SEPTEMBER 2019
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CRADLE CARE
A LOOK BACK ...
DOGGIE DAY SPA
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HOMETOWN HERO
IT’S JUST COFFEE
NANA’S KITCHEN
Contributing Writers Hilary Andrews Cindy Beckman Andrea Champlin Melissa Gates – Cover Story Marisa Hicks Photographers Hilary Andrews - Cover Story
WINC team We can’t believe summer is already over and schools across Faulkner County have already started back! It feels like just yesterday the districts were letting out, students excited to sleep in, relax and kick back, maybe go swimming, families eager to get on with vacations and enjoy some one-on-one time with each other. Whether our readers did any of the above, the WINC Team still hopes you enjoyed every moment of your summer vacation! Now, it’s time to put our best thinking caps on as we start back into the groove and routine of the new school year and explore other exciting opportunities. We’re eager to share with you all the amazing things that have been going on locally in our community! This issue of WINC will take a look at several fun moments teachers, educators, students and more have enjoyed as they’ve hit the books and taken off into the new year, acknowledging recent past accomplishments, too. Through our cover story, readers will get an opportunity to see just how hard students are working in the community to achieve their dreams, despite their circumstances. Readers will also get a chance to see the community joining with teachers to kick-off 2019-20 through the 15th annual Teacher Breakfast and Education Fair,
Ron Beckman
celebrate a local hometown hero and his career successes, get a glimpse at a local, hidden gem sitting just under our noses and read about what it’s like for those moms who are saying “shalom” to their grown children as they head off to college for the first time. Through our September Nana’s Kitchen segment, we took a unique approach, looking at what traditions mean for some while also looking at the unconventional, nontraditional side of some families, still celebrating the art of what a cookie truly means. We took a peek into a couple businesses and what it takes behind the scenes to run day in and day out. Those who are looking for a wardrobe upgrade or that perfect puppy haircut might just be surprised at what two local ladies have to offer through MJ.Redefined and the Doggie Day Spa in Greenbrier. For those who enjoy the historical side of WINC, a look at the old Conway Train Depot will hit the spot! Through “A Look Back,” our writer takes readers through the many phases of the structure, what it meant for the local area and more. The dog days of summer are over, but we’re still here! The WINC Team hopes our readers enjoy this September issue – we sure did! We put it together, with you, our readers, in mind, pouring our heart into each piece! Happy September WINC community!
Andrea Champlin Advertising Sales Executives Kelly Booy Crystal Geraldson Leigh Anne Gray Editorial Board Hilary Andrews Cindy Beckman Andrea Champlin Eden Corley Melissa Gates
Questions or Comments? Call (501) 327-6621 e-mail: Hilary Andrews at handrews@thecabin.net or write to: 1121 Front Street, Conway, AR, 72032 www.womensinc.net
Conway Cradle Care: Changing Lives One Baby at a Time Story by Melissa Gates Photos by Hilary Andrews Daniela Esquivel was new to Conway. At just 16-years-old she had a newborn son, Jason. Esquivel was so determined to be on time for her first day of class, that she quickly dropped Jason off at Conway Cradle Care, housed in First Presbyterian Church by the Conway High School, without any instruction. She also didn’t speak a word of English to tell the child care workers what her baby had for breakfast or when he needed to eat again. That was three years ago. Fast forward to today and the young mother just graduated from Conway High School as part of the class of 2019 and is now headed to college this fall. She said she owes her success to Cradle Care. “Anytime that I needed help with classes or something, I just had to talk with them,” Esquivel said. “They were always there to help me and help anyone who needed it.” The Conway Cradle Care organization was recently awarded nonprofit of the year by the Conway Chamber of Commerce. Last year, it served parents ages 12 to 22. For two consecutive years, all of the group’s high school seniors have graduated. Founded in 1995 by members of First Presbyterian Church, Cradle Care’s mission is to, “empower expectant and parenting adolescents by meeting the development needs of their children, providing opportunities to further their education, and encouraging independence through parenting and life skill mentoring,” according to executive director Kelsey Weaver. 6 WINC. | September 2019
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“The church members made it their mission to assist teen parents who were forced to drop out of school due to a lack of support for their situation or lack of money for childcare,” she said. Cradle Care being free, Esquivel said, was the most surprising benefit. “Being a student and having a baby doesn’t allow time to work a full time job,” she says. “It was so much help. They also helped me with formula, diapers, clothes for Jason and me, and more.” The childcare is funded through Department of Human Services vouchers given to full-time students who are enrolled in Cradle Care’s mentoring program. That initiative is designed to offer life skills to the parents. “We cover topics like child development, child safety, children’s nutrition and health, healthy relationships, personal finance and budgeting,” Weaver said. “We also offer support groups, career readiness training, and have guest speakers. A healthy low budget meal is served at each parent meeting, along with instructions to prepare the meal at home.” This past summer, the program offered cooking classes to the parents. It was so successful Cradle Care plans to offer it throughout the school year. “Clients got hands-on cooking experience preparing healthy, low budget, easy 8 WINC. | September 2019
to prepare meals,” Weaver said. “They got to take the ingredients home and replicate the meal there. “We took a field trip to the grocery store to learn about shopping on a budget. We went to a community garden to pick produce and have a farm to table experience. We took a field trip to the Baptist Health Farmer’s Market (at Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway) where they shopped for fresh produce. A chef then prepared them a healthy lunch. The parents loved these classes to much.” Including Esquivel, who described the nonprofit as “more than just a day care.” “They are family,” she said. “They support you. They make you strong to make goals and achieve them.” Cradle Care is growing and expanding, especially with its mentoring program. For the first time the organization will be reaching parents in Van Buren County beginning this fall, a part of the state with fewer daycare options, meaning a student parent would need to drop out of school if they didn’t have family to watch the baby. To use the services, additional pregnancies must be avoided. “We expect our parents to make a commitment to their educations,” Weaver said. “An additional child makes pursuing their education even more difficult.”
Cradle Care also supports college students. This past year, the program expanded to serve those pursing higher education. “Being in the city of colleges, there is a growing need for services amongst adolescent parents who are pursing higher education,” Weaver said. “We have now begun serving that population up to 21 years of age. Cradle Care served 14 mothers and fathers who were full-time college students residing in Conway this past school year.”
As Esquivel starts college this fall, she said she’s elated to know her baby will be supported and loved as she works to create a brighter future for him. “Cradle Care is the best opportunity for success in your life,” she said. “They push you. I thought it would be impossible to be a student and a mother of a baby boy. Cradle Care helped me to understand that having a child doesn’t need to break your goals. I learned having a child is not an excuse to give up. It’s a motivation to be successful and be someone for that little
one who’s now watching and following your steps.” **Note – After publication deadlines Cradle Care hired a new executive director, Jessica Richardson. She is currently training in the position and is excited to begin. “My hope for the future of Cradle Care is that we will continue to increase the number of parents seeking higher education served by our programs,” Richardson said. “I also want to expand our services throughout Arkansas to impact more young parents’[s] lives.”
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September Faith Feature
The Table By Becke’ Stuart
Battered farm wood, all lined up and held together with trussed up legs and nails. Peer closely and you will see the crumbs, bits of play dough, and particles of dust all gathered where the wooden seams come together. This is where my momma heart feasts. Sure, I love a home cooked meal, but I am feasting on so much more. I look deeply into eyes, all varying shades of blue and green. The ocean is in each one of those eyes. I hear the banter of brothers, teasing one another in a playful way. Their deep fondness of each other brings my heart peace, knowing they will laugh together as they grow old together. 10 WINC. | September 2019
I gaze upon the tattered booklet that contains the Proverbs that have been read over these four souls through the years, hoping wisdom will stick to them like glue. My husband, Eric, is no fool; he utilizes this priceless time to pour truth into the boys. Incline your ear, and you can hear him saying things like, “love and honor God … love your family … love the outcast … reject passivity … chase your dreams …” He leads our sons well. My heart has rested in that. It is shalom. That is the word I’ve been trying to find. That’s the feast that has nourished this momma’s heart through the years. We sit at the battered table and all is right with the world, even if just for a few
fleeting moments. We are at peace simply because we are together. We feel safe. Secure. Shalom can mean wholeness. When all six of us – totally unique and all crazy different – sit down together, my “mom-heart” feels complete. I feel like I am part of something whole that God dreamed up. It is wholeness, completeness, and a sense of calm that I feast upon. I think that is what is hitting the hardest as my firstborn, Cade, just left for college. I just shot my first arrow into the world. Will I feel incomplete and fragmented every time I sit at the table with everyone but him? Will shalom only feed me in the
future fleeting moments we are able to all be together? Surely, there is grace for this, too – Surely. Surely. Surely – and perhaps, this is it. Shalom can mean peace, wholeness, or hello, but, shalom can also mean goodbye. The dam just broke and who knew I had so many tears left inside of me? Literally, you would be saying, “may you be full of well-being,” when you told someone goodbye.
Shalom means I have been so complete and full and whole that it begs me to be generous to others. Perhaps my wholeness is really an overflow for the purpose of blessing someone else. So, my empty seat at the table is my open-handed gift. I’ve shot my arrow and I’m watching it fly, praying this first son hits others with grace and truth, wisdom and strength. Indeed, there is a hidden grace waiting for my momma heart.
The goodbye, is the means for shalom to spread. The empty chair means my son, Cade, is able to share the shalom that only a Savior could provide to people he might not meet if he were always living within my four walls. The empty chair will remind me that there are other tables full of people hungry for the only Bread that satisfies and, perhaps, in some small or large way, God will use my son to feed them. The Kingdom will advance. All that’s left for this mom to do is say, “shalom.”
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Hometown Hero: Local fire chief recognized for service By Marisa Hicks
14 WINC. | September 2019
Quitman Fire Chief Ryan Davis has served his local community for 16 years. The Quitman High School graduate was even recently recognized by the Arkansas Emergency Medical Technician Association for his career service during a ceremony Aug. 3 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Now, he’s being recognized as our WINC Hometown Hero. “I am very honored and humbled to have been chosen for the AEMTA Air Medical Award of Excellence,” Davis said. “He’s well deserving of this,” assistant fire chief, Scott Duncan, who has watched Davis develop through the years in his profession, said. Along with serving the community as fire chief, Davis is also a paramedic and works for Air Evac Lifeteam 30 in Morrilton. Duncan said he remembers when Davis joined Quitman EMS, when he moved over to NorthStar EMS and when he made the shift to the Air Evac team. Having Davis around, he said, is a excellent resource to the community, not only because he a great asset to the community, but because he is also a devoted family man. “He does a lot for the community and his family,” Duncan said. Davis said his passion is helping out and serving others. “Being able to help my community feels great,” he said.
The AEMTA Award of Excellence honors those who help the air medical industry continue to see growth. To be recognized and nominated by his peers, Duncan said, is an accomplishment in itself. “Any time you get nominated for an award by your peers, it means a lot,” he said. After learning he was selected as the 2019 AEMTA’s Award of Excellence recipient, Davis said he was thankful for those who have helped lead him throughout his career. “I only have all the EMT’s, paramedics, flight paramedics and flight nurses that I have had the honor of calling my co-workers and family, along with all of those that have had the unfortunate task of being my supervisors and superiors throughout the years to thank,” he said. “Each one of you have played a huge role in the things I have done in my career.” Davis is a nationally registered emergency medical technician and paramedic and is flight paramedic certified (NREMT-P, FP-C). Through the years, he has served on numerous state-level boards and committees including the American Heart Association, National Association of EMTs and is also the Arkansas Air Medical Society president. To be recognized for the commitment he’s made to his community, Davis said, is “truly humbling.” “It lets me know I’m doing what I’m called to do and appreciated for it,” he said. “To be recognized for the commitment I’ve made with my career by the community is so rewarding.” Davis is married to Elizabeth “Liz” Davis. The couple has a 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son who attend Quitman Public Schools.
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A Look Back...
Photo courtesy of Faulkner County Historical Society held by UCA Archives
Train Depot: The passenger train depot on the east side of the railroad tracks in downtown Conway was constructed in 1914 and demolished in early 1975. A covered breezeway separated the Wells -Fargo Express office and baggage facilities on the south end from the two waiting rooms on the north end. The telegraph and ticket office, with its trackside bay window, was located between the two waiting rooms.
Conway Station By Cindy Beckman While many longtime residents express regret that Conway’s railroad depot was torn down back in 1974, newcomers may have no idea Conway ever had a depot. The fact is Conway began as a railroad town just as many other towns did during that era. Chief Engineer Asa P. Robinson was deeded one square mile surrounding Conway Station by the Little Rock & Ft. Smith Railroad on July 6, 1871 for the sum of $2,994. Robinson had been attracted to this area because much of it was open prairie, with groups of trees interspersed through the area. The chief engineer actually began subdividing the land into lots and even planted cotton on parts of it for over a year prior to the time that the land was actually deeded to him. Various sources suggest that Conway Station was named for the Conway family, which produced two Arkansas governors – or for the Little Rock & Ft. Smith locomotive Conway. In fact, however, the community may have simply been named for the county in which it was then located – Conway County. The passenger and freight depot, a 20 x 95-foot wooden structure, was built 18691870. It was expanded slightly in 1871 and a square was created around it. The depot was remodeled again in 1886; a cotton platform and tool house were added at that time. Stock yards were built in 1896 and a sand house was built in 1900. Yet another remodel took place again in 1903. When the train – which provided both passenger and freight service – first began operation in 1870, it stopped at Conway
around 10:24 a.m. each day on its way westward and returned about 2:36 p.m. Twice-daily passenger train service was established in 1888. By 1911, the area around the deteriorating depot was often congested during certain periods of the year because of the stockyards and cotton platforms located there. At one point, Mayor W.H. Duncan asked the railroad to clean up the area and move the cattle loading area away from downtown. Two years later, the old wooden depot was rolled across the tracks to the west side so a new depot could be built. The new 25 x 180-feet depot had dark red brick exterior walls, a red tile roof and brown trim for the windows and doors. A brick passenger loading platform extended along the track for the full length of the block. A covered breezeway separated the WellsFargo Express office and baggage facilities on the south end from the two waiting rooms on the north end. The telegraph and ticket office, with its trackside bay window, was located between the two waiting rooms. The old wooden depot was then remodeled and used exclusively for freight services and warehouse space. The Conway School and civic club organized an opening celebration in April 1914 with music provided by the Hendrix College brass band and the choirs of Central College – now Central Baptist College – and Arkansas State Normal – now the University of Central Arkansas. After World War II, passenger train service began to be reduced and by the
Photo courtesy of the Faulkner County Historical Society held by UCA Archives
Train Depot 1974: This picture was taken of the Conway train depot the year that voters decided to tear it down.
Photo courtesy of the Faulkner County Historical Society.
Photo courtesy of the Faulkner County Historical Society held by UCA Archives.
Conway Depot 1952: This 1952 photo of the train depot was taken from Train Depot Office: The interior of the old wooden Conway depot about the corner of Oak and Front Streets looking southwest. Passengers 1905. It was moved to the west side of the tracks when the new pasentered a diagonal drive lined with parking, landscaping and sidewalks. senger depot was built in 1914.
mid-1950s, both the northbound and southbound trains usually were just a single locomotive, a railway post office and express car, a combination baggage coach, a grill coach and one or two regular coaches. Passenger service ended completely on March 28, 1960 with the passenger depot being remodeled for use as a freight station. The old wooden freight depot on the west side of the tracks was sold and used for storage before being torn down in 1965. The next year, all remaining stations between Van Buren and North Little Rock were closed except for Conway and Russellville as Missouri Pacific began using “mobile agents” based in those two remaining depots along the Little Rock-Fort Smith line. In the late 1960s, the city of Conway began to negotiate with Missouri Pacific to purchase the property occupied by the former passenger depot and in 1972, a price of $185,000 was agreed upon. Conway Corporation purchased the property and turned it over to the city government. Missouri Pacific built a metal building south of town in early 1973, moving its
operations there. On the day that operations ceased at the old station, the semaphore signal arms, which had guided trains for decades, was dismantled and the building and property were turned over to the city. The question of preserving the deteriorating 60-year-old station soon provoked one of the most heated controversies in Conway history, dividing residents of the town. On one hand, the Faulkner County Historical Society and the Conway Community Arts Association led the campaign to save the depot, circulating petitions for a vote on an ordinance that would set up a commission to oversee the depot. On the other, Mayor Walter Dunaway and many businessmen wanted to remove the building so Main Street could be extended, improving traffic flow in the business district. More than 800 signatures were presented to the Conway City Council and the question was placed on the November general election ballot. Voters narrowly defeated the plan to preserve the station by a vote of 2,030 against and 1,765 for, saving the structure.
Although the city council adopted a resolution to demolish the building in late November and accepted a bid to remove the structure in December, the actual dismantling of the station was delayed until after the busy Christmas shopping season. When the building was dismantled in early 1975, the city retained the brick from the platform for other uses, and most of the roof tiles were acquired for repair of the Morrilton Station – Morrilton subsequently turned their depot into a museum and community center. Information for this article came from the Faulkner County Historical Society’s county history, Faulkner County: Its Land and People (1986). 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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It’s not rocket science, just coffee By Andrea Champlin My husband has banned me from picking out our next coffee maker because he thinks I only base the decision on aesthetics. While I have denied this to him, I will secretly tell you all that this is true. As a result, I bought a really pretty coffee maker that my husband hated from the day we got it. I’m not really sure why he hated it, something about the way it worked? I don’t know, but it looked great on the counter. That coffee pot was thrown in the trash a few months ago and we haven’t replaced it yet. We both drink coffee. The arrangement doesn’t really bother my husband because he gets coffee at work. But me? I’ve been keeping Starbucks in business! This summer, I started drinking iced coffee – I have a hard time drinking hot coffee when it’s hot outside. Yet, even with my affinity to Starbucks, I cannot make it there every day. Plus, it gets a little expensive if you go that often. I recently encountered something in the refrigerated section of my local grocery store – cold brew coffee by, you guessed it, Starbucks. Already made! In a very large container! Could this be real?! Why have I not heard of this?! Do I need to start watching commercials again?! I scooped up two bottles of pre-made Starbucks cold brew coffee and thought I’d try making my own iced coffee at home ... and guess what? It was great! It tasted just like my usual summer order from Starbucks! By the way, there is a difference between cold brew and iced coffee. Cold brew is made with cold water, iced coffee is hot coffee poured over ice. I use them both interchangeably here because I just don’t care that much.
I have three precious kids. It’s a 40-minute round trip each morning to drop my little blessings off at their respective schools. Time is short in the morning. For some strange reason I still have to remind my children to get dressed and brush their teeth. So, this coffee revelation is something that I’m pretty excited about. This isn’t rocket science, but I have found it makes my morning easier. In one of my options I use: • Starbucks Unsweetened Cold Brew Coffee • Sugar-free Flavored Creamer • Almond Milk (or your preferred milk) • Ice (optional) This is really an, “on-the-go, build as you like,” type recipe, so as far as measurements go, I don’t have any set in stone. Just try it as you go and add a little more of whatever you like. For mine, I usually do two parts coffee to one part milk and about a tablespoon of creamer. Mix and you’re ready to go! How easy is that? I even stopped putting ice in the drink, because everything I use is cold anyway. If you’ve never tried almond milk in your life, give it a shot. Even if you don’t like drinking it plain, you may love it in your coffee. I get the unsweetened version with no sugar. So, what happens if your out of coffee? I tried Starbucks Via Instant Coffee, and while it’s not my favorite, it’s not bad for those that need a quick caffeine fix in the morning. I use this in place of the Starbucks Cold Brew coffee when I invariably run out of coffee. It’s a lifesaver. I have searched DIY Starbucks coffee recipes, and they always seem to involve blenders, stoves, or something else that takes longer than I have in the morning. I would love to give you a recipe for a quick pumpkin spice latte, but everything I’ve seen or tried with that tastes terrible and involves a stove, and I’m allergic to stoves on school mornings. I’ll just have to let Starbucks handle those.
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The Doggie Day Spa
Building relationships one furry haircut at a time
Story and photos by Hilary Andrews
22 WINC. | September 2019
Laurinda Ray, the owner of Doggie Day Spa in Greenbrier, has only been at her current location since April, but has already seen a number of clients, and their humans, walk through her doors. The new, red building, sits in the lot next to where she previously worked. It was after some time there that the owner realized, it was time to move up. “The boarding was just so busy,” Ray said. “Just wasn’t functional, so, we started looking at a bigger space.” After they found the right spot, design began in January and by April, they were moving in. “I’ve almost outgrown this space already,” Ray joked. As soon as you walk through the front door, you’re greeted by one dog after another, including Ray’s 5-year-old Australian Sheppard/Border Collie Mix, Layla. The black and white dog has eyes that follow you around the room, fixated on learning your every move, eager to approach and, if lucky, play catch. “Layla will remember people who play ball with her,” Ray said. “(When they come back) as soon as she sees them, she’ll grab her ball.” The pup, like most dogs, can play fetch for forever. Layla also has a few tricks up her furry
sleeves, though, when it comes to her owner and getting what she wants. Ray said when she’s busy with grooming, not paying Layla enough attention, the dog will pick up her ball and throw it in the trash next to Ray, “because she knows I have to dig it out,” a trick her human said she learned from another dog. WINC: When did you open Doggie Day Spa? Ray: I started grooming in my home in 2001, which prompted me to open the Doggie Day Spa. WINC: On average, how many clients would you say you’ve serviced since? Ray: Since 2001 until present, I would say myself and my two co-workers have serviced around 44,000 animals and that’s not including boarding or daycare. WINC: Why a doggie day spa? Ray: Why a doggie day spa? My love and passion for dogs! I was in my third year at UCA in 1992 when I walked into chestnut animal clinic asking if they had any vet tech positions. The response by the receptionist was, “No,” but asked if I had ever thought of grooming because it was a great career for someone who loves dogs. It was like a lightbulb was turned on. I had never thought of grooming before.
After checking around Conway for anyone willing to teach me, I found Shirley White, owner of Pooch Glamour Haven, who told me to come and watch her groom, and if I liked it, she would train me. She wasn’t the easiest to work for but she knew her stuff when it came to grooming. I worked for her for almost six years and then I decided to be a stay-at-home mom with my first son. A couple of years later I had people contact me asking if I would offer a mobile grooming service, which I did for awhile until my clientele grew and I had to move it to my tiny laundry room at my house. That’s
where the Doggie Day Spa started! WINC: Have you always loved dogs? Ray: I have ALWAYS LOVED dogs and been drawn to them since I can remember! My parents have me on video chasing a yellow lab while on vacation when I was about 2-years-old. They couldn’t keep me away from it! WINC: Is the spa just for dogs or other animals? Ray: The spa is mainly for dogs but I do groom a few cats – only sweet ones, haha. WINC: What all services do you guys offer? Ray: Services we offer are boarding, daycare and grooming, which includes bathing, haircuts, nail trim and filing, ear cleaning and teeth brushing. WINC: What’s your favorite thing about owning this type of business? Ray: My favorite thing about this business is of course getting to work with dogs everyday. Not only do I create a bond with the dog but also the owner. I have dogs I have
groomed their whole life every six to eight weeks that are now 15- or 16-years-old! WINC: What are some challenges you’ve faced since opening the Doggie Day Spa – highs, lows, happy moments, funny stories, rough times, etc.? Ray: Running a small business isn’t easy at times. I’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it! It’s very time consuming and takes up a lot of my personal time. Juggling a family and business can get quite stressful. Another challenge is pleasing people. I’m a people pleaser so when someone isn’t happy I take it to heart. I try my very best at what I do but you can’t please everyone. The highs of this business would be, of course, getting to see our furry clients on a regular basis and making them feel pampered. Some clients tell me their dog prances around when they get home because they know they look good! The lows would be when a client passes away. Also I see a lot of neglect in my line of business – not so much in my salon – but clients who’ve had animals dumped on them and ask for my help finding it a home or cleaning a very neglected dog up. Every animal deserves to have a loving home and it breaks my heart knowing so many don’t. The Doggie Day Spa is located at 692 Highway 65 in Greenbrier, Ark., and can be reached at 501-514-0990.
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H1N1 … H3N2 … Hut! Hut!
Yeah, you can say I’m more than a little excited that football season is here. Once a fan, always a fan. And, no, while the title of this article sounds a little like a quarterback barking signals to his center and the entire offense, it’s actually the designation of the viral strains in flu vaccines. While an article on virology and the makeup of flu vaccines probably won’t make you stand up and cheer, it never hurts even the most dedicated armchair quarterback to get a little book learnin’. The different strains of influenza get their names from two proteins that are on the outer surface of the flu virus. These two proteins are hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. That’s where the H & N come from. Spoiler alert – that might be one of the quiz questions at the end of this article. Both of these proteins are required for the virus to cause an infection. The virus has to have the hemagglutinin in order to attach to the cell, then get inside the cell. Once in the cell, the virus takes over the normal cell operations and makes more copies of itself. At this point, neuraminidase gets in the game. Neuraminidase is required for all of these newly made viruses to get out of the cell and onto the playing field where they can spread the infection. (Boo loudly at this point.) Without neuraminidase, the new viruses would stay attached to the host cell where they would basically be harmless. Now it’s time for the defense to play. When a person becomes infected with influenza virus, their body’s immune system responds by making antibodies to the H and N proteins. These antibodies bind to the H and N proteins and block them from doing their job, stopping the virus in its tracks.
The defense has its hands full, because the influenza virus has more plays in its playbook than last year’s national champs, the Clemson Tigers. In fact, there are at least 18 subtypes of H protein and 11 subtypes of N protein which can combine into hundreds of different varieties of flu. If it makes you feel any better, not all of these can actually make you sick. Plus, the flu doesn’t always play fairly, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. In fact the flu has a repeated history of 2 types of major rules violations – antigenic drift and antigenic shift. Staying with our football analogy, antigenic drift would be a serious enough violation for the NCAA to put it on probation, but antigenic shift would be much more serious and would be worthy of the “death penalty.” In simple terms antigenic drift occurs when either the H or N undergo a change in a particular strain resulting in a new strain which trips up our immune system. They may change significantly enough that our antibodies may not bind to them anymore, allowing the virus to cause a full-blown case of the flu and perhaps an epidemic. (Throw the flag here for a substitution infraction.) An even more serious situation occurs in an antigenic shift. Rarely, in fact only 4 times in the last century, 2 different strains can infect a cell at the same time and get their genetic makeup all mixed up together. This creates a new virus that is different from either one that entered the cell in the first place. This virus may be more dangerous than either of its predecessors and, since it is new, no one has ever been exposed to it before. This makes a pandemic (worldwide epidemic) much more likely. Experts agree that it is not a matter of if, but when, the next pandemic will strike.
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.
It is really difficult for the experts to predict which flu strain will show up in any given year, so we don’t really know how effective the vaccine is until after the flu season hits. I hope this helps you to better understand what health professionals are up against and why some years are worse than others. The best defense against a flu epidemic is for everyone to get an annual flu shot. Be a team player and get yours soon. Now, it’s time for that pop quiz. Nah. Forget about that and turn on the TV. It’s football season!
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Nana’s
All in for traditions Story and photos by Hilary Andrews
26 WINC. | September 2019
Last year, I discovered the Hallmark Channel. I heard about the countdown to Christmas bit – I honestly have no idea how I’ve missed it in years past – and immediately jumped on the bandwagon. See, I absolutely adore Christmas! I’m talking the, “Hobby Lobby put out decorations early, let’s put the tree up Nov. 1, cover every inch of our house,” kind of Christmas. I live for the commercialized side of the holiday season. In fact, I’ve made it a rule that during the month of December in the Andrews household, we ONLY watch Christmas movies – “Christmas with the Kranks,” plays non-stop. When my husband, Evan, and I got married four years ago, one of the traditions he also brought to our new family was that same love; his family watches “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” every year. Those who roll their eyes at the sight of early decorations, keep reading. There’s a point. Yes, it’s only August, I get that, but … I digress, let me go back to the beginning … the Hallmark Channel. While the network is known for those mushy-gushy Christmas movies, what some may not know is, it keeps going! Hallmark has a movie for every single season and holiday. After the Christmas countdown ends – well, they continue playing holiday movies for a while for people like me who didn’t get to watch them all and set timers to
remember to wake up at 2 a.m. and turn it on – then comes winter movies, then Valentine’s Day-themed films, then spring and summer nights. Hallmark covers every topic under the sun from camping to birthdays – I’m not kidding … there’s literally a movie titled, “Birthday Wishes,” – cowboy ranches and fall in the vineyard … you name it. I like cheesy. The plot to most is so similar I sometimes forget which ones I’ve watched and which ones I haven’t. But do you know what my favorite thing about it all is?! How in to them Evan gets! He will deny it, but don’t believe him. I married the cheesiest man in the world. We are so different, yes we are, two completely different people, but one thing that brings us together, always, is our love for the cheesy things.
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There are people in this world who don’t do celebrations. I’m not a fan of those people. I don’t blame them, they probably had a horrible birthday party, or some traumatic Thanksgiving but it does make me sad. I’m not always the most positive or loveable person, but there are times where I just want to scoop everyone up and yell at them, “YOU ARE LOVED! YOU DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED!”
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28 WINC. | September 2019
Which is why, years ago, I made a decision. Whatever it was, no matter the holiday or birthday or Thanksgiving or Christmas, I was going to go all out! In the fall, if you walk into my house, you’ll find all kinds of decoration with pumpkins and leaves and oranges and reds! Then, come back on Nov. 1 to a whole new look with my red pillows – “too many” says
my husband – scattered across the couches, cheesy Santa figurines and pom-pom garland. Even my bathrooms get a holiday remodel! As long as I can remember, I’ve been an emotional person who feels so big, wearing my heart on my sleeve. That’s gotten me in trouble from time to time, but it’s also helped me learn to be an incredibly empathetic human. In my life, I’ve come up against many an obstacle, many with loss. I am one of four children. Now, there are only two of us left. I have no great-grandparents or grandparents, my dad has passed and both my sisters. I’ve lost several friends as well. When this happens, there’s a part of you that truly struggles when holidays come around. For me, rather than run, I chose to embrace them and embrace who I have left and go all out. As I was working my way through what I was going to write about for Nana’s Kitchen, I laughed. I hate cooking! Not a fan of baking either. I’d rather just jump on over to Target and get me some Oreos and a pizza rather than slave over the stove all day. It’s just not my thing, which of course, I think is weird, since I come from a line of women who take great pride in what they can come up with.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I can cook. I just don’t like to cook; unless, I’m cooking for someone. Stay with me here, you’ve already read a lot and word by word, you’ve gotten to know me a little better than the word before. I love cooking for people. Every Thanksgiving, you better believe I’m prepping for days, writing lists, making
sure I’ve got everything I need to serve my loved ones. No one but me is allowed in the kitchen, everyone else ordered to get out and enjoy themselves. I took up the cooking mantle around three or so years ago and easily became addicted! What I discovered is that, while I’m not that fond of the act of cooking, the outcome is what fills me with joy.
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This past year, the table consisted of a good friend, her husband, her mother, my mother-in-law, my mother and my husband; plus the two pups running under everyone’s feet hoping for scraps. When I decided to cover my own family and its recipes for this month’s Nana’s Kitchen, I immediately called my mom to see if she had anything original written down. She dug out a few from my great-grandmother, Audie Frizzell, including a recipe for sugar cookies, the old type that uses Oleo and cream of tartar seasoning. As soon as I got that picture, a warmth ran through me. That while she was gone, the recipe remained. Even more so, it was passed down from generation to generation and one day, I will be able to pass that along to my own children.
30 WINC. | September 2019
Until then though, I’ll just keep sharing my sweet treats with my fur babies, my three dogs, Bishop, Koda and Henley Jo, who actually shared a stick of butter amongst themselves tonight. The trio pulled it right off the butter dish while mom wasn’t even looking. Speaking of that butter dish, I have several. What makes them special though? They all belonged to my grandmother, June Woods. The woman collected the glass dishes and all different kinds. I can see them all lined up now in my mind. While she’s gone, I still have a piece of her, something that was important to her, and I can just imagine all the butter slabs that she cut from to make those same sugar cookies. After my take of the sweet treat – which actually ended in beautiful disaster, or rather, a flour fight between my husband
and me – I started thinking about other kitchen traditions and messaged my mom, Gwen Woods Dixon. Q: What’s your earliest memory of being in the kitchen? Gwen: My great-grandmother, Nan Frizzell’s kitchen. I was very young but I would run around and untie her apron strings and would mash down the rolls she had rising as I thought they were escaping! Q: Did you ever help Audie and Granny in the kitchen? Gwen: Yes, I was in the kitchens of two of my great-grandmothers, Nan Frizzell and Ellen Foster, my grandmothers, Audie and Juanita, and my mom, June. Q: Who taught you how to cook? Gwen: I learned something from all of them but started really cooking when I was out on my own.
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Q: What do you enjoy most about being in the kitchen? Gwen: Enjoy most creating food that my family and friends ENJOY! Q: What’s one of your favorite recipes to make? Gwen: One of my favorite recipes is homemade chicken and dressing and other dishes that have become traditional holiday dishes. Q: Baking vs. cooking? PICK! Gwen: Would rather cook than bake. Q: Are there kitchen traditions you guys had growing up, or any you passed down to me? Gwen: When you were small, preparing Easter eggs and then decorating Christmas cookies. Traditional holiday dishes are still always the best and you cook those too! Q: Was cooking/baking a means to an end or something you enjoy doing? Gwen: I enjoyed cooking and baking and most everyone enjoys what I prepare and asks for my cooking for gifts. Q: Your ability to open the fridge and just grab stuff out and make something, where did you learn that? Gwen: I had to learn to use what I had in the fridge and pantry. Food budget was pretty lean with four kids.
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Belle’s Ginger Cookie s for
• 1/4 cup molasses • 1/2 cup water • 3 cups cake flour • 1/4 teaspoon cinnam on • 1 1/2 tablespoon gin ger
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Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients and wet in separate bowls. Stir dry into wet until mixed. Roll out to 1/2 thick and cut. Bake on inch lightly greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes. *Courtesy of Leigh An ne Gray, and her mothe r
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MJ. Redefined brings confidence back to the closet Story and photos by Hilary Andrews
Morgan Jessup Tidwell has always had a knack for fashion and putting together pieces that not only match, but add a whole new level of confidence to a person’s wardrobe. The Dewitt resident attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and then moved to Little Rock after to attend graduate school, ultimately earning a degree in communication. The current-Little Rock resident said she originally wanted to be in broadcast journalism with plans to be an NFL sideline commentator and one day, marry a professional football player – while he’s not a football player, her husband, Zach, is 6’ 5.” But, after taking her first class, the professor terrified the young student, who then jumped ship and headed toward communication – she had no idea what she wanted to do with that, but knew she “was good at talking.” After grad school, Tidwell began working at a boutique where the realization of what she wanted to do, came to fruition. She said regular clients would come into the shop and go to her, needing a whole new outfit for this and that event. Tidwell said she would often remember a shirt that person wore when they came in a few weeks prior and automatically be able to match it with a pair of pants or certain store accessories. “I don’t know, honestly it was such a gift,” she said. “It’s such a creative outlet for me, I absolutely love it.” Thus began MJ.Redefined. Tidwell said she sat down with her always-supportive dad, who also happened to be a very savvy business man. “He said, ‘I think you’ve got something if you can find your niché,’” she said. “So, I started it in 2011.” Tidwell said she still remembers one of her first clients – she was still working at the boutique at the time, trying to get MJ.Redefined off the ground. She said her client came in, tears rolling down her face. “She said, ‘you saved my marriage,’” Tidwell said. “I was like, ‘what,’ and she said, ‘no, I’m serious.’ She said ‘dressing better, I feel better, therefore I’m acting better, my hus34 WINC. | September 2019
band notices, my kids notice, it’s completely changed my everyday.’” The 35-year-old said it’s amazing how the right outfit can change a person’s perspective and attitude. Through her business, Tidwell goes into women’s closets and pairs the right items together. She said her clients often say they have so much – tons of impulse buys with tags still hanging off of them – but feel like they have nothing. “There is an art to shopping, whether you know it or not,” she said. “There is a smart method to how to build a wardrobe.” Tidwell said the overall goal is to revamp and update a person’s wardrobe four times a year, for every season. She has clients from who take advantage of that and others who just want a little bit of help. “The point is just to help you discover your personal style and how to wear what you already have to the best of its potential … get the full potential out of the money you’ve already spent,” she said. “People would be shocked at what they [already] have in their closet.” Tidwell noted that it’s not about the tag, the brand or where the piece of clothing comes from; she’s shopped for women at Walmart, Target, Old Navy and more. “It’s just about feeling good about yourself,” she said. “That changes your mood. Who doesn’t feel better after taking a shower, fixing your hair, putting on makeup putting on a pair of heels [versus] sitting around in your PJs all day.” Looking good leads to feeling good, Tidwell said, pointing out the psychological part to it all. “Whether you think so or not, dressing is an expression ... it expresses something about you, regardless of if you think you’re using it that way or not,” she said. Apart from the actual clothes – Tidwell said she loves the fashion and creativity – the job has turned into more than that, taking on a ministry side as well.
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“It has been such a ministry for me,” she said. “I have met so many women [...] I’ve got to their homes, never meeting them before, and within the first 30 minutes, we’re praying in their closet together over something. “It’s such a blessing. It’s so much more than the clothes. That part is just an extra. That part is like, ‘thank you God for letting me be creative in that way,’ but also figuring out how to channel that into helping women become more of who they want to be.” Over the past eight years, Tidwell has gained hundreds of clients across the state even getting calls from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee – “you got the money, I got the time,” she said. “I’ve had the blessing ... I’ve been able to work with a designer on a runway show at New York Fashion Week two years in a row, I had a morning segment on a morning show in Little Rock for about a year, I’ve been to market, I carried inventory for a long time of my own good basic staples,” she said. “I actually worked with this one gentleman, he was a big corporate guy, he was colorblind. He had to wear suit and ties. He had ties like I had shoes. It was great, though. It was just as much a creative process as going into a girl’s, because there were all the colors and patterns.” As far as how the process works, Tidwell’s packages start at $200 for 20 outfits. “You pick how many outfits you want out of your closet,” she said. “I will tell you this, I have never been in a closet where I could not make the mark, and I have seen everything. There’s nothing that some accessories and shoes cannot completely change.” After that, it’s client’s choice: shopping, more outfits, etc. When she originally
started, technology used now wasn’t as big either, so Tidwell created photo portfolios, laying out each outfit she put together, taking photos of the shoe and accessory options and the outfit altogether. Now, clients can have those photos sent right to their phones, but before, she said she had women who would take the packet everywhere. “I have women who take it on trips, I have women who use it for packing, I have women that get it for their girls ...” she said. Tidwell said the “coolest thing” over the years has been getting to see her clients evolve, going from timid clothes shoppers to stepping out of their comfort zones and trying new things, while also getting to see the evolution of their closets at the same time. She said she gets texts all the time
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from women she’s worked with, excitedly sending her photos of their purchases saying, ‘look, what I did! I would’ve never bought this before if it hadn’t been for you!” “That extra confidence is everything,” she noted. “It’s not about me imposing my style on them. It’s about me trying to cultivate their own style out of what I already have and then pulling them just a little bit further out.” Tidwell said a person can tell so much about a person just by walking into their closet. “I’m telling you, you can know someone from their closet,” she laughed. Altogether, the last eight years, Tidwell said, have been a “heck of ride,” blessed every step of the way. “Everything that has happened, every single opportunity that has come from MJ.Redefined has been absolutely God-given,” she said. “I cannot take any credit for it because I have found myself so many times, standing somewhere like, ‘holy moly.’”
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All Aboard!
Hidden train exhibit nestled in Pickles Gap shop Story and photos by Marisa Hicks Harold Claassen has loved trains since he was a young boy. Now, he has a model train exhibit open for all to see in his family’s flea market, located right here in Conway. Claassen’s Vintage Market is nestled in the old-fashioned Pickles Gap Village, a tourist attraction found north along Highway 65. Tourists and locals who pop in, can find a variety of items offered by Harold and his son, Mark, spread out among the dozens of booths rented by others inside the store. The two also create hand-crafted woodwork and other creations upon request but it’s what’s not advertised, a piece only heard by word of mouth, that is most interesting to see ... the model train exhibit stationed at the back of the market. 40 WINC. | September 2019
Jim Davidson, who co-owns the village alongside his wife, Janis, said the set up is “incredible.” Tourists are greeted by a railroad crossing sign and other train-themed knick-knacks as they stumble upon one of the smaller exhibits that leads into the main attraction. As families enter the room, Harold said he is humbled to watch their facial expressions – immediately overcome with awe. “Even the grown ups ... they just gasp with excitement,” Harold said, smiling. The 81-year-old Faulkner County man said the ability to share his love for trains and the railroad companies brings him joy. Since he was young, he has been fascinated by locomotives. Harold was first charmed at 4-years-old by the many types of engines, when his
father purchased the young boy his own set of model tracks, a three-rail type. “Trains are something the whole family can get into,” he said. “Children can learn from it. My first one was like this (pointing to a three-rail model track surrounded by model trains).” Soon after receiving the three-rail track, Harold asked his father for a two-rail track, which he was able to provide him with a few years later. “It’s in a box right now,” Harold said, remembering where he put the gift. While the Faulkner County man has created several exhibits through the years, the main attraction within this hidden gem was built by a Holland man and his daughter, Vicky Riddiough. Harold said he purchased the large piece at an estate sale two or three years ago.
The exact time frame it took Jerold G. Riddiough and Vicky to build the piece is unknown, but Harold said he suspects it took the two around a decade to complete. The exhibit is Harold’s favorite piece in the train-themed portion of his shop. After her father died, Harold said Vicky was very upset about having to sell and part with the piece the two built from scratch. Vicky, recalled how, as a young girl, she would collect pieces of shale rock, the two using it all to create portions of the scenery and mountains on the exhibit. Since purchasing the piece a few years ago and opening the flea market in December 2018, Harold said he had lost contact with Vicky. The 81-year-old hopes to reconnect with her and show her the set up at his shop so she can see how the piece she and her father created, is still up and running smoothly.
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Using the controls from an old switch engine, Harold will first sound a horn with one lever and then open the door leading into the exhibit room with the other. As people walk into the train-filled room, they are first greeted by an exhibit Harold made using a refurbished luggage car. While searching online years back for a luggage car that would suit his dreams, Harold said he was hindered in the high-price ranges the old railroad cars were selling for. Many were priced around $3,000, he said. However, he soon found a hit that fit his needs. Harold said he remembered stumbling upon an old luggage car that was located in Tyler, Texas, and he did not hesitate to hit the road. This railroad car was priced at $140. “It was in pieces ... but I hopped in the car and went and got it,” Harold said standing before the luggage car that has since So many beautiful choices to fit your style. Why look anywhere else?
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been painted yellow and hosts a model train exhibit. The Faulkner County man’s love for locomotives extends beyond modeled exhibits. As a child growing up in Newton, Kansas, Harold said he enjoyed greeting the conductor who drove the train that traveled along the railroad that was located near his family’s farm. “After school, the train would come by – we were in the second and third grade – so of course, we’d run down there and wave,” Harold recalled. “About the third time we ran down to wave to [the conductor], he would throw bubble gum and candy out to us.” There is no admission fee to stop by and observe the model train exhibit at Claassen Vintage Market, but Harold said donations are accepted, noting a donation box was located toward the front of the exhibit room. The market is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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Back-to-school they go! Story by Hilary Andrews and Isabella Barnello Photos by Hilary Andrews What better way to start the school year than with free food, games and other fun items, am I right? Hundreds of local teachers and educators got to do just that during the 15th annual Teacher Breakfast and Education Fair on Aug. 6 in the Conway High School’s cafeteria. The annual event, presented this year by Conway Corporation and Arkansas Surgical Hospital, was open to all teachers, principals and school board members throughout Conway School District, Conway Christian Schools and St. Joseph Catholic Schools. “We have been a presenting sponsor for a number of years now,” Conway Corp’s Crystal Kemp said. “Supporting education in our community is a part of our founding as a company and has remained important to us through our 90-year history. She said they love taking the opportunity to meet with teachers, share information with them about Conway Corp and the services they offer, while thanking the educators for the work they do. “The annual Teacher Fair and Breakfast is a wonderful event and we are grateful to the Conway Chamber of Commerce and all the vendors who participate,” Conway School District Communication Specialist Heather Kendrick, said. “It’s a fun start to the school year for our teachers and staff.” Conway School Board of Education member Bill Clements – who was an educator in the school district for around 25 years before he decided to run for the school board – expressed his excitement for the annual fair. “I’ve been on the school board for almost 15 years,” he said. “I think it’s one of the best outreaches and support that our teachers and our employees can have.”
44 WINC. | September 2019
Clements said the fair was a great day for everyone overall. “I’m just excited to be a part of this process,” he said. “It’s a great time for our community and our school. Not only do we connect with our community, but it’s an opportunity for us to get our transmission back in gear and start teaching again.” The day included a complimentary breakfast from Chick-Fil-A and Klassmeyer Construction Company, Inc. and welcomed in more than 100 participating vendors including Conway Regional Health System, Hurley Chiropractic and Wellness Center, First Arkansas Bank & Trust and others.
“The community, they’re awesome,” Clements said. “Every year, I see five to 10 new businesses that are involved in our school system.” The local board member said seeing everyone’s smiling faces, looking ready to educate students, was his favorite part of the annual fair. Arranged in a maze around the school cafeteria, the booths were flooded with teachers, interacting with the varying vendors, enjoying the opportunities for the games and giveaways they had to offer. One educator, Hailey Bruce-Carr, said she couldn’t get enough of what each had to offer.
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“I love just getting to see all the teachers in the district,” she said. “Free stuff is also cool.” This was the third year for Bruce-Carr – a sixth-grade math turned social studies teacher at Simon Middle School – to attend the annual breakfast and fair. “I love teaching math but you know … it’s going to be different, but I think it’ll be fun,” she said. “I’m excited for a little change.” Preston and Florence Mattison Elementary principal Gary Logan, who was mingling with his staff and other attendees during the fair, spoke with the Log Cabin Democrat about his goals for the district and his school. “It’s really just the comradery,” he said. “Just seeing everybody in the district, say hello, and of course, we love free breakfast.” Logan is in his second year as principal at the elementary school. “I love it … I love what I do,” he said. “I love working for Conway.” Previously, Logan – now known everywhere as the dancing and singing educator after being recognized for his talents by national news stations – was an assistant principal at Woodrow Cummins Elementary and before that, a teacher himself. 46 WINC. | September 2019
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As for why he made the decision to take on a bigger role in the district, Logan said the, “ability to affect as a whole,” was a clear driving point for him. “Working in the classroom, you affect 20 or so kids at a time, but in the leadership role you affect everyone.” For the 2019-2020 school year, Logan said he was eager to see what the students and teachers will do for the future. “I am looking forward to the academic, social and emotional gains that we will make in my building,” he said. “I’m ready to see my kids grow.”
“I am looking forward to the academic, social and emotional gains that we will make in my building. I’m ready to see my kids grow.” – Gary Logan, Preston and Florence Mattison Elementary principal
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“It’s a great time for our community and our school. Not only do we connect with our community, but it’s an opportunity for us to get our transmission back in gear and start teaching again.” – Bill Clements, Conway School Board of Education member
“I love just getting to see all the teachers in the district. Free stuff is also cool.” – Hailey Bruce-Carr, educator
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Will Your Remodel Pay Off?
The Best Ways to Spend Your Budget By ERA TEAM Real Estate & The Paperless Agent Most new homeowners have something about their property that they want to change. And as family needs and design trends shift over time, many will eventually choose to remodel. Some homeowners make updates to their property before listing it to maximize their potential sales revenue. Whatever your reasons are for taking on a home improvement project, it’s wise to consider how the money you invest will impact your home’s value. We’ve taken a look at six popular home renovations and identified those that – on average – have the best and worst returns on investment. So before you lift a hammer or hire a contractor, take a look at this list and see if your remodeling efforts will reward you when it comes time to sell.
Renovations That Pay Off
These three common home improvement projects not only add function and style to your home, but they also offer a strong return on investment. Making strategic upgrades to your property will help you increase its value over time.
Minor Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen is often referred to as the “heart of the home,” and for good reason. Traditionally used for preparing food, it has morphed into so much more. Many of us now eat our family meals in the kitchen, it serves as a favorite spot for homework and kids’ art projects, and it’s the place guests tend to gather when we host events. Luckily, a minor kitchen remodel is one of the best investments you can make in your home. According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, it has an average 80.5% return on investment. The key to making a kitchen remodel pay off is to keep it modest in scale. Spend too much on custom or high-end selections, and you are less likely to recoup your investment. Instead, make an effort to keep your existing layout if it works for you and your family. Paint or reface cabinets instead of replacing them. Update countertops with low-maintenance quartz and swap out old light fixtures with modern alternatives. Replace outdated appliances with energy-efficient models. The average cost for a minor kitchen 54 WINC. | September 2019
remodel is $22,500, and it’s likely to recoup more than $18,000 at resale.
while it may not be the most exciting way to spend your remodeling budget, new siding can make a big impression on buyers … and Wood Deck Addition A deck addition is a popular way to extend your selling price. Your home’s exterior is one of the first things buyers see when they and enhance the use of your outdoor space. view your home. It sets the tone for what It’s the perfect spot for grilling, dining they are going to see inside. It also gives an alfresco, and entertaining. In fact, 81% of impression of how well the property has surveyed homeowners said they have a been maintained. Worn, peeling, or rotted greater desire to be home since completing a siding can be a major red flag for buyers. deck addition. For a 16 x 20-foot wood deck, Replacing 1,250 square feet of siding costs you can expect to spend around $13,000. around $16,000 and will net you an average Fortunately, the money you invest offers an of 76% at resale. For an even greater impact, average return of 76%. consider replacing a portion of your siding Decks made of composite material are a with manufactured stone veneer. It can have popular alternative these days, as they don’t a dramatic effect on the visual appeal of your require the regular sanding and staining that home. A 300 square foot area will run you wood decks need. However, at an average around $8,900, but you can expect to see a cost of $19,000 for a 16 x 20-foot composite nearly 95% return when it comes time to sell. deck, they are significantly more expensive. Weighing Cost Vs. Benefit Plus, the expected return on investment is It’s always wise to enter into a remodeling only 69%. Still, if you plan to hire someone project with knowledge of how it will impact to provide regular maintenance to a wood your home’s value. In most cases, upscale or deck, then a composite deck may offer highly-customized upgrades are less likely to cost savings over time. offer a high rate of return. That said, home
Siding Replacement
Everyone knows good curb appeal is important when selling your home. And
renovations that improve your quality of life and enhance your enjoyment may be worthwhile no matter the cost.
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Friday night sniffles turning into Saturday night fever? CONWAY REGIONAL AFTER HOURS CLINIC Your best option for after hours care. No appointment needed. We can also share a summary of your visit with your primary care physician so you can continue to get the care you need. Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday
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