INVITATION Oxford MARCH 2017
STREET EATS Dig in to Oxford’s Food Truck Treats
Diamond & Platinum Club #1 RE/MAX Team in MS 2014-2015
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
Alison Alger (662) 832-1697
Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144
Lee Pittman (662) 645-3695
Markccleary@gmail.com
alisonmalger@gmail.com
blake@oxfordvip.com
Oxford’s Newest Townhome Development! Located approximately 1.7 miles to the square and approximately 1.9 miles to Ole Miss The Mill offers 3 floor plans to choose from all featuring 3 Bed 3.5 Bath condos with a main level master, granite counter tops, hardwood floors, full stainless steel appliance package and so much more! Amenities accompanying your
NEW Homes Starting at
$143,900
3 Bedroom /2 Bath 5 Floor Plans to Choose From!
ShelbisPlace.com
Act Fast and Choose Your Finishes!
Starting in the mid $200,000’s
Plans Starting at $230,000
Starting in the mid $300,000’s
lee.pittman1@gmail.com
Shelbi’s Place
ownership at the Mill include a resort-style pool, garden terrace, lake and lush landscaping. Floor
Contact Mark Cleary (713) 303-8924
Measuring in at just under 1 mile from campus, 800 Park includes luxury features like gas fireplaces, 10 foot ceilings and heart pine floors. Professionally designed, each of the 4 floor plans are one level and have private screened in porches overlooking Pat Lamar Park and Davidson Creek. There is also a pet park that will be exclusive to the 800 Park owners. The 800 Park development has plans to include some specialty retail shops, as well.
The Hamlet
Experience the beauty and serenity of Tuscan Hills - with 2 stocked lakes - just 5 minutes from Downtown!
A charming Old-English style development located in the heart of the medical community and just minutes from Oxford’s downtown square !
4 Bed 4.5 Bath Starting in the mid-$300,000’s Features include: Wet Bar Private Courtyards Gas Range 10’ Ceilings Garages available
2696 West Oxford Loop $249,000 •Parkway Centre • Joined Together w/Oxford Galleria II • Building Pad W/ Potential for 4690 sq ft
Coming Fall 2017
Complimentary interior design service to help customize finishes on new builds.
12 Units Pending! Reserve yours today!
Harrison Square Oxford’s Premier Luxury Condominium Located in the Heart of Downtown Oxford. Just Steps from the Square! • Distinctive Open Concept Plans • 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms • 11’ 6” Ceiling Height on 1st Floor • 10’ Ceiling Height on Floors 2 and 3 • Classic 8’ Solid Core Interior Doors • Private Balcony • High Performance Energy Efficient Windows • Gas Fireplace • Elegant Wood Flooring
• Elegant 3cm Quartz Countertops • Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash • Custom Designed Cabinetry with Ambient Under Cabinet Lighting • Wet Bar with Ice Maker and Wine Cooler • State of the Art Controlled Access System in Common Areas • Private Gated Community with Elevator and Reserved Parking Space • Rooftop Terrace with Stunning Views
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
Markccleary@gmail.com
HarrisonSquareOxford.com
LEGACY R EALT Y
Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com •662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.
129 Sivley
$1,150,000
• Totally Custom, Great for Entertaining • Close to the Square • Resort Style Gunite Pool
McLaurin •Residential Lot in the Heart of Oxford! •Seller Will Custom Build to Suit •Price for Lot Only
304 Segrest Pointe $925,000 • 5 Bedroom 4.5 Bath Waterfront Home • Must See Home! Too Many Upgrades to Mention!
•2 Bed 2 Bath w/ Study •Screened in Porch •Outside Balcony and 2 Car Garage
$169,000
•Large Fenced in Back Yard w/ Fire Pit •Open Living & Kitchen Area •All on One Level
$525,000
• 4 Bed 3.5 Bath • Circle Drive • Smart Home with Nest Thermostats
$485,000
$499,000
621 Park Dr •Totally Custom •1.5 Acre Lot •Lush Landscaping
7005 Bluff Lane
205 Turnberry
• 4 Bed 4 Bath
• 3 Bed 2 Bath • Great Location • Gated Community with Amenities
• 3 Covered Porches • Access to Goose Creek Tennis Club
$779,000
$649,000
103 Twin Gates
1544 Jackson Ave. E
•3 Bed 3 Bath •Spacious Open Floor Plan •Personal Back Yard & Back Deck
• 4 Bed 3.5 Bath
$139,900
Harris Grove #10
118 Pin Oak Drive
149 Oxford Creek Drive
315 Bramlett Blvd
•Located a Few Blocks from the Square •New Paint, Carpet & Light Fixtures •Great for Entertaining
$139,000
LEGACY R EALT Y
•Great Location to Ole Miss & the Square •Main Level Master Suite •Select Upgrade
•Great Entertaining Space
$499,000
$899,000
Norwood Pointe #2
• 3 BR / 2.5 Bath
33 CR 143
• Finished Bonus Room
• Large Open Living Area • Media Room
w/ a Closet
• Front & Back Porch • Open & Inviting Living & Kitchen Area
$259,000
301 Globe Loop
• Large Master with Claw Foot Tub
$333,000
• 5 Bed 3 Bath • 10 Min. from Ole Miss
$300,000
• 3 Bed 3.5 Bath •3 Bed /2.5 Bath Stand Alone Condo • Custom Outdoor Kitchen •1 Mile from Ole Miss Campus • Viking Appliances •Quiet Location
$165,000
$515,000
402 Elizabeth Court
• 3 Bed 2 Bath
$107,500
Oak Terrace #103
•View of Golf Course
512 Easel Street
• 2 Bed 2 Bath
$525,000
•4 Bed 3.5 Bath
• 5 Bed 4 Bath •1.7 Acres Overlooking Golf Course •Brand New Theater Room w/ HD Screen
Old Taylor Place Unit O6 607 Park
• Custom Built 4 Bed 4 Bath Home • Open & Spacious Floor Plan • Access to Highlands Lake & Park
100 Rosemont Loop
3839 Majestic Oaks
$599,000
$154,000
•Nestled on Nearly 5 Acres •Renovated w/ Custom Cabinets & LED Lighting •Fenced in Pool •Workshop with Electricity & Water
$165,000
•Conveniently located close to •2 Bed 2.5 Bath • Ideal Location on Old Taylor Rd. the Ole Miss campus & the Square •Well Maintained Condo • Open Spacious Floor Plan • On Site Amenities
•Great Location
$705,000 911 Sleepy Hollow Cv. Lot 86 Highlands
• 3 Car Garage
$599,900
104 Calton Hill •3 Bed 2.5 Bath •Well-Maintained Condo •Hardwood Floors
$195,500
126 Oxford Creek Dr • 3 Bed 2.5 Bath • Brand New Construction • Community Pool • Brick Feature Wall in Dining Room
$310,000
Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com •662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.
MARCH 2017
42
ON THE COVER Food trucks have made their way to Oxford, serving up tasty, on-the-go items like YoknapaTaco’s carnitas tacos. photographed by Joe Worthem
IN EVERY ISSUE
FEATURES
EVENTS
42 Anchors Aweigh
26
National Signing Day Party
The Sabatier family is teaching the sport of sailing to children of north Mississippi with their Black Jack Sailing camp at Sardis Lake.
28
Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball
30
Princess Ball
32
OHS Signing Day
34
Ole Miss Singers Reunion
36
Together Oxford Workshop
38
Eggs and Issues Breakfast
56 A Bigger Bite
74
LHS Reality Fair
76
P.E.O. Founder’s Day Luncheon
78
Oxford Art Crawl
80
Fiber Arts Festival
82
LHS Beauty Pageant
84
MLK Day of Service
86
Young Life Anniversary
88
Bramlett’s 100th Day of School
48 Street Eats (and Drinks) From tasty tacos and brick oven pizza to fresh-roasted coffee, food trucks offer delicious and convenient dining options.
14
Letter From the Publisher
18
What’s Happening
20
Community Corner: Young Life
22
In Season: Hummus
92
Out and About
In his new book, local writer John T. Edge explores the ever-evolving connection between food, race and culture in the South.
96
I Am Oxford: Joe Dickey
60 Ready, Set, Rebels!
ANNOUNCEMENT
With a newly renovated facility and a recordbreaking season underway, the Ole Miss Track & Field team is racing to the top.
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66 West Coast Wanderlust
Alexander & Bevill
Oxford photographer Paul Gandy captures the natural beauty, bustling nightlife and colorful characters of the Pacific Coast.
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
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60
66 March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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THE PUBLISHER
D
uring cold winter months, there really isn’t anything better than holing up in your favorite restaurant for a delicious plate of comfort food to warm your bones. But this month, with warmer weather and spring in the air, everyone is ready to get outside and dine alfresco under the clear blue sky. That’s why we’re excited about Oxford’s booming food truck scene. Patrons are lining up in parking lots all over town (and beyond) to get their hands on this delicious street food, from chorizo tacos at YoknapaTaco or a slice of Wild Bird pizza at Fergndan’s wood-fired-pizza truck to a cup of small-batch roasted coffee from Heartbreak Coffee. Turn to page 48 to read more about these mobile restaurants that are leaving our stomachs (and hearts) full. No one understands the evolving food scene of Oxford quite like local food writer and Southern Foodways Alliance Director John T. Edge. In his new book, The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South (due for release May 16 from Penguin Press), Edge explores the past of food, race and culture in the South and what that means for the years to come. On page 56, Edge talks with
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Fergndan’s wood-fired pizza (top), YoknapaTaco’s signature tacos (left) and Heartbreak’s small-batch roasted coffee (right) are just a few of the food truck offerings available in and around Oxford.
Invitation Oxford about his book and the food spots in town he believes are changing Oxford and shaping its culinary future. There’s no denying the impressiveness of Oxford’s food scene, and we too celebrate its constant evolution. Whether it’s a dish from
your favorite restaurant on the Square or a wrapped-up meal from your favorite food truck, dig in, Oxford. And happy spring!
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
INVITATION Oxford
INTRODUCING: “The Village”
publishers
Phil and Rachel West
editorial
EDITOR IN CHIEF Lena Anderson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emily Welly EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lanie Anderson Sunny Young Baker Meaghin Burke Ginny McCarley Toni Overby
art
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joey Brent Paul Gandy Jessica Richardson
production
LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM CAMPUS! 3BR/3.5BA WITH 1730 SQ FT STARTING AT $224,900 • 4 UNITS TO A BUILDING WITH 5 BUILDINGS READY BUY AUGUST 2017 • CUSTOM CABINETS, FULL APPLIANCES PACKAGE, WOOD FLOORS, GRANITE TOPS & BLINDS ALL COME STANDARD • FEILDSTONE FEATURES WOODED NATURE TRAILS, TWO LAKES, A BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE, RUSTIC CLUBHOUSE AND A POOL!
LAKE FRONT HOME INWellsgate
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber
• SPACIOUS COVERED PATIO WITH INDOOR/OUTDOOR MASONRY FIREPLACE
COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson
advertising
ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Zach Fields Becca Pepper Holly Vollor
• BEAUTIFUL, FRANK TINDELL DESIGNED HOME • LOVELY LIVING ROOM WITH VAULTED CEILING OPENS TO A GOURMET KITCHEN
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katherine Henson
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham
• 4BR/4.5BA
office
BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard
• PARTIALLY FINISHED, WITH THE BENEFIT OF FINISHING IT TO YOUR SPECIFIC TASTE
INVEST G R E ATP R O P E R T Y ! M E N T
MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com
To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Oxford respects the many diverse individuals and organizations who make up north Mississippi and strives to be an inclusive representation of all members of our community.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
NEW TOWN HOMES FOR SALE
4BR/4.5BA 1877 SQ FT FOR $191,115! GRANITE THROUGHOUT, STAINLESS APPLIANCES, FULL WASHER/DRYER, REAL WOOD FLOORS! LOCATED JUST 4 MILES WEST OF CAMPUS OFF HWY 6. GREAT FOR STUDENTS, WEEKENDERS, OR INVESTORS! BIG BEDROOMS WITH LARGE WALK-IN CLOSETS AVAILABLE SPRING 2017!
OVER 50 SOLD!
Matt McGraw
662-801-5170 matt@kessingerrealestate.com www.oxfordhomesonline.com
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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MARCH 2017
3/2
Camille A. Brown & Dancers
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MATT KARAS
Camille A. Brown & Dancers perform selections from BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play, a production about the complexity of carving out a self-defined identity as a black female in urban American culture. The company uses modern, hip-hop, African, ballet and tap dance to tell stories that connect history with contemporary culture. Tickets $22-$30. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center fordcenter.org
3/3
Susan Cushman Reading
3/3-4
Oxford WeeCycle Sale WeeCycle is a seasonal children’s consignment sale offering gently used children’s clothing, toys, furniture and gear. Local artists and vendors also sell products and services for children and parents. VIP Preview Sale: Friday, $10 (must register online, limited availability), 6-8 p.m. Public Sale: Saturday, free admission, 8 a.m.3 p.m., half-price shopping 4-7 p.m. North Oxford Baptist Church Gym oxfordweecycle.com
3/4
Maker’s Market The local arts-and-crafts market will feature 20 vendors and live music by The Kites. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Powerhouse oxfordmakersmarket.org
3/18
St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl Wear something green, and gather with members of the community for this eighth annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 3 p.m., the Square
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
March 24th & 25th Friday, March 24th Brewer's Dinner Multi-course meal from Dwayne Ingraham with Sinfully Southern! Each course complements the featured beers. Sit with brewers from around Mississippi! Limited seats available!
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DARREN CARROLL PHOTOGRAPHY
The Mississippi author reads from her new book, Tangles and Plaques: A Mother and Daughter Face Alzheimer’s. 5 p.m., Off Square Books squarebooks.com
Saturday, March 25th Enjoy beer from breweries throughout the Southeast, live music, and family friendly games from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Old Armory Pavilion on University Ave. Tickets available at sippin.oxfordarts.com! $30 Saturdayonly $80 Friday & Saturday YAC members call 6622366429 for a discount code!
yacoperations@gmail.com 6622366429 sippin.oxfordarts.com
3/24-25
3/25
Organized by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Miss-i-sippin’ is the official festival of the Mississippi Brewers Guild and Oxford’s original craft beer festival. All proceeds will benefit the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and the Mississippi Craft Brewers Guild. Time TBD, the Powerhouse oxfordarts.com
The party never ends for the singer-songwriter and Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Famer who returns to Oxford to perform his greatest hits. Tickets $25-$50; $3 underage fee for all persons under 21 (cash only). All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. thelyricoxford.com
Miss-i-sippin’
Robert Earl Keen
3/29-31
Oxford Conference for the Book The 24th annual conference brings together writers, journalists, publishers, teachers, students and literacy advocates to celebrate the written word. oxfordconferenceforthebook.com
Ole Miss Men’s Basketball 3/4 vs. South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. The Pavilion at Ole Miss
Ole Miss Baseball 3/10-12 vs. Furman; Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1:30 p.m. 3/17-19 vs. Vanderbilt; Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 1:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. 3/30-4/1 vs. Mississippi State; Thursday 7 p.m., Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday 1:30 p.m. Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field
Ole Miss Softball 3/17-19 vs. Texas A&M; Friday 6 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. 3/22 vs. Mississippi State, 6 p.m. Ole Miss Softball Complex
Ole Miss Track & Field 3/24-25 Joe Walker Invitational Ole Miss Track & Field Complex March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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YOUNG LIFE
written by Katherine Henson
Young Life is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian ministry that offers mentorship, social gatherings, summer camps, Bible study and more to children and young adults around the country. The 600 members of Young Life North Mississippi include middle school, high school and college students, and many of the 50 leaders are students at the University of Mississippi. The Oxford Condominiums leaders’ goal is to build relationships with local young people as friends and mentors. “Our leaders show interest in being involved in our lives, and in turn we are encour408 Andalusia 401 organizations Bickerstaff #10 Highpointe aged to be 908 involved with other 4Bed/3.5Bath 4Bed/4Bath 3Bed/3Bath Attention to all details!students Greatin deal our in Highpointe! You will not get closer to the and community,” said Lilly This charming home has This condo is in great Ole Miss campus in such a well everything youMcElreath, want with condition and features Lafayette High School student and planned condominium! maintenance-free living. 3 bedrooms with 3 baths. Young Life member. While Young Life is a Christian-based organization, it welcomes people of all religions and backgrounds. “As leaders in Oxford, we get the opportunity to enter into the lives of13kids pursue Cross Creek 612 Centerpointe CR and (Levee Road) 4Bed/4.5Bath One of Oxford’s best kept 3Bed/1.5Bath authentic Beautiful relationships just Charming as Jesus pursues Craftsman style cottage located on secrets! Very conveniently a tree covered lot with a located and several great home in popular Northpointe us,” Tucker, UM junior and location. Young Subdivision. Inviting convenient new plans to be builtsaid Grace fireplace with exposed brick Great investment property! to your liking. Life leader. and open entertaining plan. The national organization of Young Wellsgate Life celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. In February, Young Life Oxford also hit a milestone with its 10th anniversary. The group held its annual banquet at the Jefferson and invited guests to celebrate and learn more 810 Brentwood about its mission. Cove 2202 Longspur Pointe Crepe Myrtles line the 4Bed/3.5Bath “We invited people from Mature the community entrance to this private estate Grandiose southern estate home located in home complete with a pool! Wellsgate to subdivision. home has it all! come This learn what we do for these kids,” said new area director Bryan Spillman. “Young Life’s goal and philosophy is to reach out to every kid, no matter who they are or where they’re from. We are not a church or a replacement of the church body, but a part of it.”
Spring, a time for renewal, why not welcome the season in
18007 Country wood Cove
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Splendid home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Wellsgate! This home has a pool, beautiful kitchen! Everything you want!
236 St. Andrews Circle
You have waited for this address! Absolutely wonderful neighborhood!
sto
Suc comm living. quickl
30
4 Steeple of this s
1605
Ju to
Ja
jame
Lot 36 Fazio Drive
220 Timberlane
onebridge
3Bed/2Bath ch a well planned munity of carefree Units are selling as ly as they are built.
00 Winner’s Circle
4Bed/3.5Bath echase is the location soon to be constructed dream home.
5 Jackson Ave #4
4 Bed/3.5 Bath ust a minutes’ walk o the SQUARE!!
Lot 30 Crail Cove
525 CR 102
12028 Water Ridge
264 Turnberry
1205 Wood Duck Cove
1014 Augusta
5 Lots in Grand Oaks
Wellsgate Lots
6 CR 376
, new life.... n a new home! 802 Birkdale
37 Fazio
2403 West Wellsgate
708 Ridgewood Manor
VISIT JAMEYLEGGITT.COM
4 Bed/ 2.5 Bath Southern charm at it’s best! Close to parks, schools, and downtown!
ING
PEND
313 Fox hollow cove
4Bed/3Bath Taylor-Greene is the location for this well-planned home. So many great features!
408 Country Club
ING
PEND
420 Deer Run
5Bed/3Bath Space galore! This home was built by the builder for his family to reside-well done!
amey Leggitt
Cell: 662-832-7620 Visit jameyleggitt.com ey@kessingerrealestate.com
G
IN PEND
12018 Water Ridge
ING
ING
G
PEND
PEND
IN PEND
412 Andalusia
11009 Covington Way
720 Old Taylor Road
ING
PEND
18005 Countrywood
ING
PEND
12030 Water Ridge
ING
PEND
Lot 35 Fazio Drive
Jamey Leggitt • 662-832-7620 jamey@kessingerrealestate.com
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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1402 Greenway Cv, Grand Oaks.
775 Shady Oaks, Royal Oaks.
HUMMUS
written by Sunny Young Baker photographed by Joe Worthem
d the perfect house ome in
Oxford!
313 Bramlet, The Belmont
2100 Old Taylor, unit 101, Turnberry
Winner’s Circle
(Steeplechase)
214 E 17th St., 2 Chateau Belle Court
524 Fazio Dr.
526 Fazio Dr.
Nottingham Drive
Glenda Keenan, GRI 662-832-0729
Keenan, GRI 662-832-0729
glenda@kessingerrealestate.com
gerrealestate.com
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
2 Beautiful new construction homes! The Grove at Grand Oaks
F
ive years ago, Sherry and Les Driggers and their five children left the comforts of Oxford to live off the land on a farm off Highway 315 in Yalobusha County. “We bought a farm and began learning how to grow our own food, how to become good stewards of the land,” Sherry said. 7D Farm, named for the seven members of the Driggers family, is now their way of life. There they raise cows, horses, chickens and ducks; grow vegetables; and make their own bread. “I wanted my children to have the best food available and started making bread because I couldn’t find any that wasn’t loaded with all kinds of preservatives and additives,” Sherry said. They also began making their own hummus, a product they now sell at local farmers markets. The hummus is made from scratch with basic, all-natural ingredients, and the family prepares fresh batches of it every week to take to the markets. “We try to grow what we can and use local ingredients [in the hummus] as much as possible,” Sherry said. “We enjoy it as a dip with fresh carrots, celery and sweet peppers. It is great as a sandwich spread and always a hit at gatherings and social events.” Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip traditionally made with chickpeas, olive oil and tahini. Along with those basic ingredients, the Driggerses add herbs and spices to make each batch unique and flavorful. The Driggers children love it on their homemade bread. “We try to offer flavors that are fresh, nutritious and enjoyable,” Sherry said. “I saw a need at the market and decided to share it with the community. I love what I am doing and hope that 7D Farm will continue to grow and feed the Oxford area.” 7D Farm bread and prepared goods, including their assorted flavors of hummus and jellies, can be found at the Oxford Community Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
7D Farm Plain Jane Hummus 3 cups organic chickpeas 1 cup bean broth (from chickpeas) 1/3 cup lemon juice 2 Tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste) Âź cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 clove garlic 1 Tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons kosher salt Blend all ingredients together in food processor until smooth. Adjust the amount of broth to desired texture.
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY ASHLEY DOUGLAS
AMANDA MARGARET ALEXANDER & JODY ALAN BEVILL
r. and Mrs. John Marshall Alexander of Cleveland, formerly of Oxford, are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Amanda Margaret Alexander to Jody Alan Bevill, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Harold Bevill Jr. of Lexington. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James F. Smith of Merigold, the late Mr. Dennis E. Gordin, and the late Mr. and Mrs. William Brooks Alexander Jr. of Cleveland. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Hazel Ford Bevill and the late Mr. James Harold Bevill Sr. of Lexington, and the late Mr. and Mrs. John Monroe Sheffield of Ballardsville. Amanda is a graduate of Oxford High School and the University of Mississippi. Jody is a graduate of Central Holmes Christian School, the University of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi School of Law. The prospective groom is currently employed with Barrett Law Group in Lexington. The couple will exchange vows at First Baptist Church in Oxford on April 1.
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
1923 University Avenue I Oxford, Mississippi 38655 Main Office: 662.234.5621 http://www.oxfordms38655.com
Sue Elmore
Realtor of the Year 2012 suemelmore@gmail.com 662.801.0123
Paige Davis
Each office Individually Owned and Operated
Realtor of the Year 2016 paigedavis38655@gmail.com 662.801.6435
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY WATCH PARTY The Ole Miss Quarterback Club hosted its annual watch party celebrating National Signing Day at the Oxford Conference Center on Feb. 1. photographed by Joey Brent
Leland Graeber, Caroline Moses and Marie Mayers
Jim Haddock, Doug Simmons, Harper Young and Mickey Matanto
Bill McKeithen and Ed Lee
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Root, Donna, Coleman, Redding and Stump Russell
Todd Johnson, Scott Weathersby and Sammie Smith
Jim and Sylvia Pryor
INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
James and Robin Potts with Ken and Margie French
C.W. and Sharron Campbell
Rachel Anderson and Helen Kaye
Justin and Jason Brooks
Tyler and Joe Cox
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
JUNIOR AUXILIARY OF OXFORD CHARITY BALL The fifth annual Junior Auxiliary of Oxford charity ball was held Jan. 21 at the Powerhouse. The Mardi Gras-themed event included the crowning of 2017’s king and queen, David Naron and Kristy Bridgers. photographed by Joey Brent
David and Suzie Dixon
Joanne Mitchell and Diana Cissell
Kristy, Sara Caroline and David Bridgers
Bryan Mathias and Andrew Laws
Jordyn Thornton and Lea McCartney
Jeannie Zieren and Amy Cole
Katherine Panel, Kelley Kaigler, Lee Ann Stubbs and Maria Moya
Jennifer Milliner and Meagan Farrell
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Brittany Dudely, Whitney Crow, Robin Geurin, Whitney Alred and Monique Horan
Jason and Amy Hardin Shirkey
Peter Ross, Jeffrey Little and Andrew Ross
Nicole and Jason Brunner
Josh and Lindsey Hendrickson with Stephanie and Phil Laporte
Erin Alexander, Joli Nichols, Samantha Weathersbee and Lindsey Meisenheimer
Taylor and Jennifer Main with Rebecca Crane and Alex Kerwin
Wendy Nicholson and Lakeisha Borum
Catherine Phillips, Cathy Lowe, Allison Crain, Tara Denevan, Leslie Butts and Elise Lee
MONDAY - SATURDAY 10:00-6:00 • SUNDAY 12:00-4:00 662.234.8383 • OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI COTTONBOLLANTIQUEMALL@GMAIL.COM
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
FATHER-DAUGHTER PRINCESS BALL The fifth annual Princess Ball was held Feb. 7 at the Jefferson. The theme was Be Our Guest, and the night featured food, dancing and a photo booth. Chick-fil-A hosted the event. photographed by Joey Brent
Braleigh Crowe and Thomas Cobb
Rico McThume and Paris Hill
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Joey, Josie and Maddie East
Rivers, Jason and Timber Brunner
Lance and Emma Sipes
McCayla and Bo Prince
Mollie and Steve McRoberts
Jonathon, Mariah, Gabrielle and Alexandria Millican with Audrey Westmoreland
Jeremiah and Katelyn Fields
Emma Katherine and Clint Jordan
Lainey and David Brown
Sarah, Larry and Lilly Kegley
Rosie and Danny Klimetz
Steve and Karlie Ann Beckham
Robert, Anna Reed, Lucy and Annie Perry
Chase, Bella and Caitlyn Crawford
Eme Rae and L.D. Gillespie with Sullivan Catherine and Brandon Holloway
March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL SIGNING DAY Members of the Oxford High School football team accepted scholarship offers from various universities around the country in front of coaches, family and fans at the OHS gym on Feb. 1. photographed by Joey Brent
Mary, Jake, Kolbe, Scott and Nat Leary
Vicky and Robert Skidmore
(Back) Chris Cutcliffe, Kent Hickinbottom, D.T. Thompson, Jerry Quiller, Kolbe Leary, D.Q. Thomas, (Front) Nick Sisk, Ashton Stewart, Colton Skidmore and Devin Rockette
Tias Hilliard and Joey Walden
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Brian Harvey and Mike Martin
Ben Mikell and Cliff Orman
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
OLE MISS CONCERT SINGERS REUNION A reunion concert featuring Ole Miss Concert Singers alumni was held Feb. 4 at North Oxford Baptist Church under the direction of Dr. Jerry Jordan, who led the group from 1980 to 2001. photographed by Joey Brent
Eloise Dallas with Diane and Jack Sauers
Jean Jordan, Kayla Kuhn and Ashley Godrey
Julia and Bill Baker
Coley and Julia Taylor
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Beth and Ellen Davis
Karen Teague, Kathy Lee and Terrena Kyle
Ole Miss Concert Singers alumni with Dr. Jerry Jordan
Melissa and Tim Rutledge
Don and Susan Mason
Jim Boncosky and Bill Brown
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
TOGETHER OXFORD A discussion panel led by Tony Caldwell and Jandel Crutchfield was held Jan. 30 at ParisYates Chapel. Together Oxford is a community workshop aimed at creating dialogue among neighbors, friends and co-workers. photographed by Joey Brent
Sherod Bryant and Holden Hays
Tami Armstrong and Sydney Gibson
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Tony Caldwell and Jandel Crutchfield
Lanie and Will Anderson
Jessica Morgan, Dysharica Newson, Tiara Walker and Cole Putman
Nayoun Lee and Viktor Burlaka
Ashley Mathis, Tina Hill, Timeshia Green, Jalexcia Heard and Keyundra Cole
Dylan and Donnell Ford Green
Chris and Whitney Robinson
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
EGGS AND ISSUES ANNUAL BREAKFAST Oxford/Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation hosted a breakfast Jan. 23 at the Courtyard Marriott. Area legislators participated in a panel discussion. photographed by Joey Brent
Christy and Ron Knapp
Charlie Williams and Baretta Mosley
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Marlin Williams and Tracie Russell
Melissa Smith and Dixie Church
Julia Blackmon, Pam Swain and Katie Kaiser
Chaning Green and Erin Smith
Jim Beckett, Steve Massengill, Nolan Mettetal, Jay Hughes and Gray Tollison
Randall Haley and Michael Ferris
Max Hipp and Melanie Thompson
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The Sabatiers are teaching the sport of sailing to children of north Mississippi with their Black Jack Sailing camp at Sardis Lake. written by Lanie Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem
Jim Sabatier and his family had little experience with sailing until they visited Jim’s son Charley in Washington, D.C., when Jim was on sabbatical from his career as a physics professor at the University of Mississippi. Charley frequently visited the nearby Chesapeake Bay, where he learned to sail and eventually became a sailing instructor. Sailing piqued the family’s interest. What began as a family hobby grew into Black Jack Sailing, a nonprofit summer sailing day camp at Sardis Lake for campers ages 8 to 17. Jim; his wife, Linda; their two sons; and their daughter, Susan, are all educators. Jim envisioned a sailing camp that married his passions for education and community investment. He knew the right person to oversee the details of a summer camp: his son Joe, a former camp staffer at Camp Bratton-Green in Canton.
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“I caught the bug for sailing from spending time with my dad and Charley,” said Joe, who is also a teacher at Oxford High School. “Dad knew my background in camp and asked me to be his camp director. It’s really a family affair.” Charley also moved back to Oxford and is now the director of sailing instruction for Black Jack Sailing. Jim is the board president, and Linda is a shore mom who oversees campers when they are not sailing. Susan is the lead instructor and a junior at the University of Mississippi. Jim and Joe believe that the family’s passion for sailing and their close relationship with one another create a successful environment for Black Jack Sailing. “We love each other in a different dimension than how I love my colleagues at work,” Jim said. “We know each other’s [next] moves and understand each other’s skill sets. It allows us to work as a team, but the family brings this notion that there’s love operating in these relationships.” Black Jack Sailing has four sessions in the summer, each session lasting five days. It emphasizes safety, fun and learning. Campers learn the vocabulary of sailing, how to tie certain sailing knots, what to do if the boat capsizes, how to sail various courses on Lake Sardis and much more. “In a short period of time, we are able to make campers feel confident and prepare them for sailing on a boat,” Joe said. “I think that’s attributed to our style of teaching. The boats we use also allow for even beginners to quickly go from land to sailing.” At the beginning of the week, two campers sail with a counselor on board. As the week progresses, the goal is to sail together without a counselor aboard but under supervision from the shore. When parents pick up their children on Friday, campers have the opportunity to sail with them on the boat. Macey Edmondson, the mother of two boys who attended last
From executive director to sailing instructor, each member of the Sabatier family plays a role in the Black Jack Sailing camp, held every summer on Sardis Lake. March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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summer’s camp, was proud of the leadership and sailing skills her sons had developed during the week. “When we got on the boat, they took on this leadership role,” Edmondson said. “I was the passenger. They were the ones calling out commands and steering the boat, so I had to trust that they were doing it correctly.” Edmondson grew up on the Gulf Coast, where sailing was familiar. After the boys attended camp, the family bought a sailboat for sailing on Sardis Lake. “It sparked a fire in all of us,” she said. “It gives our whole family a common hobby where we’re spending time together, and no one’s on the iPad or computer or at an extracurricular activity.” The Sabatiers’ goal for Black Jack Sailing is to foster a sailing community in north Mississippi, and the Edmondsons’ story is a step toward that goal. Susan also started the Ole Miss Sailing Club. The club partners with Ole Miss Outdoors (a program on campus that exposes students to the outdoors through recreational activities) so that they are able to use Black Jack Sailing’s sailboats. “When we say we’re sailing in north Mississippi, people ask, ‘Where would you go sailing there?’ ” Joe said. “People underestimate Sardis Lake. It hasn’t gotten much attention, and people don’t realize that Sardis Lake has really good winds.” Because Black Jack Sailing is a nonprofit sailing day camp, the family also hopes to garner supporters who will donate toward the camp’s expenses or sponsor children in the community so that they are able to attend the camp at no cost. “Black Jack Sailing is a family of educators who like to sail and believe in giving back to the community,” Jim said. “It is not our job; it’s our service.” The sailing day camp is open for registration. Visit blackjacksailing.org for more information.
Black Jack Sailing is a nonprofit camp for children ages 8 to 17. Each five-day session focuses on the vocabulary, safety and basic instruction of sailing. March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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STREET EATS (AND DRINKS)
From tasty tacos and brick-oven pizza to fresh-roasted coffee, food trucks offer delicious and convenient dining options. written by Toni Overby photographed by Joe Worthem
Hungry patrons line up in parking lots outside Jones at Home, FNC Park and Ole Miss baseball’s Swayze Field for lunch or late-night street tacos served up by YoknapaTaco. Owner Jake Sessums (pictured) started the taco truck in August 2015 and is constantly updating its menu options. Follow @yoknapataco_ox on Instagram for upcoming locations.
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ORGET THE FINE CHINA AND FANCY table linens. Some of Oxford’s best food is now served on flimsy paper plates or stuffed inside tinfoil. Food trucks have made their way to town, and food lovers are welcoming them with open arms. It all began with Jake Sessums and YoknapaTaco. The Brookhaven native, who attended Ole Miss his first two years of college, returned to Oxford in 2011 and realized after many years of working in the food industry that the town lacked late-night food options. “We have this huge pool of college kids and adults who are out and about after hours and want a good bite to eat. And simply put, there just weren’t enough places to satisfy that need,” Sessums said. With a refurbished truck-turned-kitchen designed by Sessums’ father, Kim, a Mississippi doctor and artist, YoknapaTaco (the
name derived from William Faulkner’s fictional Yoknapatawpha County) successfully began selling tacos, burritos and nachos outside of Jones at Home in August 2015. Sessums believes cultivating relationships with business owners in town has helped his truck thrive, allowing him to set up at many locations, including FNC Park, the UPS Store parking lot and Rebel Bookstore. YoknapaTaco will also be serving up tacos to Ole Miss baseball fans behind the student section at Swayze Field at all 32 home games again this spring. “We really love to support the university and Ole Miss sports and think it provides a nice addition to a great right-field culture that the student body has created,” Sessums said. YoknapaTaco’s menu features specialty tacos like chicken pimenton and creole chorizo, as well as more traditional ones like spicy beef, along with sides such as chips and queso or
plantain chips and guacamole. Sessums plans to soon add roasted pork and Mexican quinoa, along with various other items, to the menu, which is constantly evolving. Because the task of purchasing and moving food daily can get expensive, Sessums leases kitchen space, which he calls the Hick Wallflower, to store goods and have a permanent kitchen. Situated on Highway 6 near Thacker Loop, it has become a multileased kitchen for caterers and restaurants, such as Tarasque Cucina, which offers takeout Italian food by chef John Stokes. Sessums learned the biggest obstacle of opening YoknapaTaco was working with city officials who had no prior experience with food truck operations. But they welcomed Sessums and established ordinances that would help shape all incoming food truck businesses. His work with the city helped lay the groundwork March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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for many other trucks, such as Fergndan’s, a family mobile pizza business started by Oxonians John and Laurabeth Ferguson. John, who worked as a manufacturers’ representative for food companies such as Heinz, kept a notebook of ideas handy to journal his dream of one day opening a pizza shop. “I wanted a family restaurant, something I could bring our children into,” he said, referring to the couple’s three children, William, 22, who they call FergE; Dan, 19; and Emma Grace, 15. Through this notebook of sketches, a pizza truck was born, and now each of the Ferguson children have a hand in the family business. While Emma Grace handles toppings and Dan flips and tosses the dough, FergE controls a very hot brick oven, bought from a business in Colorado that specializes in them. The thermal oven, with constantly moving wood and very high heat, gives Fergndan’s pizza its signature crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese. Although they have a limited number of toppings due to space, their menu changes frequently to allow customers plenty of variety. “Our best-selling pizza is a close race between the meat and supreme, but we have lots of toppings that allow people’s imaginations to run wild,” John said. They recently created a taco pizza, and the Wild Bird—Fergndan’s version of a barbecue pizza—is also a customer favorite. “Our evolving concept continues to be really fast pizza in a really hot oven with a smorgasbord of toppings,” John said. And for those with a gluten or dairy intolerance, Fergndan’s offers gluten- and dairy-free options, which benefit people like John, who lives with celiac disease and must be selective with his food choices. “We keep our gluten- and dairy-free toppings completely separate in every way so as not to contaminate. That is extremely important for people like John,” Laurabeth said. The Fergusons think of their pizza business as more than a food truck, calling it a “moving restaurant.” They set up at various locations, including FNC Park, spots along The Ferguson family serves up its Fergndan’s wood-fired pizza at spots such as Yalobusha Brewing Company on Friday nights. Go to fergndanspizza.com for more info.
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University and Jackson Avenues, Yalobusha Brewing Company in Water Valley and, most recently, the Community Church parking lot on Highway 334. John and Laurabeth try to make their customers’ experience as enjoyable as possible, even offering tables and chairs for those who wish to sit and eat. “We wanted to be hospitable and accessible,” John said. Accessibility is the biggest pro of food trucks, and no food is more easily accessible than a hot dog. Small Time Hot Dogs and Street Eats’ owner Gary Howard frequently travels to Oxford from Winona to provide an on-the-go meal for tourists and locals. “I’ve been in the service industry most of my life. Meeting and feeding people is what makes me most happy,” said Howard, who based his food truck and food carts off the Lucky Hot Dog Stands in New Orleans. Howard loves to come to Oxford. “It’s a beautiful and clean city, and the people here are so nice,” he said. His plan is to continue to operate as long as Small Time is thriving. With the current boom of food trucks not appearing to slow any time soon, he feels optimistic about his future here. Oxford’s food truck landscape also includes Chad Henson’s pop-up concept Afri ssippi, which currently sets up most Wednesdays in front of Rebel Barn BBQ and, on some days, features a band playing a blend of Hill Country blues and African music. The menu features both Southern and authentic West African cuisines. Henson is also developing Big Dave’s, a barbecue food truck set in a large mobile kitchen with a smoker beside it. Former Ole Miss defensive tackle D.J. Jones and his father, “Big” Dave, are collaborating with Henson on the venture. “Big Dave has been a caterer for the Cowboys and Carolina Panthers and specializes in tailgate-style catering,” Henson said. The three of them are also looking into opening a restaurant with the same concept in Water Valley and hope to have the truck up and running soon. Gretchen Williams is the newest arrival to the scene with her mobile coffee shop, Heartbreak Coffee. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, she spent a couple of years at the University of Mississippi and then made her
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Gretchen Williams (pictured top with dog West) recently returned to Oxford from Long Beach, California, with her 1979 Volkswagen bus and small-batch Heartbreak Coffee. Williams plans to start serving her coffee around town this spring at places like the Oxford Community Farmers Markets. Follow @heartbreakcoffee on Instagram for updates.
way to Long Beach, California, where she got a job as a barista in a small café. There, she fell in love with coffee and the idea of owning her own storefront. Like any entrepreneur with a dream, Williams endured a few setbacks. “Some shook me so hard I almost gave up on my vision altogether,” she said. But in 2012, she began roasting coffee on her stove-top at home and
created her own signature roast. “I made some really bad cups of coffee but then began to make some pretty darn good ones. I realized it was time to finally commit to all my hopes and fears, to thrive in the ebb and flow of bittersweet experiences and to turn my many heartbreaks into inspirations,” she said. Because the cost of owning a storefront in California is very expensive, Williams
purchased a 1979 Volkswagen bus, which she turned into a coffee shop on wheels. In September, Williams made the decision to move back to Mississippi and bring Heartbreak Coffee to Oxford. Soon, her signature java on the go will be available around town. “I just want to brew some good coffee and serve and connect with the community here in Oxford,” Williams said. March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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FOOD FIGHT FOR A CAUSE
The Food Truck Fight fundraiser brought together members of the community for a healthy competition that benefited various local nonprofit organizations.
The Food Truck Fight raised more than $5,000 for local charities last summer when various food trucks from the region partnered with nonprofit organizations for good food, live music and friendly competition.
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AST YEAR, FOOD TRUCKS FROM ACROSS north Mississippi converged in Oxford to benefit the community. Under the direction of Yoknapatawpha Arts Council director Wayne Andrews, the Food Truck Fight, held Aug. 28 at the Armory Pavilion off University Avenue, brought food truck vendors and nonprofit organizations together. “Last year’s Food Truck Fight was great because it was a merging of two needs: food trucks needed vending opportunities to stay in business, and charities needed another means of giving. Cocktail parties can get monotonous, so this was a different way to bring people together,” Andrews said. At the Fight, a local charity was paired with a food truck. Andrews selected smaller nonprofits that don’t necessarily get a lot of publicity, such as the Rotary Club and Crimestoppers. Attendees paid a $10 admission fee, which went toward the participating charity organization of their choosing, and purchased food from the food truck of their choice. A percentage of that money went to the charity the food truck was partnered with. At
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the end of the event, the pair that raised the most money was deemed the winner. “We catered to everyone – families were able to bring their children, who could jump in a bounce house while Mom and Dad enjoyed music and a cold beer,” Andrews said. Yalobusha Brewing Company donated beer, and each of the food trucks, which included YoknapaTaco and Small Time Hot Dogs, gave a portion of their earnings to a pool that was divided among all five competing charities. Yoknapatawpha Arts Council (YAC), paired with Sweetwater Bleu’z Creole & Cajun Cooking, won the largest vote and received a slightly larger percentage of the proceeds. The event was a success and raised around $5,000 for local charities. Andrews and YAC plan to hold the event again in August with some slight modifications. “This year, charities will rotate. This allows each charity to gain experience and contacts,” Andrews said. “We will tweak it just a touch, with a few new ideas and ways to make it fun, and a few more games added to what already made it work last year.”
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A BIGGER BITE O
N A SUNNY JANUARY DAY OVER A plate of juicy tacos al pastor and a lime Jarritos soda, John T. Edge mused about the future of Southern food. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and celebrated food writer, explained that joints like El Mundo – more commonly known around Oxford as the Taco Shop – are building a promising future for Southern food. “The future of Southern food culture is not what we think but [instead] places like El Mundo,” Edge said. “If you look with open eyes and you don’t look with romantic blinders on, you recognize that the barbecue of current Oxford is the al pastor taco, here. This is the working-class restaurant that black and white, Mexican-American and all claim.” In his latest book, The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South, due out
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May 16, Edge explores both the future and the history of food in the South. The Potlikker Papers examines food and politics in the South from 1955 to 2015, tracing the history of the region through its inextricable link to food during the turbulent decades. The book begins with the civil rights movement; examines the integral role that waiters, waitresses and cooks played in it; and ends with a look at the multicultural South just on the horizon. Edge, who began his career in the corporate world in Atlanta, originally started puzzling through the relationship between food, politics and the South while pursuing his master’s degree in Southern studies at the University of Mississippi in 1995. “I’ve always loved food – I grew up a quarter mile from a barbecue joint in Georgia – but
In his new book, local writer John T. Edge explores the ever-evolving connection between food, race and culture in the South. written by Ginny McCarley
I couldn’t see food as a subject of study,” he said. However, after examining the South from a variety of perspectives, Edge realized that food was one way to look at the race and class divisions of the region through a new lens. “The subversive possibilities of food enticed me, and still do,” he said.
no recipes in the book, though readers might gain one useful technique in his detailed study of Colonel Sanders’ instruction for scrambling eggs. Sanders suggests adding a little water to the eggs before scrambling, a recommendation that is loaded with implications. “The recipe reveals his prejudices, his
is better known) at the helm, as an example of the dynamism of Southern food. “What Vish conjures at Snackbar is food that is rooted in Gujarat, India, from which he came; Kentucky, where he lived; and Oxford, where he now cooks. All those places factor in, and what he is forging is a very
“We oftentimes tend to frame the South as a place of permanence and not recognize it as a place of dynamism. I think it’s important to recognize that the South is changing rapidly.” —JOHN T. EDGE
Edge began studying potlikker – a term for the broth in the pot of cooked greens – when he wrote his master’s thesis about the debate in 1931 between former Louisiana governor Huey Long and Atlanta Constitution editor Julian Harris on the relative merits of dunking versus crumbling cornbread into potlikker. The significance of this title isn’t just in the allusion to this politically loaded, though playful, debate. For Edge, it also holds a deeper significance about the nature of the South. “Potlikker is, in a way, the distilled essence of the South,” he said. “It is the broth at the bottom of the pot. It’s what’s left after you boil the side meat and greens down. It is this commingling of flavors and traditions, and to me it’s a great metaphor, a great symbol of the South.” Edge is quick to point out that there are
attitudes about race and class,” Edge said. “I suppose it isn’t really a recipe, but it is a really good way to scramble an egg.” Edge lives in Oxford with his wife, Blair Hobbs – an artist and poetry professor at the University of Mississippi – and their son, Jess, and he credits the city’s creative encouragement with his success as a scholar of food. “There is a creative expectation that Oxford has of its people. The city nurtures creativity, nurtures experimentation, values it and supports it. I feel very much a beneficiary to that,” Edge said. “I owe a debt of indulgence and support to Oxford.” El Mundo is not the only restaurant in Oxford that offers an example of the multiculturalism shaping the present and future of Southern food culture. Edge also points to Snackbar, with Vishwesh Bhatt (or Vish, as he
modern, Southern cuisine,” he said. Though The Potlikker Papers is steeped in history, Edge points to the last section of the book as a way to understand what the future of the region holds. “We oftentimes tend to frame the South as a place of permanence and not recognize it as a place of dynamism. I think it’s important to recognize that the South is changing rapidly,” he said. “[In this book] I tell the story of a changing South and help readers ascertain what we’ve gained in the process. We’ve gained much: We’ve gained Vish’s okra chaat, we’ve gained tacos al pastor, and we’ve gained a new openness to our society.” The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South, is available for pre-order at Square Books and various book retailers. Visit johntedge.com for more information. March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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We are excited to announce our new monthly email newsletter. Subscribe for free at invitationoxford.com.
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With a newly renovated facility and a recordbreaking season underway, the Ole Miss track-and-field team is racing to the top. written by Katherine Henson photographed by Joe Worthem
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he Ole Miss track-and-field team now has a state-of-the-art facility to match its successful seasons. The facility, which had been closed since April 2014, underwent a $7.2 million renovation and reopened in September for the start of the 2016-2017 season. Renovations include the addition of a top-of-the-line surface to the track and a 37-by-26-foot video display board; an updated throwing area; and a new interior design for the team lounge and office building. Going two years without proper training
facilities didn’t stop the team from working hard. They spent a lot of practice time at the Oxford and Lafayette High School tracks, and the distance runners ran off-road at Oxford parks and trails. Practicing off-campus was a hassle logistically for student-athletes who had to shuttle between classes on campus and two practices a day, but the new track facility was worth the wait. “It’s really nice and a lot easier to go from classes to practice,” said long-distance runner Tavyn Lovitt.
Head Coach Connie Price-Smith (top right) and Assistant Coach Ryan Vanhoy (right) are helping lead the Ole Miss track-and-field team to another winning season, with their sights set on the finish line of the NCAA championships.
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The renovated Ole Miss track-and-field facility opened for business last September after being closed since April 2014. The new complex boasts a top-of-the-line track surface, a video display board and an updated throwing area. The Rebels will host the Joe Walker Invitational, their first home meet in almost three years, March 24 and 25.
An on-campus facility also means that the team will have the convenience of hosting meets at home. “Now we can host meets instead of traveling every week, which was a huge setback,” said Ryan Vanhoy, Ole Miss men’s and women’s track assistant coach. “The new track provides more flexibility for us.” Vanhoy has been at Ole Miss for three and a half years. Originally hired as an assistant coach for the men’s team to oversee crosscountry and the distance runners, he is now assistant coach to the women’s team as well, encouraging the athletes to perform well at SEC meets and to compete at the national level and beyond. In the fall of 2015, the men’s cross-country team lost two of its top runners to injury and illness and didn’t perform well, despite a high early-season ranking. The next year, they
placed fourth at the NCAA championship. Meanwhile, in the fall of 2016, the women’s cross-country team was named second in the SEC and qualified for the NCAA championship – the first time in Ole Miss athletics history. The Rebels didn’t just succeed on a collegiate level last year; they also gained ground globally at the summer Olympics in Rio, where seven current and former Ole Miss athletes represented the university, including Oxford local Sam Kendricks, who won the bronze medal in pole vault. Raven Saunders, current Ole Miss student and track-and-field member, placed fifth in the shot put finals. Head Ole Miss track-and-field coach Connie Price-Smith also served as the women’s Olympic head coach for Team USA. PriceSmith, a world-class shot put and discus thrower, is also a four-time Olympian and a
25-time U.S. champion. The university’s impressive track facilities now reflect the team’s ongoing success and better represent the athletes who perform there. “I am very proud of our team and program,” Vanhoy said. “You can come to Ole Miss and compete at a high level and be able to compete at the Olympic games, something every athlete aspires to.” Ole Miss will host the Joe Walker Invitational, which pays tribute to the former Ole Miss track-and-field coach, on March 24 and 25, welcoming college teams from the Midsouth region and around the country. This will be the Rebels’ first home meet since 2014. The Rebels will finish the outdoor regular season with the Ole Miss Classic on May 6. Follow @olemisstrack on Instagram and Twitter, and visit olemisssports.com for more information. March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Starting in San Francisco and ending in Portland, Oregon, Oxford photographer Paul Gandy captures the natural beauty, bustling nightlife and colorful characters of the Pacific Coast. photographed by Paul Gandy
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LANDS END Traveling along the Pacific Coast was a dream vacation for nature lover and city explorer Paul Gandy. The photographer, along with travel companion and Fat Possum Records employee Mario Martinez of Oxford, spent 10 days exploring the West, which included a stop at San Francisco’s Lands End park (pictured). The lookout features hiking and biking trails along the cliffs and shoreline, as well as a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge. They also took in the sights at Twin Peaks, two prominent hills located in the center of the city. With an elevation higher than 900 feet, the spot offers a breathtaking view of San Francisco. “It’s a perfect panoramic view that will leave you speechless,” Gandy said.
SAN FRANCISCO Inside the city, the friends found plenty to keep them busy: They met up with Gandy’s sister and her husband, who live there; feasted on fresh seafood (“we ate until we couldn’t eat anymore,” Gandy said); popped into bars and shops along Haight Street; and cheered from the stands at a San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. The music fans also stopped at Amoeba Music, the world’s largest independent record store, and took in a show at the Independent starring soul singer Kadhja Bonet, whose debut album, The Visitor, was produced by Fat Possum Records. A highlight for Gandy was visiting the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. “Any time I’m in any city, I always try to hit up at least one museum and find inspiration from that artistic hub,” he said.
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JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS STATE PARK After a few days in San Francisco, Gandy and Martinez rented a car and headed north along the scenic California State Route 1, or as it’s more commonly known, the Pacific Coast Highway. “We wanted to get that coastal view and catch the scenery. We left as early as we could to get the morning light and headed toward Jedediah [Smith] redwood forest to camp,” Gandy said. When they tired of the winding roads, they cut over to Highway 101 and spent the rest of the drive admiring the wine country until finally arriving at the state park after dark. “We showed up at night, so we didn’t really get a clear picture of what we were stepping into but woke up in the morning to the whole forest surrounding us. The trees were just towering over us,” Gandy said. “It really gives you this sense of scale and puts everything in perspective. Seeing something that’s been there for such a long time and to get away from the hustle and bustle – which was the whole point of the trip, to get away from phones and screens and be in that natural beauty – it’s indescribable. I’m just glad I had a camera with me.”
PORTLAND After a night in the great outdoors, the duo made their way back to the city. Their last stop was Portland, Oregon, to visit friends Andrew “Gordo” Gordon and Robert Cornelius, both previously of Oxford. In a city renowned for its craft beer culture, the group enjoyed visiting local breweries such as Deschutes Brewery and tasting a selection of their microbrews. The trip also included dinner at Little Bird Bistro, a taste of the original Sterling Coffee and drinks over the fire pit at Cruzroom. Gordon’s dog, Prince Rhaeger Charles, also served as host to the out-oftowners. “We tried to live like the locals do and not just do touristy things. I think the best way [to travel] is to just wander around and whatever you stumble into you can make a story out of it,” Gandy said. For more of Gandy’s photography, go to paulgandy.net and follow @tpgandy on Instagram.
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REALITY FAIR Lafayette High School hosted its annual reality fair on Feb. 10. Ninth grade students participated in a “real life” experience by creating budgets based on their assigned annual incomes. photographed by Joey Brent
Tina Tidwell and Lauren Pace
Lucy Wilson, Emma Hayes Roberts, Catherine Waddell and Kailey Gooch
Shea Turner and Jody Black
D.B. Bennett and Anna Claire Anglin
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Brandy Bevill and Glinda Daniels
Shannon Moore, Tammy Quarles and Valerie Brooks
Becky Babb and Henry Rice
Tracie Russell and Pam Helton
Omega Shaw and Jaiden Green
Greg Lewis and Glenn Kitchens
Elijah Mayhorn and Joliegh Tubbs
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P.E.O FOUNDER’S DAY LUNCHEON Two local chapters of the Professional Educators Organization held a Founder’s Day luncheon and program Jan. 21 at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Dixie Jordan, June Rosentreter and Melanie Ladner
Gail Coleman and Wanell McCoy
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Anne Freeze and Laurie Chilcutt
Judy Cunningham, Evelyn Pritchard and Rosemary Comer
Linda Jansen and Sue Cook
Yvonne Ashley, Bette Patterson and Sarah Murphree
Mary Lee McCauley and Katherine Adams
The Lafayette County Literacy Council presents
Reads, Beats& Eats
Celebrating local literary culture, music and food
Saturday, April 8th in the garden at the
Barksdale-Isom House 1003 Jefferson Avenue
7:00 pm
VIP Pre-Party 6:00 pm
Silent & Live Auction
Wine Dash
Music provided by
Damein Wash and Ricky Burkhead
Food provided by
A&N Catering
Sinfully Southern Bakery
Flowers provided by Twisted Twig
$40 advance ticket $50 at the door Casual Dress Tickets available from:
Belles & Beaus, Square Books www.lafayetteliteracy.org 662-234-4234 March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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OXFORD ART CRAWL Yoknapatawpha Arts Council hosted an art crawl Jan. 24, with stops at Southside Gallery, University Museum, the Inn at Ole Miss, the Edison, the Ford Center and the Powerhouse. A solo exhibit by Mark Ramos was featured at the Edison. photographed by Joey Brent
Callie Gear and Aussie Warren
Gay and Steve Case
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
David and Beth Barkett
Katlyn Sackett and Sinclair Rishel
Bailey Avrett, Mary Kate Nihhill and Emily Hink
Barbara Phillips and David Lambert
Chris Glaze, Charlotte Sullivan, Mary Francis Wagnon and Ashlan Glaze
Wesley Klepzip and Lilly Meeks
Lonnie Dutreix and Meg Rousseau
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FIBER ARTS FESTIVAL YARN AND FIBER SWAP A yarn and fiber swap was held in conjunction with the seventh annual Fiber Arts Festival Jan. 26-28 at the Powerhouse. This year’s exhibits featured vendors from 10 states. photographed by Joey Brent
Tabatha Robertson and Bailey Fletcher
Denise Bell, Lynn Lee and Eva Miller
Barbara Baine and Debbie Myers
Cara and Markette Turner with Patricia Holmberg
Jasmine Mangual and Marvin Hughes
Lucinda Berryhill and Mary Mackay
Jacque Tennyson and Debbie Simmons
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Ann O’Dell and Andi Bedsworth
Roo Kline and Amy Shelton
Katrina Hourin and Gina Castle
Amy Metts Minford and Melinda Smith
Ruth Ann and Salena Morgan
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LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL BEAUTY PAGEANT Lafayette High School held a beauty pageant Jan. 14 at the Ford Center. Madeline Kate Shelton was crowned 2017 Most Beautiful. photographed by Joey Brent
Blair and Cody Pruitt with Kay Barron
Sarah Goolsby, Shelby Jenkins, Canton Foley and Cylie Robertson
Madaline Ball and Cathy Allen
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Madison Caroline Hill and Matthew Norwood
INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Caitlin McGivney with Gracie and Cindy Tatum
Lilly McElreath, Sarah Beth Tidwell, Madeline Kate Shelton, Alexis McLarty and Kirkland Pruitt
Andrea and Coulter Clement
Jean and Meghan Munson
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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE A communitywide day of service was held Jan. 18 in celebration of MLK Day. Events included a showing of Selma and a discussion with the William Winter Institute at the Oxford Community Center. photographed by Joey Brent
Jada Bates and Jenna Smiley
Sara Baker and Shannon Curtis
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Lovie Burt and Louis Rogers
Mary Burress and Rorean Houston
Donald Cole, Norman Tillman, Justin Ivy and Malcolm McNar
Susie Adams and Connie Armstrong
Nayiah Dean, Margaret Gipson, Moriah Price, Jacelyn Frierson, Melissa Presley and S. Adams
Kaitlin Wilkinson and Chris Caldwell
Joseph Eubanks and Demetrius Plaxico
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YOUNG LIFE ANNIVERSARY BANQUET Young Life Oxford held its 10th anniversary banquet Feb. 9 at the Jefferson. The celebration included dinner and a program discussion with new area director Bryan Spillman. photographed by Joey Brent
Caitlin Lewis and Sarah Heleniak
Lee Fyfe with Josie and Brent Hampton and Amy and David Leach
Nate Larkin, Kallen Alderman and Cody Sanders
Emily Anne Burns with Jenny and Jim McArthur
Will and Stephanie Berry
Jeff and Suzanne McManus
Sara Doan and Caitlyn Ross
Richard and Marcie Childers
INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Bryan Spillman and Lee Bowie
Barbara Ruth and Jim Googe with Pamela Grafton, Katie Anderson and Alan Grafton
Jamie Spradley, Adeline Turner and Teri Bowie
Kenneth and Ann Marie Shivers
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Mary Scott and Alex Enright
Billy Canale with Matt and Lauren Dalton
Blake Jacob and Ashley Shows
829 Butler Drive 4 Bed/2 Bath
$259,900
ED
E
ER
IC PR
C DU
• Upgrades throughout • Family neighborhood • Fenced-in backyard
• Master suite and 2 other bedrooms on main level • Vaulted ceilings
Call me today to see this beautiful home! Christopher Suber CLSuber@gmail.com
(662) 419-0231 1923 University Ave •Oxford, MS 38655•662.234.5621 Each office independently owned and operated.
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BRAMLETT ELEMENTARY 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL Bramlett Elementary School held a celebration of its 100th day of the 2016-2017 school year Jan. 20. Students, teachers and staff dressed in costume and enjoyed party treats. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Kaylee Malloy and Michael Chaney
Emerson Bondurant, Jagger Robins, Tom Walker and Aliveya Buford
Pace Judkins and Sloan Hollins
Elizabeth Eastland and Sagan Karthikeyan
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Serenitee Mays and Jaiveyon Daniels
Adan Pablo and Emily Peeples
Reid Randle, George Levy, Christian Mead and Tate Hill
Jacob Wise and Aaliyah Little
Brooke Coghlan, Mary Laine and McKenzie Bishop
Piper Williams and Jace Wright
Jennifer Henry and Molly Tindle
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The Junior Auxiliary of Oxford
would like to thank our community for a successful event! The annual charity ball funds our local projects which benefit the children of Lafayette County. To learn more about our organization, please visit www.jaofoxford.com
A special thanks to our sponsors: Platinum Sponsor Belles & Beaus Gold Sponsors Felker Family Naron Family Oxford Hand Clinic Powell Family Koozie Sponsor Ross Family Dental Photo Booth Sponsor NextGear Solutions Silent Auction Sponsor Lulu’s Band Sponsor PackMove Solutions
Diamond Sponsors The Graduate Invitation Oxford Oxford Floral Party Waitin’ To Happen Yalobusha Brewery Silver Sponsor Grace Realty Group Bronze Sponsors Addicus Lee Family Dentistry Lafayette Pediatric Clinic Patron Sponsors Chuck and Jolee Hussey Kinney & Associates Oxford Insurance Agency
Crown Sponsors Dr. and Mrs. Walker Byars Community Mortgage DeVoe Carr, PLLC Mayo Mallette, PLLC Mississippi Eye Consultants Dwight and Wanda B. Young Wine & Spirits Donors Colonel’s Wine & Liquor Heritage Liquors & Wine Kiamie Package Store Magnolia Wine & Spirits PJ’s Wine & Spirits Rebel Wine & Spirits Star Package
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OUT AND ABOUT OXFORD CRYOTHERAPY OPEN HOUSE
Suann Messer, Megan Rakestraw and Mathis Owen
Vicki Lokey with Pat and Stephanie Messer
Dana and Carrie Rakestraw
COMMUNITY BANK GRAND OPENING
Natalie Latham and Kim Sullivan
Terry Little and Sally Starks
SINFULLY SOUTHERN BAKERY RIBBON CUTTING
Dave Green and Joe McNeese
Curt Presley and Dickie Scruggs
OXFORD WOMEN’S MARCH
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce members and Sinfully Southern staff
Oxford Women’s March participants
SUMMERHOUSE GRAND OPENING
Olivia Weaks, Jayme Stanley and Cara Fisher
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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2017
Tom Stone and Shelly Straughan
Emily Blount and Marty Smith
Jules Borne, Lisa Palmer and Steven Goodman
CHANCELLOR’S HOUSE SPIRIO PIANO REVEAL
Michael Cabe and Amanda Brown Olmsted
Adrian Thomas and Lisa Patton
CHARLIE BUCKLEY ART OPENING RECEPTION
Marilyn and Richard Frey
Whitney Turnipseed and Charlie Buckley
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CAVITY FREE DIPLOMATE, AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Congratulations to our
DECEMBER WINNER
Jacob Turner
& JANUARY WINNER
Irelynn Bossenberry Tel: 662-513-4188 2408 South Lamar Blvd Suite 1 • Oxford, Ms 38655
TRI-LAKES ASPHALT, LLC "Paving the Way "
Commercial, Industrial and Residential Asphalt Paving Services Parking lots, driveways, streets, pathways, etc. Proudly serving Lafayette and surrounding counties in North MS
(662)234-4129 310 Heritage Dr. Oxford, MS
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Catering
Good Eats
Come experience hometown hospitality for lunch & dinner or Give us a call & we’ll deliver it to your next special occasion! • Weddings • Tailgating, Parties or Intimate Gatherings • Corporate events 662-534-3250 • 119 Main Street W. New Albany, MS
Sugar Magnolia Old Town Shopping Center 1919 University Ave., Oxford, MS• • 662-234-6330 March 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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JOE DICKEY
interviewed by Meaghin Burke photographed by Joe Worthem
Both on and off his motorcycle, Joe Dickey helps the community’s U.S. military veterans.
Q: What is Sons of Mosby? A: Sons of Mosby is a group for Army rangers who ride motorcycles. It’s a nationwide organization named after John Mosby, a Civil War cavalry battalion commander. I was an officer in the Army and ranger-qualified, and when I retired, I started back riding motorcycles and was looking for guys to ride with. I started it in 2010 with four friends of mine. It’s now got almost 500 members. Q: What is the group’s mission? A: Veterans are having issues coming back from combat and deployment, and I said, “Well, this might be a way to get guys together.” I think many of the issues veterans face stem from the fact that when you leave the Army, you lose some camaraderie and brotherhood. This was a way to bring that back together for them. Q: What other work do you do in Oxford? A: I’m starting another organization called Volunteers for Veterans. I’ve been working with the Veterans Home in Oxford because my dad is there as a resident. A while ago, I was collecting sweatsuits for the residents and put up a Facebook post asking people to donate. An hour later, the Lafayette County Law Enforcement Officers Association had donated 50. All I had to do was identify the problem and communicate it. People want to help.
Q:
What role have you played in local St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? A: I founded the St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl. When I retired in 2010, there were just a few guys in green shirts drinking beer, and I thought, “Oxford needs more.” The next year, my friends and I went around the Square in our St. Patrick’s gear. It’s usually during spring break, so the bars appreciate our business. Last year we had over 400 participants. I would love for it to evolve into a big festival with a parade.
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