Invitation Oxford - June/July 2022 by Invitation Magazines

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OXFO R D

mississippI Summer

MISSISSIPPI GULF COA ST SUMMER ESCAPE

F A M I LY F A R M LEG AC Y KEEP S GROWING

BOOK LOVERS R E A DY FO R SUMMER READING

PITCH A TENT ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI

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DEPA RTMENT S

EVENTS:

NORTHEAST

EVENTS:

OXFORD

Letter From the Publisher

Spring Open House

Ole Miss vs. MSU Baseball

Digital Details

Youth Fishing Rodeo

Lafayette Book Blast

Calendar

Bud & Burgers

Double Decker Arts Festival

Shoutouts

Gumtree Art & Wine Festival

Young Life Golf

Recipes: Rainbow of Smoothies

Regional Rehab 5K

Law School Graduation

Amory Railroad Festival

2022 MHSAA Tennis Finals

Out & About: Northeast

Out & About: Oxford

Good Neighbor: Jilleen Moore

ON THE COVER

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Nothing says summertime like sandy beaches and sunshine. Find all that and so much more on the Mississippi Coast. Read our complete guide to the area starting on page 48. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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F E AT U R E S

FE ATURES

30 Storybook Summers

Local libraries and bookstores encourage readers of all ages to keep turning the pages, even during vacation season.

36 Life on the Old Man

Quapaw Canoe Company gives folks a taste of the Mississippi River.

42 Growing a Legacy

A multigenerational trio works together to grow herbs, mushrooms and more on the Brown family’s Yalobusha County acreage.

48 Escape to the Coast 36

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Mississippi’s southernmost tip has beaches and casinos aplenty, but there’s so much more to add to the charm.

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A recent visit to the Coast.

L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R Summer, without a doubt, has always been my favorite season. As a kid, it was because of my birthday, which falls on July 31, right in the middle of the hottest part of the summer. What kid doesn’t look forward to their birthday? As I got older and the thrill of my birthday subsided, summer was still at the top of my list as it provided a time for rest, relaxation and sometimes vacations, long and short. Today, one of my favorite things about summer is growing things in the garden and cooking with fresh herbs and ripe veggies. As we created the content for this issue over the past several months, I realized each of our stories reminded me of both those things I loved as a child and what I look forward to now as an adult. On page 42, meet a multigenerational

trio (Leonard Brown, Dria Price and Halima Salazar) who some readers might recognize as regular vendors at the Oxford Community Market. They work together to grow herbs, mushrooms and more on land outside Water Valley that has been part of Mr. Brown’s family for over 100 years. We couldn’t think of anything more summery than a trip to the beach, and so we thought we’d take a closer look at Mississippi’s own beach towns on the Coast. Turn to page 48 to learn about this area’s special treasures. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to visit the Coast soon! For a completely different water destination, turn to page 36 and take a trip along the Mississippi River with Quapaw Canoe Company. And if you’re looking to cool off inside, turn to page 30 to see what local libraries

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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and bookstores are offering in the coming months. We’ve also put together a reading list for the young and the young-at-heart that’s on page 33. Plus, Jilleen Moore from Square Books Jr. shared some of her alltime favorite books with us on page 80. I was excited to see some new titles on these lists as well as a few tried-and-true classics that I might just need to pull off my own bookshelf. No matter how you spend your time in the upcoming weeks, we hope it’s doing something you love. Thanks for picking up a copy of this issue, and we hope you enjoy the summer. We’ll see you right back here in August.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sarah McCullen Eugene Stockstill COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts J.R. Wilbanks

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Amber Lancaster Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Paul Gandy Markka Prichard ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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DIGITAL DETAIL S

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D I G I T A L details E XC LU S I V E LY O N L I N E AT I N V I TAT I O N M AG .C O M

social S N A P S We love being tagged in your photos!

COURTESY OF EMMA PITTMAN

Broa dway D e but (Fi n a l ly!)

Fr id ay Fo o d Blo g

After a long COVID-induced hiatus, Oxford’s Emma Pittman will make her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago.” Pittman won the role in broadway.com’s contest, “The Search for Roxie,” in late 2019 and was expected to take the stage in 2020. The pandemic shutdown Broadway completely, and Pittman’s plans were put on hold. She will join the Broadway cast as Roxie for a limited time (June 6-19), replacing current star Pamela Anderson. Read our exclusive interview with Pittman at invitationmag.com.

It was good to be back! L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @mccarleycounce

# i nv it at io n s u m me r ge t away

Sweet Potato Turkey Poppers with Avocado Ranch Dip

Invitation Magazines’ weekly food blog has a brand-new look. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for creative ideas for seasonal suppers, after-school snacks, holiday feasts and more — all in a fun, new format. And find archived food blog entries at invitationmag.com.

Summer is upon us, and this issue’s got some great ideas for getting away and trying something new, from a trip to the Mississippi Coast to a visit to your local library. How do you plan on escaping this summer? Be sure to tag us @invitationoxford and @invitationmagazine in the summertime and vacation photos you share on social media for a chance to be included in Social Snaps in an upcoming magazine!

Good to be back in Oxford, MS, this week for @doubledeckerart! L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @blakegore

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. There’s a chance photos from your event will be featured in an upcoming magazine! FOLLOW US

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The weekend castaways keep washing up. L O C A T I O N : Sardis Lake U S E R N A M E : @bartonoutfitters |

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

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OXFORD

Summer Sunset Series J U N E 5 , 12 , 1 9, 2 6

Bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy free Sunday evening concerts in the Grove throughout June. The series kicks off June 5 with The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour. 6 p.m., the Grove. visitoxfordms.com

H O L I D AY S

Gerald Inmon Reading JUNE 9

F L AG DAY

Oxford writer Gerald Inmon reads from his new book, “Forest Prayer.” 6 p.m., the Chapel at Plein Air in Taylor.

June 14 JUNETEENTH

June 19

geraldinmon.com

FAT H E R ' S DAY

June 19 I N D E P E N D E N C E DAY

July 4

Oxford Juneteenth Festival JUNE 18

Linen on the Lawn J UNE 11

Continue Juneteenth celebrations at the Oxford Juneteenth Festival, with vendors, music, food and fellowship. 3:30-8 p.m., Oxford Intermediate School.

“Faulkner’s Moderisms” J U LY 1 7-2 1

The University of Mississippi’s annual Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference begins July 17, with a reception at the University Museum, a keynote address and the program’s first scholarly panel, followed by a buffet supper on the grounds of Rowan Oak. The next four days include lectures, panels, teaching sessions, an afternoon cocktail reception, a picnic at Rowan Oak, guided tours, and a closing party July 21. Find the complete schedule and registration information online. outreach.olemiss.edu/events/faulkner/

Boz Scaggs Concert J U LY 2 2

The Grammy-winning artist performs live in Oxford. Tickets start at $55. 7:30 p.m., Oxford Performing Arts Center.

Kick off Juneteenth celebrations with a community picnic including a free concert by The Soul Tones; food trucks; and a cash bar hosted by Bar Muse. Bring your own chairs or reserve a table for eight for $50. Reserve by June 10; proceeds support Oxford Juneteenth, a group working to build bridges between neighborhoods in Oxford. 6-9 p.m., Old Armory Pavilion.

oxfordjuneteenth.org

Try something different with YUGO’s Rice, Rice Baby sushi tasting on June 21, or its Arabian Nights-themed pop-up on July 19. Make reservations online for $35, 5:30-7 p.m.

Visit the Napa Valley this summer without leaving Oxford at this wine tasting. Make reservations online, $60. 5:30 p.m., The Sipp on South Lamar.

oxfordjuneteenth.org

yugooxford.com

thesippms.com

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YUGO Pop-ups J U N E 2 1 & J U LY 1 9

oxfordpac.org/events

Napa Wines J U LY 2 7

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Father-Daughter Gumtree Ball JUNE 25

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Dads and daughters are invited to an annual ball to support TWIGS of Le Bonheur, an auxiliary group that supports and serves Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Tickets and event T-shirts available online. 2-5 p.m., Bancorpsouth Arena.

At Tupelo Community Theatre’s weeklong superhero-themed camp, children will work on dialogue, song, dance as well as costuming, makeup, lights and sound to bring a mini-musical to life for a public performance. Morning sessions for grades 1-4; afternoon sessions for grades 5-8. $100 for TCT members; $125 for nonmembers. Register online by July 1.

facebook.com/gumtreeball

NORTHEAST

TCT Youth Theatre Camp

Pedaling for Hope on the Tanglefoot Trail

tct.ms

JUNE 25

The 24th annual Elvis Festival features concerts, Elvis tribute artists, guest speakers, Sunday gospel and more. Find a complete festival schedule and purchase tickets online.

A bike ride benefits Regional Rehab Center and the New Albany Main Street Association. Routes include a 25 mile ride, a 50 mile ride, a 100 kilometer ride and a fun ride for kids. All riders will receive a T-shirt, and food, music and door prizes will follow the ride. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tanglefoot Trail.

tupeloelvisfestival.com

regionalrehabcenter.com

BBQ & Bluegrass J UNE 11

All-America City Family Picnic in the Park

Come out for local music and barbecue on the Verandah Curlee House grounds in Corinth from 2-5 p.m. followed by performances by The Courthouse Pickers, Magnolia Drive and Alan Sibley and the Magnolia Ramblers on the nearby Coliseum Theatre stage starting at 6 p.m.

J U LY 4

Paw Patrol Live!

Friends and neighbors gather for north Mississippi’s biggest Independence Day celebration. The daylong event includes live entertainment for all ages, food vendors, children’s activities, fireworks and more. Ballard Park, Tupelo.

Kids will be thrilled to see their favorite Paw Patrol characters on stage in a live-action show, “The Great Pirate Adventure.” 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday, BancorpSouth Arena.

corinthcoliseum.com

tupeloparksandrec.org

bcsarena.com

Tupelo Elvis Festival J U N E 8-12

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S H O U T O U T S Two M i s s i s s i p p i Blue s me n W i n G ra m my Awa rd s Mississippi had plenty to be proud of when two of its own took home trophies from the 64th annual Grammy Awards this past spring. A powerful pair of bluesmen, Cedric Burnside and Cristone “Kingfish” Ingram, each were winners. Burnside, the Mississippi Hill Country blues guitarist and singer/songwriter, was born in Memphis, but raised in Benton and Marshall counties in northeast Mississippi. By the time he was 13, Burnside had taken to the road with his musician grandfather, R.L. Burnside, and was playing drums in the

elder Burnside’s band. The 43-year-old Burnside received the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for “I Be Trying.” Clarksdale-born and -raised Ingram began playing drums at age 6. He was 11 when he started playing bass and later picked up guitar. His first album, “Kingfish,” was released in 2019. The 23-year-old became interested in the blues when his father showed him a documentary on Muddy Waters. Ingram’s Grammy win was for Contemporary Blues Album for “662.”

When COVID came along two years ago and made sweeping changes to just about everything, the gathering of the 10 members of the Roundtable Book Club in Oxford came to a halt. With two members in their 90s, and others in their 80s and 70s, taking health risks was not an option. Still, it seemed a shame to lose complete connection to each other. Book club member Brenda West had an idea. Every Saturday she would sit at her computer, write and send an email asking other members what was going on in their lives. The subject line each Saturday was the week number. “By and large most everyone responded every week,” said West, 77. The emails became like weekly entries in a shared diary. One week a member shared that her husband was on dialysis; another as COVID restrictions were easing told of taking her grandchildren to Colorado and a granddaughter to New York City. The senior member of the group, 99-year-old Maralyn Bullion, reported that she was walking her dogs out in a hay field. If a member mentioned not feeling well in an email, she’d likely find soup or a plant left on her porch.

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LINDSAY PACE PHOTOGRAPHY

O x fo rd B o ok C lu b C e le b rat e s 10 0 We e k s of C o n ne c t i n g

“It was really just wonderful,” said 78-year-old Sherry Cooper. “In doing this, we found out so much more about each other’s lives than just chatting about books once a month.” Ann Abadie, a member of the book club since 2014, agreed. “Some weeks we’d write long emails,” said Abadie, 82. “Other weeks we might write just a few words.” On a sunny Thursday morning in May, members of the book club came together at West’s home and popped a champagne cork to mark 100 weeks of their showing care

and concern for one another via emails. “Ten women bonded over 100 weeks of reporting to each other on their lives,” West said. “It was an amazing communication exercise.” Monthly meetings of the Roundtable Book Club have resumed, but the Saturday emails continue. “Nobody wanted to stop reporting to each other about our lives,” West said. “So we will continue reading and discussing books once a month, and every Saturday, we’ll continue to send emails, catching up on each others’ lives.”

SHOUTOUTS

continued

MISSISSIPPI FARM TO SCHOOL

Fa r m to S c ho ol Ne t wo rk

The Mississippi Farm to School Network serves as an advocate for farmers and schools, helping to connect the two to ultimately help the state’s young people. How does such a partnership help school kids? It’s simple: The farmers bring their fresh produce into the schools, where it’s served in the cafeterias. For some students, it may be the only time they’ve had fresh, homegrown vegetables. It doesn’t end there. The Farm to School Network teaches students to plant and grow vegetables in their own home gardens. The hope is when young people have a hand in growing veggies, they will want to eat them. In 2020, the Farm to School Network came up with a program for which families with school-age children could apply for a grant of $150 to help them purchase what’s needed — from seeds to gardening tools — to plant a home garden. Along with the funding, each family has access to gardening tips on the Farm to School Network website. In the very first round of the program, more than 1,000 families applied for the grants. There was funding for 130 gardens, thanks to help from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The additional grant requests were funded by CFNM, the Maddox Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation, which continue to support the program. The program continues today. To donate to Mississippi Farm to School Network’s home garden grant fund, visit mississippifarmtoschool.org/support. J U N E /J U LY 2 02 2 | I N V I TAT I O N

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R A I N B O W of S M O O T H I E S THESE COLORFUL AND PROTEIN-PACKED SMOOTHIES WILL FILL YOU UP AND COOL YOU OFF THIS SUMMER. RECIPES BY SARAH McCULLEN

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

or breakfast on the go or a poolside snack, these fruit and vegetablepacked smoothies are sure to satisfy this summer. To customize, add your favorite toppings, including sliced fruit, berries, honey, almond butter, granola, cacao nibs, nuts and seeds.

B E E T- B E R R Y- C H E R R Y

Smoothie

1 cup mixed frozen berries 1 cup frozen cherries 1 frozen banana 1 tablespoon almond butter 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon beet powder 2 tablespoon vanilla protein powder, optional

C ARROT-PINE APPLE

Smoothie

2 cups frozen pineapple chunks 1 cup frozen carrot slices 1 cup milk of choice 2 tablespoons honey ½ cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder, optional

M ATCHA

Smoothie

2 cups greens (spinach and/or kale) 1 tablespoon matcha powder ½ cup Greek yogurt ½ avocado 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks 1 cup milk of choice 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder, optional

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SPIRULINA

Smoothie

1 frozen banana ½ cup frozen mango chunks 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks 1 cup milk of choice ½ cup Greek yogurt 2 teaspoons spirulina powder 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder, optional

Directions: Pick your favorite flavor combination, combine all ingredients listed in a blender, and pulse until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes. Then customize to your liking: For a thinner consistency, add more milk. For a sweeter flavor, add more honey. For even more protein and nutrients, add 1 tablespoon flax seeds and/or chia seeds.

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Storybook Summers

LOCAL LIBRARY AND BOOKSTORE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE READERS OF ALL AGES TO KEEP TURNING THE PAGES, E V E N D U R I N G VA C AT I O N S E A S O N. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

ummertime in the South often finds families spending time at the beach, in the mountains or poolside at home or beyond. There’s an educational and engaging activity that can be done no matter where kids spend the summer. It can also be done from a favorite comfortable chair in their temperaturecontrolled home. It’s something for participants of all ages and sizes. The necessary equipment for the activity is relatively light, depending on the size and number used. If you’ve not yet guessed the activity, it’s reading. And along with reading lists sent home with students for the summer, there are summer reading programs, hosted by libraries and some local bookstores. Summer reading programs are nothing new. In fact, they’ve been around for more than 100 years — since 1896, to be exact. A woman named Linda Eastman, who was the head librarian at The Cleveland Library in Ohio, is credited with creating the first summer reading program. Eastman, a fierce proponent of literature for children,

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developed a list of recommended books and got local schools to pass these lists along to their young students with a challenge to read as many of the listed books as possible during summer vacation. That long-ago summer, Eastman recognized a dramatic increase in children’s visits to the library, which led the library board to create the Cleveland Library League. League membership continued to rise into the thousands, and book clubs of a limited number of members were started. It was within these book clubs that young readers logged the books they read and began to tell other members about the books they loved. Later, a librarian in Connecticut shared her thoughts publicly that children logging the books read was good, but they needed more interaction with the books. The summer reading program she started included prizes for reading goals met, gatherings where readers met to discuss books and a fun puzzle club. It was Caroline Hewins’ version of a summer reading program that remains most like today’s summer reading programs. Continued on page 32

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Continued from page 30 According to readerzone.com, summer reading programs saw a huge bump in popularity in the early 1900s. Here are some of the recorded programs: - The Madison New Jersey Public Library Vacation Reading Club gave out certificates of completion for books read. - The state library in Georgia had children write opinion pieces about the books they read during the summer program. - The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh hosted readings at local playgrounds. In the ’60s and ’70s, most libraries offered some form of a summer reading program that involved visits to the library to hear a librarian or volunteer read a book to participants to encourage them to check out books to read during summer vacation. Summer reading programs continue today, but certainly with more bells and whistles to entice children to read. Here are a few examples of what area libraries and even independent bookstores are offering this summer.

Lee County L ibrary The Lee County Library will have as its theme Oceans of Possibilities. It’s part of CSLP, Collaborative Summer Library Programs, which began in 1987 when 10 regional Minnesota regional library systems developed a summer library program for children, with a theme, artwork and goals, which public libraries could purchase for their summer programs. Today, the CSLP continues to produce summer reading programs to be used by member libraries. The summer program is for all youth to age 18; it began June 1 and ends July 28. Main events on Thursday mornings in June include the Dinosaur Crew along with their 10-foot velociraptor named Spike, storytellers, live animals and musicians. There’ll be Movie Matinee Mondays, Family Storytimes on Tuesdays and much more. “The summer reading program provides a free, exciting and educational program that helps kids set and meet goals, discover new favorite books and be better prepared for the next school year,” said Lee County Library’s youth services librarian Grace Guntharp.

Corinth Public L ibrary

Lafayette County & Oxford Public L ibrary The Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library is part of the First Regional Library. Youth librarian Ally Watkins and youth specialist Sami Thomason-Fyke are excited this summer’s reading program will offer in-person programs after a long period of online programming and make-and-take kits during COVID. The theme this summer is “Reading is for Everyone.” “Our goal at the library is to encourage everyone to read every day this summer — alone, with a child, to a pet, in a book club or whichever way a reader prefers,” Watkins said. All a person needs to do to participate in the program is to tell a library staff member the challenge to read every day has been accepted. And the challenge is issued to readers of all ages. In addition to the reading challenge, the First Regional Libraries, in the counties of DeSoto, Panola, Tate, Tunica and Lafayette, will have live animals, magic shows, family events, live-music programs and lots more.

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Corinth Public Library, following Northeast Regional Library policies, will continue to exercise COVID caution this summer with no in-person summer program. However, the pandemic has not stopped the library from reaching out to young readers. The library staff has and will continue to prepare activity packets for area readers to pick up. “The packets include coloring pages, games, craft projects, fun things for kids to do,” said Cody Daniel, head librarian since 2016. “The activity packets came about strictly because of COVID, but they have become so popular.” Before the pandemic, the summer program included visits from people with interesting stories to share, like master storyteller Autry Davis or the presenter of an educational snake show. These visits continue but are now virtual. This summer’s theme will be Oceans of Possibilities.

Summer Reading Recommendations AGES 3-6

“Anita and the Dragons,” Hannah Carmona “Best Day Ever!” Marilyn Singer “Bubbles … Up!” Jacqueline Davies “Eyes that Kiss in the Corners,” Joanna Ho “Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story,” Aviaq Johnston SOURCE: READINGROCKE TS.ORG

AGES 6-9

“Beak & Ally: Unlikely Friends,” Norm Beuti “Billy Miller Makes a Wish,” Kevin Henkes “Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey,” Erin Entrada Kelly “The Gravity Tree: The True Story of a Tree That Inspired the World,” Anna Crowley Redding SOURCE: READINGROCKE TS.ORG

AGES 9-12

“Katie the Catsitter,” Colleen AF Venable “Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls,” Kaela Rivera “Measuring Up,” Lily LaMotte “Take Back the Block,” Chrystal D. Giles SOURCE: READINGROCKE TS.ORG

AGES 12-13

“Freewater,” Amina Luqman-Dawson “Loyalty,” Avi “The Chance to Fly,” Ali Stroker “Red, White, and Whole,” Rajani LaRocca SOURCE: IMAGINATIONSOUP

AG E S 13-18 ( YA )

“Monday’s Not Coming,” Tiffany D. Jackson “The Hazel Wood,” Melissa Albert “Firekeeper’s Daughter,” Angeline Boulley “The Court of Miracles,” Kester Grant “Turtles All the Way Down,” John Green SOURCE: IMAGINATIONSOUP

ADULT RE ADS

“All of you Every Single One,” Beatrice Hitchman “Loss of Memory Is Only Temporary,” Johanna Kaplan “The School for Good Mothers,” Jessamine Chan “Lost and Found,” Kathryn Schulz (winner of the Pulitzer Prize) SOURCE: VOGUE.COM

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Continued from page 33

Reed's Gum Tree Bookstore

Reed’s Gum Tree Bookstore in Tupelo is bringing back its bingo card from last summer. Reed’s partnered with a business that helped provide a prize for last summer’s winning reader. “The beauty of our bingo card is that we have made the categories general enough so that kids of any age can complete them,” said Lori Jones, bookstore manager. “Last year we had ages 2-11 turning in cards, and it was so fun to see kids get excited about reading books of their choice and doing so in fun ways.” Some of the fun ways to read in the 2021 Reed’s Summer Reading Bingo Challenge included read a book with a red cover, read to a pet, read to someone who can’t read, read while you eat lunch and many more. Pizza vs. Tacos partnered with Reed’s last summer, and each reader who brought a completed bingo card back to the bookstore received a coupon for a free pizza. This year’s partner is Funky Cones. “As we did last year, we will partner with a local business to give kids who complete their cards a fun treat,” Jones said.

Did you know? Square Books Jr. Oxford’s Square Books Jr. will be bringing back its Where’s Waldo? summer program after a two-year, COVID-caused hiatus. The books, illustrated by Martin Handford and now published by Candlewick Press, have been around since 1987. They depict the wandering Waldo in all manner of densely descriptive scenes and the reader must find him. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Square Books Jr. has done the Where’s Waldo program for more than a decade, and a large part of the business community around the Square eagerly participates. “More than 20 businesses around the Square are on board,” said Paul Thomasson-Fyke, the Children’s Book and Toy Buyer at Square Books Jr. “Each of them get a little Waldo figure they hide in a new place each day.” The young people who participate get a bingo card they take around with them to the businesses and keep a log of finding Waldo. “They get a small, simple prize when they turn in their finished bingo cards,” Thomasson-Fyke said. “And at the end of the month, we have a big party; the kids come, bring their parents and we have a big drawing for prizes donated by the participating businesses and the grand prize of a boxed set of all the Waldo books.” All ages may participate, from as young as 2 or 3 up to young adults. The Where’s Waldo event takes place the month of July.

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According to experts, young people who read four to five books during the summer retain on average more than twothirds of what they learned during the school year, and many retained all, and strengthened their skills. Today, more than 95 percent of public libraries in the U.S. host a summer reading program.

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Life On The Old M an QUAPAW CANOE COMPANY GIVES FOLKS A TASTE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. WRIT TEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

amuel Langhorne Clemens described the Mississippi River as a “lawless stream” who will “tear down, dance over, and laugh at” all human attempts to tame him. To that end, Quapaw Canoe Company does not endeavor to overcome the beast but rather nurture and laud him. Quapaw is headquartered in Clarksdale with outposts in Vicksburg and Memphis. For a few dollars (full details on the company’s extensive website, island63.com), you can journey anywhere from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico with expert guides for a day or longer. The Quapaw were a native people who once lived in the region of the Arkansas River. “When I’m on the river,” Quapaw’s mastermind John Ruskey told NPR in a 2017 interview, “I’m at peace, content, doing what I’m supposed to be doing.” Ruskey, a rustic, gray-bearded gent, opened Quapaw in 1998, and since then, the company has introduced complete strangers to each other and to the prodigious waterway, taught children the wonders of life on the river and done its best to care for one of this country’s most powerful and majestic resources. Continued on page 38

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Continued from page 36 Among other things, Quapaw offers: The Mighty Quapaws, an after-school program for Clarksdale students. Side excursions to Buck Island off the Helena, Arkansas, shore. (There is also a kayak race in Helena every year.) Camping and fireside cooking for those who travel longer than a few hours. Abundant opportunities to collect fossils and artifacts, including 10,000-year-old arrowheads deposited from the Arkansas River. Through a nonprofit organization, ongoing efforts to keep the Mississippi River clean and well-protected. Via a separate website (rivergator.org), a mile-by-mile, feature-by-feature description of the 1,155-mile stretch of river from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico, “the longest freeflowing water trail in the continental United States,” Ruskey said. The site includes more than a million words on river history, as well as tips for self-guided journeys.

“There are a lot of hazards out there,” civil engineer and Quapaw Vicksburg owner Layne Logue said. “We recommend that no one paddle it unless you have experience or are with someone with experience. The Mississippi River is unforgiving.” The scariest thing that ever happened to Ruskey? He and his best friend from school days at Choate smashed into a concrete pillar and wound up in a freezing river. Ten miles and several hours later, they washed ashore on Cat Island, hypothermic and near death. “We should have died,” Ruskey said. “I spent my first night in what became my new home as a muddy and shivering river-rat refugee.” Continued on page 40

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Continued from page 38 But the Old Man can get a hold on you. “You get that river water and mud between your toes,” Logue said, “and it changes you.” For those longing for adventure, all Quapaw asks for is a commitment to listen, learn and grow. In return, it makes several promises. “Our mission is to share the wild and woolly wonders of the Lower Mississippi River,” Ruskey said. “The camping on the river is spectacular … Our favorite stretch of river is the Muddy Waters Wilderness. This is the wildest stretch of river along the Lower Mississippi.” But for those who’d like a taste of adventure without leaving the comfort of the living room, here is what one sojourner wrote about his experiences: “‘The river provideth all things,’ Ruskey drawls in the mockreverential tones of a redneck messiah. Ruskey is our ever-competent guide and spiritual leader. When he talks, which is seldom, and always in a very soft voice, we listen. He’s brought us here to this fine-powdered beach … and now we’re enjoying the musky coolness rising off the water while passing around a bottle of Jameson’s Whiskey.” The ongoing inspiration for Ruskey should come as little surprise. “I am forever inspired by the wild swirling patterns of the river, the sky above, the cloud patterns, the storm systems, the flora and fauna, the shaking of cottonwood leaves in the wind, sunrise through dewdrops and dewy spiderwebs clinging to river grasses,” he said. “And there is nothing like witnessing the movement of the Milky Way through a winter forest.”

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Growing a Legacy

A MULTIGENERATIONAL TRIO WORKS TOGETHER TO GROW H E R B S , M U S H R O O M S A N D M O R E O N T H E B R O W N FA M I LY ’ S YA L O B U S H A C O U N T Y A C R E A G E . WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

everal miles outside the city limits of Water Valley in the county of Yalobusha stretches 400 acres of land that has been a part of Leonard Brown’s family over a century. Brown’s father sold whatever he grew on the farm; his mother made all her children’s clothes. “I was in the eighth grade when I had my first store-bought shirt,” he said. His childhood memories of his family farm are as clear as can be: a smokehouse; shelves lined with all manner of home-grown canned items, even beef; no refrigeration, but things that need cooling placed in a hole dug in the ground, and ice delivered once a week. “We lived off the farm,” he said. “If anything was bought in town, it might have been peppermint candy. We did it all.” And nearly two decades ago, Brown began growing herbs of the culinary and medicinal kind. He also grows fruits and vegetables. And who wants a farm without an animal or two, or more? At Brown’s Farm there are a couple of sheep, 30 cows, 10 goats, two mules, a donkey and an assortment of feathered fowl — peacocks, a pair of roosters, chickens and a duck. Chances are occasional dogs

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and cats call the place home as well. “I have an uncle in Columbus, Ohio, who would come down here once a year,” Brown said. “He would talk about herbs and what ailments they were good for. I had no interest. Well, one day I got to feeling so bad, and I decided I was going to try what he said. Within 30 minutes, I felt like a new person. I was sold on the benefits of herbs.” When Dria Price and Halima Salazar came into Brown’s life three years ago, they were stunned to discover the octogenarian was tending his farm all by himself. Price, who lived in Oxford at the time, first met Brown at the Oxford Community Market where his herbs are a popular item every Tuesday. The 25-year-old has a master’s degree in nutrition, and she seems to have found her calling on the farm helping Brown grow organic herbs. “Farming was not on my radar at all,” she said. “But my grandparents did farm in Missouri before moving to Chicago. My generation seems to have a loss of knowledge about farming.” Salazar, 42, is originally from Nigeria and studied political science and business. But her passion is combining cooking and agriculture. Not only does she work on the farm, but she and her husband are living in a house they are renovating just down

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Two for Tea Whether tending to them or talking about them at Brown’s Farm, Dria Price and Halima Salazar are knee-deep in organic herbs every day. It should come as no big surprise the two young women recently decided to start a tea company. One of the herbs they grow at the farm is stevia, a healthy alternative to sugar — thus the name of their tea: Justevia (justeviateas.com). “We started drying and grinding herbs,” Price said. “And we bought some cute little bags for a trial run.” A cousin of Price’s, Tammy Herod, asked her to create a flyer for her organization’s showcase market that was coming up in a few months. Herod asked Price one day before the market if she would pick up the banner at the print shop. When Salazar heard about the market, she told Price they needed to sell tea there. the road from Brown. It’s where she home-schools their children, 12-year-old Bella and 10-year-old Eduardo. “When I first started coming to the farm, I told Mr. Brown I home-school my kids so I’d have plenty of time to help out,” Salazar said, laughing. “I should never have said that. Once you come to the farm, you never leave.” Price nodded in complete agreement. “I lived in Oxford when I first met Mr. Brown,” she said. “But my husband and I have moved closer to the farm over time.” Work on a farm is never really done. Even when the trio sits at the cluttered dining room table in Brown’s house, especially on rainy days, they’re working. Perhaps they’re researching herbs, or making plans for new products and projects, like essential oils or infused cooking oils, or discussing the building of a climate-controlled house for growing mushrooms. Brown grows oyster and shiitake mushrooms. “I just wanted to see could I grow them,” he said. When they first took mushrooms to the market, they couldn’t give them away. But that has changed. “People get upset if we leave and they don’t get their mushrooms,” Salazar said. “We rarely have any left anymore, but if we do, restaurants will buy them.” Brown nods before sharing that his helpers handle the market without him a lot these days. “They won’t let me go much anymore,” he said. “They said I’m bad to give things away.” Though there’s no blood connection among the three, anyone

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“We started scrambling,” Salazar said. “We had very little, but we decided we would just do it.” They finished the design and had a logo printed on the fly. And they worked all night stuffing little tea bags with herbs. They hoped to sell enough to pay the vendor fee. At the end of the market, the pair had sold out of tea. “I looked at Dria and said, ‘I guess we have a tea business now,’” Salazar said. “Everything in the tea is what we grow.” The OG, or original blend, is hibiscus, lemon grass and orange mint. They now sell about seven blends of loose-leaf herbal tea. “As we grow more herbs, we will expand and have different blends,” Price said. “And as we go deeper into herbalism studies, we will learn more combinations that go well together.” Though the two met when they both started working at Brown’s Farm about three years ago, Price and Salazar are a powerful team — as young, Black businesswomen and as good friends. “Everytime I have a crazy idea, Dria comes up with a plan to make it happen,” Salazar said. “I’m the helium balloon.” Price nods her head in understanding: “And I’m the string.”

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just watching and listening from a distance would likely think they are a grandfather and a pair of granddaughters. In fact, Salazar often calls Brown “Abuelito” — that’s Spanish for grandfather. There’s clearly an abundance of admiration among them, but there are also plenty of verbal volleys of gentle sarcasm from time to time. “I ain’t had no peace of mind since these two have been here,” Brown said. One has to be in Brown’s presence only a short time before his sense of humor looms large and skips no one. He told a man once he’d found an automatic grass cutter that worked really well. The man got all excited and insisted on seeing this wonder — which turned out to be one of Brown’s cows. Both young women shake their heads in consternation when people meet their mentor and ask what grade he finished. Truth is, Brown received his master’s degree from Tuskegee University in agricultural science education. He worked for the Alabama Extension Service in Montgomery County for nearly a decade before returning to his farm. If you want to visit Brown’s beautiful acreage, know this: There are no visitors, only volunteers. If you show up, be prepared to sweat alongside Brown, Salazar, Price and anyone else who may have shown up. It’s a working farm, and the work is never done. “He is the glue here,” Price said of Brown. “He knows every cranny of this land, and this farm is his life’s goal, to make it sustainable for when he is not here. It’s his legacy.”

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Escape to The Coast MISSISSIPPI’S SOUTHERNMOST TIP HAS BEACHES AND CASINOS APLENT Y, BUT THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO ADD TO THE CHARM. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

pass christian

ifetime and longtime Mississippians use a certain shorthand when referring to the 62-mile length of landscape that lends itself as the outline along the Gulf of Mexico at the southernmost tip of the state, the Coast. Simply put, it’s all that needs to be said for folks from the Magnolia State to have a hankering for some sun, sand, shopping and some of the freshest seafood around. And there are always the casinos. If you’re a history buff, the Coast is a treasure-trove, with stories aplenty both tragic and triumphant. The place and its people have weathered more than their share of hurricanes through the decades, including Camille in ’69 and Katrina in 2005. Lives have been lost. Homes, churches, schools, businesses ravaged and ruined, but later rebuilt and reborn. Whether you’re hoping for a weekend getaway or a full family vacation, the Mississippi coastal towns along Highway 90 offer a boatload of delightful diversions and delicious dining experiences all along the shoreline and inland. Summertime’s a perfect season for a beach trip right here in Mississippi, so grab your shades and sunscreen and check out some of these places on the Coast.

Pass Christian Scenic Drive Historic District

Lovingly referred to by locals as “the Pass,” Pass Christian got its name in 1699 from a deep-water channel or pass directly offshore that was discovered by Nicholas Christian L’Adnier. It was chartered as a town in 1848. A large portion of the town is designated the PA S S C H R I S T I A N S C E N I C D R I V E H I S T O R I C D I S T R I C T, named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 for “the enduring presence” of ornate and stylized houses built in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. The area was once a summer destination for New Orleanians seeking relief from the city heat. Although a large number of its historic mansions and cottages were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, many have since been restored or rebuilt to meet historic specifications. H E N D E R S O N P O I N T PA R K offers a walking path and playground equipment, and the E N C H A N T E D N AT U R E T R A I L O N F O R T H E N R Y S T R E E T has a vine tunnel, interactive play station, an insect hotel and so much more. A R T A L L E Y in the Pass is home to local art, home decor and gourmet foods.

Art Alley

restaurants to try: BACCHUS ON THE BEACH 120 S. HIERN AVE.

This is a hub for oysters and a huge muffaletta and adult beverages that can be served on the large bayside deck. HOOK GULF COAST CUISINE 133 DAVIS AVE. UNIT M

Fresh seafood, cocktails and more.

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Alice Mosely Folk Art and Antique Museum

Fifty-eight miles northeast of New Orleans, Bay St. Louis has been named one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America” by Budget Travel. It was also designated a Top 10 Small Beach Town by Coastal Living magazine. And for trivia fans, the 1966 film, “This Property Is Condemned,” starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Charles Bronson and Mary Badham, was filmed mostly in Bay St. Louis. The film was based on the 1946 play by Tennessee Williams. In addition to being home to a lesspopulated white sand beach and some excellent local restaurants, Bay St. Louis boasts an arts- and antiques-laden old-town area that makes strolling and shopping a most inviting activity. The historic B AY S T. L O U I S D E P O T is a don’t-miss spot while visiting the Hancock County town. The depot houses the tourism office and visitors’ center where you can find information on hundreds of places of interest along the Coast. “Every trip to Bay St. Louis should start here, at the depot,” said Myrna Green, tourism director for Hancock County since 2007. “We are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week.” The depot is also home to the A L I C E M O S E LY F O L K A R T A N D A N T I Q U E M U S E U M . Mosely was a folk artist, a storyteller and a humorist. Known by many as Miss Alice, she was born in Birmingham, Alabama, where she met and married W.J.

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BAY ST. LOUIS

“Angels in the Bay”

Moseley from Batesville. She taught English in Memphis for 30 years and began painting while caring for her mother. She took her first 40 paintings to a flea market in Nashville and sold them all in a 30-minute period. She moved to Bay St. Louis in 1980, after the death of her husband, and lived there until her death in 2004 at the age of 94. The I N F I N I T Y S C I E N C E C E N T E R is in Hancock County near Bay St. Louis and offers interactive science, technology and engineering rides and exhibits. There are fishing piers aplenty in the Bay, as well as charter fishing opportunities. Keep alert when riding or walking around the city or you could miss the “A N G E L S I N T H E B AY,” once majestic live oaks before a hurricane named Katrina damaged the trees and the town. But Dayle K. Lewis, a chain-saw sculptor from Indiana, visited post-Katrina Bay St. Louis and made the damaged trees beautiful again.

The Sycamore House

restaurants to try: THE SYCA MORE HOUSE 210 M A IN S T.

Located in two 19th-century cottages connected into a single dwelling in the 1850s. “Come casually, we’ll supply the elegance” is their motto. TR APANIS E ATERY 1 1 6 N . B E A C H B LV D.

Famous po’boys, steaks and seafood. CUZ’S OYSTER BAR & GRILL 1 0 8 S . B E A C H B LV D.

Family-owned restaurant serving Southern-style seafood options. THE MOCKINGBIRD CAFE 110 S . SECO ND S T.

Built in 1868, the small, eclectic eatery is known for brunch. “A small coffee shop with a big love for community.”

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Biloxi

LONG BEACH

restaurants to try: MARY MAHONEY’S OLD FRENCH HOUSE

The Friendship Oak

Just to the west of Gulfport, Long Beach is a charming little beach town that does not feel too touristy. In the early 20th century, Long Beach was a farming production town, whose citizens proclaimed it to be the Radish Capital of the World. Incorporated in 1905, Long Beach has been called The Friendly City. It boasts many charter fishing businesses for a small town, but perhaps its largest claim to fame it T H E F R I E N D S H I P O A K . The tree is more than five centuries old and sits on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park Campus. Artists or artist hopefuls might check out B L U E S K I E S G A L L E R Y, which has art supplies aplenty, framing and art classes. It’s also an art co-op, so visitors can see working artists in the gallery.

restaurants to try: STE VE’ S M ARINA RESTAUR ANT 2 13 E . B E A C H B LV D.

Casual two-story beachfront seafood cafe and bar. HARBER VIEW CAFE 504 JEFF DAVIS AVE.

Southern cuisine and po’boys with porch seating. B U L L’ S R E S TA U R A N T 300 JEFF DAVIS AVE.

Po’boys, award-winning gumbo, burgers. PARRISH ’ S RESTAUR ANT & LOUNGE 2 1 7 B E A C H B LV D. E .

Seafood, steaks, specialty cocktails, house-made deserts.

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110 RUE MAGNOLIA

A mainstay in Biloxi since it opened May 7, 1964, serving locally sourced seafood, steaks and more in a historic setting. WHITE PILLARS RESTAUR ANT & LOUNGE 1 6 9 6 B E A C H B LV D.

Local seafood, handmade pasta and steak. MCELROY ’S HARBOR HOUSE 6 9 5 B E A C H B LV D.

Casual restaurant overlooking the water. Seafood and Southern fare. Family owned and operated since 1974. Biloxi Lighthouse

With many of the historic homes on one side of Highway 90 destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and a plethora of casinos built on the Gulf side, the long-ago footprint of Biloxi has changed dramatically. Still, a few of its well-known and beloved restaurants continue to thrive and there’s always the ever-standing landmark lighthouse. The B I L O X I L I G H T H O U S E was built in Baltimore, Maryland, and sent south to be completed at its site in 1848. It is one of two remaining lighthouses on the Coast which once boasted 12. After the Civil War, the first cannery was built in 1881 in Biloxi to process seafood. The O H R - O ’ K E E F E M U S E U M O F A R T celebrates the spirit of Mississippi’s master potter George Ohr. Known as the “Mad Potter of Biloxi,” Ohr created art from 1879 until 1910, but it was 50 years after his death that his pottery began receiving the interest and recognition it now enjoys. The M A R I T I M E & S E A F O O D INDUSTRY MUSEUM opened in 1986 and has exhibits on wooden boats, commercial fishing and much more.

Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art

McElroy’s Harbor House

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Gulfport

Ocean Springs

Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum

Walter Anderson Museum of Art

Mississippi Aquarium

The second largest city in Mississippi after Jackson, Gulfport shares county seat duties with Biloxi for Harrison County. It was incorporated July 28, 1898, and founded by William H. Hardy, president of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad that connected lumber mills to the Coast. The Port of Gulfport became a working seaport in 1902. In addition to the beach area and casinos, other activities in Gulfport abound. There’s the M I S S I S S I P P I C O A S T M O D E L R A I L R O A D M U S E U M at 522 Pass Road and the M I S S I S S I P P I AV I AT I O N H E R I TAG E M U S E U M at 429 Pass Road. The M I S S I S S I P P I A Q UA R I U M , 2100 E. Beach Blvd., offers something for every age. The 5.8-acre aquarium offers both outdoor and indoor habitats. And there’s also the O C E A N A DV E N T U R E S M A R I N E PA R K at 10801 Dolphin Lane, where you can watch interactions between trainers and dolphins and sea lions, touch stingrays and see a macaw and parrot show while you’re there.

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White Cap Restaurant

Gulfport is also home to the MISSISSIPPI DEEP SEA FISHING R O D E O, taking place July 1-4. Competitive fishing, live entertainment, carnival rides and more. Learn about it at mississippideepseafishingrodeo.com. The LY N N ME ADOWS D I S C O V E R Y C E N T E R at 246 Dolan Ave., provides interactive activities and an outdoor play area at this children’s museum in a 1916-era former school.

restaurants to try:

Two miles east of Biloxi, just across the Biloxi Bay, is Ocean Springs, whose quaint downtown and beachfront areas remain untouched by busy casinos. Known as the “City of Discovery,” Ocean Springs was established as a French settlement in 1699. A stroll through the downtown area clearly presents Ocean Springs as an active arts community where galleries and studios abound. The WA LT E R A N D E R S O N M U S E U M O F A R T, 510 Washington Ave., is a must-see on an Ocean Springs visit. Anderson, though born in New Orleans in 1903, has long been seen as a treasure belonging to Mississippi and the Gulf Coast. The G U L F H I L L S H O T E L A N D R E S O R T on Fort Bayou in Biloxi, came into being in 1927 and remains today. Included among its visitors through the decades are Elvis Presley, who stayed there while touring the South in the ’50s; Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe.

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE , 2500 13T H S T. #1

Upscale-casual Southern seafood and bar. Oysters, po-boys, steak and cocktails. WHITE C AP RESTAUR ANT 560 BEACH DRIVE

Southern accented seafood eatery with Gulf views. Shearwater Pottery

L&N Depot

Tato-Nut

Ocean Springs’ Visitor Center is located in the historic L & N D E P O T. And there’s S H E A R WAT E R P O T T E R Y, founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson, the prolific potter and a brother to Walter, whose four children continue to oversee the production of Shearwater pottery. In 2015, Ocean Springs was among the Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns by Coastal Living magazine.

restaurants to try: PLEASANTS BBQ 1415 GOV ERNMEN T S T.

Established in 1982 by the late Mr. John A. Pleasant. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork and more. THE SHED BARBEQUE & BLUES JOINT 7501 H I G HWAY 57

Barbecue on the bayou. AUNT JENNY ’ S C ATFISH RESTAUR ANT 1217 WASHINGTON AVE.

Catfish, shrimp, fried chicken since 1981, right on Fort Bayou. TATO -NUT 1114 GOV ERNMEN T S T.

Home of “the only real donut” since 1960. Made with potato flour.

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SPRING OPEN HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

On April 9, the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association hosted its annual Spring Open House, bringing extra business to downtown Tupelo stores and restaurants by offering shoppers special deals, food, Easter fun and more.

1. Shelly Daniel and Lauren Bell 2. Patty and Bob Wilcox 3. Jake Heyer and Larry Etanford 4. Leigh Ann and Juliana Hendrick and Barbara Fleishhack 5. Angie Swain and Searcy Crabtree 6. Cooper, Amanda and Charlee Langford

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YOUTH FISHING RODEO PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Tupelo Parks and Recreation hosted the 2022 Children’s Fishing Rodeo for ages 3 to 15 on the morning of April 9 at Veterans Park. The lake was stocked with catfish, and fishing kids were treated to a free hot dog and drink. 1

6 1. Tracy and Lane Hubbard 2. Warren and Parker Metz

3. Chloe Joyner, A.J. Martin and Abby McLarty 4. Duce and Johnny Mickell 5. Cooper Brown and Gibson Criddle 6. Lillee Grace Washington and Taylor McGaha 7. Joshua Burkley with Taylor and Elijan Gray

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BUD & BURGERS PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The seventh annual Bud & Burgers drew a crowd to downtown Tupelo April 7 for a day of fun that included a burger competition by participating teams and live music.

1. Haley Johnson, Dalton Russell and Tommy Green 2. Amanda McKeown, Kathy Pitts, Anna Grace Tanner, Donna Stevens and Nancy Taylor 3. Chris and Dana Miller with Michael Daugherty, Cathy Graham, Joey Hughes and Kathy Wright 4. Jim Parker and Elizabeth Gable with Trish and Chad Arnold and Prent Gable 5. Dennis Goldman and Megan Edwards with Jonathan and Sherry Davis, Mike Armour, Christy and Todd Jordan and Scott Costello 6. Lexi Brazeal and Searcy Crabtree 7. Holly and Abby Beall with Darin Hefner and Tony Beall

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GUMTREE FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Gumtree Art & Wine Festival marked its 50th year in a big way and with a new name. In addition to the annual celebration of the arts, this year’s festival, held in downtown Tupelo, also lifted a glass to wine and culinary arts. Live music and fun activities for all ages rounded out the weekend.

8 1. Emilie Russell, Morgan Fyfe Powell and Lea Fyfe 2. Mayme Couch, Clay Thurston and Tamyne Armour 3. Dee Dee Akridge and Kim Williams Wiygul 4. Melinda Allen and Kaylie Walker 5. Mike and Tacy Richey with Tina O’Quinn 6. Donna and Jan Klimas 7. Zeb and Stephanie Atkinson 8. Sloane and Pierson Jones 9. Laura Leigh Fowlkes, Jason Pannell, Melanie Hankins Booth and Tim Tolleson

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REGIONAL REHAB 5K PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The second annual Regional Rehab 5K and Fun Walk was held at The Mall at Barnes Crossing on April 9. A wheelchair and walker category were also included this year.

1. Laura Starling and Kristin Adams 2. Debbie Maher and Jamie Bailey 3. Camilla Carroll and Ahlrona Gonzalez 4. Jace Stanley, Bobby Watts and Davis Staser 5. Rhonda Brown, Jeff Snyder, John Jones and Jay Stanley 6. Krystin and Brantley White with Kensley Nowicki 7. Tate and Mia Malone with Macy Goodwin, Alonna Snyder and Wilson Boettcher

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AMORY RAILROAD FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The 42nd Amory Railroad Festival returned in early April after two years of cancellations due to COVID. The weekend of fun included a 5K run, a karaoke competition, a car and truck show, festival food, live music and more.

1. Reese and Walker Smith with Lexy Cockerham and Pat Wells 2. Robert Garrison 3. Hannah, Briggs and Jason Kennedy 4. Mary Kate Autrey 5. Hunter and Parker McCain 6. Ellis Walker

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@NORTHEAST

OUT & ABOUT Tup e lo C ou nt r y C lu b A r t G a l a

Ke nt uc k y D e r by Pa r t y

P ro je c t S e a rc h / Re e d ’s G ra du at io n S ho p p i n g S p re e

A l a n Ba n k Me mo r i a l Te n n i s Tou r n a me nt

1. Debbie and Joe Banko with Robin Stallings 2. Richard and Nancy Diffee 3. Cecil and Kim Overton with Susan Boone 4. Kari Robison, Peggy Lindsey, Bre Ashe and Hannah Long 5. Brandy and Patrick White 6. Leigh Monroe and Tia Goodwin 7. Chris Morgan and Elizabeth Gable 8. Hope Bostick, Melanie Hickman and Susan Dudley with Josephine, Michael and MaKayla Blanchard and Kristia Blanchard, Jack Reed and Delores Jenkins 9. Juan Silva, Michael Gratz Jr., Arnoldo Alcaino and Wes Henson

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@OXFORD

OLE MISS VS. MSU BASEBALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

The Mississippi State Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels took to Swayze Field April 21-23 for a three-game baseball series. MSU won the series two games to one.

1. Devin Riggs and Larson Lee 2. Kirkland Campbell and Will Fleming 3. Victoria Jackson and Luke Comfort 4. Ken and Patrice Turner 5. Ben and Paul Shelby 6. Collin and Lydia Mills 7. Nicholas Cobb and Natalie Krol 8. Missy and Keith Pearson 9. Lexi May and Dillon Holloway

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@OXFORD

L AFAYE T TE BOOK BL A ST PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

Lafayette County Lower Elementary School recently partnered with Books Are Fun/ Collective Goods for a Book Blast fundraiser that resulted in students receiving more than 6,500 books (10 books each) to take home during an April 5 celebration. 1

1. Lyndsey Cregar, Ashley Gafford and John Hodges 2. Dallas Durham, Sarah Scheldt and Russell Jewel 3. Caslyn Trost and Drea Rhea 4. Zoey May, Chloe Simms and Laya Black 5. Sadie Harrell, Mallory Fleming and Abby Edwards 6. Emily Smith and Loidha Bautista

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DOUBLE DECKER FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

Record crowds returned to downtown Oxford April 22-23 for the 2022 Double Decker Arts Festival. After being canceled due to COVID for the past two years, art and music lovers were happy to be back for Double Decker’s 25th anniversary. 1

1. Becky Little, Kristen Cooper and Madison Berretta 2. Paul Litwiller, Molly Kale and Madison McNease 3. Maia Dooley and Kaitlin Childress 4. Gail and Bill Taylor with Will Dedicke 5. Nadia and Kevin Thornton with Hanna Teevan 6. Amberlyn Liles and Robyn Tannehill 7. Lee Ann Stubbs, Maggie Rose and Kinney Ferris

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@OXFORD

YOUNG LIFE GOLF PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

The second annual Young Life Oxford Golf Tournament and Crawfish Dinner took place April 25 at the Country Club of Oxford.

1. Griffin Tanner and Kyle Ellis 2. Patrick Clarke and Ryan Dye 3. Gray Flora, Jim Gulley and Johnny Barrett 4. Matthew Downing, Taylor Durham, Luke Wicker and Clayton Erwin 5. Joe Taylor and Skyler Flowers 6. Andrew Richardson and Alan Larson 7. Neon Shive and Price Johnson

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@OXFORD

L AW SCHOOL GRADUATION PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

Commencement ceremonies for University of Mississippi School of Law students were held May 5 at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.

1. Betsy Lee Montague, Allison White and Cece Hurt 2. Abby Vandiver, Anna Case and Dallas Kiner 3. Shirley Moolhuysen and Cosette Bell 4. Wilson Moses and Airston Small 5. Michael and Sharon Johnson 6. Brian and Zola Carr 7. Chris and Erin Gapen 8. Hermine Granberry and Tiana Baldwin 9. Ivy Painter and Tolar Purvis 10. Alex Stradinger and Sydm Davis

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@OXFORD

2022 MHSAA TENNIS FINALS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

In late April, Oxford hosted the individual MHSAA state tennis championships at FNC Tennis Center. Local winners include LHS’s Crosse Lindsay and freshman Finn Rico (5A boys doubles); LHS brother-and-sister Brett and Jenna Lampton (5A mixed doubles); and OHS’s Owen Wilkinson (6A individuals).

1. Micheal J. Eubanks with Anicia and Micah Hill and James Johnson-Hill 2. Ryan Marce, Debbie Swindoll and Ashley Holcomb 3. Sarah Adcock, Alexandra Leggett, Anna Grace McCreary and Lily Gray 4. Reese Sams, Owen Collins, Sharp Grantham, Joel David Montgomery, Louis Nash, Hassell Wilkinson, Julia Hardy, Anna Alger, Bella Shipman and Celie Rayburn 5. Vara Harrison, Cade Teeple and Kaitlyn Greenwood 6. Sidney St. Amant, Elaina Rubenstien, Warren Hudson, Madalyn Smelley and Anna Hudson 7. Alex Holder, Aiden Usry and Molly Bennett with Danny and Patrick Royals 8. Lucy Allen and Caroline Kilpatrick

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@OXFORD

OUT & ABOUT W i l l ie P r ic e A r t G a l le r y

P r i nc e s s Hok a Mu ra l Unve i l i n g

Jo sh T ho m a s at L o s t D o g C of fe e

Re a d s , B e at s & E at s

O x fo rd H i g h S c ho ol Pa ra d e of B e aut ie s

8 1. Catherine Phillips and Mary Madeleine Koury 2. Ava and Derrick Nix 3. Colin and Catherine Yates 4. Earl Dismuke and Anna Murphy 5. Shaun and Paula Murphy 6. Easton Isbell and Rachel Sutton 7. Lauren Flood and Reese Anderson 8. Lafayette County Literacy Council board members 9. Oxford High School Parade of Beauties winners

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N E I G H B O R J ILLE E N

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS

MO O R E

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

illeen Moore, a native of Pearl, has lived in Oxford since 2000. She shares her home with her spouse and pups, Freya and Fry. She admits to three preoccupations by age 16: music, books and fishing. She credits her passion for books with landing her in the place she’s called home for nearly 20 years.

Do you recall your very first visit to Square Books? A: When I was a student at Pearl High School, my Southern literature class took a field trip to visit Rowan Oak. Later in the day, my classmates and I headed for Square Books. I vividly remember walking through the doors and instantly having my eyes drawn up to the walls upon which hung author portraits, then down to the rows of bookcases and the stacks closest to the front counter. I saw books by Eudora Welty, Elizabeth Spencer, Barry Hannah, Richard Ford and, of course, a healthy selection of Faulkner. I remember turning on the Square Books staircase and thinking to myself, “if I could just work here for the rest of my life, I would surely be happy.”

Q: Tell us about working at Square Books. A: June marks my 19th year with Square

Books. For most of the past 15 years I have been the buyer for Square Books Jr. I’ve run book clubs, did work on the website, read and played guitar at storytime, served on the Lafayette County Literacy Council, did school and public events and spoke at one or two literary conferences about my love for books and people and the magical mix of these that happens inside independent bookstores.

For many, I am sure, the reason bookstores still exist is the palpable connection between one reader and another. That connection I have with so many children, their parents, grandparents, relatives and friends, it’s something that persists. I know in my heart the owner, manager and all the book buyers and booksellers before me understand that connection and how important it is for the success of the store and the community.

Q: What’s the best part about your job? A: My favorite thing in the world to do is to

Q: What are some of your favorite books? A: My favorite books are “Charlotte’s

talk about books with others, kids and adults.

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Web,” “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,”

“Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” “Alabama Moon,” “Ninth Ward,” “Knife of Never Letting Go,” “House of the Scorpion,” “Ship Breaker,” “We Were Liars,” “Speak” and “City of Beasts.” My favorites across the street at “Big” Square Books are “Shantaram,” “Light in August,” “Son,” “Goldfinch,” “Orchestra of Minorities,” “The Feather Thief,” “The Quinn Colson” series, “Orphan Master’s Son,” “The Golden Apples,” “Fire in the Morning,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Lottery” and anything by Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Jacqueline Woodson.