June 2013
STUFF PETS LOVE P age 76
Life After the Track Adoption agency finds new home for retired greyhounds
Creative Collective
A review of some new, some old, and some innovative artists throughout the MidSouth
Man’s
Best Friend Our issue dedicated to pets and the people who love them
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CONTENTS JUNE 2013 • VOLUME 7 • NO. 6
| FEATURES |
70 MAN’S BEST FRIEND
How a new breed of service dog is helping diabetics regain control of their life, one child and four paws at a time.
76 STUFF PETS LOVE
15 best new toys, dog beds, and treats for man’s best friend.
83 CREATIVE COLLECTIVE A review of some new, some old, and some innovative artists throughout the MidSouth.
| OUT & ABOUT | 47
9TH ANNUAL MUDBUG BASH
50
HEART HEALTHY SPRING FLING
51
DISHES FOR WISHES
52
STEAK 'N' BURGER DINNER
53
NW MS SPECIAL OLYMPICS
53
IMPACT MISSIONS “HEARTS CRY” EVENT
54
TROT FOR SPOT
55
TUNICA RIVERGATE FESTIVAL
56
DOUBLE DECKER ARTS FESTIVAL
58
FIRST ANNUAL HERO RIDE
58
CROSSFITTERS FOR KIDS
59
WHISPERING WOODS HALF MARATHON & 5K
60
WADFORDS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
60
GIRL’S NIGHT OUT AT UPSTAIRS CLOSET
61
MONTROSE UNDER THE MOONLIGHT
62
MUSIC FEST WEEKEND RECAP On the cover: Photo by DETRIC STANCIEL This page: Photo by FRANK WISNESKI
JUNE 2013
•
VOLUME 7
NO. 6
| DEPARTMENTS |
13 CAUSES
Life After the Track
CONTENTS 16
Local organization finds homes for greyhounds after racing career.
18 FOOD
Catfish You Can Count On Chatterbox restaurant serving up good food since 1986.
22 MUSIC
The Priestess of Punk Alicja Trout of River City Tanlines on garage rock, worldwide touring and motherhood.
26 ART
Sacred Art Studio Local entrepreneur Paul Perry speaks about art and overcoming stereotypes.
30 BOOKS
Summer Reading Relaxing books that are perfect for toting on vacation.
31 DRINK
Tea Time Three Variations on Southern Sweet Tea.
35 STYLE
95
22
Weekend Update The weekends are meant to be relaxing — relax in style.
96 PEOPLE 65
Sandy Williams How one woman’s passion for animal’s welfare led to the founding of Tunica Humane Society.
96 ENTERTAINING 95
A Surprise Soirée!
47
Pulling off a surprise party takes skill, organization, stealth and a lot of luck.
104 96 LIVE WELL
The Vein Game Easy steps to reduce the risk of varicose veins.
108 96 ON THE MONEY
Planning for Retirement Sufficient savings is only part of the equation.
IN EVERY ISSUE: 4 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
Editor’s Letter 6 | Contributors 8 | Calendar 10 | Reader Recipes 102
83
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 5
HALLIE MCKAY
CLICK | editor’s letter
Man’s Best Friend Admit it, our June cover already has you smiling. Just look at those big puppy-dog eyes and that cute little face gazing at you with unconditional affection. The dog on our cover this month is named Charlie. He is a six-month-old British Lab who works part-time in our office at CLICK. Admittedly, one of the perks of being editor of a magazine is that you can put your dog on the cover. The bond between humans and canines is ancient. While we provide them with shelter, food and a loving environment, they reciprocate their love by giving unyielding love and companionship. I take my dog to work nearly every day. Even on the busiest of days and latest of deadlines, he brings a ray of sunshine into whatever room he enters. He’s also an instant stress reducer. All I have to do is reach down and pat his furry little head and I’m taken out of whatever crisis I’m currently dealing with and reminded that everything is going to be ok. This month, we bring you stories about pets and the people who love them. Read “In the Trenches of Tunica,” page 65, for contributing editor and copy chief Tonya Thompson’s profile of Sandy Williams, Executive Director and co-founder of Tunica Humane Society—one of the largest no-kill shelters in the MidSouth. My favorite article this month, “Man’s Best Friend,” page 70, features our good friends at Wildrose Kennels and their relatively new Diabetic Alert Dog Program. Read about Molly Harris, an 11-year-old girl recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and her quest to meet her new “best friend.” Another favorite read of mine this month is on page 83. Read managing editor Casey Hilder’s feature, “Creative Collective,” and meet a fascinating slice of artists that run the gamut from young and old, established and new, traditional and modern, who are making an impact on the MidSouth’s art scene. Also in our June issue, your monthly dose of culture starts on page 13 with articles that include all that’s current in the food, art, literature, music, clothes and lifestyle of the MidSoutherner. Be sure to check out Samuel Praeger’s music feature on Alicja Trout of the River City Tanlines, page 22, suggestions for your summer reading list on page 30, and stylish ensembles to give your wardrobe an easy weekend update on page 35. On behalf of everyone at CLICK magazine, we wish you a happy and safe summer. And as always, don’t forget to write to us. Tell us what you like, what you don’t and what you would like to see more of in your magazine. We encourage feedback from our readers and always like the chance to respond to your comments. Keep Reading,
Hallie McKay
Write To Us: Email editor@myclickmag.com or send us a letter and at Click Magazine P.O. Box 100, Hernando, MS 38632. 6 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
CLICK People | Parties | Places Publisher Jonathan Pittman Associate Publisher Angie Pittman Editor in Chief Hallie Mckay Art Director Detric Stanciel Managing Editor Casey Hilder
COPY + FEATURES Copy Chief Tonya Thompson Events Editor Maggie Vinzant events@myclickmag.com Editorial Assistant Lindsee Gentry Contributing Writers: Lori Cullen, Madison Hill, Casey Hilder, Shana Raley-Lusk, Samuel Prager, L. Taylor Smith, Tonya Thompson, Natalie Troutt
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Designer Crace Alexander Designer Melissa Walker Contributing Photographers: Joey Brent, Greg Campbell, Michael Hensley, Casey Hilder, Mike Lee, Robert Long, Jessica Lumpkin, Sherry Ross, Detric Stanciel, Tonya Thompson, Maggie Vinzant, Frank Wisneski, Jamie Harmon
ADVERTISING Advertising Director Lyla McAlexander lylamc@phpublishingllc.com
Jamie Boland
jamie@phpublishingllc.com
Melanie Dupree
mdupree@desototimestribune.com
Jeannette Myers
jmyers@phpublishingllc.com
HOW TO REACH US 2445 Hwy 51 South | Hernando, MS 38632 website: myclickmag.com Customer Service/subscriptions: P: 662.429.6397 | F: 662.429.5229 ©2013 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 con stitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 662.429.6397 or subscribe online at myclickmag.com. Annual subscription rate: $32.95. Click Magazine is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Hallie McKay; Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632 or by email to editor@myclickmag.com.
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT Interested in having your next party featured in Click Magazine? Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@Myclickmag.com.
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 7
CLICK | contributors
J UNE 2013
Joey
Brent
Flip to page 56 & 57 to see photographer Joey Brent’s photos from last month’s Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford, MS. Originally from Nashville, Brent graduated from Memphis State University and has lived in Oxford for the past 24 years. When not behind the camera, Brent serves the University where he works as Assistant Athletics Director for Information Technology at the University of Mississippi. Brent’s work has also appeared in numerous publications across the region including the Clarion Ledger, Delta Magazine, Invitation Oxford, Game Time Rebels and The Oxford Eagle, just to name a few.
Tonya
Samuel
Prager
Born and bred in Memphis, Tennessee, Samuel Prager is a freelance arts and entertainment writer who specializes in band profiles and curiosity pieces. Since discovering his passion, he has written many articles covering concerts in Memphis and music-related scandals. He has covered the Inaugural Induction of the Memphis Music Hall of fame, and interviewed and photographed a variety of southern musicians including Otis Redding III, Muck Sticky and ZZ Top. Other than writing, Prager enjoys performing under alter-ego stage name Alias ManCub, dining at CKs Coffee Shop and listening to 91.7 the Jazz Lover. Along with Jazz, Prager’s musical tastes include acoustic pop, classic rock and pop-punk. Read his story “The world-weary Priestess of Punk” on page 22.
Thompson
A Southern-born writer, Thompson has spent most of her life between Nashville and the Mississippi Delta. Now, a contributing editor for Click magazine, Thompson writes frequently on motorcycling and life in the South. Originally from Clarksville, Tennessee, Thompson is also the owner of The Tenth Muse — a local ghostwriting and editing service (tenthmusememphis.com). In her spare time, she enjoys vintage motorcycling and traveling with her husband and children. This month, she interviews Paul Perry of Sacred Art Studio. Read her story on page 26 of this month’s issue.
Hope Newsom
Michelle Jaime
Lindsee
Gentry
A native of the MidSouth and rising senior at the University of Alabama, Lindsee Gentry joins us this summer as a contributing writer and her new role as assistant to the editor. Studying journalism with minors in Spanish and liberal arts, she recently returned from Spain and Portugal where she worked as the chief copy editor, staff writer and designer for Alpine Living magazine. Gentry will graduate in May 2014 and hopes to continue her work in the magazine industry. Read her story in this month’s issue “Life After The Track” on page 32.
8 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
Owners and lead designers of Social Butterflies, LLC, Hope and Newsom have a combined 20 years of experience in the wedding and special events industry. Check out their latest party on page 95, “A Surprise Soirée,” for some great ideas at your next gathering. Together, Hope and Newsom have planned numerous notable events including celebrity weddings, charity galas and Super Sweet 16s for the hit MTV show. To see more of their work, visit sb-events.com
Shana Raley
Lusk
A lifelong reader and writer, Shana Raley-Lusk is a freelance writer and book reviewer with a special focus on Southern literature. A native of East Tennessee, Shana has a unique and varied background in fine arts, interior design, creative writing and literature. She holds an English degree with a concentration in literature from The University of Tennessee Knoxville and writes for a number of publications on a range of topics. This month, Lusk uncovers some great books for the beach bag on page 30, “Summer Reads.” Lusk lives in the greater Knoxville area with her husband and their two young sons.
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 9
CLICK CLICK | | dining calendar out
SOCIAL
JUNE 2013 Events SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
All month long “SUNSET ON THE SQUARE” SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
NESBIT BLUEBERRY PLANTATION PICK-UR-OWN 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. nesBiT BLueBerry pLanTaTion, 690 BanksTon rd., 662.449.2839, nesBiTBLueBerry.com
2
9
THE MEN
each Thursday 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. hernando hisToric square 662.429.9055
3
fridays, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. oLive Branch oLd Towne 662.393.0888
RED HOT SUMMER MUSIC IN 5 COOPER-YOUNG
8 p.m. proud Larry’s 211 s. Lamar BLvd., oxford, ms
NATIONAL ICED
ROCKIN’ ON THE ROOST SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
6:30 p.m.
cooper & young ave., memphis
10
11
12
TEA DAY FATHER’S DAY
16
17
NOW PLAYING
“SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN”
June 7 - 30, 8:00 p.m., $10 - $28 TheaTre memphis 901.682.8323
“INTO THE WOODS”
SPIRIT OF SRVS KICK-OFF
1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. pLayhouse on The square 901.312.6801
10 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
23
24
presenTed By kudzu pLayhouse June 7- 16, $7-$12 hernando performing arTs cenTer 662.429.4170
“THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE”
presenTed By desoTo famiLy TheaTre June 21- 30, $20-$14 friday & saTurday 7:00 p.m.; saTurday & sunday 2:00 p.m. Landers cenTer TheaTre 662.470.2131
CLICK | calendar
AGENDA THURSDAY
FRIDAY
ur Submit Yo Event:
m lickmag.co events@myc
SATURDAY
>>
LIVE AT THE GARDEN: TONY BENNETT
1
6:30 - 11:00 P.M.
memphis BoTanic garden
THE DELTA - EVERYTHING SOUTHERN!
6
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. michaeL d. rose TheaTre The universiTy of memphis
7
HERNANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS “DIGGING THE MUSIC”
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
HARBORTOWN 5K
TODD SNIDER WITH AMANDA SHIRES
8:00 p.m., ages: 21+ goLd sTrike casino resorT, Tunica
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. 370 wesT commerce sT., hernando
8:00 p.m. proud Larry’s 211 s. Lamar BLvd., oxford
BenefiTing The Boys and girLs cLuB 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m., $10 - $30 harBor Town square, memphis
LITERATINI
13
presenTed By LiTeracy midsouTh 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The BookseLLers aT LaureLwood memphis, 520.239.6933
MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL
14
sam’s Town resorT, Tunica memphisfiLmfesTivaL.com
20
LITTLE BIG TOWN
8
LIVE AT THE GARDEN: EARTH, WIND & FIRE
15
6:30 - 11:00 p.m. memphis BoTanic garden
22
21
8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. BLuesviLLe horseshoe casino, Tunica
1ST ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL
27 PICNIC AND PARADE AROUND THE SQUARE 28 6:30 p.m. hernando courThouse square
NORTH MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY PICNIC BLUES FESTIVAL
29
10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. LaTimer Lakes park, horn Lake
ST. JUDE RED CARPET BASH
7:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. hoLLywood casino, Tunica
30
hwy 7 BeTTy davis BBq, waTerford ms
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 11
12 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
UP FRONT Arts, Culture and Personalities
Life After The Track Story by LINDSEE GENTRY Photos by MICHAEL HENSLEY
Local organization finds homes for greyhounds after racing career
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 13
CLICK | up front
G
Gliding around the track at roughly 40 miles per hour, the greyhound’s elegance is unmistakable. Week after week, breeders train the dogs, cultivating their inherent racing ability. Fans gather to enjoy the physicality of the animals and the spectacle itself. But after three to five years of this high-speed lifestyle, the racers retire to their kennels and begin a new life, learning to become man’s best friend. Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option based in West Memphis works with Southland Greyhound Park to facilitate the so-called retirement of the track stars. The organization is funded by the Park to ensure that each greyhound finds life after the track. Though MSGAO receives funding from the Park, they also hold fundraisers to help care for the dogs and raise awareness for greyhound adoption, according to Jeff Brasher, who has adopted two greyhounds from the organization. From a spa day aimed at pampering the pups to meet and greets with the stars themselves, MSGAO works endlessly to showcase the dogs’ gentle temperament to those in search of a furry addition to the family. For $250, families can adopt a crate-
14 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
trained, spayed or neutered and vaccinated greyhound. “It’s like buying a Ferrari,” Brasher says. “They are quiet animals, don’t slobber, aren’t smelly like other dogs, and they sleep all day.” The traits of greyhounds may seem counterintuitive at first, Brasher says, but the pets have been trained well and are much smarter than people may first assess. Working with many dogs, MSGAO has taught the dogs to operate nearly like humans, eating and relieving themselves at specific times of the day. Each day at 3 p.m., the dogs respond to the cleverly named “Happy Hour” call and feast on their promised snack. To this day, Brasher says his dogs rejoice when “Happy Hour” arrives. While the saying declares that you can’t teach an old dog a new trick, Brasher thinks that statement doesn’t apply to greyhounds. He was able to teach his girls fun tricks while skipping the messy and frustrating task that puppy training can be. “Some people are looking for a companion but don’t have the patience to train it,” he says. “They make a good fit.” Surprisingly the high-energy pups, though majestic in stature, don’t have to occupy large amounts of space. Because of their past crate training and laid-back personality, greyhounds can
find happiness in an apartment. The 50 to 80 pound dogs are really just “big couch potatoes” according to Brasher. “They’ve evolved the ability to store up energy all day long; cheetahs do the same thing,” he says. “About once a day, they expend that energy in about two minutes so it’s good to have a place for them to run.” Greyhounds may love racing and playing outdoors, but they are inside pets. Having been bred for thousands of years to race and hunt, the breed’s skin is thin to expel heat and keep them moving, much like marathoners. Therefore owners should expect the large but lazy dogs to live indoors like another family member. The incorporation of these pets may seem daunting, even more so because of their background, but the dogs adapt rather quickly, Brasher says. In most cases, the dogs assimilate well with both humans and other pets. MSGAO assists future owners by testing the dogs with children, dogs and cats before they are adopted. The testing usually proves the animals harmless but owners must bear in mind the dogs’ heritage as sighthounds. That is, because of their speed, the dogs hunt by sight and can sometimes be dangerous around small
CLICK | up front
“
The dogs have tattoos of their birth date and serial number. You can track them like a car vending number, see races they’ve won, their lineage and other cool things.
”
animals. This characteristic also requires owners to maintain the greyhounds on a leash unless within an enclosed area. “They can see up to half a mile away.” Brasher says. “They hunt by sight and can become fixated on a small object, and take off.” Covering up to a half mile at 40 miles per hour, the dogs can soon become lost or in danger of being hit by a car if not on a leash. This and other responses by greyhounds prove their inherent racing ability, contrary to the stigma that typically accompanies racing of any species, Brasher says. “You can spend five minutes with the animals and see they love to race,” he says. “They’re extremely fast and physically fit to race.”
The “need for speed,” as it may be described, can be traced through their lineage and has been witnessed firsthand by owners like Brasher. He describes an event held at the track for adopted greyhounds and their owners. As guests enjoyed a white-tablecloth dinner, the pets lay quietly at the feet of their owners until they heard a familiar sound — the horn. At the horn, which signals the start of the race, the dogs’ ears perked up in anticipation and Brasher’s dog, Jersey, dragged him toward the gate. “You can’t make a greyhound race,” he says. “They want to.” And just as great as the dogs’ desire to race is the desire of the breeders for the dogs’ success. The race dogs, themselves,
cost breeders $25,000 or more, not including supplies, food and other fees. “They have so much time and money tied up in it,” Brasher explains. “They aren’t mistreating the animals.” Further, according to Brasher, every track has an affiliated adoption agency for retired dogs. Because breeders must be licensed to own the dogs, outlets such as MSGAO are essential in allowing non-breeders to purchase them after the dogs’ careers end. “Each dog must be licensed and registered,” he says. “The dogs have tattoos of their birth date and serial number. You can track them like a car vending number, see races they’ve won, their lineage and other cool things.” Brasher and MSGAO believe there are numerous “cool things” about adopting a retired greyhound, even if prospective owners are not interested in the races. “We were never as interested in the racing as much as they’re just good dogs,” he says. People interested in adopting their own majestic, endearing “couch potato” can find more information at midsouthgreyhound. com.
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 15
CLICK | up front
16 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 17
CLICK | up front
food
Catfish You Can Count On Chatterbox Restaurant in Ingrams Mill, Mississippi has been satisfying DeSoto County’s catfish craving for over 25 years
B
Story by NATALIE TROUTT
Being a Southerner means many things. One of those things is knowing good catfish when you taste it and Brenda Hurt, operator of Chatterbox Restaurant in Ingrams Mill, Mississippi, knows good catfish. Chatterbox was originally opened 25 years ago by Brenda’s inlaws at the time, Rudolph and Jane Bumpous. The Bumpouses owned a small piece of land with a pond on it. All of the wood for the restaurant was collected from that land and was cut in the sawmill that Rudolph owned. Chatterbox was built right on the edge of the pond and was originally single dining room and a kitchen. Additions were made over the years and today, the restaurant is comprised of one large dining room, a smaller dining room, an event room and a small gift shop that contains
18 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
| Photos by CASEY HILDER
items crafted by Brenda’s mother, as well as other locals. The Bumpouses owned the restaurant that was known for its delicious catfish for eight years. Brenda came into the mix when she married the Bumpouses' son, Don. When Jane and Rudolph’s health began to fail, they decided to sell the restaurant. They wanted to keep it in the family, so they offered it to Brenda and Don. Other than raising children, Brenda had never worked a day in her life. Although she was wary, they decided to do it. “How do you follow in your mother-in-law’s footsteps? It was a lot of pressure,” she says. Brenda spent three weeks mastering all of her mother-inlaw’s recipes and learning everything about Chatterbox. In July of 1995, she took over, and despite her worry, the restaurant
CLICK | up front
continued to do well under Brenda’s ownership. Several years into their new adventure, however, Don and Brenda divorced. Brenda kept the restaurant and carried on with the business. Eventually, however, the stress of running the restaurant alone got to her. One day, while driving home, Brenda called her real estate agent friend, Janna Gordon, to discuss the possibility of selling Chatterbox. Two weeks later, Gordon called back and said that she and her husband Dan would like to buy the restaurant. “We had eaten there for 10 years. The food was great, the atmosphere was great. To us, it was a no-brainer,” Janna says. Eight years later, Chatterbox is a smooth operation. The Gordons have a strictly financial role, while Brenda still runs the restaurant and bakes all of the desserts. “A lot of people thought that since I sold it that I’m not here but I’ve never left,” Brenda says. She also says that she has a wonderful working relationship with the Gordons and she
enjoys running the place without all of the financial pressure. Another thing that she is grateful for that came out of the sale of the restaurant was her ability to pay off the college debt that her three sons — Keegan, Kaleb and Kody — had accrued. The boys’ degrees are what Brenda is most proud of. “I so badly wanted all of them to have a college degree and now all three of them do. That’s probably my biggest accomplishment,” Brenda says, smiling from ear to ear. Brenda, who remarried in 2001 to Dennis Hurt and lives less than a mile from the restaurant, is a self-proclaimed “people person” and relishes the chance to interact with customers. She has a wry sense of humor and does not mind the ribbing she sometimes gets from myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 19
CLICK | up front
people after they have become acquainted with her. “People say, ‘Chatterbox… was it named after you?’” Brenda says with a laugh. She has been told that she runs the business like a mother. She employs kids that she knows really need the money and she truly cares about her employees’ lives, as well as those of her customers. The last eight years since the Gordons purchased Chatterbox have not been all carefree, however. Brenda says things got scary when the economy took a dip back in 2004-2005. Although business has begun to pick up again, Brenda says that it is not as booming as it once was. “There used to be nothing in Olive Branch, nothing in Hernando. Now, everything has grown up around us and people have forgotten about us or they think we’ve closed,” Brenda says. She also says that when the catfish craze happened between 1985 and 1995, everyone wanted to open a catfish place. Now, most of those places have closed and Chatterbox Restaurant is one of the only remaining catfish joints in DeSoto County. Everything that is served at the restaurant is made from scratch, including the caramel for the caramel pie that is among the 11 desserts that are offered. Menu staples are chicken, shrimp, steak, and of course
“How do you follow in your mother-in-law’s footsteps? It was a lot of pressure” said Brenda
20 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
catfish, which they get from Earl Lakes, a private catfish farmer in Tunica. Over the years, Brenda has added things such as salads (Chatterbox offers a variety — everything from grilled chicken salad to catfish salad), vegetables, blackened catfish and whole catfish to the menu. In the summer, Brenda has even been known to sell homemade
ice cream to help beat the heat. Although Brenda and her family have been eating Chatterbox food for many years, they have yet to tire of it. “There’s nothing in here that we have that I don’t eat. We like our food,” Brenda says. Brenda’s youngest son, Kody, who works in the restaurant along with various other family members, adds that it is not just the food that draws people. “It’s not just a restaurant. We know all of our customers. It’s kind of a social gathering as much as it is a restaurant,” he says. Loyal patrons Chris and Danita Anderson have not only been coming to Chatterbox for years — their daughters, Chasity and Brianna, also work there. Danita believes there is no better place to go when you are craving fish or a tasty homemade dessert. “They have the best catfish around and they also have the best desserts. My favorite is the Hummingbird cake,” Anderson says. Longtime employee Jimmy Vanlandingham, who has been with the restaurant since 1995, also has a deep appreciation for the eatery. “I love working here. I eat the food here every week and I love the people,” Vanlandingham says. Chatterbox Restaurant, in business for 26 years this July, is open Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to visit DeSoto County’s best-kept secret!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT TICKETMASTER.COM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 901-636-4107.
myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 21
CLICK CLICK| up | food front
music
The Priestess of Punk By SAMUEL PRAGER
Hard-rocking River City Tanlines frontwoman Alicja Trout on garage rock, worldwide touring and motherhood
F
For the past 17 years, punk rocker Alicja Trout has been playing music all around the globe. From the Arctic Circle town of Tromsø to the brothels of Hamburg, Trout’s distorted tones and raw energy have shaken the walls of some of the world’s most intriguing cities, as well as the rebellious hearts of the counter-culture youth. It all started when Trout was in her early teens, playing simple tunes with basic chords and trying to feel out REM songs “in her own way.” It was around then when the future garage rock goddess would stumble upon MTV — which at the time, actually played music — and find herself infatuated with the sounds of the counter-cultureyouth. “MTV used to play Blondie, the Ramones and Billy Idol, which eventually led me to
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Gen X. It even seemed like early U2, a band I now can’t stand, was a gateway to something like Sex Pistols or Dead Kennedys,” Trout says. “Then, as MTV became more ‘metal,’ it led to Sonic Youth and that band is a gateway in time to 70s punk.” When Trout was around 21, she got a four-track and started recording songs with layers, as well as writing her own lyrics. Before the world knew it, Trout was playing with the apocalypse-themed band,Lost Sounds. “It just was the style of music in my ability. I was really attracted to garagerock because green mohawks and spikes were never my style, but I liked sarcasm and weirdness and hate in music,” Trout says.“It was paying homage to rock ‘n’ roll’s original inspiration while main-
stream music was becoming more and more a very controlled, corporate industry. It was not an intentional contradiction but a natural one.” One of Trout’s most recent musical outlets, the River City Tanlines, is a three-piece rock ‘n’ roll band fronted by Trout that has been playing in the Bluff City and beyond for more than eight years. “The band started with a different lineup but the point was to have a simple band, no keyboards and easy songs. The first incarnations included Matthew from Bare Wires/Warm Soda; Patrick, who had played bass in Lost Sounds; and Lori, who I played with in the Ultracats,” Trout says. “When I got together with Terrence and Bubba, the current lineup, we sounded heavier and found our sound.”
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Trout has toured with her bands all around the world, showcasing their, as well as her own, raw talents everywhere from the golden West Coast of the U.S. to Spain’s shining capital, Madrid, to the alwaysfreezing Arctic Circle and many other cities. “Music has allowed me to travel to wonderful places and meet wonderful people,” Trout says. Trout recalls one her more memorable string of gigs while touring with one of her earlier bands, Lost Sounds. Trout and her band played community centers throughoutthe Central European countries, Slovenia and Croatia, which at the time were recovering from revolutions of their own. “We were playing to kids that had grown up during a revolution; it felt odd to play to them because all our songs were about paranoia and conspiracy. I felt like, ‘What do I know about these things compared to these kids?’”reminisces Trout. Though Trout has traveled across the continents, she still is an active Memphis musician and was one of the handful of native Memphians to play this year’s Beale Street Music Festival. She has also been featured on MTV’s “5$ Cover,” which highlights some of Memphis’s most talented local musicians. “I like Memphis. I was very intrigued by its musical history involving Sun Records and the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll,” says Trout. “But I still wish when I was seven my family had moved to Los Angeles or Santa Cruz or San Francisco or something instead of Memphis.” Trout’s previous band, Lost Sounds, which put out four albums and a handful of limited releases before disbanding in 2005, was one of her most well-known groups in the garage rock world. It also featured Goner legend and late Memphian, Jay Reatard. “Jay was incredible to play with because of his sheer talent, in both the songs and the charisma he brought to rehearsals and shows,” says Trout. “We were a productive team, though he was explosive and could be scary at times. We were always interested in recording and making new stuff.” Trout has been a mother since 2007 and has two children, the oldest Valentine and newborn Violet, to whom Trout gave birth just a few short weeks before taking the stage at the Memphis in May Music Festival. They are her two real-life “Flying-V’s,” she jokes, referencing her signature 1980 Gibson “Flying V” guitar.
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“
Being a woman in rock ‘n’ roll is an ‘old hat’ by now, but being a mom gave me a new look at myself and my music. “Being a woman in rock ‘n’ roll is an ‘old hat’ by now, but being a mom gave me a new look at myself and my music. Do I want to talk about hate, vengeance or being immature anymore?” Trout asks.“I’ve been a parent for almost six years now and I’ve had to be responsible; I’ve had to be a disciplinarian and shop at Target, buying into consumerism and capitalism.” Trout says it took her quite some time to write the latest batch of River City Tanline songs since being a mother and having a change in agenda. But in the meantime, she says her more “sentimental songs” have gone to her other band, Mouserocket. “Becoming a parent, you lose one identity and gain another, but it takes a while to find the new one. You meet new people through your child and you lose old friends since you can’t 24 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
”
stay out at bars and parties or tour like you did before. The people who were your friends forget you and the new ones have no idea of your old identity. It’s like you are a popular kid at school and your parents have to move and suddenly you’re a ‘nobody’ at a new school,” Trout says about motherhood. With two children and a lifetime’s worth of other musical projects, Trout continues pushing forward with her current band, the River City Tanlines, by continuing to tour when able and making new music for years to come. “I plan on doing sort of the same as I have…a few tours when I can, an album here or there. But once you have kids, your creative pace is slower no matter how many great ideas you are still having,” says Trout.
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art
Beyond The Ink
W
Local entrepreneur Paul Perry speaks about art and overcoming stereotypes Story by TONYA L. THOMPSON
When entering the door of Sacred Art Studio in Horn Lake, Mississippi, the clichés that many people associate with tattoo shops are oddly absent. There are no offensive slogans hanging from cheap plaques or half-drunken clients stumbling around with flasks. Instead, golden, earth-toned walls, accented with a magnificent wood carving by Bubba Black of Bubba Black Originals encapsulate an elegant and warm atmosphere, while the smell of coffee from the adjacent Holy Ground Coffee Shop invites visitors to taste the award-winning brews served behind the hand-carved mahogany bar. Behind the front reception counter made of rustic knotty alder, the shop’s 32-year old owner, Paul Perry, speaks with the relaxed professionalism of a man who never meets a stranger. “I’m here all the time so I want to make it feel like home and I want people to feel comfortable when they come here,” says Perry. “We try to treat everyone nice and make them feel at home…to make it more like a 5-star art studio, where everyone is welcome.” If the sentiment of “home” is the intent of the place, it’s a successful ambition. As last year’s winner of the DeSoto Times Tribune’s award for best coffee house in DeSoto County, Sacred Art’s Holy Ground Coffee Pub feels more like
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| Photos by CASEY HILDER
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a superbly furnished European salon than an adjacent business to a tattoo and piercing studio. Heavy mahogany doors that were refinished by Paul, Old Europe-styled lighting, and a carved fireplace mantle complement free Wi-Fi, as vegan delicacies and espresso drinks are served from behind cabinetry hand built by Perry’s close friend, Chris Blankenship. The pub’s staging area features weekend performances by local and traveling musicians from a variety of genres — from acoustic to rap to spoken word — and the walls are adorned by pieces created by local artists who want to showcase their work. The room is part of the studio’s effort to bring together the area’s art community in a welcoming, neutral space. “We opened up the coffee shop last April and we have openmic night every Friday night,” says Perry. “We have local artists bring in their art and anyone who wants to perform here or hang their art here can contact us through our website or on Facebook.” Throughout the rest of the studio, some of Paul’s original artwork lines the walls, along with pieces featuring a plethora of topics, ranging from the Virgin Mary to pen-and-ink skateboard art. Then, there’s the traditional Normal Rockwell Americana print, The Tattooist — a common thread that connects all tattoo artists, particularly those fascinated with the evolution of the tattoo in rural America, a concept that is especially important to Perry’s own experience in the industry. “I used to own a shop in Memphis,” says Perry, who now lives with his wife and three boys in Southaven. “I was born and raised there but I moved down this way and I like it so much better. Now, I stay here because my clientele here keeps coming back to me. Even if I were to take this business and move it across the street, I still wouldn’t do as well as I do here.” When asked if he believed the shop would attract more clients if it were in different location within a larger city, Paul agreed that it might, but was quick to state his priorities as an entrepreneur. “Big cities would be the key, but with shuffling kids, and with my family here and my wife’s family here…well, that answered the question for me right there.” Since the studio features custom tat-
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too design work, few clients come in for tattoo flash (commonly chosen tattoo replications, such as butterflies and skulls) and almost everyone wants an original, handdrawn piece from one of the studio’s five artists. “We specialize in custom art and our clients are not the traditional clients you’d expect to see,” says Perry. “We get a lot of the older crowd…judges, attorneys, ambulance drivers, paramedics, firefighters, cops, preachers. A good friend of mine is a preacher who married my wife and I. I tattooed him.” Despite its location in Horn Lake, the shop draws clients from as far as Hollywood, California. “When the Freak Show Deluxe troupe comes through for the Delta Fair, Murrugun ‘The Mystic’ always comes to me for tattoo work,” says Perry. “A lot of poker players traveling through Tunica come here, as well, and we have clients from Nashville, Memphis, Helena, Grenada, Jackson…really, from all over the area.” Perry has also contributed his own art in media outside of tattooing—most notably on a Les Paul guitar that was auctioned off for $2,500 at the Blues Ball benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I put a bunch of tattoo designs on it and then took a wood burning stick and carved designs,” he says. “Then, I painted over everything with rock paint and created the illusion of an archeologist busting through rock. It ended up looking like a stone guitar that had been busted open and you can see the tattoos behind it.” As for his tattoo work, he is especially proud of a custom piece that is ongoing
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for a close friend. “It’s a leg sleeve that I’ve worked on for a long time for a friend who is really into hot rods,” says Perry. “Beyond that, I really enjoy doing tattoos that are script. I train myself in script lettering and I draw it directly on the skin, going with the flow of the body.” As for Perry’s future plans, he hopes to continue adding to the studio’s offerings and services. “I’m always searching for new artists and apprentices,” he says, “and I’m taking tattoo removal classes in the near future so we can do that here, as well. That way, if someone comes in and has an older tattoo that they don’t like, I can lighten it up a bit before I work on them.” For more information about Sacred Art Studio, visit the shop’s Facebook page or website at (662.tattoo.com). For inquiries
“We try to treat everyone nice and make them feel at home…to make it more like a 5-star art studio, where everyone is welcome.” concerning performing or showcasing artwork at the Holy Ground Coffee Pub, contact Paul at pure13tattoostudio@gmail. com.
YIntensifi ou . . . ed. William L. Hickerson, MD Roberto Lachica, MD Edward Luce, MD
Robert D. Wallace, MD
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books
Summer Reads
A Selection of good books to tote around all season long
F
For as long as I can remember, I have always associated the long, hot summer days with reading. Maybe it is because when I was a child, my mother would use our summer breaks as the ideal opportunity for weekly pilgrimages to the public library. My brother and I would take great joy in combing through the bookshelves in the children’s area to find the perfect selections. His little arms were typically loaded down with hardback books about snakes or fossils. My stack, quite to the contrary, would be full of fantasy and different worlds. Destined to be a lover of novels, I started escaping the real world through the power of the almighty pen quite early. Or perhaps my many memories of stretching out in the Southern sunshine with a paperback have kindled the asso30 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
By SHANA RALEY-LUSK
ciation. I have earned quite a number of sunburns in that fashion over the years. One sweltering year during grade school, I burned through the Anne of Green Gables series in a matter of a few weeks. And that’s not to mention the fact that, to this day, my beach bag is never complete without at least a couple of books stashed inside. Who is to say where the connection originates. In any case, it seems that the scorching dog days beg to be filled with something calm and relaxing to pass the time. Nothing can better fit that bill than a captivating new read. So take your pick and settle in with one of these charming new novels. You may just find yourself thinking of books when the summer heat rolls in next time, too.
The End of the Point by Elizabeth Graver: A multi-generational tale set from 19421999 on Ashaunt Point, this novel explores themes of class and privilege, love and war, familial permanence and more. At the onset, we find the Porter family met with the challenges and excitement of sharing their beloved Point with the U.S. Army during the war. As the tale progresses, the eldest sister, Helen, and her adventures come to the forefront. Throughout her travels and experiences, her summer home at Ashaunt Point proves to be the anchor in the storm of her tempestuous life. By the conclusion of the novel, we find the Porter family much changed and Helen battling a deadly illness. At once evocative and tender, The End of the Point is a powerful and intricately woven tale of family and home.
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The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood: If it is mystery and romance that you prefer, this novel is an ideal choice. Exploring the expectations of marriage and love, the roles of women, and the emotions of grief and regret, The Obituary Writer is an interesting cocktail both thematically and stylistically. Two stories are unfolding simultaneously in this well-crafted novel. First, there is the story of Claire, a young upper-middle-class mother who is infatuated with the glamor of Jackie Kennedy, as well as the entire Kennedy family. Claire’s story is interposed with that of Vivien Lowe, an obituary writer who clings to the eternal hope of finding her lost love. It is the unexpected connection between the two that makes all the difference in the end.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger: Set in the summer of 1961, Ordinary Grace is a bit of a departure for William Kent Krueger, who is known for his critically acclaimed Cork O’Connor series. While the elements of mystery are indeed present in this book, it is not a true crime novel. At the center of the action is Frank, an adolescent boy on the precipice of manhood. During this fateful summer, Frank experiences much loss and finds himself in a new world of secrets and lies. Told from Frank’s perspective forty years after that unfortunate summer, this novel will move you and change the way you view the world around you. A coming-of-age tale of tragedy, Ordinary Grace ultimately juxtaposes loss with mercy in fresh and unexpected ways. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight: A tale of elaborate mystery intertwined with the tenderness of a mother’s love, Reconstructing Amelia exudes suspense at every turn. This book explores parent/child relationship and the new reality of teen life in the age of social networking. When Kate’s over-achieving daughter, Amelia, supposedly jumps to her death at the exclusive private school that she attends, Kate is left with many questions. But soon, her questions turn to a search for the truth when she receives an anonymous text about what really happened. On her quest for answers and closure, Kate uncovers the truth piece by piece, clue by clue. Gripping and tragic, Reconstructing Amelia is a true page turner. You will not be able to stop reading until the slowly evolving mystery is solved at last. myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 31
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in the mix
I
Tea Time
A summer thirst-quencher, the Southern way. Story by L. TAYLOR SMITH
If there’s one thing Southerners know, it’s tea. With plenty of muggy days ahead, it’s the perfect time to stretch out on a lawn chair with a pitcher of the secret family recipe for sweet tea (hint: lots of sugar and plenty of ice.) But if you’re looking to let loose, these recipes put tangy twists on an old favorite. BLACKBERRYSWEET TEA — Sweet tea gets even sweeter with the addition of juicy blackberries. Whip up a pitcher-full to complement a family brunch or to relish all on your own. To get the most out of this recipe, head to the nearest farmers market and pick up fresh, local blackberries. Their season peaks in late summer but blackberry bushes are already brimming with berries. Freeze extra blackberries and use them instead of ice cubes to keep your drink cool without watering it down. Don’t forget to fish them out of the glass when you’ve finished your tea!
BLACKTEASANGRIA — This thirst-quenching refreshment includes just about everything besides the kitchen sink. Although sangria is traditionally an alcoholic drink, this version is alcohol-free. “Sangria” stems from the Spanish word for “blood,” but the macabre name applies only to the punch’s deep red color. In this delectable drink, fragrant black tea is paired with divinely sweet fruits like plump raspberries, ripe strawberries and tangy oranges. To add some extra flavor and color, leave the sliced oranges, lemons and limes in the pitcher. They’ll soak up the black tea and make a great snack for later.
Ingredients • Three cups fresh or frozen blackberries, thawed • 1 1/4 cups sugar • One tablespoon chopped fresh mint • Pinch of baking soda • Four cups boiling water • Two family-size black tea bags • 2 1/2 cups cold water
Ingredients • Two cups boiling water • Two black tea bags • 1/2 cup sugar • Three cups pomegranate juice • One cup freshly squeezed orange juice • One orange, sliced into thin rounds • One lemon, sliced into thin rounds • One lime, sliced into thin rounds • One apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks • One cup of carbonated water
Directions 1. Combine blackberries and sugar in a large container and crush with a wooden spoon. 2. Stir in mint and baking soda. 3. Pour four cups of boiling water over tea bags; cover and steep five minutes. Discard tea bags. 4. Pour tea over blackberry mixture; let stand at room temperature for one hour. Pour tea through a wire-mesh strainer into a large pitcher and throw away the solids. Add 2 1/2 cups cold water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and put in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.
Directions 1. Pour boiling water over tea bags and cinnamon sticks and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and stir in sugar to dissolve. 2. In a large jar or pitcher, combine tea, pomegranate juice, orange juice, orange, lemon, lime and apple. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and preferably overnight. 3. Just before serving, stir in carbonated water. Serve in glasses over ice.
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KIWIGREENTEA – One glass of this delectable concoction is filled to the brim with antioxidants; the kiwi adds Vitamin A and E, while the flavonoids in green tea can improve cardiovascular health and increase metabolism. Together they create a restorative that’ll not only keep you healthy but will also stave off even the most serious case of the vapors. Not to mention that the tropical taste will transport you to sandy beaches without the expensive plane ticket. Ripe kiwifruits are soft and the skin will give to gentle pressure, so be sure to check before leaving the grocery store. Ingredients • Three Kiwifruit (peeled) • 1/2 lemon (sliced) • One tablespoon Caster Sugar • One green tea bag • Two cups of water Directions 1. Combine lemon slices and tea bag in large heatproof bowl/jug. 2. Boil water; let the water cool for about a minute before pouring over the lemon slices and tea bag. 3. Let the tea steep for five minutes and juice the kiwifruits with a juice extractor. 4. Add kiwifruit juice and sugar to the lemon green tea. Stir until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool, then chill. 5. Serve chilled with ice cubes; garnish with kiwi and lemon slices. myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 33
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STYLE News, Trends and Things to Wear
WEEKEND
UPDATE
Easy, pulled-together pieces for any summer occasion. Shirt, $54,Jackibels Shorts, $72, Upstairs Closet Bracelet, $18, Jackibel's Sunglasses, $16, Center Stage Purse, $59, Keepsakes by Melony Flats, $80, Piperlime.com
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at the
BALLPARK
summer
CONCERT
saturday
BARBECUE
Shirt, $29, Center Stage Shorts, $39, Center Stage Spike Bracelet, $35, Pink Zinnia Bracelet, $18, Jackibels Necklace, $44, Bradlee Sloan Booties, $150, Piperlime.com
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Watch, $25, Turkoyz Earrings, $23, Keepsakes by Melony Scarf, $16, Upstairs Closet Shirt, $66, Janie Rose Shorts, $64, Janie Rose Purse, $158, Piperlime.com Sandals, $68, Upstairs Closet
Top, $198, On A Whim Shorts, $154, Janie Rose Sandals, $62, Pink Zinnia Ring, $16, Turkoyz Watch, $22, Turkoyz Earrings, $10, Jackibel's
CLICK | style
Dress, $121, Lori James Clutch, $158, Piperlime.com Necklace, $118, Stella&Dot Earrings, $58, Lori James Heels, $90, CameoNouveau.com Sunglasses, $90, Jackibel's
date
sunday
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WEDDING
Dress, $40, Sumthin Savvy Clutch, $26, Janie Rose Necklace, $20, Sumthin Savvy Heels, $70, Upstairs Closet
Dress, $218, On A Whim Earrings, $30, On A Whim Purse, $68, BradleeSloan Pumps, $90, UniqueVintage.com
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GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Necklace, $28, Sugar Plum Dress, $32, Lori James Sandals, $69, Sugar Plum Clutch, $18, Turkoyz
Top, $30, Upstairs Closet Necklace, $75, Lori James Pants, $94, Upstairs Closet Clutch, $109, Center Stage
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Tank, $28, Sumthin Savvy Shorts, $40, Sumthin Savy Bracelet, $18, Turkoyz Clutch, $32, Turkoyz Wedges, $42, Sumthin Savvy
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myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 39
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the
Sources Bradlee Sloan
210 E. Commerce St., Hernando 662.449.1520
Center Stage
stayCool
SUMMER ESSENTIALS
324 W. Commerce St., Hernando 662.429.5288
Jackibel's Boutique
994 Goodman Road, Olive Branch 662.890.4686
Janie Rose
210 E. Commerce St, Hernando 662.298.0047, janieroseboutique.com
Keepsakes by Melony
2070 Clifton Rd., Hernando 662.429.7029
Lori James
6150 Poplar Ave, Suite 118, Memphis 901.207.5427
On A Whim
9067 Poplar Ave., Ste. 101, Memphis 901.751.0091
Pink Zinnia
134 W. Commerce St., Hernando, 662.449.5533
Sugar Plum
6100 Primacy Pkwy. #108, Memphis 901.763.7799, sugarplumconsign.com
Sumthin Savvy
2521 Caffey St., Hernando 662.298.3493, sumthinsavvyboutique.com
Upstairs Closet
136 Norfleet Dr., Senatobia 662.562.4294 Shirt, $85, Jack Spade Wallet, $85, Jack Spade Shorts, $25, H&M Sunglass, $149, TOMS M Watch, $160, Timex.com Shoes, $44, TOMS.Ash Waxed 40 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
Turkoyz
4548 Poplar Avenue, Memphis 901.818.2741
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T K M THE KNOWLEDGABLE MAN
REEL ‘EM IN
Summer is fast approaching and the time-honored tradition of fishing is in full swing. Here are a few must-haves for amateur anglers and seasoned fishermen alike. by CASEY HILDER
THE JIG IS UP
Jigs: A lead-based head with a protruding hook, usually characterized with a cloth of plastic body. They come in two variations: bass and crappie. Handmade is the way to go, but plastic tubes will do in a pinch. Spinner/Buzz Bait: Best for different species of bass. Best paired with casting rod and reel. The tiny paddle attached is designed to create a V-shape, simulating a creature skimming the top of the water. Crank/Jerk Bait: Versatile bait used for all manner of fish. Good for open water. The bigger the lip on the bait, the deeper it goes. Reeling in quickly causes the tail to wag, mimicking a shad or minnow.
FISHIN’ STICKS
Spinning Rods: Poles with vertical spinning reels have wider metal eyes to allow for a smoother cast, typically 5-5’’8 ft. Lightweight tackle designed for under 15 pounds. Good for bream and catfish. Casting Rod: Larger 5’’8 - 7 ft. rod designed for the seasoned fisherman in search of a memorable catch. The casting reel’s easily adjustable horizontal position allows it to act like a winch and pull in easier. Good for catching all manner of bass. Long pole: Typically used for flyfishing, though some local crappie anglers for vertical jig fishing around cover and structure. Lightweight crappie reel. Most of the drag is manually controlled.
MISCELLANEOUS MUSTS Cutting Board: Don’t use Plastic, plaster and porceline. Fish are slippery — a smooth, wooden surface is the only way to go. Knife: Electric is the way to go, especially for novice fishermen. Handknifes make a mess. Waders: If you’re fly fishing and bank fishing for topwater spawns in the Yazoo Basin and surrounding areas. Insulated waders are for duck hunting, be sure to grab a thin pair that’s easy to climb in and out of when nature calls.
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iZED fLAvOr mAnSiOnOS USE ZA THE H
LAD
We’ve built your dream House. Your choice of Chicken Fingerz™ or grilled chicken atop mixed greens, red cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, ripe Roma tomatoes, cheddar and jack cheeses, and fried onions. Served with Texas Toast and any of our nine signature dressings. Try one today! 2575 McIngvale Rd. • Hernando 662.429.9949
7480 Commerce Dr. • Olive Branch 662.895.2745
761 Goodman Rd. • Horn Lake 662.349.8585
6676 Getwell Rd. • Southaven 662.253.8501
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Prices may vary by location. Each restaurant independently owned and operated. © 2013 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” and “Chicken Fingerz” are trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.
OUT&ABOUT A RO U N D T OW N O N E PA RT Y AT A T I M E
All Things Social Bob and Sandy McGregor, Michelle and Gary Pleasants
Amy Boyles, Laura Bo ren and Emily Agent
9th ANNUAL MUDBUG BASH ~ PANOLA ST, HERNANDO ~
Crawdads For A Cause
T
he 9th Annual Mudbug Bash offered a night of shellfish in the shade on Saturday, April 13, on Panola Street just off Hernando Town Square. This 21-and-older event featured live music, silent auctions, sampling from local restaurants and an all-you-can eat buffet of crawfish with plenty of trimmings.
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n Hughes and Jared Cook
Nic Germans, Roby
Kelly Brumfield and Jill Davis
Thomas and Lori Sanders
Jason Hughes and Chris Wilhite
Hank and Andrea Lu
dwig
MUDBUG BAS M
udbug Bash benefits the Palmer Home for Children, a nonprofit organization that provides stable homes for children with inadequate family structure. Last year’s event drew more than 1,200 attendees and raised more than $60,000. Photos by CASEY HILDER
Brandi and Stephen Malin
Austen Andrews, Rachel and Nathan Katona
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SH
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Rebecca Reynolds, Candace Clark, Jessie Costello and Eenise Farris
Marty and Bill Pickard Detric Stanciel
and Mickela Ha
rris
Debbie Banks, Amy Turner, Jennifer Bowen, Angela Bradley
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Kate Hickson & Julie Hollingsworth
Lisa Rouse & Bettina Fenwick
Practice Excercise
Lori Turpen & Yvette Yochum
Mary Grace, Grady & Lexi Phillips
Patty Becker, Diane Lowrance, & Lisa Kamyszek
Dr. Christopher Ingelmo, Cardiologist, answering patient questions
HEART HEALTHY HEALTH FAIR arket
~ SOUTHAVEN, MS ~
Farmer’s M
Baptist Memorial Hospital–DeSoto
T
he DeSoto community enjoyed an afternoon of good, healthy fun on Saturday, April 13. The hospital provided education resources and demonstrations on how to prepare fresh fruits and vegetables for a healthier lifestyle, shared simple exercise techniques that don’t require a gym membership and set up a forum for talking to cardiologists directly about heart health. A farmer’s market with wholesale fruits and vegetables was on site to give people affordable, fresh choices and dietitians helped visitors plan meal choices while chefs prepared samples of healthy recipes. Cardiologists from Stern Cardiovascular Foundation were also on hand to answer questions and give advice on specific life stresses like smoking.
Photos by MIKE LEE AND GREG CAMPBELL Evonne Hedrich & Victoria Bernero 50 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
CLICK | parties
Mike and Lisa Williams
Marcia Van Alsteine, Darryl and Sarah Gresham Jeanie and Steve Conley
Terri King and Gabe Taylor
Hugh Boone an d Rebekah Sudd uth
cher
d Dan Flet
Blakely an
Chrissy and Rick Ouelette Robin Reviere and Patrick Turns
DISHES FOR WISHES ~FELICIA SUZANNE’S RESTAURANT, MEMPHIS ~
T
Debbie Yeager, Nicki Hass and Carla Beth McCallum
Downtown Dining At Its Finest
he Make-A-Wish Foundation’s 8th annual Dishes for Wishes was held on Sunday, April 21, at Felicia Suzanne’s Restaurant in downtown Memphis, with 100% of the ticket proceeds donated toward making a child’s dream come true. Guests were treated to a live auction and a dinner reception, where they were invited to sample the culinary creations of some of Memphis’ finest chefs. Participating restaurants included A|M Italian Kitchen, Bangkok Alley, Blue Monkey, The Majestic Grille, Rendezvous, South of Beale and Sweetgrass. Photos by CASEY HILDER
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Miranda Mitchell, Chad Crawford, Charles McFall, Tabitha Strawn
Mike Dlugach and Bob McEniry
bert and
Chris Her Chris Carr, ld fie Adam Bras
Megan Klein, Kylan and Chris
Javonne Be nnett and Veronica A llen
Wayne Gaither, Oscar Richardson, Lechesia Beasley, Edith Caine and Janetra Taylor
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB STEAK ‘N’ BURGER DINNER FUNDRAISER ~ MINGLEWOOD HALL, MEMPHIS ~
Burgers With Bowden
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he 42nd annual Boys and Girls Club Steak ‘n’ Burger Dinner was held on Tuesday, April 2 at Minglewood Hall. The evening featured a live auction and VIP reception with autograph signings by keynote speaker and legendary football coach Bobby Bowden. This event is the first and largest annual fundraiser of the year hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Memphis and featured a silent auction, as well as live music. Sponsors included Coca Cola, Nike, The Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx. Photos by CASEY HILDER
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Chip Johnson & Greg Davis
mblin
y Ga Kassid
& Fred
Sims
NW MS SPECIAL OLYMPICS ~DESOTO CENTRAL H.S., SOUTHAVEN ~
Kelly & Melissa Springfield
Special Athletes Show Their Skills
Milton Kuykendall & Sunny Stuckey
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ore than 250 athletes took part in recent Special Olympics games at DeSoto Central High School onWednesday, April 17. The games opened with an inaugural ceremony where several flagholders were introduced and the Special Olympics torch was presented as the DCHS band played a welcoming tune. Events included a shotput competition, a tennis ball and baseball throwing competition, a long jump competition and several races. For the 10th year in a row, the event was sponsored by BancorpSouth.
Chavon Littlejohn, Evan Winters & Kayana Mitchell Katherin & Chip Johnson
Photos by MIKE LEE
IMPACT MISSIONS “HEARTS CRY” EVENT
Taylor, Cara Logan, Carmen ins & Jessica Hawk
~SOUTHAVEN ARENA ~
Rally to Support National Child Abuse Prevention Month
I
Whitney & Cheri Fowler
Lisa Guadamuz & Crystal Chacon
mpact Missions hosted its inaugural “Hearts Cry” family day on Sunday, April 14. “Hearts Cry” was created to rectify and raise awareness of child abuse and neglect in the MidSouth. This wholesome, familyoriented day was designed to rally support in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Guests were treated to live music, educational segments, a variety of games, a moon bounce for kids of all ages, animals, a car show, delicious food, exciting exhibits, raffles, prizes and more.
Photos by ROBERT LONG
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Journey & Jaslynn Murphy with ‘Avery’
Steve & Tina Nelson ’ with ‘Bella’ & ‘Abbie
Angela Smithson & ‘Harry’ Cassandra & Matt Steadman with ‘Honey’
TROT FOR SPOT ~ THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF ~ MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY
Pet Parade & Canine Carnival
lanie Fletcher, Hudson, Me cy’ ‘Lu h wit Richardson
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he Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County hosted its Trot for Spot Pet Parade on Saturday, April 20. This event featured a number of contests for owners and their four-legged friends, including a canine costume contest and pet lookalike contest. This annual event was presented by Hollywood Feed.
Photos by MIKE LEE
Emily Langford & ‘Hi-Me’
Lindsey Tartera
& ‘Lola’
/umdesoto
university ms Transfer your associaTe’s degree To compleTe junior and senior-level courses in: • Accountancy • Business • Criminal Justice • Education • General Studies
5197 W.E. Ross Parkway, Southaven, MS 38671 (I-55 to Church Rd. Exit) 54 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
• Integrated Marketing Communications • Liberal Arts • Paralegal Studies • Social Work
www.olemiss.edu/desoto 662-342-4765
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Ashlie Mason, Katie Ryals, & Julie Gallington
Andy Hamrick, John Morris, Nick & Jessica Graves and Shannon Boyd
Jake & Joe Graves
Circus Entertainers
Chuck & Jackie Cariker
TUNICA RIVERGATE FESTIVAL Megan Pipkin, Kalen Sartin & Callie Self
~ RIVERGATE PARK, TUNICA ~
Richy, Pat, Shannon, John Koehler & Maggie Rae Bibb ts
Tony & Holland Rober
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Rollin’ On The River
unica’s Annual Rivergate Festival welcomed the coming of spring on the weekend of April 19. The 21st annual festival in downtown Tunica’s Rivergate Park played host to a fun-filled experience just off the “Mighty Mississippi.” The festival packed a number of family-oriented opportunities throughout the weekend, including live music, a barbecue cooking contest and an antique car expo. Other free festivities included arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall and the 3rd Annual Children’s Bicycle Race in the Veteran’s Park. Photos by MAGGIE VINZANT
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R E K C E D E L DOUB DOUBLE DECKER ARTS FESTIVAL ~ OXFORD, MS ~
O
Get On The Bus
n the final weekend of April each year, Oxford pulls out all the stops when it hosts the Double Decker Arts Festival — a lively celebration of music, art and food in the historic Courthouse Square. Featured events included a selection 10K, 5K and Children’s Fun Run races through the Ole Miss campus and downtown Oxford, as well as a wide variety of musical offerings from several regional rock-and-roll groups. This 18th annual event also included a costume contest for pets and a “Taste of Oxford” food court, featuring the city’s best cuisine. Photos by JOEY BRENT
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L A V I T S E F R ARTS
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FIRST ANNUAL HERO RIDE ~ SOUTHAVEN, MS ~
Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson hosts Event to Benefit Wounded Warriors
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he 2013 first ever Hero Ride was hosted by Southern Thunder Harley Davidson in Southaven, Mississippi on April 13. Sponsored by Southern Thunder Harley Davidson, Dixie Thunder, Recycle Bike Shop and Combat Vets Association, this event provided an opportunity for hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts across the MidSouth to ride in commemoration of those who have served in our nation’s military. Proceeds from registration fees benefitted the Wounded Warriors and Operation First Response and the ride included stops at the American Legion in Horn Lake; the VFW in Holly Springs; the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery; and Recycle Biker Shop in Collierville, Tennessee. Photos by TONYA THOMPSON
Bob Driv er, Mark Mayall, D Clayton onald Th Covingto omas, n & Matt hew May all.
Karen Martin, Scott Millay, Regina Millay, Mike Lassa and Susan Cole
Amanda Malone, Summer Holbrook & Robbie Ray
DESOTO CROSSFIT BENEFIT FOR ST.JUDE
Gary & Ben Owens
Josh Bearden & Joey Ray
Chris & Georgeann
e Gray
~ SOUTHAVEN, MS ~
T
A Heart-Racing Priority
he second Crossfitters for Kids event was held on Saturday, April 14. This fitness and fundraising-focused event was created to raise money to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital find new treatments for children with cancer and other catastrophic pediatric diseases. This event offered a chance for athletes of all skill levels to participate in a multi-mile run around the city. Photos by MIKE LEE 58 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
Jerry Bain, Michael Hills, Jeremy Johnson, Tina Hills & Nestor Irizarry
Amanda Evans & Jodie Jennings
Angela Rodgers, Ted Estes & Dora Garcia
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Amy & Delaney Sto oky, Zoe CowAmber Busby & Kendall McCoy ell
Charles & Winston Flannigan
Steve Hudson, Mark Harden & Brian Allen
Courtney &
n
Casey Gibso
Brett & Katheryn Jones
WHISPERING WOODS HALF MARATHON & 5K ~ OLIVE BRANCH, MS ~
Event to Benefit Make-A-Wish
W Apple Corpus & Elaine Stewart
hispering Woods hosted its inaugural 5K race on Saturday, April 13. In addition to a rousing half-marathon and 5K, participants were treated to live music, food, awards and a variety of door prizes. Proceeds were donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Desoto County, as well as scholarships to several local Desoto County Schools.
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Lesley McGee, Jeff and
Stacy Little
Jim Bruce and Bret Rodriguez
Bambi Kirk & “Cowboy” Donna and Glen Wadford
WADFORDS BAR & GRILL ~ SOUTHAVEN, MS ~
Anniversary Celebration
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adford’s Grill and Bar recently celebrated its one-year anniversary as one of Southaven’s premier seafood restaurants. The event offered a patio reception with lots of crawfish, as well as an indoor cigar bar for reflecting on the restaurant’s first year in business. In addition to a selection of community leaders, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis was in attendance.
Alexis Hodge and Mark Anderson
Photos by CASEY HILDER
Sidney and Allyson Mitchell
Gwyn Young
Renee Mock and Teresa Wallace
GIRL’S NIGHT OUT ~ SENATOBIA, MS ~
U
Upstairs Closet Previews New Summer Trends
pstairs Closet brought together friends and local patrons on Monday, May 6 for a wine and cheese social. Guests enjoyed a fun atmosphere while previewing the boutique’s new summer clothes and accessories.
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Upstairs Closet
girls
Chelsea & Adam Anderson
Eric & Rebeccah Kimbrough
Jacob & Lisa Shaw
Elizabeth & Stephen Smith
Frank & Carol Chenault
Taylor Nowell & Lau
ralee Fant
Tommy Ray & Heather Hodges
Chris & Kada Stephenson Edwin Callicutt & Wesleyann Ray Lane Dye, Linda McKinney & Patti Baker
Murphy, Suzie Murphy, Reagan y Owens rist Ch & n, nto Cla via Oli
MONTROSE UNDER THE MOONLIGHT ~ HOLLY SPRINGS, MS ~
G
A Southern Soiree
uests were treated to a true Southern supper under a canopy of moonlight and magnolias at the dinner-and-dance reception known as “Montrose Under the Moonlight.” Following the presentation of the Royal Court, guests enjoyed a silent auction and a cash bar, as well as entertainment from one of Memphis’ favorite party bands, The Plaintiffs. Photos by SHERRY ROSS
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BLACK KEYS
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he Grammy-winning group and Ohio natives The Black Keysdrew one of the largest crowds of this year’s festival with iconic songs like “Gold on the Ceiling” and “Strange Times.” Their supercharged show rounded out Saturday night’s festivities alongside the popular Americana rock group ZZ Top.
C I S U M . T BEALE S ~ TOM LEE PARK, MEMPHIS, TN ~ Photos by CASEY HILDER
STAR & MICEY
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emphis’ native sons, the folksy quartet known as Star & Micey, took to the stage for a lively performance that led to an impromptu set in the middle of the crowd. This marks the first year that Jeremy Stanfill, Nick Redmond, Geoff Smith and Joshua Cosby played at the annual festival.
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PHOENIX
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lt-rock aficionados Phoenix hail from Versailles, France. Lead performers Thomas Mars (vocals) and Laurent Brancowitz (guitar, keyboards) brought their eclectic style and famous tunes across the Atlantic for a rousing Sunday afternoon performance that ended in an encore of their international hit “Entertainent.�
L A V I T S E F C JIMBO MATHUS
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imbo Mathus was in his element during a Friday night performance on the river, safe from the intermittent rain from within the confines of the Horseshoe Casino Blues Tent. The former Squirrel Nut Zippers frontman belted out a selection of tunes from his most recent album alongside his latest venture, The Tri-State Coalition. myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 63
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WILL TUCKER
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t just 19 years old, Will Tucker is already a Beale Street Music Fest veteran. In his fourth consecutive year playing the festival, Tucker’s tunes shook the Horseshoe Blues Tent in front of a crowd of hundreds as he played a mix of cover tracks and original music, including a rousing rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and a selection of popular blues tunes.
JERRY LEE LEWIS
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ith his signature silver mane and ever growing selection of hits, “The Killer” Jerry Lee Lewis showed no signs of slowing down at this year’s Beale Street Music Fest. The 77-year old rock and roll legend shared a number of songs with a new generation of listeners, including his seminal Sun Studios hit “Great Balls of Fire.”
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people
In the Trenches of Tunica How two sisters changed Tunica County from an all-kill to a no-kill area for stray animals Story by TONYA L. THOMPSON
time you have the economic situations we have in Tunica County, you’re going to have a lot of stray animals.” Since there wasn’t any kind of county wide or county-funded animal control, the three women decided to focus on starting their own small humane society in order to give the abundant stray animal population some kind of future. “We had a little piece of land that the county let us use and one by one, we built outdoor kennels,” says Williams, recounting how difficult the
Sometimes people don’t find their calling — their calling finds them.
Executive Directors Sandy Williams enjoys the company of one dog at the Tunica Humane Society. Sometimes people don’t find their calling — their calling finds them. No one understands this better than Sandy Williams, Executive Director and co-founder of the Tunica Humane Society in Tunica County, Mississippi. As a highly successful real estate agent who, like many, found herself on unstable footing after the market collapse in 2008, Williams had a lot of financial worries on her mind and a lot of free time on her hands. It was a bad combination and she had to do something to get her mind off her own struggles. “When real estate slowed down, I began to get extremely depressed because I kind of lost my purpose,” says Williams, who along with her sister, Gail Johnson, and a close friend, decided to dedicate her time and energy to her community instead of wallowing in self-pity. “We started looking around and noticed that [Tunica County has] a lot of stray dogs. Any
work was for the founders and the few volunteers they could scrounge together from the area. “In the beginning, we had no money from the county and were a completely volunteer organization. I remember that we opened a bank account with $100. We got our 501(c)(3) status and I was finally able to solicit for donations, but from the very beginning, we were alone.” Being alone with no funding from Tunica County meant that the shelters were primitive, at best. Williams recalls days wading through mud and rain to rescue the animals from their abusive or absent caregivers, after hours spent building shelters by hand in the best way they could on the small plot of land they had. Despite the difficult conditions the women were working under, Williams immediately began to see progress in the health and dispositions of the animals they were bringing in. It was life changing, almost from the beginning. “What I thought at the time was the worst thing that could possibly happen to me with my income and career turned out to be the biggest blessing in my life,” says Williams, “because it opened me up to a passion that had always been there but I had not always been able to do it. I wanted to try to bring people into the trenches with us. We were working outside in very rough conditions for these animals but we were saving them and we were saving a lot of them.” In a short period of time, through the selfless actions of Williams and Johnson, Tunica County went from being an all-kill county to a no-kill county, despite the absence of funding. “We were picking up animals right and left,” says Williams, “and because we were outside, in rain, sleet and snow, or in 115-degree temperatures, the media got on our bandwagon and the TV stations would come down and show us saving these animals under the most adverse conditions.” No stranger to marketing after years in the real estate industry, Williams realized that if they were going to give the animals they were rescuing a real chance to find good homes and myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 65
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Facts about Tunica Humane Society The 4th annual Putts for Mutts golf tournament will be held on Wednesday June 5 at Tunica National. All proceeds will benefit the Tunica Humane Society. The Tunica Humane Society participates in the Kroger Community Rewards program. If you sign up to be a part of the group and show your Kroger Plus card upon
checkout, the shelter receives quarterly checks. See tunicahumanesociety.com/ donate for more information on how to sign up. Before the Tunica Humane Society, dogs stayed in six outdoor cages with a fiveday deadline for adoption. The Tunica Humane Society is looking for more foster
a better life, it had to be done through aggressive networking. After exhausting every option available through the local government for bringing in more funding, Williams finally sent a letter that attracted the attention the women’s work deserved—and from the most unlikely of places. It came from Rob Thomas, lead singer of Matchbox 20. “I sent a short video to Rob Thomas because he has a charitable Foundation called Sidewalk Angels,” says Williams. “The video showed us working in the conditions we were working in and explained our lack of funding…how we just fell through the cracks.” Williams smiles when she remembers the result of that video—a result that still hangs on the wall of the Tunica Humane Society today. “For some reason, we touched his heart, and within a matter of weeks, Sidewalk Angels sent us $125,000 to purchase some land and the building where our shelter is now. We purchased 3 ½ acres and an old metal building out in the country, which was just perfect for us.” Around the same time, a letter Williams sent to the Harrah’s Foundation (which is now Caesars) was answered with a $200,000 grant. “We became known as ‘the little shelter that could,’” laughs Williams, “and the blessings just started pouring in.” With funding secured, Williams then began focusing on finding as many foster families and adopters as possible in order to maintain the shelter’s no-kill status. “I began to see the value of Facebook and social media, and discovered how we could capitalize on that and expand our support base,” says Williams, who now puts every animal’s photo and story on the shelter’s Facebook page so that others can see just how much impact the shelter is having on these animals’ lives. “We have built a Facebook network of over 8,000 followers now,” says Williams. “Our messages and our animals are networked throughout the country. We get donations from around the world now…all stemming from our Facebook page.” However, the outreach of the Tunica Humane Society’s social networking has not stopped there. “We’ve 66 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
homes. Fostering is essential to the shelter is able to save more animals and makes pets more adoptable after socializing in a foster home. The shelter provides the veterinarian care for foster dogs. Those interested can contact the society at 662.363.1625 or 662.519.1700. Adoptable cats and dogs can be viewed through the
shelter’s website and on petfinder.com. Find the perfect match by viewing pictures, videos and personality descriptions about each of the pets. One-time or monthly donations can be made on the shelter’s website.
also been able to connect families that have lost animals throughout Desoto County,” says Williams. “We are constantly posting animals that have been lost in DeSoto County and reconnecting them with their owners, so social media has been a valuable tool and
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it’s allowed me to pull people into the trenches with us so that they feel what we feel and see what we see.” When asked if there was one animal that stood out in her mind as an example of everything she hoped the shelter could achieve, Williams’ first thought was of Joey. A delivery man had seen the dog just north of Tunica and called Williams to tell her about it. Williams jumped into her SUV and went alone to track the dog down. When she finally found him, Joey was the most emaciated animal she had ever seen. His back was arched and he could barely stand or walk. “Joey was starved beyond belief. He should have weighed 50 pounds or more but weighed in just under 20. Beyond that, his stomach was full of rocks. He had been eating rocks just to survive,” says Williams, with tears welling in her eyes. “There were people all around him. Nobody stepped up to help this little dog. He was such a force to live…he just had such a heart. Now, Joey has made a miraculous recovery with us and people can read about it on our Facebook page. He is a stunningly beautiful dog and we pulled him from death’s door.” Recoveries like Joey's are paid for by continuing contributions of donors, and sometimes, out of Williams’ and Johnson’s own pockets. “We have some clinics that work with us at a discounted rate,” says Williams. “At Horn lake Animal Hospital, Dr. Davis and his crew are wonderful at handling our animals. They work with us at a discount, as does the Animal Medical Center in Hernando.” Now, 4½ years after Williams and Johnson decided to do something to change the lives of abused and stray animals in their community, the Tunica Humane Society has taken in more than 2,000 dogs and cats, and has adopted out 80 of those to loving families. Most of their adoptions are very successful. The ones that do fail are the dogs that have been with the shelter for several years and simply don’t want to leave the company of the two women who saved them. “When they leave the shelter, they’re not happy,” says Williams. “They want to come back.” Sitting in the middle of a cotton field just three miles outside of Tunica, the Tunica Humane Society, in its short life span, has provided a loving respite
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from lives of abuse and neglect for thousands of animals. Gail Johnson, a retired Delta Airlines employee, works tirelessly at the shelter six days a week, and can’t image her life without it. “It means the world — it’s just been overwhelming,” says Johnson, who had to wait a minute to collect herself and dry her own eyes before continuing. “When we first got involved, we were not prepared for the toll it would take on our personal lives. These dogs mean the world to us. It’s very rewarding and I wish more people would get involved and understand. A lot of people think we’re crazy, but one thing I have discovered is there are a lot of people out there who love animals and we have acquired so many new friends who care about what we’re doing. It’s life-changing and I never thought I’d be doing this in my retirement years, but I’m here. I could count on my hands how many days I’ve had off but it’s so worth it.” To learn more about the Tunica Humane Society, contact Sandy Williams by phone at 662.519.1700 or by email at petlovers@tunicahumanesociety. com. To visit the shelter’s website, go to tunicahumanesociety.com. You can also ‘like’ them on Facebook to stay informed about animals available for adoption or fostering who are on the path to recovery from neglect. Williams treats each dog that arrives at the shelter as her own.
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Supercharge your Wardrobe.
Upstairs Closet Sidney Mitchell
136 Norfleet Drive | Senatobia, MS 38668 | 662.562.4294 myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 69
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man’s BEST friend
Wildrose Kennels Trains Life-Saving Dogs Story by MADISON HILL Photos by FRANK WISNESKI
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hey say that a dog is a man’s best friend. Nothing could be truer at Wildrose Kennels, with its national headquarters in Oxford, Mississippi. Wildrose is world renowned for breeding and training British Labradors as obedient gundogs and able outdoor companions. In recent years, however, Wildrose has taken on a new program in addition to their wildly successful gundog and adventure dog programs. This new program is the smallest and most exclusive, and arguably the most important program offered at Wildrose. Wildrose Kennels has begun to train diabetic alert dogs. Wildrose Kennels was founded in 1972, and Mike Stewart became the owner in 1999. He had been training dogs since he was 14 years old as a hobby and is now Wildrose’s President with his wife, Cathy, as the Vice President and Sales and Business Manager. The organization’s national headquarters are located in Oxford, Mississippi and there are facilities in Jasper, Arkansas and Granite, Colorado for summertime training. Wildrose is known for its two popular dog-training programs, the Gentleman’s Gundog program and the Adventure Dog program. The Gentleman’s Gundog program aims to produce dogs that are reliable hunting companions. “We train the dogs in a positive way to be destination wing shooting companions,” says Stewart. “These are not competition dogs. They have to travel well and do well in hotels. We call them dogs in duality — they have to do multiple tasks. For instance, they may do ducks in the morning and quail in the afternoon.” The Adventure Dog program produces Labradors that are able to accompany their owners on any outdoor trek. “The adventure dog is a hiking, biking, dog of the trails,” says Stewart. 70 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
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“There are 14 different skill sets they can be certified in to become a master trekker. These are specifically dogs that are prepared to go anywhere. They’re outdoor companions that would equate to a Land Rover.” The third and smallest program available at Wildrose Kennels is the Diabetic Alert Dogs Foundation, which is housed with the nonprofit Create Foundation in Tupelo, Mississippi. Because Stewart wants the program to be successful for each diabetic person they help, it is kept small, with only six to eight diabetic alert dogs trained each year. “It’s a good way for us to contribute and give back because our world’s been good to us,” says Stewart. “We still only produce just a few of them but I will sell puppies that are scent imprinted — they have been introduced to the scent. Six to eight a year is all we’re going to do.” The Diabetic Alert Dogs (also known as “DADs”) from Wildrose Kennels are only trained to work with people affected by Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes causes the body to stop producing insulin, causing blood sugar levels to swing. People with Type 1 diabetes have to prick their fingers to test their blood sugar and inject themselves with insulin multiple times a day in order to stay alive. Despite constant checking and injecting, these lifethreatening blood sugar swings can happen unexpectedly. "Our focus is to train DADs for T1 diabetics. Wildrose Service Companions is limited in the number of quality dogs we can produce, so we limit our application process to Type 1 diabetics. Some are unable to sense the typical indicators of blood sugar changes. A well-trained
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Molly Harris participates in a training session during the 2013 Wildrose DAD Conference.
DAD can warn them, sometimes 15 or 20 minutes ahead of their blood sugar meter. The dog becomes a proactive tool to assist with better control of blood sugar levels. We believe this improves both the quality and quantity of their life." Because of their notable scenting abilities, dogs are able to detect and distinguish the different odors produced by low, normal and high blood sugar levels, and can be trained to alert their owners with different signals for each so that the owner can take steps to prevent blood sugar swings. British Labradors are used because they are smaller in size, which makes them easier to take anywhere, and they have good temperament. At Wildrose, puppies are introduced to these odors at as young as three days old so that it will be easier for them to recognize the scent and be able to alert to it when they are older. The program was started in the spring of 2007 when Rachel Thornton, the woman who is now the associate trainer of the Diabetic Alert Dogs at Wildrose, approached Stewart about helping her train her diabetic alert dog for her daughter, Abi. The stayat-home mother of seven said that after Abi was diagnosed when she was 11 years old, she was doing research to find something that would help her daughter when 72 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
she came across diabetic alert dogs. Thornton, who now has seven grandchildren, is eager to share about what is now her profession and one of her great passions: training diabetic alert dogs with Wildrose for people who are going through what her family went through. “I began to do a lot of research about Type 1 diabetes and if there was some kind of device that could let me know when my daughter needed help,” says Thornton. “We were checking her blood sugar every two hours all day long and multiple times during the night, too, but what we needed was a device that would let us know when she wasn’t symptomatic but the body was under stress.” After being taken advantage of by a fraudulent diabetic alert dog facility, Thornton bought a seven week-old Labrador, who ended up being of Wildrose lineage, and she and her daughter began to train him themselves. “The service dog industry is dangerous because there is no regulation,” says Thornton. “No certification or credentials are required for the trainer or the dog. So for desperate parents that creates a very dangerous situation. When we’re ready to get something for our child and we’re ready to believe that the product you have for us is actually workable, there’s a lot of
room for people to be taken advantage of.” Since Mr. Darcy is of Wildrose progeny, Thornton contacted Wildrose Kennels' Mike Stewart with questions concerning on-going obedience training, thus beginning the Diabetic Alert Dogs program at Wildrose with Mr. Darcy as the first Wildrose DAD. Motivated by the needs of her daughter, Thornton became dedicated to validating her training by studying with well-known leaders in canine scent-discrimination and canine behavior. “When (Mike Stewart) was finished helping us he said, ‘What else can I do?’ and I said, ‘There’s more people like me. Let’s help them,’” says Thornton. “So we designed and hosted our first diabetic alert dog workshop.” Today, the DADs are trained in obedience, public access and scent. Wildrose Kennels also holds DAD workshops that teach people how Wildrose trains their diabetic alert dogs, and helps them continue the life-long process of training with current and future DAD teams. Since the program began, Wildrose has trained six to eight dogs each year for diabetics. Applications are currently unavailable because the demand is so high and Wildrose wants to maintain quality in their program by keeping the program small and one-on-one
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intensive. Thornton conducts portions of the training from her home in Hamilton, Alabama, traveling regularly to the Wildrose site in Oxford, Mississippi, or to clients’ homes. Thornton says that everywhere she goes, a service dog goes; they are always in training. “Wildrose Kennels is a very selective breeder of the finest British Labs,” says Thornton. “We know our line because we only train our own dogs. So when someone purchases a puppy from Wildrose and they want training when it’s six or eight months old, the dog comes back to Wildrose Kennels.” The process of getting a DAD from Wildrose is not easy. There is an extensive application process, in-person interviews and then the family has to be matched to the right dog. The families are also encouraged to attend Wildrose DAD workshops and make trips to Wildrose to demonstrate their commitment. Anyone can apply to get a Wildrose DAD at any age, but Stewart says that the diabetic alert dogs work best for people who have a steady lifestyle. “Rachel primarily decides if this dog is right for this person,” says Stewart. “Each family is different and you have to try to match the right dog to the right person. That’s why you don’t just pick up the paper and buy a diabetic alert dog. It’s a huge, long process — it’s a huge commitment.” One family who is currently in the process of getting a Wildrose DAD is the Harris family. The family of five (with one on the way) is from Hernando, Mississippi. Their oldest daughter, Molly, who is 11 years old, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in December. Molly, the straight-A student and all-star softball player found out she had Type 1 diabetes when she suddenly lost 21 pounds last year. However she is not willing to let her life be controlled by diabetes. “Molly is still playing softball,” says Robby Harris, Molly’s father. “We actually were going to sit out this year. We decided it might be best just to figure out what was going on. After about a month passed, she wasn’t having it. She said, ‘I want to play softball.’ During a softball game, she may check her blood sugar two or three times an inning. She always checks before she goes to the field. She always checks before she bats.” Since December when their daughter was diagnosed, the Harris parents have lost sleep. If Molly’s blood sugar goes myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 73
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too high during the night she could go into a diabetic coma, and if it gets too low she could lose consciousness and never wake up. “For the most part, I know this dog is going to help my family with most of it so my mom won’t be up all night worried about me,” said Molly.
The Wildrose Diabetic Alert Dogs came up in their research when the family was trying to learn more about the disease that changed their lives so suddenly. As her dad described her, Molly is a child who does not ask for much and is always willing to share. A diabetic alert dog however is not a dog to share--diabetic alert dogs are working service dogs and they are meant to stay focused and avoid distraction from people besides their owners. “I’ll have to tell my friends that they’re not going to be able to mess with it and I’ve never really been like that,” said Molly. “I’ll have to learn to do that and everything.” The family is in the process of raising funds to pay for the dog and being matched with the right dog for their family. In
Rachel Thorton, Wildrose’s DAD Program Director, during the 2013 Wildrose DAD Conference. 74 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
an effort to pay for the dog that costs approximately $14,000 the family has sold T-shirts and bracelets, and they have the support of their community. They are attending Wildrose DAD workshops and learning as much as they can in preparation for the commitment they are about to make. “I think it’s going to help us in ways that only the parents of a diabetic child can understand,” says Robby. “I think it will warn us early, but at the same time, I think we’re taking on a large responsibility. I also think that Molly will be taking on a large responsibility. This dog will be by her side 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Angie Simonton, a single mom from Texas, got her daughter, Lily, a Wildrose Diabetic Alert Dog almost two years ago. Lily was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 18 months old and has had the disease for five years. She is Hypoglycemic Unaware, which means that she is unable to feel the warning signs of a blood sugar low. Angie says that this is very dangerous because it can lead to seizures and death. “I am a single, working mom and I don’t have another parent in the home that can assist with Lily’s diabetic care,” says Angie. “For us, I needed another set of eyes, or in this case, a nose.” Having a Wildrose Diabetic Alert Dog has greatly impacted Angie and Lily’s lives, making it possible for Lily to go to preschool safely while Angie is at work. “I can’t say enough wonderful things about these life-saving dogs or Wildrose, for they have greatly impacted our life and saved her life more times than I can count,” says Angie. Charlie is dedicated to Lily, just as all Wildrose DADs learn to be dedicated to their owners. This iron bond represents a commitment of the owner to take care of the dog and vice versa. “I am pleased to
say that our bond with Charlie is definitely strong,” says Angie. “He is with us everywhere we go and is always by Lily’s side. She loves him and depends on his life-saving alerts. She knows his importance. She knows what role he plays in her diabetic management and how he is truly the angel by her side.” “We have never, ever turned down a client when they didn’t have enough money,” says Thornton. “We have a lot of support. We can direct people to other nonprofit organizations to help them raise money or to scholarship them. We do fundraising to help our own clients. Every year, we sell calendars and that money goes to support families that we currently have in progress.” If a family is able to make the commitment and can successfully handle the responsibility of having a Diabetic Alert Dog, the outcome can be life changing. Wildrose is committed to training dogs to fit the needs of people, whether that be hunting, hiking or detecting blood sugar swings. Having a diabetic alert dog could make it possible for a diabetic person to get a good night’s sleep, or to be able to go to school, or to gain the independence they need to follow their aspirations. More information on the Wildrose Kennels and their programs can be found on their website at uklabs.com or at diabeticalertdog.com. Donations to the Wildrose Diabetic Alert Dogs Foundation can be made at createfoundation.com, which will support the Diabetic Alert Dogs program along with the research, education, training and information distribution about Diabetic Alert Dogs. The Create Foundation was founded by George McLean and has been doing philanthropic work with donors, communities and nonprofit organizations for over 40 years.
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CLICK CLICK| |feature pets
Stuff Pets
Your pets are like your children. Why not spoil them a little?
LOVE
Cha Cha Couture harness with leash $14, Pucci Petique
Guardian Gear pet preserver $20, Pucci Petique Drake leash $18, Blue Olive Multipet dog toy $4, Pucci Petique
Dog Gone Smart dog door mat $30 , Hollywood Feed
Personalized dog bowl $10, Pucci Petique
Duck toy $22, Hollywood Feed
Four Paws dog cologne $10, Pucci Petique Holistic Select lamb meal dog food $20, Hollywood Feed
Slumber Pet dog bone bed $27, Pucci Petique Griggles frisbee $3, Pucci Petique
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Natural and Holistic Pet Food
Kong toy $12, Pucci Petique
5070 Goodman Rd. Olive Branch, MS 662-892-8066
TOYS • TREATS • FOOD • GAMES AND MORE...
Coming Soon...
6/30/13
352 E Goodman Rd. Southaven MISSISSIPPI
Scatter Brained multi-color collar $21, DeSoto County Animal Clinic
Turning to us for a loan...is a local process.
Ear Cleaning Solution, $5 EFA Deoderizing Shampoo, $16, DeSoto County Animal Clinic
We’re different. We’re just like you.
Doggles dog sunglasses $20, Pucci Petique
Take Justin Bobo, Commercial Lender for DeSoto Bank. He doesn’t have to go out of town to make a decision on your loan. He 6040 Highway 51 North does so right here, right in Horn Lake, MS 38637 our community. Call him (662) 393-3277 today when you need 5740 Getwell Road, Building 13 an answer fast - from Southaven, MS 38672 someone you know. (662) 349-6333 (662) 349-6333. www.desotobank.com
Justin Bobo
DeSoto Bank Commercial Lender
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Pet Resource Guide A comprehensive list of places for pet keeping products and advice, pet-care, veterinary services, adoption and more.
Pet Supplies=
Desoto County Animal Clinic 8330 Hwy 51 N. Southaven, MS 662.342.4899 desotoanimalclinic.vetsuite.com Hollywood Feed 4864 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 901.748.5514 5070 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch 662.892.8066, hollywoodfeed.com Jim’s Pets & Supplies 4456 Summer Ave. Memphis, TN 901.683.6961 Memfish 5719 Quince Rd. Memphis, TN 901.766.2992, memfish.net PETCO 3468 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 901.323.5535, petco.com See website for additional locations PetSmart 5883 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 901.767.6920, petsmart.com See website for additional locations
Three Dog Bakery 2136 W. Poplar Ave. Collierville, TN 901.853.5464, threedog.com
Boarding & Kennels
Pucci Petique 2400 Hwy. 51 S. Hernando, MS 662.429.3202
Browndog Lodge 4953 Black Rd. Memphis, TN 901.767.1187, browndoglodge.com
River City Pet Services 122 Gayoso Ave. Memphis, TN 901.526.1661, rivercitypetservices.com
Camp Bow Wow Memphis 2121 Whitten Rd. Memphis, TN 901.373.8757, campbowwow.com
Sergeants Pets Products 4366 Malone Rd. Memphis, TN 901.366.2868, sergeants.com
Critter Camp 213 Tulane Rd. S Hernando, MS 662.429.7877, crittercampms.com
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Desoto County Animal Clinic 8330 Hwy 51 N. Southaven, MS 662.342.4899 desotoanimalclinic.vetsuite.com Dawg House 7110 Mississippi 161 Walls, MS 662.781.3536, hornlakeanimal.com DeSoto Pet Nannies 1565 Dancy Blvd. Horn Lake, MS 662.510.5513, thedogsday.com Dogs Day 1565 Dancy Blvd. Horn Lake, MS 662.510.5513, thedogsday.com
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Dogs Rule Day Care & School 2265 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 901.276.3210, dogsrulememphis.com Donna’s Happy Tails Grooming 1805 Jeannie Rd. Southaven, MS 662.280.1519 Edgewood Farm & Kennel Hwy 309 and 302 Barton, MS 901.756.1810, wix.com/edgewoodfarm Elmore Road Veterinary Clinic Dr. Brandy Ellis 6145 Elmore Rd. Southaven, MS 662.253.0274, elmoreroadvetclinic.com Pampered Pooch Pet Sitters 5965 Green Pine Dr. N. Olive Branch, MS Pet Set 7849 Farmington Blvd. Germantown, TN 901.757.1199 PetSmart Memphis 7941 Winchester Rd. Memphis, TN 901.756.2676, stores.petsmart.com Tunica Pet Resort 4289 Casino Center Dr., Robinsonville, MS 662.357.9812, tunicapetresort.com
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Groomers
Animal Angels Professional Southaven, MS 662.420.4468 Bobby’s Pet A Groom 8840 Hwy. 51 N, Southaven, MS 662.393.7019 Critter Camp & Salon Inc 213 Tulane Rd. S. Hernando, MS 662.429.7877, crittercampms.com D & L Dog House Groom Shop 5800 Stage Rd. Memphis, TN 901.372.8488, preciouspetservices.com Desoto County Animal Clinic 8330 Hwy 51 N. Southaven, MS 662.342.4899 desotoanimalclinic.vetsuite.com Elmore Road Veterinary Clinic Dr. Brandy Ellis 6145 Elmore Rd Southaven, MS 662.253.0274, elmoreroadvetclinic.com
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Hotel Poochie 7776 US Hwy. 70 Memphis, TN 901.590.2609, hotelpoochie.com
Pearly Pets 7691 Mississippi 178 Olive Branch, MS 662.893.5896
Dogs Day 1565 Dancy Blvd. Horn Lake, MS 662.510.5513 thedogsday.com
PetStyles 3025 Kirby Whitten Rd. Memphis, TN 901.937.5277, petstylessalonandspa.com
Donna’s Happy Tails Grooming 1805 Jeannie Rd. Southaven, MS 662.280.1519 Dog Groomers of Hernando 111 W. Commerce St. Southaven, MS 662.469.9491 Groomingdale’s llc 975 Goodman Rd., E # 1 Southaven, MS 662.349.9590, groomingdalesouthaven.com Hot Dawgs 577 Goodman Rd., Suite #1 Southaven, MS 662.655.0886, doggroomingsouthaven.com
Pink Poodle Doggie Spa 8941 Mississippi 305 Olive Branch, MS 662.893.3400, pinkpoodledoggiespa.com Pucci Petique Inc 2400 Hwy. 51 S. Hernando, MS 662.429.3202 Ruff Kuts 8357 Industrial Dr. Olive Branch, MS 662.893.3920, ruffkuts.com Tender Touch Grooming Salon 404B West Main St. Senatobia, MS 662.562.5403
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Veterinarians
Berclair Downtown Animal Hospital 668 South Main St. Memphis, TN 901.590.1230, graceanimal.com Cat and Cow Veterinary Clinic 3091 Bethel Rd. Olive Branch, MS 662.895.3626 Central Animal Hospital 2192 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 901.274.1444, midtownvet.com County Seat Animal Hospital 145 West Center St. Hernando, MS 662.429.3647, countyseatanimal.com Desoto County Animal Clinic 8330 Hwy 51 N. Southaven, MS 662.342.4899 desotoanimalclinic.vetsuite.com Downtown Animal Hospital 347 North 3rd St.
Memphis, TN 901.577.9801, dahmemphis.com Elmore Road Veterinary Clinic Dr. Brandy Ellis 6145 Elmore Rd. Southaven, MS 662.253.0274, elmoreroadvetclinic.com Four Friends Animal Healthcare 5847 Getwell Rd., St. A5 Southaven, MS 662.253.0289 Memphis Animal Clinic 733 E Pkwy. S. Memphis, TN 901.272.7411, memphisanimalclinic.com Open Arms Animal Hospital 6760 Hurt Rd. Horn Lake, MS 662.393.8872, openarmsanimal.com Pet Care Professionals, Inc. 2651 Union Ave. Extended Memphis, TN 901.324.0202 petcareprofessionalsmemphis.com
Pet Vax Complete Care Ctr 2648 Broad Ave. Memphis, TN 901.454.4900, petvax.com Snowden Grove Animal Hospital 5765 Getwell Rd. Southaven, MS 662.536.1916 Utopia Animal Hospital 1157 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 901.746.8758, utopiaanimalhospital.com Walnut Grove Animal Clinic 2959 Walnut Grove Rd. Memphis, TN 901.323.1177, mymemphisvet.com Walls Animal Hospital 7110 Mississippi 161 Walls, MS 662.781.3536, hornlakeanimal.com Yale Road Animal Hospital 4418 Yale Rd. Memphis, TN 901.372.2414
Jackson, Mississippi Remembers Fifty years ago, the world was a very different place. We invite you to join us as we pay tribute to Medgar Evers and the many others who battled so bravely for justice, freedom, and equality for all. SIGNATURE EVENTS This is Home: Medgar Evers, Mississippi and the Movement, May 1-Oct 31 Life Into Fiction —The Murder of Medgar Evers, May 15-Dec 15 Traveling Civil Rights Movement Exhibit, June 9-July 9 (Go to visitjackson.com for more events)
JCV7763-3 CR 50th CM 7.375 x4.857.indd 1
5/8/13 3:38 PM
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Creavtive COLLECTIVE by CASEY HILDER
The MidSouth is brimming with compelling artists and entrepreneurs of all sorts, from the underground scenes to the gallery halls or the latest Internet buzz. Whether it be found art or fine art, young or old, classically trained or self taught, the region offers avenues for anyone with an artistic bent — painters, potters, publishers, printmakers and everything in between for all manner of Southern exposure. These 10 inventive artists who make the MidSouth come alive.
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Ceramic
David JOHNSON “Somewhere between fine art and craftsmanship.”
F
orm and function are one and the same for Hernando-based sculptor David Johnson. The 31-year-old potter’s work is driven by a sense of purpose and compelling, handmade aesthetic that is as eye-pleasing as it is useful. “My work is predominantly functional. Some of is really decorative, but most everything has some sort of use,” he says. David produces a number of personally crafted ceramics including custom white stoneware flasks and old-timey whiskey jugs. He specialized in colorful, oceanic pieces that stand in stark contrast to the average ceramic sculptor’s muted palette. “I’m really into the idea of movement, waves and bright colors,” he says. “I try to show that in my work, it’s usually one of my selling points.” David’s eye for practicality can be attributed to his background as a house repairman and construction worker. “I’ve been becoming somewhat of a Mr. Fix-it lately – it’s what pays,” he says. “I’m currently building a bathroom for somebody, actually.” Though he’s handy around the house, David says that pottery is his passion. “I’ve been making pots professionally for about three years,” he says. “My work has
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really changed a lot in the past few years from being able to work on it every day.” The Virgina-born potter eventually found his way to The Magnolia State after graduating from Memphis College of Arts in 2003. Where he came to work under the watchful eye of seasoned Hernando stoneware sculptor Joseph Eckles after a short stint traveling abroad. David’s work has grown and evolved under Eckles’ tutelage to become more refined and readily available products. He typically produces dozens of pieces a week, though some take more time than others. “The process of making pottery is a lot faster than most people think. Working by myself, I can probably get started on around a hundred pieces a day,” he says, adding that the finishing process can take a week or two. While avenues for art in North Mississippi are somewhat scarce, David says he’s discovered plenty of Mississippi markets to sell his wares through the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi. David’s pottery can be found at a number of local shops including Tin Roof Market in Hernando and Everyday Gourmet in Jackson. “Eventually I’d like to bring some of my stuff down to the coast, I think it’d sell really well down there,” he says.
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Painting
Janice KENNEDY “I don’t like anything dull.”
J
anice Kennedy didn’t discover her own artistic talents till she was nearly 50 years old. The Hernando homemaker seemingly fell into the world of painting on accident when she decided to pick up a brush one day while in search of a new hobby. “I didn’t take any kind of art classes till around my late 40s,” she said. ”I went from not painting at all to selling my art and having it displayed in galleries, banks and restaurants around the area.” What started as a once a week class eventually led to a passion that would blossom into a still blooming post-retirement career that garners more attention than the 66-year-old painter thought possible. After becoming accustomed to the basics, Janice was enthralled with painting and soon discovered that she was a natural in the field of watercolor, oils and pastels. “I’m a colorist who likes to try anything. A lot of the time it’s just putting different things together and seeing what works,” she said. “I like to paint different things, so I can’t really lock myself into a single category.” And breadth is something Janice’s body of work has in spades. She has been known to switch her style at the drop of a hat, from striking still-life oil paintings to watercolor landscapes recreated from old photos and her latest attempt, an abstract work in progress. However, the overriding theme in most of her work has always been flowers and the beauty of nature. “I love flowers and I love color,” she says. “I worked with the Hernando Garden Club before I picked up painting – it’s a good fit.” Despite her lack of formal training, Janice’s work has been displayed in galleries and exhibits across the MidSouth. Janice was recently featured
in a DeSoto Arts Council exhibit titled “Three Points of View” and is currently one of the Delta artists featured at the Tunica Rivergate Museum. “I have been amazingly blessed and lucky to be at the right place at the right time. I’ve sold many paintings and that was definitely something I didn’t expect.” She currently lives by the mantra “creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes,” and offers a few choice words for aspiring artists her age. “Go for it, try it, and see what happens. Just keep painting till something hits you,” she says.
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Sculpture
Elisha GOLD “Precision is a part of me.”
S
parks fly whenever Memphis-based sculptor Elisha Gold goes to work. This former Greenville, Mississippi resident has held a deep love for all things metallic from a young age. “I spent most of my time in high school making metal structures in machine shop,” he says. “I did all types of welding — all the technical stuff you learn at any vocational school. It really gave me a jump on college.” The energetic, 31-year-old, University of Memphis graduate’s body of work ranges from the practical to the otherworldly, with some of his more elaborate human-shaped pieces resembling the iconic work of Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger (minus the overt sexuality). One of his recent works is a scale model of himself constructed entirely from nails welded together in a single day on a street corner in Downtown Memphis. Like any versatile sculptor worth his salt, Elisha uses a variety of media to form his needs as a constructionist. “Stone carving, modeling and resin casting — I’ve done it all,” he says. “I like to do a little bit of everything. Unlike painters, I’m not really set in a single style.” Elisha says he often finds appreciation from his work in unexpected places. “I’m not a hotrod or
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motorcycle guy, but those types are usually the biggest fans of my work,” he says with a grin. “I like to see myself as more of a fine artist. A lot of the time I feel like I’m caught between the metal workers and the art world.” Elisha is involved throughout the entire sculpting process, from the drafting table to material gathering and the lengthy welding process. “Many metal sculptures aren’t actually made by the artists, they’re made in foundries by fabricators,” he says. “I make all my own work. I’m involved there through the whole process — not because I can’t afford it but because it’s my passion.” Elisha often incorporates found objects into his work, as shown in a towering globe that was recently constructed from discarded bike wheels known as the “Beacon” at the corner of North Watkins Street and Autumn Avenue near Downtown Memphis. Elisha has recently taken a liking to a form of performance art that involved brandishing the tools of his trade for a spectacular shower of sparks. In addition to his sculptures throughout Midtown and Downtown Memphis, Elisha has designed many of the strange and surreal structures that dot the campus of his alma mater, the University of Memphis. “It’s hard working as an artist full time — I try to be fearless in the eyes of my enemies,” he says. “And poverty is pretty much my only enemy.”
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Photography
Jamie HARMON “People are my religion.”
L
ike most North Mississippi youngsters, Jamie Harmon grew up shooting in the woods — except for Harmon, it was with a camera. In his formative years, this 43-year-old Memphis-based artist and Greenville native stalked the plains of Mississippi with a Yashica rangefinder, honing his photography skills while his friends and relatives hunted. “I grew up walking ditches, building forts and taking pictures in the woods. When I finished high school, I sold everything I had and went on an adventure,” he says. “I came back and started working as a tourist photographer taking pictures of the Memphis riverboats, among other freelance things.” Jamie is the mastermind behind the Amurica Photo Booth, a kitschy, vintage-inspired converted ‘59 Teardrop camper that has quickly become the MidSouth’s most eclectic avenue for portraits. Jamie’s Amurica Photo Booth took the forefront in January of 2011. A labor of love, the father of three decorated the camper with a selection of props alongside his oldest son. The props consist of handmade crafts from Jamie himself or antique relics from friends. “It’s a combination of a love for all things vintage and photography,” he says. “In the past, I’ve used old campers but the digital world really made this possible. I can take the picture, you can see it immediately, I can print it immediately — it’s very interactive.” His photo booth’s current
tongue-in-cheek tagline reads “Red, White Trash, and Blue.” Through his unique take on the age-old pastime of the photo booth, Jamie has pioneered a style he likes to refer to as “Visual Anthropology.” A longtime fan of the vintage look, Jamie’s photography utilizes ghosting and other unusual lighting and exposure techniques. He has had his work displayed in shows and galleries across the country, including a number of locations in New York and Texas. Never one to hold a traditional nine to five, Jamie’s resume includes a stint as an art gallery curator in South Georgia, a darkroom manager at West Texas A&M and a caretaker for special needs children. He aims to take his pet project to the next level on June 15, when the seasoned photographer will open a brand-new Amurica headquarters at 410 Cleveland Street, right next to renowned Memphis music venue The Hi Tone’s new location. “The way I grew up is one of the reasons the photo booth is what it is. It’s Mississippi — it’s rigged — it’s not like a very planned out, German method of building a house,” Jamie says of his creation.
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She fills in every drawing with gouache, a kind of thick, opaque watercolor paint that adds a smooth, weighty quality to her work. Maysey’s focus on ruined structures is prevalent throughout her architecturally-based artwork. Many of her pieces explore the history of the Southern landscape and
Painting
Maysey CRADDOCK “Making art is very mysterious.”
A
lthough the work of 41-year-old painter Maysey Craddock has been shown in dozens of galleries across the country and abroad for years, her paintings are rarely displayed on a traditional canvas. “I can’t really say why I haven’t made the leap to canvas over the years,” she says. “I didn’t find it to work as well with the imagery and the way I paint.” Maysey’s work focuses on somber depictions of splintered structures forgotten by time and ravaged by the forces of nature. Her “canvases” are entirely of her own creation and consist of plain, brown grocery sacks stitched together with silk thread to form a coarse, makeshift support medium as a way to add sculptural qualities to her paintings.“There’s a real materiality to my work that I don’t think you can get with boards, canvases or archival paper,” she says. And the work is a labor of love for Maysey, with each piece undergoing a lengthy process that begins with taking pictures of ruined structures, carefully replicating the photos with a drawing pencil and finally adding several coats of paint.“Everything is drawn two or three times before I sit down to paint it,” Maysey says. “Everything is very laborious.”
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evoke solemn feelings of loneliness and the passage of time. “I’m very interested in nature’s reclamation,” she says. “But not every fallen structure attracts me. I’m really interested the idea of echoes or traces of the last beings in these structures.” Life in the South has been a prevalent influence in Maysey’s work, with many of the ruined structures featured in her art captured in Mississippi and Arkansas. “For some reason, I’ve always been drawn to the South and the Delta. It’s such a fascinating part of the country,” she says. “I love to roam around and get lost in small towns and countrysides with my camera.” Since 1996, Maysey has been a mainstay of sorts at the David Lusk Gallery, with dozens of paintings and exhibitions represented within the halls of the East Memphis art house alongside other contemporary artists. Her upcoming exhibition, “A Different Kind of Landscape,” will be shown at the Brooks Museum in September.
Comics
Tony “Mighty Quinn"
MCGOWAN
“Just believe again.”
I
nk runs in the veins of Tony “Mighty Quinn” McGowan in more ways than one. The 37-year-old illustrator, writer and comic book aficionado works as one of South Highland’s most prominent and talkative tattooists. “At 37, this is me. I do lots of things right now but I’m an artist by nature — walls, a screen, a piece of paper, flesh...they’re all my canvases,” he says Quinn also heads Legends Press, a group with a line of digital and print comics that includes his flagship titles, Future Shock and Project Wildfire, which feature a kid-friendly atmosphere and a colorful, inspired take of the modern mythology of superheroes. Along with his coworker and cohort Michael "Mic" Luster, he also writes and illustrates a series titled Wild Kingdoms, a slapstick and stylized take on life in Memphis through the eyes of a stuffed rabbit and Teddy Bear. “The books themselves are kind of a commentary on comics — like Marvel, all of the cities in Future Shock are based on the real world and more focused on adolescence and growing up, while Wildfire is more like something you might see from DC, with fictional cities and skewed toward a younger audience,” he says. “Wild Kingdoms is your classic grown-up cartoon; think Mickey Mouse hanging out at a bar. The big gag of that book is that they’re very aware their creators.” With a manner of speaking that tends to break the fourth wall of everyday conversation, he proudly proclaims that he hasn’t held a “real” job since his time in
the Navy and spends his days tinkering with his line of prototype action figures
like this if I was working at FedEx.” Nowadays, Tony is clean-cut, garbed in
and organizing read-ins at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library. He conducts most of his business from “his board room,” a tattoo studio that resembles equal parts hospital room and personal dwelling, with his own paintings and cutouts from classic silverage comics plastered against the walls. “Being a tattoo artist lends itself to personal expression to begin with,” he says. “I doubt Fred Smith would allow me to have a setup
a nice pair of slacks and leather shoes for every appointment. He wants his style to mimic the old Norman Rockwell painting with the gentleman tattoo artist working on the sailor. “We eventually came to the conclusion that we were artists first, so we instated a dress code,” he says. “It became less about standing out as tattoo artists and more about taking the vocation of art seriously.”
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Silkscreen
Kong Wee PANG Jay CRUM “Original is best.”
A
lthough they grew up 10,000 miles apart, husband and wife duo Kong Wee Pang and Jay Crum are two of a kind. “I think we are really influenced by each other but we also try to stay out each other’s way,” Jay says. “We cannot compete with each other,” Kong Wee adds. Kong Wee, 33, is a Malaysian immigrant with a knack for highfashion, high-concept transformative silkscreen artwork. Jay, 31, is a New Orleans native who produces work that is more grounded but no less spectacular, with several prints that present a unique take on traditional architectural structures. Kong Wee and Jay were both drawn to Memphis with a common goal of creating fine art and attending Memphis College of Art. The pair first met in a figure drawing class 10 years ago and have been an inseparable and unstoppable force ever since. “Memphis is a really tight-knit city. I think that’s what keeps us around here,” Jay says. Together, they have collabo90 JUNE 2013 | myclickmag.com
rated on numerous projects including logos for local musician Harlan T. Bobo and community initiatives, such as the emblematic design associated with Project Greenfork. The couple is currently cooking up plans to expand their first big venture, TaroPop, a joint project that focuses on custom T-shirts, jewelry and screenprints delicately crafted for the masses. “We got started because a lot of people love our art but few can afford silkscreen prints,” Kong Wee says with a slight accent that has faded over the course of her 13 years in Memphis. “We have fun building the brand and everything, but it’s really a small mom-and-pop kind of thing,” Jay added. The collaboration is named for the taro root, a plant native to Malaysia that produces what is commonly known around these parts as “elephant ears.” Kong Wee says that her multicultural background and Jay’s influence have helped her form a unique style of her own. “I try to think about and address a topic in every piece of my art. That is why I like to do most of my art in one sitting,” Kong Wee says. Future plans for the pair include a website featuring TaroPop creations and a series of recycling bin designs for First Congregational Church in Midtown Memphis.
Painting
William BADDOUR “Persistence proves success.”
N
ecessity is the mother of invention for 23-year-old Will iam Baddour. As one of a growing sect of “found artists” in the MidSouth, the native Memphian often collects discarded wood to use as canvases for his work. “Living in Cooper-Young, I’m used to being around lots of home renovations and seeing stuff on the curb, so it’s kind of a recycle/green type movement, if you will — or maybe a broke man’s alternative to finding canvases,” he says. William picked up painting at a young age while attending classes at Memphis College of Arts and the Maria Montessori School’s Harbor Town location at age seven. “My interest in art was noticed and nurtured early on in life — I was known as the kid who would draw anything,” he says. “Crayola was my muse.” Enthusiasm from a young age led to the formation of a unique style with a focus on everyday icons in contradictory constructions, such as a series of paintings involving well-dressed individuals who appear as exotic animals from the neck up, and a group of collages inspired by 1940s-era tobacco advertising. “I tend to look at a lot of old black-and-white photos and kind of try to recreate them and put the viewer in a different time period,” he says. A rebellious streak and the graffiti that coats the sides of many Midtown Memphis buildings influenced much of William’s art, which consists of a wide array of eclectic and colorful paintings at his
improvised gallery on the cusp of Downtown Memphis at the Trolley Stop, where much of his work is displayed and sold. “We’re a restaurant, so it’s not the first place you think of for buying art. But the owners tell me it does pretty well,” he says. The Trolley Stop also doubles as his place of employment, where the young artist perfects his culinary craft while daydreaming about his next elaborate work. “I’ve come to the conclusion that if you want to be an artist, you’ve just got to go be an artist. The longer you do it, the more you enjoy it, the better the outcome. I like to view my body of work and time spent doing it as sort of an evolutionary scale,” William says. myclickmag.com | JUNE 2013 91
CLICK | feature
Mark ADAMS
Alan
SPEARMAN
Film “Embrace Serendipity.”
ing. They are currently collaborating on their first feature film, Ground, a narrative woven by Alan
lan Spearman’s lens captures a side of Memphis that few are privy to. This Memphis filmmaker recently produced As I Am, a documentary about Booker T. Washington High School graduate Christopher Dean’s life growing up on the gritty streets of South Memphis. The 15-minute documentary-style film offers a poignant, heartbreaking glimpse into life on the other side of the tracks and highlights a foreboding part of the city unseen by tourists and politicians. “We really put together [the project] as an examination of survival,” he says. The 39-year-old former Commercial Appeal photojournalist doles out short independent films with a heavy dose of Bluff City authenticity. Alan’s team includes Mark Adams, a cinematographer and producer who he worked in conjunction with on numerous projects and Chris Dean, his former subject-turned-intern. Together, the team runs Spearman + Adams Studio, an upstart company focused on the duo’s signature style of filmmak-
and company that mixes Memphis street culture and Icelandic mythology. “Last year, [Mark] and I finally got a chance to collaborate. He’s a great cinematographer and still photographer,” he says. “And Chris has been really instrumental in the writing of our latest project. He brings a wealth of information and authenticity of experience. I really like working together.” Alan’s past as a photographer shows, as each frame of his films potentially makes for a brilliant and evocative still image. For 16 years, he has captured subjects from all walks of life — from the hustlers, hippies, hobos and street people to the movers, shakers and musicians of Memphis. “Because of the nature of my assignments, I’m able to be constantly aware of who or what is making news,” Alan says. However, a life behind the lens of a still camera couldn’t quite sate his storytelling appetite. “As a still photographer, it was kind of frustrating — I couldn’t capture the music I was hearing,” he says of his evolution from photographer to filmmaker.
A
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Chris DEAN
CLICK | feature
In 2007, he produced Nobody, his first short film that portrays a small-town steelworker fleeing the troubles of his life via an inflatable canoe on the Mississippi River. Since then, he has produced 30 short films. Alan’s body of work has earned a plethora of accolades, including a pair of MidSouth Emmys for As I Am and $5 Cover Amplified, a collaboration with Memphis-based writer-director Craig Brewer. His growing highlight reel also includes Hotel Memphis, a web series that depicts popular Memphis musicians playing in nontraditional venues. “We have our interests in a lot of things right now,” says Mark. “Right now, we’re looking to do any kind of work that inspires us and visual storytelling is definitely a cornerstone of what we do.”
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Painting
Dwayne BUTCHER “Art is easy.”
D
wayne Butcher has a lot to say about the art world. The 36-year-old former repo man has carved a niche for himself in recent years with a series of paintings poking fun at the art world, himself and society, in general. “It started with me being kind of a redneck guy and the stereotypes associated with that type of person,” he says. “But now, it’s become a bit more about cultural statements, classism and that sort of thing.” The majority of Dwayne’s work exhibits clean, flat brushstrokes and a machine-like finish that treats the Dewitt, Arkansas native like just as much of a spectator as those viewing his paintings. “It’s all about the color and the surface without any references to who made it,” he said. “There’s no rich or poor, black or white — whatever.” This reduction of the artist’s role in production is no accident. Dwayne says he’s always been aware of his slight Southern lilt and heavyset frame, something that has carried over into his work. “I decided if I’m ever gonna be an artist, I need to remove all references to self in my work,” he says. “It’s hard to be a white Southern guy and an artist at the same time. I’ve started to embrace these characterizations and it’s all part of the shtick now.” His minimalist art contains tongue-incheek commentary on life in the South and his profession, bearing phrases like “I read Playboy for the articles” and “Mir-
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acles only happen to the uneducated” emblazoned in a delicately written calligraphy segmented against a brilliant colored backdrop. Dwayne has used a single, well-worn brush for all of his works from the past 12 years. “It’ll be a sad day when that thing breaks on me,” he says. Dwayne has also produced several short films and video components to his displays that expand on his current work and celebrate the many contradictions of Southern culture. One such film depicts his nephew filling a garbage can with water set against a backdrop of classical music, celebrating the many juxtapositions of life in the MidSouth. “I don’t think of myself as a Southern artist. I think of myself as an artist who makes work about where I live,” he says. “If I was in Minnesota or New York or Oregon, who knows how the work would change?”
FOOD & ENTERTAINING
ENT RTAINING
Surprise SoirĂŠe Many people throw surprise parties to celebrate milestone birthdays. Whether you think 40 is over the hill or the new 30, it's still an occasion worth celebrating!
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CLICK | entertaining
Make a Birthday Wish… Neil McIntyre’s surprise 40th birthday party was a night to remember. See how friends and family, with the help of event planner Michelle Hope of Social Butterflies planned the perfect sneak attack.
W
Guests waited on the front lawn as they pulled up and yelled surprise as she took off the blindfold.
When Raeline McIntyre decided she wanted to throw her husband, Neil, a surprise 40th birthday party, the hardest part was keeping it a secret. “We were so excited to help her in the planning and came up with a fun DIY theme incorporating many of Neil’s favorite things,” says Michelle Hope of Social Butterflies, LLC. The look and feel of the event was designed in a color palette of light greens, slate, grey and white. To create a wreath on the front door as well as centerpieces for the tables, Hope and Raeline McIntyre used split peas. The girls even spelled out his name using all peas. “Using commonplace materials is a good idea for anyone looking to decorate on a budget,” says Hope. “It’s super easy, too!” Always looking to make each person’s experience memorable, Hope ensured that there was never
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a dull moment as each person was entertained from the time they arrived and even while waiting on their special guest. As the early well-wishers arrived at Magnolia Hall at Florence Gardens, they were greeted with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres and a variety of lawn games like cornhole and horseshoes for them to play while awaiting the guest of honor. Neil’s wife, Raeline McIntyre, had been baiting Neil for weeks by telling him how she wanted to look at houses near the party’s venue. So when her mom offered to babysit last minute so they could have a date night, the perfect opportunity was at hand. En route to dinner, she started to drive toward the party where she then pulled over and told Neil she had a surprise for him and gave him the blindfold. The party was a success. Neil
arrived completely shocked and the surprises didn’t stop there. Among those in attendance were out-of-town guests that had traveled significant distance to take part in the celebration. And to top off the occasion, a special musical number highlighting the past 40 years was performed by Raeline McIntyre with a group of close girlfriends. Each element of Neil’s Surprise 40th Birthday Party was custom designed to fit his likes and interests. The menu featured Neil’s favorites like grits and grillades, and for dessert, a cookie bar and Carrot Cake. Even Neil’s favorite tunes were incorporated into the dance.
CLICK | entertaining
PARTY SOURCES: Party Planner/Floral Design Michelle Hope of Social Butterflies, LLC 901.828.9321, sb-events.com
Photographer Jessica Lumpkin, Grace Photography 228.243.3323 gracephotographyblog.wordpress.com
Venue Magnolia Hall at Florence Gardens 12321 Preservation Dr., Gulfport, MS 228.539.5039, florencegardens.com
Caterer Cajun Gourmet Catering 228.323.0579, cajungourmetcatering.com
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CLICK | entertaining
EXPERT TIPS: Throwing a surprise party can be tricky to pull off without spoiling the surprise. Here are some tips and tricks to help you in orchestrating a memorable surprise. • As you plan, include family and friends in order to help pull off the surprise and provide many positive and lasting memories. • Consider doing a themed party, destination party or interactive party — all are great ways to keep guests entertained and make this milestone something more than an average birthday party. • Choose a venue (if it’s not at your home) that is often visited by the birthday person to help in keeping it a surprise. • In lieu of gifts, ask 40 guests to write words of affirmation about the guest of honor — one for each year of his/her life.
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CLICK | entertaining
DIY DÉCOR Here are some helpful tips for re-creating some of the decorative items used by Raeline McIntyre and Michelle Hope.
Split Pea Wreath: Purchase a plain white Styrofoam wreath from a party store. You will need clear drying glue, eight bags of green split peas, and some ribbon to hang the wreath. Simply lather the wreath form with glue and press the peas onto the wreath. Allow to dry. You may need to repeat several times for desired thickness. Note: Store in a black plastic bag away from sunlight to keep from fading!
Glittered 40! Using white foam core board, trace out the numbers 4 and 0 in pencil. Cut out with an exacto knife. Coat the numbers in a clear drying glue. Sprinkle glitter over glue to cover the numbers. Repeat as many times as necessary to cover them completely in glitter. Allow to dry. Note: Store in a bag to collect loose glitter.
Burlap Happy Birthday Banner: Purchase two yards of burlap from the fabric store. Trace the desired shape/size of your pennant onto the burlap and cut out. Trace desired letters onto each pennant and paint with white acrylic paint. Note: Be sure to paint on a covered surface, as the paint will seep through. Once the paint is dry, use the desired length of twine to glue the pennant in place. We used hot glue and made a fold at the top of each pennant (only using a dab of glue on each end of the fold) in order to be able to slide them for adjusting. Hang banners and cut excess string.
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CLICK | food
The Dish
Tried-and-true recipes from fellow readers. MAPLE PECAN SCONE RECIPE Ingredients 4 1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons baking powder 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 cup toasted and chopped pecans 3 sticks cold butter, cut into cubes 1 cup heavy cream 5 large eggs (we use cage free) 1 teaspoon natural maple extract Maple Glaze 1 cup confectioners sugar 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk 1 teaspoon maple extract Mix all ingredients together until smooth then set aside
S U B M I TTO
YOURs@RmEycClicIPkmESag.com re ci pe
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Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. Put dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Add cold cubed butter and turn on low. Let blend until all butter is about the size of a pea. 3. Mix cream, eggs and maple extract together. 4. Once the butter is incorporated, add the cream and eggs and pulse the mixer on and off until just combined. 5. Add the pecans and pulse again. 6. Cover a table with a little flour and place the dough in the middle. 7. Knead together, adding a little flour to the dough until it comes together to make a smooth dough. Do not over mix. 8. Pat down with your hands until it is about 1� thick, cut with desired cutter or cut into triangles with a knife. 9. Brush with heavy cream and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. 10. Let cool and cover each scone with the glaze and more toasted pecans Recipe Courtesy Heather Ries, Lady Bugg Bakery, Hernando
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CLICK | health
Live Well
The Vein Game
It’s time to break out the shorts, but for some, that means being self-conscious because of varicose veins. Learn what you can do to prevent this unsightly condition.
I
Dr. Kishore K. Arcot, Memphis Vein
FA C T S
If you’ve ever found blue, twisted, enlarged veins on your legs or ankles, then you know what it’s like to live with varicose veins. The common but relatively harmless condition is caused when the valves that normally keep blood flowing from your legs to your heart weaken and start to leak. It’s believed to be hereditary but it happens most often to people who are overweight, pregnant, or in professions that require prolonged standing or sitting (including teachers/health care professionals, who stand or sit still for long periods of time) — all of these situations cause increased pressure on veins in the legs. Getting regular exercise is one of the methods recommended for preventing
varicose veins but does it make any difference — good or bad — once you already have them? The answer depends on the type of exercise you’re doing, since different exercises affect varicose veins in different ways. Not all exercise is good — you need to be careful not to overexert when you have varicose veins because strenuous activities can put too much strain on your legs. For example, high-impact exercises like running aren’t usually recommended, because they may aggravate vein swelling. But several other exercises will allow you to keep yourself fit and can help with blood circulation. Moderate, low- or non-impact exercise can be effective, both as a deterrent and
a treatment. Simple exercises like taking daily walks and flexing your ankles work well (any exercise that builds your calf muscles, as calf muscles help venous blood return to your heart). To put it simply, keep your legs and feet moving whenever you can. Even while sitting down, flex your calf muscles and rotate your ankles to maintain blood flow. These light exercises work because they increase blood circulation in your legs and keep the pressure from building up. You’ll also want to avoid crossing your legs for long periods of time — be sure to shift your legs while getting up to stretch every 30 minutes when you can. While exercising won’t remove varicose veins, it can help ease some of the
Today, 24 million people suffer from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), the underlying cause of varicose veins. CVI is a condition that develops when the valves that keep blood flowing out of the legs become damaged or diseased. This problem causes blood to pool in the legs, thus reducing the efficiency of blood flow. Men, though less likely than women to develop varicose veins, are at risk for CVI. In fact, 42% of men are expected to develop varicose veins by the time they reach their 60s. However, a majority of those do not seek treatment until symptoms worsen. Those spending significant time on their feet are at higher risk for developing varicose veins. It is recommended that those with careers where they are often on their feet, such as restaurant servers or athletes, rest each day by elevating their feet above their heart.
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CLICK | health
uncomfortable symptoms. Exercising regularly will keep your veins and legs strong, which is a preventive measure, as well as a treatment. The main rule of thumb if you have varicose veins: Be wary of overexerting your legs but keep yourself mobile and active whenever possible.
SIGNS OF CVI Varicose Veins Pain, swelling (swollen limbs) Leg heaviness and fatigue Disfigurement (skin changes and skin ulcers)
RISK FACTORS Age Heredity Pregnancy Obesity Standing Occupation
Dr. Kishore K. Arcot MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI is a board-certified cardiologist with 20 years of experience in management of peripheral vascular diseases. He has received cardiovascular training at the University of San Francisco and has trained several cardiologists in performing laser/RF procedures for varicose vein treatment. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, he received the Most Compassionate Doctor Award. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Arcot, contact Memphis Vein at 901.767.6765 or visit their office located at 6005 Park Ave # 225B in Memphis.
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2013
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CLICK
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CliCk Magazine
The “I Do” Issue February 2014 Showcase your wedding in the February issue of Click magazine. instRuctions To be included in the 2014 February wedding issue of Click, your wedding must have taken place between January 2013 and December 2013. Go to myclickmag.com to download a wedding submission form and questionnaire. All submission forms in the Click wedding packet must be completed and mailed to our office by January 7. Payment must be accompanied with all materials at time of submission. Save your photos on a CD as high-resolution, digital images (300 dpi). The CD should be labeled with the bride’s and groom’s full name. This should also be submitted no later than January 7.
Submit your materials & payment to: Click Magazine Wedding Registry P.O. Box 100 | Hernando, MS 38632 Questions? Please call 662.429.6397 ext. 234 or email weddings@myclickmag.com for further information.
1 january 2013 | myclickmag.com
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CLICK | finance
On the Money
Planning for Retirement Sufficient savings is only part of the equation. A smart retirement plan calls for patience and a sharp pencil. Story by LORI CULLEN
I
In his Albany, N.Y. office, there’s one query Terry Jandreau, CFP,
retire. Just because you can scrounge together enough to retire
hears from almost every client, and it usually starts off like
today, however, doesn’t mean you should or that your savings
this: “I just want you to look at my numbers and look at my
will last. Sufficient savings is only one of several key elements
assets and let me know if I can retire today.”
of a smart retirement plan.
So the first vice president and branch manager at Wells Fargo
One of the most important retirement planning tasks is
Advisors, LLC, goes through the exercise. He says it’s rare that
creating an income strategy. Even if you amass a sizable fortune,
he would tell clients they can’t retire today. More often, he tells
in order to make it last through retirement, you’ll likely live off
them that to do it right now isn’t in their best interest. “After
interest rather than tapping into the actual funds. In the best
people have been working for so many years, they get fed up,”
scenario, says Jandreau, workers enter retirement with several
says Jandreau. “They look at things and say, ‘If I cut back here,
sources of retirement income. Fixed costs like food, clothing
and I pull all of my income together, I can just about cover my
and shelter should come from guaranteed sources, like Social
basics.’” Many people focus on the magic number needed to
Security, corporate pension plans and annuities.
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CLICK | finance
Remaining costs such as entertainment and travel are
and save, if possible. “Claiming Social Security benefits early
variable lifestyle expenses and should be financed from money
may jeopardize your economic security because early claimants
accumulated in personal savings and investments, including
receive permanently reduced benefits,” he says. For example,
savings accounts, mutual funds and IRAs, for example. “It’s
a person retiring today who begins collecting benefits at age
very, very specific,” says Jandreau, who stresses that whether
62 instead of 66 will receive monthly payments reduced by 25
your retirement will consist of gardening, home dining and
percent. If you can afford to wait even longer, do, says Jeszeck, as
neighborhood walks with the dog or touring the world’s top 100
the monthly Social Security benefit rises by about 8 percent each
golf courses depends not only on the amount of money you sock
year until age 70. “One of the big mistakes I see people make in
away but also on how you manage it thereafter.
their 50s or 60s is that they retire or take an early incentive offer
According to “Key Findings and Issues: Longevity,” a 2011 report conducted by the Society of Actuaries, most Americans
because they think they’re ready to stop working, but what they really wanted was a break,” Losey says.
underestimate longevity and fail to understand the potential
He suggests they decrease the number of days or hours they
consequences of living beyond their own planned life expectancy.
work and take a corresponding pay cut. But in Losey’s opinion, the
By age 65, U.S. males in average health have a 40 percent chance
ultimate in retirement planning is never to retire. “When I meet
of living to 85 while females have a 53 percent chance, more if
with clients, I redefine retirement as making work optional,” he
you’re healthier. Therefore, financial planning experts suggest
says. “If you find a career that you love or a calling that gets you
preparing for 25 to 30 years in retirement to lessen the chance of
excited to get out of bed in the morning that generates cash flow,
running out of money.
why would you give that up at age 60 or 65?”
A second risk is inflation, which can corrode the purchasing power of your savings. “The income that one would receive today is going to fall way short 20 years from now,” says Jandreau. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index inflation calculator shows a person who retired in 1992 with an income of $50,000 would need almost $82,437 to maintain the same lifestyle today. Because of inflation, Social Security automatically factors in a cost-of-living adjustment; some pension plans do, too. However, these automatic increases may not be enough. “There has to
THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS’ Consumer Price Index inflation calculator shows a person who retired in 1992 with an income of $50,000 would need almost $82,437 to maintain the same lifestyle today.
be a hedge against inflation and a continual income stream,” says Bill Losey, CFP, owner of Bill Losey Retirement Solutions in Saratoga, N.Y. The author of “Retire in a Weekend” and former resident retirement expert on CNBC’s “On the Money” television program advises clients to allocate a minimum of 30 to 40 percent of a retirement portfolio to stocks
She Plans, He Plans Who’s better at retirement planning? He is, hands down. Fewer women have completed any of the basic retirement planning activities and just one-third say they actively monitor and manage retirement savings, compared with nearly half of men.
and stock mutual funds from larger, goodquality U.S and international companies that have a long-term history of not only paying dividends but also raising them annually at a rate that outpaces inflation. Once you are all set with your smart retirement plan, all that’s left is to wait for your 62nd birthday to roll around so you can quit work, file for Social Security and hit the green, right? Not so fast. Charles Jeszeck, director of education, workforce and income security at the U.S.
Government
Accountability
in Washington, D.C., recommends
Office that
individuals delay receipt of Social Security
Determined what your income will be in retirement
47
% female
50
% male
Determined what your expenses will be in retirement
39
% female
43
% male
Calculated the amount of assets and investments you will have available to spend in retirement
38
% female
47
% male
Estimated how many years your assets and investments will last in retirement
29
% female
36
% male
Identified the activities you plan to engage in and their likely costs
26
% female
33
% male
None of the above
32
% female
28
% male
benefits until reaching at least full retirement age and, in some cases, continue to work
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Source: LIMRA survey of 3,763 U.S. adults, May 2012
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CLICK | see & do
SEE DO One Thing Not to Miss This Month
Mingle
S D 56th Annual FedEx St. Jude Classic Come out for the 56th Annual FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind, June 3-9. One of the oldest continuously operated stops on the PGA TOUR, the event has generated approximately $25 million for the childrens research hospital since it’s founding in 1970. Past winners include Jack Nicklaus, Hal Sutton, Fred Couples, Tom Kite, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Nick Price, David Toms, Justin Leonard, Lee Westwood, and defending champion Dustin Johnson. Tickets range from $30 - $125 and can be purchased by visiting stjudeclassic.com.
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