Avenues March 2023

Milestones Milestones

Birthdays 90 years and over and anniversaries 50 years and over will be picked up from the Villager Journal, The News and The South Missourian News and placed in Avenues Milestones when space allows.

New York but has been a resident at SouthFork River Living Center

VENUES

SALES

Sales Director

SHEILA HARRIS SHERRY HARPER

870-895-3207

Renee Janes

Elaine Brown

Vincent Marshall

John Norberg

RENEE JANES

Designer

Graphic Designer

Office 1-800-995-3209

Fax 870-895-4277

news@areawidenews.com

Renee Janes, Editor

rjanes@cherryroad.com

870-895-3207

Salem, Ark.

Many of us are ready for the warmth and sunshine of spring. It is a time that many begin to prepare to plant their gardens which inspired two of our featured articles for this issue.

Vince shares with us the J&W Nursery, a business that provides a great resource for gardeners at all stages of the hobby.

For this month’s issue, I had the pleasure of visiting with Avis and Len Romine in Glencoe, Ark. Avis is a talented painter who is sharing her gifts with future generations in her family as she is a complete inspiration to her children and grandchildren with the beautiful works that she creates.

Elaine’s featured article is about a new concept for libraries, a seed garden. She visited the Ash Flat Library to learn more about this unique idea.

As always, we hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Avenues.

Gardening in the Ozarks

Ready…Set…Plant…

It is time to march, run or walk and get up off the couch and out into your garden. No more just sitting around. It is time to get your hands dirty. You have already had your soil tested. You already amended the soil to make it optimal for this year’s plants, because March is the start of the gardening season.

So you are thinking, “What should I be doing now in my gardens and around the yard. Last month you cleaned all your pots and containers, so you are one step ahead. Now is a good time to prune your summer blooming shrubs like, your Rose-of-Sharon, most Roses and Crape Myrtles are just a few that would do well with a bit of a “haircut” this time of year. Also, any of your ornamental grasses should be cut back before

the new growth begins.

Now is a good time to do a bit of maintenance also. This is the perfect time to sharpen the mower blades, check and repair edging around beds and walkways. It also it the time for a check-up for your gas-powered tools, so they are in tip-top shape.

When was the last time you divided your fall blooming perennials? March is perfect for dividing your hostas, sedums and mums. This will give them more room to grow and will also provide you with new plants to put in other beds or to give to your neighbor.

This is the time to get your beds cleaned and tidied up like, removing the leaves that still remain, along with the twigs and sticks that may have dropped during the winter. Do not forget to empty and wash the birdbaths, and wipe off the garden bench and table so they are clean and inviting. Pull the weeds that are beginning to grow so you can get ahead of them. This is also the time to deadhead your coneflowers. When weeding, just a

reminder, leave the dandelions, for they are good early pollinators and some of the first food sources for bees.

Now do not get me wrong, March is not all about “working” in the garden. It is also the time to have fun and start planning. Remember, our last frost for this area is between April 10-April 14, so it is too early for tomatoes to be planted outside. But your cool crop like cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, carrots and radishes can be planted now. You can also put out strawberries along with onion sets. Do you enjoy parsley and cilantro? Well then now is the best time to plant when it is cool out and before the heat of the summer. And, let us not forget one of my favorite vegetables, Asparagus. Now is the time to add some new, one year old asparagus crowns to your existing patch. Keep in mind, it takes asparagus 2-3 year before you get a harvest from your plants. You now have your “Marching” papers and gardening season has finally begun. Your long winter break has come to an end. Now it is time to “Ready…Set…Plant…” your vegetable garden and have a little fun.

LocatedinthehistoricalCastleberryBuilding ontheSquareinSalem.

J & W Nursery is the place for green thumbs, veteran gardeners

Story by Vincent Marshall photos Submitted

Whether you are a constant gardener or looking to being a green thumb, one of the unique places to get started or learn new things is along highway 167 where J & W Nursery is located in Evening Shade, Ark.

Starting in 2007 by Cindy Allen, the nursery didn’t become a retail location until 2010 when Allen started a location on Highway 115 outside of Cave City, Ark. That location lasted for 14 years until two years ago in February 2021, J & W Nursery moved to its current location.

“When we first started out, we sold both retail and wholesale,” Allen said. “The wholesale side of the business is what I started in 2007, and I propagated everything I sold wholesale. It didn’t take long for me to realize that we couldn’t keep up with the propagation for the wholesale side and sell retail too. I opted for the retail side. I love talking with my customers and teaching them about growing things.”

J & W Nursery is also family oriented as daughter Whitney Adams helps out mom. Adams used to assist from time to time over the past eight years before making a permanent change. “It wasn’t until May of 2021 that I decided I was going to leave my management job of 10 years to train full-time under Cindy,” Adams said. “I began working

full-time in July of 2021. I continue to learn things from Cindy every day. She has so much to offer that it’s hard to learn it all at one time.”

Two keys to the J & W Nursery have been the need and use of fruit trees and berry bushes. According to Allen, the two are a big part of the nursery’s business which started things back in 2010 and has continued to grow every year since.

“We now try to stock most every kind of eatable fruit or berry that grows well in Arkansas,” Allen said. “Although we can’t always get our hands on everything, we try. Shortages are affecting the nursery industry too.”

With varieties of plants, trees and shrubs growing over the years, J & W Nursery first started out with 100 different varieties available, now they are close to 300.

“Since moving to our new location two years ago, we have increased our growing and propagation space and now have a heated greenhouse we will be utilizing for propagation purposes,” Allen said. According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, propagation is the controlled reproduction of plants using a variety of methods. Now that March is here, for Arkansas growers, it is time for all fruit and nut trees, berry bushes and grapes and figs to be planted, according to Allen. Gardens should be ready to go by mid-March for potatoes, cabbage, onions, carrots, broccoli, brussels sprouts, beets and some cold hardy spinaches. “There are so many beautiful ornamentals and evergreens that grow well in our part of the state that it would be hard to list them all,” Allen said about the best things to grow in her part of Arkansas. “We have so many gorgeous native trees that bloom beautifully in the spring. Dogwoods, redbuds, flowering cherry, just to name a few. “Just about all varieties of fruit trees, berry bushes,

Welcome Spring!

grapes, and figs grow well in our area except citrus.”

With March in full swing, a typical work week keeps J & W Nursery busy. Very busy, according to Allen, as it is one of their busiest months of the year.

“Sales soar through the roof,” Allen said. “We are busy potting up the thousands of perennial flowers we grew over the winter for spring sales. We divide our perennial grasses and get them ready to sell. We are getting ready to get in a slew of vegetable plants and bedding flowers. New ornamental shrubs and roses arrive weekly. There is just a lot of work to be done in March, but we always take time to visit with our customers and share our knowledge with them about our trees and plants.”

Despite the rush to get spring planting going, Allen gives this advice for those that are going to be first-time gardeners this year.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” she said. “With the proper care, and a little knowledge, everyone can succeed at growing. One of the most common mistakes is over watering

and over fertilizing. More is not always better.” J & W Nursery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the nursery directly by call or text at 870-283-4366 or visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ jandwnursery.

MEDICAL DIRECTORY

COUNSELING SERVICES

Families, Inc. Counseling Services

Ash Flat - 870-994-7060

75K Hwy. 62/412, Ste. J Ash Flat, AR

Mountain Home - 870-425-1041

700 S. Main, Mountain Home, AR

DENTISTS

Sonya Hames Wiles, D.D.S. Family Practice Dentistry

28 E. Court St., Melbourne, AR 72556

Telephone: 870-368-6666

Most insurances accepted

MCNA Dental & Delta Dental Smiles

Mammoth Spring Dental Clinic

Main Street, Mammoth Spring, AR 72554

870-625-3262

Dr. Mike Kersey, DDS

Tuesday thru Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.mammothspringdental.com

HOME HEALTH

Elite Home Health

111 N. Main St. • Ste. 1, Salem, AR 72576

Phone: 870-895-2273 • Fax: 870-895-5515

www.lhcgroup.com

Hours of operation: 8:00-4:30 Monday-Friday

RN on call 24/7

We provide home health services of nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapy and in-home aid services in the comfort of your home.

“It’s all about helping people.”

Preferred Home Care

Trained and Professional Staff Offering Personal Care, ARChoices, PASSE, Veterans Aid and Attendance and Private Pay/Insurance 24/7

Mammoth Spring: 870-710-7053

Pocahontas: 870-248-1031

Rector: 870-595-2100

Spring River Home Health

1323 Hwy. 9 North Salem, AR 72576

870-895-2627

Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Personal Caregiver Program

HOSPITALS

Fulton County Hospital 679 N. Main Street Salem, AR 72576 870-895-2691

On-Site Hospitalist

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Delta Medical Supply

www.ARdeltamedical.com

facebook.com/ARdeltamedical

15 Choctaw Trace, Cherokee Village, AR 72529 870-257-4445

916 Sidney St., Batesville, AR 72501 870-612-0049

401 Hwy. 5 N., Mountain Home, AR 72653 870-656-4140

Tri-County Medical Supply

We’re Here To Serve You”

260 Hwy. 62 E. Salem, AR 72576 Toll Free: 888-476-2234

www.tricountymedicalsupply.com

MENTAL HEALTH

Southern Missouri Community Health Center West Plains • 417-255-8464

1137 Independence Dr., West Plains Thayer • 417-264-2990

U.S. Hwy. 63 North, Thayer

NURSING/REHAB

Shady Oaks Healthcare Center 715 S. State Route 19, Thayer, MO 65791 417-264-7256

Dr. Christopher Cochran - Medical Director

Leigh Kincheloe, RN, LNHA - Administrator

Lynsey Miller, RN - Director of Nursing

Long Term Care • Rehabilitation Services

Wound Care • Hospice Care

In House PT OT ST Services • IV Services

Shepherd’s View ALF Alton, MO 65606 417-778-7959

Level 2 Assisted Living for Seniors

Activities of Daily Living

Diabetic Care • Restorative Care • Rehab Care

SouthFork River Therapy & Living 624 62/412 West, Salem, AR 72576 870-895-3817

Kathy Speaks - Administrator

Cassandra Stafford - Director of Nursing

Deb Jeffery - Admissions

PHARMACIES

Alton Drug Store 201 State Hwy. 19, Alton, MO 65606 417-778-7000

Mon.-Fri. 8 am to 5 pm • Sat. 9 am to noon

Becky Peace RPh

Matthew Combs RPh

RX--drive thru--mail--delivery

Home Health Services

Gifts Available

THERAPY SERVICES

Spring River Therapy 1323 Hwy. 9 North, Salem, AR 72576 870-895-2627

Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy

A love for painting inspires future generations

Story by Renee Janes

photos BY Renee Janes and Submitted

In families there are often priceless heirlooms and traditions passed down through generations. For one local family, not only do they have priceless hand-crafted heirlooms created by their beloved family member, they also will have the irreplaceable memories and a gift of learning the craft of painting.

Avis Romine, of Glencoe, Ark., has a clear natural talent for painting, one that she began honing almost four decades ago.

Romine started taking painting lessons with Wanda Latimer in 1986, whom she painted with for a while. “I really enjoyed Wanda,” said Romine,

stating Latimer could paint and replicate wallet size images into full-size paintings. Also inspired by the works of Bob Ross, Romine and her husband, Len, watch his television show every Saturday morning.

“When Wanda left, I went with Noel Matthews to see what his technique was, well, it was Bob Ross and I just love Bob Ross. I couldn’t get away from him,” said Romine.

Of Matthews, who still stops in to see the couple, Romine said, “he was so good, an excellent painter.”

With a love for landscapes, Romine’s paintings

capture the unique beauty of mountains, water scenes and trees. When asked about her process, 85-year-old Avis Romine stated she just starts and there is no telling where she will end up.

Romine, who also makes baby quilts for family and friends, has a room dedicated to painting and another room dedicated to quilting. When she gets the urge to paint, she goes to her painting room and sits down and finds a picture she wants to paint.

Romine’s paintings decorate the walls of their home as well as the walls of her family’s homes. Len shared a painting she created for him, a beautiful landscape of a stream and trees.

“This usually hangs over my chair there; it is one of her first ones and fishing is my passion and the reason I like this is, I told her, there is a bass that’s hanging out right over there under that tree. I know he is there,” said Len, who builds the frames for all the paintings.

“He said I could take my fishing rod and throw it and reel it in,” said Avis.

Sharing her process when beginning a painting, Romine explained she starts with a white canvas and oil paint she gets from Hobby Lobby in

Mountain Home. She prefers oil paint, has tried acrylic some and dislikes watercolor. After preparing the canvas with a white undercoat, Romine starts with painting the sky first.

“Whatever you are painting, you start at the top with the sky and come down as far as you want your sky to be. Then if you want a mountain in there, you got to do a little bit of yellow for the sun to be in the background. So, you do that before you paint your mountain,” said Romine.

“I make all my mountains with a painter’s knife, and you start at the top and then just scrape it down. Then you take your brush, and you brush it down as far as you want to on both sides and fill in a light coat because you are going to put snow on the mountain. Then you take your knife again and ever so soft go down the mountain. That is how you put snow on the mountain. Then you make something below it, some land and dirt, whatever

you want to put…You get interested in it and then while you’re painting one color, you look forward to what you are going to do to join with that color,” said Romine.

She also explained using gesso when painting which allows you to paint any color over the white canvas. Gesso is used to protect and enhance surfaces of canvas.

Humble when it comes to her talent, Romine said, “I am not very good at mixing colors.” To which her daughter Sandy Lawrence countered with, “yes, she is.”

When asked how it makes her feel when she sees what she has accomplished through painting, Romine said, “just looking at them, I can’t believe I did them. Because I never thought I would be real good,” humbly stating she is not that good and

there is a lot she needs to learn.

Romine creates paintings for many family members and friends, including a painting of her cousin’s cabin in Canada which was a meaningful gift to him.

“I was talking to him on video chat, but he was looking at that picture and he was crying,” said Len. “It thrilled him to death to think that I would paint him a picture and mail it to him,” said Romine, stating he told her he loved it. The first picture she sent to her cousin was of their grandfather’s barn. Romine’s talent has inspired others in her family to learn to paint. Her daughters Sandy Lawrence and Jayne McCord, granddaughter Sara Barrentine and great granddaughter Mya Lawrence have all requested lessons from her. That meant a lot to Romine. Each one of them thought they couldn’t paint and were surprised when they did, according to Romine.)

“Number one, they didn’t think they could do it. Number two, when we sat down beside each other and started in, they found out they could do it. They felt better about themselves,” said Romine.

She has also taught her granddaughters to knit and crochet. Romine said her granddaughter Barrentine is even teaching her new stitches. When asked what it meant to her for the younger generations to learn from her and carry on her painting legacy, Romine exclaimed, “Happy! I could dance on the chandelier. I love it that they want to do something with Mom and Grandma.” She stated she has not yet gotten Len to give painting a try.

Her daughter Lawrence said Romine is a good teacher. It is also clear there is a talent for the art of painting in the family.

Something

Romine recalled words from her former instructor Matthews of when someone says they can’t paint, “You just tell them, it is in there somewhere and you just need to get a brush and bring it out of them and say ‘paint this.’ You are digging it out of their soul really, to do a landscape or a mountain. To just sit down and paint a picture like that, and then sit back and look at it and makes you wonder, ‘did I do that or not?’ But I did, and I will keep on doing it until I can’t do it anymore. I think I am enjoying this as much or more than baby quilts,” said Romine.

Local Taste

SIDEWINDER CAFE

962 HWY 62/412

ASH FLAT, AR

(870) 751-2020

Mon., Wed., Thurs. 11-9; Tues. 11-5; Fri. 11-11; Sat. 12-11; Sun. 12-5

Call ahead, Dine-In, Carry-Out

Facebook.com/Frontier-Lanes

MEACHAM’S

191 HWY 62/412

ASH FLAT, AR

(870) 994-2101

Tues. - Thurs. 11-8; Fri -Sat. 11-9

Dine-In & Carry-Out

Facebook.com/meachamsashflat

BUTTERCUP’S KITCHEN

922 N. Main St.

Cave City, AR

(870) 283-5000

Mon. - Sat. 6 am - 3 pm

Breakfast till 10:30 am

Facebook.com/Buttercups-Kitchen

ARTASIA MAIN ST. BISTRO / TWILIGHT APOTHECARY

112 E. Main St. | Hardy, AR

(870) 209-7606

Espressos, Teas, Homemade Baked Goods,Sandwiches and Wraps

Sun. 9-3; Mon. 7-3; Thurs.-Sat. 7-3

Facebook.com/artasia

SWINGLES FAMILY DINER

126 Locust St. Salem, AR

(870) 895-5008

Mon. - Sat. 6 am - 2 pm

Facebook.com/pages/Swingles

For your restaurant to be featured in our Local Taste, call 870-895-3207 and ask for the sales department.

2023

Ash Flat

Cave City

Hardy

Salem

What’s Cookin’ in the Ozarks? What’s Cookin’ in the Ozarks?

Crackle Sugar Cookies

By Debbie Perryman

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1-1/4 cups granulated sugar

3 large egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 cups sugar for rolling cookie dough in

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter and granualted sugar in bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom.

Add egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Mix on medium speed until smooth; about 30 seconds. Add flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Mix on low speed until dough comes together. Scoop dough by rounded tablespoons and roll between your hands until smooth.

Roll dough in granulated sugar to coat and place on aluminum foil-lined baking sheets. Bake cookies on middle rack until golden brown on the edges, but soft in the center. About 15 minutes. Cool on rack.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

3612 Best Circle, Thayer, MO 65791

Office - 417-256-2556

Sacred Heart Schedule:

Weekday Mass: Thursday 11:30 a.m.

Weekend Mass: Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Confession: First Sundays at 8:00 a.m.

Rosary: Sundays at 8:00 am.;

Weekdays before Mass

Mammoth Spring Church of Christ

110 S. 3rd St. / P.O. Box 251

Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Barry O’Dell - Preacher

Find us on Facebook or YouTube

Ash Flat Church of God 124 Arnhart St. • Ash Flat, AR 501-574-8294

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening 5:00 p.m.

Thursday Bible Study 6:00 p.m.

Pastor CL Abbott

Salem United Methodist Church 205 Church St., Salem, AR 72576

Sunday School 10:00 am

Worship 11:00 a.m 870-847-6030 • 870-895-5157

Pastor Ken Anderson

Welcome Hill Church of Christ

Church Directory

Church Directory

Peace Lutheran Church

4 Iroquois Dr. • Cherokee Village

870-257-3957

Pastor Brian Pummill

9 a.m. – Traditional Worship

10:15 a.m. – Adult Bible Study & Sunday School

11:15 a.m. – Contemporary Praise Service

Hardy Church of Christ

Wheeling Church of Christ

Hwy. 9 South, Wheeling, AR 870-219-9067

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 6:00 p.m.

St. Paul United Methodist Church

Business Highway 63, PO Box 241

Adoration: 3rd Thurs. & 1st Fri. 11:30 a.m.

305 Johnston, Hardy, AR

870-847-6024

Sunday Morning Bible Study 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship 5:00 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Mammoth Spring

16600 Highway 9, Mammoth Spring, AR 625-3273 • www.mammothspringfbc.com

Chris Powers, Pastor

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Service 6:30 p.m.

New Hope Baptist Church

1244 Hwy. 175 • Hardy, AR 72542

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.

870-966-4997

Don Robbins, Pastor/Brother

Food Pantry Last Saturday of Each Month - 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

St. Michael’s Catholic Church

Corner of Tekakwitha Dr. & Hwy. 62/412

Thayer, MO 65791

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m.

Email: stpaulumc@centurytel.net

417-264-3296 • Pastor Mark Coffey

Faith Presbyterian Church

1001 Third Street, Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512

Sunday School - 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m.

2nd Day Bible Study - Monday, 10:30 a.m.

Email: faithpresby@centurytel.net

www.horseshoepresbyterian.org

Rev. David Schaller – Call 870-670-4103

Horseshoe Bend United Methodist Church

600 West Church Street

870-670-5392

Christian Conversation Wednesday - 12 noon

Sunday Worship - 9:00 a.m.

Pastor Ken Anderson

First Baptist Church of Hardy

Highway 63-412, Hardy, AR

Sunday School-9:30 a.m.

16309 Highway 9 South, Mammoth Spring, AR PO Box 495 / 417-293-6355

Sunday Morning Bible Study 10 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship 5 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7 p.m.

Minister: Erman Croney - 417-264-3371

Cherokee Village, AR • 870-257-2850

Email: stmichaelcv@yahoo.com

www.stmichaelscv.org

Daily Mass: Mon., Thur., Fri. - 9 am; Wed. - 6 p.m.; Saturday Vigil - 4 p.m. Sunday - 9 a.m.

Rev. Amal Punganoor • 870-257-4456

Hardy United Methodist Church

Fourth & Spring / Every Sunday

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Open Hearts ~ Open Minds ~ Open Doors

To reserve your church’s

Directory contact Areawide Media at 800-995-3209

Worship-10:45 a.m.

Evening Worship - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Prayer Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Dr. Larry Kindrick, Pastor - 870-847-0897

First Christian Church

“Disciples of Christ”

7th & Archer Street, Mammoth Spring, AR

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m.

Bible Study Wednesday Evenings - 6:00 p.m.

www.fccms.org

First Missionary Baptist Aba

Highway 62 West At Spruce, Salem, AR

Sunday School-9:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship-11:00 a.m.

Sunday Night Services - 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday Services - 6:30 p.m.

Call 870-895-2634 or 371-2067

Pastor Holden Phillips 870-834-5852

listing in Avenues’ Church

From seed to seed: “Borrowing” from the library reaches new realms of growth, sharing and learning

Story by Elaine Brown photos Elaine Brown and Submitted

A new concept in libraries is literally growing and blossoming across the country, and it has reached a small part of northcentral Arkansas known as Ash Flat. The first seed library in Sharp County has started to germinate at the Ash Flat Library where ideas are sprouting and taking root. Library Board Member Anita Hawkins had heard about the idea and asked other board members what they thought about trying it at the Ash Flat Library. The consensus was to go for it…so Anita took off running!

Her first concern was getting the seeds. As it turns out, most seed suppliers cannot sell seeds from the previous year, so they are happy to donate those seeds to a good cause. Hawkins started making phone calls and before she knew it, companies were sending her seeds in the mail. She was able to get seeds from local suppliers too, as well as private gardening enthusiasts. Both commercial and private seed donations came in at no cost to the library!

She has received contributions and seed donations from Everwilde Farms in Fallbrook, Calif., Grass Pad in Olathe, Kan., Hudson Valley Seed Company in Accord, N.Y., J & W Nursery in Evening Shade, Ark., Jim & Kim Gross in Clinton, Mo., MI Gardener in St. Clair, Mich., Tractor Supply and Tri County Farm and Ranch Supply in Ash Flat, Ark. and the list is growing.

The first question that comes to mind is What is a seed library? It’s a collection of natural heirloom seeds that the collector (the library in this case) is willing to “lend” to anyone interested in propagating the seed’s family lineage. The “borrower” then plants the seeds and lets them grow to maturity, allowing the plant to fruit or flower so more seeds can be harvested. This next generation of seeds is collected

(save some for yourself) and returned to the library to be shared with other “borrowers.” Sounds like fun, huh? It is, and it’s addicting and contagious! Even if you are new to gardening, it’s a great way to learn by trial and error because with just a little nurturing and the help of Mother Nature, seeds beget more seeds, and they beget even more seeds and so on, and so on… In other words, mistakes are easily forgiven. How to begin? At the Ash Flat Library, all you need is a library card. With this you can get packets of seeds of anything from beets and brussel sprouts to carrots and cucumbers to eggplant and flowers, herbs and tomatoes. Just take your pick, up to three packets of vegetables and three packets of flowers per family. Soil-testing kits are also available. There are no due dates or fines on these library

loans, just bring back some of the seeds that you harvest.

The Ash Flat Seed Library has quickly become of interest in the Sharp County community. According to Library Manager Susan Funnell, the seed library has attracted about 50 curious “borrowers” who have checked out seeds. Okra and tomatoes have been the most popular so far, though they have some unusual gourd seeds that have caught the eye of some seasoned growers. How to troubleshoot along the way? Whether you are new to gardening or already experienced, there are plenty of resources available online and YouTube, not to mention at your local library. In addition, the Ash Flat Library will be hosting several educational seminars through the year to help explain different aspects of the gardening process. They will be getting some help from the local Master Gardener Program in Sharp County.

Master Gardeners are a collective of welleducated individuals trained in areas of botany, soil science, plant propagation, plant and weed identification, vegetable and ornamental plant gardening and many other aspects of the planting, growing and harvesting process. The program grew out of a need from a county extension office in the state of Washington in 1972 when an interest in “urban farming” was rapidly growing. Master Gardener Programs have since spread throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Master Gardeners give to their communities in many ways through various projects and in educating the public with programs and events. Some of the projects they manage in Sharp County include landscaping at the Hardy and Ash Flat libraries as well as Choctaw Center and

Cherokee Village Community Park. They also do an annual project with the local 4-H group and the Sharp County Fair. They will be helping with the library presentations in Ash Flat. Questions like how seeds should be started, at what temperature, what kind of soil, indoors or outdoors, in pots or in the ground, does a plant need direct sunlight or more shade, all of these issues will be addressed one way or another. Even experts have questions and much can be learned just from sharing your problems and success stories with others.

The first “Seed Kick-off” seminar will be held at the Ash Flat Library on Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. The speaker will be Cody Stroud, a Master Gardener and agent from the Sharp County Extension Office. He will be discussing different soil samples and what testing your soil can tell you. So come with your questions and kickoff the 2023 growing season with a few more packets of seeds in your pocket!

The Ash Flat Library is located at 11 Arnhart St. in Ash Flat, Ark. It is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 870-994-2658.

ACNA’s February Artist of the Month: William Ray Andrews

By Cheri Lynn Quattrochi

The Arts Center of Noth Arkansas’s March Artist of the Month is photographer William Ray Andrews. He shoots mostly waterfall and landscapes but would like to begin capturing more wildlife. He’s experimenting with astrophotography as well but he has a hard time staying up all night!

William became interested in photography when he was about twelve years old. His dad gave him the 35mm Argus and light meter that he had used in the Philippines and China during World War II. The family had a darkroom in its home, but by the time William reached age twelve, it had morphed into more of a storage area. While in college, William worked in the Materials Lab where his primary job was to polish specimens and take photomicrographs. The school had a nice large darkroom, but unfortunately by that time, the photomicroscopes were Polaroid. Because of these missed opportunities,

William never learned to process film, something he now regrets. Sending the film off to be developed was just too easy!

For a while, William had a girlfriend who was a professional photographer. He would help with her wedding shoots—which, in reality, meant he was more of a pack mule, carrying her equipment. Even so, during that time he did learn about exposure and how to use a camera.

Fifty years passed before William’s plunge into the depths of photography truly began. He bought his first dslr about twelve years ago. The more he learns, the better his photos become, the more he enjoys the photographic journey, and the more he realizes how little he really knows.

The “Ray” in William’s name is for his grandfather, Ray Howard Murphy, who was a surveyor in Hardy most of his adult life. William’s mother graduated from Hardy High School. William grew up in Manila, Arkansas. In 2020 he moved into the family home in Hardy. He really planned to become a professional photographer and maybe open a studio. However, he continues to work at the JOB, so at present photography remains a hobby.

Working as a mechanical engineer in Little Rock, William mostly designs public swimming pools and water parks. He puts in a lot of hours which interferes with his ability to find the time to get out and shoot. He looks forward to the day when he can cut back on work and spend more time with his camera.

For William, one of the beauties of photography is that one can take photos and enjoy them with very little training, yet there is always more to learn. He encourages anyone who is interested in photography to join the Photography Club at the ACNA—and to just get out and shoot.

(Information about photos: The street shot is of Hardy; the two bodies of water shots are of Lake Sequoia and Spring River.)

ACNA March Activities

Questions? Call 870-751-3793. Watch for flyers and newspaper notices or check ACNA’s Facebook page or website for information about upcoming classes.

Writing/Visual Journaling, 1st Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 noon

Art Club, 2nd Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 noon

Photography Club, 3rd Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 noon

Sewing Club, 4th Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 noon

Tai Chi, Mondays and Thursdays,10-11 a.m.

Clay/Pottery, Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., classes with Ken Hopper

Mountain Dulcimer, Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m.

Open Studio, Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m.

Mar. 20 (Monday), 2:30 p.m., Board Meeting—members welcome!

WIN A DINNER FOR TWO

FRED’S FISH HOUSE

RULES: To register for the drawing, fill out a card on location at Fred’s Fish House in Mammoth Spring, Ark. Look for the pictured box to drop your card in to be registered. The drawing will still take place around the end of each month at the restaurant.

LAST MONTH’S WINNER:

Dre

THE NEXT DRAWING

FOR A FREE DINNER GIVEAWAY FOR TWO WILL BE FEBRUARY 16.

Russo of Sidney, Ark.

DON’t FORGET

- Take us with you! Where is Avenues is a special feature we offer our readers. If you are traveling, take an Avenues with you, take a photo with it and send it in!

- You can nominate houses for our Home Tour feature. If you, or someone you know, has a unique home perfect for Avenues, let us know!

- We love to highlight the next generation and we do so with our Community Cuties. Send in a photo of your child(ren) (grandchild, niece, nephew, etc.) with their name, age, parents’ name, etc. They can be featured in Avenues as well. Send photos or suggestions to news@areawidenews.com

Fishing This Year

By: Dewayne French

I hope all your winter fishing has been safe and fun this winter. I have been out fishing on our Ozark waterways several times and so far the year is starting off great. No limit out days, but no zero’s yet either. I have had safe trips to and from the water. As you are fishing in the Ozarks region during this cold time of the year, make sure you always tell someone your plan for the day and where you will be launching your boat at and the time you will expect to return back home.

Fishing on our Ozark streams, rivers, and lakes means many different things to the people in this region. Our day to day life, body, and soul is connected to the water we have in our own backyard! If you have been following any of the western water issues, you should know by now we have a great natural resource. We need to use the issues like they are having out west as a lesson of what not to do here. They have lakes that are hundreds of feet low and may never return to normal levels. Our water is like “liquid gold” and I hope our kids and grandkids never see what is happening out there around here! Our liquid gold has fish of all shapes and sizes. We have many cold water and warm water species, some even in the same river system.

Fishing on our water ways can be intriguing to say the least. We have many great rivers, streams, and lakes that can be floated, played on and fished in. Whe ther you are out for a day float on the kayak or a peaceful fishing adventure. The Ozarks has what it takes for water fun and relaxation, even in the winter. With the spring season coming soon our Ozarks fishing and weather will hopefully both be getting better.

Water brings us fish and good quality water brings us lots of fish. We have both good quality and good amounts of fresh clean water in the Ozarks. The fishing opportunities we have in the Ozarks are unlimited. We can wade fish a creek, fish a deep clear lake, or kayak a river for a day. The best part of “Fishing” isn’t the fish. It is the who, what, where, when, and how it causes or lives to cross paths with family and friends. Fishing memories we make with family and the friends along the way last a

lifetime.

When you start fishing on our Ozark waterways this year I wish you many days of enjoyment. Eagles, deer, turkey, waterfowl, and other species are all around the water and who knows what you will see besides the fish you catch. Beautiful sunrises and pretty orange-pink sunsets are the norm when you take it all in. Like we talked about earlier the fish isn’t the only thing in “Fishing”. Take it all in Mother Nature is turely alive and well in the Ozarks.

Remember we all “Live Downstream” so please pick up your trash and any other trash you see out floating around! Never discard old fishing line in the river or lake! Wear your life jacket, and tell your family your expected return times, and a general location of where you plan to fish.

Check out my social media pages and follow my fishing adventures around the Ozark waters we call home.

Facebook: Dewayne French Fishing

Twitter: @French_fishin

Instagram: french_fishin

Youtube: Dewayne French or French Fishing

Fish: An animal that grows the fastest between the time it’s caught and the time the fisherman tells his friends

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