Gulf Coast Woman October-November 2019

OMAN GULF COAST

COMPLIMENTARY OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

DR. TAMARA HARPER DR. SHAHIRA HANNA

WOMEN’S HEALTH featuring

ISSUE

Michael J. Christie M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

BOARD CERTIFIED OB/GYN Diplomate of the American Board of OB/GYN

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Quality Care One Patient At A Time Michael J. Christie, MD, FACOG Board Certified OB/GYN

We would like to thank all of our wonderful patients.

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October-November 2019

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MAKING

WAVES

Bettylu Dennis has fond recollections of singing “Summertime” alongside Count Basie – one of her more memorable experiences as a touring singer during World War II. “He was a great guy. In fact, he said, ‘You should get out of the Navy and join our band,’” Dennis says. “He was a gentleman.” The Gulfport Armed Forces Retirement Home resident was less impressed after meeting Frank Sinatra — not finding him personable or handsome.

“I told one of my friends I didn’t think he would amount to much,” says the 96-year-old veteran of the WAVES, the women’s branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II. An Indiana native, Dennis belonged to a four-person singing group while she was in the service, which toured the country supporting the Navy’s recruiting efforts. She made her performing debut at age 7, when she sang in her first revue.

“The first night, several of the girls received beautiful bouquets, and I didn’t get one,” Dennis recalls. “The next night, my father came up on stage and gave me a beautiful bouquet of roses.”

Dennis’s father was a World War I Navy veteran and worked as a chief engineer inspector of naval materials.

She watched many others from her generation answer the nation’s call — including her then-boyfriend, Stu — and felt compelled to join the war effort.

“WAVES were machinists, secretaries (and) worked in factories …,” Dennis says. “Wherever men were lacking, that’s where they put us.”

Once her vocal talents were discovered, Dennis was assigned to a singing group that included three other women and an orchestra. Following four or five weeks of rehearsal, she recalls, they took to the road and hit nearly every big city and military base in the Midwest.

“We traveled sometimes overnight so we could be at the next duty station or city where we had to perform,” Dennis says. “It mattered not what branch of service; we entertained all of them.”

The singer supported the Navy’s recruiting efforts for a year and three months and was sent to Bainbridge. Maryland, because they needed a vocalist. At one point during her singing career, Bing Crosby’s band director arranged 4

October-November 2019

Veteran Bettylu Dennis served country as U.S. Navy singer

By Jennifer Gentile a screen test for her, but Dennis never went — choosing to become engaged to Stu rather than pursue a Hollywood career.

“I have no regrets,” she says. “Who knows what would have happened if I’d have gone out there?”

Stu went on to join the FBI, and the couple had two sons — who gave them four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Dennis didn’t sing past the age of 54, due to thyroid and vocal cord issues.

Although devastated, she got a set of clubs and took up golf.

“That’s my other claim to fame,” she says. “I’d still be playing if I could.”

Stu died in 1999, and Dennis moved into the Armed Services Retirement Home a few years later. She met resident Byron Dennis there, to whom she was married until his death in 2014.

“I’ve been very fortunate,” she says. “I had two men I loved who loved me.”

Today, Dennis continues to savor life and stays active by walking, socializing and attending exercise classes. “I still go to aerobics class three times a week,” Dennis says.

She posed as “Miss December” for the home’s philanthropic calendar project in 2012, helping raise over $20,000 for charity. Dennis also is among the founders of the home’s Mardi Gras Krewe of NAMAC – serving as its queen for 2019.

An avid Saints fan, Dennis has supported the team since its founding. A New Orleans resident at the time, she attended the team’s first game on Sept. 17, 1967. For over 20 years, she didn’t miss a match – even traveling for away games.

Although Dennis couldn’t get tickets for a Thanksgiving Day game, her friend, Cathy Collins, arranged for her to receive something even more special – a football signed by every player.

“I was thrilled. I wasn’t expecting it …,” she says. “It was a big deal for me. I don’t think anyone else in this facility has a football signed by all the Saints.”

At the Armed Services Retirement Home, Dennis says she is “in the right place” and couldn’t ask for better help. Reflecting on her life and experiences, she says she feels thankful for each day. “I’ve been blessed,” Dennis says. “Someone up there likes me.”

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5

Chef Jackie Seavey

Island View Chef savors World Food Champion win

By Jennifer Gentile

While growing up, Jackie Seavey spent a lot of time helping her Thai mother in the kitchen.

Now Seavey, who hails from Long Beach, is the newly titled “World Food Champion”— and says she’s honored to represent women chefs everywhere. The executive sous chef at Island View Casino Resort beat nine other competitors to win the seventh annual World Food Championship.

“For me, cooking and sharing my passion for great food is an all-inclusive club,” Seavey says. “It defies all the obstacles that usually segregate people and cultures.” She notes that the grand champion winners for the previous two years also have been women.

As the victor, Seavey claims a $100,000 prize, plus her winning dish — kumquat duck and cornbread waffle canapes — will be featured at upscale New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s. The seasoned chef has competed and placed in numerous culinary competitions over the years in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. The American Culinary Federation’s Mississippi Gulf Coast

chapter awarded her Chef of the Year honors in 2008 and 2011.

Seavey’s latest victory was revealed in a two-part docu-series, which aired in August on CNBC. The World Food Championship showcases mastery in 10 categories: bacon, barbecue, burger, chef, chili, dessert, recipe, sandwich, seafood and steak. The most recent contest drew a reported 1,500 contestants on 500 teams, representing 42 states and 12 countries.

Last year was a “good year” for Seavey, as it was the first year she qualified to compete as head of her own team. She won chili champion honors when previously, she’d served as a sous chef in other categories like steak and seafood. Seavey not only received a $10,000 check after defeating two-time chili champ Liz Kraatz, but she also earned a chance to compete for the top WFC title.

After gifting some of her prize money to her teammates and paying the required taxes, Seavey says she plans to pay off her mortgage with her winnings.

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(228) 539-2422 or Angela Bruni, (228) 760-8887 Veronica Ratcliff, (228) 861-6503 Sherry Moxley Seaman, (706) 833-0123

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ON THE COVER

OMAN GULF COA ST

DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Crystal Scretching

COMPLIMENTARY

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

DR. TAMARA HARPER

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR/WRITER Jennifer Gentile

DR. SHAHIRA HANNA

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ellis Anderson Holly Lemoine-Raymond Alyssa Ashmore Deborah Meza Karol Brandt Dr. Philip Myers Shelby Brune Tina Perkins Crissy Cox Shelia Rivers Chris Dearman Kathy Rogers Christy Bjork Elias Jerika Vincent Adrienne Elliott Sharon Weeks Ryan Giles Tristan Whorton Raymond J. Huntington Heather Young CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Pearse Brandi Stage

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WOMEN’S HEALTH featuring

ISSUE

Cover subjects Dr. Shahira Hanna Dr. Tamara Harper

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October-November 2019

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GETTING HER LIFE BACK SYDNEY JONES MAKES HUGE STRIDES AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY After her late husband died in 2016, Sydney Jones turned to food as a means of coping.

“It seemed that whenever I had a personal struggle in my life, food was the source of comfort—at least temporarily until the guilt from over-eating began to set in,” says Jones, a traveling home health care nurse. “Then it was just a vicious circle of eating and guilt…”

Carrying excess weight caused Jones to develop sleep apnea, as well as chronic joint pain and swelling. She realized she needed to make a drastic change quickly for the sake of her health, and fad diets weren’t the answer.

She liked what she saw when she researched South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center online—getting the impression that patients were valued over profit.

“When I met Dr. (William) Avara, there was no judgment of any kind, no berating like I had heard in the past from other doctors…,” Jones says. “It was a disease, he told me—a lifelong struggle that I and many others would constantly have to fight throughout my life, and he was offering a tool, not a magic pill, to help me to get there.”

Jones underwent the gastric sleeve procedure at Singing River Hospital last December, and she has lost 150 pounds. The apnea, swelling and joint pain are gone while her energy level has skyrocketed. She now can enjoy activities she used to love like dancing, going to the gym, horseback riding and karate.

Another benefit: Jones can leave a department store after shopping for clothes feeling confident and beautiful.

“This surgery gave me my life back,” she says.

“It gave me myself back, the girl who loves to laugh and be with her friends and family, the girl who finds joy in the world.”

you lost God too,” Jones says. “However, He was there all along, guiding me to the right surgeon and placing the right people in my path to get me where he needed me to be.”

Family and friends, including her fiancé, Josh Flores, have been Jones’s constant cheerleaders while also following her example.

Her results inspired her aunt and a friend to have the surgery, and Flores has lost about 200 pounds and plans to have the procedure as well.

At the beginning, getting used to a new diet was difficult, Jones acknowledges, but now she hardly notices the smaller portions, and her cravings for sweets and carbs have diminished. She’s come to recognize the importance of pacing in all things—whether it’s eating a meal or achieving a goal.

“Slow down and enjoy your life, not just rush through it trying to fill your life with empty things instead of things with substance,” Jones says. “That has been my biggest lesson and reward from this journey.”

She credits South Mississippi Surgical with providing all the tools and support patients need to be successful—not only preparing them for surgery but also providing information and answers afterward.

Today

“I would absolutely recommend them to anyone seeking a real lifestyle change,” she says, “because it really will change your life if you follow their instructions and lean on them for support.”

To learn more about South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss, as well as its award-winning surgeons and staff, call (228) 872-7277 or visit smsurgicalweightloss.com.

The procedure, she adds, also restored her faith—not only in God, but in herself.

Before

To learn more about South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center, its team and services, visit www.smsurgicalweightloss.com

“When you lose yourself, you tend to think that

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October-November 2019

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WINNING COMBINATION Kristen and Kayla Cade

Kristen and Kayla Cade are a dynamic duo on and off the field. The twins, who joined Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s softball team last year, do almost everything together, including rooming together, working out together and playing softball. From Saucier, both played at Harrison Central High School, a team that won three state championships while they were there. From the time they were little, Kristen has been a pitcher, and Kayla has been her catcher. Together, they lead this year’s Bulldog team with their new coach, Eric Neel, and assistant coaches Amber Adcock and Danielle Barton.

“These two are terrific players, and I’m happy to have them back this year,” Neel said. “They are natural leaders, and the team loves them. They work really well together, picking up on nuances in each other’s behavior, which is definitely a plus for a pitcher and catcher.”

They are also outstanding in the classroom, keeping their grades high enough to earn Kayla MACJC All-Academic Team and NJCAA All-Academic Team honors for maintaining a GPA above 3.60.

Kristen is currently an elementary education major, but she has her eye on the high school or college level.

14

October-November 2019

“I have teachers who stand out for me now and in the past,” she

we probably won’t be at the same university. That is going

said. “Their advice and guidance are things that I’ll remember

to be such a change.”

until I die. I want to have that kind of impact on my students.”

On the field, both Cade sisters have done very well at Gulf

Kayla has not decided between elementary education and

Coast. Kristen struck out 173 batters in 122 innings and threw

speech pathology. “I genuinely love children and want to

a no-hitter against Southwest last season. She finished ninth

work with them,” she said. “I want to help them. I think I

in the country in strikeouts and fifth in strikeouts per seven

would also love to coach.”

innings with 9.93. She was named to the 2019 All-MACJC first

The twins decided to attend MGCCC because they are very close and wanted to spend at least their first two years of college together. Growing up near the Perkinston Campus, both girls knew it was a great choice for them. “We wanted to continue playing softball and also wanted to be near home,” Kayla said. “Our family is very, very close.”

Kristen added, “After being at Perk for a year, the people here have grown to be like

team and NJCAA All-Region 23 Team.

“Their advice and guidance are things that I’ll remember until I die.

I want to have that kind of impact on my students.”

Last season, she went 15-5 with a 2.70 ERA. Kayla batted .426 and had two homeruns and 11 RBIs. She was named to All-MACJC second team.

“I think we are both very lucky to be doing something we love, staying active, hanging out with our friends and just enjoying being college students,” Kayla said. “Life couldn’t be better for us than right now in this moment.”

our family as well. We really almost hate to leave and go to university at the end of this year. We have had such an awesome time here and made great friends, and we both love our instructors.”

They did make the decision to give other roommates a try this year. “It’s a process,” Kristen said. “We are slowly getting used to the idea of doing things apart from each other. Next year,

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15

MS Congeniality goes to television

Jaimee Dorris, known as “MS Congeniality,” has interviewed interesting Mississippians on her online YouTube show. Team Congeniality has now partnered with WXXV-FOX, and this fall, they are spicing up daytime television with MS Congeniality TV. The show airs every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on FOX (after Judge Judy) as of Sept. 5.

The 30-minute program features the coolest people, places, events, and businesses in coastal Mississippi. Notable interviewees include a social media celebrity, a man who ran for president, a real life construction Barbie, a sex therapist and a gospel star to name a few “We don’t necessarily feature popular people only,” Dorris says. “In fact, I love to find people that you should know and tell you why.”

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October-November 2019

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special section

featuring

Find out who made the 2019 list

10 health dangers for women • Rea Lenz’s transformation story • Drs. Mark and Allison Wall • Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s • Meal prep made easy • Don’t let osteoporosis take you by surprise • Put your own well-being forefront • The magic of ultrasounds • Breast implant awareness • Breastfeeding initiative

Dr. Shahira Hanna

Caring for women through all life’s phases

By Jennifer Gentile Dr. Shahira Hanna marvels at how far medical technology has advanced since the 1970s and 80s.

In its infancy, explains the OB-GYN, laparoscopy involved placing a sharp, metal object into a patient’s abdomen, allowing doctors to look inside the human body using a tube and a lens.

“Now, robotic surgery allows us to do remarkable things while sitting at a console across the room!” Dr. Hanna exclaims. “It has lent itself especially well to gynecological surgery like hysterectomy. This surgery is my favorite part of being an OB-GYN.” Dr. Hanna, who is on staff at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport and Garden Park Medical Center, is originally from upstate New York. An avid science student, she earned a chemistry degree from Colgate University.

Afterward, she says, “I decided to go to medical school and apply my science to a profession where I could be around people all the time as opposed to a laboratory.” She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed her residency at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.

In the early 90s, weary of the Northern weather and the worsening climate in health care, Dr. Hanna relocated to

Photograph by Brandi Stage Portraiture

the Gulf Coast. At the time, she says, small hospitals that didn’t previously offer obstetrical care were starting to provide it — so the timing was right to open the first labor unit at Gulf Coast Medical Center.

See DR. HANNA on Page 38

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21

Women’s Health 2019

Dr. Tamara Harper

Pediatrician puts kids’ health, well-being at forefront

By Jennifer Gentile Pediatricians are an extension of the family, says Dr. Tamara Harper — present in their patients’ lives from birth through the critical years of childhood and adolescence.

“As such, choose your pediatrician wisely,” one who relates well to you and your child with a caring and listening heart, with dignity and respect,” says Dr. Harper, who grew up in Moss Point and has been practicing in Gulfport since 2006.

Her passion for her work comes from her love for children.

Dr. Harper’s learned the kids who scream at the sight of a stethoscope, or refuse to open wide for a tongue depressor, are the same ones who will be hollering for her or clinging to her leg later.

“Pediatrics is my ministry,” says the doctor, who is affiliated with The Pediatric Center of Gulfport and Garden Park Physician Services. “There is contentment that comes from knowing that you’re doing what you were placed on earth to do.”

Becoming a McDonald’s cashier appeared at the top of Dr. Harper’s childhood goal list. But at age 6, after being hospitalized for a septic knee joint, she aspired to become a doctor.

“My interest continued to grow throughout my childhood with the desire to serve and help others,” she says, “reaching a peak after attending a Summer Science Academy at Xavier University of Louisiana as an adolescent.”

While she grew up in a working-class community, where no physicians looked like her, Dr. Harper’s parents were college graduates who stressed the value of education and believed in her abilities.

“They rooted for me and helped pave the way when I could barely recognize the path that God had chosen for me,” she says, “and I am forever grateful.”

Dr. Harper graduated summa cum laude from Xavier University, then went on to earn her medical doctorate from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in 1998 and complete her pediatrics residency in 2001. Before relocating to south Mississippi in 2006, Dr. Harper spent five years as an ER attending physician for the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital Evaluation Center.

“Little did I know that in this position, God was preparing me to practice in a private setting,” she says, “where there is often limited access to pediatric specialty services, especially in emergency-type situations.”

While doctors often witness the incredible and unexpected, Dr. Harper says pediatrics is a “miracle specialty in and of itself.” When she sees a patient bound for college — who was born prematurely and likely wouldn’t have survived 30 years ago — she is reminded of God’s power and compassion.

Her deep faith, along with self-care and support from her October-November 2019 22 loved ones — including her husband, Dr. Oswago Harper

Photograph by Brandi Stage Portraiture

— get the doctor through difficult times. Contrary to what some believe, she says, pediatricians don’t get to “play” with happy, healthy babies all day. Her young patients do keep her smiling, she explains, but even healthy children demand vigilance. “ … The slightest symptom may have ominous consequences if not recognized and acted on before growing into a disease that can ravage not just the child, but the entire family,” Harper warns.

Thanks to immunization, she adds, most pediatricians have seen few, if any, cases of polio, small pox, measles, mumps or rubella. Controversy continues to surround the subject of vaccines, but Dr. Harper maintains they are “perhaps the single greatest advance of modern medicine.”

“The world at large has benefited immensely from the power of immunizations,” she says, “and pediatricians have the privilege to stand on the front line in protecting children and the public at large.”

To stay on the cutting edge of her field, Dr. Harper is an active fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics at the national and state level, and she frequently attends AAP conferences to maintain and increase her knowledge. She has received Vitals Compassionate Doctor recognition, as well as the Vitals Patients Choice award, for several years, and she has been a People’s Choice award finalist for best pediatrician on the Gulf Coast.

Parents report that Dr. Harper remembers details about their children while making families feel informed and at ease. Praise aside, Harper says she pursued pediatrics for a simple reason: “Kids are fun!”

“Their innocence, honesty and resilience remains as a daily motivation for me to serve in my best capacity as a pediatrician, to advocate for their well-being and health,” the doctor says. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to share in the lives of families, to give reassurance, support and healing as patients grow from infancy into adulthood.”

Treating patients like family

MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. “I was treated amazingly when I went to the ER at Garden Park Medical Center. Everyone was wonderful to me, and they comforted me during a horrible time. I liked the way they treated me, and they made me very comfortable.”

GPMC-17362 12/17 GPMC-19985 04/18

– Jenny, ER patient

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23

Women’s Health 2019

Love and medicine

By Jennifer Gentile

Drs. Mark and Allison Wall led by compassion, faith

Physicians selected for inclusion in this magazine’s “Top Doctors” were determined by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., healthcare research and information company. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors*

ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY James S. Holland, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Mark G. Murray, MD Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic Paul D. Niolet, MD Bay Area ENT Ocean Springs Hospital Singing River Hospital CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Pavel L. Khimenko, MD Coastal Cardiology Singing River Hospital Merit Health Biloxi William O. Passarelli III, MD Southern Mississippi Heart Center Singing River Hospital Merit Health Biloxi Hugo A. Quintana, MD Southern Mississippi Heart Center Singing River Hospital Wakkas Tayara, MD Memorial Heart & Lung Clinic Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Merit Health Biloxi DERMATOLOGY Eric C. Torp, MD Gulf Shore Dermatology Ocean Springs Hospital

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October-November 2019

Doctors Mark and Allison Wall have a rare advantage in practicing medicine: a spouse who understands completely.

“We both will work late evenings or early mornings, have restless nights worrying over patients and can appreciate what it’s like to carry that stress,” says Mark, a partner with GCI Radiology PLLC. “No marriage is easy, but it’s through faith and love and commitment that we have made it this far and will continue to persevere through the good times and tough times.”

As an oncologist and radiologist, respectively, Allison and Mark say they are constantly collaborating. Married for 15 years, the pair can count on each other personally and professionally.

“She likes to say she has a personal radiologist on speed dial, and she does,” Mark jokes, “But it’s mutually rewarding because helping her to care for her patients is exactly why I do what I do as a radiologist.”

Allison, who is president of Hematology Oncology Partners, PA, and on active staff at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, says a radiologist’s input can drastically change a patient’s treatment plan.

“Radiologists really help us understand the extent of the disease; they also help us diagnose it,” she explains.

“They help us understand how the disease is changing. They are really vital to the patient’s course of care.”

Patients matter deeply to the Walls, and Allison is inspired seeing them defy the odds — which happens often.

She considers her work as much a ministry as a vocation.

“Bottom line — I try really hard to let them feel like they’re family and I care,” she says. “When a patient tells me, ‘Allison, I feel like I’m your only patient,’ that’s what I want them to feel like.”

Allison’s father, a family medicine doctor who retired after 46 years, served as her role model growing up — letting her make rounds with him and help with small tasks. He wanted his daughter to choose a less stressful specialty, but she was committed to oncology after watching her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer.

“I was 4, but those are some of the most vivid memories I have,” Allison says.

Both the Walls embarked on their careers after graduating from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. Mark’s Air Force career brought the couple to south Mississippi, and he continues to serve with the Air Force Reserves in addition to working in private practice.

“Originally I was always fascinated with biology and animals — all of the life sciences really,” Mark says of why he became a doctor. “As time went on, it was a natural transition to be drawn to the human body and all of the anatomy and physiology that goes with it.”

A radiologist’s day tends to get busier as it goes along, he says — and his starts by checking in with staff and technologists before he moves on to interpreting a range of different exams. Intermittently, he’ll perform

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Women’s Health 2019

DERMATOLOGY Angela B. Wingfield, MD The Dermatology Clinic Memorial Hospital at Gulfport ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES & METABOLISM Mark D. Borchelt, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Todd W. Frieze, MD Hattiesburg Clinic Merit Health Biloxi Ocean Springs Hospital GASTROENTEROLOGY Scott M. Gioe, MD Gastroenterology Center Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Alfred E. McNair, Jr., MD Digestive Health Center Memorial Hospital at Gulfport INTERNAL MEDICINE Belinda V. Alexander, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Virginia A. Blalack, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Timothy R. Ivey, MD Singing River Hospital David V. Larosa, Jr., MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport

26

October-November 2019

procedures like biopsies and injections, all the while reading studies in his office, answering questions, calling in results to other providers or the ER and reviewing cases.

“In medicine, every patient and every exam has the potential to be something new or to be something you can learn from,” he says. “It makes me eager to go to work each day.”

Similarly, his wife is up between 5 and 6 a.m., already answering calls and on some mornings making hospital rounds. Several hours are spent evaluating lab results and returning phone messages — and she’s dedicated to giving her patients personal attention.

Hugs and pledges of prayer are her standard practice.

As the doctor strives to treat cancer, she never forgets those who lost their battle.

“I keep a memory book of their names,” Allison says. “I have memorabilia of patients in my office, mementos from patients, gifts — angels and crosses, mostly.”

The couple’s children, 10-year-old Katherine and 8-year-old Grant, share their parents’ ups and downs, Allison says, and have grown wise and mature beyond their years. A strong faith is the cornerstone of their family life, and the Walls pray every night for their patients.

“There’s got to be somebody bigger that’s helping us” Allison says, “and its phenomenal to see.”

‘Optimism and hope’ Cancer treatment has come a long way Thanks to more targeted therapies, says Dr. Allison Wall, cancer is more treatable than ever.

“It’s no longer one size fits all; it’s getting so much more focused,” according to the oncologist, who is president of Hematology Oncology Partners, PA. New treatment practices hone in on patients’ needs and circumstances, she adds, meaning they are generally experiencing less nausea and hair loss. The doctor says her outlook for the future of cancer care is one of “optimism and hope.”

Likewise, the National Cancer Institute reports that treatment is improving, “saving lives and extending survival for many people.” Doctors are using strategies, combined or independently, to give those fighting cancer the best chance of success — including surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.

“Clinical trials evaluate the benefits of new therapies and broaden the options available to patients,” according to the National Cancer Institute.

The American Cancer Society reports that the overall cancer fatality rate dropped continuously from 1991 to 2016 by 27 percent, meaning

approximately 2,629,200 fewer cancer deaths than would have been expected if death rates had stayed at their peak.

Lower fatality rates for the following types of cancer, attributed largely to early detection and better treatment, reflect the headway being made: • Lung cancer death rates for men and women dropped by 48 percent and 23 percent, respectively, from 20022016 • Breast cancer death rates fell by 40 percent from 1989 to 2016.

• Colorectal cancer death rates declined 53 percent from 1970 to 2016.

• Prostate cancer death rates declined 51 percent from 1993 to 2016.

Despite these promising statistics, the American Cancer Society anticipated more than 1.76 million new cancer cases and 606,880 cancer deaths in 2019.

A patient’s attitude, family support and communication with their health care team can drastically affect outcomes, Wall says. She also advocates early detection and prevention, urging people to follow screening guidelines set with their primary care doctor.

Those with a strong family cancer history, she adds, can be tested to assess their risk.

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Women’s Health 2019

By Jennifer Gentile

Broken heart, good as new

After an aortic valve replacement, I’m stronger than ever INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY Michael C. Cunningham, MD Coast Cardiovascular Consultants Singing River Hospital Antoine B. Rizk, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport MEDICAL ONCOLOGY Allison P. Wall, MD Memorial Hospital at Gulfport NEPHROLOGY Amery J. Creighton, MD South Mississippi Nephrology Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Garden Park Medical Center Biju Marath, MD South Mississippi Nephrology Garden Park Medical Center Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Joseph D. O’Gorman, MD South Mississippi Nephrology Garden Park Medical Center Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Jedd A. Seigerman, MD South Mississippi Nephrology Garden Park Medical Center Merit Health Biloxi OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Julius S. Bosco, DO Gulf Coast OB/GYN Singing River Hospital Michael J. Christie, MD The Center for OB/GYN Merit Health Biloxi

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October-November 2019

I was supposed to go home. Even in my drug-induced haze, I knew that much.

Instead, as I awoke from a heart catheter procedure at Ocean Springs Hospital, a surgeon was standing over me; we recognized each other.

“Jen, it’s Dr. (Jason) Williams,” he said through his face mask, reminding me that we’d once had dinner together with our spouses and mutual friends. I remembered. What I couldn’t make sense of was his presence. I hadn’t asked for him — at least not yet. But seeing him caused a rush of relief.

His face, while comforting, appeared far more serious than the last time I’d seen it.

“How’d it go?” I asked, too groggy to be alarmed by his expression.

“It went fine,” he said. “But you’re not going home. We can’t let you leave like this. It has to come out.”

“It” was the defective aortic heart valve I’d been born with but didn’t think much about outside of cardiologist visits every couple of years. I’d assumed my recent check-up with my new specialist, Dr. Jack Brand, would be as anticlimactic as the last — and the one before that — but life’s most significant moments tend to catch us unaware.

After a routine echocardiogram (a.k.a. heart ultrasound) in January, the cardiologist’s office called. The woman relaying the message didn’t mince words; the doctor wanted to bump up my consultation and probably would recommend surgery.

Suddenly, my mind flashed back to being 8, the last time my heart had put me in the hospital. A relatively new procedure called angioplasty prevented me from needing open-heart surgery and had bought me 30 years of uninterrupted indifference to my valve problem. The thought of returning to the operating

table terrified me, and my main comfort was believing it only would be a redo of my last procedure; they’d send up another catheter, and I’d be on my merry way.

Not so fast.

“What kind of surgery are we talking about?” I asked Dr. Brand when we met two weeks later. The question was almost an afterthought, which followed several minutes of conversation about the seriousness of my aortic stenosis. Most people have tricuspid (three-flapped) aortic valves. Mine only had two (bicuspid), causing it to become hardened, narrow and not function properly over time.

The only fix, Dr. Brand said to my horror, was valve replacement — open-heart surgery.

Somewhere in my memory, a misconception had gotten stuck; I’d always known my valve would need replaced, but that was supposed to be “someday” — when I was retirement age, not in my 30s. The next step was a catheter procedure in a week, Dr. Brand said, then referral to a surgeon.

Leaving the office, I countered my anxiety with two tasks — telling my family, and asking my local friend group for advice. My parents were concerned, of course, but stoic. They’d seen this coming since I was a baby and had believed it would happen sooner.

If a surgeon literally would have my heart in his hands, I wanted someone I could trust; that’s where my friends came in. Some of them had ties to the local medical community, and being new to the area, I knew I could rely on their recommendation.

After conferring with them, I’d planned to request Dr. Williams — who I’d actually met once — but I didn’t have

Continued on page 30

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Women’s Health 2019

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Nestor K. Delgado, DO Gulf Coast OB/GYN Singing River Hospital Hebe A. Diaz, MD Merit Health Biloxi Keith G. Goodfellow, MD Merit Health Medical Group OB/ GYN Merit Health Biloxi OPHTHALMOLOGY Rainna Bahadur, MD Eye Associates of the South

Avit J. Gremillion III, MD VitreoRetinal Eye Center Merit Health Biloxi Debra L. LaPrad, MD Eye Associates of the South Singing River Hospital Merit Health Biloxi ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY Eric J. Graham, MD Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists Ocean Springs Hospital Singing River Hospital Karen E. Hand, MD Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Donnis K. Harrison, MD Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists Singing River Hospital Ocean Springs Hospital Joel A. Tucker, MD Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists Ocean Springs Hospital Singing River Hospital

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October-November 2019

Broken Heart continued from page 28 to. Instead, he’d been consulted after my catheter procedure and agreed with Dr. Brand’s finding: My valve was in abominable shape, among the worst he’d ever seen. The next two days passed in a blur with tests, surgery prep, discussion and decisions.

Dr. Williams posed two choices: a biologic (real tissue) valve, which he guaranteed would mean at least one more open-heart surgery later — each time more complicated and dangerous. The alternative was a mechanical valve, which would outlive me but require me to be on blood thinner for the rest of my life. While I disliked the idea of medication and regular blood checks, I deemed it better than a repeat in 10 to 20 years.

The procedure itself, when described in detail, made me question how anyone could survive it. Dr. Williams’s process was to cool the body to below freezing to protect the vital organs, including the brain, while he operated; for a time, none of them would be getting any blood flow.

He was candid about the risks, as any ethical doctor should be.

The night before surgery, as he was leaving the room, I blurted out, “Do you think I’ll make it?” It would take several hours of work on his part, and several weeks of pain on mine, he replied, but I’d be fine.

The last thought I remember having before falling asleep was a prayer: Please, God, just let me come through this in tact and conscious.

Before I knew what had happened, that prayer was answered. The first faces I saw after coming to were my husband, Dave, and my dad standing at the foot of my bed in intensive care. I instinctively cried out to them, but with a respirator in my throat, I couldn’t make a sound. Dave put his phone to my ear and played Anna Nalick’s song “Breathe (2 a.m.)” — a favorite of mine that also focused and calmed me.

When you’ve been broken in half then wired back together, you’re bound to have some chest pain. The doctors and nurses wanted me up and walking as much as possible, but just completing a few laps around the hospital floor exhausted me and left me wincing. People kept telling me how great I looked when I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. Some of the pitiful noises I made after going too long without

pain meds, even I didn’t recognize.

My mom and mother-in-law stayed with us after my discharge, and a steady stream of meals came from my friends and neighbors. Each day, as the doctors and literature had promised, I felt better and better. In a matter of weeks, I could control my pain with ibuprofen and resume some household chores. Even when inclement weather kept me inside, I made rounds throughout my house, clutching a heart-shaped pillow to my chest to squeeze when I coughed — which I did constantly.

When I walked around the neighborhood, Dr. Williams’s words echoed in my mind. He’d heard that when I went walking with my friend group, I tended to be the slowest; given my age and relatively good health, he said, there was no reason for it.

Often we settle for less because we’ve accepted the status quo. What I noticed most after surgery was the feeling that my body was getting more oxygen now that my heart was working properly — which made a huge difference in my energy level and how I felt overall. The human body is remarkable, and I’ve never had a greater appreciation for mine.

My other big takeaway? There’s no excuse not to take an active role in your health. While I’d seen several cardiologists and dutifully kept up with checkups, I should have asked more questions, been more involved and not let appointments pass without a follow-up phone call. I can’t say why a previous doctor didn’t act, or at least alert me to the severity of the situation, but it doesn’t matter. It’s my heart, and ultimately my responsibility.

Seven months post-surgery, having completed 12 weeks of cardiac rehab, I’m stronger than ever — and extremely grateful to be alive. Fresh out of the hospital, when the large scar on my torso was red and angry looking, I’d glance down and scowl. It’s still visible, but I don’t hate it anymore or try to cover it up. It reminds me, and announces to the rest of the world, that I’m a survivor.

Jennifer Gentile is a contributing editor/ writer for Gulf Coast Woman. Reach her at Jen@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com.

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Women’s Health 2019

By Dr. Philip L. Levin

Caring for a loved one with

Alzheimer’s

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY Charles J. Winters, MD Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists Singing River Hospital Ocean Springs Hospital OTOLARYNGOLOGY Gregory K. Meekin, MD Coastal ENT Associates Raymond L. Weiss, MD Bay Area ENT Ocean Springs Hospital Charles J. Wilson, MD Bay Area ENT Singing River Hospital PEDIATRICS Timothy G. Bruni, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Brandi L. Coleman, MD University of Mississippi Medical Center Erica M. Frank, MD The Pediatric Center Garden Park Medical Center PULMONARY DISEASE Joseph R. Bosarge, MD Memorial Heart & Lung Clinic Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Michael E. Darin, MD Singing River Hospital RADIATION ONCOLOGY John H. Bechtel, MD Singing River Hospital

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October-November 2019

With our longer life expectancy, many middle-aged women finally released from the responsibilities of raising children find themselves faced with caring for their aging parents. While a burden of love, caregiver tasks can be overwhelming if the parent develops dementia.

Dementia is a condition where a person’s mind is not working properly, resulting in memory loss, difficulties with thought processes and altered behaviors serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. The majority of those with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older, although occasionally, it can strike people below age 50.

According to Dr. Lee Voulters, chief of neurology at Memorial Hospital of Gulfport, “Dementia is a family problem. It’s extremely distressing to see a loved one unable to function normally, one who deteriorated from a normal, functioning human being to dysfunctional. This creates a role reversal where the child becomes parent.”

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, such as forgetting important dates, events and information just learned. Those with the dementia often ask the same questions repeatedly, unable to remember the answers just given. With the loss of abilities to work with numbers and familiar routines, they may forget how to use their checkbook or follow a recipe. Thus, a family that had been counting on the elderly member’s help and contributions now finds she’s a burden instead. It’s common for people with dementia to forget the names of simple objects and perhaps call them something similar, like referring to a glove as a

“hand sock.” They may get confused in the middle of a conversation or get lost on a simple walk around the block.

“Occasionally the Alzheimer patient will become belligerent or violent,” Dr. Voulters warns, “with disruptive or even dangerous behavior.” Frustration with a loss of cognitive abilities may lead the patient to anger, paranoia and outbursts.

The child who runs to grandma expecting a hug is dismayed when the older person acts frightened and strikes out at her own kin.

As dementia progresses, caretakers tend to learn useful tricks. Avoiding distractions like television helps the patient concentrate. Placing labels on objects stating their names and functions — for example, “refrigerator – cold food goes here” — can be helpful. Caretakers should recognize that tasks will take much longer to perform, so schedules should include margins of extra time. Some experts advise reducing the patient’s nap time to keep their diurnal cycles intact.

Family illness of any kind requires patience and love. Naturally, most nursing homes can’t provide the personalized care a loved one receives at home. Nevertheless, the condition rarely improves, even with medical treatments, and eventually difficult decisions must be made about the best way to deal with this family situation. Making advanced plans for eventual placement may prevent home injuries and unintentional complications caused by the inability to watch the parent all the time.

Dr. Philip L. Levin is based in Gulfport and has been practicing for 40 years. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio in 1978 and specializes in emergency medicine. He can be contacted at (228) 867-4000.

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Women’s Health 2019

RADIATION ONCOLOGY William D. Burleson, MD Cedar Lake Radiation Oncology Merit Health Biloxi Garden Park Medical Center SURGERY Edward I. Dvorak, MD South Mississippi Surgeons Singing River Hospital Merit Health Biloxi Nicholas J. Fayard, MD South Mississippi Surgeons Merit Health Biloxi Singing River Hospital Jeremy Simpler, MD South Mississippi Surgeons Singing River Hospital THORACIC & CARDIAC SURGERY Jason A. Williams, MD Singing River Hospital UROLOGY Joseph L. Cottone, Jr., MD Regional Urology Garden Park Medical Center Ocean Springs Hospital David C. Owens, MD Regional Urology Garden Park Medical Center David Champ Weeks, MD Memorial Hospital at Gulfport VASCULAR SURGERY Dimitrios Virvilis, MD Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Hospital at Gulfport

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October-November 2019

Rea Lenz’s STORY WHY I DID THIS It was all about my health. I am a nurse, all too aware of the negative health consequences of obesity, and I had been obese most of my adult life.

I was starting to see changes in my annual labs where my blood sugars were rising and my triglycerides were elevated. I have a family history of BEFORE AFTER diabetes and heart disease, and I just When I first filled out my paperwork felt those diseases were not far off if I for South Mississippi Surgical Weight didn’t make some major changes.

Loss Center that asked me how much I am a single mother of two young weight I wanted to lose, I put 70 girls, ages 7 and 10. I want to be pounds because I couldn’t imagine that around to see them get older and gradI could ever lose more and felt that uate from college and maybe get marwould be a miracle if I managed to lose ried and have children of their own. I that much. also am keenly aware of the example I set for them.

WHAT I DID I was diagnosed with obstructive I had bariatric surgery. Technically, sleep apnea and had to sleep with a I had a sleeve gastrectomy on Dec. 26, CPAP machine every night. Like most 2018. I started by doing an informapeople who are obese, I had been on tional session at Garden Park Medical and off every diet you can think of for Center and speaking with the bariatric over 20 years. Nothing seemed to work coordinator, then I got an appointment long term for me. I knew I needed to with Dr. Jason Payne at South Mismake major lifestyle changes, and I sissippi Surgical Weight Loss Center was searching for a way to do that and and started their weight loss program. something I could “stick” to.

I learned about healthier eating and what having bariatric surgery would MY GOAL do for me and what I needed to do to My goal really was to regain my be successful at weight loss. health. I wanted a “second chance.” I Dr. Payne and his team, including wanted to learn, or really re-learn, how the nurses, nurse practitioners and to take care of myself and how to make dieticians, were all fantastic. I learned good, healthy life choices. I wanted so much from them before, during someone to give me something that and since my surgery. They are such was “doable” and that I could follow a wealth of knowledge and support. I for the rest of my life when it came to credit Dr. Payne and the group at SMS eating and exercising. I did not focus and, of course, the awesome team at on how much weight I wanted to lose Garden Park who took care of me and initially, like the number on the scale. supported me, with so much of my Continued on page 38

Welcomes

KARINA MOORE-MASSEY, O.D. Tri County Eye Clinic is excited to announce the opening of our new third location in Ocean Springs and the newest member of our physician team, Karina Moore-Massey, O.D.. Tri County Eye Clinic has three locations serving patients across the Gulf Coast: Ocean Springs, Biloxi and Gulfport.

Dr. Karina Moore-Massey, (Dr. M&M as she is known) is a native of Ocean Springs.

She went to kindergarten through her senior year at Ocean Springs School District and graduated in 2011.

She continued her education at Troy University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences in 2015. While attending Troy University she was on the University’s soccer, cross country, and track and field sports teams.

She then graduated with her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in May 2019. While at UAB, Dr. M&M was a UABSO intramural chair representative and a member of the American Optometric Student Association. She is a current member of the American Optometric Association.

Some fun facts about Dr. M&M, she played on the Guyanese Women’s National Soccer team, eats almost anything with chocolate or caramel, loves shoes, was born in Australia, and is allergic to eucalyptus. In her spare time, she likes spending time with her husband, Dr. Ben Massey, working out, traveling, and eating as many sweets as possible.

Dr. M&M is now accepting appointments for the entire family’s annual eye exam at the Ocean Springs location, Dr. M&M has special interests in infancy exams beginning at birth, concussion therapy as well as myopia control outside of routine eye exams. The convenience of our in office optical shop allows you to have your exam, purchase your glasses or contacts all in one location.

HELP US WELCOME DR. M&M, schedule your appointment today!

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ADDITIONAL TRI COUNTY LOCATIONS: 431 Bertucci Blvd. Biloxi, 228-385-2020 • 15122 Dedeaux Road Gulfport, 228-832-1242

Women’s Health 2019

REA LENZ continued from page 36 success. With a lot of help, I have been able to completely change my lifestyle.

I eat so much healthier. I eat appropriate portion sizes. I exercise regularly.

These are things I used to think I was incapable of doing, and they are now my new habits.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

*Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a healthcare research and information company founded in 1992 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America’s top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly’s established nomination survey, research, screening and selection process, under the direction of an MD, involves many hundreds of thousands of physicians as well as academic medical centers, specialty hospitals and regional and community hospitals all across the nation. Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process – located at www.castleconnolly.com/nominations - is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physicians is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. Careful screening of doctors’ educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result we identify the top doctors in America and provide you, the consumer, with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in our paperback guides, national and regional magazine “Top Doctors” features and online directories.

Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors Physicians selected for inclusion in this magazine’s “Top Doctors” feature may also appear as online at www.castleconnolly.com, or in in conjunction with other Castle Connolly Top Doctors databases online and/or in print.

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., was acquired by Everyday Health Group (EHG), one of the world’s most prominent digital healthcare companies, in late 2018. Everyday Health Group (EHG), a recognized leader in patient and provider education, attracts an engaged audience of over 53 million health consumers and over 780,000 U.S. practicing physicians and clinicians to its premier health and wellness websites. EHG combines social listening data and analytics expertise to deliver highly personalized healthcare consumer content and effective patient engagement solutions.

EHG’s vision is to drive better clinical and health outcomes through decision-making informed by highly relevant data and analytics. Healthcare professionals and consumers are empowered with trusted content and services through the Everyday Health Group’s flagship brands including Everyday Health®, What to Expect®, MedPage Today®, Health eCareers®, PRIME® Education and our exclusive partnership with MayoClinic.org® and The Mayo Clinic Diet.® Everyday Health Group is a division of J2 Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JCOM), and is headquartered in New York City.

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October-November 2019

THE MOST DIFFICULT PART There is nothing easy about weight loss surgery or changing your lifestyle, and I don’t pretend there is. I had help and support every step of the way so far, and I still do. It has totally been worth it, and I would do it again if I had the choice. Working hard at some-

thing really makes you appreciate the results.

MY ADVICE TO OTHERS Pay attention to your health. You are living in the only body you will ever have. Take care of it. Nourish it. Move it! Treat it well. Don’t wait! Don’t put off living your best life. Don’t keep trying the same things over and over.

Don’t do fad diets. Don’t eat in ways you can’t sustain long term.

If you feel lost and stuck, ask for help. Talk to your doctor about weight loss. If you are obese, call Garden Park and sign up for a free informational session about weight loss surgery.

Change your life for the better!

DR. HANNA continued from page 21 Dr. Hanna says she picked the OBGYN path because it involves both surgery and medicine, plus the unique aspect of obstetrics — and the specialty has been an ideal fit.

“I love the acuity of care, the ‘action,’ if you will,” she says.

Having been in private practice since 1989, the doctor values the continuity she can give patients through every phase of life — each with its unique needs and challenges.

“The thing I love most at this point in my career is the fact I’ve been here long enough to take care of people from the time they were teenagers through their childbearing years, their post-childbearing years, to now seeing their own daughters become my patients,” she says. “You just feel like you are part of a big family.”

Dr. Hanna’s own family includes her husband, Mark Sedgwick, whom she met on a blind date arranged by the marketing staff at Gulf Coast Medical Center, and her son, Matthew, who is a student at Loyola Marymount University. As a doctor and the parent of a college student, Dr. Hanna says she’s concerned for future generations of physicians — and worries how much more their hands will be tied by intrusive oversight and red tape.

Loss of autonomy and increasing bureaucracy bother Dr. Hanna, who says she used to pride herself on never looking at a patient’s insurance. Now, she adds,

she must check with a woman’s provider before completing the most basic tests, or even asking, “How are you?” Patients were once able to make a doctor’s appointment with a quick phone call, she adds; now, even if a referral isn’t needed, someone must pass through several layers of approval and scheduling to be seen.

“My biggest concerns about modern American healthcare are access to care and the ability of doctors to provide care without the overwhelming interference of gatekeepers and regulators,” Dr. Hanna says.

Nonetheless, she adds, “I believe we have the best health care system in the world.”

“Get preventive care,” Dr. Hanna advises. “Take care of your body, and ask for help when you need it.”

Dr. Hanna says fortunately, she’s in a specialty where outcomes are generally positive. Still, no doctor can avoid dealing with loss and trauma.

“You can’t fix everybody, and you can’t help everybody,” Dr. Hanna says. “But you can help people through the bad times as well as the good times.”

Dr. Hanna remains amazed by the human body — its capacity to heal and adapt. She’s drawn to surgery especially, she says, “(because) I like being able to fix things — instant gratification, I guess you could say.”

WOMAN’S CLINIC, P.A.

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THESE DOCTORS ARE AMONG

THE BEST ORTHOPEDISTS IN MISSISSIPPI. Based on the latest peer-nominated Castle Connolly Top DoctorsÂŽ survey

Orthopaedic Specialists

Our dedication to providing exceptional care is exemplified by our board-certified physicians, whose goal has always been to promote an active, healthy lifestyle through the use of the latest medical technology and the most innovative treatments and programs. Our commitment to our community began in 1981 and we are truly dedicated to being the best and most TRUSTED total orthopaedic resource to our patients – today and tomorrow. Our years of unwavering devotion, compassion and commitment to the needs of our patients have marked a tradition of TRUST at Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists.

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October-November 2019

Pass Christian

MISSISSIPPI’S LARGEST ORTHOPAEDIC PRACTICE SINCE 1981.

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For questions or to schedule an appointment please call 228-230-BONE (2663).

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MICHELE MCLEOD, FNP

ANGELA MEADOWS, FNP

Michele has over 30 years of clinical experience, which includes a background in critical care nursing prior to her career as a nurse practitioner. She has served as the lead nurse practitioner and assistant medical director for a large Urgent Care network, as well as owning and operating her own medical practice. Her areas of expertise include occupational health, women’s health, dermatology and wound repair, and health maintenance and wellness. Michele draws upon this experience to provide complete and compassionate care to her patients at AlphaCare.

Angela has been providing care to patients on the Coast as a nurse practitioner for over 12 years. Her background in critical care nursing serves as the foundation of her career as a practitioner, which includes experience in Urgent Care, Family Medicine, Orthopedics, and Cardiology. Her wide range of exposure allows her to handle a wide variety of cases with the highest level of expertise. Born and raised on the MS Gulf Coast, Angela remains committed to caring for her patients as her neighbors and her friends.

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October-November 2019

Changing the way health care is delivered on the Coast • X-rays • Labs • IV Fluids/Medications • Fracture Care • Laceration Repair • Urinary/Feeding Catheter Problems • Respiratory Treatments • School/Sports Physicals • Occupational Health • Workman’s Comp • Flu Shots • Travel Prophylaxis

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43

Women’s Health 2019

Meal prep made

By Karol Brandt

Meal prep can help you avoid unhealthy options, reduce overeating and, yes, save money on eating out. You can stop stressing about what you’re going to eat during the work week and start reaching

easy

your nutritional goals with each meal. Studies have shown that because meal prep requires you to determine what you will eat ahead of time, it can lead to healthier habits.

HERE ARE SOME STEPS FOR COOKING, PORTIONING AND STORING YOUR MEALS:

STEP 1 —STICK TO A SCHEDULE Pick one day each week to do your meal planning and prep, shop for groceries and cook (yes, all in one day). After you have planned your menu and made your grocery list, it’s time to put your plan into action.

Once you get accustomed to the process and find recipes you like, you will cut time spent in the kitchen.

After a few hours from start to finish, I am prepared for the entire week.

STEP 2 — PICK THE RIGHT NUMBER OF MEALS Determining how many meals to cook and what to include in each can be tricky. Check your calendar and account for times you likely will eat out, then decide the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners you will need. If you have any leftovers come midweek, you can freeze them for backup meals.

STEP 3 — ORGANIZE YOUR PREP AND COOK TIMES A well-thought-out meal prep workflow will save you time. This is when I turn up the music while I start prepping.

• Prepare sheet pans — I pull out all the pans I will be using and either spray them with coconut oil spray or foil them.

• Marinate proteins — I am from New Orleans and always want seasoning and spices to come through in my cooking. I use Flavor God, Tony Chachere’s salt-free seasoning and other salt-free options on my proteins. If I use fat-free salad dressing or other marinades on my meats, I put them in the refrigerator.

October-November • 44 Wash and chop vegetables2019 — This

is the longest part of my process and a perfect time to turn up some favorite tunes. I wash all my vegetables, chop them, then portion out those I may need for a specific recipe. My mother shared a roasted vegetables recipe with me, and I love cooking asparagus, roasted cauliflower or anything I can make on a sheet pan in the oven. I also package spinach and kale for my salads and put them in plastic bags for the week. I cut up cucumber, celery and tomatoes for salads, portioning out my servings in small containers. While I’m finishing the veggies, I preheat the oven. I hardly cook on the stovetop at all; baking my food in sheet pans has become my sweet spot.

STEP 4 — GET COOKING My oven has been preheated, and now I’m ready to get cooking.

• I cook proteins first because they take the longest. My staples include chicken; fish (my favorites are red fish and tuna steaks); flank or sirloin steak; turkey, beef or bison burgers; and meatloaf.

• Next up, vegetables. I put asparagus on a sheet pan, vegetables to be roasted in a large, deep pan and cauliflower on a thinner, cookie baking pan. I can cook all my proteins at once, vegetables next, and sometimes, I can get my egg soufflé cups in the oven with the vegetables.

• Egg soufflé cups are one of my favorite and easiest meals to prep — and so delicious. I spray a muffin pan, then mix egg whites, a few brown organic eggs and whatever veggie I have a surplus of — usually

spinach and tomatoes. I combine it well and pour nice, full amounts into the muffin pan. After 30 minutes, I have two cups for each morning.

• I cook brown organic rice and sweet potatoes in the microwave while I am making my vegetables.

Once they’re cooked, I let them cool with the other foods.

STEP 5 — PORTION YOUR FOOD OUT AND PUT IN STORAGE CONTAINERS This part is just as important as cooking.

• Your food storage containers can make the difference between a fabulous or so-so meal. I have tried many containers and found one I love. Ello’s fun, colorful food containers are made of glass and silicone for durability and have airtight locking lids, which I love as much as the pink and teal colors they come in. They keep your food fresh and are microwave and oven safe, even with the lid off.

• Now you’re ready to portion your food. I have a great digital food scale and after measuring my food, I weigh it to ensure I am getting the exact nutrition I need from each meal and not eating excessive portions. I recommend you do the same because it’s the only way to be accurate. I portion proteins first, then vegetables, then carbs, and for dinner, I double the vegetables and don’t eat starches.

My breakfast egg cups are easy; I have two per day so, I keep them in one container for the week.

Now you just grab your meals, warm up and bon appetite!

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Women’s Health 2019

O

steoporosis is a condition that effects the quality and density of the skeletal system. If osteoporosis develops, there is a greater risk for falls and broken bones. While this condition doesn’t affect everyone, women are at substantially greater risk. Why is this important? Seventy-one percent of osteoporotic fractures occur among women. Unfortunately, many people are diagnosed with osteoporosis after they break a bone. Let’s learn about the risk factors for osteoporosis, the most common means of diagnosis and how to prevent it.

WHO IS AT RISK? According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, all women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis.

Younger ladies: you aren’t off the hook entirely. Postmenopausal women younger than 65 also may be at risk for osteoporosis. The USPSTF has identified several risk factors that may warrant screening. If one of your parents broke their hip, you smoke, you excessively consume alcohol or have low body weight, it may be advisable to have an osteoporosis screening.

OSTEOPOROSIS Don’t let it take you by

surprise

By Dr. Philip Myers

46

October-November 2019

HOW IS OSTEOPOROSIS DIAGNOSED? The most common method of diagnosis is a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry test; it’s a mouthful, I know.

Most people are familiar with the term DEXA scan. This is a noninvasive analysis of the quality of your bones. In essence, it determines how strong they are. The test takes about 20 minutes. It’s important to know that there are low levels of radiation administered due to the two X-ray beams that are used. It is a painless test, and you’ll be home the same day. Your physician will review the results, share them and then discuss a plan for you moving forward.

HOW CAN I PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that engaging in 120-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise can reduce the risk of broken bones. Furthermore, strengthening muscles and performing balance exercises can help prevent falls. The National Institutes of Health also have issued dietary recommendations. For women over 50, a daily dietary intake of 1200 milligrams of calcium and 800 international units (IU) is endorsed to help maintain proper bone metabolism.

In conclusion, please stay active, maintain recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D in your diet and pay attention to the risk factors. I encourage you to use this information to start a meaningful conversation with your primary care provider so that osteoporosis doesn’t take you by surprise.

Dr. Philip Myers is an orthopedic surgeon with the Mississippi Orthopaedic Institute. He is on staff at Garden Park Medical Center and Merit Health Biloxi. For more information, or to make an appointment, contact (228) 328-2400.

The Dermatology Clinic, PLLC in Gulfport has been providing excellent dermatology care for the entire Mississippi Coast for the past 16 years under the direction of Angela Wingfield, MD. Dr. Wingfield founded the clinic, and has carefully guided its growth into the premier dermatology practice on the coast.

She is a board certified dermatologist and is directly involved in the care of the patients receiving treatment in our spa and medical practice.

We treat the full spectrum of dermatologic disease including skin cancer, moles, acne, warts, eczema, contact dermatitis, and skin infections. We perform skin surgery to remove cancers and growths. We offer patch testing for contact allergens, narrow-band UVB

phototherapy, and PRP (platelet rich plasma). We also provide the full spectrum of cosmetic dermatology treatments including lasers (hair removal, veins, sun damage, fat reduction), microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, and dermalinfusion. Dr. Wingfield and Emily Burger, PA-C inject botulinum toxins and wrinkle fillers to treat hollow areas and lines on the face.

Dr. Wingfield supervises a dedicated team of physician assistants (Kassie Stafford, PA-C, Emily Burger, PA-C, and Barbra Jablanski, PA-C), aestheticians (Bonnie Stewart, LE, Amanda Mingo, LE, Karen Thomas, LE), and a laser nurse (Teresa Puzz, LPN). Our staff is welltrained, experienced, and full of tenured employees.

You can expect quality care from this amazing team.

11295 East Taylor Road | Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228.864.3300 | www.thedermclinic.net www.gcwmultimedia.com 47

October has us all thinking pink but did you know that October is also

Liver Cancer Awareness Month?

Liver cancer is treatable and, for some, even curable when caught early, that’s why it is important to be aware of the risk factors. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), Hepatitis B and C infections, excessive alcohol use, obesity, diabetes and certain inherited conditions such as iron overload can all increase a persons risk of liver cancer. You can lower your risk by adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, weight control, limiting alcohol and by asking your doctor if you should be screened for hepatitis B/C or iron overload.

If you are already have a condition that increases your risk for liver cancer, you may be a candidate for screening . Ask your doctor.

#pinkandgreen #thinkpinkandgreen

Pamela Tuli M.D. 48

P.V. Pande, M.D.

228.575.1234 TheMedicalOncologyGroup.com

Bay St. Louis • Diamondhead • Gulfport • Biloxi • Ocean Springs October-November 2019

OUR PATIENTS INSPIRE US June is National Cancer Survivor Month and The Medical Oncology Group would like to celebrate all of our patients who have successfully fought or are in the process of fighting their disease. We hope that you are as much of an INSPIRATION to those recently diagnosed as you are to us.

To learn more about this special committment to our patients, referring providers and communiy, call 228.575.1234 or visit TheMedicalOncologyGroup.com

TheMedicalOncologyGroup.com Bay St. Louis • Diamondhead • Gulfport • Biloxi • Ocean Springwww.gcwmultimedia.com s

49

Women’s Health 2019

By Shelia Rivers

Self care

Don’t put your own well-being last

Taking care of yourself is not indulgence, it’s a necessity for good mental health.

Self-care is a sustained and intentional practice to preserve wellness and maintain wholeness in being.

Many times we place ourselves last on the list — or not on the list at all. We ask, “Is it not selfish to put yourself first?”

How can we care for others if we never take a moment for ourselves? It is self-FULL to be first, to be as good as possible to you, to take care of you and to be emotionally stable and healthy. That doesn’t mean disregarding everything and everyone else. It simply means not running on empty emotions, creating a breeding ground for mental health issues like emotional masking, impulsive decision-making, isolation, depression, anxiety, overeating/under-eating and suicide ideation.

So many of us pour ourselves out for others in hopes of being in their good graces, seeking constant affirmation and trying to score points as though we are earning stars on a behavior chart or a prize on Friday from the treat basket. Giving, to the degree of sacrificing who we are, becomes a crucifixion of our inner being. Never feel ashamed or guilty for taking care of yourself. Remember that it’s necessary in order to fulfill your life’s purpose.

Eight key areas of wellness are a great place to start when creating a self-care regimen. All eight dimensions are connected and keep our lives balanced. These dimensions of wellness are: emotional, soul, body, finance, environmental, occupational, social, and intellectual.

50

October-November 2019

1. EMOTIONAL WELLNESS Emotional wellness focuses on the ability to cope effectively with life and build satisfying relationships with others.

2. SOUL WELLNESS Soul wellness is related to values and beliefs that help us find meaning and purpose in life. Soul wellness may come from activities like volunteering, self-reflection, meditation, prayer or spending time in nature. Signs of strong spiritual health include having clear values, a sense of self-confidence and a feeling of inner peace.

3. PHYSICAL WELLNESS Physical wellness is affected by physical activity, healthy eating and adequate sleep.

4. FINANCIAL WELLNESS Financial wellness is a feeling of satisfaction with your financial situation. Finances are a common stressor, so minimizing worry about this aspect of your life can enhance your overall wellness. Options for managing financial wellness include making a household budget, starting a savings account (and adding to it every month, even if it is just a small amount), creating an emergency account, cutting back or limiting unnecessary expenses and avoiding credit card debt.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS Environmental wellness is related to a person’s surroundings. This dimension of health connects overall well-being to the health of your environment. Your environment, both so-

cial and natural, can have a significant impact. Feeling good can prove hard in cluttered, unsafe or disorganized surroundings.

6. OCCUPATIONAL WELLNESS Occupational wellness is a sense of satisfaction with your choice of work.

Occupational wellness involves balancing work and leisure time, building relationships with coworkers and managing workplace stress.

7. SOCIAL WELLNESS Social wellness is a sense of connectedness and belonging. The social dimension of health involves creating and maintaining a healthy support network. Building a healthy social dimension might involve joining a club or organization, setting healthy boundaries, using good communication skills that are assertive rather than passive or aggressive, being genuine and authentic with others and treating others respectfully.

8. INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS Intellectual wellness involves recognizing your unique creative talents and seeking out ways to use your knowledge and skills. When intellectual wellness is high, a person participates in activities that cultivate mental growth.

Make lifestyle changes that result in an expanded sense of purpose, greater self-care and finding meaning in life through healthier coping skills.

Cultivate a lifestyle that sustains you for the long term in all eight areas of wellness. We have the power to create a personal environment conducive to self-care, health and well-being.

Shelia Rivers is owner and chief licensed certified social worker with Rivers Psychotherapy Services. Reach her at shelia.rivers@riverspsychotherapy.com.

MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. “I found my breast cancer through selfexam. I pursued medical guidance and eventually had a biopsy at Garden Park which confirmed my greatest fear. Then, I had two major surgeries— a double mastectomy and then reconstruction.

The medical staff and the providers were used to comforting patients through their transition. They were with me in good times and bad. Garden Park is a smaller facility, which was an advantage because I felt like I was on top of their list, received personalized care, and the team made me feel like I was a high priority.”

GPMC-46274 10/18

– Aimee, Breast Cancer Survivor

To take our breast cancer risk assessment or to learn more about our mammography services, please visit GardenParkMedical.com/breast.

15200 Community Rd. • Gulfport, MS • (228) 575-7000 www.gcwmultimedia.com

51

Transform...

YOUR HEALTH To change your body, you must first change your mind.

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October-November 2019

after

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Attention + Memory = Focus Is it time to get help?

TREATING ADULT

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (age 15 and older)

The goal of ADD Clinics is to improve all areas of brain function and metabolism. When this occurs, all aspects of learning, memory, organization, and tasking improve. We want patients to envy healthy brains and work to attain a perfect brain.

Type 1 - Classic ADD Inattentive, distractible, disorganized, hyperactive, restless, and impulsive.

Type 2 - Inattentive ADD Easily distracted with low attention span, but not hyperactive. Instead, often appears sluggish or apathetic.

Type 3 - Overfocused ADD Excessive worrying, argumentative, and compulsive; often gets locked in a spiral of negative thoughts.

Type 4 - Temporal Lobe ADD Quick temper and rage, periods of panic and fear, mildly paranoid.

Type 5 - Limbic ADD Moodiness, low energy. Socially isolated, chronic lowgrade depression, frequent feelings of hopelessness.

Type 6 - Ring of Fire ADD Angry, aggressive, sensitive to noise, light, clothes, and touch; often inflexible, experiencing periods of mean, unpredictable behavior and grandiose thinking.

Type 7 - Anxious ADD Anxious, tense, nervous, predicts the worst, gets anxious with timed tests, social anxiety, and often has physical stress symptoms, such as headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms, conflict avoidant.

ADD Clinics is developed by Stanford A. Owen, M.D., a practicing Internal Medicine physician, known nationally for his expertise for treating nutrition-related illness. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists. He is a certified Master Psychopharmacologist by the Neuroscience Education Institute with subspecialty training in ADD. He has treated adult ADD since 2001. Expertise in chronic disease, psychopharmacology, and nutrition allow combined treatment for the improvement of your most important organ — your brain!

228-864-9669

3300 15th St., Gulfport, MS 39501 | www.addclinics.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

53

Back in Motion chiropractic DRS. JUSTIN AND CANDY

FORDE At Back in Motion Chiropractic, we use multiple techniques and strive to give you the relief you’re looking for. At our modern facility, you’ll enjoy large private treatment rooms and service provided by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. When you come to us for chiropractic adjustments and manipulation, you can rest assured that your treatment plan will be developed with your specific needs in mind. We understand how frustrating it must be to walk around in pain, so we work our hardest to target the source of your discomfort and provide treatment that brings you long-term results.

Arthritis • Carpal Tunnel • Fibromyalgia Headaches • Neck and Back Pain • Neuropathy Pediatric Care • Pregnancy • Scoliosis Shoulder Pain • Sports Injuries 1900 PASS ROAD, SUITE D • GULFPORT, MS 39501 54

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DR. AVIT “FRERE” GREMILLION for being chosen as a Top Doctor.

When facing the need to rebuild our lives, it helps to have a financial partner you can trust.

For more than 80 years, we have been helping Coast residents overcome the negative impact that life’s challenges can have on your credit and finances.

LET US HELP YOU. We understand bad things can happen to good people. One of the biggest steps in getting our lives back on track is building or rebuilding our credit.

The professionals at Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union specialize in helping our customers build a strong financial foundation from which to build and grow. Call us today at 228-539-7029, option 3, and get your new life off to a great start.

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7/30/19 9:26 AM

CHANGE FOR changed minds

Did you know that SEVEN OUT OF TEN women that have a free ultrasound typically change their mind about following through with an abortion?

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www.wrcgulfportorg.org/donate 56

October-November 2019

The magic of

By Deborah Meza

ultrasounds Ultrasound first was used for clinical purposes in 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. Obstetrician Ian Donald and engineer Tom Brown developed the first prototype based on an instrument used to detect industrial flaws in ships. They perfected its clinical use, and by the end of the 1950s, ultrasound was used routinely in Glasgow hospitals. It didn’t really take off in British and American hospitals until the 1970s.

A fetal ultrasound (sonogram) is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to produce images of a baby in the uterus.

The images captured can help your health care provider evaluate your baby’s growth and development during your pregnancy. Most healthy women receive two to three ultrasound scans during pregnancy: one in the first trimester to confirm the due date, and the second (and third if recommended) to confirm normal anatomy, fetus size and sex of the baby. Additional scans may be needed if the mother has medical issues like diabetes or hypertension.

There is no evidence to show a prenatal ultrasound provided properly will harm the mother or her unborn child. Done properly means the scan is performed by a trained technician, called a sonographer, or a doctor.

Standard prenatal ultrasounds are completed in 2D. This image reveals a grey outline of the baby and allows the technician or doctor to see through the body and observe the baby’s internal organs. 3D and 4D ultrasound scans often are optional. 3D imaging creates a three-dimensional image of the baby, and 4D provides a live video effect like a movie. You can watch your baby smile, yawn, suck on his or her thumb, etc.

The 4D is a more realistic view of the child, and you will see a moving image.

The prenatal development process happens in three main stages. The first two weeks after conception are known as the germinal stage, and the third through the eighth weeks are known as the embryonic period. The span from the ninth week until birth is known as the fetal period. The stages of growth month to month are fast and amazing. An ultrasound while pregnant is an easy, safe way to monitor the development of your baby and allows you to peek into the future to see if you’ll be blessed with a Southern, ribbon-and-bowswearing little girl, or an energetic, coastal-water-loving little boy.

Meza is a licensed aesthetician, as well as a massage therapist, medical skin care and laser technician and Ideal Protein coach with the Woman’s Clinic P.A. in Gulfport. Reach her at (228) 3417879. Ultrasound information for this article was provided by Christen Blaine, a sonographer with the Woman’s Clinic P.A.

E R V I S R PSYC HOTHERAPY

SERVICES

Licensed Certified Social Worker Behavior Health Consultant and Motivational Speaker

 Individuals  Families  Couples  Children  Adolescent  Military Personnel  And Groups

Anxiety & Depression Crisis Intervention ADD / ADHD Stress Management PTSD Interpersonal Trauma Grief Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Parenting Skills Dual Diagnosis Treatment Other Mental Health Illness

Shelia.Rivers@RiversPsychotherapy.com Www.RiversPsychotherapyServices.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

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Dr. Mark Murray, MD Dr. Murray received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama in 2001. He received his medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama in 2005. He completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Unit in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2008, where he was chief resident from 2007-2008. He completed his fellowship in Asthma and Allergy at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2012 and joined Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic in July of the same year. Prior to his fellowship, Dr. Murray

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worked as an urgent care pediatrician in Chattanooga, Tennessee from 2008-2010.

Dr. Murray is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy & Immunology.

A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Dr. Murray is married with two children.

On Behalf of Mississippi Asthma and Allergy Clinic and myself, I am honored to have been voted as one the Top Doctors here on the Coast.

3200 Mallett Rd., Ste. D3 | D’Iberville, MS 39540 | 228.392.6875

October-November 2019

DR. CLIFF J. COOK, DMD Dr. Cook is a lifelong resident of the MS Coast. A graduate of St. Martin High, Dr. Cook headed to the University of South Alabama for his degree in Biomedical Science. While at South, Dr. Cook established leadership qualities and was president of the University’s ambassador group. Carrying forward, he earned a Master’s degree in Biology from MS College and went on to become President of his dental school class at the University of MS Medical Center. During a trip to his best friend’s wedding, he met Shannon who became the love of his life. They currently have three beautiful daughters.

Dr. Cook was fortunate to have earned some of the best experience from one of best schools in the country. He received the Delta Dental award for

outstanding leadership and The Ole Miss General Dentistry award. Throughout his ten year career, Dr. Cook has worked hard to provide outstanding care for his patients. He regularly attends education courses through the Spear Institute and tirelessly pursues the latest technology.

Dr. Cook’s personal touch has allowed him to comfort even the most apprehensive of patients. Many patients enjoy his personal phone calls to check on them after treatment. His humble nature and caring attitude have earned him some of the best patients in the community. Dr. Cook never takes for granted the trust he has earned. In his own words, “We are nothing without our patients”.

10437 LAMEY BRIDGE RD. SUITE E D’IBERVILLE

228-388-3353 WWW.BROADWATERFAMILYDENTAL.COM www.gcwmultimedia.com

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Women’s Health 2019

Wisdom through the ages

20s

30s

40s

Student at the University of Mississippi “My twenties have shown me I need to form healthy habits now in order to carry them for the rest of my life. My teens were filled with home-cooked meals, dance practice and regular faith formation. All of these things are now entirely left to my own discretion, and this freedom comes with great responsibility. College and your 20s can be exhausting, but it’s also the most free time I’ll ever have. I also realized that joyful activities should never be compromised when growing up. The best thing I can do for myself is make time for people and activities that give me great joy!”

Internal medicine/pediatrics resident physician “If you are like me, your 20s were filled with quests of self-discovery, taking chances and finding your career path. Now that I am in my thirties, I have a new profession as a physician, a youthful marriage and more obligations than I could ever imagine. One thing that has not changed over the past decade is my attention to self-care. I still shop for healthy snacks, try new workout challenges and attend church every free Sunday I get. Your mental, physical and spiritual well-being are not optional, they are a necessity.”

Owner/ consultant A Plan to Remember “At the age of 44, I’ve learned more in the last four years about myself than I feel I have most of my adult life. Mentally, I am thankful for my strong faith. As a family that has dealt with a lot of medical adversity I have expanded deeper into my personal relationship with the Lord and attribute that to my mental grit.

As a woman who decided to start her family in her mid 30s, it’s super important for me to be physically sound. Taking care of me is the biggest responsibility I have for my family, especially with a spouse who battled cancer daily.

Eating balanced meals, eating often and creating physical activity plans that fit my active lifestyle is crucial. It is important to focus on keeping myself healthy so I can give to my two boys, who are 10 and 12, and to my parents as well.”

SOFIA COOPER

What to expect in your 20s: • Metabolic rate starts going down, and weight probably will increase a little each year.

• Bones are still strong and growing, but with gradual bone and muscle loss on the horizon, this is a good time to adopt a diet with lots of calcium and vitamin D and start a habit of regular weight-bearing exercise • Growth and development is still happening in the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex — an area associated with decision-making, risk-taking and short-term memory.

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JASMINE PADGETT

What to expect in your 30s: • Gradual reduction in bone mass; you lose more bone than you produce, increasing risk of osteoporosis.

• Changes in their menstrual cycle, triggered by factors ranging from hormonal fluctuations to perimenopause.

Fertility begins to decrease.

• Slower cell turnover, making skin more prone to dryness • Slower metabolism • Women report feeling greater confidence, satisfaction and comfort in this phase of life, despite navigating more stressful situations.

• Research has found this decade is when women reach their “sexual peak.”

October-November 2019

50s

SUSIE DAVIS

WINDY STANTON

What to expect in your 40s: • You may become more forgetful. Studies show that after 45, memory starts taking a downturn.

• Hair may start falling out or turning gray.

• Hot flashes may become more common as you approach menopause.

• According to psychologists, women are more self-confident at 40 than at 20 or 30. They have settled on a personal style, don’t sweat the small stuff and frequently re-evaluate themselves and the people they associate with.

What to expect in your 50s: • About 95 percent of people who are 50 or older report they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their lives.

• Growth of brain cells continues into your 50s and 60s, so you still have a significant capacity for learning. A recent study also found that the amount of exercise you get is the best predictor for how well the brain does with age — all the more reason to stay physically active.

• The 50s mean menopause for most women. As hormone levels change, symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, upset sleep and

Owner of Ladidaa Boutique “For me, being in my 50s has been both challenging and enjoyable. I like the freedom I have to be myself. I don’t care anymore about my size or shape; I’m over it!

But I do care about my health and my ability to keep going in the future. I try to do things to keep my mind sharp and my body limber, like word puzzles and yoga. I enjoy as much of the day as I can, and spend time with the people who are important to me — my family, my friends and my employees. Life is short, and it gets shorter every year. When you get over the hill, as they say, you tend to think, ‘How many years do I have left?’ It may sound morbid, but it becomes more and more real the older you get. So squeeze every bit out of every day! Don’t let life pass you by.

Enjoy every second. Don’t get so busy that you miss the little things that make life so amazing!”

stress, mood swings, irritability and depression.

• Screenings are crucial. Risk of colorectal cancer increases during this decade, so a colonoscopy is recommended at age 50 and every 10 years after, and mammograms are encouraged every two or three years when you’re in your 50s — or more often if you fall into a high-risk category. As estrogen levels fall, it’s a good idea to get a bone density test, especially if osteoporosis runs in your family.

60s

CHARLOTTE MCLAURIN

Human resources specialist with the Gulfport Job Corps Center.

“Wow! You don’t think about your age until someone asks. My 60s still find me in great health. Of course, exercise, eating well and regular checkups help. Being active and laughter with my family and friends

Former school administrator, Excel By 5 certification manager, Biloxi’s “unofficial ambassador” “I feel it is very important to continue to be active, stay busy and be involved as you continue to grow in age. I continue to work with children and parents with Biloxi Excel By 5 as the certification manager. I love working with children and parents to make a difference in their lives. I also work at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant as a Hostess. I love my job! I enjoy meeting new people, making new friends, visiting with our guests and taking children on field trips to the “historical cellar!”

I am so very blessed to be up and moving around and very thankful for my life and for being able to continue to do the things I love — making a difference in people’s lives, being involved, having a relationship with God and having a loving, caring family and friends.”

What to expect in your 60s: • About one in three people in their 60s say they are “very happy” — just below those under 35.

• Keep up with screenings — half of breast cancers are

80s

70s

SUSAN HUNT

have a lot to do with it, too.

The mind (also) needs exercise — reading, doing crosswords puzzles, Sudoku … things like that.

My career keeps my mind alert with processing people and paperwork. My outlook on being in my 60s is one of hope, and fortunately, I’m told I do not look (my age).”

ROSE MARIE JUZANG

What to expect in your 70s: • Activity like weight-bearing exercise can help maintain muscle strength and benefit bones, as one in three women ages 75-85 has osteoporosis.

• After age 70, the ability to see fine details diminishes, and you may also have problems seeing upon entering an overly bright or dark area.

• Your immune system isn’t as sensitive, meaning you’re less susceptible to allergy problems and more susceptible to getting sick.

• With age, the heart’s walls get thicker and valves get more stiff, Research shows that for those over 70, just a half hour daily of physical activity like walking or dancing can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by up to 40 percent.

Lifelong political and community activist who has worked for the Mississippi Division of Aging and Adult Services, counseling seniors on Medicare insurance programs.

“I grew up during a time when we gathered around the radio to listen to news and variety shows, and now I have information at my fingertips on devices I can carry in my hand.

Some conveniences may seem minor now, and are taken for granted, like having a washing machine and dryer. … Socially, I think today’s children and young adults don’t really realize what we had to go through as a community to get to where we are now, how quickly the political climate can change and how important it is that we continue to be steadfast about fighting social injustice. We may no longer be segregated, but we have to work toward not being divided. The Civil Rights Era was a very painful time, and we don’t want to ever go back to it.

Mentally, I feel the same as I did when I was younger, just as aware and sharp. My body has changed and I have some limitations, but I am happy, enjoy my five beautiful children, grand- and great-grandchildren that make life so easy for me and move through life with a freedom that has come with age. I

diagnosed in those age 61 and over, and the median age for colon cancer is 68.

• Hearing loss is common — four of 10 Americans in their 60s report experiencing it.

• Be good to your heart — your mid-60s and later are the prime period for heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Stay active physically and mentally to boost health and happiness in your 60s and beyond.

don’t have to worry about answering to anyone and I am not restricted to someone else’s schedule. Life is good!”

What to expect in your 80s: • You are never too old to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle — and it’s never too late to improve your nutrition and fitness. As people age, they may need fewer total calories but higher amounts of some nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. • Research has found that staying physically active can keep the immune system strong, making even those in their 80s and older less susceptible to infections and illness.

• It’s becoming more common to live into your 80s and beyond. This age group is the fastest-growing demographic in the world and projected to comprise about 3.5 percent of the U.S. population by 2040.

• Alzheimer’s risk increases with age, and by age 85, the chance of developing the disease is about 50 percent.

However, the condition tends to be less aggressive for those who develop it later versus in their 60s or 70s, studies have shown.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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Women’s Health 2019

Top 10 health dangers for women

By Jennifer Gentile

The deadliest threats to women may not be what you think. According to the latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these are the leading causes of female fatalities in the U.S.:

1

HEART DISEASE, 22.3 PERCENT One in four females die from heart disease, making it the number-one killer of women in the United States. Frighteningly, nine in 10 women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, commonly caused by blockage in the coronary arteries. Women are likely to experience different symptoms than men, which can include discomfort in the back, shoulders, arms, stomach, jaw, neck or throat, inability to sleep, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or dizziness, nausea or vomiting or breaking out into a cold sweat.

2

CANCER, 21.1 PERCENT According to the American Cancer Society, breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, cervical, skin and ovarian cancers are the most likely cancers to affect women. For most of these cancer types, regular screenings can help find them early when they are easier to treat.

Lifestyle choices like exercising, eating healthy and not smoking can reduce your risk.

3

CHRONIC LOWER RESPIRATORY DISEASES 6.2 PERCENT This category covers a range of conditions, including chronic obstructed pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking accounts for about 80 percent of cases, but genetics, pollutants at home or work and respiratory infections also can be factors, according to the CDC.

4

STROKE 6.1 PERCENT Women have more strokes than men and die from them more often, according to the American Heart Association and American Stroke As62

October-November 2019

sociation, which report that one in five women has a stroke at some point in her life. Risk increases with some factors that are exclusive to women, including pregnancy/preeclampsia, birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy.

Some warning signs include face drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty.

5

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE 5.7 PERCENT Roughly 13 million women in the U.S. either are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone who has it, according to the Alzheimer’s Association — which also notes that women in their 60s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as breast cancer. Women live longer than men, which could explain why their risk is greater, but experts are considering whether biological or genetic variations or differences in life experiences may play a role.

6

UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES 4 PERCENT Injury death rates for women reportedly are lower for women than men at all ages. However, they are the leading cause of death for women ages 18-34, most commonly from car accidents. Falls were the top fatal accident for women over 75.

7

DIABETES 2.7 PERCENT Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease by four times in women, according to the CDC, and women also are at higher risk for diabetes-related complications like blindness, kidney disease and depression. About 15 million women nationwide have diabetes, and women who are overweight, over age 45, had diabetes during pregnancy, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or have a genetic disposition are most at risk of developing

the condition.

8

INFLUENZA AND PNEUMONIA 2.3 PERCENT While most of us have experienced the flu as a nuisance, the illness can be fatal. The most vulnerable populations are children under age 5, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic health problems. If someone contracts a second infection like pneumonia while already fighting the flu, they are in greater danger of hospitalization or death. The flu vaccine is between 40 and 60 percent effective most seasons, according to the CDC, and even for those who still get sick, their illness is generally less severe.

9

KIDNEY DISEASE 1.8 PERCENT Chronic kidney disease affects a reported 195 million women worldwide, causing about 600,000 deaths annually. Females with CKD experience issues like irregular periods, sexual dysfunction, bone disease and depression. Women with CKD are less likely to become pregnant, but if they do, they are at higher risk for high blood pressure and premature birth. Experts advise limiting alcohol, not smoking, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise daily and maintaining a healthy diet to help prevent this condition or keep it from getting worse.

10

SEPTICEMIA 1.6 PERCENT While sepsis — a bacterial blood infection — can affect anyone, it is most common and most dangerous in pregnant women, people with chronic conditions or weak immune systems, adults over 65, those who have recently undergone surgery and children less than I year old. Prompt treatment, typically with antibiotics, is key — as septic shock may occur and is fatal in over two thirds of cases.

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When we are no longer able to change a situation we are challenged to change ourselves.

Viktor E. Frankl

HOLLY ARNOULT, RN, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor 6 years Registered Nurse: 26 years

TREATING ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS AND COUPLES SPECIALIZES IN TREATING Depression | Anxiety | Stress Management Trauma/Grief/Loss | Adjustment Issues Relationship Issues | Codependency | Self Esteem Issues Anger/Conflict Management | School/Work Difficulties Parenting/Co-Parenting Skills | Coping/Communication Skills Mood Disorders I Borderline Personality Disorder I believe counseling is an empowering process of exploration, discovery, and personal growth. My desire is to create a safe, compassionate environment where each client feels free to share their struggles without bias or judgment.

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October-November 2019

HEALTHY FAMILIES, MOTHERS AND BABIES INITIATIVE Program promotes breastfeeding, tobacco-free living

By Jennifer Gentile A grant-funded program is aiming to increase breastfeeding, decrease smoking and improve heath overall among African Americans in south Mississippi and beyond.

The Mississippi Public Health Institute recently received a five-year, $3.4 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help improve the health and well-being of African American families, mothers and babies in Jackson, Hancock and Harrison Counties. MSPHI competed with more than 200 organizations for the award, which was one of only 31 made from CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program.

“This project focuses not only on the promotion of breastfeeding, but overall health as well,” says Jacinda Roach, program director with MSPHI. “Other activities we’re focusing on … include the promotion of tobacco-free living and access to healthy foods. We would like to change the way the entire family thinks about health.”

Roach says to make the project — called the Healthy Families, Mothers and Babies Initiative — successful, MSPHI is collaborating with several local entities, including Coastal Family Health Center, Feeding the Gulf

Coast, Mississippi State University, Singing River Hospital and Merit Health Biloxi.

“These partnerships will enable us to better reach women and families and ensure the efforts can be sustained at the end of the project,” Roach adds.

Through a communications campaign that kicked off in September, MSPHI is working to raise awareness about breastfeeding and tobacco-free living — which Roach says includes pop-up educational events and a targeted media effort. An example are billboards, sponsored through Coastal Family Health Center, to promote breastfeeding.

“Smoking cessation and breastfeeding are singled out because we know both practices can lead to better health outcomes for mothers and their babies,” she explains.

Data shows that Mississippi has the fifth-highest smoking rate in the nation, and 10 percent of pregnant women in the state smoke at some point during their pregnancy.

Breastfeeding rates remain low statewide for all ethnic groups and are lowest among African American women for numerous reasons, according to Roach — including lack of familial support for the practice and lack of support upon returning to work after giving birth.

“We hope to provide support needed through the establishment of baby cafés in the three coastal counties and guiding area businesses to become breastfeeding-friendly,” she says. The grant has funded new baby cafés at Sing-

ing River and Merit Health — with plans for more in the future, as well as lactation rooms at Coastal Family Health clinic sites.

Jackson, Hancock and Harrison counties were targeted, Roach says, because of the the strong community networks that came together to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

“We believe this same sense of community can be applied to the promotion of positive health outcomes,” she adds. “Through the work of this project, we hope breastfeeding, eating fruits and vegetables and living tobacco-free will become the norm.”

Officials and others gather to celebrate the grand opening of the Baby Café at Singing River Hospital

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67

Women’s Health 2019

Compassionate

care

Keesler Medical Center nurse Lauren Pope touches, saves lives

By Jennifer Gentile

As a child, while watching doctors and nurses save her parent’s life, Lauren Pope decided what she wanted to do when she grew up.

In 2001, Pope’s mother was diagnosed with an atrial-septal defect — a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart. She was sent to a specialist in Jackson, who referred her to a cardiovascular surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

“I was only nine years old and did not fully understand what was happening at the time,” says Pope, who hails from Natchez and moved to the Gulf Coast in 2012. “As the years passed, and the more I understood what my mom went through, all I could think was, ‘Maybe one day I will be able to save someone’s mother or father.’”

That hope led her to become a registered nurse, she says, “and (I) couldn’t be any more thankful for where I am at in my life now.”

Her professional journey started in high school, when she participated in a certified nurse assistant and phlebotomy program offered to juniors and seniors. She went straight to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez, taking prerequisite courses for a respiratory therapy program and deciding after a year that it wasn’t right for her. After moving to to D’Iberville, she went on to graduate with an associate degree in nursing from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Since June, Pope has been working as a registered critical care nurse in the ICU at Keelser Medical Center. After clocking in, she never knows what to expect on any given day.

“The shift can start out very calm,” she says, “and within 10 minutes, you could be running to a different unit 68

October-November 2019

for a rapid Lauren Pope response or code blue.”

While she’s noticed some minor differences between working at a military versus civilian hospital, Pope says the main factor — patient care and how she goes about her job — doesn’t change. In intensive care, where someone’s condition can deteriorate in moments, the patient-to-nurse ratio is typically 2-1, Pope says, compared to 5-1 or 6-1 in other units.

“These patients have to be monitored more closely,” she says. “As a critical care nurse, you are trained on multiple devices and medications.”

Seeing patients and their families endure pain and suffering is the most challenging part of nursing for Pope, who finds her greatest pleasure in helping others and putting smiles on their faces — if only for a short time. Looking ahead, she aspires to be a neonatal ICU nurse, as she’s always had a strong desire to work with babies.

“When I tell friends and family about my career goals, I usually get the same response: ‘Oh I couldn’t do that; I would cry all of the time,” Pope says. “I can agree with them on the crying aspect, but knowing that I cared for an infant (who) was fighting for (his or her) life would be a reward in itself.”

The training and education may be difficult, and the job itself stressful, but Pope encourages others considering a nursing career to “go for it!”

“I must say, if you are contemplating becoming a nurse, make sure you are doing it for all of the right reasons,” she says. “There isn’t a textbook on this earth that can teach you compassion; that comes from within.”

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69

Women’s Health 2019

Beware of

By Jennifer Gentile

breast implant illness Trina Cuccia cautions others about risks

Tens of thousands of women nationwide have reported problems ranging from rashes and insomnia to mood swings and muscle weakness.

For Trina Cuccia, breast implant illness — or BII — manifested as anxiety, depression, fatigue, thyroid issues and other debilitating conditions. Over time, the Diamondhead resident’s symptoms progressed to include joint pain, brain fog, hair loss, sinus infections, headaches, weight gain, food intolerances, inflammation, hormone imbalances, nausea and kidney and bladder issues. In February and March, she landed in the emergency room twice — leaving each time without answers.

“In March, I was praying that the Lord would reveal what was wrong with me, as I truly thought I was terminal and we just did not have a diagnosis,” Cuccia says. “I could barely get up and get dressed to go to work.”

The mother of three — a branch manager/mortgage loan originator for GMFS Mortgage — had a breast lift in 2002. She chose a highly recommended surgeon, who performed the procedure in Mandeville, Louisiana.

“I did it for myself, as I was not pleased with them after my childbearing years,” Cuccia says. “I lost a lot of volume, so in December 2003, I decided to have breast augmentation — again, for myself. I wanted to feel beautiful again when I looked in the mirror.”

Symptoms started appearing in 2006, which is when Cuccia says her “long journey of going to doctors without any true diagnosis” began.

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Her right implant began leaking a few years later, and her annual mammogram in 2009 showed some enlarged lymph glands in her right breast that required a biopsy.

tissue (or capsule) with the implant still inside, preventing any contamination to the body.

“Dr. Urzola no longer (performs) implants, and this was important to me — as he recognizes the dangers to a woman’s health,” Cuccia says. “(He) films/videos and takes pictures of the surgery and provides all of his patients with a copy of the en bloc procedure.”

Cuccia notes that in July, breast implant manufacturer Allergan issued a recall on Biocell textured implants and tissue expanders; she had saline-filled, textured implants made

by Inamed Corp., which Allegan purchased in 2005.

The recall comes after the implants have been linked to anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare form of cancer.

While breast implant illness reTrina Cuccia with mains a matter of debate within the Dr. Victor Urzola medical community, the number of women claiming their implants made “Praise God, all was OK, but the them sick continues to swell. One BII doctor never brought up that it could Facebook group now has over 90,000 be from my implant, or mention members. concern (about) the implant,” Cuccia Cuccia’s healing journey is ongoing, says. “Every year, I would go for my and she tells others wanting breast immammogram and they would say plants to do their research, be aware the right one was deflating but never of the risks and “learn to love your made mention of any concern.”

God-given body.”

Eventually, she came across a “It’s a process detoxing the body friend’s Facebook post mentioning from inflammation and autoimmune breast implant illness, which promptillness caused by the implants,” Cuccia ed her to research the condition. In says, “but (I’m) thankful to be on the April, Cuccia traveled to Costa Rica to lighter, natural side and loving my see Dr. Victor Urzola — listed among smaller breasts.” the top four micro-surgeons in the world for the procedure she sought — an en bloc capsulectomy. During this surgery, a doctor removes the scar

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72

Age 21+ • $50 per person • Costume or business casual attire Hors d'oeuvres, small plates, and cocktails by White Pillars Musical entertainment by Serabee Trio & Band Silent auction • Costume contest

October-November 2019

HOME

Simple, trendy fall decor ideas I’m writing this in August, but my design mind already is excited about fall décor. Since I’m originally from Canada, my

By Adrienne Elliott love for fall is based on it being the time of year when the leaves change color but the snow is not falling — yet.

As you know, I’m neutral in my overall designs. I’ve been asked how elaborate I go with seasonal décor, and fall for me is fairly minimal, yet impactful. I like little touches around our home and in areas where we will see them most often.

You may be wondering where in your home you should decorate for fall. My top five areas to add some seasonal decor are as follows: 1. Front entry 2. Foyer 3. Dining room table 4. Cocktail table (this in my home has been less because of my three little ones, but I will still share ideas).

5. Mantel To give you a direction while you read this (for the planners out there like me), think of how much time, money and energy you want to invest. If you are a bare-minimum person, I would strongly suggest choosing an area you look at daily. Select the one place most important to you.

For example, we don’t even park in our front driveway, so to spend time, money and energy on our front porch would not be my priority if I chose only to decorate one area. Instead, it would be my fireplace mantel — something I see both day and night.

Narrow down the places in which you want to incorporate fall touches. Once you have your areas established (for me, it’s a little bit in each of the five areas), set a budget.

Then, my friends — its time to shop.

Like all of you, I enjoy updating my seasonal décor; with that, I love to add touches of the year’s design trends.

Here are the 2019 design trends I plan to incorporate: 1. Green plants/baskets 2. All shades of white —and pumpkins! Bonus if they are mixed with wood.

3. Letter board 4. Punch of emerald green 5. Boho touches You can follow my Instagram, @adrienneelliott___, for updates and photos of how I will style my fall decor accessories.

Adrienne Elliott is an interior designer, fashion enthusiast, wife and mom to three girls. Learn more about her at https://adrienneelliott.com/.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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ORGANIZE MY BUSY LIFE

Tips to make your home, schedule and finances tidy and joyful Whether you're a corporate career woman, an

By Heather Young entrepreneur or a stay-athome mom, getting organized will dramatically reduce stress and improve your quality of life. The same principles used to de-clutter and organize our physical space can be equally effective when applied to calendars and finances. Here are some tips for making your busy life more manageable: COMMIT YOURSELF Get intentional about transforming the areas that bother you and be honest about your situation. Find an accountability partner to help make this process fun; it may just be the encouragement she needs to address her own organizational issues. Helpful questions: Where am I disorganized in my life? What resources will I need to get organized? (A babysitter? A friend? An expert?) What is my timeline for completion?

FOCUS ON YOUR IDEAL LIFESTYLE Think about the values you want to live by and how you envision your best life. Be as specific as possible.

Examples of helpful questions: What style is my ideal home? How often would I like to entertain? What financial goals do I want to work toward?

DISCARD FIRST With your ideal lifestyle as a compass, sort through items in your home, calendar and finances. Consider how each item makes you feel. In the discarding process, the focus is not on the quantity of what you get rid of, 74

October-November 2019

but rather on the quality of what you keep. The main question: Does this item bring me joy and support the vision I have for my ideal life? If the answer is no, it’s time to let go.

SORT BY CATEGORY To be most efficient, gather items into single categories to see what you have, then thoughtfully discard what no longer serves you. In the home, the following order is very effective: clothing, books, papers, all other items (subcategorized as needed: dishes, linens, etc.) and finally, sentimental items. Your calendar can be broken down into personal, family and career activities. Categorize expenses into needs, wants, monthly expenses, annual expenses, etc. Helpful questions: What category does this item belong in? Have I gathered/listed everything in this category?

CREATE JOYFUL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS After de-cluttering, it’s time to set up systems for managing what

remains. Many resources are available, so your goal is to find systems that work for you. Search the internet for loads of ideas for storing items in your home. Tech lovers have many apps to choose from for managing schedules and finances. Those who enjoy flipping pages can opt for a paper planner or budget notebook. Whatever you choose, the question is: “Will using this system encourage me to stay organized?”

Remember: The time you spend getting organized is an investment in your well-being. You are worth it!

Heather Young, of Tidy and Calm LLC, is a certified KonMari® consultant. She and her team use the KonMari® Method to transform home organizing into a oncein-a-lifetime joyful event. Reach her at www.tidyandcalm.com.

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October-November 2019

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October-November 2019

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79

ZEN Retreat Couple turns vegetable

garden into tranquil pond

By Jennifer Gentile

Although the vegetable garden at their Saucier home yielded a bounty of beans, spinach, zucchini and tomatoes, it became too much work for Suzi Wilson and her husband, David.

“We built the structure (three years ago) and then bought some organic garden soil to fill it up,” says Wilson, whose home is located on Honeybear Lane. “Filling it up with soil was difficult because the truck that brought the soil could not drive into the backyard. So … David shoveled it all from a trailer to the bed.”

The second year, the couple planted flowers to attract butterflies. This year, they decided to turn the center portion into a pond. Wilson’s husband loves water, she says, and is the architect behind the home’s landscaping.

“I think the pond really transformed the garden,” she 80

October-November 2019

Suzi and David Wilson's vegetable garden just became too much work for them so they transformed it.

adds. “David and I had to dig out the entire center section, then we reinforced the sides with plywood (from the inside).” They also purchased a pond liner, which David secured to the edge of the bed with cedar strips. The fountain they placed in in the center started to float, so they weighed down the pump with a large rock.

The project took about a month, Wilson says, and probably cost less than $1,000 to complete — minus the existing wooden structure. The pond — measuring about 8 feet Continued on page 82

DIY: Vintage farmhouse seed pots

From BSLShoofly.com

While browsing through the Antique Maison in Bay St. Louis, DIY Diva Holly Lemoine-Raymond saw some antique-looking seed pots. She approached the shop’s owner, Peggy Branger, and asked her how she made them.

SUPPLIES • Clay pot, any size — 3, 4.75-inch Flair terra cotta pots used here •Paint-and-primerin-one spray paint • Tea bags or coffee (single-use packs) • Flower and vegetable garden soil • Scissors • Paintbrush • Rag or napkins • Newspaper (to paint on) • Choice of herbs or flowers (we used sweet basil, rosemary and chives) • Bowl to soak tea/ coffee • Seed packets or vintage newspaper clippings (as seen on pots) • Stain – Miniwax Poly Shades espresso gloss used here • Mod Podge STEP 1 Soak your tea bags or coffee packs in water and let them sit.

STEP 2 While the tea bags are soaking, paint

the pots and let them dry. I used paint and primer in one with a matte finish in French cream. The paint and primer in one will give the pot some texture.

STEP 3 With your scissors, cut the labels off the seed packets and soak them in the water with your tea or coffee bags.

STEP 4 Once the paint on the pots dries, use the paint brush to add your stain.

STEP 5 Do not let the stain dry. Use your rag or paper towel to wipe the stain until you have your desired look.

You will be wiping most of the stain away. The texture from the paint and primer will help provide the remaining stain depth.

STEP 6 Using a clean paintbrush, apply a layer of Mod

Podge to the pot where the seed label will go.

STEP 7 With the same paintbrush, apply Mod Podge on the back of the label.

Place the label on the pot where you applied the layer of Mod Podge and smooth it down.

Allow the Mod Podge to dry for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

STEP 8 Now that your pot is decorated, it’s time to add your herbs. I used sweet basil, rosemary and chives.

STEP 9 Once you have placed your herbs in the pots, you will need to add a bit of soil. For this project, I used flower and garden vegetable soil. You won’t need much, just enough to fill in the pot.

Your herb garden is now ready to enjoy fresh herbs all year around!

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ZEN RETREAT continued from page 80

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wide by 12 feet long — is a focal point in the couple’s Zen garden, which includes walkways, raised beds and other features.

“We added some water plants and sat back to enjoy our hard work,” Wilson says. “We have to feed the water plants every few days and add a mixture to the water occasionally to keep it clean.”

The most difficult part, she adds, was moving the dirt.

“We learned that sometimes you have to try different ideas before you settle on something that works,” Wilson says. “I also learned that growing your own food is more difficult than it seems.”

Before: The Wilsons' vegetable garden

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October-November 2019

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BEAUTY & SHOPPING

Sip,Shop at The

THREADED CORK Biloxi business brings European flavor to the Coast

By Jennifer Gentile

Just as its name ties together clothing and wine, The Threaded Cork combines the experiences of shopping and noshing.

“There is nothing along the Mississippi Gulf Coast like The Threaded Cork,” says owner and manager Andrea Jenkins.

“Because we offer Polish Pottery, ladies’ apparel, a café and a coffee bar, our boutique is considered a ‘hybrid’ boutique.”

The interior, she adds, is “designed to feel like IF YOU GO home,” with plenty of tables, chairs and sofas to make customers comfortable. The Biloxi business 136 Rue Magnolia, fulfills a dream for Jenkins, who has long wanted Biloxi her own boutique.

HOURS: “My mom is a fashion/costume designer and Monday 11 a.m.-4 seamstress, so I grew up around clothing, fashion p.m.; and clients,” she says. “My first job was in a chain Tuesday thru Saturday boutique, and it was then that I knew I wanted to be 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; in the fashion industry.” closed Sunday Jenkins went on to earn a fashion merchandising degree from Florida State University and nearly 23 FACEBOOK: years later, as she was managing a variety of corpohttps://www. rate retail stores, the opportunity arose to start her facebook.com/ own business. thethreadedcork/ The Threaded Cork debuted in 2017, and Jenkins INSTAGRAM: says its location—a historic cottage on Rue Magnolia thethreadedcork —was chosen for its character and charm. The store is part of an ongoing renaissance in the Biloxi neighborhood, with signs of growth that are encouraging to entrepreneurs and local leaders alike. it’s a product I stand behind 100 percent, I decided to go “The downtown revitalization is exciting,” Jenkins says, with it.” The idea of serving Illy Italian coffee followed, “and we believe that it will not only benefit us, but the other she says, and eventually, “food came into the picture.” businesses planning on joining the revival.”

If patrons sense a European influence at the Threaded As more people move into and visit the area, Jenkins is Cork, Jenkins’ says that’s due to her family’s Czech Repubpoised to provide them a one-of-a-kind experience. The lic heritage, as well as the time she and her husband, who Threaded Cork offers a light lunch menu of wraps and serves in the Navy, spent stationed in Italy. The couple salads, along with coffee, beer and wine — which patrons was stationed locally during Katrina, she says, which gives can enjoy as they browse an array of clothes, accessories them a strong connection to the Gulf Coast and its people. and locally made gifts and candles. In the future, Jenkins “Customers of The Threaded Cork don’t leave as has plans to expand the wine selection. customers; they leave as friends — most with a hug,” “Initially, I planned on a boutique with only ladies’ apparJenkins says. “That is how important customer service is el,” she recalls. “Then my husband, (Ron), said, ‘Why don’t to me.” we sell Polish Pottery?’ I was hesitant at first, but because 86

October-November 2019

WE WILL DELIVER OUR BEST FOR YOU WITH TRUE PASSION FOR OUR BUSINESS. WE CAN HELP YOU

LOOK YOUR

BEST!

WALK-INS WELCOME

Let us teach you how to ENHANCE YOUR BEAUTY with the right product and tools.

SPA PEDICURE | SHELLAC NAILS | POWDER COATING Alexander Deeks/Owner | Master Stylist/Color Specialist www.gcwmultimedia.com 1115 Cowan Rd. | Gulfport, MS 39507 | 228-896-3352 | www.salonalexanders.com 87

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RAMY BROOK •

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The Shoppes at Mary Mahoney’s 110 Rue Magnolia, Biloxi 228-818-3233 88

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great

Look and feel with beautiful skin

essentials

The key to beautiful makeup is beautiful skin. That means ensuring your skin is clean, hydrated and protected. Here are a few products that can give your everyday beauty routine the boost it needs.

YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE SUPERFOOD ANTIOXIDANT CLEANSER

As much as we love the convenience of a makeup wipe, it’s important to cleanse our faces with a pH-balanced, non-stripping facial cleanser.

Described as “a daily green juice cleanse for your face,” this gel cleanser is great for all skin types. Free of alcohol and sulfates, this powerful yet gentle cleanser is packed with vitamins and antioxidants to keep skin clear and glowing. $36, sephora.com

DRUNK ELEPHANT C-FIRMA VITAMIN C DAY SERUM

Applied after cleansing and before moisturizing, a vitamin C serum is an essential step in any skincare routine if smoother, brighter and more even-toned skin is your priority.The price tag is a bit intimidating, but vitamin C is a gamechanger for those with acne scarring, fine lines or hyperpigmentation. When used regularly, it helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles.

This award-winning serum is free of fragrance, essential oils, alcohols or dyes. $80, drunkelephant. com

SKYN ICELAND HYDRO COOL FIRMING EYE GELS

By Crissy Cox

While probably not a staple in your everyday skincare routine, these cooling under-eye gel patches help firm, tone, and depuff delicate under-eye skin. Made with a natural blend of antioxidants, peptides and botanicals, these patches will give you the appearance of a wonderful night’s sleep. $80, drunkelephant.com

IT COSMETICS CC CREAM WITH SPF 50

Packed with ingredients like collagen and hyaluronic acid, this CC cream is the perfect marriage of skincare and makeup.

Developed with plastic surgeons, this cream can be used as a fullcoverage foundation, daily sunscreen, color corrector and concealer. $39, ulta. com Crissy Cox is a freelance makeup artist on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, specializing in on-location wedding and special event makeup.

Contact her or learn more at facebook.com/CrissyCoxMUA.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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A Gallery Gift Shop Celebrating the Creative Spirit!

“My Dee Dee has lots of very pretty things in her shop.

She says I can’t touch them but you can come buy them!”

Owner Dorothy Roberts’ grandson.

It’s not to early to get started with

HOLIDAY SHOPPING! We have some great gifts.

SHOP ONLINE

The Newest Boutique in Downtown Ocean Springs Owned by April Bullock Burks of

www.robinsnestinthepass.com

distinctive jewelry art gifts

255 Davis Ave., Pass Christian, MS 39571 www.RobinsNestinthePass.com 228.222.4863

Store hours

Mon-Fri, 10-5; Sat. 10-4 Sun. 12:30-4 (months September to December)

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October-November 2019

900 Washington Ave. | Ocean Springs

228.215.0788

Now Open

140 Edgewater Station Biloxi, MS

We’re Allergic to Boring Breakfast Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary is totally customizable with over 50 delicious ingredients and endless possibilities.

Brick & Spoon Biloxi franchisees, Kerri Paul and Britni Thompson with President and CEO of Brick & Spoon franchise, Blane Guillory.

Authorized Retailer

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE GREAT EVENTS!

10/31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Mall-wide trick or treating 5pm-7pm THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 11am - Noon Charles Grant (Platters) 1 - 2pm Cool Rayz 2 - 4pm Cristy Lee Appearance 3 - 4:30pm Departure (Journey Tribute) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 11am - Noon Brandie 1 - 2pm Modern Eldorados 2 - 4pm Dennis Gage 3 - 4:30pm Dixie Jade

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 11am - Noon Mr. Saxman 1 - 2pm Barlow Brothers 3 - 4:30pm Vince Vance & The Valiants

|

11/9 SANTA ARRIVES

|

11/29 BLACK FRIDAY Mall hours: 7a-9p

SANTA’S LIVE REINDEER November 30 December 1 December 2 December 3

• • • •

10am - 4pm 12pm - 6pm 4pm - 8pm 4pm - 8pm

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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g n i l l i p S

her secret

Tristan Whorton, 22, is a model, buyer and

social media associate for Bella Rose Boutique. She also is a fashion influencer who works with LIKEtoKNOW.it (TRISTANMICHELLE) and shares fashion, beauty and lifestyle tips on her blog at www.xoxotristan.com and her Instagram account (xoxotristanmichelle). Whorton says fashion is her passion, and she hopes to inspire beautiful women everywhere to be their best selves. For her own daily routine, she swears by the following products:

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S DRY SHAMPOO I can’t live without this dry shampoo.

It’s not good for your hair to wash it every day, so this helps me train my hair. I also use this just to help style my hair and give it texture.

FAKE BAKE FLAWLESS DARKER I love having a good tan! I want to achieve the best tan possible without harsh sun rays and the tanning bed, so I am obsessed with this stuff.

MAKEUP REMOVER CLEANSING TOWELETTES I have used these makeup remover wipes for years. They don’t leave my face feeling oily, and remove my makeup easily without mess.

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JERGENS ULTRA HEALING MOISTURIZER Moisturizer is important to a daily routine. I want smooth, soft and healthy skin. This lotion feels amazing!

BIOSILK SILK THERAPY I get my hair highlighted and have trouble keeping my hair healthy and thick. This product helps moisturize my hair and ensures it’s silky smooth.

NYX LIPLINER I can’t go anywhere without my lips on!

I use the shade natural. Tip: I slightly over-line my lip to give it a fuller look.

MAC LIPSTICK I use the shade Viva Glam II. I apply after liner and love the natural color.

It’s a great, long-lasting option.

MORPHE LIP GLOSS I apply this after lipstick. I use the shade BOHO. It is the perfect neutral and gives the perfect touch of plump.

L’OREAL VOLUMINOUS ORIGINAL MASCARA I have used this mascara for six years in the shade Blackest Black. This mascara has always given me the best, most voluminous dark lashes.

SOJOS SUNGLASSES SOJOS is a sunglasses company on amazon that reached out to me, and I fell in love with them. They are polarized, stylish and a great price. I love sunglasses for protection from the sun, but also because they can spice up any outfit and you can hide behind them on no-makeup days.

HOURS: Monday - Friday 10 - 6 | Saturday 10 - 3

Haircuts | Highlights | Balayage | Color Special Occasion Hair Styling | Hair Extension Spray Tanning | Waxing | Makeup | Eyelash Extensions

228-875-4233 To view Before and After pictures please visit

@salonrougems

6905 Washington Ave. | Ste. C Ocean Springs, MS 39564 WWW.SALONROUGE-MS.COM

A Hybrid Boutique Polish Pottery Women’s Apparel & Accessories Gifts • Café Illy Coffee 136 Rue Magnolia | Biloxi, MS 228-967-7424

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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Confidence is the best Accessory!

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OFF TO A St rong Start

After a successful first six months for The District Salon, owner and stylist Breanna Smith is excited for what’s next.

“We have been so blessed with countless old and new clients,” says Smith, a Coast native and graduate of Chris’s Beauty College. “One challenge has been trying to keep up with the steady new business we have been getting!

Thankfully, we have room to grow.”

The District opened in April in Gulfport’s Bridgewater Shopping Center, a location Smith says is convenient and accessible for clients. In July, she and her team held an open house to introduce the business’s stylists and services to the community.

“The District Salon welcomes clients of all ages, genders and ethnicities,” the owner says. “We have extension special-

By Jennifer Gentile

The District Salon team welcomed the public during an open house celebration in July. From left: Cristina Switzer (stylist), Emily Barnett (stylist), Amber Breland (stylist/hair extension specialist), Breanna Smith (owner/stylist), Jocelyn Laudisi (stylist/makeup artist) and Tiffany Hickman (stylist).

Fashions you’ll

Fall For Formerly Wild Gypsy Boutique

New Arrivals Weekly!

SHOP ONLINE @ islandgirloutfitters.com

We Carry:

 Simply Southern  Natural Life  Glister & Original Mermaid  Super Cool Tees  Finchberry Soaps  Bathbombs, Candles & Gifts  Yellow Box  Complimentary Gift Wrap  Glitter Sunscreens and Lotions!!

228-596-7330 | 131 Main Street | Bay St. Louis

ISLANDGIRLOUTFITTERS.COM 96

October-November 2019

ists, makeup artists and experienced stylists for all looks.”

The District’s team consists of Christina Switzer, stylist for 28 years; Emily Barnett, stylist for three years; Amber Breland, stylist/hair extension specialist for nine years; Jocelyn Laudisi, stylist/makeup artist for six years; Tiffany Hickman, stylist for 21 years; and Smith, stylist for five years. The business specializes in corrective color, balyage, highlights, cuts, keratin treatment, waxing, blowouts, extensions and more.

Smith got into the beauty business after working in banking for several years after high school. The field wasn’t the right fit, and she decided to pursue her dream of attending cosmetology school.

“My husband and I set a five-year goal to open my own salon, allowing me the time to perfect my craft, build my name and clientele,” Smith says. “As the five-year deadline approached, nerves began to build, but we took the leap of faith–and it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.”

WANT TO GO? 8950 Lorraine Road, Suite D, Gulfport Monday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

(228) 234-3199

CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER...

So why not give some beautiful jewelry, that you made, for presents and we at SAS by Design Studio have a lot of unique classes to choose from? Just to name a few: Chris will be teaching how to make ROSARY BEADS — learn this technique and you can make Earrings, bracelets and so much more — Julie will be teaching KEUM BOO EARRINGS and KEUM BOO RINGS — an ancient jewelry making technique using fine silver and gold — Shannon will teach LEATHER AND PEARL LADDER WRAPPED BRACELETS and KOOL CUFF BRACELET, Andrea will be teaching one of my favorites PEARL & BEAD KNOTTING and I will be teaching STERLING SILVER STONED RING, STACKABLES RINGS and COPPER EARRINGS WITH PEARLS. PRIVATE PARTY/CLASS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THAT SPECIAL OCCASION (mother/daughter outings, birthdays, promotions, girls/guys night out, etc.) with friends, family or co-workers call 228-864-9138 to setup a private class/party to make beautiful jewelry.

At SAS by Design Studio we teach the ART of Jewelry Making so check us out at www.sasbydesign.net and register for one of our many classes.

CLASSES OFFERED: Enameling on metal | Etching on metal | Fold Forming | Riveting | Soldering | Fused Glass | Silk Scarf Dying Metalsmithing | Precious Metal Clay (PMC) | Hydraulic Press Texturing | Beading and so much more

www.sasbydesign.net

CALL 228-864-9138

SAS by Design Studio is located in Long Beach, MS tel: 228-864-9138 | web: www.sasbydesign.net | email: sasbydesign@aol.com facebook: SAS by Design Studio | Etsy: www.sasbydesign.etsy.com

DOWNTOWN OCEAN SPRINGS 1000-B Government Street Ocean Springs, MS

228-215-1203 @buycharisma

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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SCARY FASHION TRENDS TO

When it comes to trends, sometimes you must take the bad with the good. And by “take” the bad, we mean acknowledge them and avoid them at all costs. Bad trends happen, but here’s a rundown of some of the worst, which hopefully will help you avoid future fashion fails.

When it comes to trends, sometimes you must take the bad with the good. And by “take” the bad, we mean acknowledge them and avoid them at all costs. Bad trends happen, but here’s a rundown of some of the worst, which hopefully will help you avoid future fashion fails.

One trend to steer clear of is the chunky dad sneaker. This type of footwear is skewed toward a much younger audience and worn as an everyday, casual tennis shoe. This frightening trend is for those who are still figuring out their personal style and want to blend in with the “cool kids.” No one over the age of 25 (or anyone for that matter) should try this one. It honestly looks ridiculous — and lucky for us, this trend is on its way out. If you want to try a sneaker trend, opt for metallic or an animal print for more versatility.

Anything that fits too snug definitely should be avoided. Whether it’s a dress, denim shorts or a silk blouse, nothing looks good if it’s too tight. In tops, sizing up is a good rule of thumb. An oversized, chambray top or silk blouse will be more flattering than squeezing into something too small that pulls and shows bra lines.

Harem pants never were a good idea. They may be cozy enough to wear in the comfort of your own home, but no one wants to see you in a pair of over-the-top, saggy crotch pants. They’re also the most unflattering pants you can wear. Opt for a fitted pair of high-waisted denim or a sleek trouser, which are much more chic and on trend.

Finally, bike shorts are a trend we love to hate. They flatter no one, even the tallest and smallest of models. Instead of a spandex bike short, opt for a Bermuda short or denim shorts with a cuff detail.

These options are easier to style, timeless and give you your money’s worth for seasons to come.

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal taste. If you don’t love the trend, avoid it. If you find yourself obsessing over a trend, tailor it to fit your style.

Stay true to yourself, and if you love it, wear it!

By Shelby Brune and Sharon Weeks Sharon Weeks and Shelby Brune own Grant’s For Her, Biloxi, and attend New York markets to shop the latest trends. Weeks manages the store and can be reached at (228) 818-3233 (ext. 1). Brune is a fashion publicist in Los Angeles and can be reached at skbrune@gmail.com.

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By Jerika Vincent

FASHION FORWARD Keep up with the hottest fashions and fashionable people on my television show “Jerika’s Showcase!”

“I enjoy being around people who inspire me.

I love the camera and I truly connect with people on and off camera…I do compete with myself in every way. That’s what keeps me moving. But I believe in others succeeding, and I look for ways to help them succeed.”

Watch “Jerika’s Showcase” WLOX ABC - SATURDAYS at 6:30 P.M. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat and YouTube Follow Jerika: 100

@jerikasshowcase

October-November 2019

Why I Look Forward To

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year! I love when the leaves change and the hot weather gives way to a cool breeze.

I look forward to fall because that’s when my family comes together to celebrate the holidays.

Halloween is so much fun because everyone gets to dress up and enjoy the festivities. I love going trick or treating at Flint Creek every year with my family and watching all of the kids have a great time. We cook out while we have bonfires with our entire family, and it brings us all together for a whole weekend. My wardrobe for Halloween this year is a secret, so find me on Facebook to see my costume! I can’t wait to dress up my puppy, Macchiato. She will help me pass out candy this year.

Thanksgiving means relaxing because I take a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit my husband’s side of the family. We get to watch movies and play card games with relatives that we don’t get to see often. My favorite part is the pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes (yes, I am on the pumpkin spice bandwagon). I love being festive, so decorating my house is also a fun part of the celebration for me.

I will be exploring New York this fall, which will be something new and exciting because I’ve always wanted to see the city during this season. I love to travel and see the pretty holiday decorations, but there’s nothing better than being at hometown events. I’m excited for the Peter Anderson Festival and many more fun activities that happen along the Gulf Coast.

My wardrobe for this season is mostly fall colors and jeans. I am constantly wearing business attire with heels for my job, so when I’m at home, I love to be comfortable and enjoy time with family and friends. When I go to work, I try to accessorize my clothes with fall colors to be festive. I get this from my grandma, Ellie Warren. She always buys me Halloween- or Thanksgiving-themed jewelry sets, and it has made me more festive over the years.

Overall, fall is my favorite time to have fun with family.

I really enjoy all the fun events and themed parties, and I am really excited to see my sister in October.

Tune in to Jerika’s Showcase Saturdays at 6:30 p.m on WLOX CBS. Snapchat: Jerikafs | Instagram: Jerikas_Showcase Facebook: Jerika’s Showcase | Twitter: Jerikas_Showcase www.jvshowcase.com

SUCCESS

Lighthouse Business & Professional Women’s annual celebration

2018 2019 WOMEN of ACHIEVEMENT

Dozens of accomplished women from throughout south Mississippi were nominated for the 2019 Women of Achievement Award, presented by Lighthouse Business and Professional Women. To be eligible, a candidate must work and live along the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Jackson, Harrison and Hancock County).

Finalists will be recognized during BPW’s annual Women of Achievement luncheon, set for Oct. 16 from 11:30-1 p.m. at the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort. They were selected in seven categories: medical, education, corporate, military and government, nonprofit, entrepreneur and young careerist (ages 24-35). A Woman of the Year will be named from among the category winners.

CORPORATE FINALISTS

Amy Monti Corr Hankcock Whitney

Cecelia (Cece) Shabazz The Focus Group Advertising Agency

Leslie Kelley Community Bank

Lynn Frisby Penn Gaming

Cynthia Casey Harrah’s Casino

Jennifer M. Garlich First Federal

Shelley Chennault Scarlet Pearl

Save the date! Oct. 16, 2019 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon FEATURING LUANN PAPPAS Scarlet Pearl Casino • www.lighthousebpw.com $40 for members | $45 for non-members www.gcwmultimedia.com

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2018

2019 WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

EDUCATION FINALISTS

Cimmie Switzer Gulfport School District

Jalea Adams Gulfport School District

Michelle Jeanfreau Jackson Country School District

Jenifer Freridge William Carey University

Michelle LeBatard University of Southern Misssissippi

Jona Burton USM Gulfpark

Simone Fairley Gulfport School District

ENTREPRENEUR FINALISTS

Becky Farrell Law Office of Becky Farrell

Dawn Lieck Finally Free LLC

Eddray Dearth Ellie Rose LLC

Misty Stevenson Stevenson Renovations LLC

Joining is easy!

Become a LBPW member Scan this QR code and go to lighthousebpw.com/ membership to complete the member application and make your payment online Annual dues: $100

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Yolanda Jerry YJ Empowerment Solutions LLC

MARY PHILLIPS

is the One You Need to See!!

MARY PHILLIPS is excited about her career change and move to

J CARTER AND COMPANY CENTURY 21.

Mary had an amazing base of clients at Keller Williams, but she wanted to explore options and learn ways to better serve her clients. Mary has experienced growth over the last two years and has also obtained her brokers license and has

NOW MOVED TO CENTURY 21.

Century 21 J. Carter & Company Direct 228-239-0704 | Office 228-731-3881 maryphillipsrealtor@gmail.com

Join the FUN! We tend to draw a FUN crowd!

COME BY AND SEE US!

Biloxi Visitors Center | 2nd Floor/East Hall | (228) 435-6149

info@biloxibayareachamber.org www.biloxibayareachamber.org facebook.com/biloxibayareachamber

We tend to draw a FUN crowd!

The Hancock Chamber Business Women’s Leadership Roundtable was founded in 2006 to offer professional women in Hancock County opportunities for networking and professional development. Under the direction of the Hancock Chamber, the group hosts quarterly meetings providing both personal enrichment and ideas for business development. All women in business are welcome, including newcomers.

Come by and see us!

Biloxi Visitors Center 2nd Floor/East Hall (228) 435-6149 info@biloxibayareachamber.org www.biloxibayareachamber.org facebook.com/biloxibaychamber

Photo Credit: Albert J. Henrion, Jr. - AJH Photography

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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2018

2019 WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

MEDICAL FINALISTS

Georgia Skrmetta Storey Singing River Health Systems

Kisha Hamilton Jernigan Chiropractic

Jennifer Dumal Memorial Hospital

Liz Hoop Southern Hearts Hospice

Keva Scott Boys & Girls Club

NONPROFIT FINALISTS

Allytra Perryman East Biloxi Community Collaborative

Angela Singletary Habitat for HumanityÂ

Bridget Turan Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Kimaka J Bowens Mississippi Gulf Coast Black Nurses Rock

Kristen Schmitz Master The Moments

LaWanda Jones American Cancer Society

Become a WOA Luncheon sponsor Presenting Sponsor: $5,000 Platinum Sponsor: $2,500

Gold Sponsor: $1,000 Silver Sponsor: $500

Lighthousebpw.biloxi@gmail.com 104

October-November 2019

2018

2019 WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

YOUNG CAREERIST FINALISTS

Alexis Williams Aloha Glamour and U.S. Air Force

Brittany Theriot Mandal Preferred Inc.

Erin Rosetti Coastal Mississippi

Jenny Levens City of Long Beach

Jessica Pigott Community Bank of Mississippi

Nicole Jean Martz IP Casino

MILITARY / GOVERNMENT FINALISTS

Amanda B. Williams City of Biloxi

Cheryl A Millender City of Gulfport

Sarah D. Powell U.S. Navy

Mission: Lighthouse Business & Professional Women To unite professional women, support business and community relationships, and provide leadership skills and networking opportunities.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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See something, say something

If you’ve ever been in a bad meeting, raise your hand. I’d wager that almost every business leader has been a part of an ineffective, time-wasting and boring meeting.

But if you’re a leader in your compaBy Ryan Giles ny, you can have good meetings. In fact, you should love your meetings.

I like this analogy from Patrick Lencioni: If you’re a surgeon, your stage is the operating room. If you’re a football player, your stage is the field. If you’re a business leader, your stage is the board room. This means you should look forward to your meetings because they’re your time to shine. This should be some of your most productive time each week. Why? Because your meetings should foster communication, build team health, increase accountability and ultimately be your stage to solve the most pressing issues facing your business.

Today, let’s focus on this last aspect of a great meeting: solving issues. Issues are obstacles or opportunities that must be addressed if your business is to grow. When working with companies, I enjoy helping them institute a meeting rhythm and agenda to help them solve their issues each week.

I was meeting with a new client last week, and one of the leaders was happy to announce that the business had almost no issues. This surprised me, as almost every business should have issues (most businesses I work with want to grow; growth equals complexity, and complexity equals issues). After digging a little deeper, I soon found they had more issues than they imagined.

1. Lack of trust/vulnerability – A lack of trust among the members of the leadership team meant that leaders weren’t willing to be open and honest with each other.

October-November 2019 106

Leaders didn’t want to appear weak, so they were hesitant to raise issues.

2. Lack of awareness – Because the team didn’t have a mechanism to measure each department on a weekly basis, they honestly didn’t know how each team was doing. They could see from their profits, or lack thereof, that something wasn’t right, but they didn’t know where to look first.

3. Lack of accountability – Some leaders complained that when issues surfaced and team members were tasked with action items to solve them, little progress was made. When this happened, there were no consequences (accountability doesn’t exist without consequences).

Before the day ended, we created a weekly meeting schedule and prescribed an agenda to ensure that issues can be disclosed and solved each week. In fact, if anyone in the company sees an issue, we want them to bring it up at the next weekly meeting (see something, say something).

Not only is this healthy for the company, but it’s extremely empowering to our employees.

As Colin Powell said, “The day your team members stop bringing you their issues is the day that you stop being their leader.”

Need help with your marketing strategy? Give Ryan Giles a call.

Giles is a CEO, professional EOS implementer, coach and author. He can be reached at Ryan@TractionStrong.com or (504) 500-1640.

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107

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES ON

Saturday

By Jennifer Gentile

IF YOU’RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, HERE’S WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW • There are about 30.2 million small businesses in the U.S., according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.

• There are over 254,500 small businesses in Mississippi, according to the most recent report from the Office of Advocacy, employing more than 434,000 people.

• Last year, consumers spent a record $17.8 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday.

A

lmost immediately after we’ve consumed the Thanksgiving meal, our thoughts turn to the holiday shopping season.

Most of us take advantage of Black Friday deals online and at large retailers, to the tune of over $500 per consumer on average. But what about the underdogs — the locally owned, independent retailers and corner stores that make our communities special?

That’s what Small Business Saturday is all about. American Express launched the “Shop Small” movement in 2010, hoping to help the fortunes of businesses affected by the recession. The idea took off in all 50 states, and in 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a measure showing its support.

Small Business Saturday is observed on the Saturday after Black Friday — Nov. 30 this year. Locally, says Cynthia Sutton, executive director of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce-Main Street-Tourism Bureau, retailers “go all out with giveaways and discounts.”

“We at the chamber-main street-tourism bureau even participate (in) and promote the event,” Sutton adds. “It is such a huge event for our small businesses that our state Main Street and national Main Street program also encourage it.”

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce is again planning a marketing campaign to promote Small Business Saturday, says CEO Adele Lyons, which will feature approximately six to eight of its small business members in a variety of social media posts.

“Of our over 970 members, 69 percent are small businesses,” Lyons says. “The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber understands the power and the importance of small business in our community.”

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• About 96 percent of those who reported shopping on Small Business Saturday said it made them want to “shop small” all year round, according to the 2018 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey.

• When a consumer spends $100 locally, a reported $68 stays in the community, compared to $43 for national businesses and franchises.

• Approximately 104 million consumers “shopped small” in 2018, according to the Consumer Insights Survey.

• The survey also revealed that about seven in 10 American adults are aware of Small Business Saturday. Among those who said they “shopped small” on the day, 42 percent reported shopping with family and friends at independently owned businesses, and 83 percent reported encouraging others to also shop or dine small.

• Small business owners expect to make about of 29 percent of their annual sales during the holiday season, and 59 percent say Small Business Saturday contributes greatly to their holiday sales each year, according to the 2018 Small Business Owner Insights Survey

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SO YOU KNOW ANCHOR AWARDS RECOGNIZE SMALL BUSINESS, NONPROFIT STANDOUTS The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a sold-out 11th Annual ANCHOR Awards program, naming one honoree from each of four categories.

This program, held Aug. 14 at Pelican Landing Conference Center in Moss Point, was created to honor, reward, and celebrate the achievements of outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the community.

This year’s recipients were as follows: • Small business category one (50 or fewer employees) Fletcher Construction Company, Inc. • Small business category two (51 to 200 employees) Chancellor Inc. • Rookie business (one to three years in business) BAZ Family Medical Clinic • Nonprofit Dream Program Inc.

Anyone interested in learning more about the ANCHOR Awards or joining the chamber can contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at (228) 762-3391 or membership@ jcchamber.com. More information is available on www.jcchamber.com and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce business page on Facebook.

SUMMER BALDWIN RECEIVES MISSISSIPPI ARTS COMMISSION FELLOWSHIP Summer Baldwin of Ocean Springs has been awarded a $4,000 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission.

This grant is a portion of the nearly $1.4 million in grants the commission awarded in fiscal year 2020 and will be used to create an original, experimental modern dance piece and new screen dance with local dancers, visual artists and musicians. The grants are made possible by continued funding from the Mississippi State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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October-November 2019

Dorothy Wilson

Dorothy Shaw

Moses Feagin

THREE SOUTH MISSISSIPPIANS NAMED AMONG STATE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN-AMERICANS Three prominent leaders in the Gulf Coast Community have been ranked among the state’s most influential African-Americans.

Our Mississippi Magazine recently recognized Dorothy P. Wilson, Dorothy Shaw, Moses Feagin and 22 others as the Most Influential African Americans in the state of Mississippi.

They were honored recently in Jackson for having “blazed a trail and impacted positive change.”

Wilson is publisher of Gulf Coast Woman magazine and producer of MyCoastHome TV show, the Bridal Experience and the Bride Ride. She also is co-founder of the Success Women’s Conference.

Shaw is director of community relations, ethics and compliance for Ingalls Shipbuilding, where she has worked since 1972.

Feagin is vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer with Mississippi Power. In 2016, he added the role of chief diversity officer – the first in the company’s history.

CONNIE WHITT NAMED SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER STATE STAR Connie Whitt, director of the Mississippi Small Business Development Center locations at the University of Southern Mississippi and on the Gulf Coast, has been named the 2019 Mississippi state star.

State stars are chosen annually, one per state from among the employees of the SBDC. A state star is an exemplary performer, makes a significant contribution to his or her state SBDC and shows a strong commitment to small business.

With more than three decades of entrepreneurial experience, Whitt began working part time at MSBDC in 2010 as a counselor at the Gulf Coast office in Biloxi, where she is director. Last February, she was asked to also lead the USM center in Hattiesburg. She partnered with a local nonprofit, the Mississippi Coalition for the Vietnamese-American Fisherfolk and Families, to help the Vietnamese community rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. She designed a workshop that brought the fishermen together with local bankers, provided one-on-one counseling and, when needed, a translator to help them set their businesses up correctly.

MOST INFLUENTIAL

Success Conference honors Coast’s Most Influential Women, One-to-Watch Influencers

By Jennifer Gentile

Even among the region’s most accomplished women, they are standout achievers.

Connie Rockco, District 5 supervisor for Harrison County, and Peggy Sprabery, arts advocate, were named the Coast’s Most Influential Women during the Success Women’s Conference, held Sept. 19-21. Dixie Newman, owner of Jacked Up Coffee Bar, and Shundral Cole, assistant attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, were named One-to-Watch Influencers.

The awards were announced during an awards breakfast at the conference, which returned for its fifth year. In all, 36 women were honored as Top Influencers — leaders who raise the bar by their example and transformative work in their communities. The Most Influential title highlights a lifetime of achievement while the One-to-Watch title speaks to the winners’ immense potential.

MOST INFLUENTIAL WINNERS Rockco, who is serving her fifth term as supervisor, recently was named among the Top 25 Women in Government and was elected twice to serve on the Mississippi Association’s Legislative Committee. She is the past chairperson for the National Association of Counties Five State Coastal Counties and Parishes Caucus and played a leadership role in uniting the five coastal states to lobby for the health of Gulf waters.

“We must be creative and forward thinking,” Rockco has said. “Leadership is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way….”

Connie Rockco

Peggy Sprabery

Sprabery, who began her career as a teacher and finished as owner of two businesses, has said, “I have always believed that my purpose in life is to serve others.” As an advocate for the arts, she has served the community both locally and statewide in organizations such as Mississippi Arts Commission, GCSO, PAL, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, GCSO Guild, Coast Medical Alliance and Mississippi State Medical Alliance. She co-hosted the Barbecue Under the Oaks for 26 years, One Big Table for six years and co-founded the Oaklawn Concert Society.

ONE-TO-WATCH WINNERS Besides owning a business, Newman also is a Biloxi City Councilwoman who prides herself on providing honest leadership. She was chosen as one of Mississippi Business Journal’s top 50 women in Business Dixie Newman in 2016.

“I always do what I can, when I can. …,” Newman has said. “(I am passionate about) inspiring women and the younger generation to make a difference and be that difference.”

Cole is a One Coast Top 10 Under 40 and Mississippi Business Journal Shundral Cole Leadership in Law award winner. A member of Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport, Kiwanis of Gulfport and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Cole also is a Leadership Gulf Coast graduate.

“It’s important to mentor the next generation not only because they are the future, but they deserve a chance at being successful and productive members of society,” she has said.

OTHER TOP INFLUENCERS RECOGNIZED AT THE SUCCESS CONFERENCE WERE AS FOLLOWS: Alexis L. Williams Angel Middleton Angela Juzang Becky Farrell Becky Ginn Brenda Blount Carlene Alfonso Christy Bjork Elias

Courtney Jacobs Cynthia Chauvin Cynthia Lamb Ellis Anderson Heather Sudduth Jona Burton Karol Brandt Kathy Rogers

Katherine Springer Tina Seymour Demoran Lynn Frisby Mary Cracchiolo Spain Mary S. Graham Melissa Pearson Misty Stevenson Nancy Depreo

Nickie Harris-Ray Pam Moeller Rebeca Gonzales Robin Killeen Sherri Carr Bevis Sonya Ashley Starr Chapman Tashia McGinn

www.gcwmultimedia.com

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MONEY

By Tina Perkins

Owing the IRS

Is there anything worse than owing the IRS? If you do, don’t fret; they have a collection process. (That’s bad sarcasm for a bad situation.) So what is a taxpayer to do when he owes back taxes?

For whatever reason you owe the IRS (e.g. increased salary with under-withholding of income tax, underpaying estimated tax payments, increased self-employment income, windfall on an investment or unexpected health issues to name a few) the IRS will be calling for payment.

Of course, it’s better to address this problem early on, as the problem becomes costlier with time. The quickest way to stop this financial pain is to pay them off — easier said than done. For those who don’t have the resources to pay off the debt, you have some options.

The IRS will allow you to make payments until the debt is satisfied. You can apply for a payment agreement through the IRS online, by phone, by mail or in person at an IRS office. Options include full payment, payment over a short term (120 days or fewer), payment over a long term (an installment agreement, more than 120 days) or reduced or suspended payments.

tax, penalties and interest and filed all required returns.

ONLINE PAYMENT AGREEMENT This is the electronic means to complete your online application and receive immediate notification whether the payment plan is approved. Setup fees apply, but they are cheaper when applying online. You can apply online if: • Short-term plan: You owe less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.

• Long-term plan: You owe $50,000 or less in combined

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS Offer in compromise: This is a comprehensive plan, and if successful, the debt will be settled for less than the amount owed. The settlement amount will be based on your ability to pay. Your application package should be audit worthy to prove your inability to pay. With an acceptance rate of 40 percent, you will want to submit a thorough package. There is more time and cost involved with

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Short-term payment plan If you can pay your tax debt within 120 days, the shortterm payment plan may be for you. It costs nothing to set up, but penalties and interest continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full. You can pay by check, money order or debit/credit card. Fees apply when paying by card.

Long-term payment plan If you need longer than 120 days to pay off your tax debt, a monthly installment plan is what you need. Complete form 9465, installment agreement request, to ask for the arrangement. The maximum time allowed for installment plans is 72 months. File the form at any time to request an installment agreement. The best time to file it is with your balance due return.

There is a setup fee of $31 if you arrange for direct debit (automatic payment) and $149 if you plan to pay by check, money order or debit/credit card. A low-income individual may have his fee waived or reimbursed if he qualifies.

TINA PERKINS

CPA, PA

TINA PERKINS

CPA, PA

an offer in compromise.

Form 1127: If paying the tax at the time it’s due causes an excessive difficulty, you can file form 1127, application for extension of time for payment of tax due to undue hardship. You will have to state in detail your hardship, which must be more than an inconvenience. The form is due on or before the due date of the return (not including extensions). This extension can get you up to six months’ additional time. You may get more than six months if you are out of the country.

Currently not collectible: When the IRS determines that the costs and its ability to collect is more than the amount it will collect; it will suspend its collection action.

If the unpaid balance equals or exceeds $10,000, the IRS will file a notice of federal tax lien.

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BOTTOM LINE No one wants to owe the IRS, but it happens. If you find yourself having to make monthly payments to the IRS, do not default on your agreement. A missed payment puts you in default, makes your debt due in full and starts the process over.

This information is intended to be helpful, but it does not replace professional tax advice.

Call today to schedule an evaluation.

Businesses Individuals Protectingand Earnings for Businesses and Individuals

Call today to schedule an evaluation.

Perkins is a CPA at Tina Perkins CPA, P.A., 4048 Popps Ferry Road, D’Iberville. Contact her at (228) 392-2991. Evaluations are done by appointment only.

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What’s behind the

‘gray divorce’ trend?

By Kathy Brown van Zutphen

This is part one of a two-part series exploring the phenomenon of divorce among the older population. Additional reasons for ‘gray divorce’ will be addressed in part two of the series.

While the overall divorce rate has declined over the past 20 years, it has doubled for the segment of the population over age 50. This growing unmarried, middle-age population has even led Candice Bushnell to write a follow-up book asking “Is There Still Sex in the City?” to address the phenomenon her peers are facing.

Obviously, there are important financial considerations in any divorce, but so-called “gray divorces” may involve even greater pitfalls because the financial assets at stake typically are larger, and each party has less time to recover from the financial loss. Nevertheless, divorce has an apparent appeal to the over-50 population.

Why would a couple who may have been together for 20 to 30 years or more decide to divorce? The reasons are complex, but here are some of the top reasons that many long-term couples call it quits: MONEY Regardless of age or marriage duration, money issues are among the main reasons most couples state for fighting and wanting to divorce. According to a new survey by Dave Ramsey, both high levels of debt and a lack of communication or agreement about the debt are major causes for the stress and anxiety surrounding household finances.

The greater a couple’s consumer debt, the more likely that couple was to say money was one of the top issues causing arguments. According to the survey, those who said that they have a “great” marriage were almost twice as likely to talk about money daily or weekly compared to those who said their marriage was “in crisis.”

With older couples, once they retire and the income stream stops, the couple is forced to live on a fixed income — plus whatever they have saved for retirement. This new financial dynamic, which may include less disposable income, may exacerbate tensions over differences in spending habits. Whatever financial stressor that may have been previously overlooked becomes clear and may be quite sobering in retirement. Therefore, if you are not comfortable with, or can’t come to an agreement about, the level of debt and spending that you have as a couple, it can lead to fights and divorce in the long run.

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SEX According to a recent survey, men are — in general — more likely than women to cheat; 20 percent of men and 13 percent of women reported that they’d had sex with someone other than their spouse while married. Conventional wisdom may lead you to think that younger couples are more tempted to “step out” on their marital partner, but infidelity for both men and women actually increases during the middle ages. You may be surprised to learn that, based upon recent research by the Institute for Family Studies, of the individuals who have had an extra-marital affair, women in their 60s reported the highest rate of infidelity (16 percent). However, the share decreased sharply among women in their 70s and 80s. By comparison, the infidelity rate among men in their 70s is the highest (26 percent), and it remains high among men ages 80 and older (24 percent).

Apparently, however, this infidelity trend has not always been so common in the older end of the age spectrum. In the 1990s, the infidelity rate peaked among men ages 50 to 59 (31 percent) and women ages 40 to 49 (18 percent), diminishing as the population aged. In 1996, Viagra, an erectile dysfunction drug, received a patent. It received FDA approval and was first sold in the United States in 1998. Coincidentally, between 2000 and 2009, it appears that a sexual phenomenon occurred shifting infidelity to the middle-age population, with the highest rate of infidelity reported by men ages 60 to 69 (29 percent) and women ages 50 to 59 (17 percent). We are continuing to see the aging of this infidelity trend.

It’s realistic to state that infidelity is strongly correlated to divorce, as 40 percent of adults who have cheated on their spouse before are currently divorced or separated, while only 17 percent of adults who were faithful to their spouse are now divorced.

Kathy Brown van Zutphen is an attorney licensed to practice law in Alabama and Mississippi. She focuses on the “elder law” areas of trusts, estates and conservatorships. Additionally, she litigates lawsuits and represents small business owners as part of her legal practice. Visit her website to learn more: www. al-mscoastallaw.com. You can also reach her at her office: (228) 357-5227.

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115

It’s your money — save all you can on

auto insurance

Fresh smells, clean seats, and a host of new gadgets — we all love getting a new car. We’re so happy when we drive it off of

By Angelyn the lot, but then come the “hidden costs” like insurance, parts, maintenance, gas and Treutel Zeringue more.

Do you have enough auto liability coverage? If not, you could be on the hook financially for any excess costs if you are at fault in a car accident.

Liability coverage protects you if you are found responsible for another person’s injuries, expenses or damages.

Bodily injury liability covers expenses related to driver or passenger injury. This includes medical bills, pain and suffering, rehab costs, lost wages and other associated costs. Property damage liability covers damages related to another person’s property, including their car or any physical structure.

Even if you have both forms of liability insurance, that still might not be enough. Bodily injury is especially expensive. An ambulance ride alone averages around $1,000, and a simple emergency room checkup can be upwards of $3,000. If someone is seriously injured or killed, the bill could exceed hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of dollars. For property damage, a totaled car is at minimum $25,000 worth of damage. Even small dents can mean several thousands in repairs — and you are responsible for paying any excess cost over your liability coverage.

Minimum, state-required limits are not sufficient to protect you. You should carry enough liability coverage to protect the sum of your assets, add the value of your home plus autos plus toys plus investments. A minimum of $300,000 is recommended if you own a home.

So don’t lowball your liability coverage. You can save on your auto insurance in other ways, but you need to make sure your policy is protecting you as intended with adequate liability coverage. Ways to reduce your insurance 116

October-November 2019

costs include selecting a vehicle that has higher safety standards and therefore will cost less to insure. Vehicles that are not frequently stolen are cheaper to insure; you can find statistics at the National Highway Traffic Administration. Choose a car that has lower repair costs; you can research this on Consumer Reports.

Other ideas for saving money include bundling home and auto with the same insurance company, paying in full instead of monthly installments, taking care of the little things yourself so you have fewer “dings” on your record from small claims, bumping up compre- Most insurance companies hensive and collision provide good driver, good deductibles and reviewing your policy student and senior discounts; also check for military and to ensure you have teacher discounts. the correct vehicles and drivers listed.

Most insurance companies provide good driver, good student and senior discounts; also check for military and teacher discounts.

Your rate will improve if you continue being a safe driver with a good record. If you drive just a little, let your insurance agent know so you can receive credit for a low-mileage vehicle. Using a driver-monitoring device can save you 20-25 percent more, and they are not as creepy as they seem. You use them for about 30 days and then send them back — and you can save a bunch on your insurance.

Insurance rates keep increasing due to the higher-cost electronics in newer models and the unfortunate trend of more distracted driving, so do your due diligence to ensure you’re getting the best possible rate.

Angelyn Treutel Zeringue is president of SouthGroup Insurance Services, a CPA, PWCAM and licensed Trusted Choice insurance agent. Reach her at www.southgroupgulfcoast.com, (228) 385-1177 or azeringue@southgroup.net.

Budgeting

basics

Budget: a word that causes stress and anxiety for some while helping others bring order to their lives.Do you wish you had something to help you get your finances in order but believe creating

By Kathy Rogers a budget would be impossible? I want to give you hope; you can create a budget. It is simply a plan for every dollar, not a magical formula. Congratulations on taking this step, and here’s some step-by-step advice to help you get started.

First you will need to create a document to organize your information. Make a column for income and one for all expense categories, including payroll tax, health insurance, utilities, food, housing expense, property taxes, eating out, cars, clothes, savings, nail salon, charitable donations, debt, retirement, etc.

Now you need to determine how much you're spending each month and how much debt you have. Gather all your records, bank statements and receipts. Because some expenses are intermittent, I recommend you go back 6-12 months for a better idea of where your money goes; record this information on your spreadsheet under the appropriate category. Next, list your income and all the deductions from you paycheck. Remember to include any money besides your salary you receive each month. If you are self-employed, you’ll need to calculate your monthly salary or draw from your business along with any deductions. Total each column and divide by the number of months of data you have. This will determine your average monthly income and expenses. Remember, you are doing this is to help get your finances in order; if you aren’t thorough, this will be a waste of your time.

Next is analysis. Review the numbers; do you like what you see? Did you realize how much money you spend on non-essentials? Analysis is hard because our spending often is tied to emotion. It requires us to make some choices. Perhaps your analysis shows you aren’t spending more than you make, but based on how little you are saving, you will never be able to retire? Do you want to stay where you are financially, or will you discipline yourself to get to a good place? Decide what is important, and determine whether your spending aligns with your proirities Once your analysis is complete and you know what you want to change, you can begin to develop a budget — or what I like to call a financial life plan. Find an app or accounting program you like and input all the data you have collected. Decide what aligns with your values and develop a spending and saving plan that works. Instead of a rigid plan, build one that offers some flexibility so you don’t quit before you even get started. The bottom line is this: don’t procrastinate. Getting your finances in order can be like getting healthier; the longer you put it off, the harder it is to get going and the more discipline it will take. Start today!

Kathy Rogers is the vice president of Marston Rogers Group, a life planner and financial consultant. Reach her at (228) 2065902 or at kathy@marstonrogers.com.

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Chat back

What makes a

great boss?

Rachael Hollingsworth: “A great boss is caring, understanding, passionate, encouraging, supportive and will always have your back. (He or she) will also know your strengths and will give you that extra push to make sure you are reaching your potential to be successful. They believe in you when you may not have the strength to believe in yourself.”

Heather Abigail Eason: “I think a great boss is not being a boss at all. Being a leader is most important.

Leaders recognize talents in others and use them

instead of being intimidated by them. They are fair and hold high standards.”

Allyson Randall Brewer: “A great boss builds you up to walk alongside them instead of behind them.”

Elisabeth Riggins: “(A great boss) makes sure you understand that you are a valued employee and that your input into the company has worth.”

Shanna S. Pegues: “A great boss is empathic, doesn’t try to avoid being human and maintains open lines of communication.

Great bosses not only increase morale and inspire loyalty in the workplace; they can change lives.

In honor of National Boss’s Day on Oct. 16, we asked our Facebook audience what elevates a boss to greatness. Here’s what we heard:

He or she seeks to learn from and apply knowledge gained from team members (I loathe the word “subordinates”). He or she also works to motivate team members to continually achieve while remembering that they, too, are humans who are entitled to mistakes and bad days.”

Sonya Bowser Ashley: “A great boss motivates and inspires, is a good listener, has compassion, demonstrates integrity, promotes teamwork and empowers team members to be their best.”

Kimberly Maria: A great boss (leader) is not only a leader, but posses the qualities of a follower.

A leader will not always have the answers or skills needed but will surround themselves with people that do to ensure that the job is completed with the highest and best quality possible. A good leader will build a good, strong (and) solid team. A good leader will train all of their workers to carry out tasks without being instructed to do so even in their absence.

A good leader does not demand respect but (is) given respect freely. …”

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FAMILY

Keep the kids busy over Thanksgiving break From Gulf Coast Moms Blog

your child use permanent marker to write what they are You’ve ordered the turkey, your guest list is set and you thankful for on the pumpkin. This is a great activity to even know what you’re making for dessert — but have you spark family conversation around the dinner table. thought about what will keep the kids occupied (besides There are a number of ways to give thanks. It may be a eating) during the Thanksgiving break? simple meal for someone in need, or a chance to tell your No need to worry! Gulf Coast family members how much you Moms Blog has a list of creative, appreciate them as you’re gatheasy and engaging activities, and ered around the dinner table. a few will inspire them to show Always give thanks. gratitude.

HELPING HANDS HELP THOSE IN NEED As the family is gathered Holidays are not a happy time around the kitchen prepping for for everyone. Give back to your the big meal, have your children community. The Gulf Coast participate. It’s never too early to Public Safety Feed the Needy teach kids how to lend a hand.

Program delivers meals to those They may not be ready to assist less fortunate on Thanksgiving with the turkey, but they can still Day. If you would like to donate, be hands-on in the prep leading and/or deliver meals and other It’s never too early to teach to the Thanksgiving feast. They items, contact the Gulfport Police can help with these simple tasks: Department at (228) 868-5703. kids how to lend a hand.

Fruit kabobs: This super-easy INDOOR FUN recipe only requires skewers Board games: Board games and fruit. Separate strawberries, provide family-friendly competition.

Some games we blueberries, pineapple and grapes, and let them figure out highly recommend include Sequence, Scattergories and a pattern for the kabobs. the just-for-adults Cards Against Humanity.

Set the Table: Print out table setting instructions, then Relax: Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, have children set the table. They can make a craft for the movies and college football. This is a time to relax and children’s table or nametags for the adults. enjoy family. We give you permission to Netflix and chill, NEW ORLEANS DAY TRIP so break out the popcorn and stay in those jammies.

Louisiana Children’s Museum opened in August in the beautiful New Orleans City Park. The Play with Me area is TROT FOR A CAUSE Turkey Trot 5K and One-Mile Fun Run designed for infants and toddlers and includes the coolThursday, Nov. 28, from 8-11 a.m. est sensory lagoon. The Dig into Nature exhibit offers a L&N Historic Train Depot, Bay St. Louis sedimentation table, storytelling nest and nature caring What better way to say thanks than by giving back to station. There’s also an interactive, 100-foot water display. our loveable furry friends in need? All proceeds benefit the Enjoy the beautiful outdoor space for a picnic or order animal shelter in Hancock County. Bring pet food, treats food at Acorn NOLA, the family-friendly cafe owned by or toys as part of the race entry. Register at BSLraces.com.

Dickie Brennan & Co. THE GREAT PUMPKIN HUNT This is a great activity for toddlers and older children.

Hide mini-pumpkins indoors or outside, and let the kids find them! It’s like Easter with an autumn twist.

SHOW GRATITUDE Purchase a pumpkin from a local patch. Every day, have

PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS At the stroke of midnight on Thanksgiving, many moms turn into little elves ready to start their holiday prep. Listen to festive music and start decorating the house — out with the pumpkins, in with the lights.

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Helping your teen approach the college admissions process

By Raymond J. Huntington College planning is a highly involved process. If you and your teen are feeling overwhelmed by the many aspects of this important decision, it’s best to take a deep breath and remember: one step at a time. Here are a few tips on how to choose a college and find a great fit.

Make a list of programs of interest. Teens should look for colleges that offer academic programs of study that match their goals and interests. It’s fine to still be undecided about a major, but it’s still a good idea for teens to start brainstorming. That way, they will focus on colleges that offer them plenty of options. A student who is interested in some sort of business path, for example, would be wise to make sure any colleges on his or her list offer a variety of business majors.

• Consider academic goals. Maybe a student wants to apply to medical schools in a few years. It’s critical that he or she lays the groundwork now by choosing a reputable college for the bachelor’s degree. Other students might have dreams of prestigious careers in highly selective fields, which might make their college choice all the more important. Parents should talk with their teens about their career goals to ensure they find the right college to match their desires and aptitude.

• Assess the value/price. For every family, cost is a major factor when it comes to evaluating colleges. Teens and parents should start researching federal financial aid (www. fafsa.ed.gov is a good place to start) and each college’s financial aid processes and options. It’s also essential to have a conversation about budgeting and how much of their education costs teens will be expected to cover.

•Think about location. Some students are eager for a big change and might love the idea of an out-of-state college if the cost is feasible. Others might prefer staying closer to 120

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home and their family support system. Parents and teens should discuss all issues related to a college’s location, including the climate, whether or not they will get a car and how often their teens will be able to visit home.

•Research campus life. There’s much more to college than academics. Teens should make a list of things they’re looking to get out of college life and make sure the colleges they’re evaluating offer plenty of ways to enrich their college experience. For some teens, clubs and activities might appeal. For others, it could be social events and campus happenings that bring students together. Bottom line, a rich campus life can help make a college feel more like home.

•Ask around. An outside perspective can be very helpful during a college search. Teens should visit their guidance counselors, who might be able to connect them with high school alumni attending their colleges of interest. The colleges themselves might be able to put teens in touch with current students who can answer questions and give some insight into what life is really like at that college.

Every parent wants their teen to find the right college and be happy and successful there. Parents can help their teens’ dreams become a reality by encouraging them to approach the college search and application process diligently and methodically. For the last half of high school, college planning should be their job. Teens who embrace that conscientious attitude will make a good college decision.

Raymond Huntington is the chairman and co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. At the Gulfport Huntington location, located at 8950 Lorraine Road, suite E, families and students can find help with tutoring, test prep and more. Call (228) 8321226 or visit https://huntingtonhelps.com/center/gulfport to learn more.

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

BRICK & SPOON

serves up classy comfort food

By Chris Dearman If you’re looking for a sophisticated, yet casual, high-quality Southern dining experience, look no further than Brick and Spoon restaurant.

Since opening in July near Edgewater Mall, Brick and Spoon has become a local favorite for upscale breakfast, brunch and lunch. Originating in Louisiana, the popular regional chain has locations throughout the Southeast and is expanding rapidly.

“I think it’s all about the atmosphere more than anything,” says Britni Thompson, who owns the Biloxi franchise along with her business partner, Kerri Paul. “It’s a place where everyone can come and have a good time. We want it to be fun; we want it to be lively, and we want it to be casual. We want you to be able to come in your gym clothes but also come with your girlfriends, get dressed up and have mimosas.”

Open seven days a week, Brick and Spoon’s eclectic menu is filled with delightful dishes to tempt your taste buds.

“It’s comfort food, but classy comfort food,” Paul says. “You can eat breakfast in a bunch of places, but we want to be the premier place for breakfast.”

The breakfast portion of the menu is filled with a variety of breakfast plates, omelets, French toasts, pancakes, benedicts and an assortment of breakfast “appetizers.”

On the “day-starters” portion of the menu, you’ll find breakfast fries, biscuits for two, baked brie bruschetta and bananas in pajamas, which are crispy banana egg rolls served with foster sauce. On my visit, I tried what I was told is the restaurant’s most popular starter, deviled on the bayou. A play on the family gathering staple, the Tasso deviled eggs, topped with fried shrimp and a sriracha aioli sauce, were an absolute delight.

“It’s just a really modern and cool twist on deviled eggs,” Paul says. “It’s not your momma’s deviled eggs.”

I was told that a top seller from the “that’s all, yolks” menu section is the killer creole omelet, which includes Gulf shrimp. General Manager Joey Fontenot also told me that the

Brick and Spoon co-owner Kerri Paul enjoys a bloody mary.

pancakes found in the “sweet eats” section are enormous.

“With our OMG pancakes, you get two,” Fontenot says, “and if you can finish them, congratulations!”

In the “brunch specialties and bennys” section, you’ll find items like breakfast tacos, the popular shrimp and grits and a variety of traditional and unique versions of eggs benedict.

Breakfast isn’t all that’s served at Brick and Spoon. Those seeking healthy options can choose from among a half-dozen fresh green salads. The lunch side of the menu also has a nice selection of creative burgers, sandwiches and entrées.

After learning that the burgers are freshly made, hand-pattied and cooked to order, I had to try the bacon Cali burger, which is topped with pecan smoked bacon, avocado, pepper jack cheese and a house aioli. The ingredients combined perfectly, making each bite burst with flavor.

A visit to Brick and Spoon wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the “eye-opening” specialty cocktails, refreshing mimosas or built-to-order bloody marys from the full-service bar. You can order a flight of three different mimosas, choosing from flavors like classic, mango, wildberry and pineapple.

The bloody mary menu offers the opportunity to customize your cocktail by letting you build your own from over 50 different options. Pick what you want, and the expert bartenders will make it for you.

“We are (a) one-of-a-kind concept on the Coast,” Fontenot says of why people should come to Brick and Spoon. “We want customers and guests for life. Of course, the out-oftowners are great, but we want the people of the community to come out and thoroughly enjoy what we do here. We provide a down-home, kind of farm-to-table feel where people can sit and chat (and) get fresh, cooked-to-order food, and we strive for exceptional service. We want to take care of people.

We want to make people feel like they are at home.”

Brick and Spoon restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. The restaurant offers a free “scrub club,” which provides a discount for nurses and hospital employees, as well as discounts for those in public service.

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Turkey Day tips you’ll be thankful for

Do you want to ensure your holiday eating won’t blow all the hard work you’ve done this year?

Thanksgiving is the first big holiday of the season that’s centered around

By Alyssa Ashmore food, and it can set the tone for how you eat for the weeks that follow.

Consider these healthy holiday suggestions, featuring key nutrients for women, that will leave you feeling amazing and satisfied instead of tired and stuffed.

MAKE A QUINOA AND BROWN RICE DISH INSTEAD OF STUFFING I made a spontaneous, crockpot rice-and-bean dish for Thanksgiving several years ago, and I wish I would have written the recipe down because it was so good! Try the herbed wild rice and quinoa stuffing recipe from kitchentreaty.com.

REPLACE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE WITH AN AVOCADO-AND-WALNUT SALAD Walnuts and avocados contain omega-3’s, which help reduce inflammation and heart disease while promoting radiant skin and hair. They also provide “good fat,” as opposed to the saturated fat you’ll typically find in casseroles.

The pomegranate avocado salad with candied walnuts from halfbakedharvest.com will look so festive on your Thanksgiving table.

CHOOSE WHITE MEAT TURKEY OR SEAFOOD FOR THE MAIN COURSE As long as it isn’t fried, these choices have less fat while still containing important nutrients like iron. Have a coastal-themed Thanksgiving dinner and try salmon or tuna for those omega-3’s.

CHOOSE PLANT-BASED FATS AND OILS Look for butter with canola oil or olive oil, and choose liquid oils over solid butter when possible to increase omega-3’s and decrease saturated fat, which can clog arteries.

LOAD UP ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Produce provides fiber to help you feel more full with less food. Fiber also is key for reducing cholesterol and heart disease, a big women’s health concern. Aim to make half of your menu and half of your plate fruits and vegetables to fill up on healthy foods that won’t weigh you down.

Choose deeply colored greens and vibrant red, yellow and orange hues to provide nutrients like folic acid, which is particularly important for women of childbearing age.

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AVOID PACKAGED FOODS As much as possible, cook and bake your own dishes and desserts to avoid harmful trans fat. It’s a sneaky ingredient that’s common in packaged foods, but less likely to show up in your homemade recipes.

MAKE SMART SUBSTITUTIONS Plain, nonfat Greek yogurt is a great replacement for sour cream, reducing fat and increasing protein. Plus, it will help you meet your calcium goal, which is ultra-important for women. The dish I always make for Thanksgiving is the cheesy Brussels sprouts gratin recipe from whiteonricecouple.com. I use olive oil mayonnaise and substitute half of it for plain, nonfat Greek yogurt. The result is equally delicious and heart healthy!

However you celebrate Thanksgiving, focus on the foods that will do your body good, instead of what you should avoid, for an all-around positive and memorable holiday.

Alyssa Ashmore of Passionate Portions Nutrition & Wellness is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, author, speaker and nutrition therapist. She can be reached at alyssa@alyssaashmore.com, or visit www.alyssaashmore.com

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Make over your game-day menu

As you plan your football-viewing schedule, don’t neglect your game-day menu. Traditional game-day foods contain excess fat, calories and salt. While one day of eating like this won’t break the nutritional bank, stretching these indulBy Alyssa Ashmore gences throughout the football season can leave you consuming more than you bargained for. Fortunately, it’s easy to make simple, healthy food swaps that score a nutrition touchdown while not depriving you of your favorite flavors.

CHIPS AND DIP: Buy chips that are baked, whole grain or made with vegetables or beans. Dip them into guacamole (make it homemade for less sodium), hummus or a bean-and-corn dip.

Best option? Slice raw vegetables for dipping.

WINGS: Make baked wings, trim the skin and keep dipping sauce portions to two tablespoons or less.

BEER: Go with a light version, and always hydrate well while drinking. Space out each beer with a glass of water to cut back and leave you feeling better tomorrow.

PIZZA: Choose thin crust or have fun with a homemade version on whole-grain dough.

MEATBALLS: Make a meatball mixture with a ratio of half ground meat and half black beans. Your taste buds won’t know the difference, and you’ll significantly change the nutrition factor.

SAUSAGE: Try chicken sausage to keep the flavor and lose the fat.

FRIED CHICKEN: Have an air fryer? It can be your friend with chicken. If not, try an oven-baked recipe and skip the skin.

NACHOS: Try a loaded version with chicken breast, non-fat refried beans, low-fat cheese, salsa, Greek yogurt and avocado on whole-grain chips.

DEVILED EGGS: Throw a deviled egg onto your plate to benefit from the yolk’s 13 vitamins and minerals, along with high-quality protein.

Whatever you eat on game day, how you balance your choices can make all the difference. Make half your plate produce, then divide the other half equally between meat and grains.

Alyssa Ashmore of Passionate Portions Nutrition & Wellness is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, author, speaker and nutrition therapist. She can be reached at alyssa@alyssaashmore.com, or visit www.alyssaashmore.com

Blue Dog Bistro is a place where great people come together to positively impact our guests, each other and the community we serve.

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