WINC April 2019 by Log Cabin Democrat

womensinc.net

APRIL 2019

Preston Palmer: Beyond the Music

2 WINC. | April 2019

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PRESTON PALMER

HOMETOWN HERO

FAITH

NANAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KITCHEN

MAJESTIC MAMA

A LOOK BACK

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

and seek treatment; and most of all, never assume anything. A good resource is www. michaeljfox.org. Articles are easy to read and don’t get too technical, but they help shed light on all the good work being done to combat Parkinson’s in a variety of ways. That’s my public service announcement for the month. In this month’s WINC, we are exploring a whole world of guitars with our county’s resident expert Preston Palmer. April also is National Guitar Month, and in that spirit, our cover writer Melissa Gates spent some time learning a thing or two about the instrument, the instruction and getting to know Preston. When you start strumming away at a story, it is amazing the kinds of interesting things you find out! Majestic Mama Andrea Champlin tells her family’s story of exploring the arts and how to get plugged in here. There April is a month to kick off Spring are options in Conway that rival any in a big way! Softball and baseball and larger city, from live theater to music to soccer and so many other sports are up dance and actual art instruction.She’ll and running, and so are moms and dads explain how to maneuver getting your loading up mini-vans and ball bags full of family involved and how essential an arts equipment! education is to development. I know my family is juggling piano and Cindy Beckman takes a look back at choir and baseball and softball and that the City of Colleges. We are lucky here to dang fifth-grade math! have incredible colleges, and she’ll explain I’ve also signed my youngest up for how each has impacted and influenced kindergarten, and folks, I didn’t anticipate Faulkner County in her Look Back column. that emotional smack in the face. I mean, I know my family enjoys riding bikes and people always say, “Don’t blink.” I guess I taking walks on slow spring weekends at should have taken that to heart. So. Many. all the campuses. It’s neat to watch the Feels. changes being made to structures and Easter is approaching, and my family enjoying the beautiful grounds. By the way, spends good, quality time together with both sides of the family. The Easter story is can we give the grounds crews at each an essential one, and although we have lots school some serious kudos?! That is hard work to keep it all looking so amazing! of great food and fun with egg dying and Same goes for the Downtown egg hiding, we don’t forget that. Both of my children are old enough to understand Partnership and Kim Williams for keeping our downtown Conway so rich with color the death and resurrection. Each year, my and beautiful flowers and green space. husband and I take the opportunity to Not every city has that, and we should all tell it again and pray together that our children know what a sacrifice Jesus made consider ourselves lucky! As we welcome spring, let us never run for all of us. low on crawfish and prepare for serious On a personal note, I also want to egg-dying competitions! mention that April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. It is something close to my heart, and even more than giving to the cause – which is always important – I encourage you to learn something about the disease. It doesn’t look or act a certain way in all patients; some are much younger than you might expect; mental health plays a role in how one might exhibit symptoms

Kelly

Publisher Kelly Sublett Contributing Writers Jeanette Anderton Hilary Andrews Cindy Beckman Andrea Champlin Eden Corley Melissa Gates – Cover Story Marisa Hicks Kelly Sublett Photographers Ron Beckman Andrea Champlin Lulu Photography – Cover Story Kelly Sublett Art Director Jay Prince Advertising Sales Director Lisa Licht Advertising Sales Executives Kelly Booy Crystal Geraldson Leigh Anne Gray Editorial Board Cindy Beckman Andrea Champlin Eden Corley Melissa Gates Lisa Licht Kelly Sublett

Questions or Comments? Call (501) 327-6621 e-mail: ksublett@thecabin.net or write to: 1121 Front Street, Conway, AR, 72032 www.womensinc.net

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Central Arkansas’ ‘Top Tier’ Local Musician Achieves Marquis Status story by Melissa Gates, photos by Lulu Photography Music brings a family together. That’s how local musician and guitar aficionado Preston Palmer grew up. The 37-year-old was raised in Wooster and started playing music at a young age. “My family played a big part in showing me how much joy could be found from playing music with other people,” Palmer says. Preston remembers his cousins gathering around his mom singing Beatle’s songs while his uncle played the guitar. “Those are my formative memories of family,” he says. 6 WINC. | April 2019

Even though Palmer studied Psychology and Sociology at the University of Central Arkansas, music was always his passion. He played trombone in the Greenbrier High School band, guitar and bass in the jazz band, and joined his church’s youth band. “Doing this really helped nail down all the fundamentals of music that I was learning in my private guitar lessons. Looking back, it was great for me to able to be so immersed in music,” Palmer says. “From family to school to church, I couldn’t really get away from music if I wanted to!!” The married father of two little ones starred in a rock band called The Frail Division for years. Palmer says, “We had great success, got the opportunity to play multiple showcases at the South by Southwest music event in Austin, and had multiple songs on heavy radio rotation on regional rock stations. Our song ‘Sarah’ can still be found on iTunes!” Palmer eventually turned down a deal with a major firm in Los Angeles. “As much as I hated that, it was not the right direction for us to go,” he says. “The lessons I learned from my time in the band have served me very well as a business owner, musician, and husband.” While his band was touring, Palmer worked at Jack’s Music store on Oak Street when time allowed. He eventually purchased the store in 2016 and renamed it. Palmer was also teaching lessons and fixing guitars at his shop on Harkrider. Both stores are now under one umbrella, Palmer Music, at the Oak Street location. Palmer says, “I like maintaining the legacy of a small-town music store that goes to great lengths to take care of its customers, and provide jobs for local musicians.” Palmer Music has become quite successful. After a 12-year application process, Preston recently earned the rights to not only sell but to do warranty work on one of the world’s most prestigious guitars; the Martin. Palmer says the high-end, American-made guitars are made of special wood, shaped somewhat differently, and have a bigger sound. He says the bracing inside the guitar gives it the tone and sound a musician wants. Costing thousands of dollars, each is built to produce a marquee sound. Palmer says the company is extremely picky over who’s allowed to do its warranty work. He’s very proud to have passed the test. “It’s a big draw to become a service center.You have to have the right tools, right equipment, and the right store space,” says Palmer. womensinc.net 7

“I do love spending time with young musicians and helping them navigate the current landscape.” There are other stores in Arkansas that sell Martins, but according to Palmer he’s the only certified service center. Palmer says, “This means you can come to Palmer Music Company and see, play, and purchase these heirloom instruments, made in America since the 1800s. Then if you have any issue at all with said guitar, either covered under warranty or not, you can bring it back to where you bought it and have it taken care of…as opposed to shipping it back to the Martin Factory for warranty work. We can do it all right here in central Arkansas. That is a big deal for musicians, and something I have been working on achieving for a long time.” Palmer is also an upper-tier dealer for Taylor guitars. He says, “again, this a big deal for musicians. We are carrying products that you would normally only see in magazines or online. The fact that you can come in, grab these prestigious guitars off the wall and play them, as opposed to looking at a picture of them online-is a big deal, and something I’m very proud of.” Palmer says the store is still a work in progress. He has plans to increase an e-commerce presence, add more private lesson rooms and update the waiting area. “I really want to make sure that we remain a place that people want to come to find community, and camaraderie. I want our parents to be comfortable while they wait on their kids music lessons. I want them to feel even more at home with how they communicate with us and with their instructor,” Palmer says. He’s also been working with his staff for a few years on a new lesson program that Preston hopes to roll out this year. It’ll be a totally immersive experience. He says, “I can’t wait to give more details about that program, so stayed tuned!”

In addition to repairing guitars and teaching lessons, Preston also loves mentorship. He recently spoke to a group of 400 kids about honesty and integrity, while telling his musical story. “I don’t feel like I have much advice to give, but I do love spending time with young musicians and helping them navigate the current landscape that is being a working musician, all while trying to be a decent person,” Palmer says. And speaking of young musicians, Preston and his wife Trisha are building a little “band” of their own. They love singing to their boys. Two-yearold Charlie already strums the guitar, while 8-month-old Teddy watches on. Preston hopes they have a lifelong pursuit of music as a hobby; and if they want to take over the store someday he’d be fine with that too. “But if they want to be doctors and lawyers instead; and send me on a nice vacation I’m fine with that too,” Palmer jokes. But for now, Preston and Trisha will focus on building the boys’ formative family memories around music, just like their dad. For information on Palmer Music kids summer camps: Email: info@palmermusic.co 501-327-8129

Melissa Gates has been telling stories in Faulkner County for more than a decade. She has interviewed a wide variety of interesting people from U.S. Presidents to rock stars, and countless community leaders. After growing up in the Midwest, she is thrilled to call Conway home, alongside her husband and three kids.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;My family played a big part in showing me how much joy could be found from playing music with other people.â&#x20AC;?

506 West Oak St., Conway 501.327.8129 10 WINC. | April 2019

info@palmermusic.co www.palmermusic.co Central Arkansas' Martin Guitar Dealer & Service Center

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Ask our office today about our new Whitening for Life Program! A one-time enrollment fee of $99 gives you a lifetime to "Smile With Pride!"

501-358-4489 1600 East Oak Street | Conway, AR 72032 | www.eastoakdental.com 12 WINC. | April 2019

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Nanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Photos and story by Kelly Sublett

Southern hugs start in the kitchen 14 WINC. | April 2019

Terry Hall greets visitors like any true Southern woman – a big smile at the screen door. On a recent afternoon at her home in Damascus, Terry also had her tidy kitchen laden with amazing smells wafting right out of the oven. And all the recipes told a story, from things her mother used to make to her grandchildren’s favorites. “I’m like a tornado cooking on high, flying around the kitchen,” she laughs. “My family always asks how I manage to cook, fold clothes and wash dishes and still make sure everything comes off at the same time! I love my mixer because I can turn around and do other things when it’s busy.” But Terry shrugs and says it’s just one of her God-given gifts. She likes very much to feed people and to be hospitable. Terry is married to Henry and the couple owns and operates Hall Electric. Together,

Skillet Apple Pie

• 1 stick butter • ¼ cup brown sugar In an iron skillet on medium heat, whisk the butter and brown sugar until melted then remove from heat. Do not let it caramelize. Then add: • Splash of vanilla • ½ tsp. Cinnamon Mix together: • ¼ cup warm water mix in 1 Tbs. of cornstarch And pour into skillet. Then add:

they have four children and 11 grandchildren, so having a group to cook for is never a problem. “All my kids are good cooks,” Terry says assuredly. “In fact, so are my grandkids. “The one thing I am so proud of is that my daughters now love cooking for people – making special meals when people are sick or sad and cooking for special meals at church. I have always enjoyed that, and I am thankful they do, too.” “When I was little, I used to stay with my Grandma Frazier and I loved being in the kitchen with her. She always wanted to feed everyone, and I remember when she got done with breakfast, she started on lunch!” One of Terry’s best memories and now cherished recipes is her grandmother’s Wash Day Pie (known as peach cobbler to most of us).

“She called it Wash Day Pie because she grew up washing clothes over a fire and with a washboard,” Terry explains. “This is the pie she would make for lunch on wash days because it was practical and she could always make something out of nothing.” The Wash Day Pie recipe is a simple one: 1 cup flour; 1 cup sugar; 1 cup milk; 1 stick of butter; 1 large can of peaches in heavy syrup; splash of vanilla. Melt the butter in a baking dish, mix together all the ingredients, except the peaches, and pour into the dish. Cover the mixture with the peaches and a sprinkle of nutmeg if you so desire. Do not cover

• 2 cans apple pie filling Mix gently all together in skillet. (If using fresh apples, add more sugar.) Add: • ½ cup caramel bits sprinkled on top of mixture Then top the skillet with a double pie crust. Apply a gentle egg wash and sprinkle raw sugar. Then bake at 350 degrees until crust is slightly brown. Serve with ice cream, caramel drizzle and walnuts.

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the dish, but bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until brown and bubbly. That dish has fed hundreds of folks over the years, Terry says, and it’s a crowd favorite. Her mother, Shirley, also is known for her cooking in and around Vilonia, where Terry grew up. She passed down a BBQ Cup recipe to Terry that has stood the test of time. And that one is simple, too. All it takes is: 1 can of refrigerator biscuits; 1 lb. of hamburger; BBQ sauce; and shredded cheese. Put the canned biscuits in a greased muffin tin. Brown the meat, seasoned to taste. Spoon the meat into the center of the biscuits, cover with BBQ sauce and cheese as desired and bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees or until biscuits are done. “I had these in my childhood, and I love them,” Terry says. “My son used to take them to school for lunch and eat them at room temperature. But I always had to send an extra because his secondgrade teacher loved them, too!” Terry says over the years, her influences have been her grandmother and mother, but also her mother-in-law, who taught her how to cook for a crew.

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“My mother-in-law was a huge influence in cooking for a large family,” she says. “I learned one thing early on in my marriage. She would make homemade biscuits and turn the buttered ones upside down in the pan. It was so little hands wouldn’t pick each one up looking for a buttered one. “The first time I made biscuits for my husband, I had no idea and he asked me ‘well, which ones are buttered? My mother used to. …’ Well, that didn’t go over well,” Terry laughs. “But it was a good tip!” Terry enjoys the kitchen as a place to warm up the whole house and the people in it. Her grandchildren, who call her “Lolli” and Henry “Pop,” get loud and rowdy, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. On any visit to Lolli and Pop’s house, the kiddos, who range in age from 17 months to 13 years old, know they can always count on one thing – chocolate milk. And not just any chocolate milk. Terry keeps frozen mugs on hand at all times, and mixes the chocolate milk on the spot. And she would never forget the whipped cream on top! “It’s the first thing they want when they come in the door,” she smiles excitedly. “And the girls love to drink theirs out of fancy glasses, you know, something with a stem. Only at Lolli’s house, right?!”

But in the end, her kitchen is a place of memories and good fellowship with family and friends. Her kitchen table is a shadow box of memories, and heirloom pie tins line the walls. “Food is a real nurturing thing. When we eat together, we can stop all the busyness and it is time for me to spoil them with favorites,” Terry says. “My family is sentimental about legacy and our ancestors and preserving the past. A meal does all that. “We live in a drive-through world, and when we’re buckled up in the back seat of a car you can’t see each other’s eyes. “Food makes you comfortable so you can talk about exciting things and heartaches to share, and it allows you to talk about your needs – like a big hug.”

If you know a favorite family cook and would like to nominate them for a feature, please email ksublett@thecabin.net.

Hamburger Pie • 2lbs browned ground beef • salt/pepper to taste • 1 can tomato soup • 1 can pinto beans • ¼-½ tsp. Chili powder • Onion powder, garlic salt, etc. to taste After browning and seasoning the meat, add the other ingredients and stir together in a baking dish. Cover with large dollops of creamed potatoes and shredded cheese. Vary the recipe with vegetables if desired. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted.

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The Bird at the Window

We have a bird outside our sunroom window – a female Cardinal to be specific – which is not at all unusual since we have a bird feeder full of sunflower seeds and a nice pedestal perch right beside that window. In fact, we normally have lots of birds there. Starting early every morning, this Cardinal repeatedly flies into the glass and bangs her beak into it. This has gone on for days and has effectively scared the other birds away. I’m no bird psychiatrist, but my initial thought was, “This bird has lost her mind.” Seriously though, I realize she sees her reflection in the glass and is trying to frighten the “other bird” away. When a bird selects a nesting site, they become very territorial and try to secure their “turf” area in an attempt to protect their nest. According to massaudubon.org this can vary from a small backyard to several acres depending on the species of bird. While this behavior is somewhat annoying, it dawned on me this morning that there was a lesson to be learned from this creature with a tiny little brain. According to sciencedaily.com, ounce for ounce, birds have significantly more neurons than mammals or primates, so maybe being a “bird-brain” isn’t such a bad thing! After Shirley and I got married, I would often lie awake at night and worry about whether I was truly capable of protecting her from harm. That role of “protector” was amplified many times over in my mind with the birth of our children. Isn’t that what all parents do – try to protect our children from harm and make life as smooth and

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problem-free as possible? The reality of life is, we can’t always do that. Some things are simply beyond our control. One of those things happened in our family a couple of weeks ago. Our daughter, Jennifer, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is only 37 years old. She has had regular OB-GYN check-ups every year but was “too young” to have started mammograms. While doing a breast selfexam she found the dreaded lump. It was a real gut-punch. As her dad, I literally felt like that Cardinal must feel, beating her beak against the window, and failing to protect my child. Statistically speaking, one out of every eight of you ladies reading this article has had or will have that same exact gut punch. That’s an astonishing 12% of the women in the United States! I honestly had no idea that the incidence of breast cancer was so high. As a pharmacist, I’m ashamed to admit that. I now have a greater sense of urgency to learn all I can as quickly as I can to help my own family through this, and my patients as well. There really is no point for me to attempt to “educate” anyone about breast cancer because there is an abundance of helpful information available on the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen websites. I just want to point out that this can happen to anyone – regardless of how young they may be. At the time of this writing, Jennifer has

not yet met with her breast surgeon. She will have a PET scan and an initial consult with him in a few more days. After that she will have a more complete picture of what she is dealing with and will get a game plan for treatment. Hopefully, by the time you read this, she will be well on her way to recovering from whatever surgical intervention is needed. Our daughter is a strong person of faith. Her initial response upon hearing her diagnosis, along with a few tears, was simply amazing. She said, “I’m not surprised – I kind of expected it. But God is in control and something good is going to come from this. Maybe I can help someone else because of it.” That’s our Jennifer. Makes me ashamed of my weak faith. Since making her diagnosis public, she has received an enormous amount of support from friends and strangers alike. She has received comfort packages, nutritional support products, cards, books, numerous encouraging text messages and Facebook posts and thousands of prayers on her behalf. She literally has an army of prayer warriors! We are looking to add more and more people to that army every day. Would you please enlist? God is a much better Protector than I could ever be. Thank you. David Smith is the owner and chief pharmacist at Smith Family Pharmacy where he works with his wife Shirley and staff. He graduated from the UAMS College of Pharmacy in 1974 and has been taking care of people in the Conway and surrounding areas for more than 44 years. He loves spending time with family and is No1POP to 5 wonderful grandchildren.

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The Arts and Children by Andrea Champlin You name it, my daughter, Annabel has probably tried it. She has participated in every kind of activity you can imagine: ballet, soccer, t-ball, tennis, jazz, tap, swimming, gymnastics, tumbling and anything else we could find. But the main thing Annabel liked to do was sing ... preferably while wearing a princess gown. She’s 10 now, and while the princess gowns have been put away, she still loves to sing. As parents, my husband and I feel it’s our job to nurture any gifts or interests that our children may have. Well, I was stumped on Annabel. She did not want to play sports, she tolerated dance, and the only things that I could tell she really liked were singing and reading. She caught toads during soccer and chased butterflies during t-ball. All of the other little kids would be doing drills, and Annabel would be examining a very pretty weed. It’s fairly easy to find organized sports, dance or gymnastics classes. But what if you’re the parent of a child that likes to sing, draw or act? How do you find activities for them? I got lucky. First of all, we live in a city with a thriving arts community. Secondly, a friend saw one of my Facebook posts about Annabel, and recommended Red Curtain Theatre to me. Red Curtain Theatre is a community theater in Conway that has workshops for children ages 7 and up, that culminate in full stage productions. When Annabel was in the second grade we signed her up for a play, “The Jungle Book.” She was 7, had to audition, and was cast as the Baby Elephant. Our world has not been the same since. Annabel has been in over 10 workshops and community productions since. Her brothers have even joined in on the fun! My son, Andrew, used to be very shy, so shy that when he broke his arm at school in first grade, he never told anyone. Last year he did a summer musical workshop and this year he was singing on stage in front of his school. So what do you do if you have a child that has an artistic interest? Well, sometimes the right thing can be hard to find. Most arts programs don’t have a huge budget to advertise. The things I’ve found have been through recommendations from friends. Ask people you trust. Moms and dads with children a little bit older than yours are a great resource. They’ve been exactly where you are, and if your child has similar interests as theirs, chances are they can at least recommend someone for you to talk to. I’m not an education expert, but I can read, and every study that I’ve read shows a positive correlation between arts education and math, science, and reading. So please, don’t think you’re wasting time or money investing in arts education for your children. Take them to plays, read books together (even when they’re old enough to read on their own) or get out some paintbrushes and study the masters at home. We need creative people in this world! We need creative doctors, engineers, researchers, writers, scientists, and teachers. If your children aren’t interested in acting, singing, or dancing, expose them to it anyway. We need little kids that grow into adults that advocate for the arts. Because those womensinc.net 21

adults that advocate for the arts will support the arts with their voice, time, and money. In the ever-increasing focus on test scores, sometimes the arts are seen as less important subjects. Whenever funding needs to be cut, it’s never the math or science program on the chopping block, it’s the art or music program. There was a very popular nonprofit here in Conway, Blackbird Academy of the Arts, that closed their doors last year because of a lack of funding. I’ve been on some fundraising committees and I can tell you first-hand that it is extremely difficult to raise money for the arts, especially smaller community programs. The goal for most of these places is to just keep the doors open. And some of our children really need these programs, including mine. So if you’re at a performance, pay attention to the sponsors, and consider supporting their business. We’re so fortunate to have the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Reynolds Performance Hall, Preston Palmer Studios, Red Curtain Theatre, UCA Community School of Music, to name just a few. I grew up in a small town in the Arkansas delta, and none of these things were available to me. It makes me feel so proud that my children have been to a Shakespeare play (and they loved it!); I didn’t see one until my 30s. There are so many organizations and individuals in the area that are involved in the arts. When you find something your child may be interested in, even if nothing

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is open at the moment, make sure you sign up for their email list and follow them on social media. That way you’ll be the first to know when they’re offering something new. Exposure to the theatre has been a huge blessing for my family. It’s a big time commitment, but my daughter has thrived in school and on stage. For one especially time-consuming performance during the summer, we asked Annabel to give us a reason why we should allow her to participate. She said that being on stage “oiled her bones.” Obviously, we had no idea what she meant, but she told us it was like the tin man in The Wizard of Oz. The theatre is the oil can, and she needs the theatre to truly be herself. She got to do the show. Whatever your child is interested in, I truly hope they can find something that oils their bones.

Andrea Champlin is a Conway transplant with a new appreciation for toads and mythical creatures. She’s a wife, mom of three, and likes to create pretty things all while trying to get the mom thing right. Andrea can usually be found toting her kids around or planning their next trip, but always with paint on her hands.

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Pre-K art show inspired by masters by Kelly Sublett For three weeks each year, young artists are inspired by the legendary figures in art history, creating their own versions of remarkable pieces. In its 11th year, the First United Methodist Church Early Childhood Center art show on March 14 was attended by more than 200 parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. “This is what’s really cool about it, families have come here over the years,” said teacher Lisa Murray. “[At the show] we saw families with both sets of grandparents and little cousins. … all the ones who had their own art shows come back to see. It’s all the families, not just mom and dad, but both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles.” The idea for the unit and art show is the “baby” of center director Angie Hogue. She wrote the curriculum when she was a classroom teacher, and it is now the most anticipated night of the year for children in three pre-K classes at ECC, taught by Murray, Shannon de Kunffy and Sarah Patrick. “It’s her baby,” Murray said of Hogue. “She started it 11 years ago. I am not sure how she came up with it, but she chose the original artists. We were a little stressed without her this year [Hogue could not attend because of a personal issue], but this is the first time with three classes and we’ve never had to set up this much for before! “We hung all that over two days. The church has multi-use areas, so we could only leave it up one day. We even spilled over into another room this time. It was great!” • Children study eight artists during the unit: • Leonardo da Vinci -- designing and building • Jackson Pollock -- splatter painting • Henri Matisse -- collage with shapes • Claude Monet -- watercolor, funny teacher pictures • Georgia O’Keeffe -- oil pastels • Louise Nevelson -- assemblage • Michelangelo -- the Sistine Chapel, clay sculpture, fresco painting • Vincent van Gogh -- Starry Night, Sunflowers

Interpretations of Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” as done by FUMC Early Childhood Center students for the center’s annual art show on March 14. 24 WINC. | April 2019

For three weeks, 4 and 5 year olds studied the artists. They learned about their lives and families and their mediums. Always, the teachers say, there are favorites. “Most of the same ones have been in the unit every year,” de Kunffy said. “This year, we added Georgia O’Keeffe. For several of the artists, we use books written for children about the artists. We really don’t go into art theory, but we talk about things like, ‘she liked color,’ and we show them images of the artwork from books and the internet.” As for the class favorites to study, all three teachers laughed and answered in unison -- “Jackson Pollock!” “Pollock is one of the favorites,” Patrick said. “They love to throw paint! We tell them to get messy, they really get into it!” de Kunffy added that it’s not always as easy as it seems to get Pre-K students to loosen up. “It is a fun process to watch because some of them are so excited to get messy and then some of them are so timid,” she said. “They’ll start off that way, but when they really realize we mean ‘throw the paint,’ they just really take off. We have to keep saying to them, ‘your mom knows you’re going to get messy!’” Patrick said she was surprised, too, that a few of her students enjoyed a different artist entirely. “It kind of changes which artist they like the best each year,” she said. “I had several this time who really enjoyed the Louise Nevelson, which surprised me.” All three teachers say the children ask many, many questions and cannot wait to work on the projects in preparation for the show. “It is something special, outside of school time, like an event,” Murray says. de Kunffy added, “these are things people take home and hang up. It’s different than just the normal stuff we do in class.” And for the teachers, realizing the interpretations of all the students’ hard work means a lot. “When they’re all done and set up together, it is amazing how different they all look,” Patrick said. “Like the sunflowers for instance. [The students] all had the same size canvas and the same paint colors and they all have a different perspective.”

More than 200 family members and friends strolled the make-shift art gallery at the First United Methodist Church on March 14 during the annual Early Childhood Center art show featuring works by 4-5 year olds, inspired by legends like Michelangelo and Georgia O’Keeffe.

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Charles Day, 94, at his home with its panoramic view of Conway. Photo Credit: Ron Beckman

HOMETOW N

Charles Day:

Duty, Dedication and Devotion by Cindy Beckman Charles Day, known to many as longtime proprietor of Clarence Day’s Feed and Grocery, recently celebrated his 94th birthday. A lifelong resident of Conway, he was born March 17, 1925, the only son of Clarence and Meda Day. He still lives on his family farm with its panoramic view of Conway. From his vantage point overlooking Conway, Day has seen a lot of growth and change in the city over the years. “I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else except here. I remember when the sign down there on Hwy. 65 said ‘Conway Population 7,000’,” Day recalled. Day started first grade at the Pickles Gap School but was soon transferred to Cadron Gap School, located on what is now north Washington Avenue. When the school, closed, he attended the training school at Arkansas State Teachers College (now the University of Central Arkansas) where Miss Sallie Cone was his third-grade teacher. He began attending Conway Public Schools in the fourth grade. 26 WINC. | April 2019

After graduating Conway High School in 1943, Day joined the Air Force, training as a ground crew radioman. He rose from the rank of Private First Class to Corporal during the three and a half years he spent on the West Coast providing wartime security. Like most men of the Greatest Generation, he dutifully did his part to defend and protect our country. Upon his discharge, Day quickly returned home to Conway to resume his life. He married his high school sweetheart, Mildred Ball, and settled down to attend Hendrix College on the GI Bill. During his three-and-a-half years at Hendrix, he worked at his father’s store. Upon graduating with a degree in business administration, he went to work at the store full time. Day first laid eyes on Mildred when they were riding home on the school bus. “She was a little stringy country girl,” he said with a smile. They saw each other some before the war and married soon after his return from the West Coast. Charles and Mildred had two sons, Tom and Tim, and were happily married for 58 years. They had four grandsons and Charles now has eight great-grandchildren. Mildred passed away in February 2004 while recovering from a hip repair. Clarence Day, Charles, father, opened his Feed and Grocery on Front Street in 1941 after working for Leslie P. Crafton. He and his wife, Meda, worked there along with their only son Charles. Johnny James and Paul Fuller were also longtime employees at the store. Day would continue to run the store with his mother after his father died in 1975 and then continued to run it by himself after his mother passed in 1987. “It was comfortable working with Mom and Dad,” Day recalled. He finally closed the store in 1986. A self-proclaimed extrovert, Day misses those days on Front Street. “I enjoyed working downtown. I miss the people more than anything else, I don’t meet a stranger,” he admits. “I’ve touched a lot of lives and I’ve tried to be a good Christian through all of it.” One of the things most customers remember purchasing at Clarence Day’s was smoked meats and cheeses. Day smoked

Charles Day shares words of wisdom with his fellow church members at Pickles Gap Baptist Church on his 94th birthday. Photo Credit: Submitted by Jennifer Day

The Day men gathered to celebrate Charles Day’s 94th birthday: Tim (left) and Tom (right) are seated on each side of Day. His grandsons, left to right, are Blake, Brian, Brandon and Ben Day. Photo Credit: Submitted by Jennifer Day

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the country hams and bacon himself, using a cold smoke technique. The meat was dry cured and then smoked over the course of six weeks. Customers bought and often shipped these meats all over the world. Day became active in downtown Conway, participating in Chamber of Commerce activities for 55 years as well as joining the Conway Noon Lions Club. He joined this civic group just a year after it was chartered and has been a dedicated member for 72 years. He served as president of the organization in 1949 and has served in every other capacity over the years. He had perfect attendance for 50 of those years. Over the years, Day has received the Melvin Jones Fellow (2002) for dedicated humanitarian services; the Edwin Dalstrom Distinguished Service Award (2007) for outstanding service to the sight and hearing impaired; and the Herb Lawrence Membership Award (2012) for meritorious recruiting achievement. He was recently honored when the group celebrated “Charles Day” at its regular meeting. Day’s great-grandfather, John M. Day, was a founding member of Pickles Gap Baptist Church. As a fourth-generation leader in his church, Day has devotedly served in various capacities from deacon to Training Union Director. Both he and his wife sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and once served together as clerk and treasurer. A wonderful menagerie of outdoor creatures could be seen from Day’s picture window. “Every week I get two trays of bread from the bread store. I feed them three times a day,” he explained. In addition to the various outdoor squirrels and birds that keep him company, Day also shared that he now has a girlfriend after being a widow for 15 years. She’s Wanda Sue McGuire from Saltillo and they were introduced by his housekeeper’s daughter. His housekeeper was Wanda’s grandmother! When asked about his greatest accomplishment, Day chuckled, “Getting to be 94! I don’t know if I’ll make it to 95 or not. Every day, I exercise my body before I get out of bed. I eat right.”

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Charles Day celebrated his 94th birthday on March 17, 2019. Photo Credit: Submitted by Jennifer Day

Cindy Beckman is a local freelance writer. She writes A Look Back, a weekly Tuesday column; A Look Forward, a bi-monthly Sunday column; and the daily Yesterdays column for the Log Cabin. She has also authored several local history books and articles. She may be reached at beckman@windstream.net

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Painting for Everyone! by Andrea Champlin Paint pouring is huge right now! I know this because the supplies for this type of artwork have made it to an end cap in Hobby Lobby. That’s code for everybody is doing it. Even if you think you have zero artistic skills, this is the DIY for you. Anyone can do this, kids included! Also, I would like to mention that I am not a trained artist. I sell my work here and there, but most things I’ve learned about creating art have come from the University of YouTube and the College of Instagram. So, if you’re still ok with getting an art DIY from someone with a finance degree, keep on reading.

Supplies • A stretched canvas • plastic cups • popsicle sticks • assorted acrylic paint colors • Floetrol • water • silicone

• torch • plastic/wax paper/surface protector • push pin • straw • varnish (optional) • liquid dish soap (optional) • paper towel (optional)

A couple of things to remember before you get started:You will need more white paint than any other color.You will use more Floetrol than you think you will. I buy the gallon jug from the hardware store. My first paint pour was awful. The good news is you can either let it dry and paint over it, or just scrape all the paint into the trash and try again.

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Mixing Your Paint 1. I started by putting the acrylic paint in the plastic cup first. I did all of the colors I planned on using. 2. Add Floetrol (be sure to shake first so it’s not lumpy). There are a lot of formulas out there. I don’t use any of them. I add enough Floetrol so that my paint is very fluid, the consistency of pure maple syrup, but not watery. 3. Mix well using your popsicle stick. Make sure you get the sides and bottom of the cup. 4. Add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of water. Stir. 5. Add 2-3 drops of silicone to the top of the cup. Do not stir. Your paint is ready! Pouring the Paint 1. I did what’s called a floating cup pour. I put white paint down all over my canvas, and put the full cup of paint upside down on top. Spread the white paint all over your canvas. See, I told you you’d use a lot of white. I used a popsicle stick to spread the paint ... and then I got tired of the popsicle stick and used my hand. Oh yeah, gloves are optional. 2. Pour your paint in the cup, alternating colors. I poured white first, then blue, light blue, green, yellow, pink, red. I did this twice and filled the cup. 3. Carefully tilt you canvas up and place your cup upside down on top. 4. I let it sit there for about minute before proceeding. 5. Take a push pin and poke a hole (or two) in the top of the cup. 6. Guide your cup around the canvas, wherever you want the paint to be. I wanted to leave white space on my canvas, but you can cover the entire canvas if you want. 7. Using you torch, go over the freshly poured paint. This will get rid of air bubble and helps activate the silicone to create the colorful cells you see. 8. Tilt your canvas to get the paint to move. 9. When your happy with the shape, use a straw to blow the edges. This creates he wispy edges you see in this piece. 10 Let dry. Mine took about three days to completely dry. There are some additional steps to take if you want to seal the painting and the clean off the silicone that will rise to the top after drying.You can find those steps (along with a few more photos) on my website at TheMajesticMama.com. Happy painting!

This painting by Andrea Champlin will be auctioned on May 13, at 6 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall during the annual debut party for UCA Public Appearances. All funds raised in the auction will benefit Main Stage Education Series Endowment Fund. For more information, log onto uca.edu/publicappearances.

Conversations with a

Chris & Melissa Cavazos Children: The Cavazos have been married for 11 years and have two children: Evan, 6, and Ruby, 4. They also have a mini petite goldendoodle named Penny Lane. Hometown: Melissa: Pine Bluff, AR; Chris: Brownsville, TX (near South Padre Island) What’s something people wouldn’t generally know about you? Chris: I went to two Texas State chess tournaments in high school Melissa: I was born on 1/29 at 1:29 pm and was valedictorian of my high school class What’s the last music you listened to as a family while driving? Both: Mercy Me, Anything Kids Bop What’s your guilty pleasure? Chris – Food: Oreos; TV: Gotham and Big Brother Melissa – Food: Charcuterie; TV: This is Us or anything on the Hallmark Channel What’s the one thing in your home you want to get rid of but that your spouse won’t allow? Melissa: All of Chris’ old Texas Longhorn clothing. Chris: Anything that piles up in the garage Who is your favorite animated character? Chris: Lightning McQueen Melissa: Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast because she’s brunette and loves to read What are you most passionate about? Chris: Being the best husband and father; also, I’m a huge longtime Texas Longhorns fan. Melissa: Encouraging other full-time working moms in their passions/giftings and loving my family well. What is the furthest you’ve been from home and why? Chris: Melissa and I have taken several trips to NYC for our honeymoon and at Christmas time Melissa: I’ll be traveling out of the country for the first time in 19 years to Guatemala with Noonday Collection, a fair trade jewelry and

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accessories company, to visit artisans in four workshops who create hand-made pieces and are changing the trajectory of their families and community through their craft. Do you prefer mountains or the beach? Both: Beach Who do you most admire? Chris: My 88 year old grandmother because she raised me and since retiring, she’s been volunteering at the hospital for 22 years and is a recent breast cancer survivor. Melissa: I most admire a dear friend, Kaitlyn Yant, who passed away after the most valiant battle with cancer in 2018. Her testimony and impact lives on because of her faith in God’s goodness even in scary, hard, unknown circumstances. She was the bravest friend! Which is your favorite restaurant in town? Chris: Pickup: Chick-Fil-A; Sit-down: Taylor’s Made Cafe Melissa: Cross Creek Sandwich Shop. We also have a Friday night tradition of going to Freddy’s. It’s called “Freddy’s Friday Family/ Friends Fun Fiesta,” and anyone is welcome to join us! Is your family more Elvis or Beatles? Both: Beatles for sure Who is the better driver? Chris: Me because of my Texas driving experience (crazy roads and fast-paced traffic)

Melissa: Me, because I have less tickets. Chris has had 7, and I’ve had 1! Who is the calmest? Chris: Depends on the situation, but mostly Melissa. Melissa: Me What is your family’s favorite hobby? Both: Being outside: riding bikes or scooters in our cul de sac or going camping with Melissa’s parents Where do you go to church? Both: The Summit Church in Conway What is your favorite memory as a family? Chris: The honor and privilege of baptizing Evan after he made Jesus the leader of his life in December this past year. Melissa: Always decorating for Christmas the Saturday after Halloween. Call us crazy, but we look forward to it every year, and our Christmas outdoor blow-up collection continues to grow. Our son Evan oversees the outdoor décor daily and loves to make sure the blow-ups and lights are in good working order. We love having visitors in the cul de sac and look forward to an even bigger spectacle this year.

Cody Sublett is a native to Faulkner County. He is a local business owner and enjoys sharing the personalities of the people he meets. Whether it is another small business owner or a family he has had the pleasure of working for, the Cadron Creek Craftsman is happy to share a little bit about the people who make Central Arkansas unique and diverse.

Getting used to hearing aids and better hearing by Dr. Sam Kelso, Au.D.

You’ve finally decided that it’s time to get hearing aids, or maybe you just recently got your first pair but aren’t quite sure about what to expect. Hopefully your doctor gave you some tips for realistic expectations and you’re moving along without a hitch. I hope that this short article will inform you about what to expect and/or motivate you to seek a diagnosis and treatment for your hearing loss. I’ve written in this space on prior occasions that hearing sounds and understanding speech are different. Hearing is the ability of your ears to detect the presence of a sound while understanding is the ability of your brain to formulate those sounds into something that is meaningful. The primary complaint of all patients with sensory neural hearing loss is. “I hear but I can’t understand”. The brain must be constantly stimulated to process sound and ironically it is our ability to ignore unwanted sounds that help us hear better in noisy places. In order to begin to hear better, new hearing aid users must learn to filter out what they don’t want to hear the same way that they did when their hearing was normal.

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People with normal hearing have the ability to do this and don’t even think about it. No hearing aid can distinguish between what you want to hear and don’t want to hear as well as your brain can. The longer you go without hearing well the harder it is for your brain to relearn to understand speech in the presence of other noises.

We can all get used to things to the point where we ignore them. If you were to move in to a house close to the railroad tracks, you might not sleep for weeks, or even a few months because you would be so aware of the trains going by. After several years someone might ask you, “How can you stand that?” and your

response would be, “Stand what?” The train didn’t get quieter, but you became so used to it that your brain learned to ignore it and it no longer interferes with your normal activity or sleep. The more that you wear your new hearing aids the more sound you will be hearing, and your brain learns to better sort out things that are not important so that it can focus on the sounds of voices that keep you engaged in the conversation. Getting used to your hearing aids should only take a couple of weeks and most patients tell me that they don’t even know they are wearing them after a few days. I generally tell a patient that they should expect a 75-80% improvement in their ability to understand. This is meant to imply that you will hear much better but can sometimes miss what was said. It helps to be self-motivated and stay positive about hearing and understanding better. Hearing aids have improved dramatically in the past few years but more importantly those improvements have helped patients regain much of their speech understanding that was once lost to them. They can help you too!

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It Is Finished by Becke’ Stuart

Good Friday. The day love won. A wide range of emotions always courses through my veins on this day. One moment, I am in the throes of grief, hardly able to contain my sorrow for my Lord. This sinless King was pierced, beaten, and hung up on wood only to be robbed of breath. All for my sin. But in the next moment, I am listening to music and smiling from ear to ear because I know the full redemptive story. I know He is alive and well and interceding on my behalf. Up from the grave He arose, my heart shouts! Good Friday is always a sacred dance of grief and joy. The best love stories always are. I want to share one simple verse and one simple Greek word. Luke 22:22 says, “For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” Jesus is in the upper room sharing a final Passover meal with his disciples. He has expressed how his body will be given for them and his blood shed for them. He wants them to know that the old covenant will be stripped away because the new covenant is in his blood.

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There must have been a plethora of emotions flowing through Christ at that meal. He longed for the cross because of the hope set before him: a beloved people restored to the Father. But at the same time, his weak human flesh was screaming against the excruciating pain that was only hours away. It’s this verse that has given me pause this month. “For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined...” Jesus is going to the cross. It is his whole mission. Satan didn’t win by nailing him to the tree. It was God and Jesus and me and you who won in that moment. The Greek word for determined is “horizo” and means exactly what we are all thinking because we get our word horizon from this word. It means to mark off by boundaries, to set limits, to appoint, or to determine. Even when the triune God was marking off the boundaries of creation, setting boundaries of oceans and horizons, the triune God had already determined that the Son would be the sacrificial atonement. Even before mankind was in place and had fallen, the plan of redemption had already been determined. The Son would die for our sins. The Son would be resurrected. The Son would sit at the right hand of the Father and intercede on our behalves. The cross didn’t catch God off guard. The cross had been determined all along. The cross was God’s majestic and holy dance of grief and joy. Determined. I think of all the sorrow around and I think about how nothing catches God off guard. I reflect on His sovereignty and am

reminded that He determines everything, ultimately bringing joy from grief. I see people’s ache and how they swim in the uncertainty of what God has determined in their lives. Sometimes, it seems He has allowed things that are almost uncharacteristic for His nature. In these hard times, it is helpful to remember these three words: It is Finished. While we dwell in doubt and confusion, we can remember that the joy and complete picture has already been accomplished by our Savior. Just because we can’t see any meaning or beauty in our chaos doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. There is a future that goes beyond our “Friday.” God is smiling when He thinks about it, and in this moment, He is gifting us with the faith to wait for it. “This is God’s promise to us. In Christ, the not-rightness of the world is already defeated. Jesus’s cry of ‘It is Finished’ from the cross was true and real.When things aren’t all right now, take comfort in the fact that they will be, forever.” – Tullian Tchividjian Becke’ Stuart has always been drawn to the written word, but she fell into penning the words herself when she found herself needing an avenue to process grief. For Becke’, writing has been one way to dive headlong into the hard stuff of life, allowing God to meet her right there in the mess and answer her chief prayer: “Lord, give me eyes to see!” Becke’s deepest desire is that her words might offer readers a glimpse of Jesus and His infectious love. Becke’ has been married to her husband, Eric, for 20 years. Together, they are raising four boys ranging in age from 5 to 18. When she isn’t cheering her clan on in sports, she enjoys photography, singing, and mass amounts of guacamole.

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A Look Back...

City of Colleges by Cindy Beckman Conway has long been known as the “City of Colleges,” as denoted on signs at each entrance of the city. Quality education is not only valued, it is a major industry thanks to city leaders who helped establish these institutions of higher learning here over a century ago and those who have continued to support them over the years. Hendrix College was the first institution of higher learning in this “City of Colleges, established in 1890, after a competition among several Arkansas cities resulted in Conway becoming the new home of this Methodist college. The Rev. Edward A. Tabor, pastor of the Methodist Church in Conway, and Captain W.W. Martin, a prominent merchant and city mayor, led the effort to relocate the college from Altus to Conway. Local individuals pledged $55,000, with $11,000 coming from Martin. The first buildings constructed on the new Hendrix campus north of the Conway railroad station were a two-story 38 WINC. | April 2019

brick building and two small brick dormitories. The two-story building, named Tabor Hall, had dining facilities on the first floor and ten student rooms on the second floor. Each of the dormitories had eight student rooms. These three brick buildings were joined by two frame houses and six small one-room cottages that were already located on the 30-acre campus. In 1891, a four-story brick structure was built to house the school’s academic and administrative facilities, the library and a chapel. This building was first called the Main Building but then renamed College Hall. That first year, 158 students attended Hendrix College but only 25 were in the collegiate department. In order to prepare students for college work, Hendrix maintained a secondary department, called Hendrix Academy. For a few years, the college even accepted students who were prepared at academies in Gentry, Mena, Stuttgart and Imboden. It

Cordrey Science Building at Arkansas State Normal School (now UCA) (c. 1920) Photo courtesy of FCHS housed in UCA Archives.

was not until 1911 that enrollment in the collegiate department outnumbered enrollment in Hendrix Academy. The academy would be discontinued in 1925. Being a mostly male college, the men of Hendrix were extremely delighted when Central College, a Baptist school for girls, opened in 1892. Although there were very strict social rules at Central, several Hendrix men were permitted to “call on” the girls each year. The two colleges also arranged formal social occasions so the Hendrix men could attend functions at Central. This arrangement would continue until the 1920s when the presence of a larger number of women students at Hendrix altered this “dating” pattern. Although the establishment of Central College, Conway’s second college, was initiated by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, city founder Col. A.P. Robinson donated the ten-acre site at College and Center where Central Baptist College stands today. Central Baptist College for Women also had a curriculum that extended from first grade through the preparatory department with the college department providing four years of college classes. Old Main opened in 1893, in the college’s second year, and a third floor was soon added. Student enrollment continued to increase in the first decade of the 20th century but the lower departments were eventually discontinued.

May Day Celebration at Central Baptist College for Women (1915) Photo courtesy of FCHS housed in UCA Archives.

Cordrey Science Building (foreground) and Doyne Hall (background) at Arkansas State Normal School (now UCA) (c. 1915) Photo courtesy of FCHS housed in UCA Archives. womensinc.net 39

Front Street gate to Hendrix College (c. 1915) Photo courtesy of FCHS housed in UCA Archives. In May 1912, talk about the possible relocation of the college caused the citizens of Conway to step forward and assume the college’s $25,000 of indebtedness so that it would remain in the city. A west wing was added to Old Main as attendance continued to grow and by 1919, forty young women had to be turned away due to a lack of accommodations. After years of financial difficulties, Central College closed its doors in May 1947. H.P. Westmoreland, owner of W.W. Westmoreland Furniture in Conway, operated “Westmoreland Manor” in Main Hall for four years while Bruce Hall, the dorm built in 1920, was converted into residential apartments. In 1951, the newly-formed Arkansas Missionary Baptist Association (now BMA of Arkansas) voted to buy the Central College campus and establish Conway Baptist College. The college’s name was changed to Central Baptist College in 1962. Conway’s third college was established in June 1907, again through the efforts of a Conway business leader, George Washington Donaghey. This future Arkansas governor, in forty minutes, secured pledges for $40,000 to help Conway become the location of the recently authorized State Normal School. That figure eventually rose to $60,000. The Normal Board, tasked with selecting a location from among five communities vying for the honor, toured Conway June 27, 1907 and ultimately selected the city because it pledged more local support than its rivals. The school’s first building, Cordrey Hall, housed administration, classrooms, an assembly room and the library. It stood on the

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site of the current Burdick Business Administration building and later became the science building. Arkansas State Normal School opened Wednesday, September 23, 1908. It had eight instructors and 170 students that first year. John James Doyne, the state superintendent for public instruction who drafted the act creating the school, was its first president from 1908 to 1917. Beginning about 1913, students from surrounding areas were taught by professional elementary and secondary teachers at a “training school” on the Normal School campus. A new training school was built at the corner of Bruce and Donaghey in 1925, the same year that the college was renamed Arkansas State Teacher’s College (ASTC). In 1949, the Nolen M. Irby Demonstration Building, named after ASTC’s fourth president, was built northeast of Old Main where Irby Hall sits today. Although most area students were transferred to the public schools at the end of World War II, the Irby School remained open until 1962. ASTC became the State College of Arkansas in 1967 and the University of Central Arkansas in 1975.

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Avenues of Determining Home Value by Morgan Tidwell Buying or selling a home can be the largest financial decision you make in your lifetime. Whether you’re a buyer or seller knowing how to price a home is extremely important for both sides. As a buyer, you want to be able to make a competitive offer but at the same time not over pay for the property. As a seller, if you price a property too high it may sit on the market a long time. Adversely, pricing a property too low could keep you from making all the property is worth and who wants to miss out on a good chunk of change?! Whether buying or selling a home is in your immediate future or not, understanding the three types of home values will help you to stay aware and educated on changing market trends so that if and when the day comes you are ready to buy or sell you’ll be fully prepared. So, what are the three types of home value? Let’s start with Appraised Value. A professional appraiser is in charge of determining the appraised value of a home. These appraisals are typically required by a lender when a buyer is financing the property. And while the lender is the one requiring this information, the appraiser does not work for the lender.Your appraiser should be objective, licensed professional who doesn’t have allegiance to the buyer, seller, or lender- no matter who is paying their fee. When determining the appraised value of a home the appraiser will compare the property to similar homes in your neighborhood, and they’ll evaluate factors such as location, square footage, appliances, upgrades, improvements, and the interior and exterior of the home. The second type of value is Assessed Value. The assessed value of a home is determined by your local municipal property assessor. The value matters when your county calculates property taxes each year. The lower your assessed value, the less property tax you’ll pay. To come up with the assessed value, your assessor will evaluate what comparable homes in the neighborhood have sold for, the size of your home, age, overall condition, and any improvements or upgrades that have been made. However, most assessors don’t have full access to your home, so their information is limited. The final value type is True Market Value. As a seller, knowing your true market value is important because it helps you choose how much to list your property for. It can also help you decide if you want to make any improvements to your home before putting it on the market. A good real estate agent is an expert in pulling comparative statistics and providing you key data on what buyers are looking for in today’s market. Also, a real estate agent will have hands-on experience buying and selling properties. They understand 42 WINC. | April 2019

the mindsets of buyers in your market and know what they’ll pay for a desirable home or property. How might a real estate agent go about assisting you in identifying key information to obtain the highest possible price for your home or property as well as to sell it quickly for top dollar? They will start by doing a comparative market analysis (CMA). This means they’ll compare your home’s features to similar properties in your area. To effectively make this comparison the agent will look at the factors below to influence their determination: 1). Neighborhood sales- this includes looking at recently sold homes in your neighborhood, the price they sold for and what they have in common with your house or property 2). The exterior- Your agent will factor in curb appeal, the style of the house, the front and back yard, and anything else that impacts how the house looks to the outside onlooker. 3). The interior- This is everything inside the walls of the house. Square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, appliances, and more all influence the overall salability of your home. 4). Age of the home- Whether you have a newer or older home affects the number your agent determines as part of their comparison 5). Style of home- The style of home is relative to that particular area market. If buyers in that area prefer ranch-style homes and you have one then your home may potentially sell for more money. 6). Market trends- Local agents have the experience in your specific market so that they are able to identity a supported comparison based on past, recent real estate transactions. 7). Location, location, location- You hear this often and it holds ever true in real estate. A real estate agent will be able to determine the popularity of an area, and advise you how to find area safety of the surrounding schools to make an informed comparative market analysis. Determining a home’s listing range is a real estate agent’s forte. If you’re a seller, your agent will help you find your home’s potential so you can list it at the right price. For a buyer, your agent will help you determine the comparative so you can come up with a fair offer. If you are curious about your home’s true market value then call us today for a free, no-obligation Comparative Market Analysis at ERA TEAM Real Estate: 501.327.6731 Sources: Chicago Tribune, SFGATE,ValuePenguin, Movoto, Zillow, Realtor.com

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Celebrating Our #1 In 2018, Conway Regional was named #1 in Central Arkansas for Medical Excellence in Overall Hospital Care*, among 50+ other awards. While we’re proud of our awards, our team is driven by something more: you. Our #1 priority is and will always be you, the patient, and that’s the #1 worth celebrating. *CareChex® — an information service of Quantros, Inc.