pressing at the base of her skull and perhaps contributing to her unbalance. And so, the doctor was called. And then I was called.

“Sister Charlotte has a brain tumor,” my mother said to me over the phone.

Following were all the usual questions. How serious is it? Is it cancer? And the one question that always lingers in our minds during these life moments...will she survive?

Unlike all of us who might head to a doctor on a moment’s notice, Sister Charlotte doesn’t fall into that category.

With over 50 years as a nun in a cloistered Carmelite Monastery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, her primary job is others. While the world is concerned about the newest iphone or bragging about the new SUV or beach house, the Sisters of O’Carm 90 DeSoto

pray in accordance with the Carmelite focus on contemplation.

They pray for the world. They pray for others. They pray on schedules and at all hours. Their existence is one step removed from the world.

In our completely self-involved and narcissistic society, it’s nearly impossible for many to understand her choice. At age 21, she entered the convent. Cloistered in this case means...they live within the walls, apart from the world. Translation? They only leave the convent for medical emergencies.

During childhood visits, I remember mystery. Stone walls. Silence. Her face the only visible part of a heavily cloaked body. She smiled at us from behind dense screens in low-lighted rooms. The convent always smelled of fresh bread. We couldn’t touch her or go beyond a certain room but we respected it.

On the day of her surgery, I searched for something to give from afar. A prayer? Here is a woman with whom I’ve exchanged countless letters and tokens. My Aunt sacrificed everything we all relentlessly pursue: love, education, travel, property, marriage, sex, kids, money, power, status, and fame.

When she dies, her sole accomplishment is she was a nun. She gave her entire life to praying for the world. Before her surgery, she said, “I can’t die, I have too much work to do down here still.”

Over the phone after a 10-hour day, I heard the doctor’s voice. With a heavy accent, he talked about the difficult surgery. I learned his name. Dr. Stefano Camici. And I am grateful to put a name to this story. To tell him thanks for taking care of an old nun, who by worldly standards, is nobody and has nothing. And to tell him that in her hour of need, I am certain she prayed for him instead of herself.

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