Women's Inc. - 07/2016

WOMENSINC.NET

WINC. J U LY 2 0 1 6

HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE FAULKNER COUNTY’S NEWEST FARM FAMILY

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WINC.

CONTENTS

J U LY 2 016 WOM EN ’ S IN C .

Publisher Jeff Hartley Editor Lori Quinn

Contributing Writers Jeanette Anderton Leah Ashby Detra Clark Marisa Hicks Colleen Holt Nancy Jackson Andrea Lennon Jill McCollum Susan O’Keefe Jennifer Stanley Jenny Strange Kelly Sublett Chief Photographer Brandy Strain Advertising Sales Director Betsey Barham

6

DOWN ON THE FARM

SOS Tiny Farm in Springhill a family affair

‘STAYING ALIVE’

10

An advocate for a healthy lifestyle

30 pocket gardens

14

Cropping up at the Village at Hendrix

happy feet

Shoe shopping at The Sporty Runner

Advertising Coordinator Molly May Advertising Sales Executives Sarah Allen Tara Mallett Lisa Licht Advertising Artists Jay Prince Lauren Morgenstern Editorial Advisory Board Leah Ashby Detra Clark Nicolle Fletcher Haley Crafton Fowler Sarah Frost Mary Harlan Nancy Jackson Cate Ketcheside Leslie Kostecky Caroline LaVan Velda Lueders Candace Meeks Misty Morse Carol Patty Amy Reed Lori Ross Mary Margaret Satterfield Jennifer Stanley Katherine Thomason Stefanie Holt Vann

Questions or Comments?

Call (501) 327-6621, e-mail: loriquinn@conwaycorp.net or write to P.O. Box 969, Conway, AR, 72033 • www.womensinc.net

42

food

The taste of easy

46

imatter

Tyaris Warren is a step ahead

columns 21. health

38. book review

35. arts

40. spiritual

Fit bodies, sharp brains and ‘Baby Boomers’

by David Smith

July calendar of events

by Jennie Strange

Medicine and What Matters in the End Susan O’Keefe review

A Good Shepherd

by Andrea Lennon WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 5

cover stor y

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‘south of sane’

Down here on the farm SOS Tiny Farm in Springhill is a family affair

By Jennifer Stanley Photos by Brandy Strain Ever wished you could access locally grown produce on a regular basis? Want to make sure it is certified organic? Look no further; SOS Tiny Farm is up and running and can provide both!

The farm is located in Springhill, just off of Highway 65. While the farm’s total acreage is 16, currently around two to three acres are under cultivation. SOS Tiny Farm is largely a family affair, run

by Austin Yockey, President/Co-Farm Manager; Katy Lydon, Co-Farm Manager; Hannah Dorsey, Vice President/Social Media Head; Russell Dorsey, Treasurer; Beth Yockey, Flower Garden Coordinator; and Robert Yockey, CTO “Chief Tractor Operator.”

Austin devised the name, which affectionately stands for “South Of Sane,” one evening over dinner with the family.

“I thought it was catchy and adequately described my crazy decision to move back down south from New York City to start a farm with my family. In a nutshell, the farm is our family’s retirement plan of sorts. It’s what my parents want to be doing (homesteading and such). I view it as a place that will always be there for the family, and we’ve planned out the farm to be just that, with a fusion of permaculture and seasonal growing spaces,” says Austin.

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“My philosophy is that I always want to have a piece of land I can fall back on to grow food and feed myself regardless of where I end up in life.”

— Austin Yockey

Planting the Seeds

The farm work began in September 2015, and they began selling produce in summer 2016. “Right now, we’re just planning on growing from March to November each year, but once we get our planned greenhouse and high tunnels built, we may be able to grow year round,” says Austin. Currently, SOS Tiny Farm offers the following: • Tomatoes, including cherry, classic slicers, and a variety of heirlooms • Peppers, including sweet bell peppers, 8 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

banana peppers, melrose sweet peppers, jalapeños, lombok chiles, and poblanos • Squash in a number of different summer varieties • Sweet corn, okra, eggplant, and green beans, each in differing varieties • Kale, chard, broccoli, basil, and thyme The farm provides most types of seasonal produce. Adds Austin, “We’ll have even more next year and in years to come with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, pears, figs and pecans coming on.

We’ve also got chickens, bees and soon enough goats, so more and more stuff is getting added all the time.”

Growing the Plants

SOS Tiny Farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)/Farmshare program basis. “Just like the farm, I want those interested in joining to treat it like an investment,” says Austin. Patrons pay $300 for 12 weeks of produce with a goal of a $25 valued basket each week. “For those who

Russ and Hannah Dorsey with the newest family farmer, baby Jackson.

joined this first year, we explained that new farms are unpredictable, so returns can vary.

So, for this year the risk was greater.” However, if the farm does well, so do those who subscribed to the CSA concept, as their wares could be valued above their investment.

“As we get processes down, our package will become more predictable with slightly less return. That being said, those in the CSA always receive the best products before anything else goes to market. We also want members of the CSA to feel like co-owners of the farm,” says Austin. SOS Tiny Farm incorporates member feedback on which varieties to grow. They also encourage recipe sharing, visiting the farm with friends and family, and learning more about growing food within their membership. “We’re really trying to build a community of people in the Conway area who are passionate about food and beverage and who are interested in growing it in a way that’s good for them and their environment. The more people get involved the faster things get moving in the right direction.”

SOS Tiny Farm plans to grow its CSA with each new season. They currently have 10 members with a goal of reaching 20 members with the coming fall season. They also hope to sell through Conway Locally Grown’s online marketplace.

Enjoying the Harvest

For now, Austin and family will continue working the farmland. “Our seasonal

produce like tomatoes, greens, peppers and such are the short-term investments that depend heavily on us taking care of the soil.” This means managing what is grown where and allowing it rest time. “Our berries and trees are the long-term investments that should pay dividends down the road and continue to deliver returns. My philosophy is that I always want to have a piece of land I can fall back on to grow food and feed myself regardless of where I end up in life,” he says.

SOS Tiny Farm is involved with the Faulkner County Urban Farm Project.

Austin will serve as their Arkansas Garden Corps service member in the upcoming year. “They’ve started an urban farm behind the Faulkner County Library that I’ll be helping run along with coordinating/teaching garden education classes,” he says.

As for future plans for the Tiny Farm, Austin says, “We really want to ‘grow’ at a sustainable pace to ensure we never sacrifice the quality of our produce or the service we provide by getting too big too quickly. We also want to really encourage other people to start growing their own food and learning how to feed themselves with whatever space they have to grow. Hopefully, we’ll be doing some garden education classes in the future.”

SOS Tiny Farm can be found on Facebook and Instagram. Interested readers can also visit www.sostinyfarm.com.

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feature story

‘Staying Alive’ Reigning Miss Central Arkansas an advocate for healthy lifestyle

By Colleen Holt Photos by Brandy Strain and submitted An interest in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation that invaded a Conway 10th-graders consciousness has become a lifelong commitment by a lovely young woman to help others live happy and healthy lives.

Caitlyn Cook has developed a program called “Staying Alive: Be Red Cross Ready.”

The program promotes all services the Red Cross offers while emphasizing Hands-Only CPR, a procedure that bystanders can provide 10 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

for someone having a cardiac emergency until professional responders arrive.

The reigning Miss Central Arkansas 2016, Caitlyn has used Hands-Only CPR as her platform in the Miss Arkansas pageant program. Caitlyn has been able to bring her message to a myriad number of people in the past eight years. During June, she took “Staying Alive” on the road to the State Capitol, talking to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for CPR Week. “The benefits to my community and state through my platform ‘Staying Alive: Be Red Cross Ready’ are long lasting and far reaching, as I

C aitlyn Cook

am using my advocacy of the American Red Cross and Hands-Only CPR to impact the well being of countless citizens on a local, state, and national level,” says Caitlyn.

Since beginning the program, Caitlyn has come up with several ways to disseminate her message, including raising more than $12,000 at Zumbathons and Red Cross telethons; spotlighting Hands-Only CPR to more than 3,000 people through Zumba Fitness; inspiring businesses to create safe working environments by joining the “Ready Rating” program; advocating Hands-Only CPR Kiosks; and educating preschoolers through senior citizens about emergency preparedness.

A particularly exciting part of the program has been teaching Hands-Only CPR to more than 2,000 Arkansas students. These classes help to implement Act 1016, which requires all students to complete an introductory class to a form of CPR in order to graduate.

“I welcomed the opportunity through my participation in the Miss America Scholarship Program to align WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 11

myself with another organization dedicated to saving lives — Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” she added. Her work with the network has included visits to Arkansas Children’s Hospital; a six-year advocacy of CMNH’s Miracle Ball and raising $15,000 for ACH; supporting Central Arkansas’ IHOP National Pancake Day for eight years to raise more than $25,000; and supporting the CMNH Wal-Mart Talent show for 10 years and raising $7,000.

The title of Caitlyn’s program comes from the early days of her interest in CPR. “Whether you’re a brother, or whether you’re a mother, you’re staying alive..ah..ha..ha..staying alive,” sang the Red Cross volunteer while I frantically performed my first attempt at CPR as a scared 10th grader in an elective First Responder course,” Caitlyn recently wrote. “As the volunteer shared CPR life-saving stories, I thought of my grandfather who had heart issues. My fears gradually subsided and were replaced by a desire to be equipped to save my grandfather or anyone else in an emergency. Surprisingly I surpassed the expectations of the class and embarked on what is today an eight-year journey as an advocate of the American Red Cross.”

Caitlyn has trained in emergency preparedness through electives of Emergency Medical

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Technician, Med Pro, Medical Terminology, and Introduction to Health Science Technology.

She says all of these “enabled me to work with the Red Cross.

My alignment involved serving refreshments to Conway High School faculty/student blood donors and obtaining Adult/ Child/Infant CPR, AED, and Basic First Aid certifications.”

At the University of Central Arkansas, she was an official American Red Cross volunteer.

“I volunteered in each area of service as a freshman in college.

Time spent in these electives solidified my passion and confirmed my ‘fit’ within the health and safety area of the Red Cross. These experiences led to the development of my program ‘Staying Alive: Be Red Cross Ready’.”

Caitlyn also has a background in marketing, which gives her a good grasp on ways to promote her program. She says she is “now equipping individuals … to find their fit within this non-profit and learn HandsOnly CPR. I am also personally benefitting by discovering a career pathway using my marketing degree. My ultimate vision is a lifetime commitment through a leadership position in an organization empowering individuals to equip themselves through preparedness to face the challenges that tomorrow may bring.”

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feature story

John Pickett stands at the gate to his vegetable garden in The Village at Hendrix

grows garden?

P O C KET G A R D ENS

what

in your

By Colleen Holt Photos by Brandy Strain

It’s not the size of the garden that matters, it’s what you make of the space you have. And at least three gardeners who live in the Village at Hendrix College have made the most of their quaint, cozy garden spots — yielding everything from vegetables to herbs.

John Pickett

John Pickett has taken a 5’x15’ plot of his backyard and turned it into a very productive vegetable garden. John said his garden is what is called an intensive planted garden, which allows him to grow more food in a smaller area.

Featured in the garden are two raised beds that are adjacent to one another with a walking path between. The beds are filled with a mix of compost and topsoil. Currently growing in the garden are tomatoes, bush squash, bush cucumber, bush zucchini, pole beans, bush beans and okra. “I’m the veggie man of the neighborhood,” he laughs. Apparently the little garden produces plenty of food, because John is able to share the bountiful harvest.

The yard has a little irrigation system, which helps with watering, and the garden is fertilized regularly. “It’s easy to pull weeds,” John said. “The garden attracts lots of pedestrian traffic. People stop and comment on it.” John also has a soil test performed every year to check on the nutrient levels — “it usually needs nitrogen.”

When the spring and summer plants cease production in the heat, John will pull them out and replace them with vegetables that do well in cooler weather. This will most likely happen during September, he said. His fall garden will include green beans, broccoli, and tender greens (or turnip greens).

The only vegetable John grew in past years that he doesn’t have now is an asparagus patch.

John and his wife, Betty, moved into the Village in September 2015. They have lived in Conway since 1972. John said he has had a garden since the 1960s.

Between the two raised garden beds stands a Pickett family heirloom — an old wrought-iron gate that was on a fence at John’s grandfather’s home in Milford, Texas. The gate is four feet tall and includes a brass plaque with the name Dr. N.J. Pickett, John’s fraternal grandfather.

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Gloria Cheshier

Gloria Cheshier has a lovely whimsy garden. Historically known as a Potager, this is a tried-and-true way to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs all together in a colorful way. Gloria’s garden hardscape was designed by Ward Lile and includes raised beds in a 16x20 area accessible through the back alley.

Gloria and her husband, Joe Forrester, moved into the Village in July 2014, and the builder was asked to leave

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enough brick to construct the sidewalks. Three pallets of bricks were left, giving her plenty for the sidewalks, the brick garden beds and a brick pathway around the beds. This is the first year for the area to be planted. “I have an infant garden. It’s been coming together little by little,” she said.

Gloria’s garden features “a little bit of everything,” including lemon verbena (“It smells heavenly”), oregano, lemon balm, mint, basil, dill, sage, cilantro and thyme. On the side of her

house, Gloria has planted peppermint and spearmint. She has also included an area for perennial flowers, such as day lilies and an historic specimen of iris first planted at a farm in Bella Vista in the 1700s. Joe also has a spot in the yard for Brussels sprouts, zucchini, squash and green beans.

Throughout the garden, you will see special “treasures” collected over Gloria’s lifetime, such as: • Sedum planted in a concrete planter that came from her mother’s 1913 home in Little Rock. Other flowers include red vinca, day lilies, bee balm, coreopsis, black-eyed Susan, zinnia, marigolds and hyacinth.

• Her great-grandfather’s 1903 plow from his farm in Garland County has “traveled with” Gloria for years, and it is now in the raised bed for her herbs.

• A brass bed was transformed and attached to two of the raised beds for a fence.

• An old lemonade stand was turned into Gloria’s potting shed.

• A concrete rooster from Lancaster County, Pa., stands watch in the garden.

• Joe has made mesh hometown signs that list the addresses and cities of all the places they have lived over 39 years of marriage, and he has also made bird houses from old license plates.

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Melanie Siegel

Melanie Siegel’s garden surrounds her home, “so the lot is relatively small. However, it’s all plants and no grass, so it’s a decent amount of gardening space.”

She said the garden has five parts: the front yard which faces south, each long, narrow side that flanks the house, then the actual backyard plus a different area around the mailbox both face north. They all have different sun exposure and amount of slope so I have to treat them differently. They even get different weeds!” Melanie said that in its current form, the garden is a Xeriscape.

“There are many perennials (I only like to plant things once!) … Shrubs are the frame work of the garden because they’re pretty big after five seasons.

Adding to the framework are a few trees: notably, a cherry tree and a Japanese Snowbell tree, which I just love because it’s unique,” she said. Perhaps her favorite tree is a peach tree, “which gives us loads of sweet peaches each summer.” The ground cover includes a variety of sedum, ajuga, jasmine, and ice plant. Lavender, mint, oregano, tarragon, basil, dill, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme are present in the herb area of her garden.

Melanie hasn’t always loved gardening, but it has always been a part of her life. “I hated gardening until I was about 40 (I am 54 now), but I knew it was in my blood. My mom and her mom are/were avid gardeners. I’ll never forget the feeling of planting those first tiny plants in our former backyard.”

Day lilies given to Melanie by a former boyfriend of her mother from some 20 years ago are featured in her current garden. “He created a special variety of day lily and named them ‘Mary Russell’ after Mom. They surround the peach tree in my back yard and have big, beautiful, bananayellow blooms. The other special plant is a hydrangea that came from Mom’s house. She has a huge row of hydrangeas that are older than I am.

Now one of their ‘children’ is large and in charge on the east side of my house in what I call the ‘secret garden’ — no one can really see it but (my husband) Bill, me, and my next door neighbor,” Melanie said.

Overall, the garden makes Melanie happy.

“When the sun is warm and high on the back yard, the aroma of the lavender and tarragon is intoxicating. Picking soft, fuzzy, aromatic peaches by the dozens in late June is genuinely amazing. I love sharing rosy baskets of them with neighbors, family, and friends. The glossy, fat bumble bees going from plant to plant are beautiful and important and a joy to observe. A little toad showed up in the garden by the mailbox, I hope more are to follow. Probably my favorite of my favorite things is that the garden is next to a pedestrian path.

People walk by and enjoy it. It makes me happy to make them happy. Corny, but true.”

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physician profile

conway ob/gyn

Dr. Lauren Nolen joins Conway OB/GYN

By Leah Ashby Photo by Brandy Strain Conway Obstetrics & Gynecology welcomes Dr. Lauren Nolen to its practice. She will begin treating patients on July 18th at the College Avenue location.

Dr. Nolen is a graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed her residency there in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her mother a nurse and father a physician, Dr. Nolen’s interest in medicine started at a young age. Her interest in women’s health piqued during medical school.

She was drawn to obstetrics and gynecology because it is uniquely different from any other specialty. She especially loves the day to day variation from clinic to the operating room to deliveries. Dr. Nolen considers women to be the greatest patients and looks forward to creating long-term relationships with her new patients at Conway OB/GYN. “I said I wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what originally drew me to medicine, but I never wavered from my desire to pursue medicine as a career. There are so many things about medicine, and in particular, obstetrics and gynecology that I love. The meaningful way in which I get to connect with others and help patients is so special. Being able to treat illnesses that affect women is a great part of medicine, but having the ability to impact women’s lives

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by prevention of some of those conditions is even more important to me. The variation from day to day keeps things interesting, and there is nothing I love more than bringing a new life into the world! I feel like God has a plan for me, and I am so thankful it involves practicing obstetrics and gynecology here in Conway.” Dr. Nolen said.

Raised in Perryville, Dr. Nolen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Arkansas in 2008. She is a member of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Arkansas Medical Society.

While at UAMS, Dr. Nolen was awarded the Barton Scholarship for a 4.0 GPA and was a member of the AOA Honor Medical Society.

Dr. Nolen and her husband, Chase Bender, have been married for five years.

Both graduates of the University of Central Arkansas, they look forward to “coming home” to Conway. Dr. Nolen spends her free time with family and friends and also enjoys summers on the lake, working out and reading.

“I feel so fortunate to have been blessed with this opportunity to start my practice in Conway. Conway is a growing town but still has the small town feel and charm that I love. I don’t think I could ask for more supportive partners and staff as I have been given in Conway OB/GYN. From the time I first met them, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

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Fit bodies, sharp brains and ‘Baby Boomers’

By David Smith

It’s official. I am now a senior citizen. A true baby boomer, I turned 65 on the 3rd of this month and was treated to an appropriate amount of good-natured ribbing by family, work staff, and friends. The “Honk to Wish David a Happy 65th Birthday” sign on Dave Ward Drive was a real hit – I’m surprised we didn’t get a call from the City of Conway reminding us of our noise ordinance!

Because there are over 7,000 of us joining the senior citizen class every day, we are having quite an impact on the health care system and the economy as it relates to Social Security and Medicare. Not surprisingly, most of us are concerned about health and economic issues, and most see ourselves working past the traditional retirement age, at least part-time. Personally, I’m not ready to retire because I’m passionate about what I do.

Interacting with people on a daily basis helps keep me active, both physically and mentally.

Recently I had a routine insurance physical and was a little bit surprised by a couple of lab values that were only slightly out of range. My personal physician (who happens to be my older brother) pointed out that, while I’ve always been really healthy, there were some things that need immediate attention before they became real issues. Specifically, he said it was time to hit the aerobic exercise trail and start to make better food choices. I always did hate it when he was right. So, lets talk about some benefits of exercise and proper nutrition.

Most experts agree that 30 minutes of exercise 3 or 4 days per week with one or two

strength training sessions mixed in is a good exercise goal. Add a balanced diet that is low in fat and sodium and high in fiber and you have a recipe for a healthy lifestyle. In fact, consistently eating well and exercising will improve overall health and can potentially extend your lifespan.

These principles apply across all age groups, including us “boomers.”

I’m always poking fun at our staff pharmacist, Blake Johnson, who seems to be eating all the time. Fact is, he truly does eat multiple times a day. You’d think he would be overweight, but he is actually in very good shape. How can that be? By eating healthy small snacks and meals throughout the day, blood sugar levels stay more consistent, metabolism stays up, and energy levels are higher.

He also runs three or four miles just about every morning. That explains why his weight has gone from around 225 pounds to 165 pounds.

But, did you know the benefits of a healthy diet and regular aerobic exercise go way beyond weight loss, muscle tone and reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer? Dr John Ratey, a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, states that exercise is “the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning.” I would wager that most of us baby boomers worry more about our mental abilities than our physical abilities as we age. Personally, I can deal with getting older as long as my mind stays sharp, so I have a new commitment to “toning up” my mind.

According to an online U.S. News article, when we exercise for 30 minutes we relieve tension by increasing more of the “soothing” brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and

norepinephrine. A 2010 study from the University of California in San Francisco suggested that exercise might actually work on a cellular level to reverse the toll that stress takes on the aging process. The researchers found that women who exercised vigorously for an average of 45 minutes over a three-day period had cells that showed fewer signs of aging compared to women who were stressed and inactive.

Elissa Epel, associate professor of psychiatry at UCSF, says that working out also keeps us from dwelling on the stressors in our lives by “altering the blood flow to those areas in the brain involved in triggering us to revisit these stressful thoughts again and again.”

Although I don’t have enough room to elaborate on them, here are some other positive mental benefits from exercise. It lifts depression (in some cases as well as traditional antidepressants), improves learning, builds self-esteem, and improves body image. Even mild activity like a leisurely walk can help keep your brain fit and active, fending off memory loss. Last but certainly not least, the Alzheimer’s Research Center touts exercise as one of the best weapons against the disease. So get an okay from your doctor, then lace up those sneakers and get moving. Just maybe we can outsmart this whole getting older process!

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 a pharmacist in Conway for over 41 years. He loves spending time with family and is NO1POP to 5 wonderful grandchildren.

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men’s health

C ONWAY R E G IONAL

Men: Don’t wait until something happens

By John Patton

In an attempt to take control of his medical condition, a man from Marshall visited Dr. Brian Blair at his practice location at Mayflower Medical Clinic. Encouraged by Dr. Blair, the man in his 40s has begun losing weight and is changing his lifestyle. Over a few months his A1C and cholesterol levels have begun dropping.

While not currently in danger, the Marshall man was worried about the future, Dr. Blair said.

“He is being far-sighted,” said Blair. “He doesn’t want to Dr. Dr. Brian Blair have some real problems at 60.”

The patient from Marshall is one of the exceptions when it comes to men’s health. Many men his age want to stay as far away from a doctor’s office as possible.

“Their families need to encourage men to be more aware of preventable health problems,” said Dr. Blair.

“Women are twice as likely to participate in wellness checks.” The average lifespan of women is 82.5 years while men die earlier at 76.2, he said.

Whether it is cost, lack of awareness or just being uncomfortable in a doctor’s office, men tend to wait until something happens. Unfortunately something can be a heart attack, cancer, stroke, diabetes or pulmonary disease.

One barrier has diminished slightly over the past few years.

Since the adoption of insurance reforms, Dr. Blair has noticed more men in their 20s and 30s coming in for wellness checks. “Unless they are on their parents’ insurance plans, many young men typically cannot afford insurance at the jobs they are working,” he said.

“Or they just don’t see the need to visit a doctor.”

A typical wellness check with a doctor will include blood tests for elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels, a blood pressure check, a medical history update, and an overall physical. “A good head to toe exam is needed, including the heart and lungs,” said Dr. Blair, adding “Those early cholesterol and blood sugar checks and lifestyle changes are important to helping prevent a heart attack when you turn 50.”

Establishing a primary care doctor also helps men know when they should have routine cancer screenings and other health evaluations as they age.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart problems are the number one cause of death in men, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries. Stroke and pulmonary disease are also high among men’s health risks.

Given that many health conditions can be man22 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

General Wellness Guidelines for Men of All Ages Wellness Checks with Doctors

Age 20 to 40, every three years Age 40 to 50, every two years Age 50 and older, yearly Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing and checks of the heart and lungs are part of typical visits.

Weight---BMI Scale

25 or lower on the BMI scale is best; how well the clothes fit is a good indicator.

Cholesterol, Blood Sugar Blood Pressure Checks

General Readings: Overall cholesterol under 200 Blood sugar A1C: under 5 Blood Pressure: Under 140/80

Colorectal Cancer Screening (Colonoscopy)

50: All men should have a colonoscopy after age 50. Men in higher risk groups may need earlier testing.

Skin Cancer

Warning signs: skin abnormalities that increase in size and symmetry (upward growth) Add sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) every 15 minutes while outdoors (mowing, working, playing sports, etc.)

Testicular Cancer

18-35: About half of all testicular cancer occurs in men ages 18-35. Symptoms can include a lump or pain in the testicles. Self checks are recommended.

Prostate Exams

40: Men in high risk groups, such as African Americans, should begin prostate exams after age 40; other men after age 50.

aged or even prevented, Dr. Blair encourages men to change their lifestyle at an early age.

Following these general wellness guidelines helps: • Don’t smoke. Anyone who smokes or uses other tobacco products should ask their doctor for help to quit smoking. It’s also important to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution and exposure to chemicals (such as in the workplace).

• Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Limit foods high in saturated fat and sodium.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Losing excess pounds — and keeping them off — can lower the risk of heart disease as well as various types of cancer.

• Get moving. Include physical activity as part of a daily routine. Exercise can help control weight and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. It may also lower the risk of certain types of cancer. It is important to find an activity that is enjoyable such as playing sports, walking or running, bicycling or other activities that make the heart and respiratory system work and burn calories.

• Limit alcohol. Drink only in moderation. That means up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger and one drink a day for men older than age 65. The risk of various types of cancer, such as liver cancer, appears to increase with the amount of alcohol consumed and the length of time someone

has been drinking regularly. Too much alcohol can also raise blood pressure.

• Manage stress. If someone feels constantly on edge or under assault, their lifestyle habits may suffer — and so might their immune system. Take steps to reduce stress — or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways. Exercise helps with stress management.

“Anyone who comes in to see me for anxiety and depression; I ask them if they are exercising regularly,” said Dr. Blair.

• Sleep. He also advises to give the body seven to eight hours of sleep per day.

The following chart provides general wellness tips for men, based on their ages. Men with a family history of a particular disease may need earlier screening and testing as determined by their doctors Understanding health risks is one thing. Taking action to reduce risks is another. Start with healthy lifestyle choices — eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, quitting smoking and getting recommended health screenings.

Brian Blair, MD, is a Family Practice doctor with more than 15 years of experience treating patients at clinics in Marshall and Mayflower. He has spent the past year and a half practicing medicine alongside Blair Greenwood, MD, and Angela Foster, APRN, at Mayflower Medical Clinic, a clinic in the Conway Regional Primary Care Network. For assistance in finding a family doctor, visit www.conwayregional. org/FindDoctor

fashion

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Going to Market

By Renee Notto

You always hear retailers talk about “going to market”.

Many of you ask what exactly is market? I’m sure you picture it as a shoppers paradise. Without a tax permit it would be like winning a golden ticket to the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory but only getting to look at the Chocolate River yet not allowed to dive in.

As you walk into Dallas Market Center you are greeted by a security guard. No access unless you have a pass. To become a buyer, a company must “have a retail store front.

“You have to meet certain criteria” to prove that you are a store including a picture of your store, your website, receipts, etc.

Conserve your energy and stroll through the atrium, there will be a lot of walking involved. Look up from the atrium with its seemingly endless view, the building appears to go on forever. Filling more then five million square feet Dallas Market Center may look like a Texas-sized mall but it is so much more. Founded in

1957, DMC is home to two thousand permanent and five hundred thousand temporary showrooms.

This retailers paradise is the worlds most complete wholesale merchandise resource, offering retailers across the globe access to consumer products including home interiors, clothing, jewelry, gifts, floral supplies, and gourmet food.

The majority of buyers are representatives of small boutiques, but buyers from larger department stores shop DMC as well.

While shopping buyers can check an items tag to see price and minimum number of any one item that can be purchased in an order. When an order is placed it will ship from the warehouse anywhere between one to eight weeks after ordered. Therefore it is crucial for buyers to plan accordingly.

To have everything they need for the holidays, buyers need to place their orders around June.

Due to the immense number of stores, it is important to come prepared when you go to market. Being a buyer you have to know your target market,

their style and what their price point is. You obviously have to do your research before you go because you don’t want to go in blindly.

If you ever have the opportunity to obtain a courtesy pass to Dallas Market Center grab the golden ticket.

Renee Notto, owner of French Lily, has worked retail her entire life. She managed The Limited, American Eagle Outfitters an Gymboree. Before opening French Lily, she was office manager for Notto Chiropractic Health until she realized a desk job was not a good fit for her.

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treating orthopaedic injuries

L- R standing: Glenn McClendon, DPM; Jay Howell, MD; Tom Roberts, MD; Ben Dodge, MD. Seated: Scott Smith, MD; Tod Ghormley, MD; Robert McCarron, MD; and Grant Bennett, MD.

Conway Orthopaedic Clinic gets you back in the game

By Ancil Lea Submitted photos When my youngest daughter dislocated her foot from her ankle while jumping on the trampoline one fall afternoon, we hurried to the ER at Conway Regional to get her cared for and see what to do. She was around 6 years old at the time, and we were definitely much younger too — we were panicked parents! When something traumatic happens, especially to one of your loved ones, great angst sets in and we started looking for answers quickly! In a very short period of time they had her down for emergency surgery with Dr. Robert McCarron of Conway Orthopaedic Clinic.

24 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

He treated us with gentleness, kindness and gave us a thorough understanding of what was about to happen to our baby girl to fix this bad situation. The surgery went well, and Kendra was on crutches for 6 week post surgery.

Time has flown by and now she will be a junior at Conway Christian High School where she is one of the starters for Conway Christian Varsity Basketball team and an All-State soccer player, just to name a few of her activities. Things worked out so very well! We are thankful!

Conway Orthopaedic Clinic has been around for over 27 years, treating patients from Conway and the surrounding areas with orthopaedic and sports

related injuries. The founding physician was Dr. McCarron. The practice has since grown with the addition of 8 physicians and has changed locations to accommo-

date the growth. Besides McCarron, the physicians are: Dr. Tom Roberts, Dr. Ben Dodge, Dr. Tod Ghormley, Dr. Scott Smith, Dr. Jay Howell, Dr. Grant Bennett

C o n w a y Or t h o p a e d i c C l i n i c and Dr. Glenn McClendon With the coming changes in Conway of a new hospital and healthcare Dr. Head in general in the central Arkansas area, Conway Orthopaedic is growing and expanding as well with the addition of staff and services to best serve their patients. They have undergone a rebranding effort and a new look as Conway Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center. COSMC is focused on being the ‘center of care’ for their patients.

In August, Dr. Jimmy Head will join COSMC. He was born and raised in Heber Springs, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to return to my home state this summer to join the staff at Conway Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center”, say Dr. Head.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Central Arkansas. He then received his doctorate of medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where he was awarded scholarships for outstanding academic achievement and membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.

From there he completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Oklahoma, followed by a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa, Florida.

In addition to his training in general orthopaedics, his specialized training in foot and ankle and trauma surgery will allow him to bring valuable skills to serve the community. Dr. Head is a board eligible orthopaedic surgeon, a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and a member of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.

Dr. Head and his wife, Amanda are expecting their first child in August, as well. In addition to

things about the care they get from them, too!” COSMC will also be adding a PA in October. “We have a great team and it’s growing,” says administrator Todd Greer.

Continued focus

COSMC will continue to focus on and grow their ‘Sports Medicine’ emphasis. They remain the team physicians at the collegiate level in providing care for the UCA Bears athletic programs, and also provide care for Hendrix and CBC athletic programs. “We look forward to not only serving the needs of the collegiate athlete, but high school, and all athletes, whether young or older. We want to provide the athlete with the best treatment and care in order to get them back in the game in the shortest and safest amount of time,” says Dr. Grant Bennett

After hours clinic

spending time with his family, he also enjoys sports, hunting, fishing, and serving in his church. Dr. Head and his wife look forward to raising their family in Conway, and are excited to call this community their home.

As an added service for treatment and convenience for patients COSMC has added a new, state of the art MRI, say administrator Todd Greer. The MRI is already installed and is certified and working. “We want to treat the whole patient, we are focused patient centered care.

With the addition of MRI and Physical Therapy we can achieve and level of care that allows our patients to be the “center” of care, says Greer.

Another area that is being added at Conway Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center is their partnership with D1 physical therapy services. D1’s on-site rehabilitative, physical therapy

bridges the gap between rehab and continued athletic activity, ensuring a safe and optimal return. D1’s fully-functional outpatient physical therapy clinic specialize in athletic injuries in a professional, motivating and sports-oriented environment.

“We want to get you back in the game, healthy and ready for sports or life,” says Greer.

In gearing up for an expanded role in two local hospitals now, COSMC is expanding their staff, as well. Currently COSMC employs around 50 people. “Besides having great physicians, our caring staff is the key to our success, providing a personal, caring environment for our patients. They also have Tiffany Epperson, APN and Sarah Guillory, APN seeing and taking care of their patients. “Our patients can’t say enough good

COSMC provides an after hours clinic for sports related and orthopaedic injuries, Tuesday through Saturday, 4:00 - 8:00 pm at their office on Club Lane. In the fall they provide a Saturday morning clinic.

While Conway and central Arkansas area continues to grow rapidly, it’s great to see a medical practice growing to keep pace and plan for the future of taking care of it’s patients and providing the care they’ve come to expect over the past 27 years. With addition of Dr. Head, additional staff, new MRI and Physical therapy services, Conway Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center is ready to continue providing patient centered care. You can find out more about their clinic and services and follow them on social media by going to their website, at www.

ConwayOrtho.com Ancil Lea is a writer, author, and communication consultant. He does communication and marketing consulting for healthcare providers.

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 25

heart health

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Discover the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Arkansas Heart Hospital is a comprehensive outpatient center designed for the treatment of non-healing or difficult wounds. We provide state-of-the-art treatment and feature the largest individual patient hyperbaric chambers available.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive and painless medical treatment 26 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

using a total body chamber. The atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled to promote the body’s natural healing process by pumping extra oxygen into the chamber.

Increased oxygen greatly enhances the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, reduces swelling and allows blood vessels to grow.

Patients may refer themselves to the Wound Care Center or be referred by a physi-

cian. All patients receive a thorough diagnostic examination by a staff of highly trained physicians and nurses. A comprehensive treatment plan is then developed and is communicated to the patient and their referring physician. Services provided at our Wound Care Center include not only hyperbaric treatment, but also debridement, medications, dressings and individualized support services.

arkansas heart hospital

•State of the Art Clinic – largest monoplace hyperbaric chambers •Prompt physician/nurse evaluation •Comprehensive medical screening, including vascular •Close physician supervision and highly trained medical staff •Emergent referral for acute vascular interventions •Active physician to physician communication •Free, designated parking for our wound care patients located within a short walking distance of the Wound Care Center. Our caring staff will come outside and help you get into and out of our Wound Care Center if needed

Katelin Whiddon, APN at Arkansas Heart Hospital states, “There is a great correlation between the peripheral vascular disease and non-healing wounds.

We are blessed to be able to work hand in hand with brilliant Arkansas Heart Hospital cardiologists to provide the necessary cardiac and vascular care for our patients.”.

The Wound Center is now open at Arkansas Heart Hospital on Dave Ward Drive in Conway.

For more information call 501-2057910 or go to www.arheart.com/services/wound-care-center/

Dr. Vijay Raja in photo. Dr. Raja is an interventional cardiologist who enjoys caring for patients with all forms of heart disease, but also has a passion for treating patients with refractory symptoms and those needing acute interventions. He was born in New Jersey but has been transplanted to Texas since age 11. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and then completed his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He moved back to Texas to complete his post-graduate training at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He is currently board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases. He is trained to treat all forms of cardiac or peripheral artery blockages as well as evaluate and treat a variety of structural heart diseases.

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 27

real estate

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Faulkner County Residential Real Estate Update

We have been very fortunate that mortgage interest rates have remained low this year and are still bouncing around the past 30 year historical lows. Year over year Faulkner Country Residential sales are flat this year as compared to last year’s sales in total. Home sales under $100K are down 10% this year and homes over $300K are up 15% this year as compared to last year’s sales. The reason homes under $100K are down this year is the lack of inventory. Home sales between $100K and $300K are basically the same. We are now entering into a slight seasonal slowdown.

We are seeing an increase in home sales for both Vilonia and Mayflower which were down last year. Home sales in Conway and Greenbrier at the aggregate level are flat year over year. In some of the more rural area of Faulkner County which includes Enola, Mt. Vernon, Guy, and Damascus homes sales are down double digit from last year. In addition we are seeing foreclosure homes increase by 10% this year which is also the same for trend the nation. We are hearing foreclosures are starting to rise nationally, I am not expecting much change in this presidential election year, however based on the results of the elections and the huge federal deficit, it is likely we may have a slight correction in 2017.

On The National Level (Do You Know):

• Seventy-one percent of non-homeowners repaying their student loans on time believe their debt is stymieing their ability to purchase a home, and slightly over half of all borrowers say

28 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

they expect to be delayed from buying by more than five years.

• USDA Rural Development loans just celebrated their 25th anniversary of their Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.

Rural Development loans have specific eligibility and income limits and can be used in all areas that have under a population of 25,000. To check specific locations or eligibility requirements go to the following web site and follow their instruction or give us a call to assist. http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do • First-time buyers made up 32 percent of all home buyers, down from 33 percent last year. Sixty-seven percent of buyers 35 years and younger were first-time buyers, followed by buyers 36 to 50 years at 26 percent.

• The typical buyer was 44 years old and has a median household income of $86,100. At 35 percent, buyers 35 years and younger continue to be the largest generational group of home buyers with a median of 30 years old. Home buyers between the ages of 36 and 50 were reported to have the highest household incomes among any other generation at $104,700, followed by buyers between 51 and 60 that had an income at $100,200.

• Sixty-seven percent of recent buyers were married couples, 15 percent were single females, nine percent were single males, and seven percent were unmarried couples. The highest percentage of single female home buyers was found in the 51 to 60 age group.

• Sixty-three percent of all buyers had children living at home. Seventeen percent of buyers between 36 and 50 years had three or more chil-

dren under the age of 18 residing in the home.

• Thirteen percent of home buyers purchased a multi-generational home to take care of aging parents, for cost savings, and because children over the age of 18 are moving back. The two largest generations of home buyers who purchased a multi-generational home were ages 51 to 60 years and 70 to 90 years, both with 16 percent of buyers.

• The 36 to 50 age group showed to be the most racially diverse group of home buyers in 2015. Twenty-five percent of this group of home buyers identified as Hispanic/Latino, black/African American, or Asian/Pacific Islander.

• The most common reasons for recently purchasing a home differed between the generations. Among buyers 35 and younger and between 36 and 50, the main reason for purchasing was the desire to own a home of their own, similar to last year. Looking at the 51 to 60 age category, there was a change in the reason for purchasing from a job related relocation (16 percent) in 2014, to the desire to own a home of their own (20 percent) in 2015. Buyers who were 61 to 69 primarily purchased for retirement (20 percent), and buyers between 70 The Tobey Team is one of Faulkner County’s leading, knowledgeable and top producers. We are full time agents with the knowledge, dedication, customer focus, and commitment to all aspects of your Real Estate needs. Call us today with your real estate questions 501-358-0023 Data sources include National Association of Realtors data and personal input.

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 29

ny Men’s Sauco Ride 9 $120

HAPPY FEET shopping

“It is very important to get fitted in the correct shoes for your arch type and gait. Being in the correct shoes can help prevent injuries such as foot and ankle pain.”

—Linda Starr, owner of The Sporty Runner in downtown Conway.

Let the staff at The Sporty Runner help get you in the right pair of shoes today.

Men’s Brooks Ghost $120

Women’s Asics Gel Nimbus $160

30 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

A l l s h o e s a v a i l a b l e a t T h e Sp o r t y R u n n e r Men’s New Balance Zante $100

Women’s Brooks Glycerin $150

Women’s Saucony Ride 9 $120

Men’s Asics Gel Nimbus $160

Women’s Newton Motion $175

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 31

real estate

Seller’s Guide

Top 5 Tips to Keep in Mind When Selling Your Home

Selling a house can be an intimidating process.

Here are five top tips to help you through the process. Start with choosing the right Realtor. This may require interviewing several agents, but it is important to select someone that you can trust, has experience and you get along with. Your agent will help you determine the right price for the house. Remember that the market sets the value and while your house is special to you, that emotional value cannot be translated to market price. Once you are ready to list your home it is important to declutter the house and depersonalize. You want the potential buyers to be able visualize themselves in the house and not focus on your things.

Lastly, stage the house for showing. Use decor and furniture to highlight the features of the home and help the buyers appreciate the space. Follow these top five tips and you’ll find selling your home easier, quicker and more beneficial.

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Seller’s Guide

Top 5 Tips To Keep In Mind When Selling Your Home

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1. Carefully Select Your Agent 2. Price With Your Head, Not Your Heart 3. Clean And Declutter 4. Depersonalize 5. Stage It Like A Designer

32 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

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5. STAGE IT LIKE A DESIGNER

events

Deliver Hope

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 33

events

34 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

A M E R I C AN C AN C E R SO C IETY FUN D R AISE R AT BELL & SWA R D

artscene

July Arts Calendar July 1-8: Art on the Green Giveaway “Dream Piece” sponsored by Art on the Green; www.artonthegreen.net (PG) July 1: First Folio Friday: “Walk Away with Your Own Folio” @ the Faulkner County Library; 3:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (G) July 1: Pre-Show Talk: Acting Shakespeare’s First Folio in Today’s Theatre @ UCA Art Lecture Hall; 6:30 p.m. www.arkshakes.com July 1-2, 7-9: Love, Loss, and What I Wore @ the Lantern Theatre; 8:00 p.m. www.thelanterntheatre.com (A) July 1 & 2: Twelfth Night presented by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 10:00 a.m. www.arkshakes.com July 1, 5, 7: Romeo and Juliet presented by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre @Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.arkshakes.com July 3 & 7: Romeo and Juliet presented by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre @Reynolds Performance Hall; 2:00 p.m. www.arkshakes.com

July 2 &6: West Side Story presented by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. www.arkshakes.com July 3, 8-9: A Midsummer Night’s Dream presented by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre @The Lawn of McAlister Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.arkshakes.com July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27: Painting with Bonnie McKay @ Art on the Green; 10:30-10:45 a.m.; (501)205-1922 (PG) July 8: Family Friday With the Folio: “Have Fun With Hamlet!” @ UCA Fireplace Room; 3:00 p.m. www.arkshakes.com (G) July 11: Clogging Classes @ the Faulkner County Library; 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Nancy@fcl.org (PG) July 11-22: Explore: Summer Arts Experience; @ Blackbird Academy of Arts; 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. www.blackbirdacademy.org (Ages 7-12) July 17: Summer Music Series: David Bostick @ the Faulkner County Library; 2:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (PG) July 21: The Lowest Pair in Concert @ the Faulkner County Library; 7:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (PG) July 25-29: Cinderella Dance Camp @ Blackbird Academy of Arts; 9:0011:00 a.m. See more summer camps at www.blackbirdacademy.org (Ages 3-5) July 25-29: Broadway Bound Dance Camp @ Blackbird Academy of Arts; 9:00 a.m.-12 p.m. See more summer camps at www.blackbirdacademy.org (Ages 6+) July 28: “Rhythms of Our Land”, Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre @ the Faulkner County Library; 10:00 a.m. Nancy@fcl.org (G) July 31: Summer Music Series: TBA @ the Faulkner County Library; 2:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (PG) Rating key: G – Suitable for all ages PG-Suggested for ages 7+ PG13- Suggested for ages 13+ A- Suggested for Adults 18+

Jennie Strange is the founder and Executive Director of Blackbird Academy of Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality performing and visual arts education. She lives in Conway with her husband, Statler, and a random assortment of dogs, goats, and chickens. To submit your arts calendar events, email Jennie@blackbirdacademy.org

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 35

in the news

Josh Epps and Patrick Jamerson

R3Fusion: The Next Generation of Protein Powders!

“I’m excited to introduce this high quality and great tasting protein to the all-natural protein market. R3Fusion is more than a protein, it’s a meal replacement, a lean mass/ fat loss stimulator, and has a taste so good, you’ll forget you’re drinking a protein shake.”

— Patrick “Dr. Fit” Jamerson

36 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

R3Fusion is more than your traditional blended protein powder which used inferior raw materials, artificial sweeteners and processed your protein in such away, the “TRUE” powerhouses that cause growth, muscle recovery and unprecedented strength gains were stripped from YOUR protein shake! Enter R3FiT Nutrition, the leaders in the Elk Velvet Antler and Hybrid Sports Performance market! Since R3FiT Nutrition understands that today’s larger companies are more focused on mass production to make a dollar instead of quality which will help you unlock “YOUR” True Genetic Potential (T.G.P), R3FiT Nutrition decided to develop a natural protein powder that didn’t cut corners, R3Fusion!

R3Fusion is truly the next generation in All-Natural Blended Protein Powders!

R3FiT Nutrition uses pure Undenatured and Non-Thermally Processed Milk Protein Isolates, Cross-Flow Nanofiltered Whey Protein Isolates, Ultrafiltered Whey Protein

Concentrate, and Egg Albumin! What does this terminology mean to you? One of the world’s pure most bio-active, healthy and great tasting proteins on the market!

So good, you’ll forget your drinking a protein shake!

R3Fusion is the world’s most bio-active protein and BEST TASTING! Why? Because at R3FiT Nutrition our goal wasn’t to just make good protein but to make our protein powder great that offered versatility when deciding when to consume. R3Fusion is a blended protein that feeds your body and muscles in as quick as minutes up to 7 hours! R3Fusion also has an openlabel, an industry first, so the consumer can see the breakdown percentage of each protein used to make R3Fusion unique. R3Fusion may be used as a post-workout shake, a meal replacement and even a nighttime protein to feed your muscles when your body is in a fasting state!

R3Fusion used Undenatured protein

which allows the growth factor concentration to stay in tact! So what are growth factors? Growth factors such as natural IGF-1 are high in whey protein. However, when whey is thermally processed or around heat, the growth factor concentrations decline and even drop to undetectable levels! That’s where R3Fusion steps in and delivers the Next Generation in Protein! Our protein is never processed around heat, it’s nano-filtered, and all our diary is grassfed which will deliver the most non-genetically modified, all-natural protein on the market!

Due to the higher concentrations of growth factors; your recovery will skyrocket, your strength will surge, have a protective and stimulatory effect on your immune system along with helping your body stay in the Optimum Anabolic State. This will help you achieve more lean muscle and burn more body fat than you ever have when combined with intense training and sound nutrition!

Taste: The Bar has been RAISED!!

Ever reach for your protein and dread taking it? Everyone who puts in sweat equity working out knows and understands the benefits and needs associated with protein! So why doesn’t protein taste better? Why isn’t your protein natural? Why is your protein loaded with dreadful preservatives? I’ll tell you why!

Cheaper raw ingredients being imported and cheaper processes that degrade and denature the integrity of your protein powder!

Then add the artificial sweeteners to cascade the low quality and bam, the taste is not desirable! R3Fusion has Raised the Bar and changed the game! We use the highest quality raw materials available and use only natural sweeteners like Monk Fruit and Stevia! Now you have an all-natural protein shake you crave to drink, R3Fusion!

R3Fusion comes in 2 flavors: Tantalizing Vanilla (we use real vanilla bean shavings) and Mouthwatering Chocolate Peanutbutter Cup (we use real chocolate peanutbutter cup shavings) WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 37

book review

susan o’keefe

Being Mortal

Medicine and What Matters in the End

By Atul Gawande Reviewed by Susan O’Keefe For those people who will die someday, read this book. For those people who know someone who will die someday, read this book. For those facing chronic illness, read this book. For those with loved ones facing terminal illness, read this book. Everyone should read this book. It focuses on the single part of life that each and every person will experience someday, and that part of life is death.

But death is a downer. It’s not a choice conversation piece. However, as America ages at a dramatic rate, and as Western medicine boosts an infinite number of prescriptions and plans, tablets and treatments, we are doomed if we neglect to stop and talk. It is imperative to have “the talk” and it doesn’t involve birds and bees.

Award winning author and medical professional Atul Gawande strategically weaves stories and statistics into the bestseller Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. As a surgeon, Gawande has been trained to save lives. He’s been taught to cure, to remedy, to resolve.

But what happens when doctors are short on answers? Is the medical community able to be honest that its power is limited?

And what verbiage is useful to clearly communicate to a patient that a situation is dire?

The author sees a shift on the horizon.

Patients are asking more questions and realizing the capacity for choices. Gawande writes that ”Medical professionals concentrate on repair of health, not sustenance of the soul. Yet – and this is the painful paradox – we have decided that they should be the ones who largely define how we live in our waning days.”

From operating rooms to living rooms, Gawande remarkably articulates dozens of stories of families navigating end-of-life scenarios. One particularly poignant story involved the author’s father who was also a highly reputable surgeon. After months of sporadic pain in his shoulders and neck, the father received news of a massive 38 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

tumor.

Weighing his options from professionals at the likes of MD Anderson and Johns Hopkins, this surgeon decided to wait. He endured the literal pain in the neck for nearly three years, and although the tumor eventually won the war, it surrendered several battles. Gawande writes “He (Gawande’s father) found that in the narrow space of possibility that his awful tumor left, there was still room to live!”

Living was precisely the missing component at a nursing home facility in upstate New York. A young, rather ambitious physician slid into the job of medical director and immediately witnessed despair in every room. He was adamant to return life to the living!

By dodging a few supervisory forms and sweet talking a couple of nurses, this motivated man completely changed the culture of an otherwise dying nursing home. One hundred parakeets, four dogs, two cats, a colony of rabbits, a flock of laying hens and live plants, no artificial ones, breathed renewed life into residents.

“People who we had believed weren’t able to speak started speaking. Those who had been completely withdrawn and nonambulatory started coming to the nurses’ station and saying ‘I’ll take the dog for a walk.’”

The experiment was dubbed a success. Similar stories are shared from Dr. Keron Wilson, founder and pioneer in the booming business of assisted living. But that route also has its challenges. The discussion ensues. If doctor’s orders forbid fried chicken but the 87-year old has a hankering for it, should the staff allow it?

If the patient is prone to falling, should he be able to maintain his apartment? Who’s calling the shots? Certainly, there are no easy answers, but the conversations must take place, and not just for the elderly, for everyone.

Gawande shares stories of young adults struck tragically ill. Each grapples with the next step. Before parents even allow themselves to consider burying their adult children, they are often drowning in medi-

cal research, hanging on by a thread for one last ditch drug. In Gawande’s book, more than one patient declines further treatment and chooses to just live, accepting whatever amount of time is granted.

It is a choice steeped in heartache but one that usually brings an infinite relief.

One physician in our discussion commented that medical residents are unofficially trained in the mantra “The patient is not going to die on my watch!” With humble courage, Gawande dares to start the conversation about the overt differences in care and treatment. Being Mortal persuades readers to not only live strong, but to die strong. It’s a book about the complete picture of life, death, and dying well.

Susan O’Keefe is a wife to Jack, mother to four children, and eager to face the crazy, awesome, fun things God delivers daily. She and her family recently moved to Oxford, Mississippi, where Susan will continue to read and review, instruct fitness classes, and embark on this next adventure in life.

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 39

spiritual

A Good Shepherd

By Andrea Lennon

When I was a little girl, I learned a song. “My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there is nothing my God cannot do... for you!” Sometimes we need to be reminded of this simple, yet profound, truth.

God is great and He is mighty. There is nothing that is too difficult for Him! In the book of John, we learn that Jesus, God’s Son, is great and mighty. He described Himself as a good shepherd. A shepherd always takes care of His sheep.

The reason why is simple. The shepherd is heavily invested in his flock. He loves them.

He cares for them. He protects them. When danger comes, the shepherd puts his life on the line in order to save the sheep. Jesus used the analogy of a shepherd and a sheep to de-

scribe the type relationship that He desires to have with us. In John 10, Jesus stated, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ( John 10:11, New International Version) For just a moment, think about the ways that we are like sheep. We need direction in our lives. Left to our own devices, we will make mistakes that have big consequences.

Recognizing this truth positions us to find the help that we need.

It is easy for us to put our hope in the things of this world. While the things of this world have no power or ability to save us, we can look to our careers, relationships, and even ourselves to try and find our way. Many of these things are good and needed; however, each of them will fall short of providing the ultimate direction that we need.

Thankfully, Jesus never falls short. He laid down His life in order to provide the only way for us to be saved. Not only did Jesus lay down His life, He willingly takes on rescue missions for His sheep. Jesus told a story in the Bible about a shepherd who owned one hundred sheep. One of the sheep wandered off from the flock. The shepherd looked for the lost sheep and rejoiced greatly when it was found. Jesus then explained that there is rejoicing in heaven when a lost person is found. This means that heaven rejoices when a person seeks forgiveness in their life.

I wonder if you feel like a lost sheep. Do you need direction in your life? Know that Jesus is willing and able to meet you where you are and save you. He gave His life for you. Today you can respond to Him by saying, “Jesus, save me!”

a n dr e a l e n n o n If you already have a relationship with Jesus, but you are living a life that is not right, know that you are not beyond His love and forgiveness. Jesus has a plan for you! The great and mighty thing that He will do for you is that He will forgive you and redirect your life. He wants your life to be meaningful and full of purpose.

Today, you can know that Jesus is willing to be your good Shepherd. The question is, are you tired of trying to figure out life on your own? If so, ask Jesus to lead you, protect you, and care for you.

Let’s talk to Jesus, right now. “Lord, thank you for being our good Shepherd. You gave your life for us. In return, we want to live our lives for you. Show us the plans that you have for us. Teach us how to desire your love, direction, and protection. We long to follow You. Amen.”

Andrea Lennon lives in Conway, Arkansas, with her husband, Jay, and sons, Jake and Andrew. Andrea ministers to the women of Arkansas through a speaking and writing ministry called True Vine Ministry.

To learn more about this ministry, access Andrea’s website at www. andrealennon.net.

We need direction in our lives.

Left to our own devices, we will make mistakes that have big consequences.

Recognizing this truth positions us to find the help that we need.

food

42 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

THE TASTE OF EASY

By Chef Jill McCollum, cc Photos by Brandy Strain

Summer time is a busy time of year! With scheduling activities for the kids, juggling baseball and softball tournaments, summer camps…..the list goes on and on. But usually there will always be down times with the kids will say…..”I’m Bored!”

Summer time is the perfect time to teach your

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kids some valuable lessons in the kitchen. I can remember a few summers ago, my son, Garrett, kept wanting me to make him scrambled eggs and biscuits for breakfast, or lunch or dinner! So I decided it was time he learned how to do more than clean up the kitchen. Now, when his friends come over, he cooks them breakfast!

And he can cook a mean scrambled egg!

I come home sometimes to Garrett getting dinner started, and after a long day at work, it’s nice to know that I will have to spend less time in the kitchen preparing for my family. Does this happen every day, no, but even a few times a month, it’s nice to come home to watching my son busy himself in the kitchen.

So, it’s never too early to start teaching your children or grandchildren some basics in the kitchen.

For example: • Teach them safety and what to do in an event of a grease fire • Show them the proper way to handle a knife • Cooking spray-show them how much easier the clean-up can be with cooking spray!

• Show them how to prepare a crock pot recipe • Teach them how to make summer time sun tea!

There are lots of things to learn in the kitchen at an early age, teach them young, you will appreciate it later!

Chef Jill McCollum, CC is the Caterer and Food Service Director for Central Baptist College. Jill is the owner of Jill McCollum Catering in Conway. She can be reached at jmccollum@cbc.edu or (501) 730-4422 44 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

Cheesy Twice Baked Potatoes 4 large baking potatoes 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon butter 4 cloves minced garlic 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup sour cream ¼ cup chopped green onion, divided Ground black pepper to taste 3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled 1 pinch paprika, if desired Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Rub potatoes with olive oil and salt; pierce each several times with a

fork and arrange onto a baking sheet about 6 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven until easily pierced with a fork, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool until enough to handle, keeping oven heat at 425 degree. Halve potatoes lengthwise and scoop potato from each half into a bowl, leaving about ¼ inch of the potato attached to the skin all the way around. Melt b utter in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Sauté garlic in butter until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir scooped potato, cheese, sour cream and most of the green onion together with the garlic and butter; cook and stir the mixture until heated and smooth, about 5 minutes. Scoop the potato mixture into the potato skins and arrange onto the baking sheet. Bake in oven until heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with remaining green onion, bacon and paprika.

Chicken Nuggets 1 cup all purpose flour

1 tablespoon seasoned salt Salt and pepper to taste 2 large eggs 2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs 2 chicken breast, cut into small pieces Vegetable oil, for frying Ketchup, for serving I a plastic bag, mix the flour, seasoned salt, salt and pepper. In a bowl, mix the eggs with 2 tablespoons water. In a separate bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Shake the chicken pieces in the bag to coat. In batches, dip them in the egg wash, then in the breadcrumbs.

Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until a few breadcrumbs dropped in the oil start to sizzle immediately. Fry the chicken, in batches if needed, until golden brown and cooked through, a couple minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel and serve with ketchup.

Cake Mix Cookies

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix ½ cup butter, softened 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour cake into a large bowl. Stir in the butter, eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonful’s onto cookie sheets. Bake for 11 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

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imatter

A

STEP AHEAD

By Kelly Sublett Submitted photos For most children the years spent in middle and high school are times of insecurity, stress and fear of the unknown future. But for Tyaris Warren, this seems not to be the case.

Born and raised in Conway, Tyaris is approaching her final year of high school. Withstanding some paperwork and formalities, Tyaris is due to graduate a year early in May 2017.

This among many other aspects of her life is an indicator of her work ethic and success as a leader. She is the founder of Chi Sigma Chi, a step-dance team at Conway High. Through the group, she and her teammates have done philanthropy across Conway and hope to do more next year. They have visited nursing homes like Southridge Village and they have packed backpacks full of food for the Elementary Backpack Program.

“Community service has always been big with me. My family is really close and we have always put God first, so giving was always a major part of my hopes with Chi Sigma Chi,” Tyaris said.

Step-dancing never was prevalent in her life before middle school, apart from an 46 WOMEN’S INC. / JULY 2016

aunt who was a sorority member and step-dancing influence.

“My aunt was a Delta and so she always used to make me throw up her sign in pictures.

I went to a step show with my older brother when I was in ninth grade and from that point on I was really into it,” she said.

As Tyaris’ interest grew, she got the idea to bring her passion with her to school by starting a step-dancing team at her middle school. She then took the idea to high school.

“It was a kind of overnight thing. It was easy to set up in middle school but when I got to high school there was a lot more paperwork and time that needed to be figured out,” she said.

Despite having help in the beginning from teachers and different role models throughout her life, much of the work that went into starting Chi Sigma Chi came solely from Tyaris.

According to the teams’ current faculty sponsor Marilyn Hunt, she is an impressive student in every way.

“They needed a sponsor in the beginning. I had never met her, and when she walked in she had a binder with all the applications and paper work. She had a code of ethics written up and I was just so surprised to see a teenager with such drive and

T y a r i s W a rr e n

GENERATION

initiative without the help of an adult,” Marilyn said. “These kids come together twice a week to practice without fail and when there is a performance they are here almost every day after school practicing.”

This kind of discipline and structure was always part of the plan for the group. Tyaris stresses that having everything squared away is crucial for things to run smoothly, especially as time progresses and the teams gain and lose students.

Though Tyaris still has a year left at Conway High School, she is looking at the bigger picture as younger kids join the group.

“We want this to be a big part of the community. We are always looking to do more for the community,” she said. “It is like a second family to me and I think that it will keep growing even after I leave.”

As the semester comes to a close, the members of the team hope to do some work over the summer.

“We want to do some work with the Boys and Girls Club. It would be really fun to teach kids about stepping,” Tyaris said. “We will keep practicing over the summer because we hope we can perform in the fall at some of the pep rallies.”

Tyaris hopes to attend Spelman College in Atlanta when she graduates next May. Spelman College is a four-year, liberal arts women’s college located in Atlanta, Ga. “All I know for sure as of right now is that I want to pledge when I get to college and hopefully I can keep stepping. I haven’t thought too much of starting something like Chi Sigma Chi when I get into college but I know that I will pledge,” Tyaris said.

Though Hunt has only been the group sponsor for this semester, she has nothing but high praise for Tyaris and her efforts through Chi Sigma Chi. “She has a genuine spirit of volunteerism and truly caring heart,” Marilyn said.

imatter Young people are often the pulse of a community, as sporting events, school events and activities bring them into the spotlight. Women’s Inc. wants to showcase these young people in a special feature each month. iMatter will seek to tell the stories of a new generation of community, skill, success and achievement. Do you know a student in Faulkner county, ages 10-23, who is truly one of a kind? Send youth’s name, school, parents contact information (if under 18) and a brief explanation of why you think your youth or you would make a iMatter candidate to womensinc@thecabin.net.

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Through the years, we’ve worked to earn your trust. That’s why we’re consistently named the Region’s Most Preferred Hospital*.

Other recognition we’ve received: • Been named among the top 10% in the Nation for Women’s Health in 2015 by CareChex® ** • Ranked among the top 10% in the Nation for Patient Safety for General Surgery 2 years in a row by CareChex® (2013-2014)** We’ve also invested more than $100 million in new facilities, services and technologies over the past decade. Learn more at ConwayRegional.org * Strategic Market Research ** Based on independent research conducted by CareChex®

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