Click Magazine - March 2019

CLICK

MARCH 2019

PEOPLE, PL ACES, PARTIES MARCH 2019

GR ASSFED GALS

Click COVER March.indd 1

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BEHIND THE COVER Grassfed Gals This month’s cover feature is all about the dynamic and delicious duo of Liz LeBlanc and Emily Headley, also known as the “Grassfed Gals” to frequent patrons of the Hernando Farmers Market. Following a series of life-changing medical diagnoses, this pair of paralegals set about creating their own brand of farm-fresh and gluten-free goodies. Read all about their story on page 18.

Photo by CASEY HILDER Illustration by COURTNEY SPENCER

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24 WHAT'S INSIDE 10 Kingston Cuisine 14 The Art of Leadership 18 Grassfed Gals 24 A Museum with Price Tags 28 Brussel's Bonsai Nursery 32 Recipe of the Month 34 The Historical Perspective

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39 See & Do 41 Beer from Here 62 Animal of the Month

OUT & ABOUT 44 Soup Sunday 46 Community Bank 20th Anniversary 48 FCA Breakfast 50 Lunch & Learn: Google 101 52 Southaven Chamber B2B PM

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54 Bridal Open House 56 Southaven Chamber Quarterly Luncheon 58 Bluff City Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off 2019 60 Staxtacular

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From the Editor

The More Things Change I’ve always had a little bit of an interest in history and ancient civilizations, partly due to my love of the Indiana Jones trilogy when I was a kid. From the wisecracking wit to the iconic whip and hat, nothing was cooler to me than Harrison Ford playing the self-proclaimed “obtainer of rare antiquities.”

Fast forward about two decades to my college years and I was swiftly disappointed when my own anthropology and archaeology courses were nothing like those offered by the famed Dr. Jones. The real work was slow, methodical, and entirely devoid of round-the-clock fistfights with Nazi agents and other evildoers. The real study focused on how people lived, ate, slept, and comingled. Sounds a lot like the study of everyday living, right?

And few know the plodding nature of historical research like former Desoto Times-Tribune Editor and now-Desoto County Museum Director Robert Lee Long. I’ve always heard the phrase “Journalism is the rough draft of history,” which you might imagine is how ole Rob ended up where he is today. See his story on page 34.

Speaking of progress, this month also brings an exclusive Q&A interview with incoming Desoto Arts Council Director Angee Montgomery, who will take over former director Margaret Yates’ position early this month. Read all about the happenings at DAC in “The Art of Leadership” on page 14.

In addition, we’ve got more enlightening stories of relics from the past in the form of our page 24 feature on Holly Springs Antiques Owner John G. Montague. Read all about his wide selection of antiques and collectibles (which includes a death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte’s face!) in “A Museum with Price Tags.”

So, from all of us to all of you: enjoy this one. We hope you have as much fun reading as we did putting it together.

Read on,

Casey Hilder

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Write to us editor@myclickmag.com The DeSoto Times-Tribune 2342 Highway 51 North Nesbit, MS 38651 Phone: 662-429-6397

Co-Presidents Jonathan Pittman Angie Pittman

EXPERIENCED, COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR YOUR BEST FRIENDS

Editor Casey Hilder editor@myclickmag.com

Creative Director Courtney Spencer Ad Design Nick Howard Copy Editor Taylor Smith Writers Casey Hilder Mike Lee Photographers Frank Chin Casey Hilder Eugene Pidgeon John Klyce Doug Farris Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lyla@dttclick.com

Account Representatives Melanie Dupree melanie@dttclick.com

Marianne Schurawel marianne@dttclick.com

The DeSoto Times-Tribune 2342 Highway 51 North Nesbit, MS 38651 Phone: 662-429-6397 We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner.

Information can be forwarded to Casey Hilder at email address listed above.

Submit Your Event Interested in having your next party featured in Click?

Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@myclickmag.com. Š2018 P.H. Publishing. Click Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser's services or products.

Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.

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Click Contributors

Brian Anderson

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March 2019

Taylor Smith

Various events and in this month's issue were shot by local photographer Brian Anderson, a Memphis-based artist that started shooting professionally about six years ago and has been featured in Southern Living Magazine, Oxford American, MBQ and the St. Jude Gallery Collection, to name a few. He primarily focuses on concerts, with a focus on blues and old-fashioned Southern music, as well as the Mississippi delta and cityscapes.

Taylor Smith really should change her name to “Word.” She’s been a reporter for multiple publications in the Mid-South, including The Daily Helmsman, The Leader and The Commercial Appeal, and she journals every day. When she’s not moonlighting as a copy editor, she’s working full-time as a project coordinator for City Gear, an urban streetwear retailer, or watching another episode of Forensic Files with her fiance, Jason.

John Klyce

Mike Lee

John Klyce is a senior at the University of Memphis studying Journalism, French and English. In addition to writing for Click, he has also worked for the the Daily Helmsman as a Feature Writer and currently contributes to them as a guest columnist. Born and raised in Memphis, Klyce has also trained as a classical pianist and worked as an actor.

Last year, he appeared in an episode of the CMT series Sun Records as a young Johnny Cash's friend Louie.

Event photos in this issue were captured by Click photographer Mike Lee. Mike started in news in 1971 as a TV writer, photographer, and art director. For 20 years, his work appeared on national and international television broadcasts, and was published in print media worldwide.

Eugene Pidgeon Eugene Pidgeon is a writer, actor and lontime Click Magazine and Desoto Times-Tribune contributor based out of Memphis, Tennessee. Pidgeon was first published in 1986 by the Santa Barbara News and Review in Santa Barbara, California, where he lived for 20 years.

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KINGSTON

CUISINE

A taste of the Caribbean comes to Olive Branch with Mr. Joe’s Jamaican Kitchen food truck Feature & photos by CASEY HILDER

When Joseph Thompson moved to the Mid-South from New York, he noticed one thing missing compared to his days living in the borough of Jamaica, Queens.

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“I love Jamaican food, but I noticed immediately that there really isn’t any down here,” says Thompson. “So, the next best thing I could do was to bring it down myself.”

Thompson, now known to most as “Mr. Joe,” is the man behind Mr. Joe’s Jamaican Kitchen, a Mississippi-based food truck that specializes in Jamaican and Caribbean-inspired fare.

“The seasoning will give you the spice, but not the flavor,” says Thompson. “So the meat needs to be heavily seasoned, as well as marinated in the jerk.”

Jamaican food is typically defined through jerk seasoning, an Indian-African seasoning applied liberally to brined meat like goat, lamb or chicken.

“Basically, it does a very good job of marinating the meat and gives it that signature spicy flavor,” says Thompson.

Thompson makes his own jerk season from an array of 10-12 spices, though some changes have been made to his

original recipe to accommodate Southern tastes.

“Down here, a lot of folks aren’t too used to the extreme spiciness,” says Thompson. “When I first got started, I might have made my chicken a little too hot. Now, I’ve got it just right and I don’t hear too many complaints.”

Thompson came to Olive Branch in 2004 to spend time with his family post-retirement and completed hand-built 16-by-10 trailer-based food truck 10 years later in 2014.

A lifelong handyman and former electrician by trade, Thompson combined his mechanical knowhow with his culinary expertise to incorporate a full-size, custom-made three-tiered smoker that can cook about 200 pieces of chicken at a time.

“It’s basically a one man station,” he says. “Sometimes the family helps out, but there’s not much room in here.”

Chicken and beef patties are the stars of Mr. Joe’s deceptively simple menu, which includes traditional West

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Indian/Caribbean dishes like rice and peas prepared in coconut milk alongside Scotch bonnets (also known as habanero peppers stateside) and fried plantains. The popular five-dollar plate includes rice and peas and a piece of chicken alongside a salad, though no meal from Mr. Joe’s Jamaican Kitchen would be complete without a taste of his signature curry beef patties.

“The beef patties have a good helping of curry spice, peppers and onions,” he says. “The meat itself is infused with the curry seasoning – it’s full of turmeric, which I’ve heard is very good for you.”

Thompson also offers several soul food fusion dishes to suit the local climate, including collard greens, corn bread and macaroni. Mr. Joe’s Jamaican Kitchen also offers breakfast options geared toward the standard Southern fare of bacon and eggs.

“I’ve changed up the menu a little since I’ve started because I try to cater directly to the folks I’m selling to,” says Thompson. “But I have other Jamaican dishes that I make for myself – curry chicken, curry goat – that’s something I’m still working on and want to kind of gradually ease folks into.”

Mr. Joe’s Jamaican Kitchen can be found at the 3800 Forest Hill Irene Road in Memphis and, occasionally, at Olive Branch’s ever-popular Mississippi Ale House.

“The beer houses out here are fantastic places for food trucks like mine,” says Thompson. “Anyone interested in grabbing a plate can also follow me on Facebook. I generally try to post where I’m going to be at on any given day.”

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THE ART OF

Leadership Desoto Arts Council’s newly-minted Director Angee Montgomery shares upcoming projects and plans Interview & photos by CASEY HILDER

As the new director of the Hernando-based Desoto Arts Council, Angee Montgomery aims to steer the organization through its 20th year of celebrating artistic excellency in the area and beyond.

Montgomery, a native of Sardis, Mississippi, current and Senatobia resident, took over the position in early March following the departure of outgoing director Margaret Yates.

“Margaret Yates has, of course, been my backbone throughout the whole learning process,” she says. “The board of directors has also been great in terms of getting me up to speed about what’s happening this year. Our team of volunteers has also been very knowledgeable and helpful.”

This month, Montgomery sat down to share her hopes and plans for DAC.

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Outgoing DeSoto Arts Outgoing DeSoto Arts Council Executive Director Margaret Yates, Hernando Director of Parks and Recreation Dewayne Williams, City Parks Program Director Dolly Brechin and new DeSoto Arts Council Executive Director Angee Montgomery

Click Magazine: How did you come into the position of Director as Desoto Arts Council?

Angee Montgomery: I saw the opening and just went after it. I’ve always wanted to work directly with the community and have a position where, day-to-day, I’m doing fulfilling work. A job in the arts is a plus because I love everything about it and always have. Getting to work with creative people every day is amazing. As a technical graphic artist, I spent a lot of my time altering other people’s work instead of using my own ideas to create. I worked with Desoto Arts Council previously right after graduating from University of Memphis, and have been working with Cyber Graphics, a prepress company in Memphis, for the past four years.

CM: What are some of your duties as director of DAC? AM: Former Director Margaret Yates will be retiring on March 1, so we’re currently in a month of overlap. I’m still in the learning phase have only been here a few weeks, but I’ve spent a lot of time trying to wrap my head around the Desoto Arts Council’s calendar of events. There’s a first of its kind festival in the works, as well as our first exhibit of the year coming in late March. Other than that, the director handles daily operations of the gallery and gift shop.

CM: Has anything surprised you early on?

AM: The building is definitely interesting. It’s a unique,

small space that will present a challenge with each show we have. It’s my understanding that this place used to be City Hall, and it still shows in a few ways. The basement still has old jail cells, but the area is mainly used for storage. Right now, we have 900 square feet functioning as a gallery, gift shop and event space. We’re currently looking into places we might be able to put some of our exhibits that can hold a larger show.

CM: How do you plan to bring a new crop of artists to DAC? AM: I have a lot of existing contacts from my time at the University of Memphis and Memphis College of Art, as well as from my previous employment as a Graphic Artist and an Intern Coordinator. I plan to use these resources and recruiting skills to reach out to the active artists in the community, and find out exactly what our current members and potential new ones would like to see DAC doing in the future. I don’t plan on changing too much pertaining to the structure of DAC: my first year is devoted to learning about, meeting, and connecting with the current members, and that will take some time.

CM: What’s coming up this month for DAC? AM: At the end of March, we have the Bloomin’ Art Exhibit.

It’s a two-dimensional show and the first show of the year. myclickmag.com

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One fun thing we do is raffle flower pots that are painted by members of DAC. This year is also Desoto Arts Council’s 20th anniversary, so one of the things we’re doing during this exhibit is celebrating the fact that we’ve made it this far.

We will prepare a slide show with all the old photos I can scrounge up that show the history of the council. I’m excited to learn about everything the DeSoto Arts Council has accomplished in the past 20 years.

CM: What is your background as an artist?

AM: I’ve always loved art, and became interested in developing my skills as an artist at a young age. I began taking private drawing/painting classes while in middle school. At the University of Memphis, I graduated with a concentration in sculpture. I enjoy creating with several mediums, but I tend to cycle back to my roots in traditional drawing and painting.

CM: What kind of classes do you offer at DAC? AM: We offer different lessons every Saturday at DAC ranging from things like kite-making to in-depth drawing instruction.

CM: Who are some of your favorite artists?

AM: I have many favorites, and they change often. When it comes to sculpture, I look up to Adrian Arleo. She’s a ceramic sculptor who does a lot of hand built pieces connecting natural themes to the human figure. Locally, I admire the 16

March 2019

work of Carol Roark, an painter and instructor who lives outside of Batesville, Mississippi. Carol is a wonderful teacher: She created the foundation of everything I know so far in the art world.

CM: Are you looking to build any local partnerships in the community?

AM: We are currently working with Rob Long at the DeSoto County Museum. He has graciously agreed to let DAC use the Museum’s facilities for classroom space. We are also partnering with him to put on a bluegrass concert in the fall. We are also partnering with the Sycamore Arts Council in August and October. There is a possibility we may collaborate with DeSoto Family Theater as well. I think local partnerships are crucial for DAC’s success, especially since we are an organization that is kept alive by members of the community.

CM: What’s the biggest project DAC has planned for 2019?

AM: I’m not sure about “biggest”. DAC has several artist opportunities lined up for 2019. It will be an exciting year!

We have two festivals happening this year, exhibits that take place each month and classes offered weekly.

For more information on upcoming Desoto Arts Council exhibits and events, visit www.desotoarts.com.

DANO NAPOLI MPT, OCS, CERT. DN

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Grassfed Gals Liz LeBlanc and Emily Headley bring locally sourced, gluten-free goodies to Desoto County Feature and photos by CASEY HILDER

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March 2019

Longtime friends and neighbors Liz LeBlanc and Emily Headley weren’t sure they would ever be able to experience the rich variety of a normal diet ever again in early 2016.

Emily had her thyroid removed just days before Thanksgiving of 2015 following a bout with cancer, while Liz was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis just a few weeks earlier in October. To accommodate for these ongoing health issues, this pair of Hernando-based paralegals began to tackle what is arguably the single biggest deciding factor in good health: diet.

“One the main things that I needed to do to keep my body from attacking my thyroid was removing gluten from my diet entirely,” says LeBlanc. “That was a huge fact in healing my own thyroid issues.”

Gluten is a substance prevalent in a wide range of foods including bread, pasta, beer and basically any kind of dish comprised of some sort of grain.

“Giving up bread was a challenge for me at first, but now there’s so many bread alternatives out there,” says LeBlanc “Everything has a substitute. Pizza crust comes in cauliflower now.”

Despite some early difficulties adapting to new dietary standards, LeBlanc noticed a near-immediate change, citing more energy and less everyday aches and pain in the weeks following.

“Any kind of thyroid disease is like the invisible problem,” says

LeBlanc. “People experience body aches and pains without a known source. People tend to think you’re a hypochondriac and it can even be tough on a marriage, but overall you just feel bad.”

However, despite the variety of online blogs geared towards a gluten-free lifestyle, LeBlanc and Headley experienced some initial difficulty finding an outlet on a local level.

“There really weren’t a lot of gluten-free options around the time in Desoto County,” says Headley. “We wanted to change that.”

LeBlanc and Headley soon set about crafting their own recipes for rich, filling desserts with a gluten-free caveat, producing a variety of baked treats like banana bread, sandwich cookies and brownies that taste identical to their floury counterparts.

“We started baking and experimenting, it was a huge disaster in the beginning,” says LeBlanc. “But then the results were delicious.”

The pair enrolled in a local cottage school baking class through the Mississippi Exchange Program and started their farmers market venture in spring of 2016. With an eye-catching illustrated logo and iconic packaging, the newly-dubbed “Grassfed Gals” soon became the talk of the Hernando Farmers Market – the largest of its kind in Mississippi.

“We connected with people of similar backgrounds and finally found the right stuff via blogs,” says LeBlanc. “In the process, we realized there was a whole community out there that had been overlooked and suffer from the same conditions we do.”. myclickmag.com

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LeBlanc cites the original “Grass Fed Girl,” also known as blogger and cookbook author Caitlin Weeks, as an inspiration for both the name and early offerings of their new endeavor.

The made-to-order treats offered by Grassfed Gals aim to redefine what’s acceptable for the typical alternative diet, with a bevy of substitutes available for commonly used ingredients such as eggs, sugar and dairy.

“We do a lot of alternatives,” says Headley. “I can’t tell you how many times a parents has approached us at the farmers market and told us how happy they were that they finally found something their kid could eat.”

Each food substitute is geared toward easing the digestive woes often associated with debilitating issues like Celiac disease or thyroid problems. The selection of creatively simple substitutes employed by the Grassfed Gals includes baking powder, flour alternatives and various types of plant milk.

While the ingredients may differ, LeBlanc says the central goal behind each Grassfed Gals recipe is taste.

“Honestly, a lot of the gluten-free stuff you find in stores tastes like chalk,” says LeBlanc. “It’s so grainy. We try to distance ourselves from that.”

In addition to ground almond and rice as substitutes for flour, Grassfed Gals use natural sugar alternatives like stevia and monk fruit powder.

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“It just tastes good,” says Headley. “We’ve had tons of people order from us just because the like the taste and not due to any particular ailment.”

Grassfed Gals uses non-GMO organic ingredients in all their creations, farm-fresh and locally sourced when possible.

“I keep chickens, so we’ve saved a little bit on eggs over the years,” says Headley.

Despite their shared passion for baking, the differences between the fast-talking businesswoman LeBlanc, who also owns and manages SunBlast Mobile Tanning, and the earthy Headley are as stark as night and day.

“We’re really opposites in terms of personality, and that’s how I think we balance each other out,” says Headley. “Like right now, for example: she’s on an all-plant-based diet while I’m over here doing keto, which is all about protein intake.”

While their farmers market days are behind them, Grassfed Gals still provide batches of their signature dishes on a madeto-order basis.

“Thank god we both have full-time jobs,” LeBlanc says.

“We’re definitely not in this for the money.”

For more information or to place an order with Grassfed Gals, visit their website at www.grassfedgals.com.

$ GFG GLUTEN-FREE BANANA BREAD LOAFETTES INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

2 cups Gluten Free Flour 1:1 (we use Bob’s Red mill)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease (we use organic coconut oil spray) a loafette pan, set aside.

4 or 5 very ripe bananas 1 stick of organic or grass-fed butter* softened ¼ cup milk** 2 organic free range eggs, (use 6 if doubling the batch) ½ cup organic cane or coconut sugar 1tsp organic vanilla extract (optional) 1tsp baking powder 1tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt ¾ cup mini Enjoy Life™ chocolate chips

2. In a large mixer, combine all dry ingredients, and set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together butter and sugar. Stir in eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture and chocolate chips into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 22 minutes, or 55 minutes if baking a large loaf, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loafette (or loaf) comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for at 10 least minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Serve warm! Yields 9 loafettes. *May use coconut oil as substitute for butter **May use almond or plant milk for dairy free option

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A MUSEUM with PRICE TAGS History buff John G. Montague gathers centuries of Southern history at his “Gentleman’s Antiques” store in Holly Springs Feature and photos by CASEY HILDER

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While the items on the shelf at Holly Springs Antiques often carry a heavy price, the stories are always free.

“I’d like to think I’m doing my part in preserving history,” says Holly Springs Antiques owner John G. Montague.

The 1,250 square feet of Montague’s store are covered wallto-wall with relics of the past, some older of which date back to more than a millennia.

“General antiques have always been a fascinating subject me,” says Montague. “It would be hard to nail down just one area that I’m passionate about, but I’d have to say it’s in the name of my store: Gentlemen’s Antiques.”

From pre-tribal Native American artifacts including countless arrowheads and clothing pieces to a wide variety of classical firearms, the expansive and expensive collection curated by the 79-year-old proprietor began nearly 70 years ago with a set of Civil War antiques that Montague picked up from Army Surplus stores in the 1950s.

“Things that I had paid two or three dollars for were soon selling for $100, $150,” he says. “I paid my way through undergraduate school doing that.”

Those Civil War antiques would soon find their way into the hands of local reenactors and enthusiasts, netting a nice profit and inspiring Montague to open his first antique store in 1970 in the Midtown Memphis area. He was known to locals as “Captain John,” from his time spent on the Mississippi

River working tugboats. Montague also owned Gentleman’s Antiques in Collierville, Tennessee, which he packed up and moved to Holly Springs earlier this year. The answer behind the big move was simple: the city was welcoming and the rent was cheap.

“So far, I’ve had a better response here than I did back in the Memphis area,” he says. “However, I guess you could say that a lot of my clientele is coming in from out of town.”

So what makes a gentleman’s antique? Montague officially defines his wares as anything that caters toward a masculine taste in antiques and collectibles. This includes a wide selection of guns, swords, knives and other militaria crafted before the First World War in addition to a variety of handmade Native American artifacts from the Southern U.S. and beyond.

“I consider myself a gun buff, but recently I’ve started to appreciate these Indian tomahawks,” he says. “They’re 18th century American, made by the Iroquois.”

Among the dozens of tomahawks on display is one of Montague’s proudest displays at Holly Springs Antiques: A lavishly carved tomahawk and war belt once held by the legendary Shawnee warrior-chief, Tecumseh.

“A retired federal judge who now lives in Memphis gave me that,” says Montague. “It was on display at the federal courthouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they let him take it with him after he left.” myclickmag.com

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Other unearthed treasures at Holly Springs Antiques include 18th century artifacts like a fur tophat from Hudson Bay Trading Company, a $750 ivory walking cane topped with a carved bust of Abraham Lincoln, and a selection of yellowed photo albums from the late Victorian era. Further curiosities include a plaster cast of Napoleon Bonaparte’s face done at the time of his death by his personal physician. In addition to diaries and albums, a selection of daguerreotypes under glass showcase some of the first portraits ever taken in the MidSouth region.

“An interesting thing about those is that the French government gave its inventor, Charles Daguerre, a pension for life, but they would not let him patent it,” says Montague.

“Part of the agreement was that he would teach as many people as possible about the photographic process. That was 1839. By 1841, we had Daguerreotypes like these produced in Memphis, Tennessee.”

The nature of Montague’s profession has made him a historian in his own right, partly by passion but mostly out of necessity. His natural curiosity turned inward as he rediscovered his family’s signature coat of arms and traced his own lineage back to Eduardo Montague, Captain General of the Knights Templar.

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The selection of firearms offered at Holly Springs Antiques is decidedly primitive, culled from the time before America was known as the United States. This includes a few flintlock pistols, but Montague says he holds a particular passion for Winchester rifles produced from 1866 through 1898.

“These arms are what made the U.S. the U.S.,” he says.

As part of his day-to-day life, Montague knows what it’s like to hold items that are hundreds of years old, such as a collection of pre-tribal Native American beads and jewelry dug up in Tupelo, Mississippi, that rank among the most expensive items in the store.

“Those are from at least 1,000 years ago, he says. “Old, even by antique standards.”

The craftsmanship on display in many of these items doesn’t go unappreciated by Montague, who often has to think twice when it comes to letting go of items like a woven porcupinequill pouch from the Sioux tribe.

“I turned down $7,500 for this one,” says Montague. “If an accessory like this it has an animal on it, that triples the work behind it. If it has a man, that quadruples it. If the scene depicts a man and an animal, you can only imagine how much time they had to spend on it.”

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B RU S S E L’ S B O N S A I N U R S E RY Feature by EUGENE PIDGEON | Photos by CASEY HILDER

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March 2019

Brussel Martin

Brussel Martin may not have been born with a green thumb, but after becoming fascinated with the exotic plants his father would bring home from business trips, he has gone above and beyond to plant deep roots into the gardening community of Olive Branch, Mississippi Martin, a native Memphian and a graduate of White Station High School, founded Brussel’s Bonsai in 1973, and it has since become the country’s largest grower and importer of bonsai with over 180,000 square feet of greenhouse space stretched over about 20 acres just across the Tennessee-Mississippi state line.

“Most people think the term ‘bonsai’ refers to an actual tree or a plant,” Martin says. “This is incorrect. Bonsai refers to the manner by which a plant or tree is curated—the way it is pruned and cared for. It is a technique. It is a combination of art and nature. If you have quality material, you can use the bonsai techniques on almost any type of plant or wood.”

Bonsai, which translates to “tray planting,” has been practiced in Japan for more than a thousand years. After World War II, Americans brought back an appreciation for the artform, leading to dedicated spaces like Brussel’s Bonsai.

The diversity of the plants available on the Brussel’s Bonsai ecommerce site shows how the bonsai techniques can apply to any plant or tree, from the “easy care” Jade plants to the miniature maple and pine trees. Each tree is hand-selected in Asia, and they all serve as a testament to the patience and technique required to create such incredible organic artworks.

That level of skill doesn’t come easy, though. Martin spent years in Japan learning the proper techniques and artistry of bonsai, then encouraging his employees to do the same.

“In the beginning, I groomed domestically from native materials,” Martin says. “As my business grew, I met people who imported from Japan and then I started traveling back and forth from Japan myself. I had two of my guys go to Japan to learn. They spent five years over there learning everything.

When they returned to the United States, they worked for me again. It takes about five years under the guidance of a master to develop your skill.”

While Martin had the artistic chops to run a bonsai nursey, he hasn’t been able to grow the business to the its internationally recognized splendor alone. While it sprouted in ’73, Brussel’s Bonsai nursey was truly able to flourish when McNeal McDonnell got involved.

In 1997, McDonnell, also a native Memphian, was looking for a challenging new business opportunity. “I was looking for something interesting to do. My business broker Jack Gibson had just taken on Brussel’s partner as a client,” says McDonnell. So, this was the first thing I looked at. I came out here and was taken by the allure of it all and just decided it would be a great experience and something worth pursuing, so I bought half the business.”

McDonnell’s friends and colleagues affectionately refer to him as “The Plunger” because of his willingness and skill to dive headfirst into uncharted waters. Since McDonnell myclickmag.com

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became a partner, Brussel’s Bonsai nursery has expanded tremendously. Their current facility opened in 2005, and the combination of Martin’s artistry, McDonnell’s business acumen and their proximity to both FedEx and UPS hubs has all combined to create an incredible bonsai business. “When I bought-in, this was much smaller than it is today, “McDonnell says. “But it still had the same WOW factor.”

Together, Martin and McDonnell blended their unique talents to cultivate not just a facility that combines creativity and commerce, but a yearly bonsai convention called Rendezvous that celebrates bonsai in all its forms.

Rendezvous 2019 will take place Friday, May 24, through Sunday, May 26, at Brussel’s Bonsai Nursey.

Over the Memorial Day Weekend, five acclaimed bonsai artists will teach 20 technical workshops to enthusiasts from all walks of life and from all corners of the globe.

It’s not just about learning new skills, though. Visitors will also be able to meet with and learn from the panel of bonsai experts and artists who will share their ideas and offer tips on how to improve and develop your own bonsai talents and techniques. “You have to know what to look for and you have to have the sensibility of an artist,” Martin says. “If you want to create something special.”

Both Martin and McDonnell agree this three-day event is not like anything you have experienced before.

“We are so excited and look forward to the Annual Bonsai Convention every year,” McDonnell says. “Even we learn something new and different, and something great each year.”

For more information about Brussel’s Bonsai, to view the full Rendezvous 2019 Bonsai Convention schedule or to purchase a locally cultivated work of art, visit brusselsbonsai.com.

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH Recipe & photo courtesy of SERENA WOLF

TROPICAL GREEN SMOOTHIE - Makes 2 smoothies -

THE GOODS

METHOD

2 cups baby spinach, packed

1½ cups diced mango (fresh or frozen)

Place the spinach, avocado, chia seeds and coconut/almond milk in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

Add the diced mango and pineapple and puree until smooth.

Pour your smoothie into glasses/mason jars and drink immediately or refrigerate in a sealed jar/container for up to 3 days.

1½ cups diced pineapple (fresh or frozen)

Note:

½ ripe avocado 2 tbsp chia seeds 2 cups unsweetened coconut or almond milk

Yes, you can blend all the ingredients at the same time, but I find that pureeing the greens on their own first ensures that you don’t have any chewy greens in your smoothie.

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THE HISTORICAL R T P C PE S E IVE Rob Long makes sure Desoto County remembers its past Feature by JOHN KLYCE | Photos by CASEY HILDER

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Next to the old freight house in Hernando, behind a rusted bell and double doors, Jerry Lee Lewis’ traveling keyboard sits on a little black stage. In the back rests an outdated police motorcycle and, near the entrance, a pair of moccasins hangs on the wall while a Native American flute plays softly.

“They petitioned President Andrew Jackson,” says Rob Long, speaking on the forced removal of the Chickasaw.

“Alas, he told them, ‘no my red brothers and sisters, it’s time for you to go.’ They had to leave with everything they owned.

Ironically, the day they left was July the 4.” Long, in black wing-tipped shoes and a blue Izod shirt, steps forward and continues. “This museum tells that story, it tells other stories, and that’s really what we do.”

It’s a Wednesday morning at the DeSoto County Museum in Hernando, and Long, the curator, is talking about exhibits.

After working in journalism for 35 years, he took the job in December and dove in. But the work wasn’t exactly new.

“Someone pointed out to me that the stories I wrote were always infused with history,” he says. “I think regardless of what you’re writing about, history gives perspective.”

Walking past an old tin bath tub that hangs on a wall, Long moves into the Civil War room. The collection is substantial with foot artillery swords, boot pistols, forks and silver pocket watches all on display. But it will soon be under renovation.

“Six months from now you’ll hear the Civil War room come alive with cannon fire, horses whining, and men crying out,”

Long says. “We’ll have what’s called a photo eye. You cross the threshold, and it will trigger a cannon boom.”

This will be made possible through the career technology center in Horn Lake, which has state-of-the-art recording equipment. Long and company will take it into the field, and, with the help of the seventeenth Mississippi reenactors group, create the needed sound effects for the Civil War room. It’s one of several ongoing projects at the museum. The medical exhibit will soon be expanded, and Long is planning additions to the section on law enforcement. “Mississippi has two brand new museums in Jackson, and they’re totally automated,” he says. “We want to up our game a little bit, so we’re going to do that.”

The DeSoto County Museum was named Mississippi’s best small museum in 2003, and people are consistently impressed by what they see. “They’re amazed, they’re overwhelmed by the collection that we have,” Long says. “We really have a collection that rivals some of the larger museums in the area.”

Despite its Hernando location, the museum has gotten visitors from around the country. A map at the entrance proves this, with visitors’ pins in it scattered about the nation. Though most are congregated in the South, points can be found from California to Wisconsin to Hawaii. And, as Long will proudly point out, a family from Germany visited in February.

The curator strides to the other side of the museum, where the old police motorcycle sits on display. “People will come myclickmag.com

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here and say, ‘wow, we never knew all of this existed,’” he says. He points to a wedding photo on the wall. “For instance, people have no idea that DeSoto was the marriage capital of America at one time. They did away with the three-day waiting period, they did away with blood tests, and people flocked here.”

The law lasted from the late 1940s to 1958, and Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13-year old cousin in Hernando during this time. Just feet away rests his traveling keyboard, its worn appearance contrasting with the peaceful flute in the background. Lewis has lived in Hernando since 1973 and donated the keyboard to the museum. “We’re very appreciative to Mr. Lewis,” Long says. “He was a young man with raw talent, and he really electrified things when he burst on to the musical scene in the 1950s.”

Across from it is the Nesbit mail desk from the 1920s with letters in its slots. Long pulls one out and reads the date.

“1908,” he says. “Isn’t that cool?” It’s one of many early twentieth century letters in the slots, and they’re all available to visitors. Anybody can pull one out and read “Aunt Rush’s” letter to “Adell,” or a thick, yellowed sermon on John 3:14.

It’s part of the museum’s mission, which is to get the public as close as possible to the exhibits. “We really do try to be a hands-on museum here,” Long says. “These are all precious things we ask people to be careful with them, but they need to be able to feel history in their own hands.”

A mother strolls through the museum doors with her two daughters, three and five, and they head straight to the veterans’ room, where you can flip a switch and hear Franklin Roosevelt deliver his famous “Infamy” speech through a 1940s 36

March 2019

radio. Long greets the family with enthusiasm and energy.

He then walks to the meeting room, which is often used for students, the Chamber of Commerce, and tour groups.

In the corner are two items not yet on display—Simplex film projectors from the 1930s, which were donated by Christian Brothers University. According to Long, they still function.

“They’re completely working now,” he says.

The museum also has an original Charlie Chaplin film print, and, in the future, Long hopes to have a special movie exhibit where people can move past an old ticket booth and step into a miniature theater. But he makes it clear things like this won’t be done tomorrow. “We’ve got so many wonderful things and eventually we’ll add on,” he says. “But again, it takes money.

It takes vision. And we have the vision, we’ve just got to raise some money to do the things we want to do. “ Entry to the museum is free, and it relies on donations, stipends and grants to stay open. Long admits it takes an effort to keep things going but thinks it’s worth it. “I have seen cities and counties that no longer cherish their history, and they lose that perspective,” he says. “if you can preserve your history, you can reach out, touch history and see that what is important to a community are those people that worked hard to make the communities that we have.”

At the doors, a couple in camouflage flannel wander in.

Long has a meeting coming up but makes sure they feel welcome. “You all make yourself at home,” he says. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate. We’ll help you.”

For more information on the museum or to make a donation, visit desotomuseum.org.

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- See & Do One event not to miss this month

15TH ANNUAL

Mudbug Bash

WHEN: Saturday, April 13 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Community Foundation - 315 Losher St. Hernando, MS 38632 Downtown Hernando’s crawfish-crackin’ bash returns for another fun-filled evening of libations and live music in support of a good cause. Mudbug Bash draws scores of crowds to the square in Hernando for a Southern-style event like no other. Since its inception 15 years ago, Mudbug Bash has raised nearly half a million dollars in support of Palmer Home for Children, a local nonprofit organization that aims provide a home for underprivileged children from across the region.

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March 2019

BEER FROM HERE WITH DERRIC CURRAN AND ALISTAIR CLARK Owners and Operators of The Mississippi Ale House

BLUFF CITY BLONDE Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland. As time has gone on, Americans have dyed everything they can get their hands on green in order to “seem” Irish.

So, why not us? We take Natchez’s Bluf City Blonde and dye it green to totally get in the “Irish” spirit. Bluff City Blonde is an American blonde ale, a straw-colored refreshing session ale with a light body and hint of hops. An easy drinking, highly enjoyable brew. A great introduction to craft beer for those who have yet to cross over! So get in the spirit, dye something green and look at the bottom of your glass for a pot of gold! Cheers BREW FACTS Brewery: Natchez Brewing Company Style: Blonde Ale ABV: 4.5% IBU: 13 Appearance: Green Where to find this beer: Mississippi Ale House

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March 2019

Demi Williams & Amber Lovell

OUT&ABOUT

Jessica Parnell, Amanda Thephasone, Sarah Hixon

$ Soup Sunday

$ Bridal Open House

$ Community Bank 20th Anniversary

$ Southaven Chamber Quarterly Luncheon

$ FCA Breakfast

$ Bluff City Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off 2019

$ Lunch & Learn: Google 101

$ Staxtacular

$ Southaven Chamber B2B PM

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Soup Sunday Youth Villages hosted its annual Soup Sunday event at FedExForum.

Now 30 years running, this annual event brings together more than 50 local restaurants and chefs to offer samples of a variety of soups, breads and desserts.

FEBRUARY 17

photos by FRANK CHIN

Kate Enright & Holly Ferguson

Jarvett Shipp & Chris Stevenson

Denise Ransom & Jemera Lloyd

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March 2019

Cameron Cole & Carrie Bell

Christina Garvins & Ethel Jones

Matthew Russell

Latoya Sharp

Kim Hill

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Community Bank 20th Anniversary Community Bank celebrated 20 years at its location on Highway 305 in Olive Branch.

FEBRUARY 21

photos by MARIANNE SCHURAWEL

Bobby, Sissy & Gil Earhart, Josh Newsom

Edgar Gomez & Marilyn Elam

Matt Crabtree, Bo Canton, Jake Schrimshe (1)

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March 2019

Brenda & Bob Ballard

Shane Carr & Lisa Hodges

Bailey Hensley & Heather Childres

Josh Newsom & JT Norton

Kim Sullivan & Karen Dickey

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FCA Breakfast The Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted its fifth annual fundraising breakfast at the Landers Center in Southaven, featuring former NFL coach Mike Singletary as the keynote speaker.

FEBRUARY 7

photos by MIKE LEE

Michael Lee & Tommy Eldred

Josh Groce & Kathy O'Neal

Brad Chism, Glenda & Lent Rice

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March 2019

Grant Stegall & Rhett Simmons

Donald Scott, Cecil Sowell, Lee Pierce

Austin Black

Dustin Brown & Brian Foster

Brandon Valle

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Lunch & Learn: Google 101 The Southaven Chamber of Commerce hosted its second Chamber 101 of 2019 at their headquarters just off Stateline Road. This free event offered a chance for locals to meet the faces behind the Southaven Chamber of Commerce and catch a glimpse of the benefits of membership.

JANUARY 30

photos by MIKE LEE

Olivia Craig & Karmen Kyle

Susan RIck Underwood & Brian Churchill ShirleyShedden, Dean

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March 2019

Vachenzia McKinney

Denise Silas

Nicole Martin

• EASTER PHOTOS • SPECIALS • GIVEAWAYS

Jacinda Norton & MIke Glenn

Josh Wilson

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Southaven Chamber B2B PM The Southaven Chamber of Commerce hosted a free after-hours networking event at Spitfire Acres geared toward building connections between local businesses.

FEBRUARY 7

photos by MIKE LEE

Cherie Nelson & Barbara Phillips

Hayley Perkins & Brandyn Skeen

Amy Coats, Patti Klaus & Rose Marable

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March 2019

Leah Ray & Bre Howard

Cathy Brooks

FIRST SECURITY BANK

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Bridal Open House Cedar Hill Farms in Hernando hosted a bridal open house welcoming scores of brides-to-be to visit the sprawling 120-acre estate and learn more about the amenities offered by one of the area’s most soughtafter wedding venues.

FEBRUARY 9

photos by MIKE LEE

Barb & Adam Cavuoti, Adam Patrick, Frank Cavuoti

Christy & Brittany McWhorter, Madison Harrell

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March 2019

Teresa, Daniel & Jack Brown

Barb & Ellie Cavuoti

Kim Hubbard, Kaylie Gustafson, Shannon Williams

Rejena Whiting & Primus Pamphile

Martha Foster & Meghan Troxel

Aaron Fredrick & Briana Love

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Southaven Chamber Quarterly Luncheon The Southaven Chamber of Commerce hosted its first quarterly luncheon of 2019, featuring keynote speakers Dr. Arie Szatkowski and Dr. Dharmesh Patel from Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto.

FEBRUARY 20

photos by MIKE LEE

Barbara Phillips, Rose Marable, Debbie King

Alisha Cummins & Corey Kelly

Sandra Burke & Angelia Williams

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March 2019

Leigh Anne Young & Mary McBride

Sukie Nemeth & Spring D. Lamb

Ted Bender & Stacy Dodd

Tom Johnson, Grant Roberts, Angie Quinley

Cecil Sowell & Olivia Craig

Vimmy & Vicky Blann

Wendell Davis & Chad Varner

Shirley Dean & Shelly Frazier

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Bluff City Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off 2019 Special Olympics of Greater Memphis hosted its annual Polar Bear Plunge and Chili Cook Off at Mud Island River Park in Memphis. This event featured chili tasting, live music, door prizes and a frosty dip in the Mississippi River for daring participants.

FEBRUARY 2

photos by FRANK CHIN

John Kemendo & Dave Kreiger

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Darnell Alexander & Willis Dorothy

Josh Taylor & Mark West

164th OSS,Williams Memphis Amanda & Krissi Williams

Blake Marcum & Emily Marshall

March 2019

Malisa Chism

Rusty Gates

Shamikia Adkins & Keshia Merritt

Rosanne & Eddie

Kim Inman & Jerrol Tate

Linda & Tom Conlee

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Staxtacular Widely regarded as the Soulsville Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, Staxtacular has raised over $1 million for the Stax Music Academy since its inception. This year’s theme of “Grit, Grind and Get Funky” was ushered in via a live performance from Stax Music Academy and the Bar-Kays.

FEBRUARY 8

photos by BRIAN ANDERSON

Becky McCabe & Jessa Gillespie

Angel House & Latrina Yates

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March 2019

Chris Pugh & Erin Hatley

Jordan Harding & Kimberly Hooper-Taylor

Harold & Dawn Graeter

Tarasha Payne & Fonda Malone

Denetra Gee & Iona Green

Reneka Hawkins & Stephanie Wright

Mary Knox & Alice White

Charlie & Marie Roland

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ANIMAL OF THE MONTH

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March 2019

THE MASKED BANDIT The Resourceful Raccoon

by RUSS THOMPSON

I know that the mascot of the Memphis NBA team is the Grizzlies, but let’s be honest, shouldn’t it be the raccoon?

After all, this animal is so plentiful and successful in the Mid-South and throughout its range, we should honor them for their grit and grind. In 1971, it was even designated as the wild animal symbol for the state of Tennessee. They live just about everywhere in the United States except the Rockies and the desert southwest. Raccoons can be found in a wide variety of habitats including swamp, forests, and prairies. In fact, this masked bandit can be seen scurrying through the streets of the city on any given night due to their nocturnal feeding habits.

Raccoons are successful because they aren’t picky about what they eat. They are just as comfortable at an all-youcan eat buffet for meat lovers, including insects, crayfish, fish, squirrels, rabbits, eggs, rodents, as they are eating a vegetarian diet of acorns, grapes, grasses, pecans, corn, blackberries, and persimmons. This diet of both plants and animals makes them omnivores. Often they can be seen scratching around in the dirt for their meals, which is how the Native Americans came up with their name “aroughcoune”, an Algonquin term, which means “he who scratches with their hands”. They have also been seen washing their food in streams, so we can add hygiene to the list of reasons why this animal should be admired.

Raccoons in our area weigh anywhere

from 12 to 25 pounds and are about 30 to 38 inches in length. Their distinctive masks and striped tails make them easily recognizable and give them the appearance of masked bandits. Anyone whose ever had their pet’s outdoor food raided by them knows they can live up to their appearances. Cut them some slack, though; they typically only live about two to three years in the wild.

They like to den in hollow logs, tree holes, caves and they may be responsible for that noise you hear in your attic on winter evenings. When early summer arrives, a momma raccoon may give birth to one to seven cubs. It’s not uncommon for them to start their lives high up in a tree hole where they can be safe from predators, and then move to the ground when the young are a little larger at about 8 to ten weeks old. In the northern part of their range, they will gorge on various foods to store up fat for the colder winters when they spend much of their time in the den, although they aren’t true hibernators. I would probably spend most of my time in the den if I lived up there.

So, the ubiquitous raccoon is highly successful and its numbers are increasing. However, it was once hunted for its water-repellent fur to such an extent, they had to impose a tax for hunting this species in order to prevent its extinction. Now, we can appreciate this plentiful bandit for its miraculous comeback. So go Memphis Raccoons! I mean, Grizzlies!

Russ Thompson was a science teacher for 14 years and has been a freelance writer since 2014 focusing mainly on science and nature writing as well as fiction. His science and teaching background has compelled him to take an interest in researching and writing about the natural world.

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