OCTOBER 2014
Fall Arrives • Mississippi
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
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IN THIS ISSUE OCTOBER 2014
OCTOBER 2014
FEATURES 32 The Bee Charmer
Fall Arrives • Mississippi
COVER PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS
Justin Estes removes bees from structures they’ve invaded and puts them to work producing honey at his Tupelo bee farm.
37 Canvas of Cotton The appearance of the fluffy white blooms of this Southern cash crop signals the start of fall in north Mississippi.
40 Conversation Starter The city of Tupelo has teamed with Verizon and S.A.F.E. Inc. to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence.
74 On Location Meet Tupelo native Steve Chambers, head chef for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
76 Autumn Artisans Funky fall gourds become interesting artwork with a little paint and some candle wax.
EVENTS
58 Riding the Trace
This fall, jump in the car, rev up a motorcycle, load the RV or hop on a bicycle to check out these natural and historic marvels along the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway.
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THS Homecoming Parade Restaurant Week Down on Main Concert Out of the Darkness Walk Theora Hamblett Exhibit Touch-a-Truck Art for Animals Weekend for Our Heroes Toyota Mississippi Disney Junior Live TCA Presents Cotton Wine Tallahatchie Riverfest Jake Owen Concert Family Camp Out Tupelo Reads
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54 DEPARTMENTS 10 14 70 80 82 84
Letter From the Publisher What’s Happening Out and About In Season: Persimmons Pets of the Month Tupelo Spirit: Mike Pettigrew
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PARK PLACE
D E N TA L Ken Goodwin DMD Christine Rayburn DMD Amy Scopel DMD
Family dentistry • Implants Cosmetic dentistry • Conscious sedation Crown and veneers in a day with CEREC Open Monday - Friday 8-5 662-728-8171 403 North 3rd St. Booneville, MS 38829 www.parkplacedentist.com
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Creating Beautiful Smiles
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the publisher
LETTER FROM
I
t’s finally fall! Scorching temperatures are giving way to cooler mornings and evenings. “Fire” is not a word that makes us cringe, and the changing leaves on the trees make us think of the upcoming holidays and the earth’s remarkable beauty. October is a special month for me and holds many precious memories. On Oct. 11, 2008, I married my husband on a perfectly splendid fall weekend. My grandmother, who was my best friend, celebrated her birthday on Oct. 18. There’s a lot to look forward to in the fall, too. For example, in just a short while, we will know if our favorite football teams will be bowl eligible or not. We’re excited to bring you a host of interesting stories this month. Be sure to check out our On Location feature with Atlanta Falcons head chef and Tupelo native Steve Chambers. If you’re looking for a Sunday afternoon drive or a short weekend getaway, see our story Riding the Trace on page 58. We’ve highlighted some hidden spots within a two-hour drive that you can get to by way of the Trace. These spots are simply gorgeous this time of year, and any of these trips would make for a fun way to spend a few hours with friends or family. Invitation Tupelo is growing quickly, and we want to say a special thank you to both our readers and our advertisers who faithfully support our magazine each month. We’ve got some exciting things on tap for the next several months, but if you have a story you’d like to share with our readers, please give us a call or send us an email. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this issue of Invitation Tupelo.
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
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PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Cindy Semmes MANAGING EDITOR Emily Welly ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Thompson EDITORIAL DESIGN Hallie M. Thomas, Emily R. Suber STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts, Joe Worthem STAFF WRITER Melanie Crownover ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Sheena Hagemann, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Mary Moreton, Moni Simpson AD DESIGN Becca Bailey, Paul Gandy, Zach Fields CONTRIBUTORS Chasity Dees OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationtupelo.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Tupelo, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 3192, Tupelo, MS 38802 or visit invitationtupelo.com to pay online.
144 South Thomas, Spanish Village Court, Suite 101-6, Tupelo, MS 38801
662-680-4506
To request a photographer at your event, to obtain an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Hallie at hallielandonmarshall@gmail.com.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
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what’s happening October 15-November 15 A sampling of important, fun and interesting events in our area. For more events, visit facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS, MUSIC, DANCE AND MORE
Now through October 31
October 16
Pumpkin Patch at Buffalo Park
Celebration of Adoption
CSpire Pigskins in the Park
Tupelo Buffalo Park’s 12th-annual Pumpkin Patch is open for business. Enjoy pumpkin picking, hay rides, a corn maze, activities, games and more. tupelobuffalopark.com/pumpkinpatch.html
New Beginnings’ 12th-annual adoption event features Lucas Daniel Boyce, director of business development and legislative affairs for the Orlando Magic and author of Living Proof: From Foster Care to the White House and the NBA. 6:30 p.m., BancorpSouth Conference Center.
Watch live broadcasts of the LSU vs. Ole Miss game and the Kentucky vs. Mississippi State game on the jumbotron in front of Tupelo City Hall in Fairpark. Game times and corresponding tailgate set-up times TBA. tupelomainstreet.com
October 17-18
October 25
October 17-31 Tupelo Community Theatre Haunted House The ninth-annual Haunted Theatre takes place at the Lyric Theatre. Tickets $15. 7 p.m., Oct. 17-18, 24-25, and 30-31. Not recommended for children under 10. 662-844-1935, tct.ms
October 17 The Great Pumpkin Splash Children can pick pumpkins out of Tupelo Aquatic Center’s pool and participate in harvest relay races, the pumpkin roll and more. $5 per participant. Register at Tupelo Aquatic Center. 10:30 a.m.-noon, Tupelo Aquatic Center.
October 17 Tupelo Halloween Horror Film Festival Come in costume to view independent films by local and regional filmmakers. Admission $10. 7:30 p.m., Link Centre. Find the festival on Facebook for more information.
October 18
Bukka White Festival Pay homage to the Mississippi Blues at the annual Bukka White Festival, taking place on the banks of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Aberdeen, Miss. bukkawhitefestival.com
October 18 Dogtrot Rockabilly Festival Celebrate the origins of rock ’n’ roll with live music from the front porch of the Davis Dogtrot House in Ballard Park. Also includes a pet costume contest, arts and crafts, a scarecrow fair, a petting zoo and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
October 18 Meet Kenn Gray at the Farmhouse Booneville, Miss., native and interior designer Kenn Gray will be on hand to launch his new line of home goods at the Farmhouse. Meet Gray from 2 to 4 p.m.
October 25
Blue Suede Bluegrass Show and Competition Musicians are invited to play on the same stage Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash played on in the Old Armory building in Amory, Miss., which is currently being restored. Musicians will compete throughout the day, and winners will perform at night. For more information, contact Lisa Gentry at 662-315-1523 or gigigentry695@yahoo.com.
November 3 Tupelo Concert Association TCA presents SAXsational, featuring musician Rob Verdi and his vast collection of saxophones. 7 p.m., Tupelo Civic Auditorium. tupeloconcertassociation.com
November 6 Taste of Tupelo Community Development Foundation presents Taste of Tupelo, a trade show and networking event for businesses, restaurants and caterers to offer product demonstrations, samples and information. 5-8 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena.
Halloween Egg Hunt and More
October 21
Bring your flashlights to the Tupelo Cross Country Trail for the Halloween Egg Hunt at 6:30 p.m., followed by Trunkor-Treat at 6:45 p.m., and then the Kid Fun Zombie Run at 7:45 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, contact Shanta Eiland, 662-841-6440.
Renasant Bank sponsors a women’s business symposium featuring state treasurer Lynn Fitch. 8:30 a.m.- 2 p.m., Tupelo Country Club.
November 7-8
October 25
Tupelo Ballroom Dance Club and The Dance Studio host an All Star Dance Weekend. Friday night’s dance includes lessons with special guest Jason Barnes. Dance workshops and a nighttime party will be held Saturday. To register, call 662-213-0504.
October 31 Halloween Trick or Treat and Magic Show The Mall at Barnes Crossing hosts Halloween fun with trick-or-treat from 6 to 8 p.m. and magic shows in the food court at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
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Women’s Symposium
North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra opens its season with pianist Jeffrey Biegel performing Saint-Saëns’ elegant Piano Concerto No. 2. For ticket information, visit nmsymphony.com.
All Star Dance Weekend
BENEFITS October 17-18
Friends of Lee County Library Book Sale Book sale takes place at Lee County Library 4-6 p.m. Friday for Friends of the Library members and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for the general public. For information, call 662-841-9029.
October 18 Barktoberfest Pets and their families are invited to play, seek pet information and products, and enjoy all things dog at this free event at Tupelo Bark Park. A 5K race on the Music Bend Nature Trail will start the day, with the festival following at 10 a.m.
October 22-25 Celebration Village Sanctuary Hospice House’s annual holiday market fund raiser includes a preview party 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and general shopping 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 23 and 24 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 25. Preview party tickets $50. General admission tickets $5 in advance, $7 at the door. For more information and ticket sale locations, visit sanctuaryhospicehouse.com/celebration_village.asp.
October 25 Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure The Susan G. Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure 5K run/walk takes place at 8 a.m. in Fairpark. komennorthms.org/komen-race-for-the-cure
October 25 Food Day at HealthWorks! Celebrate healthy, affordable and sustainable food by learning how to grow and maintain a healthy garden from Sam McLemore of Native Son Farms; shopping at a mini farmers market; and more. Admission $5 per family, with proceeds benefiting the Salvation Army Food Bank. 10 a.m.-noon. healthworkskidsms.org
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Tupelo High School Homecoming Parade View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo High School’s homecoming parade and pep rally took place Sept. 25 at Fairpark. Later that evening, senior Neely Brown was crowned homecoming queen, and the THS football team defeated Hernando High School 43-6.
Brad, Molly and Amy Womack
Tupelo High School cheerleaders
Aniyah and Demetra Sherer
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DeNaja Miller, Aquarius Coleman and Ashleigh Bailey
Calvin Braddock and Jordyn Taylor
Telian Fells and Amber Scott
Chloe Phillips and Summer Bryan
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Downtown Tupelo Restaurant Week View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Downtown restaurants offered special menus, discounts and featured items during Downtown Tupelo Restaurant Week, held Sept. 8-13. Throughout the week customers cast votes for a local nonprofit to win $500, and Sanctuary Hospice House was the winner.
Kelley Archibald and Roger Lawson at The Stables Downtown Grill
Katie Thornton, Arizbeth Pickering, Roxie Tucker and Michelle Payne at Frutalicious
Amy Griffin and Kathy Hallmark at Simply Sweet by Margarete Bakery
Steven Lyles with Ralph and Caroline McClain at The Grill
Valarie Hall and Amber McHenry at St. Jean’s Bakery and Cafe
Amy Blossom, Nancy Collins and Adam Paxton at Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen
Brooke Whitworth, Robin Coggin, Melissa Nichols, Mickey Taylor, John Oxford and Zack Bishop at St. Jean’s LaShandra Fair, Moneaka Ross and Rose McCoy at Rosie’s Bakery and Cafe
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Nick Jones and Kyle Weaver at Bar-B-Q by Jim Smokehouse and Grill
SHARE YOUR EXCITING NEWS WITH A
BRIDAL ANNOUNCEMENT
ENGAGEMENT
THIRD PAGE, $50 Includes one picture and 100-150 words.
WEDDING
HALF PAGE, $90 Includes one picture and 100-150 words. FULL PAGE, $150 Includes three pictures and 200-300 words. TWO PAGES, $275 Includes five pictures and 400-500 words. For more information, please call Hallie at (662) 234-4008 or email hallielandonmarshall@gmail.com.
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Down on Main Summer Concert Series View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The final show of the Down on Main Summer Concert Series featured North Mississippi All Stars and White Liars on Sept. 11 at BancorpSouth Arena after rain moved it indoors. Visit tupelodownonmain.com for more information on the free concert series.
Chelsea and Wesley Wildmon
Karen Windham, Melissa Stephens, Beth Gafford and Sherri Reese
Jennifer Lovern and Emily Burleson
Gary Hancock, Meredith Martin, Jesse Bandre and Noelle McGraw
Maddie and Ryan Pressley
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Abby Tucker, Melissa Edwards and Leigh Monroe
Jared and April Tutor
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Out of the Darkness Walk View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
More than 300 people gathered Sept. 6 at Veterans Park for the Out of the Darkness Walk, a fundraising event sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The Tupelo walk raised more than $17,000 to support the organization’s efforts.
The walk began with a balloon release.
Ray Slayton, Jim Johnson and Mayor Jason Shelton
(front) Maddie, Reid and Michelle Raper with Grayson Harden; (middle) Samantha Warren, Paige Raper, Haley Bishop, Susan Wilson, Amanda Lott, Brooke Harden and Stacy Hodges; (back) Hailey Wooldridge, Jesse Self, Jordan Bishop, Danny Wilson, Josh Kemp, Jason Raper, Emilea Tackett and Tammy McVay
Sonya Marbry and Lisa Holman
Ned and Angie McDonald with Hannah Palmer and Suzie Shaw, Debbie Slayton, Allison Hanson, Betty Ericson and Nicole and Brayden Ayers Ashley Rheaume
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Amanda, Clay, Michaela and Olivia Griffith
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Theora Hamblett Opening at GumTree Museum View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
A reception to celebrate a collection of paintings by Mississippi artist Theora Hamblett (1895-1977) was held Sept. 11 at GumTree Museum of Art. Hamblett’s artwork, on loan from the University of Mississippi Museum of Art, will be exhibited through Oct. 29.
Richard Tucker and Lucy Gaines
Marguerite Johnson and Desha Cruse
Charlotte Westbrook and George Booth
Michael Ashley and Shawn Brevard
Araline Rutledge and Jean Laney
Betty Harris, Peggy Oakes and Sally Elliott
Rud and Deb Robison with Laura Ashley
Dawn Robbins, Kathy Beasley and Gabrielle Cooper
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Historic Downtown Tupelo • 662.842.6453 Mall at Barnes Crossing • 662.842.5287 reedsms.com
Historic Downtown Tupelo
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Touch-a-Truck View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Children explored trucks and heavy machinery that serve the community and met the people who drive and maintain them at Touch-aTruck, a free event put on by the Department of Parks and Recreation on Sept. 13 at Ballard Park.
Kimberly, Zade and Tony Ray
Noal, Blake, Marrianna and Heather Timmons
Clay Curtis and Jacob Akins
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Chloe and Blair Hill
Michelle Wells and Mason Betts
Jeremiah Nelson with Joshua Parks and Jayla McMilian
Walter Wilkerson and Jacob Walker
Emma Grace and Philip Crowe
Dr. Phillip Graham, Optometrist
SHANNON & GRAHAM EYE CLINIC
Bill Seawright, Optician Melanie Sellers, Tech
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Art for Animals View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The Tupelo-Lee Humane Society hosted the eighth-annual Art for Animals fundraiser event Sept. 18 at Goodlett Manor. All proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction support humane society animals. To learn more about the local shelter, visit tupelohumane.org.
John Crabtree and Alicia Goddard
Jennifer Little, Kim Remmers, Brianna Jackson and Lauren Abel
Daisy Aycock with Gracie
Carrie Jamerson, Joli Estes and Renee Mitchell
Rosemary Evans, Lynn Bryan and Mel Whitfield
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Pete McMurry and Gil Monagham
Makiko Sugiura and Chris Barchalk
KC School of Hair Design ’s
The career of your dreams begins here. Choose our nail technician program or our cosmatology program
We offer continuous enrollment Now accepting federal aid for those who qualify
Call us at 662-489-8176 for more information
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When the time comes, we have the perfect place for your loved one
In-Home Senior Care Services
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WE ARE COMFORT KEEPERS Our personal care services include:
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
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Stores open to 8:00 p.m.
86 S. Thomas St. 662.620.1120
3425 W. Main St. Opening May 2014
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After coaxing pesky honeybees away from trees and homes they’ve invaded, bee removal expert Justin Estes puts them to work producing nearly 1,000 gallons of honey a year at his Tupelo bee farm. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Lisa Roberts
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J
ustin Estes’ relationship with bees began with a fly swatter on the back porch of his log cabin. Since then, his interaction with the insects has grown from shooing them away to peacefully relocating them. The buzzing bugs fascinated him enough that he decided to give beekeeping a try. He researched the craft online and in books, sought the advice of large local bee farms, and then put on a protective beekeeper’s suit and got to work. Today Justin runs a large-scale bee farm that produces nearly 1,000 gallons of honey a year, sells handmade wooden beehive frames, and is a bee removal specialist. Shortly after he got into the bee business, he decided the bulky beekeeper’s suit was a hindrance, so he traded it out for a T-shirt and jeans. “The first time he took that suit off and went out to the hives, I figured if he got stung enough he’d learn his lesson, or at least I knew how to call 911,” his wife, Anna, said. “I still wear one at the hive and tiptoe around the shop when we’re canning the honey, but he just barrels right along.” A few months after he started beekeeping, he had 50 hives. Within three years he was up to 200 hives. And the Estes Family Honey began to flow. Justin sells his honey raw, processed with no heating or filtering to retain the allergy-alleviating medicinal properties that many buyers seek. The large-scale bee farm is one of only a handful in the area specializing in the sticky product. Up to 50,000 bees congregate in each hive, containers
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THE BEES Justin Estes, pictured above and on the previous page, is a bee removal expert specializing in removing and relocating invasive bees from homes and other structures. While honeybees are beneficial for many reasons, they can wreak havoc if they build colonies in structures also occupied by humans. Not only can colonies grow to as many as 60,000-80,000 bees, but the honeycombs and honey they create can destroy the structures. At right, Justin holds a queen bee he recovered while removing a colony from the wall of a home. The queen bee is the fertile mother to all of the bees in the colony.
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THE HONEY Once Justin relocates invasive bees to his farm, they get to work producing honey that he and his wife, Anna, bottle and sell. The Esteses harvest the honey from honeycombs the bees create in the wood-frame hives they inhabit at the Estes farm. In addition to the familiar liquid honey, the Esteses sell cut-comb honey, which includes edible chunks of honeycomb. Raw honey can be used as a natural sweetener, skin care remedy, cough suppressant and more.
made of 18-by-20-inch frames stacked atop each other. Two brood boxes give the queen room to lay eggs, and an excluder keeps her from accessing the rest. The remaining space is for workers to turn foraged nectar to honey. Justin removes the honey from his hives in spring and fall, when the bees cap off each hole in the honeycomb with a light layer of wax. The average full box weighs around 100 pounds. The honey goes straight from the extractor to the barrel and the bottling tank to the jar. Anna and Justin work together to keep at least 10 cases on-site for customers, sometimes canning honey at home after their two children go to bed or allowing their eldest to play with the stinger-free drones in the shop as they work. “It’s just like they told us as kids: They react to your reaction,” Justin said. “I can have 50,000 bees buzzing all over me at once and not get stung because I go on with what I’m doing and let them do their thing. My son is learning that early.” The production goal for this year is 20 of the farm’s 55-gallon drums in sales; yet honey isn’t the only bee business for Justin. Throughout the year, he sells five-frame nucleus hives to other enthusiasts, and he travels wherever he’s needed as a bee removal specialist and member of mississippibeeremoval.com. When customers call to have beehives expertly removed from their homes or nearby trees, Justin uses a bee vacuum and one of his specialized boxes to transport any size hive back to one of his 10 bee yards. The hives he extracts go back to his farm, where they can buzz around in well-respected peace. During swarm season in March, Justin sometimes forces a hive to split if it’s bigger than others on the farm. The separation keeps hives evenly sized so a colony doesn’t try to take over a weaker one later in the season. “These guys are pretty complicated creatures, but that’s why they’re so fascinating,” he said. “Every one of them has their own job to do and their own place in the hive. They work together to make something sweet. Without them, the 80 percent of our food that has to be pollinated wouldn’t stand a chance.”
the cotton bolt
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Fall is harvest season for one of Mississippi's top crops, and while farmers are hoping for high yields, passersby are taking in the striking scenery. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Lisa Roberts
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“IT’S FUN TO SEE IT GROW . . . WHEN IT BLOOMS AND COMES TO A BOLL, IT’S REALLY SOMETHING TO WATCH.” -Jim Bucy Long
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Cotton has lined the fields of Bucy and Long Family Farms in Saltillo, Miss., since Jim Bucy Long’s grandfather started farming there 90 years ago. The landscape of Mississippi and the farming industry have evolved since then, but this state cash crop remains a symbol of autumn for this small family farm. “The second week of October these fields look nothing but white,” Long said. “That’s when we know it’s time to break out the picker. We’ve worked all summer from the time the seeds go in the ground in May to get that cotton in the gin to bale it, so getting on that machine is something we look forward to.” According to Long, less cotton is being grown this year because of low prices at market, but it remains in the rotation of crops for area farms, including Long’s. “It’s fun to see it grow,” Long said. “There’s more work to it than soybeans or corn but when it blooms and comes to a boll, it’s really something to watch.” Long runs the farm with his uncle Jimmy Bucy and his son, John Bucy Long (pictured above with his father), is now learning the family business.
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by Melanie Crownover
A communitywide public service campaign attempts to increase awareness about domestic violence.
T
he topic of domestic violence doesn’t usually make for polite dinner conversation, but it is a brutal reality for untold numbers of local families. In recognition of domestic violence awareness month, nine downtown restaurants and bars are bringing the topic to the dinner table with the “Don’t Let DV Coast” campaign this month. The promotion – a joint effort of Verizon, the mayor’s office, Tupelo Main Street Association and S.A.F.E., Inc. – plants thousands of drink coasters featuring the campaign’s logo in some of the city’s prime gathering spots. “This is a silent epidemic that we’re hoping to give a voice,” Verizon district manager Lori Singleton said. “Pop the coaster in your purse to give to a friend, post a picture on social media, talk about it over drinks, or scan it to get information on where to get help. All it takes is this little thing to get the change started.” The coasters are imprinted with a QR code any smartphone can scan to download a
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list of local resources available to abuse victims looking for a way out. S.A.F.E., Inc., is just one area outlet where women and children in abusive situations can find a confidential shelter, food, clothing, counseling and help in starting a new life. Last year, 83 percent of their clients didn’t return to their abusers when they left the facility. “We saw an increase in awareness of our programs when this started last year,” shelter director Deborah Yates said. “Most people say ‘I don’t know any domestic violence victims,’ but they do. Making all of us aware of the signs and the assistance out there affords those people the means to leave the situation and ask for help.”
WARNING SIGNS
Domestic violence doesn’t always mean the victim shows up with a black eye at work. According to Yates, most evidence of physical abuse is found on parts of the body an outsider may not see, like the back
of the head or an area concealed by clothing. Yates said the following warning signs may be precursors to physical abuse or indications that a relationship is abusive emotionally or mentally: •••There’s an unhealthy balance in the relationship where one person does not get to make decisions or speak for his or herself. •••One person in the relationship tries to isolate the other from friends and family or restrict activity outside the home. •••The significant other tries to demean the other person’s worth physically, intellectually, emotionally or spiritually. •••Outsiders recognize major changes in the person’s personal hygiene, dress or participation in social activities.
NEED HELP? Contact S.A.F.E.’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-527-7233, visit safeshelter.net or find them on Facebook by searching for S.A.F.E., Inc., Northeast Mississippi.
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Weekend for Our Heros View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Weekend for Our Heroes was held Sept. 19-20 in Veterans Park. Events included a concert, a 5K run, an archery competition, a benefit dinner and more. Proceeds benefit the Vietnam Memorial replica wall. To learn more about the wall, visit msvietnammemorial.com.
Melissa Kuykendall, Debra Cossey, Jalane Householder, Denise Chism, Marilyn Summerford, Jennifer Carwile, Angela Woodruff, Reisa Holloway and Phil Edwards
Presley and Brooke Ellis
Bob Weathersby, Buddy Warren and Andy Chapman
Glenn Husted, Chad Daniels, Donna Bagwell, Tim Broome and Tim McGuyer
Robert Catlett and Don Feid
Lou Remmers, Janie Alexander, Jenny Jenkins, Willie Rushing, Tiana Allen and Barbara Rushing
Ben Jackson, Mac Ranson and Lisa Gilland
Diamond Brokers TUPELO
Diamonds • Jewelry • Gifts
Come see us. She’ll be glad you did. “Big girls need big diamonds.” - Elizabeth Taylor
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
662.844.6955
106 S. Industrial Road, Tupelo, MS 38801 Hours: M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
www.tupelodiamonds.com
408 Washington Street, Booneville, MS 38829
Photo by Rob Brown
662.728.4788 M-F 9-6 • Sat 9-2
• Free local delivery • Fresh cut flowers for all occasions • 5 exclusive pottery lines • Bridal registry • Ronaldo jewelry
We are your full line music store
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
45
photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Toyota Mississippi Supports National Public Lands Day
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Toyota Mississippi employees and their families took part in National Public Lands Day on Sept. 20 by building a new park – with a playground, greenhouse, pavilion and community garden – in Blue Springs, Miss., and cleaning up two parks in New Albany, Miss.
Crisna Sparks and Jennifer Campbell
Kateri, Annemarie and Tom Fetter with Mark Hildenbrand
Mike Kirk and Maddi Fetter
Nina, Claire and Tony Willis
Joel, Deana, Zayda Grace and Tyler Patterson with Elizabeth Hardin and Claudette Jones
Ben Troxler, Dan VanRosenberg and Linda Tucker
662.610.3705
Behind the playground in Fairpark! Custom Family Portraits Available 111 East Troy Street Suite B • Tupelo, MS 38804
Thursday - Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4 46
INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
47
photographed by Chasity Dees
events Disney Junior Live View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Children and parents gathered in BancorpSouth Arena Sept. 20 to see their favorite characters take the stage in Disney Junior Live’s Pirate and Princess Adventure show. Disney returns to BancorpSouth Dec. 4-7 for Disney on Ice. For details, visit bcsarena.com.
Emma Benford and Blakley Lemmon
Addyson, Brandy and Ty Huffman
Casey and Ava Crenshaw
Kerston Jumper with Abrielle and Marcy McRae
Aubrey Butler and Darby Carson
Mary Liddy Wyatt with Russell and Macy Moore
www.BarkleyTravel.com
A Smoky Mountain New Year’s Eve
141 West Bankhead St New Albany, MS 38652 Phone: 662-534-5203
Niagara Falls Festival of Lights (December 1-6, 2014)
(Dec 29, 2014 – Jan 1 , 2015) • Three nights lodging in Pigeon Forge • Country Tonite Show • The Grand Majestic Theater • Applewood Farmhouse Dinner • The Wood Grill Dinner Buffet • Dinner at The Old Mill Restaurant • 3 Breakfasts • Shopping at the Outlet Malls • Guided tour of the Smoky Mountains
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Nita, Bonnie and Shepherd Hardin
INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
• Lodging in Cincinnati, OH (to & from Niagara Falls) • Three nights lodging in Niagara Falls, Ontario • Three buffet breakfasts • Skylon Tower Dinner • ”Oh Canada Eh” Holiday Dinner Show • Tour of Niagara Falls Area • IMAX Movie – “Niagara – Miracles, Myths & Magic” • Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring a winery tour with sampling • Chocolate FX (Factory tour & sampling) • Festival of Lights Tour • Local escort
Come join us October 30th from 5-7 p.m. for our “OPEN” Laser Hair Removal Party. EVERYONE is invited! This is your chance to receive our discounted party prices. You will be locked in at these prices for ALL of your treatments. The discounted prices include:
Face • $50 (You Save $9) Underarms • $50 (You Save $25) Bikini Line • $50 (You Save $49) Full Bikini • $75 (You Save $35) Any Two Areas • $100 (You Save up to $85)
Any Three Areas • $125 (You Save up to $119)
Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS 662.365.8087
Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS 662.365.9876
Let us know if you plan to come by calling us at 662.256.9331 ext. 207
Kellen, Jade & Amanda
Men & Women Welcome! 900 Earl Frye Blvd Suite A Amory, Mississippi 38821 Phone: (662) 256-9331 ext. 207 Fax: (662) 256-9335 Hours: Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Look for us on Facebook
w w w. p a n d s c l i n i c . c o m October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Tupelo Concert Association Presents Cotton Wine View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Cotton Wine, a folk-Americana-pop music duo based in Nashville, Tenn., performed Sept. 23 at Tupelo Civic Auditorium to open Tupelo Concert Association’s season. For the upcoming TCA concert schedule, visit tupeloconcertassociation.com.
Jeremy Spray, Femke, Brandon James and A.J. Babcock of Cotton Wine
Joyce and B.R. Sellers
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Sherry, Brandi and Rickey Reynolds
Doris Ryan and Katie Cox
Ruby Logan and Haywood McIntosh
Cynthia Colburn, Judy Williams and Frances B. Williams
Frank and Carol Davis
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Tallahatchie Riverfest View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tallahatchie Riverfest was held Sept. 26-27 in downtown New Albany, Miss. The annual festival of arts, food, literature and music also included children’s activities and the BNA Bank Tallahatchie River Run 5K and half-mile fun run.
Laura Beth Parker and Rachel Gregg
Austin, David, Kelly and Hunter Hall
Nikita Ingram and April Bailey
Danny, Christy, Isabella and Piper Robinson with Kyler and Jennifer Roberts
Carlie Crum amd Madelyn McVey
Naketha Lipford, Inez Finley and Laderrius Lipford
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Stephanie and Clara Short
Sabrina Smith and Tonya Abbott
Catering Good Eats
Small and large events across North Mississippi Weddings • Rehearsal Dinners 662-534-3250 New Albany, MS
Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders Institute, PLLC PLLC Jayant Dey, M.D., M.B.B.S. Nancy Hooks, C.N.P.
910 Mary Vance Drive, Tupelo, Mississippi 38801 • Phone:
662.377.6275 • Fax: 662.377.6299 October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
53
photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Jake Owen Concert View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Country music star Jake Owen took the stage Sept. 25 at BancorpSouth Arena as part of his Days of Gold tour. Eli Young Band and The Cadillac Three also performed. For an upcoming schedule of shows at the arena, visit bcsarena.com.
Zach Swain and Hallie Donald
Bart and Mandy White with Cheryl and Zack Sutherland
Chelsea and Cole Seymore
Kim Evans with Cindy and Boyce Googe
Hunter Hill and Callie Rose York
Jennifer and Micah Harper
Jennifer Ham and Kenzie Pennington
Mallory Owens, Jackie Cranford and Raina Michael
Grace, Dianne and Cynda Pendegraph
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Regan McGlennon, Ramsie Parker and Kaitlyn Fuhs
Brianna Holt and Jaylin Copeland
Lindsey Pulse, Dayna Churchill and Hillary Crowell
IS YOUR MAGAZINE
We want to hear your story ideas!
Do you have a friend we should write about? Are you part of an organization that deserves a story? Is there a picture-perfect place we should photograph? Submit story ideas to us at erwelly@gmail.com or by calling (662) 234-4008.
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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The Amory Regional Museum is dedicated to preserve, curate and archive historical significant regional history, genealogical interest, and provide innovative, educational programming that celebrates the culture and community of Amory, Mississippi and the surrounding area.
We are your Fall Color Experts. Our gift certificates make the perfect gift for any occasion.
662.840.5555 • 3265 McCullough Blvd, Tupelo Check us out on facebook and at belleamesalonandspa.com
HOURS: Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Major Holidays
FREE ADMISSION! For more information, please call
662-256-2761
Email: bomiller@cityofamoryms.com suebrown@cityofamoryms.com 801 3rd Street South, Amory, MS 38821 October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Jump in the car, rev up a motorcycle, load the RV or hop on a bicycle to check out these natural and historic marvels along the Natchez Trace Parkway. by Melanie Crownover October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMILY DAVIE AND KRISTEN MAXFIELD FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
T
he changing leaves on the trees along the Natchez Trace Parkway are often the first indication fall is coming. This month is one of the best times to get an early glance at the byway’s developing amber and russet canopies. That seasonal view is the perfect excuse to take a weekend cruise to one of these not-so-far-away sites.
THE OLD TRACE
The Natchez Trace Parkway was America’s first highway in the 1700s. Designated as a postal route by Thomas Jefferson in 1801, it was a vital military route in the War of 1812. But the Natchez Trace also gave life to the region long before American colonization. “Prior to the Europeans coming here, the American Indians used the corridor the Trace commemorates as a travel route as far north as the Great Lakes and south to the coast. Now the longest continuous section we have left of the old road is only about 3 miles long near Natchez,” Park Ranger Jane Farmer said. Luckily for travelers, there are many smaller sections of the Old Trace still open that aren’t too far from home. Visitors can walk the old trail to see several Confederate gravesites at Milepost 198.6 near Jeff Busby Park. Old Trace Walk at Milepost 403.7 also offers a hike along the original road, although this stretch is on a 300-foot ridge along the Duck River. For visitors who can’t take in the old road by foot, Old Trace Drive at Milepost 275.8 is an ideal site. The 2.5-mile (one-way) trip takes riders on a leisurely drive up a mountain on the Tennessee Ridge and back down, offering a spectacular look at the Trace’s original footprint.
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
CYPRESS SWAMP AND RIVER BEND
Just outside of Ridgeland, Miss., at Milepost 122 is Cypress Swamp. The swamp, situated in an abandoned river channel, developed its own identity after being cut off from its source. Tupelo gum and cypress trees populated the site, as did alligators. The swamp now offers a pleasant backdrop for the half-mile boardwalk hiking trail running through it. Visitors looking to make a day trip of the outing should continue half a mile north to River Bend, a large picnic and rest area with a view of Ross Barnett Reservoir. Although Cypress Swamp gators are known to keep mostly in the water, rangers warn to always stay away from the wildlife at any Trace stop. Sunscreen and insect repellent are also recommended.
Fall is the perfect time to take in the striking beauty of these scenic stops off the Natchez Trace. Above, picturesque Rock Spring is popular with hikers and birders. Pictured on the opposite page, clockwise from far left are: the Old Trace, River Bend, Bynum Mounds and Colbert Ferry. Cypress Swamp outside of Ridgeland, Miss., is pictured on the previous page.
COLBERT FERRY AND ROCK SPRING
Chickasaw Chief George Colbert had an inn and a ferry that crossed the Tennessee River at Milepost 327.3 long ago. Legend has it he once charged $75,000 to take Andrew Jackson’s soldiers across that water. Now Colbert Ferry is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority dam system. The original water taxi shut down in 1819, but visitors can still launch their own boats from the dock. Small trails and picnic areas make the spot a scenic place to enjoy an afternoon on the water. Just 3 miles north, Rock Spring at Milepost 327.3 is a popular secondary stop for those taking a day trip to the ferry. There, hikers traverse a spring-fed stream on trails, through hills and over steppingstones. The national birding site is as well known for its beavers as its hummingbirds. Fall foliage and wildflowers along the path this time of year set the scene for a picturesque nature walk, and the total hike only takes around 20 minutes.
WITCHDANCE HORSE TRAIL AND BYNUM MOUNDS
Tales of wooded rituals and witches’ feet burning patches of grass gave Witchdance Horse Trail its name, but the pine-lined beauty of the 15-mile route made it one of the most highly traveled Mississippi trails for equestrians and hikers. The Witchdance trailhead at Milepost 233.2 near Houston, Miss., has a picnic area, a camping area and restrooms for visitors looking to brave the reportedly haunted woods for overnight stays. “Anyone traveling Witchdance should bring plenty of water and a GPS because there are lots of old off-trails that intersect,” Farmer said. “You may run into hunters there, too, since it’s part of a different park system that’s just accessible from the Trace.” The nearby Bynum Mounds at Milepost 232.4 also make for an interesting stop. This 2,000-year-old Woodland-era village was a sacred burial site for the Chickasaw. “Remember that these mound sites are still sacred and require you to act with reverence,” Farmer said. October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Be En vie d !
•Walk-ins Welcome •Gift Certificates Available
Chasity Dees Photography
662-844-2477 431 North Gloster St. Tupelo, MS www.shearenvytupelo.com
Dress Better Than You Have To.
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Family-friendly, locally owned restaurants, including City Hardware, above, are part of the charm of Florence, Ala.
FLORENCE, ALA.
There are a couple of choice towns to visit off of Milepost 330 in Alabama in an area known as The Shoals. As a college town with a vibrantly preserved downtown area, Florence, Ala., is a favorite of travelers. “UNA [University of North Alabama] brought me here years ago, but the friendly people and creative vibe made it impossible to leave,” Florence Main Street executive director Teryl Shields said. “Florence really is the whole package: excellent dining, wonderful museums, shopping for days, and you can’t throw a stick without hitting a musician or artist here.” The area hosts a slew of fall events, including UNA football, the Alabama Renaissance Festival and The Shoals’ Dragon Boat Races. Visitors can try to catch the brew master at Singing River Brewery for a tour or enjoy the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Rosenbaum House and Museum. In addition to locally owned retail shops downtown, Florence is the home base for both men’s fashion phenomenon Billy Reid and designer Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin fashion and home wares. Fame Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio are worth the short trip across the river to see where greats like Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rod Stewart recorded. The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is also a must-see. Built by Florence resident Tom Hendrix, it honors his great-greatgrandmother, a Yuchi Indian, who was forced out along the Trail of Tears in the 1830s. “After spending a weekend here, you’re going to have so much left over you didn’t have time to do that you’re going to want to come back,” Shields said.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FLORENCE TOURISM
Clockwise from top, Florence, Ala.’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Rosenbaum House and Museum; renowned fashion designer Billy Reid at his Florence headquarters located inside an old bookstore; the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall; and the famous Fame recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala., known for producing many notable artists.
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Rattlesnake Saloon outside of Tuscumbia, Ala., is a restaurant and bar built into the side of a hill.
Joshua E. Bostick, O.D. 662.869.1779 107 Town Creek Drive • Saltillo, MS 38866 visionsource-joshbostickod.com
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
TUSCUMBIA, ALA.
This Colbert County, Ala., seat off of Milepost 330 has much to offer. “Tuscumbia is a cool little town of about 8,000 people that is a great getaway for those looking for a family-friendly place to relax,” CVB executive director Susann Hamlin said. “Don’t let the size fool you.” The list of things to see in Tuscumbia is extensive, from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame to Helen Keller’s birthplace at Ivy Green. Adventure seekers can ride four-wheelers at the Hawk Pride Mountain Off-Road Park, and history buffs will love the frontier life on display in the circa-1815 log cabin known as Coldwater Stagecoach Stop. Quiet moments can be found in the shadows of the grave markers at the Coon Dog Cemetery or by the waterfall at Spring Park. The park also offers family amusement with a roller coaster, carousel and small train. Stick around for the water show at dusk, a display of dancing water up to 150 feet high set to the music of Alabama artists. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays another draw to the area is Rattlesnake Saloon, a rustic restaurant with an outdoor bar situated in the side of a hill. Families can get grub during the day, and the bar comes to life with local bands and spirits at night. Patrons can spend the night in a grain silo at the adjoining Seven Springs Inn or take advantage of the 3,500-acre horse riding area on premises.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF COLBERT COUNTY TOURISM OFFICE
Clockwise from top, Tuscumbia, Ala., is home to the Helen Keller birthplace at Ivy Green; the Alabama Music Hall of Fame; Coon Dog Cemetery, where almost 200 coon dogs have been laid to rest by their faithful owners; and Spring Park’s fountain, known for its evening water show, which is set to music by Alabama artists.
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Family Camp Out View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo families pitched tents and rolled out sleeping bags for the Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual Family Camp Out, held Sept. 26-27 at Veterans Park. For more upcoming Parks and Recreation events, visit tupeloms.gov/parkandrec.
Yesnia Padilla, Osvaldo DeHoyos and Osmar Padilla
Jennifer, Joya, Jimmy, Jada and Jenna Lutts with Jeanette Carpenter
John Curtis with Luke and Dwayne Hightower and Jerry Crocker
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Cohen and Ashton Montgomery
Leanne and Sydney Mattox
Meghan, Melanie and Liam Crownover
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Dr. Trice W. Sumner, Diplomate, The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 1555 Medical Park Circle, Tupelo, MS 38801
childrensdentalclinic.com
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
photographed by Chasity Dees
events Tupelo Reads View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo Reads, a citywide literacy celebration that featured the novel Forrest Gump, culminated Oct. 3 with a Forrest Gump-themed art show at GumTree Museum, the Run Forrest Run 5K race and a showing of the Forrest Gump movie in Fairpark.
Winston Groom, Jack Reed and Connor Humphreys
Jill Rogers, Maddie Pressley, Deborah Haines and Brian Hargett
Kailey Callahan, Janet Cayson and Aleighna Callahan
Adam Fowler, Terrance Owens and Forrest Tate
Jessica and Carol Humphreys
Brandy and Jayce Schoolar
Benjamin and Elena Whisenant
Jacob, Elijah and Faith Dawson October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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out and about
CONTINUED ON PAGE 72
ELVIS PRESLEY BIRTHPLACE TRAIL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
ALZHEIMER’S MEMORY WALK
John Milstead, John White, Debbie Brangenberg, Buddy Palmer, Nettie Davis, Mike Bryan, Greg Pirkle, Mike Tagert, Travis Wampler and Randy Boyd
Front: Janet Fredrick, Alli and Maddi Richardson, Rebekah Rainey, Eva and J.C. Ling, Mace Ethridge and Will Easterling. Back: Jan Davis, Jennifer Coggins, Renea Ethridge, Linda Coggins, Shirley Bennett, Susie Archie and Mandy Ezell
ALZHEIMER’S MEMORY WALK
LE BONHEUR CLINIC GRAND REOPENING
Javaris Perkins, Shauniece Deloney, Shaela Jakes, Jonathan Blasingame, Katie Hodges, Jennifer Shelton, Jessica Thornton, Kelly Scott, Monica McCarley, and Makel and Angie Regina Greenwood, Ashley Stanford, Mary Wren and LouAnna Cooperwood Hutchins GROUNDBREAKING OF COLUMBUS ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC’S NEW PHYSICAL THERAPY FACILITY
Dustin Smith, Jenny Edmondson, Amy Sharp, Tiffany Young, Sara Parish and Jase Abraham
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Chad Altmyer, Robert Smith and Russell Linton
PURE YOGA GRAND OPENING
Roxie Clayton, Meredith VanDevender, Kristi Paxton and Nathalie Romao
Ashlie Orsborn, Kandy Walker and Missy Caldwell LIFESAVER PARADE
Preston Hooper, Cameron Jones and Zabian Blanchard
Glenda Witherspoon, Suntanna Flemming, LaTosha Pannell and Zekea Brown
Shelia Collins, Leslie Young, LaToya Bramlett and Dee Bedford
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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out and about
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 71
PREMIERE ATHLETIX GRAND OPENING
CELEBRITY WAIT NIGHT
Chris and Kristi Beckish, Jared Thompson, Carlye Hofmister, Joseph Guyton, Jessica Pender, Corey Lipsey, Arizbeth Pickering, Mitchell McGregor and Casey Dewey
Tom Booth, Kelli Karlson, Javante Ingram, Will Kollmeyer, Stan Allen, Cee Cee Jackson, Allie Martin and Matt Laubhan
FALL GARDEN DAY WITH NORTH MISSISSIPPI RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER
Shelaine Pennington and Vickey Gray
David Nagel, Jay McCurdy, Alan Henn, Keith Crouse and Blake Layton
SAVING STATION CHURCH’S GAS GIVEAWAY AT PAPA V’S
Kyerra Listenbee, Ashlee McKinney, Akeia Freeman, Pastor LeAundrae and Casey Bumpus, Tanesia James, Vanessa High, Jenci Long, Candice Flemmings, Quanta Gaston, Jerusha Gillard, Aundrea Blanchard, Daisha Spencer, Paula Dancer, Kristen Westmoreland, Yolanda and Santorian James, D’Kwan Freeman, Tommy and Ann Bumpus
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
PILOT CLUB FALL PROJECT AT WET PAINT
Kaitlyn Hankins, Connie Warren and Haley Barron
Susie, Ally and Jessie Savery
Emily Barnes and Hannah Grace Harwood
Ramon Correro, Amanda Young, Myrna Gray, Teresa Thomas, Debra Anderson, Janis McCoy, Ruth Dobbs and Patti Davis-Bennett October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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WITH A MISSISSIPPI CHEF Tupelo native Steve Chambers is testing his skills in the kitchen as head chef for the Atlanta Falcons. by Melanie Crownover photographs courtesy of Steve Chambers
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Never ask Steve Chambers what’s on the menu in his professional Atlanta kitchen. That’s top-secret information. The recipes are so good there’s a legal disclosure agreement involved. That’s no joke. Chambers, a 38-year-old Tupelo native, is head chef for the Atlanta Falcons. “In our eyes, what you feed the player is as important as the playbook because we’re fueling a sports machine,” he said. “Starting with as many raw ingredients as possible and making things from scratch are up there with catering to the players’ tastes because nutrition is everything here.” Chambers has been training for this position for the past 25 years – not in a culinary institute but in countless restaurants. His first job as a 15-year-old busboy at Ryan’s Steakhouse in Tupelo led to positions as a waiter and cook in other establishments. With every pizza place or sandwich shop, he learned new kitchen skills and added another category of foods to his recipe book. When he moved to Atlanta in 1995 he broke into the restaurant scene at popular eateries such as American Roadhouse and Harry & Sons. Then he landed head chef positions with Turner Broadcasting and video game developer CCP Games before signing on with the Falcons last year. “The funny thing about it is I’m not a football fanboy, but getting to know the guys
on the field has made it grow on me,” he said. “My sous chef is trying to figure out if we could have fed them something different to change the score when they lose. Those are the nights I take off the red-and-black embroidered toque before I leave in case a fan agrees.” Chambers became head chef in June. His 12-member team began feeding Falcons players at training camp weeks later, serving 1,800 meals a day for a month from a kitchen equipped to cater to half that number. His schedule started with a 2:30 a.m. wake-up call to commute and serve breakfast by sunrise. It was almost time to do it all again by the time the team and staff had lunch, dinner and a late-night snack. The same kitchen simultaneously served fans, VIPs and media. “We have a good core group in that kitchen that can handle about anything, but Steve keeps it steady,” sous chef Jason McGuire said. “He’s an inventive chef that’s levelheaded and used to curve balls. When they come, he just rolls with it.” During the regular season, Chambers and his crew feed the team six days a week, with Sundays off while the players work up their appetites on the field. But that doesn’t mean Chambers takes Sundays off from cooking. “There is no off day for that. With food, if there’s something I haven’t cooked or a new technique, I have to try it,” he said. “The kitchen is my church, and I just like to preach.”
Opposite, Tupelo native Steve Chambers on the hot line at Atlanta Falcons headquarters, where he works as the team’s head chef. Chambers plans menus that balance fresh, healthful ingredients with the players’ tastes. Some of his dishes include, clockwise from top left, a flat-grilled wild boar burger with broiled Gorgonzola cheese and fried jalapeño and sweet onion straws; organic peanut butter mousse cupcakes half-dipped in chocolate ganache; and pan-seared sea bass with sizzling pancetta and cherry tomato broth. October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Funky fall produce becomes interesting seasonal artwork with a little paint and some candle wax. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Lisa Roberts
W
ith crooked necks, misshapen forms and warty exteriors, gourds aren’t the prettiest produce at the farmers market. But in the right hands, they can become works of art.
CINDY STEWART’S GOURD CANDLES
Belden, Miss., native Cindy Stewart ventured far to find a supply of gourds when she opened New Leaf Candles a few years ago. While teaching herself the art of candlemaking at home, Stewart contacted two friends who work at an orphanage in Africa to see if someone there might help in her search for candle holders.
October 2014 | INVITATION TUPELO
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“I saw a set of gourds they had and knew they were perfect. Now these two men near them grow them, harvest them, cure them, hand-carve them and paint them to hold my candles. Then my friends ship them to me,” she said. “No two are alike, and because of their climate, they can grow them all year.” About once every three months, Stewart orders another load of the hand-painted gourds. When they arrive, she prepares to fill them with her handmade candles. She melts 2 pounds of wax, adds in fragrance and color, and then hand-pours each candle into the 3-ounce, 8-ounce and 12-ounce gourd containers. The wicks go in, and then the gourds must remain in the same level spot for an hour to set before she can move them to completely harden. Stewart creates around 20 candles per pouring and sells them at area boutiques and craft fairs. “It’s a tedious process,” Stewart said. “But it’s worth it for a unique finished result that I know helped someone all the way around the world.”
TAMMY HATCHER’S PAINTED GOURDS
Turning gourds into something more artistically appealing has been a hobby for parttime beautician and artist Tammy Hatcher of Pontotoc, Miss., since she was 12. “Finding gourds is a lot harder than it used to be. You saw them hung out everywhere when I was little. I remember my dad and brother used them to make martin birdhouses, and that may have been the first thing I ever painted,” she said. “I learned from watching my older sister, Barbara Nell, turn them into Santas for gifts.” Hatcher later named her art business B’Nell in honor of her sister, and in addition to her regular painting, gourds remain a favorite seasonal pet project when she can find them growing locally. “This is the first time in about five years I’ve had any to paint because not as many people grow them anymore. My brother found
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Cindy Stewart (left) fills hollow, painted gourds with handmade candle wax to create unique decorative pieces. The gourds come from a village in Africa where they are grown, harvested, cured, carved and painted before they are shipped to Stewart. At right, Tammy Hatcher with Mississippi-grown gourds she paints and transforms into whimsical birdhouses and bowls.
me 15 in Booneville, [Miss.,] and I’ve already finished just about all of them,” she said. Hatcher’s brother used a drill to bore holes in some of the gourds to make birdhouses and cut others at their widest circumferences with a circular saw to make bowls. Then Hatcher waited for the insides to completely dry before
shaking them and prying the seeds and pulp out with pliers and a coat hanger. The paint came next. She first painted the design in acrylic; then she applied a coat of polyurethane to protect the artwork from wind and rain. The gourds became sunflower-covered birdhouses, dogwood blossom-laced decorative
bowls, grinning jack o’ lanterns, geese with long necks and – for old times’ sake – a few Santas. “They always make me think about the good old days when I paint them, but I know I’m not the only one,” Hatcher said. “People always get excited to see them this time of year when I have them in the shop for sale.”
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IN SEASON Persimmons by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
P
umpkins and apples may be the stars of this harvest season, but the persimmon is poised for a bumper crop, too. The fruit starts ripening in mid-October and can be picked through late November. Persimmons resemble tomatoes in appearance, but their orange flesh is candy sweet when ripe. The trees take a few years after planting to produce enough yield to enjoy, according to
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INVITATION TUPELO | October 2014
Marian Fay Maloney, who grows persimmons at her Memory Orchard farm in Tupelo. North American varieties of the tree grow an astringent fruit that must be harvested late in the season once it reaches a ripeness that can be described as downright squishy. Earlier harvest results in a fruit too tart to consume that can even cause stomach upset if ingested. The Asian version’s fruit ripens early and is
ready to pick when it is sturdy but has enough give to show a fingerprint when pressed gently. “Persimmons have been a country favorite much longer than I’ve been growing them. We have some recipes here that go back to the 1800s,” Maloney said. “The Asian ones are good to eat by themselves, and native persimmons are [used in] breads, cookies and preserves. Just don’t ask me which one I like best.”
Persimmon Cookies 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup shortening 2 eggs 1 cup persimmon pulp 2 cups white flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 2/3 cup chopped nuts 2/3 cup raisins Preheat oven to 375° F. In a large bowl, cream sugars and shortening. Stir in eggs until creamy. Add persimmon pulp. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients (through nutmeg). Add to shortening mixture; mix well. Add nuts and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Mississippi Autumn Cheese Spread 4 ounces feta cheese 1 cup cottage cheese 1 small green onion (white part only) ½ teaspoon pickled hot pepper 8 ounces softened cream cheese 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise Shredded cheddar cheese Crumbled bacon or chopped pecans Persimmon preserves (Maloney recommends Memory Orchard’s Mississippi Autumn Preserves, made from apples, pears, muscadines and persimmons) Blend together feta, cottage cheese, green onion and hot pepper. Add cream cheese and mayonnaise. Form into two balls using plastic wrap; refrigerate. When ready to serve, cover with shredded cheese, sprinkle with bacon or pecans, and then pour preserves over the top. Serve with favorite crackers.
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TUPELO SPIRIT Lt. Col. Mike Pettigrew
Retired Lt. Col. Mike Pettigrew spent 28 years in the U.S. Army before returning to his hometown last April. Now he’s commander of the local American Legion, which he’s been focused on rebuilding since the spring tornado.
Q: What attracted you to the military? A: Initially, the ROTC scholarships for college at Mississippi State University drew me, but I stayed on because I enjoyed what I was doing. I went in as a second lieutenant right after graduation and had my first assignment as a platoon leader in Germany.
Q: Did you spend much time overseas? A: I had one year each in Iraq and Afghanistan, but of my 11 tours in the Army, 10 were overseas. South Asia became my area of expertise as a foreign area expert. I spent a lot of time in places like India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh to learn about their cultures.
Q: What did that time abroad teach you about home? A: It made me want more people back here to be able to have that experience to see the traditions and cultures of the world. Lots of times we don’t appreciate what we have here. Living and working in these countries – not just being a tourist – made me treasure the freedoms, rights and civil liberties we’re there to protect even more.
Q: How involved are you in the American Legion rebuilding?
A: Extensively. Even before I was commander, I was committee chair for the rebuild. The community has been great, and Eight Days of Hope helped so much with the cleanup. We’re just still raising funds to help with construction because the cost exceeds the insurance. We’ll get there. interviewed by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
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